Rushmore Press Association Newswire (Closed | Rushmore)

[Socialist States Owen]

Shock on the home front as West Angola joins Overseas Territories
Lafferton: Great day for both nations
A special report by Chief Political Correspondent Lyle Evans in Namibe, West Angola

What was supposed to be a brief meeting over the detainment of football fans has transpired to be a historic moment. As of this morning, the Kingdom of West Angola has become a Euran Overseas Territory, part of the economic and military co-operative pact known as the Eurapshere.

In a statement released to Euran and West Angolan press, as well as regional news outlets from their regions, King Sien III declared that he looked forward to a new era of "co-operation and prosperity between our two great nations." West Angola will be the largest member of the Eurasphere territories, and as they have little previous connection to Eura compared to the other territories they are expected to be given a bigger voice in debate between the territories. West Angolan parliament has been dismissed for a week, with arch enemies King Sien III and Prime Minister Kevin Garret seemingly united in taking a deal that they perceive to be in the national interest. The government will reconvene once appropriate functions of state have changed to befit Euran integration, while the West Angolan military has been ordered to stand down entirely and "await instructions from the King and Parliament." Meanwhile the nation has come to a standstill as the political situation remains unclear. A spokesman for the West Angolan government told the Emplor in an email this morning that the government plan to get the country going again soon, while steps are taken to manage the new state of play.

In Eura, this sudden announcement has taken even members of the House of Metropolitan's at Parliament by surprise. PM Andrew Lafferton, with an election on his doorstep, will meet MP's this evening in a special televised session to discuss exactly what is happening. The Emplor's sources seem to be more informed than our own politicians; the value of the Euran Pound has skyrocketed in the last 24 hours and as many as 15,000 civil servants have left the country since last night. The Ministry of Defence has refused to comment after being asked on multiple occasions as to why a naval carrier battle group, led by the General Hartson class CVN Ambitious, left the naval port at Falourr last night seemingly at the drop of a hat, with many military supplies and pieces of equipment being rushed on to support vessels. Initially this news found its way to West Angola via the internet and caused a momentary panic after the soon to be mentioned speech of King Sien III was broadcast - presumably this implied an invasion at the time, but given that it is a single carrier battle group it is likely intended to make its way towards West Angola to assist in the immediate reorganisation of the West Angolan armed forces.

An unexpected journey: ENS Ambitious leaves port at Falourr in the early hours of the morning, with no explanation given

Sien's speech, which came before the issuing of a full statement which had been recorded inside the royal palace, received a hostile reaction and he even had fruit thrown at him by a mob as the announcement was made. This initial anger seems to be the result of a lack of clarification by West Angola's ruler; a fear that this was the beginning of a coup de'tat and a military occupation. This is clearly not the case and it is predicted that West Angolan public opinion should swing towards a positive outlook by the time parliament is reconvened next week. It is unknown what sort of mood their politicians are in: they were reportedly not consulted on this decision and some may feel it is a betrayal of democratic principles. When government reconvenes, the first session of debate should be lively to say the least. Meanwhile international reaction has been exactly what the Euran Foreign Office will have wanted it to be; indifferent. A spokesman from the government of Ossidiacqua, Fether Tad, simply stated "Down with this sort of thing!" on a social network account, whilst the office of the leader of Ancharmunn (who very recently met the leader of the Capital Party) issued a "Declaration of Meh". Some troublesome citizens of Falconwhereveryouare decided to protest outside the Euran embassy in Falcus but were hurriedly moved on by embassy staff using the much maligned 'ramming tactic' assigned to diplomatic cars these days. The Euran Foreign Office has dismissed dissenting opinion with a brief statement on Drive Directus FM:

"Pfft, wankers."

Within Eura, reaction to the announcement has been largely positive, but with a very large and very cynical minority criticising the government. The governing Social Party have organised rallies supporting their governments move, and public opinion polls suggest a mostly positive reaction to West Angola's inclusion in the Eurasphere, though Euran's displayed a lack of knowledge about the new members of the collective economic community. Reaction to the opening up of massive new employment opportunities and easy access for Euran businesses to West Angola's natural resources and key industries is overwhelmingly positive in particular; defence giant Mansley Systems has already expressed a keen interest in developing a new series of vehicles in this otherwise economically unexplored country. However, Prime Minister Andrew Lafferton has come under a lot of criticism as the timing of this announcement has been made so near to a General Election, prompting accusations that he may have engineered the situation to boost Social Party poll ratings - and specifically rebuild confidence in the current cabinet. Lafferton is expected to rebuke these accusations in parliament. Criticism has also focused on how large the Territorial Stipend given to West Angola will be, due to their relative large size compared to other Eurasphere territories. A lot of questions remain unanswered, but we will surely have answers soon.

[Cotdelapoms]

Five Arrested In Cider Heist

Five men have been arrested and thirteen are still being pursued in connection with the theft of approximately 500 litres of Cider from the Croix Bleue brewery in tiny Saint-Ghislain, Marianne. The heist was allegedly almost a year in the making, with two of the men involved employees of the brewery who seemingly sought employment in the brewery for the sole purpose of theft. The 500 litres of Cider were stolen over a period of two or three months, with the duo working with almost twenty other men after-hours to slowly deplete large drums of the beverage that had just completed pasteurising.

Higher ups at the brewery had noticed that they were yielding much less cider than expected for months, and had enacted more stringent security measurements, but the cartel of thieves apparently was able to work around the added guards for months before being caught. We have no word yet on what they had planned on doing with the Cider.

