Union of European Democrats
Unia Europejskich Demokratów
AbbreviationUED
LeaderElżbieta Bińczycka
Founded12 November 2016
Preceded byDemocratic Party – demokraci.pl
Youth wingEurope of the Youth
Ideology
Political positionCentre
National affiliationThird Way
Polish Coalition
Colours
  •   Blue
  •   Red
  •   Gold
Sejm
0 / 460
Senate
1 / 100
European Parliament
0 / 52
Sejmiks
1 / 552

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 social liberalism and advocates for a more federal European Union.

History

Early history and formation

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".[1] Its first president became Elżbieta Bińczycka and Jacek Protasiewicz was elected as the vice-president.[2] 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.[3]

Elections period (2016–2019)

In January 2018, Michał Kamiński, a prominent member inside UED, joined the parliamentary club led by the Polish People's Party.[4] 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.[5][6] Protasiewicz later left to join Modern.[7] 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.[8] UED's candidate was Elżbieta Bińczycka and she obtained 6,540 votes but no seats.[9][10]

During June and July 2019, UED held discussions about joining the Polish Coalition, after which it joined.[11][12] During the 2019 parliamentary election, UED obtained 29,832 votes and Jacek Protasiewicz was elected as its MP.[13]

Modern period (2020–present)

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.

Ideology and program

The Union of European Democrats is largely a liberal and social-liberal party that is positioned in the centre on the political spectrum.[14][15][16] It advocates for the federalisation of the European Union.[14]

Program

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.[3] Leader: Elżbieta Bińczycka First Vice-Leader: Jacek Protasiewicz Vice-Leader and Secretary: Anna Sporyszkiewicz Treasurer: Katarzyna Such Spokesman: Daria Brzezicka President of the Political Council: Janusz Onyszkiewicz

Election results

Sejm

Election year Leader # of
votes		  % of
vote		 # of
overall seats won		 +/– Government
2019 Elżbieta Bińczycka 1,578,523 8.6 (#3)
1 / 460
 New Opposition
As part of Polish Coalition, which won 30 seats in total.
2023 3,110,670 14.4 (#3)
0 / 460
 Decrease 1 Extra-parliamentary
As part of Third Way, which won 65 seats in total.

Senate

2019 Elżbieta Bińczycka 1,041,909 5.7
1 / 100
 New Opposition
As part of Polish Coalition, which won 30 seats in total.
2023 2,462,360 11.5
1 / 100
 Steady
As part of Third Way, which won 65 seats in total.

References

  1. ↑ "Europejscy Demokraci łączą się z Partią Demokratyczną". Onet Wiadomości (in Polish). 12 November 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  2. ↑ "Unia Europejskich Demokratów" (PDF). National Electoral Commission.
  3. 1 2 "Nowa partia na polskiej scenie politycznej - Unia Europejskich Demokratów". wiadomosci.com (in Polish). 12 November 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  4. ↑ "Kosiniak-Kamysz: Michał Kamiński dołączył do klubu parlamentarnego PSL". wydarzenia.interia.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  5. ↑ "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.
  6. ↑ "Kosiniak-Kamysz: Powstał federacyjny klub PSL i UED". www.gazetaprawna.pl (in Polish). 8 February 2018. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  7. ↑ "Nowoczesna odzyskuje klub w Sejmie. Pomógł Jacek Protasiewicz". Wprost (in Polish). 13 December 2018. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  8. ↑ "PSL wchodzi do Koalicji Europejskiej. Jest decyzja władz partii". wyborcza.pl. 23 February 2019. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  9. ↑ "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.
  10. ↑ "Wybory do Parlamentu Europejskiego 2019". pe2019.pkw.gov.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  11. ↑ "Protasiewicz: Kosiniak-Kamysz lepszym liderem od Schetyny". www.rmf24.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  12. ↑ "Powstał klub PSL-Koalicji Polska, do którego weszli: Biernacki, Tomczak i Lubczyk". Polska Agencja Prasowa SA (in Polish). Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  13. ↑ "Wybory do Sejmu i Senatu Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej 2019 r." sejmsenat2019.pkw.gov.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  14. 1 2 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.
  15. ↑ Wilczek, Maria (7 December 2021). "Polish opposition parties unite to sign agreement on restoring rule of law". Notes From Poland. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  16. ↑ "KP: głos oddany na Kosiniaka-Kamysza to inwestycja w dobry kształt polskiej sceny politycznej - Polityka i Społeczeństwo". www.portalsamorzadowy.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 13 January 2022.
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