One in three Poles think the former communist SLD party cares only for former party members’ interests.

The results of the "SLD as a party" opinion poll by the TNS OBOP research centre finds that 32 percent of Poles see it as left-wing, 12 percent as a "social democratic party", while 17 percent think that the adjective "post-communist" describes this party best. Eleven percent think of it simply as a "communist party".

The results of the poll will be of great interest to the SLD itself as it attempts to regain support after receiving just 13 percent of the popular vote in last autumn’s geberal election.

Asked about whether SLD is ideologically driven, 36 percent of respondents answered that it was “no more than other parties”, 13 percent thought that was indeed more so than the average party and 13 percent that it was less so.

One in three Poles think that SLD looks after the interests of people who were connected to the communist system, 13 percent see them as looking after the interests of affluent people, just eight percent perceive the party as caring for the interests of workers, the unemployed and the poor, while the same amount think that they care for various minorities.

The poll was conducted on 7-11 August at a representative group of 1005 Poles above 15 years of age. (mo)