List of political parties in Poland

This article lists current political parties in Poland, as well as former parties dating back as far as 1918. Since 1989, Poland has had a multi-party system, with numerous competing political parties. Individual parties normally do not manage to gain power alone, and usually work with other parties to form coalition governments.

The transition from a mono-party Communist regime to liberal democracy and pluralism resulted in new political parties mushrooming in the early 1990s. After the first free parliamentary elections in 1991 seats in the Sejm were divided among more than a dozen different parties (amongst them such curiosities as the Polish Beer-Lovers' Party (Polska Partia Przyjaciół Piwa), led by a popular comedy actor, Janusz Rewiński). The existence of so many parties in the Sejm was seen by many as being counterproductive to the effectiveness of the parliament and a hindrance towards producing stable governments. Consequently, electoral reform was undertaken and an electoral threshold for the Lower House was instituted prior to the 1993 elections. The set threshold required a minimum vote of 5% for parties (with exemptions for ethnic minority parties) and 8% for electoral coalitions. The threshold was set at the national, rather than divisional, level, and had the effect of preventing many minor parties from winning seats in later elections. The threshold also prevented independent candidates from gaining election to the Sejm. Since 1990, the left side of the political scene has generally been dominated by former Communists turned social democrats. The right has largely comprised (former) Solidarity activists and supporters, but experienced deep divisions from the beginning, and showed less cohesiveness than the left. The right were unable to create a single bloc which could act as a lasting counterweight to the left-wing monolith, but instead, kept merging, splitting and renaming. Even so, the parties of the right did manage to win government again from 1997 to 2001 (having initially governed from 1989 to 1993).

Since the parliamentary elections of 2005, the right-wing parties have dominated the political scene, and appear to be in their strongest position to date. Two important developments in the political landscape have taken place since 2005. Firstly, the SLD (Communist successor) party is no longer the major, or one of the two major parties. Secondly, the main political battleground is no longer between the ex-Solidarity right versus the ex-Communist left. The new competing groupings are those of the Law and Justice party (promoting economic interventionism and social conservatism) and the Civic Platform (representing a more liberal-conservative position). The general public disapproval of politics and politicians as a whole has resulted in almost all major parties excluding the very word "party" from their names, replacing it with words less associated with politics, such as "union", "platform", "league" or "alliance".

Parliamentary parties

Party Leader Ideology European affiliation Representation
Sejm Senat EP
United Right
Law and Justice (PiS)
Prawo i Sprawiedliwość
Jarosław Kaczyński National conservatism
Christian democracy
Solidarism
ACRE
197 / 460
44 / 100
24 / 52
United Poland (SP)
Solidarna Polska
Zbigniew Ziobro Solidarism
National conservatism
Social conservatism
ACRE
18 / 460
2 / 100
2 / 52
Agreement
Porozumienie
Jarosław Gowin Liberal conservatism
Economic liberalism
Republicanism
ACRE
18 / 460
2 / 100
1 / 52
Republican Party
Partia Republikańska
Anna Siarkowska Republicanism
Conservative liberalism
National liberalism
1 / 460
0 / 100
0 / 52
Civic Coalition
Civic Platform (PO)
Platforma Obywatelska
Borys Budka[1] Big tent
Centrism
Liberalism
EPP
118 / 460
42 / 100
14 / 52
Modern (.N)
Nowoczesna
Adam Szłapka Liberalism
Economic liberalism
Social progressivism
ALDE
8 / 460
0 / 100
0 / 52
Polish Initiative (IPL)
Inicjatywa Polska
Barbara Nowacka Progressivism
Social democracy
Anti-clericalism
4 / 460
0 / 100
0 / 52
The Greens
Zieloni
Wojciech Kubalewski
Małgorzata Tracz[2]
Green politics
Alter-globalism
Progressivism
EGP
3 / 460
0 / 100
0 / 52
The Left
New Left (Poland) (SLD)
Nowa Lewica
Włodzimierz Czarzasty Social democracy
Anti-clericalism
Social liberalism
Pro-Europeanism[3]
Atlanticism[4][5][6]
PES
24 / 460
0 / 100
5 / 52
Spring (WRB)
Wiosna
Robert Biedroń Anti-clericalism
Progressivism
Social democracy
PES
19 / 460
1 / 100
2 / 52
Left Together (LR)
Lewica Razem
Collective leadership Social democracy
Left-wing populism
Feminism
DiEM25
6 / 460
0 / 100
0 / 52
Polish Socialist Party (PPS)
Polska Partia Socjalistyczna
Wojciech Konieczny Democratic socialism
Social patriotism
Ethical socialism
0 / 460
1 / 100
0 / 52
Polish Coalition
Polish People's Party (PSL)
Polskie Stronnictwo Ludowe
Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz Agrarianism
Christian democracy
Centrism
EPP
23 / 460
2 / 100
3 / 52
Union of European Democrats (UED)
Unia Europejskich Demokratów
Elżbieta Bińczycka Liberalism
Social liberalism
Centrism
ALDE
1 / 460
1 / 100
0 / 52
Confederation
KORWiN
KORWiN
Janusz Korwin-Mikke Paleolibertarianism
Laissez-faire
Anti-socialism
5 / 460
0 / 100
0 / 52
National Movement (RN)
Ruch Narodowy
Robert Winnicki Polish nationalism
Anti-immigration
Souverainism
5 / 460
0 / 100
0 / 52
Confederation of the Polish Crown (Korona)
Konfederacja Korony Polskiej
Grzegorz Braun Monarchism
Reactionism
Laissez-faire
1 / 460
0 / 100
0 / 52
Non-Inscrits
Kukiz'15 (K'15)
Kukiz'15
Paweł Kukiz Pro-single-member districts
Populism
Direct democracy
5 / 460
0 / 100
0 / 52
Poland 2050
Polska 2050
Szymon Hołownia Environmentalism
Pro-Europeanism
Christian democracy
2 / 460
1 / 100
0 / 52
German Minority (MN)
Mniejszość Niemiecka
Ryszard Galla German minority interests
Regionalism
1 / 460
0 / 100
0 / 52

