The Nationalist Party (Partido Nacionalista) is a centre-right major political party in the Southern Cross Republic. It was founded by the brothers Paulo and Pedro Guimarães in 1874, being the oldest in the country. Since its early days, fought for the independence, along with its main rival, the Republican Party and, since independence in 1912, only managed the presidency after a narrow victory in the 1924 General Election. Today, however, has established itself as the largest party in the country, followed closely by Republicans.