President of the Republic of Poland
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The President of the Republic of Poland (Polish: Prezydent Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej) is the Polish Head of State. He or she is directly elected by the people to serve a term of five years. He can be reelected only once. His rights and obligations are determined by the Constitution of the Republic of Poland. In accordance with the current Constitution, the President of the Republic of Poland is the head of state, the supreme representative of Poland and the guarantor of the continuity of government and is prevented from holding office for more than two consecutive terms. This means that the President heads the executive authority, is appointed to represent Polish interests on the international arena, ensures the observance of the Constitution, and is responsible for the security of the state. The President calls elections to the Sejm and Senate. He has a right to dissolve the parliament when it fails to form a Council of Ministers or pass the budget act. He can (with the Senate's consent) call a national referendum in matters important for the state, requiring the decision of all the citizens.
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[edit] Powers
The President has a free choice in selecting the Prime Minister, yet in practice he usually does not give the task of forming a new government to a politician who does not command a majority in the Sejm.
The President has a right to initiate the legislative process. He also has the opportunity to directly influence it by using his veto to stop a bill; however, his veto can be overruled by a three-fifths majority vote in the presence of at least half of the statutory number of members of the Sejm (230). Before signing a bill into law, the President can also ask the Constitutional Tribunal to verify its compliance with the Constitution, which in practice bears a decisive influence on the legislative process.
In his role as supreme representative of the Polish state, the President ratifies and revokes international agreements, nominates and recalls ambassadors, and accepts the accreditations of representatives of other states. The President also makes decisions on the award of state distinctions and orders. In addition, he has the right of clemency, viz. he can dismiss final court verdicts (in practice, the President consults such decisions with the Minister of Justice).
The President is also the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces; he appoints the Chief of General Staff and the commanders of all the armed forces; in wartime he nominates the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and can order the general mobilization. The President performs his duties with the help of the following offices: the Chancellery of the President, the Office of National Security, and the Body of Advisors to the President.
[edit] Acting President of Poland
[edit] Former Presidents
Since former Presidents of Poland are for the most part well-known, public figures (quite often of celebrity status) each of them is entitled to lifetime personal protection (though only within state limits) by Biuro Ochrony Rządu officers, in addition to revieving a substantial pension and being given a private office.
As of 2007 four former Presidents of Poland are alive:
- Wojciech Jaruzelski (served 1989-1990, before 1989 he was Chairman of the State Council, also titular head of state, and President of People's Polish Republic until December 1989)
- Ryszard Kaczorowski (served 1989-1990), the last President in Exile
- Lech Wałęsa (served 1990-1995) - first president elected by direct vote
- Aleksander Kwaśniewski (served 1995-2005) - first President re-elected after first term
[edit] Additional information
[edit] Age upon entering office
- Lech Kaczyński - 56 year old
- Aleksander Kwaśniewski - 41 year old (youngest president)
- Lech Wałęsa - 47 year old
- Wojciech Jaruzelski - 66 year old
- Ryszard Kaczorowski - 70 year old
- Kazimierz Sabbat - 73 year old
- Edward Raczyński - 87 year old (oldest at time of entering and leaving)
- Stanisław Ostrowski - 79 year old
- August Zaleski - 63 year old
- Władysław Raczkiewicz - 54 year old
- Bolesław Bierut - 54 year old
- Ignacy Mościcki - 58 year old
- Stanisław Wojciechowski - 53 year old
- Gabriel Narutowicz - 57 year old
[edit] Other information
- Four Presidents died in office
- Gabriel Narutowicz (assassinated)
- Władysław Raczkiewicz (natural)
- August Zaleski (natural)
- Kazimierz Sabbat (natural)
- Four resigned from office
- Stanisław Ostrowski (after May Coup)
- Ignacy Mościcki (after he went into exile when German caused capture of the country)
- Wojciech Jaruzelski (resigned and agreed to short his term)
- Ryszard Kaczorowski (resigned after election of Lech Wałęsa, effectively abolished Government in Exile in favor to the new President)
- Three Presidents were elected by the direct vote
- Lech Wałęsa (elected in 1990, lost reelection in 1995)
- Aleksander Kwaśniewski (elected in 1995 and reelected in 2000)
- Lech Kaczyński (elected in 2005, incumbent)
- Following Presidents were elected by the Parliament
- Gabriel Naturowicz
- Stanisław Wojciechowski
- Ignacy Mościcki
- Bolesław Bierut
- Wojciech Jaruzelski
- Following Presidents were not elected (by Parliament nor direct vote), but appointed (all in exile)
- Władysław Raczkiewicz
- August Zaleski
- Stanisław Ostrowski
- Edward Raczyński
- Kazimierz Sabbat
- Ryszard Kaczorowski
[edit] See also
- Polish presidential elections of 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005
- Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland
- List of Polish presidents
- List of Polish monarchs
- Lists of incumbents
- Naczelnik państwa
[edit] Fictional presidents
- President Julian Szczęsny (played by Andrzej Seweryn) - President in Polish political drama TV series Ekipa. By the end of season one he died after injuries result by shot down his helicopter over Kabul during a visit
- Acting President Jan Matajewicz (played by Marek Frąckowiak) - also in Ekipa, a leader of major right-wing party and close ally to Szczęsny briefly assumed, as Sejm Marshal, presidential duties after his death. He resigned after became a suspect in criminal case
- President Bartosz Czop (played by Andrzej Grabowski) - populist President in 19th meridian (19. południk). Said to be modeled on Andrzej Lepper
- Outgoing President Kazimierz Czechmeszyński (played by Jan Machulski) - also in 19th meridian
[edit] External links
- President of Poland Official Websitecv:Польша президенчĕсен списокĕ
cs:Prezident Polska da:Polske præsidenter de:Liste der Präsidenten Polens fr:Liste des présidents de la Pologne ko:폴란드의 대통령 id:Presiden Polandia it:Presidenti della Polonia lv:Polijas prezidenti nl:Lijst van presidenten van Polen ja:ポーランドの大統領一覧 pl:Prezydent Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej ru:Список президентов Польши vi:Tổng thống Cộng hòa Ba Lan zh:波兰总统列表
