President-in-Exile Slighted By Communist Vetting Process

Ryszard Kaczorowski, the last president of the Polish government-in-exile and an honorary citizen of Gdansk, has refused to sign a document to the effect that he did not collaborate with the communist era security services.

According to a new law, the signing of the document is obligatory for members of the state-run Council for the Protection of Remembrance of Struggle and Martyrdom, for which he has been nominated.

President Kaczorowski, who has lived in England since the war, is already a member of the council, but he has now been put forward for a second term.

However, he feels that having to sign the document is an insult to his honour. As a pillar of the emigre community for over 50 years (Kaczorowski will be 90 later this month), he has the reputation of being a staunch anti-communist.

Referring to the post-war era, he told Polish TV channel TVP: "During the time in question I was in exile in London and had no contact with the secret services."

Prime Minister Tusk seems to have grasped the irony, and it appears that he is waiving the law in Kaczorowski's favour.