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	REFORM PARTY

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The Reform Party is the largest right-leaning party in Lendosa, and the one generally regarded as the main "pro-business" party. Its policies are mostly classified as centre-right, and the party believes that economic success should be the primary focus of the state's resources. It believes that other parties pay too little attention to economic matters, saying that only by creating a prosperous economy can the Lendosan people truely achieve happiness. The Reform Party claims that the state is "strangling" businesses with excessive taxes and regulation, and the party advocates relatively low state involvement in the markets. It does not, however, advocate a completely deregulated economic structure, and accepts the need for the state to retain control over certain key sectors of industry. The Reform Party persues a moderate social agenda, with the emphasis on social freedoms. According to the Reform Party, attempting to control society is both futile and unhelpful, and society should be allowed to progress at a slow, "natural" pace - the state, the party claims, should "neither push society forward nor hold it back".

At present, the Reform Party has twenty seats in the Senate, behind only Balance and the Communists (and equal to the Socialists). It also holds five of the twenty-five Administrator posts. The Reform Party is led by Paulo Dias, who also serves as Administrator of Commerce. The party's deputy leader is Arlindo da Silva, currently the Administrator of Trade. Other key senators are Ura Galbora (Administrator of Finance), Galono Durantro (Administrator of Energy), Taramo Cielebro, Dauido Cipano (Administrator of Statistics), and Carlo Vedibo. The party's Secretary is Meria Tamea.

Colour and Emblem

The Reform Party uses blue as its official colour. The blue is darker than that of the Values Party, but lighter than that of the Burovian Party. Its official symbol is a five-pointed star (either white or blue).

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The Lendian language name of the party is "lo Partido Reformo", although "lo Partido Reformisto" ("Reformist" rather than merely "Reform") is sometimes used unofficially.

Quote

"The Lendosan Confederation needs a government which encourages strong economic growth, and which takes active measures to improve the living standards of all citizens. It does Lendosa no good if the government is distracted away from these basic needs by futile attempts at social engineering."

Key Policies

Economy
The Reform Party believes that economic prosperity should be the focus of the government's attention, and that by lifting the economy, other problems will be reduced or eliminated. It believes in a relatively free market, with regulation kept to a minimum unless doing otherwise will cause problems.

• Reduce the amount of regulation put on non-critical industries, allowing market forces to have more influence.
• Simplify any regulations which that are not removed, and minimise the costs of compliance for affected companies.
• Privatize state companies that operate in a partially deregulated market, such as airlines and electricity companies.
• Lower corporate and personal tax rates, so as to encourage a higher level of economic growth.
• Minimize or eliminate tariffs on international trade.

Government Services
The Reform Party believes that the state has an obligation to provide certain basic services, but claims that while state funding may be useful, heavy state control is always unhelpful, causing inefficiency and unresponsiveness.

• Radically reduce the size of the civil service, and cut back as much of the bureaucracy as possible.
• Decrease central control over schools and universities, giving each individual institution more say over their own operations.
• Give parents more choice about what their children will study.
• Reform the welfare system so as to encourage people to find work, rather than to expect handouts.
• Decentralise the health service, giving more control to doctors and less to government bureaucrats.
• Increase the number of partnerships between the public and private sectors - state involvement makes a project more responsible, while private involvement makes a project more efficient.

Issues Facing the Party

The Reform Party is relatively new, compared with most Lendosan parties, and as a consequence of this, is still somewhat unsteady. The party does not have a strongly established voter base, and most of its supporters are not firmly attached to it. This is changing with time, but may still require an effort. There is also a problem of inexperience among many Reform Party politicians. Some of them were once Capitalist Party members who followed Paulo Dias after the split (see the history section of this page), but others are new to the field of politics. Like the problem of the soft voter base, this issue will be resolved with time.

Another potential problem within the party is its exact position on the political spectrum. The Reform Party was created to be a moderate centre-right party, but not all its present members agree with that positioning. In particular, some of those who followed Paulo Dias from the Capitalist Party did so because they supported Dias himself, not because they wished to "tone down" the policies that the Capitalist Party had adopted. They form a faction of the Reform Party which would advocate much more right-wing policies than Dias is willing to.