[Aels]

Elections in July as Senate passes plans for longer terms and constituency changes

DRAYFILL— The Aelsh Senate today finalised plans for longer Parliamentary terms, nearly two years after elections were due to be held.

The entire chamber was given a free vote on the Length of Office (Senate) Bill, with 85 ASMs supporting the changes, 42 in opposition and 13 formally abstaining out of 145 ASMs.

The changes, which will now go to the Assembly Chamber of Excellencies where it is expected to pass easily, will mean that at the next general election – due this summer after the 1097 elections were put back twice by the Senate – the public will elect ASMs for six-year terms instead of the current four.

Early elections could still be held in the event of a government resigning or the chamber dissolving itself with a 70 percent vote.

Not including Speaker of the Senate Lewis Johnson, who does not vote on Senate matters, Aelsh Labour ASMs overwhelmingly backed the changes, with 59 of the remaining 68 voting in favour of the bill.

Plaid Ymrau, whose leader Rhodri Evans publicly backed the bill in the face of strong backbench opposition, saw eight of their 41 ASMs back the bill, while the remaining support came from minor parties.

The Length of Office (Senate) Bill was tied to the Senate Constituency Change Bill, backed by both main parties, which passed easily.

The changes mean the 15 unitary authority areas across the country will no longer elect ASMs to represent their authorities alongside their local constituencies.

Additionally, the bill sees the "key towns" of Goldciff, Aberwood, Amman Glen, Pontyport and Fishwick gain two new constituencies each as they split into North, Central and South divisions.

As a result, the number of ASMs in the next parliament will decrease from 145 to 140.

While both bills must still proceed through the Assembly Chamber of Excellencies, they are not expected to face stiff opposition.

At the end of the day's business, chief minister Paul Duncan-Jones moved to ask Speaker Johnson to issue a writ dissolving the Senate effective July 1 for elections to be held on July 22, a motion which was unanimously accepted.

[Socialist States Owen]

Election Eura: The system and the parties
A special guide to the upcoming Euran election for confused foreigners, by Chief Political Correspondent Lyle Evans in Bastion

How does the Euran electoral system work?

The population of Eura, compared to most Rushmori nations, is gargantuan. 3.006 billion people, to be exact; which is why this election is near the top of the list of general elections in Rushmore that affect the most people. 71% of the population (Everyone over the age of 18), or roughly 2.13 billion people, can vote. However, the size of constituencies and local government is, to make governing more streamlined, based on the population of said areas, not the size of their electorate. Local councils administrate at the lowest level of course, although large towns and cities have their own dedicated City Councils. For every 100,000, there is an LGZ – Local Government Zone – which is led by a Chief Executive and various councils, though they are subordinate to City Councils when it comes to actually governing on many issues. Then, for every million people (or 10 LGZ’s) you have a constituency, where an MP is elected to the House of Metropolitans. When the MP is elected they lead the Constituency Cabinet, the highest ranking form of local government (apart from large City Councils) which is led by the MP with the co-operation and assistance of the ten Chief Executives in his constituency.

The House of Metropolitans has 3,000 MP’s, and for a party to form a majority government they must control a minimum of 1,501 seats. They may of course form coalitions, but if they do so the Prime Ministers Cabinet must appoint members on a basis that reflects the makeup of the coalition in the House to as close as can be reasonably achieved. A vote of no confidence in the government, which requires 1,501 ayes to succeed, initiates an immediate General Election – which is how this election has come to pass. Ultimately, voters cast two votes at the election; one for a Chief Executive in their area, and another for an MP.

The parties: a briefing

Primary contenders

Social Party

Leader: Prime Minister Andrew Lafferton (MP for Begbury South)
Seats in standing Parliament: 1,810
Key people: The PM (who has suffered a sharp decline in popularity), his highly popular Deputy PM James Tynan (praised for working out the Euran-West Angolan partnership), new party leadership rival Charles Watervale (Minister of Housing, who led the backbench revolt) and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ashford Harker, a political heavyweight with a great deal of public support through his part in boosting Eura’s international role.

Shaken by scandal after scandal, undermined by bitter infighting, and the subject of increasing skepticism by the public – the Social Party are, at first glance, in a bad state of dysfunction. However, they go into this election as the favourites to hold on to their majority. They maintain the largest core voter base in the country, have been very successful in foreign policy and most importantly of all, can claim to have overseen the greatest period of economic growth in Euran history. Yet Andrew Lafferton and his frontbench have been coerced into a massive electoral gamble by their own backbenchers; a vote of no confidence that expresses both dissatisfaction with the current leadership but also a confidence that the party is strong enough to make electoral gains. This election will make them look either very good or very stupid. Either way, Andrew Lafferton has to worry about leadership challenges from every angle and that will distract him going into this election.

Economy – The focus of Andrew Lafferton’s campaign has been Eura’s remarkable economic growth in the last decade, much of which has occurred under his eight years in office. With each quarter for the past six years the Euran economy has grown, and in the last year growth has not gone below 1% of GDP. The reported £300bn debts of Civil Citizenry to Eura have been paid off at great gain for the state coffers, while unemployment has fallen to 1.35% - though unemployment still has not gone almost completely like the government promised due to structural problems in local economies.

Budget – Chancellor Ted Patterson has had a very good three years, and his party’s line is that with such persistent economic growth and a still growing population, plus the incorporation of West Angola into the Eurasphere, state spending will increase from £38.324 trillion to approximately £43 trillion over the next three years.

Rushmore – They have voiced their intentions to increase Eura’s position in Rushmore to one of great standing and seek further integration with the region. Lafferton himself has expressed great interest in the Saldon Treaty negotiations.

