Poland's last Communist Leader - The enigmatic figure of General W. Jaruzelski

General Wojciech Jaruzelski has died today, 25th May 2014.

He has definitively been a central figure in the recent Polish history, especially in the transition to democracy.

It is difficult to judge the life of Jaruzelski, considering his political and military decisions in the decades between 60s and 80s.

He started his military career very early and in 1945, when he was just 22, he participated in military takeover of Warsaw and in the battle of Berlin, being part of the Polish Army. After joining Communist Party, he developed his career quickly, becoming Minister of Defense in 1968. As Minister, he ordered to occupy Czechoslovakia in August 1968. Moreover, he constantly opposed a strong repression of Polish striking workers. 

Probably the darkest period of Jaruzelski's career was during the proclamation of martial law in 1981, few months later becoming Prime Minister. The aim of the martial law was to suppress Solidarnosc, but Jaruzelski has often justified his decision in order to avoid the invasion from Soviet troops in Poland, a country that was becoming dangerous for the stability of the Soviet area. Anyway an hypothetic Soviet plan to invade Poland has never been discosed.

Jaruzelski has played a central role in the transition to democracy of Poland.  Thanks to the new political view of Gorbaciev, in 1989 negotiations were held in the famous roundtable talks with democratic forces. The agreements resulted completely changed Polish political system, with the recognition of Solidarnosc as legal organization and with a new institutional structure.

Even if Jaruzelski was able to win the Presidential elections in 1989, without the support of Solidarnosc he decided to resign.

What to believe about his political life? Was he a completely negative figure in the Polish history, or he really facilitated the Polish transition to democracy?

Two facts are objective. First, Poland has never been invaded from Sovietic Army since the end of the II World War. Even if the role held by Jaruzelsky is not clear, Poland didn’t have a similar destiny as Hungary and Czechoslovakia.

Secondly, the end of Communism in Poland was peaceful and without any division. Even if Solidarnosc was a strong movement and also Vatican was an important actor, also the Communist political leadership understood the situation and facilitated the transition.

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Waiting for EU Elections: the advance of Eurosceptical Parties

The European Elections 2014 are coming. Between the 22^nd and 25^th of May, the citizens of the 28 Eu States will have to choose the new 751 members of the European Parliament. It will be the 8^th Election of the Parliament and the first after the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty.

Eu Parliament in Strasbourg

The contest of this Elections is well known. The Economic Crisis and especially the austerity held by Eu Institutions has strongly degreased the public approval of the European Leadership. For this reason, it seems very probable an affirmation of Eurosceptical Parties in many Countries.

The website Electio2014.eu gives updated projections about the electoral intentions of vote in Europe. In three Countries, France, Uk and Czeck Republic, the Eurosceptics could become the first political force, but the situation in other Nations has to be monitored too. Let's have an overview.

In France, Front National leaded by Marine Le Pen, is accredited by the 23% of votes, whilst the UMP and Parti Socialiste should reach the 21% and the 17% respectively. In Uk the Uk Indipendence Party (UKIP) could win the elections with the 31% of votes, against the Labour  (28%) and the Conservatives (22%).

Moreover, also in Italy there is an important Eurosceptical force that could reach a great result in the next elections, the Movimento Cinque Stelle. This Party has got the 25% of votes (third political force) in the 2013 national elections and this time could reach the 24%, becoming the second force after the Partito Democratico.

In Eastern Europe, it must be pointed out the situation in Czech Republic and Hungary. In the first Country, another Eurosceptical Party could win, the Action of Dissatisfied Citizens, with the 24% of votes. In Hungary, after the impressive victory of the conservative forces at the last national elections of April 2014 (NotonlyEurope - Hungarian Elections 2014), there could be another affirmation of Fidesz and Jobbik: they could get together the 65% of the votes.

Special attention should also be given to Greece. SYRIZA, the Coalition of the Radical Left, could become the first political force with the 27% of votes, overtaking the Prime Minister Party Nea Democratia, attested at 25%.

A question can be finally posed: could be a real drama the victory of this Eurosceptical Parties in many Countries?

Two points should be consider to answer: first, the two major forces will be again the Party of European Socialists and the European People's Party. They will compete for the designation of the President of the Eu Commission and will play a central role in the next European  Legislature.

Second, the advance of Euroscepticism could represent an opportunity for a deep reflection about the European Union: why we are part of this Entity, what we have created in the last 60 years and what we can achieve in the future. Maybe this time, the debates should be less rhetorical and more realistic. European citizens have the right to know better what European Union is, considering not only the costs, but also the advantages.

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Waiting for Eu Elections: why has Euro been adopted?

Euro, the official currency of 18 members of European Union, is constantly at the center of the public debate since it has been adopted the 1st January 2002.

Especially in the last years, a large part of the public opinion has pointed Euro as the source of all the problems and weaknesses of the European economy.The question at the base of every discussion about Euro is apparently very simple: is Euro an advantage or a load for European Countries? 

Everyone can answer to this question in a very different way and from different points of view. But there is another question, important as well, not everybody can answer to: why has Euro been adopted?

On the website of the European Commission some benefits of a common currency are reported:

More choice and stable prices for consumers and citizens

Greater security and more opportunities for businesses and markets

Improved economic stability and growth

More integrated financial markets

A stronger presence for the EU in the global economy

A tangible sign of a European identity

Moreover, from a technical point of view, at the end of 80s it was clear that building a European single market without a common currency was absolutely impossible. 

History provides the evidence of that. For example, till the unification in 1870, Italy was divided in several small Countries, each one with its own currency. Only after the unification, under a unique currency, the economic integration has been able to grow up. And could we imagine the same economic power of USA, if there were 50 different currencies?

Obviously Eu economic governance doesn’t work well. It is evident to everyone. But it is also true that National Governments very often transfer their responsibilities on Euro, hiding their faults and their weaknesses.

Finally, today travelling from Warsaw to Budapest requires using four different currencies and imply losing money for each transaction. Can we really imagine to crystallize this situation also in the future?

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