Editing Polish People's Party

{{Short description|Political party in Poland}}
{{About|the current political party||}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox political party
| name             = Polish People's Party
| native_name      = Polskie Stronnictwo Ludowe
| logo             = Logo of the Polish People's Party (2019 color).svg
| logo_size        = 200px
| colorcode        = {{Political party data|color}}
| leader           = [[Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz]]
| foundation       = {{Start date and age|1895}}<br/>(original form)<br/>{{Start date and age|1990}}<br/>(current form)
| predecessor      = [[United People's Party (Poland)|United People's Party]]
| merger           = {{ubl|[[Polish People's Party (1945–1949)|Polish People's Party]]|Polish People's Party "Rebirth"|[[Rural Solidarity]]|Polish People's Party "Solidarity"}}
| membership_year  = 2023
| membership       = {{decrease}} 73,222<ref name="membership_2023">{{cite web |url=https://wiadomosci.radiozet.pl/polska/polityka/pis-nie-jest-najwieksza-partia-w-polsce-liczy-sie-tylko-kartel-czterech |title=PiS nie jest największą partią w Polsce. "Liczy się tylko kartel czterech" |first=Piotr |last=Drabik |date=1 June 2023 |website=[[Radio ZET]] |language=pl |quote="W statystykach najsilniejsze jest Polskie Stronnictwo Ludowe, które w swojej historii odwołuje się do XIX-wiecznego ruchu agrarnego. Obecnie partia liczy 73 222 członków." |trans-quote=In terms of statistics, the strongest is the Polish People's Party, which refers to the 19th century agrarian movement in its history. The party currently has 73 222 members."}}</ref>
| headquarters     = ul. Kopernika 36/40, 00-924 [[Warsaw]]
| ideology         = {{ubl|[[Conservatism]]<ref>{{cite journal |year=2014 |first=Sebastian |last=Kubas |location=[[Katowice]] |title=Kształtowanie się kategorii rodzin partyjnych w Czechach, Polsce, Słowacji i na Węgrzech w perspektywie 25 lat demokratyzacji |journal=25 lat transformacji w krajach Europy Środkowej i Wschodniej |publisher=Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Śląskiego |editor1=Marek Barański |editor2=Jerzy Wiśniewski |isbn=978-83-8012-371-7 |quote="W listopadzie 1989 roku ZSL rozwiązał się i jednocześnie przekształcił w Polskie Stronnictwo Ludowe „Odrodzenie”. Po pół roku wraz z innymi partiami ludowymi utworzył jednolite PSL, przyjmując konserwatywny i agrarny program polityczny." |page=86 |trans-quote="In November 1989, the ZSL dissolved and at the same time transformed into the Polish People's Party ‘Rebirth’. Six months later, together with other peasant parties, it formed the unified PSL, adopting a conservative and agrarian political programme."}}</ref>|[[Christian democracy]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.psl.pl/p-zgorzelski-wolnosc-bez-wartosci-to-iluzja-sejm-oddaje-hold-janowi-pawlowi-ii/|title=P. Zgorzelski: Wolność bez wartości to iluzja. Sejm oddaje hołd Janowi Pawłowi II|access-date=4 April 2025}}</ref>|[[Social conservatism]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://i.pl/depenalizacja-aborcji-urszula-nowogorska-z-psl-zaglosuje-przeciwko/ar/c1p2-26969707|title=Depenalizacja aborcji, Urszula Nowogórska z PSL:"Zagłosuje przeciwko"|access-date=2 April 2025}}</ref>|[[Pro-Europeanism]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.psl.pl/wpiszmy-czlonkostwo-polski-w-ue-do-konstytucji-rzeczypospolitej/|title=Wpiszmy członkostwo Polski w UE do Konstytucji|access-date=2 April 2025}}</ref>|[[Economic liberalism]]<ref name="polityka_s"/><br>'''Historical:'''<br>[[Agrarianism]]<ref name="polityka_s">{{cite web |url=https://www.polityka.pl/tygodnikpolityka/kraj/2146104,1,psl-i-agrounia-kto-moze-wygrac-z-pis-na-wsi.read |title=SL i AgroUnia. Kto może wygrać z PiS na wsi? |date=4 December 2021 |language=pl |first1=Ryszard |last1=Łuczyn |website=[[Polityka]] |quote="Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz w ostatnich latach próbował nadać swojej partii nową twarz. Gdy w 2015 r. po raz pierwszy obejmował funkcję przewodniczącego partii, podkreślał, że „ludowy nie znaczy wiejski, tylko powszechny, i takie będzie Polskie Stronnictwo Ludowe”. Próbował zdobywać wyborców w miastach, kierując formację w stronę liberalizmu gospodarczego." |trans-quote="Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz has tried to give his party a new face in recent years.When he took over as party chairman for the first time in 2015, he stressed that ‘people's does not mean agrarian, it means universal, and that is what the Polish People's Party will be’. He tried to win voters in the cities by steering the formation towards economic liberalism."}}</ref><ref name="zloty">{{cite journal |first=Aleksandra |last=Bilewicz |title=„Złoty środek, którym zazwyczaj chodzi życie”. O potrzebie obecności agraryzmu w Polsce |language=pl |journal=Praktyka Teoretyczna |date=November 2023 |doi=10.19195/prt.2023.2.4 |url=https://wuwr.pl/prt/article/view/15380 |pages=108-109 |quote="Odwołanie do agraryzmu nie pojawia się we współczesnym programie partii. Obecne porozumienie przedwyborcze PSL i Polski 2050 zwane Trzecią Drogą (co być może stanowi nawiązanie do tradycji ludowcowej) w znikomym stopniu komunikuje swoje poglądy na sprawy wiejskie, choć w programie przedwyborczym koalicji wysunięto postulat ochrony małych i średnich gospodarstw. Można więc wysnuć wniosek, iż PSL współcześnie w zasadzie nie jest kontynuatorem tradycji agrarystycznych i nie są one w nim żywe. PSL zapracowała sobie na wizerunek partii raczej bezideowej." |trans-quote="Reference to agrarianism does not appear in the party's contemporary programme. The current pre-election agreement of the PSL and Poland 2050, called the Third Way (which is perhaps a reference to the People's Party tradition), hardly communicates its views on rural affairs, although the coalition's pre-election programme put forward a postulate for the protection of small and medium-sized companies. Thus, one can conclude that the PSL today is basically not a continuation of agrarian traditions and they are not alive in it. The PSL has earned itself the image of a rather non-ideological party."|doi-access=free }}</ref><br>[[Agrarian socialism]]<ref>{{cite book |title=Partie chłopskie i ludowe w Polsce oraz w Europie Środkowo-Wschodniej (1989-2009) |location=Warsaw |year=2010 |first1=Janusz |last1=Gmitruk |first2=Arkadiusz |last2=Indraszczyk |first3=Stanisław |last3=Stępka |isbn=978-83-7583-191-7 |publisher=Muzeum Historii Polskiego Ruchu Ludowego |language=pl |quote="Po trzecie Polskie Stronnictwo Ludowe było partią sytuującą się na lewicy sceny politycznej. Wyważone elementy programu, nawiązujące do ideologii socjalizmu agrarnego, (...)" |trans-quote="Thirdly, the Polish People's Party was a party positioned on the left of the political scene. The balanced elements of its programme, referring to the ideology of agrarian socialism, (...)"}}</ref><ref name="gerb_quote"/>}}
| position         = {{nowrap|[[Centre-right politics|Centre-right]] to [[Right-wing politics|right-wing]]<ref>{{cite journal |year=2014 |first=Sebastian |last=Kubas |location=[[Katowice]] |title=Kształtowanie się kategorii rodzin partyjnych w Czechach, Polsce, Słowacji i na Węgrzech w perspektywie 25 lat demokratyzacji |journal=25 lat transformacji w krajach Europy Środkowej i Wschodniej |publisher=Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Śląskiego |editor1=Marek Barański |editor2=Jerzy Wiśniewski |isbn=978-83-8012-371-7 |quote="PSL jest partią piwotalną, która w przeciągu ostatniej dekady przesunęła się w prawą stronę." |page=95 |trans-quote="The PSL is a pivoting party that has shifted to the right wing over the past decade."}}</ref><ref name="chwedoruk">{{cite web| title=PSL ściga się z najtwardszą prawicą. Czy taka strategia się opłaci? | date=31 July 2024 |author=Dorota Kalinowska-Bartosewicz | publisher=tokfm.pl |url=https://www.tokfm.pl/Tokfm/7,103087,31180955,psl-sciga-sie-z-najtwardsza-prawica-czy-taka-strategia-sie.html |quote="Ostatnie działania Polskiego Stronnictwa Ludowego robią wrażenie. - To najbardziej prawicowy PSL od przewrotu majowego (w 1926 roku), gdy jeden z odłamów ruchu ludowego był w rządzie z nacjonalistyczną prawicą - przypomniał prof. Rafał Chwedoruk."}}</ref><ref name="farbisz">{{cite web |url=https://klubjagiellonski.pl/2024/07/16/koalicja-pis-u-psl-u-i-konfederacji-dopiero-po-epoce-kaczynskiego/ |title=Koalicja PiS-u, PSL-u i Konfederacji? Dopiero po epoce Kaczyńskiego |date=16 July 2024 |language=pl |first=Paweł |last=Farbisz |quote="Prawica ma przecież wiele odmian. PiS to eurosceptyczny solidaryzm, PSL – umiarkowanie proeuropejski i umiarkowanie konserwatywny liberalizm, a Konfederacja – paleolibertarianizm z silnym akcentem narodowym i antyunijnym."}}</ref><ref name="lachecki">{{cite web |title=Każda Zjednoczona Prawica potrzebuje swoich ziobrystów |url=https://krytykapolityczna.pl/kraj/kazda-zjednoczona-prawica-potrzebuje-swoich-ziobrystow/ |first=Łukasz |last=Łachecki |language=pl |website=[[Krytyka Polityczna]] |quote="PSL zostało więc – trochę na życzenie własnego kierownictwa, a trochę ku uciesze aktywnego w zakresie skubania tej partii Donalda Tuska – odgrywać rolę Suwerennej Polski w rządzie Zjednoczonej Prawicy bis (bo nie ma wątpliwości, że obecny rząd zdominowany jest przez partie prawicowe, a lewicowy kwiatek do kożucha nawet nie piśnie, kiedy się mu np. zawinie obiecany wcześniej fotel marszałka Sejmu)."}}</ref><br>'''Historical:'''<br>[[Left-wing politics|Left-wing]]<ref name="gerb_quote">{{cite book |title=Being Polish/Becoming European: Gender and The Limits of Diffusion in Polish Accession to the European Union |last=Gerber |first=Alexandra |url=https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/handle/2027.42/86261/alexaz_1.pdf?sequence=1 |publisher=University of Michigan |year=2011 |page=167 |location=Ann Arbor, Michigan |quote="PSL is technically a left-wing party, representing an agrarian socialist agenda, although it is also known for its social conservatism and is the oldest political party in Poland, dating back to before the communist regime. Throughout the 1990s and into the early 2000s, PSL was often a member of the ruling coalition with SLD. However, the coalition between SLD and PSL broke down during the 4th Parliamentary Session (2004), and since that time, the party has shifted to the center."}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |year=2014 |first=Sebastian |last=Kubas |location=[[Katowice]] |title=Kształtowanie się kategorii rodzin partyjnych w Czechach, Polsce, Słowacji i na Węgrzech w perspektywie 25 lat demokratyzacji |journal=25 lat transformacji w krajach Europy Środkowej i Wschodniej |publisher=Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Śląskiego |editor1=Marek Barański |editor2=Jerzy Wiśniewski |isbn=978-83-8012-371-7 |quote="Początkowo PSL sytuował się po lewej stronie sceny partyjnej, co wynikało z satelickiej przeszłości partii, a także z koalicji z SLD w 1993 i 2001 roku, ale pod koniec drugiej koalicji rządowej z lewicą PSL zaczął coraz bardziej przesuwać się w stronę centrum." |page=90 |trans-quote="Initially, the PSL was positioned on the left wing of the party spectrum, which was due to the party's satellite past as well as the coalition with the SLD in 1993 and 2001, but at the end of the second coalition government with the left, the PSL began to move more and more towards the centre."}}</ref><ref name="assess">{{cite web |title=Poland: Country Assessment |date=April 2002 |author=[[Immigration and Nationality Directorate]] |publisher=United Kingdom: Home Office |page=7 |url=https://www.refworld.org/reference/countryrep/ukho/2002/en/59899 |quote="Polish Peasant Party (PSL): Left-wing party competing with Samoobrona for support in the rural community."}}</ref><ref name="stodquote">{{cite book |title=Ruch Konserwatywno–Ludowy w III RP |language=pl |last=Stodolny |first=Marek |date=24 June 2015 |publisher=Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicza w Poznaniu |location=Poznań |url=https://repozytorium.amu.edu.pl/items/64df5d7b-5655-40c1-8862-0591bd2bb021 |pages=5–6 |quote="Obserwując dalsze działania ZSL/PSL ,,Odrodzenie”, zapoznając się z jego programem i postawą wobec gabinetów wyłanianych przez parlament po wyborach w 1991 r., które były rządami ekipy ,,solidarnościowej” można jednoznacznie stwierdzić, że Polskie Stronnictwo Ludowe wywodzące się z ZSL było partią klasową, o lewicowym programie i elektoracie w dużej mierze dobrze oceniającym dawny ustrój." |trans-quote="Observing the further activities of the ZSL/PSL "Odrodzenie", familiarising oneself with its programme and attitude towards the cabinets formed by the parliament after the 1991 elections, which were the governments of the "Solidarity" team, one can state unequivocally that the Polish People's Party derived from the ZSL was a class party, with a left-wing programme and an electorate largely comfortable with the former system."}}</ref>}}
| colours          = {{ublist
 | {{color box|{{party color|Polish People's Party (2019)}}}} [[Aquamarine (color)|Aquamarine]]{{efn|since 2019}}
 | {{color box|{{party color|Polish People's Party}}|border=darkgray}} [[Green]]{{efn|before 2019}}
}}
| national         = [[Polish Coalition]]<br />[[Senate Pact 2023]] (for [[2023 Polish parliamentary election|2023 Senate election]])<br />[[Third Way (Polish political alliance)|Third Way]]
| european         = [[European People's Party]]
| europarl         = [[European People's Party group|European People's Party]]
| anthem           = "[[Rota (poem)|Rota]]"
<!-- Values obtained from Wikidata; to edit, see https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q218477 -->
| seats1_title     = [[Sejm of the Republic of Poland|Sejm]]
| seats1           = {{Political party data|seat composition bar|ms-lower-house}}
| seats2_title     = [[Senate of the Republic of Poland|Senate]]
| seats2           = {{Political party data|seat composition bar|ms-upper-house}}
| seats4_title     = [[European Parliament]]
| seats4           = {{Political party data|seat composition bar|EP}}
| seats5_title     = Regional assemblies
| seats5           = {{Composition bar|58|552|hex={{party color|Polish People's Party (2019)}}}}
| seats6_title     = City presidents
| seats6           = {{Composition bar|1|107|hex={{party color|Polish People's Party (2019)}}}}
| seats7_title     = Voivodes
| seats7           = {{Composition bar|2|16|hex={{party color|Polish People's Party (2019)}}}}
| seats8_title     = Voivodeship Marshals
| seats8           = {{Composition bar|2|16|hex={{party color|Polish People's Party (2019)}}}}
| website          = {{Political party data|website}}
| country          = Poland
}}
{{Agrarianism in Poland |Parties}}
The '''Polish People's Party''' ({{langx|pl|Polskie Stronnictwo Ludowe}}, '''PSL''') is a [[Conservatism|conservative]] [[political party in Poland]].<ref>{{bulleted list|{{cite book|last=Cerami|first=Alfio|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MJdWwGKl2iAC&pg=PA18|title=Social Policy in Central and Eastern Europe: The Emergence of a New European Welfare Regime|publisher=LIT Verlag Münster|year=2006|isbn=978-3-8258-9699-7|page=18}}|{{cite book|author=Jennifer Lees-Marshment|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=odV9AgAAQBAJ&pg=PA104|title=Political Marketing: Principles and Applications|publisher=Routledge|year=2009|isbn=978-1-134-08411-1|page=104}}|{{cite book|last=Guardiancich|first=Igor|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=APcO_fndhx0C&pg=PA145|title=Pension Reforms in Central, Eastern and Southeastern Europe: From Post-Socialist Transition to the Global Financial Crisis|date=21 August 2012|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-136-22595-6|page=145}}|{{cite book|last=Tomczak|first=Tomasz|title=Polskie Stronnictwo Ludowe – trwały element polskiego parlamentu?|publisher=DUET|year=2006|pages=129–155}}|{{cite web|last=Nordsieck|first=Wolfram|year=2019|title=Poland|url=http://www.parties-and-elections.eu/poland.html|access-date=2 December 2019|website=Parties and Elections in Europe}}}}</ref> It is currently led by [[Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz]].

