National offices of the freedom union party as an example of an opposition party strategy (1994–1997)

Abstract

The aim of the article was to present the circumstances of the foundation and activity of the National Offices of The Freedom Union (UW) that comprised an executive and operational level guiding the contemporary work of the abovementioned political party; it was positioned between the Presidium and the Parliamentary Club, and was organizationally and substantively responsible for particular areas. In 1994–1997 the National Offices were a part of UW opposition against the coalition of the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) and The Polish People's Party (PSL) founded in 1993, thanks to which they became a sort of a ‘shadow cabinet’, monitoring and reacting to the current policy of the SLD-PSL government.
The activity of those offices contributed to the stimulation and activation of party members, especially at the local level, by, for example, creating a network of regional spokesmen, closely cooperating with expert groups, representatives of local self-governments, associations and trades unions. The second important criterion connected with the activity of the discussed structures was developing a series of programme documents, including resolutions and statements critical of the SLD-PSL coalition.