United People's Party (Poland)

Last updated
United People's Party
Zjednoczone Stronnictwo Ludowe
First leader Józef Niećko
Last leader Dominik Ludwiczak
Founded27 November 1949
Dissolved27–29 November 1989
Merger of Polish People's Party
Polish People's Party "Nowe Wyzwolenie"
People's Party
Succeeded by Polish People's Party
HeadquartersGrzybowska 4,
00-131 Warsaw
Membership (1989)300,000
Ideology Agrarian socialism
Political position Left-wing
Colors Green

The United People's Party (Polish : Zjednoczone Stronnictwo Ludowe, ZSL) was an agrarian socialist political party in the People's Republic of Poland. It was formed on 27 November 1949 from the merger of the pro-Communist Stronnictwo Ludowe party with remnants of the independent Polish People's Party of Stanisław Mikołajczyk.

Contents

ZSL became as intended from its beginning a satellite party of the Polish United Workers' Party (PZPR), representing the PZPR in the rural areas. It was a member of the Front of National Unity until 1982, and from 1982 it was a member of the Front's successor, the Patriotic Movement for National Rebirth. To keep up the appearance that Poland was ruled by a coalition, the Marshal of the Sejm (parliamentary speaker) was always a member of the ZSL.

After victory of the Solidarity trade union in the 1989 Polish legislative elections, together with the PZPR's other satellite party, the Alliance of Democrats, ZSL decided to support Solidarity. At the 27–29 November 1989 ZSL congress, ZSL became the Polskie Stronnictwo Ludowe - Odrodzenie ("Polish People's Party - Rebirth"). PSL-Odrodzenie merged with Polish People's Party "Wilanowskie", forming today's Polish People's Party.

Chairmen

Electoral history

Sejm elections

ElectionParty leaderVotes%Seats+/–Position
1952 Józef Niećko as part of FJN - PZPR
90 / 425
Increase2.svg 90Increase2.svg 2nd
1957 Stefan Ignar
118 / 459
Increase2.svg 28Steady2.svg 2nd
1961
117 / 460
Decrease2.svg 1Steady2.svg 2nd
1965 Czesław Wycech
117 / 460
Steady2.svgSteady2.svg 2nd
1969 [1]
117 / 460
Steady2.svgSteady2.svg 2nd
1972 Stanisław Gucwa
117 / 460
Steady2.svgSteady2.svg 2nd
1976
113 / 460
Decrease2.svg 4Steady2.svg 2nd
1980
113 / 460
Steady2.svgSteady2.svg 2nd
1985 Roman Malinowski as part of PRON
106 / 460
Decrease2.svg 7Steady2.svg 2nd
1989
76 / 460
Decrease2.svg 41Decrease2.svg 3rd

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References

  1. "Kto wygra wybory prezydenckie i dlaczego Komorowski". 2 May 2015.