Social Democratic Union

The Social Democratic Union (SDU) (Mahigian: Социал-Демократический Союз (СДС), tr. Sotsial-Demokraticheskiy Soyuz (SDS)) is one of the major political parties in the Laiatanese Federation. As of 2017, it is the current ruling party of the Laiatanese Federation. The Social Democratic Union is the largest political party in Laiatan; as of 2017 it holds 258 (or 57.33%) of the 450 seats in the People's Council and 18 (or 56.25%) of the 32 seats in the Federal Council.

The Social Democratic Union formed April 9, 1977 through a merger of the Social Labor Party and Democratic Union. As of 2017 the Social Democratic Union supports the policies of the presidential administration. The SDU is enjoying its highest popularity in its history, controlling nearly a supermajority (57.33%) in the People's Council. The party has controlled the executive branch since the 1992 election. It has controlled the legislative branch since the 1996 elections. The party's popularity has been increasing since becoming a significant player in coalition governments since the early 1980s.

History

Origins

The Social Democratic Union came to be in 1977 with the merging of the Social Labor Party (SRP) and Democratic Union (DS). The SRP was the oldest social democratic political party in Laiatan, and often ruled as part of a coalition with the liberal parties. The Democratic Union was founded in 1940 as a liberal progressive party, and had strong showings in elections. The SRP and DS often ruled in coalition together with other liberal parties.

The 1976 Federation Assembly elections showed a drastic change in the ideology of a large chunk of the country. Democratic Union finished first with 25%, while SRP followed close behind at 21%. The two parties ruled in coalition with a single liberal party. Sensing the change in the ideological direction of the country towards a more social democrat/progressive leaning, the parties announced unification process began in early 1976. This process was completed and finalized on July 9, 1977. The party began operating under the "Social Democratic Union" name , and began campaigning for the 1978 elections.

1978 Federation Assembly elections

The change expected by the newly formed Social Democratic Union (SDS) became a reality when the party took 50.22% of the seats in the People's Council and 53.13% of the Federal Council seats. Widely considered to be the underdog in the election, the win cemented social democracy into the Laiatanese political landscape. While the legislative branch went to the social democrats, the executive branch still remained in the hands of President Mikhail Avenov, a member of the Republic Party. Most of the Social Democratic Union's agenda was unable to be passed, excluding the occasional bill also supported by the Republicans.

1978 Federal Council Elections

Makeup of the 1978 Federal Council.

Political party	Number of seats	Change
SDS	17	17
RP	6	4
SNP	4	3
KPL	3	3
NPL	2	1

1978 People's Council Elections

Makeup of the 1978 People's Council.

Political party	Number of seats	Change
SDS	226	226
RP	60	23
SNP	56	29
KPL	55	5
NPL	53	7

1980-1989

1990-1999

2000-present

Current structure

Political positions

Voter base

Social Democratic presidents

Recent electoral history

	Laiatanese Federation
Main article: Laiatan
Important Topics: Culture ♦ Lupine ♦ Laiatanese language ♦ Mahitou ♦ Laiatanese korona ♦ Defense Forces
Government: Cabinet ♦ Federation Assembly ♦ Federal Council ♦ People's Council ♦ President ♦ Supreme Federal Court ♦ Political Parties
History: Pre-Mahigan Laiatan ♦ Kingdom of Laiatan ♦ Laiatanese Empire ♦ Laiatanese Junta ♦ Laiatanese Federation
Important Figures (Past and Present): Yuliya Surkova ♦ Zakhar Kreskov ♦ Aleksey Zukov ♦ Yuri IV ♦ Katerina I ♦ Nika Alkaev ♦ Yura Lainov