Polish MPs arguing over Round Table commemoration

Politicians from the right-wing Solidarna Polska have blocked legislation that would commemorate 25th anniversary of Round Table talks, which are considered by many as the beginning of the end of the communist regime in Poland. The Sejm lower parliamentary house has been working on a resolution that would celebrate the anniversary and praised the results of the 1989 Round Table talks between the regime and Solidarity union. “Today, on the 25th anniversary of the start of the Round Table Talks and the start of a peaceful transition in our country, the Polish parliament congratulates the participants of the Round Table Talks, who paved the way for a free and democratic Poland.” reads the version of the draft which was intended to be approved during the next Sejm proceedings. However, Solidarna Polska MPs were not happy with the celebratory tone of the draft and voiced their concern. “We do not agree to the glorification of the Round Table Talks - we want to tell the truth about what happened 25 years ago,” said Patryk Jaki, a Solidarna Polska MP who claims that the talks led to “social exclusion, unemployment, poverty, the emigration of millions of Poles.” The Sejm wanted to approve the legislation in unison, just like it did five years ago, on the 20th anniversary of Round Table. Now, the draft will be send to one of the parliament’s committees for further deliberations. The Round Table Talks were held between 6 February 1989 and 4 April 1989, leading to Poland's first democratic elections after the end of World War II. /jc/jb