United Kryfona Party

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United Kryfona Party
Zegataj Kryfona Paszem
UKPlogo.png
Political Ideology Centrism
Hadzsjeism
Pan-gryphonism
Political Position Kryfona-center to Kryfona-right
Political Compass
Economic Left/Right
-5.25
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian
0.05
Spekr
Spekr UKP.png
5, -25
Motto
Unity, and nothing less.
Kryfona: Zeget, on hezsek kolz.
Founded October 7th, 1956
Founder Ozsem Hadzsje
Party Leader Dajeila Zasane
Secretary Werykõv Dahelsem
Headquarters 652 Dalaszim St.
City Uszyaa, Lawv.
Nation Kryfona Kingdom
Organizations
Labor Branch United Kryfona Labor Party
Youth Branch UKP Youth
Kryfonsparliszaiye
25 / 81
Provincial parliaments
319 / 1,154

The United Kryfona Party (Kryfona: Zegataj Kryfona Paszem; For. Kryf. /ˈzˌɡɑ.tæʃ ˈkrɪˌf.nɑ ˈpæˌsɛm/) is one of the six contemporary federal parties, and one of two right-wing parties in the political system of the Kryfona Kingdom. Originally formed as the civic-law "Kryfona Rights Organization" in 1956 by Ozsem Hadszje and his wife, by the end of the decade the KRO had transitioned and reestablished itself as the modern United Kryfona Party. After establishing itself through local chapters in the Southwest Kryfona Kingdom, the party finally consolidated into a single national party in 1960. It experienced explosive growth in support during this transitional period, and by 1961 boasted over half a million members, making it one of the largest parties in the Kingdom despite it having not yet stood in any elections of any kind. The party became the fifth federal party when their request to campaign at the federal level was approved by the Commission of Federal Elections in 1962. It was one of two to be promoted to the federal level that year, the other being the Pažem Tuszkeya. The party first stood in the 1963 elections, doing extremely well and winning 10 seats, all of which were in the Southwest Kingdom.

The UKP has gradually shifted politically since it was founded. Originally standing as a moderately right-wing party offering solutions to the Western Kingdom's historical Loyalist majority but an alternative to the stern conservatism of the Royalists, the party's stances have gradually softened into a much more centrist message as its base has expanded. Paralleling this, the originally right-wing core of the party has largely been lost to other right-wing parties like the KCP and the Kryfona Alliance. Today, most members of the UKP fall between center-left and center-right on a political spectrum. Liberal wings of the party have also established themselves in some provinces. In spite of its early leanings, the party has been historically well known for its support of Tuszkean and Yaraan rights, which it began to support starting in 1963. Before the party gained seats in the Kryfonsparliszaiye, they campaigned against the attempt to ban the Yaraan Kryfon's Movement and the concurrent Invasion of Yaraa, and in 1964 the party voted against military intervention in response to the Yaraan Crisis. In 1973 the party supported the ban of the Impurist Movement, and later in 1976, the party helped to pass the federal ban of the Impurist Movement from holding seats in the Kryfonsparliszaiye. These leanings have endeared the party with many of the Kingdom's minorities and centrists, and to a lesser extent with liberals in the Kingdom. The party draws from a broad base of support as such.

The UKP has enjoyed one of the most stratospheric rises of any party in the history of the Kingdom. Since losing two seats in the 1975 election, the UKP has posted gains or an equal number of seats in every federal election. In 1987, the UKP overtook the Yaraan Kryfon's Movement as the third largest party in the Kryfonsparliszaiye by winning 18 seats; in 1993, the party tied the Loyalists with 19 seats. The UKP formed a split government with the Royalists after both parties won 21 seats in the Kryfonsparliszaiye in the 1999 elections, marking the end of a 42 year, 7 election winning streak for the Royalists. For the duration of the arrangement, the UKP was officially the ruling party, although in practice the two parties alternated between ruling. The party won an outright plurality in 2005, when it took 23 seats and formed a ruling coalition with the YKM and Pazem; subsequently, the party has tacked on two additional seats, bringing its total to 25. As of 2017, the party holds 25 seats and has been in power by way of a coalition with the Secessionists since 2005.

The party's current leader is Dajeila Zasane, who has led the party since 1990 and served as an MP in the Kryfonsparliszaiye since 1993.

History

Inspiration and Groundwork

Despite being founded completely across the country from both Reriskzeiy and Yaraa, the United Kryfona Party has its roots in the struggles of the Tuszkean Political Revolution, as well as the Yaraan Political Revolution. Ozsem Hadzsje, the founder of the party, lived in both Reriskzeiy and Yaraa during his early adulthood and–having been struck by the struggles of both Yaraans and Tuszkeans while there–sought to give them the recognition and rights he felt they deserved. Hadzsje moved to Teras, in Vrlxsena, in 1953, and began his work as a civic organizer there. He met his future wife and eventual first secretary for the UKP, Sarza Maliuszis, in doing so. The two worked extensively with both rural citizens of Vrlxsena–who before this point had often been ignored by by both their provincial and national government–and later expanded their work to urban citizens as well. During these early years, they worked with a local civic movement called the Teras Movement. Sarza served as the secretary for the Movement for over three years before the two, seeking to broaden their horizons to a national level, resigned and started their own organization.

