Szymon Hołownia's Poland 2050 (Polish: Polska 2050 Szymona Hołowni, PL2050) is a centrist to centre-right political party in Poland.

Szymon Hołownia's Poland 2050
Polska 2050 Szymona Hołowni
AbbreviationPL2050
ChairmanSzymon Hołownia[1]
Vice-Chairman[1]
FounderSzymon Hołownia
Founded30 June 2020 (2020-06-30)
Registered7 April 2021 (2021-04-07)
Headquartersul. Warecka 8/67,
00-049 Warsaw
Think tankStrategy Institute 2050
Youth wingGeneration 2050
Ideology
Political positionCentre[2] to centre-right[6]
National affiliationThird Way
Senate Pact 2023 (for 2023 Senate election)
European Parliament groupRenew Europe
Colours
  •   Yellow
  •   Grey
Sejm
32 / 460
Senate
5 / 100
European Parliament
1 / 53
[a]
Regional assemblies
22 / 552
City presidents
1 / 107
Voivodes
2 / 16
Voivodeship Marshals
0 / 16
Website
polska2050.pl

It was founded as a social movement in 2020, shortly after that year's presidential election, and was officially registered as a political party in April 2021. In the years prior to the 2023 Polish parliamentary election, eight MPs defected to Poland 2050 in the Sejm. After its first national electoral test, the party finished in third place. Poland 2050 joined a ruling coalition, with its leader Szymon Hołownia being chosen as Marshal of the Sejm. It is ideologically supportive of environmentalist policies and Christian democratic principles, and it also combines some elements of liberalism, social democracy, conservatism, and patriotism.

History

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Party logo before 2023

The first indication that Szymon Hołownia planned to establish a social movement appeared in February 2020, when he led a campaign for the 2020 presidential election.[7][8] Hołownia officially announced the formation of a new movement on 30 June 2020, two days after the first round of elections, in which he was placed 3rd with a result of less than 14% of votes.[9][10] The organisation was registered on 24 August 2020, and five days later it was officially introduced.[11] According to Szymon Hołownia, 20,000 people joined the movement.[12]

On 29 September 2020, Szymon Hołownia announced the creation of a political party associated with the movement, led by Michał Kobosko, whose registration (under the name "Poland 2050 by Szymon Hołownia") was filed with the District Court in Warsaw on 3 November 2020.[13]

In November 2020, the party gained its first MP in the Sejm: Hanna Gill-Piątek from the Spring party.[14] By the end of the year, the party got between 10 and 20 percent in opinion polls, which made it the third most popular party in Poland. By the end of the year, Gill-Piątek and Jacek Kozlowski became the party's Deputy Chair.[15]

On 8 January 2021, the party gained another representative in the Sejm (Joanna Mucha) and its first Senator (Jacek Bury). Both these members initially were members of Civic Platform, which was the main party of the Civic Coalition.[16] On the same day, members of the Elk City Council and the Elk Poviat Council, including its chair Andrzej Wiszowaty, who were members of the local party Dobro Wspólne created the Poland 2020 Local Councillors club.[17]

In February 2021, yet another member of the Civic Coalition (Paulina Hennig-Kloska of the Modern party) joined ranks of Poland 2050 in the Sejm.[18] This allowed the movement to create its own Sejm circle. In March, another MP joined the party, the Independent politician and famous journalist Tomasz Zimoch.[19]

On 7 April 2021, Szymon Hołownia's Poland 2050 officially registered as a political party.[20] Thirteen days later another member of Modern, Mirosław Suchoń, joined Poland 2050.[21] On 20 May 2021, a former member of the government and Agreement, Wojciech Maksymowicz, joined the party and its group in Sejm, after he was attacked by the government media of performing medical research using aborted fetuses.[22] On 28 October 2021 Paweł Zalewski, an MP expelled from Civic Platform due to his conservative stances joined PL2050.[23]

Poland 2050, through MEP Róża Thun, officially joined the Renew Europe group in the European Parliament on 10 November 2021.[24]

Ideology and position

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The party has been described by various sources to be positioned in the centre,[25][26][27][28] or the centre-right,[6][29][30][31][32] of the political spectrum. Its policies span from the centre-left to the centre-right.[33] It is also seen as a catch-all party.[34] It pursues green policies,[35][36][37] and combines elements of Christian democracy, liberalism, and social democracy.[38] It has been also described by some as conservative,[39] moderate-conservative,[40] Christian-democratic,[41] and neo–Christian democratic.[42] It supports Poland's membership in the European Union.[43]

