National Party (Vyvland)
National Party Nazonalpaart Nationaale Partij | |
|---|---|
| File:Nazonal.png | |
| Chairperson | Willem Winkelman |
| Deputy chairman | Friga Syfdals |
| Founded | November 11, 1984 |
| Merger of | New Nationalist Party National Party of North Vyvland |
| Headquarters | Staatsaas, 1 Plaac des Laans, Lorence |
| Youth wing | Nazonales vro Bemorjen |
| Ideology | right-wing populism conservatism nationalism |
| Esquarian Parliament group | Freedom and Sovereignty Union |
| Colours | Blue |
| Political position | Right to radical right |
| Parliament | 82 / 568
|
| Esquarian Parliament | 5 / 23
|
| Provincial Diets | 280 / 2,078
|
| Provincial Chancellors | 0 / 15
|
| Election symbol | |
| N | |
| Website | |
| http://www.nazonalpaart.vy | |
The National Party (Vyvlander: Nazonalpaart) is a Vyvlander right-wing populist, socially conservative, nationalist party. It is seen as something of a successor to the old South Vyvlander nationalist government. The National Party is a relatively traditionalist party, calling for the upholding of "traditional Vyvlander values". The Nationals hold the position of the Thirds (second-largest opposition party) in the Vyvlander Parliament. The party's vote share has increased in recent years due to the effects of Vyvland's precarious finance situation and the perceived ability of the Nationals to provide strong government. Recent polling has suggested their support for a large military has also won votes.
Political stances
The party is led by charismatic Willem Winkelman, known for his outspoken remarks about the "hyper-liberalisation" of Vyvland and disparaging remarks on the country's supposed liberal elite. He is often seen as a major vote-winner due to his distancing himself from the old nationalist South Vyvlander government with which the party has long been associated, as he hails from the northern province of Helland. The party focuses mainly on opposition to immigration and immigrants (it aims to restrict benefits to Vyvlander citizens only), excessive social welfare spending and criticising the three other main parties. The party is very supportive of reinstating Jungwakt, Vyvland's former form of compulsory military service for young people. The National Party also claims to be the party of lelsdadnes, the traditional concept of Vyvlander life and communities. Critics say that the Nationals' depiction of the concept of lelsdadnes is flawed.
History
The National Party was formed from the remains of the Nationalist Movement, the former governing party of South Vyvland. However, it also gained a few Christian Democratic Northern MPs, while losing many more extremist nationalists, many of whom became members of the Vyvlander Front. The party was known as the Niy Nazones (New Nationalists) until 1989, when the name was changed to the current one, in order to distance the party from the Southern nationalists. It has only had two spells in government, as a junior coalition partner of the Christian Democratic and Conservative Party between 1998 and 2002 under Prime Minister Rikard Fegaad, and under Abram Zymeker's two-year National Government from 1984 to 1986.
The Nationals' worst result, in the 2002 election, saw the party win only 7% of the vote and 39 seats, which forced it out of the its first spell in government after heavy criticism and scrutiny. However, since then, the National Party's popularity has experieced something of a resurgence after a change of direction to a more populist appeal before the 2005 election, accompanied by new leader Willem Winkelman, replacing the party's long-time previous leader, Gregor Stīnr.
Althoug the Nationals lost seats in the 2009 election, a result of over 12% in the 2013 election, giving it 82 seats, was the party's best result in twenty years. The party also had a very strong showing in the 2013 Esquarian Parliament elections, gaining five seats (its most to date) with 19.2% of the vote, 0.3% below the Socialists, placing the party third out of the Vyvlander parties. Much of this support was due to a strong performance by Willem Winkelman in the general election debates two weeks before the EP elections.
Support
Since reunification, the party's support dwindled and became mainly concentrated among older voters, especially in the south. The party's main support base lies in former Southern areas, and often among the working classes; as such, they are relatively anti-establishment and oppose the Vlud Laws. However, recent years have shown a growth in popularity throughout the country and across almost all demographics.
Elections
| Election | Seats | +/– | Government |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 82 / 568
|
 30
|
in opposition |
| 2009 | 52 / 568
|
 9
|
in opposition |
| 2005 | 61 / 580
|
22
|
in opposition |
| 2002 | 39 / 580
|
9
|
in opposition |
| 1998 | 48 / 580
|
18
|
in government |
| 1996 | 66 / 580
|
20
|
in opposition |
| 1994 | 86 / 580
|
7
|
in opposition |
| 1993 | 93 / 580
|
16
|
in opposition |
| 1989 | 109 / 580
|
26
|
in opposition |
| 1986 | 135 / 580
|
in opposition |