Its history traces back to 1895, when it held the name People's Party, although its name was changed to the present one in 1903. During the [[Second Polish Republic]], the Polish People's Party was represented by a number of parties that held its name. They were all supportive of agrarian policies, although they spanned from the [[Left-wing politics|left-wing]] to the [[centre-right]] on the political spectrum. It was reformed to the [[People's Party (Poland)|People's Party]] shortly after the [[Sanacja]] regime took power. It took part into the formation of [[Polish government-in-exile]] during the [[World War II]], and after the war it was again reformed into the [[Polish People's Party (1945–1949)|Polish People's Party]], and soon after into the [[United People's Party (Poland)|United People's Party]]. During the existence of the [[Polish People's Republic]], it was seen as a [[Bloc party (politics)|satellite party]] of the ruling [[Polish United Workers' Party]] that promoted rural interests. After the [[Fall of communism in Poland|fall of communism]], it participated in the governments led by the [[Democratic Left Alliance (Poland)|Democratic Left Alliance]]. In the mid-2000s, it began shifting more to the [[Centre-right politics|centre-right]] and it adopted more [[Conservatism|conservative]] policies. It entered in the government again following the [[2007 Polish parliamentary election|2007 parliamentary election]], and since [[2015 Polish parliamentary election|2015]] it has served in the opposition. Since 2015, the party abandoned agrarianism and shifted towards an economically liberal and non-ideological character.<ref name="polityka_s"/><ref name="zloty"/> 

