Political parties of Lathadu

The National Electoral Commission’s Register of Political Parties lists the details of political parties registered to participate in elections in Lathadu, including their registered name. Under current electoral law, only registered party names can be used on ballot papers by those wishing to vote in elections. For local non-affiliated candidates, the Regionalist and Independent Caucus exists formally as a singular organization but dedicated to allowing for local independents. Before the founding of the Republic of Lathadu in the 19th century, the politics of Lathadu were dominated by regional, clan-based groups. These were not political parties in the modern sense, but more loose alliances of interests consisting of clans of note.

Since the founding of the republic in 1871, the dominant political party of note has been the Democratic Laborer’s Party (DLP), having been founded by Lathadu’s first Premier, Carmac Kneale. While the DLP has traditionally dominated politics since the republic’s founding, numerous parties with varying relationships to it have been founded since. Although every government formed since 1871 has been controlled by the DLP, some have required coalitions to be formed with parties friendly to its interests, such as the Lathadun Agrarian Party (LAP) or Lathadun Ecological Party (LEP).

Lathadu’s preferential party list electoral system allows for its other, medium-sized parties to be comparatively advantaged in the nation’s elections. Elections allow for voters to use a preferential (ranked) ballot to select more than one party and to rank them in a sequence as to who they support. Ranked voting in Lathadu is apart from a Moot vote, employed previously by the Lathadun Federation, where candidates would be independently rated by electors rather than being ranked. The National Diet of Lathadu is unicameral and has 199 members in total.

Democratic Laborer’s Party
The Democratic Laborer’s Party (DLP), sometimes referred to as the Lathadun Labor Party, is generally described as a left-wing alliance of trade unionists, rural organizers, and radical federalists. In all general elections since 1871, the DLP has been the governing party. The party grew out of the Anti-Aristocrat movement of the mid to late 19th century, with its founders being the core of resistance during the Silent Years. It formed its first government in 1871 under the leadership of Carmac Kneale, who enacted sweeping social and civil reforms to establish the foundation of the current Lathadun welfare state. The current leader of the party and Premier of Lathadu is Alden Quayle, who has served in that role since 2016, and its official color is Blue. In the last round of elections in 2019, the DLP won 41% of the vote nationwide, which translated to 81 seats.

Lathadun Agrarian Party
The Lathadun Agrarian Party (LAP), also called the Lathadun Farmer’s Party is an agrarian, center-left political party that is most popular in rural areas. Founded in 1896, the party’s policies are largely focused on maintaining decentralized economic development in the agricultural sector and protecting the interests of farmers and other constituents whose occupations are tied to rural life. It favors an economically protectionist policy to protect farmers with toll tarriffs, as well as improving transit infrastructure in rural areas. From its founding to the modern day, the LAP has formed governments with the DLP in every election, either with the DLP already in an absolute majority or requiring more seats in a coalition. The current leader of the LAP is Breata Costain, and its official color is Goldenrod. In the last round of elections in 2019, the LAP won 7% of the vote nationwide, which translated to 14 seats.

Lathadun Ecological Party
The Lathadun Ecological Party (LEP) is a party that combines in its platform environmentalism with left-leaning economic policies, including well-funded, locally controlled public services. It advocates a steady-state economy and takes a progressive approach to most social issues. It also advocates strongly for greater international cooperation, non-violence, and reduced barriers to the democratic process. The LEP was established in 1971 in response to growing environmental concerns, particular in the context of the erosion of the Aarnieu River Delta. The LEP’s strongholds are generally in urban centers like Ushteyghoo and Calleebane. Its current leader is Aslac Moore, and its official color is Green. In the last round of elections in 2019, the LAP won 5% of the vote nationwide, which translated to 10 seats.

Lathadun National Party
The Lathadun National Party (LNP) is the largest party in the opposition and is characterized by its nationalism, support for traditional values, Alutraskepticism, limitation of Lathadun intervention abroad, and advocacy for the historical Lathadun practice of isolationism both economically and politically. The LNP is generally regarded as Lathadu’s answer to a conservative party, although policy-wise is mostly considered center to center-right. The LNP supports the existence of a mixed economy with some relaxed state intervention in certain sectors, as well as socially conservative policies in general. Founded in 1893, the LNP enjoys support from both rural and urban areas, although generally performs better in rural ones. It is led by Bertram Shimmin, and its official color is Buff. In the last round of elections in 2019, the LAP won 35% of the vote nationwide, which translated to 70 seats.

Lathadun Liberal Democratic People’s Party
The Lathadun Liberal Democratic People’s Party (LDPP), more regularly called the Liberal Democratic People’s Party, or simply the Liberal Democrats, are a socially liberal free market party that was founded in 1915. For its entire existence, it has been the standard bearer of liberal economic policy in Lathadu’s political system. Its members favor reducing the power of the central government in local affairs and reduced barriers to international trade. The majority of its electorate are found in Lathadu’s two largest cities, Ushteyghoo and Calleebane, and in other major urban centers. The party is led by famed Lathadun businessman Cashin Cain, and its official color is Gold. In the last round of elections in 2019, the LDPP won 6% of the vote nationwide, which translated to 12 seats.

Lathadun National Renovationist Party
The Lathadun National Renovationist Party (LNRP) is a far-left party that first formed in Lathadu in 1931 following the National Renovationist takeover of the government of Velorenkya in 1925. Despite its radical bent and seemingly foreign demeanor, it drew significant support from many different groups shortly after its founding, including trade unionists, progressive social reformers, and populist farmers. The main catalyst for its rise in support was dissatisfaction with the perceived moderation of the DLP, and although it has never been the controlling voice in a government or coalition, it has played a surprisingly large role in the evolution of the Lathadun state and its relationship with its citizens. The party is led by Lora Corlett, a half-Velorenkyan labor organizer and media figure, and its official color is Dark Blue. In the last round of elections in 2019, the LNRP won 4% of the vote nationwide, which translated to 8 seats.

Regionalist and Independent Caucus
The Regionalist and Independent Caucus was first founded in 1902 as a way of promoting regional alternatives to the national parties that had been created by the system. The Regionalist and Independent Caucus is effectively a collection of regionalist candidates with no overarching ideology or policies; instead, votes are counted from Lathadu’s subdivisions, and if the required numbers are met, candidates from those regions are appointed in a kind of “privatized decentralization” as some have described it. Most but not all Regionalist and Independent candidates come from rural areas. The de jure head of the caucus is Gorman Hane, although he has little function other than as a custodian for the caucasus’ administrative requirements. In this same vein, its official color is White, although candidates rarely don it to signify their membership. In the last round of elections in 2019, the Regionalist and Independent Caucus won 6% of the vote nationwide, which translated to 12 seats.