Political Parties of the Empire
After considerable discussion and debate, it was recently announced that political parties would be established with the possibility of eventual participation in the Imperial Parliament. Only four clubs would be officially recognized by Parliament, Judicial Committee, and Executive in unison. Applicants were numerous and debate was often intense, but finally four parties emerged: the Imperial-Republican, Imperial-Democrat, Imperialist, and National. The Fascists were not considered, due to the danger they would represent to Imperial security. As a result of the Exodus and the end of the previous parliamentary term, new elections were held in which three new political parties were introduced, but still, the Fascists were not considered because of the danger they represent.
The Imperial Republican Party is the equivalent of the United States Republican Party. They place emphasis on family values, decreased military presence in the Nationsverse, increased commerce and a balanced federal budget. 30%-40% of the Senate belong to this party, and while they hold no seats in the Tribunate, many of their constituents do hold power in that chamber. Their power is balanced with the Imperial Democratic and Imperialist Parties, thus often requiring a coalition governance with the Democrats and Nationalists to balance against the Imperialists. Current speaker for the IR Party is Marco Cruz.
The Imperial Democrat Party is the equivalent of the United States' Democrat Party. They place emphasis on providing the most wealth to the people who need it most: the middle and lower classes. They believe in a moderate government control of national life while emphasizing the need to promote democratic ideals and beliefs across the Nationsverse. They're at the forefront of social programs and champion equality among the races of the Empire. 80%-90% of the Senate seats are held by the IDs. They serve, with the Imperial Republicans and Nationalists, to counterbalance the Imperialist Party.
Current Speaker for the Party is Wolf Clinton.
Current Speaker for the Party is Wolf Clinton.
The Imperialist Party is the third largest political party in the Empire. As such, they constitute a challenge at times when it comes to legislation. They place great emphasis on expansion of the Imperial borders to as many star systems as can be explored. They also display the highest devotion to the Imperial Court, often going so far as to revere them as divine. On matters of Imperial importance, the Imperialists often lead. The bulk of the members in the Konsilio, and 20% of the Senate seats are held by Imperialists. Their blackest day came back in October of 2314 when a faction referred to as "Blue Bloods" broke from the Parliament and joined with the domestic terrorist group known as The Fist to instigate the Trekylon Civil War. This war, which lasted 2 years and cost the lives of over 2 million people on both sides, disgraced the Party and led to a major purge of all sympathetic members and a new round of elections. As a result of this, the new Speaker for the Party became Thaddeus Tuberville. Tuberville has vowed to continue the purges of Vergussonites within the Party while continuing to champion the Imperialist cause in the Empire.
The Nationalist Party is a group of people who believe in shedding all non-Earth assets, and all non-Gaian territories and focusing on developing the full industrial and technological potential of the empire to better compete with other nations. They also emphasize isolation from all Nationsverse affairs and strict monitoring of the borderlands. They are the smallest of the four political parties, and even tried to derail the talks leading to the creation of the Dual Monarchy, citing the need to remain aloof from foreign affairs. 5% of the Senate and 10% of the Tribunate belong to this party. In the wake of the Civil War, a purge of elements sympathetic to the "blue blood" faction of the Imperialist Party led to a reduction in the number of active members of the party, and thus resulted in the loss of 5 seats in the Senate to Imperial Democrat, Imperial Republican and Green Party senators. Current Speaker for the Nationalist Party is Malcolm Gingrich.
The Green Party arose at the end of the Civil War, when the ecological damage done by the various battles on worlds such as Caledonia III, Hellonde and Bespia forced a change in how environmental concerns are handled. A group of senators from the major parties signed a contract in which they cast aside their ideological differences and formed the core of the new party. Iin the immediate post-Civil War period, their unity was given official sanction when the Green Party was inaugurated by Emperor Drake I on February 15, 2319. Current Speaker for the Party is Emilee Parker-Rose.
The Socialist Party arose at the end of the Civil War, as a result of the sundering of the Imperialist Party. Many in the group had become disillusioned with the Imperialist mission and signed a compact that declared that "until such time as the People of the Empire are given their due voice, we will block all efforts at imperialism". Despite the grand plan, the Socialists number less than 5% of the Senate and often have to vote with the Imperial Democrats, Imperial Republicans and Greens in order to have their own measures considered. As of now, there is no current Speaker of the Party, though the most likely candidates are Alexei Putin, Jeb Stuart Rhoades and Balsi Hudard.