Liberty Party (Midrasia)
Liberty Party Partit Libertat | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leader | Guiseppe Nicolando |
| Deputy Leader | Raymonde de Lancarde |
| Founder | Victor Nicolando |
| Founded | 2 December 1992 |
| Headquarters | Lucalo, Almiaro |
| Ideology | Libertarianism Non-interventionism |
| Parliamentary Bloc | Chartist |
| Colours | Yellow |
| Public Assembly | 6 / 572
|
| Senate | 0 / 300
|
| Election symbol | |
| PL | |
The Liberty party (Midrasian: Partit Libertat) or simply Liberty, is a Midrasian Libertarian political party formed by businessman Victor Nicolando in 1992. Formed as an alternative to the mainstream Midrasian right-leaning liberal tradition, present within both the Republican Party and The Democrats, the Liberty party has become a major advocate for libertarian policy in recent years. The party has attracted a large support base from the Midrasian right, who would have traditionally been members of the Democrats or Republicans.
History
Origins
In 1992, Hotel businessman Victor Nicolando announced his intention to set up a new political party based on Libertarian values. Noting the lack of a truly libertarian movement in Midrasia since the mid 1970s, Nicolando sought to create a new party which would advocate for a smaller government and a reduced involvement in overseas affairs. Nicolando had previously expressed disdain for The Democrats, going on record as calling party MPs "fake liberals" and "socialists in orange clothing". Through his business ties, and natural ability as a negotiator, Nicolando was able to set up a considerable support and donor base from his business contacts, many of whom had been reluctant to involve themselves in politics. Through Nicolando's contacts, the party was able to gain a considerable amount of political capital very quickly, establishing Liberty as a political force within the city of Almiaro where it is based.
Political Development
The party performed considerably well within its first election for a small organisation. However, the party failed to win any seats in the Public Assembly. Despite this, Liberty was able to pick up a considerable number of seats within local elections, although not enough to warrant a seat on the Senate. Most council seats won by the party were in the Almiaro and Castana regions, which both now form the bedrock of support for Liberty. Within the 1997 election, the party was able to win two assembly seats, both of which came from the aforementioned regions. The party was also only one council seats short of winning a place on the Senate. Much of the success of the party in 1997 has been put down to the greater personal investment made by Nicolando into the party, along with the general right-wing shift observed during the election of 1997.
The party was able to build upon its success in the election of 2002, gaining a further Assembly seat and a place on the Senate. Despite this, the party returned to 4 Assembly seats in 2005. Following the 2009 election, where the party managed to increase its share to 7 Assembly seats and 1 in the Senate, though party leader and founder Victor Nicolando announced that he was to step aside as leader. Nicolando stated that he had "taken the party as far as he'd thought he was capable" and had become "physically and emotionally drained" from the work he had done for the party. Despite stepping down, Nicolando remained incredibly popular among leadership and members, many of whom called for him to return to the head of the party.
In the weeks following Nicolando's resignation, his son, Giuseppe Nicolando announced his intention to run for leadership. Despite the misgivings of his father who believed the party to be too much work for his son, Giuseppe continued in his campaign, going on to become party leader after receiving the support of 67.4% of all voting party members during the 2010 leadership election. Under Giuseppe, the party has remained relatively unchanged. Sources suggest that Victor Nicolando continues to play a minor role within the party leadership, advising his son on political matters and courting potential donors behind the scenes through his business ties. In 2010 the party opened its official Vaellenian branch, which has since gained a considerable amount of support from rural communities within the area.
Post 2013
Following the 2013 elections, although the party's overall vote share fell, Liberty was able to increase it's voting share, taking its seat total in the Assembly to 9. The party was also able to hold on to its one Senate seat for the state of Almiaro. Despite the party's success in building a large support base particularly within the Almiaro region and select rural constituencies, party leadership remained particularly dissatisfied with a lack of party growth, in spite of the investment the party was receiving from its major backers. In 2015 the party leadership decided to re-brand the party away from its traditional logo and dark blue colour, adopting yellow and a logo more synonymous with wider libertarian movements. A much greater focus was also placed on the youth wing of the party and less controversial policies, such as support for same-sex marriage. This move was primarily aimed at appealing to younger audiences and the right wing of the Liberal League, dissatisfied with the party's support of the more left-leaning Social Democratic Party.
Despite efforts to appeal to a wider audience, the party has been unable to build on its voter share in recent council elections. Following the 2017 election the party was only able to retain 6 seats in the Public Assembly, losing out to the Liberal League in both houses. Pundits have suggested the collapse of Liberty's vote was the result of ongoing corruption investigations which involve a number of party officials, along with a renewed campaign by both the UDA and Midrasia First to attract libertarian voters.
Ideology
The Liberty Party identifies itself as a Libertarian political party, usually adopting policies or stances regarded as minarchist. The party is usually regarded as fiscally conservative with a strong emphasis on private property rights. The Liberty party is also deeply culturally liberal and have been major advocates for the legalisation of gay marriage in Midrasia.
The party's main platform as outlined in their 2017 manifesto is as follows:
- Passage of a 'Balanced Budget Amendment'
- Abolition of income tax
- End government control and subsidisation of energy
- End the practice of eminent domain and other forced land seizures
- Referendum on Midrasia's membership of the Aeian Community
- Slash corporation tax to encourage investment
- Legalisation of soft drugs
- Reduce military expenditure and Midrasia's overseas defence commitments
- Passage of a Secularisation bill to end Alydianism's status as a state religion
- Legalisation of gay marriage
Electoral performance
| Election year | Public Assembly | Government | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # of overall votes |
% of overall vote |
# of overall seats won |
+/– | ||
| 1997 | 752,167 | 0.4 % | 2 / 570
|
 2
|
in opposition |
| 2001 | 658,003 | 0.5 % | 3 / 570
|
1
|
in coalition |
| 2005 | 997,065 | 0.9 % | 5 / 570
|
2
|
in coalition |
| 2009 | 1,454,439 | 1.2 % | 7 / 570
|
2
|
in coalition |
| 2013 | 1,278,171 | 1.6 % | 9 / 572
|
2
|
in opposition |
| 2017 | 662,591 | 1.0 % | 6 / 572
|
 3
|
in opposition |