In the spotlight: Antoni Macierewicz
The ultra-Catholic PiS politician will take the position of Deputy Minister of Defense responsible for the liquidation of the Military Intelligence Services (WSI).
Macierewicz has spent the last few years establishing new political parties only to later break them up. His last undertaking, the Patriotic Movement, failed to make it to the Sejm in last year's elections, winning just 1.05 percent of votes.
Much like the Kaczyński twins, Macierewicz has a bonafide past in the anti-communist movement to rely on. He played an active part in the student protests of 1968 as a scout leader, and encouraged strong patriotism among his charges.
Later, he gained recognition as co-founder of the Committee for Protecting the Workers (KOR), which he founded with such underground legends as Adam Michnik (the current editor-in-chief of Gazeta Wyborcza) and Jacek Kuroń. The organization was formed after the 1976 anti-communist riots to help arrested workers and their families. During the Solidarity period Macierewicz co-founded the organization's Warsaw branch. After the imposition of Martial Law he was arrested, but managed to escape from prison.
Between 1991 and 1992 he served as Minister of Internal Affairs and became famous for publishing a disputed list of alleged agents, the 'Macierewicz list' - among the alleged former agents was President Lech Wałęsa.
