Left Together Explained

Left Together
Native Name:Lewica Razem
Leader1 Title:Co-leaders
Foundation:16 May 2015
Headquarters:Nowy Świat 27, Warsaw
Youth Wing:Młodzi Razem
Position:Left-wing
European:Central-Eastern European Green Left Alliance
International:Progressive International (before 2022)[1]
Colours: Alizarin carmine
Seats1 Title:Sejm
Seats2 Title:Senate
Seats3 Title:European Parliament
Seats5 Title:Regional assemblies
Country:Poland

Left Together is a left-wing political party in Poland.

It was formed in 2015 as Together, and it was one of the eight nationwide committees standing in the 2015 parliamentary election. It was a member of the Progressive International, and it has cooperated with DiEM25 since 2016. In 2022, Razem ended cooperation with both organizations, criticising their "lack of unequivocal declaration of recognition of Ukraine's sovereignty and the absolute condemnation of Russian imperialism" during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.[2] As of 2022, it is headed by a co-leadership consisting of Adrian Zandberg and Magdalena Biejat.[3] It supports principles of democratic socialism[4] and social democracy.[5] [6] It has also expressed progressive views.[7]

History

Razem was founded as a response to the unsuccessful attempt to create a left-wing political platform in Poland during the 2015 presidential election.[8] Another reason was dissatisfaction with the role of the post-communist Democratic Left Alliance as the main centre-left party.[9] Many founders were previously activists in the Young Socialists, The Greens or local initiatives, including Kraków Against Games.[10]

Razem's main political stances were formulated during the founding congress on 16–17 May 2015, when Razem's first National Board was elected, consisting of Jakub Baran, Aleksandra Cacha, Alicja Czubek, Maciej Konieczny, Magdalena Malińska, Mateusz Mirys, Katarzyna Paprota, Adrian Zandberg, and Marcelina Zawisza. However, several local structures were active even earlier, in March and April. The party was officially registered on 21 July 2015.

Razem registered lists for the 2015 parliamentary election in all electoral districts and received 3.6% of the vote in the election, below the 5% threshold to gain seats in parliament.[11] [12] However, having met the 3% threshold, the party received state subsidy for their election campaign.

In 2016, Razem instigated mass protests (called the Black Protest) against a bill that would impose a complete ban on abortion, proposed by a citizens' initiative.[13] [14] [15] In 2016, Foreign Policy magazine included Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk of the Razem National Board, together with Barbara Nowacka of Polish Initiative (Inicjatywa Polska), in its annual list of the 100 most influential global thinkers for their role in organising the protest.[16] In 2018, Forbes magazine included Marcelina Zawisza on its annual European Forbes 30 Under 30 list in the "Law & Policy" category for her role as a co-founder of Razem and one of the organizers of "black protest".[17]

Since 2016, Razem has also been cooperating with the Democracy in Europe Movement 2025 (DiEM25) pan-European movement, founded by Yanis Varoufakis.[18] [19] In May 2017, Varoufakis has expressed DiEM25's support for Razem in the 2019 European Parliament election.[20]

On 6 July 2017, Razem organised a protest against Donald Trump's visit to Poland. Protesters were dressed as handmaids from Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale, as a symbol of the stripping down of women's rights both in Poland and the United States.[21]

In September 2017, Razem activists filed a complaint with the National Electoral Commission on behalf of the party, alleging that the Alliance of European Conservatives and Reformists had helped to fund a Law and Justice conference during the 2015 parliamentary election campaign in violation of European Parliament rules as well as Polish electoral law.[22] On 29 October, the commission announced that it would investigate the complaint.[23] [24]

In early 2019, in the run-up to the European Parliament election Together Party rejected a proposal of an alignment with Robert Biedroń's Spring.[25] [26] On 28 February, party leaders officially announced formation of the electoral coalition with Labour Union and Social Justice Movement under the name of Left Together.[27] [28] The coalition received 1.24% of overall votes, thus did not pass the 5% threshold and did not win any seats.[29] [30]

For the 2019 parliamentary election, Razem formed a coalition with the Democratic Left Alliance and Wiosna, known as The Left, winning six seats in the Sejm. Soon after the election results were announced, the National Board voted to oblige the six elected MPs to donate all income surpassing triple the minimum wage to charity;[31] universally lowering politicians' pay to this threshold was one of the early postulates.[32] Since the electoral list was formally registered to SLD, Razem's candidates could not receive funding from their own party. Instead, they made personal donations after having withdrawn "appreciation bonus" from the party's budget. The situation caused uproar and was met with opposition within Razem.[33]

During 2021 and 2022, the party released a podcast. Episodes consisted of interviews, discussions, solo talks, and speeches recorded during the parliamentary sessions. Outside of this, Razem is active on other social media.

