USSR's control over Eastern Europe - Poland : Solidarity
Polish Feelings:
- National feeling strong, wanted country to make its own policies
- The Catholic Church - strong in Poland, wnted freedom to preach
- Living Standards, shortage of food and other goods
- Freedom of speech
What Happened
- Gomulka forced to resign (1970) and his replacement resigned (Gierek 1980)
- The group Solidarity was formed, which was forced into acceptation
- It campaigned for indipendant trade unions and freedom
- improved standard of living and working conditions
1981 - General Jaruzelski came to power
- he declared Martial Law
- banned Solidarity and arrested supporters (army obeyed because they were frightened of USSR intervening)
1983 - Martial Law removed
- economy still doing badly, 1988 Jaruzelski removed subsidies
Feburary 1989 - Jaruzelski opened talks with Solidarity, and other groups. (Needed their support to tackle economic problems)
April 1989 - Changes in constitution agreed
- Solidarity allowed to become political party
- Senate and Lower house of Parliament
- Lower house 65% of seats communist
- Senate freely elected
- Two houses chose president, who chose Prime Minister
The Government agreed to:
- Right to strike
- Trade Unions allowed
- More freedom of speech
- Improved wages and working hours
June 1989 - Elections, Jaruzelski narrowly won
- He elected Solidarity PM (Mazowiecki)
- Therefore mixed government
- Eventually communist majority in Lower Hosue was phased out
December 1990 - Lech Walesa elected PM (also leader of Solidarity) The first non-Communist leader in Eastern Europe
Significance opf Solidarity's achievement
In Poland
- An auhoritarian communist government was made to change by:
- Communists incapable of solving economic problems - loss of confidence of people
- Did not dare to use force against strikes
- USSR still wanted one party in Poland, but was unwilling to use force
Outside Poland
- Started a wave of resistance movement in other Eastern European countries
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