United Akashi
United Akashi 明石連合 𐌰ᚴ𐌰𐍊𐌴 𐌰𐌹𐌽𐌰𐌼𐌿𐌽𐌳𐌹𐌸𐌰 𐌳𐌰𐌹𐌻ᚴ𐌾𐍉 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Abbreviation | UA |
| Founded | 1969 |
| Dissolved | 1990 |
| Merged into | Moderate People's Party |
| Ideology | |
| Political position | Centre-right |
| National affiliation | Light blue bloc |
| Colours | Turquoise |
United Akashi (Miranian: 明石連合 Akashi rengō; Gothic: 𐌰ᚴ𐌰𐍊𐌴 𐌰𐌹𐌽𐌰𐌼𐌿𐌽𐌳𐌹𐌸𐌰 𐌳𐌰𐌹𐌻ᚴ𐌾𐍉 Akaśe Ainamundiþa Dailkjō) was a liberal conservative political party in Akashi.
Formed in 1969, it became one of Akashi's main centre-right parties, and a founding member of the light blue bloc. It merged into the Moderate People's Party in 1990.
History
Early years
The UA was founded in 1969, by liberal conservatives. Being founded during the Summer of Freedom, it strongly emphasised civic nationalism in its program, appealing to the fear of ethnic conflict raised by the Váli's Blot riots.
Its first general election result, in 1970, was disappointing: it only won 7 seats, making it one of the smaller formations in the National Assembly.
Right battles
The collapse of the National Union as a major party in 1972 opened up space for the other parties to advance. However, the right-wing faced several disadvantages: a dispersed vote due to multiple parties, the Liberal Party struggling in the role of centre-right standard-bearer, and a fierce enmity with the hardline dark blue bloc, in contrast to the stronger cooperation of the left and centre-left.
The breakthrough occurred after the "kibi-yuru war" left the progressive conservative faction in control of the Conservative National Party, repositioning it in the light blue bloc. The UA joined the centre-right coalition formed after 1982, but its unwieldy size caused rows over allocation of cabinet posts. The CNP's landslide in the "blue wave" of 1986 led it to exit the coalition but provide outside support.
During the neondai, the UA's most high-profile success came from Emi Hanamura's victory in the 1985 presidential election. Emi went on to serve three terms as President of Akashi, earning high praise for her conduct in the role.
During the consolidation of the light blue bloc in the 1990s, the UA agreed to merge with the new Moderate People's Party. The merger took effect before the 1990 general election.
Ideology
The UA was a liberal conservative party, and predominantly civic nationalist. It advocated for going beyond Akashi's Miranian–Gothic dual identity towards a more cosmopolitan one — a preoccupation it shared with the Liberal Party.
Election results
National Assembly
| Election | Party list | Constituency | Seats | +/– | Status | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PR votes | % | STV votes | % | ||||
| 1970 | 277.729 | 5,8% | 119.846 | 2,5% | 7 / 200
|
 7
|
Opposition |
| 1972 | 290.335 | 5,8% | 154.831 | 3,1% | 10 / 200
|
3
|
Opposition |
| 1974 | 284.046 | 5,5% | 138.969 | 2,7% | 7 / 200
|
 3
|
Opposition |
| 1978 | 287.981 | 5,2% | 161.323 | 2,9% | 9 / 200
|
2
|
Opposition |
| 1980 | 440.048 | 7,8% | 461.591 | 8,2% | 16 / 200
|
7
|
Interim |
| 1982 | 415.296 | 7,2% | 351.083 | 6,1% | 23 / 400
|
7
|
Coalition |
| 1986 | 208.245 | 3,5% | 190.606 | 3,2% | 13 / 400
|
10
|
Outside support (1986–1989) |
| Opposition (1989–1990) | |||||||
Presidency
| Election | Candidate | First round | Second round | Result | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Votes | % | |||
| 1970 | No candidate | |||||
| 19751 | Eiichi Watanabe | 1.331.478 | 25,5% | 2.458.625 | 49,8% | Lost |
| 1980 | Sozen Maeno | 175.084 | 3,1% | Lost | ||
| 1985 | Emi Hanamura | 2.605.512 | 44,8% | 3.440.843 | 62,0% | Won |
1 Jointly endorsed with the National Democratic Party.
