Opposition leader Kaczyński given 'Man of the Year' award

The decision was taken by the Forum’s Programme Council, members of which include political opponents of Kaczyński, such as former president Aleksander Kwaśniewski, former president of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek and Mayor of Warsaw Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz, alongside several business leaders.

Jaroslaw Kaczyński, chairman of the conservative Law and Justice, which is well in front in opinion polls before next month’s parliamentary election, has received the honour as “a symbol of change.”

“Something bad in our public life is coming to a close,” he said, “we are returning to normality, a situation in which there exist different views which inevitably clash, in which there are those at the helm of government and those in opposition, albeit within a mechanism which assumes an acceptance of democracy with all its faults.”

Jaroslaw Kaczynski added that the distinction from the Krynica Economic Forum makes him particularly happy as it comes from an institution which, founded 25 years ago, was built from scratch.

The event has become one of the most important venues for businessmen and politicians from Central and Eastern Europe.

This year’s edition of the Forum, which ends on Thursday, hinges on a European-themed title: “How to build a strong Europe? Strategies for the future.”

It has brought together over 3, 000 participants from Europe, Central Asia and the United States.

The discussion panels focus on such issues as illegal immigration, energy security, privatization, the financial crisis in Greece, Islamic terrorism and hybrid warfare. (mk/nh)