In the 2023 election, the party continued its engagement in The Left with other centre-left and left-wing parties. The coalition received the nationwide electoral list number 3. Seven members of Razem were elected to Sejm and two successfully ran for Senate seats, with the Senate Pact endorsement.[34] After the election, the party originally planned to enter the coalition, together with the New Left party as part The Left coalition. However, due to a number of key issues being left out of the coalition agreement, the party has decided to stay out of government but has vowed to support Tusk's government in votes of confidence.[35]

Ideology

Economic, tax and labour policy

The party advocates labour rights and opposes deregulation and privatisation of public services. Among its main goals are strengthening redistribution, adopting a 35-hour workweek, raising the income tax threshold to the equivalent of 12 times the minimum wage (ca. $3,200 as of 2016), establishing progressive corporate tax, and creating a healthcare programme funded directly from the state budget. It also wishes to completely remove special economic zones from Poland. The party's economic program is partially inspired by the Nordic model.[36] The party considers itself part of the anti-austerity movement.[37] British economist Guy Standing describes Razem as "the first authentic movement in Poland representing the precariat".[38]

Social policy

Razem is progressive on social issues, supporting drug liberalisation, sex education in schools and LGBT rights. It also strictly follows gender quotas and is for liberalising Poland's abortion law.[39] The party is not known to be particularly antireligious; however, it does hold support for secularism, including opposition to teaching Catholic religion in public schools, outlawing the conscientious objection right, and limiting state funding of the Church and taxation thereof.

It has opposed the introduction of Single Member Electoral Constituencies for elections to the Polish Sejm, which in their opinion leads to the creation of a two-party system.[40]

The party maintains a nuanced attitude towards the Polish People's Republic: while condemning its authoritarian practices, it is respectful of its legacy in terms of social progression and modernization. The party also opposes the so-called decommunization laws and the Institute of National Remembrance, which they deem are used by the ruling PiS party to wage a war against the historic memory and legacy of the political left.[41] [42]

Razem believes that Poland should "actively engage in the fight against climate change" and expresses its willingness to "take the necessary steps to adapt the economy [of Poland] to the challenges of climate change".

Foreign and defence policy

Razem supports an active role for Poland in the international community, citing the United Nations and OSCE as the most important organizations in that context.

The party is a strong supporter of the European Union and has taken a stance against Brexit. The party believes that the EU, in its current form, represents the interests of 'big business', but has nonetheless found 'indisputable successes' and could be reformed to create a 'progressive' pan-European social and tax policy. The party is a proponent of stronger European integration.[43] The party further proposes the creation of an EU army.[44] On the other hand, it has criticised the Eurozone, stating that it had been 'poorly thought-out' and could lead to financial shocks in 'weaker Union economies', however adding that if the 'reformed' Eurozone were to become 'truly solidary', it would fully support Poland's adoption of the Euro.[45]

The party has declared that it is convinced that NATO was 'not a sufficient tool' to ensure the lasting security of Poland and Europe, instead preferring the creation of an EU Army through the Common Security and Defence Policy.

It strongly supports efforts for international arms control and disarmament as part of a larger 'peace policy'.

The party states that it opposes 'all forms of imperialism' and has condemned the 2003 invasion of Iraq, which they deem to be a violation of international law.

It has also condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin's foreign policy, what they deem to be the Kremlin's 'nationalist hysteria', 'extreme conservatism' and 'legally sanctioned homophobia', as well as the Russian annexation of Crimea. It criticised the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine as "Putin that has repeatedly broken international law by infringing upon the territorial integrity of a neighbouring country" .[46] At the same time, it has criticised 'the policy of the conservative-liberal Ukrainian government'. It has stated that, if in power, it would 'support social justice [in Ukraine] and limit the influence of the Ukrainian oligarchy'.[47]

The party opposes TTIP and CETA, as they believe they will "lead to the undermining of financial stability and rapid growth of debt".

