Democratic Party (Poland)

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Stronnictwo Demokratyczne (Democratic Party, SD) is a Polish centrist party established on April 15, 1939. Its historical leaders were Mieczysław Michałowicz and Mikołaj Kwaśniewski.

In 1940 SD split into two factions, one of which supported the Polish Government in Exile (in London), and the second co-operated with the Polish Workers' Party (communists) and recognized the National Country Council as the actual parliament and the Provisional Government for National Unity as the actual government of Poland.

The London faction ceased to exist in 1945.

In People's Republic of Poland SD became a "satellite" facade party of the communist Polish United Workers' Party (PZPR). Even though, the party managed to sustain its non-marxist orientation.

In 1989 both PZPR satellites - the Democratic Party and the United People's Party (Poland) (ZSL) broke their ties with the communists and formed a coalition government with the Solidarity.

Most of the members of SD joined other parties, including Freedom Union, but the party never ceased to exist.

Current leader: Andrzej Arendarski