Social Democrats (Yonderre)
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The Social Democratic Party, known as Parti Social-Démocrate in Burgoignesc and Sozialdemokratische Partei in Gothic, also known in common parlance simply as the Social Democrats, known in Burgoignesc as le Social-Démocratie, in Gothic die Sozialdemokraten, is a social democratic centre-left political party in Yonderre. Considered one of "the big two" by political commentators,[1] the Social Democrats is the second largest party represented in the Yonderian Parliament by seats at 47 of 199 and the largest by membership. Founded in 1869 by trade union leader Peter Ludwig, the Social Democratic Party is the second oldest party still represented in the Yonderian Parliament after the Conservative People's Party.
Social Democratic Party | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Abbreviation | SD |
| Chairman | Gillette Mouleuer |
| Vice Chairman | Peter von Bohlau |
| Founders | Peter Ludwig |
| Founded | March 12, 1869 |
| Headquarters | Collinebourg |
| Youth wing | Young Socialists |
| Ideology | |
| Political position | Centre-left |
| Colors | Red White |
| Slogan | Liberty, Equality, Fraternity |
| Yonderian Parliament | 47 / 199 |
The party rose to popularity thanks to an emerging working class towards the end of the Yonderian Golden Age in the late nineteenth century. The Social Democrats had their first Steward of the Realm in 1909 when Arsene de Villeurs took the position. Following a number of setbacks in the 1910s, the party retained its popularity and place with a change in course towards a modern welfare state, a radical idea in the 1920s. The Social Democrat-led governments under Adolphe Heineau extended voting rights to men 22 years of age in 1915 and to women in 1922. The Social Democrats remained a powerhouse in Yonderian politics throughout the Great War and Occidental Cold War periods, competing with the Conservative People's Party, the Justice League and United Yonderre over Stewardship of Yonderre. Since the end of the Occidental Cold War, the Social Democrats and United Yonderre have remained the two primary competitors for the Stewardship.
Since its foundation, the motto of the party has been "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity", and these values are still described as central in the party programme. In the political programme, these values are described as being consistent with a focus on solidarity with the poorest and social welfare to those who need it, with individual responsibility in relation to other members in society and with an increased involvement in the Levantine Union project.
History
Foundation and Great War period
Founded in 1869 as the Social Democratic Workers' Party by union leader Peter Ludwig, the party was based on ideas of workers' rights and organization of the emerging working class on a democratic and socialist basis as rapid urbanization of Yonderre came with a rapidly emerging working class owing to the increasing industrialization. Early adopters of globalist ideas, Ludwig announced at the party's 1872 congress: "The Yonderian Social Democratic Workers' Party works in its national form, but is convinced of the international nature of the labour movement and ready to sacrifice everything and fulfill all obligations to provide: Freedom, equality and brotherhood among all nations". The party rose in popularity towards the end of the Yonderian Golden Age, becoming the second largest party represented in the Yonderian Parliament in 1901 from having had five seats in 1883. The Social Democrats garnered a reputation in the late 1890s and early 1900s for political violence and hooliganism which caused concern in the Yonderian bourgeoisie, but the party regardless remained popular with the Yonderian working class. Following the loss of popular confidence in the Conservative People's Party's 1905 cabinet as a result of the Great Depression, the Social Democrats formed their first coalition government in 1909 with Arsene de Villeurs as its Steward of the Realm.
The Social Democrats took a number of blows in the 1900s and 1910s when successive coalition governments headed by the Social Democrats failed to reverse the course of the Great Depression. Toubourg steel workers, previously a core demographic of the Social Democrats in Toubourg, broke away to form the Workers' Party in 1918, taking with them much of the radical left votership that had previously belonged to the Social Democrats. The Social Democrats began persuing a welfare state model in the 1920s, at the time a radical idea in Yonderre. In 1928, Social Democrat Steward of the Realm Adolphe Heineau was dismissed alongside his entire cabinet by Grand Duke of Yonderre Joanus X de Martigueux, causing mass demonstrations and strikes thorughout Yonderre. Heineau was later reinstated and continued to govern Yonderre as Steward of the Realm until 1937.
Occidental Cold War-present
Throughout the Occidental Cold War, the Social Democratic Party was in fierce competition with the Conservative People's Party, the Justice League and United Yonderre over Stewardship of Yonderre, not least because the latter three were very likely to form coalition governments when able to. Support for the Social Democrats on the political left was hampered by the Workers' Party who routinely referred to the Social Democrats as "class traitors" and refused to form coalitions with the Social Democrats.
See also
Notes
- ↑ Politological debate exists whether the Yonderian Parliament has a "big two constellation" of the Social Democrats and United Yonderre or a "big three" of the Social Democrats, United Yonderre and Justice League, particularly as the latter two are more likely than not to form coalitions.