An independent , non-partisan politician , or non-affiliated politician is a politician not affiliated with any political party or bureaucratic association. There are numerous reasons why someone may stand for office as an independent.
131-644: Defunct Defunct The National Defence League (NDL) was an independent conservative political party , founded in 1891 by MLC Richard Baker in South Australia as an immediate response to the perceived threat from Labor . Though subsumed with the National Association and other entities into the Australasian National League (ANL) in 1896, it was still often referred to by its former name. It lasted until
262-506: A self-coup with the military to keep himself in power. As of November 2024 , Bolsonaro has been indicted on charges of multiple crimes related to the alleged coup. [REDACTED] [REDACTED] Bolsonaro was born on 21 March 1955 in Glicério , São Paulo, in southeast Brazil, to Percy Geraldo Bolsonaro and Olinda Bonturi. His family is mostly of Italian descent, with German ancestry as well. On his father's side, he
393-598: A single tax . The NDL stood for 'the preservation of law, order and property' and was opposed to 'all undue class influence in Parliament'. The party's highest vote was 30.6 percent at the 1896 election . The highest number of seats won by the party was 20 (37% of seats) at the 1893 election . Its highest proportion was 17 of 42 seats (40.5% of seats) at the 1902 election . Many candidates and MPs received election endorsement only rather than being chosen as an official candidate. The current South Australian Division of
524-535: A "fantasy" created by the media. In August 2020, in the middle of the pandemic, Bolsonaro's approval rating showed signs of recovery, reaching its highest level since his inauguration. In November 2020, he said he would not take a COVID vaccine if it became available, but he later said he would support any possible vaccine if the Brazilian Health Agency deemed it safe. In the same broadcast, he called face masks "the last taboo to fall". In 2020,
655-545: A "serious personality deviation and a professional deformation", "lack of moral courage to leave the Army" and "lied throughout the process" when denying frequent contacts with Veja . The Supreme Military Court then analyzed the case. The general in charge of reporting the case voted to acquit Bolsonaro, arguing that he had already been penalized for the initial Veja article, that there was no testimonial evidence of his plans to plant bombs, and that there were "deep contradictions in
786-545: A Democrat) in the 20th century. Some officials have been elected as members of a party but became independent while in office (without being elected as such), such as Wayne Morse of Oregon, who left the Republican party to become an independent, then joined the Democratic Party two years later. Nebraska senator George W. Norris was elected for four terms as a Republican before changing to an independent after
917-462: A Democrat) received 21% of the vote. In Texas , country music singer and mystery novelist Kinky Friedman received 12.43% of the vote, and State Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn received 18.13%. Strayhorn and Friedman's presence in the race resulted in a splitting of the ballot four ways between themselves and the two major parties. In 2010 , Florida governor Charlie Crist left the Republican party and became an independent. (He later became
1048-469: A Democrat.) He left the Republicans because he did not want to run against former state house Speaker Marco Rubio in the Republican primary for the U.S. Senate election, preferring to run in the general. Rubio won the election, though Crist came in ahead of Democratic nominee Kendrick Meek . In 2014 , former Honolulu mayor Mufi Hannemann ran as an independent candidate for the governorship of
1179-633: A cabinet of 29 members. Bolsonaro's initial cabinet was composed of 16 ministers, two cabinet-level positions, and four presidential secretaries, including Chief of Staff Onyx Lorenzoni . Bolsonaro's ministers included Operation Car Wash judge Sergio Moro as Justice minister and congresswoman Tereza Cristina as minister of Agriculture. Bolsonaro placed many army officers in key positions in his cabinet. Before his inauguration, he said he would fill positions in his government based only on technical qualifications and skills rather than ideological sympathy; however, many appointees clashed ideologically with
1310-776: A campaign to bombard WhatsApp users with fake news about Haddad." The suspicions led to a formal investigation by electoral authorities and the Federal Police; Bolsonaro and allies denied any wrongdoing. Another controversial point was that Taíse Feijó, an adviser in Bolsonaro's government, was among those paid to feed fake news to his supporters. Bolsonaro was stabbed in the abdomen on 6 September 2018 while campaigning and interacting with supporters in Juiz de Fora , Minas Gerais. At first, his son Flávio Bolsonaro stated that his father's wounds were only superficial and he
1441-678: A candidate which is banned under the Brazilian law. Former Minister of Defence Walter Braga Netto , who also attended the ceremony, and also ran for vice president on Bolsonaro's ticket, was convicted by the Court and ruled disqualified, like Bolsonaro, to run for any office for the next eight years. In February 2024, the Brazilian Federal Police raided former government officials and ordered Bolsonaro to hand in his passport over accusations that he and his allies tried to overturn
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#17327764604561572-483: A coup d'état. On 30 June, the Superior Electoral Court blocked Bolsonaro from seeking office until 2030 for attempting to undermine the validity of the election through his unfounded claims of voter fraud, and for abusing his power by using government communication channels to both promote his campaign and to allege fraud. Testimonies from military officials showed that Bolsonaro had allegedly planned
1703-788: A day in advance, and passed by the national congressional building, where lawmakers were due to vote on Bolsonaro's proposed election-related changes hours later. The lawmakers ultimately rejected the changes. On 28 July 2021, Bolsonaro appointed Ciro Noguiera , a senator who was implicated in the Odebrecht corruption case , as his chief of staff . In early August 2021, Bolsonaro threatened to respond with unconstitutional measures to an investigation over his baseless allegations of fraud vulnerabilities in Brazil's electronic voting system, because he deemed that investigation unconstitutional. Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes had approved
1834-403: A document with multiple accusations, such as blaming Bolsonaro for the deaths of 500,000 Brazilians from COVID-19, stating that his government had blatantly turned down expert advice on tackling the virus, and at least 20 other grievances. In July 2021, Bolsonaro claimed on Brazilian radio that his government's greatest achievement was "two and a half years without corruption". In the same month,
1965-602: A football player for Palmeiras , with whom he shares a birthday. In his final years in high school, Bolsonaro was admitted to the Escola Preparatória de Cadetes do Exército (the prep school of the Brazilian Army ), which he entered in 1973. In 1974, he went to the Military Academy of Agulhas Negras (Brazil's main military academy), graduating in 1977 as an artillery officer. He served in
