THE ATTITUDE OF THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES OF THE POMERANIAN VOIEVODESHIP TOWARDS THE NATIONAL AND ETHNIC MINORITIES IN THE PERIOD OF THE POLITICAL TRANSFORMATION

Abstract

In the initial phase of the political transformation, the competence of the local authorities towards national and ethnic minorities were very dispersed, and the Polish law concerning its protection was only being created. In the early 90s, the officials of the municipal level in Gdańsk were being negatively assessed by the managements of the emerging unions and minorities’ associations, especially by the Germans, Tatars and Belarusians. The latter would even leave Gdańsk and move to Sopot, where the local authorities put them in a building, designed for non-governmental organizations, without charge for renting the premises. The situation had not changed until 1999, when the administrative reform was carried out, as a result of which the Pomeranian voievodeship emerged. The unions and minorities’ associations from the former Elbląg, Słupsk and Bydgoszcz voievodeships, have developed a good platform for cooperation with the local authorities that contributed to the creation of a new quality of communication and multifaceted cooperation including the establishment of partnerships with cities and municipalities in Germany and Ukraine. Currently, the attitude of the local authorities of the Pomeranian voievodeship, towards the unions and minorities’ association is very positive. Mayors, presidents and the Marshal of the Pomeranian voievodeship are trying to support (within the limits of the budgetary resources) the minorities in their cultural and educational incentives, in particular financing the minorities’ cultural festivals that are being continued.