National and International News
Reformed Party sweeps the country; Dalzell to be sworn in as new First Minister; MacMurray, routed, faces no-confidence vote
Chaos in the Chambers: angry Conservative deputies, ousted from their seats, brawl with their Reformed counterparts and each other
MAIRLAND- Today, as the results of the general election came in, a shocking victory was announced for the Reformed Party, who defied the polls and swept the nation- winning 298 out of 402 constituencies and a four-year mandate on government. Initial attempts to form a coalition with the Greens were abruptly stopped when the results were announced, and the joy undoubtedly shared by the Reformed leadership was further amplified when news came that all 27 Independents in the Chambers, including the 15 formerly voting with the Conservatives, flocked to the winning side. The new government thus has a 325-seat majority in the Chambers, leaving the Conservative Party with 50 seats, the Liberals with 17, the Greens with 8 and the EFP with 2.
Mr. James Dalzell, formerly Leader of the Opposition, will go to Lochiel Palace tomorrow to be sworn in by the King as the new First Minister of Mairland. He brings with him to the top-table a very energetic team of individuals that have formed the shadow government for the past four years; these include David Winstrom, Minister for Finance; Natalie Dunkeld, Minister for Employment and Housing; Michael Wilcox, Minister of Justice; Cullen MacInvin, Leader of the Mairish Chambers; and Martin MacGregor, Speaker of the Chambers, a Conservative politician who has been kept on for the sake of political unity. Also remaining in the Cabinet is Gilbert MacInnes, the Conservative Minister of Defense. The names of those who are to fill the positions of Minister for Education, Minister for Transport, Minister for Food and the Environment, Minister for Energy, Secretary of State for Elphin and Secretary of State for Glenwyn have not yet been officially announced, but it is expected that they will be filled by those who formerly filled their shadow government counterparts.
Meanwhile, in the Chambers, chaos broke out this afternoon as Conservative MCs who lost re-election brawled with each other and with their victorious Reformed counterparts. Mr. MacInvin performed admirably in the fight, grabbing the MC for Finshiel by his collar and pulling him over the railing into the Speaker's box, where he pummeled his victim until he was pulled away by security. Mr. Dalzell declined to comment on this particular incident. Much of the chaos stemmed from anger at Mr. MacMurray, erstwhile First Minister, who barely managed to win re-election in his seat of Lochiel Waterfront and resigned to make way for Mr. Dalzell this morning. Speaker MacGregor, perhaps motivated by his for-the-sake-of-unity membership on the new Reformed Cabinet, asked MCs to introduce a no-confidence motion that would remove Mr. MacMurray as party leader. The new Leader of the Opposition declined to comment.
First Minister Dalzell stated in an official press release that, as soon as his formal swearing-in, he would strive to implement the Reformed Party's alternate-right policies. Essentially re-iterating his campaign manifesto, Mr. Dalzell promised to stop the "bastardization of Mairish culture through multiculturalism" and also declared his intent to increase the size of the armed forces, particularly the Navy. As always, great care will be taken to "protect our precious environment and wildlife, and continue to explore new sources of renewable energy." Mr. Dalzell also said that he would "repeal Conservative legislation on abortion and other such topics intimately connected with human rights", taking action to "seriously reconsider the existence of the Procreatory Court." In terms of foreign policy, "the War on Terror will continue to be aggressively pursued, and international co-operation will always be an objective of the new Government."
In other news...
A breakdown of general election results, constituency by constituency
Remaining Conservative frontbenchers flee the Chambers amidst brawls
A solemn moment: MacMurray hands his resignation to the King