2096-617: A handful of independent members . Examples include Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Virgil Goode of Virginia, Frazier Reams of Ohio , Victor Berger of Wisconsin , and Justin Amash and Paul Mitchell of Michigan . There have been several independents elected to the United States Senate throughout history. Notable examples include David Davis of Illinois (a former Republican ) in the 19th century, and Harry F. Byrd Jr. of Virginia (who had been elected to his first term as
2227-485: A history of independent state legislators. For example, in the Alaska State House , independents have sometimes played pivotal roles in coalition governments, demonstrating their influence in closely divided chambers. These legislators often prioritize regional or policy-specific issues over strict adherence to party platforms. Judicial and Nonpartisan Offices Many state and local offices, particularly in
2358-694: A large impact on elections and have even won, particularly in large cities. For instance, former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg served as 2002 to 2013 as a Republican but for his third term he won as an independent. Independent politicians have also led cities like Minneapolis , where Charles Stenvig served as an independent mayor throughout the 1970s. These leaders often emphasize pragmatic governance over party ideology, appealing to diverse voter bases. State Legislatures While less common than in Congress, independents occasionally serve in state legislatures. Maine and Alaska , in particular, have seen
2489-430: A member of an unregistered party and therefore officially recognised as an independent. Office-holders may become independents after losing or repudiating affiliation with a political party. Independents sometimes choose to form a party, alliance, or technical group with other independents, and may formally register that organization. Even where the word "independent" is used, such alliances can have much in common with
2620-483: A military coup d'état and reinstate Bolsonaro as president. While the riots were going on, President Lula blamed Bolsonaro in a press conference. Bolsonaro condemned the protesters in a tweet on 9 January, and denied responsibility. In February 2023, Bolsonaro announced that he would be returning to Brazil in March. This would be the first time Bolsonaro returned to the country since December 2022. Bolsonaro had entered
2751-528: A monopoly on the nomination of candidates for elected positions according to the Electoral Code. However, becoming an independent politician after being elected is protected by virtue of Article 25 of the Constitution of Costa Rica , which guarantees freedom of association ; therefore, any citizen cannot be forced to remain in a specific political party and can join any other political group. It
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#17327764604562882-414: A party, perhaps as former members of it or else have views that align with it, but choose not to stand in its name, or are unable to do so because the party in question has selected another candidate. Others may belong to or support a political party at the national level but believe they should not formally represent it (and thus be subject to its policies) at another level. In some cases, a politician may be
3013-619: A political party, especially if there is an organization which needs to approve the "independent" candidates. Independent politicians are not allowed to run for office in Brazil. The Constitution of 1988, in Article 14, §3rd, item V, says that "Are conditions for eligibility: V - party affiliation". However, the Proposal Amendment to the Constitution (PEC) no. 6/2015, authored by independent senator José Reguffe , would allow
3144-573: A political rally in Brasília; while surrounded by supporters and his own security guards, who were wearing masks, he did not. In June 2021, nationwide protests erupted against Bolsonaro's response to the pandemic; in São Paulo alone there were estimated to be 100,000 protesters on the streets. In July, YouTube removed videos posted by Bolsonaro for spreading false information about the virus. YouTube has reportedly removed 15 videos altogether; one that
3275-556: A reference to a Navy base at Restinga da Marambaia , in Rio de Janeiro State, where the Brazilian military dictatorship tortured and killed dissidents. The speech was widely condemned by rivals, journalists and politicians. Bolsonaro won the runoff election with 55.13% of the votes, and was elected the 38th president of Brazil. He took office on 1 January 2019. During the campaign, academics repeatedly raised concerns about
3406-493: A runoff presidential election on 30 October, Bolsonaro was defeated by former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva , who took 50.9% of the votes cast. Lula had won the most votes in the first round of the election on 2 October, receiving 48.43% of the votes cast: Bolsonaro received 43.20%. In a press conference at the Palácio da Alvorada on 1 November, Bolsonaro did not acknowledge his defeat but stated that he would "comply with
3537-455: A scandal dubbed "vaccine-gate" emerged. After months of denying offers of vaccines and bartering the costs, Bolsonaro's government made a deal to buy the unapproved Covaxin vaccine from the Indian company Bharat Biotech at a very high price. It was found that the government allegedly paid ten times the amount agreed by Bharat Biotech for the vaccine and that the irregularities were not found in
3668-564: A second investigation concluded that Bispo is mentally disturbed, having a "permanent paranoid delusional disorder" which, according to Brazilian law, prevents him from being considered legally liable for his actions. In a May 2019 decision, the Federal Court found Bispo not liable. Bolsonaro did not appeal the decision. On 29 September, a month after the attack, Bolsonaro was released from the hospital and returned to his home in Rio de Janeiro. His condition prevented him from returning to
3799-405: A single Congress since the ratification of the 17th Amendment . State and Local Independent Politicians Independent politicians have also played notable roles at the state and local levels, often finding success in contexts where party affiliation is less dominant or elections are nonpartisan. Mayors and Municipal Leaders There have been many cases where independent candidates have made
3930-459: A third party ( Connecticut for Lieberman Party ) after he lost the primary. After the election, Lieberman enrolled himself as an Independent Democrat until his retirement in 2013. In 2006, Sanders and Lieberman were the only two victorious independent candidates for Congress, both caucusing with the Democrats. In 2012 , Angus King was elected to the U.S. Senate as an Independent from Maine. He
4061-466: Is a Brazilian politician and retired military officer who served as the 38th president of Brazil from 2019 to 2023. He previously served as member of Brazil's Chamber of Deputies from 1991 to 2019. Bolsonaro began serving in the Brazilian Army in 1973 and graduated from the Military Academy of Agulhas Negras in 1977. He rose to publicity in 1986 after he wrote an article for Veja magazine criticizing low wages for military officers, after which he
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4192-484: Is common in each legislative period for some deputies ( diputados , term used for legislators) of the Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica to become independents; this has also happened with the mayors ( alcaldes ) of the municipalities of cantons . Jaime Heliodoro Rodríguez Calderón (born in 1957), sometimes referred to by his nickname "Bronco", is a Mexican politician and former governor for
