Wałęsa: a colluder?

Leader of Solidarność

Lech Wałęsa Poland's former Solidarity union leader and first president of the Third Republic will publicly defend himself against allegations that he was in league with the Soviet era communist police.

Marcin Weglinski, a spokesman for the Institute of National Remembrance (IPN) , said the debate which was requested by Wałęsa himself will be held on March 16 in Gdańsk. 

At the request of Wałęsa, the institute invited the Nobel Peace laureate's main critics: historians Slawomir Cenckiewicz and Piotr Gontarczyk, as well as far-right filmmaker Grzegorz Braun, who has sought out former Polish secret police (SB) agents. 

Weglinski said the invitees have yet to confirm their participation. 

The IPN, which is in charge of investigating Nazi and communist-era crimes, has also previously accused Wałęsa of SB involvement.

Wałęsa told the institute that he has been steadily smeared in the media for his alleged collaboration with the secret police and wants to clear his name.