What parties would you be in other countries?

[Marokai Backbeat]

Lordie..

[TNF]

United States: Democratic Party [1]
United Kingdom: Labour Party  [2]
France: Socialist Party
Russia: A Just Russia [3]
Germany: Social Democratic Party
Japan: Democratic Party of Japan
Brazil: Workers' Party
India: Indian National Congress
South Africa: Democratic Alliance
Canada: New Democratic Party
Israel: Labor Party
Australia: Australian Labor Party
Denmark: Social Democrats
Italy: Democratic Party
Ireland: Labour Party
Switzerland: Social Democratic Party
Austria: Social Democratic Party of Austria
Sweden: Swedish Social Democratic Workers' Party
Estonia: Social Democratic Party
Netherlands: Labour Party
Poland: Democratic Left Alliance
Spain: Spanish Socialist Workers' Party
New Zealand: New Zealand Labour Party
Greece: Democratic Left [4]
Finland: Social Democratic Party of Finland
Taiwan: Democratic Progressive Party
Serbia: Democratic Party
Northern Ireland: Social Democratic and Labour Party


[1] I am a registered member of the Democratic Party and have voted in every election that I have been eligible to vote in since I turned eighteen. I am involved with both my county organization and my college organization (I serve as Vice President of Membership) and plan on getting more involved after I graduate.

[2] Probably would have been a supporter of the Liberal Democrats up until they decided to cut social services to the bone in the UK.

[3] Assuming that they're not yet another front organization for United Russia, that is.

[4] PASOK can suck it.

[politicus]

I don't understand the idea of a Turkish party in Germany.  If they love their culture so much then why did they ever leave home?  Same with all ethnic parties.  I'm not trolling, but seriously, how and why are ethnic parties created, and what's the point?

Most of them represent an original culture in their area, that has since come under pressure either from immigrants to the region or a new dominant nation state or both. That is the case with the Welsh, Basques, Gallicians, Scots and the Danish minority in Southern Schleswig etc. Others represent an old minority that has lived in the area for centuries like the Swedish Peoples Party in Finland. There is only 6 % Swedish speakers in Finland today compared to 25% in the mid 1600s when they topped, so it is a culture that needs a political voice to secure recognition and government funding if it is to survive.
The immigrant parties are different, because you could argue, that they should either integrate fully or leave, but that view would be considered xenophobic by many  people (not me).

[Phony Moderate]

UK: TUSC or Greens at local level, Labour nationally.
US: Democratic in presidential elections, congressional and state elections would depend on the state. Greens in Arkansas, Utah, West Virginia, etc, Democratic in most other states.
Northern Ireland: SDLP or Alliance.
Republic of Ireland: Labour in 2011. Probably Socialists next time.
France: Plural Left.
Germany: Depends on the state. Die Grünen in some, Die Linke in others.
Netherlands: Socialists.
Denmark: Socialist People's Party.
Spain: United Left.
Austria: Greens.
Greece: SYRIZA.
Canada: NDP.
Australia: This is easy. First preference - Greens, second preference - ALP.
New Zealand: Greens.

[Leftbehind]

Australia: Green
Austria: SPO
Belgium: PS/sp.a
Canada: NDP
Denmark: SF
Finland: V
France: FG
Germany: De Linke
Greece: SYRIZA
Ireland: ULA
Israel: Meretz
Italy: SEL
Netherlands: SP
New Zealand: Greens
Norway: SV
Portugal: BE
Switzerland: Greens
Spain: IU
Sweden: V

I'd lend my support to labour/socialist parties at certain points in various countries or when the left is too weak to vote elsewhere.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

UK: UKIP
US: Constitution
Northern Ireland: DUP
Republic of Ireland: Fine Gael
France: FNP
Germany: FDP
Netherlands: Christian Union
Denmark: Danish Peoples Party
Spain: Peoples Party
Austria: BZO
Greece: ND
Canada: Libertarian
Australia: Nationals
New Zealand: New Zealand First

[Supersonic]

Australia: Liberal
Canada: Conservative
Denmark: Conservative People's Party
Finland: National Coalition
France: UMP
Germany: CDU/CSU
Greece: ND
Ireland: Fine Gael
Netherlands: VVD
New Zealand: National
Norway: Conservative
South Africa: Democratic Alliance
Spain: People's Party
Sweden: Moderate
Switzerland: FDP
UK: Conservative
USA: Republican

[Jerseyrules]

I don't understand the idea of a Turkish party in Germany.  If they love their culture so much then why did they ever leave home?  Same with all ethnic parties.  I'm not trolling, but seriously, how and why are ethnic parties created, and what's the point?