As the Kryfona Rights Organization

The United Kryfona Party as it is known now was originally founded on 7 October, 1956 as the Kryfona Rights Organization by Sarza and Hadzsje. Owing to Hadzsje's desire to avoid politics insofar as it was possible with civil rights, the group was founded as a non-political org, and on the rare occasions when it was political, it pledged to remain non-partisan. This was at first not difficult; owing to its negligible influence at the time, the early KRO was a very small organization consisting of Hadzsje, Sarza, and a few of their close friends who shared their sentiments. As time went on, however, the KRO's advertisement and groundwork brought more and more people into the group–by early-1957, a group of seven had expanded to a group of almost forty, and the KRO was large enough to employ lawyers part time. The group first caught a big break when several of its members testified during high-profile case in the High Court of Vrlxsena on the matter of discriminatory, racist, and speciesist tactics by the provincial government. In part because of the testimony of KRO members, the High Court of Vrlxsena ruled against the government of Vrlxsena in a unanimous 7-0 decision; the KRO skyrocketed in popularity as a result.

Although it remained non-partisan, the KRO's docket quickly became loaded with similar cases, and it garnered a reputation for its defense of civil rights and general rights which would come to define it for the rest of its existence and tint the party which would follow in its footsteps.

As the United Kryfona Party

1959-1978: Ozsem Hadzsje era

For more information, see the following articles: Ozsem Hadzsje, United Kryfona Party Manifesto, Fight for Federality campaign

Ozsem Hadszje, the leader of the UKP from 1956 to 1978.
The cover of the original UKP Manifesto, 1959.

The United Kryfona Party was originally established on 13 September, 1959, and began its existence as a local, Teras-based political party that would fight for the electoral goals of the KRO.[1] The party's establishment, in the words of Hadszje himself, was "the next step in fighting for the right of Kryfona everywhere."[2][3] The media was quick to voice its skepticism of the party's plan, however,[3] and few members of the early party apparently believed this to be the reason for its founding–at least not in the same way Hadzsje did. Nonetheless, these dissenting views were never well and truly voiced, and in fact only came out long after Hadzsje stepped down from leading the party.[4] Owing to its already extant following as the KRO, the party was quick to gain favorability with the public of Vrlxsena, where it intended to contest elections.[5][6] However, little could be said of the party's actual popularity at first–it was not an election year and it was not until the 1980s that local polling was mainstream and reliable. Regardless, it was abundantly clear that the UKP had staying power if it played its cards right. The founding rally organized by Hadzsje in Teras the day after the party was declared drew a crowd of almost 100,000–nearly a tenth of the population of Teras.[7]

Although Hadzsje had no political experience prior to the UKP's founding, he was unanimously nominated to become the party's first leader and reluctantly accepted the offer.[8] To aid him, he created a small council of "decisionmakers"[9] with more political experience than him, and it was with the help of the "decisionmakers" that Hadzsje would craft the party's policy and strategy for his period as leader. To start out, Hadzsje made it a priority to first address the non-supporters of the party and those who were sceptical of its goals. While he considered the party's supporters important, at the time of the party's founding they were but a small force in politics. "Without additional support," he spoke on the matter, "the party will flounder immediately." The party thus released its first manifesto–The UKP Manifesto–just three months after its founding.

In many respects the United Kryfona Party Manifesto was the big break for the movement it had created. In its calls to end the status quo and the "blatant" discrimination on the part of local governments and the national government, the party awakened a long-dormant swathe of the population which detested the racist and discriminatory policies which many provinces of the Kryfona Kingdom at the time had in place. In its calls to end the status quo, and to create change where for a long time there had been none, the party resonated with those who typicallhy did not vote and those who typically saw their vote as meaningless to the ultimate result. Hundreds of thousands of Kryfona–not just in Teras or Vrlxena, but in the whole of the Kryfona Kingdom–took the words of the UKP's manifesto to heart, and virtually overnight the party exploded in popularity. The party saw an increase in membership of almost 75,000 within the week after it released its manifesto to the Kingdom, and by the start of the year 1960 boasted a total membership of over 150,000, making it one of the largest (if not the largest) sub-federal party in the Kingdom at the time.

