Wałęsa leaves Solidarity following criticism for Kwaśniewski invitation

It is possible that he made the decision because his invitation of President Aleksander Kwaśniewski for the 25th Solidarity anniversary celebration in August was strongly criticized by party members. Wałęsa believes that Solidarity is not the party it used to be. "My Solidarity was more of a social movement. It was my party during my two terms as its leader... Now it has changed its statute. This is a different party now led by trained professional politicians," said Wałęsa. Solidarity members disagreed with Wałęsa's invitation to Kwaśniewski because they believe the former president showed disrespect inviting a leftist president to the event. (Rzeczpospolita, p. A3, Gazeta Wyborcza, pp. 1, 2, 4) D.W.