A benefit for Lech Wałęsa’s anniversary. “He performed and continues to perform many functions at the same time”

On Friday and Saturday, September 29 and 30, 80th birthday celebrations take place Lech Wałęsa and the 40th anniversary of being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. The ceremonial celebrations were inaugurated in the afternoon, presenting Wałęsa with a ceremonial resolution of the Senate of the Republic of Poland expressing respect for the outstanding achievements of the jubilarian.

In the late afternoon, a benefit was organized at the European Solidarity Center. It was led by Maciej Stuhr. At the beginning, several archival recordings were played, showing selected moments from Wałęsa’s life – including the strike in the Gdańsk Shipyard, his activities in NSZZ “Solidarność” and the anti-communist underground, as well as his later political career. Then the former president appeared on stage.

They took part in the event, appearing on stage alongside Wałęsa, among others Adam BodnarJan Krzysztof Bielecki, Jacek Fedorowicz, Władysław FrasyniukBożena Grzywaczewska, Bronislaw KomorowskiHenryka Krzywonos-Strycharska, Adam Michnik, Monika Olejnik, Jacek Taylor, Robert Więckiewicz, Krystyna Zachwatowicz-Wajda, Jarosław Wałęsa.

Read also: Wałęsa: I’m going to the Million Hearts March. The former president celebrates his 80th birthday

The host asked Wałęsa several questions that resembled a quiz. The first question was: “Have you ever thought which day of your life was the happiest?” – I’m waiting for him – replied the birthday boy. Another was “What is it that you can’t live without?” “No wife,” he said.

“Is there any feature you don’t like about yourself?” – I like everything. Just not old age, he replied. “What’s your best way to relax?” – The opposite of fatigue – continued Wałęsa. The last question was: “Is there anything you would like to forget?” – That I am 80 years old – he said.

Then, each of the guests invited to the stage said a few sentences about the former President of the Republic of Poland. Anti-communist opposition activist, signatory of the August Agreements Henryka Krzywonos-Strycharska. She told the story of how they wanted to give Lech Wałęsa an apartment. When – as she said – he saw them and they met again, he “sat down at the table and said: listen, what’s the point of this apartment if I don’t even have curtains?” – This is what Lech Wałęsa was like. So I must say that when people ask me what Wałęsa is like, I say that he is sometimes malicious, she added.

The next speaker was Jacek Fedorowicz, satirist, member of Solidarity and author of the famous graphic “Portrait of an unknown man with a mustache”. As he said, Wałęsa “has performed and continues to perform many functions at the same time.” – When he became president, during one of his first trips abroad, after landing he declared: I came here in three people. I thought to myself: aim high. But at the same time, I was glad that the people’s government did not manage to suppress this self-confidence, he said.

– When the authorities introduced martial law, they knew that they would not destroy Lech Wałęsa. But she tried to reduce it. At that time, I was drawing various pro-Solidarity drawings, he recalled. – During his satirical and cartoon activities, Lech Wałęsa turned out to be a golden vein of topics. Especially his alleged “insignificance” – he continued, recalling several of his works depicting Wałęsa.

– However, I still lacked a summary of the realistic image of Lech Wałęsa this time – he admitted. That’s when “Portrait of an Unknown Man with a Mustache” was created. – I want to say as a punch line, to all those (…) who are trying to invalidate Lech Wałęsa today, I declare: You will not succeed. It won’t work. And I would like to thank the model very much – he concluded.

TVN24 journalist Monika Olejnik thanked Wałęsa “and other heroes who fought for democracy.” – Thanks to you, we have free media and I can start my program with the words: Monika Olejnik, welcome to free media – she said.

She added that she had a “turbulent” relationship with Wałęsa. – Because I asked you questions that made you not always happy – said Olejnik.

– You once invited me to your birthday party, thank you very much, it was at your house. I brought an aquarium and there were such wonderful, colorful fish in the aquarium. After some time, we had an argument and the president called me and told me this: you are so mean to me that you even give me dead fish. And then I said: Mr. President, maybe you can’t breed fish, the journalist recalled.