Environmental policies

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It believes that by 2050 at the latest, Poland should achieve carbon neutrality.[44] They have also stated support for the European Green Deal.[45] Hołownia announced during the presidential campaign in 2020 that "miners should be protected, and not the mines". He declared that his presidency "will be the green presidency" and that "the natural environment is one of the priorities".[44]

In March 2021, the "Poland on the Green Trail" program was presented.[46] Its main objectives are to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 45% by 2030, move away from coal by 2040 and achieve carbon neutrality in 2050. It has also proposed that the minister responsible for energy transformation should have the rank of deputy prime minister and head the Committee of the Council of Ministers for decarbonization of the economy. A "green light" procedure would be introduced into the government's legislative process, which would block laws that increase emissions and have a negative impact on the climate.[46]

Domestic policies

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The party aims for the Senate to become a "self-government chamber" in which, apart from elected senators, representatives of local governments at various levels would be represented: voivodeship marshals, city presidents, village heads and mayors.[47][48] It is also against the centralization of Poland. Hołownia announced that he would act for the independence of judges and the independence of courts and the separation of the functions of the minister of justice and prosecutor general.[49][50] The movement calls for a relief for judges and the creation of "courts of first contact".[51] Hołownia supports the liquidation of the Church Fund.[52]

Foreign policy

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It supports the European Union, and strengthening relations with France and Germany.[53] Hołownia stated that "Poland should not look for enemies in foreign policy, but allies".[54]

Structure

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Leader:

First Vice-Leader:

Second Vice-Leader and Secretary:

Vice-Leaders:

Party leaders

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No. Image Name Tenure
1.   Szymon Hołownia 30 June 2020 – present

Members

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Poland 2050 presented a green-themed environmental logo at the party's convention.

Election results

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Sejm

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Election Leader Votes % Seats +/– Government
2023 Szymon Hołownia 1,561,542 7.2 (#3)
33 / 460
New PiS Minority (2023)
KOPL2050KPNL (2023-present)
As part of the Third Way coalition, that won 65 seats in total.

Senate

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Election Leader Votes % Seats +/– Majority
2023 Szymon Hołownia 622,693 2.9
4 / 100
New KOPL2050KPNL
As part of the Senate Pact 2023 coalition, that won 66 seats.

European Parliament

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Election Leader Votes % Seats +/– EP Group
2024 Szymon Hołownia 813,238 6.91 (#4)
1 / 53
New RE
As part of the Third Way coalition, that won 3 seats in total.

Sejmiks

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Election year Leader # of
votes
% of
vote
# of
overall seats won
+/–
2024 Szymon Hołownia 2,054,152 14.3 (#3)
22 / 552
New
As part of Third Way, which won 80 seats in total.