Parties without representation

Far-left

Logo Party Leader Ideology European affiliation Comments
Polish Communist Party
Komunistyczna Partia Polski
KPP Krzysztof Szwej Communism
Stalinism
Anti-revisionism
INITIATIVE Party was founded in 2002 as the successor of the Union of Polish Communists "Proletariat", which was founded in 1990. It is considered to be the historical and ideological heir of the Communist Party of Poland, which operated from 1918 to 1938.
Edward Gierek's Economic Revival Movement
Ruch Odrodzenia Gospodarczego im. Edwarda Gierka
ROG Paweł Bożyk Socialism
Anti-capitalism
Anti-Atlanticism
Party refers to the achievements of Edward Gierek's (I Secretary of the Central Committee of the Polish United Workers' Party in 1970–1980) rule. It is against Poland's membership in NATO and postulated the withdrawal of troops from Iraq.
Social Justice Movement
Ruch Sprawiedliwości Społecznej
RSS Piotr Ikonowicz Socialism
Anti-capitalism
Left-wing populism
Party founded in 2014 by famous social activist Piotr Ikonowicz. It was based on his Social Justice Chancellery. Before the presidential elections in 2015, party supported candidate of The Greens Anna Grodzka, who did not collect required number of signatures.

Left-wing

Logo Party Leader Ideology European affiliation Comments
Action of Disappointed Retirees and Pensioners
Akcja Zawiedzionych Emerytów Rencistów
AZER Wojciech Kornowski Pensioners' rights
Solidarism
Party was founded in 2018 by former leader of The Confederation of Polish Employers, Wojciech Kornowski. Its main goal is protecting retired seniors, pensioners and trust-busting.
National Party of Retirees and Pensioners
Krajowa Partia Emerytów i Rencistów
KPEiR Tomasz Mamiński Pensioners' rights
Social democracy
Party was founded in 1994. It lost its first parliamentary election in 1997 winning just 2.18% and no seat in Sejm and Senate. In the parliamentary elections in 2015, several activists of KPEiR competed for the Sejm from the lists of the United Left, which did not obtain any seats.
Better Poland
Lepsza Polska
LP Cezary Stachoń Green politics
Egalitarianism
Solidarism
Small green party which never stood in any elections.
Peasants' Party
Partia Chłopska
PCh Krzysztof Filipek Agrarian socialism
Left-wing nationalism
Left-wing populism
Party founded by Krzysztof Filipek and other former members of Self-Defence.
Polish Party of Animal Protection
Polska Partia Ochrony Zwierząt
PPOZ Andrzej Olszewski Animal rights
Animal welfare
Environmentalism
Party aspires to turn away from the anthropocentric view of life. Its main goal is the introduction of more animal rights.
Self-Defence of the Republic of Poland
Samoobrona Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej
SRP Lech Kuropatwiński Agrarian socialism
Left-wing nationalism
Left-wing populism
Founded by Andrzej Lepper in 1992, the party initially fared poorly. However, it was catapulted to prominence in the 2001 parliamentary election, winning 53 seats, after which it gave confidence and supply to the SLD government. It elected 6 MEPs in 2004 and switched its support to PiS after the 2005 election, in which it won 56 seats. Lepper was appointed Deputy Prime Minister in the coalition government with PiS and the LPR. In 2007, he was dismissed from his position and the party withdrew from the coalition. This precipitated a new election, at which the party collapsed to just 1.5% of the vote losing all its seats.
Self-Defence Rebirth
Samoobrona Odrodzenie
SO Agrarian socialism
Left-wing nationalism
Left-wing populism
Party was founded in 2007 from the merger of the Self-Defense Social Movement party and several other marginal groups formed by splitters from the Self-Defense of the Republic of Poland.
Labour Union
Unia Pracy
UP Waldemar Witkowski Social democracy
Anti-clericalism
Progressivism
PES Small social-democratic party which usually aligns itself with the Democratic Left Alliance. It was founded in 1992 by left-wing anti-communist politicians.
Liberty and Equality
Wolność i Równość
WiR Piotr Musiał Democratic socialism
Progressivism
Anti-clericalism
Party founded in 2005 as a Union of the Left, in 2015 its name was changed to Liberty and Equality. It usually takes part in elections as part of coalitions of larger left-wing parties.

