# Wałęsa becomes President (1990)

URL: https://poland-history.com/timeline/1990-walesa-becomes-president
Location: Warsaw
Categories: main-event

Lech Wałęsa, winner of the first direct presidential election, was sworn in. The last President-in-exile, Ryszard Kaczorowski, handed him the pre-war presidential insignia. Within the broader Third Republic period: Democratic Poland transformed its economy, joined NATO and the European Union and became one of Europe's leading states, while confronting new security challenges on its eastern border. At this point in the timeline (22 December 1990), the governing authority was Lech Wałęsa (President of Poland). Solidarity leader and 1983 Nobel Peace laureate; first popularly elected President of Poland. Wałęsa becomes President mattered because it altered the structure of power and the direction of Polish statehood. The event is placed here so readers can follow it alongside changes in government, warfare, society, religion and culture across Polish history.

## Why it matters
Wałęsa becomes President mattered because it altered the structure of power and the direction of Polish statehood.

Ruler at the time: [Lech Wałęsa](https://poland-history.com/rulers/lech-walesa)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — 1990 Polish presidential election](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1990_Polish_presidential_election)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — Wałęsa becomes President](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Wa%C5%82%C4%99sa+becomes+President)
- [Wikipedia — History of Poland (1989–present) (period overview)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Poland_(1989%E2%80%93present))