Workers' Party of Midrasia
| Workers' Party Partie Obrièrs | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leader | David Legeda |
| Deputy Leader | Gerard Luboux |
| President | Fabien Menés |
| Founded | 1992 |
| Ideology |
Marxism-Leninism Communism |
| Asuran affiliation | Workers' Internationale |
| Colour | Dark Red |
| National Assembly |
1 / 612 |
| Senate |
0 / 100 |
| Thraice Assembly |
0 / 25 |
The Workers' Party (Midrasian: Partie Obrièrs) is a marxist-leninist political party within Midrasia. The Party formed out of the now defunct Midrasian Communist Party, following political disagreements within the party leadership. Throughout its electoral history, the Worker's party has historically performed poorly, never earning a seat on the Thraice Assembly or Senate. However the party has consistently held two seats within the National Assembly, notably the districts of Walden-Faldoux and Rizá West, which both rank as the first and second poorest electoral districts respectively. However within the 2016 General Election, the party lost its seat in Walden-Faldoux to the Socialist Party, with pundits suggesting this was the result of corruption charges levied at the party leadership.
History
Origins
Following the political scandal that rocked the Midrasian Communist Party within the early 1990s seeing various members of the leadership involved in money laundering operations and widespread tax avoidance, several members of the party began to form splinter groups with the most notable being the Radical Left Party and the Marxist Alliance. Although several members of the party had been imprisoned as a result of a clampdown on political corruption, those who were not implicated suggested that it would be impossible to retain the party in its current form, due to the Communist party's affiliation with corruption. As such in early 1992 it was decided among the remaining leadership to dissolve the Communist Party, leading to its replacement with the Workers' Party. With the new party formed, several of the smaller splinter groups, such as the Marxist Alliance voted to join the Workers' Party.
Political Development
Following the dissolution of the Communist Party, the Workers' Party effectively picked up where its predecessor had left off, securing the bi-elections in Walden-Faldoux and Rizá West caused by the dissolution of the Communist Party. Despite a strong campaign by the SDP, Workers' Party candidates secured each position with a majority of 52% and 59% respectively. Throughout its time in control of the various constituencies, the party has focused on issues of workers rights and public ownership of industry. The party leadership was notable during 2004, calling for a "workers' revolution to overthrow the bourgeoisie." following the governments' sale of Beaumont Steel to Arpadesian investors. The party leadership has also been involved in numerous criminal cases throughout the early 2000s, with party leader David Legeda arrested on charges of indecent assault, only to be released a month later with all charges dropped.
In late 2014 Midrasian newspaper, the Vanguard reported that several members of the Workers' Party were involved in widespread corruption and bribery. The subsequent allegations were followed up by a criminal investigation and the arrest of party leader David Legeda, pending trial. The criminal investigation is ongoing, with a verdict to be given in mid-2016. During the 2016 General Election, the party lost its Walden-Faldoux seat to the Socialist Party, however it retained Rizá West albeit with a reduced majority of only 38%.
The Party Today
Following the party's historic loss of its 'safe' Walden-Faldoux seat, coupled with the ongoing corruption scandal, the party's approval ratings have plummeted. However other pundits have suggested plummeting ratings were more a result of the party's refusal to co-operate with the Midrasian political establishment, in contrast to the rising Socialist Party who have a proven track record of partisanship leading to successful local schemes such as the Community Bus Fund a successful public transport scheme implemented by other local councils.
Such refusal to work with the Political establishment to fund projects in deprived areas such as Walden-Faldoux has landed the party with charges of hypocrisy. Many have also suggested the party deliberately keeps its districts poor to ensure re-election, whilst blaming a lack of funding on the government of the day.
Publications
The party publishes a series of newspapers, the most notable being the Red Star. The newspaper had originally been published by the Communist party since the newspaper's creation in 1902. However following a lapse in production in 1990, the Workers' Party restarted production in 1993.
The party also produces a magazine, the Red Pages which is used to raise money for homeless constituents. The magazine is written by party members and volunteers and sold by homeless individuals who receive a percentage of sales revenue. Although the magazines publication is stated as entirely non-profit by the party recent allegations have surfaced suggesting the majority of magazine revenue is given to high ranking party members, with the homeless receiving as little as 5% of all revenue.
