Social Democratic Party (Etruria): Difference between revisions

Jump to navigation Jump to search
No edit summary
No edit summary
 
(12 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 12: Line 12:
| founder =   
| founder =   
| leader1_title = Leader
| leader1_title = Leader
| leader1_name =  [[Chiara Mastromarino]]
| leader1_name =  [[Chiara Mastromarino]] ([[2023 Social Democratic Party leadership election (Etruria)|Outgoing]])
| leader2_title = Deputy Leader
| leader2_title = Deputy Leader
| leader2_name = [[Martino Panarello]]
| leader2_name = [[Martino Panarello]]
Line 43: Line 43:
| membership_year = 2020
| membership_year = 2020
| membership = {{increase}} 456,111
| membership = {{increase}} 456,111
| ideology = {{wp|Social democracy}}<br><br>{{wp|Democratic socialism}}<br>[[Euclean Community|Pro-Eucleanism]]<rb>[[Etruria|Etrurian unionism]]
| ideology = {{wp|Social democracy}}<br><br>{{wp|Democratic socialism}}<br>[[Euclean Community|Pro-Eucleanism]]<br>[[Etruria|Etrurian unionism]]
| position = {{wp|Centre-left}}
| position = {{wp|Centre-left}}
| national =  
| national =  
Line 63: Line 63:
| blank4 =  
| blank4 =  
| seats1_title = [[Chamber of Representatives of Etruria|Chamber of Representatives]]
| seats1_title = [[Chamber of Representatives of Etruria|Chamber of Representatives]]
| seats1 = {{Infobox political party/seats|38|650|hex=#d6418c}}
| seats1 = {{Infobox political party/seats|164|600|hex=#d6418c}}
| seats2_title = [[State Council of the Federation (Etruria)|State Council]]
| seats2_title = [[State Council of the Federation (Etruria)|State Council]]
| seats2 = {{Infobox political party/seats|0|290|hex=#d6418c}}
| seats2 = {{Infobox political party/seats|20|290|hex=#d6418c}}
| seats3_title = [[States of Etruria|State Assemblies]]
| seats3_title = [[States of Etruria|State Assemblies]]
| seats3 = {{Infobox political party/seats|2|15|hex=#d6418c}}
| seats3 = {{Infobox political party/seats|2|15|hex=#d6418c}}
Line 82: Line 82:
}}
}}


The '''Social Democratic Party''' ({{wp|Italian|Vespasian}}: Partito Socialdemocratico; {{wp|Croat-Serbian|Novalian}}: Socijaldemokratska partija; {{wp|Slovenian|Carinthian}}: Socialdemokratska Stranka), mostly known by the abbreviation '''SD''', is a {{wp|centre-left}} {{wp|social democracy|social democratic}} {{wp|political party}} in [[Etruria]]. It is the fourth largest party in Etruria by federal representation.  
The '''Social Democratic Party''' ({{wp|Italian|Vespasian}}: Partito Socialdemocratico; {{wp|Croat-Serbian|Novalian}}: Socijaldemokratska partija; {{wp|Slovenian|Carinthian}}: Socialdemokratska Stranka), mostly known by the abbreviation '''SD''', is a {{wp|centre-left}} {{wp|social democracy|social democratic}} {{wp|political party}} in [[Etruria]]. It is the second largest party in Etruria by federal representation.  


