Conservative Nationals (Hverland)

Conservative Nationals Þjóðvarðarhægrar
Leader	Halldóra Jónsdóttir
Founded	1969
Preceded by	The Conservatives
Ideology	Liberal conservatism
Political position	Centre-right
Fjallting seats	13 / 101
Municipality seats	41 / 475
Sámedagi seats	1 / 31
Website
cn.hv
Political parties

The Conservative Nationals (Hverlandic: Þjóðvarðarhægrar) is a centre-right political party led by Halldóra Jónsdóttir. Founded in 1969, the party has consistently maintained its liberal economic ideals, though recently has adopting a more socially liberal stance. It holds 13 out of the 101 seats in the Fjallting and 41 of 475 seats in local municipalities.

History

The party was founded in 1969 as a successor to The Conservatives. This shift represented an evolution of its foundational beliefs. While retaining its commitment to free markets and social conservatism, the Conservative Nationals started acknowledging the need to adapt to a changing world. Recognizing that a degree of social flexibility was essential for societal cohesion, the party began to liberalize its stance on various social issues such as civil liberties and social justice.

The 1980s and '90s were a period of introspection for the Conservative Nationals, as the advent of globalization forced a reevaluation of traditional conservative doctrine. The party thus introduced policies that sought to harmonize free-market capitalism with a social safety net, aiming to create a more balanced and inclusive form of conservatism that could appeal to a new generation of voters.

In recent years, the Conservative Nationals have played an active role in debates over immigration, national identity, and Hverland's place in a rapidly changing global landscape. They have championed a vision of a unified yet diverse Hverland, emphasizing the importance of social cohesion and a strong national character.

The party has had modest electoral success. In 1993, their presidential candidate Sigvor Jórísdóttir came in second with 35.6% of the votes in the first round and 47.7% in the second round. The party did not participate in the presidential elections of 1997 and 2009. In 2003, they received only 3.1% of the votes, coming in 5th. In the most recent presidential election of 2021 the party secured 14.9% of the votes and came in 4th.

Ideology

The Conservative Nationals are firmly rooted in centre-right ideology, endorsing a mix of liberal economic policies. The party stands for deregulation, privatization, and marketization as means to stimulate economic growth and innovation. On social issues, it has historically taken a conservative approach but has become more liberal in recent years.

Policy positions

Key policy positions of the Conservative Nationals include:

• Economic liberalism: The party believes in fostering a free and competitive market, arguing that this allows for optimal economic growth. They advocate for deregulation, privatisation, and marketisation, viewing these as key mechanisms for promoting innovation and entrepreneurial activity.
• Defense and NATO membership: The party asserts that Hverland should establish a certain level of military capability and commit to joining NATO. This, they argue, would ensure national security and strengthen Hverland's position on the international stage.
• Immigration policy: Conservative Nationals opposes any loosening of Hverland's relatively strict immigration policies, advocating for further tightening for non-European or non-North American immigrants. They believe in maintaining a certain demographic balance to preserve the country's cultural heritage.
• Social policies: Although the party was originally socially conservative, its stance on social issues has evolved to become more liberal, reflecting changing societal attitudes. However, the party still holds a conservative stance on some issues, such as the preservation of traditional family values.

Voter base

The voter base of the Conservative Nationals is diverse, encompassing economic conservatives, free-market proponents, and individuals who lean towards conservative social values. The party's recent shift towards social liberalism has also allowed it to attract more moderate voters, expanding its base.

Electoral results

Fjallting

Election	Votes	%	Seats	±	Government
2014			9 / 101		Opposition
2018	8,166	9.56	10 / 101	1	Opposition
2022	11,541	13.07	13 / 101	3	Coalition

President

Election year	Candidate	First round			Second round			Result
		Votes	%	Rank	Votes	%	Rank
1993	Sigvor Jórísdóttir	19,935	35.6	2nd	23,920	47.7	2nd	Lost
1997	Did not participate
2003	Björn Ólafsson	1,867	3.1	5th	N/A			Lost
2009	Did not participate
2015	Guðmundur Jóhannesson	16,090	22.1	3rd	N/A			Lost
2021	Halldóra Jónsdóttir	11,743	14.9	4th	N/A			Lost

Sámedagi

Election	Votes	%	Seats	±	Status
2023	155	5.12	1 / 31	0	Other parties

See also

• List of political parties in Hverland