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The secret alliance in Australian politics: How do the Liberals and Nationals work together?
On the Australian political stage, the cooperative relationship between the Liberal Party and the National Party is seen as one of the core factors. Their alliance, the Liberal-National Coalition (Coalition), not only profoundly influenced the outcome of Australian elections, but also shaped the course of politics. The alliance dates back to 1922, when the two parties joined forces in search of stability in the current political landscape.
"The alliance between the Liberal and National parties reflects the diverse demands of urban and rural areas, and also shows the potential for cooperation among different voter bases."
The Liberals are based mainly on urban voters, while the Nationals are rooted in rural and regional areas. This geographical difference makes their cooperation a balancing act. In every coalition government, the leadership of the two parties has alternated, with the leader of the Liberal Party usually serving as prime minister and the leader of the National Party becoming deputy prime minister. This structure allows the two parties to exert influence together.
Historical Background of the Alliance
The Liberal-National Alliance traces its roots to 1922, when the National Party (formerly the Country Party) was formed due to frustration with the rural policies of then National leader Billy Hughes. The formation of this agreement was a political maneuver that both sides desperately needed.
"Earle Page, the founder of the National Party, had publicly stated that he would not serve under Billy Hughes, which laid the groundwork for the cooperation between the two parties."
Throughout history, the relationship between the Liberal Party and the Kuomintang has experienced many twists and turns. Although there have been cracks in their partnership at certain times, the foundation of the partnership has remained solid. The two sides joined forces again in 1946 and successfully won the election in 1949, governing together for 23 years.
Coordination of election strategies
In terms of election strategy, the Liberal Party and the National Party often develop joint action plans, which include automatically excluding the other party's candidates, especially in House of Representatives elections. This "triangular competition" model allows them to pool their common votes and reduce the erosion of each other's votes.
"Under Australia's preferential voting system, the cooperation between the Liberal Party and the National Party fully demonstrates the importance they attach to voter support."
This collaboration is not without its challenges, however. As the election progresses, candidates from both parties often face direct competition for voters, which may affect their relationship with each other. Recent election results show that this cooperation still has the strength to withstand the test of the current political situation.
Future Possibilities
The Liberal and National Party leaderships remain polarized over whether further mergers should be pursued. Some people advocate a merger to enhance the ability to fight the Labour Party, while others believe that the current structure is sufficient to protect the interests of both parties. However, most of these proposals remain at the discussion level and have not yet resulted in substantive action.
"Looking back at history, many proposals for mergers have never been implemented. Does this reflect the deep-seated interests of both parties?"
Judging from the election results, the support groups of the two parties are obviously divided, which makes their future cooperation more complicated. Analysts point out that the continued effectiveness of this alliance will be tested as society changes and the voter base shifts. In fact, whether to establish a closer cooperative relationship or maintain the status quo will depend on how both sides keenly grasp the future political situation.
Looking ahead, can the Liberals and Nationals find greater ways to work together, or will they try to stand out in their neighboring political territories?
