Bogdan Zdrojewski

Bogdan Andrzej Zdrojewski [ˈbɔɡdan zdrɔˈjɛfskʲi] (born 18 May 1957) is a Polish politician and local government leader. He served as the Mayor of Wrocław from 4 June 1990 to 1 September 2001, a Senator of the 4th legislature, and a Member of the Polish Parliament (Sejm) of the 4th, 5th, and 6th parliamentary term. From 2006 to 2007, Zdrojewski chaired the Parliamentary Delegation of Platforma Obywatelska, and from 2007 to 2014, served as Minister of Culture and National Heritage. Since 2014, he has been a Member of the European Parliament of the 8th legislature.

A son of Leonard and Miroslawa.

From 1976 to 1977, Bogdan Zdrojewski worked as a junior machinist of electric traction at the Polish National Railways, and then until 1979 as a specialist in the National Grain and Milling Factory in Wroclaw.

He holds degrees in Philosophy (1983) and Cultural Studies (1985) from the University of Wrocław. During his studies, he founded and chaired the History of Philosophy Scientific Circle (from 1980). In 1980, he joined the Independent Students’ Union (ISU), and became the leader of the branch at the Department of Philosophy and History at the University of Wroclaw in the autumn of 1980. After the martial law was announced in 1982, Bogdan Zdrojewski led ISU at the University of Wroclaw (until 1984).

In 1984, he became a Faculty Member at the Wrocław University of Economics, and a member of the NSZZ "Solidarność" founding committee. From 1989 to 1990, he worked for the Institute of Sociology at the University of Wrocław. At the same time, he was a Secretary of the Wrocław Solidarity Citizens’ Committee (1989-1990) as well as a founder and director of the Centre for Social Research of the Regional Executive Committee of NSZZ "Solidarność" in Lower Silesia (1989-1990).

He served three terms as a City Councillor of Wrocław (1990 - 1994, 1994 – 1998, and 1998 - 2001). He was the first Mayor of the City of Wrocław elected in free and open local government elections, and Poland’s youngest Mayor (33 when he took office). He served as Mayor for 11 years (from 4 June 1990 to 1 September 2001). Citizens of Lower Silesia are particularly grateful for his work during the 1997 flood, during which he personally coordinated the city’s response to the threat, including by leading efforts to deliver assistance to residents in need.

He became a Senator in 1997, receiving 241 179 votes as an independent candidate. He resigned on 11 January 2000, after the Constitutional Court’s decision that the Mayor’s position cannot be combined with a Senator’s mandate. He resigned from the Mayor’s position in May 2001, as he decided to stand as a candidate in parliamentary elections. He was elected for the 4th parliamentary term of Sejm from Platforma Obywatelska (47 297 votes).

In 2005, he was reelected to Sejm of the 5th legislature from Platforma Obywatelska list in Wroclaw (73 959 votes). In 2006, he took the position of Minister of National Defence in Donald Tusk’s shadow cabinet. On 5 December 2006, he became a Head of the Platforma Obywatelska Parliamentary Delegation. Standing in Wrocław for reelection to the Parliament in 2007, he received the third-highest result in Poland, which amounted to 213 883 votes.

On 16 November 2007, he became Minister of Culture and National Heritage in Donald Tusk’s first government. During Parliamentary election 2011, he was re-elected to the Sejm gaining the support of 149 962 voters. In Donald Tusk second government, he continued his work as Minister of Culture and National Heritage.

In 2014, he received a mandate of a Member of the European Parliament of the 8th legislature. He took over the mandate of a Member of the European Parliament on 1 July 2014.

Married, has a daughter Karolina, and a son Stanislaw.

• 2015 r. Gloria Artis Gold - Medal for Merit to Culture
• 2014 r. Grand Cross of the First Class of the Kingdom of the Netherlands – for civil merit
• 2014 r. Officer’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta – awarded by President Bronisław Komorowski
• 2014 r. Order of the Coss of the First Class of Terra Maarjamaa – awarded by the President of the Republic of Estonia, Toomas Hendrik IIves
• 2013 r. The Irena Sendlerowa Award – for "outstanding leadership in building the Museum of the History of Polish Jews"
• 2013 r. Honorary Citizen of the City of Wrocław
• 2013 r. Cross of Recognition of the Second Class of the Latvian Republic – for extraordinary, lasting efforts to enrich deep and dynamic cooperation in the area of culture
• 2012 r. Order of Saint-Charles of the Second Class, Commander – awarded by Prince Albert of Monaco
• 2012 r. Commander, Legion d’honneur – awarded by the President of France, François Holland
• 2012 r. Maltese Cross–awarded by the Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, Matthew Festing
• 2012 r. Order of Merit of the Free State of Saxony – for contributions to the growth of Polish-German relations in the area of culture, enhancing cooperation, preserving cultural heritage and its promotion outside the borders of the Free State
• 2012 r. Royal Norwegian Order of Merit – Commander with Cross–awarded by His Majesty King of Norway Harald V
• 2008 r. Grand Cross of the Order of Merit –awarded by the President of Portugal
• 2002 r. Gold Cross of Merit–awarded by the President of the Republic of Poland, Aleksander Kwaśniewski
• 2001 r. Cross First Class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (Das Verdienstkreuz 1 Klasse) –awarded by the President of Germany
• 1998 r. Order Sancti Silvestri –awarded by Pope John Paul II (by a decision of 9 January 1998)
• 1997 r. First recipient of the Andrzej Bączkowski Award – for "outstanding performance as a civil servant in daily work and in times of crisis""Gran de Gra-Cruz da Ordem do Merito" Cross of Merit awarded by the President of Portugal.

• 2014 r. Honorary Citizen of the Wrocław neighbourhood of Kuźniki
• 2013 r. Gold Badge of the Polish Tourism Organization – for commitment to daily work which directly impacts the creation of a modern and attractive image of Poland
• 2013 r. Crystal Laurel of Skill and Competence–awarded by the Katowice Regional Chamber of Commerce
• 2011 r. Griffin of Lower Silesia–Business Award–Special Award for personalities of Lower Silesia
• 2011 r. Władysław Grabski Award – for an individual in public life who has made an important contribution to the growth of entrepreneurship (Lewiatan Award)
• 2011 r. Award of the Shalom Guardians of Memory Foundation. To those who saved it – given for distinction in the service of promotion of Jewish culture and preserving the memory of its accomplishments
• 2009 r. Ambassador of Wrocław
• 2009 r. Gentleman of the Year in the category of politics
• 2005 r. Wrocław Personality of Our Times
• 2000 r. Medaglia D’Oro – awarded by an international association of publishers of tourism industry literature for professionalism in promoting Wrocław
• 2000 r. Nike Award – "in recognition of merit" by decision of the presidium of ZIW RP
• 1998 r. Leader of Europe – for entrepreneurial and courageous political leaders, given by the Board of the Club of Europe, by decision of 12 September 1998
• 1998 r. Distinguished by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland, Jerzy Buzek - "for work in developing the Local Republic"
• 1997 r. October Award – for attitude during the reconstruction of the Wrocław Market Square and for creation of Wrocław’s image beyond the city’s borders
• 1997 r. Oscar for activity and engagement during the flood
• 1996 r. "A friend to children"
• 1994 r. Gold Medal for Civil Defence of the Republic of Poland - "for outstanding performance of duty"