# Rigged legislative election (1947)

URL: https://poland-history.com/timeline/1947-rigged-legislative-election
Location: Poland
Categories: main-event

The communist-led bloc claimed victory in a fraudulent election, and Mikołajczyk fled to the West. Within the broader People'S Republic period: Shifted westward and placed under communist rule, Poland rebuilt from the war but repeatedly rose against the regime, until the Solidarity movement forced a negotiated transition in 1989. At this point in the timeline (19 January 1947), the governing authority was Bolesław Bierut (President of the State National Council, later President of Poland). Communist leader who headed the KRN from 1944, was President 1947–1952 and led Poland through its Stalinist period. Rigged legislative election mattered because it altered the structure of power and the direction of Polish statehood. The event is placed here so readers can follow it alongside changes in government, warfare, society, religion and culture across Polish history.

## Why it matters
Rigged legislative election mattered because it altered the structure of power and the direction of Polish statehood.

Ruler at the time: [August Zaleski](https://poland-history.com/rulers/august-zaleski)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — 1947 Polish parliamentary election](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1947_Polish_parliamentary_election)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica topic lookup — Rigged legislative election](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Rigged+legislative+election)
- [Wikipedia — Polish People's Republic (period overview)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polish_People's_Republic)