Still divisive

THE fourth anniversary of the Smolensk disaster, which claimed the lives of Lech Kaczynski, the Polish president, his wife and dozens of others from Poland’s political, military and civil elite is fast approaching.

One would assume that, with nearly four years passing since that black day on April 10th 2010, attitudes towards Kaczynski have softened. He may have been a controversial and divisive president, but his life was cut short in tragic circumstances. Therefore he might deserve the respect granted generally to democratic politicians who die in office.

Yet in death, as in life, Kaczynski still divides.

This is most evident when it comes to memorials for Kaczynski. In towns and cities across the country, whenever someone moots the idea of raising a statue, naming a street or square in his honour a battle commences between his still fervent supporters and his equally energetic critics. That battle also runs along the party lines that dictated so much of the political discourse in Poland when the president was alive.

This year in the central city of Lodz arguments have raged after the council voted to erect a...Continue reading