Thankyou to all of you who participated, the final result is below;
Result of the 2015 Kirlawan General Election
Party / Share of the Vote / Seats / Gains - Losses
Conservative - 25.8% - 40 - -10
National Union - 16.3% - 25 - +15
Green Left - 15.0% - 23 - +13
Lib Dems - 12.1% - 18 - +8
Labour - 9.7%% - 15 - -16
Reformed Peoples - 6.7% - 10 - +3
Radicals - 5.0% - 7 - -6
Communist - 4.4% - 6 - +3
Democratic Socialist Left - 2.6% - 3 - -10
Frisian - Vordanian - Dansk Voice - 2.0% - 3 - +1
Other - 0.5% - 0 - -1
Kirlawa is a nation that I am looking to seriously RP and flesh out and in order to do this I want to start by developing its political background. I have decided I am handing responsibility over to my fellow game players on Nation States. I am trusting you to select the relative strengths of political parties in Kirlawa at the forthcoming election and from that I will begin to develop the nation.
So NS'ers, over to you!
Background
The 4 year term of the current government has ended and Kirlawans are to head to the polls for a winter General Election on 11 January 2015. Kirlawa has a very high level of voter participation and it is likely that turnout will exceed 90% given the high interest from the electorate in politics. Like most other European countries Kirlawa suffered economically during 2008-2010, however low but steady economic growth has been recorded since 2010 and unemployment has dropped significantly as the economy is rebuilt.
Generally Kirlawans are confident for the future and this confidence has been demonstrated with increases in government spending given the healthy state of the economy. However Kirlawans are notably fickle and often retain little loyalty to political parties, therefore this election is really up in the air!
Key election issues for 2015 include the well being of the economy, welfare spending and immigration. The government suggest that the economy recovery should not be threatened by changing the current governing coalition and that parties in government should be given another term in office. The opposition contend that given welfare cuts in the last few years that the less well of in society have suffered and that therefore the government should be voted out. Finally immigration to Kirlawa from Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe has increased significantly since 2000 and many parties are contesting this as a major issue given the concerns of many Kirlawans over the changing nature of Kirlawa.
Economy
The Kirlawan economy is diverse with a focus on Agriculture, Industry and Tourism. Kirlawa is a beautiful nation with many beaches, Islands and mountains, along with several notable major cities that have been historic cultural centres and this has encouraged tourism which is an important industry in Kirlawa. Heavy industry was important throughout the 20th century however declined following competition from cheaper states in the late 20th century. However Industry remains strong with Kirlawa having refocused itself towards high end products such as Furniture Restoration and Book Publishing. The maintenance of such industries has ensured that Kirlawa has retained a strong Trade Union movement. Finally Kirlawa remains very rural in comparison to some Western European states, with an important fishing industry. Hence Trout Farming remains one of the largest single industries in the nation.
As mentioned the Kirlawan economy is still recovering from the economic downturn of the late 2000's, but the country is in good shape for the future.
Political System
Following the end of the second world war the Kirlawan political system was altered to ensure that it improved its representative nature and proportional representation was introduced with no threshold, if a party wins 0.67% of the vote then it will win at least one seat. The entire nation is one constituency ensuring that all viewpoints and political traditions are able to gain representation if they can achieve a small percentage of the vote. In total there are 150 seats.
There is also a second chamber although its members are indirectly elected by provincial assembles every 4 years.
Political Parties in Kirlawa
Conservative Party - The oldest continuous party and typically the largest party in Kirlawan politics. Generally less centrist and more focused on liberal economics that Christian Democrat parties in Western Europe. The Conservatives are centre-right, generally pro-business and favouring minimal government intervention in the economy. However they are supportive of the welfare system in Kirlawa and generally look to form part of any coalition government rather than being driven by any desire to transform the nation ideologically. Considered patriotic and pro-military, supportive of further restrictions on immigration and continued membership of the EU.
The party appeals to social conservatives, followers of the established Church, rural dwellers, farmers and fishermen and urban middle-class professionals.
Labour Party - Traditionally representative of the Trade Unions and the second oldest political party in Kirlawa, the Labour Party is a Socially Democratic Party aiming to fight for the rights of workers. Typically forming part of any coalition government, the party has strived to protect workers since the downturn in 2008 and ensure that the welfare system has not been too restricted following government cuts in the last Parliament. The party is in favour of some controls on immigration in order to protect Trade Union labour from cheap competition.
The party appeals to working class and Trade Union members and has typically received strong support from the Catholic and immigrant minorities in Kirlawa.
National Union - Far right and linked to fascist groups that collaborated with the Germans in the second world war. Typically the far right have maintained a presence in Kirlawan politics, especially given continued hostility to immigration, multiculturalism and the European Union. Under their charismatic and young female leader they have recently increased their support.
