Polish Beer-Lovers' Party
Polish Beer-Lovers' Party Polska Partia Przyjaciół Piwa | |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | PPPP |
| Registered | 28 December 1990 |
| Dissolved | 28 May 1993 |
| Headquarters | Warsaw |
| Membership (1991) | >10,000 |
| Ideology | Initially: Political satire Beer-drinking advocacy Anti-communism Later: Reformism Green politics |
| Political position | Big tent |
The Polish Beer-Lovers' Party (PPPP; Polish: Polska Partia Przyjaciół Piwa, lit. 'Polish Party of Friends of Beer') was a satirical Polish political party that was founded in 1990. Originally, the party's goal was to promote cultural beer-drinking in English-style pubs instead of vodka (and, thus, fight alcoholism);[1] however, the party eventually developed a serious platform based on tax reform and green politics.[2]
History
Formation
The party was founded by the cast and crew of a late 80's Polish comedy series called "The Beer Scouts" (Polish: Skauci Piwni) as "a continuation of [the] TV program." Janusz Rewiński, an actor on the show, was elected leader of the party in April 1991.[3] Andrzej Kołodziejski and Adam Halber, two editors for the now defunct magazine Pan, were responsible for most of the party's early promotion.[3][4]
Rise and 1991 election
The humorous name and disillusionment with Poland's political transformation led some Poles to vote for and/or join the party,[5] with it having 10,000 registered members by July 1991.[2] The nature of the party's appeal to its supporters was reflected in frequently-heard remarks that, maybe with the PPPP at the helm, "it wouldn't be better but for sure it would be funnier."[4]
Although it started as a joke party, its members developed a serious platform with time, such as stopping the domestic sale of leaded gasoline.[2] Moreover, the idea of political discussion in establishments that served quality beer became a symbol of freedom of association and expression, intellectual tolerance, and a higher standard of living.
In the 1991 parliamentary elections, the PPPP won 16 seats in the Sejm, capturing 3.27% of the vote.[6]
Disbanding and successor groups
Soon after the election, the party split into Big Beer and Little Beer factions,[5][7] despite Rewiński's claims that "beer is neither light nor dark, it is tasty." Leszek Bubel, future president of the Polish National Party, became leader of the PPPP in 1992 after Rewiński was accused of "cryptic financial operations." The PPPP dissolved in 1993 after it suffered a major defeat in that year's parliamentary election,[3] receiving only 0.1% of the vote.[6]
The Big Beer faction assumed the name Polish Economic Program (PPG; Polish: Polski Program Gospodarczy).[1][5][7] Dropping its satirical element, it became associated with the Democratic Union (UD). The Little Beer faction became associated with the Liberal Democratic Congress in a coalition of liberal pro-market parties, which supported the candidacy of Hanna Suchocka as prime minister.[5]
In 2007, there was an unsuccessful attempt to revive the party by activists associated with Bubel.[8]
See also
References
- ^ a b Feusette, Krzysztof (25 Jan 2003). "Rozmowy - Janusz Rewiński - Lepiej nie będzie, ale weselej" [Conversations - Janusz Rewiński - It won't be better, but it will be happier]. teatry.art.pl (in Polish). Archived from the original on 6 Oct 2007. Retrieved 6 Oct 2007.
- ^ a b c Cieszkowska, Joanna (7 Jul 1991). "The blossoming of democracy in Poland has produced a..." United Press International. Retrieved 9 Mar 2024.
- ^ a b c Henzler, Marek (9 Nov 2011). "Palikot? A pamiętacie Partię Przyjaciół Piwa?" [Palikot? Do you remember the Beer Friends Party?]. Polityka (in Polish). Retrieved 12 Mar 2024.
- ^ a b Rissanen, Mika; Tahvanainen, Juha (2016). "Scouting for Parliament". Down Beer Street: History in a Pint Glass. Translated by Urbom, Ruth. Souvenir Press. pp. 197–204. ISBN 9780285643383 – via Academia.edu.
- ^ a b c d "Poland - Beer-Lovers' Party". Library of Congress Country Studies. Archived from the original on 8 Nov 2023. Retrieved 2024-03-09.
- ^ a b Nohlen, Dieter; Stöver, Philip (2010). Elections in Europe: A Data Handbook (illustrated ed.). Nomos Publishing House. p. 1491. ISBN 978-3-8329-5609-7.
- ^ a b Barber, Tony (16 Jul 1992). "Big Beer's spirited alcohol tax reform falls flat". The Independent. Archived from the original on 9 Mar 2024. Retrieved 9 Mar 2024.
- ^ Wróblewski, Artur (31 October 2014). "Polska Partia Przyjaciół Piwa: polityczne kuriozum w potrójnie filtrowanej postaci" [Polish Party of Beer Friends: a political curiosity in a triple-filtered form]. Interia Historia (in Polish). Archived from the original on 29 November 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2014.