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Union, Progress and Democracy

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Union, Progress and Democracy
SpokespersonRosa Díez
Founded26 September 2007 (2007-09-26)
HeadquartersC/ Cedaceros, 11, 2º H, 28014, Madrid
Membership6000 (2012, est.)[1]
IdeologyProgressivism,
Social liberalism,[2][3]
Laicism,[4]
Reformism,[5]
Symmetric federalism,[6]
European federalism,[7]
Constitutional patriotism,
Postnationalism,[8][9]
Secular humanism[10][11]
Political positionCentre[12][13][14]
European affiliationNone
European Parliament groupNon-Inscrits
International affiliationNone
ColoursMagenta
Local Government
152 / 68,286
[15]
Regional Parliaments
10 / 1,207
Congress of Deputies
5 / 350
Spanish Senate
0 / 264
European Parliament
1 / 54
Website
www.upyd.es

Union, Progress and Democracy (Template:Lang-es Template:IPA-es, UPD Template:IPA-es or officially UPyD Template:IPA-es) is a Spanish political party founded in September 2007.

It is a social liberal party.[2] UPyD rejects nationalisms such as the Basque and Catalan nationalism[16] as well as Spanish nationalism[17][18][19] or any nationalism.[20][21] It wants to change the electoral law for a more proportional one.[22][23] It wants a federal system for Spain and Europe, without duplicities between the functions of the federal government, the state one and the regional one.[22][24]

UPyD first stood for election in the 2008 general election, held on 9 March. It received 303,246 votes, or 1.2% of the national total, and one seat in the Congress of Deputies[25] for party co-founder Rosa Díez, thus becoming the newest party with national representation in Spain.

UPyD's core is in the Basque Autonomous Community, with roots in anti-ETA civic associations, yet it addresses a Spain-wide audience. Prominent members of the party include philosopher Fernando Savater, party founder and former PSOE MEP Rosa Díez, university professor Mikel Buesa, philosopher Carlos Martínez Gorriarán, and writer Álvaro Pombo.

By the end of 2008, UPyD claimed to have more than 9,000 registered members.[26]

In the most recent general elections, held on 20 November 2011, the party won 1,143,225 votes (4.70%), becoming the fourth largest political force in the country, and achieving five seats in the Congress of Deputies [27] (four in Madrid and one in Valencia) being the party that experienced the greatest increase votes over the previous general election.[28]

Origins

Álvaro Pombo (left) with Fernando Savater at a meeting of Union, Progress and Democracy.

On 19 May 2007, 45 people met in San Sebastián with the aim of debating the necessity and possibility of creating a new political party that would oppose both the main parties at national level: the People's Party (PP) and the PSOE. At the meeting, most of those present were Basques, many of whom have long experience in political, union, and civic organizations, in many cases coming from a background of left-wing politics, but also from liberal and civic backgrounds. After that meeting, in order to create a broadly based social and political project, the first step was to create an association, Plataforma Pro, which united those who considered it necessary to form a new political party at national level, whose aim would be to put forward new political proposals of interest to people from across the democratic political spectrum. The initial motives established were:

  • The fight against ETA and any type of politically motivated violence.
  • Regeneration of Spanish democracy.
  • Opposition to nationalism or regionalism.
  • The reform of the Spanish Constitution of 1978 to reinforce citizen liberties and equality, independent of the regional origins of each citizen.

Among the members or supporters of Plataforma Pro were the philosopher Fernando Savater, the spokesman of ¡Basta Ya!, Carlos Martínez Gorriarán (who was the coordinator of the same group), and the former PSOE MEP Rosa Díez. The latter resigned from PSOE membership and her position as MEP in August 2007 in order to become involved with the UPyD project.

Other groups that showed their support for the Platform included the association Citizens of Catalonia, most notably Albert Boadella, Arcadi Espada, and Xavier Pericay, as well as the association ¡Basta Ya!, which had been a major influence on the new movement.

Teresa Giménez Barbat, member of Council of UPyD in Catalonia and president of Citizens of Catalonia.

In September 2007, the then-president of the Forum Ermua, Mikel Buesa, announced their intention to participate in the political party arising from the Plataforma Pro (later on, he resigned in 2009 due to disagreements with Rosa Díez).