Centre-left

Logo Party Leader Ideology European affiliation Comments
Polish Left
Polska Lewica
PL Jacek Zdrojewski Social democracy
Social liberalism
Third Way
Party was formed in 2007 when former Prime Minister Leszek Miller and many other members of parliament withdrew from the Democratic Left Alliance, which Miller had headed for many years. His departure also served as a public protest against the policies of party leaders. In 2010 Miller left the party and decided to return to SLD.
Social Democracy of Poland
Socjaldemokracja Polska
SDPL Wojciech Filemonowicz Social democracy
Social liberalism
Progressivism
Party was founded in 2004 as a splinter group from Democratic Left Alliance. SDPL contested its first elections in 2004. Party gained 5.3%, which saw 3 members elected to the European Parliament. In 2005 they managed to gain 3.9% of the vote and fell short of the 5% threshold. SDPL put forward its leader Marek Borowski as candidate for the presidential elections. He came 4th winning 10.3% of the vote. SDPL usually takes part in elections as part of coalitions.
Your Movement
Twój Ruch
TR Janusz Palikot Progressivism
Social liberalism
Anti-clericalism
Party was founded by Janusz Palikot, a former Civic Platform MP, in 2010, as Palikot's Movement. It adopted its current name in 2013. In 2011 parliamentary election, party received 10% of the vote and won 40 seats in the Sejm, making it the third party behind Civic Platform and Law and Justice, one of the best debut performances for a party since the end of communism. In 2015 parliamentary election United Left list was led by Your Movement's Barbara Nowacka and received only 7.6% of the vote, below the 8% threshold, leaving TR without parliamentary representation.

Centre

Logo Party Leader Ideology European affiliation Comments
New Solidarity/Shared Poland
Ruch Wspólna Polska
WP Rafał Trzaskowski Progressivism
Conservatism
Liberalism
Pro-Europeanism
Shared Poland (Polish: Ruch Wspólna Polska), also known as New Solidarity (Polish: Nowa Solidarność), is a political movement started by Rafał Trzaskowski, Mayor of Warsaw and former leading candidate in the 2020 Polish Presidential Election. It was founded in October 2020.
Direct Democracy
Demokracja Bezpośrednia
DB Marzena Petykiewicz Direct democracy
E-democracy
Progressivism
Party's creation has been inspired by the 2012 protests against ACTA. In the elections to the European Parliament in 2014, DB set up its own committee, which received 0.23% of the votes. In the 2015 presidential election, DB's candidate was Paweł Tanajno, who took the last place with 0.2% of votes. In the parliamentary elections in 2015, five DB activists (including Tanajno) entered the Sejm from lists of the Kukiz'15. None of them received a mandate.
One-PL
Jeden-PL
1PL Włodzimierz Zydorczak Eurofederalism
Liberalism
Direct democracy
Party founded as Civic Republic of Poland.
Confederation of Independent Poland
Konfederacja Polski Niepodległej
KPN Władysław Borowiec Sanationism
Anti-communism
Syncretic politics
Party founded in 1979 by Leszek Moczulski and others declaring support for the pre-war traditions of Sanacja and Józef Piłsudski. It was the first independent political party that was publicly proclaimed in the Eastern Bloc. After the fall of communism, Leszek Moczulski got only 2.5% of votes in 1990 presidential election. In 1991 parliamentary election the party got 7.5% of the vote, while in the 1993 parliamentary election it received 5.7%.
Polish Internet Party
Polska Partia Internetowa
PPI Leszek Lacheta Green liberalism
E-democracy
Liberalism
Founded in 2019. Party combines ecologic stances with economic liberalism.
Polish Pirate Party
Polska Partia Piratów
P3 Michał Dydycz Pirate politics
Liquid democracy
Freedom of information
PPEU Before European Parliament elections in 2014, party concluded an agreement with Direct Democracy, by virtue of which its activists were included in the lists of the DB committee, which received 0.23% of the votes. In the local elections of the same year, Tomasz Słowiński was nominated by Congress of the New Right as candidate in Skierniewice presidential elections, taking the last, 6th place with slightly more than 2% support.
Polish Alliance of Democrats
Polskie Stronnictwo Demokratyczne
PSD Krzysztof Góralczyk Christian democracy
Liberalism
Centrism
Party founded in 2013 by Christian democratic wing of Alliance of Democrats. It started transient cooperation with Poland Together.
Enterprising Republic of Poland
Przedsiębiorcza Rzeczypospolita Polska
PRP Robert Krzemiński Economic liberalism
Anti-bureaucratism
Populism
Main postulates of party include liberalisation of economy, reduction of taxes and introduction of criminal and financial responsibility of officials.
Alliance of Democrats
Stronnictwo Demokratyczne
SD Paweł Piskorski Liberalism
Social liberalism
Centrism
EDP Party has its origins in the Democratic Clubs, which were opposed to authoritarian tendencies in Poland between the two World Wars. The first club was founded in Warsaw in 1937. In the People's Republic of Poland SD became a satellite party of the communist Polish United Workers' Party regime. After 1990, most of the members of the SD joined other parties, such as the Freedom Union. Party continued to exist, but had only a small support base, and was not represented in parliament.

