Peter Sichrovsky
Encyclopedia
Peter Sichrovsky is an Austrian journalist, writer, former politician and Member of the European Parliament
. He belonged to the Freedom Party of Austria
during his two terms in the European Parliament
, although he was officially non-attached.
, Austria
. From 1963 to 1968, Sichrovsky studied at the Higher Technical School of Biochemistry in Vienna, graduating from there to study pharmacy
and chemistry
at the University of Vienna
from 1970 to 1975. After receiving his university qualifications, Sichrovsky became a high school chemistry and physics teacher, leaving education in 1976 to take up management positions in various pharmaceutical companies. From 1980, Sichrovsky found employment as a journalist in a variety of newspapers, including Der Spiegel
, Männer Vogue, and Der Standard
, which he co-founded in 1988. After positions in Europe, Sichrovsky travelled abroad to New Delhi
and Hong Kong
to become a foreign correspondent there. During the 1990s, he continued his trips abroad through Hong Kong, Vienna, Chicago and Los Angeles.
as a representative of his home country. Although he was a parliamentary member of the Freedom Party of Austria, he was considered non-attached as his party did not have the required number of seats in the European Parliament to form a political group. Sichrovsky served on several committees during his two terms in the European Parliament, including the Committee on External Economic Relations, the Subcommittee on Security and Disarmament, the Committee on Culture, Youth, Education, the Media and Sport and the Delegation to the EU-Kazakhstan
, EU-Kyrgyzstan
and EU-Uzbekistan
Parliamentary Cooperation Committees and Delegation for relations with Tadjikistan, Turkmenistan
and Mongolia
. From 2000-2002 Sichrovsky was the general secretary of the Freedom Party of Austria.
Sichrovsky is a controversial figure inside the conservative right. Some opine that because of his Jewish origin he was supposed to help the Haider's party make peace with Jews.
holocaust victims and survivors, was published. Two years later, in 1988, the English translation of Born Guilty: Children of Nazi Families, a collection of interviews with children of Nazi families, was published.
Member of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
. He belonged to the Freedom Party of Austria
Freedom Party of Austria
The Freedom Party of Austria is a political party in Austria. Ideologically, the party is a direct descendant of the German national liberal camp, which dates back to the 1848 revolutions. The FPÖ itself was founded in 1956 as the successor to the short-lived Federation of Independents , which had...
during his two terms in 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...
, although he was officially non-attached.
Early life
Peter Sichrovsky was born in ViennaVienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
. From 1963 to 1968, Sichrovsky studied at the Higher Technical School of Biochemistry in Vienna, graduating from there to study pharmacy
Pharmacy
Pharmacy is the health profession that links the health sciences with the chemical sciences and it is charged with ensuring the safe and effective use of pharmaceutical drugs...
and chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
at the University of Vienna
University of Vienna
The University of Vienna is a public university located in Vienna, Austria. It was founded by Duke Rudolph IV in 1365 and is the oldest university in the German-speaking world...
from 1970 to 1975. After receiving his university qualifications, Sichrovsky became a high school chemistry and physics teacher, leaving education in 1976 to take up management positions in various pharmaceutical companies. From 1980, Sichrovsky found employment as a journalist in a variety of newspapers, including Der Spiegel
Der Spiegel
Der Spiegel is a German weekly news magazine published in Hamburg. It is one of Europe's largest publications of its kind, with a weekly circulation of more than one million.-Overview:...
, Männer Vogue, and Der Standard
Der Standard
Der Standard is an Austrian national daily newspaper which is published in Vienna . It was founded by Oscar Bronner as a financial newspaper and the first edition was published on 1988-10-19...
, which he co-founded in 1988. After positions in Europe, Sichrovsky travelled abroad to New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
and Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
to become a foreign correspondent there. During the 1990s, he continued his trips abroad through Hong Kong, Vienna, Chicago and Los Angeles.
Political career
On 11 November 1996, Sichrovsky was elected to the European ParliamentEuropean 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...
as a representative of his home country. Although he was a parliamentary member of the Freedom Party of Austria, he was considered non-attached as his party did not have the required number of seats in the European Parliament to form a political group. Sichrovsky served on several committees during his two terms in the European Parliament, including the Committee on External Economic Relations, the Subcommittee on Security and Disarmament, the Committee on Culture, Youth, Education, the Media and Sport and the Delegation to the EU-Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe...
, EU-Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan , officially the Kyrgyz Republic is one of the world's six independent Turkic states . Located in Central Asia, landlocked and mountainous, Kyrgyzstan is bordered by Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the west, Tajikistan to the southwest and China to the east...
and EU-Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan , officially the Republic of Uzbekistan is a doubly landlocked country in Central Asia and one of the six independent Turkic states. It shares borders with Kazakhstan to the west and to the north, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to the east, and Afghanistan and Turkmenistan to the south....
Parliamentary Cooperation Committees and Delegation for relations with Tadjikistan, Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan , formerly also known as Turkmenia is one of the Turkic states in Central Asia. Until 1991, it was a constituent republic of the Soviet Union, the Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic . Turkmenistan is one of the six independent Turkic states...
and Mongolia
Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
. From 2000-2002 Sichrovsky was the general secretary of the Freedom Party of Austria.
Sichrovsky is a controversial figure inside the conservative right. Some opine that because of his Jewish origin he was supposed to help the Haider's party make peace with Jews.
Other works
Sichrovsky has written 15 books, including four children's books, plays and screenplays. In 1986, the English translation of Sichrovsky's book, Strangers in their own land: young Jews in Germany and Austria today, a collection of interviews with the children of JewishJudaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
holocaust victims and survivors, was published. Two years later, in 1988, the English translation of Born Guilty: Children of Nazi Families, a collection of interviews with children of Nazi families, was published.