4323-539: Is not there yet. However, things could change quickly if he gains power." Jason Stanley , a Yale philosopher who has published widely on Nazism, said that Bolsonaro "uses more tactics associated to fascism than [the] American president Donald Trump". Harvard 's Steven Levitsky said that Bolsonaro "is clearly authoritarian", but not a fascist. Similar concerns were raised by analysts in Portugal and Brazil. Others, such as Marxist historian Perry Anderson , dismissed
4454-594: Is noted as having proposed amendments on at least 20% of all legislation. Several observers and those involved with the Senate itself have criticized the Trudeau government for its attempted reforms, with most accusations centering around the belief that the new appointment process is biased towards those who are ideologically supportive of the Liberal Party's objectives. Remaining Conservative senators have accused
4585-587: Is sometimes mentioned as an independent governor, though this is not technically correct; he ran as an A Connecticut Party candidate (which gave him better ballot placement than an unaffiliated candidate would receive), defeating the Democratic and Republican nominees. Another former governor who is sometimes mentioned as an independent is Jesse Ventura , who actually ran as a member of the Reform Party 's Minnesota affiliate, which later disaffiliated from
4716-823: Is the great-grandson of Italians from Veneto and Calabria . Bolsonaro's paternal grandfather's family comes from Veneto, more precisely Anguillara Veneta , in the province of Padua . His great-grandfather, Vittorio Bolzonaro (the surname was originally written with a "z"), was born on 12 April 1878. Vittorio's parents immigrated to Brazil when he was ten, together with his siblings, Giovanna and Tranquillo. His German ancestry came from his father's maternal grandfather, Carl "Carlos" Hintze, born in Hamburg around 1876, who immigrated to Brazil in 1883. His maternal grandparents were born in Lucca , in Tuscany , and went to live in Brazil in
4847-522: The Centrão , a large bloc of parties without consistent ideological orientation that supports different sides of the political spectrum to gain political privileges—PL being one of them. Bolsonaro previously made deals with the Centrão for support in Congress. On 23 June 2022, Bolsonaro defended his former Minister of Education, Milton Ribeiro , after the latter was arrested on corruption charges. In
4978-657: The 1910 election , after which it merged with the Liberal and Democratic Union and the Farmers and Producers Political Union to become the Liberal Union . The NDL, composed of Adelaide businessmen, professional men and pastoralists , organised to oppose: Labor and the United Trades and Labour Council , perceived socialism , increased suffrage , the eight-hour day , state conciliation and arbitration , and
5109-499: The 1996 and 2000 elections, and "Never Trump" conservative candidate Evan McMullin in 2016 . Out of all independent candidates since Washington, Perot performed the best, gaining no votes in the Electoral College but receiving 19 percent of the popular vote and, early in the election season, leading in polls against his opponents Bill Clinton and George H. W. Bush . Additionally, McMullin received 21 percent of
5240-486: The 2002 elections , when the Republicans regained their majority. Jeffords retired at the end of his term in 2007. Dean Barkley of the Independence Party of Minnesota was appointed a day before the 2002 elections to fill the senate seat of Paul Wellstone who, while running for re-election, died weeks prior. Barkley refused to caucus with either party. In 2006 , independent politician Bernie Sanders won
5371-460: The 2019 Newfoundland and Labrador general election , two independent candidates were elected. Current laws in Costa Rica do not permit a citizen to run directly for any elected position as an independent without the representation of a political party. Any nomination must be made through a political party, due to the framework of the current legal system, in which the political parties have
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5502-749: The 2024 elections . On 14 April 2023, Supreme Court judge Alexandre de Moraes ordered Bolsonaro to submit himself for questioning with the Brazilian Federal Police over the storming of the Congress. On 30 June 2023, the Brazilian Superior Electoral Court barred Bolsonaro from running for public office until 2030 as a result of his attempts to undermine the validity of Brazil's 2022 democratic election, as well as for abuse of power with regard to using government channels to promote his campaign. The decision applies to municipal, state and federal elections for
5633-581: The 2024 general election , seven independent candidates were elected to Lok Sabha , the lower house of Indian Parliament . The only independent Israeli politician elected to the Knesset was Shmuel Flatto-Sharon . Independents have rarely been elected to the Dewan Rakyat and state legislative assemblies. In Malaysian elections, many independent candidates lose their election deposit because they had failed to secure at least 12.5% or one-eighth of
5764-618: The Amazon rainforest and facilitated its deforestation . Bolsonaro's response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil was criticized across the political spectrum after he sought to downplay the pandemic and its effects, opposed quarantine measures, and dismissed two health ministers, while the death toll increased rapidly. In the runoff of the 2022 general election , Bolsonaro lost to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva . On 8 January 2023, his supporters stormed federal government buildings , calling for
5895-558: The Christian Democratic Party (PDC). According to the biography by his son Flávio, Bolsonaro "was a candidate for councilor because it happened to be the only option he had at the moment to avoid persecution by some superiors. His entry into politics happened by chance, for his desire was to continue in his military career". Bolsonaro spent only two years in the Municipal Chamber of Rio de Janeiro . He
6026-547: The Democratic Party and briefly sought election in 1844 as a Tyler Democrat , but withdrew over fear he would split the Democratic vote and give the election to Whig candidate Henry Clay . Since 1900, notable candidates running as independents for U.S. president have included congressman John Anderson in 1980 , billionaire entrepreneur Ross Perot in 1992 and 1996 (in 1996 under the newly founded Reform Party ), former Green Party candidate Ralph Nader in
6157-629: The Democratic-Republican faction, centered around Thomas Jefferson and James Madison . Washington feared that partisanship would eventually destroy the country, and famously warned against "the baneful effects of the spirit of party" in his 1796 Farewell Address . John Tyler was expelled from the Whig Party in September 1841, and effectively remained an independent for the remainder of his presidency. He later returned to
6288-534: The National Assembly , such as Aytən Mustafayeva . Around half of Hong Kong 's Legislative Council is made up of independents, or members whose political groups are represented by one sole member in the legislature. They are common in functional constituencies , and are not rare among geographical constituencies . Independent candidates can contest elections on the basis of their personal appeal or to promote an ideology different from any party. In
