ABSTRACT
Self-portrayals of political parties-especially those presented during electoral campaigns-usually show more of the condition a party would like to be in than the condition in which it really is. It is therefore advisable not only for voters, but even more so for historians and political scientists, to observe with a certain suspicion the way a party portrays itself towards the public and towards its electorate. These self-portrayals can, however, reveal structures and themes that are crucial for the state of the party portrayed.
