United People's Party (Poland)

The United People's Party (Polish: Zjednoczone Stronnictwo Ludowe, abbr. ZSL) was an agrarian political party in the People's Republic of Poland. It was formed on 27 November 1949 from the merger of the communist Stronnictwo Ludowe party with remnants of the independent People's Party of Stanisław Mikołajczyk (which changed its name to Polskie Stronnictwo Ludowe).

ZSL became - as intended from its very beginning - a satellite party of the Polish United Workers Party (Polska Zjednoczona Partia Robotnicza, PZPR), representing the PZPR in the rural areas. After 1982 it was a member of the Patriotic Movement for National Rebirth.

In 1989 after victory of the Solidarity trade union in the Polish legislative elections, 1989 together with the PZPR's other satellite party, the Democratic Party, ZSL decided to support Solidarity. At a ZSL congress (27–29 November 1989) ZSL transformed into Polskie Stronnictwo Ludowe - Odrodzenie. PSL-Odrodzenie merged with PSL Wilanowskie, forming today's Polish People's Party.

Chairmen

• 1949–1953: Józef Niećko
• 1953–1956: Władysław Kowalski
• 1956–1962: Stefan Ignar
• 1962–1971: Czesław Wycech
• 1971–1981: Stanisław Gucwa
• 1981: Stefan Ignar
• 1981–1989: Roman Malinowski
• 1989: Dominik Ludwiczak