Fairvioletian Snap Elections, 2016

[Fairviolet Lake]

A snap election has been automatically triggered. The Prime Minister called the election when the Progressive Worker's Party backed out of the Coalition for a Brighter Future because of the Justice Party's refusal to repeal trade deals with nations with high dependence on manufacturing.

Justice Party

Political Position: Center-left to Center
Ideology: Green Liberalism, Liberalism
(Dominant) Faction: Social Liberalism, Green politics
Young, urban Faction: Feminism, Social Democracy, LGBT Rights
Centrist, older Faction: Green capitalism, fiscal conservatism

Progressive Worker's Party

Political Position: Left-wing to Far-Left
Ideology: Democratic Socialism, Multi-Tendency, Left-wing Nationalism, Populism
(dominant) Rural Faction: Democratic Socialism, Agrarianism, Anti-globalism
Urban Faction: Social Democracy, Economic Nationalism

Conservative Party

Political Position: Center-Right
Ideology: Conservatism
Dominant Faction: Fiscal Conservatism, Economic Liberalism
Faction: Green Conservatism

Liberal Democratic Party

Political Position: Center-left to Center-right
Ideology: Liberalism, Economic Liberalism, Social Liberalism

Libertarian Party

Political Position: Right-wing
Ideology: Libertarianism, Minarchy
Dominant Faction: Economic liberalism, Personal Freedom
Faction: Anarcho-Capitalism

National Front

Political Position: Right-wing to Far-Right
Ideology: Right-wing populism, Anti-immigration, Social conservatism
Dominant Faction: Right-wing populism, anti-immigration
Faction: Economic liberalism, Christian democracy

Latest poll:
Justice Party: 29%
Conservative Party: 20%
Progressive Worker's Party: 19%
Liberal Democratic Party: 15%
Libertarian Party: 8%
National Front: 4%

Unsure: 5%

[Ru-]

the ruling Ruvian government would like to voice its support for the Justice Party

[Fairviolet Lake]

This week in Fairvioletian Politics:

Prime Minister Thomas Williamson [Justice] delivers a law to the President, Susana Morgan [Justice] for a ceremonial signing. The law doubles block grant funding for health initiatives in municipalities suffering from the Zika virus.

The Conservative Party elects Harrison Sanford, former CEO of Shelly's, a popular pizza chain in Fairviolet Lake, as its leader.

Prime Minister and Party Leader Thomas Williamson [Justice] faced off against Former CEO Harrison Sanford [Conservative], Deputy and Party Leader Jillian Thorn [Liberal Democratic] and Governor and Party Leader James Martin [Progressive Worker's] in the first leaders' debate. The Libertarian Party boycotted and National Front was banned. Polls indicate that voters find Jillian Thorn to be the most charismatic, and Thomas Williamson to be the most knowledgeable.

The Justice Party representative focused on the environment, jobs, and continued progress on LGBTQIAP+ issues. They shamed the Progressive Worker's Party, but welcomed them to rejoin the coalition with limited power.

"You know, the Fairvioletian people are certainly annoyed with the shutdown of their government. I'm sorry. We wouldn't be here if the gentleman to my left, both politically and literally, weren't so petty." - Prime Minister Thomas Williamson

The Progressive Worker's Party came out strong against new trade deals and unlimited immigration, chasing after National Front voters that are skeptical of right-wing economic policies. They also raged against new reforms to the National Health Insurance Program, calling them "nothing short of a corporate power grab."

The Liberal Democratic Party representative focused on continued cooperation with the current government, lower tax rates, and education. They offered to support the Justice Party, should they be the largest party.

The Conservative Party attempted to focus on health and economic freedom, but were quickly shut down by the other party leaders.

"No other party has a plan to protect our nation from Zika and other viruses that might plague us. My plan will compensate businesses for helping their communities." - Harrison Sanford

"Nobody should have to cough up 50% of their paycheck for my friend, Harrison, to push his corporate projects." - Jillian Thorn

"The Conservatives used to have a sex-crazed liar for a leader. Now they just have a liar." - Thomas Williamson

"Now, when Harrison says his party wants to invest more in healthcare, is that before or after he kicks thirty thousand people off of their insurance plan?" - Jillian Thorn

"I feel a bit attacked, mister moderator. [audience laughs]" - Harrison Sanford

The Libertarian Party leader, Paul Montana, hosted a rally outside Fletcher Hall, where the debate was held.

"The people in that building won't rest until they've spent every dollar you've got." - Paul Montana

Latest poll:

Justice Party: 25% (-4%)
Liberal Democratic Party: 22% (+7%)
Progressive Worker's Party: 17% (-2%)
Conservative Party: 11% (-9%)
Libertarian Party: 10% (+2%)
National Front: 3% (-1%)

Unsure: 12% (+7%)

[Hokkaido-Sakhalin]

The Ezonese parliament has unanimously voted to support the Progressive Socialist Part in the Fairvioletian Elections, and promises to offer trade deals if they are elected.

