IFC Council (IC)

[United States of Devonta]

The United States of Devonta votes AYE to Resolutions #0 and #1!

[Libraria and Ausitoria]

IFC GENERAL ELECTIONS - DECEMBER 2015

In the proper tradition of elections, I am pleased to provide for the start of the IFC General Elections to elect a new Prime Minister. The official governance structure of the IFC is currently undergoing legislative review. The Prime Minister carries various duties and responsibilities and additionally appoints the members of the IFC Cabinet. Please vote ICly in the IFC Council Thread. Thank you.

IFC COUNCIL
VOTING ENDS 23:59 PM (GMT) Dec 16, 2015 (provisional date)
Remember to only vote for one member!

List of Candidates
-Feng (Deian Salazar)
-Libraria and Ausitoria (running with Novo Wagondia)
-Shazbotdom

(Alphabetical Order, and, coincidentally, order of announcements).

Voting Ballot:

Code: Select all

[box][size=110]For position of Prime Minister of the International Freedom Coalition, I officially vote for: [b]COUNTRY NAME[/b][/size][/box]

[Libraria and Ausitoria]

Hopefully that helps. It would probably best if we all refresh voter's minds with our campaign platforms. Good luck to all my fellow contenders!

[Brytene]

For position of Prime Minister of the International Freedom Coalition, I officially vote for: LA&A

[Inyourfaceistan]

For position of Prime Minister of the International Freedom Coalition, I officially vote for: Lib&Aus

[The Lendol Archipelago]

For position of Prime Minister of the International Freedom Coalition, I officially vote for: Libraria and Ausitoria

[West Aurelia]

For position of Prime Minister of the International Freedom Coalition, I officially vote for: Libraria and Ausitoria

[Krjder]

"The Krïdan Empire does not endorse any of the candidates running and, as a result shall abstain from voting."

[Flardania]

For position of Prime Minister of the International Freedom Coalition, I officially vote for: Libraria and Ausitoria

[United States of Conner]

For position of Prime Minister of the International Freedom Coalition, I officially vote for: Libraria and Ausitoria.

[Novo Wagondia]

For position of Prime Minister of the International Freedom Coalition, I officially vote for: Libraria and Ausitoria

[Aravea]

"The Union of Aravean Republics does not endorse nor support any of the current candidates, as we feel they are not in line with this organization's founding principles. With suxh sentiments in mind the UAR hereby abstains from voting."

[Flardania]

"The Union of Aravean Republics does not endorse nor support any of the current candidates, as we feel they are not in line with this organization's founding principles. With suxh sentiments in mind the UAR hereby abstains from voting."

"The Kirishinan delegate ask our ally to please explain why they go against the principles to help voters be informed, thank you."

[Aravea]

"The Union of Aravean Republics does not endorse nor support any of the current candidates, as we feel they are not in line with this organization's founding principles. With suxh sentiments in mind the UAR hereby abstains from voting."

"The Feng Empire is concerned with this and it's ambassador asks if Aravea will continue to serve in the alliance if a candidate it does not support wins the election, as this may also strain Feng-Aravean relations which is undesirable."

"The Feng Empire needn't concern itself with the UAR's continued membership in the IFC, as we have no intention of departing the IFC at the current moment. Rather it is our intention to fulfill our obligations as speaker to ensure that whichever candidate is elected comes to understand and follow the principles under which the alliance was chartered. With regards to Feng-Aravean relations, the Aravean ambassador would like to remind the Feng Empire that the UAR, while concerned with recent Fengese policy shifts, will nonetheless continue to strive for strong relations with your country."

[Libraria and Ausitoria]

With some regret, I rather suspect the Aravean delegation is barking up the wrong tree. We think that they have forgotten the founding principles, never mind what the alliance currently seems to stand for.

It is our intention to go back to the founding principles.

The International Freedom Coalition should be what it says in the name and in the package. International, i.e. nations working together. Free, i.e. broadly democratic and protective of liberty. And a Coalition, i.e. a political and military alliance.

