Grzegorz Napieralski

Grzegorz Bernard Napieralski
Sejm member
Incumbent
Assumed office June 24, 2004
5th Chairman of the Democratic Left Alliance
In office May 31, 2008 – December 10, 2011
Preceded by	Wojciech Olejniczak
Succeeded by	Leszek Miller
Personal details
Born	March 18, 1974 Szczecin, People's Republic of Poland
Political party	Democratic Left Alliance(until 2015) The White and Reds(2015-current)
Spouse(s)	Małgorzata Napieralska
Alma mater	University of Szczecin
Profession	Political scientist

Grzegorz Bernard Napieralski (pronounced [ˈɡʐɛɡɔʂ napjɛˈralski]; born March 18, 1974 in Szczecin) is a Polish left-wing politician, former chairman of the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) and an MP (member of the Sejm).

Education and political career

After graduating from mechanics school in Szczecin, Napieralski studied Political Science at the University of Szczecin, obtaining his master's degree in 2000. From 1995 to 1999 he was the secretary of Szczecin division of Social Democracy of the Republic of Poland, which later became the Democratic Left Alliance. In 2002 he became the aide to the Voivode in West Pomeranian Voivodeship. In 2004, he was elected to Sejm, taking place of Bogusław Liberadzki, who became a member of the European Parliament. Napieralski was subsequently elected again in 2005, 2007 and 2011.

In 2004 Napieralski become the vice-chairman of the SLD and a year later its secretary general. On May 31, 2008 he was chosen the new chairman of the Democratic Left Alliance, defeating Wojciech Olejniczak. From 2009 to 2011 he was also a chairman of the Lewica parliamentary fraction.

On April 22, 2010 the Democratic Left Alliance chose Napieralski to replace Jerzy Szmajdziński, who had died in a plane crash, as its candidate in the upcoming presidential election.^[1] Napieralski finished third, receiving 13.68% of the votes, and did not advance to the second round of the election.

On December 10, 2011, in wake of what was perceived to be his party's electoral failure, he was succeeded by Leszek Miller as the party chairman.

On January 9, 2015 he was suspended from the SLD. He decided, however, that the decision was illegal, and sued the chairman of the party in a court of law. In March 30 the same year he was suspended by the court party for three years in performing party. On June 22 has been hung up by the court party. Five days later, however, occurred with the Democratic Left Alliance. On June 29 he joined The Whites and Reds party.

Political positions

Napieralski calls for withdrawing Polish troops from Afghanistan as quickly as possible. He also supports more progressive taxation. He is in favor of liberalizing the abortion law in Poland and of government reimbursement of in vitro fertilization and contraception. He supports same sex civil unions, although he opposes adoption of children by such pairs. He is a supporter of separation of church and state and criticizes the Catholic Church's privileged position in Poland.

Personal life

He is married to Małgorzata Napieralska (née Juras) and has two daughters, Alicja and Aleksandra. ^[2]

See also

• Members of Polish Sejm 2005-2007

References

1. "Napieralski to stand as Left candidate". thenews.pl. 2010-04-23. Retrieved 2010-04-30.
2. "Official page" (in Polish). Retrieved April 30, 2010.

External links

• Official site
• Grzegorz Napieralski - parliamentary page - includes declarations of interest, voting record, and transcripts of speeches.
• Gazeta Wyborcza on Napieralski during President Obama's visit to Poland - the largest national daily comments on the odd behaviour of the leader of a third largest political party during an official state visit of a foreign head of state.