Your Country's Political Landscape

How does the political landscape in your country look like? What parties are there? Which one do you support and why?

So, here's the political landscape of Serbia. There is a shitload of parties, but the only major difference betwen 80% of them is who finances them. No party has a consistent political program, and it boils down to "promise people things that can get us the most votes, thus more cash after the elections". Party ideology can only be, more or less, pinpointed on social issues, while on economic issues it is as vague as it can get, though most of it is somewhere around centrism, e.g. "Left? Right? Doesn't matter, as long as we fill our pockets." Needless to say, I don't support anyone. And, here are the parties:

Government

• Demokratska Stranka (DS) - Democratic Party: Apparently, they're social democrats, but empirical evidence suggest that it is nothing but "keep all our plans secret, so no one gets offended" brand of spineless, inoffensive centrism. The president, Boris Tadic, is from this party, and he has a penchant for kneeling before leaders of neighboring countries and apologizing for everything that we did and did not commit during the war, hoping that it will make them apologize, too, and the idea that they may ask us for war reparations, rendering the country completely bankrupt, can't come to his mind. The party itself is utterly incompetent, nepotist and sleazy. Pro-EU, pro-NATO (but won't openly admit it) and most probably for recognizing Kosovo (but, again, won't openly admit it). Their voting base consists of people Too Dumb to Live, upper middle class, preppy Soap Box Sadies straight out of high school and those that don't like other parties, but like to vote. One of the two largest parties in Serbia.
• Socijalistička Partija Srbije (SPS) - Socialist Party Of Serbia: Former Milosevic's party, undertook a reform and their policy is totally indistinguishable from that of the Democratic Party. Thus, their voting base is quite similar, though SPS has a considerable number of senile seniors who think they're voting for the late Milosevic.
• Partija Ujedinjenih Penzionera Srbije (PUPS) - Party of United Pensioners of Serbia: Exactly What It Says on the Tin. Single-Issue Wonk.
• Jedinstvena Srbija (JS) - United Serbia: A small party, apparently conservative left. Led by a fat redneck that is, ironically, one of the most competent mayors in Serbia.
• G17+: Don't let yourself be confused by the name - this is a political party, not a high-end shampoo or an evil organization from an anime (though the latter is kinda plausible). This is the fat-cat party, technocratic and economically liberal to the extreme. Notable for being part of the ruling cabinet ever since Milosevic was overthrown, even though the government has changed so many times that people have lost count, by the virtue of their current leader, a good composer, mediocre guitarist and bad singer with a degree in economy and somewhat eccentric behaviour storming the National Bank with an AK-47 on the day of the coup and shouting "I'm the boss now!" Also, their former leader, Miroljub Labus◊, deposed after a power struggle, looks identical to Wallace Breen◊ of Half Life 2 fame. Recently, they have merged with several regional parties into United Regions of Serbia, with the agenda of decentralizing the country.
• Srpski Pokret Obnove (SPO) - Serbian Renewal Movement: These guys consider themselves a continuation of the World War 2 Chetniks, a royalist resistance movement, who gut their butts kicked by the communist Partisans. Naturally, they despise any kinds of leftist policies (which doesn't stop them entering a generally leftist coalition), and are fighting for the restoration of monarchy (even though the heir-to-the-throne is a ditzy cloudcuckoolander who can barely speak Serbian). Their leader is notable for changing opinions as often as socks.
• Socijaldemokratska Partija Srbije (SDPS) - Socialdemocrat Party of Serbia: A small party with not much say. They generally seem the nicest, but that is probably exactly because they don't have much say.

Opposition (and not-quite opposition):

