Mazowiecki, Tadeusz (1927– )
Polish politician, adviser to the Solidarity trade-union movement and Poland's first post-war non-communist prime minister 1989–90. In the presidential elections of November 1990 he lost to Lech Wałȩsa. In April 1994 he formed the Freedom Union (UW). In the late 1990s he moved away from direct involvement in Polish internal politics. In 1992 he was appointed special reporter to the United Nations (UN) over conflicts in former Yugoslavia.
| A lawyer by profession, closely linked to a number of Catholic organizations under communist rule, Mazowiecki was associated with, in particular, the PAX group and the Catholic monthly Wiȩź. In 1961–70 he was a member of the Polish parliament, the Sejm, and belonged to the Catholic parliamentary group ZNAK. During the Gdańsk dockyard strikes in August 1980 he acted as adviser to the Solidarity trade union in talks with government representatives. He was interned during martial law. After 1990 his links with the Solidarity movement weakened following a break-up with Wałȩsa. He was greatly respected for his involvement in investigating war crimes in former Yugoslavia. |