Hadzsje was blown away by the support for the manifesto, and immediately began working toward fulfilling its promises of a change to the status quo and a fight against discrimination insofar as it was possible for a political party with no seats to do so. In late January, 1960, the UKP's leadership of Hadzsje and the "decisionmakers" launched the now-famous Fight for Federality campaign, which was later joined by the Pažem Tuszkeya in 1961. The essence of the Fight for Federality campaign was to get the limit on federal parties changed so that the UKP could sooner or later jump to the federal level and contest elections there. The campaign ended up being wildly successful with party members and, for the most part, the public at large. After the Pažem Tuszkeya, which had only recently been founded and represented Tuszkean interests in the Kryfona Kingdom, joined the efforts in 1961, revisions to the Majority Party Act of 1839 began to be considered by the Kryfonsparliszaiye, and an amendment to the Act was eventually introduced later in 1961. Despite the efforts, the move was widely opposed by the Kryfona Royalist Party, and originally failed when put up to a vote. After widespread backlash, however, several royalists relented, and the amendment was reintroduced and eventually passed on 15 January, 1962.

Also during this period, the UKP began to organize for both the coming local elections of Vrlxsena and the 1963 parliamenary election, despite the fact that they were not yet federally authorized to campaign for Kryfonsparliszaiye seats. Although there was no indication at the time that the amendment would actually be passed, nor that party would even be granted federal party status, Hadzsje was hopeful that the party would be able to stand for both sets of elections, and was not about to pass up the opportunity. Fundraising for the party began in mid-1961, and continued throughout the year and most of 1962. At the time the party started the Fight for Federality campaign, it had virtually no money to spare and in fact most of its spending came from out of pocket. Over the course of 1961 and 1962, the party managed to raise nearly 18 million Daeszr, much of which would eventually go toward their 1963 campaigns both federally and locally.

The UKP applied to be a federal party the day after the amendment to the Majority Party Act was passed by the Kryfonsparliszaiye (as did the Pažem Tuszkeya), and was eventually approved after nearly six months of deliberation by the Commission for Federal Elections. The UKP thus became the fifth federal party, having been approved just over a month after the Pažem Tuszkeya was. National fundraising soon followed, with Hadszje and Sarza going on a national tour for the party that ultimately lasted almost a month and raised an additional 8 million Daeszr. Approaching the end of 1962 and the start of 1963, the party had over 26 million Daeszr to spare, of which about 20 million ultimately went to the 1963 campaign.

1961-1963: the 1963 campaign and early success

The United Kryfona Party and Hadzsje in particular were determined to make a serious run at the federal level going into 1963, and it certainly seemed like the party was destined to do so.[10] Although before 1969, both opinion and approval polls were done rather sparsely, it is clear that the UKP was a very popular party. Although they were polling at only 8 percent nationally on average,[11] the party had a net approval throughout 1963 of almost 40 points, and only 15 percent of Kryfona disapproved of the party.[12] In contrast, the KLP had a net approval of just 3 points with a 45-42 split, and the KRP had a net approval of -9 points, with a 40-49 split.[13] The YKM was never polled on the matter, but it is likely that they too were less popular than the UKP, although certainly not to the degree that the KLP and KRP were.

Placard for the UKP (1963).
UKP pamphlet (1963).
UKP "I voted!" button (1963).
UKP campaign materials from 1963.[14]

The results were not a one-off, either. As 1963 progressed–and owing to growing tensions between the Kryfona government and Yaraa–the splits got worse and worse for the KLP and KRP, and better and better for the UKP.[15] By 31 May, 1963, the UKP was polling at almost 12 percent nationally, with net approval of 51 points–the KRP and KLP both had negative net approvals by then, although they were polling well ahead of the other three parties that would contest the election. Still, as late as 10 June, pundits thought the UKP was a long-shot to do well in the election–by then, they still had not determined their full list of candidates nor the full list of constituencies they would contest. That day, however, the unpopularity of the incumbent Kryfonsparliszaiye became clear: just 27 percent of all Kryfona approved of the job it had done, the lowest percentage in almost eighty years. The UKP, encouraged by this, announced its candidate list and the constituencies it would contest two days later, on the 12th.

The campaign trail in 1963 started on 30 June, and while for the first month of the campaign almost nothing of incident happened, the deepening tensions between Yaraa and the Kryfona government greatly overshadowed the coming election. Through most of July, there was an almost active vitriol between the YKM and the government, until one day on 20 July, 1963, the first stages of what became the Purge scandal broke, causing a massive crisis in Yaraa and creating a situation which would come to destroy the incumbent government's approval. After the YKM's leader, Syinu Talga, refused to remove the YKM from power in Yaraa over the Purge scandal, Tyeri Awaseq ordered the invasion and subsequent occupation of Yaraa, which was deeply unpopular and whose poor execution resulted in the worst military disaster in over a decade. A concurrent seat ban enacted on the YKM in the Kryfonsparliszaiye only added to the government PR disaster. By the time the smoke had cleared, Tyeri Awaseq had a -30 net approval, and the KRP-KLP alliance in the Kryfonsparliszaiye was teetering on the edge of collapse. The events proved fortuitous not just for the UKP, but also the Pažem Tuszkeya and the YKM. Government approval never recovered during the remainder of the electoral season, and on 1 October, 1963, the UKP swept into power in ten seats, all concentrated in the southwest of the Kingdom, where the Loyalists had previously held power.[16]

