2022 Caldish General Election [IC|Closed]

[The Kingdom of Glitter]

OOC - Please do not post in this thread. All posts are IC, and are in the regional canon of the Kylaris region

2022 Caldish General Election
12 June 2022

The 2022 Caldish general election to elect members to the 34th Legislature is scheduled for 12 June, 2022. All 399 seats in the unicameral Tionól are up for election. Posts in this thread reflect events in 2022 that proceed the official campaign, which begins on 12 May, the official campaign period, and the process of government formation after the campaign.

Timetable
11 May 2022 - This is the last day that parties and/or candidates can be registered with the Caldish Electoral Board.
12 May 2022 - The 33rd Legislature is dissolved and the Tionól enters recess as the official campaign begins.
5 June 2022 - This is the last day members of the public could register to vote.
12 June 2022 - Election day.
29 June 2022 - The 34th Legislature is seated and begins conducting business. It's officers are elected. This is the soonest date a government could be instated by the Tionól.

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CAOIMHÍN Ó DUBHTHAIGH: Our corrupt and desperate politicians have failed us and have left us with a pitiful excuse for a ‘nation state’

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• Corruption at the highest levels of the Mac Suibhne government proves they have failed us.
• The socialist left’s wokism and a tax and spend agenda is eroding our society.
• The spineless and disgraced Liberty Party has left us in a pitiful position.
• Our politics must change in order for Caldia to remain the country we love.

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BY CAOIMHÍN Ó DUBHTHAIGH
PUBLISHED: 30 January 2022

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Mac Suibhne promised us a new era in Caldish politics, we got more back-room dealing and wokism.

The past few weeks have been devastating for anyone who loves this country. We have witnessed the hypocrisy of the woke do-gooders in the Mac Suibhne government on full display. With one of our fumbling leader’s closest allies in the hot seat over corruption, we now see that our main parties cannot be trusted with good governance.

The rise of the Social Democratic Party in 2019 was centered around ethical, transparent governance that would follow the letter of the law. Enter Gearóid Mac Mhaighstir, the radical anti-jobs labour minister.

Mac Mhaighstir is among Mac Suibhne’s oldest partners. The two worked together as major leaders in their trade union and have since teamed-up to redefine their party as a powerful, socialist force that would hike taxes and spending.

Now it has been revealed that Mac Mhaighstir has been systematically forcing out anyone who stands in his way of killing jobs with his regulations. If it weren’t for the gross hypocrisy, I would be thanking him.

Many of those he has pushed out were appointed by the Liberty Party, who gleefully cheered as thousands of jobs were shipped overseas so that children could perform them at slave wages. Liberty has shown its true colors and been a national disgrace since Alastrí Nic Ualtair ⁊ Ní Deoradh ended her run as taoiseach.

The socialists promised an end to their inept corruption, that left us with several former Liberty ministers - and of course Casarnach himself - sitting in prison cells.

It appears Mac Mhaighstir wishes to join Casarnach behind bars. His gross, gobby conduct is hardly befitting of his office. He must go.

And if he doesn’t, the Caldish electorate must ensure he does come June. If they keep him around until then, Mac Suibhne and the rest of his woke, leftist cabal would also all deserve to be out of a job.

What we are witnessing now is the gross failure of our elites in real time. These are people who do not care about the average person in this country. They show it through their insanely illegal conduct, their blatant hypocrisy, and their total disregard for hard-working taxpayers by setting their money on fire.

They have left us all in a pathetic state. We continue to see Liberty flounder. There is an election in June and the party lacks a leader. Hell, it lacks direction. They are a pathetic excuse for opposition and all but ensure that Mac Suibhne and his woke warriors will be returned against our will. What good does Liberty’s austerity bring us?

Mac Suibhne sets money on fire with his woke endeavors and Liberty cheers on as spending is gutted. There must be a middle ground between these two extremes. Both parties have left the hard-working people in this country behind. They actively inflict harm everyday people, with tax burdens, dreadful public services, and back-room dealing to advance their own interests.

The politics of the past have failed us. We need something new, before we are left with nothing. The left and the right are too entangled in their
bitter ideological feud to deliver. Those who love this country, who work hard, who want a better future for their children must stand up. We must make ourselves heard and send them - all of them - packing.

[The Kingdom of Glitter]

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As Liberty prepares to elect its next leader, here are the most likely candidates
Updated / Monday, 7 February 2022 12:36
POLITICS by Seamus Mac Ceallaigh

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SPÁLGLEANN – The Liberty Party is gearing up to hold its much anticipated party conference this weekend, running from Friday the 11th through Sunday the 13th. Party delegates will meet to elect the successor to Pádraig Mac Piarais, who stepped down in August.

