Wa ‧ les ‧ a, Lech /vəˈwensə $ vəˈlensə, wə-, lek, lex/ BrE AmE
(1943–) the President of Poland from 1990 to 1995. He was leader of the ↑ trade union Solidarity during the 1980s and became popular in western countries for his opposition to Poland's Communist government. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1983.