Political reform – Opposed to boundary changes which will increase the voting power of suburban areas. This is seen as a party political move and is unpopular with voters.

Defence – Minor increases in defence spending are planned but mainly restructuring is the name of the game. Though they have promised to raise the military obligations of the Endemian territories, the Social Party are reported to be seeking to cut the West Angolan military down from 39 million men to just 10 million. They plan to build at least four more General Hartson class carriers. Most controversially of all (on an international scale, that is), the Euran Navy will continue to have naval patrols in all Rushmori seas and oceans operating simultaneously, a routine way of doing things that started last year.

Foreign Policy – Although they have made efforts to keep Sameban’s from flooding the border gates, the Social Party will continue its attempts at reconciliation with the Sameban state. West Angola, newly incorporated into the Eurasphere, will have money poured into its infrastructure and its military incorporated into our own to allow for an operational capability that will be (and arguably already is) unmatched in Rushmore. They plan to continue building ties with countries throughout the region, thought their half-hearted attempts at ignoring Valladar activities have been mildly unpopular. The real pitfall of their policy, however, has been their attempt to keep the Sameban issue quiet – something that does not rest well with the electorate.

Justice – Plans for a new 150,000 capacity “Mega-Hold” prison on the Holden at Pooltree will go ahead, while decreasing levels of crime will be responded to with minor consolidating increases in spending on policing.

Welfare – The welfare budget will be increased substantially, from £6.98 trillion to as high as £8 trillion. Although living standards and personal affluence is increasing, the Social Party argue that as the proportion of retired persons in Eura is already at 9.4% (nearly 300 million people), welfare spending must increase by an undefined amount until the amount of retirees can be brought down. The retirement age is expected to be raised from 66 to 68. More money will also be spent on improving services for the disabled.

Health – A revamp of local healthcare arrangements and how GP’s are paid is expected, involving further nationalisation to increase efficacy. This will also help deal with the problem of an ageing population.

Population Growth and Migration – One of Eura’s most startling problems to face in the future, the Social Party has promised to introduce limits on immigration as millions flood in from abroad every year; the influx of Sameban’s from the rapidly collapsing Sameban economy and the usually high numbers of immigrants from Urszag-Csartoria are cited as reasons for the high figures. The government has speculated that it will most likely be ‘discouraging’ further increases in birth rate.

Housing – Increasing population has put pressure on the government to build new homes. Homes for at least 20 million people will be built within the next three years. The housing budget is expected to rise by as much as 14%.

Education – School leaving age will be increased to 18, and universities will now have to increase student tuition fees from £1,000 per year to £1,800 per year.

Energy – Nuclear power expenditure will increase and more plants will be built as Eura attempts to finally rid itself of unclean energy to improve the environment. On that subject…

Environment and Agriculture – Spending on the environment will increase by a whopping 50%, as the government aims to tackle criticism over the decline of the Euran countryside in recent years. Attempts will be made to decrease Eura’s dependence on food imports and deregulating fishing laws off the Euran coast. Enforcing a Euran Sea Resource Exploration zone over Sameban territorial waters will be reconsidered.

Transport – With the procurement of Citiz rail giant InterCity Rail by a Euran rail company, and the need for greater provision for commuters, public transport spending will increase for the eighth consecutive year. The Brigham-Bastion ‘super-line’ project will get the full support of the government.

Capital Party

Leader: Jonathan Crow
Seats in standing Parliament: 693 seats
Key people: Leader Jonathan Crow, who is increasingly popular amongst the middle class, the highly respected Shadow Chancellor Adam Barker and the controversial (but popular with the female voters) Shadow Education Minister Laura Gregory.

Although taken by surprise by the calling of an election, the Capital Party are far from unprepared. Having been preparing for nearly a decade to overcome the electoral deficit thrust upon them by the Social Party, the day of reckoning is approaching and the Capital Party, with a bit of luck, may find themselves in power. Leader Jonathan Crow is a charismatic businessman who has wowed the middle class since the last election, a populist politician who shamelessly tows the line on whatever policies are popular. His best weapons are patriotic rhetoric (asserting that the Social Party have gone ‘soft’ over foreign policy in particular) and Shadow Chancellor Adam Barker, whom his entire argument of economic efficacy rests.

A sleeping giant in this party may be Laura Gregory, who was a close second to Crow in the leadership race for the party after the last election defeat. The Capital Party know that if they miss this opportunity they will be kicking themselves, as the Social Party may increase their already comfortable electoral margin. However, the government are in dire straits due to scandal and at the very least Crow aims to reduce the Social Party to a minority government. Avoiding a split of the middle class vote between themselves and the Liberals must be one of the prime concerns of the leadership.

Economy – Adam Barker is put forward by the Capital Party as the best economic thinker in the country. Published in several international economic journals and with popular political magazine Metropolitan on his side, he will feel confident about taking on Ted Patterson. Barker cannot deny that the Social Party have a great economic record; rather, he will argue he can take things even further. Barker wants to help industry expand further with deregulation and removal of tariffs, increase Euran purchases of overseas industrial assets and lower stock market controls imposed after the crash which followed the Euran-Sameban War.

The first area in which he can undoubtedly criticise the government is the issue of employment. Even with the economy in its greatest ever boom, 1.35% of the eligible working population find themselves unemployed. He also claims that underemployment (people only in on and off part time jobs) is an issue, and that the growth of the national economy translates unevenly at local levels, creating areas of economic deprivation. He can also criticise the government for its worryingly high level of waste, losing nearly £1.6 trillion a year.

Budget – For the first time since the fall of the socialist regime, the Capital Party want to increase the state budget. However, they only wish to expand it from the current total of over £38 trillion to £40.2 trillion, less than the increase proposed by the Social Party by just under £3 trillion.

