United Right
Zjednoczona Prawica
AbbreviationZP
LeaderJarosław Kaczyński
Founded11 July 2014 (2014-07-11)
Ideology
Political position
European Parliament groupEuropean Conservatives and Reformists
ColoursBlue
Sejm
189 / 460
Senate
34 / 100
European Parliament
27 / 52
Regional assemblies
234 / 552

The United Right (Polish: Zjednoczona Prawica, initially Fair Poland, Polish: Sprawiedliwa Polska) was a parliamentary group formed by Jarosław Gowin and Zbigniew Ziobro with their respective parties, Poland Together and United Poland. After their cooperation at 2015 Polish parliamentary election with the Law and Justice party, 'United Right' became a media label for the ruling right-wing political alliance of Law and Justice with its aforementioned partners in Poland.[1]

History

Creation

The alliance was formed in 2014.[2] The alliance initially took the form of a parliamentary club in the Sejm called Just Poland (alternatively translated as Fair Poland; Polish: Sprawiedliwa Polska) formed by politicians of Poland Together and United Poland.[3] They then agreed to co-operate with the Law and Justice party (the Piast Faction were already incorporated with them) and joined Law and Justice's parliamentary club and electoral lists that same year, in time for the 2014 local elections and the 2015 parliamentary elections.[4]

Ascent to power

The alliance was in power from the 2015 elections to their defeat in the 2023 elections. It was opposed by the Civic Coalition, led by Civic Platform, since 2018.[5][6]

Throughout the parliamentary term the coalition expanded its absolute majority by crossers of the floor from Polish People's Party, Civic Platform, Modern and Kukiz'15. A major factor was when in 2017, Poland Together merged with individual centre-right orientated defectors from The Republican Association, Civic Platform, Liberty, Law and Justice, Christian National Union, Polish People's Party and Kukiz'15 to form the Agreement Party centred around the leadership of Jarosław Gowin.[7] In 2018, Free and Solidarity, a splinter group of Kukiz'15, joined the coalition.[8] Its candidate for the 2018 Warsaw election was Patryk Jaki.[9]

Internal disputes

In the 2019 parliamentary election the alliance gained more votes, but due to appearance of the Confederation and The Left in Sejm and cooperation between the Civic Coalition, The Left, and the Polish Coalition in the Senate, it failed to increase its majority in Sejm and even lost their majority in the Senate.

In 2020 and 2021, the alliance has been affected by actions of rebellious MPs. This was in part caused by the results of 2019 parliamentary elections, whereby the Law and Justice representation was reduced to 199 MPs, whilst United Poland and Agreement increased their tallies to 18 MPs each. This led to the notion that it is enough for just some MPs in one of constituent parties (and not the whole party) to rebel and bring down the government. Inter-party rebellion occurred on several occasions, although never managing to dissolve the alliance or bring down the government.

The first such instances were during the preparations to the 2020 presidential election. The Agreement Party did not support the Law and Justice proposal on postal voting in these elections. A second crucial instance was when the near-total abortion ban was drafted, initiated by United Poland, but initially provoking some scepticism in the Law and Justice and the Agreement parties. The third major rift was during the proposed changes to animal rights' which sought to ban animal breeding for fur production and energy policies which proposed speeding up the reduction of coal production and the sudden suspension of the Ostrołęka power plant construction. Law and Justice had proposed the opposite policies in their election manifestos, but due to pressure from the leader of the party, Jarosław Kaczyński, and the European Commission, the policies were changed.[10][11]

Major reshuffling and loss of absolute majority in Sejm

On 20 June 2021, the reactivation of the congress of the Republicans took place, with some Agreement members joining the Republican association and restructuring it into a party. The newly formed party subsequently joined the governing coalition as a full member. In response, the Law and Justice chairman Jarosław Kaczyński made a speech praising the new reformed party.[12]

After Jarosław Gowin's scepticism with the "Polish Deal" proposal (an economic recovery plan for countering the COVID-19 recession in Poland) and media law changes that would have affected a major foreign owned news channel TVN24, Gowin was publicly removed from his position as deputy prime minister, resulting in a realignment of the composition of the coalition.[13] As result, Adam Bielan's "Agreement rebels" new party joined the coalition as replacements. The remaining Kukiz '15 MP's led by Paweł Kukiz declared their support for the ruling coalition by signing a confidence and supply agreement without formally joining the government.[14]

