Union of European Democrats
 | This article needs to be updated. (October 2023) |
Union of European Democrats Unia Europejskich Demokratów | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Abbreviation | UED |
| Leader | Elżbieta Bińczycka |
| Founded | 12 November 2016 |
| Preceded by | Democratic Party – demokraci.pl |
| Youth wing | Europe of the Youth |
| Ideology | |
| Political position | Centre to centre-right |
| National affiliation | Third Way Polish Coalition |
| European affiliation | European People's Party (in the Council of Europe) |
| Colours | |
| Sejm | 0 / 460 |
| Senate | 1 / 100 |
| European Parliament | 0 / 52 |
| Sejmiks | 1 / 552 |
| Website | |
| uniaeurodem | |
 |
|---|
The Union of European Democrats (Polish: Unia Europejskich Demokratów, Polish pronunciation: [ˈuɲ.ja ɛw.rɔˈpɛj.skix dɛ.mɔˈkra.tuf]; UED) is a liberal political party in Poland. It is led by Elżbieta Bińczycka.
It was founded as a merger of Democratic Party – demokraci.pl and "European Democrats" in November 2016. It joined the parliamentary group of the Polish People's Party in 2018, and later participated in the upcoming elections under the European Coalition and the Polish Coalition. Ideologically, it supports principles of liberal conservatism and social liberalism, and also advocates for a more federal European Union.
UED is a legal successor of the Democratic Union and the Freedom Union.[4]
History
[edit]Early history and formation
[edit]During the extraordinary congress of the Democratic Party – demokraci.pl, its structures were merged with the "European Democrats" association, gathered around a four-member parliamentary group, and formally changed the name of the party to the "Union of European Democrats".[5] Its first president became Elżbieta Bińczycka and Jacek Protasiewicz was elected as the vice-president.[6] Former president of Poland Lech Wałęsa and the chairman of the Committee for the Defence of Democracy Mateusz Kijowski spoke at the party's founding conference, and letters were read from former presidents Bronisław Komorowski and Aleksander Kwaśniewski.[7]
Elections period (2016–2019)
[edit]In January 2018, Michał Kamiński, a prominent member inside UED, joined the parliamentary club led by the Polish People's Party.[8] Soon after, they established a joint parliamentary club with Jacek Protasiewicz as the vice-president, while Kamiński was chosen to be a part of the presidium.[9][10] Protasiewicz later left to join Modern.[11] During the 2018 local elections, UED participated with various parties.
Shortly before the 2019 European Parliament election, it joined the European Coalition which was established by the Civic Platform, Democratic Left Alliance, and Polish People's Party.[12] UED's candidate was Elżbieta Bińczycka and she obtained 6,540 votes but no seats.[13][14]
During June and July 2019, UED held discussions about joining the Polish Coalition, after which it joined.[15][16] During the 2019 parliamentary election, UED obtained 29,832 votes and Jacek Protasiewicz was elected as its MP.[17]
Modern period (2020–present)
[edit]During the 2020 presidential election, it supported Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz as the candidate for the Polish Coalition. In the second round, UED voiced its support for Rafał Trzaskowski.
European affiliation
[edit]The UED is not officially affiliated with any European party. Its predecessor, the Democratic Party, was affiliated with the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe Party with MEPs in liberal group. However, UED MP Jacek Protasiewicz was a member of the European People's Party group in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, which corresponds to the European membership of the Polish People's Party and Protasiewicz's previous party (Civic Platform).[18]
Ideology and program
[edit]The Union of European Democrats is largely a liberal conservative and social-liberal party that is described as centrist,[3][19] or centre-right.[20]
The party was formed by conservative defectors from the Civic Platform as well as former members of the Poland Fair Play party.[1] It is a member of the Polish Coalition, a centre-right political coalition.[21]
It advocates for the federalisation of the European Union.[3]
Program
[edit]The party program declaration is concerned with the defense of Polish democracy, support for Poland's membership of the European Union and NATO, and the putative threats to Poland posed by Russia. The UED supports the creation of a federal Europe. The party also advocates civil service reform, the separation of church and state, and the introduction of civil partnerships.[7]
Election results
[edit]Sejm
[edit]| Election | Leader | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | Government |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Elżbieta Bińczycka | 1,578,523 | 8.6 (#3) | 1 / 460
|
New | Opposition |
| As part of the Polish Coalition, that won 30 seats in total. | ||||||
| 2023 | Elżbieta Bińczycka | 3,110,670 | 14.4 (#3) | 0 / 460
|
 1
|
Extra-parliamentary |
| As part of the Third Way coalition, that won 65 seats in total. | ||||||
Senate
[edit]| Election | Leader | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | Government |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Elżbieta Bińczycka | 1,041,909 | 5.7 | 1 / 100
|
New | KO-PSL-SLD |
| As part of the Polish Coalition, that won 30 seats in total. | ||||||
| 2023 | Elżbieta Bińczycka | 2,462,360 | 11.5 | 1 / 100
|
 0
|
KO-TD-NL |
| As part of the Third Way coalition, that won 65 seats in total. | ||||||
European Parliament
[edit]| Election | Leader | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | EP Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Elżbieta Bińczycka | 5,249,935 | 38.47 (#2) | 0 / 52
|
New | – |
| As part of the European Coalition, that won 22 seats in total | ||||||
| 2024 | Elżbieta Bińczycka | 813,238 | 6.91 (#4) | 0 / 53
|
0
|
– |
| As part of the Third Way coalition, that won 3 seats in total | ||||||
References
[edit]- ^ a b Dziedzic, Malwina (30 April 2020). "Plan Kosiniaka". Polityka (in Polish).