The SD was founded in 1902 as the [[Democratic Labour Party (Etruria)|Democratic Labour Party]] (PLD) as a moderate offshoot of the [[Etrurian Section of the Workers Internationale]] (SEIL). The party's founders led by [[Giorlamo Andrea Oriano]] rejected the revolutionary project of SEIL and instead opted to mobilise the Etrurian trade union movement toward progressive political reform, either as the senior party in coalition or in support of the [[National Liberal Union (Etruria)|National Liberal Union]], which dominated Etrurian politics at the time. From 1902 to 1914, the party struggled to breakthrough into national representation owing to the established popularity and political machine of SEIL. However, the [[Great Collapse]] and is resulting economic devastation provided a pathway for the party as SEIL sought to radicalise the {{wp|working class}}. For the next decade, the party would return as the fourth largest party uninterrupted until 1924, when the SEIL was abolished and banned under the [[Schiatarella Plan]], this left the PLD as the sole major left-wing party and it surged to third place in 1926. The party would decline as a result of fierce infighting over Etruria's involvement in the [[Great War (Kylaris)|Great War]], but remained within the national unity government throughout the war. The PLD was banned and most of its leaders killed in wake of the [[Legionary Reaction]] in 1938, which established the far-right totalitarian [[Greater Solarian Republic]].  
The SD was formed in 1902 as the Democratic Labour Party, a splinter movement from the [[Etrurian Section of the Workers International]], who reject SEIL’s militantism and willingness to rely on strike action for political purposes. The party would win a handful of seats from its inception until 1925, when it won a majority of SEIL’s seats, after the party had been banned the year prior. The PLD would be a member of the Great War-era national unity government. The PLD along with all other parties were abolished after the [[Legionary Reaction]] and would go underground during the [[Greater Solarian Republic]] period.  


In 1946, the party was resurrected as the [[Democratic Worker's Party (Etruria)|Democratic Worker's Party]] (PDL) following the GSR's defeat in the [[Solarian War]]. Led by [[Aurelio Marco Argente]], the PDL came fourth in the [[1947 Etrurian general election|1947 federal election]], winning 60 seats. It would enter into coalition with the {{wp|Christian Democracy|Sotirian Democratic}} [[Libertas]] and {{wp|liberalism|liberal}} [[Democratic Action]], this marked the beginning of a near continuous role in government until 1954, when Libertas entered into coalition with right-wing parties, notably including the [[New Republic Movement (Etruria)|New Republic Movement]]. The PDL's role in coalitions identified by their incompetence, ineffiency and failures in [[Etrurian reconstruction]] resulted in the party being eclipsed by the far-left [[United Socialist Workers Party (Etruria)|United Social Workers Party]] which included figures who fled the GSR for [[Kirenia]] during the 1930s and 1940s and returned with a more radical agenda for social change. The rise of ethnic nationalism in [[Novalia]] and [[Carinthia (Etruria)|Carinthia]] throughout the 1950s and the [[Western Emergency|outbreak of violence]] would ultimately lead to the decline of the USWP, as the PDL began to advocate for a more equitable reconstruction programme and a reforms to empower Etruria's states. In 1958, the PDL's leader, [[Gabriele Viviano]] became [[President of Etruria|President]] as head of a blue-pink coalition with [[Libertas]]. Viviano would lead the PDL into a close second place in the [[1959 Etrurian general election|1959 federal election]], however, Viviano's willingness to negotiate with the left-wing nationalists in Carinthia and Novalia and the continued economic decline caused by Etruria's slow recovery from the Solarian War led to the bloodless [[1960 Etrurian coup d'état|coup d'état]] in 1960 by the [[Etrurian Defence Force]]. The PDL along with most political parties would be abolished and banned.  
Following the end of the [[Solarian War]] and the establishment of the [[Etrurian Third Republic]], the PDL was resurrected as the [[Democratic Workers Party (Etruria)|Democratic Workers Party]]. The party would serve as coalition partners under [[Aurelio Marco Argente]] with the liberal [[Democratic Action (Etruria)|Democratic Action]] from 1948 to 1950, before entering government as the senior coalition party under [[Gabriele Rumor]] and [[Niccolo Pazzi]] from 1950 to 1954. The PDL would be forced into opposition against a right-wing coalition until 1958, when [[Gabriele Viviano]] led the party into a landslide victory and formed a coalition with the {{wp|Christian Democracy|Sotirian Democratic}} [[Libertas]]. The PDL-Libertas coalition would be overthrown in a the bloodless [[1960 Etrurian coup d’état]] and banned once again.  