The party has been in limbo since, with a lot of behind the scenes maneuvering between the Liberty’s factions. Acting leader Seárlas Bácaeir, who comes from the party’s traditionally conservative wing, has appeared to give in to the party’s more moderate faction by calling a conference on such short notice.

According to party sources, Liberty’s more centrist factions are hoping that the surprise conference will prevent thousands of conservative delegates from attending.

All current and former elected officials at a national and local level are invited to the conference as delegates. This typically tilts the conference to the right, due to the sheer number of conservatives left over from the neoliberal period the party experienced from the 1980s into the early 2000s.

There is speculation that, before a new leader is chosen, the party will change its conventions to select its leader. Moderates are disillusioned with the current protocols. With much of the conservative electorate now consistently supporting the National Party, centrists are looking to give the Liberty Party a more liberal direction.

It is to be seen if their approach works.

MEET THE CANDIDATES?

Below is a list of the most likely candidates to pursue the leadership of the Liberty Party. Some have already announced, some are preparing to announce, and some are clouded by speculation.

Sadhbh Akhtar

Speculation has mounted that Sadhbh Akhtar, Spálgleann’s former Chief Mayor, will launch a bid for the party leadership. His campaign would reflect a major shift in the Liberty Party’s direction, which has struggled with issues of multiculturalism. He currently serves as a member of the Spálgleann City Council and previously led the body as its president. His executive and legislative experience is one that has appeared to some. Some close confidants of former Taoiseach ​​Simi Ó Raghallaigh are reported to see Akhtar as the right choice to lead the party. However, there is no official indication that he is planning to launch a bid.

Seárlas Bácaeir

Liberty’s acting leader since August, Seárlas Bácaeir has attempted to provide the party with direction through uncertain times. He has led the party in the post Mac Piarais months. Many of the party’s senior operatives resigned in the lead up to Mac Piarais’s exit, which has left Bácaeir with his share of challenges. He is the one who announced that the party would be holding the conference. As acting leader, he is in a position to launch a leadership bid but has not indicated that he intends to do so. The former mayor of Invertwinc, Bácaeir has extensive experience in local politics but is not as well versed in national politics. He is not presently a member of the Tionól and has not been able to fully establish himself as a leader for the divided party.

Amhlaoibh na Dùnphris

The former taoiseach, who set the record for the shortest term in office, Amhlaoibh na Dùnphris is speculated to be considering a run. He has since left politics and shown no official signs of wading back into the fray. However, some sources close to na Dùnphris speculate he may have some more fight in him.

Damháin Mac Anndaidh

Representing the established Nic Ualtairwing of the party, Damháin Mac Anndaidh has announced he will contest the party’s leadership and hopes to bring the party back to its former prosperity. He served as Minister of Finance for Alastrí Nic Ualtair ⁊ Ní Deoradh. He is not currently active in politics, having worked for several think tanks and financial institutions since leaving office in 2017. Mac Anndaidh was a close ally of Nic Ualtair, whose term as Euclean President is set to end later this year. His victory could represent a shift back to the party’s former policies, with the hope of bringing back the political dominance it once enjoyed.

Deaglán Mac Colla

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Having led Liberty’s parliamentary group since June, Deaglán Mac Colla is seen as one of the two acting leaders of the party. He has assumed the de facto office of leader of the opposition. Mac Colla has struggled to establish himself in opposition to the popular Mac Suibhne government, but was able to effectively pressure the government over its tax proposals in November. He is said to be considering a bid, but is weighing his options. A source close to Mac Colla claimed that he is interested in pursuing one of the Tionól’s deputy speaker positions should Áine Nic Gille stand for the leadership.

Áine Nic Gille

As the Second Leas-Cheann Comhairle, Áine Nic Gille is one of Liberty’s biggest names. She enjoys wide support among the party’s legislative group. Nic Gille also came out against Mac Piarais and pressured him to resign. This was considered a tipping point for Mac Piarais’ ability to remain in office. She has not made an announcement yet, but is said to be preparing to launch in the coming days. She is among the younger potential candidates and is the only woman said to be interested in the job, an usual case in Caldish politics. Nic Gille is seen as a consensus builder and a unifying figure for the parliamentary group. Behind the scenes supporters of Nic Gille hope she is able to do this for the party at large.

