New Progressive Party

  

New Progressive Party ㄒㄧㄣ ㄐㄧㄣㄅㄨ ㄉㄤ Xīn Jìnbù Dǎng
Leader	Feng Huiyin
Founders	Yu Zhenggao Sun Ruoshui
Founded	14th November 2008
Preceded by	Minzhudang Progressive Millennium Party Social Democratic Party
Headquarters	Template:Country data Mukden
Newspaper	New Progressive Network
Student wing	Progressive Students Union
Membership	▲3,245,312 (2019)
Ideology	Majority:  • Liberalism  • Social Liberalism  • Economic Liberalism Factions:  • Social democracy  • Progressivism  • Left-wing populism
Political position	Centrism
National affiliation	Progressive Alliance for Manchuria
International affiliation	Liberal International
Regional affiliation	Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats
Official colours	Blue
Seats in the Supreme National Assembly	212 / 685
Local Government Seats	269 / 1,110
Politics of Manchuria Political parties Elections

The New Progressive Party (Chinese: ㄒㄧㄣ ㄐㄧㄣㄅㄨ ㄉㄤ; Xīn Jìnbù Dǎng) is a liberal-populist party in Manchuria. Since the last legislative elections in 2015 it has become the second largest party within the Supreme National Assembly holding 212 seats. It is the leading member in the Progressive Alliance for Manchuria.

The New Progressive Party was formed as a merger between the Minzhudang led by former Manchu premier Du Changhao, the Progressive Millennium Party led by Raoguo Jixu and the Social Democratic Party in 2008 during the Great Recession as an alternative to the centre right Manzuxiehui and the centre-left Socialist Party of Manchuria. It performed well in the 2010 legislative elections coming second behind the Manzuxiehui, ousting the Socialist Party as the main opposition. In the 2014 premierial elections the party's candidate, Raoguo Jixu, came second behind Li Zhou. In the 2015 legislative elections the NPP gained 212 of the 233 seats gained by the Progressive Alliance.

The XJD mainly adhere to Du's political ideology known as the Auspicious Path to Progress being located in the centre of Manchu politics. The XJD's cofounder Du Changhao has championed free market capitalism and a form of liberal conservatism, whereas co-founder Raoguo Jixu has advocated for social liberalism and welfare statism. The NPP identify themselves as progressives, although some have stated that they have often advocated neoliberal economic policies.

History

Founding

The New Progressive Party was founded as a merger of the liberal conservative Minzhudang, social liberal Progressive Millennium Party and social democratic Social Democratic Party on the 14^th November 2008. The Minzhudang and the SDP had both separated from the Communist Party during the Orchid Revolution, with both subsequently joining the Popular Front for Democracy and Revolution which ruled Manchuria until 1995. The Progressive Millennium Party was formed as the left wing of the Minzhudang split from the party after running into several disagreements with party leader and Premier Du Changhao. From 1995-2008 the liberal movement in Manchuria was split between the Progressive Millennium Party and the Minzhudang, with the PMP becoming the dominant liberal voice as the Minzhudang declined in popularity. Following the 2000 elections the SDP offered to enter a permanent electoral alliance with the PMP both in the national and local legislatures.

In 2008 the PMP and Minzhudang candidates in the Premierial election suffered heavy defeats as both the ruling nationalist Manzuxiehui and the main opposition Socialist Party of Manchuria well outpaced the two liberal parties in terms of vote share, with the Manzuxiehui candidate Jin Pai Nai winning with 51.9% of the vote. Jin's victory caused the longtime Minzhudang chairman Du Changhao to step down, prompting new Minzhudang Chairman Yu Zhenggao to propose a merger with the PMP and the SDP in an effort to provide a "cohesive progressive, liberal-democratic message to the Manchurian people". In September 2008 the formal process of merging began which finished on the 14^th November 2008, with Minzhudang leader Yu Zhenggao elected the party president by the newly formed National Party Council and PMP chairman Sun Ruoshui Vice-President. Proposed names for the party included Democratic-Progressive, Liberal Democratic, Progressive Reform and New Democratic. Ultimately New Progressive was chosen at the party's founding alongside the party logo and colour. The New Progressive Party initially held 86 seats in the Zuigaohuiyi.

Yu Zhenggao

Yu Zhenggao was the President of the XJD from 2008 to 2013. Yu wished for the party to focused on a moderate centrist platform, using political triangulation in order to increase the new party's vote share, promoting economic and social centrism. This tactic was criticised by staunch liberals within the party as a compromise of their principles especially in the light of the perceived anti-democratic policies of Premier Jin, but led the XJD to gain 29 seats in the 2010 Zuigaohuiyi election brining their total to 115 (32 in the districts and 83 on the party list) performing well in the traditional liberal heartlands in Dalian and the rest of the south east of the country. The election saw the XJD take the position of the official opposition from the Socialist Party who had previously held the position.

The XJD declined in the polls during 2011 due to the return of economic growth that year after it entered recession in 2008. In the 2012 local elections the XJD declined in terms of seats to the Manzuxiehui. Due to the setback in terms of seats, Yu indicated that he would step down as party president at the August Conference which would elect his successor. At the August Conference former Minzhudang member Lin Qixiang became the party president where he subsequently emphasised economic and cultural liberalism alongside protection of civil liberties as the XJD's main priorities.