Today, it is positioned in the centre-right <ref>{{Cite book|last=Vries|first=Catherine E. de|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1246486176|title=Foundations of European politics : a comparative approach|date=2021|others=Sara Binzer Hobolt, Sven-Oliver Proksch, Jonathan B. Slapin|isbn=978-0-19-883130-3|location=Oxford|publisher=Oxford University Press|pages=146|oclc=1246486176}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Fitzmaurice|first=J.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gyd9DAAAQBAJ&q=psl+centre-right&pg=PA166|title=Politics and Government in the Visegrad Countries: Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia|date=28 September 1998|publisher=Springer|isbn=9780230373228|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010005549/https://books.google.com/books?id=gyd9DAAAQBAJ&pg=PA166&lpg=PA166&dq=psl+centre-right&source=bl&ots=X4cqm4y_ww&sig=doSMmalUXCOhPnmz7PQoqaMtAKo&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwikmr299ePWAhXFuhQKHZHTC2gQ6AEIWjAG#v=onepage&q=psl+centre-right&f=false|archive-date=10 October 2017|url-status=live|via=Google Books}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Nardelli|first=Alberto|date=22 October 2015|title=Polish elections 2015: a guide to the parties, polls and electoral system|work=[[The Guardian]]|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/22/polish-elections-2015-a-guide-to-the-parties-polls-and-electoral-system|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305051336/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/22/polish-elections-2015-a-guide-to-the-parties-polls-and-electoral-system|archive-date=5 March 2016}}</ref> and leans towards the right-wing;<ref name="chwedoruk"/><ref name="farbisz"/><ref name="lachecki"/> besides conservative views,<ref name="wpolityce.pl">{{cite web|title=Kosiniak-Kamysz: W wyborach do sejmików województw i rad powiatów PSL pójdzie raczej samodzielnie|url=https://wpolityce.pl/polityka/374820-kosiniak-kamysz-w-wyborach-do-sejmikow-wojewodztw-i-rad-powiatow-psl-pojdzie-raczej-samodzielnie|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180104111443/https://wpolityce.pl/polityka/374820-kosiniak-kamysz-w-wyborach-do-sejmikow-wojewodztw-i-rad-powiatow-psl-pojdzie-raczej-samodzielnie|archive-date=4 January 2018|website=wpolityce.pl}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-10-11|title=Poland's left sets sights on return to parliament|url=https://www.politico.eu/article/polands-left-wing-party-wants-to-get-back-to-parliament-polish-election/|access-date=2022-01-11|website=POLITICO|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=18 October 2019|title=Poland's Parliament is now divided. What does this mean for the ruling Law and Justice party?|language=en-US|newspaper=Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/10/18/polands-parliament-is-now-divided-what-does-this-mean-ruling-law-justice-party/|access-date=2022-01-11|issn=0190-8286}}</ref> it is also [[Christian democracy|Christian democratic]],<ref name="Magone2010">{{cite book|last=Magone|first=José|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=g73UtvxJsFcC&pg=PA457|title=Contemporary European Politics: A Comparative Introduction|publisher=Routledge|year=2010|isbn=978-0-203-84639-1|page=457}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=20 November 2019|title=Why Poland's Law and Justice Party will lose in four years|url=https://ifair.eu/2019/11/20/why-polands-law-and-justice-party-will-lose-in-four-years/|access-date=2022-01-11|website=IFAIR|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=10 March 2020|title=Polish Presidential Election 2020: Two Months Out|url=https://cyber.fsi.stanford.edu/news/polish-elections-2-months-out|access-date=2022-01-11|website=cyber.fsi.stanford.edu|language=en}}</ref> and supports Poland's membership in the European Union.<ref>{{Cite web|title=PSL wchodzi do Koalicji Europejskiej. Kosiniak-Kamysz: To nie jest "antyzwiązek"|url=http://wiadomosci.gazeta.pl/wiadomosci/7,114884,24485461,psl-wchodzi-do-koalicji-europejskiej-kosiniak-kamysz-to-nie.html#s=BoxOpImg1|access-date=2019-02-23|website=gazeta.pl| date=23 February 2019 |language=pl}}</ref> It currently has 19 seats in the [[Sejm]] and two seats in the [[Senate of Poland|Senate]]. On national level, it heads the [[Polish Coalition]]; further, on European level, it is a part of the [[European People's Party]].

==History==

===Before 1945===
The party's name traces its tradition to an agrarian party in [[Austria-Hungary|Austrian]]-controlled [[Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria|Kingdom of Galicia]], which sent MPs to the [[Reichsrat (Austria)|parliament in Vienna]].<ref name="history">{{Cite web|title=Nasza historia|url=https://www.psl.pl/historia/|website=psl.pl|language=pl}}</ref> The party was formed in 1895 in the Polish town of [[Rzeszów]] under the name Stronnictwo Ludowe (People's Party). The party changed its name in 1903 to what it's known as now. The party was led by Wincenty Witos and was quite successful, seating representatives in the Galician parliament before the turn of the 19th century. In the [[Second Polish Republic]] there were a few parties named PSL ([[Polish People's Party "Wyzwolenie"]], [[Polish People's Party "Piast" (1913–31)|Polish People's Party "Piast"]], [[Polish People's Party "Left"]] and others) until they were removed by the [[Sanacja]] regime (see also [[People's Party (Poland)|People's Party]]).<ref name="history" />

During this time, there were two parties using the term "Polish People's Party", namely [[Polish People's Party "Piast" (1913–31)|Polish People's Party "Piast"]] and [[Polish People's Party "Wyzwolenie"]] (which were merged into [[People's Party (Poland)|People's Party]] with [[Stronnictwo Chłopskie]]). During [[World War II]], PSL took part in forming the [[Polish government in exile]].<ref name="history" />

===Under the communist regime===
[[File:PSL w Powiatach Barry Kent.png|right|thumb|250px|Support for the PSL by region in [[2007 Polish parliamentary election]]]]
In June 1945 after the war [[Stanisław Mikołajczyk]], a PSL leader who had been Prime Minister of the Polish government in exile, returned to communist-dominated Poland, where he joined the [[Provisional Government of National Unity|provisional government]] and [[Polish People's Party (1945–1949)|rebuilt PSL]]. The party hoped to win the [[Yalta Conference]]-mandated elections and help establish a [[parliamentary system]] in Poland. However, the party soon found itself targeted with intimidation, arrests and violence by the communist secret police.<ref>{{cite book|title=Iron Curtain: The crushing of Eastern Europe 1944-1956|last=Applebaum|first=Anne|year = 2012|pages=212–213}}</ref>

The communists also formed a rival ersatz 'Peasants' party' controlled by them, in order to confuse voters. The [[1947 Polish legislative election|January 1947 parliamentary election]] was heavily rigged, with the communist-controlled bloc claiming to have won 80% of the vote. The PSL were said to have won just 10% of the vote, but many neutral observers believe the PSL would have won the election had it been conducted fairly.<ref name="history" />

Mikołajczyk was soon compelled to flee Poland for his life in October 1947. The communists then forced the remains of Mikołajczyk's PSL to unite with the pro-communist People's Party to form the [[United People's Party (Poland)|United People's Party]]. The ZSL was a governing partner in the [[Front of National Unity|ruling coalition]].<ref name="Ost Solidarity 34-36">[[David Ost]], ''Solidarity and the Politics of Anti-Politics'', pp. 34-36, 1990 Philadelphia, [[Temple University Press]], {{ISBN|0-87722-655-5}}</ref>

=== Post-communist period (1990–2003) ===
Around the time of the [[fall of communism]], several PSLs were recreated, including [[Polish People's Party–Peasants' Agreement|Porozumienie Ludowe]], Polskie Stronnictwo Ludowe-Odrodzenie, and Polskie Stronnictwo Ludowe (Wilanów faction). In 1989, most merged into one party and took part in forming the first postwar noncommunist government in Poland with the [[Solidarity (Polish trade union)|Solidarity]] grouping; in 1990, the party changed its name to PSL.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/122529970|title=Partie i ugrupowania parlamentarne III RP|date=2006|publisher=Duet|others=Krzysztof Kowalczyk, Jerzy Sielski|isbn=978-83-89706-84-3|location=Toruń|oclc=122529970}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Pierwsze powszechne wybory prezydenckie|url=https://www.infor.pl/prawo/wybory/prezydenckie/686946,Pierwsze-powszechne-wybory-prezydenckie.html|access-date=2022-01-11|website=www.infor.pl|language=en}}</ref>

It remained on the left of Polish politics in the 1990s, entering into coalitions with the postcommunist [[Democratic Left Alliance (Poland)|Democratic Left Alliance]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/56578088|title=Partie i koalicje polityczne III Rzeczypospolitej|date=2004|publisher=Wydawn. Uniwersytetu Wrocławskiego|others=Krystyna Anna Paszkiewicz|isbn=83-229-2493-3|edition=Wyd. 3., uzup. i uaktualnione|location=Wrocław|oclc=56578088}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Obalamy 5 mitów "nocy teczek"|url=https://www.tokfm.pl/Tokfm/7,103087,11841822,obalamy-5-mitow-nocy-teczek.html|access-date=2022-01-11|website=TOK FM|date=4 June 2012 |language=pl}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2011|title=Polscy marszałkowie Sejmu po 1989 r.|url=https://www.polityka.pl/galerie/1521196,1,polscy-marszalkowie-sejmu-po-1989-r.read|access-date=2022-01-11|website=www.polityka.pl|language=pl}}</ref> In the [[2001 Polish parliamentary election|2001 parliamentary elections]], PSL received 9% of votes and formed a coalition with the Democratic Left Alliance, an alliance which later broke down. Since then, PSL has moved towards more [[centrism|centrist]] and [[conservatism|conservative]] policies.