The 1963 election delivered a decisive blow to Loyalist power in the Southwest Kingdom–not only was it the largest loss of seats in the KLP's history, but the KLP also never truly contended there again. The UKP's supporters considered it an incredible victory, and in many respects it was–the UKP won 71% of the seats it contested that year, many of them by margins which just a year before would have been seen as impossible.[17] Although the victory did not deliver enough seats to keep the KRP-KLP alliance out of power, the mere fact that the UKP won as many seats as it did was seen as victory for its ideals. The day after the results were finalized, the UKP held a "victory rally" of sorts in Teras, drawing a crowd of over 200,000. Hadzsje himself spoke at the event, and declared the elections "...one of the greatest events in the history of our nation,"[18] and pledged that the UKP would serve the people to the best of its ability with its ten seats.[19]

1963-1964: Reforms! and the Kryfonsparliszaiye

See also: Reforms for the People! campaign

With the smoke settling from the 1963 elections, the UKP quickly organized itself and established itself as strictly pan-gryphon and nothing more. Although officially a member of the opposition along with the Pažem Tuszkeya and the YKM, the UKP at first did not vote as a bloc nor did it vote consistently. In the words of Hadzsje, the party "...was not much of a party. All of its members voted differently, not just because we had no idea where we stood but also because our ideology was nonpartisan."[20] This lack of consistency was panned heavily by other parties, and especially in the media. An Azsaeha editorial from November, 1963, wrote that "...the party might as well just be a collection of independents. No part of it makes sense. There is no consistency, no whip, no party line to cross."[21] Nylzsryfa's editing board–which would in much later elections would become the primary "mouthpiece" for the party–concurred. "We find the party's direction unusual, to say the least" wrote the paper. "To field such an ill-unified field of candidates and then to have them serve the party in the parliament seems at best quite silly and at worst openly insulting to parties which could have easily become a federal party in place of [the United Kryfona Party]."[22]

Nonetheless, Hadzsje defended the ideals of the party, arguing it was more important that there be a clear support of pan-gryphon ideals than there be a unified party front.[23] The public, for their part, seemed to if nothing else give Hadzsje's idea a chance–in a poll conducted by the CFE on the matter, the public supported Hadzsje by a narrow 54–46 margin.[24] Clearly, however, the public would be quick to turn on Hadzsje if things went south with the party, and for a great deal of time in late 1963 and early 1964 that seemed to be the route of the party. A controversial series of bills introduced by the minority government in the winter of 1963-64 nearly sunk the party's support: a UKP member's vote helped to pass a bill which ended funding for the CFE; three UKP members dissented from the party and supported a widely derided government appointment to the High Court who was later fired; a bill which reinstated the death penalty in the Kingdom passed with 4 UKP votes before being struck down as unconstitutional later in 1964. All of these bills–and several others around the same period–contributed to a significant drop in support for the UKP. Going into 1964, the party had lost the support of at least 6% of the population, and its net support was hovering perilously close to being negative even as people turned their backs on the incumbent minority government. Hadzsje, watching the disaster unfold in real time, quickly decided that action not unlike the Fight for Federality! campaign was necessary immediately, and thus organized what would be called the Reforms for the People! campaign in early 1964.

A Reforms for the People! placard (1964).[25]

The Reforms for the People! campaign was the second major campaign undertaken by the UKP, and was undertaken with the intent of eposing the plight of minorities throughout the Kingdom and reforming the laws to better protect them. Although the party largely intended for this to mean actual minorities in the styling of Yaraans or Tuszkeans, this in practice came to be species minorities, the LGBT community, the Arieles diaspora of the Kingdom, and other "ignored" pockets of society who seemed to have been forgotten in the mass of bureaucracy that was the government. It was the first time that any party had intentionally visited these communities, and it is estimated that UKP members reached over 55,000 people by doing so. Hadszje himself coordinated many of the visits that party members made, and campaigned and spoke on behalf of a number of the communities that the party reached during 1964, bringing them into the public light and allowing the government to reach them. However, despite the efforts of Hadszje, and despite the extra attention, many of the communities that the Reforms for the People! campaign reached continued to be ignored by the government due to the stigmas associated with them.

However, it was not all a failure. The United Kryfona Party in undertaking the 'Reforms for the People! campaign established itself as the party of civil rights, and of all people, not just some. Groups that previously had been ignored by the major parties now found themselves–if nothing else–accepted into a major party, and advocates for civil rights were finally gifted with a party that seemed would protect those rights. The Reforms for the People! campaign was also instrumental in the success of the UKP's 1969 campaign; that, however is a story for later. In any case, the Reforms for the People! campaign mobilized groups to vote who did not previously, and it was this that the UKP would ride on and rely on in its later campaigns under Ozsem Hadzsje.