- ^ Nordsieck, Wolfram (2024). "Poland". Parties and Elections in Europe.
- ^ a b c Henningsen, Bernd; Etzold, Tobias; Hanne, Krister, eds. (15 September 2017). The Baltic Sea Region: A Comprehensive Guide: History, Politics, Culture and Economy of a European Role Model. Berliner Wissenschafts-Verlag. p. 353. ISBN 978-3-8305-1727-6.
- ^ adminek. "Historia". Unia Europejskich Demokratów (in Polish). Retrieved 4 June 2024.
- ^ "Europejscy Demokraci łączą się z Partią Demokratyczną". Onet Wiadomości (in Polish). 12 November 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
- ^ "Unia Europejskich Demokratów" (PDF). National Electoral Commission.
- ^ a b "Nowa partia na polskiej scenie politycznej - Unia Europejskich Demokratów". wiadomosci.com (in Polish). 12 November 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
- ^ "Kosiniak-Kamysz: Michał Kamiński dołączył do klubu parlamentarnego PSL". wydarzenia.interia.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 13 January 2022.
- ^ "Krajowa Rada Unii Europejskich Demokratów za powołaniem federacyjnego klubu PSL i UED | Polityka krajowa | Aktualności | Polska Agencja Prasowa". 27 January 2018. Archived from the original on 27 January 2018. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
- ^ "Kosiniak-Kamysz: Powstał federacyjny klub PSL i UED". www.gazetaprawna.pl (in Polish). 8 February 2018. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
- ^ "Nowoczesna odzyskuje klub w Sejmie. Pomógł Jacek Protasiewicz". Wprost (in Polish). 13 December 2018. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
- ^ "PSL wchodzi do Koalicji Europejskiej. Jest decyzja władz partii". wyborcza.pl. 23 February 2019. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
- ^ "Kandydaci Koalicji Europejskiej w wyborach do Parlamentu Europejskiego 2019 | PO PSL SLD .N Zieloni". 15 October 2019. Archived from the original on 15 October 2019. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
- ^ "Wybory do Parlamentu Europejskiego 2019". pe2019.pkw.gov.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 13 January 2022.
- ^ "Protasiewicz: Kosiniak-Kamysz lepszym liderem od Schetyny". www.rmf24.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 13 January 2022.
- ^ "Powstał klub PSL-Koalicji Polska, do którego weszli: Biernacki, Tomczak i Lubczyk". Polska Agencja Prasowa SA (in Polish). Retrieved 13 January 2022.
- ^ "Wybory do Sejmu i Senatu Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej 2019 r." sejmsenat2019.pkw.gov.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 13 January 2022.
- ^ "Jacek Protasiewicz on PACE.COE website". pace.coe.int. 2024. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
- ^ Wilczek, Maria (7 December 2021). "Polish opposition parties unite to sign agreement on restoring rule of law". Notes From Poland. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
- ^ "Szykuje się „dziwny" rząd koalicji sklejonej z różnych frakcji". TymŻyjesz.pl (in Polish). 16 October 2023.
Unia Europejskich Demokratów – centroprawicowa partia, praktycznie bliźniacza dla Centrum dla Polski, którą stworzyli byli konserwatywni politycy Platformy Obywatelskiej, którzy zostali usunięci z tej partii.
- ^ "Sawicki: PSL jest otwarte na wspólny blok wyborczy z Polską 2050, jest nam też po drodze z Agrounią". farmer.pl (in Polish). 21 January 2023.
My otwarcie mówimy o tym, że w środku sceny politycznej potrzebna jest centroprawica, którą szef PSL Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz buduje od 2019 roku, od powstania Koalicji Polskiej. Jest Unia Europejskich Demokratów, są konserwatyści Marka Biernackiego, teraz mamy jeszcze nowe ugrupowanie TAK! Dla Polski, więc mamy szansę wokół tych środowisk budować swoją pozycję - zaznaczył.