It poses a welcoming stance to refugees entering Poland and considers it an obligation of the Polish state to 'help the most deprived'. It also opposes the construction of border barriers.[48]

The party has expressed sympathy and support for the Syrian and Turkish Kurds and has condemned Turkey's ruling AK Party, which they consider authoritarian and discriminatory.[49]

Structure

Left Together is headed by a co-leadership consisting of Adrian Zandberg and Magdalena Biejat. Until November 2022 the party had no singular leadership. Instead, it was governed by five branches:[50]

This structure is mirrored on the local level, with the District Assemblies, Boards and Councils.

As of January 2021, the Board consists of five people: Co-Chairs Magdalena Biejat and Adrian Zandberg and Vice-Leaders Anna Górska, Bartosz Grucela, and Dorota Olko.

NameConstituencyVotes (%)
Magdalena BiejatWarszawa I (no. 19)19,501 (1.41%)
Daria Gosek-PopiołekKraków (no. 13)17,488 (2.69%)
Maciej KoniecznyKatowice (no. 31)22,262 (4.74%)
Paulina MatysiakSieradz (no. 11)16,757 (3.64%)
Adrian ZandbergWarszawa I (no. 19)140,898 (10.20%)
Marcelina ZawiszaOpole (no. 21)19,206 (4.73%)
NameSejm constituencyVotes (%)
Daria Gosek-PopiołekKraków (no. 13)39,054 (5.16%)
Maciej KoniecznyKatowice (no. 31)17,901 (3.40%)
Paulina MatysiakSieradz (no. 11)17,695 (3.32%)
Dorota OlkoWarszawa I (no. 19)44,188 (2.58%)
Joanna WichaWarszawa II (no. 20)15,324 (2.10%)
Adrian ZandbergWarszawa I (no. 19)64,435 (3.76%)
Marcelina ZawiszaOpole (no. 21)19,388 (4.04%)
NameSenate constituencyVotes (%)
Magdalena BiejatWestern Warsaw (no. 45)204,934 (72.40%)
Anna GórskaKashubia (no. 63)89,216 (38.17%)

Election results

Sejm

ElectionPopular vote% of votesSeatsGovernmentRef
2015550,3493.62 New[51]
20192,319,94612.56 [52]
20231,859,0188.61 [53] [54]

European Parliament

ElectionLeadersPopular vote% of votesSeatsRef
2019Magdalena Biejat,
Adrian Zandberg
168,745
1.24New[56]
2024Magdalena Biejat,
Adrian Zandberg
741,071
6.30[57]

