Prime Minister said that anybody who declared their Silesian nationality was in some way “declaring their Germaness”. Jerzy Gorzelik, the current leader and representative of the Silesian Autonomy Movement, has claimed numerous times that he is not Polish by nationality but rather "Upper Silesian". He once stated: I'm Silesian, not Polish. My fatherland is Upper Silesia. I did not pledge anything to Poland nor I promised anything to it so it means that I did not betray it. The state called the Republic of Poland, of which I'm a citizen, refused to give me and my friends a right to self-determination and so that's why I do not feel obligated to loyalty towards this country. In 2010, Gorzelik was elected to the Sejmik of Silesian Voivodeship. Upon taking a councillor's seat in the Sejmik, he swore an oath (as is mandatory for every councilor of each Voivodeship Sejmik), and thus automatically pledged loyalty to the Republic of Poland (before Gorzelik was elected, oaths were always sworn collectively in the Sejmik of the Silesian Voivodeship). The oath reads as follows: I do solemnly swear to honestly and diligently carry out my duties to the Polish nation, to protect the sovereignty and the interests of the Polish State, to do everything for the prosperity of the Fatherland, for the community of the autonomous government of the Voivodeship and for the good of its citizens, and to abide by the Constitution and other laws of the Republic of Poland. Fear of separatism, instead of officially declared autonomy, was flamed up by some publications in "Jaskółka Śląska" - RAŚ's official magazine. Articles were published that openly called for a sovereign, independent Silesian state. Leadership Paweł Musioł (1991–1995) Zenon Wieczorek (1995–1999) Krzysztof Kluczniok (1999–2003) Jerzy Gorzelik (since 2003) See also Union of Upper Silesians Silesian People's Party German Minority (political party) Silesians Together References External links Konrad Pędziwiatr, “Silesian autonomist movement in Poland and one of its activists”, Tischner European University, 2009 Helen Pidd, Upper Silesia flags up its call for autonomy, The Guardian Friday 8 April 2011 1990 establishments in Poland European Free Alliance Federalist parties History of Silesia Liberal parties in Poland Political parties established in 1990 Political parties in Poland Political parties of minorities in Poland Separatism in Poland Pro-European political parties in Poland