Janusz Palikot

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Janusz Palikot.Twój Ruch.Member of Parliament

Janusz Marian Palikot was born 26 October 1964 in Biłgoraj. He is a Polish politician, activist and businessman. Palikot studied philosophy and became wealthy as a businessman who dealt with crates and distilled beverages. He was elected to Polish Parliament on 25 September 2005 in the 6 Lublin district, running on the Civic Platform list, and was reelected in 2007. In 2010 Palikot founded his own Movement of Support, later renamed into Palikot's Movement - an anti-clerical and liberal party, which won 10 percent of the vote in the 2011 parliamentary election.

Education and Business[edit]

Palikot studied Philosophy at John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin and earned a Masters degree at Warsaw University. He is an entrepreneur and former co-owner of Polmos Lublin S.A. (a vodka business) and Ambra S.A.

Political Career[edit]

Palikot is known in Poland for being one of the more colourful and controversial politicians, famous for his publicity stunts. In April 2007 during a press conference of his party, Palikot wore a t-shirt with "I am with the left wing parties" on the front and "I am gay" on the back. He later stated that he wanted to highlight the role which his party should play in contemporary politics - as defenders of minorities.

On 24 April 2007, he produced a gun and a dildo at a press conference about alleged rape by a few police officers from Lublin. Palikot presented the objects as modern 'symbols of law and justice' (a pun referring to the socially conservative Law and Justice Party) in Poland and the Lublin's police.

On 23 July 2008 Palikot said in an interview 'I consider the President to be an oaf', a potentially illegal act under Poland's anti-defamation laws. An investigation was launched, then dropped.

In 20 January 2012, Janusz Palikot threatened to smoke a joint in Parliament in an attempt to get softdrugs legalized in Poland.

External Links[edit]

Janusz Palikot's blog

Janusz Palikot's twitter