Sejmiks

ElectionPopular vote% of votesSeatsChange
2018242,5111.57 New
2024911,4306.32 1
As part of The Left, which won 8 seats in total.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2020-10-28 . Members Progressive International . 2023-05-17 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201028165840/https://progressive.international/members/ . 28 October 2020 .
  2. Web site: W związku z brakiem jednoznacznej deklaracji uznania suwerenności Ukrainy i bezwzględnego potępienia imperializmu rosyjskiego przez @ProgIntl i @DiEM_25, Rada Krajowa Razem postanowiła wczoraj zakończyć współpracę z tymi organizacjami. . 1 March 2022 . 1 March 2022 . Twitter.
  3. Web site: Magdalena Biejat i Adrian Zandberg nowymi współprzewodniczącymi Partii Razem . 27 November 2022 . wydarzenia.interia.pl . pl.
  4. Web site: Deklaracja programowa. 27 January 2021. pl.
  5. Web site: Partia Razem. Nowa partia dla prekariuszy . 26 September 2015 . Gazeta Wyborcza . pl.
  6. Web site: Wójcik . Piotr . 2020-01-16 . Radykałowie? Komuniści? Nie – Razem to zwyczajna europejska socjaldemokracja . 2023-05-23 . KrytykaPolityczna.pl . pl-PL.
  7. Web site: Polen: Was steckt hinter dem Erfolg der PiS?. 22 November 2019 . 29 January 2020. de.
  8. Web site: Apel: Chcemy wspólnego startu lewicy społecznej. "Lewicy w Sejmie teraz nie ma. Jest Anna Grodzka". Dorota. Żuberek. TokFm. pl. 14 October 2015.
  9. Web site: Does the Polish left have a future?. Aleks. Szczerbiak. 28 July 2015. openDemocracy. 14 October 2015.
  10. Web site: Uporządkowana antysystemowość. https://web.archive.org/web/20150520203858/http://pikio.pl/uporzadkowana-antysystemowosc/. dead. Cezary. Paprzycki. pikio.pl. pl. 19 May 2015. 20 May 2015.
  11. Web site: Razem to tylko "fanpejdż na fejsie"? Nie. Partia wystawi listę ogólnokrajową. gazeta.pl. 14 September 2015. pl. 14 October 2015.
  12. Web site: Wykaz komitetów wyborczych. pkw.gov.pl. pl. 14 October 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150927201651/http://parlament2015.pkw.gov.pl/komitety/18_Komitet_Wyborczy_Partia_Razem/0_sejm. 27 September 2015. dead.
  13. https://rs21.org.uk/2016/09/30/interview-the-czarnyprotest-and-mondays-women-strike-might-be-a-turning-point-in-polish-politics/ Interview: The #czarnyprotest and Monday’s women strike might be a turning point in Polish politics
  14. http://weekend.gazeta.pl/weekend/1,152121,20798021,to-ona-wymyslila-czarnyprotest-mowili-ze-lajkami-na-facebooku.html To ona wymyśliła #CzarnyProtest. Mówili, że lajkami na Facebooku i czarnym ubraniem nie wygramy. No więc wygraliśmy!
  15. News: Czarny protest. Partia Razem przeciw zaostrzeniu prawa aborcyjnego. 24 September 2016. 5 October 2016.
  16. Web site: Foreign Policy's Annual List of the 100 Top Global Thinkers . Foreign Policy . 12 December 2016.
  17. Web site: Marcelina Zawisza . . 22 January 2018 . 22 January 2018.
  18. Web site: Razem – DiEM25. Partiarazem.pl. pl. 30 May 2017.
  19. https://europeanspring.net/ European Spring Webpage
  20. https://www.taz.de/!5409444/ Yanis Varoufakis über Europas Zukunft: "Wir fangen gerade erst an"
  21. Web site: Handmaid-Costumed Activists Protest Trump's Visit to Poland. The Hollywood Reporter. 6 July 2017. en . 6 July 2017.
  22. Web site: Olko. Dorota. "Właśnie złożyliśmy wniosek @partiarazem o kontrolę PKW w związku z doniesieniami @gazeta_wyborcza o finansowaniu PiS z funduszy unijnych". Twitter.com. 11 November 2017.
  23. Web site: PKW sprawdzi kampanijne finanse PiS. Mazurek odpiera zarzuty: to fake news. Tvn24.pl. TVN24. 29 September 2017. 11 November 2017.
  24. Web site: "W poniedziałek, 2.10 Państwowa Komisja Wyborcza zajmie się wnioskiem @partiarazem w sprawie sprawozdania finansowego @pisorgpl". Twitter.com. 11 November 2017.
  25. News: Długosz . Dominika . Nie będzie wspólnej listy Razem i Wiosny. Propozycja Biedronia odrzucona . subscription . 12 July 2024 . . 13 February 2019.
  26. News: Wielowieyska . Dominika . Lewica: zastępy generałów i armie w rozsypce . subscription . 12 July 2024 . . Wyborcza . 23 April 2019.