Largely supported by nationalist members of the working class and those with a historical fascists background. The children and grandchildren of world war II collaborators have typically supported the National Union.
Radical Party - One of the oldest parties in Kirlawa. The party is part of the radical tradition in the nation and is socially and economically liberal, very similar to libertarian movements in other countries. Has often been willing to work with the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats but typically excluded from coalition governments with the Labour Party.
Strong support from middle class professionals, but also working class groups with a radical non-trade union traditions and members of the Free Reformed Church.
Liberal Democrats - Socially liberal although supportive of government intervention in the economy. The Liberal Democrats are supportive of secularism and have often stood between the Conservative and Labour Party.
Supported by liberal members of the middle class, urban professionals, members of liberal non-conformist Churches and students.
Reformed Peoples Party - Historically Kirlawa has been a largely Protestant country although secularism since the 1960's has reduced levels of worship and the role of religion in everyday life. However there are enough political active Protestants (and increasingly members of other Christian groups and even non-Christian groups). The liberal movement of the Conservative Party has encouraged social conservatives to support the RPP.
Supported largely by rural members of Protestant Churches and socially conservatives Kirlawans.
Democratic Socialist Left - Formed in the 1990s from members of the Labour Party disheartened by the drift to Social Democracy and by more pragmatic members of the Communist Party who wish to govern and alter the shape of Kirlawa. However the party sits outside of the official Trade Union movements which has undermined its attempts to replace the Labour Party as the main centre left party.
Typically supported by members of the working class and led by socialist academics.
Green-Left - A new party formed in the mid 1990's. Originally the Green Party but as with other Green Parties in Europe it has largely pursued eco-socialism. Very socially liberal, the party is typically allied to the Democratic Socialist Left, but also works with the Liberal Democrats.
Typically draws its support from students and animal rights activists.
Communist Party - Formed in the late 20th Century the Communist Party has at times played an important role in Kirlawan politics. However since the end of the Cold War it has been on the decline. Its leadership retains the Communist Party as ideologically pure as possible, remaining loyal to the old Soviet Union, similar to the Greek Communist Party.
The Party retains pockets of support amongst certain heavy industries and amongst left-wing intellectuals. The party can also be a depository for protest votes from other left-wing parties.
Other (Please Specify) - There are many other smaller parties that have such small memberships that they have not been mentioned in this poll. However feel free to add and specify below what the party is, what it represents and which group of people it appeals to.
Political History
2010 Election Results
The 2010 election was fought on the back of the recession that hit Europe in 2008. The governing left-wing coalition that had been elected to power in 2006 lost heavily collectively losing over 10% of the vote placing the coalition in a position where it could not govern. Emerging as the largest party the Conservatives negotiated to form a government with the Labour and Radical Parties in order to pursue an austerity budget and reduce public spending in order to get the national deficit down.
Party / Share of the Vote / Seats / Gains - Losses
Conservative - 32.3% - 50 - +18
Labour - 20.1% - 31 - -16
Democratic Socialist Left - 8.6% - 13 - +3
Radicals - 8.5% - 13 - +3
Lib Dems - 7.0% - 10 - -8
Green Left - 6.9% - 10 - +2
National Union - 6.5% - 10 - +3
Reformed Peoples - 5.1% - 7 - -1
Communist - 2.5% - 3 - +1
Frisian - Vordanian - Dansk Voice - 1.8% - 2 - +0
Greens - 0.7% - 1 - -5
The clear winners were the Conservatives who gained 18 seats, becoming the largest party for the first time since 1998 and promising economic reforms to boost the economy. The Radicals, Democratic Socialist Left (whose withdrawal from the government caused the early election), National Union and Green-Left all made smaller but important gains as the Labour and Liberal Democrat vote dispersed through the electorate.
The Labour Party, Liberal Democrats and Greens took significant losses, with the Greens only just holding onto one seat, almost ending 22 years in Parliament, and the party membership would later elect to join the Green-Left, with other elements joining the Liberal Democrats.
Coalition negotiations took 3 months, with the Conservatives and Radicals agreeing to form a government, and the Reformed Peoples offering support for any budgets proposed. However this would only give the Conservatives government 70 seats in Parliament, not enough for a majority. Therefore negotiations focused on securing support from Labour or the Liberal Democrats. Both parties were seen as the principle losers in the election, however the new Labour leader was committed to supporting efforts to reduce the budget and amiable to reductions in immigration numbers, therefore joined the government, giving the government the support of 101 MP's and an overwhelming majority.
Thank you for taking the time tor read and vote and I shall update over time!
