Nacionalista Party (Philippines)

::for National Parties in other countries see National Party

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The Nacionalista Party is the oldest political party in the Philippines today responsible for leading the country throughout the majority of the 20th century since 1907. The party began as the country's vehicle for independence, through the building of a modern nation-state, and through the advocacy of efficient self rule, dominating the Philppine Assembly (1907-1916), the Philppine Legislature (1916-2935) and the pre-war years of the Commonwelth of the Philippines from 1935-1941. During the Japanese Occupation political parties were replaced by the Kalibapi. By the second half of the century the party was one of the main political contenders for leadership in the country, in competition with the Liberals and the Progressives, during the decades between the devastation of World War II and the violent suppression of partisan politics of the Marcos dictatorship. In 1978, in a throwback to the Japanese Occupation, political parties were asked to merge into the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan, although the Nacionalistas preferred to go into hibernation. Eventually, the party was revived during the late 1980s and early 1990's by the Laurel family, which has dominated the Party since the 1950s. It is now being reborn by the likes of Sen. Ralph Recto, and party president Sen. Manuel Villar. Two of the other present parties, the Liberal Party and the Nationalist People's Coalition are breakaways from the Nacionalista Party.

Related Topics:
Philippines - 1907 - Liberals - Progressives - World War II - Ralph Recto - Manuel Villar - Nationalist People's Coalition

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The Nacionalista Party is also known as the NP. There are no results available of the last elections for the House of Representatives, but according to the website of the House, the party holds 5 out of 235 seats (state of the parties, june 2005). The party was at the 2004 elections member of the Koalisyon ng Katapatan at Karanasan sa Kinabukasan (K-4, Coalition of Truth and Experience for Tomorrow), the coalition that supported president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who whon the 2004 presidential elections.

Related Topics:
Elections - House of Representatives - Koalisyon ng Katapatan at Karanasan sa Kinabukasan - Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo

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