Vilde Gunnhildsdottir took over following the assassination of Even Skrog, the first elected Premier/President in modern Breheim, and have governed Breheim through tumultuous times. The past four years have seen mass unemployment and economic recession, but in the past few years unemployment have slowly gone down and growth is back to speed, although not evenly across the country. The Runmi Uprising proved a great challenge for the presidency, with the Breheimian Army struggling to deal with the Runmi insurgents in the north.
Key Issues
Eugenics: Eugenics, still a part of Breheimian law but on a moratorium since 2015 following Vilde Gunnhildsdottir's presidential decree, is an institution that retains a great deal of support among the Breheimian electorate. The Breheimian Eugenics Program is long-running, and is responsible for the forced sterilization of hundreds of thousands in the past eighty years. The targets of the eugenics program have in the past included ethnic minorities, the insane, criminals, loose women and occultists. In the modern day, the Breheimian Eugenics Program have largely targeted people with serious inheritable disorders and diseases.
Unemployment: As of 2017, the unemployment rate stands at 11.4%. There is a wild geographic disparity in the unemployment rate, with some areas having unemployment in the 40-50% range, while others have 3-4%. Breheimian unemployment services are overrun a large number of areas in Breheim, with some people not receiving unemployment checks until half a year into their unemployment. The government has also been accused of of providing false statistics on the number of unemployed in the country, with some think-tanks and newspapers claiming the number is as much as 19-25% per polling.
Private vs Public: Tied to unemployment, what direction the economy should go in is a contentious issue. While privatization has slowed down after the shock-therapy of 2011-2012, many Breheimians desire a return to a more interventionist state, although disagree on the specifics. Other think the state hasn't gone far enough, and should fully privatize healthcare and public utilities, some (very few) even going as far as wanting to privatize roads and police.
Privacy: Privacy remains a key issue in this election. Despite the President's attempts at reforming the system, the People's Security Bureau is still perceived as an intrusive organization by many, while being viewed as a key counter-terrorist and anti-crime measure by others. Wiretapping remains a common tool of the Bureau, and conflicts between the PSB and Breheimian Courts remain potent, despite legislature demanding judicial oversight over PSB activities. Censorship and surveillance on the relatively recently mass-accessible internet is part of this issue, with the PSB having modernized with amazing speed to investigate Breheimian activity online.
The Runmi Situation: The Runmi, an indigenous ethnic minority making up 0.7% of Breheim's total population, but a majority in one northern fylke and a significant minority throughout the far-north, has become a contentious issue this election. The failed Runmi Uprising of 2014-2016 saw the Runmi wage open war on the Breheimian state, and only brought to heel after significant concessions regarding Runmi autonomy and a few key victories by Breheimian Armed Forces. Breheimians are divided on their attitude to the Runmi, with some desiring a military crackdown and reversal of all concessions, while others view the current situation as the lesser evil.
Eugenics: Eugenics, still a part of Breheimian law but on a moratorium since 2015 following Vilde Gunnhildsdottir's presidential decree, is an institution that retains a great deal of support among the Breheimian electorate. The Breheimian Eugenics Program is long-running, and is responsible for the forced sterilization of hundreds of thousands in the past eighty years. The targets of the eugenics program have in the past included ethnic minorities, the insane, criminals, loose women and occultists. In the modern day, the Breheimian Eugenics Program have largely targeted people with serious inheritable disorders and diseases.
Unemployment: As of 2017, the unemployment rate stands at 11.4%. There is a wild geographic disparity in the unemployment rate, with some areas having unemployment in the 40-50% range, while others have 3-4%. Breheimian unemployment services are overrun a large number of areas in Breheim, with some people not receiving unemployment checks until half a year into their unemployment. The government has also been accused of of providing false statistics on the number of unemployed in the country, with some think-tanks and newspapers claiming the number is as much as 19-25% per polling.
Private vs Public: Tied to unemployment, what direction the economy should go in is a contentious issue. While privatization has slowed down after the shock-therapy of 2011-2012, many Breheimians desire a return to a more interventionist state, although disagree on the specifics. Other think the state hasn't gone far enough, and should fully privatize healthcare and public utilities, some (very few) even going as far as wanting to privatize roads and police.
Privacy: Privacy remains a key issue in this election. Despite the President's attempts at reforming the system, the People's Security Bureau is still perceived as an intrusive organization by many, while being viewed as a key counter-terrorist and anti-crime measure by others. Wiretapping remains a common tool of the Bureau, and conflicts between the PSB and Breheimian Courts remain potent, despite legislature demanding judicial oversight over PSB activities. Censorship and surveillance on the relatively recently mass-accessible internet is part of this issue, with the PSB having modernized with amazing speed to investigate Breheimian activity online.
The Runmi Situation: The Runmi, an indigenous ethnic minority making up 0.7% of Breheim's total population, but a majority in one northern fylke and a significant minority throughout the far-north, has become a contentious issue this election. The failed Runmi Uprising of 2014-2016 saw the Runmi wage open war on the Breheimian state, and only brought to heel after significant concessions regarding Runmi autonomy and a few key victories by Breheimian Armed Forces. Breheimians are divided on their attitude to the Runmi, with some desiring a military crackdown and reversal of all concessions, while others view the current situation as the lesser evil.