Roibeard Ó Catháin

The once popular mayor turned minister, Roibeard Ó Catháin is hoping to restore his political fortunes along with those of his party. He announced his intention to stand for the leadership content shortly after the conference was scheduled. He was Spálgleann’s Chief Mayor from 2010 until 2017 when he waded into national politics. He was immediately named to the cabinet by Ó Raghallaigh and eventually served as Foreign Minister. Under his failed leadership bid in 2018, he served as Minister of Culture for Prion Casarnach until he was sacked for disagreements with the taoiseach. He has continued to serve as a TC representing Spálgleann and has stated he intends to challenge the Social Democratic Party in their urban bastions.

Íarla Ó Corráin

Representing the Casarnach and Mac Piarais conservative wing of the party, Íarla Ó Corráin is standing in order to bring the party back to the right. With the National Party successfully eating away at Libertys support among conservatives, Ó Corráin wants to stop the bleeding and re-establish Liberty as a big-tent party for the Caldish right. It is to be seen if this is possible. Mac Piarais attempted this but ended up isolating the party’s moderate factions. Ó Corráin runs the same risk if he leans too much into the Casarnach-Mac Piarais strain of conservatism.

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LIBERTY TAPS MODERATE Nic GILLE FOR LEADERSHIP, ENDING MONTHS OF UNCERTAINTY

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Áine Nic Gille, one of the Liberty Party's top legislators, wants to give the party new direction.

By RÓNÁN Ó DUBHGHAILL

14 February 2022 at 9:22 a.m. EST

After months without an official party leader, the Liberty Party has named Áine Nic Gille, a deputy speaker of the Tionól, to lead them as the party gears up for the upcoming general election.

Nic Gille, 37, formally succeeds Pádraig Mac Piarais as party leader. Mac Piarais resigned in August after intense pressure from party rank and file, including figures like Nic Gille. The party has until now been led by Seárlas Bácaeir on an acting basis, who called this weekend’s party conference to pick a new leader.

As a member of the party’s moderate wing who is popular with the party’s legislative group, Nic Gille represents a shift away from the conservative direction of the Liberty Party that has persisted for the past few years.

Since 2019, she has served as the Second Leas-Cheann Comhairle, a leading role in the Tionól that has allowed her to establish herself as a consensus builder. Nic Gille is expected to shift the party away from the conservative right and back towards the liberal center, back towards old positions that allowed the party to dominate Caldish politics for over a decade.

This shift was a central theme of her candidacy for Liberty’s top job.

“It is time for our party to move away from the mistakes of the past and re-establish ourselves as a party that stands for its values. To me, these values are equal opportunity, the rule of law, and fiscal responsibility. These have been lacking the past few years, and voters are looking for direction” Nic Gille told a news conference after her victory.

The party’s moderate wing, which attended the conference with significant numbers, rallied behind Nic Gille early on. Many names, including former Spálgleann Chief Mayor Sadhbh Akhtar, who was speculated to launch a bid for the top job, endorsed the Second Leas-Cheann Comhairle in the run up to the conference. Many of the party’s sitting TCs put their support behind Nic GIlle as well.

After the second ballot, when it became a two-way race between Nic Gille and conservative Íarla Ó Corráin, support for her increased further. Damháin Mac Anndaidh, a former finance minister who stood for party leader, endorsed Nic Gille. Notable was a lack of endorsement from Roibeard Ó Catháin, who was out of the contest after the first ballot.

Nic Gilles' victory over Ó Corráin, a former minister for Prion Casarnach and Amhlaoibh na Dùnphris, solidified the moderate wing’s takeover. The last stand of Liberty’s conservtive wing was not enough, as the party has bled the conservative vote to the National Party for some time.

Mac Piarais’ failure to blunt the rise of the conservative National Party put Liberty in a tough spot. Recognizing this, Nic Gilles seems keen on abandoning the conservative vote and focusing on winning over the support of moderate middle class voters.

She said that fighting additional tax increases and major spending increases would be a top priority. Since 2019, the ruling Social Democratic Party has ended the popular flat rate for the income tax.

“It is important to me as the leader of the Liberty Party that we take a stand on this issue. That we stand up to the socialist tax and spend agenda. When it comes to the issue of fiscal responsibility, I will always speak out when necessary to advocate for what is in the best interests of the people of this country” she said.

The party’s recent turmoil has raised concerns about its prospects for the 12 June election. Nic Gille is set to rebuild the party. Sources close to her indicate that there will be major changes made with the party’s internal structure, building on the recent changing of the party’s procedures to elect its leader.

Before electing Nic Gille, the party voted to change its process for picking a leader. It took power away from party delegates, all former and current elected officials, and placed it in the hands of incumbents. The move was criticized by conservatives, but the short notice given for the party conference on a holiday weekend prevented high turnout among the party’s conservative wing.