In the meantime, gridlock had established itself in the Kryfona Kingdom's parliament. Despite a number of significant political issues, the Kryfonsparliszaiye did relatively little during late 1963. Owing to the then-developing situation in Yaraa and a massive split in the response to it between the new parties, the KLP, and the KRP, by 1 January, 1964 the body had fallen into disarray and was struggling to move forward with its agenda. Adding to the difficulties, the increasingly antagonistic Yaraan population and the tit-for-tat responses of the Crown under Tyeri Awaseq had developed into a war of words, soon thereafter to be followed by a war fought with actual bullets, and it greatly aggravated tensions between the parties. The original authorization for the occupation of Yaraa–which by then was going on five months–was due to be renewed on that day; however owing to the Kryfonsparliszaiye being off that week, the debate and authorization vote was pushed back to 7 January. But by the turn of the year from 1963 to 1964, it was clear to the entire legislature that the vote would be a close split, and that truthfully there was no way to know the results until they happened.

1978-1990: Karze Hadzsje era

After twenty-two years of leadership, in 1978 Ozsem Hadszje announced to the party that he was resigning from his position as leader; although Hadszje was only 52 at the time he stepped down, he had spent close to half of his life with the organization, much of which was spent representing the party in the Kryfonsparliszaiye and in party events throughout the Kingdom. Hadszje vacated the position in favor of his then-21 year old son, Karze Hadszje. The younger Hadszje was not necessarily politically experienced due to his young age, but having been groomed by the elder Hadszje for the position seemed like the intuitive choice. The party approved the ascension of the younger Hadszje on 13 September, 1978. The elder Hadszje nonetheless retained his Kryfonsparliszaiye seat until the 1981 election, when Karze was tapped for the seat.

1990 onward: Dajeila Zasane era

Political positions

The UKP is generally considered to be a center-right party in the Kryfona Kingdom, with a party membership that varies from center-left to right. The party platform is often considered to be more liberal than the actual leadership of the party is; similarly, the elected membership of the party tends to be more liberal than the broader voting base of the party. Hot button topics for the party include civil rights–which the party puts above all other issues–the topics of regulation and socialization, land ownership, and healthcare.

Platform

Economic

  • Radio and television are best served by the free market and should not be socialized
    • Opposed to the Radio and Television Socialization Act of 2000 and Communication Socialization Act of 2002
  • Fire, police, and other essential services should remain socialized and controlled by the government rather than the will of the free market.
  • The power grid and power supply of the Kryfona Kingdom cannot be left to the free market, and must be regulated by the government exclusively.
  • Healthcare should not be provided by the free market, but health insurance should be
    • An individual should ultimately have the right to determine his or her degree of health insurance
    • Health insurance should not be regulated by the government insofar as it is possible
    • Split in the party on whether or not healthcare should be fully socialized[note 1]
  • It is necessary for the government to provide welfare and combat poverty.
    • Government should not, however, direct the efforts of charities and charity on the whole, as the public will refuse on the basis that the government should be able to cover costs on its own

Social

  • Civil rights are the most important rights of all
    • Civil rights are not inalienable, even in times of war
    • General protection of civil rights in the Kryfona Kingdom
      • Protection of Kryfona General Rights Acts (1903, 1930, 1977); Tuszkean Acts (1927, 1930, 1942); Yaraan Acts (1808, 1904, 1968); Abolition of Impurism Act of 1976, etc.
    • Support of the expansion of civil rights and civil protections in the Kryfona Kingdom
  • Pro-land ownership, particularly in regards to private property
    • Support of the continued existence of private property in the Kryfona Kingdom
    • Support of the rights of private landowners to set the rules and regulations of their property within the confines of the law
    • Anti-eminent domain and anti-civil forfeiture in general
    • Nonetheless, the government must to some degree regulate land ownership and private property to protect the environment.
      • General party support for the idea of environmental protection ultimately superseding the right to privately own land.
  • The government has no right to treat individuals differently based off of characteristics, traits, or identities which they may have or conform with.
  • Unions are largely unnecessary in the modern Kryfona Kingdom
    • Joining a union should not be a necessity to be employed
    • Bargaining between employers and employees does not have to take place through a union
  • Pro-due process and pro-civil protection
    • Juries should be allowed to determine not just the guilt of persons, but the justice of laws
  • Hateful speech and ideology should remain banned
    • Sponsorship of the Abolition of Oszej Act of 2009, as well as the proposed Abolition of Neyuoszej Act
    • Pro-Impurist ban; support of the Abolition of Impurism Act of 1976
  • Slavery as a practice is a violation of civil rights
    • Support of the Prison Labor Act, 1960, which effectively ended prison slave-labor, but otherwise no concensus on other prison topics
  • The Kryfona Kingdom is a secular nation, and should remain such
    • Opposed to religion in government, but supportive of the practice of religion otherwise
    • The government should not regulate what religions are and are not allowed to practice their beliefs, except in extreme circumstances
    • Support of continued taxation of religious entities in the Kryfona Kingdom
  • Abortion should remain legal.
  • Military service should not be mandatory
    • Support of the continued repeal of the Compulsory Service Act of 1901.
  • Kryfona citizens should be allowed to own firearms, and the government should keep regulation of firearms on a strictly-necessary basis.

