Millennium Progressive Party
Millennium Progressive Party | |
|---|---|
| File:MPP logo.png | |
| Founder | Feng Zhenggao |
| Founded | 8th February 1990 |
| Dissolved | 16th August 2005 |
| Headquarters | Taifeng Road, Rongzhup |
| Student wing | Progressive Student Network |
| Youth wing | Progressive Future |
| Ideology | Right-wing populism National Conservatism Xiaodongese nationalism Economic liberalism |
| Political position | Right-wing |
| Colors | Blue, black |
The Millennium Progressive Party (Xiaodongese: 千年进步党; Qiānnián Jìnbùdǎng) was a Xiaodongese political party that existed from 1990 to 2012 when it was deregistered by the electoral commission. During its existence it was the largest opposition political party in Xiaoodng.
The MPP was formed in 1990 by oligarch Feng Zhenggao who believed the ruling Xiaodong Regeneration Society was not representing the Xiaodongese people. Feng was a charismatic right-wing populist who believed in ultranationalism, neoconservatism and economic liberalism seeking to shrink the Xiaodongese state. The first election the MPP contested saw it become the largest opposition party, a feat it repeated in 1993, 1998 and 2003 the latter of which it got 56 seats and over 30% of the vote.
Following the 2003 election the MPP led in the polls for the first time with it being expected that Feng would become First Minister. However in June corruption cases opened against Feng whose media empire was accused of having criminal connections. Feng denied he had such connections, but the majority of presidium delegates decided to split from the MPP and form the New Progressive Party. Feng was eventually found guilty of corruption and fled from Xiaodong prior to the 2006 election which resulted in the remaining members of the MPP to lose almost all their seats whilst the New Progressive Party was routed with the People's Party becoming the largest opposition party. The MPP was subsequently dissolved and relaunched as the People Power party which supports much of the same policies the MPP advocated.
History
Formation
The Millennium Progressive Party was formed in 1990 by Feng Zhenggao. Feng was an oligarch who had made his fortune during the process of economic restructuring in Xiaodong during the 1980's who founded the Kuangdi Group in 1985, a conglomerate initially involved in the construction industry before moving into real estate. In 1989 Feng brought the newly privatised tabloid newspaper the Taixin Global Review for a deal over $1 million. At the time the Taixin Global Review was the second largest paper in Xiaodong after the Xiaodongese Observer. Feng was in 1990 estimated to be the richest man in Xiaodong through his property and media holdings with a networth of $1 billion.
Formally a supporter of the government of Qian Xingwen after 1988 Feng became disillusioned with the Xiaodong Regeneration Society beginning to promote his own political agenda in his Taixin Global Review. In 1990, he announced the formation of his own political "movement" named the Millennium Progressive Party.
Political success
Decline
Ideology
The MPP's political ideology closely followed that of Feng's own personal opinions. Feng was a Xiaodongese nationalist and a supporter of historical revisionism, calling Xiaodongese actions in the Senrian-Xiaodongese War to be "understandable" and that Xiaodong "had nothing to apologise to Senria for". Feng also promoted "Xiaodongese values" and stated that Xiaodong was superior to other nations. Much of Feng's rhetoric was labelled as racist and xenophobic.
Feng also called for economic liberalism, supporting deregulation, privatisation and cutting taxes. The MPP's 2003 campaign slogan was "More Patriotism, Less Government". Feng's aggressive nationalism, social conservatism and neoliberal views has often led to the MPP to be labelled as neoconservative or new right.
Political scientist Hu Guxiang called the MPP's platform a prime example in "right-wing populism" whilst the Xiaodongese Observer accused Feng of engaging in "demagogic fascism".