Centre-right

Logo Party Leader Ideology European affiliation Comments
Christian Democracy of the 3rd Polish Republic
Chrześcijańska Demokracja III Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej
ChDRP Lech Wałęsa Christian democracy
Social conservatism
Social market economy
Party founded in 1997 by former president Lech Wałęsa. It took the German CDU as a role model. In 2000 Wałęsa ran in the presidential election, receiving 1.01% of votes (he took 7th place out of 12 candidates).
League of Polish Families
Liga Polskich Rodzin
LPR Witold Bałażak Conservatism
Social conservatism
Christian democracy
LPR was created just before parliamentary elections in 2001 as a far-right nationalist party and gained 8% of the vote. In 2004 elections to the European Parliament LPR received 15.2% votes, which gave it 10 out of 54 seats reserved for Poland. This made the LPR the second largest party in Poland in that election. In 2005 elections LPR again received 8% of votes and formed government coalition with Law and Justice and Self-Defence. In 2007 parliamentary election it failed to gain the 5% of votes and lost all its seats. In the following years party became more moderate. It usually supports candidates of PO and PSL.
Freedom Party
Partia Wolności
PW Anna Karbowska Conservative liberalism
Economic liberalism
Republicanism
Party founded by moderate splitters from Congress of the New Right and "The Republicans" Association.
Effective
Skuteczni
Piotr Liroy-Marzec Classical liberalism
Economic liberalism
Direct democracy
Party created in 2018 by former rapper and MP Liroy. It cooperated with Confederation in 2019 European Parliament elections, but left the coalition a few weeks later.
People's Party "Patrimony"
Stronnictwo Ludowe "Ojcowizna"
SL"O" Kazimierz Chorzępa Agrarianism
Social conservatism
Solidarism
Party refers to the Polish People's-Christian Forum "Patrimony" - a party operating in the years 1991–1997. Many activists of trade union "Solidarity of Individual Farmers" belong to "Patrimony". Its founder Roman Bartoszcze was a candidate in 1990 presidential elections.
"Piast" Party
Stronnictwo Piast
Zdzisław Podkański Agrarianism
Social conservatism
Christian democracy
Party was formed in 2006 as a result of the break-up in PSL and the departure of the right wing of the party. Its name refers both to the Polish medieval Piast dynasty and to the pre-war conservative party PSL Piast.
Labour Party
Stronnictwo Pracy
SP Zbigniew Wrzesiński Solidarism
Christian democracy
Social market economy
Party was founded in 1989 on the initiative of the activists of the Christian Democratic Club of Political Thought. In 1990 the name Christian-Democratic Labour Party (ChDSP) was adopted. It referred to the Labour Party operating in the years 1937–1950.

