Solidarity Urges Members to Run Under Reforms
The Polish Parliament on Friday approved laws introducing radical political reforms, and the banned Solidarity union swiftly called on its members to contest elections liberalized under the changes.
Leaders of Solidarity, which will be legalized under the reforms, said in a statement: “We expect that activists of our union will be on the lists of candidates.”
The statement issued by Solidarity’s National Executive Commission said: “We deem it necessary that all the union’s structures and all the union’s members agree that Solidarity enters legal public life during the electoral campaign.”
The 20-member commission, Solidarity’s top body, met in Warsaw after Parliament passed six laws containing constitutional and political changes agreed to by the Communist government and the Solidarity-led opposition in talks that ended Wednesday.
Solidarity, the Communist world’s first independent trade union, has boycotted all parliamentary elections since it was suppressed under martial law in 1981.
It had previously said it was undecided if it would contest the elections, set for June.
The 460-member Sejm (Parliament) overwhelmingly approved the six laws after a brief debate.
Under a political deal at the talks, the opposition will have 35% of the Sejm seats and freely contest for seats in the Senate.
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