Rushmore – Crow has stated a great interest in increasing Eura’s regional standing, and seeks in the long term to make Eura a regular holder of the World Assembly delegacy, after the country briefly occupied not long ago. He also supports the removal of economic protection measures.

Political reform – Naturally, the Capital Party are determined to push through electoral reform that will give more weight to the suburban middle class vote.

Defence – Like the Social Party they plan restructuring of the military, and an increased role for regional defence forces in Endemia. They will lower the numbers of the West Angolan military even further than the Social Party, to 7 million, with further improved hardware. The Euran military itself however will have spending on it dramatically increased, a big vote winner. They have gone further than the Social Party in this regard (much further) and declared the creation of a minimum of three new carrier battle groups, and rumour has it they aim to seek the building of Euran bases overseas. Crow has also agreed with the Social Party that Euran naval patrols of the regions seas will continue.

Foreign policy – The Capital Party are taking a far more firm tone on foreign policy compared to the Social Party. They have plans to maintain the status quo with West Angola rather than pour money into it like the Social Party, and unlike the Social Party they are opposed to the idea of giving West Angola a small number of seats in Parliament, preferring their Governor Council scheme. They plan to keep a wary eye on Valladares and Urszag-Csartoria, probe the region to the north to gain influence around Taeshan and Falconwhereeveryouare while actively and publicly taking interest in the political instability of Mytannion. Most importantly, they have taken a no nonsense stance towards Sameba. Certain parts of the border will be closed, migration regulations will be stepped up even further beyond the Social Party’s suggestions and the Sameban navy will be kept in their own waters.

Justice – The ‘Mega-Hold’ prison plan will go ahead, while there will be minor drawdowns in spending on bureaucracy in the justice system. However, sentences will be made more severe for higher tier crimes and police spending will increase.

Welfare – Spending will be frozen at £7 trillion as it inevitably rises further, and the retirement age rise will be doubled from what has been proposed by the Social Party – to 70 from 66. Unemployment relief will be given a small rise and the general benefit cap lowered.

Health – Like the Social Party they will increase health spending further, however they will take the rather unpopular route of introducing privatisation beyond a certain point to cope with demand.

Population Growth and Migration – The government’s proposed plans to ‘deter’ people from having as many children have been criticised as absurd by the Capital Party, though they will introduce even more stringent immigration limits and make emigration easier for lower earners – cynical political commentators have called this an attempt to get the poor out of the country and only let the rich in.

Housing – Their housing plan only includes 60% of the spending increases proposed by the state, but they believe they can still build as many as 17 million homes. Regulation will be loosened to allow private developers to expand.

Education – Tuition fees will rise by £2500 as opposed to the more modest £800 proposed by the Social Party, and the school leaving age will only rise to 17.

Energy AND Environment and Agriculture AND Transport – In these areas they follow almost exactly the same line as the government, however they will only increase spending on the environment by 10%. They will promise to protect Euran fishermen who fish illegally in Sameban waters. Additionally, they will spend £250 billion on improving road infrastructure throughout the country, a rare interventionist policy where the Social Party has not already offered spending increases.

The third and fourth parties

Liberal Party

Leader: Michael Judge
Seats in standing Parliament: 245 seats
Key people: The mildly popular at best but solid Michael Judge, and political starlet Amy Yarley, the youngest female MP in Euran political history at the age of just 26.

For the Liberal Party, this election is perhaps even more crucial than it is to the Social Party or Capital Party. After years of splitting the vote of either the Social or Capital parties based on their own policies, enjoying relative popularity, one majority government since the reintroduction of democracy in Eura and being part of several coalitions. However, they now sit on a paltry 245 seats, with the quasi-Communist 4th party, the Civil Federalists, creeping up behind them in the polls. Michael Judge has set a minimum gain of 200 seats for this election as a target, gains that they will certainly require to guarantee their electoral future.

At the last election they were systematically taken apart, particularly by the Social Party who broke down the Liberal hold on the eastern constituencies, including Directus Central – lost by the Liberals for the first time. Michael Judge is older and less exciting a candidate than Lafferton and Crow, but he is at least trusted in general by the public. Moreover young Amy Yarley is highly popular amongst voters from all sides, and she represents a theme repeated throughout the Liberals electoral roster: young, refreshing, ludicrously sexy inexperienced and desperate to win.

Economy – Similar promises to the Capital Party.

Budget – Budget increase halfway between the Capital Party and Social Party – increased expenditure on welfare, justice, education, environment and transport, reduced spending on nuclear power (energy) and defence.

Rushmore – Increased Rushmore integration on the basis of a free trade market.

Political reform – They favour the aforementioned boundary changes, but more importantly want a referendum to introduce an electoral system of proportional representation at a national level, rather than just Chief Executive level.

Defence – Reduce expenditure, end regional patrols and reduce size of nuclear deterrent.

Foreign Policy – Peaceful attitude towards the region. Reconciliation, Social Party style, with Sameba. Unique plan to reach out to Valladares to bring them in a trio-plan with Cotdelapoms to dominate this area of the region.

Justice – Increased prisoner rights and a greater focus on prisoner rehabilitation rather than punishment.

Welfare – Increased welfare, particularly for families and the elderly, but a more streamlined system.

Health – For the most part, maintaining the status quo, but more power is to be given to GP’s at a local level.

Population Growth and Migration – Opposed to new migration measures and proposing new legal rights for immigrants.

Housing – Similar housing plan to the Capital Party.