  27. News: Adrian Zandberg: ogłaszamy powstanie Koalicyjnego Komitetu Wyborczego Lewica Razem . 12 July 2024 . . 28 February 2019.
  28. News: Cylka . Tomasz . Wybory do europlarlamentu. Waldemar Witkowski liderem lewicowej listy. Działacze Partii Razem zbulwersowani . subscription . 12 July 2024 . . Wyborcza . 1 March 2019.
  29. News: Wyniki wyborów do europarlamentu 2019. PiS przed KE [GRAFIKA] ]. 12 July 2024 . . INFOR PL . 27 May 2019.
  30. News: Oficjalne wyniki wyborów do europarlamentu . 12 July 2024 . . . 26 May 2019.
  31. Web site: 15 November 2019. Część pensji poselskiej na cele społeczne. 3 June 2021. Partia Razem - Inna polityka jest możliwa!. pl-PL.
  32. Web site: 6 April 2018. Partia Razem chce pensji poselskiej jako trzykrotności płacy minimalnej. 3 June 2021. www.gazetaprawna.pl. pl.
  33. Web site: Ogromne zarobki zarządu partii Razem. 3 June 2021. www.rp.pl. pl.
  34. Web site: Jurczak . Tomasz . Wybory 2023 do Senatu. Znamy nazwiska senatorów . www.gazetaprawna.pl . Dziennik Gazeta Prawna . 20 October 2023 . pl . 17 October 2023.
  35. Web site: Dlaczego partia Razem nie wejdzie do rządu Tuska? Adrian Zandberg tłumaczy . 2023-12-13 . Rzeczpospolita . pl.
  36. Web site: Partia Razem objawieniem debaty. Zrobią z Polski drugą Szwecję, albo... Grecję. 21 October 2015 . Money.pl. pl. 7 November 2015.
  37. Web site: Razem: We need to reclaim the social minimum. 17 June 2015 . Veronika Pehe. en. 4 April 2016.
  38. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Osjxi1C8Dfk Głos prekariatu – Guy Standing
  39. Web site: Stanowiska. Partia Razem. pl. 14 October 2015.
  40. Web site: Stanowisko o jednomandatowych okręgach wyborczych w wyborach do sejmu. Partia Razem - Inna polityka jest możliwa!. pl-PL. 17 October 2019.
  41. Web site: 10 January 2018. Elbląg: Bronimy pomników walki z nazizmem. 16 October 2019. Partia Razem - Inna polityka jest możliwa!. pl-PL.
  42. Web site: 19 December 2017. Chronimy pamięć o Dąbrowszczakach. 16 October 2019. Partia Razem - Inna polityka jest możliwa!. pl-PL.
  43. Web site: Razem za Unią solidarną. Przeciw Brexitowi. Partia Razem - Inna polityka jest możliwa!. pl-PL. 17 October 2019.
  44. Web site: Stanowisko w sprawie polityki zagranicznej. Partia Razem - Inna polityka jest możliwa!. pl-PL. 17 October 2019.
  45. Web site: Stanowisko w sprawie integracji europejskiej. Partia Razem - Inna polityka jest możliwa!. pl-PL. 17 October 2019.
  46. Web site: Resolution of the National Council of Lewica Razem regarding the Russian Federation's invasion of Ukraine . 25 February 2022 . 2 March 2022 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20220225224856/https://partiarazem.pl/2022/02/resolution-of-the-national-council-of-lewica-razem-regarding-the-russian-federations-invasion-of-ukraine/ . 25 February 2022.
  47. Web site: Stanowisko w sprawie konfliktu w Ukrainie. Partia Razem - Inna polityka jest możliwa!. pl-PL. 17 October 2019.
  48. Web site: Stanowisko ws. uchodźców. Partia Razem - Inna polityka jest możliwa!. pl-PL. 17 October 2019.
  49. Web site: Stanowisko w sprawie Kurdów. Partia Razem - Inna polityka jest możliwa!. pl-PL. 17 October 2019.
  50. Web site: Statut. Partia Razem. pl. 14 October 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20151013215813/http://partiarazem.pl/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Statut-Partii-Razem.pdf. 13 October 2015.
  51. Web site: PKW Wybory do Sejmu RP i Senatu RP . parlament2015.pkw.gov.pl . . 24 June 2024.
  52. Web site: Sejm voting results . sejmsenat2019.pkw.gov.pl . . 24 June 2024.
  53. Web site: Results of voting in 2023 elections for Sejm . sejmsenat2023.pkw.gov.pl . . 24 June 2024.
  54. News: Bruszewski . Grzegorz . Partia Razem z większą reprezentacją w parlamencie i to mimo słabszego wyniku Lewicy . 24 June 2024 . pap.pl . . 17 October 2023.
  55. Web site: Results of voting in 2023 elections for Senate . sejmsenat2023.pkw.gov.pl . . 24 June 2024.
  56. Web site: Results of European Parliament Election 2019 . pe2019.pkw.gov.pl . . 12 July 2024.
  57. Web site: European Parliament Election 2024 . wybory.gov.pl . . 12 July 2024.