Liberal Democratic Party
Long considered the Norlight party par excellence, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has held a majority of national governments since its founding in TN 1545. The party was born as a reaction to the soul-searching and anti-nationalist sentiments that swept the young league in the cycles following the Yaramir massacre. After more than a decade of reexamining the worth of the NLC, a new generation of political and social thinkers emerged that argued for a renewal of national pride. According to them, the massacre had been a terrible tragedy, but the league was still a worthwhile enterprise with the best living conditions i n the hemisphere. The citizenry was willing to accept a leadership that was not afraid to stand tall and fly its own flag high, and step on a few toes if necessary. The movement soon grew into a political party, which swept into power in TN 1547 under the leadership of Gabryel Emsala. Under Emsala, the government pushed the league into becoming an active international player once again, sponsoring the formation of the Tershan Cooperative Alliance and moving to protect peregrination routes through the Karaq Wastes to Massada. Emsala's policies set the pattern which her party has followed ever since. LDP governments have overseen a strengthening of military power to secure trade routes and borders while pushing for international cooperation. It was the LDP administration of President Alburt Dowel that proposed and signed the Valeria Agreement to create the CNCS. The LDP has always seen the CNCS as a positive step for the North, but insists on strong Norlight leadership of the confederation.
Valeria is the greatest power base of the LDP. Local affiliates of the party control the municipal government and eight LDP members sit on the CNCS inner council. The party garners strong support from the Auroran region, as well as Kenema, Yele and the Lake Clearwater districts. The party previously enjoyed significant support from the Irrian region, but is currently out of favor with the more fundamentalist thinkers with in the Revisionist Church, who guide much political thought in the area. Historically, the LDP has supported a significant role for the Church in a strong secular state. Since the war, however, the LDP has distanced itself from this policy. Anders Von Breslau agreed to join the LDP and lead the government between TN 1918 and 1924 to pursue a policy of a strong alliance with the other members of the CNCS based on a secular state-to-state relationship. The failure of this policy led to a biting electoral loss in TN 1924, but the party has been able to rebuild itself as the main opposition and achieved a good showing in TN 1930. Having distanced themselves from Von Breslau, the LDP has rebuilt its support based on pro-business policies, but remains identified with a more secular state. Those critical of the political aspects of Thor Hutchison's Revisionist revival have few other political options than the LDP, and the party attracts support in the Northern Plain region as well as in the corporate enclave of Petropolis.
Structure
The LDP is the most tightly run political party in the NLC. The LDP inner council directs the party at each level of government, determines overall policy and plans campaigns. Nathani Engleton is party chairman and serves as opposition leader in the House of Congress. Unless a better candidate appears, Engleton will become President if the LDP win the next elem'on, but he will have to resign as party chairman. The need to exercise control over local and hemispheric branches of the party is seen as incompatible with wielding national executive power, so party leadership i s separated from the Presidency. When Anders Von Breslau was President, for example, he led an LDP government, but never led the party. Beyond the five-person inner council, Engleton also leads the shadow cabinet in the House, which presents criticism on the policies and legislation put forth by the government.
Public Agenda
The LDP believes in coordinated electoral strategy and has just come out of the successful TN 1932 campaign for the CNCS inner council, which saw eight of the 18 Norlight seats go to the LDP. While preparing for local elections in seven city-states in the next two cycles, all is seen as prelude to the TN 1936 Norlight elections, when Engleton plans to form the next government. The LDP is unlikely to win a strict majority of congressional seats in TN 1926 and will have to form a coalition with smaller parties. To prepare the way for such an alliance, the LDP must begin to build bridges with potential partners, but identifying which party to court has become difficult. Shedding the party's current secular image might allow an alliance with The Twin Pillars, but would alienate present supporters. Siding with the Social Union Party might threaten business support, while approaching the Norlight First movement could undermine the LDP members of the CNCS inner council. Despite junior members' fears, Engleton knows that if the LOP wins the most seats in the elem'on, political allies will become available. Engleton has more confidence in Valerian power brokerage than in the veracity of party policies, an opinion shared by his close ally, Winston Stark.
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