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Former Polish President and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Lech Wałęsa, calls for systemic changes to safeguard democracy and avoid the rise of populist leaders.
Lech Wałęsa, former President of Poland and key figure in the country’s fight for democracy, acknowledged in an exclusive interview with Euronews that generational mistakes have been made, but solutions are beginning to emerge. Despite having been out of office for nearly three decades, Wałęsa remains deeply connected to the political realities of Poland and the world. In recent years, defending democracy has become a key focus for the former leader.”Look at what’s happening around the world today—Trump, France, Germany. What conclusion should our generation draw? We need to improve democracy because people no longer believe in it or defend it,” Wałęsa emphasized.The former president believes that elected officials should be subject to recall and that the financing of political parties and politicians must be fully transparent. “This generation should prioritize these three points in all political programs. Only then can we restore faith in democracy and ensure its defence. If not, populist demagogues will set our world on fire,” Wałęsa warned.Wałęsa expressed concern over the current state of democracy, asserting that many countries are still functioning under outdated political systems. He called for the development of new systems that reflect the changing global landscape. “The state construct we know ended at the close of the 20th century. Democracy, as we understand it, was finished at the end of the 19th century. What does the Left or the Right mean today? These are outdated concepts that no longer suit our times.”According to Wałęsa, the new generation’s task is to redefine the world and reignite trust in democracy. He emphasized the need for public discourse and new ideas to emerge from these conversations.Concerns Over Ukraine’s FutureWhen discussing the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Wałęsa voiced concern about a potential bad compromise being forced upon Kyiv after agreeing to the American ceasefire terms. “Ukraine is defending itself against Russian aggression, but what it’s doing is also a civilizational choice. What Russia and even Trump represent is regression—a backward step in development,” Wałęsa said.He also expressed the view that peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia would not be enough to bring lasting change. “Even if we help Ukraine win today, Russia will rise again in ten to fifteen years if we don’t help them change their political system,” he warned. For Wałęsa, the key to long-term stability lies in building a civil society in Russia.Wałęsa also pointed out that the West, at times, played a role in driving Russian President Vladimir Putin’s aggressive stance. “There was a moment when Putin was on the right track. But the way the world treated him as a ‘bandit’ pushed him in the wrong direction,” he noted, adding that assessments of world leaders should be nuanced. “We need to be careful with our judgments and first consider what we are doing ourselves.”The former president outlined three principles that he believes could help stabilize political life and governance. Wałęsa argued that politicians should be limited to two terms in office to prevent the concentration of power. Drawing a parallel with Russia, he said, “It’s not Putin or Stalin—it’s the political system that breeds authoritarianism. Russia is a beautiful country, it just has a bad political system.”The Danger of Arms and Weapons DevelopmentIn line with his belief in peaceful solutions, Wałęsa criticized the arms race, including the development of nuclear weapons, as a path that leads to destructive outcomes. While acknowledging the need for effective defense mechanisms, he cautioned against the temptation to attack. “If we continue down this road, we will all lose. The only reason to defend ourselves is to create space for reflection and systemic changes. Without this, there will be no winners. We will all be defeated,” Wałęsa concluded.
