NID: POLAND: ROUNDTABLE ACCORDS SIGNED

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: The Collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe: A 30-Year Legacy
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06826736
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: November 26, 2019
• Document Release Date: December 10, 2019
• Publication Date: April 6, 1989

Approved for Release: 2019/10/29 C06826736
To r
Special Analysis
POLAND: Roundtable Accords Signed
The Roundtable accords signed yesterday by Solidarity and the Warsaw
government that legalize Solidarity and allow significant participation
by the opposition in parliament leave each side with difficult
commitments to keep and formalize only general agreement on the goals
of painful economic reform. The failure of the official union (OPZZ) to
sign a controversial wage-indexation formula may presa e a battle over
Solidarity's power and influence in Poland's factories.
Solidarity is touting major achievements like the legalization of free
unions, important access to the media, a liberal freedom of
associations bill, and a new freely elected chamber in parliament. "Fhe
regime hopes its concessions, particularly the parliamentary election
in June, will give it legitimacy and increase support for austerity
measures. The government also believes it will remain the ultimate
political power because of a powerful new presidency and its
continued hold over the state economy, security services, and the
original chamber of parliament. Warsaw, moreover, feels that
stability will be enhanced if such a dialogue facilitates the historic
agreement on the church's legal status and an exchange of
ambassadors with the Vatican. The opposition and the regime are
alm in to make a joint appeal for Western economic aid.
Opposition to the Agreements
Opposition to the new agreements, however, is rowin
Walesa believes the outcome is a major step toward democracy and
powersharing. He will try to persuade union skeptics and workers to
accept the deal because it leaves the opposition ell-placed to
demand a role in future economic policy making. Walesa probably is
confident that Poland's continuing economic cris; s will allow the
covinued
"rtyr-Sgslet
ICS 27794.�
6 April 1939
30 4 8
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Key Points of Roundtable Agreements
Solidarity, Rural Solidarity, and the Independent Students Union are legalized.
� Solidarity may have given up right to strike unilaterally during next two years.
Creates 100-seat upper chamber of parliament:
� To be elected in June.
� Can veto lower house legislation but subject to 66-percent overrule by lower house.
Lower house of parliament to be comprised of:
� 35 percent are opposition members.
� 38 percent are Communi it Party members.
� 22 percent are members of pro-Communist alliance parties.
� 5 percent are members of pro-Communist Catholic parties.
Creates presidency with powers to:
� Nominate or dismiss prime minister,
� Dissolve parliament.
� Veto legislation.
� Will bc elected by both houses of parliament for six-year term.
Eases restrictions on associations and political ch.:)-s
Will allow Solidarity a national daily newspaper andrnodest uncensored TV and radio time.
Agreement only on broad economic goals; implementation left to further discussion.
TCS 2779/89
6 April 1989
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--Trtr-fierief
opposition to attack even bastions of the party's power like its control
over the selection of enterprise managers as the price for supporting
austerity measures. Impatient workers, however, are likely to threaten
job actions unless they also get guarantees of action to deal with
economic hardships and dislocations: widespread industrial unrest
could still derail the June election and prompt party hardliners to try
to negate the agreements.
Next Steps for the Regime
The regime must convince party hardliners that it has regained the
political initiative; is making pragmatic, tactical adjustments; and has
not wandered onto the slippery slope of powersharing. Although the
regime can cajole party officials into formally accepting the accords,
it too must worry that hostile local party and official union bosses will
sabotage understandings reached in Warsaw on such issues as
Solidarity's role in the factories. The regime already has failed to keep
self-imposed reform pledges like its promise to stop bailing out
insolvent party-managed state firms, and it will continue to have
difficulty delivering on its pledges.
-ThirSeepet�_
15
6USU
'WS 27 79/89
6 April 1989
Approved for Release: 2019/10/29 C06826736