• Srpska Napredna Stranka (SNS) - Serbian Progressive Party: These guys used to be the moderate wing of SRS, from which they split in 2008, taking away 90% of their voters. Their political program boils down to "everything that lets us win against DS and get us in power". Center-right. Pro-EU, anti-NATO and against recognizing Kosovo. Their voters are mostly poor masses, who don't care for their policies as long as they manage to kick the Democrats off their fancy padded armchairs. Can't blame them, really. The other largest party in the country.
• Srpska Radikalna Stranka (SRS) - Serbian Radical Party: After the aforementioned split in 2008, all the sane members left for SNS, and SRS remained with a bunch of nutcases and 3% support. Ultranationalists, love Russia, hate America and Europe. Still pursue the "Greater Serbia" policy. They don't want to enter a coalition with any other opposition party, especially SNS, considering them traitors and foreign spies, and spend their time waiting for their leader, Vojislav Šešelj, to return from the Hague Tribunal, use some of his messianic magic and help the party get 100% support rating. Until then, they are reduced to hurling curses that high fantasy writers would be proud of during parliament sessions. Chavs vote for them.
• Demokratska Stranka Srbije (DSS) - Democratic Party of Serbia: Woe betide you if you confuse them with the DS. Politically quite similar to the classic British Tories. These are a bunch of cynical academics, and the only ones with a bit sensible foreign policy, but with no real practical skills to achieve any of their goals. Their leader is so narcisstic that he doesn't want to appear in public as long as he isn't either the Prime Minister or the unofficial leader of the opposition (even though the party has only 8% support), and now spends his days tending for his herd of cats in his country home and giving directions from afar.
• Nova Srbija (NS) - New Serbia: Social conservatives with focus on the countryside. Led by the textbook example of a Corrupt Hick. At least he's more competent than most.
• Liberalno Demokratska Partija (LDP) - Liberal Democratic Party''': These guys are an interesting bunch. If you were searching for some Smug Snakes to make your day, look no further. Apparently, they're sort-of social liberal and very socially progressive (though they have a tendency for somehow Knight Templar-ish policies), but the smugness radiating from each one of them makes you forget about everything else, go to your bathroom and vomit everything you ate that day. Their collective personality is a wonderful cocktail: voices so smug and pretentious that they seem parodic, hamminess, derisive outlook on everyone else and the belief that They, with Their almighty 8% support rating, are destined to rule the country all by Themselves, but They are ahead of Their time and it's the public that is guilty for Their low support rating. Their leader is a cocaine addict, has some obvious past ties with the mob, and gives his herd of kids hippie names. VERY strong supporters of EU and NATO membership and recognizing the independence of Kosovo. Their voting base consists of pretentious young intellectuals, mad artists, drug addicts and hipsters.

edited 8th Jul '11 7:18:57 AM by MilosStefanovic

Australia:

Labor Party: Bunch of nanny state wankers.

Liberal Party: Bunch of Thatcherite wankers.

Greens: Bunch of pothead, no traction wankers.

Sex Party: Bunch of well organised but discriminated against for being wankers of a different variety.

United States:

Democratic Party: Leans leftist but is a somewhat broader coalition of various things. For some politicians it's merely an alliance of convenience. Has unreliable voter turnout in elections. Additionally the bulk of their most vocal supporters come entirely from the coasts.

Republican Party: Leans conservative on many issues, especially fiscal. Lately they've been drifting into more libertarian territory with the rise of the Tea Party. A much broader spectrum of people under its umbrella covering libertarians, economic conservatives, social conservatives, the religious, and more though in ideological spectrum they are narrower in focus than the Democrats. Some elements of the spectrum they run under like the extremely religious are only pandered to for the sake of convenience, with the rise of the Tea Party and more libertarian style folks amongst the voterbase there are signs the GOP wants to abandon the religious right and elements of the socially conservative in favor of the newer libertarian platform. Has very reliable voter turnout since most of their territory and most vocal areas span from the Cascades and Sierra Nevada to the Appalachian Mountains.

Tea Party: Not a political party officially, but they are a more libertarian movement that spontaneously emerged in the Democrat attempts at takeover of major sectors of the US economy in 2009 (Whether anything passed or not). Largely aligned with the Republicans owing to an established system for getting their message out they proved surprisingly capable in the 2010 Congressional elections winning several seats most notably Rand Paul of Kentucky and the one guy (Marco Rubio?) from Florida. Largely opposed to any government intervention that is not defined by the US Constitution. Contrary to news reports painting them as whitebread middle class racists, the Tea Party folks come from all walks of life and all creeds and colors. Their only problem is since they are new they haven't fully focused their message and organized themselves into full cohesion. If they do that, they may very well emerge as an actual third party than can challenge either of the existing parties. (Though it's much more likely they'll change the Republicans over time as they get better organized than emerge as a third party.)

The eight major Filipino political parties:

1. Liberal Party: Party of the current President; holds a plurality in the lower house whilst having 4 out of 24 seats in the Senate. Ideologically liberal, center-left.
2. Lakas-Kampi-CMD: Largest opposition party; the party of the previous President. A Christian Democrat (with the Muslims coming alongside in Mindanao). Center.
3. Nationalist People's Coalition: Centrist party headed by a former crony of the dictator Marcos (and funnily enough an uncle of the President).
4. Nacionalista Party: The oldest existing party. Had a rivalry with the Liberal Party before the Marcos era. Center-right.
5. Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino: Populist party headed by an actor-turned-politician who won the Presidency once.
6. Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino: Funnily enough shares an acronym with that Japanese party. Center-right.
7. Kilusan ng Bagong Lipunan: Marcos' party in the later years of his rule. Headed by his widow. A more right-party than any of the others.
8. Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan: Social democratic party.