=== Opposition years (2003–2007) ===
The party ran in the [[2004 European Parliament election in Poland|2004 European Parliament election]] as part of the [[European People's Party]] (EPP) and received 6% of the vote, giving it four of 54 Polish seats in the [[European Parliament]].<ref name=":0"/><ref>{{Cite web|date=2006-02-04|title=Wojciechowski: tworzymy PSL-Piast|url=https://www.wprost.pl/kraj/86630/wojciechowski-tworzymy-psl-piast.html|access-date=2022-01-11|website=Wprost|language=pl}}</ref> In the [[2005 Polish parliamentary election|2005 general election]], the party received 7% of votes, giving it 25 seats in the Sejm and two in the Senate. In the [[2007 Polish parliamentary election|2007 parliamentary elections]], the party placed fourth, with 8.93% of the vote and 31 out of 460 seats, and entered into a governing coalition with the victor, the [[Centre-right politics|centre-right conservative]] [[Civic Platform]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2013-10-11|title=Myśl Polska » Radość i gorycz zwycięstwa|url=http://sol.myslpolska.pl/2012/11/radosc-i-gorycz-zwyciestwa/|access-date=2022-01-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131011055911/http://sol.myslpolska.pl/2012/11/radosc-i-gorycz-zwyciestwa/|archive-date=11 October 2013}}</ref> In European parliament elections PSL received 7.01% of votes in 2009.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/DocDetails.xsp?id=WDU20090880729|title=Dz.U. 2009 nr 88 poz. 729|website=isap.sejm.gov.pl|language=pl}}</ref> In the [[2011 Polish parliamentary election|2011 national parliamentary election]], Polish People's Party received 8.36% votes which gave them 28 seats in the Sejm and two mandates in the Senate.<ref name="pkw-results2011">{{cite web|url=http://wybory2011.pkw.gov.pl/wsw/en/000000.html|title=Elections 2011 - Election results|publisher=National Electoral Commission|access-date=20 November 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111214075746/http://wybory2011.pkw.gov.pl/wsw/en/000000.html|archive-date=14 December 2011}}</ref>

=== Coalition government (2007–2015) ===
After the [[2007 Polish parliamentary election|parliamentary elections in 2007]], PSL won 8.91% of the popular vote and 31 seats,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Wybory 2011|url=https://wybory2011.pkw.gov.pl/wsw/pl/000000.html|access-date=2022-01-11|website=wybory2011.pkw.gov.pl}}</ref> it joined the government coalition led by Civic Platform. [[Waldemar Pawlak]] was appointed deputy prime minister, [[Marek Sawicki]] was appointed as agriculture minister, and [[Jolanta Fedak]] was appointed as labor minister. In the [[2009 European Parliament election in Poland|2009 European Parliament election]], it won 3 seats.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Wybory do Parlamentu Europejskiego 2009|url=https://pe2009.pkw.gov.pl/PUE/PL/WYN/M/index_pos.htm|access-date=2022-01-11|website=pe2009.pkw.gov.pl}}</ref> After the [[Smolensk air disaster]], [[2010 Polish presidential election|presidential elections]] were held in which Pawlak placed fifth, winning 1.75% of the vote. In the second round they didn't state their support for anyone.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Wybory 2010|url=https://prezydent2010.pkw.gov.pl/PZT/PL/WYN/W/index.htm|access-date=2022-01-11|website=prezydent2010.pkw.gov.pl}}</ref>

In the 2010 local government elections, PSL obtained 16.3% of the votes in the elections to voivodship assemblies, in which it received 93 seats. In the [[Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship|Świętokrzyskie sejmik]], the party received the most seats. In all parliamentary assemblies, PSL found itself in ruling coalitions with the PO, in four voivodeships receiving the positions of marshals. In the elections to poviat councils, the PSL committee obtained 15.88%, and in the elections to municipal councils 11% of the votes. The PSL won the largest number of village leaders (428) and mayors in the country, and in Zgierz, the party's candidate won the presidential election. In 2011, a PiS senator defected to PSL.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2011-03-03|title=Senator odchodzi z PiS do PSL-u bo "chce pracować"|url=https://www.wprost.pl/kraj/234047/senator-odchodzi-z-pis-do-psl-u-bo-chce-pracowac.html|access-date=2022-01-11|website=Wprost|language=pl}}</ref>

In the [[2011 Polish parliamentary election|parliamentary elections of 2011]], PSL obtained 8.36% of votes on the list of candidates for the Sejm.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Wybory 2011|url=https://wybory2011.pkw.gov.pl/wsw/pl/000000.html|access-date=2022-01-11|website=wybory2011.pkw.gov.pl}}</ref> The party also won two seats in the Senate.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Wybory 2011|url=https://wybory2011.pkw.gov.pl/wsw/pl/000000.html#tabs-2|access-date=2022-01-11|website=wybory2011.pkw.gov.pl}}</ref> Eugeniusz Grzeszczak became the deputy speaker of the Sejm on behalf of the PSL.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Głosowanie nr 5 na 1. posiedzeniu Sejmu|url=https://www.sejm.gov.pl/Sejm7.nsf/agent.xsp?symbol=glosowania&NrKadencji=7&NrPosiedzenia=1&NrGlosowania=5|access-date=2022-01-11|website=www.sejm.gov.pl}}</ref> PSL again became a partner of the PO in the government coalition. On December 7, 2011, as a result of the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, Arkadiusz Bratkowski, a PSL politician, assumed a mandate in the European Parliament.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Wschodni|first=Dziennik|title=Arkadiusz Bratkowski europosłem|url=https://www.dziennikwschodni.pl/lublin/arkadiusz-bratkowski-europoslem,n,1000141291.html|access-date=2022-01-11|website=Dziennik Wschodni|language=pl}}</ref>

In July 2012, Stanisław Kalemba replaced Marek Sawicki as the minister of agriculture and rural development. Pawlak was defeated during the presidential election by [[Janusz Piechociński]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=S.A|first=Wirtualna Polska Media|date=2012-11-17|title=Janusz Piechociński nowym prezesem PSL. Waldemar Pawlak: chcę odejść z rządu|url=https://wiadomosci.wp.pl/janusz-piechocinski-nowym-prezesem-psl-waldemar-pawlak-chce-odejsc-z-rzadu-6031543655412865a|access-date=2022-01-11|website=wiadomosci.wp.pl|language=pl}}</ref> Two days later, Waldemar Pawlak announced his resignation as deputy prime minister and minister of economy. He was dismissed from both functions on November 27. On December 6, both these offices were taken over by Janusz Piechociński.

In January 2014, PSL decided to establish cooperation with SKL and Samoobrona, but SKL already in February announced that Jarosław Gowin joined Poland Together, and the PSL talks about a joint election campaign with Samoobrona did not end with an agreement. In March, MP Andrzej Dąbrowski left PSL.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2015-07-22|title=PSL z Samoobroną razem w walce o PE - rp.pl|url=http://www.rp.pl/artykul/1080149.html|access-date=2022-01-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722064857/http://www.rp.pl/artykul/1080149.html|archive-date=22 July 2015}}</ref> The party's candidate in the 2015 presidential election was the marshal of the Świętokrzyskie Province, party vice president Adam Jarubas.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Jarubas kandydatem PSL na prezydenta. "Prezes poszedł na ostro"|url=https://tvn24.pl/polska/psl-zdecydowalo-ze-adam-jarubas-bedzie-kandydatem-na-prezydenta-ra510983-3291668|access-date=2022-01-11|website=TVN24|date=31 January 2015 |language=pl}}</ref> He placed 6th, obtaining 238,761 votes.<ref>{{Cite web|title=PKW {{!}} www.prezydent.2015.pkw.gov.pl|url=https://prezydent2015.pkw.gov.pl/319_Pierwsze_glosowanie.html|access-date=2022-01-11|website=prezydent2015.pkw.gov.pl}}</ref> Before the second round, PSL was involved in the campaign of the then-incumbent President Bronisław Komorowski.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2015-05-12|title=Duże zmiany w sztabie Komorowskiego. Dołączają ludowcy...|url=https://wiadomosci.dziennik.pl/wybory-prezydenckie/artykuly/490253,zmiany-w-sztabie-komorowskiego-rybicki-koordynatorem-dolaczaja-ludowcy.html|access-date=2022-01-11|website=wiadomosci.dziennik.pl|language=pl}}</ref>

=== In Opposition (2015–2023) ===
{{See also|Polish Coalition}}At the [[2015 Polish parliamentary election|2015 parliamentary election]], the PSL dropped to 5.13% of the vote, just barely over the 5% threshold. With 16 seats, it was the smallest of the five factions in the Sejm.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2015/11/03/did-poland-just-vote-in-an-authoritarian-government|title=Did Poland just vote in an authoritarian government?|last1=Tworzecki|first1=Hubert|last2=Markowski|first2=Radosław|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=2015-11-03|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161205133304/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2015/11/03/did-poland-just-vote-in-an-authoritarian-government/|archive-date=5 December 2016}}</ref>

Since then, PSL has lost even more support to PiS during the [[2018 Polish local elections]] when they lost 87 seats and dropped to 12.07% unlike the 23.9% they got at the last local elections. After this, the party became a junior partner in coalition with the [[Civic Coalition (Poland)|Civic Coalition]] and SLD.

