Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or nonpartisan politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. There are numerous reasons why someone may stand for office as an independent.
Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties. Sometimes they hold a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do not feel that any major party addresses.
Other independent politicians may be associated with a political party, be former members of it, or have views that align with it, but choose not to stand under its label. Others may belong to or support a political party but believe they should not formally represent it and thus be subject to its policies.
Some independents choose to form an alliance rather than a party and have formally registered their "independents" group.
Some for religious reasons choose not to have a party. The Baha’i teachings, which emphasize unity, prohibits Baha’is from engaging in partisan politics because partisanship is inherently divisive in nature.
In some countries (for example, Kuwait) political parties are illegal and all candidates effectively stands as independents.
Finally, some independent candidates may form a political party for the purposes of running for public office.
Read more about Independent (politician): Australia, Canada, Germany, Hong Kong, Iceland, India, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Malaysia, New Zealand, Niue, Poland, Philippines, Russia, United Kingdom, Yugoslavia
Famous quotes containing the word independent:
“The chimney is to some extent an independent structure, standing on the ground, and rising through the house to the heavens; even after the house is burned it still stands sometimes, and its importance and independence are apparent.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)