The French Left and Polish Solidarity

The 1980 strikes in the cities on the Baltic coast of Poland and the birth of Solidarity stirred the
public opinion of the Western world regardless of political views. From this moment on until
the end of the 1980s, the French Left (i.e. the political parties, the press and the trade unions representing this orientation) observed the Solidarity. The press provided up-to-date coverage of the developments and commented on French attitudes. The French trade unions CFDT and FO quickly became interested in establishing contacts with Solidarity, which acquired special importance during the Martial Law in Poland. In the period after 13th December 1981, for the ruling Socialist Party the situation might have been especially complicated because ministers from the French Communist Party were present in the government, and the reluctance of the PCF leaders towards Solidarity contributed to a governmental crisis. This period is still very vividly remembered in France.
 

The 1980 strikes in the cities on the Baltic coast of Poland and the birth of Solidarity stirred the
public opinion of the Western world regardless of political views. From this moment on until
the end of the 1980s, the French Left (i.e. the political parties, the press and the trade unions representing this orientation) observed the Solidarity. The press provided up-to-date coverage of the developments and commented on French attitudes. The French trade unions CFDT and FO quickly became interested in establishing contacts with Solidarity, which acquired special importance during the Martial Law in Poland. In the period after 13th December 1981, for the ruling Socialist Party the situation might have been especially complicated because ministers from the French Communist Party were present in the government, and the reluctance of the PCF leaders towards Solidarity contributed to a governmental crisis. This period is still very vividly remembered in France.