6419-599: The Northwest Territories and Nunavut are consensus governments with no political parties. All members sit as independents. There are a few independent members of the other provincial and territorial legislatures, which are similar in principle to the federal House of Commons; for example, in the 2009 British Columbia general election , independent candidate Vicki Huntington narrowly defeated incumbent Attorney General Wally Oppal in Delta South . In
6550-511: The Ontario electoral district , or riding, of Spadina—Fort York . Vuong had originally campaigned as a member of the Liberal Party during the 2021 federal election but was ejected from the party two days prior to the end of the vote due to controversy surrounding past allegations of sexual assault. Despite his removal from the Liberal Party, Vuong won the election for his riding and chose to take his seat as an independent, though this decision
6681-579: The Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), an international non-governmental organization that investigates crime and corruption, gave Bolsonaro its Person of the Year Award, which "recognizes the individual who has done the most in the world to advance organized criminal activity and corruption". Bolsonaro received the award for "surrounding himself with corrupt figures, using propaganda to promote his populist agenda, undermining
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#17327764604566812-406: The Superior Electoral Court for the 2020 Brazilian municipal elections or the 2022 Brazilian general election , leaving Bolsonaro without a party until 2021. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil , Bolsonaro and his administration were accused of downplaying the crisis while the number of Brazilians infected by the virus climbed exponentially by mid-2020. Bolsonaro claimed that COVID-19
6943-522: The United States ; later in his presidency, he also made efforts to improve relations with the BRICS countries. Bolsonaro focused on domestic affairs in his first months as president, dealing primarily with the fallout of the 2014 Brazilian economic crisis . The economy recovered slowly, while crime rates fell sharply during the first year. He rolled back protections for Indigenous groups in
7074-433: The "fascist" and "populist" labels altogether. Another highly controversial aspect of the campaign was the alleged use of illegal digital communication strategies by some of Bolsonaro's most important financial supporters. According to an investigation by Folha de S.Paulo , one of Brazil's bestselling newspapers, "Bolsonaro has been getting an illegal helping hand from a group of Brazilian entrepreneurs who are bankrolling
7205-564: The 12th General Elections. As of May 2018 , three independent MPs were elected in GE14 , but later joining Pakatan Harapan ( PKR ), thus causing no representation for independent MP for that time. However, as of June 2018 and December 2018, the number increased to 13 independent Members of Parliament that now currently sit in the Dewan Rakyat as of December 2018. Jair Bolsonaro Jair Messias Bolsonaro ( Brazilian Portuguese: [ʒaˈiʁ meˈsi.ɐz bowsoˈnaɾu] ; born 21 March 1955)
7336-541: The 1890s. On 21 January 2022, his mother Olinda Bonturi Bolsonaro died at age 94. His father Percy Geraldo Bolsonaro died in 1995. Bolsonaro spent most of his childhood moving around São Paulo with his family, living in Ribeira , Jundiaí , and Sete Barras , before settling in Eldorado , in the state's southern region, in 1966, where he grew up with his five brothers. His first name is a tribute to Jair da Rosa Pinto ,
7467-407: The 21st century have noted its incredibly high party discipline. Few MPs choose to vote against their party's official stance on any given piece of legislation. Between 2011 and 2013—the first two years of the 41st Canadian Parliament , following the 2011 Canadian federal election —the elected members of the governing Conservative Party voted as a unified group on 76% of all votes, while members of
7598-475: The 7 October first round results and defeated Fernando Haddad in the 28 October runoff. A polarizing and controversial politician, Bolsonaro's views and comments, which have been described as far-right and populist, have drawn both praise and criticism in Brazil. He is a vocal opponent of same-sex marriage , abortion , affirmative action , drug liberalization , and secularism . In foreign policy, he has advocated closer relations with Israel and with
7729-802: The 9th Field Artillery Group, in Nioaque , Mato Grosso do Sul. Later he studied at the Army Physical Training School in Rio de Janeiro and served in the 21st Field Artillery Group and the 8th Paratrooper Field Artillery Group, from the Paratrooper Brigade , both in the same city. His superior officers said he was "aggressive" and had "excessive ambition to get financial and economical gain". The assessment referred to Bolsonaro's attempt to mine gold in Bahia state; according to him,
7860-596: The COVID-19 pandemic. Without a political party, Bolsonaro began to negotiate his entrance in one in preparation for the 2022 Brazilian general election (as the 1988 Brazilian Constitution does not allow independent politicians ). He negotiated with the Progressistas (PP), of which he was a member from 1995 to 2003 and from 2005 to 2016, and the Social Christian Party (PSC), of which he
7991-481: The Constitution". Regarding the protests by his supporters, he referred to them as "the fruit of indignation and a sense of injustice of how the electoral process unfolded", while calling on them to remain peaceful and not block roads. Shortly after his speech, the Supreme Court stated that by authorizing the transition of power he had recognized the results, paving the way for the transition two days after Lula
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#17327764604568122-759: The Independent Senators Group in particular as being "too quick to endorse bills from the Liberal government". Supporting this claim, a 2021 study found that members of the Independent Senators Group voted in favor of legislation proposed by the incumbent Liberal government more consistently than any other group within the Senate, including those still formally aligned to the Liberal Party. This was, however, among an overall trend in which all senators demonstrated lower levels of party loyalty, and as such its full implications are still unknown. The report also concluded that partisanship in Senate appointments
8253-474: The Liberal Party did so on 90% of all votes, and members of the New Democratic Party (NDP) did so on 100% of votes. This unity further increased in subsequent years, as in the 42nd Parliament , following the 2015 election , the governing Liberal MPs voted identically on 99.6% of all votes, Conservative MPs on 99.5% of votes, and NDP MPs on 99.8% of votes. (Conservatives, Liberals, and NDP were
8384-494: The Liberal Party of South Australia claims on its website that the party originated with the NDL. This article about an Australian political party is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Independent politician Some politicians have political views that do not align with the platforms of any political party and therefore choose not to affiliate with them. Some independent politicians may be associated with
8515-794: The People" parties in several states for the same purpose, even though he is Independent. Several other candidates for federal races, including Joe Lieberman (who created Connecticut for Lieberman ), have pursued a similar strategy. Illinois , Maine , Oregon , Rhode Island , Texas , Alaska , and North Dakota have elected formally independent candidates as governor: Illinois's first two governors, Shadrach Bond and Edward Coles ; James B. Longley in 1974 as well as Angus King in 1994 and 1998 from Maine; Lincoln Chafee in 2010 from Rhode Island; Julius Meier in 1930 from Oregon; Sam Houston in 1859 from Texas; and Bill Walker in 2014 from Alaska. Lowell P. Weicker Jr. of Connecticut
