Michał Kamiński

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Michał Kamiński
Member of the Sejm
In office
20 October 1997 – 16 June 2004
In office
12 November 2015 – 16 October 2019
Personal details
Born (1972-03-28) 28 March 1972 (age 52)
Law and Justice (2002–2010)
Poland Comes First (2010–2013)
Civic Platform (2014–2016)
SpouseAnna Kamińska
Children2
Alma materUniversity of Warsaw
ProfessionJournalist
Awards Order for Merits to Lithuania
Websitewww.michalkaminski.pl

Michał Tomasz Kamiński (born 28 March 1972) is a Polish politician and a member of the Senate with the Union of European Democrats. He was chairman of the European Conservatives and Reformists in the European Parliament from July 2009 until March 2011.

Kamiński was a founder member of the

Law and Justice (PiS) the following year, having been reelected on the PP-PiS joint ticket in 2001. He was elected to the European Parliament in 2004, representing Warsaw. He stepped down to become Secretary of State for Media Relations in Chancellery of the President. He was returned as an MEP in the 2009 election, and was elected chairman of the new European Conservatives and Reformists group. In November 2010, he left PiS to form the more liberal Poland Comes First
(PJN); while remaining in the ECR, he stepped down as chairman in March 2011.

Biography

Early life

Kamiński attended XLIX

anti-Semitic, though Kamiński has defended his membership of the organisation, arguing that it was a symbol of his opposition to communism and that the party was not anti-Semitic when he was a member.[1] In 1989 he was one of the founding members of the Christian National Union, the youngest founder at 17 years of age.[2] He was a radio and newspaper journalist and radio producer in Bydgoszcz and Łomża. He frequently published in Catholic journals and newspapers and before 1989 his work appeared in the underground press. During the 1995 Polish presidential election, he was press spokesman for Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz. Kamiński says he taught himself English by listening to illegal BBC World Service broadcasts.[3]

Domestic career

He was elected to the Third

Sejm on 21 September 1997 as part of the Solidarity Electoral Action (Akcja Wyborcza Solidarność) grouping of parties for the Łomża Voivodeship, and later Podlaskie Voivodeship
.

In 1999, he visited London to present a

Virgin Mary to former Chilean dictator General Augusto Pinochet[4] along with Marek Jurek and the journalist Tomasz Wołek. "This was the most important meeting of my whole life. Gen Pinochet was clearly moved and extremely happy with our visit," Kamiński told the BBC's Polish service.[5] In the same year, Kamiński won a journalists' award for being the best speaker in the Sejm. However, he later defended his visit to see General Pinochet, saying "we lived in this country subject to communist propaganda. We had little access to the real information, so for many Poles – not just me – this defence of Pinochet was across centre-right political parties in Poland and other eastern European countries at that time. It was my mistake, I admit it. I think every politician has the right to some mistakes. I made this mistake by just reversing the communist propaganda. It was a mistake that decent people of the left made when they were living under right-wing dictatorships – the kind of mistake where you just reverse the black and white propaganda. Today I know much more about Pinochet and I will never call him a hero again. It’s a question of context".[6]

In July 2000, Kamiński used the word "pedał" (a derogatory Polish word for homosexual, usually translated into English as "fag" or "queer") in a TV interview to refer to gay rights campaigners. When asked by the reporter if such a term is offensive, his reply translates as: "That's how people speak, what should I say? They are fags."[7][8] In a 2009 interview with Iain Dale he admitted the word was offensive and that he would never use it again. He confirmed he has homosexual friends and stated that he respects "the right [of gay people] to be treated with civility". In the same interview he expressed his pride that Poland was one of the first countries in Europe to decriminalize homosexuality and said that he has nothing against civil partnership legislation and "would consider voting yes" if he was still a member of the Polish Parliament.[6] Also in 2000, he visited his first Conservative Party Conference, with Czech MEP Jan Zahradil.[9]

He became a member of the

Law and Justice (Prawo i Sprawiedliwość) in 2002. Kamiński was re-elected to the Sejm, for its Fourth Term, on 23 September 2001, representing the constituency of Białystok
. Law and Justice increased its Parliamentary number from 18 to 45.

He was a member of the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development and the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

In 2001 he was alleged by the Anti-Defamation League of organising to prevent a commemoration of the World War II murder of Polish Jews by Polish gentiles in the town of Jedwabne. He has been quoted as saying that no apology should be forthcoming to the Jews of Jedwabne – until Jews had themselves apologised for their part in Soviet atrocities during the Soviet occupation, an idea not uncommon in parts of central and eastern Europe which had been part of the Soviet empire.[10] He said "My position is that there were acts of collaboration of the Jewish people with the Soviet army when the Soviet army came to Poland. It’s a fact. It’s a historical fact… If you are asking the Polish nation to apologise for the crime made in Jedwabne, you would require from the whole Jewish nation to apologise for what some Jewish Communists did in Eastern Poland".