Education – Increasing expenditure on primary and secondary education, raising the school leaving age to 18 and importantly promising to abolish all tuition fees.

Energy – Freezing the building of more nuclear power plants and focusing on green energy at great expense.

Environment and Agriculture – BIG increase in spending in this area. New environmental regulations to reduce pollution.

Transport – In line with their green policies, expansion of public transport and reduction of car use through increased taxation on automobile transactions and free bus passes and rail cards for certain groups.

Civil Federalist Party

Leader: Lt Colonel Brian Gossall
Seats in standing Parliament: 148 seats
Key people: War hero and party leader Lt. Colonel Brian Gossall and social commentator Herman Graham.

The Civil Federalist Party has traditionally been the far left political party that gains power when regular Social Party voters become disillusioned. These quasi-communist social reformers preach a program of civic responsibility and increased civil rights in return for more state intervention and less political rights. At this election, they will be feeling confident. With 148 seats – a 20 year high – they are increasing in strength and will hope to make more gains from voters who have lost confidence in the government. Brian Gossall is an outspoken but popular leader, who is supported by his firebrand assistant Herman Graham.

Economy – Nationalisation of the automobile industry and an increasingly state managed economy is the name of the game. Criticises the Capital Party for being pro-big business and the Social Party for failing to do more in government.

Budget – Massive increase in state expenditure to £48 trillion, an almost £10 trillion increase. All three other main parties have lampooned this as ludicrous.

Rushmore – Turning away from integration and focusing on building relations with left leaning countries is their aim, countries such as Mytannion.

Political reform – Firmly against boundary changes. Want to reduce the number of constituencies and limit spending by political parties.

Defence – Planned increases in spending similar to those of the Social Party but slightly more.

Foreign Policy – Rushmore section sums this up nicely, but specifically the Civil Federalists have expressed a desire to provide ‘support’ to left leaning governments. This is a euphemism for a desire to provide military backing to communists in Mytannion.

Justice – Plan to introduce much harsher punishments for white collar crime, and the introduction of penal labour for violent criminals.

Welfare – Massive increase in welfare spending, including free housing for the bottom percentile of society in terms of wealth.

Health – Abolishment of private healthcare and further expansion of the universal healthcare system.

Population Growth and Migration – Very tough immigration measures and closing of the border with Sameba.

Housing – Massive housing program larger than that proposed by the Social Party – 24 million homes.

Education – Further centralisation of school curriculum standards, the abolishment of private education and tuition fees.

Energy – Nationalisation of state energy supplies and, very controversially, occupation of the Allus Valley in south eastern Sameba, home to many mineral resources that are unexplored so far.

Environment and Agriculture – The only area in which they will reduce spending, they promise to reduce spending on the environment. Agriculture will get more state funding and quotas on certain food produce will be drafted to secure supplies for the population.

Transport – Increase in spending on maintenance of transport routes, and further development of the rail network.

Fringe parties/others

Euran Independence Party (75 seats)

Leader: Jan Anderson

The right wing Euran Independence Party are strictly against further integration with Rushmore, seeking isolation and self-sufficiency. They openly advocate the idea of the state waging ‘economic war’ on Eura’s rivals and support further militarisation of the Sameban border, including closing it to immigrants. EIP also wish to reduce welfare spending, supposedly wasted on ‘scroungers’, and tackle the problem of government waste.

Revolutionary Euran Bolshevik Workers Party (17 seats)

Leader: Dick Gasmask

Formerly a protest vote for old socialists who missed ‘that’ regime, the REBWP – led by Abruzian-born and reportedly HAZMAT-fetish possessing comrade Dick Gasmask – the REBWP shockingly won 14 seats at the last election, their first gains from a previous total of 0 for decades. Since then they have won three more seats in by elections in the very left wing areas of the south of Eura. However, their chances of actually ending up in government are very low.

Meritocratic Implementation Party (10 seats)

Leader: Bartholomew Lonnerdale

A small but well known (At least in the east) party, usually a protest vote for disillusioned Liberals. They believe, as their party name suggests, in attempting to make every aspect of society – education, employment, business, even sport – more meritocratic, starting with more balanced wage laws, egalitarian equality laws, the restructuring of education and universities and a more democratic form of government.

Fuzz Army! (2 seats)

Leader: Barry Stubble

Yes, they exist, and they somehow have two MP’s – putting them in charge of governing roughly two million people. A fringe protest group that originated on the terraces of football grounds, the Fuzz Army believe in localised, community based governing and state funded teaching of the offside rule.

Parties not represented in parliament (No seats)

Euran Pride Party – A xenophobic organisation that remarkably once had 29 seats in Parliament, two elections ago. Several scandals over accusations of racism and taking their nationalism too far have reduced them to being beyond a joke. Very lucky not to have been banned from the political process.

Euran Freedom Party – Fringe party of anarcho-capitalists led by Roland Hip. They are the laughing stock of every election.

Veterans Legion – A small party who support veterans. More like a charity than a political party, they run more to make a statement and raise awareness as they never win.

Ryou Appreciation Party – Nutty weeaboos. Have never retained their deposit.

Backwards Party – The official satire party of Eura, they believe that the mighty Euran military should take over the entirety of Rushmore, and reform every aspect of the new Euran Empire (And the mother nation) to make everything go backwards, save time.