Right-wing

Logo Party Leader Ideology European affiliation Comments
Social Alternative
Alternatywa Społeczna
AS Krzysztof Przybylak Right-wing populism
National conservatism
Christian right
Party was founded by Piotr Wroński - Colonel of the Intelligence Agency and a former officer of Polish Special Services.
Europe of Free Fatherlands - Polish Party
Europa Wolnych Ojczyzn – Partia Polska
EWO-PP Jan Szczepankiewicz Anti-Lisbon Treaty
National liberalism
Souverainism
Marginal party was founded in 2008 as an opposition to the Lisbon Treaty.
Decent Life
Godne Życie
Grzegorz Masierowski Direct democracy
Right-wing populism
Souverainism
Small populist party which never participated in any elections.
Unity of the Nation
Jedność Narodu
JN Romuald Starosielec National conservatism
National liberalism
Ordoliberalism
Party registered one list in 2019 European Parliament election. It won 0.02% of the vote.
Congress of the New Right
Kongres Nowej Prawicy
KNP Stanisław Żółtek Libertarian conservatism
National liberalism
Conservative liberalism
MENF Party was founded in 2011 by Janusz Korwin-Mikke, from the merger of Liberty and Lawfulness with several members of Real Politics Union. The former leader Korwin-Mikke was ousted from the party in 2015, which caused massive decline in its support.
National League
Liga Narodowa
LN Zbigniew Lipiński National democracy
National conservatism
Souverainism
Party was originally registered in 2007 as a National People's Movement (and operated under this name until 2013). It was founded mainly by former activists of League of Polish Families and Self-Defence. As RLN it had agrarian-nationalist character, while as LN it refers only to national democracy.
League of Defence of Sovereignty
Liga Obrony Suwerenności
LOS Wojciech Podjacki Souverainism
Anti-globalism
National conservatism
Party is in favour of full sovereignty of Poland. It opposed Poland's accession to the European Union and is in favour of protecting the Polish economy against unfair competition from foreign capital. It recognized King Bolesław Chrobry as its patron. The 18 April (date of the coronation of Bolesław Chrobry as King of Poland in 1025) is celebrated as a party holiday.
Normal Country
Normalny Kraj
NK Wiesław Lewicki Conservative liberalism
Economic liberalism
Anti-communism
Marginal party founded by splitters from Congress of the New Right and "The Republicans" Association.
Defence of the Polish Nation
Obrona Narodu Polskiego
ONP Tadeusz Mazanek Agrarianism
National conservatism
National Catholicism
Party was originally registered in 2005 as a Self-Defence of the Polish Nation (it operated under this name for a year). It was founded by nationalist splitters from Self-Defence of the Republic of Poland.
PolEXIT
PolEXIT
Stanisław Żółtek Polexit
Souverainism
Populism
Satellite party of KNP, established for the elections to the European Parliament in 2019. It registered lists in 2 constituencies.
Patriotic Poland
Polska Patriotyczna
PP Paweł Ziemiński National Catholicism
Solidarism
Agrarianism
Party founded in 2008 by activists of the Patriotic Self-Defence (acting parallel to this group until 2013).
Polish Monarchist Movement
Polski Ruch Monarchistyczny
PRM Leszek Wierzchowski Monarchism
Reactionarism
Christian right
The founder, leader and regent of party is Leszek Wierzchowski. PRM confirms old titles of nobility and aristocracy and awards new ones "for merit". It also awards its own orders and decorations. Party is in favour of a state governed by a hereditary king in the system of constitutional monarchy. It considers the Constitution of 3 May to be the foundation of its actions.
Polish Agreement
Porozumienie Polskie
PP Jan Łopuszański National conservatism
National Catholicism
Souverainism
Party was founded in 1999 by splitters from the Solidarity Electoral Action. In 2000 presidential election Jan Łopuszański won 0.79% of the vote. Before parliamentary elections in 2001, PP joined League of Polish Families, maintaining its independence. Party won 3 seats. In 2003 cooperation was terminated and PP lost its importance.
Right Wing of the Republic
Prawica Rzeczypospolitej
PR Krzysztof Kawęcki Political Catholicism
Social conservatism
Ordoliberalism
ECPM Party founded by former Marshal of the Sejm Marek Jurek on 20 April 2007 after he had left Law and Justice on 16 April 2007, when the Sejm failed to pass a constitutional amendment protecting prenatal life. It positions itself as a Christian conservative party with a strong focus on family rights and an anti-abortion stance.
People's National Covenant
Przymierze Ludowo-Narodowe
PLN Andrzej Turek Agrarianism
National conservatism
Souverainism
Marginal party with agrarian-nationalist agenda.
National-Catholic Movement
Ruch Katolicko-Narodowy
RKN Małgorzata Romanowicz National Catholicism
National conservatism
Political Catholicism
Party created in 1997 by famous politician Antoni Macierewicz. He left it in 2012.
Real Europe Movement
Ruch Prawdziwa Europa
RPE Mirosław Piotrowski Political Catholicism
Christian fundamentalism
Social conservatism
Party created in 2019 by former PiS MEP Mirosław Piotrowski, who belonged to party's fundamentalist faction.
Party of Polish National Interest
Stronnictwo Polska Racja Stanu
SPRS Józef Kurecki National conservatism
National Catholicism
Solidarism
In 2000 party's candidate Dariusz Grabowski won 0.51% of the vote in presidential election. It was the first and last start of the party in any elections.
Real Politics Union
Unia Polityki Realnej
UPR Bartosz Józwiak National liberalism
National conservatism
Economic liberalism
Created as libertarian conservative party in 1987, became more nationalist after its most prominent politician Janusz Korwin-Mikke left it in 2009. UPR cooperated with National Movement in the European Parliament election in 2014, local elections in 2014 and the presidential election in 2015. In the parliamentary election in 2015, the whole National Movement stand for the Sejm from the lists of Kukiz'15. UPR lost parliamentary seats in 2019.
II Republic of Poland
II Rzeczpospolita Polska
[7]
II RP Jan Zbigniew Potocki Party founded by Jan Zbigniew Potocki, who claims that he is the legitimate President of Poland and that the Constitution of 1935 is still in force.
Union of Polish Monarchist Groups
Unia Polskich Ugrupowań Monarchistycznych
UPUM Aleksander Podolski Monarchism
Conservative liberalism
Liberal conservatism
Party was founded in 1997. It gives noble and aristocratic titles.
Unity of Christian Families
Zjednoczenie Chrześcijańskich Rodzin
ZChR Bogusław Rogalski Social conservatism
Christian right
Familialism
Party was founded in 2019 by former LPR MEP Bogusław Rogalski. It cooperates with the Right Wing of the Republic and the Real Europe Movement.

Far-right

Logo Party Leader Ideology European affiliation Comments
National Revival of Poland
Narodowe Odrodzenie Polski
NOP Adam Gmurczyk Ultranationalism
Revolutionary nationalism
Third position
ENF Party was founded in 1981 as a discussion club. Often accused of racism and anti-Semitism. It never had a parliamentarian.
Federation for the Republic of Poland
(pl)
FdR Marek Jakubiak Social conservatism, Political Catholicism, Economic liberalism Party created in 2018 by former entrepreneur and MP Marek Jakubiak. It cooperated with Confederation in 2019 European Parliament elections, but left the coalition a few weeks later.
Piast - Unity of Thoughts of European Nations
Piast – Jedność Myśli Europejskich Narodów
Piast-JMEN Eugeniusz Maciejewski Polish nationalism
Pan-European nationalism
Pacifism
Party formed in 2015. It strives for the peaceful cooperation of European nations, but recognizes the differences between them.
Polish National Community
Polska Wspólnota Narodowa
PWN Bolesław Tejkowski Polish nationalism
Anti-clericalism
Anti-Atlanticism
A pro-Russian party founded in 1990. Criticizes the US and Israel, has a significant pagan wing.
November 11 Movement
Ruch 11 Listopada
11/11 Michał Fałek Protestant fundamentalism
Anti-Catholicism
Atlanticism
Party founded by members of the Protestant sect Church of the New Covenant. It is known for aversion to the Catholic Church, Russia and China. Movement has a positive attitude towards the United States and Israel.
National Party
Stronnictwo Narodowe
SN Leszek Bubel Ultranationalism
Anti-Semitism
Ethnic nationalism
One of parties founded by Leszek Bubel, former MP and presidential candidate, who calls himself "the supreme anti-Semite of Poland".
Roman Dmowski's National Party
Stronnictwo Narodowe im. Dmowskiego Romana
SND Ludwik Wasiak Polish nationalism
National democracy
National conservatism
Party refers to the political thought of Roman Dmowski, one of the fathers of Polish independence.

