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| United Poland | |
|---|---|
| Name | United Poland |
| Native name | Zjednoczona Polska |
| Country | Poland |
| Founded | 2011 |
| Founder | Zbigniew Ziobro |
| Predecessor | Law and Justice |
| Ideology | National conservatism, Social conservatism, Euroscepticism |
| Position | Right-wing to far-right |
| European affiliation | European Conservatives and Reformists Party (observer) |
| Seats sejm | (varies) |
| Seats senate | (varies) |
| Seats european parliament | (varies) |
United Poland is a Polish political party established in 2011 by Zbigniew Ziobro as a split from Law and Justice. The party positions itself on the conservative and Eurosceptic spectrum, emphasizing traditional social values, national sovereignty, and judicial reform. It has participated in multiple electoral alliances and legislative activities, influencing debates in the Sejm', the Senate of Poland, and elections to the European Parliament.
United Poland emerged after internal disputes within Law and Justice that involved figures such as Jarosław Kaczyński and Beata Szydło. The 2011 split followed political crises including the aftermath of the 2010 Polish presidential election and controversies surrounding appointments in the Ministry of Justice. Founding members included Zbigniew Ziobro, Maciej Wąsik, and other deputies who opposed perceived moderating tendencies linked to leaders like Tadeusz Cymański and Marek Kuchciński. The party formed parliamentary clubs in the Sejm and sought alliances with groups such as Congress of the New Right in some campaigns. In subsequent years United Poland joined broader electoral coalitions, cooperating with Law and Justice in the 2015 parliamentary cycle and later participating in the United Right bloc. United Poland has contested elections to the European Parliament, regional assemblies, and municipal councils, often focusing on constituencies in southern Poland and regions with strong support for social conservatism.
United Poland's declared doctrines include National conservatism, Social conservatism, and elements of Economic nationalism. The party emphasizes sovereignty in the context of the Treaty of Lisbon and expresses critiques aligned with Euroscepticism and skepticism toward institutions such as the European Commission and European Parliament. United Poland advocates for policies influenced by Catholic social teaching as represented by figures like Pope John Paul II and engages debates involving Polish Catholic Church leaders. On legal matters the party references judicial changes comparable to reforms debated in the Constitutional Tribunal of Poland and interacts with positions advanced by politicians such as Andrzej Duda. Its platform often intersects with positions taken by right-wing formations like Law and Justice and Solidarna Polska.
The party's leadership has centered on founder Zbigniew Ziobro who served as a prominent chair and minister in cabinets led by Beata Szydło and Mateusz Morawiecki. United Poland maintains local branches in voivodeships including Lesser Poland Voivodeship and Silesian Voivodeship, coordinating with municipal structures in cities such as Kraków, Katowice, and Rzeszów. Internal organs include a national council, executive committee, and candidate selection bodies that engage in negotiations with coalition partners like Law and Justice and parliamentary groups in the Sejm and Senate of Poland. The party has affiliated think tanks and media connections that interact with outlets covering Polish politics such as Gazeta Polska and Telewizja Polska.
United Poland has contested national elections both independently and within coalitions. In parliamentary elections the party's MPs have sat in the Sejm as part of broader right-wing blocs, influencing majorities formed by Law and Justice in 2015 and later cycles. The party has also fielded candidates for the European Parliament, competing in constituencies alongside parties including Civic Platform and Polish People's Party. In regional assembly elections United Poland has won seats in voivodeship sejmiks, collaborating with allied groupings to affect local governance in regions like Podkarpackie Voivodeship. Electoral cooperation with formations such as United Right and negotiations with figures like Mariusz Błaszczak have shaped candidate lists and cabinet appointments.
United Poland advocates tougher stances on immigration policies in response to debates around the European migrant crisis and supports law-and-order measures promoted by officials like Mariusz Kamiński. On judicial matters the party backs reforms paralleling proposals debated at the Constitutional Tribunal of Poland and opposes rulings by the European Court of Justice perceived as infringing national competence. Economic proposals often emphasize protectionist measures similar to positions voiced in discussions involving Polish Chamber of Commerce and support social spending aligned with statements by Andrzej Duda on family policy. Foreign policy stances prioritize ties with United States, defense cooperation within NATO, and cautious relations with institutions such as the European Union.
United Poland and its leaders have faced criticism from opponents including Civic Platform, Democratic Left Alliance, and civil society organizations such as Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights. Critics have challenged the party's judicial reform agenda as undermining the independence of courts, citing disputes with the European Commission and rulings from the European Court of Human Rights. Contentious episodes involved media coverage by outlets like TVN (Poland) and accusations of nationalism made by voices in Gazeta Wyborcza and commentators associated with Lech Wałęsa and Bronisław Komorowski. Internal disputes over candidate selection and coalition strategy have prompted defections and public disagreements with figures from Law and Justice.
United Poland has maintained strategic alliances with Law and Justice within the United Right coalition, while also negotiating with smaller parties such as Kukiz'15 and engaging observer status in European groupings like the European Conservatives and Reformists Party. The party's interactions with Civic Platform and Polish People's Party are typically adversarial, particularly on issues associated with the European Union and judicial reform. Internationally United Poland communicates with conservative movements across Europe and has relations with politicians from parties such as Fidesz, Vox (political party), and representatives of Law and Justice's counterparts in the European Parliament.
Category:Political parties in Poland