Milos, didn't you start a thread just like this once?

I may write something later... or wait for NZM or others to do it. I'll see.

THE BIG THREE:

• Labour. Used to be the lefty party. Made modern Britain, by setting up the NHS, and National Insurance etc. Now is the opposition and is centre-left. Main voters: Urbanites, public-sector and white collar workers. STATUS: MAIN OPPOSITION.

• Liberal Democrats. Formed from the Liberals and Social Democrats. Usually the party of protest, but now widely hated due to role in coalition. Main voters: Farmers in the south-west, hipsters, liberals dissatisfied by Labour, students. STATUS: IN POWER. ONLY JUST.

• Conservatives. Also known as the Tories. Centre-right party. Eurosceptics, and hated by the majority of the populace - whatever the time period. Main voters: Rich people. Suburban livers. STATUS: IN POWER.

SMALLER PARTIES - too many to mention. The most famous is the BNP (British National Party) who are exactly the same as Old Labour (the lefty-er version), but with racist intentions. Main voters: Poor, working-class. Has no seats in Parliament, but has a few in the European Parliament. Which is with foreigners...

The party in power is usually chosen by Rupert Murdoch, owner of the nation's media. The leaders of each party must BEG to him for the chance to be plastered in the Times, the Sun, and given a little more airtime on Sky News. Much like Berlesconi or Sarkozy controls their nation's media outlets, Murdoch does too. Except he is not a politician. And he hates the BBC and honest people.

edited 4th Jul '11 7:05:35 AM by Inhopelessguy

Well, the media in charge of the political parties makes our system of the political oligarchy controlling the media look less evil.

Updated the first post with info on the opposition. Don't forget to view it if you are hungry for some snark.

@Gacek: I did, but it was a year ago. Many new members have joined since, and I would like to know about the political landscape in other countries, but didn't want to ressurect a year old thread.

Socialni Demokrati (SD) - Social Democrats: Centre-left and one of the largest parties in the country. Led by Borut Pahor who is also the Prime Minister of Slovenia (and as of now, lost almost 80% of support from the people). Formerly a Communist Party.

Slovenska Demokratska Stranka (SDS) - Slovenian Democratic Party: Centre-right liberal conservative, the biggest party along with their rivals mentioned above and the main opposition in the country. Led by Janez Janša. Quite popular actually.

Zares: Centre-left social liberal and the third biggest party. Zares means "really" in Slovenian. Formed in 2007 by people who left LDS and started a new party. Led by Gregor Golobič.

Liberalna Demokracija Slovenije (LDS) - Liberal Democracy of Slovenia: Liberal and the fourth largest party. Led by Katarina Kresal.

Slovenska Nacionalna Stranka (SNS) - Slovenian National Party: Nationalist right-wing, but refuses to acknowledge itself as that. Very controversial; anti-Church, anti-Roma, anti-EU and anti-homosexuality. Strong supporter of Tito. Led by Zmago Jelinčič Plemeniti (who was a former ballet dancer).

Demokratična Stranka upokojencev Slovenije (De SUS) - Democratic Party of Pensioners of Slovenia: political party dealing with pensioners. Led by Karl Erjavec (one of the more popular politicians. Has a Speech Impediment).

Poland: the sad thing about our politics is that there isn't much diversity in our politics. There are a few parties that keep getting elected to Sejm (lower house of the parliment) that are different mostly in their ideology and promises, but not that much in their actions. Also, most of them are lazy and/or greedy, although we have some idealists too.