[Darmen]

Prime Minister Peari endorses Euran Civil Federalist Party ahead of elections in both the FSSO and Darmen
As Saldon Trade talks look all but dead, Peari looks towards election campaign in Darmen

Prime Minister Scat Peari (Second Communist Group), showed support to his leftist counterparts in the FSSO, as he endorsed the Civil Federalist Party ahead of their election campaign. "We share many things in common," said Peari, "such as our belief in the nationalization of major industries important to the strength of any nation." He continued on saying, "We hope that fairly soon Darmen and Eura can consider themselves good friends, and that we can work together in odder to keep our shared interests safe from threats within the region of Rushmore." The comments, made at one of Peari's campaing stops in Liverpool, come just two months before elections begin in Darmen, although the exact date of the begining of voting is still in question.

"We're looking at possibly delaying the start of voting until the second week of June," said Peari, as he answered the questions of reporters after giving a speech to prospective voters that focused mainly on the writing of Darmen's new constitution and the economy. "Currently we're trying to get the writing of the Constitution back up and running, we've had some problems with some of the members of the Convention not attending meetings."

While Peari wasn't very clear on whether attendence at the meetings of the Convention was mandatory or not, we do know that several counties, mainly those in the southwest that once swore allegiance to Chuckio, are unhappy with several key components of the constitution as it is currently drafted. Whether they have staged a walk out is unknown, but they are most likely the culprits in the delay.

Peari has stated that his number one priority at the moment is to get the Constitutional Convention running at full speed once again, and this time with all of its members present. "The people of Darmen have been waiting for a long time to see a new constitution be writen." His other priority is the economy. "We had reached unprecedented levels of economic strength, and then we seemed to falter a bit. The economy didn't crash, but unemployment has risen back up, closer to levels that we once saw in the past. We're slowly making a recovery, but I'd like to see it go a bit faster."

As Pan-Rushmori trade talks slowed and finally stopped in the Birolikan city of Saldon, Peari will need to find a new way to spark economic development and growth in Darmen. "I'd love to see a Pan-Rushmori trade deal get done, but the talks at Saldon were slow, and I just don't think we're ready as a region yet to get something going." Peari's main opponents, the members of the Liberal and Leftist coalition's have been calling for the policies of the Traditional coalitions, which the Second Communist Group is a member of, to change.

"The current course we're on is not good enough," said hopeful winner, Ruy Eguzki (Libertarian Reform Party). "Economic growth needs to occur faster, much, much, much faster than it currently is."

With elections either begining on May 1st or June 10th, depending on whether the opening of the polls is delayed, the major powerhouses in the Darmeni political scene don't have much time to launch effective campaigns. But most supporters of the respective parties are hopeful that there party will gain a majority in Parliament.

[Eura]

OOC: I was delayed a bit writing this RP; this is actually set two years or so ago, right after the end of World Cup 64 and the end of the Mytanar conflict.

LAFFERTON AND TYNAN DEPOSED; CROW AND JUDGE IN
Social Party unable to form coalition after losing many seats as Capital/Liberal/EUI/MI alliance take office
Chief Political Correspondent Lyle Evans in Bastion reports as over two billion Euran’s go to the polls

Jonathan Crow, leader of the Capital Party, is the new Prime Minister of the United Federation of Eura and its three billion citizens. In what may be referred to as the electoral cockup of the century, the formidable Social Party government of Andrew Lafferton has been toppled. Mr Crow, a 45 year old former city financier born in Holdenberg, was elected five days after the polls closed as his Capital Party succeeded in forming a coalition with the Liberal Party, Euran Independence Party, Meritocratic Implementation Party and the Veterans League. It was a surprise result to four days of negotiations, during which most had expected Andrew Lafferton to be able to form a coalition with the Liberal’s and MIP. However, the Emplor understands that Liberal leader Michael Judge was unconvinced by the deal and pulled out, opting instead to side with the Capital Party. Lafferton reportedly also failed to convince the Civil Federalist Party to rescue his hopes of forming a minority government at least, as they turned down his deal on the basis that it was too moderate for their tastes.

Two graphs detailing the election results; one showing the division of seats between individual parties, the other between the newly formed five party coalition and the other three seat holding parties

The election was an unexpected and unmitigated disaster for the Social Party; although they failed to retain their place in government via coalition through the slightest of margins, their actual electoral performance was surprisingly dire. They won more seats than any other party, 1050, but lost 760 seats. Prominent cabinet ministers lost their seats, including Minister of Education Sylvester Moore and Minister of Employment Emma Mitchell. Minister of Housing Charles Watervale, who led the predominantly backbench revolt against the current leadership, is believed now be isolated within the party and likely to resign from his position as an MP despite retaining his seat. He has committed political hara-kiri, so to speak. To add insult to injury one of their key members, Minister of Defence Robert Anderson, crossed the floor to retain his position, now he was running as a Capital Party candidate. In front of nearly two million supporters in Bastion last night Crow made a triumphant victory speech, surprisingly taking a moment to praise the achievements of the previous government and promising to build on them. Atop the balcony of the Black Palace, he addressed the nation;

”The decisions made at the polls and in the corridors of power this week represent not just a victory for my party, but a victory for the nation. We as a nation are at the height of our glory to date, and we must grasp this opportunity firmly – something that this government will ensure happens. That means we must mobilise not just the resources of this nation, but its people and their hearts. I compel you, people of Eura, to go about your everyday lives with more vigour and joy than ever before, for this is a golden age, and it shall continue.”

