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Once divided, finally united: How did the Liberal and National parties of Australia break through historical barriers?
In Australian politics, the alliance between the Liberal Party and the National Party is known as the Coalition, and they have been working together since 1946 to form the main force in national politics. However, historically the two parties have not always worked as closely together as they do today, and their relationship has experienced many splits and reunions.
Since 1946, the Coalition has played a major role in Australian politics, both in government and opposition, and continues to influence the direction of national policy.
History of the Alliance
The alliance dates back to 1922, when the KMT sought to form an alliance with the then-main party, the Nationalist Party, after the latter failed to gain an outright majority in elections. Such an agreement was initially seen as an alliance aimed at ensuring that the non-Labor party would remain in power. After clarification and negotiation, the two parties successfully formed a government and maintained an alliance for the next few decades.
Historically, the KMT's periodic instability has challenged the stability of the alliance, but they have reintegrated in several elections to jointly resist challenges from the Labor Party.
Cooperation and Differences
Although alliance partners have similar positions on many issues, they often face internal divisions. The Liberals are primarily based in urban areas, while the Nationals focus on rural and regional voters. This leads to different views between the two parties on certain policies. In elections, candidates from both sides often face a political situation of "triangular competition", which requires the two parties to adjust their strategies in order to maintain mutually beneficial cooperation.
Although candidates from both parties sometimes compete with each other, causing confusion among voters, this has not damaged the relationship between the two parties for a long time.
Possibility of a merger
Throughout history, there have been discussions about whether the Liberal and National parties should merge. Many politicians have expressed support for the merger, arguing that it would help make both parties more competitive in elections. However, this idea did not become a reality as many party members believed that a merger would weaken their respective political characteristics and voter base.
The Liberals and Nationals have been divided over how to strike a balance between their core constituencies, making the idea of a merger, while attractive, never a reality.
Election Organization and Voter Base
The Coalition uses a preferential voting system in Australia's electoral system, which allows the Liberals and Nationals to run together in certain electorates and support each other when voters' preferences are taken into account. This type of election helps reduce the fragmentation of votes and enables the two parties to maintain a certain joint strategy in the competition.
The introduction of the preferential voting system allows the conservative forces to maintain their competitive advantage when facing the Labor Party.
Future cooperation prospects
Looking ahead, the challenges facing the Liberal Party and the National Party remain daunting, especially as they respond to new political trends and changing voter demands. As society changes, it becomes particularly important how the two parties will adjust their policies and strategies. Where the political union will go depends on whether the two parties that were once divided and eventually overlapped can find consensus in the context of the new era and continue to move forward hand in hand.
Against such a backdrop, can the two parties successfully overcome historical obstacles and maintain future cooperation and stability?