Subparties

The Reform Party does not have any official subparties, although factions exist in practice.

Current Senators

Aluro Camano - Gained position through proportional representation. Formerly a professor of Engineering at the University of Riva, having previously been a senior engineer in the Imperial Construction Bureau. Joined the Reform Party on its foundation, having been a supporter of Paulo Dias for some time, but having been unwilling to support the Capitalist Party that Dias formerly led.

Arlindo da Silva - Deputy leader of the Reform Party and an elected representative of Neonia region. Currently the Administrator of Trade. Formerly the chief economist for Rurane Corporation, Lendosa's second largest company. Joined the Association for Free Market Economics shortly after it was established, and followed its founder in the creation of the Capitalist Party. Became associated with the moderate wing led by Paulo Dias, and followed Dias when he established the Reform Party.

Beladona Tarostrona - Gained position through proportional repreesentation. Formerly a nurse at a hospital in Riva. Joined the Imperial Party to support her local candidate, who supported greatly increased health spending, but then became a candidate herself. Was successful, but later retired from politics due to parenthood. Later returned to politics by joining the new Reform Party as a candidate.

Carlo Vedibo - An elected representative of Caeria region. Was formerly a prominent lawyer in the city of Quena, but chose to stand as a candidate for the Capitalist Party. Was unsuccessful, but continued to try. Followed Dias to the Reform Party, and was subsequently elected.

Daman Ivant - An elected representative of Denderor region. Formerly a police officer in the city of Illandri. Joined the Imperial Party, and stood as a candidate, but then quit due to differences of opinion. Re-entered politics by joining the Reform Party on its establishment.

Dauido Cipano - Gained position through proportional representation. Currently serving as the Administrator of Statistics. Was formerly a statistician within the Imperial Information Bureau, which later became the department he now directs. Joined the Capitalist Party upon its foundation, and rose to become a senior party official. Chose to become a candidate, and was successful. Followed Dias to found the Reform Party.

Elena Murisa - Gained position through proportional representation. Formerly a popular entertainer, and lead singer in the Lendian band Cienciar. Joined the Reform Party following the group's amicable breakup, and is now spokesperson for culture and the arts.

Evensa Sedota - Gained position through proportional representation. Once a teacher at a Dialen primary school, specialising in children with special needs. Joined the Reform Party to "improve the educational system".

Galono Durantro - Gained position through proportional representation. Currently serving as the Administrator of Energy. Formerly an accountant working for Lilimea, a large Lendosan vehicle manufacturer. Joined the Capitalist Party shorly after its foundation, and later stood for election. Was initially unsuccessful, but succeded on a second attempt. Followed Dias to establish the Reform Party.

Jurio Imo - Gained position through proportional representation. Prior to entering politics, worked as a credit analyst for the Bank of Riva. Joined the Capitalist Party and became a party official, and subsequently followed Dias to the Reform Party.

Kiriki Savaku - An elected representative of Manania region. Originally a doctor working at Vilava Hospital. Became mayor of Vilava after several unsuccessful attempts. Joined the Reform Party at the end of her term in office, and stood as the party's candidate for her region.

Lana Sembria - Gained position through proportional representation. Formerly a consultant in the field of management and administration, working for various companies in based in Gloria Libertatis. Joined the Capitalist Party and stood as a candidate, but was unsuccessful. Transferred to the Reform Party shortly after it was established, and subsequently gained a Senate position.

Miru Mitaranu - An elected representative of Delai region. Was once a biologist at the Imperial Institute of Marine Research's base in Ranha. Joined the Capitalist Party as an official, and later as an unsuccessful candidate. Won a Senate position shortly after following Dias to establish the Reform Party.

Ninava Ducata - Gained position through proportional representation. Formerly a lecturer in Religion at the University of Sargona, specializing in the study of Veldanist mythology. Joined the Equality Party shortly after its foundation, and followed when it merged into the Democracy Party, but declined to follow any of the groups that emerged when the Democracy Party collapsed. Returned to politics by joining the Reform Party shortly after it was founded.

