The Veneds are a politically conscious people with a longstanding democratic tradition (in fact, one of the oldest democratic traditions in the world). They enjoy discussing politics, and in general they have an opinion about virtually everything, usually a negative one, and would miss no opportunity to ventilate it. The saying goes: „Komód dwu Wenedzi sie okętrą, dzie wiecze noską sie trze partie” („When two Veneds meet, immediately three parties are born”). There is some undeniable truth in this saying. And what is more, the phenomenon seems to have spread over the nationalities who have co-inhabitated the RTC with them, although it must be said that it is less strong among Lithuanians, Ruthenians, and others.
As a result, the RTC has over 700 registered parties. Almost every possible combination of political opinions is represented by at least one party, and what is more: most of these parties are organised nationally. As a result, most Venedic parties have some kind of Lithuanian and sometimes Ukrainian counterpart, or equivalent. Only a few parties are trans-national and cover the whole RTC. In other cases Venedic parties cooperate closely with their Lithuanian counterparts, sometimes in the form of a common parliamentary caucus, sometimes simply in the form of mutual sympathy and incidental coordination of plans and tactics.
Of these hundreds of parties, 48 are currently represented in the Sejm. A short description follows below. It should be noted that the number of parliamentary seats is rather instable, as it happens frequently that members of one caucus leave it or join another. The numbers listed are those immediately following the 2005 elections.
DPWiL – Demokratyca Partia Wenedzie i Litwanie and ViLDP – Vendos ir Lietuvos Demokratų Partija (Democratic Party of Veneda and Lithuania). Centrist party. It was founded in 1932 as a the first Venedic-Lithuanian party operating in both countries, strongly in favour of a reunification of both countries. In 1953 most of its members left and founded the UD-DS. From that moment on, the DPWiL has always been overshadowed by its successor. Still influential in the 1960s and 1970s, the party nowadays plays a marginal role. (5 seats in the Sejm)
PKRDK – Partia Komuniska Rzeipybiełczej Dwar Korunar (Communist Party of the RTC), operates in Lithuania under the name DKRKP (Dviejų Karūnų Respublikos Komunistų Partija). The party was founded in 1901. In 1919, the Wenedka Partia Komuniska and the Lietuvos Komunistų Partija were separated. In 1949, the PKRDK was reestablished. (8 seats)
UD-DS – Unień Demokratyca / Demokratų Sąjunga (Democratic Union). Centrist party, hesitating between social-democracy, christian-democracy and liberalism. Founded in 1953. Apart from the PKRDK and the DPWiL, this is the only party that encompasses the whole RTC Before the 2005 elections, it was the largest party in the Sejm of the RTC; in the Sejm of Veneda it still is. The UD-DS is led by former chancellor Jan Sacz. (34 seats)
BNSP – Blok Niutrały Sprotu Progrzeszenie (Neutral Bloc for the Support of Progress). Centre-right, liberal, pro-Western party, modelled after the pre-war Blok Niutrały pro Kooperacenie ku Gwarnamiętu (BNKG). Strongly in favour of the monarchy. It emerged in 1995 after a rift in the BR and was a major party in the second half of the 1990s, but is now in decline. (4 seats)
BR – Blok Rzejpybiełkany (Republican Bloc). Moderately conservative party, founded in 1958. Favours the Venedic-Lithuanian union, supports the Baltic League. Leader of the BR, currently the third largest party in the Sejm, is foreign minister Olwarz Piniatyk. (44 seats)
DN – Demokracja Noconała (National Democracy). Nationalist party, founded in 1891 by the diplomat Ignac Dynacz. Since its foundation, the party has existed under different names: Partia Noconało-Demokratyca, Partia Noconała, etc. The DN is characterised by a strong emphasis on the Venedic language and on Roman-Catholicism as identifiers of Venedic identity. Favours the idea of a Venedic national state instead of the Venedic-Lithuanian union, and opposes not only the Republic, but also the Baltic League. Proposes cooperation with Russia instead. The DN has always been one of the stronger parties in Veneda, although through its extremist views it rarely gained much real influence. Currently part of the Aldendorf government. Leader: Marczół Żowanu. (34 seats)
KRN – Konfederaceń pro Rzeipybiełczej Niedziepiędzięciej (Confederation for an Independent Republic). Strange mixture of progressive and reactionary features. Since its foundation in 1985, the KRN has always supported the idea of a restitutio ad integrum, a return to the old pre-partitions RTC, not only consisting of Veneda and Lithuania, but also of Belarus and Ukraine. Strongly in favour of the Baltic League and its expansion eastward. Leftist in its economic views. The KRN is the smallest coalition partner in the Aldendorf government. Leader: Wójt Kramar. (6 seats)
LiD – Liwartać i Demokracja (Freedom and Democracy). Right-wing, liberal party, founded in 1990. Opposes state interference with the economy, progressive in ethical matters. Leader: Łycza Dzieławita. (6 seats)
MPR – Mumię Pro Rzeipybiełczej (Movement for the Republic). Strongly anti-democratic party, founded in 1955 as a continuation of the Movement for the Fatherland (Mumię Pro Potrze, MPP), which was forbidden in 1948 for its collaboration with the German occupant. Sees the RTC as a „big Veneda”. Irredentist tendencies towards Russia and Ukraine. Currently part of the ŻŻŻ.
