Lech+Kaczynski

Lech Kaczynski was the fourth president of Poland from 2005 to 2010. While in office, Lech handled many foreign affairs and domestic policies. His two main goals were to strengthen ties with the United States, while still having relations with other European countries. For five years, President Kaczynski devoted his life and work to making Poland a thriving nation. But in 2010, Lech was involved in an incident that would cause him to end his presidency, and leave Polish citizens in tears.

Lech Aleksander Kaczynski was born on June 18th, 1949 in the city of Warsaw, Poland. He was the son of Rajmund, a veteran of the Polish Uprising. During his childhood, he starred in a 1962 Polish Film called,”The Two Who Stole The Moon”. He graduated from Warsaw University and in 1980 was awarded his PhD by Gdansk University. After completing his habilitation in Labour and Employment Law in 1990, He took professional positions at Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University in Warsaw. At his inauguration, he stated several goals he would try to accomplish during his presidency. Many internal affairs included increasing the social solidarity in Poland, fighting corruption, providing economic security, and to help those affected by communist crimes. President Kaczynski wanted to have a tangible partnership with the Ukraine and more cooperation with Georgia and Azerbaijan. The country of Israel also admired him, because Lech promoted educating Polish youth about the Holocaust. However, in 2006 Poland vetoed the partnership of EU-Russia due to talks of banning Polish meat and plant products in Russia.

Lech Kaczynski was married to Maria Kaczynski in 1978. They had a daughter named Marta Kaczynska-Dubieniecka, and two granddaughters. His brother, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the former Prime Minister of Poland. But sadly on April 10, 2010, The family, Poland, and Polish citizens all around the world would feel heavy and silent. On that day, a Tupolev Tu-154 plane was flying to Smolensk Air Base in Russia. On board was President Kaczynski and his wife, along with his presidential staff. The area surrounding the base was very foggy with visibility down to 1,600 feet. The pilots had misheard the controllers at the base, and began descending through the fog too early. About 12 miles west of the airport, President Kaczynski's plane struck trees, and rolled upside down before crash landing in the forest below. The 7 crew and all 89 passengers died including the President and his wife. On April 11, 2010, President Kaczynski's body along with his wife’s was flown back to Warsaw. After a Catholic mass at St. Mary’s Basilica, the presidential couple were laid to rest in a crypt under the Tower of SIlver Bells Beneath Wawel Cathedral.