8646-536: The Republicans and Democrats (with a Republican Vice President, Dick Cheney , who would presumably break all ties in favor of the Republicans), to 49 Republicans, 50 Democrats, and one Independent. Jeffords agreed to vote for Democratic control of the Senate in exchange for being appointed chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee , and the Democrats held control of the Senate until
8777-482: The Republicans lost their majority in Congress in 1930. Norris won re-election as an independent in 1936, but later lost his final re-election attempt to Republican Kenneth S. Wherry in 1942. Vermont senator Jim Jeffords left the Republican Party to become an independent in 2001. Jeffords's change of party status was especially significant because it shifted the Senate composition from 50 to 50 between
8908-603: The Senate and pledged to end the practice of partisan appointments for senators and transition to a new system of merit-based appointments if elected Prime Minister. Following the election of a Liberal majority government in 2015, the Independent Advisory Board for Senate Appointments was established with the goal of filling Senate vacancies through a selection process based on political knowledge, merit, and perceived ability to act independently of partisan affiliation. This push to remove partisan ties from
9039-436: The Senate resulted in the creation of the Independent Senators Group , a coalition of both newly appointed independent senators and formally partisan senators who had relinquished their formal party ties, alongside the also independent Canadian Senators Group and Progressive Senate Group . By 2018, the majority of Canadian Senators were officially independent, though some Liberal senators continued to remain affiliated with
9170-403: The Senate seat being vacated by the retiring Jim Jeffords as an independent, subsequently reelected in 2012 , 2018 and 2024 . He was an independent member of the United States House of Representatives for Vermont-at-large from 1991 to 2007. Sanders is the longest-serving independent member of Congress in American history. Also in 2006 , Joe Lieberman was a former Democrat and ran under
9301-443: The State of Hawaii after previously campaigning in the state's Democratic primary. As a result, Democratic candidate David Ige was elected as governor with a plurality of 49%. Also in 2014, former mayor of Valdez , Bill Walker won the gubernatorial election. Walker retired before the 2018 election but ran again in the 2022 . He didn't win but received 20% of the vote. The United States House of Representatives has also seen
9432-546: The United States on a diplomatic visa which expired on 31 January, but the family applied for tourist visas to extend their stay in Florida. Bolsonaro returned to Brazil in March 2023 for the first time since his supporters stormed the Supreme Court, Congress, and the presidential palace two months before. Bolsonaro has stated that he returned to the country to help his party and asserted that he intended to campaign for
9563-666: The activity was only a "hobby and mental hygiene". In 1987, he studied in the Officers Improvement School , where he made the Artillery Advanced Course. Bolsonaro first rose to public attention in 1986 when he gave an interview to the news magazine Veja . He complained about low military salaries and claimed that the High Command was dismissing officers due to budgetary cuts, not because they were displaying "deviations of conduct," as
9694-429: The allegation "a fantasy", the magazine published, in its next issue, sketches in which the plan was detailed. The drawings had allegedly been made by Bolsonaro. Official records unearthed by the newspaper O Estado de S. Paulo in 2018 detailed the case. After an investigation by an administrative military bureau named Justification Board, Bolsonaro was unanimously considered guilty. According to this board, Bolsonaro had
9825-563: The appointment of senators through the Independent Advisory Board for Senate Appointments, there has been a noted increase in the number of amendments the Senate has proposed for legislation from the House of Commons. During the 42nd Parliament (2015–2019), the Senate attempted to amend 13 government bills, whereas during the 41st Parliament (2011–2015), it had attempted to amend only one government bill. The reformed Senate
9956-475: The areas where he would make cuts. He also said he would work to diminish the federal government's size and bureaucracy by enacting a wide variety of deregulation measures. Bolsonaro's promises to restore security amid record high crime and to stamp out Brazil's rampant political corruption won him huge popular support. In October, he announced he would name Paulo Guedes , a liberal economist , as his finance minister. On 9 August 2018, Bolsonaro attended
10087-399: The army, air force, and navy all resigned. In April, Bolsonaro declared that the Brazilian armed forces would "go into the streets" if he ordered them. In mid-August, the military conducted a ten-minute tank parade in Brasília, with Bolsonaro in attendance. The parade had been held annually in the last 30 years, but tanks had never been sent to the capital before. The parade was announced only
10218-582: The author of the bill is". In January 2018, Bolsonaro abandoned the Social Christian Party and switched to the Social Liberal Party (PSL). After his arrival, the PSL adopted conservative and right-wing positions, and its social liberal group Livres announced its departure from the PSL. On 22 July 2018, the PSL nominated Bolsonaro for president in the 2018 election . The Brazilian Labour Renewal Party also endorsed him. His coalition name
10349-412: The campaign trail for the remainder of the first round of the presidential election. The first federal police investigation into the attack concluded that the attacker acted alone, but the investigation "leaves out many issues". Bolsonaro said he did not observe "any effort by former minister Sergio Moro to resolve the matter." Joaquim de Carvalho has said that the police left out of their investigation
10480-582: The campaign, taking a less aggressive and confrontational style. Economically, he started to support less government intervention in the economy (in contrast to the past, when he defended developmentalist policies). On the other hand, he maintained his tough stance on crime and his defense of "traditional family values". Bolsonaro also said he planned to cut taxes across the board, particularly on inheritances and businesses, to generate growth and tackle unemployment. He also promised more austerity measures and cuts in government spending, but had difficulty naming
10611-658: The candidate in sixteen states. Bolsonaro was sworn in as President of the Republic on 1 January 2019, succeeding Michel Temer . Bolsonaro began to get his cabinet together before his inauguration, choosing economist Paulo Guedes as his Economy minister and astronaut Marcos Pontes as his Science and Technology minister. Bolsonaro initially said his cabinet would be composed of 15 members; this figure later rose to 22 when he announced his final minister, Ricardo Salles , in December. His predecessor, Michel Temer , had
