Democratic Coalition (Lihnidos)
Democratic Coalition Δημοκρατικός Συνασπισμός | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leader | Fania Zarou |
| Chairperson | Ermis Grivas |
| Founder | Karolos Mires |
| Founded | 21 September 1900 |
| Preceded by | Labor Union |
| Headquarters | 30 Stagena Avenue, Xanthi, Lihnidos |
| Student wing | Coalition of Democratic Students |
| Youth wing | Coalition of Democratic Youth |
| Membership (2018) |  381,528 |
| Ideology | Progressivism Social liberalism |
| Colors | Orange |
| National Assembly | 137 / 350
|
| Provincial councils | 54 / 140
|
| Provincial governments | 5 / 20
|
| Local governments | 12,961 / 34,547
|
The Democratic Coalition (Hellenic: Δημοκρατικός Συνασπισμός), also known as the DC or the Coalition, is a center-left political party in Lihnidos. The DC is one of the two major political parties in Lihnidos. The party was formed in 1900 as a successor to the Labor Union Party. The Labor Union Party was reformed following the death of Amycus Petrides in 1881 who had been elected as leader of the party in 1874. Elected to succeed him, Karolos Mires was a known moderate who had campaigned since his election to the National Assembly for the reformation of the party in order to appeal to a broader base. After years of internal party disputes and debate, the Labor Union Party was officially reorganized into the Democratic Coalition in 1900. Karolo Mires campaigned extensively for the party in the lead up to the 1902 general election. Health complications resulted in Mires's death in 1901 prior to the next years general election, damaging the party leadership's enthusiasm and morale. In the first election since its formation, the party gained twenty-four seats, proving the effectiveness of its rebranding. The Democratic Coalition dominated Lihnidosi politics until the merging of the Conservative Party and National Party into the Conservative-National Alliance in 1947. The party has won fifteen of thirty general elections since its creation. Eight DC prime ministers have led the party in government for sixty years since 1900. The longest serving leader of the party was Sinon Savas who served as party leader for twenty-four years and as prime minister half of that time.
The Democratic Coalition has been the second largest party and the main opposition party in the National Assembly since 2006. The party gained two seats in 2010 and lost seats again in the 2014 general election under Fania Zarou. The 2018 general election resulted in a hung parliament when the Conservative-National Alliance lost its majority by six seats. The Democratic Coalition gained eight seats in the 2018 general election, however it did not have enough seats to form a government following the Populist People's Party signing a confidence and supply agreement with the Conservative-National Alliance. Fania Zarou has served as the leader of the party since 2002 and served as prime minister from 2002 to 2006.
History
Founding
The Democratic Coalition was founded on 21 September 1900 as a successor to the Labor Union Party. Prior to the founding of the Democratic Coalition, the Labor Union Party was one of three parties represented in the National Assembly and had spent a combined forty years in government since its creation in 1818. The creation of the Democratic Coalition was a result of a reformation in the Labor Union Party in an effort to shift party policy towards the center.
The rebranding of the Labor Union Party into the Democratic Coalition was a result of five years of internal party disputes and debate. Following the death of LUP Leader Amycus Petrides in 1881, Karolos Mires was elected to the position of party leader. Mires was a known moderate in the party, and his election as leader was a major blow to the radical wing of the party. Discussion on rebranding the LUP began in 1895 following poor results for the party in the 1894 general election. Mires blamed the poor electoral results on party members' continued support for radical policies despite the party platform having made a shift to the center since Mires's election as leader. The renewed push by Mires and other moderate members of the party for a rebranding of the party was opposed by several members. There were two unsuccessful attempts in 1896 to oust Mires as the leader of the party, and one unsuccessful attempt in 1897. On 19 November 1897, the party, at the behest of Mires and other party leadership, expelled four members of the who had been found attempting to undermine Mires and his allies by spreading false information to the news media.
