HERENIGDE NASIONALE PARTY Meaning and
Definition
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The Herenigde Nasionale Party (HNP) is a political party that was founded in South Africa in 1969. The name "Herenigde Nasionale Party" translates to "Reunited National Party" in English. The HNP emerged as a breakaway faction from the National Party (NP), which had been the ruling party in South Africa at the time.
The party's formation was primarily driven by right-wing members of the NP who believed that their party was not doing enough to uphold and protect the interests of the Afrikaner people and the apartheid system. The HNP sought to promote and maintain Afrikaner nationalist ideals and policies, advocating for strict racial segregation and the preservation of white minority rule in South Africa.
Under the leadership of Jaap Marais, the HNP focused on promoting Afrikaner nationalism and resisting any attempts towards political reform or racial integration. The party vehemently opposed initiatives such as the relaxation of apartheid laws and the inclusion of non-whites in the political system.
The political influence and significance of the HNP fluctuated over the years. However, it played a role in shaping the political landscape of South Africa during the apartheid era. By the late 1990s, the HNP's influence had significantly diminished, and it eventually merged with other right-wing parties to form the Federation of Democrats, which dissolved in 2004.
Today, the term "Herenigde Nasionale Party" serves as a historical reference to a political party that represented a specific ideological stance during South Africa's tumultuous apartheid era.
