Gierek, Edward (1913–2001)

Polish communist politician. He entered the Politburo of the ruling Polish United Workers' Party (PUWP) in 1956 and was party leader 1970–80.

Gierek, a miner's son, lived in France and Belgium for much of the period between 1923 and 1948, becoming a member of the Belgian Resistance. He joined the French Communist Party in 1931, and the Belgian Communist Party in 1939. In 1946 he became a member of the Polish Workers Party (PWP) in Belgium. In 1957 he became First Secretary of the Polish United Workers Party (PUWP) in Silesia. After replacing Włdysław Gomułka as PUWP leader in December 1970, he embarked on an ambitious programme of industrial modernization using Western investment. He aimed to reform the party and to liberalize cultural and social life. He also opposed the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan. The normalization of relations between Poland and the German Federal Republic was one of his notable successes. In September 1980, following waves of strikes spearheaded by the Solidarity free trade union, Gierek resigned.