motief/docs/plans/2026-04-05-003-fix-svd-pole-labels-plan.md

title	type	status	date	origin
Add semantic left_pole/right_pole labels to SVD_THEMES	fix	active	2026-04-05	docs/superpowers/specs/2026-04-05-svd-axis-labels-design.md

Add Semantic Left/Right Pole Labels to SVD_THEMES

Problem

The positive_pole/negative_pole labels in SVD_THEMES describe the raw SVD math poles, not the semantic left/right after flip. When the axis flips at runtime (to ensure right-wing parties appear on the right), the pole labels are swapped but still describe the raw SVD orientation — resulting in labels like "← PVV en FVD" appearing on the left side when they should be on the right.

Solution

Add left_pole and right_pole fields to each SVD_THEMES entry that describe what's on the left and right sides after flip. Update rendering code to use these semantic labels directly.

Implementation Units

• Unit 1: Add left_pole/right_pole to SVD_THEMES in config.py

Goal: Add semantic pole labels to all 10 SVD components.

Files:

• Modify: analysis/config.py

Approach:

• For each component, add left_pole and right_pole fields based on the existing positive_pole/negative_pole and the flip value

• When flip=True: left_pole = positive_pole, right_pole = negative_pole

• When flip=False: left_pole = negative_pole, right_pole = positive_pole

• Keep positive_pole/negative_pole for backward compatibility

• Unit 2: Update explorer.py rendering to use left_pole/right_pole

Goal: Use semantic pole labels in all rendering functions.

Files:

• Modify: explorer.py (lines 967-970, 1087-1090, 1252-1253, 2806-2807)

Approach:

• Replace the positive/negative swap logic with direct left_pole/right_pole usage

• left_label = theme.get("left_pole", pos_pole if flip else neg_pole) (backward compat fallback)

• right_label = theme.get("right_pole", neg_pole if flip else pos_pole)

• Unit 3: Update tests

Goal: Add tests for left_pole/right_pole fields.

Files:

• Modify: tests/test_svd_labels.py
• Modify: tests/test_explorer_chart.py

Approach:

• Test that all 10 SVD_THEMES entries have left_pole and right_pole fields
• Test that rendering functions use left_pole/right_pole correctly

Scope Boundaries

• In scope: analysis/config.py SVD_THEMES, explorer.py rendering, tests
• Out of scope: analysis/political_axis.py, analysis/projections.py (uses positive_pole/negative_pole for motion projection, not UI labels)