Alydian Democratic Union
Alydian Democratic Union Union des Démocrates Alydie | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leader | Isaac Joubert |
| Deputy Leader | Grégoire Poincaré |
| Founder | Aurélien Arceneaux Domènec Juventeny Carla Peltier |
| Founded | 2 August 1953 |
| Preceded by | National Coalition |
| Headquarters | Richelieu, Lotrič |
| Ideology | Conservatism Alydian democracy Paternalism |
| Political position | Centre-right |
| International affiliation | Democratic Forum |
| Aeian Parliament | Democratic Bloc |
| Colours | Blue |
| Public Assembly | 11 / 600
|
| Senate | 2 / 100
|
| Election symbol | |
| UDA | |
The Alydian Democratic Union (Midrasian: Union des Démocrates Alydie), abbreviated UDA; otherwise known as the Union of Alydian Democrats, is a conservative, alydian democratic political party in Midrasia. The party was formed in 1953 as a breakaway party from the National Coalition, representing members of the party who sought to advocate policies more aligned with Alydian democrat and less nationalist stances. Since its formation the party has been the country's leading conservative political party along with elements of the Chartist Party. Today, the party remains the leading advocate for conservative policies within Midrasia, and has regularly formed a number of coalitions with the Chartists. Since 2013 the party has been in opposition and has suffered a considerable period of decline, losing a considerably amount of support the more nationalistic anti-immigration Midrasia First.
History
Feuillantism
Modern Midrasian conservatism mostly has its origins within the Feuillant movement of the late eighteenth-early nineteenth century. Whilst Conservative movements certainly predated this period, playing a major role throughout Midrasian early-modern political history, it is not until this period that the movement begins to gain significant traction and can be seen as a mainstream political ideology. Feuillants were generally members of the Estates General and later Public Assembly who advocated for a stronger Midrasian monarchy. Whilst a number of Feuillants advocated for the return of the Huguenot dynasty to the throne of Midrasia, the vast majority of Feuillants acquiesced to the outcome of the Midrasian Revolution.
In addition to supporting a strong monarchy, the Feuillants advocated for the organisation of society on the lines of a social contract. Feuillants also held the church in high regard, mandating that religious institutions be represented in Midrasian politics and that religious doctrine be utilised as a basis for a moral society. In general the Feuillants acted as more of an informal coalition of like minded nobles and elects within parliament and it would not be until 1843 that there would be a movement to establish an official political party to represent Midrasian conservative values.
Conservative Party
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The Conservative Party was, between 1843 and 1935, the main conservative political party within Midrasia, for the most of its history operating in direct opposition to the Chartist Party, although by the twentieth century the PSD had begun to overshadow the Chartists in terms of Parliamentary representation. Throughout its time in government, the Conservative party was able to form a number of majority governments, passing a significant amount of legislation during its time in government and greatly contributing to the evolution of nineteenth century Midrasian society.
Generally, the Conservative party tended to favour a protectionist attitude towards trade throughout the nineteenth century, emphasising Midrasian goods and services over free trade with foreign countries and empires. In terms of social attitudes, the party was deeply socially conservative placing great emphasis on the established alydian church, the monarchy and the aristocracy. Despite this, in an effort to increase the popularity of the party within the 1870s, the Conservatives can be seen to have championed the cause of the working classes through an advocacy of universal male suffrage and better conditions for factory workers. The Conservative party also saw itself as the bastion of imperialism advocating for the overseas expansion of the Midrasian kingdom, both to secure resources and trade income, but also to spread modernity and the ideas of the enlightenment to the so-called 'backward nations of aeia' through the civilising mission. The party was particularly fixated on Midrasian domination of the continents of Majula and Arabekh, especially after the conclusion of the Mydro-Veleazan war. In the aftermath of the war, the party was also notable in its pursuit of anti-socialist legislation, limiting the political involvement of socialist parties and organisations.
By the 1930s however, the Conservative Party was beginning to lose significant standings in the polls. A general national shift toward the left had led to a number of successive Social Democratic governments and a general division within the Conservatives as to the future direction of the party. With the party's representation falling to only 144 in 1935, and an increasing number of MPs defecting to either the National or Imperial Party the decision was made to form a 'general coalition of the right'. As such, the Conservative party officially became part of the National Coalition Party later the same year.