After this, coalition lost its majority in Sejm, which it enjoyed since 2015 parliamentary election.[15] On 3 September 2021, five more former Agreement MPs decided to continue their support of Law and Justice government after the remainder of the party went into opposition, creating the Renew PR political party under the leadership of Marcin Ociepa.[16] The other four MPs were Andrzej Gut-Mostowy, Wojciech Murdzek, Grzegorz Piechowiak and Anna Dąbrowska-Banaszek.[17]

Further internal disputes

In April 2022 it was noted that SP, most notably its leader Zbigniew Ziobro,[18] and PiS were in a major dispute regarding the dissolution of the Supreme Court Disciplinary Chamber and repealing the law concerning the matter, a focal point of an ongoing constitutional crisis.[18]

The proposal was made by the president Andrzej Duda, noting a complete u-turn on the subject.[19] The escalation of the dispute was further noted by accusatory statements between Ziobro and Ryszard Terlecki,[19] leading the former to call the situation a "real pâté" (Polish idiom equivalent of a sticky wicket).[19]

On 22 June 2022, Andrzej Sośnierz was thrown out of the Agreement Party after his parliamentary group "Polish Affairs" (Polish: Polskie Sprawy) signed an agreement with Law and Justice.[20] Sośnierz, along with the leader of the group Agnieszka Ścigaj (who was appointed Minister without portfolio) confirmed their participation in the coalition as independent MPs, with Paweł Szramka leaving the group.[21]

Loss of Power

After the 2023 parliamentary election, the United Right won a plurality of seats but fell short of a Sejm majority. The opposition, consisting of the Civic Coalition, Third Way, and The Left achieved a combined vote total of 54% and formed a coalition government.[22][23] In the Senate, the opposition electoral alliance Senate Pact 2023 won a plurality of the vote and a majority of seats. Turnout was 74.4%, the highest in contested elections and the highest since the fall of the Polish People's Republic, beating the previous records set in 1989 and 2019.

On 6 November, Duda named Law and Justice's incumbent prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki as his prime ministerial nominee.[24] This move was criticized by the opposition, as no party that would allow PiS to reach a majority agreed to join them for coalition talks.[25] On 13 November, the newly elected Sejm held its first session. Szymon Hołownia, leader of Poland 2050, was elected Marshal of the Sejm, winning over the incumbent Elżbieta Witek of PiS.[26] Later that day, on the first meeting of the Senate, former Marshal of the Sejm Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska of Civic Coalition was elected Marshal of the Senate.[27]

On 11 December, Mateusz Morawiecki's caretaker cabinet lost a vote of no confidence in the Sejm by 190 votes to 266.[28][29] Later that day, the Sejm nominated Donald Tusk for prime minister, who was subsequently confirmed by 248 votes in favour and 201 against.[30] Tusk's cabinet was sworn in at 9:13 CET on 13 December.

Ideology and factions

Law and Justice is a right-wing coalition,[31] and is divided into many internal factions, but they can be grouped into three main blocks.[32][33][34][35][36] The United Right coalition has been described as solidarist,[37] and fiscally statist.[38][39][40] It previously used to include a paternalistic conservative faction.[41][42][43]

Order of the Centre Agreement is the unofficial name of the most influential, although not the most numerous fraction of PiS. Its leader is Jarosław Kaczyński, main members are Joachim Brudziński, Adam Lipiński and Mariusz Błaszczak. It is economically left-wing.[44]

Composition

Current

Name Years Ideology Position Leader MPs Senators MEPs Sejmiks
Law and Justice 2014– National conservatism
Right-wing populism		 Right-wing Jarosław Kaczyński
170 / 460
29 / 100
24 / 52
206 / 552
Sovereign Poland 2014– Social conservatism
Right-wing populism		 Far-right Zbigniew Ziobro
18 / 460
1 / 100
2 / 52
19 / 552
Polish Affairs 2022– Conservative liberalism Centre-right Agnieszka Ścigaj
1 / 460
0 / 100
0 / 52
0 / 552
Independents (MP's and MEP's) 2020– N/A N/A
0 / 460
3 / 100
[lower-alpha 1]
0 / 52
1 / 552
[lower-alpha 2]
(president) 2015- N/A N/A Andrzej Duda N/A

Former

Name Years Ideology Position Leader
(at the time)		 Reasons for leaving
Right Wing of the Republic 2015–2017 Political Catholicism
Conservatism
Anti-abortion		 Right-wing to
far-right[45][46]		 Marek Jurek Political disagreement
Republican Party 2017–2019 Political Catholicism
Republicanism		 Right-wing Marek Wróbel Party disbanded
Poland Together 2014–2017 Liberal conservatism Centre-right Jarosław Gowin Merged into new Agreement party
Free and Solidary 2018–2019 Solidarism
Anti-communism		 Right-wing Kornel Morawiecki[lower-alpha 3] Disagreements over electoral lists and foreign policy towards Russia. Party disbanded in 2020.
Agreement 2017–2021[47] Liberal conservatism
Economic liberalism		 Centre-right to
right-wing		 Jarosław Gowin Political disagreement
Kukiz'15 2021–2023 Conservatism
Right-wing populism		 Centre-right Paweł Kukiz "The desire to abandon party discipline and be independent of PiS"