In the [[2019 European Parliament election in Poland|2019 European election]], PSL won three seats as a part of the [[European Coalition (Poland)|European Coalition]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://polskatimes.pl/nowi-europoslowie-2019-kto-zdobyl-mandaty-do-europarlamentu-lista-nazwiska-wyniki-wyborow-do-pe-zobacz-kto-zostal-europoslem/ar/c1-14160445|title=Nowi europosłowie 2019. Kto zdobył mandaty do europarlamentu? [LISTA] [NAZWISKA] Wyniki wyborów do PE. Zobacz, kto został europosłem!|last=Majewski|first=Marek|date=2019-05-30|website=Polska Times|language=pl-PL|access-date=2019-08-14}}</ref>

For the [[2019 Polish parliamentary election|parliamentary elections]] in the same year, PSL decided to create a [[Centrism|centrist]] and [[Christian democracy|Christian-democratic]] coalition called the [[Polish Coalition]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wiadomosci.radiozet.pl/Polska/Polityka/PSL-chce-koalicji-z-PO.-Bez-SLD-i-Wiosny|title=PSL chce koalicji z PO. Bez SLD i Wiosny|date=5 July 2019|website=wp.pl|access-date=19 August 2019}}</ref> The [[Polish Coalition]], apart from PSL, consisted of [[Kukiz'15]], [[Union of European Democrats]] and other [[Liberalism|liberal]], [[Catholic Church and politics|catholic]] and [[Regionalism (politics)|regionalist]] organisations.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://fakty.interia.pl/raporty/raport-wybory-parlamentarne-2019/aktualnosci/news-kto-do-koalicji-polskiej-rozmowy-z-kukiz-15-i-bezpartyjnymi-,nId,3110206|title=Kto w Koalicji Polskiej? PSL prowadzi rozmowy|website=fakty.interia.pl|language=pl|access-date=2019-08-19}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://fakty.interia.pl/raporty/raport-wybory-parlamentarne-2019/aktualnosci/news-psl-na-slasku-porozumienia-z-ugrupowaniami-regionalnymi,nId,3132669|title=PSL na Śląsku. Porozumienia z ugrupowaniami regionalnymi|website=fakty.interia.pl|language=pl|access-date=2019-08-19}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tvp.info/43853928/|title="Po wyborach wspólny klub. Nie ma tu dyskusji". PSL wchłonie Kukiz'15?|website=www.tvp.info|date=8 August 2019|language=pl|access-date=2019-08-19}}</ref> The coalition managed to get 30 Sejm members elected, 20 of whom were members of PSL.

In November 2020, PSL decided to end coalition with [[Kukiz'15]] due to differences on negotiations on [[European Union|EU]] budget.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rmf24.pl/fakty/polska/news-pawel-kukiz-klub-koalicja-polska-podziekowal-nam-za-wspolpra,nId,4879251#crp_state=1|title=Paweł Kukiz: Klub Koalicja Polska podziękował nam za współpracę|website=rmf24.pl|language=pl|access-date=2020-11-26}}</ref>

Before the 2023 parliamentary elections [[Polish Coalition]] formed a [[Third Way (Poland)|broader alliance]] with centrist [[Poland 2050]] of [[Szymon Hołownia]].
=== Coalition government (2023–present) ===
After the [[2023 Polish parliamentary election|parliamentary elections in 2023]], [[Third Way (Poland)|Third Way]] block won 14.4% of the popular vote and 65 seats, it joined the government coalition with Civic Coalition and The Left. [[Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz]] was appointed as the deputy prime minister and as a Minister of National Defense, [[Czesław Siekierski]] was appointed as Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, [[Dariusz Klimczak]] was appointed as Minister of Infrastructure	and [[Krzysztof Hetman]] as Minister of Development and Technology. Because of the electoral success (65 MPs) [[Third Way (Poland)|Third Way]] block has also participated in [[2024 Polish local elections|2024 local]] getting 12.07% of the votes in the elections to voivodship assemblies, in which it received 80 seats.

==Ideology==
{{Agrarianism sidebar}}
{{Christian democracy sidebar}}

The Polish People's Party adhered to the principles of [[agrarian socialism]] and [[anti-neoliberalism]] in the 1990s and early 2000s, and had a post-communist character, highlighting the positive sides of the former communist system and rejecting the Polish transformation to capitalism because of its high social cost and inequality.<ref name="gerb_quote"/><ref name="assess"/><ref name="stodquote"/> It was positioned on the [[Left-wing politics|left-wing]] on the political spectrum during that period. As late as 2011, the party was still described as "a left-wing party, representing an agrarian socialist agenda, although it is also known for its social conservatism".<ref name="gerber">{{cite thesis |title=Being Polish/Becoming European: Gender and The Limits of Diffusion in Polish Accession to the European Union |last=Gerber |first=Alexandra |url=https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/handle/2027.42/86261/alexaz_1.pdf?sequence=1 |degree=Doctor of Philosophy (Sociology) |publisher=University of Michigan |year=2011 |page=167 |location=Ann Arbor, Michigan}}</ref> Up to 2008, the party also opposed liberalism, denouncing it as "primitive [[social Darwinism]]" and warning against a liberal state where "people are subordinated to the market". After 2008, the Polish People's Party started drifting towards centrism, abandoning its criticism of economic liberalism as well as discarding its agrarian socialist vision for the Polish economy.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Ideologia Polskiego Stronnictwa Ludowego na początku XXI wieku |language=pl |first=Przemysław |last=Szustakiewicz |journal=Studia Politologiczne |volume=18 |issue=1 |page=233 |year=2010 |publisher=Instytut Nauk Politycznych Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego |url=http://cejsh.icm.edu.pl/cejsh/element/bwmeta1.element.desklight-bee53e15-34e1-4a69-8da4-4be1f7c9752e}}</ref> It embraced an ideology of "neoagrarianism" that postulated a third way economic system based on Catholic social teaching, which rejected the downsides of both capitalism and communism.<ref name="szusta"/> The party then switched to Christian democracy and supported a regulated free market - the [[social market economy]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Mapa partii politycznych|trans-title=Map of political parties|url=https://janadamski.eu/2014/08/mapa-partii/|access-date=2019-05-28|website=jadamski.eu|language=pl}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Koalicja SLD-PSL|url=https://www.rmf24.pl/fakty/polska/news-psl-sld-czyli-historia-upadku-czerwono-zielonej-koalicji,nId,184650|access-date=2019-05-28|website=rmf.pl|language=PL}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=2 September 2016|title=PSl - liderzy, sondaże|url=https://wiadomosci.wp.pl/psl-polskie-stronnictwo-ludowe-6032708102169729c|access-date=2019-05-28|website=wiadomosci.wp.pl|language=pl}}</ref> PSL has drifted once more in the late 2010s and early 2020s towards the political right, adopting a neoliberal economic program based on deregulation and privatization. The party retained its Christian democratic character on social issues, where it continues to adhere to social conservatism.<ref name="leftr"/>
===Ideology from 1990s to 2000s===
The party, as it was reformed in 1990, was a direct and formal successor of the socialist [[United People's Party (Poland)|United People's Party]], and it inherited the party's members, political foundations as well as funds.<ref>{{cite book |title=Partie i ugrupowania parlamentarne III Rzeczypospolitej |isbn=978-83-89706-84-3 |author1=Krzysztof Kowalczyk |author2=Jerzy Sielski |year=2006 |publisher=Dom Wydawniczy DUET |page=154|language=pl}}</ref> The PSL was one of the two major Polish parties between from the 1990s to late 2000s with communist origins along with the [[Democratic Left Alliance (Poland)|Democratic Left Alliance]] - these two parties, along with [[Self-Defence of the Republic of Poland]], formed the post-communist bloc. Thus the party had a left-wing economic program that promoted agrarian socialism and praised the fallen communist regime, appealing to the communist nostalgia of voters. The party made references to the peasant movement of the Second Polish Republic and the WW2-era PSL led by [[Stanisław Mikołajczyk]], but these remained at a figurative level and did not affect the party's socialist alignment. This led to a split in the party - after the anti-communist [[Roman Bartoszcze]] was ousted as the party leader and PSL made its communist legacy more explicit, disaffected agrarians who returned to Poland from exile left the party and formed [[Peasants' Agreement]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Ruch Konserwatywno–Ludowy w III RP |language=pl |last=Stodolny |first=Marek |date=24 June 2015 |publisher=Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicza w Poznaniu |location=Poznań |url=https://repozytorium.amu.edu.pl/items/64df5d7b-5655-40c1-8862-0591bd2bb021 |pages=5–6}}</ref> 

