The Prime Minister, who's a former Solidarity activist himself, was given a warm welcome by the delegates, this despite their knowledge that the message he was bringing was not entirely welcome. In a two-hour speech to the conference he appealed for support for his government's planned austerity measures.

Price rises on goods like fuel, tobacco and alcohol are being introduced in the new year as part of the new government's attempts to meet European Union economic standards. Mr. Buzek apologised to the delegates for the manner in which the price hikes had been decided. He said it was wrong not to have consulted Solidarity and that it wouldn't happen again in the future.

However, he was unapologetic about the need for belt-tightening measures. He said they'd been made necessary by the slack economic policies of the previous left-wing coalition.

But while he has the support of Solidarity's leadership, it's not clear whether Mr. Buzek has convinced the party's rank and file.

Many of them are concerned that the government's privatisation plans will lead to job losses. Although the trade union has lost much of the influence it had in the 1980's, it still forms part of the governing coalition.