New Left
Nowa Lewica
Leaders
Founded9 July 1991 (as Democratic Left Alliance)
11 June 2021 (as New Left)
Registered27 January 2020 (2020-01-27)
Merger of
Headquartersul. Złota 9, lok. 4 00-019 Warsaw
Youth wingMłoda Lewica
Federacja Młodych Socjaldemokratów
IdeologySocial democracy
Progressivism
Pro-Europeanism
Political positionCentre-left
National affiliationThe Left
Senate Pact 2023 (for 2023 Senate election)
European affiliationParty of European Socialists
European Parliament groupProgressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats
Colours  Pink and   Green
Slogan«My heart is on the left»
(Polish: «Serce mam po lewej»)
Sejm
19 / 460
Senate
5 / 100
European Parliament
7 / 52
Regional assemblies
11 / 552
City Presidents
9 / 107
Website
lewica.org.pl
lewica2023.org
lewica2024.org

The New Left (Polish: Nowa Lewica, Polish pronunciation: [ˈnɔva lɛˈvi.t͡sa]; NL) is a social-democratic political party in Poland.[1][2] It is positioned on the centre-left on the political spectrum.[3][4][5] Its leaders are Włodzimierz Czarzasty and Robert Biedroń.[6]

It was formed in 2021 as a merger of the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) and Spring, although the plans for the merger began in 2020. It is a part of The Left coalition, together with the left-wing Left Together party. It holds pro-European views.[3]

History

Spring and the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) initially cooperated in 2019 during the October 2019 parliamentary election, as part of The Left alliance. After the election, the plan to merge the two parties was announced.[7] As a consequence, in 2020, SLD changed its name to the New Left as the new party was to be based on the structures of the alliance. However, further plans concerning merger were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On 11 June 2021, the Spring's general assembly voted in favour of dissolving the party in order to merge with the SLD.[8]

In the 2023 Polish parliamentary election, The Left coalition is technically participating as the New Left party, whose list includes representatives of Left Together, Labour Union, Polish Socialist Party and Social Democracy of Poland.[9][10] It joined the four-party coalition that nominated Donald Tusk as its candidate for prime minister. It received four seats in Tusk's cabinet, with Krzysztof Gawkowski as a deputy premier. It is the first time a left-wing party has been in government since the SLD's last government was defeated in 2005.

Structure

Leaders:

Vice-Leaders:

Secretary:

Party leaders

No. Image Name Tenure
1. Włodzimierz Czarzasty 9 October 2021 – present
Robert Biedroń

Election results

Sejm

Election year Leader # of
votes 		% of
vote 		# of
overall seats won 		+/– Government
2023 Włodzimierz Czarzasty & Robert Biedroń 1,859,018 8.6 (#4)
19 / 460
 New KO-PL2050-KP-NL
As part of The Left, which won 26 seats in total.

Senate

Election year Leader # of
votes 		% of
vote 		# of
overall seats won 		+/– Majority
2023 Włodzimierz Czarzasty & Robert Biedroń 1,131,639 5.3 (#4)
5 / 100
 New KO-TD-L
As part of Senate Pact 2023, which won 66 seats in total.

References

  1. ^ "Joint Opposition Candidate Sweeps Mayoral Race, Spelling Uncertainty for Ruling Right-Wing Coalition". gazetapl. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
  2. ^ "Seven days in Poland". Portal informacyjny STRAJK (in Polish). 13 October 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Poland". Europe Elects. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
  4. ^ Konarski, Michał (6 May 2020). "Polish Presidential Election: Pandemics and Boycott Threats". Europe Elects. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
  5. ^ "Biedroń: Nie jestem "libkiem", jestem "lewakiem"". Do Rzeczy (in Polish). 21 June 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
  6. ^ "Włodzimierz Czarzasty i Robert Biedroń współprzewodniczącymi Nowej Lewicy". TVN24 (in Polish). 9 October 2021. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
  7. ^ Łz, Mnie (4 June 2021). "Biedroń likwiduje swoją partię". TVP Info. Telewizja Polska. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  8. ^ "Poland's Spring party to be dissolved". The First News. Polish Press Agency. 11 June 2021. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  9. ^ "Nowa Lewica zatwierdziła listy wyborcze. Debata trwała godzinę". polsatnews.pl (in Polish). 18 August 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  10. ^ "Wybory do Sejmu i Senatu Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej w 2023 r." wybory.gov.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 10 September 2023.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nowa Lewica.
Political parties and political associations in Poland
Party of European Socialists
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