Liberal Democratic Congress
Encyclopedia
The Liberal Democratic Congress (Kongres Liberalno-Demokratyczny, KLD) was a centrist-conservative
, liberal-Catholic party
in Poland
. The party, led by Donald Tusk
, had roots in the Solidarity movement. It advocated free market economy and individual liberty (however in Catholic understanding), rejected extremism and fanaticism and favoured European integration (in the form of European Union
membership), rapid privatisation of the enterprises still owned by the Polish state and decentralisation of the government.
Until 1991 was a part of the Porozumienie Centrum, whose leaders, Kaczynski brothers, are currently seen as conservative socialists. In 1991 general elections KLD got 7,5% of the votes and 37 seats in the Sejm
(total 460 seats). In 1993 KLD got 4,0% of the votes and was left without seats.
It merged on March 20, 1994 with the Democratic Union
(Unia Demokratyczna) into the Freedom Union
(Unia Wolności, UW). Some of the former KLD members decided in January 2001 to move to join the new Citizens' Platform. Currently the KLD group within Civic Platform is seen as moderate conservative socialists. Liberal fraction within Civic platform is small and insignificant, represented by such politicians as Janusz Palikot
and Adam Szejnfeld
.
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...
, liberal-Catholic party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. The party, led by Donald Tusk
Donald Tusk
Donald Franciszek Tusk is a Polish politician who has been Prime Minister of Poland since 2007. He was a co-founder and is chairman of the Civic Platform party....
, had roots in the Solidarity movement. It advocated free market economy and individual liberty (however in Catholic understanding), rejected extremism and fanaticism and favoured European integration (in the form of European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
membership), rapid privatisation of the enterprises still owned by the Polish state and decentralisation of the government.
Until 1991 was a part of the Porozumienie Centrum, whose leaders, Kaczynski brothers, are currently seen as conservative socialists. In 1991 general elections KLD got 7,5% of the votes and 37 seats in the Sejm
Sejm
The Sejm is the lower house of the Polish parliament. The Sejm is made up of 460 deputies, or Poseł in Polish . It is elected by universal ballot and is presided over by a speaker called the Marshal of the Sejm ....
(total 460 seats). In 1993 KLD got 4,0% of the votes and was left without seats.
It merged on March 20, 1994 with the Democratic Union
Democratic Union (Poland)
The Democratic Union was a Liberal Christian-democratic party in Poland. The party was founded in 1990 by Prime Minister, Christian democrat Tadeusz Mazowiecki as a merger of the Citizens' Movement for Democratic Action and the Forum of Right Democrats .The party had a market-socialist...
(Unia Demokratyczna) into 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...
(Unia Wolności, UW). Some of the former KLD members decided in January 2001 to move to join the new Citizens' Platform. Currently the KLD group within Civic Platform is seen as moderate conservative socialists. Liberal fraction within Civic platform is small and insignificant, represented by such politicians as Janusz Palikot
Janusz Palikot
Janusz Marian Palikot is a Polish politician, activist and businessman best known for waving around a pistol and a dildo at a press conference. Palikot studied philosophy and became wealthy as a businessman who dealt with crates and distilled beverages...
and Adam Szejnfeld
Adam Szejnfeld
Adam Szejnfeld is a Polish politician. He was elected to Sejm on September 25, 2005 getting 26568 votes in 38 Piła district, candidating from Platforma Obywatelska list.He was also a member of Sejm 1997-2001 and Sejm 2001-2005.-External links:...
.
See also
- List of Liberal Democratic Congress politicians
- Contributions to liberal theoryContributions to liberal theoryIndividual contributors to classical liberalism and political liberalism are associated with philosophers of the Enlightenment. Liberalism as a specifically named ideology begins in the late 18th century as a movement towards self-government and away from aristocracy...
- List of liberal parties
- Liberal democracyLiberal democracyLiberal democracy, also known as constitutional democracy, is a common form of representative democracy. According to the principles of liberal democracy, elections should be free and fair, and the political process should be competitive...