Walesa, in Live TV Debate, Scolds Polish Government

Solidarity leader Lech Walesa, in an unprecedented live television debate Wednesday night with the head of the official trade union federation, chided the Polish government for backing out of talks with his outlawed union and called for an end to “rule by privilege.”

The debate, at the prime-time viewing hour of 8 p.m., was Walesa’s first appearance on government-controlled television in five years. The arguments advanced by Walesa and Alfred Miodowicz, the head of Poland’s official unions who is also a member of the Communist Party’s Central Committee, were familiar to most Poles, but the novelty of Walesa on state-run television brought high public interest.

Walesa was up to form, speaking in his usual rapid-fire manner and aiming barbs at the government and Miodowicz.

“Be a man,” he told Miodowicz. “Make a decision. Tell me there is a place for Solidarity. Time is running out.”

Miodowicz, politely addressing the Solidarity leader as “Mr. Walesa,” was generally deferential but stood fast to the government position that multiple trade unions in Polish factories and workplaces would threaten worker unity and lead to “disruptions.”

“Please join us,” Miodowicz said. “Join our democratic elections. I believe that’s the right solution.”

Walesa replied: “You want me to come on my knees to your union. I don’t want to. I want to be myself.”

Referring to the indefinitely stalled proposal, made by the government last summer, to hold “round-table discussions” with Solidarity, Walesa said Poland is in danger of missing a historic chance to reform.

“We were, we are, ready for talks, for compromise,” Walesa said. “But the declaration that there can be only one trade union per factory shattered this concept.”

Walesa called for an end to a series of strikes in August when the government made its proposal for talks. He did so only after Solidarity received assurances that its legalization would be considered.

“The problem is freedom, and freedom of association,” Walesa told Miodowicz. “It is your duty, if you want to help Poland, to help the people get this freedom.”

Miodowicz argued that “the fact that we are here tonight” was evidence of freedom in Poland.

But Walesa came back quickly: “You, a member of the Central Committee, can have this meeting. You can dictate the conditions, and I cannot sit in (on the discussions).”

Referring to the reform movement in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, Walesa said that “history will not treat us kindly if we miss this opportunity. . . . Look at what the Hungarians are doing. They are giving them (political) parties. . . .

“We have to talk about ‘how’ and not ‘whether.’ There is a place for Solidarity and a place for pluralism, and if you agree to this, then we sit down and go to work.”

Near the end of the debate, with Walesa declaring that “this system is finished,” Miodowicz asked, “Don’t you see any changes for the better, Mr. Walesa?”

“Yes, I do,” Walesa answered, “but we are walking on foot while the rest of the world is riding in cars. We should go forward. We should face the aspirations of the people, especially of the young, before they are all gone. We should end the idea of rule by privilege.”