Jerzy Buzek (born July 3, 1940) is the President of the European Parliament since July 2009 and the first national from the new Member States to lead a EU institution. He was the Prime Minister of Poland from 1997 to 2001 and has been a member of the European Parliament since June 2004, elected on the list of the Civic Platform (PO). In the 1980s Jerzy Buzek was an activist of the democratic anti-communist movements, including the Solidarity trade union and political movement. He is a regular participant of the EPP Summit and ex officio member of EPP Presidency.