SERRIAN PRESIDENTIAL AND CONGRESS OF DUKES ELECTION CYCLE 2017
Welcome! These will be the elections for the Serria's Congress of Dukes, the first layer of the legislative body in the government. The Congress of Dukes is a legislative body of 140 seats, having 2 seats per Diocese. There are 70 diocese, or divisions, in the Archipelago.
Some basic information about the archipelago:
GDP: ₤480,092,094,000
GDP per capita: ₤111.2k
Economic System: Capitalism
Currency Name: Lire (₤)
Conversion rate into NSD 1.36 NSD
Population: 4,325,154 (2017 Census)
Religion: 98% Catholic
This post will be divided into two parts, one for the Minister-President Elections, and one for the Congress of Dukes (obviously). Elections will be using Single Transferrable Vote (STV). Both elections have 7 candidates, one for each of the 7 parties that registered for the elections.
Congress of Dukes Elections
The Current Serrian Congress of Dukes
The parties are:
- Serrian Socialist Party (Marxist Socialist/Communist)
- Social Democracy Party (Social Democracy, ex: Sweden)
- Republican Conservative Party (Right-leaning conservatives, ex: GOP)
- A Libertarian Serria (Right-leaning libertarians)
- Status Quo Party (Centrist, don't want much change)
- Environmental Party (Environment and conservation first, centrist)
- The Party of the Order of Serria (Strict, religious, conservative, centrist)
Instructions on voting for these:
You can rank your votes, from 1-7. Rank from lowest to highest on how much you agree with the party. For example, the party you'd put in the #1 slot would be the one you most agree with, and the #2 slot the one you'd support after that. You may or may not rank all 7, or you can just write down the ones you support in order. I do suggest you read the campaign speeches as well before making your Congress of Dukes and Minister-President selections.
An example ballot (Although full names instead of acronyms would be preferred):
1. RCP
2. ALS
3. SQP
4. OoS
Minister-President Elections
Each party from the previously shown list in the Congress of Dukes' elections has sent forth a candidate for their Party. A brief statement on why you should vote for them will be shown, each from a campaign speech. The system for these elections shall also be STV, however only with one winner.
The Candidates:
Serrian Socialist Party's Giancarlo Osotone, while making a speech at a campaign rally,
"For a time, the people of this Archipelago have held in their past, and clung to what had worked personally for themselves for years. We here are all ourselves rich and wealthy, and so why should we want any change whatsoever? But I can present a reason. For each of us that there is, we are the absolute richest nation-state on the planet. But there are nations which are nearly one-hundred times poorer per person than us! We are not an island in an empty universe. Outside we are surrounded by strife, but we just turn a blind eye and ignore it. Well, I say that stops today. We may be small but we are rich, rich with what the world currently considers to be the source of power. We can truly make a difference and help drag those not nearly as fortunate as us out of poverty, and out of our own destruction that a free market has caused. With the help of the Serrian Archipelago, we can truly allow for the Workers of the World to Unite!"
Social Democracy Party's Alessandro Marino comments after being asked why he ran,
"I am here to advocate something familiar to all the citizens of the Serrian Archipelago: social democracy. These other parties all propose the 'change' and making a difference in our current system. However, we haven't seen any issues with what we use today, so why is there any need to fix it? As our Serrian ancestors have said for years, if it isn't broke, don't fix it. Our society relies on the market that has blessed us so for our entire time on this archipelago and as a nation. This system is one that the Serrian Socialist Party would have you abolish, despite its success. The many right-leaning parties, however, would see fit to remove the restrictions on our markets that allow us to prosper, favoring instead the chaos and exploitation that would surely occur. I propose a simple solution: a greater contribution to this great society that we are all in part of to preserve and protect it. Thank you."
Republican Conservative Party's Bettino Demetrio states on the trail,
"This great orderly nation has seen too much from the left. My voters and I believe that this country needs a firm renewal of our true values. The values that make us conservatives different. The recent years of social democracy have brought issues upon our nation. We may have the highest Gross Domestic Product per capita on the planet but this does not mean at all that it can last forever. We must reverse the course of this dangerous left that has gone rampant and wild on taking away our freedoms. These communist parties claim to be good, but I believe it will lead to an end in our great progress sparked by what I know to be the Conservative rule in the 1990's. These leftist parties demand we pay for everything! Fewer taxes, less socialism, more liberty!"
A Libertarian Serria's Nicolo Casimiro says at a campaign rally, standing next to his bus,
"I support Libertarianism because our inalienable rights are not up for negotiation. Our rights must be protected, and the only way to ensure that we can remain free as a people is to ensure that our government cannot encroach on our liberty. I believe that you have the right to live your life as you see fit, as if you're not hurting anyone else, you're simply exercising your liberty. And remember: Freedom, No Strings Attached!"
Status Quo Party's Sofia Moretti, standing in front of a crowd at a newly build tram station in the Capital, she declares,
"The concept of not fixing something when it is not broken is one as old as time. Yet, we ignore our roots, pursuing changes to almost everything in society. All the parties on display profess change in some way as part of their platform, yet they have no understanding of the turmoil even slight change brings. These parties all propose a significant change to the pleasant lives of all on the Serrian Archipelago, and for what? The promotion of ideology? The change will only take us from the path prosperity which we enjoy, and by the grace of our Lord, will continue to enjoy. The Social Democrats, while they may seem to promote a lack of change, would have you contribute even more money to the government, and for what cause? I, therefore, urge you to vote Status Quo Party and keep the Serrian Archipelago in a state of prosperity! Thank you!"
Environmental Party's Alfredo DiLuppo, commenting near a renewable energy facility on the main island's western coast,
"This nation has seen too many attempts to destroy our natural beauty by the industrializers and the urbanizers, for that urban sprawl monster kills every single living plant and beautifully designed creature on this island by our glorious Creator. Since the start of the party over of a quarter of a century ago, this great band of Serrians has protected and spoken out against horrible acts against the environment. We have protected this bountiful and gracious archipelago from all dangers of pollution. With our seats in this Congress, the archipelago is safe. We say, elect us again! Vote us into this Congress! For even if we shall not take the majority, the voices of Nature are hereby heard, and those of the Lord. We stand to unite those who believe that maybe, industrialization must be done carefully, and with caring eyes. I am gracious for your time, and thank you!"
The Party of the Order of Serria's Francesco Aloisio, standing in front of the archipelago's largest cathedral,
"The Order has brought this nation great prosperity as long as Serrians have occupied it. We have guarded your very ancestors for centuries, and for some even millennia. It is our sole belief and duty to protect these here groups of glorious and benevolent Islands with the help of our Lord, and with His divine help, this Holy Archipelago may survive for eternity. These dioceses, may they follow the path of the Lord, and stick true to the democracy and neutrality in the world's chaos that has kept out lands free of war for centuries. May we pride ourselves on the fact that our nation has never declared war first, but only defended its land from imperialist and incoming invaders, whilst still giving to the man who needs help. Even today our organization spans across the globe in our Black and White ships, bringing aid and love to those who are less fortunate. To love, to peace, and to prosperity and freedom under our Creator! Our divine Order shall keep this island's neutrality and prosperity secure."
Those are all the candidates! Thank you for reading. To make your choices, you may do the same thing as you did with the Congress of Dukes. If you or if you don't change your opinions on which party you vote for in Congress and for the Minister-President, please separate them. The vote shall last until December 8th, 2017, at 00:00 Eastern Time (GMT/UTC -5). Thank you, and please vote!