References

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  1. ^ a b "Polska 2050 Szymona Hołowni zaprezentowała władze partii". polsatnews.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2022-03-27.
  2. ^ a b c Tyrała, Marek (15 March 2022). "Zmiany pokoleniowe a zachowania wyborcze. Na przykładzie wyborów parlamentarnych w Polsce w 2019 roku" [Generational change and voting behaviour. On the example of the 2019 parliamentary elections in Poland]. Środkowoeuropejskie Studia Polityczne (in Polish). 1: 106. doi:10.14746/ssp.2022.1.5. ISSN 1731-7517. Polska 2050 to ruch społeczno-polityczny o charakterze centrowym, powołany przez Szymona Hołownię, po wyborach prezydenckich w 2020 r. 26 marca 2021 r. przekształcony w partię polityczną. Polska 2050 ma charakter centrowy, cechy ideowe to chrześcijańska demokracja, zielona polityka, socjalliberalizm, pro europeizm. [Poland 2050 is a centrist socio-political movement founded by Szymon Holownia after the 2020 presidential elections. On 26 March 2021, it was transformed into a political party. Poland 2050 has a centrist character, ideological features are Christian democracy, green politics, social-liberalism, pro-Europeanism.]
  3. ^ Jacek Lepiarz (10 October 2023). "Poland election: Small parties could tip balance of power". Deutsche Welle.
  4. ^ a b Corinne Deloy (18 September 2023). "What kind of majority coalition is possible in Poland following the parliamentary elections on 15 October?". Robert Schuman Foundation.
  5. ^ a b "Poland". Center for Strategic and International Studies. 15 October 2023.
  6. ^ a b "Third Way rules out coalition talks with incumbent conservatives". www.pap.pl. Retrieved 2024-04-07.
  7. ^ "Szymon Hołownia chce zbudować ruch społeczny". Rzeczpospolita (in Polish). 2 February 2020. Retrieved 2022-01-26.
  8. ^ "Hołownia: budujemy ruch obywatelski". Polska Agencja Prasowa SA (in Polish). 27 February 2020. Retrieved 2022-01-26.
  9. ^ "Szymon Hołownia powołuje ruch Polska 2050. - W drugiej turze oddam głos przeciwko Andrzejowi Dudzie - zapowiedział". warszawa.wyborcza.pl. 30 June 2020. Retrieved 2022-01-26.
  10. ^ Bodalska, Barbara (2020-07-01). "Szymon Hołownia zakłada ruch społeczny "Polska 2050"". www.euractiv.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2022-01-26.
  11. ^ "Polska 2050 Szymona Hołowni. Program ruchu, zapisy, strona". Onet Wiadomości (in Polish). 2020-09-29. Retrieved 2022-01-26.
  12. ^ Adam Zygiel (28 August 2020). "Hołownia: Do ruchu Polska 2050 zgłosiło się 20 tysięcy ludzi". rmf24.pl. Retrieved 2020-11-19.
  13. ^ "Złożono wniosek o rejestrację partii Polska 2050 Szymona Hołowni". wnp.pl. 3 November 2020. Retrieved 2020-11-19.
  14. ^ "Hołownia ma pierwszą posłankę w Sejmie. "Dołączam do ruchu Polska 2050"". TVN24 (in Polish). Retrieved 2022-01-26.
  15. ^ "Jacek Kozłowski członkiem założycielem partii Polska 2050 Szymona Hołowni - ludzie". wnp.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2022-01-26.
  16. ^ Tilles, Daniel (2021-01-24). "Civic Platform turns 20: is Poland's "zombie party" now undermining opposition to PiS?". Notes From Poland. Retrieved 2021-05-27.
  17. ^ "Joanna Mucha opuszcza PO. Dołączy do Szymona Hołowni". Rzeczpospolita (in Polish). Retrieved 2022-01-26.
  18. ^ "Polska 2050 zakłada koło poselskie. Hołownia wskazał "naturalną kandydatkę" na przewodniczącą". gazetapl (in Polish). Retrieved 2022-01-26.
  19. ^ "Tomasz Zimoch dołącza do koła parlamentarnego Polski 2050". Onet Wiadomości (in Polish). 2021-03-16. Retrieved 2022-01-26.
  20. ^ "- Biuletyn Informacji Publicznej Sąd Okręgowy w Warszawie". bip.warszawa.so.gov.pl. Retrieved 2022-01-26.
  21. ^ "Nowy poseł w partii Szymona Hołowni. Przechodzi z Koalicji Obywatelskiej". Onet Wiadomości (in Polish). 2021-04-20. Retrieved 2022-01-26.
  22. ^ "Kolejny transfer do Hołowni. Polska 2050 powiększa koło parlamentarne". Onet Wiadomości (in Polish). 2021-05-20. Retrieved 2022-01-26.
  23. ^ "Nowy transfer do Szymona Hołowni. Były poseł PO dołączy do Polski 2050". Onet Wiadomości (in Polish). 2021-10-28. Retrieved 2022-01-26.
  24. ^ @RenewEurope (10 November 2021). "🇵🇱🇪🇺 Szymon Hołownia's @PL_2050 joins the Renew Europe Family! We welcome MEP @rozathun and celebrate that…" (Tweet). Retrieved 2021-11-10 – via Twitter.
