Silesian Autonomy Movement
The Silesian Autonomy Movement (Silesian: Ruch Autōnōmije Ślōnska, Polish: Ruch Autonomii Śląska, German: Bewegung für die Autonomie Schlesiens), abbreviated as RAŚ, is a movement officially declaring its support for the autonomy of Silesia as part of a unified Europe. The association was founded in January 1990 by Rudolf Kołodziejczyk and is based in the Polish part of Upper Silesia. RAŚ sees the Silesians as a "separate nation" rather than primarily as Poles, Germans or Czechs.
Silesian Autonomy Movement Ruch Autonomii Śląska Ruch Autōnōmije Ślōnska | |
|---|---|
| Leader | Jerzy Gorzelik |
| Founded | January 1990 (organisation) 27 June 2001 (voluntary association) |
| Headquarters | Plac Wolności 7, 44-200 Rybnik |
| Membership | ~ 7,000 |
| Ideology | Silesian regionalism Fiscal federalism Autonomism Liberalism Pro-Europeanism Localism Workplace democracy |
| Political position | Centre-left |
| National affiliation | Civic Coalition (2019) |
| Regional affiliation | Silesian Regional Party |
| European affiliation | European Free Alliance |
| International affiliation | European Free Alliance |
| Colours | Yellow, Blue |
| Silesian Regional Assembly | 0 / 45
|
| Opole Regional Assembly | 0 / 30
|
| Party flag | |
| Website | |
| http://autonomia.pl | |
On 17 October 2009, the Silesian Autonomy Movement signed a cooperation agreement with its German sister organisation, Initiative der Autonomie Schlesiens (IAS), based in Würzburg, and the UK-based Silesian Autonomy Movement.
In 2002, RAŚ became a member of the European Free Alliance.
In 2007, RAŚ activists reestablished football club 1. FC Katowice. Also, since 2007 RAŚ has organized annual "Autonomy Marches" in Poland (pl, szl).
Nationally, the party is affiliated with Civic Coalition. In 2019, the RAŚ signed an agreement with the Civic Coalition for elections to the Sejm and Senate, in which both parties ran on a joint list in Upper Silesia. The two parties continued to cooperate afterwards, and the secretary of RAŚ, Jacek Tomaszewski, is also a member of the Civic Coalition.