Real Europe Movement Explained

Real Europe Movement – Europa Christi
Native Name:Ruch Prawdziwa Europa – Europa Christi
Chairman:Mirosław Piotrowski
Ideology:National conservatism
Political Catholicism
Headquarters:ul. Odlewnicza 12 m. 24, Lublin
Website:https://rpeu.pl/
Country:Poland
Abbreviation:RPE
Split:Law and Justice
Position:Right-wing
Europarl:European Conservatives and Reformists
Seats1 Title:Sejm
Seats2 Title:Senate
Seats3 Title:European Parliament
Seats4 Title:Regional assemblies
Seats5 Title:Mayors
Seats6 Title:Powiat Councils
Seats7 Title:Gmina Councils

Real Europe Movement – Europa Christi (Polish: Ruch Prawdziwa Europa – Europa Christi, RPE) is a Polish right-wing political party founded in November 2018 by Mirosława Piotrowskiego, formally registered on 12 February 2019. From 31 March 2023, it is associated with Confederation Liberty and Independence.

History

The party was created in November 2018 by an independent MEP from ECR Group, Mirosław Piotrowski (elected from Law and Justice list and associated with Radio Maryja). On 27 November, he applied the party for registration together with Małgorzata Banach and Mariusz Książek. It was registered on 12 February 2019.

In March 2019, it was announced that the Movement would run in the 2019 European Parliamentary election together with Right Wing of the Republic and Union of Christian Families. However, in April most of Right Wing of the Republic (including its founder and MEP Marek Jurek) decided to run with Kukiz’15 instead. The committee managed to register lists in two constituencies. Finally RPE decided to withdraw from the election, instead opting to focus on parliamentary and presidential elections. In the 2019 Polish parliamentary election the party did not field any Sejm lists but had three candidates to the Senate under "List of Mirosław Piotrowski to the Senate" committee.[1] They received 0.19% of the nationwide vote.[2]

In December 2019, the party held a convention to elect a board of directors. It included former members of Right Wing of the Republic such as Krzysztof Kawęcki (who later left the party in October 2020).

Party chairman Mirosław Piotrowski was a candidate in the 2020 Polish presidential election, coming in last place with 0.11% of the vote.[3] In second round he did not support either candidate.

On 31 March 2023, the party established cooperation with Confederation of the Polish Crown to field candidates on the lists of Confederation Liberty and Independence. In the 2023 Polish parliamentary election Mirosław Piotrowski became one of Confederation's Senate candidates, while vice-chairman Leszek Szymański run to the Sejm. Neither of them managed to receive a seat.[4] In the 2024 European Parliament election, Mirosław Piotrowski ran on Confederation list in Lublin constituency.[5]

Platform

Real Europe Movement is focused on defending Christian values. The party declares its opposition to abortion, euthanasia and "LGBT ideology". It claims support for strengthening the role of families, the idea of "Europe of Nations" with less EU-wide regulations, as well as defending the Polish countryside and environment. It also supports „dismantling the dictate of large foreign big-box retail chains on the Polish market”. It opposes creation of European army, instead wanting to focus on alliance with United States within NATO. Despite this, after the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, its chairman signed a declartion claiming it was Ukraine and NATO that caused the conflict.

Structure

Chairman:

Vice-chairmen:

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Serwis PKW – Wybory 2019 . 13 July 2024.
  2. Web site: Serwis PKW – Wybory 2019 . 13 July 2024.
  3. Web site: Serwis PKW – Wybory 2020 . 13 July 2024.
  4. Web site: Serwis PKW – Wybory 2023 . 13 July 2024.
  5. Web site: Serwis PKW – Wybory 2024 . 13 July 2024.