The PDL's members and leaders would constitute the vanguard of the [[Military dictatorship in Etruria|pro-democracy movement during the Junta period]] (1960-1984). Many figures from the PDL would be {{wp|forced disappearance|disappeared}} or killed by the military dictatorship, however, the party continued to exist in some form underground, where many academics and commentators organised protests and strikes. Despite their efforts, the military regime would remain in power, yet announced its intentions to negotiate with the democracy movement in the late 1970s, once the violence in the western states had subsided. [[Miloš Vidović]], an ethnic {{wp|Croats|Novalian}} and former junior minister in the Viviano government was appointed head of the [[National Citizens Committee for Democratic Restoration]] (CNCRD), he would secure a roadmap for fresh elections and a new constitution by 1984. In 1980, Vidović and several CNCRD members founded the Social Democratic Party and in 1983, confirmed a new constitution had been agreed. The following year, the SD under Vidović won a landslide victory in the [[1984 Etrurian general election|first elections]] since 1959, entering into coalition with [[Sotirian Democracy (Etruria)|Sotirian Democracy]], the successor to Libertas. The SD-DS government instituted numerous social reforms, including expansions to the {{wp|welfare state}}, {{wp|pension|pension increases}} and economic reforms aimed at establishing a {{wp|social market economy}}. In 1989, Vidović quit politics to become [[Secretary-General of the Community of Nations]] and was succeeded by [[Vincenzo Biava]] who proved less charismatic and led the SD to defeat in the [[1994 Etrurian general election|1994 election]]. In 2000, [[Vinko Begović]] reformed the party toward adopting {{wp|third way (politics)|third way}} policies and supported privatising state owned enterprises to fund {{wp|education}}, {{wp|health care}} and {{wp|social welfare}} reforms, the SD won the [[2002 Etrurian general election|2002 election]] and Begović would serve as president for seven years. His government suffered several personal and corruption scandals and was defeated in the [[2009 Etrurian general election|2009 election]]. The party would remain in opposition until the [[2013 Etrurian general election|2013 election]], when it entered into coalition with the [[Etrurian Federalist Party]]. During this time, the party suffered from defections as pro-EC members left to form the [[Citizens' Alliance (Etruria)|Citizens' Alliance]] and in opposition to the party's continued corruption scandals. The SD alongside the AC and EFP would led separate pro-EC campaigns in the [[2016 Etrurian Euclean Community membership referendum|2016 EC referendum]], however, the [[Miraviglia Scandal]] would destabilise the campaign and the SD, leading to the party's [[2016 Etrurian general election|worst result in its history in the year's election]]. The party under [[Massimo Giorgio Scordato]] would suffer further losses in the [[2018 Etrurian general election|2018 election]], losing all of its seats in the upper-house and being reduced to XX seats in the lower. In 2019, [[Chiara Mastromarino]] was elected leader and has orchestrated a major revitalisation of the SD, the party's resurrection coincided with the [[Euclean Pink Wave]] and the party has modernised its policy platform and focused its efforts on opposing the far-right [[Tribune Movement]] government.  
The PDL’s leaders would emerge during the [[Military dictatorship in Etruria|Military Junta]] period (1960-1984) as the senior leaders of the pro-democracy movement. Many of its members were tortured, disappeared or killed during the Junta, but would under [[Miloš Vidović]] go on to negotiate the end of the Junta and win a landslide in the first elections of the current Fourth Republic with a landslide, as the Social Democratic Party. Vidović as President would serve until 1989 when he resigned to serve as [[Secretary-General of the Community of Nations]]. He was succeeded by [[Vincenzo Biava]] who led a government until 1994. The SD returned to government in 2002 under [[Vinko Begović]] where they instituted a series of {{wp|neoliberalism|neoliberal}} reforms and an overhaul of the country’s pension system. The SD was defeated in 2009 and would be relegated to opposition until 2013, when they entered into coalition with the [[Etrurian Federalist Party|Federalist Party]]. The Blue-Pink coalition under [[Emiliano Reali]] would hold the [[Etruria Euclean Community Membership Referendum, 2016|EC membership referendum]] in 2016 but suffer a serious defeat due to the [[Miraviglia Scandal]], which inflicted heavy damage on the party’s image. The SD would suffer its worst defeat in 2016, followed by further losses in 2018.  


