2005 Polish People's Party leadership election

2005 Polish People's Party leadership election presidential no 2004 Polish People's Party leadership election 2004 2008 Polish People's Party leadership election 2008 29 January 2005 Waldemar Pawlak with Jerzy Buzek, 2009.jpg 500 115 145 10 107 center Waldemar Pawlak 51 70.83% 2nd voteIn the election for party chairman, Pawlak defeated Podkański, but did not reach the required absolute majority of 52 votes to win. A second vote was held following the election deciding simply whether to elect Pawlak as party chairman. 60 Percentage 84.51%In the second vote, 11 votes were cast "against" Pawlak as party chairman. Official portrait of Zdzisław Podkański.jpg 115 115 145 6 3 center Zdzisław Podkański 21 29.17% Chairman Janusz Wojciechowski Waldemar Pawlak The 2005 Polish People's Party leadership election was held on 29 January 2005. Waldemar Pawlak was elected as the leader of the party by the Supreme Council after it accepted the resignation of Janusz Wojciechowski. The election took place at a meeting of the Supreme Council of the Polish People's Party, with the decisive issue becoming the fate of a proposed electoral alliance, "Zgoda". The rejection of "Zgoda" by the Supreme Council led to the resignation of Wojciechowski, sparking an election for party chairman. Pawlak, an opponent of "Zgoda", faced a supporter of the proposed alliance, Zdzisław Podkański, defeating him with 70.8% of the vote. Due to not meeting the required absolute majority of 52 votes, Pawlak's victory came on a second vote, where he was the only candidate. Pawlak became the first party chairman of PSL to serve nonconsecutive terms, previously being chairman in 1991—1997. Background thumb|200px|Janusz Wojciechowski, outgoing party chairman In 2004, the Polish People's Party (PSL) narrowly decided to elect Janusz Wojciechowski over Janusz Piechociński at the 8th Polish People's Party Congress in Warsaw.2004-03-16 DMY Wojciechowski prezesem PSL https://wiadomosci.wp.pl/wojciechowski-prezesem-psl-6031671195591297a Wirtualna Polska 2025-11-19 The second part of the 8th Congress accepted a resolution seeking to establish talks with "other characteristically Christian-People's" parties, possibly establishing a new political formation.2021-11-26 DMY Gmitruk Janusz KONGRESY POLSKIEGO STRONNICTWA LUDOWEGO https://zielonysztandar.com.pl/2021/11/kongresy-polskiego-stronnictwa-ludowego/ Część druga, programowa Kongresu odbyła się 23 października 2004 r. Kongres zatwierdził program społeczno-gospodarczy PSL oraz deklarację ideową, przyjął również uchwałę, uznającą za celowe prowadzenie przez władze PSL rozmów z ugrupowaniami politycznymi i społecznymi o charakterze chrześcijańsko-ludowym w sprawie zacieśnienia współpracy, "nie wyłączając połączenia w jedną, szerszą chrześcijańsko-ludową formację polityczną". Zielony Sztandar pl 2025-11-19 Wojciechowski began talks to establish an electoral alliance, "Zgoda" (Agreement), with Zbigniew Religa's Centre Party and Jerzy Kropiwnicki's Christian National Union. However, the idea of an electoral alliance with the two parties became unpopular with many in the party leadership.2005-01-29 DMY PSL do wyborów samo czy z Religą https://wiadomosci.gazeta.pl/wiadomosci/7,53600,2518368.html Gazeta.pl 2026-05-22 Supporters of the alliance — Janusz Wojciechowski, Zbigniew Kuźmiuk, Zdzisław Podkański, Sławomir Juszczyk — and its opponents — Jarosław Kalinowski, Marek Sawicki, Waldemar Pawlak, and regional leaders Eugeniusz Kłopotek, Jan Bury, Stanisław Żelichowski, Wiesław Woda — ultimately confronted with a vote on the issue on a 29 January 2005 meeting of the Supreme Council of PSL. Opponents of "Zgoda", seeking to contest the election alone, emerged victorious with 52 votes at the meeting, and 29 votes of support for the alliance. Following the vote, Janusz Wojciechowski announced his resignation as party chairman, causing a leadership election. Candidates Candidate Born Political office Waldemar Pawlak with Jerzy Buzek, 2009.jpg 390 90 120 8 84 centerWaldemar Pawlak 1959 09 05 dmyModel, Poland Member of the Sejm (1989–2015)Prime Minister of Poland (1992, 1993–1995)Leader of the Polish People's Party (1991–1997) Official portrait of Zdzisław Podkański.jpg 90 90 120 5 2 centerZdzisław Podkański 1949 10 18 dmyGuzówka, Poland Member of the European Parliament (2004–2009)Member of the Sejm (1993–2004)Minister of Culture and Art (1996–1997) Withdrawn candidates Candidate Born Political office Konferencja prasowa 17.10.2012 03.JPG 340 90 120 65 115 centerJan Bury 1963 10 01 dmyPrzeworsk, Poland Member of the Sejm (1991–1997, 2001–2015)Member of the Subcarpathian Voivodeship Sejmik (1998–2001) Alfred Domagalski Wystawa Spółdzielczość Kancelaria Senatu.JPG 450 90 120 15 230 centerAlfred Domagalski 1945 01 01 dmyKielce, Poland Member of the Sejm (1993–1997) Janusz Piechocinski (1).JPG 165 90 120 17 38 centerJanusz Piechociński 1960 03 15 dmyStudzianki, Poland Member of the Sejm (1991–1997, 2001–2005) Election On the first vote regarding his resignation, the majority of the