View source for Democratic Nationalist Party (Malta, 1921–1926)

{{Infobox political party
| native_name = Partito Democratico Nazionalista
| logo =
| leader1_title =
| leader1_name =
| dissolution = 1926
| native_name_lang = mlt
| founder = [[Fortunato Mizzi]]
| merged = [[Nationalist Party (Malta)|Nationalist Party]]
| name = Democratic Nationalist Party
| colorcode = blue
| foundation = 1883
| ideology = [[Conservatism]]<br>[[Italophilia]]
| country = Malta
}}{{Politics of Malta}}
The '''Democratic Nationalist Party''' ({{langx|it|Partito Democratico Nazionalista}}) was a conservative political party in [[Malta]].
==History==
The party was established in 1883 as the '''Anti-Reform Party''' (''Partito Anti-Reformista'') by [[Fortunato Mizzi]].<ref name=VM>Vincent E. McHale (1983) ''Political parties of Europe'', Greenwood Press, p630 {{ISBN|0-313-23804-9}}</ref> It won seven of the eight seats in the Government Council in the [[1883 Maltese general election|elections that year]].<ref name=S>Michael J Schiavone (1987) ''L-Elezzjonijiet F'Malta 1849–1981'', Pubblikazzjoni Bugelli, p177</ref>
In 1903 it was renamed the '''National Party''' (''Partito Nazionale''). In 1921 it was succeeded by the '''Democratic Nationalist Party''', set up by [[Enrico Mizzi]] (son of Fortunato) to absorb the old party.<ref name=VM/> It won only four of the 32 seats in the [[1921 Maltese general election|1921 elections]], and five in the [[1924 Maltese general election|1924 elections]].
Due to its lack of success, the party merged with the [[Maltese Political Union]] in 1926 to form the [[Nationalist Party (Malta)|Nationalist Party]].<ref name=VM/>
==Ideology==
As the Anti-Reform Party, the party sought to preserve [[Italian language|Italian]] as the language of education, government and law, and was in favour of the church retaining its power. It was largely supported by wealthy urban professionals.<ref name=VM/> When it became the National Party in 1903, the party operated a policy of non-cooperation with the British authorities.<ref name=VM/>
The Democratic Nationalist Party aimed to widen its supporter base by promoting social welfare, but retained its commitment to making the Italian language an official language alongside English.<ref name=VM/>
==Election results==
{| class=wikitable style=text-align:center
!Election
!Leader
!Votes
!%
!Seats
!+/–
!Position
!Status
|-
|[[1921 Maltese general election|1921]]
|[[Enrico Mizzi]]
|2,465
|12.0
|{{Composition bar|4|32|hex=blue}}
|–
|4th
|{{no2|Opposition}}
|-
|[[1924 Maltese general election|1924]]
|[[Enrico Mizzi]]
|4,188
|17.4
|{{Composition bar|5|32|hex=blue}}
|{{increase}} 1
|4th
|{{yes2|Coalition government}}
|}
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Maltese political parties}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Democratic Nationalist Party (Malta, 1921-26)}}
[[Category:Defunct political parties in Malta]]
[[Category:Political parties established in 1883]]
[[Category:Political parties disestablished in 1926]]
[[Category:Maltese nationalism]]
[[Category:1883 establishments in Malta]]
[[Category:1926 disestablishments in Malta]]
[[Category:Conservative parties in Malta]]
[[Category:Catholic political parties]]