From 1980 until 2016, the SD was considered to be one of the two major parties of Etrurian politics, alongside the [[Etrurian Federalist Party]]. It has provided six of the sixteen post-Solarian War presidents and has been in government as a coalition partner for 28 years since 1946. However, the EC Referendum and Miraviglia Scandal coupled with the rise of the Citizens Alliance and Tribune Movement has seen the SD collapse to historic lows and remains the fourth largest party after the social conservative [[Farmers and Workers Union]]. The SD promotes an agenda based around {{wp|social democracy}}, {{wp|communitarianism}}, {{wp|progressive politics|progressive}} {{wp|social liberalism}}, though it includes factions who support {{wp|democratic socialism}} and {{wp|left-wing populism}}. [[Chiara Mastromarino]] has led the party since 2019 and previously served as the [[Chiastre|Prefect of Chiastre]]. The SD is a member of the [[Socialist Alternative for Euclea]] and [[International Socialist Forum]]. As of 2019, it is estimated to have 456,000 members, down from a height of 680,000 in 2015.  
The SD holds pro-EC stances and is a member of the [[Socialist Alternative for Euclea]] and the [[International Socialist Forum]]. Its current leader is [[Chiara Mastromarino]], who has served since 2019.
== History ==
=== SEIL split and rise (1902-1938) ===
=== Second Republic (1948-1960) ===
==== First Coalition (1948-1954) ====
==== Opposition (1954-1958) ====
==== Second Coalition (1958-1960) ====
=== Military dictatorship (1960-1984) ===
==== Leading the pro-democracy movement ====
==== Grand Compromise ====
=== Fourth Republic (1984-present) ===
==== Miloš Vidović government (1984-1989) ====
==== Vincenzo Biava government (1989-1994) ====
==== Opposition (1994-2002) ====
==== Vinko Begović government (2002-2009) ====
==== Return to opposition (2009-2013) ====
==== Splinters and corruption scandals ====
==== Grand Coalition (2013-2016) ====
==== EC referendum ====
==== Miraviglia Scandal ====
==== Collapse and recovery (2016-present) ====