Parties difficult to define/regional

Logo Party Leader European affiliation Ideology Comments
Active Local Politicians
Aktywni Samorządowcy
AS Zygmunt Worsa Local party from the Świdnica County.
Civic Initiative
Inicjatywa Obywatelska
IO Adam Morawiec Local party from the Tarnowskie Góry County.
First Self-governance League
Liga Samorządowa Pierwsza
LSP Ryszard Ziobro Local party from the Pszczyna County.
Organisation of the Polish Nation - Polish League
Organizacja Narodu Polskiego – Liga Polska
ONP-LP Stanisław Bujnicki Political party which associates Poles living abroad.
Development Party
Partia Rozwoju
PR Arnold Buzdygan Party created by businessman and user of Polish Usenet Arnold Buzdygan. It does not carry out any activities.
Patriotic Party of Poland and the Polish Diaspora
Stronnictwo Patriotyczne Polski i Polonii
SPPiP Zenon Miller Political party which associates Poles living abroad.
Silesian Regional Party
Śląska Partia Regionalna
ŚPR Rafał Adamus EFA Party associating regionalists from Silesian local organizations. The most important of them is the Silesian Autonomy Movement.
Silesians Together
Ślonzoki Razem
ŚR Leon Swaczyna Silesian regional Party.
Community
Wspólnota
Andrzej Anusz Party founded by former MP Andrzej Anusz, who belonged to parties from all sides of the political spectrum.
Slavic Union
Związek Słowiański
ZS Zbigniew Adamczyk Pan-Slavic party which promotes cooperation between Slavic nations.
Party of Drivers
Partia Kierowców
PK Lech Kędzierski Drivers' rights
Liberalism
Anti-bureaucratism
Created in 2019. Member of Confederation.

