The past few years have proven to be disastrous for the establishment parties. The Conservative Party [PC], along with their allies in the Gran Almanarnia Party [PGA], had rode a wave of populism to capture control of the National Assembly and the President's Estate in the 1581 elections. However, a series of legislative missteps and scandals have mired the administration of Simon Powers. Additionally, with the Senate remaining in the control of the Liberal Party [PL] and its allies, legislative gridlock plagued the first half of President Powers' term. Controversial campaign pledges, including a crackdown on drug usage and the defunding of social programs and services in favor of increased military spending, have drained the political capital of President Powers and divided his coalition before the midterm elections, with moderate elements in the Conservative Party growing increasingly alarmed at the public (and private) behavior of Powers.

The other side of the aisle has fared little better though. The coalition of the Liberal Party, the Green Party [PV] and the Socialist Party [PS] have suffered from a round of intra-coalition conflicts over ideological issues. Additionally, the Liberal Party, the largest party within the coalition have faced an intra-party schism in which its centrist and progressive elements accusing one another of throwing the election. The election of the Chair of the Liberal Party was bogged down by a surprise challenge by the former presidential candidate Senator Isabella Hart, further increasing strains within the party. Hart, a progressive, slammed Dan Green, her centrist challenger for a number of gaffes throughout his career, including one infamous moment in which he publicly mocked Hart during a debate, stating "Apparently, costing us the general elections isn't enough for her insatiable lust for power." He would eventually eek out a win by three votes and used his victory speech to blast Hart and the progressives for "continuously and uselessly bleeding the party for an unrealistic and impractical purity."

That was deemed a final straw by many progressives in the Liberal Party. Senator Hart, along with two other Senators and five Assemblypersons announced their decision to leave the party and form a new caucus to create a "Grand Deal for Almanarnia", inviting "any that were serious about moving Almanarnia forward" to join them. Over the next few months, this group would begin to grow caused from bleeding from both the Liberal Party and Conservative Party. By the 1583 Midterm Elections, the caucus had reformed itself into a new political party titled "Coalition for Almanarnia" [CA] and set out to secure itself as a major party, campaigning in almost every Senate election for that year and at least half of all National Assembly elections.

The midterms proved to be a disaster for the political establishment. The Liberals lost further seats and its majority in the Senate while the Conservatives lost full control of the National Assembly by a single vote, thanks in part to the new political party and the breakaway of an Independent Centrist Caucus. This led to a hung Congress, with the Coalition for Almanarnia and the Independent Centrist Caucus agreeing to not cut any deals with either side until they came to the negotiating table, expecting them to do so within a few days or a week at most.

Unfortunately, this would not be the case. Chairman Green of the Liberals and President Powers of the Conservatives blasted this alliance and urged their respective parties not to negotiate with either. This feud would last for the good part of two years with little legislature being introduced as a result, angering many Almanarnians in the process.

Summary: The Conservative Party has been moving towards the right due to its coalition with the Gran Almanarnia Party. However, not all of its members is thrilled with this drift, feeling left in the lurch by a deeply conservative President with a reactionary base of support. This rift is starting to become ever clearer as a term of governance under a reactionary doctrine comes to an end.

Economics: The Conservative Party traditionally supports protectionist policies and favors reducing business regulations to help grow the economy. Lower taxes and fiscal conservatism for the federal government are the preferred policies for the Conservatives.
Social Issues: The Conservative Party supports the concept of improving "religious protections" for the religious in society, including no same-sex marriage (though civil unions are allowed) and support for religious schools. The Conservatives officially support cracking down on the use of cannabis; some members of the party support decriminalization however. Immigration limitation and loosening gun laws are platforms for the party but are considered secondary issues overall. The party supports the limitation of abortion in the country, with some members calling for it to be illegal no matter the circumstances.

Running a Presidential Candidate: Yes (See Below)

Summary: The Liberal Party has been moving towards the center of the political spectrum due to progressive elements leaving in favor of the Coalition for Almanarnia. On the whole, the party has been out of power for the last four years and recently lost its hold on the Senate. It has been slowly losing ground over the past decade to the Conservative Party and the Gran Almanarnia Party. It is looking to mount a definitive challenge against the Coalition for Almanarnia to force them back into the fold, potentially ignoring the Conservatives in the process.

Economics: The Liberal Party traditionally supports free trade policies and favors reducing business regulations to help grow the economy. It supports free market practices and encourages the use of decisive intervention by the federal government to ensure that markets remain competitive. This includes the possibility of denationalizing railroads in the process.
Social Issues: The Liberal Party supports policies that it feels will improve economics in the country. This includes immigration reform to encourage the growth of the workforce and easing of gun laws to make the sale of arms easier. The Liberal Party supports and advocates for the concept of charter schools in line with its free-market platform. Liberals are generally divided on the issue of abortion, but the dominant feeling is that it be legal. The Liberal Party has taken no official stance on same-sex marriage but supports LGBT protections.