Finally, at a public meeting on 29 September 2007, in the Auditorium of the Casa de Campo in Madrid, the new party, Union, Progress and Democracy, was formed. Those involved in the formation of the new party included the Catalan dramatist Albert Boadella, the Basque philosopher Fernando Savater, the Peruvian writer Mario Vargas Llosa, and Rosa Díez. Also present were journalist Arcadi Espada, anthropologists Teresa Giménez Barbat and Felix Perez Romera (three prominent members of Citizens of Catalonia), historian Antonio Elorza, painter Agustín Ibarrola, the ex-leader of the Forum Ermua Mikel Buesa, philosopher Carlos Martínez Gorriarán, the deputies of Citizens Albert Rivera and Antonio Robles, Peruvian writer Fernando Iwasaki, former Secretary General of the UGT Nicolas Redondo, and Basque MP of the People's Party Fernando Maura. Maura would join the new grouping on the 6th of November 2007, as a member of its advisory council. Later on, writer Álvaro Pombo also expressed support for UPyD, and went on to run as a candidate for the party.

Ideology

Ideologically, UPyD does not define itself as either left or right. UPyD prefers to define itself as a progressive party, beyond other ideological labels.

Rosa Díez in a party meeting.

As they describe themselves in the opening paragraphs of their initial manifesto:

We begin with a revolutionary assumption: that citizens are not born being either left wing or right wing nor with the card of any party in their nappies. We go further, at the risk of offending the timid: we consider citizens able to think for themselves and as a result, to choose, in accordance with the policies of the political parties and their knowledge of the historical situation in which we live. Therefore we do not think that anybody is forced to vote the same way or to resign themselves to the existing political options, when they have already previously disappointed them. To be considered right wing or left wing does not seem to us to be the main problem, although we sincerely pity those that lack better arguments to counter their opponents (...) In order to avoid this false dichotomy, we preferred to speak of progressivism instead of left or right.

They argue that the Autonomous Communities system, one of the most decentralized in Europe,[29] has weakened the State's own powers such that individual rights can no longer be assured consistently throughout Spain due to different regional laws. But similarly, they are also against nationalism at European level. They think the nation-state system is no longer valid, that's why they want a European federation, based on citizenship, and not just as an international organization of nations. They believe in a federal Europe of citizens, not of nations.

The party is included in what has come to be called in Spanish as transversalismo (transversalism), known in English as Left–right. It is a cross-sectional party, that tries to include concepts and ideas of both political axes, making the party probably best categorized as social liberalism.

Their main proposals include:

  1. Reform of the Spanish Constitution of 1978, being centred on three areas:
    1. Conclusion of the autonomic model, clearly defining the functions and responsibilities of both the central state and the autonomous communities, making clear which functions are non-delegable to the Autonomous Communities or Municipalities. To this the elimination of the "historical rights" of certain independent communities is added.
    2. Improvement and individual reinforcement of rights and obligations, defining them as strictly equal for all the citizens of the country, without territorial, linguistic, ideological, or religious inequalities.
    3. Improvement of the separation of powers, reinforcing the autonomy of the judicial power with respect to the executive and the legislative, consolidating the unity of the judicial system in all the country, looking for ways to guarantee the independence and professionalism of the Courts, and regulating economic institutions, eliminating their dependence on the executive authority.
Peruvian-Spanish Nobel prize Mario Vargas Llosa and Catalan dramaturg Albert Boadella participating in the foundation ceremony.
  1. Enforcing Secularism.
  2. Reforming the electoral law, reviewing the electoral districts and the distribution of seats, which in their opinion is biased towards the two largest national parties (PP and PSOE) on the one side, and regionalists on the other (in this regard, if the Spanish general election of 2008 would have been held on a single national constituency, rather than using the current province-based constituencies system (fifty provinces plus Ceuta and Melilla), UPyD would have obtained 4 MPs instead of 1[30]).
  3. Reinforcing and promoting the quality of public education, promoting secularism, fighting fanaticism, promoting scientific research, and defending by law the possibility of being able to study in Spanish throughout Spain, as well as its prevalence as the common language of individuals; although recognising, protecting, and using the languages used in some regions to guarantee bilingualism where it exists.
  4. Measures of democratic regeneration, that make citizens closer to their political representatives. For example, the possibility of introducing an electoral system of open lists, the direct election of individual positions (autonomic and national heads of government, mayorships), limitation of mandates, and incompatibilities between the exercise of public office and private businesses. As well as measures that prevent coalitions that distort electoral results, and a more transparent financing of political parties and improving their independence of economic institutions.
  5. Reinforcing of anti-terrorist measures, namely emphasizing the need to eliminate ETA, fighting their acts of violence, prosecuting their financing, and preventing their political and ideological justification.
  6. Economic and social measures that promote the development and the competitiveness of the Spanish economy, correcting inequalities.
  7. Regarding immigration, UPyD argues that, instead of favoring cultural relativism, which could open ground to religious fundamentalism among others, the State has a role to spread a set of secular and civic values common for all the population, regardless of their origin. In Foreign Affairs, UPyD advocates for strengthening the European Union.

