Witold Tomczak
Encyclopedia
Witold Tomczak is a right-wing Polish
politician
, currently a member of the European Parliament
.
Before his political career, Tomczak worked as a physician He graduated from the Medical University of Silesia
in Katowice
in 1987 and specialized in general medicine. He practiced as a family physician in Łęka Opatowska near Kalisz
, where he was a local councilman from 1990 through 1998.
From 1997 to 2001, he was a Sejm
member for the conservative party Christian-National Union (ZChN), which at that time was part of the Solidarity Electoral Action
party (AWS). He left the AWS in 1999 to co-found the Polish Agreement
party. In 2001, he ran on the ticket of the then newly established League of Polish Families
in the Kalisz constituency and won a seat again.
Before Poland's EU accession, Tomczak served as a Polish observer to the European Parliament. In 2004
, he was elected to the European Parliament in the Greater Poland Voivodship constituency. He is a member of the euroskeptical
Independence/Democracy Group in the parliament. He sits on the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development
and is a substitute for the Committee on Culture and Education
and a member of the Delegation to the EU-Croatia
Joint Parliamentary Committee.
on display in the National Gallery of Art Zachęta
in Warsaw
. Entitled La Nona Ora (The Ninth Hour), the sculpture is an effigy of Pope John Paul II
in full ceremonial dress being crushed by a meteor. Tomczak stated he damaged the sculpture "because this is what my voters expected me to do". At the scene, Tomczak and Nowina-Konopczyna left an open letter addressed to the prime minister, the minister of justice and the minister of culture, in which he denounced the curator of the exhibition, Anda Rottenberg, as a "civil servant of Jewish origin" who was "ignorant of the Culture and Heritage of the Polish Nation" [sic] and "refused to realize her 'controversial' ideas in Israel". The letter was signed by 91 Sejm members. The public prosecutor requested Tomczak's parliamentary immunity
be lifted, however, this was rejected by the Sejm's regulatory commission. Currently, a request to the European Parliament to lift Tomczak's immunity is pending. He faces a jail term of up to five years.
. According to the BBC
, he declared homosexuality "was against the law of nature, and called on 'so-called defenders of human rights' to tackle 'discrimination against normal families'". The report quotes Tomczak as saying that "[e]very person has a right to life and deserves respect and help, including one who - lost and scarred - has given into homosexual tendencies. The solution is to help those who suffer and to provide them with the cure that they expect us to deliver."
Politics of Poland
The politics of Poland take place in the framework of a parliamentary representative democratic republic, whereby the Prime Minister is the head of government of a multi-party system and the President is the head of state....
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, currently a member of the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
.
Before his political career, Tomczak worked as a physician He graduated from the Medical University of Silesia
Medical University of Silesia
The Medical University of Silesia is located in Katowice, Poland. Established on March 20, 1948, it is reportedly the largest Medical school in Poland....
in Katowice
Katowice
Katowice is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, on the Kłodnica and Rawa rivers . Katowice is located in the Silesian Highlands, about north of the Silesian Beskids and about southeast of the Sudetes Mountains.It is the central district of the Upper Silesian Metropolis, with a population of 2...
in 1987 and specialized in general medicine. He practiced as a family physician in Łęka Opatowska near Kalisz
Kalisz
Kalisz is a city in central Poland with 106,857 inhabitants , the capital city of the Kalisz Region. Situated on the Prosna river in the southeastern part of the Greater Poland Voivodeship, the city forms a conurbation with the nearby towns of Ostrów Wielkopolski and Nowe Skalmierzyce...
, where he was a local councilman from 1990 through 1998.
