Izabella Sierakowska
Encyclopedia
Izabella Antonina Sierakowska (izaˈbɛlla ɕɛraˈkɔfska; born September 22, 1946; maiden name Kruszyńska) is a Polish
politician
and one of the leading and the most popular persons of the Polish left.
She was born in Góra Śląska. Her parents, Krystyna and Zbigniew Kruszyńskis were a refugee
s from Vilnius
. Zbigniew was a soldier, who fought in the Polish resistance during occupation and later continued his career. Sierakowska lived with her family in various places such as Siedlce
, Łódź.
She graduated from college in Rzeszów
in Russian philology
. She worked as a teacher
since 1972 in prestige high school (lyceum) named after Stanisław Staszic.
In 1970 she joined then-ruling Polish United Workers' Party
and was a delegate to the 10th PUWP convention in 1987.
In 1989 she was elected to the Contract Sejm
as PUWP member. After dissolution of the party she joined, as most former members did, newly formed Social Democratic SdRP and later SLD
.
Sierakowska remained a Sejm Member until 2007 elections, when she lost her seat.
She is an outspoken supporter of abortion rights
, separation of church and state
, and other leftist values.
Sierakowska was also a critic of the Leszek Miller
government and his role as SLD Leader. She urged a replacement of Miller with former Prime Minister Józef Oleksy
.
During her last term as MP, she served as Vice Chair of the National Defense Committee. Previously she was notable as one of the co-authors of the new constitution, which was adopted in 1997.
Sierakowska left SLD with group of others members led by Sejm Marshal Marek Borowski
and founded Socjaldemokracja Polska. SdPl suffered a massive defeat in the 2007 Sejm election and lost all seats, when SLD won fourth place.
She remains one of the SdPl leaders, and ran for Presidency of Lublin
, where she has lived for many years, and won first place in the first round with 25,31% of vote. Before municipal elections, SdPl, SLD and the Democrats
joined forces as Left and the Democrats coalition, a new political power still active. In turnout Sierakowska lost to Civic Platform
candidate Adam Wasilewski. Despite defeat, she was elected the same year to the Lublin Voivodeship
Sejmik.
In 2007 she returned to the Sejm after being elected from Lewica i Demokraci list.
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and one of the leading and the most popular persons of the Polish left.
She was born in Góra Śląska. Her parents, Krystyna and Zbigniew Kruszyńskis were a refugee
Refugee
A refugee is a person who outside her country of origin or habitual residence because she has suffered persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because she is a member of a persecuted 'social group'. Such a person may be referred to as an 'asylum seeker' until...
s from Vilnius
Vilnius
Vilnius is the capital of Lithuania, and its largest city, with a population of 560,190 as of 2010. It is the seat of the Vilnius city municipality and of the Vilnius district municipality. It is also the capital of Vilnius County...
. Zbigniew was a soldier, who fought in the Polish resistance during occupation and later continued his career. Sierakowska lived with her family in various places such as Siedlce
Siedlce
Siedlce ) is a city in eastern Poland with 77,392 inhabitants . Situated in the Masovian Voivodeship , previously the city was the capital of a separate Siedlce Voivodeship ....
, Łódź.
She graduated from college in Rzeszów
Rzeszów
Rzeszów is a city in southeastern Poland with a population of 179,455 in 2010. It is located on both sides of the Wisłok River, in the heartland of the Sandomierska Valley...
in Russian philology
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. She worked as a teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
since 1972 in prestige high school (lyceum) named after Stanisław Staszic.
In 1970 she joined then-ruling Polish United Workers' Party
Polish United Workers' Party
The Polish United Workers' Party was the Communist party which governed the People's Republic of Poland from 1948 to 1989. Ideologically it was based on the theories of Marxism-Leninism.- The Party's Program and Goals :...
and was a delegate to the 10th PUWP convention in 1987.
In 1989 she was elected to the Contract Sejm
Contract Sejm
Contract Sejm is a term commonly applied to the Polish Parliament elected in the Polish parliamentary elections of 1989. The contract refers to an agreement reached by the Communist Party and the Solidarity movement during the Polish Round Table Agreement. The final agreement was signed on April...
as PUWP member. After dissolution of the party she joined, as most former members did, newly formed Social Democratic SdRP and later SLD
Democratic Left Alliance
Democratic Left Alliance is a social-democratic political party in Poland. Formed in 1991 as a coalition of centre-left parties, it was formally established as a single party on 15 April 1999. It is currently the third largest opposition party in Poland....
.
Sierakowska remained a Sejm Member until 2007 elections, when she lost her seat.
She is an outspoken supporter of abortion rights
Pro-choice
Support for the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-choice movement, a sociopolitical movement supporting the ethical view that a woman should have the legal right to elective abortion, meaning the right to terminate her pregnancy....
, separation of church and state
Separation of church and state
The concept of the separation of church and state refers to the distance in the relationship between organized religion and the nation state....
, and other leftist values.
Sierakowska was also a critic of the Leszek Miller
Leszek Miller
Leszek Cezary Miller is a Polish central-left-wing politician, leader of the Democratic Left Alliance , Prime Minister of the government of the Republic of Poland in 2001-2004.-Childhood and youth:...
government and his role as SLD Leader. She urged a replacement of Miller with former Prime Minister Józef Oleksy
Józef Oleksy
Józef Oleksy is a post-communist Polish politician, former chairman of Democratic Left Alliance ....
.
During her last term as MP, she served as Vice Chair of the National Defense Committee. Previously she was notable as one of the co-authors of the new constitution, which was adopted in 1997.
Sierakowska left SLD with group of others members led by Sejm Marshal Marek Borowski
Marek Borowski
Marek Stefan Borowski is a Polish left-wing politician. He led the Democratic Left Alliance for a time and was Speaker of the Sejm from 2001 to 2004....
and founded Socjaldemokracja Polska. SdPl suffered a massive defeat in the 2007 Sejm election and lost all seats, when SLD won fourth place.
She remains one of the SdPl leaders, and ran for Presidency of Lublin
Lublin
Lublin is the ninth largest city in Poland. It is the capital of Lublin Voivodeship with a population of 350,392 . Lublin is also the largest Polish city east of the Vistula river...
, where she has lived for many years, and won first place in the first round with 25,31% of vote. Before municipal elections, SdPl, SLD and the Democrats
Democratic Party (Poland)
The Democratic Party is a Polish centrist party. The party faced a revival in 2009, when it was joined by liberal politician Paweł Piskorski, formerly member of Civic Platform.-History:The party was established on April 15, 1939...
joined forces as Left and the Democrats coalition, a new political power still active. In turnout Sierakowska lost to Civic Platform
Civic Platform
Civic Platform , abbreviated to PO, is a centre-right, liberal conservative political party in Poland. It has been the major coalition partner in Poland's government since the 2007 general election, with party leader Donald Tusk as Prime Minister of Poland and Bronisław Komorowski as President...
candidate Adam Wasilewski. Despite defeat, she was elected the same year to the Lublin Voivodeship
Lublin Voivodeship
- Administrative division :Lublin Voivodeship is divided into 24 counties : 4 city counties and 20 land counties. These are further divided into 213 gminas....
Sejmik.
In 2007 she returned to the Sejm after being elected from Lewica i Demokraci list.