Running a Presidential Candidate: Yes

Summary: The Coalition for Almanarnia is a new political party that has formed after the last general election in 1581. Formed from politicians and supporters that broke away from the Liberal Party and its allies, its sudden and rapid growth can be attributed to the populist nature that has taken hold within the Coalition. Having crafted a platform from policies cherry-picked from both the Conservatives and Liberals, it stands to threaten the political establishment's weakening hold on the government this election cycle.

Economics: The Coalition for Almanarnia takes a mixed approach towards economics. A combination of protectionist policies for struggling Almanarnian industries and free trade policies for thriving ones are a cornerstone for commerce. Additionally, a restructuring of the tax code to close existing loopholes and a restructuring of current regulations to streamline them are on the docket for the Coalition. The key piece for Coalitioneers however is a plan to spend almost $750 billion to revitalize the nation's infrastructure, included a long-desired overhaul of the nation's railroads.
Social Issues: The Coalition for Almanarnia has officially endorsed LGBT rights and has declared its intent to push through the legalization of same-sex marriage. The Coalition for Almanarnia has endorsed gun law reform in an effort to look to streamline registrations and to trim costs in the federal budget, along with a potential loosening of restrictions on the sale of arms. Coalitioneers have agreed to add support for both religious and charter schools as a part of their platform, but will also seek an overhaul of the public education system. Finally, the Coalition for Almanarnia has announced their intention to begin tackling healthcare reform.
Running a Presidential Candidate: Yes

Summary: The Great Almanarnia Party is the second incarnation of a previous party from the late 1400s to early 1500s, which was largely seen as being led by paternal autocrats/fascists. This modern incarnation is very protectionist and reactionary, having grown in strength in response to the Hardwick Administration and the perceived failure of the Socialist Party to address a recession that affected many in the country. Its influence has grown to the point been able to move the Conservative Party to the right during the Powers Administration. Now, it stands poised to take the President's Estate itself if it can hit all the right chords.

Economics: The Great Almanarnia Party supports protectionist policies and opposes free-trade due to fears it would lead to a trade imbalance. They seek to roll back a number of regulations on businesses, especially those limiting corporate mergers. Lower corporate taxes and a flat tax rate for citizens are major planks in the party's campaign. The Great Almanarnia Party believes that the military is the first and foremost focus for the government and will look to greatly increase military spending while slashing welfare programs in the process to push people to find work.
Social Issues: The Great Almanarnia Party is deeply conservative, almost reactionary. It favors drastically limiting immigration and improving protections and border security along the border with Volta. Any persons in the LGBT community are considered mentally ill; there is official support for startups seeking to "cure" those afflicted with such. The party supports ending abortion practices and cracking down on drug usage. The Great Almanarnia Party supports gun reform; they seek to loosen restrictions in certain instances and tighten restrictions in others. The party supports the concept of religious and charter schools.
Running a Presidential Candidate: Yes

Summary: The Socialist Party has been on the defensive for the past few election cycles. The Hardwick Administration from 1577-1581 was the crowning achievement of the Socialist Party in the Untied States. Unfortunately, it failed to capitalize on these gains and address a deepening recession due to a lack of effective leadership and a lack of votes in Congress. Since the Conservatives and Grand Almanarnians swept into power in 1581, the Socialist Party has faced a deepening leadership crisis as it struggles to avoid a total collapse into obscurity. This election is the first time they have not run a Presidential candidate; will this mark the beginning of the end or the start of something new?

Economics: The Socialist Party supports gradual nationalization of major industries and interventionist policies. They support protectionist policies, although certain free trade practices would be acceptable depending on the circumstances. Primarily, workers' rights is a key cornerstone of the economic platform. This includes universal healthcare, an increased minimum wage, and a new round of federal regulations designed to protect workers.
Social Issues: The Socialist Party has officially endorsed LGBT rights and supports legalizing same-sex marriage. They support the decriminalization of cannabis, although the legalization of such is still up for debate within the party. Socialists do not support charter or religious schools and prefer to focus funding solely on public schools. The party is in favor of legalized and subsidized abortion and in favor of tightening gun restrictions.
Running a Presidential Candidate: No

Summary: The Green Party is one of the newer parties in the political landscape. It has recently gained national traction as concerns over climate change continue to climb. Up until the past few election cycles it has focused largely on local and state level elections. However, surprise victories over the past few years in Congressional elections has led to focus turning towards national elections as it seeks to grow its influence in Congress...

Economics: The Green Party supports free trade policies and government intervention in economics to ensure the protection of the environment. The party believes that protection of the environment is first and foremost and seeks to push through legislation to subsidize the renewable energy industry in the United States. The Green Party will seek to strengthen regulations that will protect the environment and cap carbon emissions. They support increasing taxes and enacting fines for companies that contribute high levels of carbon emissions or pollution to the environment and lowering taxes for companies that work to cut emissions or invest in renewable resources.
Social Issues: The Green Party has officially endorsed LGBT rights and supports legalizing same-sex marriage. They support the legalization (and taxation) of cannabis. The Green Party supports funding public education, including higher education in full. The party is in favor of legalized and subsidized abortion. They have not taken an official stance on gun regulations.
Running a Presidential Candidate: No