The last few years have been a period of development, with Poland becoming a country governed by a modern legislature. After 1989, the people of Poland had to learn the democratic procedures they had no opportunity to experience in the previous 50 years. New parties formed, split, combined and split up again. This was an understandable reaction to half of a century without political freedom. The collapse of the existing political system happened fast: the PZPR was dissolved in January 1990. A multi-party system was introduced, with a full spectrum of political freedoms. In the years that followed, rival parties emerged out of the Solidarity group. The office of  President as  head of  state was restored in 1989. In December 1990 Lech Wa³êsa won the presidential general election. This office was later held by Aleksander Kwa¶niewski, who was elected for his second term in 2000. From December 23, 2005 the President of Poland is Lech Kaczyñski.

In domestic affairs, the past 12 years can be regarded as a success. Poland has a modern constitution (passed in 1997) which reorganised not only the political scene, but above all various aspects of public life. Poland is a democratic country: a multi-party republic with a two-chamber Parliament. The basics of the system reflect values typical of European countries characterised by respect for the law: sovereignty of the People, sovereignty and independence of the State, a system of law, political pluralism and freedom of political parties, separation of the three branches of power, respect for human dignity, the upholding of the system of law and personal freedom. The successful administrative reform (1999) introduced a territorial division into gmina districts as a tertiary level of local government, and reduced the number of voivodeships  from 49 to 16. Relations with ethnic minorities, churches and religious associations were regulated. A number of institutions whose aim is to facilitate the exercise of civil rights were created or had their powers broadened. Constitutional rights and freedoms follow the pattern adopted by Western democracies and included in the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. Non-governmental organisations are developing quickly, having become a permanent  aspect of  public life. The reform of the health, pension, and educational systems has begun.