10742-400: The clean-up will be even greater. This group ["reds"], if they want to stay, will have to abide by our laws ... These red outlaws will be banned from our homeland. Either they go overseas, or they go to jail ... Petralhada, you all go to the edge of the beach. It will be a cleaning never seen in the history of Brazil". The "edge of the beach", a Bolsonaro aide later confirmed, was
10873-479: The command had told the press. Despite being reprimanded by his superiors, Bolsonaro received praise from fellow officers and wives of military men, becoming a household name for hardliners and right-wingers who were growing disenchanted with Brazil's new civilian democratic government. In October 1987, Bolsonaro faced a new accusation. Veja reported that, with an Army colleague, he had plans to plant bombs in military units in Rio de Janeiro . After Bolsonaro called
11004-468: The consequences of Bolsonaro's rise for Brazilian democracy. In the news magazine Foreign Policy , Federico Finchelstein , a historian at the New School for Social Research who specializes in fascism, wrote, "Bolsonaro's vocabulary recalls the rhetoric behind Nazi policies of persecution and victimization. But does sounding like a Nazi make him a Nazi? Insomuch as he believes in holding elections, he
11135-464: The course of the first ten Canadian parliaments as the major political parties began to form consistent identities and MPs began affiliating themselves with the parties they knew more closely shared their core values. This in turn increased cohesion between parties and MPs, and minimized the causes and motivations for MPs to act independently. Many observers of the Canadian House of Commons in
11266-582: The doctors, he was in an "extremely stable" condition. Police arrested the attacker and identified him as Adélio Bispo de Oliveira, who, according to security agents, claimed he was on "a mission from God". He had been a member of the Socialism and Liberty Party from 2007 to 2014. His social media posts included political criticisms of both Bolsonaro and Temer. But an initial Federal Police investigation concluded that Adélio had no help from political organizations and acted alone. A medical report produced for
11397-630: The first 59 days, he amassed an average of R$ 17,000 per day. After the Workers' Party candidate Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was arrested in April 2018, Bolsonaro became the frontrunner according to all major opinion polls. A Datafolha poll from September showed Bolsonaro as the leading candidate in the first round with 28% of vote intentions, though runoff scenarios showed him losing to Geraldo Alckmin , Fernando Haddad , and Ciro Gomes and tying with Marina Silva . Another Datafolha poll, conducted
11528-455: The first presidential debate of the year, organized by the TV network Rede Bandeirantes . A week later, there was another debate at RedeTV! On 28 August, he gave an interview to Jornal Nacional , Brazil's highest-rated primetime news program, at Rede Globo . Bolsonaro was the first presidential candidate to raise over R$ 1 million in donations from the public during the 2018 campaign. In
11659-447: The four graphological exams", two of which failed to conclude that Bolsonaro was the author of the sketches. Bolsonaro was acquitted by the majority of the court (9 v 4 votes). In December 1988, just after this ruling, he left the Army to begin his political career. He served in the military for 15 years, reaching the rank of captain. Bolsonaro entered politics in 1988, elected city councilor in Rio de Janeiro, representing
11790-519: The government during his presidency and fell out of favor with Bolsonaro. By June 2020, the ministers of Justice and Education , the Secretary of Government , the head of the postal service and other government officials had already resigned. Early in his administration, Bolsonaro focused primarily on domestic and economic issues, ranging from tax reform to changes in social security, but he faced an uphill battle with Congress. Bolsonaro stripped
11921-503: The hospital with severe hypotension (his blood pressure was 10/3, equivalent to 100/30 mmHg), but that he had since stabilized. The attack was condemned by most of the other candidates in the presidential race, and by then president Michel Temer . The day after the attack, Bolsonaro was transferred to the Albert Einstein Israelite Hospital in São Paulo, after a request from his family. According to
12052-483: The independent candidacy of individuals who have the support of at least 1% of the electors able to vote in the region (city, state or country, depending on the election) in which the candidate is running. Currently, members of the legislature can leave their respective parties after being elected, as in the case of senator Reguffe, who left the Democratic Labour Party (PDT) in 2016. Jair Bolsonaro
12183-412: The indigenous affairs agency FUNAI of the responsibility to identify and demarcate indigenous lands , arguing that those territories have tiny, isolated populations who would be controlled by NPOs, and proposed to integrate them into the larger Brazilian society. Critics feared that such integration would force Brazilian Amerindians to suffer cultural assimilation . Argentine President Mauricio Macri
12314-470: The investigation. In mid-August 2021, Bolsonaro warned of a potential "institutional rupture", while urging the Brazilian Senate to charge de Moraes and another Supreme Court Judge, Luis Roberto Barroso , the leader of the electoral court. On 26 October 2021, a senate committee approved a report calling for Bolsonaro to face criminal charges, including crimes against humanity, for his handling of
12445-456: The judiciary, are officially nonpartisan, providing opportunities for independents to succeed. For example, state superintendents of schools or city council members are normally politicians who identify as independent or with no party at all. This system allows voters to focus on the candidate's qualifications rather than party affiliation since this should not be stressed for these positions. In Azerbaijan , there are many independent members of
12576-490: The justice system, and waging a destructive war against the Amazon region that has enriched some of the country's worst land owners." In early 2021, Bolsonaro's approval ratings fell again, mostly due to the government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccination controversies, and the concurrent economic crisis that evolved under his watch. Days after Brazil surpassed Russia as the country worst hit by COVID, Bolsonaro held
12707-567: The legitimate ruler of Venezuela, alongside Mauricio Macri from Argentina and Donald Trump from the US, among others. He said that "We will continue doing everything possible to re-establish order, democracy and freedom there". After his first year in power, Bolsonaro's popularity steadily declined. A Datafolha survey, published on 21 May 2019, showed that 34% of respondents described Bolsonaro's administration as "great or good"; 26% as "regular", 36% as "bad or awful", while 4% did not respond. This
12838-627: The next eight years. He was prosecuted for several allegations of fraud in the 2022 Brazilian elections and situations linked to the January 8 attack on federal government buildings. The decision came after a 5–2 vote in favor of conviction. Following the decision, Bolsonaro stated his intentions to appeal. On 31 October 2023, Bolsonaro was again convicted by the Superior Electoral Court over abuse of power for using official Brazil's Independence Day ceremony to promote himself as