== History ==
== Organisation ==
== Organisation ==
The SD operates a federated structure to mirror that of the Etrurian state. It operates an umbrella federal level, followed by state branches which are subordinated by local branches. The state and local branches enjoy significant autonomy from the federal level, especially in candidate selection and electoral strategy. The party also operates a unique body called the [[Etrurian Conference of Syndicates]], which is used to maintain the party’s relationship with affiliated trade unions.
The party’s decision making is officially divided between three distinct entities; the Central Party Executive (Esecutivo Centrale del Partito), The Social Democratic Conference (Conferenza Socialdemocratica) and the Etrurian Conference of Syndicates (Conferenza Etruriana dei Sindacati). The Central Party Executive is comprised of the party leader, deputy leader, federal coordinator, leaders of the state branches and delegates elected by the ECS and SDC. The CPE is tasked with setting the overall strategic direction of the party and policy development. The SDC is formally the supreme decision-making body and involves party-members proposing and voting on policy suggestions and the party leadership. The ESC is the annual meeting of SD affiliated trade unions, where they discuss issues relating to worker’s rights and labour issues.
The state branches of the party enjoy high degrees of autonomy, with their leaders and chairperson elected by state-members. The state branches are charged with managing their finances, candidate selection and enforcement of the party charter’s rules and regulations. However, since 2019, the degree of autonomy on policy development has increased, though during times of federal elections the state branches are mandated to campaign on the policy agenda set by the CPE. The state branches’ relationship with the federal level is managed by the Federal Coordinator, an CPE-sitting officer appointed by the party president.
=== Trade Union links ===
=== Membership ===
The SD operates a tiered system of party membership, comprised of Party Members (fee paying), Associate Members (members of affiliated trade unions) and Supporters (non-fee paying members, this includes members of the Social Democratic Students). Party Members and Supporters are organised along their local level branches, which are subordinate to the State Branches.
As of December 2018, prior to the 2019 leadership election, the SD recorded 308,600 full members, 211,494 associate members and 100,890 supporters, for a total of 620,984 members, the largest in Etruria and southern Euclea at the time, this had fallen from a total of 899,509 in 2016. As of December 2020, the SD recorded 300,333 full members, 102,530 associate members and 90,123 supporters, for a total of 495,986 members. This marked an increase from 2019’s figure of 411,397 and secured the SD as the second largest party in Etruria after the [[Tribune Movement]] and in Southern Euclea.
At its height in 1990, the party boasted over 1.5 million members, but witnessed a steady decline since.
== Ideology ==
== Ideology ==
The ideological platform of the party has differed with each iteration during its existence. From its inception in 1902 through to 1938, the party aligned more with the {{wp|Christian Left|Sotirian Left}}, but also with a powerful and influential {{wp|Democratic Socialism|democratic socialist wing}}. During the Third Republic period as the Democratic Workers’ Party, the party was dominated by the Sotirian Left and {{wp|Social Democracy|social democratic}} factions. The latter’s domination was so firm that the party was pulled leftward by the rise of the democratic socialist [[United Workers Socialist Party (Etruria)|United Socialist Workers Party]].
The SD in its modern and current form, finds its common roots in the pro-democracy movement during the [[Military dictatorship in Etruria|military dictatorship]] (1960-1984), the [[Grand Compromise]] and writing the 1984 constitution. These common roots led to the SD’s overly Sotirian Left alignment, the violence pursued by factions further to left during the Military Dictatorship has resulted in hard-left groups struggling within Etruria’s political arena. During the Vidović and Biava governments (1984-1994), the party followed a strictly social democratic agenda, however, following its defeat to the centre-right in 1994, the party transitioned to a new political identity. During its time in opposition (1994-2002), the party moved rightward, embracing {{wp|neoliberalism}} and {{wp|communitarianism}}, which it brought to government under Begović (2002-2009). Despite being defeated by the centre-right in 2009, it remained steady in its ideological position, which was further emboldened during its grand coalition with the Federalist Party (2013-2016).
Since the 1994 defeat, there has been a consistent debate over whether the SD is actually a social-democratic party. Ronaldo Petacci noted that the party has “since 1994, adopted a recognisable centrist-pragmatism, in an effort to widen its appeal to middle-class and working-class voters, by seemingly shunning redistributive ends.” Critics have claimed the SD purposefully avoids any defining ideological position for the sake of power, with Gabriele Maria Aquino observing, “the SD has the hallmarks of a social-democratic party, but none of the guts, soul or heart of one.” Today, the party’s primary “political foundations” are {{wp|social cohesion}}, {{wp|social liberalism}}, {{wp|social integration}}, {{wp|progressivism}}, [[Euclean Community|pro-Eucleanism]] and {{wp|green politics|green issues}}.
== Electoral history ==
== Electoral history ==


[[Category:Etruria]]
[[Category:Etruria]]

Latest revision as of 09:00, 27 January 2023

Social Democratic Party

Partito Socialdemocratico
Socijaldemokratska Partija
Socialdemokratska Stranka
AbbreviationSD
LeaderChiara Mastromarino (Outgoing)
Deputy LeaderMartino Panarello
Federal CoordinatorSerena Romaniello
PresidentNera Stipičević
FoundedMay 2, 1902 (1902-05-02)
(As PLD)
November 11, 1946 (1946-11-11)
(As PDL)
April 10, 1980 (1980-04-10)
(As SD)
HeadquartersCasa Milo, Via Miloš Vidović, San Alessandro, Dinara, Etruria
NewspaperCampione Rosso
Think tankEtrurian Institute for Social Progress
Student wingSocial Democratic Students
Youth wingProgressive Youth
Women's wingWomen of the Rose
Labour wingCSE
Grass-roots organisationEtrurian Socialist Rally
Membership (2020)Increase 456,111
IdeologySocial democracy