Funding

Shortly before the party's creation, on 13 of December 2007 UPyD held a press conference headed by Rosa Díez, Mikel Buesa, and Fernando Savater in which it denounced "evidently unequal" treatment it received on the part of Spanish banks, which had denied the UPyD loans and recalled the debts of the other political parties with the banks, in addition to the great pardons made to these groups in the last few years. In this context, they explained, UPyD's activity was currently being funded thanks to membership fees and small donations, but they recognized that the party "could not continue this way" nor contest an election with such resources. For that reason, the leadership decided to start a funding system of personal loans, to which they hope that citizens will commit themselves. This system consisted of selling personal loans to the value of 200, 500, and 1000 euros to fund the party's electoral campaign for the 2008 general elections after the refusal of financial institutions to bankroll the party. These bonds, which were to be issued to the total of somewhere between three to five million euros, could be purchased in the party offices, via the Internet, and via a free phone number. In addition, the party stated they would report the amount of the loans obtained and the state of its accounts. The party intends to return the money to citizens after the elections, thanks to the institutional funding received by parties with parliamentary representation.

Elections

Luis de Velasco Rami, Rosa Díez and David Ortega

Shortly after the party's foundation, it won a seat in the general election of 2008, which was held by Rosa Díez, the party's national spokesperson. She was elected in Madrid Province, with 3.74% of the vote. Other prominent candidates were the writer Álvaro Pombo for the Senate and Carlos Martínez Gorriarán, both of whom failed to win seats.

In 2009, the party gained representation in two other elections, the European Parliamentary election, and the Basque Regional Elections. Their MEP, Francisco Sosa Wagner, sat in the non-aligned group in the European parliament. In the Basque elections, Gorka Maneiro Labayen was elected to represent Álava.

In 2011, Luis de Velasco Rami and 7 other UPyD members were elected to the Madrid Assembly, with UPyD becoming the fourth largest party in that assembly. In the 2011 local elections, the party won seats in cities such as Madrid, Burgos, Ávila, Granada, Alicante, and Murcia.

In the 2011 general election, UPyD received the fourth largest number of votes, polling 1,143,225 (4.70%). They won five seats, four of them in Madrid; Rosa Díez, Carlos Martínez Gorriarán, Álvaro Anchuelo, and Irene Lozano, and one more for Valencia Province, the actor Toni Cantó.

Criticism

A party co-founder, Mikel Buesa, denounced the authoritarian control he claimed that a group of persons in the party had attempted to impose.[31] Later, one hundred UPyD critics (among whom were four founders) left the party. They felt "tired and disappointed" with the "authoritarian" Rosa Díez and "lack of internal democracy".[32] By early 2010 the party had lost 40% of its membership in Catalonia,[33] considering the political party to be a fraud.[34]

Electoral performances

Date
Elections
Votes
%
Seats
Head of Party List
2008 Spanish general election 306,079 1.19 1 Rosa Díez González
2009 European Parliament election 451,866 2.85 1 Francisco Sosa Wagner
2011 Spanish local elections 464,824 2.06 152 –
2011 Spanish general election 1,143,225 4.70 5 Rosa Díez González

In the 2009 European election the UPyD was the third most voted for party in 32 provincial capitals.[35]

Date
Elections
Votes
%
Seats
Head of Party List
2009 Basque parliamentary election 22,002 2.14 1 Gorka Maneiro Labayen
2009 Galician parliamentary election 23,445 1.45 – Andrés Wenceslao Mosquera
2010 Catalonian parliamentary election 5,293 0.17 – Antonio Robles Almeida
2011 Elections to the Aragonese Corts 15,625 2.30 – Cristina Andreu
2011 Elections to the Balearic Parliament 8,722 2.08 – Juan Luis Calbarro
2011 Elections to the Canarian Parliament 9,069 1.00 – José Luis García-Morera
2011 Elections to the Cantabrian Parliament 5,835 1.72 – Román San Emeterio
2011 Elections to the Corts of Castile and León 47,045 3.40 – Félix Sánchez Montesinos
2011 Elections to the Corts of Castile-La Mancha 20,554 1.78 – Luis Orgaz
2011 Elections to the Extremaduran Assembly 7,026 1.06 – Maria Luisa García-Borruel
2011 Elections to the Madrid Assembly 189,055 6.32 8 Luis de Velasco Rami
2011 Elections to the Murcian Assembly 29,236 4.50 – Rafael Sánchez
2011 Elections to the Navarrese Parliament 2,212 0.69 – Miguel Zarranz
2011 Elections to the Riojan Parliament 5,891 3.56 – Alfredo Rodríguez
2011 Elections to the Corts of Valencia 60,734 2.44 – Rafael Soriano
2012 Andalusian parliamentary election 129,180 3.35 – Martín de la Herrán
2012 Asturian Council election 18,739 3.75 1 Ignacio Prendes
2012 Basque parliamentary election 21.492 1.94 1 Gorka Maneiro Labayen
2012 Galician parliamentary election 21.212 1.48 - José Canedo Santos
2012 Catalonian parliamentary election 14.552 0.40 - Ramón de Veciana Batlle

