Former President of Poland, Lech Wałęsa

​On September 6, 2025, I had the opportunity to hear the former president of Poland, Lech Wałęsa, give a lecture in Oakland, California and get a book signed by him. Barbara Lee, the mayor of Oakland, introduced Wałęsa. Wałęsa, who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1983, was an activist and union leader who started the Solidarity movement in his country. In my humble opinion, Wałęsa reminds me of Brazil's dynamic current leader, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, a union leader who became president. Some of Wałęsa’s most interesting viewpoints were his high regard for Bill Clinton and his belief that Clinton should receive the Nobel Peace Prize. Wałęsa’s comments on Ukraine’s nuclear disarmament for peace and Russia’s subsequent destruction of Ukraine were distressing. Wałęsa spoke of the confrontational attitude the countries surrounding Russia must face from Vladimir Putin; there is much tension. Wałęsa urges nations to recognize that they cannot solve all their problems alone and need global assistance.   
Moreover, Wałęsa discussed his political ideology by identifying fifteen global issues that all nations must address and emphasizing the need for shared values among them. In Europe, Wałęsa strongly believes that economic systems can unite countries and praises the Euro. He advocates for open borders in Europe and believes a common currency can facilitate this goal. Wałęsa feels Europe is heading in the right direction and particularly approves of France and Germany's current stances. Additionally, Wałęsa states that without the United States, the world cannot be saved; therefore, the United States plays a crucial role in maintaining global peace. He warns that the world could be destroyed if the United States regresses. Wałęsa notes that the global political climate is full of populists and demagogues. Regarding the media, Wałęsa jokes that people used to trust politicians before the rise of media influence. Wałęsa sees communism as a system that looks promising but cannot be practically implemented, and capitalism as a system that appears flawed but is achievable. As President, Wałęsa moved Poland away from communism and built a democratic capitalist society; he believes he saved his country by breaking free from Russia. Lastly, Wałęsa believes that the current leader of Russia, Vladimir Putin, has united the entire world against him through his actions.