Electoral performance

The difference between Poland A and B is particularly evident in the voting patterns of the two regions. Since circa 2005, when Poland saw a realignment in its political system, residents of Poland "A" have supported the liberal conservative party Civic Platform (PO). Residents of Poland "B" (excluding Warsaw), on the other hand, tend to support the national conservative Law and Justice party (PiS).

United Right's main support (blue). United Right has seen decreased support in the 2023 Polish parliamentary election. It remains the largest single parliamentary group in the Sejm.

Sejm

Election year Leader # of
votes		  % of
vote		 # of
overall seats won		 +/– Government
2015 Jarosław Kaczyński 5,711,687 37.6 (#1)
235 / 460
 Increase PiS
2019 8,051,935 43.6 (#1)
235 / 460
 Steady PiS
2023 7,640,854 35.4 (#1)
194 / 460
 Decrease KO-PL2050-PSL-NL

European Parliament

Election year # of
votes		  % of
vote		 # of
overall seats won		 +/–
2019 6,192,780 45.38 (#1)
27 / 51
 New


Presidential

Election year Candidate 1st round 2nd round
# of overall votes  % of overall vote # of overall votes  % of overall vote
2015 Andrzej Duda 5,179,092 34.8 (#1) 8,630,627 51.6 (#1)
2020 Supported Andrzej Duda 8,450,513 43.5 (#1) 10,440,648 51.0 (#1)