Paulo Dias - Leader of the Reform Party and an elected representative of Lolth region. Currently the Administrator of Commerce. Once professor of economics at the University of Gloria Libertatis. Joined the Association for Free Market Economics upon its foundation, and later was nominated as a candidate when the Association's leader, Randalo Avico, founded the Capitalist Party. Won a seat in Lolth. Quickly became unofficial leader of the "moderate wing" of the party, opposing Miguel Santana's hardline wing. Was narrowly elected to the leadership after Avico's retirement, and introduced many reforms that were popular with voters but unpopular with senior party members. Was forced out by Santana, and founded Reform Party.

Rachela Stenta - An elected representative of Avris region. Formerly an officer and pilot in the Imperial Airforce, but was forced to leave the military after an accident which prevented her from flying. Entered local politics as an Imperial Party candidate, but transferred to the Capitalist Party shortly afterwards. Strongly supported Dias as leader, and followed him when he departed. Stood as a Senate candidate in her region for Dias' new Reform Party.

Rudolfo Caro - Gained position through proportional representation. Formerly a veterinarian in the city of Vanisa. Joined the Capitalist Party as a local candidate, and then followed Dias to the Reform Party when it was founded.

Taramo Cielebro - An elected representative of Videc region. Once an officer in the army, but quit to establish a private security business. Later joined the Imperial Party, and stood as a candidate, but soon departed again due to dissatisfaction with the party's "lack of flexibility". Joined the Capitalist Party when Dias became leader, and then followed Dias into the Reform Party. Currently serves as unofficial party spokesperson on matters relating to defence, security, and justice.

Ura Galbora - An elected representative of Rezimano region and the current Administrator of Finance. Formerly the deputy head of the Imperial Treasury. Joined the Capitalist Party due to dissatisfaction with monetary policy, and was nominated as a candidate. Followed Paulo Dias after his departure to create Reform.

Zar'un Ti - An elected representative of Kri'tan region. Originally the manager of a tour company in the city of Khath, but stood as a Capitalist Party candidate for his region due to dissatisfaction with economic regulation and taxation policy. Followed Dias to the Reform Party.

History of the Party

The Reform Party was established in late 301 AP. Its founder, Paulo Dias, had been leader of the Capitalist Party shortly before that, but had been ousted by Miguel Santana. Dias had been criticised for being "too moderate", and when hardliners removed him from the leadership, he departed, taking a substantial number of others with him. The Capitalist Party suffered a virtual collapse as a result of Dias' departure. In addition to the many Capitalist Party members who followed Dias, the Capitalist Party lost the considerable majority of its vote (in the subsequent elections, it gained only a single seat).

After his departure from the Capitalist Party, Dias and his supporters began to plan a new party based around their beliefs. The party would be considerably more moderate than the post-Dias Capitalist Party wished to become, and would not demand such major changes to the system. It would, however, advocate gradual and reasonable changes, attempting to decrease the state's bureaucracy and inefficiency, and trying to overhaul the regulatory and taxation systems that were "slowly killing private enterprise in Lendosa". The basic goal of the new party was to reform both the government and the economy, making them more efficient and more productive. Thus, the Reform Party was born. When announcing its creation, Dias said "This name would have a double meaning. Firstly, it reflects my desire to reform the statist economic model put in place by the left-wing parties that have dominated this Senate since its creation. Secondly, and perhaps just as importantly, it reflects my desire to reform the capitalist side of Lendosan politics, and abandon the rigid conservatism that I was unable to overcome in the Capitalist Party. It represents my desire to give the people of Lendosa a right-wing party which is actually interested in their well-being."

Paulo Dias naturally became the leader of this new party. Another former Capitalist Party senator, Arlindo da Silva, became deputy leader. Five other senators from the Capitalist Party joined them (leaving the Capitalists with just two). Opinion polls showed the Reform Party doing well compared to the Capitalists, with most voters preferring the more moderate policies of Dias. In the approach to the 302 elections, polls showed Reform as one of the top parties, having successfully captured nearly all the old Capitalist Party vote and more besides. In the election itself, Reform gained twenty seats.

List of Past Leaders

• Paulo Dias (301 - )