As it says in the OP:

The IFC's essential purpose is to safeguard the freedom and security of its members through political and military means.The IFC believes in democratic values and encourages consultation and cooperation on defense and security issues to build trust and, in the long run, prevent conflict. The IFC is committed to the peaceful resolution of disputes. If diplomatic efforts fail, it has the military capacity (Rapid Reaction Force) needed to undertake crisis-management operations. The Rapid Reaction Force is a force composed of military contributions of fellow IFC members - it serves to directly aid in the defense of member-states. This alliance is committed to the principle that an attack against one or several members is considered as an attack against all. The Core Tasks of the Alliance are collective defense, crisis-management and cooperative security. In all, the IFC stands as a security organization for moderate nations that values democracy and freedom. We stand as an alliance opposed to extremism, authoritarianism, terrorism, and communism. We accept countries into the alliance who similarly value these ideals and strive for a society that is based on the principles of freedom, liberty, and democratic governance. The IFC stands as a premier and respected global military alliance.

And as it has said repeatedly in recent legislation:

The Council hereby:

Section 1: The Principles of the International Freedom Coalition

1. Declares its abhorrence of egregious acts of violence and crimes against humanity, including acts of genocide, torture, and mass attacks upon civilians,
2. Declares its allegiance to the principles of liberty and self-determination, in all times and in all places,
3. Declares its commitment to actively support the security of the free world

My security platform - defence and foreign affairs - has been worked out in some detail, and is not only absolutely compatible with these principles, but is perhaps more genuinely balanced than those of all other recent governments. We plan to engage in:

Defence plans:
(a) Standardization of Equipment for those interested, e.g. ammunition
(b) Joint Military Development Programmes
(c) Reformation of the RRF and organized combat units
(d) Military exercises and interventions

Foreign Affairs plans:
(a) New inter-alliance RPing opportunities, including by joint meetings and schemes in areas such as trade
(b) A newly active and interventionist approach to foreign policy
(c) Development of the relationship between the IFC and SACTO with a special SACTO-IFC joint members committee

For working with nations for the spread of liberty, there is no shortage of plans:

(a) a special RPing committee with widely experienced RPers to help develop RP ideas
(b) an OOC RP Secretary position with responsibilities for OOC management
(c) a special Admissions board to enable ultra-fast responses to admissions requests
(d) special Ministers as required for specific programmes and organizations (e.g. humanitarian aid, scientific collaboration projects)
(e) meetings at weekends to bring out the most active members and ensure a fresh supply of new ideas
(f) a mentor program between experienced RPers and new members
(g) RPs entirely for the purpose of honing the skills of the less experienced IFC members
(h) Raising project funds, e.g. military, humanitarian, development, and aid fundraisers
(i) Developing economic connectivity in trade and industry
(j) Organizing and supporting members involved in extra-alliance economic schemes, initiatives, e.g. in infrastructure
(k) Supporting the presence of IFC businesses in the GE&T forums
(l) Speeding the applications process
(m) Encouraging participation in IFC debates and an informed, inclusive government
(n) Working with the Speaker to introduce special sessions to question the Prime Minister and Cabinet members
(o) Supporting member-led initiatives and projects, particularly RP ideas

It is all, indisputably, guided by the words 'International' 'Freedom' 'Coalition': i.e. Co-operation, Liberty, and Security. It is perfectly possible to have all three: indeed, they complement each other.

I think it is far to say my government, with its collaborative team, has more ideas and a more balanced, well-rounded, and detailed approach to the complexities of a multi-focused alliance than any before it - which might explain why we are winning by a landslide.

[Shazbotdom]

For position of Prime Minister of the International Freedom Coalition, I officially vote for: Libraria and Ausitoria

[Aravea]

"With a total of nine votes votes in their favor, I hereby declare Libraria and Ausitoriathe new Prime Minister of the International Freedom Coalition. Mr. Prime Minister, it is my hope that during your term you will endeavor to advance and engender the founding principles of this alliance within the international community. Furthermore, during your term I pray that you will lead this coalition to a bright and prosperous future. Best of luck and God speed to you"

[Libraria and Ausitoria]

Thank you all. Let us spread freedom.

