Janusz Korwin-Mikke - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Janusz Ryszard Korwin-Mikke (Polish pronunciation: [ˈjanuʂ ˈkɔrvʲin ˈmʲikkɛ]) often referred to by his initials JKM, born 27 October 1942) is a Polish political commentator and Member of the European Parliament. He is the leader of the Congress of the New Right, which was formed in 2011 from Freedom and Lawfulness, which he led from its formation in 2009, and the Real Politics Union (UPR), which he led from 1990–1997 and 1999–2003.

Biography[edit]

Janusz Ryszard Korwin-Mikke was born in Warsaw, Poland. He studied at the Faculty of Mathematics and Faculty of Philosophy of the Warsaw University. In 1965 he was detained by the communist authorities, while studying psychology, law, and sociology. In 1968 he was again arrested and relegated from the university for his participation in student protests. He passed the master's examination without attending a course of Philosophy.

In years 1969–1974 he was a researcher in the Institute of Motor Transport (Instytut Transportu Samochodowego), and then at Warsaw University. In 1978 he established "Liberal Publishing House" (Oficyna Liberałów), an underground publishing house.

From 1962 to 1982 he was a member of the Democratic Party, a puppet party subordinate to the communist authorities. In August 1980 he supported the political strike of the Szczecin Shipyard workers, and later he was an adviser of NSZZ Rzemieślników Indywidualnych "Solidarność" (The Independent Craftsmen's Union). After the imposition of martial law he was interned but later released. In 1987 he was elected the chairman of a liberal-conservative political party called Ruch Polityki Realnej (The Real Politics Movement), which in 1989 changed its name to Unia Polityki Realnej (UPR, Real Politics Union). In 1990 he established a new weekly Najwyższy Czas! ("It's High Time!"). The paper has published a number of antisemitic articles, some of them authored by Korwin-Mikke himself.[1]

Lech Wałęsa appointed him to become a member of Solidarity's advisory body – Komitet Obywatelski (The Civic Committee).

Korwin-Mikke has met with Milton Friedman, who at this time was on tour in Europe advocating free market. Milton Friedman has reported on Janusz Korwin-Mikke in his memoirs:[2]

Janusz Korwin-Mikke, with whom I corresponded, had been active before liberation as an underground publisher, bringing out a translation of Capitalism and Freedom and Hayek's Road to Serfdom, as well as other libertarian literature. Subsequently, he ran for presdent on a strict libertarian platform. At the time we were in Warsaw, his Union of Real Policy was housed in a former dwelling that was a literal maze of small offces, all occupied by young people actively working on spreading hte libertarian gospel. We had very good, livery discussions with them.

—Milton Friedman , Two lucky people: Memoirs - Milton Friedman, Rose. D. Friedman

Korwin-Mikke was a Member of Parliament during the first term of Sejm (Polish Parliament) of the Third Republic of Poland. Originator of the vetting resolution. He was a candidate for the UPR in the Polish Presidential Election of 1995, obtaining 2.4% of the vote. He was also candidate in 2000 when he got 1.43% of the vote. In the senate by-election in Wrocław in April 2004 he got 18% votes, but finally did not receive the seat. In the presidential elections of 2005 he obtained 1.4% of the vote.

Janusz Korwin-Mikke's economic views are radically liberal, in the classical sense of the word; in the U.S. his views would be best described as libertarian conservative.[citation needed] He frequently refers to such figures as Frédéric Bastiat, Alexis de Tocqueville, Friedrich Hayek, Milton Friedman and Margaret Thatcher. Korwin-Mikke is a self-declared monarchist and thinks that democracy is the "stupidest form of government ever conceived".[3]

In 2009 he left UPR and created a new party, Freedom and Lawfulness (Polish: Wolność i Praworządność, WIP).

Korwin-Mikke is a popular public figure in the mass-media and on the internet, mainly due to often unusual or eccentric ways of demonstrating his political stances. For instance, he protested against high taxes in Poland by eating his tax return together with Polish musician Krzysztof Skiba in front of the Polish revenue service office.[citation needed]

One of Korwin-Mikke's particular opinions that raised public attention is denying the sensibility of women's suffrage (arguing that most women were not interested in politics anyway, would more often vote for a welfare state[4]). He also claims that women are generally less intelligent than men[3][5]). Other provocative statements include the claim that there is no written proof Adolf Hitler was aware of the Holocaust or that the difference between rape and consensual sex were very subtle.[6] During the 2012 Summer Paralympics, Korwin-Mikke wrote that the general public should "not see the disabled on television".[7] He proposed that the European Commission's Berlaymont building were better used as a brothel.[3][5]

He writes the most popular political blog in Poland.[8]

Janusz Korwin-Mikke is a former professional contract bridge player. He has authored, together with Andrzej Macieszczak, a popular book on the subject.[9]

In a May 2014 in a televised debate Korwin-Mikke's made controversial comments about man-woman relations (in reference to his book "Father's vademecum") in a marriage made . Asked about whether a husband's imposition on his wife could constitute a rape, Korwin-Mikke reportedly said "Women are always pretending that they are showing some resistance and this is normal. One has to know when one can and when one can't." The litigation, brought about by a local leader of the rival party was denied by the court. [10][11]. Korwin-Mikke has also stated that he believes women are on average less intelligent then man (according to the statistics.[3][12] On the other hand, he does not deny women the passive right to vote and he claims that Margaret Thatcher is his political authority.

Publications[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^Pankowski, Rafal; Kornak, Marcin (2005). "Poland". In Mudde, Cas. Racist Extremism in Central and Eastern Europe (Routledge). p. 151. 
  2. ^Two lucky people: Memoirs - Milton Friedman, Rose. D. Friedman. 
  3. ^ abcd"Meet the new faces ready to sweep into the European parliament". The Guardian. 26 May 2014. 
  4. ^"Leader of Poland’s Euro-sceptic party believes: "Women should not have right to vote."". 7 April 2014. Retrieved 27 May 2014. 
  5. ^ abDay, Matthew (16 May 2014). "EU elections 2014: the Polish party that wants to turn EC building in Brussels into brothel". The Telegraph. 
  6. ^Szczerbiak, Aleks (10 June 2014). "The Congress of the New Right is the latest anti-establishment party to have success in Poland, but it may struggle to secure long-term support". EUROPP — European Politics and Policy blog. London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). 
  7. ^"Politician blasts Paralympics". News Poland Express. 7 September 2012. 
  8. ^Blog Janusza Korwin-Mikke najpopularniejszy w Internecie – blog, Janusz Korwin-Mikke. media2.pl (2012-03-27). Retrieved on 2012-04-06.
  9. ^http://lubimyczytac.pl/ksiazka/58418/brydz
  10. ^[1] Poland investigates Eurosceptic MEP over 'What is rape?' comment. Reuters, May 28, 2014.
  11. ^{"Sąd oddalił pozew przeciw Korwin-Mikkemu. "Jako czynny polityk ma prawo do wyrażania swoich opinii i ocen"". 
  12. ^[2] Interview in Polish Radio, May 20, 2014.

External links[edit]

Persondata
NameKorwin-Mikke, Janusz
Alternative names
Short descriptionPolish politician
Date of birth27 October 1942
Place of birthWarszawa, Poland
Date of death
Place of death

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janusz_Korwin-Mikke