Mazowiecki, Tadeusz, << mah zoh VYEHT skee, tah DAY oosh >> (1927-2013), was prime minister of Poland from August 1989 until November 1990. He was the first non-Communist to head the government since 1945.
Mazowiecki was born in Plock. After World War II (1939-1945), he studied law at the University of Warsaw.
In 1980, Mazowiecki helped Polish labor leader Lech Walesa negotiate a major agreement with the government. The agreement made Solidarity the first independent labor union in a Communist country. From then on, Mazowiecki was one of Walesa’s closest advisers. In 1981, the government suspended Solidarity’s activities and imprisoned Mazowiecki and most other Solidarity leaders. Mazowiecki was released from prison in 1982. In 1989, he played an important role in talks that led to an agreement to legalize Solidarity and to hold free parliamentary elections that June. Non-Communists received great support in the elections, and the lower house of parliament elected Mazowiecki prime minister in August.
Disagreements soon arose between Mazowiecki and Walesa. In November 1990, both men and another candidate ran for president of Poland. Mazowiecki finished last in the election and then resigned from his office of prime minister. Mazowiecki died on Oct. 28, 2013.
