Bronisław Komorowski

Bronisław Komorowski served as the fifth president of the Third Polish Republic, holding office from 2010 to 2015. His political career spanned decades of transformative change in Poland, beginning with his early involvement in democratic movements and culminating in his election as head of state after previously serving as Minister of National Defence and Marshal of the Sejm.

Early Life and Dissident Roots

Born in Oborniki Śląskie in 1952, Komorowski studied history at the University of Warsaw, graduating in 1977. During the era of the Polish People's Republic, he engaged in underground publishing and collaborated on the monthly journal Głos. His activism led to a one-month prison sentence in 1980 for organizing a demonstration. He later contributed to the Centre of Social Investigation of the Solidarity movement and was interned during martial law.

THE FREE TEST

How high is yours?

Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.

Take the IQ test →

Parliamentary Career and Defence

Komorowski entered parliament in 1991, representing various liberal and conservative coalitions before joining the Civic Platform party in 2001. His legislative work focused heavily on national security. He served as the Minister of National Defence between 2000 and 2001. In 2007, he was elected Marshal of the Sejm, a position that placed him at the center of legislative proceedings during the 6th Sejm.

Presidency and Legacy

Following the death of President Lech Kaczyński in 2010, Komorowski assumed the role of acting president by virtue of his position as Marshal of the Sejm. He subsequently won the 2010 presidential election in a runoff. His term was marked by a lack of cohabitation, a rarity in his country's modern political history. He left office in 2015 following his defeat in the presidential election by Andrzej Duda.