Union of European Democrats

Union of European Democrats

Unia Europejskich Demokratów
Union of European Democrats Unia Europejskich Demokratów
Abbreviation	UED
Leader	Elżbieta Bińczycka
Founded	12 November 2016
Preceded by	Democratic Party – demokraci.pl
Youth wing	Europe of the Youth
Ideology	Liberalism; Social liberalism; European federalism;
Political position	Centre
National affiliation	Third Way; Polish Coalition
Colours	Blue; Red; Gold;
Sejm	0 / 460
Senate	1 / 100
European Parliament	0 / 52
Sejmiks	1 / 552
	Politics of Poland; Political parties; Elections;

The Union of European Democrats (Polish: Unia Europejskich Demokratów, 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]

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
2019		As part of Polish Coalition, which won 30 seats in total.
2023		3,110,670	14.4 (#3)	0 / 460	1	Extra-parliamentary
2023		As part of Third Way, which won 65 seats in total.

Senate

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

References

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

[:0-3] "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.

[BWV2-14] 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.