Lech Walesa says he is ready to run for president again - just in case

Solidarity legend and former president Lech Walesa said that he would run in the 2005 presidential elections. "I want to be ready if the nation found itself in a bad situation," said Walesa. "I can be rejected but I need to be available. This is my role, otherwise they will say that I didn't want to, that I did not have any policies ready," he added. After becoming President in 1990, Walesa lost the 1995 elections to Aleksander Kwasniewski, but by only a very small margin of votes. However, two years ago, he ran again, this time receiving just 1.01% of support. When asked whether this dis appointing result will not mean that by running again he is putting himself up for unfavorable reactions, he responded: "Yes I am putting myself up on purpose, because I don't care if I win - I care for the cause." (Zycie, p.4; Rzeczpospolita, p. A3) T.J.