Challenges to the New State - Poland's Lack of Political Experience
- Poland's first free parliamentary elections held in 1991, but more than 100 parties participated and no single party received more than 13% of the total vote (unable to form the first Parliament since no parties received the necessary amount of votes to serve in the Parliament)
- December 1990, Lech Walesa was elected President of the Republic of Poland - not a success and developed an authoritarian style in running the country. His behaviour was erratic and he was criticised for his close links with the military and security services. (This demonstrates the inexperience of political leaders. While Walesa may have been an effective independence movement leader, in a democratic setting, he did not seem to have the ability to govern a nation.)