Self-Defence of the Republic of Poland (Polish: Samoobrona Rzeczpospolitej Polskiej, SRP) is an agrarian political party and trade union in Poland. Its platform combines left-wing populist economic policies with religious conservative social policies.
Founded by Andrzej Lepper in 1992, the party initially fared poorly, failing to enter the Sejm. However, it was catapulted to prominence in 2001, winning 53 seats, after which it gave confidence and supply to the Democratic Left Alliance government. It elected six MEPs at the 2004 European election, with five joining the Union for Europe of the Nations and one joining the Socialist Group.
It switched its support to Law and Justice (PiS) after the 2005 election, in which it won 56 seats in the Sejm and three in the Senate. Lepper was appointed Deputy Prime Minister in the coalition government with PiS and the League of Polish Families. In 2007, he was dismissed from his position and the party withdrew from the coalition. This precipitated a new election, at which the party collapsed to just 1.5% of the vote: losing all its seats.
On August 5, 2011, the Party's leader, Andrzej Lepper, was found dead in his party's office in Warsaw. Initial reports suggest he committed suicide by hanging.
Read more about Self-Defence Of The Republic Of Poland: History, Ideology, Leadership, Self-Defence of The RP Politicians
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