Then-Polish President

Jewish Chronicle in 2009, he said "From the very beginning I was saying as a human being, as a Pole, that Jedwabne was a terrible crime, unfortunately committed by the Polish people. My point was from the very start: we are ashamed of these people, we have to condemn them, we have to judge them if they are still alive. But I don’t want to take the whole responsibility for this crime for the whole Polish nation".[12]

In an interview with political blogger Iain Dale, he said "if there were any doubts about my past I will give you the ultimate argument. When I became Secretary of State of Poland, I received a top NATO clearance, so it’s not about Polish politics now – it’s about a NATO clearance. I don’t think there can be any doubts about my political views and my past if I can receive a top NATO clearance."[6]

Stephen Pollard has said "As Editor of the Jewish Chronicle, and founding chairman of the European Institute for the Study of Contemporary Antisemitism, I am more alive than most to the dangers of the newly resurgent antisemitism. But there is simply no evidence that Mr Kaminski is an antisemite, only a series of politically motivated assertions. It is not Kaminski who is odious; it is those using antisemitism as a tool for their own political ends who deserve contempt".[13]

European career

Kamiński was first elected to the

Office of the President of the Republic of Poland, responsible for media policy. He vacated his European Parliament seat on 6 August, and was replaced by Ewa Tomaszewska.[citation needed] In his maiden speech, Kamiński demonstrated his admiration for Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan:[16]

As a

Eastern
and Central Europe. I would like to thank Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and President Ronald Reagan.

He was re-elected as an MEP for Warsaw in 2009, now sitting in the new

Conference of Presidents.[citation needed
]

Due to their close links with the ECR, being founding partners, the British Conservative Party have been associated with Kamiński in his role as chair. Left-wing magazine The

US State Department officials had raised questions of the relationship in a meeting with the Home Office, a matter that US officials at the State Department denied, saying "No. It was not raised."[20]

The British Conservative Party was also accused of attempting to alter pages on Wikipedia "to airbrush the embarrassing past" by

United Kingdom House of Commons.[21]

On 27 January 2011, Kamiński announced that he would resign as chairman of the ECR, citing "aggression" and "hatred" from his former colleagues in Poland's Law and Justice party.[22] His resignation took effect on 8 March, and he was replaced by Jan Zahradil.

Political views

History

His views are described as "

Atlanticist" by Daniel Hannan MEP, who also described Kamiński as "the closest thing to a British Tory outside the Carlton Club."[23]

Kamiński has spoken of his support for the

Irish "no" vote to the Lisbon Treaty.[25]

Holocaust

In February 2018, the Polish Prime Minister

Holocaust, "not only German perpetrators."[26] Kamiński said he hopes Morawiecki "is being stupid and not ruthless." Prime Minister Morawiecki also paid respect to the Holy Cross Mountains Brigade, a right-wing Polish militia that, according to some historians, collaborated with Nazi Germany. Kamiński told The Jerusalem Post that the Holy Cross Mountains Brigade is "the only possible part of Polish resistance who actively collaborated with Germans...and he is visiting their graves and I cannot understand it."[27]

In March 2019, the low-circulation right-wing weekly

Jan Gross. When he saw the newspaper being sold in the Sejm, Kamiński said that it was an "absolute scandal" that "filthy texts, as if taken from Nazi newspapers" were sold at the parliament.[28][29][30]

Personal life

In his private life, Kamiński's passions include books, foreign languages as well as football. He lives in the Warsaw neighbourhood of Wawer.[31]