Most of them represent an original culture in their area, that has since come under pressure either from immigrants to the region or a new dominant nation state or both. That is the case with the Welsh, Basques, Gallicians, Scots and the Danish minority in Southern Schleswig etc. Others represent an old minority that has lived in the area for centuries like the Swedish Peoples Party in Finland. There is only 6 % Swedish speakers in Finland today compared to 25% in the mid 1600s when they topped, so it is a culture that needs a political voice to secure recognition and government funding if it is to survive.
The immigrant parties are different, because you could argue, that they should either integrate fully or leave, but that view would be considered xenophobic by many  people (not me).

I believe you don't have to integrate fully, just speak the language, obey the laws, and there's really no need to set up a party merely on race, rather than on real issues.  I am friends with a Zoroastrian Persian who is a libertarian and a blonde, blue-eyed German who holds very similar political views.  I don't believe that there's a need to politicize one's culture in order to promote cultural awareness.  You can maintain your heritage at home through cooking, prayer, meditation, etc

[Peter the Lefty]

US: When there's no one from the Green Party or the Socialist Party on the ballot, I'd leave it blank.  Otherwise, I'd vote for any smaller, more left-wing party.
UK: Labour after Miliband was elected, but with Ed Balls' "no guarantee of any cut being reversed" and his endorsement of the wage freeze on public sector workers, I'd now be a Green Party supporter.  SNP if I were in Scotland.  Plaid in Wales.  
Canada: NDP all the way (but provincially, in Nova Scotia, I'm pretty mad at their education cuts, do I might go to the Green party there)
France: PS
Germany: Pre-Agenda 2010, the SPD, or maybe the Greens occasionally.  In 2005-2009, either the Greens or the Left.  Now, I suppose if the SPD's leading candidate were on the party's left-wing, I'd vote SPD.  Otherwise, Greens.  If I lived in the West, maybe the Left as well.
Italy: PD or SEL.  Normally the latter.  
Ireland: Labour Pre-2011.  Not sure now.  Can't vote for Sinn Fein so long as it's led by Gerry Adams in the South and Martin McGuinness in the North.  If they dumped both of them and replaced Adams with Mary Lou McDonald, I'd probably be a Sinn Fein supporter now.  
Mexico: PRD, even though I hate AMLO.  
Brazil: PT, but I'm mad as hell at Rousseff atm for environmental/labor/ indigenous sympathy reasons, so I'd now be with the Greens.  
Argentina: PS
Australia: Greens ever since the Hawke/Keating governments would have turned me away from the ALP, though they'd keep my 2PP vote.  And so long as Gillard opposes gay marriage and cuts welfare, the Greens would retain my First preference votes.  
New Zealand: Now that Shearer's the Labour leader, the Greens.
Russia: A Fair Russia
Greece: PASOK Pre-2009, SYRIZA/DIMAR swinger both times in 2012, now SYRIZA.  
Israel: Meretz.  
Spain: United Left, PSOE before the austerity.  
Portugal: Left Bloc, PS before the austerity
Norway: Labour Party, maybe Socialist Left Party
Sweden: Social Democrats
Denmark: Socialist People's Party, with Thorning-Schmidt as SD leader.  
Finland: Social Democrats or Left Alliance, since even the Green League seems to enjoy immigrant-bashing nationalism.  
South Korea: Democratic United Party, maybe Unified Progressive Party.
Japan: Social Democratic Party.  
India: Fourth Front, since the Congress is a bunch of useless corrupt bastards. 

[Vote UKIP!]

Australia: Liberal
Canada: Conservative (Blue Tory)
Germany: Christian Democrat
Greece: New Democracy
Israel: Likud
Japan: New Democrat
New Zealand: National
Poland: Civic Platform
Taiwan: Kuomintang
United Kingdom: Conservative (Thatcherite); possibly UKIP
United States: Republican, if I lived in New York, Conservative

[Talleyrand]

Australia- Labor
United Kingdom- Labour
New Zealand- Labour
Israel- Labor
South Africa- Democratic Alliance
Northern Ireland- Social Democratic and Labour
Germany- Social Democratic
France- Socialist
Italy- Democratic
Greece- SYRIZA
Brazil- Worker's Party
Canada- New Democratic
Mexico- Party of the Democratic Revolution

[Jerseyrules]

