The United People's Party (, ZSL) was an
agrarian socialist political party
A political party is an organization that coordinates candidates to compete in a particular area's elections. It is common for the members of a party to hold similar ideas about politics, and parties may promote specific political ideology, ...
in the
People's Republic of Poland
The Polish People's Republic (1952–1989), formerly the Republic of Poland (1947–1952), and also often simply known as Poland, was a country in Central Europe that existed as the predecessor of the modern-day democratic Republic of Poland. ...
. It was formed on 27 November 1949 from the merger of the pro-Communist
Stronnictwo Ludowe party with remnants of the independent
Polish People's Party of
Stanisław Mikołajczyk.
ZSL became – as intended from its beginning – a
satellite party of the
Polish United Workers' Party (PZPR), representing the PZPR in the rural areas. It was a member of the
Front of National Unity until 1982, and from 1982 it was a member of the Front's successor, the
Patriotic Movement for National Rebirth. To keep up the appearance that Poland was ruled by a coalition, the
Marshal of the Sejm (parliamentary speaker) was always a member of the ZSL.
After victory of the
Solidarity trade union in the
1989 Polish legislative elections, together with the PZPR's other satellite party, the
Alliance of Democrats, ZSL decided to support Solidarity. At the 27–29 November 1989 ZSL congress, ZSL became the
Polskie Stronnictwo Ludowe - Odrodzenie ("Polish People's Party - Rebirth"). PSL-Odrodzenie merged with
Polish People's Party "Wilanowskie", forming today's
Polish People's Party.
Chairmen
* 1949–1953:
Józef Niećko
* 1953–1956:
Władysław Kowalski
* 1956–1962:
Stefan Ignar
* 1962–1971:
Czesław Wycech
* 1971–1981:
Stanisław Gucwa
* 1981:
Stefan Ignar
* 1981–1989:
Roman Malinowski
* 1989:
Dominik Ludwiczak
Electoral history
Sejm elections
Notes
References
1949 establishments in Poland
1989 disestablishments in Poland
Agrarian parties in Poland
Agrarian socialist parties
Defunct agrarian political parties
Defunct socialist parties in Poland
Polish People's Party
Political parties disestablished in 1989
Political parties established in 1949
{{Poland-party-stub