Hanna Suchocka

Biographical Information
"Hanna Suchocka was Prime Minister of Poland in 1992-1993, and has been highly active in many national and international organizations during the last decade. She became a member of Solidarity in 1980, since when she has been actively involved in the political life of Poland on many levels, including Minister of Justice. She currently serves as Poland's Ambassador to the Vatican.

"Hanna Suchocka was Prime Minister of Poland in 1992-1993, having entered politics in 1980 when she joined Solidarity and became a legal adviser to the Solidarity trade union. In 1980 she also joined the Sejm (Parliament) as a member of the Democratic Party, which was then affiliated with the Communist Party. In 1981 she opposed the imposition of martial law and in 1984, after voting against a law banning Solidarity, she was expelled from the Democratic Party. Following the fall of communism, she was elected again to Parliament in 1989 and 1991. In 1992 was elected Poland´s first female Prime Minister, serving until 1993. During her 15-months in office she helped guide post-Communist Poland towards democracy and a successful free-enterprise economy.

"While in Parliament, she was Member of the Committee for Foreign Affairs and the Constitutional Committee of the National Assembly (1991-1997); Member of the Polish Delegation for the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe 1991-1992 and 1994-1997; and Member of the Venice Commission "Democracy through Law" 1990-present. She was re-elected Member of the Parliament of Poland and Union for Freedom Parliamentary Caucus in 1997. In 1997 she was also named Minister of Justice and Attorney General. In 1995 she was Member of the Board of Governors of the European Cultural Foundation in Amsterdam and from 1996 to 1997 she was Chair of the Polish-Ukrainian Forum. "

Affiliations

 * Senior Fellow, Gorbachev Foundation of North America
 * International Advisory Board, New Atlantic Initiative

Related Sourcewatch

 * Aleksander Smolar