France has too much freedom: Lech Walesa

VIENNA, Aug 30, 2006 (AFP) - Poland's former president and legendary head of the Solidarity union, Lech Walesa, hailed the role played by the country's current political leaders, the twin brothers Lech and Jaroslaw Kaczynski, within the European Union as a counterpoint to the "French model".

In an interview to appear Thursday in the Austrian daily Der Standard, Walesa said that "the French model, which is based on freedom, has not been effective and is bad. (But) if there did not exist people like Lech and Jaroslaw Kaczynski, that is what would be chosen" for the future of the EU.

"France has built an open society, inviting Africans and Arabs to its country, building mosques, and not churches. And
after there was fire in the streets," the conservative former head of state and Nobel peace laureate said.

"You have to thank God there exist people like the Kaczynskis."

The attitude of the new Polish government dominated by President Lech Kaczynski, and his twin, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the new prime minister, has raised concerns within the EU, especially regarding their positions in favor of the death penalty, opposition to homosexuality and alleged anti-Semitism.

<snip>

Asked about Poland's controversial ultra-Catholic Radio Marija, Walesa said he supported about 95 percent of its programmes and that he never heard anti-Semitic remarks on the station.

http://www.expatica.com/source/site_article.asp?subchannel_id=25&story_id=32698&name=France+has+too+much+freedom%3A+Lech+Walesa


It's sad to see what Lech Walesa has become.

what a nutbar

immigration policies, it does appear that Walesa has taken a hard turn to the ultra-right.

we have illegal immigration, that's the problem. Like in the US, like other European countries. We are no more "lax" than the others (compare for example with Spain/Italy). Walesa has ALWAYS been a Catholic fundie, no special turn here. But that was "OK" when he fought the communists...

now you're just an old crank. Please shut up before you tarnish your legacy completely.

Ted, to be exact.

He always was a proto fascist. Hero at one time.

:sarcasm:

freedom to improve the welfare of our citizens.... aah those pinko liberal French...

You beat me to it!

I've been noticing it for the last several yrs.

seems the neo cons have invaded

the Polish media must be in on it as I haven't read/ or heard a peep out of the Polish public on their country going over to the dark side.

some precisions Mr Walesa

#1 we don't "invite" people more than they need asylum, immigrate legally, have the right to regroup as families etc... besides only half of these immigrants come from Africa/North Africa, the other half from the rest of the world. One third of the immigrants are Europeans, among them plenty of Poles for some strange reason.

#2 the State doesn't build mosques or churches, it's FORBIDDEN in law. Mosques are built with the money collected by the Muslim associations. Funding from outside has been regulated, so the mosques don't become "property"of the Saudis etc... There are about 1500 mosques in France and most of them are simple rooms of prayer. Only 13 have the size and the exterior appearance of a church.. Compare with the 45000 Catholic churches.

#3 The French state pumps in millions of euros for the reparation of churches, not as places of cult, but as historic monuments. It applies to any historic monument, whatever the religion may be. There are 45 000 catholic churches in France, 2000 temples, 280 synagogues, 150 pagods and 130 orthodox churches.

Since 1905, 144 catholic churches have been abandoned and 2014 built

http://www.quid.fr/2006/Religions/Statistiques_En_France/1

#4 the rioting in the streets was caused by a lack of integration, unemployment and poverty. Basically those people asked to be MORE French and not to be more "muslim". The causes have NOTHING to do with religion.

Mr Walesa you are a fucking hypocrit bigot liar and should shove your Nobel Prize up your ass.

That's the "Poland" like yours we want to forget.

And thank you for some actual French perspective/facts. I agree, Walesa should have his Nobel Prize revoked (or shoved up his ass, if you like).

1500 "against" 45000 !!!! Besides there is freedom of religion in France, a thing that Walesa doesn't understand.
So if Muslims want to build mosques, it's perfectly alright. And they do it without a penny from the State. Only one or two, the oldest get probably some reparation money, but as historic monuments. Because they are part of OUR country's heritage, which involves people of many races and religions.

Try to build a mosque in Poland today !!!!!!!!!!

avec votre esprit cartésien ! Walesa avait déjà des tendances fasco et

autoritaires pendant le mouvement Solidarnösc il y a 25 ans. Cela n'a fait

que s'accentuer avec l'âge. Vive la vrai solidarité des français ! SG

Kissinger and Arafat got Nobel Peace Prizes too, so obviously being a hypocrite and a liar aren't disqualifications.

He is really a fascist Pilsudski-loving (Poland's Mussolini) politician. He is no democrat in any sense. Poland would be better off had no never risen to any sort of influence.

From the same article saying France has too much freedom, and praising the Kaczynskis:



Huh? That ties in with most other reports of his recent attitude to them:

And Lech Walesa has being drinking it for far too long. Try some absinthe, Lech-ie boy.

Evidently, he's real popular in Poland.

tomorrow. That's where I want to be.