In that period, the PSL condemned globalization and capitalist reforms as the driving factors behind the loss of national sovereignty and the growing inequality in the countryside. The party spoke against privatization and instead envisioned a decentralized socialist structure based on state-owned, communal as well as "social" (cooperative) ownership of the Polish economy. The party listed rural poverty, unemployment, lack of affordable housing and limited healthcare access as consequences of the economic liberalization pursued in the 1990s. The party also argued that the 'national interests' necessitates state ownership of most industries, especially that of the banks; the party also proposed a catalogue of protectionist measures that would stop the decline of the Polish agriculture and food industry.<ref>{{cite book |title=Partie i ugrupowania parlamentarne III Rzeczypospolitej |isbn=978-83-89706-84-3 |author1=Krzysztof Kowalczyk |author2=Jerzy Sielski |year=2006 |publisher=Dom Wydawniczy DUET |pages=144–149 |language=pl}}</ref>

The PSL pointed to liberalism and authoritarian tendencies as its main ideological opponents. The party program from that time argued that "in the name of blind liberalism - the doctrine of the elimination of the state from any influence on the shaping of economic structures, it passively watches as more and more segments of our market are taken over by foreign entities and as domestic companies are eliminated from it, for which, in addition, worse economic conditions are created for economic activity". Liberalism was described an ideology in which the state passively observes the struggle on the market between foreign, powerful concerns and Polish enterprises, which, being weaker and deprived of state support, fail. The party argued that the consequence of this was a high rate of unemployment, giving rise to social problems. The party also noted the existence of social disparities and the lack of prospects for the young generation, which is forced to emigrate in search of work, which caused a weakening of Poland's international role, subject to the uncontrolled game played by global corporations.<ref name="szusta"/>
===Drift to the right===
The origin of the party's pivot was in the late 2000s, as the party's anti-liberal slogan was overshadowed by the one of right-wing populist [[Law and Justice]], while agrarian socialism became the staple of the far-left [[Self-Defence of the Republic of Poland]], which would form an anti-liberal government together with Law and Justice and [[League of Polish Families]] in 2005. PSL started cooperating with the [[Civic Platform]] at this time - a party based on liberal and conservative ideas; this forced PSL to tone down its rhetoric as to avoid attacking the anticipated future coalition partner.<ref name="szusta">{{cite journal |title=Ideologia Polskiego Stronnictwa Ludowego na początku XXI wieku |language=pl |first=Przemysław |last=Szustakiewicz |journal=Studia Politologiczne |volume=18 |issue=1 |page=232 |year=2010 |publisher=Instytut Nauk Politycznych Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego |url=http://cejsh.icm.edu.pl/cejsh/element/bwmeta1.element.desklight-bee53e15-34e1-4a69-8da4-4be1f7c9752e}}</ref> Political analysis of the party's rhetoric in 2006 found that the party would increasingly embrace liberalism in place of its hitherto economically left-wing program, which placed the party closer to the Civic Platform and other centre-right parties. This was in stark contrast to a fellow agrarian party Self-Defence of the Republic of Poland, which espoused conservatively socialist views.<ref>{{cite book |title=Mechanizmy manifestowania orientacji ideologicznej w dyskursie politycznym |first=Anita |last=Filipczak-Białkowska |location=Łódź |year=2018 |isbn=978-83-65237-58-3 |language=pl |doi=10.18778/8142-136-2.01 |publisher=Primum Verbum |pages=168–196}}</ref>

From the late 2000s onwards, the party pivoted away from its once agrarian socialist program in favor of "neoagrarianism", which it defined as the "principle of class solidarity and peasant separatism postulating the necessity of an evolutionary path of social reconstruction on the principles of economic democracy, with particular attention to the interests of agriculture and under the political leadership of the peasant layer." Neoagrarianism of the party also included the concept of a "third way" of social development aiming at the creation of a state system between capitalism and communism. This new form of economic system was to be based on the [[Catholic social teaching]] and eliminte both "the shortcomings of capitalism and the dangers posed by communism". The neoagrarian economy was also to be based on the principle of [[Subsidiarity (Catholicism)|Catholic subsidiarity]], " the primacy of labour over capital", as well as rejection of monetarism and neoliberalism. The party then gradually abandoned its criticism of liberalism, eventually embracing as a result.<ref name="szusta"/>
===Modern program===
The party's platform is strongly based on [[agrarianism]].<ref name="tomczak">{{cite book|title=Polskie Stronnictwo Ludowe – trwały element polskiego parlamentu?|pages=129–155|first=Tomasz|last=Tomczak|publisher=DUET|year=2006}}</ref> On social and ethical issues, PSL is attached to more [[social conservatism|social conservative]] values,<ref name="gerber"/> as it opposes [[abortion]] (although it is against its criminalization, defending [[Abortion in Poland|the current abortion law in Poland]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rmf24.pl/tylko-w-rmf24/poranna-rozmowa/news-kosiniak-kamysz-bez-glosow-na-trzecia-droge-nie-ma-szans-by-,nId,6853041#crp_state=1 |title=Kosiniak-Kamysz: Bez głosów na Trzecią Drogę nie ma szans, by odsunąć PiS od władzy|website=rmf24.pl|language=pl}}</ref>), legalisation of [[same-sex marriage]], [[euthanasia]], [[death penalty]],<ref name="kasper">{{Cite web|url=https://www.niedziela.pl/artykul/18589/Komitety-a-kwestie-swiatopogladowe|title=WYBORY 2015 - Komitety a kwestie światopoglądowe|website=niedziela.pl|language=pl|access-date=2015-10-19}}</ref> and soft drug decriminalisation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gazetaprawna.pl/wiadomosci/artykuly/551819,po-pis-psl-przeciwko-legalizacji-marihuany.html|title=PO, PiS, PSL przeciwko legalizacji marihuany
|website=gazetaprawna.pl|language=pl|access-date=2011-09-21}}</ref> The party is in favour of maintaining [[Religious education|religion lessons]] in public education.<ref name="kasper"/> In 2019, the party adopted (as part of an agreement with [[Kukiz'15]]) in the party's platform [[direct democracy]]'s postulates, including introducing [[single-member district]]s, [[electronic voting]] and obligatory [[referendum]]s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.psl.pl/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/PROGRAM_PSL_2019.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.psl.pl/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/PROGRAM_PSL_2019.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|title=Program polityczny PSL - 2019|website=psl.pl|language=pl}}</ref>

Despite its formerly socialist alignment, the party embraced economic liberalism ever since it entered a coalition with the Civic Platform. The PSL supported economic policies such as increasing the retirement age, privatization of state-owned enterprises, as well as implementing deregulation in order to secure funds from the European Union.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wnp.pl/parlamentarny/wydarzenia/pis-koalicja-polska-psl-jest-jest-kompletnie-niewiarygodna,39711.html |title=PiS: Koalicja Polska PSL jest jest kompletnie niewiarygodna |date=2 June 2019 |language=pl |website=wnp.pl}}</ref> Nowadays, the party is considered economically liberal and oriented towards the free market, aligning with the parties such as Civic Platform, [[Poland 2050]] and [[Modern (political party)|Modern]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rp.pl/polityka/art38765871-sondaz-na-ktora-partie-powinni-glosowac-wolnorynkowi-wyborcy-ko-przed-pis |title=Sondaż: Na którą partię powinni głosować wolnorynkowi wyborcy? KO przed PiS |date=23 July 2023 |website=rp.pl |language=pl}}</ref> As part of the Third Way, PSL adopted a neoliberal-conservative program, promoting low taxes, market solutions to the housing crisis and climate change, as well as increased role of the private sector in Polish economy and publis services.<ref name="leftr">{{cite web |url=https://newleftreview.org/sidecar/posts/the-polish-continuum |title=The Polish Continuum |first=Gavin |last=Rae |date=20 October 2023 |website=New Left Review}}</ref>

