POLAND: parliamentary elections Senat, 1997

POLAND
Parliamentary Chamber: Senat

ELECTIONS HELD IN 1997

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Chamber:

Senat

Dates of elections / renewal (from/to):

21 September 1997

Purpose of elections:

Elections were held for all the seats of the Senate on the normal expiry of the members' term of office.

Background and outcome of elections:

The date of the 1997 elections was announced in June by President of the Republic Aleksander Kwasniewski. By the deadline of 1 September for registration of candidates, over 20 parties or coalitions had nominated some 6400 contestants for the 460 Diet seats and approximately 500 for the 100 Senate seats.
The two main rivals in both cases were the ruling Democratic Left Alliance (SLD), led by the ex-communist Social Democracy Party (SDRP) of Mr. Jozef Oleksy, and the Solidarity Election Action (AWS), a right-wing opposition bloc of 36 parties gathered around the Solidarity trade union. These two groups had similar platforms, both favouring pro-market economic policies and, in foreign affairs, supporting integration with the European Union and NATO; AWS, however, put greater emphasis on traditional, Christian values and, among other things, opposed abortion. A third force to be reckoned with was the Freedom Union (UW) headed by Mr. Leszek Balcerowicz, regarded as the architect of Poland’s economic reforms in the 1990s which had led to a current annual growth rate of 6%. The campaign as a whole was generally calm.
On polling day, AWS, founded in 1996 and led by Mr. Marian Krzaklewski, emerged on top with 201 Diet seats to 164 for SLD which, in comparison with the previous (1993) parliamentary elections, gained in vote percentage but not seats. UW had a similar fate while the Peasant Party (PSL), partner in the outgoing governing coalition with the SLD, lost more than 100 seats to fall to fourth place. Only one other group - the Movement for the Reconstruction of Poland (ROP) - crossed the 5% threshold needed for Diet representation. In the Senate races, SLD retained its leading position, trailed closely by PSL.
Given the overall election outcome, Prime Minister Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz (SLD) was replaced by Mr. Jerzy Buzek (AWS) on 17 October; he heads a coalition Cabinet composed of AWS and UW members.

STATISTICS

Round no 1 (21 September 1997): Elections results

Number of registered electors 28,409,054

Voters 13,615,101 (47.92%)

Blank or invalid ballot papers 296,149

Valid votes 13,318,952

Round no 1: Distribution of seats

Political Group Total

Solidarity Election Action (AWS) 51

Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) 28

Freedom Union (UW) 8

Movement for the Reconstruction of Poland (ROP) 5

Polish Peasant Party (PSL) 3

Independents 5

Distribution of seats according to sex:

Men: 89

Women: 11

Percent of women: 11.00

Distribution of seats according to age:

31-40 years 14

41-50 years 37

51-60 years 33

61-70 years 14

71-80 years 2

<<< Return to the Historical Archive page of parliamentary election results for POLAND <<<

Chamber:
	Senat
Dates of elections / renewal (from/to):
	21 September 1997
Purpose of elections:
	Elections were held for all the seats of the Senate on the normal expiry of the members' term of office.
Background and outcome of elections:
	The date of the 1997 elections was announced in June by President of the Republic Aleksander Kwasniewski. By the deadline of 1 September for registration of candidates, over 20 parties or coalitions had nominated some 6400 contestants for the 460 Diet seats and approximately 500 for the 100 Senate seats. The two main rivals in both cases were the ruling Democratic Left Alliance (SLD), led by the ex-communist Social Democracy Party (SDRP) of Mr. Jozef Oleksy, and the Solidarity Election Action (AWS), a right-wing opposition bloc of 36 parties gathered around the Solidarity trade union. These two groups had similar platforms, both favouring pro-market economic policies and, in foreign affairs, supporting integration with the European Union and NATO; AWS, however, put greater emphasis on traditional, Christian values and, among other things, opposed abortion. A third force to be reckoned with was the Freedom Union (UW) headed by Mr. Leszek Balcerowicz, regarded as the architect of Poland’s economic reforms in the 1990s which had led to a current annual growth rate of 6%. The campaign as a whole was generally calm. On polling day, AWS, founded in 1996 and led by Mr. Marian Krzaklewski, emerged on top with 201 Diet seats to 164 for SLD which, in comparison with the previous (1993) parliamentary elections, gained in vote percentage but not seats. UW had a similar fate while the Peasant Party (PSL), partner in the outgoing governing coalition with the SLD, lost more than 100 seats to fall to fourth place. Only one other group - the Movement for the Reconstruction of Poland (ROP) - crossed the 5% threshold needed for Diet representation. In the Senate races, SLD retained its leading position, trailed closely by PSL. Given the overall election outcome, Prime Minister Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz (SLD) was replaced by Mr. Jerzy Buzek (AWS) on 17 October; he heads a coalition Cabinet composed of AWS and UW members.

Round no 1 (21 September 1997): Elections results
Number of registered electors	28,409,054
Voters	13,615,101 (47.92%)
Blank or invalid ballot papers	296,149
Valid votes	13,318,952

Round no 1: Distribution of seats
Political Group	Total
Solidarity Election Action (AWS)	51
Democratic Left Alliance (SLD)	28
Freedom Union (UW)	8
Movement for the Reconstruction of Poland (ROP)	5
Polish Peasant Party (PSL)	3
Independents	5

Distribution of seats according to sex:
Men:	89
Women:	11
Percent of women:	11.00

Distribution of seats according to age:
31-40 years	14
41-50 years	37
51-60 years	33
61-70 years	14
71-80 years	2