Progressive Party (Midrasia)

Progressive Alliance Alliance Progressif
Leader	Melcion Portas
Deputy Leader	Jaques Magule
Senate Leader	Marie-Ange Pelletier
Founded	27 August 2017 (27 August 2017)
Headquarters	Fidanza, Lotrič
Ideology	Progressivism Modern liberalism Social democracy
Political position	Centre to Centre-left
International affiliation	Progressive Alliance
Aeian Parliament	Liberal Alliance
Colours	Purple
Public Assembly	321 / 600
Senate	53 / 100
Election symbol
AP
Political parties Elections

The Progressive Alliance (Midrasian: Alliance Progressif) is an electoral alliance consisting of the Liberal League, Fight Against Corruption, Green Party and Independent Social Democrats. The Alliance was founded in August of 2017 to contest the 2017 general election against the poorly polling Chartist Party and Social Democratic Party. The alliance went on to win the election, leading Melcion Portas to be appointed as Prime Minister and the Progressives to form the first non-Chartist/PSD government since 1951. The Progressive Alliance currently holds 321 seats within the Public Assembly and 53 seats within the Senate.

Whilst the Progressive Alliance exists only as an electoral pact between the various involved parties, proposals have been brought forward regarding a centralisation of political elements within the party, potentially leading to the formation of an independent Progressive Party. However, progress on such proposals have been slow and continue to face opposition from the Green Party, a number of Social Democtats and the more classical liberal members of the Liberal League.

History

Early Progressivism

Whilst progressivism has never had its own political party within Midrasian history, other parties have incorporated elements of progressivism into their ideology and manifestos.

The Conservative Party can be argued to have ingrained elements of Progressivism into their One Nation policies of the mid-1800s under the leadership of Antoine d'Erimar. Throughout this period, the party began to call for greater electoral and industrial reform along improvements to factory conditions in an effort to attract more working class votes. Whilst many suggest such policies can be regarded as progressives, others suggest they represent classical conservative paternalism and a mere attempt to pragmatically gain votes from the working classes by differentiating the party from the more laissez-faire Chartists.

Furthermore, the regular electoral alliances that took place between the Liberal League and Social Democratic Party have been regarded by political commentators as "progressive", incorporating ideological elements of social reform and institutional overhaul with Liberal values and Social Democratic market interventionism. Other political scientists, such as Henri Jules have gone as far as to suggest that in reality the Social Democratic Party should be regarded as the progressive, over labels of "Socialist" or "Social Democratic". This is due to the party's turn toward a more centrist political outlook and the lack of any true socialistic market interventionism throughout the party's modern history.

Electoral alliance

In response to the divided political scene in the lead-up to the 2017 general election the Liberal League, LCLC, Green Party and a number of defectors from the Social Democrats agreed to form an electoral pact to contend the upcoming election. With poll ratings from the other major parties relatively low, the alliance was able to secure a majority government under the leadership of Melcion Portas.

The electoral alliance can be regarded as the first official progressive force in Midrasian politics, generally moving the Midrasian left wing away from its socialist origins, whilst continuing to implement social and economic reform. Despite this, the inclusion of many more classical liberal politicians from the Liberal League lead many political scientists to dispute the pact's branding as "progressive".

Ideology

The Progressive Alliance identifies itself as a fusion of the values which make up the Liberal League, Green Party, Fight Against Corruption and Social Democrats. Their party platform suggests decisions are made with the involvement of all members from all branches of the party. Generally the Progressives are viewed as market interventionist, though commit themselves to the maintenance of "fair and ethical capitalism". The Progressives also highlight their commitment to combating climate change, with the Green Party heavily involved in environmental policy. The party is also committed to constitutional reform, reviewing the electoral changes made under the PSD in 2014 whilst also working to increase parliamentary oversight and governmental transparency.

The party's main platform as outlined in their 2017 manifesto is as follows:

• Constitutional reform to increase oversight on the role of Prime Minister
• Parliamentary review into corporate influence in politics
• Legalisation of same-sex marriage
• Overhaul of Midrasia's gender laws
• Introduction of a windfall tax on excessive corporate profits
• Reform of the 40% tax rate to create a more progressive taxation system
• Work to better integrate Midrasia into the Commonwealth of Democratic Nations
• Aim to make Midrasia carbon neutral by 2050

Electoral performance

Parliament

Election year	Public Assembly				Government
	# of overall votes	% of overall vote	# of overall seats won	+/–
2017	23,380,073	45.7 %	321 / 600	192	in government