Alliance of Radical Socialists and Farmers
| Alliance of Radical Socialists and Farmers | |
|---|---|
| File:ARSB.jpg | |
| Leader | Stein Fredriksen |
| Founded | 11th of December, 2013 |
| Headquarters | Storvik, Breheim |
| Youth wing | Communist Youth of Breheim Radical Youth Farmers' Youth |
| Student wing | Alliance of Radical Students |
| Newspaper | Sons of Labour Radical News |
| Membership | 191,000 |
| Ideology | Revolutionary Socialism Agrarianism Left-wing Nationalism |
| Internal Factions | Marxism-Leninism Agrarianism Syndicalism |
| Member Parties | Communist Party of Breheim Syndicalist Coalition Party of Farmers and Fishermen Runit Party Socialist Party Equality Party |
| Political position | Far-Left |
| Official colours | Red |
| National Assembly | 49 / 320
|
| People's Assembly | 14 / 200
|
| Storfylke Assembly | 10 / 60
|
| Website | http://www.arsb.brh |
The Alliance of Radical Socialists and Farmers are an electoral alliance in the Republic of Breheim, primarily led by the Communist Party of Breheim. Only the Communist Party, the Syndicalist Coalition and the Party of Farmers and Fishermen have seats in the central leadership body of the ARSF, with the Runit Party, Socialist Party and Equality Party lacking representatives there due to their small size. However, one of the ARSF's MPs is from the Runit Party.
While Communism is not directly mentioned in the ARSF's official platform or policies, it is evident in logos and by the members themselves. More than half of the ARSF's members are also members of the Communist Party, leading to the ARSF being dubbed 'Hammers and Hangers-on' by detractors. The ARSF is dominant in the storfylke of Nordbreheim, and have moderate levels of support in Taranger and Fjordland, but lacks much of a presence in Alfheim and Vestøy outside of local councils.
History
The ARSF was formed by the Communist Party and the Party of Fishermen and Farmers in 2013, following the enactment of more strict electoral laws with higher electoral thresholds. The formation of the single-member constituency People's Assembly further amplified the need for more unity among similarly-minded parties to the left of the Socialist Worker's Party, and the Syndicalist Coalition (an off-shot from the SWP) joined after the failed general strike and the relatively poor showing in the 2013 emergency election. The Runit Party, Socialist Party (Marxist) and the Equality Party joined shortly thereafter, making the total number of parties in the ARSF six. Four other parties are 'observers', with some affiliation with the ARSF, but who contest elections separately in places (sometimes with the backing of the ARSF). Both the Syndicalists and the Farmers suffered from joining the ARSF, as thousands of members abandoned both parties, which led to the Communist Party becoming the dominant force behind the ARSF.
The ARSF managed to gain 13.9% in the People's Assembly election and 12.4% in the Storfylke Assembly election of 2014, gaining 16 (8%) and 10 (16.7%) MPs respectively. This is far less than the party expected, as its only slightly above what the Communist Party managed to gain by itself in the 2012 elections. However, the Party managed to do well in the elections for the governments of the Storfylker themselves, ruling single-handedly in Nordbreheim, and as junior coalition partners in Fjordland and Taranger. This, in effect, means that more than half of Breheimians live in storfylker where the ARSF sits in government.
Policies
The ARSF adopted an electoral platform in 2013, and elected a central committee, although overall the parties remain largely autonomous. In local elections, the ARSF only contests in a some areas, and individual parties are free to contest by themselves. The preface of the electoral platform reads: "The Alliance of Radical Socialists and Farmers unites all socialistic patriot elements in Breheim under a common banner to force the government to consider the interests of the working class and the farmers, and not disregard them. It is the ultimate goal of the ARSF to bring about revolutionary change to Breheim, and bring the state and economy into the hands of the working masses."
The platform itself is mostly identical to that of the Communist Party, with only some compromises given to the Farmers' Party and the Syndicalists.
Key Policies outlined in the ARSF Platform:
- Nationalization of the greater means of production.
- Safeguard the traditional rights and autonomy of the small-farmers against the forces of both capital and state.
- Abolition of taxation.
- Expropriation of the ill-gotten gains of the nations' oligarchs.
- Defend the Trade Unions of the Nation against national and international capital and thugs.
- Abolition of the Eugenics Programme.
- Increase the size and funding of the Nation's Armed Forces.
- Participation in international sporting competitions, and increased funding to both athletic youth clubs and professional sporting organizations.
- Defend the sanctity of the family against gay marriage, transsexualism, pederasty and drugs.
- Defend the native religions of the nation, Christ, Old Gods and Elves, against those who would oppress the religious rights of the population.