Vaellenian People's Party
Vaellenian People's Party Strollad Poblek Vaellenhad | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leader | Rozenn Le Guen |
| Deputy Leader | Bran Cornec |
| Founder | Edwin Le Bras |
| Founded | 14 March 1907 |
| Headquarters | Armor, Berghelling |
| Ideology | Vaellenian nationalism Regionalism Social democracy |
| Political position | Centre-left |
| Parliamentary Bloc | Reform |
| Colours | Light Blue |
| Public Assembly | 12 / 572
|
| Senate | 6 / 300
|
| Election symbol | |
| SPV | |
The Vaellenian People's Party (Vaellenian: Strollad Poblek Vaellenhad) is a centre-left, regionalist political party operating within the Midrasian devolved region of Vaellenia. The party has in the past been described as Vaellenian nationalist advocating for the independence of the Vaellenian region. However, in recent years the party has stated that it is merely committed to the betterment of the Vaellenian region within the Midrasian state. The party played a major role in the past to establish the Vaellenian devolved government and has always played a considerable role in the Midrasian Senate. Previously, the party held a 100 year electoral agreement with the Social Democrats, however the expiration of this agreement in 2016 led the party to independently contested the 2017 Midrasian general election for the first time in its history, during which the party went on to win 12 seats in the Public Assembly and 6 in the Senate.
History
Origins
The Vaellenian nationalist movement has existed within Midrasian politics since the annexation of the region by the Midrasian Republic in 1638. The Vaellenian Rising of 1723 marked the culmination of this movement, however the rebellion was brutally suppressed by the Midrasian Republican Army. It wasn't until the Midrasian Constitutional Charter of 1791 that Vaellenians were given the same rights as Midrasian citizens. Although the constitution did much to alleviate the issues within Vaellenia, it did not mark the end of the Vaellenian separatist movement.
Yet throughout the nineteenth century considerable pride was garnered among Vaellenians about Midrasia. Many began to view Vaellenia as an equal partner in the Midrasian Republic, with the overseas Empire being as much a Vaellenian venture as it was Midrasian. The rise of notable Vaellenian politicians and industrialists to positions of power within the Republic also led to a considerable easing of tensions. However, the rise of the wider socialist movement throughout Asura especially in the aftermath of the Great War also led to a rise in Vaellenian nationalism, with the creation of several movements advocating either for outright independence or greater autonomy for the Vaellenian people.
Twentieth Century
The SPV was officially founded in 1907 as a wing of the Social Democratic Party. Initially, the party operated independently within the Vaellenian region with limited success, never gaining a single seat in the Assembly. As such, in 1916 the party officially signed an electoral agreement with the PSD to only participate in local elections, endorsing PSD candidates on the national level. This agreement initially worked very well, due to the similar political outlooks of both parties. Vaellenian PSD members would regularly promote the interests of the Vaellenian region in addition to their advocacy of socialist or social democratic policy. The agreement, set to only last 50 years was eventually extended to 100 after the early success of the PSD-SPV alliance. The election of Erwann Berthou to Consulship in 1924 can be seen to illustrate the strength of this political alliance in the early twentieth century.
Despite this, throughout the 1940s and 50s the two parties can be seen to have drifted apart somewhat, with more radical members of the SPV directly advocating for Vaellenian independence. Although initially only confined to a select few members of the SPV, a commitment to Vaellenian independence was codified in the party's manifesto in 1959. In conflict with the electoral agreement signed in 1916, the party committed itself to run independently of the PSD in the upcoming elections. Ultimaely the SPV's leadership was persuaded against this after the PSD promised to call a referendum on Vaellenian independence if they won the 1961 election. As a result of the PSD's victory, the referendum was called, in which 68.2% of all voters were opposed to independence. The defeat in the referendum set the SPV back politically, relegating the party to a little more than a wing of the PSD.
Despite this setback, the Vaellenian nationalist movement had not disappeared and gained considerable momentum throughout the 70s and 80s. As such, under the Pegrant government of 1994-1999 the Vaellenian devolved government was established after considerable pressure from the SPV. A referendum on the issue saw 78.2% of all voters in favour of the creation of a devolved Assembly. Since its inception, the SPV has been a dominant force within the Vaellenian Assembly. The passage of the Parliamentary Reform Act of 1996 also gave the SPV considerably more influence, allowing the party to better compete for seats within the Midrasian Senate.
Twenty-first Century
Since the creation of the devolved Assembly the SPV has drifted significantly from the PSD. Whilst the SPV has not embraced the movement toward centrism as has taken place in the PSD, the party has also come to embrace movements promoting an independent Vaellenian identity, both through cultural and educational initiatives. In 2006 the party announced that it would not be renewing its electoral pact with the PSD, allowing it to fully participate in Midrasian general elections. This announcement led many members to defect to the PSD. In spite of this, the party has maintained a considerable following.
The party made considerable gains in the Public Assembly and Senate during the upcoming elections, under the leadership of Rozenn Le Guen. The party was able to secure 12 seats in the Assembly and 6 seats in the Senate, raising suggestions that the party's increased support may lead it to push for more powers for the Vaellenian government or a referendum on Vaellenian independence.
Ideology
The Vaellenian People's Party identifies as a regionalist political party and thus seeks the betterment of the Vaellenian region within the Midrasian state. Despite this, the party has suggested that it may consider holding an independence referendum on the status of the Vaellenian region, provided there is sufficient public interest on the matter. Despite this, for the most part, the party advocates for more powers to be devolved to the Vaellenian government in Berghelling.
The party's main platform as outlined in their 2017 manifesto is as follows:
- Devolution of further powers regarding education and taxation to the Vaellenian Assembly
- Increased education initiatives to promote the use of the Vaellenian language
- Increased subsidies for bus services
- Increase taxes on highest earners
- Tighten laws regarding tax avoidance
- Double fines for littering and violation of environmental laws
- Creation of a green investment bank for the Vaellenian region
- Promote greater ties between Vaellenia, Cuirpthe, and tir Lhaeraidd
Electoral performance
Parliament
| Election year | Public Assembly | Government | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # of overall votes |
% of overall vote |
# of overall seats won |
+/– | ||
| 2017 | 1,364,158 | 2.1 % | 12 / 572
|
 12
|
in coalition |