2019 presidential campaign

Main article: 2019 Manchurian presidential

Raoguo Jixu was the NPP's presidential candidate in the 2014 election.

On the 7^th August 2013 the party primaries for the XJD's nomination for President officially were open for candidates to make applications. On the 11^th PMP founder and former Development Secretary Raoguo Jixu launched his campaign calling for a non-corrupt, transparent government and the end of the authoritarian policies of the Manzuxiehui. Two days later former party president Yu Zhenggao announced he would also enter the race calling for deficit reduction, ambitious deregulation and privatisation. Yu initially gained a strong following in the polls based on his economically liberal proposals until September 2013 when it was revealed that Manzuxiehui members of government had used state funds to prop up their own commercial interests. Raoguo soon became dominant in the opinion polls due to his strong anti-corruption message, easily winning the October primary, with 62.3% of XJD's voters choosing him over Yu. Raoguo promised if elected he could abolish the six term premierial term limit, equalise election times for the executive and the legislature, eliminate the deficit through far reaching austerity measures and reform the security services.

Raoguo initially held a convincing lead over Manzuxiehui candidate Liu Zhou, but his controversial business career and association with former premier Du Changhao led his poll numbers to equalise with Liu's. Raoguo endorsed a social and economic liberal position which failed to resonate with the primarily conservative electorate. Raoguo's economic proposals swung to the right which led to criticism that as a millionaire businessmen he was out of touch with the electorate especially with his calls to scrap the pension scheme, toughen austerity measures and limit workers' rights. In the election itself he gained 26,149,370 (32.3%) of the vote behind Liu's 30,683,008 (37.9%). Raoguo apologised for the loss, and party president Lin Qixiang resigned at the August party conference stating the loss of the 2014 election was down to a "mixed message" from the party. Feng Huiyin was elected as his replacement and subsequently launched a policy review into why the party lost the 2014 election whilst preparing for the upcoming 2015 Zuigaohuiyi election.

2015 legislative election

Main article: 2019 Manchurian legislative election

The New Progressive Party ran as part of the Progressive Alliance in the 2019 legislative election and chose party president Feng Huiyin to serve as its main candidate. The NPP formed a unified front with the Democratic Union for Change and Green Party of Manchuria to form a unified front in favor of a progressive populist and anti-corruption message. The party's main message was addressing Manchuria's inept and corrupt bureaucracy, challenging the dominance of the MNA as the dominant party of the country, and addressing issues relating to women's rights and corporate influence in politics. The party's message would catch steam in the election and the party would gain more and more public support as the election progressed with the NPP being in second place throughout the entire race.

Ideology

The New Progressive Party styles itself as a party of the radical centre that's principles are based around liberalism, rule of law and civil liberties. The NPP is largely split on several key issues being a coalition of social liberals, liberal conservatives, economic liberals, progressives and social democrats. Commonly the party supports left-of-centre social policies and right-of-centre economic ones.

Election results

Presidential elections

Premierial election record of the New Progressive Party
Election		Candidate	First round		Outcome	Map
			Votes	%
	24 January 2014	Raoguo Jixu	26,149,370	32.3%	Lost

Legislative elections

Legislative election record of the New Progressive Party
Election		Party leader	Seats		Outcome	Constituency map
			Constituency seats	Proportional seats
	22 December 2010	Yu Zhenggao	32	83	Main opposition	115 / 685 ▲115
	22 December 2015	Feng Huiyin	77	135	Coalition government	212 / 685 ▲97

Party Presidents

No.	Name (Born–Died)	Portrait	Term in Office
1	Yu Zhenggao (1959-)		14th November 2008	3rd August 2012
2	Lin Qixiang (1961-)		3rd August 2012	8th August 2014
3	Feng Huiyin (1966-)		8th August 2014	Incumbent

Political positions

Economic

• Increase economic growth and liberalisation whilst maintaining a social safety net.
• Support the International Free Trade Act of 1997 which mandates a decrease on tariffs on imported goods into Manchuria.
• Eliminate the deficit and insolvent welfare programmes.
• Privatise as many state owned enterprises s possible to encourage market growth.
• Support membership to the TPP.
• Put at least 元20,000,000 into local government healthcare insurance whilst freeing up parts of the health sector for private investment.
• Lower tuition fees from 元20,062 to 元13,374 a year.
• Remove benefits for those not in employment.
• Cut tax rates to big businesses.
• Abolish the income tax system and implement a flat tax rate.

Social

• Recognise the right of homosexuality, but oppose the legalisation of same-sex marriage.
• Oppose the two-child policy.
• Clamp down on drug crime.
• Promotion for the enfranchisement of women.
• Maintain the current rate of immigration, but crack down harder on illegal immigrants.
• Support and enhance civil liberties.

Foreign

• Support the State of Israel.
• Advance plans for membership towards the TPAC.
• Maintain the Chinese-Manchurian Dissident Act 1966.
• Scrap plans for membership with the SCO.
• Encourage greater links with the United States and South Korea.
• Negotiate a free trade agreement with the European Union.