People's Party (Aquitayne)

People's Party
Chairperson	Adisa Leary (Erinonea)
Minority Commoner's Representative	James Albright (Ordias)
Opposition Leader	Kirk Macklin (Asaur)
Minority Speaker	Jack Kehiller (Atlus)
Deputy Opposition Leader	Lena Nelson (Austrano)
Deputy Minority Coalition Director	Timothy Dotdson (Faer)
Founded	1747 (1747)
Preceded by	Reasonists
Headquarters	518 South Government Street, Telora, 29-045
Student wing	University People of Aquitayne
Youth wing	Young People of Aquitayne
Membership (2014)	39.6 million
Ideology	fiscal conservatism, lassaiz-faire, urbanism, unionism, popular sovereignty
International affiliation	None
Colors
House of Lords	33 / 126
House of Commons	298 / 786
Website
www.peoplesparty.aq
Politics of Aquitayne Political parties Elections

The People's Party of Aquitayne is the current minority party in the Magnus Magnatus (National Assembly), and one of two major contemporary political parties in Aquitayne, along with the Royalist Party. The People's Party can trace their lineage back to the Reasonists, re-founding the party under a new name after it was initially banned by the Royalist for treasonous speech.

In the beginning years of the party, its platform was focused on popular sovereignty, liberalism as well as the divine right of kings. The party, in its current form, was founded on the 19th of March, 1474, after its predecessor, the Reasonists were banned in a unanimous vote by the Royalist Party for what they considered to be treasonous speech in Parliament. The founder of the current institution was Ser Wallace Renley in response to what was largely considered a subversion of the constitution. The People's Party primarily focused on individual rights and tax policy to help farmers and other craftsmen. This policy still holds today. In the late 19th century, the party would begin to become more reactionary towards international affairs, which would ultimately lead to the short conflict with Cassonne and it becoming an Aquitaynian protectorate. It wouldn't be until the early 20th century, just before the Great Astyrian War, that the modern influences of the party would take hold and remain so for the majority of the century. These positions, such as free market capitalism, low government interference in businesses of all sizes, interventionism, right to work provinces, and a strong national defense. The People's Party aims for a capitalist economic model where small business owners can succeed and large businesses can expand, via tax cuts on international corporations, low estate tax, as well as low inheritance taxes.

There have been 19 Prime Ministers from the People's Party since its founding in 1747. The most current Prime Minister from the party was Nathan Wilde, who was beaten by the current Prime Minister, James Zaeir, in the 2014 general election, and subsequently stepped down, leaving the head of the party to current party chair Kirk Macklin. The People's Party has had a super majority in the Magnus Magnatus 3 times since 1747.

Political issues

Economic Issues

Fiscal Policy

The People's Party support strong fiscal conservatism, to promote a balanced budget and a debt-free state, which the party believes is the only way a country can truly be free from outside influence. The People's Party actively works to shrink the size of government in Aquitayne and, alongside that, the yearly budget.

Minimum Wage

The People's Party believes that a nationally-mandated minimum wage is something that should be permitted for all Aquitaynians, but they believe that the current minimum wage rate of $22 Aeros an hour is too high, and hurts small business owners who can no longer afford to hire more workers, as the ones they have are more expensive. Additionally, the People's Party is seeking to dismantle the government subsidies given to small businesses that have less than 100 workers, and lower the minimum wage simultaneously, eliminating the need for government assistance in paying workers what the party believes to be an above-market wage.

Health Care

The People's Party believes that healthcare is a right for all Aquitaynians, however the party also believes that the private market provides a better healthcare market for Aquitaynians to choose from. The People's Party currently supports the elimination of the National Healthcare Service and, rather than paying for the full treatment of every Aquitaynian citizen, instead subsidizing their care, with the sicker patients getting more funding, and the healthier citizens getting less.

Environment

The People's Party believes climate change is a real and lasting threat not only to Aquitayne but the rest of the world. Even so, the party supports less regulation of the mining and drilling industries to support job growth and lower the cost of business for many manufacturers and corporations in the country. The People's Party supports a carbon tax, but actively fights against any legislation that - they believe - would put undue stress, cost, or interference in the success of raw materials industry.

Education

The People's Party supports fully the Ministry of Education and the continued education of all Aquitaynian children. However, the People's Party believes that by continuing the practices and expansion of the Universal Education Act of 1998, which provides free post-secondary education to all Aquitaynian citizens, will lead to ultimate bankruptcy of the nation. The People's Party believes that private institutions for higher learning are the most competitive and successful colleges and universities around the world and will give Aquitaynians the edge they need in a competitive and rapidly changing global workforce.

Renewable Energy and Fossil Fuels

Climate change deniers are prevalent in the People's Party, even though the party itself does recognize the reality of climate change. The People's Party supports the deregulation of the fossil and coal industries, in a continued effort to support the growth of manufacturing jobs for the lower class and to keep interest and investment in Aquitayne's resources high. The People's Party realizes that the major exports from Aquitayne are raw materials, and understand that to continue to provide those exports at reasonable and competitive rates, companies must not have government regulations infringing on their success.

Social issues

Equal Opportunity

The People's Party believes that no one should be discriminated against or rejected from a position in any line of work based on their sex, gender, sexual orientation, race, or religion. Working with the Royalist Party on this issue, the government has provided the resources necessary for individuals to file claims if they believe they've been discriminated against in the workplace. Though some in the party believe equal opportunity gives an unfair advantage to minorities, this view is not reflective of the party platform.

Abortion and Reproductive rights

The People's Party believes that life begins at the moment of conception and that abortion is murder. Even so, the party realizes that under certain circumstances, it may be justified to terminate a pregnancy. The Party's platform states that if a woman is the victim of rape or incest, or if the mother's life or the child's life is in undue danger as a result of the pregnancy, or if there is a terminal illness diagnosed before birth, an abortion is justified. Even so, the People's Party actively works to tighten the regulations on abortion and ensure that those who seek abortions are not attempting to use it as a "get out of jail free card".

Immigration

The People's Party believes that if an individual wishes to become an Aquitaynian citizen, they must go through the proper channels to do so. Illegal immigration is a cornerstone of the People's Party platform, and the party works dilligently to ensure illegal immigration is stopped at every turn.