USA: Libertarian
UK: Conservative
Germany: FDP
Israel: National Union
Canada: Christian Heritage
Australia: Family First
Denmark: Venstre or Danish People's Party
Italy: Il Popolo della Liberta
Russia: Right Cause, Republican Party of Russia - People's Freedom Party, Yabloko*
France: Union for a Popular Movement
Ireland: Fine Gael
Switzerland: SVP, FDP, BDP
Austria: OVP, FPO/FPK
Sweden: Moderate Party, Liberal People's Party, Christian Democrats
Estonia: Estonan Reform Party
Netherlands: VVD
Poland: PiS
Spain: People's Party
New Zealand: New Zealand First
Greece: New Democracy
Finland: National Coalition Party
Taiwan: Kuomintang
Serbia: United Regions of Serbia
Mexico: PAN
South Korea: DUP, LFP
*Moreso than the others, though I like the ideas of all three

Something I don't understand: what is a Pirate Party?  I don't understand the purpose, and Wikipedia's article regarding them is confusing.

[SUSAN CRUSHBONE]

USA: Libertarian
UK: Conservative
Germany: LDP
Israel: National Union
Canada: Christian Heritage
Australia: Family First
Denmark: Venstre or Danish People's Party
Italy: Il Popolo della Liberta
Russia: Right Cause, Republican Party of Russia - People's Freedom Party, Yabloko*
France: Union for a Popular Movement
Ireland: Fine Gael
Switzerland: SVP, FDP, BDP
Austria: OVP, FPO/FPK
Sweden: Moderate Party, Liberal People's Party, Christian Democrats
Estonia: Estonan Reform Party
Netherlands: VVD
Poland: PiS
Spain: People's Party
New Zealand: New Zealand First
Greece: New Democracy
Finland: National Coalition Party
Taiwan: Kuomintang
Serbia: United Regions of Serbia
Mexico: PAN
South Korea: DUP, LFP
*Moreso than the others, though I like the ideas of all three

Something I don't understand: what is a Pirate Party?  I don't understand the purpose, and Wikipedia's article regarding them is confusing.

The Pirate Party of Germany mainly stands for two issues: Internet freedoms and more direct democracy.
Besides that, they have generally libertarian/left-libertarian policies.

[Zuza]

Germany: LDP

What? Maybe FDP?

[Jerseyrules]

The Pirate Party of Germany mainly stands for two issues: Internet freedoms and more direct democracy.
Besides that, they have generally libertarian/left-libertarian policies.

Thanks.

Just our of curiosity, aren't those two major planks of the FDP?

[Jerseyrules]

Germany: LDP

What? Maybe FDP?

Sorry, yes that's what I meant

[SUSAN CRUSHBONE]

The Pirate Party of Germany mainly stands for two issues: Internet freedoms and more direct democracy.
Besides that, they have generally libertarian/left-libertarian policies.

Thanks.

Just our of curiosity, aren't those two major planks of the FDP?

Not really.
The FDP has mostly devolved into a rich peoples' party.

[Jerseyrules]

The Pirate Party of Germany mainly stands for two issues: Internet freedoms and more direct democracy.
Besides that, they have generally libertarian/left-libertarian policies.

Thanks.

Just our of curiosity, aren't those two major planks of the FDP?

Not really.
The FDP has mostly devolved into a rich peoples' party.

Why?  When?  From Wikipedia, it seems like they were center-left, then shifted gradually towards the libertarian right, before taking the plunge with Merkel

[Filuwaúrdjan]

They were never centre left.

[Rhodie]

Australia: Liberal (or National)
New Zealand: ACT (or National)
Canada: Conservative
UK: Conservative
Northern Ireland: Ulster Unionist
USA: Republican
France: UMP
Germany: CDU (or FDP)
Ireland: Fine Gael
Spain: Peoples Party
Israel: Likud
Poland: Civic Platform
South Africa: Just no

[Donerail]