Moreover, during the leadership of [[Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz|Kosiniak-Kamysz]], who took over after 2015 elections, PSL has visibly started leaning towards [[economic liberalism]] in order to gain voters in bigger cities.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.polityka.pl/tygodnikpolityka/kraj/2146104,1,psl-i-agrounia-kto-moze-wygrac-z-pis-na-wsi.read|title=PSL i AgroUnia. Kto może wygrać z PiS na wsi?
|website=polityka.pl|date=4 December 2021
|language=pl|access-date=2021-12-04}}</ref> Kosiniak-Kamysz himself has described party's ideology as "[[Centrism|moderately centrist]]"<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gazetaprawna.pl/wiadomosci/artykuly/1443113,kosiniak-kamysz-umiarkowane-centrum-lewicowa-platforma.html|title=Kosiniak-Kamysz: "Umiarkowane centrum" to my. Platforma wybrała skręt w lewo
|website=gazetaprawna.pl|date=5 December 2019
|language=pl|access-date=2019-12-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gazetaprawna.pl/wiadomosci/kraj/artykuly/8144050,chadecja-polska-kosiniak-kamysz-umiarkowane-centrum.html|title=Kosiniak-Kamysz: Chadecja Polska to długofalowy projekt
|website=gazetaprawna.pl|date=16 April 2021
|language=pl|access-date=2021-04-16}}</ref> and [[Christian democracy|Christian democratic]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/Piechocinski/status/958279404148412416|title=Janusz Piechociński on Twitter: "Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz : Jesteśmy partią o charakterze centrowym, partią chadecką..."
|website=twitter.com|language=pl|access-date=2016-01-30}}</ref> After most of the party's MPs voted against a law softening abortion law in Poland in 2024,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.termedia.pl/mz/Glosowanie-w-sprawie-depenalizacji-aborcji-wyniki-,57104.html|title=Głosowanie w sprawie depenalizacji aborcji – wyniki|website=termedia.pl|language=pl|access-date=2024-07-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/polish-parliament-rejects-bill-seeking-ease-strict-abortion-law-2024-07-12/|title=Polish parliament rejects bill seeking to ease strict abortion law|website=reuters.com|language=en|access-date=2024-07-12}}</ref> PSL began to visibly present itself as the conservative wing of [[Third Cabinet of Donald Tusk|a ruling coalition under the premiership of Donald Tusk]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rp.pl/opinie-polityczno-spoleczne/art40842321-michal-szuldrzynski-kosiniak-kamysz-nie-chce-byc-wasalem-tuska-wiec-walczy-o-tozsamosc-koalicji|title=Michał Szułdrzyński: Kosiniak-Kamysz nie chce być wasalem Tuska, więc walczy o tożsamość koalicji|website=rp.pl|language=pl|access-date=2024-07-21}}</ref> which caused criticism from [[Left-wing politics|left-wing]] politicians and activists, such as [[Marta Lempart]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wprost.pl/opinie-i-komentarze/11763219/marta-lempart-zaatakowala-kosiniaka-kamysza-wpadla-na-zaskakujacy-pomysl.html|title=Lempart nie odpuszcza Hołowni i Kosiniakowi-Kamyszowi. "Katolicy, rozwodnicy, hipokryci"|website=wprost.pl|language=pl|access-date=2024-07-25}}</ref> Polish political scientist [[:pl:Rafał Chwedoruk|Rafał Chwedoruk]] noted that by 2024, the party has become the most right-wing in its party history, even more than it was when it entered a government with right-wing nationalists in the 1920s.<ref name="chwedoruk"/> Similarly, [[:pl:Zuzanna Dąbrowska|Zuzanna Dąbrowska]] argues that the PSL has become increasingly supportive of cooperation with other right-wing parties.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rp.pl/opinie-polityczno-spoleczne/art40820191-zuzanna-dabrowska-psl-u-mile-miejsce-po-prawej-od-wejscia-do-sejmu |title=Zuzanna Dąbrowska: PSL-u miłe miejsce, po prawej od wejścia do Sejmu |date=17 July 2024 |language=pl |author-link=:pl:Zuzanna Dąbrowska |first=Zuzanna |last=Dąbrowska |website=[[Rzeczpospolita (newspaper)|Rzeczpospolita]]}}</ref>

Under the leadership of Kosiniak-Kamysz, the Polish People's Party abandoned its historical tradition of agrarianism; Kosiniak-Kamysz stressed that the Polish People's Party should be 'universal' rather than agrarian, and oversaw shifts in the party's program towards economic liberalism and positions that are attractive to urban voters. The party's historically left-wing stances were appropriated by a minor party [[AGROunia]] instead.<ref name="polityka_s"/> After the creation of the Third Way together with Poland 2050, political scientists noted that the Polish People's Party no longer refers to agrarianism in its program, its economic postulates are pro-business and oriented towards small and middle-sized companies, and the party has abandoned the agrarian tradition in favor of a non-ideological, big tent appeal.<ref name="zloty"/> 
==Election results==

===Support===
The Party's traditional support base consisted of farmers, peasants and rural voters. Voters are generally more [[social conservative]] than voters of [[Civic Platform]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.radio.kielce.pl/pl/wiadomosci/na-kogo-zaglosuja-wyborcy-psl-czeslaw-siekierski-odpowiada,109402|title= Na kogo zagłosują wyborcy PSL? Czesław Siekierski odpowiada|website=radio.kielce.pl|date= 2 July 2020|language=pl}}</ref> Its main competitor in rural areas is the [[National conservatism|national conservative]] [[Law and Justice]] (''PiS'').<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.polityka.pl/tygodnikpolityka/kraj/1683896,1,psl-wybiera-wladze-i-walczy-o-zycie-pis-nie-ukrywa-ze-chce-pozbyc-sie-konkurenta-ze-wsi.read|title=PSL wybiera władze i walczy o życie. PiS nie ukrywa, że chce pozbyć się konkurenta ze wsi|website=Polityka|date=19 November 2016|language=pl}}</ref>

In the 2010s, the party started to lose support between rural voters (especially in southeast of Poland, e.g. [[Subcarpathian Voivodeship]]). In [[2019 Polish parliamentary election|2019 election]] PSL gained surprisingly significant support in cities and won mandates (e. g. in [[Warsaw]] and [[Wrocław]]).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://notesfrompoland.com/2020/02/07/what-are-the-prospects-for-the-polish-peasant-party/|title = What are the prospects for the Polish Peasant Party?|date = 7 February 2020}}</ref>

===Presidential===
{| class=wikitable
|-
! rowspan=2|Election year
! rowspan=2|Candidate
! colspan=2|1st round
! colspan=2|2nd round
|-
! # of overall votes
! % of overall vote
! # of overall votes
! % of overall vote
|-
! [[1990 Polish presidential election|1990]]
| [[Roman Bartoszcze]]
| 1,176,175
| 7.2 (#5)
| colspan="2" style="background:lightgrey;"|
|-
! [[1995 Polish presidential election|1995]]
| [[Waldemar Pawlak]]
| 770,419	
| 4.3 (#5)
| colspan="2" style="background:lightgrey;"|
|-
! [[2000 Polish presidential election|2000]]
| [[Jarosław Kalinowski]]
| 1,047,949
| 6.0 (#4)
| colspan="2" style="background:lightgrey;"|
|-
! [[2005 Polish presidential election|2005]]
| [[Jarosław Kalinowski]] 
| 269,316
| 1.8 (#5)
| colspan="2" style="background:lightgrey;"|
|-
! [[2010 Polish presidential election|2010]]
| [[Waldemar Pawlak]]
| 294,273
| 1.8 (#5)
| colspan="2" style="background:lightgrey;"|
|-
! [[2015 Polish presidential election|2015]]
| [[Adam Jarubas]]
| 238,761
| 1.6 (#6)
| colspan="2" style="background:lightgrey;"|
|-
! [[2020 Polish presidential election|2020]]
| [[Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz]]
| 459,365
| 2.4 (#5) 
| colspan="2" style="background:lightgrey;"|
|}

===Sejm===
{| class=wikitable style="text-align:center;"
|-
! Election
! Leader
! Votes
! %
! Seats
! +/–
! Government
|-
! [[1991 Polish parliamentary election|1991]]
| rowspan="3" | [[Waldemar Pawlak]]
| 972,952
| 8.7 (#5)
| {{Composition bar|48|460|{{party color|Polish People's Party}}}}
| New
| {{partial2|[[Democratic Union (Poland)|UD]]}}
|-
! [[1993 Polish parliamentary election|1993]]
| 2,124,367
| 15.4 (#2)
| {{Composition bar|132|460|{{party color|Polish People's Party}}}}
| {{increase}} 84
| {{yes2|[[Democratic Left Alliance (Poland)|SLD]]–'''PSL'''}}
|-
! [[1997 Polish parliamentary election|1997]]
| 956,184
| 7.3 (#4)
| {{Composition bar|27|460|{{party color|Polish People's Party}}}}
| {{decrease}} 105
| {{no2|[[Solidarity Electoral Action|AWS]]–[[Freedom Union (Poland)|UW]]}}
|-
! rowspan="3" | [[2001 Polish parliamentary election|2001]]
| rowspan="3" | [[Jarosław Kalinowski]]
| rowspan="3" | 1,168,659
| rowspan="3" | 9.0 (#5)
| rowspan="3" | {{Composition bar|42|460|{{party color|Polish People's Party}}}}
| rowspan="3" | {{increase}} 15
| {{yes2|[[Democratic Left Alliance – Labour Union|SLD–UP]]–'''PSL''' {{small|(2001-2003)}}}}
|-
| {{no2|<small>[[Democratic Left Alliance (Poland)|SLD]]–[[Labour Union (Poland)|UP]] Minority (2003-2004)</small>}}
|-
|{{no2|<small>[[Democratic Left Alliance (Poland)|SLD]]-[[Labour Union (Poland)|UP]]-[[Social Democracy of Poland|SDPL]] Minority (2004-2005)</small>}}
|-
! rowspan="3" | [[2005 Polish parliamentary election|2005]]
| rowspan="5" | [[Waldemar Pawlak]]
| rowspan="3" | 821,656
| rowspan="3" | 7.0 (#6)
| rowspan="3" | {{Composition bar|25|460|{{party color|Polish People's Party}}}}
| rowspan="3" | {{decrease}} 17
| {{partial2|[[Law and Justice (Poland)|PiS]] minority {{small|(2005-2006)}}}}
|-
| {{no2|[[Law and Justice (Poland)|PiS]]–[[Self-Defence of the Republic of Poland|SRP]]–[[League of Polish Families|LPR]] {{small|(2006-2007)}}}}
|-
|{{no2|<small>[[Law and Justice (Poland)|PiS]] Minority (2007)</small>}}
|-
! [[2007 Polish parliamentary election|2007]]
| 1,437,638
| 8.9 (#4)
| {{Composition bar|31|460|{{party color|Polish People's Party}}}}
| {{increase}} 6
| {{yes2|[[Civic Platform|PO]]–'''PSL'''}}
|-
! [[2011 Polish parliamentary election|2011]]
| 1,201,628
| 8.4 (#4)
| {{Composition bar|28|460|{{party color|Polish People's Party}}}}
| {{decrease}} 3
| {{yes2|[[Civic Platform|PO]]–'''PSL'''}}
|-
! [[2015 Polish parliamentary election|2015]]
| [[Janusz Piechociński]]
| 779,875
| 5.1 (#6)
| {{Composition bar|16|460|{{party color|Polish People's Party}}}}
| {{decrease}} 12
| {{no2|[[Law and Justice (Poland)|PiS]]}}
|-
! rowspan="2" | [[2019 Polish parliamentary election|2019]]
| [[Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz]]
| 972,339
| 5.3 (#4)
| {{Composition bar|19|460|{{party color|Polish People's Party}}}}
| {{increase}} 3
| {{no2|[[Law and Justice (Poland)|PiS]]}}
|-
| colspan="6" | <small>As part of the [[Polish Coalition]], that won 30 seats in total</small>
|-
! rowspan="3" | [[2023 Polish parliamentary election|2023]]
| rowspan="2" | [[Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz]]
| rowspan="2" | 1,189,629	
| rowspan="2" | 5.5 (#3)
| rowspan="2" | {{Composition bar|28|460|{{party color|Polish People's Party (2019)}}}}
| rowspan="2" | {{increase}} 9
|{{no2|<small>[[Law and Justice (Poland)|PiS]] Minority (2023)</small>}}
|-
| {{yes2|<small>[[Civic Coalition (Poland)|KO]]–[[Poland 2050|PL2050]]–'''[[Polish Coalition|KP]]'''–[[New Left (Poland)|NL]] (2023-present)</small>}}
|-
| colspan="6" |<small>As part of the [[Third Way (Poland)|Third Way]] coalition, that won 65 seats in total</small>
|}

