Silesian pro-autonomy movement obtains parliamentary seats for the first time ever

03.12.201014.12h

The Silesian Autonomy Movement (RAS), member of the European Free Alliance, gets 3 seats and will form a coalition government in the Slaskie province · The RAS becomes the third most voted party in important towns such as Katowice · It also gets hold of 2 minor local councils and obtains several councilors in a number of municipalities

The Silesian pro-autonomy movement achieved a milestone last week as it considerably increased its support in Poland's regional and local elections. The Silesian Autonomy Movement (Ruch Autonomii Śląska, RAS), the main political actor in favour of self-government for the region, secured 3 seats in the regional chamber of the Silesian Voivodeship. This is a remarkable growth considering it is the first time it enters the assembly. The RAS got an 8.5% of the share, which makes it the fourth party in Parliament, compared to the 4.4% obtained in the 2006 elections. The party witnessed an important boost in main towns like Katowice (16%), Chorzów (17%) and Rybnik (15%).

Furthermore, the entering into parliament has been rewarded with power in the regional cabinet, since the RAS will form a coalition government alongside the 2 most voted parties in elections, the Civic Platform (PO, right) and the Polish People's Party (agrarian and Christian democrats, PSL).

The news has been warmly welcomed by the European Free Alliance (EFA), the European umbrella-party made up of non-state pro-independence and pro-autonomy parties. With RAS' regional deputies, EFA has spread its influence in 10 European member states.

Poland also held local elections, in which the RAS has made progress, too. The party seized power in 2 towns, Lyski and Godów, and got 8% of the share in Katowice and other significant Silesian towns, as well as a number of local councilors.

In search of self-government

The Voivodeship of Silesia or Slaskie is only a part of the historic Silesia, which currently stretches out across Poland, the Czech Republic and Germany. Although the pro-autonomy movement has been long popular in Silesia's social and political milieu, the RAS, popularly known as Ruch, ‘the movement', was founded in 1990. There is a similar party across the German border called Initiative for the Autonomy of Silesia (Initiative der Autonomie Schlesiens, IAS), with which the RAS has links. Today, the Silesian movement calls for a wider autonomy, since the regional parliament only enjoys very limited powers regional transport and development and management of some EU funds.

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