NKCz – Nowa Koaliceń Czywiła (New Civil Coalition). Centrist party with predominantly liberal features, slightly more to the left than the LiD. Founded in 2004 by former members of the BR, the LiD and the PROB. (6 seats)
OC – Olęca Centrała (Central Alliance). Christian-Democratic party, ideologically very close to the UChN, but slightly more populist in its behaviour. Founded in 1990 and led by the twin brothers Leoń and Kazimierz Janać. Currently part of the ŻŻŻ.
OLD – Olęca Lewie Demokratycej (Alliance of Democratic Left). Founded in 1990 as a loose umbrella organisation for 29 smaller parties, trade unions, and other organisations of socialists, communists, anarchists, syndicalists, etc. In 2000, it became a political party. Its leader is the relatively young landowner Wójt Olanik, under whose leadership the OLD has grown close to the WWPS. (24 seats)
PChD – Partia Chrzyszczano-Demokratyca (Christian-Democratic Party). Christian-Democratic party, more moderate and less nationalist than the UChN, but more liberal in its economic views. Founded in 1991 and led by Paweł Legaciny. Currently part of the ŻŻŻ.
PKL – Partia Konserwaciwo-Liberała (Conservative-Liberal Party). Conservative party, split off from the BR in 1991. Led by Michał Kazimierz Zrycik. Currently part of the ŻŻŻ.
PN – Partia Noconała (National Party). Similar to WFN, but slightly more old-fashioned in its ideology. Founded in 1977 by former members of the DN in whose opinion the DN was not radical enough. Over the years, several parties have existed under the name PN, but only one has survived. Currently part of the ŻŻŻ.
PROB – Partia Rzejpybiełkana Omikór Bierze (Republican Party of Beer Friends). Started highly successfully in 1994 as a fun party, but since then the PROB has lost most of its initial support. Over the years, it has developed into a more or less serious and stable party of moderated, centre-right signature. (1 seat)
SKW – Sułodziefięca Kmieciór Wenedkór (Self-defense of Venedic Peasants). Not a real party, in fact, and until recently not represented in the Sejm. It was founded in the early 1990s as a militant grouping representing peasants' interests, and has evolved into a mixture of a peasants' trade union and a movement of the discontent in general. Known for its spectular actions of civic disobedience. Sułodziefięca has both elements of the extreme left and especially the extreme right, but it does not share the extreme nationalist views that usually characterise the latter. Strongly opposed against the Baltic League and against the „exploitation of Venedic peasants by the Lithuanian nobility”. Its leader (and in a way, dictator) is the infamous populist Jędrzej Lepórz, who is currently a vice-chancellor in the Aldendorf government. Although Lepórz himself is generally considered „not so bad a minister as expected”, his party has lost much of its popularity due to numerous sex and corruption scandals. (33 seats)
UChN – Unień Chrzyszczano-Noconała (Christian-National Union). Very conservative, christian-democratic party, supported by a major part of the Venedic clergy. The UChN combines Catholic traditionalism with nationalist tendencies and balto-scepticism, while its economic programme can be identified as moderate left-wing. The UChN, founded in 1989, used to be the largest party of the scattered, Christian-Democratic right in Veneda, and now constitutes the strongest component of the ŻŻŻ.