===Senate===
{| class=wikitable
|-
! Election
! Seats
! +/–
|-
! [[1991 Polish parliamentary election|1991]]
| {{Composition bar|7|100|{{party color|Polish People's Party}}}}
| New
|-
! [[1993 Polish parliamentary election|1993]]
| {{Composition bar|36|100|{{party color|Polish People's Party}}}}
| {{increase}} 29
|-
! [[1997 Polish parliamentary election|1997]]
| {{Composition bar|3|100|{{party color|Polish People's Party}}}}
| {{decrease}} 33
|-
! [[2001 Polish parliamentary election|2001]]
| {{Composition bar|4|100|{{party color|Polish People's Party}}}}
| {{increase}} 1
|-
! [[2005 Polish parliamentary election|2005]]
| {{Composition bar|2|100|{{party color|Polish People's Party}}}}
| {{decrease}} 2
|-
! [[2007 Polish parliamentary election|2007]]
| {{Composition bar|0|100|{{party color|Polish People's Party}}}}
| {{decrease}} 2
|-
! [[2011 Polish parliamentary election|2011]]
| {{Composition bar|2|100|{{party color|Polish People's Party}}}}
| {{increase}} 2
|-
! [[2015 Polish parliamentary election|2015]]
| {{Composition bar|1|100|{{party color|Polish People's Party}}}}
| {{decrease}} 1
|-
! [[2019 Polish parliamentary election|2019]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.senat.gov.pl/sklad/senatorowie/kluby-i-kola/|title=Senatorowie / Senatorowie / Kluby i koła / Senat Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej|website=www.senat.gov.pl|access-date=2020-04-01|archive-date=17 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217222422/https://www.senat.gov.pl/sklad/senatorowie/kluby-i-kola/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.uniaeuropejskichdemokratow.pl/kolo-poselskie|title=PARLAMENTARZYŚCI UED|website=www.uniaeuropejskichdemokratow.pl|access-date=2020-04-01}}</ref>
| {{Composition bar|2|100|{{party color|Polish People's Party}}}}
| {{increase}} 1
|-
![[2023 Polish parliamentary election|2023]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wybory do Sejmu i Senatu Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej w 2023 r. |url=https://wybory.gov.pl/sejmsenat2023/en/senat/wynik/pl |access-date=2023-11-12 |website=wybory.gov.pl |language=pl}}</ref>
|{{Composition bar|4|100|{{party color|Polish People's Party (2019)}}}}
|{{increase}} 2
|}

===European Parliament===
{| class=wikitable style="text-align:center;"
|-
! Election
! Leader
! Votes
! %
! Seats
! +/–
! EP Group
|-
! [[2004 European Parliament election in Poland|2004]]
| [[Janusz Wojciechowski]]
| 386,340
| 6.34 (#7)
| {{Composition bar|4|54|{{party color|Polish People's Party}}}}
| New
| [[European People's Party - European Democrats|EPP-ED]]
|-
! [[2009 European Parliament election in Poland|2009]]
| [[Waldemar Pawlak]]
| 516,146
| 7.01 (#4)
| {{Composition bar|3|50|{{party color|Polish People's Party}}}}
| {{decrease}} 1
| [[European People's Party Group|EPP]]
|-
! [[2014 European Parliament election in Poland|2014]]
| [[Janusz Piechociński]]
| 480,846
| 7.18 (#5)
| {{Composition bar|4|51|{{party color|Polish People's Party}}}}
| {{increase}} 1
| [[European People's Party Group|EPP]]
|-
! rowspan="2" | [[2019 European Parliament election in Poland|2019]]
| [[Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz]]
| 5,249,935
| 38.47 (#2)
| {{Composition bar|3|52|{{party color|Polish People's Party}}}}
| {{decrease}} 1
| [[European People's Party Group|EPP]]
|-
| colspan="6" |<small>As part of the [[European Coalition (Poland)|European Coalition]], that won 22 seats in total</small>
|-
! rowspan="2" | [[2024 European Parliament election in Poland|2024]]
| [[Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz]]
| 813,238	
| 6.91 (#4)
| {{Composition bar|2|53|{{party color|Polish People's Party (2019)}}}}
| {{decrease}} 1
| [[European People's Party Group|EPP]]
|-
| colspan="6" |<small>As part of the [[Third Way (Poland)|Third Way]] coalition, that won 3 seats in total</small>
|}

===Regional assemblies===
{| class=wikitable
|-
! Election
! %
! Seats
! +/–
|-
! [[1990 Polish local elections|1990]]
| colspan="3"| {{centre|6,5% (#3)}}
|-
! [[1994 Polish local elections|1994]]
| colspan="3"| {{centre|8% (#1)}}
|-
! rowspan="2" |[[1998 Polish local elections|1998]]
| 12.0 (#3)
| {{Composition bar|89|855|{{party color|Polish People's Party}}}}
|
|-
| colspan="3" |<small>As part of the [[Social Alliance (Poland)|Social Alliance]]</small>
|-
! [[2002 Polish local elections|2002]]
| 10.8 (#5)
| {{Composition bar|58|561|{{party color|Polish People's Party}}}}
| {{decrease}} 31
|-
! [[2006 Polish local elections|2006]]
| 13.2 (#4)
| {{Composition bar|83|561|{{party color|Polish People's Party}}}}
| {{increase}} 25
|-
! [[2010 Polish local elections|2010]]
| 16.3 (#3)
| {{Composition bar|93|561|{{party color|Polish People's Party}}}}
| {{increase}} 10
|-
! [[2014 Polish local elections|2014]]
| 23.9 (#3)
| {{Composition bar|157|555|{{party color|Polish People's Party}}}}
| {{increase}} 64
|-
! [[2018 Polish local elections|2018]]
| 12.1 (#3)
| {{Composition bar|70|552|{{party color|Polish People's Party}}}}
| {{decrease}} 87
|-
! rowspan="2"| [[2024 Polish local elections|2024]]
| 14.25 (#3)
| {{Composition bar|58|552|{{party color|Polish People's Party (2019)}}}}
| {{decrease}} 29
|-
| colspan="3" |<small>As part of the [[Third Way  (Poland)|Third Way]]</small>
|}

==Leadership==
Chairman: 
* [[Roman Bartoszcze]] (1990–1991)
* [[Waldemar Pawlak]] (1991–1997)
* [[Jarosław Kalinowski]] (1997–2004)
* [[Janusz Wojciechowski]] (2004–2005)
* [[Waldemar Pawlak]] (2005–2012)
* [[Janusz Piechociński]] (2012–2015)
* [[Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz]] (2015–present)

===Voivodeship Marshals===
{| class="wikitable"plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|+
!Name 
!Image 
!Voivodeship
!Date Vocation
|-
|[[Adam Struzik]]
|[[File:Adam Struzik; 2015.jpg|60px]]
|[[Masovian Voivodeship]]
|10 December 2001
|-
|[[Paweł Gancarz]]
|
|[[Lower Silesian Voivodeship]]
|21 Maja 2024
|}

==See also==
*[[List of Polish People's Party politicians]]

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Polskie Stronnictwo Ludowe}}
*{{Official website}} {{in lang|pl}}

{{PSLLeaders}}
{{Polish political parties}}
{{European People's Party}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Polish People's Party| ]]
[[Category:1895 establishments in Austria-Hungary]]
[[Category:1895 establishments in Poland]]
[[Category:1990 establishments in Poland]]
[[Category:Agrarian parties in Poland]]
[[Category:Political parties established in 1895]]
[[Category:Political parties established in 1990]]
[[Category:Political parties in Poland]]