National government in Poland
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- Přidal/a: anonymous
- Datum přidání: 21. ledna 2007
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National government in Poland
National Government in PolandPoland was the first country in Central and Eastern Europe to break out of communist rule. This move, soon followed throughout the region, started in early 1989 with discussions, which became known as the "Round Table Negotiations", between the Communist dominated authorities and the opposition. As a result, major agreements were reached, including the legalisation of the Solidarity trade union and an agreement to hold free elections on June 4, 1989.This was the prelude to the development of a new system of government with a legal parliamentary opposition. Other developments included the creation of a position of the President as head of state, and a second chamber of Parliament, the Senate. All the contested seats in the June 1989 elections were won by the representatives of Solidarity, who formed the first non-communist government in the region since World War II.Poland is a sovereign and democratic country whose institutions operate under the rule of law. There is a multiplicity of political parties across the entire political spectrum; five parties or political coalitions are represented in the current Parliament.Poland is a constitutional republic with a mixture of presidential and parliamentary models. The National Assembly - made up of the two chambers of Parliament, the Sejm (Seym) and the Senate - approved the final draft of the country's first post-Communist constitution April 2, 1997. After the Supreme Court upheld the validity of the referendum, and President Aleksander Kwasniewski signed it into law, the new constitution went into effect Oct.17, 1997.The long-awaited constitution, the result of several years of intensive debate and negotiations spanning five administrations across the entire political spectrum, is the country's l0th since Poland's first history-making Constitution of May 3,1791.The President is elected by universal suffrage to a five-year term, for a maximum of two terms. The President is the commander-in-chief of the military forces. The President has the right do dissolve the Parliament if it is unable to approve the budget law or to form a government. Solidarity leader Lech Walesa was elected President in November 1990 and his mandate expired in 1995. He was succeeded by Aleksander Kwasniewski, who was elected for a second term in October 2000. The Parliament is composed of the Sejm( Seym) with 460 seats and the Senate with 100 seats, each elected to a four-year term.The most recent parliamentary elections took place Sept. 21,1997.Solidarity Electoral Action (AWS) received 33.83% of the general vote, the Democratic Left Albance (SLD) received 27.13%, and the Freedom Union (UW) took 13.37% of the popular vote. The Polish Peasant Party (PSL) received only 7.31 % (in comparison to more than 15% in the preceding 1993 election), and the Movement for the Reconstruction of Poland (ROP) came in last with 5.56% of the vote.This translated into the following seats (Sejm/Senate, respectively): Solidarity Electoral Action (AWS) 201/51; Democratic Left Albance (SLD) 164/28; Freedom Union (UW) 60/8; Polish Peasant Party (PSL) 27/3; Movement for the Reconstruction of Poland (ROP) 6/5; German Minority 2/-; Non-affiliated -/5.The current Polish coalition government of Prime Minister Jerzy Buzek - created by the Solidarity Electoral Action (AWS) and the Freedom Union (UW) - is the sixth since 1989 (i.e., the collapse of the Communist regime). Prime Minister Buzek outlined his program to the Parliament on Nov.l0.Buzek said his government would pursue four major goals: improving living standards, reforming government structures, increasing national security, and reinforcing moral values in the society.