Razem
Together Party Partia Razem | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leader | collective leadership |
| Founded | 16 May 2015 |
| Headquarters | Warsaw |
| Ideology |
Social democracy[1] Democratic socialism[2] Left-wing populism Eco-socialism Feminism |
| Political position | Left-wing |
| Colours | Red-violet (“alizarin carmine”) |
| Sejm |
0 / 460 |
| Senate |
0 / 100 |
| European Parliament |
0 / 51 |
| Regional assemblies |
0 / 555 |
| Website | |
|
www | |
Partia Razem (Polish pronunciation: [ˌpartja ˈrazɛm], Together Party) is a left-wing political party in Poland formed in May 2015. It was one of the eight nationwide committees standing in the 2015 parliamentary election.
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.[3] Another reason was dissatisfaction with the role of the post-communist Democratic Left Alliance as the main centre-left party.[4] Many founders were previously activists in the Young Socialists, The Greens or local initiatives, including Kraków Against Games.[5]
Razem's main political stances were formulated during the founding congress on 16–17 May 2015. 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.[6][7]
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.[8][9][10]
Ideology
The party advocates labor 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.[11] The party considers itself part of the anti-austerity movement.[12]
Razem is progressive on social issues, supporting drug liberalization, sex education in schools and LGBT rights. The party is known for staunch criticism of nationalism and supports European integration[13] It also strictly follows gender quotas and is for liberalizing Poland's abortion law.
The party opposes TTIP, as they believe it will “lead to the undermining of financial stability and rapid growth of debt”.[13]
British economist Guy Standing describes Razem as "the first authentic movement in Poland representing the precariat".[14]
Structure
The party has no singular leadership. Instead, it is governed by five branches:[15]
- Congress — the supreme authority of the party; elects the members of the National Executive Board, Council and Audit Commission, enacts the party program;
- National Council — the legislative body;
- National Executive Board — the executive body; members of the Board also act as public representatives of the party;
- National Audit Commission — the control body;
- National Court of Arbitration — the judicial body, composed of the members of the Council.
This structure is mirrored on the local level, with the District Assemblies, Boards and Councils.
As of July 2016, the Board consists of nine people: Alicja Czubek, Agnieszka Dziemianowicz-Bąk, Maciej Konieczny, Magdalena Malińska, Mateusz Mirys, Mateusz Trzeciak, Weronika Samolińska, Adrian Zandberg and Marcelina Zawisza.[16]
References
- ↑ "Partia Razem. Nowa partia dla prekariuszy" (in Polish). Gazeta Wyborcza. Retrieved 2015-09-26.
- ↑ "Razem's letter to Bernie Sanders". facebook.com. 14 April 2016.
- ↑ Dorota Żuberek (2015-10-14). "Apel: Chcemy wspólnego startu lewicy społecznej. "Lewicy w Sejmie teraz nie ma. Jest Anna Grodzka"" (in Polish). TokFm.
- ↑ Aleks Szczerbiak (2015-07-28). "Does the Polish left have a future?". openDemocracy. Retrieved 2015-10-14.
- ↑ Cezary Paprzycki. "Uporządkowana antysystemowość" (in Polish). pikio.pl. Retrieved 2015-10-14.
- ↑ "Razem to tylko "fanpejdż na fejsie"? Nie. Partia wystawi listę ogólnokrajową" (in Polish). gazeta.pl. 2015-09-14. Retrieved 2015-10-14.
- ↑ "Wykaz komitetów wyborczych" (in Polish). pkw.gov.pl. Retrieved 2015-10-14.
- ↑ Interview: The #czarnyprotest and Monday’s women strike might be a turning point in Polish politics
- ↑ To ona wymyśliła #CzarnyProtest. Mówili, że lajkami na Facebooku i czarnym ubraniem nie wygramy. No więc wygraliśmy!
- ↑ "Czarny protest. Partia Razem przeciw zaostrzeniu prawa aborcyjnego". 2016-09-24. Retrieved 2016-10-05.
- ↑ "Partia Razem objawieniem debaty. Zrobią z Polski drugą Szwecję, albo... Grecję" (in Polish). Money.pl. Retrieved 2015-11-07.
- ↑ "Razem: We need to reclaim the social minimum". Veronika Pehe. Retrieved 2016-04-04.
- 1 2 "Stanowiska" (in Polish). Partia Razem. Retrieved 2015-10-14.
- ↑ Głos prekariatu – Guy Standing at YouTube
- ↑ "Statut" (PDF) (in Polish). Partia Razem. Retrieved 2015-10-14.
- ↑ "Zarząd krajowy" (in Polish). Partia Razem. Retrieved 2015-10-14.
