New Democracy - Yes

New Democracy - Yes
Nowa Demokracja TAK
AbbreviationND-T
LeaderMarek Materek [pl]
(May 2023 - January 2024)
Piotr Chmielowski
(January 2024)
FoundedMay 2023 (2023-05)[1]
Headquartersul. Długa 1 43-190 Mikołów[2]
Membership (2023)450[3]
IdeologySocial democracy[4]
Regionalism[5]
Localism[6]
Decentralization[1]
Political positionCentre-left to left-wing[7]
Colours  Blue
Sejm
0 / 460
Senate
0 / 100
European Parliament
0 / 51
Regional assemblies
0 / 552
City presidents
1 / 117
Website
nowademokracja.org

New Democracy - Yes (Polish: Nowa Demokracja TAK, ND-T) is a progressive political movement in Poland formed by Marek Materek, the president of Starachowice formerly associated with the Civic Platform and Polish People's Party.[1] The party campaigns on breaking the Polish political "duopoly" of the United Right and Civic Coalition and wishes to appeal to undecided voters and those who would not vote otherwise.[8] The party focuses on reforming and decentralising the Polish administration while supporting regional movements and autonomy proposals, and is composed of local mayors and regional activists.[6] The party is highly critical of the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party for causing the Polish constitutional crisis, and wishes to restore "the real dimension of democracy" in Poland.[9]

The party will participate in the 2023 Polish parliamentary election and mainly campaigns and appeals to local politicians such as mayors, councillors and city mayors, as well as regional activists, promising local and welfare reform.[10] Alongside local activists, the party mainly unites politicians formerly associated with left-wing parties such as the Democratic Left Alliance and Your Movement.[11] The party has a left-wing political outlook and aligns with the opposition parties such as Civic Platform and Poland 2050, and the leader of the party offered a joint anti-PiS list for the Polish Senate.[9] In June 2023, the party entered a coalition with the agrarian socialist movement AGROunion.[12][13] The new coalition focuses on issues such as welfare reform, construction of rental housing, free public transport, reduction of food prices, and empowering Polish regions.[13] On 16 September 2023, the coalition of New Democracy - Yes and AGROunia officially ended as AGROunia joined the Civic Coalition.[14]

  1. ^ a b c Cuch, Kazimierz (29 May 2023). "Nowa Demokracja TAK oficjalnie zaprezentowana w Starachowicach. Nowa partia szykuje się do wyborów parlamentarnych". echodnia.eu (in Polish).
  2. ^ https://pkw.gov.pl/finansowanie-polityki/wykaz-partii-politycznych
  3. ^ Janina Blikowska (12 March 2023). "Marek Materek: Tusk i Kaczyński powinni już odejść". rp.pl (in Polish).
  4. ^ "Tak dla państwa przyjaznego osobom z niepełnosprawnościami". nowademokracja.org (in Polish). 29 May 2023.
  5. ^ Michał Kolanko (31 October 2022). "Marek Materek: Mam doświadczenie w kruszeniu betonu". rp.pl (in Polish).
  6. ^ a b Patrycja Reszko (31 May 2023). "Tomasz Skoczylas liderem Nowej Demokracji TAK na Podkarpaciu". kurierrzeszowski.pl (in Polish).
  7. ^ Sztandera, Marcin (29 May 2023). "Nowa Demokracja TAK Marka Materka oficjalnie zaprezentowana. Prezydent Starachowic premierem?". wyborcza.pl (in Polish).
  8. ^ Wiktoria Adamczyk (30 May 2023). "Nowa Demokracja TAK oficjalnie zaprezentowana" (in Polish).
  9. ^ a b "Nowa Demokracja TAK wystartowała. Marek Materek proponuje opozycji prawybory do senatu" (in Polish). 30 May 2023.
  10. ^ Karol Ikonowicz (6 April 2023). "Naterek: Rejestrujemy nową partię, która ma przystąpić do wyborów jesienią". rp.pl (in Polish).
  11. ^ Marta Oleksy (24 May 2023). "Marek Materek przejmuje ugrupowanie Nowa Demokracja - TAK? Bronili oni podejrzanego o szpiegowanie dla Rosji". tvmn.pl (in Polish).
  12. ^ Chlebosz, Monika (30 June 2022). "Nowy koalicjant Agrounii. Kto tym razem?". farmer.pl (in Polish).
  13. ^ a b Kolanko, Michał (30 June 2022). "AgroUnia i ruch Marka Materka łączą siły na wybory". rp.pl (in Polish).
  14. ^ Marek Materek [in Polish] (16 August 2023). "„Nowa Demokracja TAK" Marka Materka NIE dołącza do Koalicji Obywatelskiej". starachowice-net.pl (in Polish).