Forward Poland

Polish Social Movement Forward, more usually rendered as Forward Poland (Naprzód Polsko, NP) is a National Conservative and Eurosceptic political party in Poland. It contended the 2009 European Parliament elections under a common banner with Polish People's Party "Piast" (PSL Piast). It was formed mainly by former members of the League of Polish Families (LPR), including its leader Janusz Dobrosz.^[1][2]

History

The party dated back to the Interim Executive Board made up of Sylwester Chruszcz (former president of the LPR), Bogusław Rogalski and Jan Szewczak. The inaugural^[3] Congress was held on 29 November 2008,^[4] the Interim Executive Board was replaced^[4] and its constituent declaration drawn up.^[4]

Forward Poland originally intended to be part of Libertas, the pan-European political organization founded by Declan Ganley.^[2] Ganley came to Poland on 7 January 2009 to discuss terms with representatives from Forward Poland, PSL Piast and Prawica Rzeczypospolitej (PR).^[5] Ganley insisted that the party used the word "Libertas" but the party politicians were concerned that the non-Polish name would deter voters.^[5] The name "Forward Poland - Libertas" (Naprzód Polsko – Libertas) was suggested as a compromise.^[5]

Another Congress took place on 25 January 2009 in Warsaw.^[3] The party signed a declaration of cooperation with PSL Piast.^[3] Letters of support were received from Krzysztof Wyszkowski,^[3] Declan Ganley^[3] and Czech President Václav Klaus.^[3] Talks were held with representatives from PR, Unia Polityki Realnej (UPR) and Libertas.^[3] Talks were also held with representatives from Radio Maryja,^[3] which NP politicians had connections with from their days in LPR.^[2]

Forward Poland rejected^[6] cooperation with Libertas because Forward Poland felt that Libertas did not reflect their desire for a more independent Poland.^[6] However, Forward Poland accepted political cooperation and joint programming with PSL Piast to contend the 2009 European Parliament elections under a common banner ("Naprzód Polsko-Piast"), and formally signed the agreement to that effect on March 1, 2009.^[6] Present during the signing of the agreement were representatives from Konfederacja Polski Niepodległej (KPN), Zjednoczenie Chrześcijańsko-Narodowe (ZChN-u), Niezależny Samorządny Związek Zawodowy Rolników Indywidualnych "Solidarność", Związek Zawodowy Rolników "Ojczyzna" and Niezależny Samorządny Związek Zawodowy "Solidarność" 80.^[6]

Structure

Forward Poland in the European institutions

Forward Poland had the following MEPs in the 2004-2009 term of the European Parliament

• Sylwester Chruszcz
• Dariusz Grabowski
• Bogdan Pęk
• Bogusław Rogalski
• Andrzej Zapałowski

They were all elected as members of LPR and all sat in the Union for Europe of the Nations group.

External links

• Official site

References

Political parties in Poland
Represented in the Sejm	Law and Justice (216) Civic Platform (133) Modern (30) Polish People's Party (16) Poland Together (9) Solidary Poland (9) Union of European Democrats (4) Congress of the New Right (1) National Movement (1) Real Politics Union (1) Right Wing of the Republic (1)
Represented in the Senate	Law and Justice (56) Civic Platform (33) Poland Together (4) Solidary Poland (2) Catholic-National Movement (1) Polish People's Party (1) Social Democracy of Poland (1) White-Reds (1)
Represented in the European Parliament	Civic Platform (19) Law and Justice (17) Polish People's Party (4) Democratic Left Alliance (3) Coalition for the Renewal of the Republic (2) Congress of the New Right (2) Labour United (1) Right Wing of the Republic (1)
Other existing parties	Alliance of Democrats Christian National Union Confederation of Independent Poland Democratic Party – demokraci.pl Greens League of Polish Families National Party of Retirees and Pensioners National Revival of Poland Party of Regions Pirate Party of Poland Polish Communist Party Polish Labour Party Polish Socialist Party Razem Self-Defence of the Republic of Poland Silesian Autonomy Movement Socialist Alternative Union of the Left Women's Party Workers' Democracy Your Movement
National minorities committees represented in Sejm	German Minority (1)
Defunct parties	Camp of Great Poland Catholic People's Party Centrolew Christian Democracy Christian Union of National Unity Citizens' Movement for Democratic Action Communist Party of Poland (KPP) Communist Party of Poland (Mijal) Confederation of Independent Poland Conservative People's Party Democratic Union Freedom Union Front Morges Labour Party League of the Right of the Republic Left and Democrats Liberal Democratic Congress Movement for Reconstruction of Poland National Democracy National Party National People's Union National Radical Camp National Radical Camp National Radical Camp Falanga National Radical Camp ABC National Workers' Party Social Alliance Solidarity Electoral Action Peasant's Party People's Party Poland Comes First Polish Beer-Lovers' Party Polish Centre Polish Christian Democratic Party Polish People's Party "Piast" Polish People's Party "Wyzwolenie" Popular National Union Polish Socialist Party Polish Socialist Party – Freedom, Equality, Independence Polish Socialist Party – Left Polish Socialist Party of the Prussian Partition Polish Socialist Party – Revolutionary Faction Polish Workers' Party Polish United Workers' Party Reason Party Social Democracy of the Kingdom of Poland and Lithuania Solidarity Electoral Action United People's Party
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