Harald Vilimsky (born 22 July 1966) is an Austrian far-right[1] politician and Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Austria. He is a member of the Freedom Party of Austria, part of the Patriots for Europe.
Harald Vilimsky | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2024 | |
| Member of the European Parliament for Austria | |
| Assumed office 1 July 2014 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 22 July 1966 Vienna, Austria |
| Political party | Freedom Party of Austria |
| Children | 1 |
Controversies
editIn December 2008, Vilimsky caused a stir with a controversial self-experiment, in which a journalist also took part. In the presence of an emergency doctor, he allowed prison guards to shoot him with an electric shock gun, which is used in prisons to temporarily incapacitate aggressive prisoners. This was to convince the public that the device, according to Vilimsky, is harmless. [2]
In July 2018, Vilimsky caused a stir when he accused EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker of alcoholism. Juncker was seen staggering and weak on his feet at the NATO summit on 11 and 12 July 2018. Vilimsky and other European right-wing populist politicians (including those from the German AfD ) accused him of being drunk and called for Juncker's immediate resignation. According to Vilimsky, Juncker was making Europe "a laughing stock" with this behaviour.[3]
Personal life
editHis mother was a nurse and raised him together with his stepfather, an insurance broker, in the Vienna district of Favoriten. He never met his biological father, and was 16 years old when his mother died. After lower school, he attended a commercial academy and graduated there. He then studied economics and dropped out. From 1988 to 1990 he attended a university course in public relations at the University of Vienna. He is married and has a daughter.[4]
References
edit- ^ Kurmayer, Nikolaus J. (2023-10-02). "Vilimsky set to remain leader of Austria's far-right in Brussels". www.euractiv.com. Retrieved 2024-07-05.
- ^ Kurier: "Hochspannung nach Taser-Test", 7 December 2008
- ^ "Scharfe Kritik an Vilimsky nach Attacke auf Juncker", news.ORF.at, 2018-07-13, retrieved 2018-07-18
- ^ Oliver Pink. "Vilimsky und Kickl: Der Raue und der Schlaue". Die Presse (in German).
External links
edit
Media related to Harald Vilimsky at Wikimedia Commons
- Personal profile of Harald Vilimsky in the European Parliament's database of members
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