Aleksander Kwasniewski

The Role of Business in Eastern Europe

During his two terms in office, President Kwasniewski enacted numerous reforms and policies that served to open Poland to the promises of the market economy. In this address, President Kwasniewski discusses the importance of businesses to the health of the democratic institutions of the former Eastern Bloc nations.

International Partnerships in the War on Terror

Since 2001, Poland has been among the United States’ staunchest allies in the War on Terror. A strong believer in the role of international cooperation and international institutions, President Kwasniewski speaks on the importance of these partnerships in ensuring worldwide peace and stability.

A Leader in a Crucial Time

Ushering in a new era of politics for Poland, Aleksander Kwasniewski is considered by many an icon for the new Polish government. He was sworn in as President of Poland on December 23, 1995. During his two terms in office, President Kwasniewski established himself as a trusted advocate for his people. Under his tenure, Poland came of age as a post-Soviet power, entering the 21st century as a full fledged member of the international community. Only the second democratically elected president of Poland since the fall of the Soviet Union, President Kwasniewski emerged as a leader within the former Eastern bloc, and was instrumental in assuring a peaceful transition during the Ukraine’s Orange Revolution. Domestically, President Kwasniewski rejuvenated the Polish economy by guiding his nation through transition to a market economy and the privatization of the state-owned enterprises.

An Understanding of Economic Forces

A former member of Poland’s communist party, Kwasniewski had undergone a complete conversion by the time he entered office in 1995. During his term, Kwasniewski enacted a multitude of market reforms, pursuing policies of privatization and deregulation. In securing a place for Poland in both NATO and the European Union, Kwasniewski made Poland an attractive site for international investment, strengthening the country’s young democracy.