References

  1. ^ Ruiz Castro, M. (27 May 2013). "La militancia en tiempos de crisis (spanish)". ABC. Retrieved 12 December 2013.
  2. ^ a b "Parties and Elections in Europe, "Spain", The database about parliamentary elections and political parties in Europe, by Wolfram Nordsieck". Parties & Elections. 19 March 2013. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  3. ^ Apuntes sobre liberalismo político - UPyD (Spanish)
  4. ^ "Savater: "La educación es la única vía posible para salir de la crisis actual"". Laicismo.org. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
  5. ^ UPyD, un partido progresista y reformista - Gorka Maneiro's Blog (UPyD) (Spanish)
  6. ^ UPyD quiere crear un Estado federal acabando con las autonomías - Público (Spanish)
  7. ^ Europa federal - UPyD (Spanish)
  8. ^ Unión, Progreso y Democracia - Socvot (Spanish)
  9. ^ De 1914 a 2014: por qué el nacionalismo sigue en auge - Blog de Carlos Martinez Gorriarán (Spanish)
  10. ^ http://humanismosecular.net/?p=1220
  11. ^ http://humanismosecular.net/?p=2070
  12. ^ Mallet, Victor (16 April 2011). "Centrist politician woos disenchanted Spaniards". Financial Times. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
  13. ^ "How much is enough?". The Economist. 6 November 2008. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
  14. ^ Toni Cantó: "UPyD es un partido de centro, pero no es tan sencillo" - Periodista Digital (Spanish)
  15. ^ Resultados provisionales- Eleccions Municiaples 2011, Ministry of the Interior, retrieved 29.05.11
  16. ^ Henderson, Karen; Sitter, Nick (2008), "Political Developments in the EU Member States", The JCMS Annual Review of the European Union in 2007, Wiley, p. 196
  17. ^ http://www.upyd.es/contenidos/noticias/318/97352-Hay_que_favorecer_mas_politica_europea_y_menos_nacionalismo_de_los_Estados
  18. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2tKY1SBnYQ
  19. ^ http://www.cadavotovale.es/europa_federal.html
  20. ^ http://noticias.lainformacion.com/economia-negocios-y-finanzas/textiles-y-vestuario/upyd-urge-a-aplicar-el-plan-de-la-onu-que-evite-sucesos-como-el-de-bangladesh_4YWTAAzTePnplnvK592S12/
  21. ^ http://www.ceutaldia.com/content/view/96338/29/
  22. ^ a b http://www.upyd.es/contenidos/secciones/451/Estado_federal
  23. ^ http://www.sevillaactualidad.com/andalucia/22514-upyd-recoge-firmas-para-pedir-cambiar-la-ley-electoral
  24. ^ http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2012/09/24/paisvasco/1348484823.html
  25. ^ 2008 Cortes Generales Election Results. Ministerio del Interior. 10 March 2008. Last Retrieved 10 April 2008. (Spanish)
  26. ^ "Conferencia Foro Nueva Economía". Upyd.es. Retrieved 18 June 2010.
  27. ^ Gobierno de España (20 November 2011). "Resultados de UPyD en las Elecciones Generales de 2011". Retrieved 21 November 2011.
  28. ^ "El llamativo ascenso de UPyD, región a región". La Voz Libre. 21 November 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2011.
  29. ^ "CNN.com – Catalonians vote for more autonomy – Jun 18, 2006". CNN. Retrieved 18 June 2010.
  30. ^ "Noticias de España en ELPAÍS.com". Elpais.com. Retrieved 18 June 2010.
  31. ^ "Mikel Buesa, fundador de UPyD, deja el partido por su 'autoritarismo'". El Mundo. 4 July 2009.
  32. ^ "Un centenar de críticos de UPyD abandonan el partidoSe confiensan "cansados y decepcionados" con el "autoritarismo" de Rosa Díez y por la "falta de democracia interna"". Público. 12 December 2009.
  33. ^ "Problemas para Rosa Díez – Un reguero de bajas deja tocada a UPyD en Cataluña en año electoral". El Semanal Digital. 21 January 2010.
  34. ^ "Un grupo de militantes catalanes de UPyD abandona el partidoCritican a Rosa Díez por "asfixiarles" y consideran que ha sido un "enorme fraude político"". Público. 21 January 2010.
  35. ^ "UPyD destaca que es la tercera fuerza política en 32 capitales de provincia". RTVE.es. Retrieved 18 June 2010.
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