(I can do short speeches too).

Cabinet:

After much discussion, and in view of the smooth continuum between co-ordinating IC membership affairs and communicating the wants and desires of membership, and the OOC membership collaborations involved in RPing, I have decided to treat the continuum as part of one department, under Novo Wagondia, who requested that Feng, as a General Minister, provide direct assistance.

With Aravea’s unfortunate health problems, I am constantly fearful of the number of demands I have to place on our present Speaker. The job of a Speaker is taxing to the extreme. The Speaker really needs to be able to be very active – it is very demanding and very stressful job, and people only really notice when it isn’t being done. In addition a Speaker needs to be willing to work closely with whoever is in power, whether they agree or not, so the Speaker needs to be willing to go against their own principles to serve the will of the members. A Speaker must be functionally neutral. Furthermore, the Speaker must be willing to defend the minority voice.

It is a horrendously tricky balancing act, and I have no wish to drive the government of Aravea to depression and madness adding my own barrage of demands and criticism to the barrage of demands and criticism that normally flies around the Council. I hope Aravea will be willing to continue as Vice President, an advisory cabinet post I shall be giving to members of long-standing. I am sure it would be much better and much more suitable for Aravea to communicate constructive criticism and dissent as part of the cabinet in their own time, rather than the stress of juggling everything in the Council.

Special Appointments to Cabinet:
Feng – General Minister
Lendol Archipelago – Minister for Collaboration and Special Projects
Aravea – Vice President

Ministers appointed:
New Carloso – Defence Secretary
Novo Wagondia – Membership Secretary
Flardania – Foreign Secretary

Deputy Ministers appointed:
Defence:
Organized States – with special responsibilities for military exercises and operations
Shazbotdom – with special responsibilities for the reorganization of the RRF
Foreign Affairs:
Conner – Special Ambassador to SACTO
Membership Affairs:
Feng

Other Appointments:

Other Positions:
Novo Wagondia – Chief Secretary – with special responsibility for Membership and RP opportunities
Speaker – Libraria and Ausitoria

Defence Committee Members:
New Carloso, Libraria and Ausitoria, Novo Wagondia, Organized States, Shazbotdom, Flardania

Foreign Committee Members:
Flardania, Libraria and Ausitoria, Novo Wagondia, Conner, New Carloso, Gigaverse

SACTO-IFC Committee Members:
Conner, Devonta, Libraria and Ausitoria, Novo Wagondia, Flardania, New Carloso

Treasury Committee Members:
Libraria and Ausitoria, Novo Wagondia, Lendol Archipelago, New Carloso

Membership Committee Members:
Novo Wagondia, Libraria and Ausitoria, Feng, Organized States, Lendol Archipelago

Please note these are all preliminary appointments.

[Krjder]

Brigadier Baron Joâchkim vijk Wüchshöwdeberg slowly rose to his feet. His name expression was world weary, he was tired from having been up late last night. Relations with the new Prime Minister wouldn't be easy either, from a national perspective. Not only that, questions where being asked back home as to why he hadn't been given a place on the cabinet. He sighed.
"Greetings, honourable delegates. His Excellency, His Imperial Majesty's Minister of Foreign Affairs has ordered me to withhold any form of congratulations on behalf of the Krïdan Empire."
A grin crossed the Baron's face.
"But, as one person to another Mr. Prime Minister, you have my congratulations and best wishes on the assumption of your office, I have every faith in you. I would also like to bring myself to the attention of His Excellency the Prime Minister and name him aware that I am available for a role in the cabinet. With previous military expertise and experience, a post within the Ministry of Defence would be welcome. Thank you."

