Independence Party of Abelden

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Independence Party of Abelden
FounderHenry Twain
Founded12 September 2016
Dissolved3 September 2017
Merged intoAbeldane National Independence Party
HeadquartersTeodoria
Student wingStudents for Independence
Youth wingYouth Independence Parliament
Membership (2017)5
IdeologyClassical liberalism
Right-wing populism
Economic liberalism
Abeldane nationalism
Colors    Purple and yellow
Election symbol

The Independence Party of Abelden (IPA /aɪ-pi-eɪ/) was a major centre-right populist political party in the Abeldane Empire and the Commonwealth. It was founded by Henry Twain, Grand Prince of Teodoria, who served a term as Vorsitzender. During its existence, it was uninterruptedly part of ten government ministries, starting with the Eden ministry up until the von Uberquie Ministry.

The IPA was founded in September 2016 after Henry Twain made a return to the Abeldane Empire and assumed a vacant Parliament seat. The party adopted a broad platform of classical liberalism to contrast the two-party system that had been in power since the merger of the Democratic-Liberty Party of Abelden. The party grew quickly to encompass people such as Richard Hytholoday (who became acting leader upon Twain's leave of absence) and former Vorsitzender Horatio Eden.

The IPA merged with the Abeldane National Party on 3 September 2017, to form the National Independence Party.[1]

History

Foundation

A common depiction of Henry Clément-Twain, founder of the IPA.

Upon his return to Abeldane politics in September 2016, Henry Twain stated intentions to start a political party inspired by the UK Independence Party, otherwise known as UKIP. Upon receiving the approval of Emperor Stephen I & II, Twain released a Google Doc which declared the parties ideologies to be national conservatism, monarchism, and economic liberalism. The party vowed to challenge the "two-party state" of the Conservatives and Democratic-Libertarians.

The original logo was designed by Twain and featured a yellow porcupine - a common symbol of libertarianism in America - on a purple background, exploiting colors reminiscent of those of the UK Independence Party. The party was designed as a one-man party with Twain taking up all party duties, as well as serving as the only representative of the party in the Reichsversammlung. This would change with the introduction of Richard Hytholoday to the party.

Beginning around November, Twain underwent a hiatus from the community, including his offices in the Empire. During this time, Hytholoday assumed the duties of Party Leader. At some point in this period Horatio Eden, former Vorsitzender, left the Conservatives in favor of the Independence Party, becoming the parties third member. Additionally, Lucas Campos began affiliating with the party, though wouldn't officially become a member until January of the following year.

At this point the IPA had begun to make a major presence in Abeldane politics, composing both the Speakership and Deputy Speakership of the Reichsversammlung.

Rise to power

Henry Twain returned to the Abeldane Empire in early January 2017, resuming his duties as an MP and assuming the Leadership of the Party once again. This period saw Campos and Will McCracken assume vital positions as party members and Members of Parliament. At this point, the IPA had five members, all of whom were in the Reichsversammlung. With the February 2017 general elections upcoming, Twain stated his intentions to run for the office.

As an underdog entering the February 2017 elections, Twain ran a populist campaign promising to "bring activity back to the Empire." In a shock result, the Independence Party not only outperformed its expectations, but surpassed the voting totals of all other parties, receiving a plurality of votes with 33.3 percent. Twain officially took office on January 26, 2017, forming a cross-partisan supermajority coalition with all other major parties (a concept which hadn't been exploited since the Lawton Cabinets).

Decline

Brandon Wu, last leader of the IPA.

Twain resigned from the Vorsitzendership on 29 March 2017 as part of his efforts to focus on his acting chairmanship of the Grand Unified Micronational. The ConservativeBrazeau, his successor, included the IPA in coalition ministry. The IPA candidate for Vorsitzender at the following election, acting leader Will McCracken, was unable to secure enough votes to win, but the Stellvertreter candidate Avro Keatings did. Twain returned to Abelden on 6 June, and he took over the party once again. At the June 2017 elections, the IPA backed the ANP's Patrick Renwick. Keatings stood for re-election, and was returned with a majority.[2]

As Twain resigned from his position once more, this time relinquishing his Abeldane citizenship in the process,[3] Brandon Wu was left in charge of the party. Wu became the IPA candidate for Vorsitzender in the August 2017 election, and Isaac Reuel was nominated for Stellvertreter, following Avro Keatings' retirement from Abeldane politics.[4] Both Wu and Reuel lost in their respective races, as Abeldane Social Ecology claimed victories in all fronts. The ANP largely took over the IPA's role as second party.[5]

Iconography

From the foundation of the Independence Party of Abelden, the parties most well-known symbol has been the porcupine, though on occasion a hedgehog is used as a substitute. This is derived from the porcupine's historical significance as the animal of the American Libertarian Party. The original logo of the Independence Party featured a yellow porcupine on a purple background. This logo remained for several months, until Twain's return to Abeldane politics, when he redesigned the logo with a yellow porcupine with a white background, enclosed in a purple circle.

List of leaders

Leader Home state Took office Left office Vorsitzender
(ministry)
1 Henry Twain
1st term
Alenshka 12 September
2016
1 October
2016
Gunderson (I)
20 days
2 Richard Hytholoday
acting
Sinoland 2 October
2016
11 January
2017
Renwick (I)
Eden (I)
102 days Hardy (II)
Smith (I • II)
(1) Henry Twain
2nd term
Teodoria 12 January
2017
28 March
2017
Twain (I)
76 days
3 Will McCracken
acting
Alenshka 28 March
2017
6 June
2017
Brazeau (I)
71 days Renwick
(II • III • IV)
(1) Henry Twain
3rd term, acting
Skandberg 6 June
2017
23 August
2017
94 days Uberquie (I)
4 Brandon Wu Teodoria 23 August
2017
7 September
2017
15 days

Electoral performance

Vorsitzender

Election year Candidate Result
1st pref votes % (1st pref)
2017 I Henry Twain   12 33.3%
2017 II Will McCracken   11 25%
2017 III Patrick Renwick[N 1]   53 93%
2017 IV Brandon Wu   10 17.24%

Stellvertreter

Election year Candidate Result
1st pref votes % (1st pref)
2016 V Richard Hytholoday   16 20.8%
2017 II Avro Keatings   5 36.40%
2017 III Avro Keatings   29 50.9%
2017 IV Isaac Reuel   10 17.54%

Legislative

Election year 1st pref votes % seats won +/- Government Ref.
2017 IV 8 14.0%
2 / 15
6 coalition gov't [5]

Notes

  1. The IPA endorsed the DLP's Patrick Renwick for Vorsitzender in the June 2017 elections.

References

  1. Kârjasary, Tarik. Von Uberquie resigns, Neasa steps in as Vorsitzender. L'Sydunche. 21 September 2017. Retrieved 28 September 2017.
  2. Dickinson, Edward. Landslide Victory for Renwick. L'Sydunche. 6 June 2017. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
  3. Clément, Henry. Lord Henry renounces citizenships. Essian Messenger. 23 August 2017. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
  4. Neasa, Ava. Newton leads Vorsitzender polls; Labour merges with SEPA. L'Sydunche. 10 August 2017. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
  5. 5.0 5.1 Ross, David. LIVE: Abeldane General Election, August 2017. L'Sydunche. 21 August 2017. Retrieved 28 September 2017.