Kania, Stanisław [key], 1927–2020, Polish political leader. He joined the Communist party in 1945, becoming a member of the Central Committee in 1968 and of the Politburo in 1975. Internal security secretary from 1970, he was named first secretary of the party soon after the Solidarity union was formed in 1980. He resisted Soviet intervention as the crisis precipitated by the union's activities worsened, but was ultimately ousted by hardliners and was replaced (1981) by Gen. Jaruzelski. After the end of Communist rule, he was accused of playing a role in the martial law crackdown under his successor and but was acquitted (2012).
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