In 1899, after several years of negotiations within the party, Mires announced the party's intention to be renamed to the Democratic Coalition to the National Board of Elections. The board was quick to review and approve the party's request, which was spurred by the upcoming general election in 1900. The party officially changed names to the Democratic Coalition on 21 September 1900, only weeks before the October general election. The party went on to win an additional twenty-four seats in the election, securing a majority and entering government.
Policies
Economic policy
Traditionally the Democratic Coalition has had an economic policy that supported free market economics while ensuring easy access to welfare for the needy and a social safety net. The party has fought against the recent move by the Conservative-National government to make welfare less available by increasing requirements. Recently party members have pushed for a higher minimum wage, looking for an increase from X10 to no less than X13. Labor unions have received support from the party and are one of the party's biggest supporters. According to Fania Zarou, business regulations that have been cut under consecutive Conservative-National governments since 2006 that had been imposed by Democratic Coalition governments would be reintroduced.
The party supports a progressive tax system to assist in ensuring economic equality by having higher earners paying more in taxes. Recent tax cuts for individuals have been opposed by the party which has labeled the cuts as a benefit for the wealthy that increased the burden on the middle class. Recent cuts to corporate taxes have also been opposed by the party.
Social policy
The Democratic Coalition has always supported social equality and increased social freedoms for minority groups. The party has campaigned for the expansion of access to abortion, increased freedoms and rights for LGBT individuals, the legalization of recreational drugs, and racial equality. The party supports multiculturalism and is supportive of the Belisarian Community's free movement agreement while critical of the Conservative-National government for its role in the strict requirements it has placed on immigrants and refugees.
Recent attempts by the party to introduce legislation to expand abortion access and increase rights for LGBT people have been unsuccessful. Under a Democratic Coalition government in 1980 the party passed legislation that permitted abortion to protect a woman's life and in instances of rape or fetal defects. In 1987, the right to an abortion in the instance of fetal defects was made illegal by a Conservative-National government. Bills that would have made access to abortion legal for physical and mental health of the mother and child, as well as allowing abortion into the third trimester have failed to make it out of committee in recent years, while similar bills failed to pass under Democratic Coalition governments due to defections within the party. Similar results were shown with recent attempts to obtain legal recognition of same-sex relationships and the right of LGBT individuals or partners to adopt.
Health and drug policy
The Democratic Coalition supports universal healthcare in Lihnidos and has implemented universal healthcare policies in the past. Universal healthcare was implemented in 2003 under a Democratic Coalition government, but was later partially undone by Conservative-National governments. The party seeks to reimplement policies and laws that have been reversed and repealed by the Conservative-National Alliance, including increased funding for government services and regulation of private healthcare providers and insurance companies.
Several members of the party support the deregulation and decriminalization of several drugs. During the 2018 general election campaign Fania Zarou supported the legalization of marijuana for both medicinal and recreational uses. There are factions of the party that do not support the decriminalization of certain drugs and wish to keep the current laws in place, resulting in a difficult time for the party changing drug laws.
Education policy
The party has supported increased funding for public universities and a cap on university tuition fees. While there is some support in the party for a free university education, this has not become a party of the party's platform. During the 2018 general election campaign, there was a clear split among candidates on the issue, with some calling for a free university education for everyone, some for free university education for low income families, and some who rejected the idea of free university education. During Democratic Coalition governments there has been an increase in grants given to students in order to help pay for university. The party supports increased standards for students and expanded access to nursery school and preschool for children.
Energy and environmental policy
Party members believe that renewable and green energy should be expanded and encouraged through subsidies and public campaigns to educate voters on the importance of renewable energy. The party seeks to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and to cut the amount of fracking operations that are present in the western part of Lihnidos. Cuts to regulations on the fracking industry have been criticized by the party, which has promised to increase regulations on fracking and other environmental areas that have been neglected by the Conservative-National government.