Democratic socialism
Pro-Eucleanism
Etrurian unionism
Political positionCentre-left
Continental affiliationSocialist Alternative for Euclea
International affiliationInternational Socialist Forum
Colours  Pink
AnthemBella Ciao
Chamber of Representatives
164 / 600
State Council
20 / 290
State Assemblies
2 / 15
Website
sd.org.et

The Social Democratic Party (Vespasian: Partito Socialdemocratico; Novalian: Socijaldemokratska partija; Carinthian: Socialdemokratska Stranka), mostly known by the abbreviation SD, is a centre-left social democratic political party in Etruria. It is the second largest party in Etruria by federal representation.

The SD was formed in 1902 as the Democratic Labour Party, a splinter movement from the Etrurian Section of the Workers International, who reject SEIL’s militantism and willingness to rely on strike action for political purposes. The party would win a handful of seats from its inception until 1925, when it won a majority of SEIL’s seats, after the party had been banned the year prior. The PLD would be a member of the Great War-era national unity government. The PLD along with all other parties were abolished after the Legionary Reaction and would go underground during the Greater Solarian Republic period.

Following the end of the Solarian War and the establishment of the Etrurian Third Republic, the PDL was resurrected as the Democratic Workers Party. The party would serve as coalition partners under Aurelio Marco Argente with the liberal Democratic Action from 1948 to 1950, before entering government as the senior coalition party under Gabriele Rumor and Niccolo Pazzi from 1950 to 1954. The PDL would be forced into opposition against a right-wing coalition until 1958, when Gabriele Viviano led the party into a landslide victory and formed a coalition with the Sotirian Democratic Libertas. The PDL-Libertas coalition would be overthrown in a the bloodless 1960 Etrurian coup d’état and banned once again.

The PDL’s leaders would emerge during the Military Junta period (1960-1984) as the senior leaders of the pro-democracy movement. Many of its members were tortured, disappeared or killed during the Junta, but would under Miloš Vidović go on to negotiate the end of the Junta and win a landslide in the first elections of the current Fourth Republic with a landslide, as the Social Democratic Party. Vidović as President would serve until 1989 when he resigned to serve as Secretary-General of the Community of Nations. He was succeeded by Vincenzo Biava who led a government until 1994. The SD returned to government in 2002 under Vinko Begović where they instituted a series of neoliberal reforms and an overhaul of the country’s pension system. The SD was defeated in 2009 and would be relegated to opposition until 2013, when they entered into coalition with the Federalist Party. The Blue-Pink coalition under Emiliano Reali would hold the EC membership referendum in 2016 but suffer a serious defeat due to the Miraviglia Scandal, which inflicted heavy damage on the party’s image. The SD would suffer its worst defeat in 2016, followed by further losses in 2018.

The SD holds pro-EC stances and is a member of the Socialist Alternative for Euclea and the International Socialist Forum. Its current leader is Chiara Mastromarino, who has served since 2019.

History

SEIL split and rise (1902-1938)

Second Republic (1948-1960)

First Coalition (1948-1954)

Opposition (1954-1958)

Second Coalition (1958-1960)

Military dictatorship (1960-1984)

Leading the pro-democracy movement

Grand Compromise

Fourth Republic (1984-present)

Miloš Vidović government (1984-1989)

Vincenzo Biava government (1989-1994)

Opposition (1994-2002)

Vinko Begović government (2002-2009)

Return to opposition (2009-2013)

Splinters and corruption scandals

Grand Coalition (2013-2016)

EC referendum

Miraviglia Scandal

Collapse and recovery (2016-present)

