Liberalism in Poland

This article gives an overview of liberalism in Poland. It is limited to liberal parties with substantial support, mainly proved by having had a representation in parliament. The sign ⇒ means a reference to another party in that scheme. Parties included in this scheme do not necessarily label themselves as "liberal".

1 Introduction
2 The timeline
3 Liberal leaders
4 References
5 See also

[edit] Introduction

Liberalism in Poland has always been a minor but sometimes influential political force. Nowadays the Freedom Union (Unia Wolności, member ELDR) is a center liberal party.

[edit] The timeline

[edit] Democratic Party

1938: Left wing liberals founded the Democratic Party (Stronnictwo Demokratyczne)
1939: The party is banned by the Germans
1945: The party is brought under communist control
1989: The party returned to a democratic profile
1991: The party entered the electoral committee of the conservative Liberal Democratic Congress
1997: The party entered the electoral committee of the liberal Freedom Union
2001: The party entered the electoral committee of the conservative liberal Civic Platform
2005: The party entered the electoral committee of the conservative liberal Civic Platform

[edit] Union of Real Politics

1990: In 1979 Janusz Korwin-Mikke activist of official Democratic Party published his political agenda. His main idea was to introduce Laissez-faire market economy in Poland. The proposed solution was to sign a deal with class of ruling communists, transforming their share in power into share in business. In 1990 new party Union of Real Politics (Unia Polityki Realnej) was officially proclaimed.

[edit] Citizens's Movement-Democratic Action

1990: Liberals supporters of the Solidarity Trade Union around Zbigniew Bujak, Władysław Frasyniuk, and Adam Michnik founded the Citizens Movement 'Democratic Action' (Ruch Obywatelski Akcja Demokratyczna/ROAD).
1991: A left-wing faction led by Bujak forms the Democratic Social Movement (Ruch Demokratyczno Społeczny) and the rest of the party merged into the Democratic Union (Unia Demokratyczna/UD).

[edit] From Democratic Union to Democratic Party

1991: Liberal and catholic intellectuals founded the Democratic Union (Unia Demokratyczna), absorbing later that year the Forum of Democratic Right and the ⇒ Citizens Movement-Democratic Action. The party is led by Tadeusz Mazowiecki and Bronisław Geremek
1994: The party merged with the Liberal Democratic Congress into the Freedom Union (Unia Wolności)
2001: A right-wing faction created the conservative liberal Citizens Platform
2005: On the basis of the Freedom Union the Democratic Party (Partia Demokratycnza) is formed.