Justice and crime policy
The Democratic Coalition believes that there should be a reduction in mandatory minimum sentences for first-time offenders of non-violent and drug offenses. Increased sentencing and stronger enforcement of laws has resulted in more crowded prisons. Government reports in 2009 have shown that abuse and malpractice among prison administrators and guards was a result of lessened oversight on privatized prisons, which resulted in the closure of several of the offending facilities. The party, which had previously been against further use of privatized prisons, promised the closure of all private prisons. Other policies supported by the party is the end of the death penalty and reduced surveillance on the population in order to protect the privacy rights of citizens.
Defense policy
Democratic Coalition Deputies in the National Assembly have been against raising defense spending since 2010. The party has fought increasingly with the Conservative-National government over its near yearly increase in defense spending in budgets. Lihnidosi involvement in the Belisarian Community mutual defense agreement is supported by the party and sighted by some as a reason that defense spending does not need to be as high as it currently is. Several Democratic Deputies have accused the Belisarian Community's military policies as interventionist and a danger to the security of the continent, however the claims have been rejected by other members of the Democratic Coalition and other parties.
Foreign policy
The Democratic Coalition pushes a non-interventionist foreign policy that focuses on positive relations with countries across the world while limiting any involvement in their affairs. The party encourages increased involvement in the Belisarian Community and some members have voiced support for the organization furthering its involvement in the affairs of member nations in the hope of a more aligned bloc. Much like the Belisarian Community, the party is a supportive of the Forum of Nations and its goal to increase stability across the world.
The party has pushed free trade policies and has rejected the use of tariffs in the past. While the Belisarian Community controls the trade policies of its member nations, the party has occasionally been critical of the trade practices of the organization.
Organization
Structure
The Democratic Coalition is comprised of the national-level party and provincial-level party organizations. While there are constituency-level party associations, these typically have little power in decision making and candidate selection. Most decisions regarding the party's direction, funding, and campaigning are made on the national level by the Democratic Coalition General Headquarters, which is comprised of several committees and boards that report to the party leader and chairman. The Coalition Policy Committee is the most senior committee that directs most party activity. Members of the policy committee are selected by provincial party organizations, who in turn elect the party chairman. The party chairman works in conjunction with the party leader, who is elected from among Deputies in the National Assembly.
Provincial party organizations are responsible for the selection of candidates on the local, constituency, and provincial level. The provincial organizations are often delegated authority over campaigning during elections as well as some monetary responsibilities. The administrative body of the provincial organizations are appointed by the Coalition Policy Committee after receiving input from Deputies and other party representatives from the province. Constituency associations are primarily collections of party supporters who drive "get out the vote" and campaign efforts. These associations have littler say in candidate selection and have no control over party funding.
Membership
As of December 2018 the Democratic Coalition had 381,528 members, making it the second largest political party in Lihnidos following the Conservative-National Alliance. All individuals who had been members of the Labor Union Party had their membership transferred to membership for the Democratic Coalition. There was an increase in members allowing their party membership to expire following the party's rebranding, however the decrease was offset by an increase in new members joining the party. Party membership peaked in the late 1910s, but decreased under Daemon Rosi. Membership levels had recovered by the 1960s and reached its highest point in the 1993. Under Fania Zarou's leadership the party has once again shifted policy to the left, and membership has fluctuated.
The party maintains a membership fee of X25 annually. The membership fee is lowered to X18 if a member is under the age of 25, retired, or is not employed full-time.
Candidates
The Democratic Coalition was the only party to hold party primaries to select candidates until 1957 when the practice ended. The party currently allows provincial party organizations to select candidates on the local, constituency, and provincial levels. The method of selection varies slightly among provinces, however the most common method of selection is based on a candidate's ability to collect signatures. Top signature collectors are typically reviewed by selection committees looking a number of qualities, with one candidate ultimately being selected. In 2017 it was rumored that the party would possibly reintroduce primary elections for the 2018 general election, however there was no change in the candidate selection method.