The government:

• Platforma Obywatelska (PO) - Civic Platform - they advertise themselves as conservative liberals or classic liberals but are actually centrists. If they manage to do something (it rarely happens), they do the exact opposite of what they promised - they're raising taxes, creating new administrative organs, outlawing more psychoactive substances etc
• Polskie Stronnictwo Ludowe (PSL) - Polish People's Party - ecconomically center-left, ideologically center-right agrarists, or so they say; they get into most of coalitions because there are always some guys from PSL in Sejm and they are very willing to compromise if only they can push their pro-agriculture agenda a bit further (or, they might just want the money and the power, that's also probable)

Opposition in Sejm:

• Prawo i Sprawiedliwość (Pi S) - Law and Justice - PO's main opponent, a conservative socialist party; highly focused on religion and tradition but it's more visible in the interviews than in action; gradually turns into a bunch of insane conspiracy theorists; used to be in coalition with Samoobrona and LPR (I'll describe those later) and screwed them over royally
• Ruch Katolicko-Narodowy (RKN) - Catholic-National Movement - once an LPR offshoot, then more insane kind of Pis; nowadays, as Pi S is as insane as it gets, they are basically the political equivalent of Pi S' sockpuppet account
• Sojusz Lewicy Demokratycznej (SLD) - Democratic Left Alliance - used to be a post-communist party, nowadays more centerl-left; ideologic opponents of Pi S although their views on economy are similar; they fap to Zapatero
• Unia Pracy (UP) - Workers' Union - more insane kind of SLD, constantly in coalition with them
• Socjaldemokracja Polska (Sd Pl) - Polish Socialdemocracy - less insane kind of SLD, basically PO with less christians; constantly in coalition with SLD
• Polska Jest Najważniejsza (PJN) - Poland Comes First - a kind of Defector from Decadence party: when Pi S started to get more and more insane after Smoleńsk disaster, those people created their own party that tries to get back to the earliest (before Smoleńsk and even before forming the government) idea of what Pi S was supposed to be - a christian centrist party; they're kind of like a more conservative version of PO; most of them seem pretty idealistic so even though I don't support them, I think they are the best party in Sejm (not too insane, not just there for money)

Notable parties outside of Sejm:

• Samoobrona RP - Self-Defence of The Republic of Poland - insane agrarist populists, previously in coalition with Pi S; Pi S covred them all the time during the infamous rape scandal in Samoobrona but when they started to push their own agenda, Pi S kind of manufactured a corruption scandal; rape scandal and corruption scandal made the party split in two, although I think they've merged again
• Partia Demokratyczna demokraci.pl - PD - Democratic Patry demokraci.pl - PO-like centrists with stupid Dot Com (dot pl?) name; used to cooperate with SLD, nowadays to bland for anyone to even think about them
• Komunistyczna Partia Polski - KPP - Communist Party of Poland - insane marxist-leninists with radical, pro-revolution communist program
• Liga Polskich Rodzin - LPR - League of Polish Families - christian protectionist nationalists, used to be in coalition with Pi S; known of their failed attempts at Zero Tolerance program in schools, radical christianity and borderline anti-semittism
• Narodowe Odrodzenie Polski - NOP - National Revival of Poland - more insane than LPR, often openly anti-semittic, traditionalist catholic nationalists; nazi skinheads sometimes support them
• Kongres Nowej Prawicy - KNP - New Right Congress - they keep changing the name; generally conservative liberals but members range from supporters of absolute monarchy to libertarians; I'll probably vote for them because they have pro-market views, although the amount of radical conservatives and conspiracy theorists there annoys me
• Nowa Lewica - NL - New Left - very insane but idealistic leftists; members range from GranolaGirls to violent anti-property collectivist revolutionaries; they sometimes make aggressive street campaigns and fight agains NOP but generally nobody cares about them
• Partia Kobiet - PK - Women's Party - feminist socialists, ranging from the usual ones to crazy radicals; made some fuss when they were created, then faded to obscurity
• Ruch Palikota - RP - Palikot's Movement - made by Janusz Palikot, Sejm's resident troll; crazy publicity stunts and offensive style; advertised as anti-burreaucratic party, although their program is mostly social-democratic; like a mixture of PO and SLD but with more provocation and insults

edited 4th Jul '11 7:24:49 AM by nzm1536

If I wrote it, some minor details would differ, but I can say I can sign myself under these descriptions.

Oh, I forgot one notable party from outside of Sejm:

• Prawica RP - Right Wing of The Republic of Poland - idealistic ofshoot of Pi S; possibly the most conservative party in Poland; made a fuss when it was created but then faded into obscurity because of its more insane members who wanted to ban porn and contraceptives

Scotland.

