United People's Party (Poland)

The United People's Party (Polish: Zjednoczone Stronnictwo Ludowe, ZSL) was an agrarian socialist political party in the People's 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.

United People's Party Zjednoczone Stronnictwo Ludowe
First leader	Józef Niećko
Last leader	Dominik Ludwiczak
Founded	27 November 1949
Dissolved	27–29 November 1989
Merger of	Polish People's Party Polish People's Party "Nowe Wyzwolenie" People's Party
Succeeded by	Polish People's Party
Headquarters	Grzybowska 4, 00-131 Warsaw
Membership (1989)	300,000
Ideology	Agrarian socialism
Political position	Left-wing
Colors	Green
Politics of Poland Political parties Elections

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

Election	Party leader	Votes	%	Seats	+/–	Position
1952	Józef Niećko	as part of FJN - PZPR		90 / 425	90	2nd
1957	Stefan Ignar			118 / 459	28	2nd
1961				117 / 460	1	2nd
1965	Czesław Wycech			117 / 460		2nd
1969				117 / 460		2nd
1972	Stanisław Gucwa			117 / 460		2nd
1976				113 / 460	4	2nd
1980				113 / 460		2nd
1985	Roman Malinowski	as part of PRON		106 / 460	7	2nd
1989				76 / 460	41	3rd