UKW – Unień Konserwacistór Wenedkór (Union of Venedic Conservatives). Ultra-conservative party, representing the interests of the rich landowners. Consists mostly of members of the nobility. Founded officially in 1889, although inofficially it has existed since the 1850s. The UKW is represented with 4 seats in the framework of the ŻŻŻ., but has a substantial number of members and sympathisants in the Senate as well. Its leader is Artur Mętany.
UŁ – Unień Łoworze (Labour Union). Social-democratic party that split off from the WWPS in 1991. More centrist than the WWPS. (7 seats)
UPR – Unień Polityka Rzejała (Real Politics Union). Conservative, neo-liberal party, founded in 1990, ideologically very similar to the PKL. Its leader is the professional chess-player and former NAL emigrant Jan Darwin-Bokke. (no seats)
WFN – Wenedki Front Noconały (Venedic National Front). Extreme-right, nationalist, fascist group, founded in 1994 by the former vice-chairman of Sułodziefięca, Jan Bryszczyny. (1 seat)
Wierdzi (The Greens). Progressive, leftist party with stress on environment protection. Founded in 1989, successful in the early 1990s, ceased to play an important role after that. (2 seats)
WPP – Wenedka Partia Popłarza (Venedic People’s Party). Difficult to categorise. The WPP is basically the party of the Venedic countryside. It embraces Catholic values and represents peasant interests. Economically, it is both anti-socialist and anti-capitalist. The WPP supports the current state structure of the RTC, but is strongly opposed against the growing influence of the Baltic League. It was founded as early in 1903 and since then has gone through several iterations. The WPP is currently led by Waldemar Pawlin. Part of the Aldendorf government. (26 seats)
WWPS – Wenedka Wyniewkata Partia Soczaliska (Venedic Unified Socialist Party). Consists of two, more or less integrated, parties: the Venedic Socialist Party (Wenedka Partia Soczaliska, WPS) and the Venedic Workers’ Party (Wenedka Partia Łowuratorzór, WPŁ). The latter was founded in 1882 in Warsina as the Partia Soczało-Rewoluconarza “Proletariat” and renamed WPŁ in 1905. The WPS was the result of a merger in 1904 between the Partia Soczałdemokratyca Wenedzie i Litwanie (PSDWiL, founded in 1893), and the Unień Przegrzyna Soczalistór Wenedkór (UPSW, founded in 1892). Although the WPS and the WPŁ have traditionally been revolutionary socialists, comparable to the Russian mensheviks and socialists-revolutionaries respectively, they have now developed into a modern, social-democratic party. Omnipotent during the 1970s and 1980s and still a prominent participant in the Sacz government, the WWPS suffered a dramatic loss in the 2005 elections (from 51 to 18 seats). Leader of the WWPS is former culture minister Katarzyna Parydżanka. (18 seats)
ŻŻŻ – Żyścica, Żyścica, Żyścica (Justice, Justice, Justice) is not a party, but a coalition of parties and other organisations (including the UChN, OC, UKW, PChD, PKL, MPR, and PN). It was founded in June 2005 and was very successful in the September elections. Presently, the ŻŻŻ has the biggest caucus in the Sejm, and thriving force behind the Aldendorf government. Although the formation of factions is officially discouraged by the ŻŻŻ's leadership, the MPs belonging to the UChN (27 seats), the OC (19 seats) and the PKL (8 seats) regularly hold „inofficial meetings”. (82 seats)
CS – Centro Sąjunga (Centre Union). Centrist party, supported mainly by the adherents of Baltic paganism. Founded in 1982. (3 seats)
DKRS – Dviejų Karūnų Respublikos Socialdemokratija (Social-Democracy of the Republic of the Two Crowns). Modern social-democratic party, less radical than the LSDDP and comparable to the Venedic UŁ. Founded in 1993. (7 seats)
