Social Democrats (Esthursia)
Social Democrats | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Chairman | Edgar Heresparn |
| Leader of the Social Democrats | Harold Osborne |
| Deputy Leader of the Social Democrats | Elizabeth Grey |
| Founded | 1814 |
| Headquarters | Brantley, City of Brantley, Avonshire, Osynstry |
| Student wing | Social Democratic Students |
| Youth wing | Young Social Democrats |
| Ideology | Social democracy Co-operative economics Democratic socialism Soft-internationalism |
| Political position | Centre-left to left-wing |
| Colors | Red |
| House of Barons | 131 / 401
|
| House of Ministers | 464 / 851
|
| Website | |
| https://www.sdm.es | |
The Social Democrats are a social-democratic political party in Esthursia. Currently, the party holds a majority of seats in the Ministers and is the largest party of the governing Barons coalition. Its leader has been Harold Osborne since 30 January, 2015, who has served as Prime Minister since that date.
The modern day party traces its roots back to the merger of the Independent Labour Committee (ILC) in the 19th century, as Esthursia's working class - enfranchised in the late 18th century - sought power in public office. The party was initially socialist, although a social democratic trait has always been somewhat present even at foundation. The Social Democrats has, for most of its history, maintained close ties with leading trade unions and many of its contemporary senior politicians took place in general strikes; as such, trade unions are typically the largest source of party income. Following the fall of the liberal Reform Party as a major party in the 1880s and the nationalist National Party in the 1920s, the Social Democrats became the major left-wing party and has been considered by political experts as the most successful Esthursian political party in the 20th and 21st centuries.
The Social Democrats have remained between social democracy and democratic socialism for the vast majority of their history. Historians and analysts have credited the success of the party to its pragmatic ability to develop with the times as well as its favourable historic reputation. The Social Democrats moved to the centre under James Welwyn in the early 2000s, however this was abandoned following his resignation and the appointment of John Largan. Typically, the Social Democrats have won around a third of the vote in general elections, although local elections during the 2000s reached as low as a fifth. Despite their relative dominance in 2010s politics, they have been reliant on coalitions to govern due to Esthursia's electoral system in the upper house.
In addition to being the senior party in the New Democratic Coalition government, the Social Democrats currently hold a majority of seats in the House of Ministers, and a plurality in the House of Barons.