What does «Partido Unionista Democrático» mean in Spanish?
- The Democratic Unionist Party is, since 2003, the largest unionist party in Northern Ireland. It is largely seen as hard-line on the question of union with Britain, although it is populist on economic issues, as it has a broad working-class base. Its main position is supportive of the Union of Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Reverend Ian Paisley is the leader and founder of the DUP. The party was founded in 1971 by members of the Protestant Unionist Party. The party currently has 36 MLAs in the Northern Ireland Assembly. The DUP's original support base came from evangelical Christians, focused around Reverend Ian Paisley and the Free Presbyterian movement. Its electoral base has broadened considerably in recent years and now represents the majority of Unionist voters, however the so-called "Church wing" of the party is still considered prevalent.