[Libraria and Ausitoria]

His Royal Highness Prince Henry Terefort Kazpia, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of the Aestorian Imperial Commonwealth, and now effectively Prime Minister of the IFC Council, waltzed into the room. He was dressed, not in his customary turqoise tunic which we are all so familiar with, nor the ridiculous feathered and horned monstrosity that the previous ambassador had worn, or any of the more ridiculous dresses recently pioneered; but instead a sober elegant black and white business suit, although he did have a cheerful red tie with turqoise seals all over it. At last, Ausitoria had attention; no more did they need to go looking for it.

What would the fashion magazines be able to report on next month? Stocks and share prices plummeted.

"Thank you! I will get back to you within a few days. Does anyone have any remaining interest in the Schwanitzbrükk Officer Training College?

And, while we discuss that, Resolutions 0 and 1 passed 3-1 and 4-0, all other resolutions invalid. It is my pleasure to appoint Novo Wagondia as an additional deputy Speaker."

[Libraria and Ausitoria]

“Esteemed members,” started the Prince, clearing his throat.

“It is my pleasure to announce the creation of the Coalition Authority on Science and Technology Innovation under the Lendol Archipelago, who, having served as Science Minister in the Panessos Community for some time, has plenty of experience in the matter. I hope that there will be a number of projects that members wish to join together to research so to start with, let us brainstorm our nation’s particular scientific interests.

It is also my pleasure to announce that there are a number of tenders for standardization being planned, particularly on the question of a joint tactical air fighter, a joint multi-purpose frigate, and a joint patrol boat. If member nations can inform us if they have any particular requirements, that will help ensure suitable specifications for as many of us as possible, or, if there are clearly two camps, perhaps two standards.

Tomorrow I will make an announcement on the question of funding for all these projects. If ambassadors could perhaps make some indication of how much thei nations would be willing to donate to the Coalition, and what sort of donations, that would be very informative. For comparison other alliances tend to receive an average donation per member of $25 billion per year.

It is also my pleasure to announce the appointment of Krjder and Feng to the Defence Committee. The government list has been updated (we are searching for a suitable third Deputy Speaker to assist Aravea). At present Feng is compiling a list of ammunition standards – please do inform them of what your nation commonly uses. Krjder is pursuing a military training centre - please do inform them of the expected demands.”

Cabinet:

Libraria and Ausitoria - Prime Minister and interim Speaker
Novo Wagondia - Chief of Staff and Deputy Speaker
Aravea – Vice President
Feng – General Minister and Deputy Speaker

Defense:
New Carloso – Defence Secretary and Minister
Libraria and Ausitoria - Supreme Allied Commander
Organized States – Deputy Minister
Shazbotdom – Deputy Minister

Foreign Affairs:
Flardania – Foreign Secretary and Minister
Conner – Deputy Minister and Special Ambassador to SACTO
West Aurelia - Special Ambassador to CAPINTERN

Membership Affairs:
Novo Wagondia – Membership Secretary and Minister
Feng – Deputy Minister


Committees:


Defence Committee Members:
New Carloso, Libraria and Ausitoria, Novo Wagondia, Organized States, Shazbotdom, Flardania, Krjder, Feng

Foreign Committee Members:
Flardania, Libraria and Ausitoria, Novo Wagondia, Conner, New Carloso, West Aurelia, Gigaverse

SACTO-IFC Committee Members:
Conner, Devonta, Libraria and Ausitoria, Novo Wagondia, Flardania, West Aurelia, New Carloso

Treasury Committee Members:
Libraria and Ausitoria, Novo Wagondia, Lendol Archipelago, New Carloso

Membership Committee Members:
Novo Wagondia, Libraria and Ausitoria, Feng, Organized States, Lendol Archipelago

[Libraria and Ausitoria]

"In addition I am delighted to appoint West Aurelia to the post of Special Ambassador to CAPINTERN and membership in both the Foreign Committees."