Political

  • Government should be transparent about its actions
  • Surveillance should be expanded in general
    • Support of the Surveillance and Rights Reconciliation Act of 1982
  • Protection of the Kingdom Amendment of 1903

Policy

Social issues

Civil rights and liberties

The United Kryfona Party holds civil rights at its forefront, believing them to be the most important aspect of a free society. The party believes that some civil liberties must be ultimately sacrificed in the name of security from terrorism. It supports firm restrictions on these powers, however, to ensure they are not abused. The party also believes that rights are not inalienable during times of war. The party supports the state, and does not necessarily support questioning authorities; it supports a hierarchical Kryfonic state in which the monarchy remains, although with muted powers. The party believes that government transparency is very important to a society in which civil rights and liberties are valued, but holds that surveillance needs to be expanded due to the history of terrorism and insurgency in the Kryfona Kingdom and in its neighbor, the Arieles Kingdom.

Prison reform

The party is generally split on the topic of prison reform; it holds that some aspects of the prison system are flawed, but believes that the system functions effectively and wishes to maintain this effective function. Standing MPs generally do not see broad reform as necessary, instead supporting selective and targeted reform to the system. However, the party does however consider slavery and similar indenture servitude of all forms to be a violation of civil rights, and supports its banning. This includes prison labor, and the party has been at the front of the push in the Kingdom to keep prison labor abolished in the Kingdom. The party has largely rebuked efforts to overturn the Prison Labor Act, 1960's provisions ending prison-labor since it took power in 2005.

Free speech and expression

The party is a general supporter of free speech and expression, but is anti-hate speech, and supports the banning of the Neyuoszej and Oszej ideologies. The party also supports the banning of the ideology of Impurism, and was instrumental in passing the ban on the ideology in 1976. The party's efforts to push for a ban on Neyuoszej and Oszej have been controversial, especially with Royalists and Loyalists, who view it as a politically motivated effort by the party to bully its way into extended governmental control. Efforts to bring bills to the Kryfonsparliszaiye floor have nonetheless been extensive. Two efforts in 2006 and 2008 were shot down unceremoniously; in 2009, one bill of this sort made it to the floor, where it failed 45-36. Support within the caucus remains for a bill of this sort; however, another bill has yet to be introduced to the floor.

LGBT and sexual rights

The United Kryfona Party is pro-LGBT, and does not believe that the government should treat individuals differently based off of any traits they may have. The party is a supporter of the General Rights Acts, some of which protect these rights for LGBT individuals; it is also supportive of many of the rulings which struck down laws explicitly discriminating against LGBT persons such as Anorye v. Province of Azsaeh (1986) and Lazsyw v. Province of Taharlsqov (1922).

The party supports same-sex marriages and thus the Marriage Amendment of 1900, and does not pass moral judgment on sex outside of marriage for either sex. It is opposed to laws which would establish a difference in the age of consent for straight and gay relationships; it also opposes a decrease in the age of consent in the Kingdom, which is 16. It supported the Freeze on Age of Consent Act of 1994, which made a supermajority necessary for changing the age of consent.

The party is generally pro-abortion, and believes that it should remain legal in the Kingdom. The party supported and continues to support the expansion of dedicated reproductive health clinics for all Kryfona. Expansions of these clinics have occurred in Lawvsgara, Vrlxsena, and Areimsede under the party's watch.

The party has no opinion on prostitution, and generally encourages MPs to vote their conscience on the issue when it comes up.

Gun ownership

The party is relatively pro-gun, and believes that the government should regulate firearms only as necessary (that is, in manufacturing and quality). It supports firearm ownership, especially in rural provinces, as a deterrent for criminal activity and general protection of person and property. However, the party is more conservative on the matter of gun ownership in urban areas. It supports the right of cities to determine how guns are sold within their limits and encourages stronger regulations for cities than rural areas.

Economics

The party does not consider corporate oppression to be a significant issue in Kryfona society. The party does support some economic intervention by the government to protect consumers; however, to what degree this occurs is dependent on the MP. The party does also believe that too much government intervention can be harmful to the economy itself. The UKP supports free markets, as well as international trade. It holds that publicly-funded research projects are less beneficial to society than privately funded ones. However, the party also believes that research should be conducted on an international scale.

Social safety net and welfare

The party supports welfare, even at the expense of a balanced budget. It does not support the phasing out of social programs in the Kingdom, nor does it support replacing them with private charity. The party also believes it is necessary for the government to provide welfare and combat poverty itself, as the general public is either unable or unwilling to support a private, voluntary system. However, the party disagrees with the idea that government should direct charity itself, believing that if government does act to direct it, the public will refuse to participate because they believe that government should be able to cover all the costs itself. The party holds no opinion on a tax increase on the rich to help the poor, although it does support certain forms of tax increases.

