Bruno Gollnisch

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Bruno Gollnisch

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Bruno Gollnisch (born January 28, 1950 in Neuilly-sur-Seine) is a French academic and politician. He is married and has three children. As of 2005, he is the general delegate (second-ranking executive) of the National Front far-right party.

He is a councillor of the Rhône-Alpes région of France, and a deputy to the European Parliament.

Because of his declaration and his position in the National Front, he is a highly controversial personality in France.

[edit] Studies and career

Bruno Gollnisch studied Law, political science and far-eastern languages, with an initial intent to become a diplomat. He met Jean-Marie Le Pen while studying at Nanterre university. He also became a reserve officer in the French Navy.

In 1971-1973 he was granted degrees in Japanese and Malaysian-Indonesian by the Institut des langues orientales. In 1973, he got a degree in political sciences at Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris (Sciences Po). He did a masters (DEA) in public law in 1973. In 1974, he began doctoral studies in Law at Kyoto University (Japan). In 1978, he obtained a doctorate in law in Paris. Since 1980, he is an attorney at the bar of Paris.

After coming back to France, he began a career as juridical advisor, then lawyer. He is a specialist of the law of Eastern Asian countries.

He became associate professor of Law at Metz university. In 1981, he became professor of Japanese language and civilization at the University Lyon 3, and still holds this position.

[edit] Controversy

On October 11, 2004 Bruno Gollnisch is accused to have declared

I do not question the existence of concentration camps but historians could discuss the number of deaths. As to the existence of gas chambers, it is up to historians to say their mind {de se déterminer}. [1] in reaction to a report denouncing the complacent attitude of the Lyon III university with respect to the far right. Bruno Gollnisch reiterated his declarations shortly after.

Bruno Gollnisch's declarations provoked an instantaneous scandal, especially with the proximity of the ceremonies commemorating the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz extermination camp. The president of the university asked the Minister of National Education to suspend Pr Gollnisch, and announced the opening of a disciplinary procedure against him.

A judicial enquiry was also begun; the Loi Gayssot prohibits publicly putting into doubt the existence of crimes against humanity condemned during the Nuremberg Trials.

On December 26, the president of the university suspended Pr Gollnisch's classes for 30 days. On December 2, the president of the university also prohibited the entrance of Pr Gollnisch into the university, alleging possible trouble to public order; however, this decision was cancelled by the Conseil d'État on January 14, 2005. [2]

On February 2, Bruno Gollnisch again begun teaching at Lyon III. The entrance of students in his classroom was blocked by groups of students from left-wing and Jewish associations. A group of National Front students allowed Gollnisch's students to enter the classroom and blocked the protesters; a brawl ensued.

On November 7, 2006, at the opening of the trial, Bruno Gollnisch was asked wether "the organized extermination of European Jews by the nazi regime (...) constitutes an undeniable crime against humanity, and that it has been carried out notably by using gas chamber in extermination camps". He replied "absolutely" [3].