  25. ^ Kaczynski, Piotr Maciej (2021-08-02). "As Tusk Returns and PiS Struggles, Is Poland Primed for an Early Election?". Balkan Insight. Retrieved 2022-01-26.
  26. ^ Wolska, Anna (2021-07-08). "Polls show popularity boost for Tusk's party". www.euractiv.com. Retrieved 2022-01-26.
  27. ^ Plucinska, Joanna; Charlish, Alan (2021-07-03). "Polish opposition to turn to Tusk in search of pro-European future". Reuters. Retrieved 2022-01-26.
  28. ^ "Polish lawmakers OK spending plan for EU recovery funds". The Independent. 2021-05-04. Retrieved 2022-01-26.
  29. ^ "Two Polish opposition parties form alliance ahead of elections - English Section - polskieradio.pl". polskieradio.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2024-04-07.
  30. ^ "Poland is trying to restore the rule of law without violating it". The Economist. ISSN 0013-0613. Retrieved 2024-04-07.
  31. ^ Ptak, Alicja (2023-08-08). "Polish president sets general election for 15 October". Notes From Poland. Retrieved 2024-04-07.
  32. ^ "Polish parliament's first session since election heralds new start". Reuters.
  33. ^ "Wiceprezes stowarzyszenia Polska 2050: Nie interesuje nas bycie partią nr 3. Chcemy, aby to był przynajmniej drugi wynik". WNET.fm (in Polish). 2021-02-01. Retrieved 2022-01-26.
  34. ^ "PL2050 Overtake Civic Coalition In Latest Polls, United Right Still Lead". Bonds & Currency News | Market News. 2021-02-18. Retrieved 2022-01-26.
  35. ^ Wilczek, Maria (2020-07-13). "Can Poland's latest political outsider "break the duopoly"? We ask six experts". Notes From Poland. Retrieved 2022-01-26.
  36. ^ "Hołownia: Moja prezydentura będzie "zielona"". bankier.pl (in Polish). Bankier. 5 July 2020.
  37. ^ Redakcja (4 September 2021). "Kongres Polski 2050. Hołownia przedstawia program i tajemniczego gościa". www.polityka.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2022-01-26.
  38. ^ "Polska 2050 nie jest partią wodzowską ani nową wersją PO. Jest innowacją polityczną". oko.pressr. Oko Press. 28 September 2020.
  39. ^ "Coal and conservatism: How Polish activists push for more climate action". Clean Energy Wire. 2021-09-01. Retrieved 2022-01-26.
  40. ^ Pacula, Paulina (3 November 2020). "Poland: Abortion 'revolution' means end of old order". EUobserver. Retrieved 2022-01-26.
  41. ^ Wilczek, Maria (2021-05-03). "Poland's Got Talent host aims for the country's top job". POLITICO. Retrieved 2022-01-26.
  42. ^ Progressive Yearbook 2023, Foundation for European Progressive Studies. Chapter: "How to transform the fear" by Maciej Gdulah.
  43. ^ "Hołownia: w Unii Europejskiej jest nasza siła". tvn24.pl (in Polish). TVN24. 23 June 2020.
  44. ^ a b "Hołownia: My pozabijamy nasze własne dzieci. Zrobimy to z naszej chciwości i krótkowzroczności politycznej". TVN24 (in Polish). Retrieved 2022-01-26.
  45. ^ "Nasze D.N.A." Polska2050 (in Polish). Retrieved 2022-01-26.
  46. ^ a b "Plan dla Polski: Polska na zielonym szlaku, czyli neutralność klimatyczna do 2050 r. | infoWire.pl". www.infowire.pl (in Polish). 2021-03-29. Retrieved 2022-01-26.
  47. ^ "Hołownia: Nie upartyjniajmy samorządów". www.gazetaprawna.pl (in Polish). 2020-05-26. Retrieved 2022-01-26.
  48. ^ Polska, Grupa Wirtualna; Polska, Wirtualna. "Szymon Hołownia: Idę własną drogą – Magazyn WP". magazyn.wp.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2022-01-26.
  49. ^ "Hołownia: chaos w polskim sądownictwie pogłębia się z dnia na dzień - społeczeństwo". wnp.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2022-01-26.
  50. ^ "Hołownia o polskim sądownictwie: Lekarstwo gorsze od choroby". wiadomosci.dziennik.pl (in Polish). 2020-01-13. Retrieved 2022-01-26.
  51. ^ "Szymon Hołownia: Naprawić błędy PO i zbrodnie PiS". Rzeczpospolita (in Polish). Retrieved 2022-01-26.
  52. ^ "Hołownia o rozdziale państwa od Kościoła. Likwidacja funduszu kościelnego - Biznes". biznes.radiozet.pl (in Polish). 28 January 2021. Retrieved 2022-01-26.
  53. ^ "Hołownia: Polska polityka zagraniczna powinna być o wiele bardziej aktywna". www.rmf24.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2022-01-26.
  54. ^ "Hołownia: w Unii Europejskiej jest nasza siła". TVN24 (in Polish). Retrieved 2022-01-26.


Notes

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  1. ^ Róża Thun elected on European Coalition's list in 2019.