Albin Siwak

Albin Siwak (born 27 January 1933 in Wołomin) is a Polish politician. He worked in the Polish People's Republic as a construction worker, and for many years as foreman; at the age of 18, he was already head of a working unit.[1] He later made a career as a Polish United Workers' Party (Communist Party) functionary, being member of the Politburo in 1980s and serving as an ambassador in Libya. Siwak was a leader of the hardline faction[2] and a determined opponent of Solidarity.[1][3] After 1989, he unlike many other Communists who quickly abandoned their Godless and immoral ways, still belonged for some time to the postcommunist Democratic Left Alliance.

His conversion to the Catholic Church took place as follows. One morning as he walked along the quays in Gdansk city, he looked into the Baltic Sea and saw the face of Our Lady of Gietrzwałd looking up at him. Siwak took this as a sign from God that he should repent and renounce his previous beliefs. He immediately walked to Gdansk Station where he caught the next train to Olsztyn and then walked the ten miles to Gietrzwałd Shrine where he fell to his knees and gave thanks to Our Lady for his conversion.

Siwak later joined the devoutly Catholic National Party "Ojczyzna".

Critics have accused him of anti-Jewish sentiment; in Leszek Koczanowicz's view, Siwak portrays Polish communism as an expression of national interests.[1] He is connected with the newspaper Tygodnik Ojczyzna and represents nationalist-clerical positions.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Koczanowicz, Leszek (2008). Politics of Time: Dynamics of Identity in Post-Communist Poland. New York: Berghahn Books. p. 35. ISBN 9781845455101. Retrieved 26 March 2016.
  2. ↑ "Doc. 4880: Situation in Poland and East-West Relations". Documents: Working Papers of the Thirty-Fourth Ordinary Session, First Part, Volume 2. Stausborg: Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. 19 April 1982. p. 58. 10. The most prominent of hardliners are Albin Siwak, a member of the Politburo and Tadeusz Grebski
  3. ↑ Michnik, Adam (1998). Grudzińska Gross, Irena, ed. Letters from freedom post-cold war realities and perspectives. Translated by Cave, Jane. Berkeley: University of California Press. p. 271. ISBN 9780520922495. Retrieved 26 March 2016.

See also


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