Joachim Siegerist
Encyclopedia
Werner Joachim Siegerist (born as Werner-Joachim Bierbrauer, January 29, 1947 in Neukirchen (Nordfriesland)) is a German-Latvian journalist, author and conservative politician. He is chairman of the anti-communist German Conservatives and co-publisher of the Konservative Deutsche Zeitung. He played a role in the early days of Latvian independence.
His father was Latvia
n and fought in the Waffen-SS
, and his mother was originally from Wiesbaden and later moved to Schleswig-Holstein
, where he grew up. He was active in the Junge Union
and the Christlicher Gewerkschaftsbund. Between 1971 and 1973 he was a prominent journalist of the Bild-Zeitung
, the biggest newspaper of Europe. In 1980 he founded the Bürgeraktion Demokraten für Strauß and campaigned for the candidacy of Franz-Joseph Strauß for Chancellor. Following Strauß's defeat he became the leading reporter of the HÖRZU
, a magazine also published by the Axel Springer Verlag. In 1985 he left Springer over political differences, and wrote his first book, Willy Brandt - Das Ende einer Legende. For that book, he was sentenced for slander of Willy Brandt
1987. 1994 he was let off for probation on slander and sedition after calling Gypsies throughout evil and criminal mob.
Following the liberation of the Baltic countries from Soviet occupation, he became a Latvian citizen in 1992 and was elected to the Saeima
at the 1993 election
for the Latvian National Independence Movement
(LNNK), which became an influential party. The same year he was the candidate of his party to become Latvian Prime Minister, but lost the vote in parliament by only one vote and ended up second. He later claimed that some MPs had been paid off by his adversaries. The leader of the popular election, who was a friend of Siegerist, also allegedly committed suicide, but Siegerist suspect he was murdered.
Siegerist was ejected from the LNNK group in 1994. In response, he founded the People's Movement for Latvia (Tautas kustība "Latvijai"), also known as the 'Siegerist Party' (Zīgerista partija) due to its reliance on its leader's personality. At the 1995 election
, the party won sixteen seats: twice as many as the LNNK and its Latvian Green Party
allies put together.
He has written several books that have sold several million copies.
His father was Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
n and fought in the Waffen-SS
Waffen-SS
The Waffen-SS was a multi-ethnic and multi-national military force of the Third Reich. It constituted the armed wing of the Schutzstaffel or SS, an organ of the Nazi Party. The Waffen-SS saw action throughout World War II and grew from three regiments to over 38 divisions, and served alongside...
, and his mother was originally from Wiesbaden and later moved to Schleswig-Holstein
Schleswig-Holstein
Schleswig-Holstein is the northernmost of the sixteen states of Germany, comprising most of the historical duchy of Holstein and the southern part of the former Duchy of Schleswig...
, where he grew up. He was active in the Junge Union
Junge Union
The Junge Union Deutschlands or JU is the jointyouth organisation of the two conservative German political parties CDU and CSU...
and the Christlicher Gewerkschaftsbund. Between 1971 and 1973 he was a prominent journalist of the Bild-Zeitung
Bild-Zeitung
The Bild is a German tabloid published by Axel Springer AG. The paper is published from Monday to Saturday, while on Sundays, Bild am Sonntag is published instead, which has a different style and its own editors...
, the biggest newspaper of Europe. In 1980 he founded the Bürgeraktion Demokraten für Strauß and campaigned for the candidacy of Franz-Joseph Strauß for Chancellor. Following Strauß's defeat he became the leading reporter of the HÖRZU
Hörzu
Hörzu is a German weekly television listings magazine published by Axel Springer. The magazine first appeared in 1946 as the first radio program magazine to be produced in what was then the British zone of occupation...
, a magazine also published by the Axel Springer Verlag. In 1985 he left Springer over political differences, and wrote his first book, Willy Brandt - Das Ende einer Legende. For that book, he was sentenced for slander of Willy Brandt
Willy Brandt
Willy Brandt, born Herbert Ernst Karl Frahm , was a German politician, Mayor of West Berlin 1957–1966, Chancellor of West Germany 1969–1974, and leader of the Social Democratic Party of Germany 1964–1987....
1987. 1994 he was let off for probation on slander and sedition after calling Gypsies throughout evil and criminal mob.
Following the liberation of the Baltic countries from Soviet occupation, he became a Latvian citizen in 1992 and was elected to the Saeima
Saeima
Saeima is the parliament of the Republic of Latvia. It is a unicameral parliament consisting of 100 members who are elected by proportional representation, with seats allocated to political parties which gain at least 5% of the popular vote. Elections are scheduled to be held once every four years,...
at the 1993 election
Latvian parliamentary election, 1993
Elections for the 5th Saeima, the parliament of Latvia were held on 5 June and 6 June 1993, the first parliamentary elections in Latvia after its independence was restored in 1991....
for the Latvian National Independence Movement
Latvian National Independence Movement
The Latvian National Independence Movement was a political organization in Latvia from 1988 till mid-1990s.It formed in 1988, as the radical wing of Latvian nationalist movement...
(LNNK), which became an influential party. The same year he was the candidate of his party to become Latvian Prime Minister, but lost the vote in parliament by only one vote and ended up second. He later claimed that some MPs had been paid off by his adversaries. The leader of the popular election, who was a friend of Siegerist, also allegedly committed suicide, but Siegerist suspect he was murdered.
Siegerist was ejected from the LNNK group in 1994. In response, he founded the People's Movement for Latvia (Tautas kustība "Latvijai"), also known as the 'Siegerist Party' (Zīgerista partija) due to its reliance on its leader's personality. At the 1995 election
Latvian parliamentary election, 1995
Elections for 6th Saeima, the parliament of Latvia were held on September 30 and October 1, 1995. There were lists of candidates from 19 political parties. The voter participation was 72.65%, with 965,339 out of 1,328,779 eligible voters casting votes....
, the party won sixteen seats: twice as many as the LNNK and its Latvian Green Party
Latvian Green Party
The Latvian Green Party is a green political party in Latvia. It was founded January 13, 1990.-Chairpersons:Three co-chairpersons share the leadership position at any one time...
allies put together.
He has written several books that have sold several million copies.
External links
- http://www.konservative.de/?con_id=0je