Lech Walesa, Poland’s 80-year-old former president and Nobel Peace Prize winner, has been hospitalized due to a severe case of COVID-19. Despite being under good care at a Gdansk hospital, Walesa is seriously ill. This is not his first encounter with the virus, as he had previously contracted it. Walesa’s journey began in 1980, when he was 37 years old and started the pro-democracy Solidarity movement.
The movement, which originated as a labor dispute in the Gdansk shipyard, ultimately led to the peaceful ouster of communism from Poland in 1989. This event inspired other Eastern European countries to break free from Soviet domination. Walesa’s efforts did not go unnoticed, and in 1983, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his contribution to peaceful revolution and human rights. From 1990 to 1995, he served as Poland’s first popularly elected president, a testament to his lasting influence on Polish politics.
Polish president Lech Walesa (Via Lech Walesa/Twitter)
As Walesa fights COVID-19, his Facebook page remains active, with a recent post showing him in a hospital bed wearing an oxygen mask, accompanied by a caption that reads “I have been hit by Covid.” As Poland’s iconic leader and Nobel laureate, Walesa’s health and well-being are closely monitored by many around the world. Walesa’s struggle with COVID-19 serves as a poignant reminder of his commitment to human rights and peaceful revolution, as well as the lasting impact of his legacy on global politics. Despite his illness, Walesa’s reputation as a champion of democracy and human rights remains unwavering, inspiring countless individuals around the world.