This morning the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister met the Expert Executive in parliament’s upper house to announce their initial Program of Government, a traditional opening of proceedings for any new government as the rest of parliament took a day of absence. Mr Crow confirmed his cabinet early in the afternoon in a truly diverse coalition, where the other parties have been given prominent roles in his cabinet;

Prime Minister – Jonathan Crow (Cap) replacing Andrew Lafferton (Soc)
Deputy Prime Minister – Michael Judge (Lib) replacing James Tynan (Soc)
Treasury Chancellor – Adam Barker (Cap) replacing Ted Patterson (Soc)
General Attorney – Robert Warren (Lib) replacing Robyn Debnam (Soc)
Cabinet Manager – Lionel Berwick (Cap) replacing Guy Clayton (Soc)
Leader of the House – Daniel Gorman (Soc) reappointed
Minister of the Expert Executive – Phillip Miller (Soc) reappointed

Minister of Justice – Bartholomew Lonnerdale (MIP) replacing Nelson Weatherhead (Soc)
Minister of Home Affairs – Laura Gregory (Cap) replacing Andrew Broker (Soc)
Minister of Foreign Affairs – Amy Yarley (Lib) replacing Ashford Harker (Soc)
Minister of Overseas Territories – Louise Allerson (Cap) replacing Liam Han (Soc)
Minister of the Civil Service – Jan Anderson (EUI) replacing Clinton Steyer (Soc)
Minister of Defence – Robert Anderson (Soc) remains after crossing the floor to (Cap)
Minister of Health – Terry Colder (Lib) replacing John Ryce (Soc)
Minister of Welfare – Gerald Woldsey (Cap) replacing Donald Raymond (Soc)
Minister of Employment – John Gouldy (Cap) replacing Emma Mitchell (Soc)
Minister of Business and Industry – Simon Finch (Cap) replacing Michael Harris (Soc)
Minister of Housing – Don Graham (Lib) replacing Charles Watervale (Soc)
Minister of Education – Marina Carr (MIP) replacing Sylvester Moore (Soc)
Minister of Energy – Jeremy Patterson (Cap) replacing Sebastian Clark (Soc)
Minister of Local Government – Robin Coolillie (Cap) replacing Shaun Crosswaithe (Soc)
Minister of Transport – Ryan Gandine (Lib) replacing Lewis Manning (Soc)
Minister of Agriculture and Food – Rebecca Tarrington (Cap) replacing Louise Marshall (Soc)
Minister of Environment – Colin Ford (MIP) replacing Amy Duvet (Soc)
Minister of Culture – Gordon Harrelson (Cap) replacing Desmond Lloyd (Soc)
Minister of Media – Tom Randon (Cap) replacing Casper Whittingham (Soc)
Minister of Sport – Terrance Locksley (Vet) replacing Gerald Curvington (Soc)
Minister of Equality – Liam Evesley (Lib) replacing Tracey Cort (Soc)
Minister of Universities and Higher Education – William Corrigan (Cap) replacing William Derran (Soc)
Minister of Science and Research – Wilfred Gatton (Cap) replacing Charles Saunders (Soc)
Minister of Trade Regulation and Investment – Cassandra Matthews (Lib) replacing Martin Trobuck (Soc)
Minister of State Interaction and Enlightenment – Gregory Lavant (Cap) replacing Roger Gallows (Soc)
Minister of Official Data and Statistics – Adam Galburn (Soc) remains after crossing the floor to (Cap)

As the lead party the Capital Party obviously hold many key positions, but the other parties – particularly the Liberal Party – also have their say and the Program of Government made available to the public today reflected the compromises made by the parties to make this deal work.

PROGRAM OF GOVERNMENT: A COMPREHENSIVE EMPLOR GUIDE

Economic Targets
All parties of the coalition concur that they can aim for at least a minimum of 0.4% growth each quarter for the next three years

State Budget
What they wanted: Capital wanted to increase the budget from its current figure of £38.33 trillion to £40.2 trillion. Liberal’s wanted to increase to £42 trillion. MIP and EUI both target unspecified budget sum of £41-43 trillion. All parties want to reduce government waste by £1.6 trillion to at most £100 billion in three years’ time.
What they got: It has been agreed that the initial budget for the Euran state shall be £41.5 trillion. The coalition has also committed itself to eradicating significant government waste within four years. £2.5 trillion shall go to the Eurasphere; a £1.1 trillion increase, including £500 billion into West Angolan development projects, and £100 billion into the establishment of the massive Helving Naval Hub.

Political Reform
What they wanted: The Capital Party wanted to implement boundary changes to increase the weighting of suburban areas in the west of the country. Liberal’s and MIP want a referendum on introducing proportional representation.
What they got: A commission will be set up to investigate the best course of action regarding boundary changes, while a referendum will be held on the voting system within two years.

Rushmore Policy
What they wanted: Capital, Liberal and MIP all want to reduce trade barriers and intergrate further with other Rushmori nations. Capital are determined to secure the regional World Assembly delegacy, and are also to continue Eura’s liberal interventionist policy throughout the region. EUI are naturally opposed to further intergration.
What they got: EUI have been marginalised in this area, which may leave them regretting agreeing to a coalition. The government will reduce trade barriers with other Rushmori nations, encourage cultural exchange, and promise to host one major international event – most likely a sporting one – within the next three years.

Defence
What they wanted: The Capital party wanted to increase Endemia’s role in protecting itself, while undergoing a massive disarmament project to reduce the size of the West Angolan military from 39 million men to 7 million – but with better equipment and training. The Euran military would in their perfect world receive a massive spending increase, including provision for the creation of three new carrier groups and overseas bases. The Liberal party however took great issue with this. Michael Judge specifically stated that he wanted to reduce defence expenditure, end region wide naval patrolling and look towards ending the usage of a nuclear deterrent.
What they got: In this area the Liberals were forced to concede by the Capital Party and their formerly Social Party Minister of Defence, Robert Anderson. Two new carrier groups will be commissioned, the West Angolan cuts will go ahead and the defence budget increases from 9% of state spending to 11% of state spending – though this will come back down to 10.7% once the costs of the West Angolan reductions have been processed.

