Poland turns history into diplomatic weapon

Feature publihsed by Politico in February 2016 regarding a campaign by Poland's president Andrezj Duda to strip Jan Gross of his Polish honours due to remarks he had made on the country's role during the Holocaust.

Mr Duda’s efforts were seen as part of a broader campaign by governing Law and Justice party (PiS) to use the wrongs of the past to fend off criticism of the present.

Another example was connected to allegations that Lech Walesa, Poland’s legendary opposition leader before the collapse of the Iron Curtain, had been in fact a communist spy. Mr Walesa strongly rejected these allegations.

• Primary Source

Politico, 18.02.16: Wałęsa battles accusations of being communist informant http://www.politico.eu/article/walesa-informant-kaczynski-poland-solidarity/

ESO: Background information: Where is Poland headed? http://www.europeansources.info/record/where-is-poland-headed/

ESO: Background information: View from Poland: New government, new tone http://www.europeansources.info/record/view-from-poland-new-government-new-tone/

EurActiv, 29.02.16: Thousands back democracy icon Walesa at Polish rally http://www.euractiv.com/section/central-europe/news/thousands-back-democracy-icon-walesa-at-polish-rally/

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