Polish Beer-Lovers' Party
Template:Short description Template:Infobox political party Template:Sidebar with collapsible lists The Polish Beer-Lovers' Party (PPPP; Template:Langx) 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);<ref name=":1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> however, the party eventually developed a serious platform based on tax reform and green politics.<ref name=":0" />
History
Formation
The party was founded by the cast and crew of a late 80's Polish comedy series called "The Beer Scouts" (Template:Langx) as "a continuation of [the] TV program." Janusz Rewiński, an actor on the show, was elected leader of the party in April 1991.<ref name=":3" /> Andrzej Kołodziejski and Adam Halber, two editors for the now defunct magazine Pan, were responsible for most of the party's early promotion.<ref name=":3">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="rissanen">Template:Cite book</ref>
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,<ref name="countrystudies.us">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> with it having 10,000 registered members by July 1991.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite news</ref> 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."<ref name="rissanen" />
Although it started as a joke party, its members developed a serious platform with time, such as stopping the domestic sale of leaded gasoline.<ref name=":0" /> 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.Template:Citation needed
In the 1991 parliamentary elections, the PPPP won 16 seats in the Sejm, capturing 3.27% of the vote.<ref name=":4">Template:Cite book</ref>
Disbanding and successor groups
Soon after the election, the party split into Big Beer and Little Beer factions,<ref name="countrystudies.us" /><ref name=":2">Template:Cite news</ref> despite Rewiński's claims that "beer is neither light nor dark, it is tasty."Template:Citation needed Template:Illm, 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,<ref name=":3" /> receiving only 0.1% of the vote.<ref name=":4" />
The Big Beer faction assumed the name Polish Economic Program (PPG; Template:Langx).<ref name=":1" /><ref name="countrystudies.us" /><ref name=":2" /> 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.<ref name="countrystudies.us" />
In 2007, there was an unsuccessful attempt to revive the party by activists associated with Bubel.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>