Supreme Council of the PSL voted in favor of accepting Wojciechowski's resignation, with 48 voting for and 31 voting against. However, as the required amount of votes to accept a decision was 52, an absolute majority, the party failed to accept the resignation. Wojciechowski called a second resignation vote, stating that "[he could not] take responsibility for PSL if the party has not adopted [his] political plan", asking for the party to accept his resignation and elect a new party leader.2005-01-29 DMY Pawlak szefem PSL https://wydarzenia.interia.pl/kraj/news-pawlak-szefem-psl,nId,802542 Interia https://web.archive.org/web/20260522161217/https://wydarzenia.interia.pl/kraj/news-pawlak-szefem-psl,nId,802542 2026-05-22 live 2026-05-22 The Supreme Council accepted Wojciechowski's second resignation with 53 votes, one more than the necessary 52. Following Wojciechowski's resignation, five candidates registered for the election: Jan Bury, Alfred Domagalski, Waldemar Pawlak, Janusz Piechociński and Zdzisław Podkański. However, three of the five candidates withdrew prior to the vote, with only Pawlak and Podkański remaining. Bury and Piechociński endorsed Pawlak. In the vote for new party chairman, Pawlak decisively defeated Podkański, with 51 votes (70.8%). However, as he lacked the 52 votes necessary to be elected with an absolute majority, he did not get elected. A second vote was ordered with only Pawlak on the ballot, where Podkański called for his supporters to vote for Pawlak to "save the PSL". On the single-candidate vote, Pawlak was elected as party chairman with 60 votes, with 11 votes against him, becoming the first PSL party chairman to serve nonconsecutive terms. Results Wojciechowski resignation +First resignation vote Candidate Vote % For resignation 48 60.76 Against resignation 31 39.24 Total 79 ? Abstain ? ? Blank/Invalid Total votes ? 100.00 Source: Wprost2005-01-29 DMY Nie ma zgody na ZGODĘ (aktl.) https://www.wprost.pl/kraj/72664/nie-ma-zgody-na-zgode-aktl.html Wprost https://web.archive.org/web/20260522160124/https://www.wprost.pl/kraj/72664/nie-ma-zgody-na-zgode-aktl.html 2026-05-22 live 2026-05-22 Since the vote to accept the resignation fell under the required absolute majority of 52, Wojciechowski's first resignation was rejected. +Second resignation vote Candidate Vote % For resignation 53 70.67 Against resignation 22 29.33 Total 75 ? Abstain ? ? Blank/Invalid Total votes ? 100.00 Source: Wprost Party chairman +Election for party chairman Candidate Vote % Waldemar Pawlak 51 70.83 Zdzisław Podkański 21 29.17 Total 72 ? Abstain ? ? Blank/Invalid Total votes ? 100.00 Source: ppr.pl2005-01-31 DMY WWaldemar Pawlak nowym prezesem PSL https://www.ppr.pl/wiadomosci/aktualnosci/waldemar-pawlak-nowym-prezesem-psl-120469 ppr.pl https://web.archive.org/web/20260522165515/https://www.ppr.pl/wiadomosci/aktualnosci/waldemar-pawlak-nowym-prezesem-psl-120469 2026-05-22 2026-05-22 Since neither candidate received the required absolute majority of 52 votes, a vote to accept Pawlak as party chairman with only him as a candidate was held. +Vote to accept Pawlak as party chairman Candidate Vote % Waldemar Pawlak 60 84.51 Against 11 15.49 Total 71 ? Abstain ? ? Blank/Invalid Total votes ? 100.00 Source: Wprost Aftermath Following the election, three deputy chairmen of PSL resigned from their posts: Zbigniew Kuźmiuk, Zdzisław Podkański and Sławomir Juszczyk. They were replaced by Janusz Piechociński, Jan Bury and Witold Perka.2005-02-19 DMY Nowi wiceprezesi PSL https://wiadomosci.wp.pl/nowi-wiceprezesi-psl-6037052072686209a Wirtualna Polska 2026-05-22 Janusz Piechociński would challenge Pawlak's leadership in 2012. He narrowly defeated Pawlak, becoming the new party chairman.2012-11-17 DMY Janusz Piechociński nowym szefem PSL https://www.forbes.pl/wiadomosci/janusz-piechocinski-nowym-szefem-psl/y6pm3l0 Forbes 2025-11-18 PSL emerged with 6.96% of the vote in the upcoming parliamentary election,Wyniki wyborów https://wybory2005.pkw.gov.pl/SJM/PL/WYN/M/index.htm National Electoral Commission a decrease of 2.02 pp since 2001. After the election, the party voted for the minority Law and Justice Marcinkiewicz cabinet. In that year's presidential election, it fielded Jarosław Kalinowski as its presidential nominee, who received 1.80% of the vote.Wyniki głosowania https://wybory2005.pkw.gov.pl/PZT1/PL/WYN/W/index.htm National Electoral Commission After 2007, it governed together with the Civic Platform until the return of Law and Justice to power in 2015. Wojciechowski, Kuźmiuk and Podkański were removed from PSL in February 2006 after affiliating with the Union for Europe of the Nations without approval of party leadership. Afterwards, they formed the Polish People's Party "Piast", which largely cooperated with Law and Justice.2006-05-08 DMY Wojciechowski i Podkański przedstawili Proklamację powołania PSL Piast https://wiadomosci.wp.pl/wojciechowski-i-podkanski-przedstawili-proklamacje-powolania-psl-piast-6036891814933633a Wirtualna Polska 2026-05-22 Notes References Category:2005 political party leadership elections