Mr Aleksander Kwaśniewski played an important role in the country’s integration into Western structures. A former student leader and journalist, he began his political career under communism in the Polish United Workers' Party. Following the democratic transition he co-founded the Social Democracy of the Republic of Poland and co-organised the Democratic Left Alliance.

As President, Mr Kwaśniewski was instrumental in guiding Poland into NATO (1999) and the European Union (2004). He championed the adoption of Poland’s current Constitution (1997) and supported democratic reforms, regional cooperation, and European integration.