Navarrese People's Union
Encyclopedia
The Navarrese People's Union , abbreviated to UPN, is a regional conservative
political party
in Navarre
, Spain
. Until 2008, it was a fraternal party of the People's Party
(PP), acting as the latter's Navarrese branch.
UPN is a strong opponent of Basque nationalism
, and supports a Navarrese regional identity as separate from the Basque Country
's. The party's regionalist tradition dates back to the nineteenth century, in which the Spanish nation is seen to be based on 'regional liberties'.
During the 1991–2008 period, UPN acted as the Navarrese branch of the PP, which, in return, did not run at Navarrese elections as a part of their agreement. During this period, UPN has been the largest party in elections for the regional Parliament of Navarre and the ruling party of the Autonomous Community since 1996.
, has been the head of the Navarrese government since 1996 to date.
Juan Cruz Alli was elected president of the Navarrese government for UPN, but later disagreed with the orientation the party was taking and founded another party Democrats Convergence of Navarre.
did not run in any elections in Navarre
and People's Party of Navarre (founded in 1989) was dissolved, while UPN were on the same national ticket as the PP at the Spanish national elections. The national Deputies and Senators elected as part of UPN's ticket were part of the PP Parliamentary Group. Also, UPN members were eligible –and indeed chosen– for national leadership positions in the PP.
The pact was terminated in October 2008 as a result of UPN refusal to vote alongside the PP in the Spanish Congress to reject the government budget
presented by José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero
's cabinet. One of the two MPs elected under the UPN-PP ticket refused to follow UPN's instructions and a number of UPN elected representatives defected this party to join the PP. The new situation led to the PP setting up its own office in Navarre.
The two parties ran separate lists in the 2011 regional elections in Navarre
with the UPN receiving 34.5% against the 7.3% that the PP received. On 8 September 2011, the two parties reached an agreement to renew their alliance for the 2011 Spanish General Election. Under the agreement, the UPN would take the first and third places on the list for Congress while the PP would have the second. For the Senate, the UPN would have the top two places on the list, with the PP taking the third place. A major factor in the new agreement was the two parties desire to prevent Bildu from winning enough seats to form a parliamentary group.
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Navarre
Navarre
Navarre , officially the Chartered Community of Navarre is an autonomous community in northern Spain, bordering the Basque Country, La Rioja, and Aragon in Spain and Aquitaine in France...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. Until 2008, it was a fraternal party of the People's Party
People's Party (Spain)
The People's Party is a conservative political party in Spain.The People's Party was a re-foundation in 1989 of the People's Alliance , a party led and founded by Manuel Fraga Iribarne, a former Minister of Tourism during Francisco Franco's dictatorship...
(PP), acting as the latter's Navarrese branch.
UPN is a strong opponent of Basque nationalism
Basque nationalism
Basque nationalism is a political movement advocating for either further political autonomy or, chiefly, full independence of the Basque Country in the wider sense...
, and supports a Navarrese regional identity as separate from the Basque Country
Basque Country (autonomous community)
The Basque Country is an autonomous community of northern Spain. It includes the Basque provinces of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa, also called Historical Territories....
's. The party's regionalist tradition dates back to the nineteenth century, in which the Spanish nation is seen to be based on 'regional liberties'.
During the 1991–2008 period, UPN acted as the Navarrese branch of the PP, which, in return, did not run at Navarrese elections as a part of their agreement. During this period, UPN has been the largest party in elections for the regional Parliament of Navarre and the ruling party of the Autonomous Community since 1996.
History
The UPN was a Navarrese splinter group of the Union of the Democratic Centre. Its president, Miguel SanzMiguel Sanz
Miguel Sanz Sesma is a conservative Spanish politician of the Navarrese People's Union and the president of the autonomous community of Navarre since 1996.-Biography:...
, has been the head of the Navarrese government since 1996 to date.
Juan Cruz Alli was elected president of the Navarrese government for UPN, but later disagreed with the orientation the party was taking and founded another party Democrats Convergence of Navarre.
Pacts with the PP
As part of an agreement held over the 1991–2008 period, the PPPeople's Party (Spain)
The People's Party is a conservative political party in Spain.The People's Party was a re-foundation in 1989 of the People's Alliance , a party led and founded by Manuel Fraga Iribarne, a former Minister of Tourism during Francisco Franco's dictatorship...
did not run in any elections in Navarre
Navarra (Spanish Congress Electoral District)
Navarra is one of the 52 electoral districts used for the Spanish Congress of Deputies - the lower chamber of the Spanish Parliament, the Cortes Generales...
and People's Party of Navarre (founded in 1989) was dissolved, while UPN were on the same national ticket as the PP at the Spanish national elections. The national Deputies and Senators elected as part of UPN's ticket were part of the PP Parliamentary Group. Also, UPN members were eligible –and indeed chosen– for national leadership positions in the PP.
The pact was terminated in October 2008 as a result of UPN refusal to vote alongside the PP in the Spanish Congress to reject the government budget
Government budget
A government budget is a legal document that is often passed by the legislature, and approved by the chief executive-or president. For example, only certain types of revenue may be imposed and collected...
presented by José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero
José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero
José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero is a member of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party . He was elected for two terms as Prime Minister of Spain, in the 2004 and 2008 general elections. On 2 April 2011 he announced he will not stand for re-election in 2012...
's cabinet. One of the two MPs elected under the UPN-PP ticket refused to follow UPN's instructions and a number of UPN elected representatives defected this party to join the PP. The new situation led to the PP setting up its own office in Navarre.
The two parties ran separate lists in the 2011 regional elections in Navarre
Elections to the Parliament of Navarre, 2011
The 2011 elections to the Parliament of Navarre were the ninth elections to the unicameral regional legislature of the Spanish autonomous community of Navarre. The elections were held on 22 May 2011 to elect the 50 members of the parliament....
with the UPN receiving 34.5% against the 7.3% that the PP received. On 8 September 2011, the two parties reached an agreement to renew their alliance for the 2011 Spanish General Election. Under the agreement, the UPN would take the first and third places on the list for Congress while the PP would have the second. For the Senate, the UPN would have the top two places on the list, with the PP taking the third place. A major factor in the new agreement was the two parties desire to prevent Bildu from winning enough seats to form a parliamentary group.