| • Science | • People | • Locations | • Timeline |
Most of its members had previously been members of SdRP ( Socjaldemokracja Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej - Socialdemocracy of the Republic of Poland). SdRP and some other socialist and social democratic parties formed a left-wing coalition called Sojusz Lewicy Demokratycznej (1991-1999). In 1999 the coalition became a party, but lost some members. That coalition was established mostly by former members of communist PZPR ( Polska Zjednoczona Partia Robotnicza - Polish United Workers Party), which ruled the People's Republic of Poland with Soviet support before 1989. Today SLD is a pro-European (pro- EU) social democratic party. A coalition between SLD and PSLThe Polish Peasant Party ( Polish: Polskie Stronnictwo Ludowe is a political party in Poland. The party's name traces its tradition to an agrarian political party in Austro-Hungarian controlled Galicia, which has sent MPs to the parliament in Vienna. ruled Poland in the years 19931993 is a common year starting on Friday and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003 Events January January 1 Czechoslovakia divides. Establishment of independent Slovakia and Czech Republic.- 19971997 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar), and was designated the International Year of the Reef''. Events January January 3 NBC's Today Show Bryant Gumbel signs off for the last time January 8 Mister Rogers receives a star on t.
The president of SLD is Krzysztof Janik . His predecessor Leszek MillerLeszek Miller (born 3 July 1946) was Prime Minister of Poland from September 2001 to May 2, 2004. Miller was born in Zyrardow in central Poland. He joined the ruling Polish United Workers' Party party in 1969. Until 1970 he worked as an electrician in a l was the Prime Minister of Poland from 20012001 is a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar), and also: The International Year of the Volunteer The United Nations Year of Dialogue Among Civilizations Events January January 1 A black monolith measuring approximately nine feet tall ap to 20042004 is a leap year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 2004 calendar), and has also been designated the: International Year of Rice International Year to Commemorate the Struggle against Slavery and its Abolition Elections are to be held in 73 co. The former president of SLD, Aleksander KwasniewskiAleksander Kwasniewski ( pronounce: Media:Kwasniewski. ogg|[alk'sandr kvaefski]]]) is a Polish politician and currently the President of Poland. Born November 15 1954 in Bialogard. He was an activist of Socialist Union of Polish Students (Socjalistyczny Z, became President of Poland in December 1995.
In the 2001 elections SLD formed a coalition with Unia Pracy (UP, Labor Union) and gained 200 (of 460) seats in the Sejm (the lower house) and 75 (of 100) in the Senate. After the elections, the coalition was joined by Polskie Stronnictwo Ludowe (the Polish Peasants' Party) in forming a government. In March 2003 PSL left the coalition. By 2004 the support for SLD in the polls has dropped from about 30% to just below 10%, and several high ranking party members are accused of taking part in high profile political scandals by mainstream press (most notably the Rywin affair).
On March 6, 2004 Leszek Miller resigned as party leader and was replaced by Krzysztof Janik . On March 26 the Diet speaker Marek Borowski, together with other high-ranking SLD officials, announced the creation of a new left-wing party, the Polish Social-Democracy ( Socjaldemokracja Polska). On the next day, Leszek Miller announced he would step down as prime minister on May 2, i.e. the day after Poland joins the European Union, which he did.
Today SLD still rules Poland with 161 seats in the Sejm and the newly appointed Prime Minister Marek Belka; however, it is uncertain whether it will be able to secure the majority necessary to pass a confidence vote and the opposition is pressing for earlier elections. Recent opinion polls suggest SLD might not cross the 5% threshold needed to enter the Sejm if elections were to be hold today. The party's traditional electorate is divided between SDL, SDPL and the more radical leftist Samoobrona.
In the 2004 to the European Parliament, the party received 9% of the votes, giving it 5 of 54 seats reserved for Poland in the European Parliament, as part of the Party of European Socialists.