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[The Kingdom of Glitter]

Caoimhín Ó Dubhthaigh, journalist and television personality, announces formation of political party
Updated / Friday, Feb 18 2022 16:41
Politics by Loughlin Mac Aodhagáin

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Journalist Caoimhín Ó Dubhthaigh has announced his intent to register a new political party to contest the,
June election hoping to carve out spot for his brand of politics.

SPÁLGLEANN – Caoimhín Ó Dubhthaigh, a well-known journalist and television personality, announced this morning that he will register a new political party in the run up to June's general election. The new party, to be known as the Caoimhín Ó Dubhthaigh Party, has filed paperwork with the Caldish Electoral Board in order to begin gathering signatures to appear on June's ballot.

Ó Dubhthaigh held a launch event with supporters this morning where he made the announcement.

"This represents a new direction for Caldish politics. Our leading parties have failed us and it is time for the hardworking people of this country to band together and demand better. That is what my party will represent" he said.

The former broadcaster who is now a columnist with An Laethúil, one of the nation's leading tabloids, has been a vocal critical of the governing Social Democratic Party and the opposition Liberty Party. He has accused both parties of serving special interests and leaving the middle and working classes to fend for themselves. Of particular concern for Ó Dubhthaigh has been government corruption, for which he has been critical of both parties.

"The fat-cats who govern our country are self-serving and beholden to radical, woke interest groups. Mac Suibhne says he stands up for working people, yet he is actively fighting against them by raising taxes and killing jobs. The Liberty Party is even more hopeless, they are a shell of a party that will always live in the shadows of the scandal and corruption of Ó Raghallaigh and Casarnach".

Ó Dubhthaigh states that his new party will be a big-tent movement that crosses the ideological spectrum. Its claimed purpose will be to fight tax increases, oppose immigration, target government spending to support Caldish citizens, protect jobs, and push for transparent governance and anti-corruption measures.

The party is being established on the heels of the Liberty Party's conference where it chose its new leader, Áine Nic Gille. Nic Gille, one of Liberty's most senior lawmakers, represents a more moderate approach to politics than her recent predecessors. Ó Dubhthaigh is looking to capitalize off of this while also criticizing Liberty for past scandals. He has been similarly critical of the PSD, for whom the labour minister has also caused scandal.

25,000 signatures from Caldish voters must be collected before 12 May in order for the party to be registered and granted ballot access for the June general election. Ó Dubhthaigh said he is in the process of hiring party operatives and indicated that signatures will be collected in the coming weeks.

A POLITICAL NEWCOMER

While Caoimhín Ó Dubhthaigh's name has long been a fixture of Caldish politics, he was always on the outside. The journalist turned politician has been a fixture in Caldish media for over two decades. He first emerged nationally after the scandal surrounding Elton II following his dismissal of Niamh Nic Uilliam as taoiseach. He then became a presenter for GBF News, headling several programs until his departure in 2016.

Ó Dubhthaigh found conflict with his former employer over his vocal opposition to immigration. This led him to noteworthy conflicts with guests on his programs, drawing negative attention from viewers and company executives. He spent two years outside of media, working for a series of political think tanks and interest groups. He eventually returned to journalism in mid 2018 when he was brought on as a guest columnist by An Laethúil. Ó Dubhthaigh was made a permeant columnist in 2022 and has become one of the tabloid's most printed commentators.

While An Laethúi facilitated his return to media, it took him longer to re-establish his presence as a political commentator. Throughout 2021, he began to receive invites to various news and politics programs across the Caldish networks.

Ó Dubhthaigh remains a newcomer to the actual politics scene and is looking to break out big in June. Drops in support for the governing PSD and historic lows for the Liberty Party potentially create an opening for him. His messaging has appeal to supporters for both parties, tapping into populist sentiments that have gone untouched since the collapse of the Free Market Party in 2018.

While he is a major name in Caldish political media, Ó Dubhthaigh is not without his enemies. As a political novice, he may find it difficult to establish himself, hire seasoned party operatives or recruit talented candidates to stand in the June election. He also faces a time crunch, with less than four months until election day.

However, Ó Dubhthaigh also has some potential allies and sources of more established political support. After the dissolution of the populist, anti-immigrant PMSA, many of its former party operatives have since sat on the sidelines. Ó Dubhthaigh has also signaled he is interested in collaborating with smaller, like-minded parties. These already established parties could provide Ó Dubhthaigh with the political logistics he needs, while they benefit from his name and national profile. It is to be seen if this approach will work in his favor, as established parties may be skeptical that Ó Dubhthaigh will want to call the shots.

