In the spotlight: Roman Giertych

His inclusion in the government and appointment to the post of Education Minister resulted in demonstrations across Poland. An open letter to the Prime Minister demanding Giertych's resignation was signed by some 140,000 people. But that hasn't discouraged the leader of the nationalist League of Polish Families (LPR), as he continues to come up with new proposals such as religion on Matura graduation exams or introducing patriotism classes. Many Poles also fear that Giertych's presence in the Ministry of Education will result in the ultra-conservative-nationalist All-Polish Youth's (MW) ideology being 'smuggled' into the curriculum.

The son of Maciej Giertych, a current member of the European Parliament, and grandson of Jędrzej Giertych, a pre-war nationalist politician, Roman Giertych was destined to be a politician. In 1989, at the age of 18, Giertych re-established MW, which before World War II was notorious for its anti-Semitism and nationalism.

Today he is the honorary president of the organization, and still holds sway over its activities, as the case of the tradition march shows. In response to last week's Equality Parade, which Giertych had insisted be banned, MW planned to organize a March of Tradition and Culture. As fears mounted that there would be violent clashes between the two demonstrations, Giertych asked MW to cancel its march, and it duly obliged. 

Michał Pakulniewicz