Social Democratic Party (Caldia)

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Social Democratic Party
Páirtí Sóisialach Daonlathach
LeaderStiofán Mac Suibhne
Secretary-GeneralAingealag Ní Bhraonáin
Founded1912
HeadquartersSíocháin Building
Spálgleann, Caldia
Youth wingYoung Social Democrats
Membership (2015)65,612
IdeologySocial democracy
Democratic socialism
Political positionCentre-left
International affiliationProgressive International
Euclean Parliament groupSocialist Alternative for Euclea
Euclean partySocialist Alternative for Euclea
Colours  Red
Tionól
218 / 399
Euclean Parliament
9 / 20
County councils
199 / 506

The Social Democratic Party (Ghaillish: Páirtí Sóisialach Daonlathach; PSD), usually referred to as just the Social Democrats (Daonlathaigh Shóisialta) is a social-democratic political party in Caldia. The party is the largest in Caldia's parliament with 218 seats. Founded in 1912, the party is the second oldest active political party. The PSD has a close relationship with the Caldish Trade Union Confederation, the largest in the country.

Alongside its main rival, the Liberty Party, the PSD has been one of two parties to form a government since the 1930s. The first Social Democratic government was formed in 1935. As of 2020, there have been eight PSD taoiseachs.

Traditionally, the party is committed to social democratic ideals. It supports a strong welfare state, public ownership, and a social market economy. Starting in the 1980s, the party began to support economic liberalism. This was abandoned in the 2000s and the party continued to advocate for a strong governmental role in economic and social policy.

The current party leader since 2017 is Stiofán Mac Suibhne, who has served as Taoiseach of Caldia since 2019. He led the party to its first electoral victory since 1997 in the 2019 snap election.It sends 9 MEPs to the Euclean Parliament. It is a member of the Socialist Alternative for Euclea and cooperates closely with other social-democratic political parties in Euclea.

History

Origins

The PSD was originally founded in 1912 by the leaders of the Caldish Trade Union Confederation as the group's political wing. Historically, the party boasts strong ties to organized labor and the nation's unions. It was established following a split within the Caldish Section of the Workers' International between the trade unionists and the councilists.

Post-Occupation

The Social Democrats overtook the Caldish Democrats after the rise of the Liberty Party in 1937. The party's first Taoiseach Seamus Macaulay took power in 1952. Under Taoiseach Máire Ní Néill, the Social Democrats established an expansive welfare state. The reforms were very costly and were targeted by Taoiseach Flowers, who moved to totally abolish the system. Taoiseach Niamh Nic Uilliam, who was elected after Flowers, rebuilt the Caldish welfare state to be smaller and more efficient. She also launched a massive overhaul of the education system, raising it to global prominence.

Under Taoiseach Nic Uilliam the party began to pursue Third Way policies in order to offer what Nic Uilliam called a "humane alternative" to the neoliberalism of the Flowers Era. As a result, the party saw massive internal discontent and eventually the more left-wing faction of the party split off to form the Industrial Labour Party.

21st century

The Social Democrats suffered a landslide defeat in the 2002 Comhthionól election and Nic Uilliam was taken out in a leadership coup. Since then, the party has begun to abandon its neoliberal platform and moved farther left. It has not formed a government since 2002 and faced its fourth consecutive defeat in the 2017 general election. The party saw a rough campaign under Darragh Ballíck, who began feuding with the unions over his electoral alliance with the Greens.

Ideology and voter support

The PSD is a centre-left social democratic party. It is leading party on the Caldish political left and has been described as a big tent party for the left. Its elected officials range from those who espouseThird Way to democratic socialism. This has been reflected in the party's leaders and policy platforms.

The party maintains a close relationship with trade unions and has advanced union interests since its founding. It supports a welfare state and has opposed cuts to spending on social programs. The PSD has increased spending on such programs while leading governments.

Many of the party's supporters are active members of the workforce and are affiliated with trade unions. Much of the party's support base is urban.

Electoral History

Comhthionól Náisiúnta

Election year Votes % # of overall seats won +/- Government
1982 1,396,420 26.55 (#2)
124 / 399
Decrease 55 in opposition to Liberty government
1987 1,669,804 31.14 (#2)
148 / 399
Increase 24 in opposition to Liberty government
1992 2,311,083 42.36 (#1)
221 / 399
Increase 73 in government with a majority
1997 1,822,054 32.03 (#1)
173 / 399
Decrease 48 in government as senior coalition partner with Greens
2002 1,200,281 20.60 (#2)
102 / 399
Decrease 71 in opposition to Liberty government
2007 1,539,822 23.69 (#2)
124 / 399
Increase 22 in opposition to Liberty-Centre government
2012 1,510,076 22.21 (#2)
129 / 399
Increase5 in opposition to Liberty-Centre minority government
2017 1,365,627 20.23 (#2)
117 / 399
Decrease 12 in opposition to Liberty-Centre-DG government
2019 3,140,869 48.80 (#1)
218 / 399
Increase 101 in government with a majority

Euclean Parliament

Election year Votes % # of overall seats won +/- Government
2014 1,057,892 22% (#2)
5 / 20
Decrease 1 in government with a majority
2019 1,936,818 39.04 (#1)
9 / 20
Increase 4 in government with a majority

Leaders

Stiofán Mac Suibhne, the current party leader

Social Democratic Taoiseachs

  • Tomás Mag Fhearadhaigh (March 1935 - June 1937)
  • Seamus Macaulay (June 1952 - June 1957)
  • Máire Ní Néill (June 1962 -June 1972)
  • Rory Mac Ailín (June 1972 - March 1975)
  • Mícheál Ó Muilleoir (June 1977 - June 1982)
  • Niamh Nic Uilliam (June 1992 - March 2002)
  • Séamus Ó Faoláin (March 2002 - June 2002)
  • Stiofán Mac Suibhne (February 2019 - Present)