People's Party of Licentia
 | This article contains information pertaining to a fictional micronation, micronationalist or other fictional element of micronational society or culture. |
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| Party name | People's Party for Socialism and Reform |
|---|---|
| Micronation | Licentia |
| Leader | Robert Lethler |
| Established | June 4th 2008 |
| Ideology | Progressive Communism, Marxism, Marxism-Leninism, Rennie-Gaffneyism and Environmentalism |
| Political position | Far Left |
| Colours | Crimson, Gold |
| Anthem | The Internationale |
The People's Party of Licentia or the PPL, offically known as the People's Party for Socialism and Reform or the PPSR, is the dominant political party in the United Royal Kingdom of Licentia and Bzan and the former ruling party of the Socialist Republic of Licentia until it's collapse. Founded by Licentian revolutionary Michelle Yui following the June Revolution in Licentia, the People's Party is Communist and dedicated to continuing the Socialist reforms of Michelle Yui.
History
Movement for Socialist Reform
When the Democratic People's Republic of Bzan collapsed and the last Socialist political figures left the Kingdom of Licentia in early-mid 2008, many former Bzanites felt their vision for a Socialist Republic had been forsaken and that they needed to take matters into their own hands. Two Licentian women, Michelle Yui and Karolina Wilson, established the Movement for Socialist Reform in response - an underground political movement dedicated to overthrowing the Monarchy and establishing a Socialist Soviet Republic.
June Revolution and Socialist Republic
At the beginning of June, the Movement for Socialist Reform executed a plan known today as Operation Leningrad - a massive revolution to overthrow the Crown and cripple their power to respond to internal threats. The call for revolution went out on June 3 and the following day the revolutionaries had sezied power. They officially disbanded the Kingdom of Licentia and created the Socialist Republic of Licentia in it's place, turning the MSR into the People's Party for Socialism and Reform, also known as the People's Party of Licentia.
The People's Party immediately assumed power over the Socialist Republic and set about reforming the State and dealing with "counter-revolutionaries". Inevitably, the Socialist Republic and the Kingdom of Licentia both collapsed as a result of the fatal split that had occurred following the revolution and the People's Party was disbanded.
Reformation and 2008 Government
When Socialist and Royalist Licentians came together in October 2008 to establish the United Royal Kingdom of Licentia and Bzan, the People's Party was re-established to represent both Socialist Licentia and Bzan in the diplomatic talks. It was agreed that the new State would be a hybrid of traditional Royalist Licentian culture and Socialist reforms, with the People's Party being permitted a minimum of six months in power after the signing of the new constitution. On the same day as the foundation of the new Kingdom, the Leningrad Charter - the Party's constitution - was signed and brought into effect.
As the ruling Party, the PPL has so far actively encouraged and sought the continuation of Socialist reform in Licentia. It has all ready succeeded in repealing the Tenant of Contracts (a law which makes any and all forms of legal contract directly binding, regardless of terms), arguing that it was both Capitalistic and unconstitutional. Additionally, the PPL played an instrumental role in reforming the system of Nobility by separating High Justice and Low Justice, removing legislative and executive powers from Nobles, abolishing hereditary titles and abolishing the highest class of Nobility (High Lords).
Party Ideology
According to the Leningrad Charter, the Party is the "vanguard of the Proletariat" and follows "the ideology of Progressive Communism, Marxism, Marxism-Leninism and Rennie-Gaffneyism". It is widely agreed by both Party members and observers that the Party is first and foremost Rennie-Gaffneyist, striving to maintain the principles and policies of the micronationally constructed ideology. The Party has noted anti-business and anti-nobility policies and many assert that it tolerates the existence of Licentian Nobility rather than approves of it.
The PPL has announced it's intentions to create a basic financial system based upon "Socialist fundamentals", suggesting that the Party's economic policies will likely favour the distribution of wealth and the return of State powers to seize financial assets - as in the Socialist Republic and Bzan - if it feels financial inequality is becoming too grave. The Party also promotes grass-roots democracy and was responsible for the creation of the Direct Democratic system operated by the Royal House of Parliament, effectively allowing the People and the Proletariat absolute access to and involvement in legislation.
General Programme
The General Programme of the Party is outlined in the Leningrad Charter and is regarded by many as the core ethical manifesto of the Party. According to the General Programme, the Party stands for progressive social values and reform, a just society, Communist Democracy and a green environment. These four values make up the so-called Cardinal Points of the PPL and have a huge impact on Party policies, as detailed below.
Social Values
According to the General Programme, "The Party shall peruse progressive, liberal, values when it comes to social issues. This means equality between the sexes, equality for homo-, hetro- and bi-sexuals, between people of different race and religious backgrounds. Equal rights for everyone, regardless of background. The Party actively condemns and seeks to destroy all factors for discrimination".
The PPL has dedicated itself to the construction of a fair and just society, placing heavy emphasis on Human equality in the process. As outlined in the General Programme, the Party has placed heavy emphasis on equality regardless of gender, sexuality or race. Sexual equality played a major part in Michelle Yui's reforms and is in keeping with Rennie-Gaffneyist teachings on Femininity and Masculinity.
Just Society
According to the General Programme, "Modern Licentia must be a society which judges it’s strength by the condition of the weak, security against fear, justice at work, as well as in all parts of society, which promotes equality, and delivers peoples from the tyranny of poverty, prejudice and abuse of power".
It is generally agreed that the PPL's vision for a Just Society can be interpreted as a desire for Republicanism and Socialism in the government, with further alienation of power from the Crown and Nobility and the continued promotion of Direct Democracy and grass-roots democratic values. The PPL considers itself the vanguard of the Licentian and Bzanite People as a whole and all but openly regards the Nobility as enemies of the Proletariat. Although the constitution forbids the PPL from making significant reforms to a Republican society, they continue to work to transfer power from the Nobles to the Government.
Communist Democracy
According to the General Programme, "A democracy of the proletariat, in which the government belongs to all the people. A government which is held to account by the people and in which decisions are transparent and fair."
The Party regards the concept of Direct Democracy as 'fundamentally Socialist' and the term Communist Democracy is generally considered to by synomynous with Direct Democracy. This sets the modern PPL apart from it's Socialist Republican ancestor and many other Communist Parties in the sense that it desires democracy for the proletariat rather than dictatorship by the proletariat. It is generally agreed that this suggests the current PPL leadership does not desire a return to the Soviet system of government in the old Republic but rather a Republican Democratic Socialist system.
Green Environment
According to the General Programme, "An environment in which is protected, enhanced and held in trust, for this generation and future generations."
Rennie-Gaffneyism is often seen to have anarcho-primitivist sympathies, at least on the part of Peter Gaffney. As such, the Party has a strong environmentalist stance and believes that it is the duty of the Licentian and Bzanite People to preserve the environment and actively work towards the development of a green, harmonious society in which the concerns of the environment are synomynous with the concerns of the People.
Organisation
The PPL operates an independent branch for every Licentian region ruled by a Noble, provided at least one individual is operating in that area.
National Congress
Every six months, just before a General Election period, the PPL holds it's National Congress to discuss Party policy, national affairs, modify the constitution and create an independent election manifesto and select a candidate. Additionally, the Party takes this time to elect it's senior body of leadership: the Central Committee.
Central Committee
The Central Committee is the senior leadership body of the Party and the highest organ of it's authority. The Central Committee leads the Party, directs it's affairs, establishes interim policy, reforms systems, executes the will of the National Congress and performs disciplinary duties with regards to it's membership and organs. The leader of the Central Committee is the General Secretary, who leads the Party.