See also

Notes

References

  1. ↑ Kubala, Paweł (4 July 2017). "Dlaczego Prawica już nie jest zjednoczona z PiS _ Parezja". parezja.pl. Parezja.pl. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  2. ↑ "Nowa umowa koalicyjna Zjednoczonej Prawicy podpisana". www.gazetaprawna.pl. 28 November 2019.
  3. ↑ S.A, Wirtualna Polska Media (11 July 2014). ""Sprawiedliwa Polska" - to nowy klub, który powstanie w sejmie". wiadomosci.wp.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  4. ↑ S.A, Wirtualna Polska Media (19 July 2014). "Jarosław Kaczyński podpisał porozumienie ze Zbigniewem Ziobro i Jarosławem Gowinem". wiadomosci.wp.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  5. ↑ "Zjednoczona Prawica z dwa razy większym poparciem niż PO i Nowoczesna". 4 July 2018.
  6. ↑ WPROST.pl (14 April 2018). "PO i Nowoczesna razem do wyborów samorządowych. Powstała Koalicja Obywatelska".
  7. ↑ "Polish conservative leader hails new centre-right Alliance party".
  8. ↑ "Sondaż: Zjednoczona Prawica traci w badaniach. Zyskuje opozycja". 10 June 2018.
  9. ↑ "Patryk Jaki named United Right candidate for Warsaw mayor".
  10. ↑ "Farmers protest animal rights bill that is dividing Poland's ruling party". 16 September 2020.
  11. ↑ "Polish ruling coalition loses parliamentary majority after MPS quit". 25 June 2021.
  12. ↑ "Powstała Partia Republikańska – nowa siła polityczna Adama Bielana. Na sali Jarosław Kaczyński". 20 June 2021. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  13. ↑ "Polish ruling coalition collapses amid media law protests". 10 August 2021.
  14. ↑ "PiS podpisało z Kukiz'15 umowę o współpracy programowej". 31 May 2021.
  15. ↑ "Poland's ruling coalition collapses after PM fires deputy". euronews. 10 August 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  16. ↑ "OdNowa liczy na lokalnych liderów". Rzeczpospolita (in Polish). Retrieved 23 December 2021.
  17. ↑ "Ociepa: Umowa koalicyjna uzgodniona. "OdNowa RP" będzie czwartym koalicjantem w Zjednoczonej Prawicy". www.gazetaprawna.pl. 28 October 2021.
  18. 1 2 Andrzej Gajcy; Kamil Dziubka (27 April 2022), Kryzys w koalicji rządzącej. Kompromisu między Ziobrą a PiS nie widać (in Polish), onet.pl
  19. 1 2 3 Polsat News; PAP (28 April 2022), Iskrzy w koalicji. Ziobro: to nie my stworzyliśmy ten pasztet (in Polish), onet.pl
  20. ↑ Onet Media (22 June 2022), Poseł Andrzej Sośnierz wyrzucony z Porozumienia. Za "koalicję z rządem PiS"date=22 June 2022, onet.pl
  21. ↑ Paweł Pawlik (22 June 2022), PiS ma nowego partnera. Sośnierz: nie zmieniam zdania o Kaczyńskim, onet.pl
  22. ↑ "Opposition wins Polish election, according to exit poll". POLITICO. 15 October 2023. Archived from the original on 15 October 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  23. ↑ Picheta, Rob (15 October 2023). "Poland's opposition has path to oust populist ruling party, exit poll shows". CNN. Archived from the original on 15 October 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
  24. ↑ "Prezydent Andrzej Duda wskazał, komu powierzy misję tworzenia rządu". wiadomosci.onet.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  25. ↑ "Prezydent wszystkich Polaków (którzy głosowali na PiS)". wiadomosci.onet.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  26. ↑ Wojciech Kość (13 November 2023). "New broom in Poland's parliament as the opposition takes power". Politico Europe. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  27. ↑ "Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska wybrana marszałkiem Senatu". Rzeczpospolita (in Polish). 13 November 2023. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  28. ↑ "Polish prime minister loses confidence vote, clearing way for Donald Tusk". Reuters. 11 December 2023. Archived from the original on 11 December 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  29. ↑ "Donald Tusk nominated as Polish prime minister". BBC. 11 December 2023. Archived from the original on 11 December 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  30. ↑ Koper, Anna; Wlodarczak-Semczuk, Anna (11 December 2023). "Donald Tusk appointed Polish PM, setting stage for warmer EU ties". Reuters. Archived from the original on 11 December 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
  31. ↑ "Poland's senior right-wing party moving to govern alone". AP NEWS. 25 April 2021. Retrieved 22 October 2021.
  32. ↑ Głowacki, Witold (15 December 2017). "Frakcje w PiS. Jarosław Kaczyński, Andrzej Duda, Mateusz Morawiecki... jakie są grupy interesu w PiS?". Polska Times.
  33. ↑ "W PiS wrze! Za kulisami toczą się wewnętrzne wojenki. Kto z kim się gryzie?". Fakt24.pl. 22 June 2019.
  34. ↑ "Wojny PiSowskich frakcji". 3 April 2018.
  35. ↑ "Wojna w PiS o wybory prezydenckie. Czy Morawiecki szkodzi Dudzie? [ANALIZA]". Onet Wiadomości. 12 June 2020.
  36. ↑ "Wraca wojna Ziobry z Morawieckim. PiS dociśnie pedał gazu [ANALIZA]". Onet Wiadomości. 22 July 2020.
  37. ↑ "STAN GRY: Polska zaczyna szczepić w tempie Niemiec, ale do liderów daleko, Gowin: Polityka ma być na lata, dlatego zaproszę opozycję do konsultacji, Zaremba: W PiS silny odruch, lekceważenia nie swoich wyborców, założenia, że dany jest mu na zawsze pakiet kontrolny, Mueller w TP: Szczepienia to też wyścig gospodarczy". 12 January 2021.
  38. ↑ "Wyborcza.pl". wyborcza.pl.
  39. ↑ "Petru: Muzealny etatyzm PiS". www.rp.pl.
  40. ↑ Kowalski, Radosław (20 November 2015). "Ziemkiewicz krytykuje PiS za etatyzm". Nasze Miasto.
  41. ↑ "Mateusz Morawiecki: robotnicza myśl socjalistyczna jest głęboko obecna w filozofii Prawa i Sprawiedliwości". Andrzej Turczyn. 22 July 2019.
  42. ↑ "Roman Giertych: PiS - partia realnego socjalizmu". TheFad.pl - Polska i Świat. Opinie i komentarze. 1 May 2020.
  43. ↑ "Kaczyński: PO to "lewacki ekstremizm". Budka: PiS to "narodowy socjalizm". Kto ma rację? Sprawdzamy". oko.press.
  44. ↑ "PiS to nie jest żadna prawica". gazetapl.
  45. ↑ Łuniewski, M. (2012). Ruchy eurorealistyczne i eurosceptyczne we współczesnej Polsce. Jagiellonian University
  46. ↑ STIFTUNG, I. H. (September 2009). Religia, polityka i równość płci w Polsce. Université Versailles St Quentin-en-Yvelines & University of Warsaw.
  47. ↑ "Junior partner leaves Poland's ruling coalition". Polish Press Agency. 11 August 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
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