Movement for Emancipation and Democracy (Gylias)
Movement for Emancipation and Democracy | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1964 |
| Dissolved | 1975 |
| Ideology | |
| Political position | Left-wing |
| Colours | Green |
The Movement for Emancipation and Democracy (French reformed: Mouvement pour l'émancipation et l'démocratie), abbreviated MED (MÉD), was a Gylian political party, part of the Non-inscrits bloc.
Established in 1964 by Maria Elena Durante, the MED was a left-wing populist party based on economic nationalism. It collapsed after her death in 1975, but is considered to have laid an important precedent for the success of populist forces in Gylian politics. Much of its support would later be channeled by the Revolutionary Rally during the wretched decade.
History
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The MED was established in 1964 by Maria Elena Durante, then an independent Senator for Ḑarna. It was from the start a very leader-centric party, reflected in the fact that its initials matched Maria Elena's.
Shaped by the constraints of Gylian politics, the party concentrated on building up strength in local government, and used campaigning around referendums to build up support and promote its agenda. It formed a political alliance with the New People's Party, fielding joint candidates in the 1969 federal election and contemporary municipal and regional elections, and cultivated close relations with ARENA, strategically cooperating on key occasions.
By the 1970s, the MED had become a notable populist force in local politics. Maria Elena gained success by cultivating a demagogue style, using "crude communist rhetoric" and aiming her message at voters who felt distanced from the Golden Revolution, particularly those who might've otherwise supported reactionary formations. Nevertheless, the party's central weakness remained its dependence on its leader.
Maria Elena's death in 1975 signalled the end of the party, which collapsed soon after. Its collapse backfired on the NPP, which was left adrift and a marginal presence in Parliament for the next decade. Much of the MED's support ultimately moved to the Revolutionary Rally during the wretched decade, whose leader Aén Ďanez duplicated Maria Elena's political and rhetorical style.
Ideology
The MED was a left-wing populist party whose platform was largely secondary to its expression of "inchoate grievances". Maria Elena shaped the party in its image, adopting a demagogic anti-establishment posture, and promoted policies of vague economic nationalism and workerism. She repeatedly claimed credit for pushing the Darnan Cyras government to the left.
Symbols
The MED used a dark shade of green as its official colour.
Popular support
The MED was notable for concentrating its efforts at the local level, where it had become a major non-inscrit party at its peak. It mainly attracted support from what commentators likened to the Golden Revolution-era lumpenproletariat, as well as followers captivated by Maria Elena's image.