Australia: Liberal
New Zealand: ACT or National
Canada: Liberal
UK: Liberal Democrat
Northern Ireland: Alliance
USA: Libertarian or Democrat
France: The Alliance probably, also PRG, MoDem, AL, PLD.
Germany: FDP
Ireland: Fianna Fáil
Spain: UPyD
Israel: Kadima (possibly Independence)
Poland: Palikot's Movement
South Africa: DA
Italy: Italy of Values or Northern League
Greece: New Democracy
Brazil: Democrats
Mexico: New Alliance Party
Denmark: Liberal Alliance or Danish Social Liberal Party
Russia: Yabloko, Right Cause, or Republican Party of Russia
Switzerland: FDP
Austria: Hans-Peter Martin's List
Sweden: Liberal People's Party or Pirate Party
Estonia: Estonian Reform Party
Netherlands: D66
Finland: National Coalition
Taiwan: Pan-Green Coalition
Serbia: Liberal Democratic Party
South Korea: Democratic United Party
Japan: Your Party
Argentina: Republican Proposal
Portugal: Hope For Portugal Movement
Norway: Liberal Party
India: Nationalist Congress Party
Belgium: Reformist Movement (Wallonian), Open Flemish Liberals And Democrats (Flemish)
Scotland: Scottish Liberal Democrats
Wales: Welsh Liberal Democrats
Ukraine: Reforms and Order Party
Quebec: Quebec Liberal Party or CAQ
Chile: National Renewal
Croatia: Croatian People's Party- Liberal Democrats
Hungary: Politics Can Be Different
Czech Republic: TOP 09 or Public Affairs
Turkey: Republican People's Party
Thailand: Democrat Party
Zimbabwe: Patriotic Union of MaNdebeleland
Burma: National Democratic Force
Singapore: Singapore People's Party
Iran: National Front
Iraq: Iraqi National Accord
Bahrain: National Democratic Action Society
Cyprus/Northern Cyprus: Democratic Rally/Freedom and Reform Party
Egypt: Free Egyptians Party
Jordan: Jordanian Arab Party
Kuwait: National Democratic Alliance
Lebanon: Future Movement
Yemen: Nasserite Unionist People's Organisation
Palestine: Palestinian Democratic Union
Armenia: Heritage
Azerbaijan: Modern Equality Party
Georgia: Georgia's Way or Republicans
Afghanistan: Republican Party of Afghanistan
Pakistan: Muttahida Quami Movement
Kazakhstan: Ak Zhol
Kyrgyzstan: Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan
Tajikistan: Democratic Party
Turkmenistan: Republican Party of Turkmenistan
Uzbekistan: Liberal Democratic Party
Algeria: Rally for Culture and Democracy
Libya: National Front Party
Morocco: Popular Movement
Tunisia: Republican Party

[Antonio the Sixth]

Italy: Italy of Values or Northern League

Lulz.

[Hash]

Neither the NC or MoDem are actual political parties.

[Donerail]

Neither the NC or MoDem are actual political parties.

Ah well, I thought they were. What are the actual political parties then?

[Hash]

Neither the NC or MoDem are actual political parties.

Ah well, I thought they were. What are the actual political parties then?

They're political parties in the liberal sense of the term, but given that in reality they're both empty shells which are nothing but failed vehicles for their stupid leaders, I don't really treat them as political parties.

The NC has never been a political party, and has never shown any aspiration to be treated seriously. It was created by those UDF deputies who opposed Bayrou's post-electoral strategy, largely because they were scared sh**tless about losing their jobs if the UMP ran candidates against them (which it would have done, likely with some success, if they had followed Bayrou). Hence, from that point on, they've been a useless bunch of centre-right barons which leeches on the UMP and is clearly dependent on the UMP's good graces for its political survival. Morin never really had any political ambitions beyond being a useless rural gombeen deputy. Lagarde and those in the NC who were actually remotely ambitious have left the party now after their civil war with Morin. Since 2007, it has been practically one and the same with the UMP, appearing more as the centre-right faction of the UMP than an actual UDF-like political party. The few non-incumbent NC candidates which ran against UMP candidates all won terrible results (like 5% in exceptional circumstances, 1-2% otherwise), and for that reason it shied away from running independently in the Euros and regionals. The few public statements by the NC have consisted of the old centrist pablum ('European integration', 'humanism' and some other bullsh**t which doesn't mean jack crap).

OK, the MoDem was intended to be a political party, given that it actually runs independent candidates in most elections (!) and that it had developed a slightly more thought-out and coherent ideology (but obviously it doesn't give a sh**t about it). However, it started out as a personal vehicle for Bayrou's half-baked presidential ambitions and it has transformed at a dizzying pace into a one-man show which serves Bayrou's delusions and uncontrolled sadist urge to become President in 2002 2007 2012 2017. I mean, he's run the party like a Soviet Commissar and forced everybody who thought that perhaps Bayrou's strategy was probably not the kewlest thing eva to leave the party in shame. Since 2007, he's show that he literally doesn't give a sh**t about how the other people in the MoDem (all 5 of them) fare in elections or that the MoDem has gotten its ass kicked in all/most elections.