KDS – Krikščionų Demokratų Sąjunga (Christian-Democratic Union). Small Christian-Democratic party, supported mainly by members of the small Lithuanian Catholic minority and by Veneds living in Lithuania. Founded in 1921. (3 seats)
LDJ – Lietuvos Demokratų Judejimas (Lithuanian Democratic Movement). Centre-left party with both liberal and social-democratic tendencies. Founded in 1948. (5 seats)
LKL – Lietuvos Konservatorių Lyga (Lithuanian Conservative League). Extremely conservative party of members of the Lithuanian nobility and their sympathisers. Very similar to the Venedic UKW. (1 seat)
LLDP – Lietuvos Liberalų Demokratų Partija (Lithuanian Liberal-Democratic Party). Liberal party, slightly less to the right than the Venedic LiD. Founded in 1963. (5 seats)
LSDDP – Lietuvos Socialdemokratų Darbo Partija (Lithuanian Social-Democratic Labour Party). Lithuanian counterpart of the WWPS, founded in 1896. (23 seats)
LSLP – Lietuvos Socialistų Liaudies Partija (Lithuanian Socialist People’s Party). Lithuanian counterpart of the OLD, with whom it forms a loose caucus in the Sejm. Founded in 1974. (1 seat)
LŽP – Lietuvos Žaliųjų Partija (Lithuanian Green Party). Similar to the Venedic Wierdzie, with whom it forms one common caucus in parliament. (1 seat)
NDS – Naujujų Demokratų Sąjunga (New Democratic Union). Centrist party that proposes radical democratic reforms. In favour of a thorough modernisation of the RTC, especially focused on putting an end to the influence of the nobility. Nevertheless positive about the union with Veneda. Particularly popular among students. Founded in 1991. The NDS was one of the great winners of the September elections, in which it jumped from 3 to 18 seats, thus becoming one of the major Lithuanian parties. It is led by the chairman („elder”) of the Samogitian government, Artūras Zuokas. Participated with some reservations in the Aldendorf government, but left it in March 2009. (18 seats)
Respublikonai (Republicans). Centre-right party of a moderately conservative signature. It was founded in 1948 and modelled mainly after the Venedic Blok Rzejpybiełkany, with whom it cooperates closely. Like the BR, the Respublikonai are strong supporters of the Venedic-Lithuanian union, the king, and the Baltic League. With 20 seats in the Sejm, the Respublikonai are the largest Lithuanian party. Participates in the Aldendorf government (20 seats)
S"LAV" – Sąjūdis „Lietuva Aukščiau Visko” (Movement „Lithuania Above Everything”). A nationalist party, more radical than Tautininkai. It is against the union with Veneda and generally considers the Lithuanian nation to be superior over the other nations of the world. Advocates for expulsion of people of other nationalities, such as Jews, Veneds, Belarusians, from the Lithuanian majority areas, banning of immigration, occupation of Skuodia, to some extent as well Panbaltism. (1 seat)
Tautininkai (Nationalists). Lithuanian-nationalist party, founded in the late 19th century. During the Interbellum, the Tautininkai exercised absolute power over Lithuania. After the Second Great War they lost most of their influence, but managed to retain some support among the population. Since then the Tautininkai have always played an important role in Lithuanian politics. Although they accept the Venedic-Lithuanian union for practical reasons, their strategic aim for the future is a fully independent Lithuanian state. In many ways, they can be considered the Lithuanian counterpart of the DN. Participates in the Aldendorf government. (13 seats)
TP – Tikratikių Partija (Party of the True Believers). A more radical pagan party in Lithuania, which seeks an official promotion of Baltic paganism over other religions. (1 seat)
