PM’s father and anti-communist hero dies at age of 78
The father of PM Mateusz Morawiecki has died following a short battle with cancer.
Kornel Morawiecki, who was a leading anti-communist opposition activist, the leader of Fighting Solidarity and a Senior Speaker of the Sejm (lower house), passed away at the age of 78 after being diagnosed with cancer of the pancreas.
As a student, Morawiecki, who had recently been awarded the Order of the White Eagle for his achievements in public service, was an anti-communist dissident.
In 1982, Morawiecki established Solidarność Walcząca (Fighting Solidarity) after the imposition of martial law in Poland (on Dec. 13, 1981 - PAP).
In 1982, he established Solidarność Walcząca (Fighting Solidarity) after the imposition of martial law in Poland (on Dec. 13, 1981 - PAP).
In autumn 1987, Morawiecki was arrested by the communist authorities and after several months in prison, in April 1988 he was deported from Poland without the right to return.
Three months later he illegally returned to the country and again became the head of Fighting Solidarity.
Following his arrest and deportation, Morawiecki secretly returned to the country and again became the head of Fighting Solidarity.
Fighting Solidarity comprised those Solidarity activists who did not agree with the moderate programme represented by the trade union and favoured more radical action.
The organisation issued underground newspapers, organised street demonstrations and broadcast underground radio programmes.
It boycotted the Round Table Agreement - which was an effect of negotiations between Poland's communist authorities and a part of the opposition - and the results of the partially-free parliamentary elections of June 4, 1989.
After revealing he had cancer, Morawiecki whose son Mateusz (L) is Poland’s current Prime Minister, said: “I don't give up, I'm not used to it. My family and politics keep me alive.”
After 1990, he headed the Freedom Party, critical of elements of the old system in post-communist Poland.
In 2010, he ran in the presidential election and, in 2015, he became an MP, elected from the lists of Kukiz'15 movement. He was a senior speaker at the first sitting of the Sejm (lower house) of the eighth term.
In 2016, he left Kukiz'15 and founded the Free and Solidarity group.
The anti-communist hero was recently awarded the Order of the White Eagle for his achievements in public service.
He was the ruling party Law and Justice (PiS) candidate in the October 13 elections to the Senate from the Podlasie province, north-eastern Poland.
In January this year he revealed he was suffering from cancer of the pancreas.
In an interview with Super Express newspaper, the PM’s father said: “I don't give up, I'm not used to it. My family and politics keep me alive.”