Honours

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Waterfield, Bruno (15 July 2009). "Tory MEPs 'led by Pole with extremist past'". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 15 July 2009.
  2. ^ "Michał Tomasz Kamiński". Michalkaminski.pl. 28 March 1972. Archived from the original on 7 May 2020. Retrieved 30 April 2010.
  3. ^ "Michel Kaminski Elected leader of ECR". Conservativehome.blogs.com. 14 July 2009. Retrieved 30 April 2010.
  4. ^ Charter, David (16 July 2009). "Rightwing Polish MEP Michal Kaminski becomes Tories controversial EU leader". The Times. London. Retrieved 5 April 2010.
  5. ^ "Cameron may have helped the Polish right, but he has not served Britain". The Guardian. London. 29 July 2009. Retrieved 5 April 2010.
  6. ^ a b c "Iain Dale's Diary: EXCLUSIVE: My Interview With Michal Kaminski". Iain Dale. 9 October 2009. Retrieved 30 April 2010.
  7. ^ "Tory anger at 'anti-gay' claims". BBC News. 17 July 2009. Retrieved 5 April 2010.
  8. ^ "Profile: Michal Kaminski MEP". BBC News. 16 July 2009. Retrieved 31 July 2009.
  9. ^ "Michał Tomasz Kamiński". Michalkaminski.pl. 8 October 2009. Retrieved 30 April 2010.[permanent dead link]
  10. ^ Beaumont, Peter (9 October 2009). "Kaminski apologists play with fire". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 5 April 2010.
  11. ^ "Ujawniamy Kto Mordował Żydów W Jedwabnem Niemiecka Zbrodnia W Jedwabnem – Tajemnica Łusek".
  12. ^ "EXCLUSIVE Michal Kaminski: 'I'm no antisemite' | The Jewish Chronicle". Thejc.com. 14 October 2009. Retrieved 30 April 2010.
  13. ^ "David Miliband's insult to Michal Kaminski is contemptible | The Jewish Chronicle". Thejc.com. Retrieved 30 April 2010.
  14. ^ a b "Michał Tomasz Kamiński". Michalkaminski.pl. Retrieved 30 April 2010.[permanent dead link]
  15. ^ "Profile: Michal Kaminski MEP". BBC News. 16 July 2009. Retrieved 5 April 2010.
  16. ^ "Kamiński's credo". Conservativehome.blogs.com. 15 July 2009. Retrieved 30 April 2010.
  17. ^ Waterfield, Bruno (14 July 2009). "Tory MEP Edward McMillan-Scott expelled after poll rebellion". The Daily Telegraph. London, UK. Archived from the original on 17 July 2009. Retrieved 16 July 2009.
  18. ^ "Conservatives expel MEP after row over right-wing bloc". The New Statesman. UK. 15 July 2009. Retrieved 15 July 2009.
  19. ^ James Macintyre (6 August 2009). "All "sizzle" and no substance". The New Statesman. UK. Retrieved 18 October 2009.
  20. ^ Allegra Stratton (16 October 2009). "Tories' European allies become matter of concern to US officials". The Guardian. London, UK. Retrieved 18 October 2009.
  21. ^ Helm, Toby (18 October 2009). "House of Commons computer used to hide past of Tory ally Kaminski". The Observer. London, UK. Retrieved 18 October 2009.
  22. ^ Syal, Rajeev (27 January 2011). "Turmoil for Tories in Europe as alliance leader 'hounded out'". The Guardian. London, UK.
  23. ^ Daniel Hannan (15 July 2009). "We Can Be Very Proud of Our New Leader in the European Parliament". Conservativehome.blogs.com. Retrieved 30 April 2010.
  24. ^ Churcher, Joe (9 August 2009). "The Independent, "Tories face fresh questions over Euro alliance"". The Independent. London, UK. Archived from the original on 14 May 2022. Retrieved 30 April 2010.
  25. ^ Presentation of the work programme of the Swedish Presidency (debate), European Parliament, 15 July 2009.
    Michał Tomasz Kamiński: "Warto przy tym pamiętać, że właśnie w demokratycznym referendum irlandzki naród traktat lizboński odrzucił. Mając szacunek dla demokracji, powinniśmy głos Irlandczyków uszanować."
    English: "It is with this in mind that in a democratic referendum the Irish people rejected the Treaty of Lisbon. With respect to democracy, we should respect the Irish vote."
  26. ^ "Benjamin Netanyahu attacks Polish PM for saying Jews were among perpetrators of the Holocaust". The Independent. 18 February 2018.
  27. ^ "Polish MP: I hope my prime minister is being stupid and not ruthless". The Jerusalem Post. 19 February 2018.
  28. ^ "Polish newspaper's front page teaches 'how to recognize a Jew'". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  29. ^ "Polish newspaper runs front page list on 'how to spot a Jew'". The Independent. 14 March 2019. Archived from the original on 14 May 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  30. ^ "Polish parliament kiosk sells paper advising: 'How to recognize a Jew'". Reuters. 14 March 2019. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  31. ^ "Google Translate". Retrieved 30 April 2010.

External links

Party political offices
Preceded by Chairman of the European Conservatives and Reformists
14 July 2009 – 8 March 2011 		Succeeded by


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