In the 1980s, Onyszkiewicz became the spokesman for the anti-communistSolidarity movement.[1] He became popular among foreign journalists because of his fluent English. After the introduction of martial law in Poland on 13 December 1981, he was arrested and interned.[5] In 1986, he was again detained by the police, preventing him from holding a news conference on behalf of political prisoners that was scheduled to coincide with the start of a conference of intellectuals.[6]
Member of the Polish Parliament
After the fall of communism in 1989, Onyszkiewicz became a member of the Polish Sejm. He served all subsequent terms from May 1989 until 2001. In the spring of 1990, Onyszkiewicz and Bronisław Komorowski became the first civilian vice-ministers of defence in the communist-dominated Ministry of Defence.[5] Later, Onyszkiewicz was Minister of Defence twice, in the cabinets of Hanna Suchocka (1992–1993) and Jerzy Buzek (1997–2000).[2]
In 1999, Onyszkiewicz was awarded the Manfred Wörner Medal by the German Minister of Defence.[1]
Member of the European Parliament
On 13 June 2004, Onyszkiewicz was elected to the European Parliament as a candidate of Democratic Union in the 10th constituency (Lesser Poland+Swietokrzyskie Voivodeships) receiving 50 155 votes (6,37%). On 20 July 2004 he was elected a vice-president of the European Parliament.
Other activities
Onyszkiewicz is Chairman of the ICDT's International Board of Directors.[7]
References
^ abcEuropa Publications, "The International Who's Who 2004", Routledge, 2003, pg. 1258
^ abJeffrey Simon, "Poland and NATO: a study in civil-military relations", Rowman & Littlefield, 2004, pg. 19
^"A 5-member delegation representing the European Parliament pays a 4-day visit to Taiwan.", "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 29 January 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^ abDziennik Polski, "Ankieta Eurokandyta – Janusz Onyszkiewicz", 20 May 2009, [1]
^ abKrzysztof Ciesielski and Zdzislaw Pogoda, "Janusz Onyszkiewicz", The Mathematical Intelligencer, Volume 12, Number 4 / December, 1990, [2]