United Left to unveil programme in mid-August

ZL is made up of the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD), Your Movement (TR), the Greens and the Union of Labour (UP). They agreed in early July to take part in this year’s election under the joint banner of the United Left.

"The left is very weak. We want to rebuild for the new parliament," TR’s Barbara Nowacka said, adding that the grouping was open to the other left-wing organisations.

Nowacki noted that representatives of various groups, including trade unions and urban movements, would also be invited.

Asked about the role of the head of Leszek Miller's SLD, the largest of the parties on the grouping, Nowacka said it would be the same as the other parties’ lists.

"We are not Law and Justice [the right of centre main opposition party, PiS], and we will not hide in the closets," she said.

Secretary General of the SLD Krzysztof Gawkowski added that voting lists are not yet closed and would be arranged alphabetically.

He said that 1,500 people had put their names forward to participate in the elections under the banner of United Left and that the Committee intends to have an equal male and female presence on the final list.

Vice-President of SLD Paulina Piechna-Więckiewicz said that the common programme for the United Left was "based on social justice and equal opportunities."

As a grouping the ZL must win eight percent of the vote to gain parliamentary representation in the 25 October election. Polls give the grouping between four and seven percent. (jh/rk)