Political Parties in the Imperial Union
The politics of the Imperial Union has a multi-party system - primarily due to its unique preferential voting system and its large and diverse population. While the IEC (Imperial Electoral Commission) documents over 300 registered political parties and organisation throughout the nation, only a small minority were able to enter the National Assembly or the Imperial Counsel.
Currently there are 8 distinct political parties in the Imperial Counsel and the National Assembly.
Imperial Parliamentary Parties
Left-wing Parties
Solidarity and Equality Party (SEP)
The Solidarity and Equality Party is the Imperial Union's main far-left party and the youngest of the "Big 8". The party was founded in 2187 when the then-MP Jerry "Jaz" Bochyn led the exodus of disenfranchised far-left United Labour MPs in protest of the worsening situation in Svarskia. By focusing its electoral campaigns on the protection of ethnic and religious minorities, the SEP was able to capture a non-insignificant amount of disenfranchised United Labour voters in the following elections. However, despite the party's electoral victories, the SEP is still seen as too "radical" by other mainstream left-wing parties, and as such continue to be excluded from pan left-wing coalitions.
Their political agenda can be surmised as:
- Guaranteed protection for all social minorities
- Increased welfare budget / Drastically reduced military budget
- Decolonisation or integration of colonies
Worker and Labourer Alliance (WLA)
The WLA is a social democratic party predicated on the advocacy of worker rights in the Imperial Union, with strong grassroots support from local trade unions. In fact, more than three quarters of all IU trade unions are afiilated with the WLA at a loca/dominion level, especially with the dockyard unions of Vocavium and Westray. Unlike other minor parties, the WLA does not maintain an official stance on legislations and issues not pertaining to worker rights - discretion of MPs is highly encouraged.
Their limited political agenda can be surmised as:
- Greater investments in domestic manufacturing and mining industries
- Stricter workplace regulations and increased power to industry watchbodies
- Limit corporate lobbying
Popular Action Bloc (PAB)
The PAB is best described as a left-wing populist
Their political agenda can be surmised as:
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History
Immediately following the formation of the Imperial Union in 2148, the Orinian government was designated as the care-taker government to facilitate the swift centralisation of the 3 member states. Utilising the Orion Empire’s expansive global outreach and administrative workforce, the first parliamentary election of the Imperial Union was successfully held in July 2148. As the first election barely 3 years into the nation's history, the monumental election involved more than 200 political parties - a number starkly contrasted to the dominant 8 parties of the present.