Razem (political party)

Razem (political party)
Name	Razem
Native name	Razem
Founded	2015
Headquarters	Warsaw
Position	Left-wing
European	Party of the European Left

Razem (political party) is a Polish left-wing political party founded in 2015 that emerged from social movements and activist networks. It has participated in national elections, municipal contests, and European Parliament campaigns while aligning with trade unions, environmentalists, feminist organizations, and anti-austerity activists. Razem has sought to influence debates alongside parties and movements such as Civic Platform, Law and Justice, Democratic Left Alliance, and transnational groups like the Party of the European Left.

History

Razem was established in March 2015 by activists with roots in Occupy movement, Committee for the Defence of Democracy, student protests at Jagiellonian University, and networks connected to Solidarity and All-Poland Women's Strike. Founding figures included organizers who previously participated in campaigns associated with Spring defections, local councils in Warsaw, and grassroots campaigns in Kraków and Gdańsk. During the 2015 parliamentary elections Razem campaigned against austerity policies pursued by cabinets influenced by European Commission directives, while engaging with European Parliament debates. Following early electoral setbacks, Razem consolidated local structures, stood in municipal elections, and joined coalitions for the 2019 European Parliament election alongside leftist formations inspired by Podemos, Syriza, and Die Linke.

Ideology and Platform

Razem defines itself through a synthesis of democratic socialism, social democracy, and eco-socialist perspectives influenced by theorists debated in International Marxism, feminist arguments prominent in Simone de Beauvoir and bell hooks discussions, and labour theory associated with Karl Marx and Rosa Luxemburg. Its platform emphasizes progressive taxation, strengthened social safety nets modeled on systems in Nordic model countries such as Sweden and Denmark, and public ownership reminiscent of policies discussed in Post-war consensus literature. Razem's environmental stance draws on principles advanced by Green Parties and the Extinction Rebellion movement, while its labour policies echo demands from unions like Trade Union Congress and Polish counterparts.

Organization and Leadership

Razem operates through a national council, local branches in cities including Warsaw, Kraków, Łódź, and Wrocław, and issue-based committees that coordinate with NGOs such as Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights and student groups from University of Warsaw. Leadership figures have been prominent activists previously involved with Committee for the Defence of Democracy, academic networks at Jagiellonian University and Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, and civil society organizations including Polish Doctors' Union. The party's internal rules reflect deliberative models inspired by Participatory democracy experiments in Barcelona and governance practices debated at conferences like World Social Forum.

Electoral Performance

Razem's electoral debut in the 2015 parliamentary elections failed to cross the parliamentary threshold, while subsequent participation in the 2019 European Parliament election and municipal contests produced representation in some city councils and local assemblies. The party has contested Sejm lists in coalition with formations influenced by Left Together and other leftist lists, competing against national blocs led by Law and Justice and Civic Platform. In European contests Razem ran candidates engaging with debates in Strasbourg and allied with delegations from the European Left group, but had limited success in securing seats at the European Parliament.

Political Positions and Policies

Razem advocates progressive taxation inspired by reforms in Finland and Norway, comprehensive public healthcare expansions similar to proposals in France and Spain, and free tertiary education modeled on systems in Germany and Austria. On labour policy it supports collective bargaining and stronger protections advocated by International Labour Organization conventions, minimum wage increases following examples from Portugal and Ireland, and public investment in affordable housing drawing on municipal programs from Vienna. Razem's foreign policy emphasizes anti-militarist stances, diplomacy in line with United Nations frameworks, skepticism toward NATO deployments, and solidarity with movements opposing austerity across the European Union.

Alliances and International Relations

Razem maintains formal and informal relations with left-wing parties across Europe including Die Linke, Syriza, Podemos, Left Bloc, and members of the Party of the European Left. It participates in conferences with trade unions such as European Trade Union Confederation and NGOs like Amnesty International on human rights issues. International networking has included exchanges with activists from the Zapatista movement, delegations to forums hosted in Brussels and Berlin, and cooperation with Latin American progressive parties that have engaged with Bolivarianism debates.

Criticism and Controversies

Razem has been criticized by rivals including Law and Justice and Civic Platform for its positions on tax policy and public spending, and faced scrutiny from media outlets such as Gazeta Wyborcza and Gazeta Polska over candidate selection and internal governance. Internal disputes have arisen over strategic alliances debated in meetings reminiscent of tensions in European Left coalitions, and some trade union partners questioned the party's approach to negotiations in cases similar to disputes involving Solidarity. Controversies also involved responses to social movements like All-Poland Women's Strike and debates on NATO policy that drew criticism from pro-Atlanticist politicians in Sejm proceedings.

Category:Political parties in Poland Category:Left-wing parties Category:Political parties established in 2015