His entry into party politics has potential to shift the direction of the campaign. Ó Dubhthaigh is looking to have a big impact this election cycle and this is something other parties will be mindful of.

[The Kingdom of Glitter]

Mac SUIBHNE GOVERNMENT FACES FIRST TRUE CRISIS OF CONFIDENCE AS SUPPORT DROPS
Following a close ally's scandal, fights with working drivers, and a reinvigorated opposition, Stiofán Mac Suibhne sees support drip away.
27 February 2022 | Gráinne Fitzpatrick

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Both Taoiesach Stiofán Mac Suibhne and his party have seen significant drops in support.

IT has been long in the making, but the government of Stiofán Mac Suibhne is facing its first real test as support for the ruling Social Democratic Party drops to new lows. Voters have stomached tax increase after tax increase with a hopeless opposition. However, things have begun to shift. The PSD is faced with a series of politics threats. A high-profile minister's unethical activities, an ongoing battle with rideshare drivers over the services they provide, and big shifts among the opposition leave Mac Suibhne in his weakest place since his 2019 landslide. For the first time, the PSD is facing a crisis of confidence.

Per a TRN/G TaV poll published last evening, the PSD is polling at just over 33%. The Liberty Party, with their newly minted leader Áine Nic Gille at the party's helm, saw their strongest showing since April 2021, clocking nearly 21% support. While the PSD maintains close to a 12% lead over Liberty, the party has lost almost 16% in support since the February 2019 election.

This is the first poll to come out following Nic Gille's selection as leader, putting political pressure on a government that has been dogged with a scandal surrounding one of Mac Suibhne's closest allies. Gearóid Mac Mhaighstir, the Minister of Labour, has been accused of coaxing and/or forcing agency officials out of their posts in order to replace them with more radical candidates that he hand-picked. After leaving their offices in the agencies Mac Mhaighstir oversees, many landed new and well-paying jobs at the state oil company, PRG, Government critics, good governance advocates, and opposition parties have called for an independent investigation into Mac Mhaighstir's behavior for several weeks. The Independent Review Board, the nation's top government watchdog body, has not yet picked up the case but has released a series of statements confirming that it is looking into the matter. To this day, the labour minister denies any wrong-doing despite reporting that indicates otherwise. His prominence and close association with Mac Suibhne has certainly caused problems for the government, especially since the PSD ran on an anti-corruption message in 2019. While Mac Suibhne was always upfront about his tax and spend agenda, Mac Mhaighstir's corruption is a betrayal of the electorate's trust.

There are other compounding issues causing series problems for the PSD. In Spálgleann, the decision to effectively outlaw the rideshare industry has caused issues for the national government. Drivers, whose entire industry was essentially banned overnight, have been staging protests for weeks. Some of these efforts have worked to disrupt commuting, causing anger for working people. Mac Suibhne and the national government threw their support behind the city government's decision to kill jobs, accusing rideshare company Voyage of engaging in illegal political activities by supporting demonstrating drivers. The image of killing jobs and harming working people is not one that bodes well for a taoiseach who claims to be their champion.

As these issues flare up for the government, the opposition is revealing in the fact that there is finally direction. Liberty's new leader, the moderate Nic Gille, marks a clear departure from Liberty's recent troubles. She is working to correct the course and her selection as leader has clearly boosted the party, who has seen support go up since its conference earlier this month. She is committed to lowering taxes, promising to pushback against any future attempts the PSD will make the raise taxes any further and to do away with several increases already made. Her moderate approach to many issues is a challenge for Mac Suibhne, who often viewed as more of an ideologue. Nic Gille is sure to appeal to middle class voters, the kingmaker of the Caldish electorate, who abandoned Liberty in 2019. Liberty also faces a political threat in Caoimhín Ó Dubhthaigh, whose new economic populist party seeks to eat away at the PSD's support among the working class.

With all of this ongoing, it is clear why the PSD has lost support in recent polls. Mac Suibhne has also taken a serious hit to his approval rating. TRN/G TaV conducted a parallel poll that found that his approval rating is at 37%, his lowest since taking office. He is down 15 points since this time last year. This presents a serious problem for the PSD and creates an opportunity for the opposition with less than four months to election day.

It remains unlikely that Liberty will overtake the PSD in the polls given how crowded the political right is at present. However, it could be possible that centre-right parties collectively overtake the PSD. Even if that is not the case, Mac Suibhne is clearly set to lose his governing majority. The question now is: how heavy those loses will be?

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Written by Gráinne Fitzpatrick, a staff-writer for An Radacach

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[The Kingdom of Glitter]