New Choice

For predecessor to this party, see Choice (Luthori)

New Choice is a political party that operates in the United Commonwealth of Luthori, originally the Holy Luthori Empire and was founded in October 3959. It was founded as a response to the lack of left-wing voice in Luthori politics at the time, by Jason Chandler and as a "resistance" to the increasingly strong right-wing political nature of the nature during the late 3950s and early 3960s. New Choice is the "successor" party to the original Choice originally founded by Ensor Taylor in 3832 and later on re-founded by Joe Purefoy 3899. The party in its first election won 77 seats, coming second out of nine contesting parties. However after another election that year making a net gain of only 3 seats, another snap election was called for 3964 in which the party boosted its gains with an additional 25 seats and enabled them to lead a coalition with the SDL and Liberal Alliance. However this coalition ended in 3967 after large Conservative Party gains and them instead forming a cabinet. Following this, the party replaced their leader Jason Chandler with backbencher Zaha Nazir. This proved to negatively impact on the party with Nazir's popularity dwindling after a mere few months in office. Due to this and the rise of other progressive parties, the party took a major hit in the 3971 general election coming fourth place. Immediately after the election, Oliver Davies, former shadow minister for internal affairs was elected as the next party leader.

History
During the late 3950s, the right-wing in Luthori grew to its largest dominance for many decades. For a long time the only outright left-wing or centre-left party was the Social Democratic League, traditionally always and ally to the original Choice party. However the SDL dissolved leaving no left-wing voice in major party politics in Luthori whatsoever with the Reform Party of Luthori, a third-way centralist party being the most progressive and smallest voice in the Diet. This called many concerned progressive Luthorian's into action and founded a new Choice party, due to Choice leaving the largest legacy in recent years in terms of progressive politics in the nation. Many politician's previously a part of the Social Democratic League including Jason Chandler himself founded New Choice soon after the July 3959 General Election, however sadly not registering in time to compete in the election. Following this election, a broad right-wing coalition was ruling Luthori, mostly compiled of the Progressive Conservative Party (ironically the least progressive party in Luthori) which later changed its name to the Hosian Democratic Union, and the Luthori People's Party. However the official coalition also included the Liberal Alliance and the Conservative Party of Luthori, giving the national government a supermajority. New Choice began proposing bills as soon as it could, sadly with many failing to pass due to the strong right-wing majority.

In the July 3963 general election, New Choice managed to win 77 seats, coming second out of nine contesting political parties. Immediately after the election the People's Party of Luthori dissolved and many members deciding to join other right-wing parties such as the Hosian Democratic Union in order to maximize success. However in doing this all members of the party vacated their seats, triggering a snap election in the September of that year where the Hosian Democratic Union won 39 more seats with New Choice remaining in second place making a net gain of only 3 seats. However the HDU eventually dissolved following troubles in forming a government and also in-fighting among the party. This made another election necessary, this time in July 3964 in which New Choice made a large net gain of 25 seats, earning 105 seats and coming second to the Conservative Party by only 5 seats. Following this, the party were able to form a coalition government in partnership with the Social Democratic League and the Liberal Alliance with Jason Chandler becoming the Imperial Chancellor. The coalition lasted until 3967 when an election was called. Although New Choice only made small losses, the Conservative Party of Luthori made massive gains and managed to persuade the Liberal Alliance into a coalition with them alongside the National Party of Luthori as opposed to renewing their coalition with New Choice and the SDL. This was seen as a sensible move due to the Conservatives having over 40% of the votes.

Following this, Jason Chandler announced his intention to step down as party leader in late 3967 and announced a leadership election would be held, with backbencher Zaha Nazir becoming the next party leader. Nazir is the first major political leader in Luthori to be of Badaran decent. Nazir began her term in office being very popular among the party however from the outset she was less than popular with right-leaning Luthorians, more so than most other Choice leaders. However after her first few months in office her popularity decreased, eventually dramatically due to her perceived ineffectiveness and the rise of other progressive parties in Luthori along with the perceived view that the party had become a part of the establishment. All these factors cost the party 40 seats in Nazir's first election with the party instantly firing her as party leader. Oliver Davies was immediately elected party leader.

Economic Policy
The party operates under a liberal socialist economic policy, opposing much privatization of key national industries such as schools. The party seeks to re-nationalize many industries that had previously been privatized under more conservative and liberal rule in the past, however New Choice accepts some privatization in certain areas, not pandering to extremes on either side.

Military
The party identifies as moderately pacifist, opposing any nuclear or chemical weapons being used on any civilian areas. Despite being a somewhat pacifist party, the party states that it is "not afraid to take stern action when needed", with the party supporting "sensible defense of the country". The party endorses the use of more conventional military weaponry as opposed to more advanced warfare such as air strikes, with Jason Chandler stating "a soldier with a gun can tell easier the difference between a civilian and an enemy to that of a bomb".