[Nickel Empire]

We will voice our support for the Conservative Party.

[Tulov]

The United Socialist States of Tulov voices it's support for the Progressive Worker's Party.

[Fairviolet Lake]

Hours before polling stations open for voters, BuzzfeedFV and the Fairvioletian Times agree that a Justice and LDP coalition will gain a majority in Parliament.

Latest Polling:

Justice Party: 32%
Liberal Democratic Party: 20%
Libertarian Party: 18%
Progressive Worker's Party: 15%
Conservative Party: 6%
National Front: 3%

Unsure: 6%

[Tegrad]

The Supreme Federal Government of GSF Tegrad endorses the Progressive Workers' Party, acknowledging they are the only reasonable choice to drive society in Fairviolet Lake forward.

[Soyuzistan]

The People's Soviet of Soyuzistan endorses the Progressive Worker's Party along side of Tegrad.

[GI-Land]

The current government of GI-Land officially supports the Justice Party of Fairviolet Lake.

[Great Kauthar]

President Count has endorsed the Libertarian Party.

[Fairviolet Lake]

45% of the votes are tallied, and the Independent Electoral Committee (IEC) predicts the following seat breakdown:

Justice Party: 121/500
Liberal Democratic Party: 112/500
Progressive Workers Party: 98/500
Conservative Party: 77/500
Libertarian Party: 71/500
National Front: 21/500

The Justice Party leader, Thomas Williamson has called several left-leaning members of the Liberal Democratic Party and some center-leaning members of the Progressive Worker's Party, hoping to form a coalition and keep Conservatives out of government.

He has been assured of at least 40 MPs to join.

[Fairviolet Lake]

1:15PM local time: The NPR Votes have been counted and they are ready to be reported.

National Proportional Representation

• Justice (24.64%): 99 seats
• LDP (19.62%): 78 seats
• PWP (17.95%): 72 seats
• LP (16.81%): 67 seats
• CON (15.98%): 64 seats
• NF (5.00%): 20 seats

[The Intergalactic Universe Corporation]

We support the Libertarians and the Conservatives.

[Merni]

The Government of Merni officially supports the Liberal Democratic and Conservative Parties.

[Fairviolet Lake]

The Libertarian Party, in its latest round of mailing advertisements, has been caught not using the Oxford Comma. Their numbers are expected to take a nosedive.

[Fairviolet Lake]

Final Seat Totals, as reported by the Fairviolet Department of Democracy and the Independent Electoral Committee

Justice Party: 118/500
Liberal Democratic Party: 100/500
Progressive Workers Party: 90/500
Conservative Party: 80/500
Libertarian Party: 76/500
National Front: 30/500
(new party) Fletcher Creek's Rent is Too Damn High Party: 1/500
Independent: 5/500

Thomas Williamson, the current Prime Minister [Justice] could not yet declare victory. "It will be an uphill battle to win a vote of confidence in the first day of the next session of Parliament. I can't say I won yet, but I definitely won't say that I lost."

The IEC reports to the Fairviolet Department of Democracy and Ministry of Public Awareness that the people have decided on 1 Federal Question, 1 National Initiative, and 2 federal referendums.

Question 1: Should the federal government allow 50,000 Syrian Refugees to apply for amnesty in The People's Republic of Fairviolet Lake?

Question 1 FAILED to receive 50% + 1 vote. It instead received 48% in favor, and 46% opposed. 6% abstained from the question.

Referendum 1: Do you approve of the federal government's decision to legalize and tax marijuana?

Referendum 1 was APPROVED with 78% of the vote. The Governor of Fairviolet East [Progressive Workers Party] has filed a lawsuit against the Ministry of Health and the Prime Minister for violating their sovereignty. He asks that Fairviolet East be granted a stay on its ban on marijuana.

Referendum 2: Do you approve of the federal government's decision to legalize and tax LSD?

Referendum 2 FAILED to receive a supermajority (60%) of votes in favor. It instead received 51% in favor and 46% in opposition. 3% abstained from the question. The leader of the "Yes to R2; Yes to freedom" campaign is filing a suit to waive the supermajority requirement, which the High Court has the power to do.

Initiative 1: The federal government should impose a 6-year term limit on those serving in the House of Delegates?

Initiative 1 was APPROVED with a plurality of votes cast. 30% voted YEA, 28% voted NAY, and 42% abstained from the question. The High Court invalidated these results, however, citing the amount of people failing to answer the question.