Carucerean National Rally

Carucerean National Congress Bouga Nasyonal Karukais
Abbreviation	BNK
President	Dazadiu Dogo
Chairperson	Jacques Bangou
Secretary-General	Sophie Péroumal
Presidium	National Executive Committee
Spokesperson	Johnathan Bhengu
Founders	Patrick Serres Cyril Rivette Jacques Delores
Founded	13 July 1945 (1945-07-13)
Headquarters	Hibiscus House 92 Grand Avenue Kingston Carucere
Newspaper	BNK Weekly Report
Youth wing	BNK Youth League
Women's wing	BNK Women's League
Paramilitary wing	National Self-Defence Forces (1960-1983)
Membership (2020)	76,510
Ideology	Carucerean nationalism Carucerean liberalism
Political position	Centre-left
Colours	Green   Red   Black
Slogan	For Our Free Land
Senate	44 / 79
Party flag
Political parties

The Carucerean National Congress (Papotement: Bouga Nasyonal Karukais), commonly abbreviated as the BNK, is a center-left political party in Carucere. Serving as the local opposition against the United Provinces and then the Carucerean Republic, the BNK has dominated Carucerean politics since the ratification of the current constitution in 1974. Although it has not won a legislative majority since 1997, it remains the largest party in the Senate and the leading party in governing coalitions. As a result, it has sometimes been referred to as Carucere's "main governing party" and its central role in national politics is known as the Gosant.

The origins of the BNK can be traced to the Congress of Friends, a political club of educated Creoles founded in 1923 in order to advocate for political rights in the Gaullican colony of Saint-Brendan. When the United Provinces was established in 1945, the BNK was refounded as a political movement to establish civil, political, and economic rights for all Carucereans. As the BNK's membership expanded it transformed into a mass political party, forming an alliance with the country's nascent labour unions. During the Carucerean Republic, it ran campaign of agitation that would lead to the start of the Carucerean Revolution. In response, the party was suppressed before it was banned entirely and was forced to operate its movement underground. The Sugar Crash significantly weakened the Republican government and led to significant increase in agitation from the party. After the party's ban was lifted in 1970, the BNK served as a key party during the negotiations sponsored by Sainte-Chloé. In the first free elections in 1974, the BNK won a majority of seats in the Senate and Jean Preval was elected President of Carucere. After Preval's death, the party suffered a major split in 1987, after Joseph Charles and his faction left to form the Bahian Amendist-dominated Reformed Social Party. After a period of political infighting, the party returned to power in the 1994 elections under the leadership of James Serville. Since then Congress has continuously remained in power through a minority government with the support of other parties.

Today the BNK remains the predominant force in Carucerean politics at the national and provincial level. The Congress is traditionally supported by a majority of Dezevauni Carucereans and the Medi population with additional support from left leaning Bahians and Creoles. The Congress has its strongest support in cities and urban areas. It is often described as a big tent left-of-center party, with several factions that revolve around ideology rather than the interests of ethnic and religious groups. The party's history has been defined by the relations and interactions between its factions, and its alliance with the National Federation of Carucerean Trade Unions. Although the BNK lacks any cohesive ideology beyond the basic principles of Carucerean liberalism, its factions have generally supported economic interventionism and maintaining close ties with the rest of the Arucian Cooperation Organization while maintaining the country’s sovereignty. Dazadiu Dogo, the incumbent Premier, has served as the President of the BNK since 2018. The BNK currently supports the incumbent President of Carucere, Neil Gaubina.

Name and symbols

In Papotement, the party's name is Bouga Nasyonal Karukais, generally translated as Carucerean National Congress. Bouga, derived from Ziba buaga for any kind of large or plenary gathering, originally referred to the party's origin as a political club. The name has since been redefined by the party to describe itself as an "assembly", instead of a traditional political party, where all Carucereans are able to participate.

The logo of the BNK uses a goaboabanga as its primary motif, a prominent symbol of the opposition movement due to its simplicity. It is overlaid by the Torch of Freedom, a hand raising a lit torch with a red and black flame, symbolizing the historical and ongoing struggle of all Carucereans against oppression. Green represents the land of Carucere itself, while the red and black are pan-Arucian colors, representing international solidarity and collective experience. The red and black, widely considered to be Carucere's national colors, are prominently used in the country's national symbols.

Organization

National Party Congress

The highest organ of the Carucerean National Congress is the National Party Congress which meets every two years. The typical session lasts for two weeks, during which the Party Congress elects the National Executive Committee and determines the Party's program and policy guidelines. The National Party Congress also conducts reviews and evaluations of the party's policies and strategies done between the sessions. After decisions taken at the National Congress are ratified, the congress is dissolved. The Party Congress mostly consists of delegates elected by party members by proportional representation to ensure that all ethnic and political groups of the party are represented. In addition the National Party Congress includes representatives from the party's affiliated organizations including the Federation of Carucerean Trade Unions and the BNK Youth League.

National Executive Committee

The National Executive Committee, or just the Committee, is the Congress's executive body that serves as its most powerful institution. The Executive Committee is the primary decision-making body between Party Congresses. It consists of about 50 elected officials and various appointed officials, led by the President of the BNK. The body functions as a cabinet, with its members tasked with heading the Congress's key offices. The Committee’s main duties include carrying out the decisions and instructions of the Party Congress, overseeing the administration of all parts of the party and its affiliated organizations, and appointment of officials in other party institutions. Although the Executive Committee in theory is solely an administrative body, in reality it wields significant influence over the BNK's institutions, and functions as the Congress' leadership.

