Mieczysław Rakowski
This article needs additional citations for verification. (November 2008) |
Mieczysław Rakowski | |
---|---|
Deputy Prime Minister | |
In office 12 February 1981 – 12 November 1985 | |
President | Henryk Jabłoński |
Personal details | |
Born | Poznań Voivodeship, Poland | 1 December 1926
Died | 8 November 2008 Warsaw, Poland | (aged 81)
Political party | Polish United Workers' Party |
Spouse | Elżbieta Kępińska |
Occupation | Historian, Journalist |
Mieczysław Franciszek Rakowski (Polish: [mʲeˈt͡ʂɨswaf raˈkɔfskʲi] ⓘ; 1 December 1926 – 8 November 2008) was a Polish communist politician, historian and journalist who was Prime Minister of Poland from 1988 to 1989. He served as the seventh and final First Secretary of the Polish United Workers' Party from 1989 to 1990.
Career
Rakowski was born in a peasant family, operated a lathe as a teenager.[1] He served as an officer in the Polish People's Army from 1945 to 1949. He began his political career in 1946 as a member of the Polish Workers' Party, and from 1948 to 1990 he was a member of the communist Polish United Workers' Party (PZPR), serving on its Central Committee from 1975 to 1990.
He received a doctorate in history from
Rakowski was also known as one of the founders and, from 1958 to 1982, first deputy and then chief editor of the weekly newspaper Polityka, one of the most influential publications at the time (Polityka continues to exist and is regarded by many[who?] as the most prestigious weekly in Poland).[2] Today[when?] some people[who?] still remember him as a journalist and editor rather than a politician.
Rakowski was involved in the Communist government during suppression of the Solidarity movement. He also played a part in the Polish transformation from state socialism to market capitalism, as his Communist-led government was forced to reform and he was one of the key players in the Polish Round Table Agreements.[3]
Prior to becoming Prime Minister, he had been divorced from the violinist Wanda Wiłkomirska, with whom he had two sons.
He died on 8 November 2008 from cancer in Warsaw at the age of 81.[4] He was buried at the Powązki Military Cemetery in Warsaw.[5]
References
- ^ ISBN 9780385515696.
- ISBN 978-1-134-20801-2. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
- ^ Operacja "okrągłego stołu", interview with Filip Musiał, interia.pl, June 5, 2008 Archived June 13, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Martin, Douglas (11 November 2008). "Mieczyslaw Rakowski, Poland’s Last Communist Premier, Dies at 81". The New York Times.
- ^ "We wtorek pogrzeb Mieczysława Rakowskiego". Wprost. 17 November 2008. Retrieved 14 December 2022.