The Reform League

The Reform League is composed primarily of Aphichons (nobles) and Aphichn Tauch (lower nobles) but does contain a fair few wealthy artisans, merchants and guild members. The Reform League seeks to make Yura a marginally more open society, the degree varying between inter-party factions (described below). By no means openly democratic or republican the group nonetheless seeks increased privileges for their own members. The group also argues for two changes. First, the Reform League want a removal of many restrictions on their legal authority. Second the group want to empower its members with more legal authority. Most argue for increased power to balance that of the Satraps, and some of the more radical members want reforms removing the authority of The Imperial High Council and the Emperor/Empress of Yura. They are bitter rivals of the The Imperial League.
Estimated Faction Popularity/Influence: 23%
**It is important to note that, as with most other factions, the lack of any form of voting or representation means that the faction has no official power. Its existence simply denotes a unified group with a number of aims.**

Structure

The Reform League is composed of three groups: Crests (composed of older, established, landed nobility), Little Orangists (composed of younger, minor, often unlanded nobility), and Hundred Hands (composed of wealthy guild members, artisans, and merchants). There exists no official head of the league, instead a member of each aforementioned group is elected by their fellow group members to serve on a three person council, sometimes called the Seniorit. These three members are the public face of the Reform League. The current members are Phann Rithisak (Crests), Chan Vanna (Little Organists), and Moul Mony (Hundred Hands).

Public Agenda

The Reform League's primary agenda has remained unchanged since its founding. This broad primary agenda includes two things: decreasing the political power of the Satraps over their subjects and subsequently completely decentralizing the power of the Emperor/Empress of Yura. The methods used to achieve these two goals, however, is a point of bitter contention between the three groups (mentioned above). Crests argue for the creation of numerous cooperating oligarchic legislatures who should act as an advisory board and a check on Satrapal and Imperial power and whose admission is restricted to Aphichn Thom (high nobles). Little Orangists argue for increased general suffrage, but with any form of franchise necessitating a weighted wealth oriented structure. Similar to Crests, Little Orangists argue for the creation of exclusive legislatures, but unlike Crests believe that all legal power in a Satrapy should rest almost entirely in these parliaments. Hundred Hands, the most radical, demand the creation of both local (Satrapal) and an imperial bicameral legislature (admission to both houses based on wealth). Hundred Hands further argues for the position of Satrap and Emperor to be relegated to purely honorary potions, and that The Imperial High Council be stripped of any official legal power and only allowed to act in an advisory capacity (advising the aforementioned Imperial bicameral legislature).

Assets

The Reform League, due to the decentralized nature of its leadership, and dislike of any form of centralization, does not have any designated party assets. That being said, the party is composed of numerous wealthy individuals many of whom do fund the party's efforts when the need arises.

History

The Reform League was created one hundred years to the day of the founding of The Empire of Yura. Created as a response to what was perceived as glacial, if not stagnant, political liberalization, the Reform League quickly gained members. The rampant instability of the White-Black Successions also convinced the Reform League that unless power was invested in the hands of numerous responsible parties, the polity would not survive. The Reform League's initial creation met with backlash, especially from the Satraps and Imperial Throne and, less then two months after its creation a rival faction, The Imperial League, was founded. Under the rule of Hecai Angara the group was brutally persecuted and forced underground until his death. Members of the Reform League have faced periods of repression and harassment, but the party has endured mostly unmolested through to the current year.

From Few to Many

Founding Date

1242 A.C.

Type

Political, Faction / Party

Alternative Names

The Oranges, Reform Rabble (Pejorative)

Demonym

Reformist or Orangist/Oranger