12969-537: The northern state of Nuevo León and holds no political party affiliation. As of June 7, 2015 , he was elected Governor of Nuevo León, making history as the first independent candidate to win in the country. George Washington is the only U.S. president elected as an independent to date. Washington opposed the development of political parties , which had begun to solidify as the Federalist faction, centered around John Adams and Alexander Hamilton , and
13100-452: The only three parties with enough MPs to qualify for official party status in the 41st and 42nd parliaments.) Thanks to this strong party discipline, it is uncommon to see politicians who are otherwise affiliated with any of the main political parties act independently of their party. Though it is acceptable and accepted for politicians to serve as independent MPs, those who attempt to run as such often struggle to be elected without access to
13231-596: The only two parties to ever form government in Canada, only the Liberal and Conservative parties had been able to appoint new senators. Because Canadian senators are appointed by the Governor General of Canada on the advice of the Prime Minister rather than being elected, senators were often accused of being appointed as a "reward" for service to the party in power, and once appointed, of simply repeating
13362-720: The party and reverted to its original name, the Independence Party of Minnesota .North Dakota elected William Langer Governor in 1933 as a member of the Republican/Nonpartisan League. He was later elected Governor in 1937 as an Independent. In 1971 , State Senator Henry Howell of Virginia , a former Democrat, was elected lieutenant governor as an independent. Two years later , he campaigned for governor as an independent, but lost by 15,000 votes. There were several unsuccessful independent gubernatorial candidates in 2006 who impacted their electoral races. In Maine , state legislator Barbara Merrill (formerly
13493-758: The path to Bolsanaro losing the election and in the protests and attempted insurrection that followed. On December 30, 2022, one day before Bolsonaro's term ended, he arrived in Florida and resided in Kissimmee for a couple of months. On 8 January 2023, his supporters attacked the buildings of the Supreme Court of Brazil , the National Congress of Brazil and the Planalto Presidential Palace in an attempt to instigate
13624-463: The points and positions of their counterparts in the House of Commons rather than acting as a means of truly independent policy review. In 2014, as a response to growing public disapproval of the Senate and the perceived problems brought about by senator partisanship, Liberal Party leader Justin Trudeau made the decision to expel all Liberal senators from the Liberal Party caucus. Trudeau would go on to call for an overall elimination of partisanship in
13755-560: The political party despite no longer being permitted within the party caucus. Additionally, the Conservative Party elected not to remove its senators from the party caucus, and many Conservative Party senators kept their official partisan affiliations in public. During the 2019 federal election campaign, in response to reporters' questions, Conservative Party leader Andrew Scheer said that if his party were elected to form government and he became prime minister, he would reinstate
13886-667: The popular vote in his home state of Utah but received little support from the remainder of the country. Independent senator Bernie Sanders ran in the 2016 and 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries , but ultimately did not appear on the ballot in either the 2016 nor 2020 presidential elections, though he did receive more than 5% of the popular vote as a write-in candidate in his home state of Vermont . In 2008 , Nader formed Independent Parties in New Mexico , Delaware , and elsewhere to gain ballot access in several states. In 2024 , Robert F. Kennedy Jr. created "We
14017-465: The practice of partisan appointments to the Senate. The efforts to increase senatorial independence have led some to argue the Senate has developed an increase of importance and power in the legislative process. As of 2021, it was found that Canadian senators were facing increasing pressure from lobbying groups on a variety of issues, suggesting the more independent Senate has a greater perceived influence over legislative issues. Additionally, following
14148-538: The prices of the vaccines, but in a payment of $ 45 million to a company in Singapore. In response, the Brazilian Supreme Court authorized a criminal investigation of Bolsonaro. In March 2021, Bolsonaro replaced Defense Minister Fernando Azevedo e Silva with Walter Souza Braga Netto ; like Bolsonaro, Netto lionized the 1964–1985 military dictatorship in Brazil . A day later, the leaders of
14279-458: The resources of the major parties. As a result, there are seldom more than one or two independent MPs within modern Canadian Parliaments, with many who do sit as such being initially elected as a part of a major party before either leaving voluntarily or being removed. In the first year of the 44th Canadian Parliament , the House of Commons featured one sitting independent member: Kevin Vuong , from
14410-537: The search for information by a mastermind of the attack or even a self-attack. For this, expert medical examination of Bolsonaro and review of the medical records would be needed. Bolsonaro's personal motto , which he established in 2016, is John 8:32: " The truth will set you free ". The same weekend he left the hospital, thousands of people took the streets in dozens of cities in Brazil to protest against Bolsonaro and his political stances, chanting " Ele não " ("Not him"). There were also rallies in support of
14541-507: The second case, they appear with their name only. The two options are otherwise equivalent. During the earliest Canadian Parliaments, a lack of coherent political identity among both the Liberal and Conservative parties is known to have led to Members of Parliament (MPs) occasionally demonstrating independence from their party by voting in line with the opposition. Commonly, the issues which caused these MPs to act independently were religious in nature. These tensions began to disperse over
14672-486: The second-place finisher, Haddad, in a runoff held on 28 October 2018. After the first round, when his victory looked certain, Bolsonaro gave a speech by videolink to thousands of supporters who gathered at Paulista Avenue, in São Paulo. In the speech, he threatened to arrest, purge or kill "reds" and "petralhas" (a derogatory term for Workers' Party members), and promised that members of the social movements MST and MTST would be treated as "terrorists". He said: "This time,
14803-481: The seven that have been formed since the 2004 federal election ) with independent MPs sometimes sharing in the balance of power . While traditionally framed as an "independent body of sober second thought", appointments to the Senate of Canada prior to 2016 were commonly seen as highly partisan, with the majority of Canadian senators identifying themselves as members of either the Liberal or Conservative parties and serving within their party's caucus. As these have been
14934-548: The southwest of Brasilia. He has later admitted that he considers this practice of his "immoral." He has also been accused of engaging in fuel allowance fraud. In his 27 years of service in the Brazilian National Congress , Bolsonaro put forward one constitutional amendment and at least 171 bills, two of which became law. Bolsonaro, who claims to be persecuted by the left-wing parties, said most congressmen do not vote according to their agenda, but "by who