[Krjder]

"Your Higness, Prime Minister, the Krïdan Empire will make no donation to the IFC this year to the military base being planned and the projected costs of hosting military exercises. Last night, I was having lengthy discussions with His Imperial Majesty's Ministry of Military Affairs. We have made contingency for a new military base to be created at Gleursmo, northern Kisraad. Whilst operating as a regional HQ, it will come complete with a military port with docks and dry docks for repairing and disembarking ships, from patrol frigates to aircraft carriers, destroyers to submarines. In addition to this, we will have an airbase attached, with three large runways over 3km long. This can accommodate aircraft of all types, from bombers to helicopters, gunships to fighters. And of course, there'll be a military barracks for 50,000 troops with state of the art accommodation and comfort, this comes complete with several training areas: numerous shooting ranges, CQB arenas, tank ranges and urban warfare maps.

With regards to military exercises, we hope to host these out at sea, near the islands of Sint Sigiswaald & Hendrik in the Nicean Ocean. In addition to naval warfare drills, we hope to conduct several amphibious landings on the island for some ground based war games."

[Novo Wagondia]

The Wagain delegate, the honorable César Emilio, recently appointed as deputy speaker, patiently waited his turn before responding to the Prince's comment.

"The Empire of Wagondia will be willing to contribute some $32 billion dollars to the general treasury of this coalition, though we do so with the expectation that we will use such money to expand special programs to give back to all members through ensured economic, social, and political prosperity within and between our borders. We are especially excited to hear of the inauguration of the Coalition Authority on Science and Technology Innovation, and would like to submit the city of Santa Catalina, our national capital, as a potential site for the authority's headquarters campus. We will, as a token of gratitude, be willing to fund the entirety of construction costs and ensure cooperation and open source research with premier local and national universities, corporations, and libraries, the Wagain Academy of Sciences, also located in Santa Catalina, and the great resources of our government's progress in the field of scientific innovation."

[The Lendol Archipelago]

"First of all, I would like to wish my colleagues the best and to say this, if we work together, we shall succeed. We must unite and face hardships and struggles together, as a true coalition."

Juunar's speech was off to a superb start, he hadn't prepared as much as he'd have liked to as he had been busy with everything that had popped up since he had been given his new roles. He was grateful for the opportunity to represent Lendol in the IFC in a bigger capacity and hoped to lead his fellow ambassadors to a brighter tomorrow.

"Secondly, I am pleased to be at the head of the CASTI," he continued with a slight chuckle, "working title, any feedback would be appreciated. I ask you to remember that, as in all of our endeavours, it is vital that it receives the support it deserves. My nation's experience is not enough, nor is no other single nation's, that is why I will need all the help I can get. I will of course approach individuals directly for their homeland's assistance, but for now, I am pleased to be entrusted with this role and promise to fulfil it as best as I can."

Now looking to the Krïdan delegate, he continued.
"On behalf of the IFC. I would like to express my sincerest gratitude for your future contributions, contributions that, at the very least, match the monetary contributions to be made by Lendol. I eagerly await the completion of your military base and the beginning of the war games."

Now returning to the matter of the Coalition Authority on Science and Technology Innovation, he replied to César Emilio's comment in behalf of Novo Wagondia.
"I would like to thank you, too, and I am sure that your contributions to the Coalition Authority on Science and Technology Innovation shall be great. As much as I welcome your generous offer, I would like to submit what I believe to be a better option, no offense intended to your submission. In recent years, a private facility was built to house a corporation that was to have its finger in every scientific and technological pie. Just before the building's completion, a tragic accident that killed the main fundraisers. The building, and the island that houses it, both of which were owned jointly by the group, were sold to the government and, for the most part, neglected. The project was neglected the funding it deserved, mainly due to bureaucracy and mere oversight, and lies empty and unpurposed to this day. After the research I have completed, I have no doubt that this building shall fulfil every scientific need that we shall have of it. I will be happy to go into more details with anyone interested, I'll even host a small tour at some point. We once again thank you, Emilio, for your support and I hope to work closely with you within the Coalition Authority on Science and Technology Innovation and the IFC. If anyone has any issue with our prebuilt facility, please say, and I'll be happy to put forward a vote on the matter."

Sitting down, he took a small sip of water and made a mental note to put the Krïdan delegate I'm touch with the right people and to make contact with the Waigan delegate himself.