Platforma Obywatelska Logo

On January 19, 2001, Platforma Obywatelska (Civic Platform, PO) emerged from a group of politicians who had parted ways with the Freedom Union (Unia Wolności). Andrzej Olechowski, Maciej Płażyński, and Donald Tusk founded the party, which embraced a liberal, pro-European ideology, advocating for a free market and minimal state intervention in the economy.

In its first parliamentary election in 2001, the party secured 12.68% of the vote, gaining 65 seats in the Sejm, making it the third-largest party in parliament. By 2005, the group participated in the presidential elections, nominating Donald Tusk. Lech Kaczyński of the Law and Justice (PiS) party defeated him in the second round.

The organization placed second in the 2005 parliamentary elections with 24.1% of the vote, earning 133 seats in the Sejm. Efforts to form a coalition with PiS did not succeed, and the group stayed in opposition. The political landscape shifted in 2007 after the PiS coalition government dissolved, leading to early elections. The party emerged victorious with 41.51% of the vote, securing 209 seats. Donald Tusk became Prime Minister, forming a coalition with the Polish People’s Party (PSL).

Under Tusk’s leadership, the PO-PSL government implemented economic reforms to liberalize the economy and attract foreign investment. Poland notably avoided recession during the global financial crisis of 2008-2009, a unique achievement among EU countries.

Tragedy struck in 2010 when President Lech Kaczyński died in a plane crash near Smolensk. Bronisław Komorowski from the organization won the presidential election that followed. The party repeated its success in the 2011 parliamentary elections, becoming the first party in post-communist Poland to secure a second consecutive term.

In 2014, Donald Tusk stepped down as Prime Minister to become President of the European Council, and Ewa Kopacz succeeded him, becoming Poland’s second female Prime Minister. The 2015 presidential election saw Bronisław Komorowski lose to Andrzej Duda of PiS, marking the beginning of a challenging period for the group.

The 2015 parliamentary elections resulted in the party obtaining 24.09% of the vote and 138 seats, thus moving to the opposition as PiS formed the government. Following the defeat, Grzegorz Schetyna became the organization’s new leader, aiming to counter PiS policies that the PO perceived as threats to democracy and the rule of law.

In 2019, the group formed the Civic Coalition (KO) with several smaller parties to contest the European and parliamentary elections. The coalition achieved 38.47% of the vote in the European Parliament elections, securing 22 seats. In the 2019 parliamentary elections, the Civic Coalition, led by the group, placed second with 27.40% of the vote and 134 seats. Despite being the strongest opposition force, the organization could not regain power.

Borys Budka replaced Grzegorz Schetyna as the group’s leader in January 2020. Throughout its history, the party evolved from a purely liberal economic platform to a centrist stance, increasingly focusing on social issues and the protection of democratic institutions.