Loyal Christian Front
| |
| Established | 2004 |
| Defunct | 2005 |
| Economic ideology | Christian Democracy |
| Social ideology | Catholic Integralism |
The Loyal Christian Front was the predominant Pantocratorian opposition party, occupying 162 seats in the Imperial Parliament, before it was reformed along with the Pantocratoria First Party into the United Christian Front in late 2005. It was a moralistic Christian conservative party, formed out of the moderate wing of the old United Christian Front.
Contents
The Founding of the LCF
The Loyal Christian Front was founded in early 2004 when Princess Irene and her supporters left the United Christian Front to form the Pantocratoria First Party. Those UCF members still loyal to Prince Basil, the party's leader, formed the Loyal Christian Front.
Opposition
First Term (2004) and Election of the 106th Imperial Parliament
In the lead-up to the elections for the 106th Pantocratorian Imperial Parliament, the Loyal Christian Front failed to mount an effective campaign against the populist Pantocratoria First Party government. Polls were initially fairly even, but when Princess Irene's government fought and won a popular and brief war against Espario, the Pantocratoria First Party's position was secure. The Loyal Christian Front wasn't equipped for an election - it had been over 12 years since the 105th Pantocratorian Imperial Parliament was elected after all, and none of the members of Prince Basil's former government had been prepared to fight another one.
Second Term (2004)
The Loyal Christian Front's time in opposition was markedly more successful than the early 2004 election campaign. Prince Basil and his front bench lead a mounting attack on the credibility of the Pantocratoria First Party, particularly over the unpopular powers of the Ministry of Cultural Development. But it was the Knootian Boycott Act which became the Opposition's most deadly weapon. Prince Basil had close working relationships with many Pantocratoria First Party backbenchers when they were members of the United Christian Front, and as a result he knew that he could count on the votes of more than a few of them in support of a private members bill condemning the actions of the Dutch Democratic Republic of Knootoss in Tanah Burung. The act was passed without Princess Irene's support, which was immensely embarassing to the Government. Prince Basil further exploited the divisions within the Pantocratoria First Party to pass a motion of no confidence in Sir Jacques Antoniou, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, when it was revealed that he had had correspondence with his Knootian counterpart in which he opposed the Boycott Act. The Pantocratoria First Party's unity collapsed, and Princess Irene was forced to call an election.
Election of the 107th Imperial Parliament
The election campaign was not as successful as the term in opposition which preceded it, thanks to new laws which allowed the formation of political parties by ordinary citizens, instead of only Knights of the Order of the Pantocrator, peers of the realm, and members of the Imperial Family. This allowed for the highly organised trade union movement to form the Pantocratoria Socialist Alliance, and the long-established traditionalist Greek organisations to form the Constantinople Party, and these new parties emerged instantly as credible opponents to both the Loyal Christian Front and the Pantocratoria First Party. In the campaign however, the LCF survived the transition to this new political world, whereas the Pantocratoria First Party foundered. While the Loyal Christian Front lost seats in the campaign, it survived and remains a credible force, unlike Pantocratoria First.
Third Term (2004)
The 107th Imperial Parliament sat for the first time in December 2004. Although for the time being, the Pantocratorian Socialist Alliance and Constantinople Party have formed a coalition government, many suspect that in the long term, the Constantinople Party will be more willing to work with the Loyal Christian Front, and it would still be possible for the party to lead a coalition government consisting of itself, the Constantinople Party, and Pantocratoria First.
Reformation of the United Christian Front (2005)
In late 2005 the leaders of the Loyal Christian Front and the Pantocratoria First Party met and negotiated the terms under which the United Christian Front would be reformed as one party. Each party room agreed, and the United Christian Front was reformed. Prince Basil was elected as leader, and Pantocratoria First Party leader Isaac Comnenus was elected as his deputy. There is still much enmity within the United Christian Front between the two groups.
Leaders of the Loyal Christian Front
- Prince Basil (2004 to 2005)