VS – Valstiečių Sąjunga (Farmers’ Union). Conservative party, strong emphasis on Baltic pagan values, less on nationalism. Its power base is the Lithuanian countryside. Scepsis towards the Venedic-Lithuanian Union. Founded in 1918. Participates in the Aldendorf government. (18 seats)
FUN – Front Ukrainśkych Nacionalistiw (Фронт Українських Націоналістів) (Front of Ukrainian Nationalists). Militantly Ukrainian-nationalist grouping with Galician independence and eventually a unified Ukrainian state as its purpose. Reject the idea that the Ruthenes and the Ukrainians are separate nations. Founded in 1956 as a prolongation (or rather, political arm) of the OUN (Organizacija Ukrainśkych Nacionalistiw). (2 seats)
HLDP – Hałyćka Liberalno-Demokratyczna Partija (Galician Liberal-Democratic Party). A Ruthenian party, founded in 2006 by members of the RNDO who were dissatisfied with the radicalisation of the latter. The HLDP calls itself liberal and open to people of all nationalities, but is dominated by Ruthenes who consider themselves a nation separate from the Ukrainians. (no seats)
HRP – Hałyćka Respublikanśka Partija (Galician Republican Party). Another Ruthenian party that split off in 2006 from the RNDO for the very same reasons as the HLDP. Strongly opposed to separatist tendencies within the RNDO. (no seats)
Nostra Galicja (Our Galicia). Ultra-rightist party of Venedic chauvinists, who despise everything Ruthenian (or more generally: non-Venedic) in Galicia. Founded in 1923, immediately after Galicia had been granted autonomy. Closely related to the DN, albeit slightly more extreme in its views. Participates in the Aldendorf government. (12 seats)
RNDO – Rutenśka Nacionalno-Demokratyczna Organizacija (Ruthenian National-Democratic Organisation). Centrist umbrella organisation of many different Ruthenian and Ukrainian political and non-political groups, and by far the strongest Ruthenian movement in general. In contains adherents of both the „Ruthenian” and the „Ukrainian” option, and considers itself neutral in this matter. The RNDO was founded in 1934. It firmly advocates Galicia becoming a separate constituant of the RTC instead of a part of the Kingdom of Veneda, but rejects the sometimes violent attitude of other, more radical groups like the FUN. In 2004, the RNDO was the thriving force behind the referendum for the unification of Galicia with the Lithuanian province of Volhynia. Because the Ruthenians are politically less scattered than the Veneds and the Lithuanians, the RNDO is traditionally one of the largest parties in the Sejm, which, however, does not make it more powerful or even influential. Its charismatic leader is the chairman of the Galician Council, Darko Popczuk. (54 seats)
SDPHiW – Socijał-Demokratyczna Partija Hałyczyny i Wołyni (Social-Democratic Party of Galicia and Volhynia). Founded in 1909 after the merger of several other Galician socialist groups as the Socijał-Demokratyczna Partija Hałyczyny (SDPH). In 2005, the SDPH decided to extend its territory to include Volhynia and renamed itself SDPHiW. Its program is somewhere between the Venedic WWPS and the social-democrats who rule the Ukrainian National Republic most of the time. (12 seats)
SŁOB – Słowjanśke Bratstwo (Слов'янське Братство) (Slavic Brotherhood). Ukrainian equivalent of the Russian SNOR, founded in 1944. Its Galician branch was launched by the snorist rulers of Russia and Ukraine as a means to get grip on the Ukrainian minority of the RTC, but failed miserably, as the SŁOB never gained a substantial number of supporters. Currently, the SŁOB is forbidden in Ukraine, but not in the RTC, where it still leads a marginal existence. Strange enough, the SLOB turned out to be more attractive to the Belarusian minority than to the Ruthenes and Ukrainians. In the September elections, the SŁOB lost its last seat in the Sejm.