National Working Committee

The National Working Committee (NWC) is the day-to-day executive arm of the Congress, responsible for implementing the decisions of the Party Congress and the National Executive Committee. The NWC is headed by the President and consists of 10 other senior members appointed by the Executive Committee. It largely serves to carry out decisions and instructions of the NEC; however since the Working Committee includes the party's top offices, it gives the NWC major influence in decision making.

The President of the BNK is the top leader of the Carucerean National Congress. The Congress' constitution establishes the position as the party's head administrator and the party’s chief diplomat to Carucere and the world. The President's duties include overseeing the activities and duties of the Executive Committee, attending sessions of Congress institutions, proposing policy decided by the Committee, and cooperating with the leaders of other parties. The President’s authority is broad, but in reality, power is shared with the Executive Committee and the Working Committee.

Subcommittees

The National Working Committee includes the following major subcommittees:

• Domestic Affairs Subcommittee (DAS): The DAS is responsible for developing and drafting party policy, coordinating with local and state-level governments, and managing relations with other political parties. The Commission is also responsible for ensuring the implementation of the party's policies and programs at the local and regional level. The Secretary of the Domestic Affairs Commission is an important position within the party, focused on policy implementation.
• Labor Relations Subcommittee (LRS): The LRS is responsible for managing the BNK's relations with labor organizations and would work to promote the interests of Carucerean workers. It largely consists of party officials and the President of the National Federation of Carucerean Trade Unions.
• Policy Development Subcommittee (PDS): The PDS) is responsible for developing the party's policy platform and would work closely with other key offices, such as the Research Commission and Ethnic Relations Commission, to ensure that the BNK's policies reflect the needs and aspirations of all Carucereans. It focuses on developing the overall policy direction of the party, taking into account various perspectives and ideas, and presenting recommendations to the Executive Committee. The PDS is responsible for researching and analyzing key issues and trends in society, engaging with various stakeholders and experts, and synthesizing their insights into coherent policy proposals.
• Anti-Corruption and Ethics Subcommittee (ACES): The ACES is responsible for combating corruption and ensuring that the BNK remains a strict meritocracy. It would also work to promote ethnic and religious harmony within the party and would have the power to discipline party members who engage in unethical behavior.
• Communications and Media Subcommittee (CMS): The CMC is responsible for managing the BNK's communication strategy and would work to promote the party's message through various media outlets. It also works to improve the party's image and public relations.
• Organizational Development Subcommittee (ODS): The ODS is responsible for managing the Congress's organizational structure and would work to ensure that the BNK's activities are carried out effectively and efficiently. It functions as the party's human resources department and works to recruit new members and volunteers.
• External Affairs Subcommittee (IAS): The IAS is responsible for managing the BNK's relations with other political parties and organizations abroad. It also works to promote Carucere's interests on the international stage and is responsible for overseeing the Congress's policy towards Carucere's neighbors.

Other organs

The Congress also includes many institutions that are part of the Executive Committee but not officially part of the Working Committee.

• Central Administration Commission: responsible for solving the organizational problems and implementing the decisions of the Central Congress Council. The Executive Committee oversees the work of the Departments of the Central Council. It is also responsible for coordinating the Congress's actions as well as drafting and circulating party directives and internal reports between the tiers of the BNK.
• Central Research Commission: responsible for researching issues of significant interest to the BNK leadership and developing policies and responses to it. It oversees several research arms that manages dozens of think tanks and cooperates with the Security Commission's Office for Intelligence and Research.
• Office of Ideological Development: conceives and develops the party's ideological line. It advises the higher institutions of the BNK and provides political training and ideological indoctrination for members of the Congress.
• Office of Political and Legal Affairs: responsible for handling the BNK's legal affairs within Carucere and abroad.
• ACO Affairs Commission: oversees the BNK's activities overseas within the Arucian Cooperation Organization and supervises and coordinates the Congress's policy towards Carucere’s neighbors.
• People's Media Group: A media organisation that manages the BNK's media outlets, such as the Weekly Report newspaper, radio stations, and a TV channel. It also functions as the Congress's public relations department.

Local and Regional Organizations

The BNK has a complex system of local and regional party organizations that are created and managed by party members in each community. Local branches have the power to elect their own leadership and set their own agendas as long as they don't conflict with directives from the leadership. The BNK has regional councils which serves as a platform for local branches to coordinate and collaborate with each other on regional issues. The regional councils are comprise of representatives from local branches and affiliated organizations, who will be elected by members of their respective branches. The regional councils have the authority to make policy recommendations to the National Congress and to organize regional campaigns and events. The party provides training, resources, and support to these branches. Today they largely serve as intermediaries between the central leadership and local communities, helping to ensure that the party's policies and decisions are effectively communicated and implemented at the local level.

Leagues

The BNK has three party member wings; the Women's League, the Youth League, and the Overseas League. The Women's League was originally formed to entourage the political activity of women, but today it serves to incorporate women and their issues into the BNK. The Youth League serves to organize the party within universities and cultivate new party members and leaders. Finally the Overseas League represents the party's membership abroad and serves to organize activities outside the country. Under the party’s constitution, these leagues have autonomy with the authority to write their own constitutions and policies. The leagues are part of the BNK’s mass movements and have the ability to send delegates to the National Congress.