15065-607: The total votes cast. Independent Senators are quite rare. In 2010, a group of independent MPs who were sacked from the People's Justice Party formed a political block called Konsensus Bebas . The members were Zahrain Mohamed Hashim (Bayan Baru), Wee Choo Keong (Wangsa Maju), Zulkifli Noordin (Kulim-Bandar Bharu), Tan Tee Beng (Nibong Tebal) and Mohsin Fadzli Samsuri (Bagan Serai). It did not last beyond
15196-414: The week before election day, showed a considerable surge for Bolsonaro, who had 40% of vote intentions, or 36% when null or blank vote intentions were included. Haddad came in second with 25% and Gomes third with 15%. The first round of the election occurred on 7 October 2018. Bolsonaro finished in first place with 46% of the popular vote (49.2 million). Since he failed to win over 50%, he faced
15327-479: The years. In 2014, he was the congressman who gained the most votes in Rio de Janeiro, with 465,000. Bolsonaro's name was listed on the " Lista de Furnas [ pt ] ", a list detailing a corruption and money laundering scheme involving the state-owned electricity company, Eletrobras Furnas . He received housing assistance for deputies who do not have residences in Brasilia despite having an apartment in
15458-431: Was "Brazil above everything, God above everyone" ( Brasil acima de tudo, Deus acima de todos ). Though contested by two lawsuits, the Superior Electoral Court of Brazil deferred them and his candidacy was made official on 6 August. In August, Bolsonaro announced that Antônio Hamilton Mourão , a retired army general, would be his running mate. According to political pundits, Bolsonaro moderated his tone early in
15589-620: Was a member from 2016 to 2018, the Brazilian Labour Party (PTB), Brazilian Woman's Party (PMB), Christian Democracy (DC), Party of National Mobilization (PMN), the Republicans and Patriot (PATRI). On 30 November 2021, Bolsonaro and his son Senator Flávio Bolsonaro joined the Liberal Party (PL). According to political analysts, the choice represents the consolidation of the alliance of Bolsonaro with
15720-560: Was arrested and detained for fifteen days. He left the army and was elected to the Municipal Chamber of Rio de Janeiro two years later. In 1990, Bolsonaro was first elected to the Chamber of Deputies as a representative for the state of Rio de Janeiro . During his 27-year tenure as a congressman, he became known for his national conservatism . Bolsonaro entered the 2018 Brazilian presidential election , during which he started to advocate economically liberal and pro-market policies. He led in
15851-534: Was described as a quiet, discreet and conservative councilor, and showed little participation. His term as councilor was used mainly to give visibility to military causes, such as retirement benefits for former officers. In the 1990 elections, Bolsonaro was elected a federal deputy for the Christian Democratic Party. He served seven consecutive terms, from 1991 to 2018. He has been affiliated with several other Brazilian political parties over
15982-509: Was independent between 2019 and 2021. In Canadian federal politics, members of both the House of Commons and the Senate are permitted to hold office without being members of a political party. Candidates in federal elections who are not affiliated with a party have two options: independent or no affiliation. In the former case, they appear on the ballot with "Independent" following their name; in
16113-737: Was met with controversy because many voters had not known that the Liberals had expelled him before casting their votes. In 2022, Alain Rayes , MP for the Quebec riding of Richmond—Arthabaska , resigned from the Conservative caucus to sit as an independent, becoming the second independent MP of the 44th Parliament. Independent politicians have on occasion held considerable sway in the House of Commons of Canada in recent years, as Canada has been governed by successive minority governments (five of
16244-420: Was no deadlier than " the flu " and that his priority was the nation's economic recovery rather than the health crisis. In fact, as of early 2021, the Brazilian economy was bouncing back, albeit somewhat slowly and inconsistently, as the pandemic was still threatening to undo any economic recovery. Bolsonaro continually accused political opponents and the press of exaggerating the threat of the virus and called it
16375-464: Was recognized as the winner. Bolsonaro left for the United States on 30 December to avoid taking part in the swearing-in ceremony of Lula, leaving Vice President Hamilton Mourão as the acting President. The documentary Apocalypse in the Tropics (2024) shows how evangelical pastor Silas Malafaia had a defining influence on Bolsanaro, while mustering support from Brasil's evangelical movement, in
16506-411: Was recovering in the hospital, but he later said the wounds seemed worse than initially thought and his father most likely would not be able to start campaigning personally before the end of the first round. He tweeted about his father's condition, explaining that the perforation had reached parts of the liver, lung, and intestine. He also said that Bolsonaro had lost a large amount of blood, arriving at
16637-422: Was reelected in 2018 and is running again in 2024 . During the presidency of Joe Biden , former members of Democratic Party Kyrsten Sinema and Joe Manchin joined Sanders and King and became Independent Democrats . They are viewed as moderate Democrats and cited increasing partisanship to explain their decisions. After they changed their affiliations, the Senate had the highest number of independents in
16768-410: Was removed had shown Brazil's former health minister, Eduardo Pazuello , comparing the virus to HIV. In other videos, Bolsonaro criticized efforts to stop the spread of the virus, such as wearing masks or taking the vaccine. By the end of June 2021, more members of the opposition started to call for his impeachment over his handling of the pandemic and spreading misinformation . The opposition signed
16899-696: Was the first foreign leader Bolsonaro received on a state visit to Brasília after he became president. The second inauguration of Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela took place nine days after Bolsonaro's inauguration . The disputed results of the 2018 Venezuelan presidential election led to the Venezuelan presidential crisis , as the National Assembly rejected the results, considered Maduro an illegitimate ruler since his first term of office ended, and appointed Juan Guaidó as acting president. Bolsonaro did not attend Maduro's inauguration and recognized Guaidó as
17030-660: Was the first time more Brazilians rejected the politics of Bolsonaro than affirmed it. Meanwhile, after allegations of campaign-finance fraud, Bolsonaro fired Gustavo Bebianno , a top adviser and general secretary for the president. His party was accused of diverting public campaign funds to candidates who did not run for office. In November 2019, Bolsonaro left the Social Liberal Party due to conflicts with its leadership. He attempted to form his own party, Alliance for Brazil ( Portuguese : Aliança pelo Brasil ), but it failed to gather enough signatures to register at
17161-424: Was undeniably down when compared to the Senate prior to the reforms. It is generally thought that it will only be possible to judge the success of the attempted reforms accurately when a non-Liberal government is elected to the House of Commons, at which point it can be observed if the noted trend in voting represents simple loyalty to the government, or loyalty to the Liberal Party. The territorial legislatures of
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