CzC – Czeskaa Cesta (Czech Way). Exists in Volhynia as a movement since the end of the 19th century, as a political party since 1950. They have a mother branch in Bohemia, founded 1868. They are prominent nationalistic party, unifying intelectuals as common people with a feeling for all Czech. They do not co-operate openly with SW, but many time their moves were co-ordinated, although not publicly. Leader of CzC is Stanisław Kros. (1 seat)
FP – Freyet Preymeren (Free Premaria). Saxon-Nationalist party, founded in 1956. Fights the „illegal occupation” by the RTC of Premaria and seeks (re)unification with the Duchy of Premaria. Until now the party has been able to avoid being banned for terrorism. It enjoys some support among the more militant members of the Saxon minority in Premaria. (1 seat)
MDLP (Democratic Movement of Lietuvink in Prussia). A regional party of ethnic Lithuanians in the province of Prusi. Advocates the transfer of the province from Veneda to Lithuania. (no seats)
MDŚ – Mumię Demokratycy Ślężanór (in Silesian: Muvmet Demokratky de Šležani) (Democratic Movement of Silesians). Group established in 1977 to defend the interests of the Silesian minority in Grand-Veneda and Silesia. Most Veneds consider Šležan a dialect of Wenedyk, most of the outside world (including the Bohemian Kingdom, where most Silesians live) considers it a separate language. Obviously, the MDŚ holds the latter view. (1 seat)
MNP – Magyar Nemzeti Párt (Hungarian National Party). Party representing the interests of the Hungarian minority in Karpatia. (no seats)
ORWiL – Orhanyzacija Rusynuw u Wenezi i Łytvi (Организация Русинув у Венеді и Литві) (Organisation of Rusyns in Veneda and Lithuania). Founded in 1951. Many Rusyns consider themselves Ruthenes or Ukrainians, and become activists in Ruthenian organisations. A large minority, however, consider themselves a separate nation, and the ORWiL was created to protect it. Mostly active in the province of Karpatia. (10 seats)
PPPP – Partia Popłarza Prowięcze Prusór (People's Party of the Province of Prussia). Provincial party, run mostly by ethnic Veneds, in the province of Prusi.
Prusi XXI-u Szekłu (XXI Century Prussia). A regional movement in the province of Prusi. Its best-known member is the mayor of Męć Rzegały, Krzysztof Kawaliniany.
RNP – Русинська Национальна Партія (Ruthenian National Party). Advocates the restoration of an independent Karpatia, separate from both the RTC and Galicia.
RWU – Ruch Wołyńśkych Ukrainciw (Рух Волиньських Українців) (Movement of Volhynian Ukrainians). Organisation of Ukrainians, Ruthenes and Poleshchuks, who advocate Volhynia becoming part of an Autonomous Region of Galicia and Volhynia instead of remaining part of Lithuania, where the Ukrainians enjoy relatively little rights. Founded in 1980 and led by Volhynia's governor Orest Paliczny. In 2004, the RWU was responsible for the referendum in Volhynia. (9 seats)
SPB – Soczotać Prusór Bałtycór (Society of Baltic Prussians). Founded in 1963, defends the interests of the small Prussian minority. (2 seats)
SSKS (Slevan Socio-Cultural Society). Basically non-political organisation of Slevans in the RTC.
SVP – Sassische Volksparty (Saxon People’s Party). Founded in 1954. Party representing the interests of the Low Saxon population of the RTC. Otherwise most of its program can be categorised as left to the center. (18 seats)
SW – Swobodnaa Wolinj (Free Volhynia). Founded 1968. Mild ideological successor of Swatowaacslawskaa Orlice (Eagle of St. Wenceslaus), a SNOR supporting, ultranationalistic Czech party that was banned 1949. SW has adopted strong panslavism, they play rational politics with a strong sense to common (Slavic) man. The party unctuously tries to avoid any link to Orlice, but their radical youth wing (knjraczi – „moustachistes”) is not afraid of repressions anymore. Like the other main political organisation of Czechs in the RTC, the CzC, the SW sometimes manages to find enough support for one seat in the Sejm, sometimes it doesn't.
WPG – Wyniewkata Partia Grąwenedór (Unified Party of Grand-Veneds). Regional party in Grand-Veneda. (1 seat)
ZBRDK – Zwiaz Biełarusaŭ Riespubliki Dwach Karon (Звяз Беларусаў Республікі Двах Карон) (Union of Belarusians in the RTC). A not distinctively political umbrella organisation of the Belarusian minority in the Republic. In 2001 it participated for the first time in the elections, to give the Belarusians a voice in the Sejm. It does not represent any other political views other than the defense of Belarusian interests. (3 seats)
ŽLP – Žemaičių Liaudies Partija (Samogitian People's Party). A political party of the Samogitian people – that is, people speaking the Samogitian language (Samogitian dialect of Lithuanian language). The party seeks to introduce Samogitian as a second official language in Samogitia and otherwise promote the Samogitian identity. It is popular mostly among the rural population, but as well among some educated people; most of Samogitian urban dwellers however consider Samogitian to be a village language and prefers standard Lithuanian (if they could speak Samogitian at all). (1 seat)