At the federal level, the UKP has generally strengthened the social security net provided by the Kryfona Kingdom; it has attempted to combat poverty by providing work to affected families, especially in rural areas where few jobs exist. The UKP-Secessionist alliance passed the Work in Rural Areas Act in 2008, which established regular positions of work restoring infrastructure to citizens in rural areas; smaller, provincial versions of this legislation also passed in UKP-run provinces throughout 2009 and 2010.

Among other things, the UKP established the National Charity Organization in 2013 to direct charity efforts by the government in place of the government itself. The UKP has also generally held off on tax increases during its time in federal power, although at provincial levels it is more willing to levy such measures to support the security net.

Land ownership

The party is very pro-land ownership; it supports the continued existence of private property and the ability of its owners to set the rules and regulations of their property. It is against eminent domain and civil forfeiture, believing that these practices violate the rights of Kryfona citizens. Historically the party has opposed legislation which seeks to expand both, although such policy experiences plurality support among the general population. Despite its support for land ownership, the party believes that regulation of land ownership is necessary in regards to environmental protection. The party is generally split on whether or not environmental protection supersedes the right to privately own land, and whether or not private ownership of land should be restricted because of this.

Utilities and services

The party supports public ownership of public utilities such as roads and electricity. The party does not believe essential services such as fire and police should be up to the free market. The party generally agrees that generation of energy is too important to be left to the market. It supports government regulation of power in all aspects. Although the party is not leftist, the party officially takes no stance on the idea of "from each according to his ability, to each according to his needs"; individual MPs are free to take this stance. The party does not believe unions are necessary, broadly speaking. It does not believe that joining a union should be necessary for employment, nor does it think bargaining need take place through one. It does not support workers acquiring the means of production.

The party does not believe that radio communication and television communication should be socialized by the government. It is of the opinion that the free market best serves these mediums, as opposed to government regulation and acquisition. The party has largely opposed these when they come up for vote, although some MPs have broken rank with the party on the matter in both the past and present. The party platform officially opposes the Radio and Television Socialization Act of 2000, and the Communication Socialization Act of 2002, as well as all bills in their vein.

Healthcare

The party believes both healthcare and education are rights, not privileges, and supports access to both for all people. The party supports single-payer, universal healthcare in the Kingdom, and has supported legislation to establish this in the Kingdom.

The party believes an individual has a right to determine their health insurance, and that insurance does not require regulation from the government. However, it does not think that healthcare should be provided by the free market. The party is split on whether or not healthcare should be socialized; there is no official platform regarding this in the party. MPs are encouraged as such to vote how they see fit on the matter.

International and foreign policy

The party supports international agreements and does not believe the Kingdom should withdraw from them. It also supports regional unions between both regional and national governments. The party holds that that governments are and should be held accountable to the international community.

The party strongly supports both international and national environmental regulations and believes that they are essential to ensuring the world remains stable. It believes in international unity in addressing this issue. It believes that a better future can be ensured through the use of technology and automation.

The party believes that military interventions on the part of the Kingdom are often necessary to protect it from foreign threat. However, the party does not think that the Kryfona Kingdom should act as a policeman to the world. Although the party supports the ultimate end goal of a united world government, it also believes in maintaining national sovereignty for the Kingdom. The party ultimately believes that existing in a position of relative strength is better than peaceful relations for achieving this goal. The party opposes compulsory service. The party does not believe wars need to be justified. It is in support of both military spending and international aid.

Domestic policy

The party supports broadly maintaining "law and order", but also supports violent resistance against authoritarian regimes. It believes victimless crimes should remain crimes, but primarily on the basis of ensuring responses to such crimes. It does not support long-term punishment for these crimes necessarily. It holds no opinion on drug decriminalization. The party is pro-due process, and believes that juries should determine the justice of laws in addition to being able to determine the guilt of persons.

The party supports democracy in all forms; it believes that people should make decisions on how they are lead within the framework of the Kingdom's constitutional monarchic system.

Nationalism and immigration

The party is mildly nationalistic; it holds that the Kingdom is in many ways superior to other nations, but lags behind in others. It specifically supports a civic nationalist interpretation of the Kingdom, rather than an ethnic or species-based one. The party does not believe that some cultures are superior to others. However, it supports the spreading of the values of the Kryfona Kingdom, although not necessarily of Kryfona as a species. The party believes that migrants into the Kingdom should assimilate with the Kingdom's culture; it does not support open borders. The party does not believe that people are obligated to support the Kryfona Kingdom in its endeavors. The party believes strong leadership is best.

Religion and national values

The party is strongly against religion in government, and believes the Kingdom should remain a secular nation. It does support the practice of religion in general. The party believes that the government should not regulate what religions are and are not acceptable to practice, except in extreme circumstances such as violent crime. It supports the continued taxation of religious entities in the Kryfona Kingdom through the Religious Entity Taxation Act, 1952 and its successor act in the Religious Entity Taxation Act, 1970.

