Caldish Independence Party

Caldish Independence Party Páirtí Neamhspleáchais na Glaíteann
Leader	Aisling Nic an t-Saoir
Founded	2005
Ideology	Euclocepticism Souverainism Singe-issue politics Populism
Political position	Syncretic
Colours	Lavender
Comhthionól Náisiúnta	0 / 399
Euclean Parliament	1 / 20
Politics of Caldia Political parties

The Caldish Independence Party (Ghaillish: Páirtí Neamhspleáchais na Glaíteann; PNG) is a political party in Caldia. It was established in 2005 and has representation in local government, county government, and the Euclean Parliament.

The party presents itself as single-issue with the goal of securing a Caldish withdrawal from the Euclozone. It supports the reintroduction of the Caldish coróin as the national currency. Commentators in the Caldish press have described the party as populist.

History

In the aftermath of the 2005 Global Financial Crisis, Free Market Party leader Seán Mac Diarmaid began to move the party to the right on many social issues. This marked a significant departure from the leadership of Áine Ní Raghallaigh, who supported right-wing economic policies but took a neutral approach to social issues. Figures within the PMSA's moderate wing were upset by this approach.

In September 2005, many party figures associated with Ní Raghallaigh and her predecessor Eoin Ó Corráin announced this exit from the PMSA and the establishment of a new party. Ó Corráin, who was the PMSA's founder and first leader, supported the creation of a new party focused on supporting a Caldish withdrawal from the Euclozone. The party had no representation at its founding, but won a single constituency seat in 2007 that it held in 2012. The party won an additional five seats in the 2017 election, its best ever performance. In 2019, the party lost all of its seats during the snap election. It later went on to win one of Caldia's 20 seats in the Euclean Parliament in June 2019.

Ideology and support base

The party describes itself as single-issue and Eucloceptic. It claims to be a catch-all party for those who wish to see the restoration of Caldia's national currency and sovereignty. In the party's 2019 platform, it described itself as neither left nor right.

The party calls for Caldia's withdrawal from the Euclozone. As of 2019, the party officially supported a referendum to achieve this. However, senior figures within the party such as Aisling Nic an t-Saoir, the current leader, have indicated the party would support any attempts to do so in the legislature. The party wants the coróin to be reintroduced the national currency. For its rhetoric and positions on the Euclean Community, the party is frequently described as populist by Caldish commentators and academics.

The party's primary support base was in County Holyhead, which elected a PNG candidate in 2007, 2012, and 2017. Many of the party's supporters are middle or upper class. In 2019, many of these voters supported the PNG over the PMSA. Perceived extremism of the PMSA pushed some voters to support the PNG. The party has some support in working class neighborhoods and cities. One of its most prominent supporters is Naomhán Còmhan, a linguists and academic, who identifies as a council communist.

Electoral results

Comhthionól Náisiúnta

Election year	Votes	%	# of overall seats won	+/-	Government
2007	94,892	1.46 (#8)	1 / 399	1	in opposition to to Liberty government
2012	100,389	1.48 (#8)	1 / 399		in opposition to Liberty-Centre minority government
2017	199,270	2.95 (#9)	6 / 399	5	in opposition to Liberty-Centre-DG government
2019	147,389	2.29 (#8)	0 / 399	6	extra-parliamentary opposition to Social Democratic government

Euclean Parliament

Election year	Votes	%	# of overall seats won	+/-	Government
2019	200,183	4.03 (#5)	1 / 20	1	in opposition