Walesa will not run for Polish presidency

10/06/2005 - 10:32:36
Solidarity founder and former Polish President Lech Walesa said he will not run for presidency in the upcoming elections, the Slovakian Sme newspaper reported today.

Walesa was Poland’s first popularly-elected president in 1990-95, after Poland shed communism in 1989, largely thanks to the Solidarity movement.

He told the newspaper he was most likely not running. Previously, the ex-president said he would consider running if there was a strong platform to present to voters.

Presidential elections in Poland, one of the European Union’s 10 newest members, are scheduled for this October.