Lech Walesa ( Polish : Lech WaÅ Ä sa ( pronounced ( lÉ x vaË wÉ Ì sa ) ) ( born September 29 , 1943 ) was a Polish shipyard worker and a politician who used to be the leader of Solidarity and the President of Poland , he won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1983 . Lech Walesa ( Polish : ) ( , Ë lÉ k vÉ Ë wÉ nsÉ or ; born 29 September 1943 ) is a Polish politician , trade-union organizer , and human-rights activist . A charismatic leader , he co-founded Solidarity ( SolidarnoÅ Ä ) , the Soviet bloc 's first independent trade union , won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1983 , and served as President of Poland 1990 â `` 95 .