Funding
The Democratic Coalition's primary funding sources are from labor unions, environmental groups, media corporations, and the financial sector. Soft money from labor unions comprises approximately 45% of the party's donations. Financial contributions by media corporations overwhelmingly go to the Democratic Coalition, with several contributing over 70% of their political contributions to the party. The National Board of Elections reported the total income of the Democratic Coalition in 2018 was X67.1 million with X61.2 million in expenditures.
Electoral campaigns and results
Campaigns are often managed by provincial party organizations with oversight by the Democratic Coalition General Headquarters. Provincial organizations will work closely with constituency associations in campaign and voter registration efforts. Campaigns are staffed by volunteers from local areas and occasionally by representatives from the party sent by the General Headquarters. Provincial party organizations are responsible for maintaining voter data. Funds raised by individual candidates are used on individual campaigns, while money raised by constituency associations and provincial organizations is managed by the General Headquarters and distributed to candidates at the discretion of the Coalition Policy Committee.
National Assembly
The following table shows the electoral performance of the Democratic Coalition in general elections since the party's creation in 1900.
| National Assembly of Lihnidos | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Election | Leader | Seats won | +/− | Rank | Government | Notes | ||
| 1902 | Teofile Frangos | 160 / 300
|
24
|
#1 | Government | |||
| 1906 | Teofile Frangos | 153 / 300
|
 7
|
#1 | Government | |||
| 1910 | Cassia Reme | 155 / 300
|
2
|
#1 | Government | |||
| 1914 | Kairos Scalas | 151 / 300
|
4
|
#1 | Government | |||
| 1918 | Daemon Rosi | 174 / 300
|
23
|
#1 | Government | |||
| 1922 | Daemon Rosi | 169 / 300
|
5
|
#1 | Government | |||
| 1926 | Daemon Rosi | 158 / 300
|
11
|
#1 | Government | |||
| 1930 | Daemon Rosi | 138 / 300
|
20
|
#2 | Opposition | |||
| 1934 | Sinon Savas | 143 / 300
|
5
|
#2 | Opposition | |||
| 1938 | Sinon Savas | 158 / 300
|
15
|
#1 | Government | |||
| 1942 | Sinon Savas | 163 / 300
|
5
|
#1 | Government | |||
| 1946 | Sinon Savas | 157 / 300
|
6
|
#1 | Government | |||
| 1950 | Sinon Savas | 139 / 300
|
18
|
#2 | Opposition | |||
| 1954 | Sinon Savas | 126 / 300
|
13
|
#2 | Opposition | |||
| 1958 | Evanthia Papa | 108 / 300
|
18
|
#2 | Opposition | |||
| 1962 | Alekos Barberis | 114 / 300
|
6
|
#2 | Opposition | |||
| 1966 | Damaris Gounaris | 137 / 300
|
23
|
#2 | Opposition | |||
| 1970 | Damaris Gounaris | 153 / 300
|
16
|
#1 | Government | |||
| 1974 | Damaris Gounaris | 138 / 300
|
15
|
#2 | Opposition | |||
| 1978 | Mihail Andreadis | 135 / 300
|
3
|
#2 | Opposition | |||
| 1982 | Mihail Andreadis | 140 / 300
|
5
|
#2 | Opposition | |||
| 1986 | Piero Kefalas | 139 / 300
|
1
|
#2 | Opposition | |||
| 1990 | Piero Kefalas | 184 / 350
|
45
|
#1 | Government | |||
| 1994 | Piero Kefalas | 184 / 350
|
|
#1 | Government | |||
| 1998 | Piero Kefalas | 168 / 350
|
16
|
#1 | Government | |||
| 2002 | Fania Zarou | 177 / 350
|
9
|
#1 | Government | |||
| 2006 | Fania Zarou | 141 / 350
|
36
|
#2 | Opposition | |||
| 2010 | Fania Zarou | 143 / 350
|
2
|
#2 | Opposition | |||
| 2014 | Fania Zarou | 129 / 350
|
14
|
#2 | Opposition | |||
| 2018 | Fania Zarou | 137 / 350
|
8
|
#2 | Opposition | |||