National Bloc (Gylias)
National Bloc | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1969 |
| Ideology | |
| Political position | Centre-right |
| Colors | Light blue |
The National Bloc (French reformed: Bloc nationale) is an electoral bloc of conservative parties in Gylias. Formed in 1969, it is the main conservative electoral bloc in Gylias.
History
The bloc was formed in 1969, after that year's federal election and the destruction of the Conservative Coalition. The CNP took the initiative in forming the bloc, and was joined by four further parties — NPR, PDU, FEP, and IFP. Its establishment marked the end of Gylian conservatism's "constructive"–"recalcitrant" battle, with the "constructives" victorious and the "recalcitrants" destroyed as a political force.
The NB's creation triggered a political realignment, bringing together the centre-right electorate previously dispersed among the Centre Group and various Non-inscrits and independents. Led by the glamorous Lea Kersed, the NB established itself as a fundamentally progressive conservative force. Following good performances in municipal, regional, and presidential elections in the 1970s, it made a strong debut at the 1976 federal election, becoming the official opposition.
The NB's support grew during the wretched decade. Lea was a tenacious opponent of the Aén Ďanez government, and repeatedly pushed for a grand coalition of conservatives, leftists, liberals, and centrists against authoritarianism of the left and right. She led the bloc to its best election result in 1985, winning a plurality of first preference votes and seats for the first time.
Opposition disunity allowed Aén to remain in office as a caretaker until the Ossorian war crisis of 1986, after which the opposition banded together and formed the Filomena Pinheiro government. This marked the NB's first participation in a federal government, and achieved Lea's goal of a grand coalition.
During the 1980s, a rift developed in the NB between the larger CNP, NPR, and PDU, which remained loyal to the Hannaist foundations of Gylian conservatism, and the FEP and IFP, which increasingly moved towards economic liberalism and sought to align with right-wing populists. The tensions broke out into the open after Lea's death, culminating in the dérive au droite and the FEP and IFP splitting from the NB in 1989 to form the Union for Freedom and Prosperity. Their place was taken by the UND and MRR.
The 1990 federal election proved to be a breakthrough for Non-inscrits, as voters punished the established blocs for their role in the wretched decade. While the NB was well-positioned to gain from its role as standard-bearer of the opposition, the UFP split and exposure of the neoliberal conspiracy brought negative publicity, and it suffered a drop in support.
During the 1990s–2000s, the NB had an ambiguous role, alternately providing outside support for and opposing the Mathilde Vieira government depending on issues. It gradually rebuilt its support to previous levels as the non-inscrit wave receded.
The NB narrowly won the 2020 federal election, its first in 35 years. It formed the Lena Haidynraix government, a minority coalition with the CG and UNR, depending on support from anarchist non-inscrits.
Composition
Current
| Party | Main ideology | |
|---|---|---|
| Civic National Party (CNP) | ||
| National Party of the Republic (NPR) | Liberal conservatism | |
| Popular Democratic Union (PDU) | Progressive conservatism | |
| Union for National Democracy (UND) | ||
| Movement of Reformists of the Republic (MRR) | ||
Historical
| Party | Main ideology | Period | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free Economy Party (FEP) | Economic liberalism | 1969–1989 | Split from the NB to form the Union for Freedom and Prosperity. | |
| Independent Freedom Party (IFP) | Historical: Liberal corporatism Contemporary: Neoliberalism |
1969–1989 | Split from the NB to form the Union for Freedom and Prosperity. | |
Ideology
The NB is the main conservative bloc of Gylian politics, complemented by various conservative Non-inscrits. The bloc includes parties with Hannaist, paternalistic, liberal, and progressive conservative positions. It is centre-right, and fiercely hostile to right-wing politics.
Common platform planks include support for paternalism, the welfare state, social corporatism, communitarianism, social liberalism, progressivism, and reformism.
Symbols
The NB uses a light shade of blue as its common colour.
Electoral results
Gylian Parliament
| Election | Chamber of Deputies | Senate | Government | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FPV | % | Seats | FPV | % | Seats | ||
| 1976 | 1.348.847 | 19,1% | 60 / 395
|
1.068.063 | 15,1% | 55 / 300
|
Opposition |
| 1980 | 1.599.031 | 20,2% | 68 / 395
|
1.265.821 | 16,0% | 64 / 300
|
Opposition |
| 1985 | 2.119.758 | 24,0% | 100 / 520
|
1.888.122 | 21,4% | 70 / 300
|
Opposition |
| Coalition | |||||||
| 1990 | 1.771.906 | 18,0% | 60 / 500
|
1.594.554 | 16,2% | 55 / 300
|
Opposition |
| 1995 | 1.976.703 | 18,2% | 62 / 500
|
1.769.987 | 16,3% | 58 / 300
|
Opposition |
| 2000 | 2.434.233 | 20,0% | 64 / 500
|
N/A | Opposition | ||
| 2004 | 2.702.594 | 20,5% | 64 / 500
|
Opposition | |||
| 2008 | 2.985.084 | 20,6% | 68 / 500
|
Opposition | |||
| 2012 | 3.163.579 | 19,8% | 86 / 500
|
Opposition | |||
| 2016 | 3.455.911 | 19,7% | 85 / 500
|
Opposition | |||
| 2020 | 3.765.225 | 19,7% | 68 / 500
|
Coalition | |||
