Jerzy Buzek was born on 3 July 1940 in Śmiłowice, a town in south-eastern Silesia which is now in the Czech Republic.

President of the European Parliament
Jerzy Buzek's personality and skills, combined with his professional approach to politics honed in the Polish Government and in opposition, led to his election to the office of President of the European Parliament on 14 July 2009. He obtained 555 of the 644 votes cast: the biggest majority of any EP President since the first direct elections in 1979. He is the first President to hail from one of the EU's new Member States.

In his inaugural address in September last year he set out the priorities for his term of office: promoting the idea of a European energy community, promoting democracy and defending human rights, strengthening cooperation with the EU's southern and eastern neighbours, enhancing the EU's role in a multipolar world, ensuring that the EU's multiannual budget can meet the needs and fulfil the ambitions of the enlarged Union, and ensuring the European Parliament is ready to play a greater role after the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty.

In carrying out his duties the President is in constant contact with the President of the European Commission, the President of the European Council and the country holding the EU Presidency. He also represents the European Parliament during visits abroad. His day-to-day duties include organising Parliament's business and chairing plenary debates. He has set himself the goal of making the European Parliament a forum for interesting, lively political debate and has the ambition of bringing Parliament closer to the people.

He will be in office for two and a half years.