Social Party

The Social Party were the second largest party throughout the 20th century and dominated the left wing political landscape until 2012. The Party traditionally stood on social justice and social democracy, with a shift in the 2000s towards social liberalism. The Party entered government after winning in a huge landslide victory, ousting the unpopular National Party Government, however, the 2005-2015 government would be the final time in power for the Social Party who became dogged in misery following a weak response to the financial crisis. The party was widely seen as out of touch and split in the early 2010s. New parties on the left such as Solidarity, Worker's Party and Green Party all began to eclipse the Social Party. In 2015 the party announced it would not seek re-election.