Socialist Party (Vyvland)

Socialist Party Sozialespaart Socialistische Partij
File:Seziales.png
Leader	Niklas Brule
Parliamentary leader	Jes Delmeer
Founded	June 30, 1983 (1983-06-30)
Merger of	Socialist Party of North Vyvland Various South Vyvlander leftwing groups
Headquarters	6 Wevliplaac, Lyksdal
Youth wing	Upkumeng Sozialesen
Ideology	Social democracy Progressivism
Esquarian Parliament group	Social Democrats
Colours	Red
Political position	Centre-left to left
Parliament	104 / 568
Esquarian Parliament	5 / 23
Provincial Diets	421 / 2,078
Provincial Chancellors	4 / 15
Election symbol
S
Website
http://www.sozialespaart.vy

The Socialist Party (Vyvlander: Sozialespaart, pronouced /zoʒjalezpaːɾt/, abbreviated S or, more rarely, SPV) is a social democratic political party in Vyvland, and is currently the country's largest opposition party. The party has been one of the two largest parties in Parliament for most of unified Vyvland's history, and its leader has held the office of Prime Minister three times, most recently from 2005 to 2009 under the premiership of Minke Selengborg. The party has also won the position of President once, with Sofia Beket holding the office from 2006 to 2010. However in the past few years, the party has declined in support, being beaten into third place by the Liberal Party in the past two general elections. The current party leader, and Leader of the Opposition, is Niklas Brule, who was elected leader in March 2013.

History

File:Noijel Brule.jpg

Socialist leader Niklas Brule

The Socialist Party was formed in the 1983 from the Socialist Party of North Vyvland and various left-wing groups from the former South Vyvland. It was originally led by Abram Zymeker, who was Prime Minister under the 1984-6 government and again, under the newly-formed Socialists, from 1986 to 1989 in coalition with the Liberal Party, Greens and Communist Party.

Since then, the party has been in government four times, during three of which it was the largest party in its coalition, most recently under the premiership of Minke Selengborg from 2005 until the 2009 election, when the party suffered heavy losses which pushed it into third place. Sofia Beket held the position of President for one term before being defeated by Robert Ujson in 2010, thus being the only Socialist President of Vyvland in addition to the first woman to hold the office.

The 2013 Esquarian Parliament election saw the Socialists gain five seats with 19.5%, the second largest share of the vote. However, their performance in the 2013 general election was poorer than expected, with the party losing one seat and failing to capitalise on dissatisfied Liberal voters.

Policies and views

The Socialist Party is a broad left-wing movement, which some have described as big-tent owing to its diversity of opinion. It has previously introduced Vyvland's benefit system and current income tax rates in 2006, raising the highest rate to 59%. Policies in the Socialist 2013 election manifesto include raising of the minimum wage to µ5.90 per hour from the current µ4.10 and nationalisation of the electricity sector, in addition to requiring that at least 5% of shares issued by public companies are owned by their workers. Economically, the party are broadly Keynesian, and favour redistribution of wealth, while in their foreign policy they tend to be more sympathetic to Geadland, Swilatia and Namor than Nevanmaa or Luziyca, whose military base on the island of Syfmion is highly disliked among the party; the Socialists have promised to close the base within ten years if elected.

Elections

Election	Seats	+/–	Government	Size
2013	104 / 568	1	in opposition	3rd
2009	105 / 568	83	in government	3rd
2005	188 / 580	50	in government	1st
2002	138 / 580	18	in opposition	2nd
1998	121 / 580	23	in opposition	2nd
1996	144 / 580	3	in government	1st
1994	147 / 580	65	in government	1st
1993	82 / 580	31	in opposition	3rd
1989	113 / 580	32	in opposition	2nd
1986	145 / 580		in government	1st