The regime's opponents were persecuted. Voters were presented with a single list from the Front of National Unity (FJN), comprising the PZPR and its two satellite parties, the Democratic Party (SD) and the ZSL. The number of candidates permitted to run in the elections was equal to the number of seats in parliament. There were 425 seats. The number of seats would be increased in the subsequent elections. In return for accepting the "leading role" of the PZPR—a condition of their continued existence—the minor parties in the Front received a fixed number of seats in the Sejm. The official results showed that 99.8% of the voters approved the FJN list. Candidates from the FJN parties took 91.2% of the Sejm seats, with 8.7% falling to nominal independents. Within the FJN, the PZPR won an absolute majority with 273 seats (64.2% total), its best result both in total number of seats and percentage of the Sejm controlled. However, as the other parties and "independents" were completely subservient to the PZPR, communist control of the Sejm was complete. In later years, the communist-dominated lists would be credited with between 98 and 99% of the vote, a practice continued until 1989. The term of the Sejm elected in 1951 was due to end in 1956, but due to political shifts in Poland, the next elections took place in early 1957 in a more liberal atmosphere, although still not free.