Loyalist Party (Batavian Empire)

The Loyalist Party is one of the main and largest parties of the Batavian Empire. From the Act of the Constitution on, they have always ruled the country as largest, or second-largest party. They currently also supply parliament with the Speaker. Emperor Saviël-Citus I was the leader of the Loyalist Party until he was crowned and resigned his party membership.

Ideology
The Loyalist Party is a social-conservative party, but marked by high levels of syncretism. They have a very conservative view on state matters and high regard for traditions, but have a social-democratic view on the economy, not afraid of taxation increase and big government. The Loyalist Party is a widely known as a monarchist party, and is often marked by its relations with the Emperor, their former party leader. As such, the Emperor is widely regarded to have a strong influence in internal party affairs behind the curtains.

Since the 2051 General Election, the Loyalist Party shifted towards a stronger regionalist view, embracing forms of semi decentralisation and bringing politics closer to the localities. This is however solely a factional ideology, with a clear divide between ultra centrist and regionalist party members.

Leadership of the Loyalist Party
The leader of the Loyalist Party is elected by default three months before the elections of the House of Consuls. This is done by the means of a so called 'open convention'. The convention has so far been held in various cities across the Batavian Empire. Individual party members can nominate themselves, although only those served in public office (ranging from district councillor to consul or minister) or higher party office (eg. chairman or standing committee members) are eligible. The leader is elected by LP delegates in open convention. The candidates can debate during the convention, which typically lasts. for three days. During the convention, all party members can vote for their candidate in their department, all votes are counted and in the end of the convention, so-called 'restricted delegates', such as councillors, mayors, state deputies or state senators or consuls, vote for the candidate which received the plurality in their department. These restricted delegates are not free to vote against the people's choice in the first round. The candidate with a majority of delegates becomes the new party leader. The party leader is likely to become Prime-Minister if the Loyalist Party wins the general elections

Restricted delegates
The election for the leader of the Loyalist Party is indirect and by means of a plurality winner-takes-all system. Each department is allocated a certain number of delegates, based on the average of number of members and number of votes for the Loyalist Party in that department. Consequently, the number of delegates per department varies from 509, 325, 307 (Nigeria, Netherlands and Madagascar) to 3, 2. and 1 (South-Algeria, Bermuda and Falklands). Party members can vote for their preferred leader, and the candidate with a plurality of votes is awarded all delegates of that department. The delegates in a department are appointed by the local standing committee, but are usually the highest ranking LP members of that department (consuls, state deputies or state senators, mayors. etc.) Delegates can not also run for the party leadership.

Although delegates are called restricted delegates, given that they are obliged to vote for the candidate that got a plurality of votes in their respective department, the restriction is lifted in the circumstances that no candidate receives a majority of delegates in the first ballot. In this case, delegates are able to choose individually for the two candidates that received the most votes on the first ballot.

Open Convention of 2042
see Open Loyalist Convention (2042)

The Open Convention of 2042 was held in Bruges in the department of Belgium. It was the first Loyalist Convention and the candidates for the leadership were Jonathan Montgomery, Isabella Justine, Matt Hansen and Boris Silva. Jonathan Montgomery won the convention. The Loyalist party won the election afterwards and Montgomery became the first Prime-Minister.

Open Convention of 2047
see Open Loyalist Convention (2047)

The Open Convention of 2047 was held in Nicosia in the department of Cyprus. It was the second Loyalist Convention and the candidates for the leadership were Jonathan Montgomery, Sophie le Delors, Sarah Collins and Dimitri Petrov. Jonathan Montgomery won again, but with a tighter majority. Despite this the elections were won again and he continued his job as Prime-Minister.

Open Convention of 2048
see Open Loyalist Convention (2048)

The Open Convention of 2047 was held in Brussels in the department of Belgium. It was the third Loyalist Convention. The convention was held after the Emperor dissolved the House in november 2048 because the dismissal of Prime-Minister Montgomery in october. The candidates for the leadership were Sam Bogart and Lara Sheperd, with Sam Bogar edging out a victory.

Open Convention of 2050
see Open Loyalist Convention (2050)

The Open Convention of 2050 was held in Linköping in the Department of Scandia. It was the fourth Loyalist Convention. Incumbent Speaker of the House, José Peter, challenged Sam Bogart for the party leadership. Sam Bogart retained his leadership with a difference of only 8 delegates (less than 0,3% of the delegate vote) but being the first winning candidate in an Open Loyalist Convention to win the nomination whilst losing the popular vote.

Open Convention of 2051
see Open Loyalist Convention (2051)

The Open Convention of 2051 was held in Luxembourg and was a result of the failure of parties to form a government after the 2050 hung-parliament. Sam Bogart, who edged out a victory in the convention a couple of months before, did not re-contest the Loyalist leadership, nor his seat in parliament, though staying on as deputy Prime-Minister. Senator Carlos Sanchez defeated minor opponents with little support, Consul Julien Forêt and Mayor Daniel Arrow, decisively, by winning all the delegates available (6750) and about 80% of the popular vote among party members. Sanchez would be appointed Prime-Minister a few months later after decisively winning the elections again.

Open Convention of 2052
see Open Loyalist Convention (2052)

After the so-called Leridagate scandal, which brought the Batavian Empire and Italy to the brink of conflict and led to a declaration of a State of Emergency in the Empire, Prime-Minister Sánchez resigned the premiership in march 2052, triggering yet another open convention, which would be held in Oxford in the department of South-England. Luke Pierce, Majority Leader of the Amsterdam Assembly (and former Governor and Senator of Castillia) won the leadership in a race against Thomas Posthumus (Leader of the House of Consuls), Aleksandra Powielska (former governor of Poland), Consul Newt George, Mark Ortega (Science Minister) and Miguel Matos (Mayor of Porto), although in the second round and succeeded Sánchez as Prime-Minister.