• Scottish National Party (SNP) - Minority government from 2007 to 2011 before taking the majority at the last election. A left-leaning, social-democratic party committed to Scottish independence, progressive tax, nuclear disarmament and strengthening ties with Europe. The party is also very protective of free education, including Universities. As the majority party in parliament (the only majority government in the history of parliament) it has the ability to put through a referendum on independence, which it will do in the latter half of parliament.
• Scottish Labour - Centre-left Democratic Socialists and the party of the Trade Unions. A Unionist party, but one which usually supports greater levels of devolution within the Union. Historically the dominant party in Scotland, Labour led coalition governments with the Liberal Democrats from the opening of parliament until the 2007 election. Traditionally dominant in and around Glasgow.
• Conservative & Unionist Party - Much like the Westminster-based party, the Scottish Conservatives are a centre-right party promoting conservative and Unionist politics.
• Liberal Democrats - left-centre social liberal and federalist party. Supporters of greater devolution within the Union. Suffered heavy losses in the 2011 following the unpopularity of the Westminster government.
• Green Party - an enviromentalist, centre-left, pro-independence party. The smallest group represented in parliament with two seats.

Kinkajou - You forgot:

GABRIELA: Feminist minor party, but due to the way the electoral process is structured, they're guarranteed at least one seat practically. Very much social liberal, and is notable for having proposed the RH bill several times before, as well as their advocacy for legalizing divorce. Also economically leftist.

They're a minor party, yes, but rather influential for one.

Also, I'd classify KBL as national-conservative, if not quasi-fascist, and PMP as mild social democrats.

Of course, politics in the Philippines is less about party and more about particular politicians (which is why Manny Pacquiao is on the outs with the President, despite belonging to the same party)

edited 5th Jul '11 1:44:51 PM by Cojuanco

For fuck's sake, man.

Keep in mind that before running for Congress Pac-man was a supporter of Villar's NP...

And yes, I don't think the Filipino electorate is mature enough for party politics (hence my insistence on reforming the Senate and a more Westminster-inspired government, but that's for another thread).

edited 5th Jul '11 6:56:19 PM by SoberIrishman

Oh, Gloomer! Let's you and me do one!

• Democratic Unionist Party: Hate Catholics. Currently the head honchos over at Stormont, but probably not for much longer.

• Ulster Unionist Party: Don't really hate Catholics that much.

• Traditional Unionist Voice: Oh boy, do these guys hate Catholics.

• Progressive Unionist Party: Really hate Catholics. I mean really, really hate Catholics.

_______________________

• Sinn Féin: Want a United Ireland. Not too keen on water charges.

• Social Democratic and Labour Party: Don't want a United Ireland that much. Only mainstream party with anything resembling charisma.

• Éirígí: Pretty cool guys. Never have a chance of getting elected, though. Quite socialist.

• Republican Sinn Féin: Fairly unpopular and extreme, but they promote a system called Éire Nua, which I think is the key to peace.

edited 5th Jul '11 7:03:37 PM by SoberIrishman

FWIW, I'm also English, I don't really dislike the Tories any more than I dislike the Labour party, and I think I'm pretty far on the left.

But I doubt I could give a less biased perspective on England or the UK's political landscape, given that I'm obviously biased myself.

edited 5th Jul '11 7:03:52 PM by BobbyG

What else can one say of Northern Ireland? I suppose it might be pertinent to note that we don't really have any "socially liberal" parties in the traditional sense, and aside from the UUP all of the main parties are basically socialists as far as economics go.

I'd say that the TUV is worse than the PUP, though, but that's probably because I took a bit of a dislike to Jim Allister when I met him a couple of years ago, and I've little to no association with the Progressive Unionists.

My country does not have a political landscape, it has a political disaster zone.

The head of the PUP's an ex-convict or something though, isn't he?

I've met Jim Allister myself, actually. I got into a short argument with him because I answered the door in Irish, which I suppose he wasn't expecting. He told me his party didn't want a vote from an "ill-bred heathen" like myself.

The late David Ervine was in the UVF and ended up in jail, yeah. The current leader of the party (his elder brother, Brian Ervine) didn't do any of that, as far as I know. Most of our politcians seem to have done time at some point. I know that Conor Murphy and Gerry Kelly were in prison at one point. Even Ian Paisley got locked up for about a week back in the sixties.

As for Jim Allister and his mob, there aren't really words for it. He's spoken of outlawing the Irish language. I don't think there's much more one can say. Even Paisley at his worst didn't threaten that.

edited 6th Jul '11 8:28:44 AM by TheGloomer

Yeah, I suppose that's true.

How the heck would you even enforce something like that, anyway? Like, if I ask my friends what the "craic" is they should report me to the police?

Well, "craic" is pretty common vernacular in both communities, and as commonplace as it is here it's used in some places in the rest of the UK as well.