Lech kaczynski biography

Polish President Lech Kaczynski, who has been killed in a plane crash at the age of 60, was a controversial figure on the world stage.

But his right-wing stance on many issues found ready reception among many Poles, especially traditionalist and rural voters.

Throughout his political career, he was not afraid to appeal to populist sentiments. As mayor of Warsaw, he twice banned gay parades and spoke in support of reintroducing the death penalty.

Lech kaczynski biography

He was elected as Poland's president in 2005 as candidate of the Law and Justice Party.

During the campaign, Mr Kaczynski insisted Poles needed a president who would stand up for their interests.

He said post-communist Poland, often called the "Third Republic", needed radical transformation into a "Fourth Republic", based on social justice and a strong state.

The Law and Justice party, which