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Democratic Party (Poland)
Encyclopedia
The Democratic Party is a Polish centrist
party. The party faced a revival in 2009, when it was joined by liberal politician Paweł Piskorski, formerly member of Civic Platform
.
and Mikołaj Kwaśniewski.
In 1940 SD split into two factions, one of which supported the Polish Government in Exile in London, and the second co-operated with the communist Polish Workers' Party
and recognized the National Country Council as the actual parliament and the Provisional Government of National Unity
as the actual government of Poland.
The London faction ceased to exist in 1945.
In the People's Republic of Poland
SD became a "satellite" party of the communist Polish United Workers' Party
(PZPR) regime (similar parties existed in East Germany
, as well as in Czechoslovakia
). Even so, the party managed to sustain its non-Marxist
orientation. After 1982, it was a member of the Patriotic Movement for National Rebirth
.
In 1989 both PZPR satellites, the Democratic Party and the United People's Party
, broke their ties with the communists and formed a coalition government with the Solidarity movement.
Subsequently, most of the members of the SD joined other parties, such as the Freedom Union
. The party continued to exist, but had only a small support base, and was not represented in the Polish parliament.
After 2009 new politicians joined the party, such as centrist-conservative
Paweł Piskorski. The party restored their representation in parliament, by taking over of the members of the Democratic Party – demokraci.pl group counting 3 members. In the 2009 European Elections, the party's candidates obtained 0.027% of votes.
Centrism
In politics, centrism is the ideal or the practice of promoting policies that lie different from the standard political left and political right. Most commonly, this is visualized as part of the one-dimensional political spectrum of left-right politics, with centrism landing in the middle between...
party. The party faced a revival in 2009, when it was joined by liberal politician Paweł Piskorski, formerly member of Civic Platform
Civic Platform
Civic Platform , abbreviated to PO, is a centre-right, liberal conservative political party in Poland. It has been the major coalition partner in Poland's government since the 2007 general election, with party leader Donald Tusk as Prime Minister of Poland and Bronisław Komorowski as President...
.
History
The party was established on April 15, 1939. Its historical leaders were Mieczysław MichałowiczMieczyslaw Michalowicz
Mieczysław Michałowicz was a Polish social and political activist, medical doctor and professor of the Warsaw University. Freemason....
and Mikołaj Kwaśniewski.
In 1940 SD split into two factions, one of which supported the Polish Government in Exile in London, and the second co-operated with the communist Polish Workers' Party
Polish Workers' Party
The Polish Workers' Party was a communist party in Poland from 1942 to 1948. It was founded as a reconstitution of the Communist Party of Poland, and merged with the Polish Socialist Party in 1948 to form the Polish United Workers' Party.-History:...
and recognized the National Country Council as the actual parliament and the Provisional Government of National Unity
Provisional Government of National Unity
The Provisional Government of National Unity was a government formed by a decree of the State National Council on 28 June 1945. It was created as a coalition government between Polish Communists and the Polish government-in-exile...
as the actual government of Poland.
The London faction ceased to exist in 1945.
In the People's Republic of Poland
People's Republic of Poland
The People's Republic of Poland was the official name of Poland from 1952 to 1990. Although the Soviet Union took control of the country immediately after the liberation from Nazi Germany in 1944, the name of the state was not changed until eight years later...
SD became a "satellite" party of the communist Polish United Workers' Party
Polish United Workers' Party
The Polish United Workers' Party was the Communist party which governed the People's Republic of Poland from 1948 to 1989. Ideologically it was based on the theories of Marxism-Leninism.- The Party's Program and Goals :...
(PZPR) regime (similar parties existed in East Germany
National Front (East Germany)
The National Front of the German Democratic Republic was an alliance of political parties and mass organisations in East Germany...
, as well as in Czechoslovakia
National Front (Czechoslovakia)
The National Front was the coalition of parties which headed the re-established Czechoslovakian government from 1945 to 1948. During the Communist era in Czechoslovakia it was the vehicle for control of all political and social activity by the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia...
). Even so, the party managed to sustain its non-Marxist
Marxism
Marxism is an economic and sociopolitical worldview and method of socioeconomic inquiry that centers upon a materialist interpretation of history, a dialectical view of social change, and an analysis and critique of the development of capitalism. Marxism was pioneered in the early to mid 19th...
orientation. After 1982, it was a member of the Patriotic Movement for National Rebirth
Patriotic Movement for National Rebirth
Patriotyczny Ruch Odrodzenia Narodowego was a Polish communist organization. It was created in the aftermath of the martial law in Poland...
.
In 1989 both PZPR satellites, the Democratic Party and the United People's Party
United People's Party (Poland)
The United People's Party was an agrarian political party in the People's Republic of Poland. It was formed on 27 November 1949 from the merger of the communist Stronnictwo Ludowe party with remnants of the independent People's Party of Stanisław Mikołajczyk .ZSL became - as intended from its very...
, broke their ties with the communists and formed a coalition government with the Solidarity movement.
Subsequently, most of the members of the SD joined other parties, such as the Freedom Union
Freedom Union (Poland)
The Freedom Union was a liberal democratic party in Poland. It was founded on March 20, 1994 out of the merger of the Democratic Union and the Liberal Democratic Congress . Both of these parties had roots in the Solidarity trade union movement. It represented European democratic and liberal...
. The party continued to exist, but had only a small support base, and was not represented in the Polish parliament.
Rebirth after 2009
Due to financial conditions of Polish political system, parties need to have sufficient funding to finance large-scale campaigns if they are new on the market or obtained under 3% of voters' support. Democratic Party possessed large amount of properties, which made it possible to finance several political campaigns after sale of these properties. The value of its assets is estimated at PLN 65 to 120 million, as Rzeczpospolita newspaper calculated.After 2009 new politicians joined the party, such as centrist-conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
Paweł Piskorski. The party restored their representation in parliament, by taking over of the members of the Democratic Party – demokraci.pl group counting 3 members. In the 2009 European Elections, the party's candidates obtained 0.027% of votes.
Members of the Sejm
The party has three members of the Sejm:- Marian FilarMarian FilarMarian Filar was a Polish concert pianist and virtuoso.-Early life:Filar began to study piano at the age of five, and a year or so later he gave his first recital at the Warsaw Conservatory as a wunderkind. When 12 years of age, he played Mozart's Concerto in D Minor with the Warsaw Philharmonic...
(5 – ToruńToruń (parliamentary constituency)Toruń is a Polish parliamentary constituency in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship. It elects thirteen members of the Sejm and three members of the Senate.The district has the number '5' and is named after the city of Toruń...
) - Bogdan LisBogdan LisBogdan Lis is a Polish politician, known for his involvement with the anti-communist Solidarity social movement.Born in Gdańsk in 1952, he worked in Port of Gdańsk and Elmor company. Between 1971 and 1972 he was imprisoned for his participation in the anti-governmental coastal cities protests...
(25 – GdańskGdańsk (parliamentary constituency)Gdańsk is a Polish parliamentary constituency in the Pomeranian Voivodeship. It elects twelve members of the Sejm and three members of the Senate....
) - Jan Widacki (13 – KrakówKraków (parliamentary constituency)Kraków is a Polish parliamentary constituency that is coterminous with the Lesser Poland Voivodeship. It elects thirteen members of the Sejm and four members of the Senate...
) – to June 2011