1953–present
Whilst between 1935 and 1953 the Conservative Party was officially a part of the National Coalition Party, by the 1950s tensions within the party between the right-wing protectionist bloc and the emergent neoliberal wing has reached breaking point. A number of defectors from the National Coalition officially joined the Chartist Party in what they saw as an increasingly right-wing nationalist tendency within the party. Bolstered by this, in 1953 an alliance of twelve alydian democrat members of the National Coalition officially split with the party to form the Alydian Democratic Union. Although initially it was believed that the Coalition would remain intact, due to the size of its majority, leading the new party to be relegated to the status of third-party, internal divisions in the Coalition only improving the standing of the UDA. At the 1956 election, the UDA were able to attain 22 seats, whilst the National Coalition lost its majority, only attaining 120 seats. In the following years the divisions within the CN would only worsen, leading an increasing number to defect to the UDA and Chartists.
The UDA have officially entered government twice since the party's formation, both times with the Chartist Party, once in 1990 and again in 2009. During this period the party was identified as a key defender of the Midrasian Alydian Church, being a major obstacle to secularisation and same-sex marriage. The party has also been a key defender of Midrasian religious schools and has generally taken a mixed approach towards economic matters. Whilst the party has generally benefited from a strong religious voter base in recent years' the party's support has began to erode, with votes increasingly turning to the more right-wing Midrasia First.
Ideology
The Alydian Democratic Union identifies as a conservative, alydian democratic political party, generally advocating for gradual political and social change with a respect for traditional institutions and values. The party has been a key advocate for the Midrasian Alydian Church in national politics and has key ties to the Pontificate. The party is ardently opposed to the introduction of same-sex marriage and the secularisation of the Midrasian state. The party also has a direct commitment to upholding a Capetist approach to foreign policy within its manifesto, mandating a general level of independence and autonomy for Midrasia in foreign affairs.
The party's main platform as outlined in their 2017 manifesto is as follows:
- A commitment to maintaining the sanctity of marriage
- Guarantee a 'triple lock' guarantee on national pensions
- Reduce net-migration to around 150,000 per anum
- Introduce a 4-year residency requirement for migrants seeking to claim benefits
- Introduction of a minimum pricing on alcohol and cigarettes
- New legislation to introduce parental controls for internet access
- Scrap legislation giving priority treatment to religious minorities
- Mandate that identification be required to vote in future general elections
- Maintenance of Midrasia's independent Capetist foreign policy outlook
Electoral performance
Parliament
| Election year | Public Assembly | Government | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # of overall votes |
% of overall vote |
# of overall seats won |
+/– | ||
| 1956 | 2,828,693 | 6.02 % | 22 / 433
|
 22
|
in opposition |
| 1961 | 3,256,324 | 7.31 % | 26 / 441
|
4
|
in opposition |
| 1965 | 2,093,669 | 4.71 % | 19 / 441
|
 7
|
in opposition |
| 1968 | 2,321,013 | 5.54 % | 21 / 437
|
2
|
in opposition |
| 1973 | 2,828,809 | 6.09 % | 24 / 431
|
3
|
in opposition |
| 1976 | 1,982,778 | 4.56 % | 17 / 420
|
7
|
in opposition |
| 1980 | 2,606,997 | 5.47 % | 20 / 420
|
3
|
in opposition |
| 1985 | 2,972,687 | 6.12 % | 23 / 423
|
3
|
in opposition |
| 1990 | 4,170,395 | 8.02 % | 28 / 416
|
5
|
in coalition |
| 1994 | 2,337,139 | 5.32 % | 20 / 416
|
8
|
in opposition |
| 1999 | 2,920,127 | 5.95 % | 22 / 400
|
2
|
in opposition |
| 2002 | 2,520,027 | 5.21 % | 19 / 400
|
3
|
in opposition |
| 2005 | 2,400,334 | 5.7 % | 21 / 400
|
2
|
in opposition |
| 2009 | 2,578,160 | 4.77 % | 18 / 400
|
3
|
in coalition |
| 2013 | 2,542,828 | 4.27 % | 15 / 400
|
3
|
in opposition |
| 2017 | 2,177,084 | 3.68 % | 11 / 600
|
4
|
in opposition |
Aeian Parliament
| Election year | # of overall votes |
% of overall vote |
# of overall seats won |
+/– |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 102,440 | 0.65 % | 0 / 110
|