Organisation

The SD operates a federated structure to mirror that of the Etrurian state. It operates an umbrella federal level, followed by state branches which are subordinated by local branches. The state and local branches enjoy significant autonomy from the federal level, especially in candidate selection and electoral strategy. The party also operates a unique body called the Etrurian Conference of Syndicates, which is used to maintain the party’s relationship with affiliated trade unions. The party’s decision making is officially divided between three distinct entities; the Central Party Executive (Esecutivo Centrale del Partito), The Social Democratic Conference (Conferenza Socialdemocratica) and the Etrurian Conference of Syndicates (Conferenza Etruriana dei Sindacati). The Central Party Executive is comprised of the party leader, deputy leader, federal coordinator, leaders of the state branches and delegates elected by the ECS and SDC. The CPE is tasked with setting the overall strategic direction of the party and policy development. The SDC is formally the supreme decision-making body and involves party-members proposing and voting on policy suggestions and the party leadership. The ESC is the annual meeting of SD affiliated trade unions, where they discuss issues relating to worker’s rights and labour issues.

The state branches of the party enjoy high degrees of autonomy, with their leaders and chairperson elected by state-members. The state branches are charged with managing their finances, candidate selection and enforcement of the party charter’s rules and regulations. However, since 2019, the degree of autonomy on policy development has increased, though during times of federal elections the state branches are mandated to campaign on the policy agenda set by the CPE. The state branches’ relationship with the federal level is managed by the Federal Coordinator, an CPE-sitting officer appointed by the party president.

Trade Union links

Membership

The SD operates a tiered system of party membership, comprised of Party Members (fee paying), Associate Members (members of affiliated trade unions) and Supporters (non-fee paying members, this includes members of the Social Democratic Students). Party Members and Supporters are organised along their local level branches, which are subordinate to the State Branches.

As of December 2018, prior to the 2019 leadership election, the SD recorded 308,600 full members, 211,494 associate members and 100,890 supporters, for a total of 620,984 members, the largest in Etruria and southern Euclea at the time, this had fallen from a total of 899,509 in 2016. As of December 2020, the SD recorded 300,333 full members, 102,530 associate members and 90,123 supporters, for a total of 495,986 members. This marked an increase from 2019’s figure of 411,397 and secured the SD as the second largest party in Etruria after the Tribune Movement and in Southern Euclea. At its height in 1990, the party boasted over 1.5 million members, but witnessed a steady decline since.

Ideology

The ideological platform of the party has differed with each iteration during its existence. From its inception in 1902 through to 1938, the party aligned more with the Sotirian Left, but also with a powerful and influential democratic socialist wing. During the Third Republic period as the Democratic Workers’ Party, the party was dominated by the Sotirian Left and social democratic factions. The latter’s domination was so firm that the party was pulled leftward by the rise of the democratic socialist United Socialist Workers Party.

The SD in its modern and current form, finds its common roots in the pro-democracy movement during the military dictatorship (1960-1984), the Grand Compromise and writing the 1984 constitution. These common roots led to the SD’s overly Sotirian Left alignment, the violence pursued by factions further to left during the Military Dictatorship has resulted in hard-left groups struggling within Etruria’s political arena. During the Vidović and Biava governments (1984-1994), the party followed a strictly social democratic agenda, however, following its defeat to the centre-right in 1994, the party transitioned to a new political identity. During its time in opposition (1994-2002), the party moved rightward, embracing neoliberalism and communitarianism, which it brought to government under Begović (2002-2009). Despite being defeated by the centre-right in 2009, it remained steady in its ideological position, which was further emboldened during its grand coalition with the Federalist Party (2013-2016).

Since the 1994 defeat, there has been a consistent debate over whether the SD is actually a social-democratic party. Ronaldo Petacci noted that the party has “since 1994, adopted a recognisable centrist-pragmatism, in an effort to widen its appeal to middle-class and working-class voters, by seemingly shunning redistributive ends.” Critics have claimed the SD purposefully avoids any defining ideological position for the sake of power, with Gabriele Maria Aquino observing, “the SD has the hallmarks of a social-democratic party, but none of the guts, soul or heart of one.” Today, the party’s primary “political foundations” are social cohesion, social liberalism, social integration, progressivism, pro-Eucleanism and green issues.

Electoral history

Retrieved from "https://iiwiki.us/mediawiki/index.php?title=Social_Democratic_Party_(Etruria)&oldid=608803"