Description: The incumbent Head of State, Vilde Gunnhildsdottir have governed Breheim for just north of three years. Vilde Gunnhildsdottir is a young woman of 34 from Storvik, the largest city in the country. Her key priorities during her presidency have been reforming the economy and tax system, strengthening social freedoms and privacy rights, and maintaining cordial international relations and strengthening international trade.
Ideology: Social Liberal
Party: Electoral Alliance of Democratic Liberalism (coalition: chiefly social-liberal, along with libertarian socialists, classical liberals and right-libertarians)
Other Parties Endorsing: Enterprise Party (Classical Liberalism), Alfartruar Circle (Alfartruar Democracy, Liberalism), Taxpayer Party (Anti-Tax), Party of Women (Feminism)
Views on Key Issues:
Eugenics: Abolish the Eugenics Program entirely, and provide financial compensation for all victims of the program.
Unemployment: Cut unemployment by implementing additional tax incentives for establishing businesses and offices in high-unemployment areas. Reform unemployment subsidies by reducing the total number of months one can receive unemployment subsidies, to make it easier for newly unemployed to get it.
Private vs Public: No nationalization, and further allow private companies to compete within healthcare, education and public utilities with the existing state-owned companies. Turn state companies within utilities into mixed-ownership businesses, with the state retaining 40-50% ownership.
Privacy: Implement a right to privacy in the constitution, and split the PSB into numerous, smaller, branches with more specified duties.
The Runmi Situation: Continue negotiations with Runmi leaders, and attempt to bridge the gap between Breheimians and Runmi. Implement limited autonomy over Runmi matters within the already devolved political system.
Description: A middle-aged military officer in the Fortifications Branch of the Armed Forces of Breheim, Jørgen Agnsvold won the Republican nomination on a platform of radical centrist dirigismé and patriotism. Unlike many high-ranking members of the recently founded Republican Party, Agnsvold have never been a member of a political party in the past.
Ideology: None self-claimed, described as a National-Conservative.
Party: Republican Party of Breheim (republicanism, secularism, radical centrist)
Other Parties Endorsing: Modern Labour Party (third-way social-democracy), Car Owner's Party (car owner interests), Hunter's Party (hunter's rights), For the Fatherland! (patriotism, social justice).
Views on Key Issues:
Eugenics: Is in favour of reforming the Eugenics Program into a voluntary institution, offering monetary compensation for sterilization of most of the groups currently put under the eugenics program before the moratorium.
Unemployment: Invest heavily in the areas most affected by unemployment through public works and establishment of public utilities such as new power stations, while reforming the unemployment system overall with streamlined application processes.
Private vs Public: Is in favour of nationalizing some companies privatized in the shock-therapy of 2011-2012, mainly within infrastructure, public utilities, social housing and finances. Opposes any further privatization.
Privacy: Is in favour of curtailing the power of the PSB through forcing them to comply with existing legislation on judicial oversight, but is otherwise in favour of a balance between security and privacy that slightly favour security.
The Runmi Situation: Considers the situation untenable, and that the Runmi must be immediately brought back to the Breheimian nation-state. Believes autonomy for every minority group out there will result in the disintegration of the nation.
Description: A middle-aged man with parents of foreign origin, Frederik Owusu has led the Socialist Worker's Party for the past four years, taking power after disastrous losses of public support under the syndicalist Grim Trane and the reformist Nils Magnussen. He has experience serving as a cabinet member, and is noted for his enthusiastic style.
Ideology: Social-Democrat
Party: Socialist Worker's Party (social-democracy, democratic socialism)
Other Parties Endorsing: International Socialists in Breheim (trotskyism)
Views on Key Issues:
Eugenics: Is in favour of ending the moratorium on eugenics and continuing the program, but reforming it in order to lengthen the process and granting those subject to eugenics more rights to appeal the decision.
Unemployment: Supports increasing funding towards unemployment subsidies, and the creation of new manufacturing and public sector jobs throughout the country, but especially in high-unemployment areas.
Private vs Public: Is in favour of nationalizing some sectors privatized during the shock therapy, including renewing government monopolies within infrastructure, healthcare, education, public utilities (including electricity production). Supports renewing some state-involvement in heavy industry and finances, and a state-run mining sector.
Privacy: Supports the People's Security Bureau in their difficult task of safeguarding the Breheimian People. Wants to reduce some of the judicial limitations put in place on the PSB, but also wants to strengthen enforcement of those restrictions.
The Runmi Situation: Supports the status quo with increased autonomy for the Runmi, but opposes any suggestion of outright independence
Description: An old man, becoming 71 during the election campaign, Stein Fredriksen is the long-running leader of the Communist Party of Breheim, the largest party within the Alliance of Radical Socialists and Farmers, and a retired mining foreman and trade union firebrand. Fredriksen has declared this to be the last election he contests before allowing younger forces to 'continue the struggle against capitalism and oppression'.
