Political Parties of Vilzland

The Kingdom of Vilzland has four major political parties, which constantly contest for Senate control. They are torn on the ideas of left-right economics and culture, as well as questions of religion and monarchism. The person leading the major party in the Senate is the Prime Minister, however they can appoint a Deputy Prime Minister from another party if a coalition is in place, or if results were close.

Christian Democrats
The Christian Democrats are the oldest party in Vilzland, and are often considered the 'hegemonic party', given their strong track record of winning elections. Fundamentally, the Christian Democrats are socially and economically conservative, are heavily pro-monarchy and are staunchly driven by religious principles. On some occasions, they have been described as a mix of the autocracy of Thomas Hobbes and the religious guidance of John Locke. They prefer the status quo and wish to maintain the current system as it is, heavily criticising models proposed by other parties, notably the Democratic-Republicans.

The party has had a range of ideological shifts, from the paternalistic nature of Jochum Houtzagers to the more socially libertarian nature of Remi Badeaux and finally to the more militaristic and monarchic-nationalist stance of Nicolaas Stoevenbelt. The Christian Democrats focus heavily on the concept of religion and monarchism, which has allowed for some flexibility on how hard right the party actually is.

For most of their existence, they have battled hard with the Union-Vilzland but have more often than not been successful in these elections in winning Senate majorities, or enough for a coalition. However, with the recent problems such as the abdication of Philippe I and the current problems with Robrecht II, their popularity may soon start to dwindle.

Democratic-Republicans
The Democratic-Republicans are a big tent party, with views ranging from staunchly centrist to rather more right wing. Unified by the goal of abolishing the monarchy, they’re slightly disunited on what exactly should replace it - with splits between those favouring a German system, those favouring an American system and on radical occasions, those favouring a Túsenland system.

The party is not single issue, though. They believe strongly in classic liberalism, and can be almost libertarian at times. They’re a surprising face of progressiveness on the island, but don’t confuse this with the left wing. They are very clear about defending the island from the threats of communism, and want to see Vilzland become a strong ally of the West in a looming frosty showdown.

Big on symbolism, the party is represented by very pale orange and very dark blues, as well as a plain blue-white-orange tricolour, as they claim the rooster harkens too far back to the Monarchy.

Union-Vilzland
Amongst one of the oldest political institutions on the Island, Union-Vilzland moved from a pressure group across the three kingdoms to a fully fledged political party upon unification in 1832. Ideologically they tread a fine line between Liberalism and Conservatism, often taking policy ideas for both.

They quickly gained recognition for their progressive social policies but firm economic hand, and have gained a senate majority in several national elections. They guided the nation through the Great War in a way that increased public support greatly, showing their adaptability as a party.

They have won 8 of the 24 elections seen in the state, and forming a coalition government in 1837 with the Christian Democrats, making them one of the most successful parties in Vilzland. They have seen a strong member base grow as political interest grows, showing their influence is not soon to slow down.

Communist Party of Túsenland
The Communist Party traces its roots back to the October Revolution, where socialist detachments from the island of Vilzland fought shoulder to shoulder with their Russian counterparts. When the smoke cleared, these men and women formed into one cohesive unit with the guidance of Russia's own Communist Party. Operating in both Vilzland and the Soviet Union, the Communist Party quickly began to make waves in the underbelly of Vilzlandian society, populated mostly by disenfranchised French who were often reviled by the Dutch and Flemish ruling classes. The party officially took Túsenland as its namesake in the 1920s, largely due to its overwhelmingly French membership and support for the disadvantaged.

However, their cohesion could never last, and factionalism became rampant within the inner workings of party society. The influx of members from all ethnic groups and backgrounds led to a lethal split between three polarising groups - the Jacobins, Delescluzeans and Labourists.

The Jacobin faction represents the core and history of the Communist Party. Closer to the Bolshevik cause than any others, the Jacobins favour the collectivist Soviet system above all others, and are staunchly Túsenland nationalist.

Delescluzeans tend to favour a more Libertarian approach to Communism, supporting Decentralisation and Federalism, Market Socialism and Self-Management. Their namesake comes from the Paris Commune's leader, Louis Charles Delescluze, as do many of their views. The majority of the faction are pro-ethnic assimilation, citing that nationalism from any particular group will only worsen the divide.

The smallest of the three main faction, the Labourists stand as the most moderate among them. Populated mainly by social democrats and other moderate socialists, the Labourists seek the empower the Unions whilst still maintaining a free democracy and progressive social reform.

All three factions hold extensive Republican sentiment - the one thing they seem to be able to agree on in these times.