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Self-styled Polish prince in London mayoral election

PR dla Zagranicy
Nick Hodge 05.05.2016 11:58
A self-styled Polish prince is standing as an independent candidate in London's mayoral election on Thursday.
Jan Zylinski. Photo: twitter/zylinski-londonJan Zylinski. Photo: twitter/zylinski-london

“I am running for mayor of London to provide a strong voice to the Polish community, because I believe that they do not get the credit they deserve for the significant contribution they make to this great city,” London-born candidate Jan Żyliński has declared.

Most famous for challenging Nigel Farage, leader of the UK Independence Party (UKIP) to a duel last year, businessman Żylinski has argued that the Polish community is a vital force in London life.

I want to challenge the widespread rhetoric, pushed by Nigel Farage and UKIP in particular, that Polish and other Eastern European communities come to the UK simply to take advantage of the country’s generous benefits system.”

Nevertheless, Thursday's election is generally accepted as being a two-horse race between Conservative candidate Zac Goldsmith and Labour candidate Sadiq Khan, the latter the favourite.

Both candidates have attempted to reach out to the capital's Polish community, which has swelled to about 185,000 following Poland's accession to the EU in 2004. Żyliński has endorsed Goldsmith as a back-up choice.

Blue blood

From the 16th century onwards, Poland had no royal family as such, as kings were elected from 1573 until the partitions of Poland in the late 18th century.

However, certain families were granted princely titles over the centuries, for example by the Holy Roman Empire. Poland's lower house of parliament bestowed a princely title on the brothers of the last king of Poland, Stanisław August Poniatowski.

Descendants of the Czartoryskis, the Czetwertyńskis, the Lubomirskis, the Radziwiłłs, the Sanguszkos and the Sapiehas still sometimes use the title of prince although many went into exile during the communist era.

Żyliński's claim to princely descent is slightly more hazy. He acknowledges that in “the 16th century the family line of the Prince Żylinski was thought to have died out,” but enthuses on his website that he has resurrected the title and “research is being conducted in Poland and Russia,” to clarify matters.

However, he approaches the subject with a sense of humour.

I might be a prince, but I am not a snob,” he told the Daily Telegraph.

I hate most aristocrats because they are snobs - I am a man of the people.” (nh/pk)

Radio Poland's interview with Jan Żyliński

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