United Democrats of Kanoria

The **United Democrats of Kanoria** was a political party active in the Republic of Kanoria, the state of Greater Kanoria, and finally the Kanorian Empire. It was founded in 1938 during the Kanorian Revolution by Republican leader Geldon Bramton, and was the result of a merger between several Republican groups and the Liamist Equality Party.

The UDK ruled the Republic of Kanoria for its entire existence since its formation in 1938 until its merger with the State of Düllsberg to form Greater Kanoria in 1954. While Geldon Bramton was still alive, the UDK enjoyed an absolute brute majority in the parliament, consistently holding at least 45 out of 60 seats in the Chamber of Councillors, which was over the two thirds mark. In the 1944 elections, the UDK won a landslide victory with 52 out of 60 seats in the Chamber.

After Bramton's death, UDK managed to remain in government. However, with Bramton out of the picture, their majority reduced greatly to only 35 out of 60 seats. Marco Velsin, the new leader of the party, also contributed to this by purging several radical elements from the party, losing them seats in the rural areas of the country.

In 1954, following the Düllsberger–BISDA War, sentiments in favour of the concept of "Greater Kanoria" soared, with its popularity rising in its birthplace of the State of Düllsberg as well as the Republic of Kanoria. Marco Velsin- the **UDK** Prime Minister- decided to back the concept, along with the rest of his party, and Greater Kanoria was formed, with the UDK allying with the Heartland Prosperity Party of Düllsberg to form the Civil Front and rule the new nation.

The UDK-HPP alliance accepted the Kanorian State Action party into their ranks in 1955. They Civil Front reorganized as the Imperial Front when the Kanorian Empire was created.

## History

### Formation (1938)

While the Kanorian Revolution was in full swing against the Tarnist Republic of Kanoria, the western region of Kanoria- stretching from the Asron Hills to the Laron River- were engulfed in chaos, with radical groups ranging from Westists to Communists active in the area. Fearing a Kokinan satellite gaining too much power, Jabeyrack sent several agents to the area to form a united front of moderates in the area.

The Republican Party of Remfel- lead by Geldon Bramton- agreed to host talks. The Remfel agreement was signed soon after, with the Kanorian People's Party, various Republican groups and the Liamist Equality Party all agreeing to cooperate and to establish a democratic Republic in the area.

When the November Purges of Kanoria cleared the last remnants of Tarnist influence in the west, Bramton wasted no time in stitching together an alliance. He browbeat and coaxed the innumerable small republican factions to unite, and even managed to convince the LEP under Harnanz Belvon to join his new party. And so, the UDK was formed as a big tent party with influence across the country. The main opposition- the KPP- had lost almost all its potential allies, and was left floundering for relevancy outside of a select few coastal settlements.

### Geldon Era (1938-1949)

The **Geldon Era** was the golden era for the UDK, and saw them consistently win at least 45 of the 60 seats in the Chamber of Councillors. Bramton was an extremely popular leader, and the UDK thrived because of it. In 1940, several Patuljac groups in the Asron Hills agreed to officially become a part of the Republic- largely owing to Bramton's cordial relationship with the local Patuljac King Kor'Omgen VII.

This friendship ran so deep that in 1941, several Patuljac leaders- led by Arkom Flintaar- joined the UDK, and the Asron hills- which had a sizeable Patuljac population- became a stronghold of the UDK- namely the cities of Arkom and Feltorn.

Although the Geldon Era saw increased involvement of the Patuljacs in the Republic, vast improvements in the military and the country's infrastructure, it was also corrupt in many ways. Ambros Fischer and the Kanorian People's Party had several false criminal cases registered against them, and KPP Councillors were hounded by police acting at the behest of the UDK. Several scandals involving UDK Councillors and Ministers were also discovered, but these were underplayed and quickly swept under the rug, unlike the cases against KPP Councillors which were publicized and pursued doggedly.

Geldon Bramton died in 1949, just a few months after the UDK won the 1949 elections with a majority of 48. Marco Velsin became the leader of the UDK, and the Geldon Era officially came to a close.

### Modern UDK (1949-)

With the death of Bramton, Marco Velsin became the leader of the UDK and led the party in the 1949 elections. Velsin controversially revoked the membership of several UDK party members and councillors from Weimbry and Bostenrich for having *"Westist-Leanings"* this move earned Velsin some praise from intellectual circles for being a "man of integrity", it led to local UDK leadership in Weimbry and Bostenrich being disorganised and floundering. This led to the Kanorian People's Party gaining several Councillors in the region.
Despite these setbacks, the UDK remained strong in the Asron Hills as well as in the central regions of the Republic, and gained a majority of 35 out of 60 seats in the Chamber of Councillors. Marco Velsin became the second Prime Minister of the Republic of Kanoria.

The popularity of the new KPP leader Baeldo Fischer also cost the UDK several seats around Felrin. The old guard of the UDK heavily criticized Velsin for the relatively bad result, but the tallest leaders of the party- Arkom Flintaar and Harnanz Belvon- stood by Velsin.

Velsin's government was also far less harsh on the opposition, and several KPP Councillors with criminal cases against them were cleared of all charges. Velsin even issued a public apology to Ambros Fischer, who had been forced to retire due to the countless false cases and scandals surrounding him.

## Controversies

* **Weimbry Fertilizer Scandal:** In 1943, Agriculture Minister and UDK Treasurer Harnanz Belvon was accused of diverting several million Felmarcs intended for buying fertilizer for the Weimbry Rural Community to his own bank account, resulting in sub standard resources going to the farmers of Weimbry. In response to the allegations, Belvon resigned from his post as Agriculture Minister, and payed a hefty fine. Within a few months however, he had become the Finance Minister of the Republic, and had no criminal cases registered against him.
* **Omgen Museum Scandal:** In 1945, a museum was ordered constructed in the city of Feltorn in honour of Geldon Bramton's friend and Patuljac King Kor'Omgen VII. Alvo'D'Kerent, a Patuljac Councillor of the UDK, was put in charge of the project. Of the 5 Million Felmarcs assigned to the project, officials found that only 1 Million actually reached the project, with the remaining four million allegedly going to D'Kerent's tribe in the Asron Hills. In response to this, D'Kerent was expelled from the UDK. However, he won the by elections in his seat as an independent candidate and formed an alliance with the UDK.
* **Braykor Scandal:** In 1945, William Braykor- a writer for the Kanorian People's Party- wrote a scathing article about Patuljac leader Emer'd'Klom, who was also a UDK Councillor from Granby. In response, a group of Patuljac workers of the UDK arrived at Braykor's residence and completely destroyed it while he was at work. Braykor sued the UDK for damages, but was thrown in jail for several months for defamation. Eventually, after immense public pressure, Geldon Bramton ordered the local authorities to release Braykor and compensate him for damages. The UDK workers who commited the crime however, were never charged.
* **Remfel Coal Mining Scandal:** In 1947, a series of accidents struck the coal mines of Remfel. Several Miner Unions and the Kanorian People's Party accused local UDK Councillor Wimbur Gonzavo of not properly implimenting safety standards in the mines due to his friendship with the owners of the mines. Gonzavo vehemently denied these claims, and jailed several KPP party workers and Union leaders for defamation. They were eventually released due to Gonzavo's weak case, but criminal charges never stuck to Wimbur, and he continued as a Councillor with no investigation against him.