The party is also generally secular, and does not believe that religious values should be spread internationally or occur in government. Although the party recognizes that values are important, it does not believe children should be educated in these values by the government. The party supports maintaining past traditions.

Gallery of political tests

Kryfonsparliszaiye history

Kryfonsparliszaiye Leader King Government
1963
10 / 81
Increase 10 Ozsem Hadzsje Tyeri Awaseq Opposition member
1969
9 / 81
Decrease 1
1975
7 / 81
Decrease 2
1981
14 / 81
Increase 7 Karze Hadzsje
1987
18 / 81
Increase 4
1993
19 / 81
Increase 1 Dajeila Zasane Ghrodinh Virkozsilixaniz
1999
21 / 81
Increase 2 Split government de jure
2005
23 / 81
Increase 2 Minority government de jure
2011
25 / 81
Increase 2

Notes

  1. Officially, socialization of healthcare is not a part of the party platform; nonetheless, many of the party members agree that healthcare should be socialized fully. Kryfona healthcare is a mixture of government provided and free market provided. Small procedures and short-term operations are generally done by non-government hospitals, while larger procedures and long-term operations are done by the government.

References

  1. Kaly, TEDSEM: Kryfona Rights Organization to organize into political party; will become “United Kryfona Party”. Terasa. 13 September, 1959.
  2. ib Kezat, TYSE LEDIIN: Hadzsje calls rebrand “the next step in fighting for the right of Kryfona everywhere” in speech. Teras Weekly. 14 September, 1959.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Naraze, YZSA: New “United Kryfona Party” is established in Vrlxsena; will “fight for Kryfona rights”. Nylzsryfa. 14 September, 1959.
  4. Mel, TUSZI: UKP was ‘troubled’ in early days, say former members, staff. The Czury. 9 August, 1979.
  5. Venne, TAZSJI: Polling suggests UKP here to stay; move supported by 59% of public. Terasa. 15 September, 1959.
  6. Terasa, POLLING BRANCH: Approval Polling for the change of the KRO to the UKP. Terasa. 14 September, 1959.
  7. Damel, VIZSKIGA: Crowd estimated at 100,000 gathers in Teras for Hadzsje, UKP founding speech. Terasa. 15 September, 1959.
  8. Hadzsje, OZSEM: HADZSJE: Creating the United Kryfona Party, p. 132. Nylzsryf. Kinadina Press. (1979).
  9. Hadzsje, OZSEM: HADZSJE: Creating the United Kryfona Party, p. 134. Nylzsryf. Kinadina Press. (1979).
  10. Teskes, KEZSYEN: United Kryfona Party makes run for the Kryfonsparliszaiye. Uszyaaza. 4 January, 1963.
  11. Taalan, EIDZSE SZYIEK: KRP and KLP poll well ahead of others; UKP, YKM, Pazem follow. Nylzsryfa. 9 January, 1963.
  12. Lamari, GEDYS: UKP remains the most popular party; KRP and KLP tumble again. Azsaeha. 9 January, 1963.
  13. Jezsei, KANAI: United Kryfona Party most popular party by significant margin; Pazem close behind. Paszema. 12 January, 1963.
  14. Museum of Politics, KRYFONA: United Kryfona Party campaign materials, 1963.
  15. Niem, DEVRIZS: Splits continue to grow for KRP, KLP; UKP still well liked. Times of Cazje. 27 February, 1963.
  16. Venne, TAZSJI: IT’S A ROUT! United Kryfona Party sweeps the Southwest; takes 10 seats in “great victory”. Terasa. 2 October, 1963.
  17. Tsaliw, EIZNA: UKP wins majority of contested seats in stunning performance. Tvaqyrist. 2 October, 1963.
  18. Hadzsje, OZSEM: Excerpt from “To The Voters”. Speech. 2 October, 1963.
  19. Tevru, DINAZE: “We will not waste your votes,” speaks Hadzsje to crowd. Czuryunla. 2 October, 1963.
  20. Hadszje, OZSEM: HADZSJE: Creating the United Kryfona Party, p. 192. Nylzsryf. Kinadina Press. (1979).
  21. Ledeneza, AYSE: The United Kryfona Party is disastrous, and we must do something about it.. Azsaeha. 28 November, 1963.
  22. Nylzsryfa, EDITORIAL BOARD: The United Kryfona Party–our stance.. Nylzsryfa. 3 December, 1963.
  23. Hadzsje, OZSEM: Excerpt from “To The Media”. Speech. 4 December, 1963.
  24. Ladseik, JESYEN: Voters approve of the UKP’s stances–for now. Galaszyza. 18 November, 1963.
  25. Museum of Politics, KRYFONA: A 1964 United Kryfona Party Reforms for the People! placard.

See also