Foreign Policy
What they wanted: Capital wanted to take a firm line across the board. They will no longer tolerate sabre rattling by Sameba; border restrictions were to be tightened and the military presence there stepped up. They also expressed a determination to maintain the status quo in West Angola and not interfere too much, not even against insurrectionists, and to keep a cautious eye on the Urzag’s, Taeshan and Valladares. The Liberals’ had different ideas, seeking to continue reconciliation with Sameba and putting forward a unique plan to reach out towards a partnership with Valladares. EUI wanted to pursue a militaristic ‘to hell with everyone’ attitude.
What they got: Eura’s liberal interventionist gaze shall continue to wander it seems as the coalition were vague about their foreign policy plans. They did promise however to seek talks with the West Angolan government at some point regarding the future of their Eurasphere relationship. They also promised to keep a Euran peacekeeping/rebuilding force in Mytannion for at least the short term future.

Justice
What they wanted: All parties wanted to go ahead with the ‘Mega-Hold’ prison plan and at least minor increases in policing. They disagreed however on sentencing and prisoner rights.
What they got: A true compromise that works for all. Criminals guilty of serious crimes will be liable to harsher sentences, but less serious criminals will now enjoy greater rights and more opportunities for rehabilitation.

Welfare
What they wanted: Capital wanted to cap welfare spending at £7 trillion at most and increase the retirement age by four years. Liberals wanted to increase welfare provisions specifically for the young and elderly. EUI pushed hard for a crackdown on ‘scroungers’ and benefit cheats.
What they got: Budget set at £6.85 trillion, for now. Retirement age increasing to 68 in six months. Unemployment benefit and benefits for the elderly increased. Benefit cheats to be given harsher punishment.

Health
What they wanted: All parties saw the need to increase expenditure on the national healthcare system, but the Capital Party controversially wanted to reintroduce private healthcare on a small scale for high earners if the system gets too big. The Liberal’s wanted to give more power to GP’s.
What they got: Both got they wanted.

Migration and Population Growth
What they wanted: Capital wanted to make immigration laws much stricter and encourage emigration for lower income earners, but the Liberal’s abhorred this and wanted to increase the rights of migrants.
What they got: Immigrants will now have more protected rights under federal law, but they will now find it harder to get into the country in the first place.

Housing
What they wanted: All four parties wanted a massive housing program to be pursued, seeking the construction of between 16 and 23 million homes.
What they got: 21 million homes will be built in the next four years.

Education
What they wanted: Capital were reluctant to raise the school leaving age beyond 17, and determined to increase tuition fees threefold. The Liberals were at loggerheads with them over this, demanding the abolition of tuition fees, a school leaving age of 18 and increases in spending on primary and secondary education.
What they got: An unprecedented victory for the Liberal’s here. The school leaving age will increase to 18, there will be at least minor budget increases for the state school system, and the tuition fees debate will be re-examined within 6 months and a decision made.

Energy, Environment, Transport, Agriculture
What they wanted: Capital have promised surprisingly massive spending increases in each of these sectors. New nuclear power networks, a 10% increase in spending on the environment, deregulation of fishing laws, increased expenditure on food, £250 billion project to improve Eura’s roads and the go ahead for a Bastion-Brigham ‘super’ railway line. The Liberal’s predictably didn’t like the idea of more nuclear power and wanted to massively increase ‘green’ subsidies and public transport spending.
What they got: Here Capital got what they wanted. The National Infrastructure Review declares the introduction of a new stadium building program nationwide, the nuclear power plants shall be built, there will be a 20% increase in spending on the environment, and projects in road development and public transport shall go ahead.

[Colombian Britannia]

The Mail and Planet
Elections Called after Vote of No Confidence


Recently ousted PM Bluewater, like the rest of his collegues, will face re-election in August
PORTLANDIA - Today, the long running rumours have finally come to fruition. Parliament today, voted 354-100 in favour of a motion of no confidence against Prime Minister Jed Bluewater and his faction of the Liberal Party. The move has come after months of discontent within the ruling liberal party as many of the more centrist MPs felt discontent with Bluewater, and the party's move to the right. This was shown today with 160 Liberal MPs voting in favour of the motion of no confidence against their own party.

Liberal MP, Josh Carleton, who was elected on the 'favourite party' ballot and one of the leaders of the 160 Liberal MPs who defected said the following, "I think it's a good day for democracy in this nation. If we had waited for two years until the next election, we would have seen two years of gridlock and after that, I think that the party leaders would have washed out centrists like myself and put the party and the country on a path to an oligarchy."

What Carleton speaks of is the plan by the Bluewater government to pass sweeping lobbying reform that would give private lobbyists greater access to Parliament. The Bluewater. The plan was kept under wraps by the government until it was reported on by 'The Portlandian'. When forced to address the issue, the Bluewater government defended the plan as one that would "open the halls of government to it's stakeholders, both corporations and citizens alike".

After the vote of no confidence, Bluewater was frustrated. He called the move "weak" and said that it was little more than "an attempt by the smaller parties, as well as the renegades to circumvent the will of the people, and slow down the proceedings of this house".

Bluewater also threatened that action will be taken against the Liberal MP's who voted in favour of the motion of no confidence. "It is unlikely that many of them will be running in two months time," Bluewater told reporters, "and I would love to see them get a party off the ground in two months."

When asked about the possibility that the Group of 160 may not see another term in Parliament, Carleton said, "It's a risk that all of us were aware of."

With elections now firmly set for 5 august, the ball is now in the court of the people to decide who should direct the future of the country.