Ideology: Communist, socially conservative
Party: Alliance of Radical Socialists and Farmers (coalition: revolutionary socialism, agrarianism, left-wing nationalism)
Other Parties Endorsing: Socialist Party (trotskyism), National-Bolshevik Party (national-bolshevism), The Elves Are Coming For Us Now Party! (anti-menelmacar)
Views on Key Issues:
Eugenics: Favours an end to eugenics, financial compensation for all victims and imprisonment of the "architects of eugenics".
Unemployment: Supports the direct creation of jobs in relation to the number of unemployed within state-run industries, and subsidies for self-employment and cooperatives. Supports increasing funding to the welfare offices to deal with the influx of unemployed.
Private vs Public: Is in favour of nationalization of almost all industries privatized during the shock-therapy, with the end-result of a Breheimian state responsible for the commanding heights of the economy, in addition to mining, heavy industry and retail. Opposes privatization on principle.
Privacy: Supports dividing the PSB into multiple organizations, limiting its potential for abuse of its power. Supports judicial oversight before surveillance can be committed.
The Runmi Situation: Supports Runmi self-determination, up to and including independence if a majority of Runmi desire it.
Description: A middle-aged woman from Bjørnborg, Vestøy, Eva Tormodsdottir is the presidential candidate of the United Autonomist Party, a loose coalition of regionalist and separatist parties within Breheim. She works in the shipping industry, and is a former trade union organizer.
Ideology: Regionalist/Federalist, social-conservative
Party: United Autonomist Party (coalition: regionalism, localism)
Other Parties Endorsing: None.
Views on Key Issues:
Eugenics: Favours leaving eugenics up to the Storfylker/States, but personally supports it for the criminally insane and those with severe inheritable diseases.
Unemployment: Supports letting the communities themselves put in place measures, with little aid from the central state. Supports leaving a higher degree of money within the fylker to combat unemployment.
Private vs Public: Is not in favour of the central state running anything except justice and legislation, really, but supports the rights of regional governments to nationalize and to run public utilities and infrastructure.
Privacy: Supports abolishing the People's Security Bureau, and strengthening individual rights to privacy in the constitution.
The Runmi Situation: Supports Runmi autonomy and independence.
Description: A relatively young man, 32, who heads the presidential ticket of the United People's Party. The UPP was once the second-largest party in Breheim, but has fallen on hard times since their implementation of the shock therapy following electoral victory in 2011. Arne Torsen has managed to attain more popularity than his party, as he is unaffiliated with the Lars Sebastiansen government that implemented the shock therapy.
Ideology: Liberal-Conservative
Party: United People's Party (liberal-conservative, social-conservative)
Other Parties Endorsing: Party of Christ (Christian Democracy), Future Party (Social-Conservative)
Views on Key Issues:
Eugenics: Favours a continuation of the old eugenics program, but coupled with a higher degree of support for children of 'pure' families.
Private vs Public: Favours the state increasing regulation on the private sector in certain industries, primarily finances and infrastructure. Supports a higher degree of state-private cooperation projects rather than strictly private and strictly state sectors.
Privacy: Supports strengthening enforcement of judicial oversight on PSB activities, but otherwise leans towards security over privacy.
The Runmi Situation: Supports a gradual re-integration of the Runmi into the Breheimian State.
Mons Ternavik of the Patriots of Breheim (Nationalist)
Bent Høyer independent (Environmentalist)
Geir Gerhardsen of the Free Liquor Party (Satirical)
Ragnar Ragnarsen of the Old Customs Party (Pagan Conservatism)
Ragnar Jernfjord of the Freedom Party (Right-Libertarianism)
Ine Andersen of the Communist Front of Breheim (Maoist)
Harald Vervik of the National Front (National-Socialist)
Fredrik Isaksen of the Common Sense Party (Populist)
Tyr Fleischer of the White Patriotic Labour Front (Strasserist)
Anne-Line Torsteinsdottir of the Socialist Party (Trotskyist)
Mattias Fokksrud of the Breheimians For Dictatorship (Satirical)
Karl Amadeus Preben Oskar Quernvik of the Breheimians for Monarchy and Tradition (Monarchist)
Bent Høyer independent (Environmentalist)
Geir Gerhardsen of the Free Liquor Party (Satirical)
Ragnar Ragnarsen of the Old Customs Party (Pagan Conservatism)
Ragnar Jernfjord of the Freedom Party (Right-Libertarianism)
Ine Andersen of the Communist Front of Breheim (Maoist)
Harald Vervik of the National Front (National-Socialist)
Fredrik Isaksen of the Common Sense Party (Populist)
Tyr Fleischer of the White Patriotic Labour Front (Strasserist)
Anne-Line Torsteinsdottir of the Socialist Party (Trotskyist)
Mattias Fokksrud of the Breheimians For Dictatorship (Satirical)
Karl Amadeus Preben Oskar Quernvik of the Breheimians for Monarchy and Tradition (Monarchist)
