National Bloc (Alsland)

National Bloc Nasjonaal blok Rahvuslik blokk
Abbreviation	NB RB
President	Felkert Smits
Secretary-General	Its Zandstra
Deputy President	Ermnbryht Vrihte
Founder	Erlend Peetre Loof Schaafsma Tsjaable Wouda Villem Mand
Founded	11 June 1924 (1924-06-11)
Merger of	Dellish People's Party Democratic Party Rjocht
Headquarters	61U8 Jansenstrjitte Yndyk
Newspaper	New Republic
Student wing	Students for Alsland
Youth wing	Young Bloc
Membership (2021)	42,192
Ideology	Liberal conservatism Pro-Eucleanism Civic nationalism Formerly: Catch-all party
Political position	Centre-right
Euclean Parliament group	Alliance of Conservatives and Democrats for Euclea
Colors	Blue   Grey
Slogan	"With the people"
Folkssenaat	8 / 201
Federal Council	4 / 96
Community Parliaments	29 / 608
Euclean Parliament	3 / 24
Website
nasjonaalblok.com
Political parties

The National Bloc (Dellish: Nasjonaal blok, Martish: Rahvuslik blokk; NB/RB), also colloquially referred to as the Bloc, is a centre-right political party in Alsland. The Bloc is the largest party in Alsland and governed the country continuously between 1929 and 1990 through various coalitions. The bloc is a member of the Alliance of Conservatives and Democrats for Euclea group within the Euclean Parliament.

Since 2023 the Bloc has been led by Felkert Smits. The Bloc has 8 seats in the Folkssenaat since the 2022 legislative election and 3 Members of the Euclean Parliament. It has an official cooperation agreement with the Martish Democratic Party who sit as members of the Bloc's parliamentary faction in the Folkssenaat. The bloc was traditionally a centrist coalition comprised of social democrats, liberals and secular conservatives primarily. During the latter half of the 20th century the bloc was a major proponent of Euclean Integration, federalism and Alslandic nationalism. The bloc defines itself as "a big tent political movement based on protecting Alslandic values of Freedom, Democracy, tolerance and international cooperation." Between 1929 and 1940 the Bloc's rule over Alsland was described as authoritarian which led to the coinage of the term Illiberal democracy to describe its governance of Alsland during the post-war period.

Since 1990 the Bloc has lost its position as the dominant party of Alslandic centre-right in politics in part due to the separation of its former social democratic and liberal factions from the party. Despite this the party has participated in every coalition in Alsland with only three exceptions since 1929.

Ideology

Historically the party claimed to be a secular big tent movement and had strong social democratic, liberal and conservative factions. Its big tent status allowed the party to retain public support until much of the party's social democratic faction withdrew from the party.

Policy overview

• Economy and Finance
  • Support for a Market economy
  • Keeping a Balanced budget
  • Welfare state status quo

• Social and federal affairs
  • Equal status for Dellish and Martish
  • Home rule for the communities
  • Support for same-sex marriage
  • Secularism
  • Reduction in immigration
  • Opposition to Euthanasia
  • Universal Health Insurance
  • Federalism

• Foreign affairs
  • Euclofederalism
  • ECDTO membership
  • Internationalism
  • Pragmatic relationship with foreign partners

Organisation

Wings

Throughout the National Bloc's history, the presence of Factions has featured heavily in the party's ideology. Whilst the party's constitution mandated that all major factions must be represented in its governing board it also heavily favoured the larger and established factions within the party. Under the leadership of Illimar Rootare the party's rules regarding factions were changed which allowed various minor right-wing factions to be elected to the governing board to the annoyance of the party's liberal and social democratic factions.

The party's current rules allow for factions to be formed with the support of 5% of the party's membership. To be represented in the Bloc's governing board it must have the support of at least 10% of the party's membership and 10% of the party's elected officials.

Current factions

As of the party's 2019 congress the party's current factional composition consists of the following factions:

Historical factions

The following factions were historically influential within the National Bloc or governed the party:

• Social Democrats and Progressives (Sosjaaldemokraten en Progressiven) (1924—1989)
  • Sosjaal-Demokratyske en Arbeid Beweging (1924—1987) (social democracy, labourism)
  • Foarútgong '65 (1965—1989) (progressivism, social liberalism)
• The Radical Centre (It Radikaal Sintrum) (1961—2009)
  • The Centre (1961—2009) (liberalism)
  • Radical Movement (1961—2017) (Radicalism)
• Freethinking Faction (Frijtinkende Fraksje) (1924—2008)
  • National Democratic Group (1924—2008) (conservative liberalism)
  • Mûneherst Group (1967—2008) (national liberalism)
  • Wikseljild! (2005—2022) (populism, reformism)
• Rootare List (Rootare List) (1982—2000)
  • Rootare List (1982—2000) (social conservatism, traditional conservatism)