From 1997 to 2001, he was a Sejm
Sejm
The Sejm is the lower house of the Polish parliament. The Sejm is made up of 460 deputies, or Poseł in Polish . It is elected by universal ballot and is presided over by a speaker called the Marshal of the Sejm ....
member for the conservative party Christian-National Union (ZChN), which at that time was part of the Solidarity Electoral Action
Solidarity Electoral Action
Solidarity Electoral Action was a political party coalition in Poland. Since 1997 its official name has been Akcja Wyborcza Solidarność Prawicy or Solidarity Electoral Action of the Right...
party (AWS). He left the AWS in 1999 to co-found the Polish Agreement
Polish Agreement
Porozumienie Polskie is a small political group in Polish parliament, MPs elected from the Liga Polskich Rodzin electoral committee.-Members of Polish Parliament :MP, constituency* Mariusz Grabowski, Tarnów...
party. In 2001, he ran on the ticket of the then newly established League of Polish Families
League of Polish Families
The League of Polish Families is a right-wing political party in Poland. It was represented in the Polish parliament, forming part of the cabinet of Jarosław Kaczyński, until the latter dissolved in September 2007....
in the Kalisz constituency and won a seat again.
Before Poland's EU accession, Tomczak served as a Polish observer to the European Parliament. In 2004
European Parliament election, 2004 (Poland)
Elections to the European Parliament were held in Poland on 13 June 2004. 20.87% of eligible citizens voted; of these, 97.33% of the votes cast were valid. The elections resulted in a heavy defeat for the governing Alliance of the Democratic Left and Labor Union parties, although the very low...
, he was elected to the European Parliament in the Greater Poland Voivodship constituency. He is a member of the euroskeptical
Euroscepticism
Euroscepticism is a general term used to describe criticism of the European Union , and opposition to the process of European integration, existing throughout the political spectrum. Traditionally, the main source of euroscepticism has been the notion that integration weakens the nation state...
Independence/Democracy Group in the parliament. He sits on the Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development
Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development
The Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development is a committee of the European Parliament.-Responsibilities of the Committee:AGRI is the European Parliament committee responsible for:...
and is a substitute for the Committee on Culture and Education
Committee on Culture and Education
The Committee on Culture and Education is a committee of the European Parliament.- Responsibilities of the Committee :This committee has focused on the well-being of all members of the human race and the increased opportunities for education in all countries of the European Union...
and a member of the Delegation to the EU-Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
Joint Parliamentary Committee.
Art
Tomczak made the headlines in Poland in 2000, when, together with fellow Polish Agreement member Halina Nowina-Konopka, he damaged a sculpture by Italian artist Maurizio CattelanMaurizio Cattelan
Maurizio Cattelan is an Italian artist based in New York. He is known for his satirical sculptures, particularly La Nona Ora , depicting the Pope John Paul II struck down by a meteorite....
on display in the National Gallery of Art Zachęta
Zacheta
The Zachęta National Gallery of Art, short Zachęta, , is one of Poland's most notable institutions for contemporary art. Situated in the centre of Warsaw, the main aim of the gallery is to present and support primarily Polish contemporary art and artists...
in Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
. Entitled La Nona Ora (The Ninth Hour), the sculpture is an effigy of Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
in full ceremonial dress being crushed by a meteor. Tomczak stated he damaged the sculpture "because this is what my voters expected me to do". At the scene, Tomczak and Nowina-Konopczyna left an open letter addressed to the prime minister, the minister of justice and the minister of culture, in which he denounced the curator of the exhibition, Anda Rottenberg, as a "civil servant of Jewish origin" who was "ignorant of the Culture and Heritage of the Polish Nation" [sic] and "refused to realize her 'controversial' ideas in Israel". The letter was signed by 91 Sejm members. The public prosecutor requested Tomczak's parliamentary immunity
Parliamentary immunity
Parliamentary immunity, also known as legislative immunity, is a system in which members of the parliament or legislature are granted partial immunity from prosecution. Before prosecuting, it is necessary that the immunity be removed, usually by a superior court of justice or by the parliament itself...
be lifted, however, this was rejected by the Sejm's regulatory commission. Currently, a request to the European Parliament to lift Tomczak's immunity is pending. He faces a jail term of up to five years.
Homosexuality
In 2007, Tomczak caused controversy in the European Parliament with remarks on homosexualityHomosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
. According to the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
, he declared homosexuality "was against the law of nature, and called on 'so-called defenders of human rights' to tackle 'discrimination against normal families'". The report quotes Tomczak as saying that "[e]very person has a right to life and deserves respect and help, including one who - lost and scarred - has given into homosexual tendencies. The solution is to help those who suffer and to provide them with the cure that they expect us to deliver."