National Bloc (Alsland)

National Bloc Nasjonaal blok Rahvuslik blokk
Abbreviation	NB LS
Leader	Ermnbryht Vrihte
Founder	Villem Mand
Founded	11 June 1926 (1926-06-11)
Headquarters	61U8 Jansenstrjitte Yndyk
Youth wing	Young Bloc
Membership (2021)	42,192
Ideology	Liberal conservatism Pro-Eucleanism
Political position	Centre-right
Euclean Parliament group	Alliance of Conservatives and Democrats for Euclea
Colors	Blue
Slogan	"With the people"
Folkssenaat	51 / 201
Federal Council	1 / 96
Community Parliaments	1 / 608
Euclean Parliament	11 / 24
Website
nasjonaalblok.com
Political parties

The National Bloc (Dellish: Nasjonaal blok, Weranian: Nationaler Block, Swathish: Lėodsameln, Kirenian: Rahvuslik blokk; NB), also referred to as The Bloc, is a centre-right political party in Alsland. The Bloc is the largest party in Alsland and governed the country continuously between 1929 and 1990 through various coalitions. The bloc is a member of the Alliance of Conservatives and Democrats for Euclea group within the Euclean Parliament.

Since 2014 the Bloc has been led by Ermnbryht Vrihte. The Bloc has 51 seats in the Folkssenaat since the 2018 legislative election and X Members of the Euclean Parliament. It has an official cooperation agreement with the Martish Democratic Party who sit as members of the Bloc in the Folkssenaat. The bloc is traditionally a moderate, and centrist. During the latter half of the 20th century the bloc was a major proponent of Euclean Integration, liberal conservatism, federalism and economic liberalism. The bloc defines itself as "a centrist big tent political movement based on protecting Alslandic values of Property, Democracy, tolerance and international cooperation." Between 1929 and 1940 the Bloc's rule over Alsland was described as authoritarian which led to the coinage of the term Illiberal democracy to describe it's governance of Alsland during the post-war period.

Since 1990 the Bloc has lost it's position as the dominant party of Alslandic centre-right in politics due to the rise of the centre-left Progressive Alliance and the centre-right Liveable Alsland. Despite this the party has participated in every coalition in Alsland except 1 since 1929.

Ideology

Historically the party claimed to be a secular big tent movement and had strong social democratic, liberal and conservative factions. It's big tent status allowed the party to retain public support until much of the party's social democratic faction withdrew from the party.

Policy overview

• Economy and Finance
  • Support for a Market economy
  • Keeping a Balanced budget
  • Welfare state status quo

• Social and federal affairs
  • Equal status for Dellish and Kirenian
  • Home rule for the communities
  • Support for same-sex marriage
  • Secularism
  • Reduction in immigration
  • Opposition to Euthanasia
  • Universal Health Insurance
  • Federalism

• Foreign affairs
  • Euclofederalism
  • ECDTO membership
  • Internationalism

Organisation

Wings

Throughout the National Bloc's history, the presence of Factions has featured heavily in the party's ideology. Whilst the party's constitution mandated that all major factions must be represented in it's governing board it also heavily favoured the larger and established factions within the party. Under the leadership of Illimar Rootare the party's rules regarding factions were changed which allowed various minor right-wing factions to be elected to the governing board to the annoyance of the party's liberal and social democratic factions.

The party's current rules allow for factions to be formed with the support of 5% of the party's membership. To be represented in the Bloc's governing board it must have the support of at least 10% of the party's membership and 10% of the party's elected officials.

Current factions

As of the party's 2019 congress the party's current factional composition consists of the following factions:

• Moderate Group (Middelbere groep): 26.9%
  • Federalisten (liberal conservatives, Alslandic federalism)
  • Inisjatyf (classical liberalism, pragmatic conservatism)
• True Blue (Echt Blau): 25.9%
  • Rjochts (national conservatism, social conservatism)
• Solutions for Alsland (Oplossings foar Aalslân): 24.8%
  • Rôze-Blau fraksje (progressive conservatism)
  • Ikebeam (green conservatism)
  • Open Left (third way, social liberalism)
• Freedom and Democracy group (Frijheid en demokrasy groep): 10.2%
  • Mienskiplik terrein (conservative liberalism)
  • Realisten (liberalism, cultural liberalism)
• Recreate (opnij oanmeitsje): 5.1%
  • Nije Lanlik (right-wing populism, economic liberalism, soft-eucloscepticism)
• Unaffiliated: 7.1%

Historical factions

The following factions were historically influential within the National Bloc or governed the party:

• Social Democrats and Progressives (Sosjaaldemokraten en Progressiven) (1924—1989)
  • Sosjaal-Demokratyske en Arbeid Beweging (1924—1987) (social democracy, labourism)
  • Foarútgong '65 (1965—1989) (progressivism, social liberalism)
• The Radical Centre (It Radikaal Sintrum) (1961—2009)
  • The Centre (1961—2009) (liberalism)
  • Radical Movement (1961—2017) (Radicalism)
• Freethinking Faction (Frijtinkende Fraksje) (1924—2008)
  • National Democratic Group (1924—2008) (conservative liberalism)
  • Mûneherst Group (1967—2008) (national liberalism)
  • Wikseljild! (2005—2022) (populism, reformism)
• Rootare List (Rootare List) (1982—2000)
  • Rootare List (1982—2000) (social conservatism, traditional conservatism)

Electorate

Much of the party's support comes from the 'Conservative Pillar' or 'Liberal Pillar' of Alsland. Many of it's supporters are members of the middle class or in rural areas. The Bloc has tried expanding it's support among the working class in the past. The bloc has won the middle class vote by large margins throughout it's history and much of it's support base now exists in suburban regions. Small-business owners as well as other business leaders have historically backed the bloc leading to the party gaining the nickname of the "Bankers Bloc" amongst the left-wing media.