Civil Rights
The Party is progressive with civil rights, strongly opposing any social conservatism. The party strongly supports LGBT rights and opposes any discrimination based on race, gender or sexual orientation.

Healthcare
The party supports strong nationalization of hospitals, mostly opposing any privatization in healthcare. However unlike many members of old Choice, the official party stance does not fully oppose privatization in healthcare although it still strongly supports strong regulation to filter out corruption or malpractice. The party also supports more government funding for abortions and contraception with many in the party believing that they are necessities.

Constitution
Unlike the original party, New Choice does not run on a fully republican platform, realizing that this made them unpopular in many areas of Luthori and hindered some of their electoral performance. Along with this, it also made alliances more difficult with other political parties. The party officially take a neutral stance on the monarchy, with many party members still identifying as pragmatic republicans although a very small sector of the party actually identify as monarchists. However Jason Chandler stated "although this iteration of Choice is not this time a republican party, we are by no means a monarchist party either, officially taking no policy upon the monarchy whatsoever". Many members of the party including Justice Minister Jonathan Wright has spoken in favor of Luthori having a president as well as a monarchy, with the president mostly being in-charge of diplomatic affairs abroad and working along side the monarch as their key advisor elected by the people, to further appease both republicans and monarchists. When Oliver Davies took over as party leader in 3971, he made the party's stance on the monarchy once again officially republican. Many within the party also seeks to replace the "Holy" in Holy Luthori Empire due to it being "overly religious". However some in the party believe that it could perhaps be problematic due to many being attached to the traditional name.

During the 3972 election, republican parties gained the necessary 2/3rds of the legislature to depose the monarchy. The Progress Party formed the Republican Unity Coalition of Luthori with New Choice, the Luthori People's Union and the Social Democratic League which deposed the monarchy along with other cast constitutional changes such as changing the nation's official name. Upon removing the monarchy, party leader Oliver Davies made a heartfelt speech:

"It has been one of our primary objectives for 141 years to depose the monarchy and bring further democracy to Luthori. and it has finally happened. It's not been easy, for a time being our party even had to take an official policy of neutrality towards the monarchy in order to be electable and able to make a real difference to Luthori. However now that the majority of the nation finally voted for democracy, we are beaming that we have been able to play a vital role in this. It is regrettable many great Choice leaders such as Ensor Taylor and Joe Purefoy never lived to see their dream come true, but if they could see this moment right now, I know that they would be absolutely ecstatic. So Gustavus Edward Randolph, it leaves me with great joy to see you leave this building at long last!"

Law Enforcement
The Progressive Party supports the use of the death penalty for only the most serious of crimes and only if there is absolutely no doubt regarding the case. However the party also has a few "softer" policies regarding the law and support rehabilitation in prisons, but recognizes that "some are beyond rehabilitation".

Education
Improving education in Luthori is one of the party's key aims, striving to make it much fairer upon the students. The party completely opposes private and religious schools, maintaining that all schools should teach to the exact same standard and curriculum. However the party supports homeschooling on the condition that the student in question wants it and that they are being taught the same curriculum as in state schools. The party also supports free universities with the subsidization of all tuition fees being a key party policy.

Foreign Policy
The party takes a moderately isolationist stance towards foreign policy, strongly opposing diplomatic immunity or "over excessive" foreign aid. However the party takes a moderate stance regarding immigration, supporting most migrants being allowed to reside within the nation on conditions such as knowing either Luthorian language well and not having any criminal records.

Welfare
Fairer and "more helpful" welfare and support to Luthorians is one of the party's founding principles, with the party taking a mostly populist stance towards welfare.

Religion
The party's strong secular stance is one of the things they are best known for, strongly supporting strong separation between church and state. The party is firmly against having a national religion or any religious schools, branding strong ties between church and state as "outdated". It strongly opposes the strong hold religion has over many parties in Luthori, particularly attacking parties such as the Hosian Democratic Union over it.

Science & Technology
The party maintains that scientific research and knowledge is "important to the interests of Luthori and Terra alike" and supports nationalized research into important fields such as space exploration, although the party also supports contracting with private companies into scientific research on the conditions that it be to primarily serve the interests of the people as opposed to solely corporate interest.

Eccology
The party supports animal rights but does not wish to outright ban the killing of animals. Traditionally ecology is one of the main issues on which the party is split upon. However officially the party takes a moderate stance to ecology not pandering to either extremes. Since Oliver Davies took over as party leader in 3971, the party adopted an official policy to oppose whaling, which beforehand the party had no distinct policy on.

Electoral History
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