Historical parties

Important defunct parties after 1989

Logo Party Leader Ideology European affiliation Founded Dissolved Comments
Solidarity Citizens' Committee
Komitet Obywatelski "Solidarność"
KO "S" Bronisław Geremek Big tent
Anti-communism
Liberal democracy
1989 1991 Initially semi-legal political organisation of the democratic opposition in Communist Poland. In partially free 1989 election KO "S" won all 161 seats available in the Sejm, and 99 out of 100 seats in the senate. On 25 August 1989, the new "Contract Sejm" elected its candidate Tadeusz Mazowiecki as Prime Minister, making him the first ever non-Communist head of government east of the Iron Curtain. Shortly afterwards, the Committee broke up into several smaller parties.
Christian National Union
Zjednoczenie Chrześcijańsko-Narodowe
ZChN Wiesław Chrzanowski National Catholicism
National conservatism
Christian democracy
1989 2010 Party formed by Catholic politicians of KO "S". In 1991 election it took 3rd place, winning 8.74% and introducing 49 MPs. ZChN was a member of two government coalitions. In 1993 the party did not cross electoral threshold and in 1997 it became member of AWS. In 2001 most of ZChN activists joined LPR or PiS. Party lost its former significance.
Social Democracy of the Republic of Poland
Socjaldemokracja Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej
SdRP Aleksander Kwaśniewski Social democracy
Third Way
Progressivism
SI 1990 1999 Party was formed after the dissolution of communist PZPR. In 1991 it created the left-wing SLD coalition. In the election held this year it won 11.99% of the votes, taking second place. Two years later SLD won election and in 1995 Aleksander Kwaśniewski became president. In 1997 the party lost power. In 1999 SdRP co-founded a unified party SLD and dissolved itself.
Centre Agreement
Porozumienie Centrum
PC Jarosław Kaczyński Anti-communism
Centrism
Christian democracy
EDU 1990 2001 Party founded in 1990, demanded a break with previous policy of the government of Tadeusz Mazowiecki, who was accused of leaving the remains of communism too slowly. PC candidate Lech Wałęsa won the presidential election, but later on he got into conflict with the party. In 1991, PC received 8.71% of the votes, introducing 44 MPs, but in 1993 only 4.42% (below the electoral threshold). In 1997 party started from AWS and ROP lists, introducing 15 MPs. In 2001 PC was transformed into the currently ruling PiS.
Citizens' Movement for Democratic Action
Ruch Obywatelski Akcja Demokratyczna
ROAD Władysław Frasyniuk Liberalism
Social liberalism
Laicism
1990 1991 Party was founded in response to creation of PC by Jarosław Kaczyński. In 1990 presidential election it supported candidacy of Tadeusz Mazowiecki, who took 3rd place. In 1991, ROAD merged with FPD and established the UD.
Forum of Democratic Right
Forum Prawicy Democratycznej
FPD Aleksander Hall Conservative liberalism
Liberal conservatism
Christian democracy
1990 1991 Party formed by moderate right-wing politicians of KO "S". In 1991 it merged with ROAD to form UD.
Polish Social Democratic Union
Polska Unia Socjaldemokratyczna
PUS Tadeusz Fiszbach Social democracy
Social patriotism
Welfare state
1990 1991 Along with SdRP, PUS was one of successor parties of communist PZPR. The party itself was succeeded by currently existing UP.
Liberal Democratic Congress
Kongres Liberalno-Demokratyczny
KLD Donald Tusk Economic liberalism
Neoliberalism
Conservative liberalism
EDU 1990 1994 Party originated from Gdańsk Social-Economic Society "Congress of Liberals". In 1991 elections KLD won 7.49% of votes and 37 seats in the Sejm. In 1993 it did not reach electoral threshold and a year later merged with UD to form UW.
Polish Beer-Lovers' Party
Polska Partia Przyjaciół Piwa
PPPP Janusz Rewiński Political satire
Beerism
Anti-alcoholism
1990 1993 Party founded by popular satirists. Originally, its goal was to promote cultural beer-drinking in English-style pubs instead of vodka and thus fight alcoholism. In 1991 election PPPP won 16 seats in the Sejm capturing 2.97% of the vote. Party soon split into Large Beer and Small Beer factions. Eventually PPPP was dissolved in 1993.
Party X
Partia X
X Stanisław Tymiński Populism
Anti-establishment
Syncretic politics
1990 1999 Party was established by businessman Stanisław Tymiński who took 2nd place in 1990 presidential election. In 1991 parliamentary elections it received 0.47% of the vote, winning three seats in the Sejm. Despite increasing its vote share in the 1993 election to 2.74%, it failed to win a seat, following introduction of a 5% electoral threshold. Party failed to collect enough signatures for Tymiński to run in the 1995 presidential elections.
Democratic Union
Unia Demokratyczna
UD Tadeusz Mazowiecki Liberalism
Social liberalism
Christian democracy
1991 1994 Party was founded by Prime Minister Tadeusz Mazowiecki as a merger of ROAD and FPD. It won election this year with 12.32% of the vote and 62 MPs. A year later conservative faction left party. In 1993 election UD took 3rd place (10.59% of votes and 74 MPs) and a year later merged with KLD to form UW.
Peasants' Agreement
Porozumienie Ludowe
PL Gabriel Janowski Agrarianism
Conservatism
Christian democracy
1991 1999 In 1991 parliamentary election party received 5.5% of the vote, winning 28 seats in the Sejm. It joined the coalition governments headed by Jan Olszewski and Hanna Suchocka. Due to several splits and internal disagreements, 1993 elections saw the party's vote share fall to 2.4%. As it had failed to pass the 5% electoral threshold, it lost all its parliamentary representation. In 1997 PL joined AWS.
Movement for the Republic
Ruch dla Rzeczypospolitej
RdR Jan Olszewski Anti-communism
National conservatism
Paternalistic conservatism
1992 1999 Party founded by overthrown former Prime Minister Jan Olszewski and a group of radically anti-communist MPs who demanded full lustration. In 1993 elections, RdR obtained 2.7% of the votes and did not cross electoral threshold. Two years later Olszewski took 4th place in presidential election. In 1995, the most important RdR politicians founded ROP, while the rest of party joined AWS.
Nonpartisan Bloc for Support of Reforms
Bezpartyjny Blok Wspierania Reform
BBWR Andrzej Olechowski Big tent
Populism
Pro-Wałęsa politics
1993 1997 Party affiliated with President Lech Wałęsa. It was founded to continue the traditions of Józef Piłsudski's pre-war Nonpartisan Bloc for Cooperation with the Government (Bezpartyjny Blok Współpracy z Rządem), which likewise had been known by the same initials, BBWR. In 1997 became part of AWS.
Freedom Union
Unia Wolności
UW Bronisław Geremek Liberalism
Social liberalism
Economic liberalism
ALDE 1994 2005 Party was founded out of merger of UD and KLD. In 1997 election UW got 13.37% of the votes and 60 seats. It joined government coalition with AWS. In 2001 some members of UW decided to create new party PO, which got 12.68% of the votes and 65 seats in general elections whilst UW failed to cross the 5% threshold required to gain entry to the lower house of Parliament, receiving only 3.10%. Surprisingly, party managed to cross the required 5% threshold in 2004 European Parliament election, receiving 7.33% of votes and 4 seats. In 2005 UW was transformed into PD.
Movement for Reconstruction of Poland
Ruch Odbudowy Polski
ROP Jan Olszewski National conservatism
Paternalistic conservatism
Social conservatism
1995 2012 Party was established after 1995 presidential election, which ended with an unexpectedly good result for Jan Olszewski (4th place, 6.86% of votes). Despite formation of AWS, which integrated almost all centre-right and right-wing parties, ROP, encouraged by the high support in polls, decided to stay outside the federation. Eventually, in 1997 election party received 5.56% of support and introduced only 6 MPs (including Jarosław Kaczyński - Chairman of PC, whose other members ran from AWS lists). In 2001 party participated in election on LPR lists and in following years lost its significance.
Solidarity Electoral Action
Akcja Wyborcza Solidarność
AWS Marian Krzaklewski Solidarism
Christian democracy
Social conservatism
1996 2001 Formation of party was connected with integration of post-Solidarity parties into a broad electoral block. AWS won 1997 parliamentary election gaining 33.83% of votes and 201 seats. It formed a coalition with UW, which collapsed in 2000. Chairman Marian Krzaklewski became AWS candidate in 2000 presidential election. His candidacy did not arouse general consensus - some activists were largely in favour of independent Andrzej Olechowski. Krzaklewski won 15.57% of votes, finishing third. In 2001 liberal wing left AWS and joined new party PO, created by a part of former UW politicians. Trade union NSZZ "Solidarity" decided not to participate in political structures anymore. Activists associated with the Kaczyński brothers created another new party - PiS. Christian-national wing joined LPR. As a result of parliamentary election in 2001, AWS failed to cross the 8% threshold required to gain entry to the Sejm as coalition, receiving only 5.60% of votes. Shortly afterwards, federation ceased to exist.
Conservative People's Party
Stronnictwo Konserwatywno-Ludowe
SKL Jan Rokita Liberal conservatism
Christian democracy
Agrarianism
1997 2014 Creation of party was result of merger of several small, moderately conservative parties. It was also joined by some former UW MPs. It quickly joined AWS. In 2001 party participated in elections by running from PO lists. The most important politicians (including future President Bronisław Komorowski) joined PO and SKL became marginal. In 2014 party joined Agreement.
Polish Labour Party
Polska Partia Pracy
PPP Bogusław Ziętek Marxism
Trotskyism
Anti-capitalism
EACL 2001 2017 Small party of the extreme left. Despite lack of electoral successes, it managed to run in elections many times and gain recognition.
Feminist Initiative
Inicjatywa Feministyczna
IF Iwona Piątek
Elżbieta Jachlewska
Katarzyna Kądziela
Feminism
Women's rights
Social progressivism
2007 2020 Party was registered in 2007 and was known as "Women's Party" (Partia Kobiet) until 2016. On 21 October 2007 National Assembly election, it won 0.28% of the popular vote and no seats in the Sejm or the Senate.
Democratic Party – democrats.pl
Partia Demokratyczna – demokraci.pl
PD Władysław Frasyniuk Liberalism
Social liberalism
Progressivism
ALDE 2005 2016 Party was supposed to become an extension of UW by politicians coming from the left, social democratic Prime Minister Marek Belka was one of its founders. Some notable politicians did not join the new party. In 2005 parliamentary election PD did not reach the electoral threshold, obtaining the result of 2.45% of votes. In the following years, party unsuccessfully joined several centre-left electoral coalitions. In 2016 PD was renamed to UED. 4 MPs of PO joined new party.
Poland Comes First
Polska Jest Najważniejsza
PJN Paweł Kowal Conservative liberalism
Liberal conservatism
Christian democracy
ACRE 2010 2013 Party was founded by liberal wing of PiS, which did not agree with its economic policy. In 2011 parliamentary election PJN received 2.19% of the votes, which did not allow it to obtain seats in the Sejm. In 2013 party joined Agreement.
Now!
Teraz!
Teraz! Ryszard Petru Liberalism
Economic liberalism
Pro-Europeanism
ALDE 2018 2019 Party was founded by liberal wing of PiS, which did not agree with its economic policy. In 2011 parliamentary election PJN received 2.19% of the votes, which did not allow it to obtain seats in the Sejm. In 2013 party joined Agreement.
Free and Solidary
Wolni i Solidarni
WiS Kornel Morawiecki Solidarism
State interventionism
Anti-communism
2016 2020[8][9] Party formed by Kornel Morawiecki, former Senior Marshal of the Sejm. MPs of the party were elected from the lists of Kukiz'15. Formerly declared support for Prime Minister Beata Szydło and her government, but later moved into opposition to the government of Mateusz Morawiecki. WiS lost all seats in 2019.

Defunct parties of People's Republic of Poland

Logo Party Leader Ideology European affiliation Founded Dissolved Comments
Polish United Workers' Party
Polska Zjednoczona Partia Robotnicza
PZPR Bolesław Bierut (first) Communism
Marxism-Leninism
Cominform 1948 1990 PZPR was established at unification congress of PPR and PPS during meetings in 1948. Unification was possible because PPS activists who opposed it had been forced out of party. PZPR ruled Poland in the years until 1989. During semi-free election this year communists won 65% of seats in the Sejm, though seats won were guaranteed and PZPR was unable to gain a majority, while 99 out of 100 seats in Senate freely contested were won by Solidarity-backed candidates. Jaruzelski won presidential ballot by one vote. In 1990 PZPR was renamed to SdRP.
United People's Party
Zjednoczone Stronnictwo Ludowe
ZSL Władysław Kowalski (first) Agrarian socialism
Peasant movement
1949 1989 Party was formed from the merger of communist SL with remnants of the independent PSL of Stanisław Mikołajczyk. ZSL became – as intended from its beginning – a satellite party of PZPR, representing it in rural areas. In 1989 after victory of Solidarity in legislative elections together with PZPR's other satellite party, SD, ZSL decided to support opposition. At party congress ZSL merged with anti-communist PSL in exile, forming today's PSL. SD exists until now.

Defunct and historical political parties in the Second Polish Republic, 1918–39

Defunct and historical parties Political parties before 1918

See also

References

    Further reading

    • Dariusz Cecuda, Leksykon Opozycji Politycznej 1976-1989, BIS Trust, Warszawa 1989
    • Małgorzata Dehnel-Szyc, Jadwiga Stachura, Gry polityczne. Orientacje na dziś, Oficyna Wydawnicza Volument, Warszawa 1991
    • Piotr Frączak (e.d), Gorączka czasu przełomu. Dokumenty ugrupowań radykalnych 1989-1990, Instytut Studiów Politycznych Polskiej Akademii Nauk, Wydawnictwo Adam Marszałek, Warszawa 1984
    • Inka Słodkowska (ed.), Programy partii i ugrupowań parlamentarnych 1989-1991' vol. 1–2, Instytut Studiów Politycznych Polskiej Akademii Nauk, Warszawa 1995
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