33 Provinces in 33 Days (News Thread in Laeral, Open)

[Laeral]

Day Five: An Engineer in Corday
Crossing the Corday Strait and reaching mainland Laeral, we visit Sébastien Brocard, who works for IT firm Sunsong as an optical engineer, responsible for overseeing the performance of cameras and lenses on Sunsong devices. Brocard lives in the tight-knit town of Nerac, a suburb of the capital city of Cordeliers, while his family is sharply divided over the upcoming election.

What is the political climate like in your household?
“I guess you could call it cold. My wife Sophie and I are both Progressives, although she’s more partisan than I am. She’s a registered, due-paying Progressive, while I prefer to make my own opinions about who to support each election cycle. I won’t blindly vote for someone just because of their party. She’s been campaigning for Misra for months now- you’ll find her on street corners on the weekends passing out flyers or hanging up posters. My house is full of those posters, the ones with “ready to lead Laeral” printed on them. But I just don’t know what to think about Tanvi Misra, mostly because she’s so closely tied to the current government. Personally, I’m leaning toward Liu Mei-han, because she’s a new voice in politics. I find her inspiring, to be honest. But Sophie-(laughs) Sophie thinks of her as an attention-seeking traitor to the party who’ll just take votes away from Misra. I disagree with her. But I’m still going to vote Progressive in the provincial and local election, most likely.”

What issues are most important to you?
“Well, I suppose it’s just making sure that the next President is someone I can trust, and someone who’s going to get things done in Laeralsford. I think sometimes, the Progressives are part of the problem. They’re not immune to partisanship, or corruption, or nepotism. But Liu Mei-han is a trained diplomat, who represented us at the WA for years, and she doesn’t really have ties to any particular party. If she can’t work with other parties, than nobody can.”

---

Corday, with a population of 683,000, is a swing province.

The province is largely (45%) Arrivée, 35% multiracial, and 20% Rén. Religiously, the province is split between Catholics and atheists/agnostics, with a smattering of Minjian as well. Meanwhile, the province has become known as a picturesque vacation site for wealthy northern Laeralites and retirees, who make up an estimated 20% of voters. This is at odds with the largely working-class general population. These three factors- race, religion, and class- are the three primary political cleavages within Laeralian politics. All are present within Corday province. As a result, elections in Corday tend to be tossups, with voter turnout among a specific demographic often the primary factor in whether a given candidate wins or loses. This has led to one of the most fragmented political landscapes in Laeral, as the province’s two Delegates are a Socialist and a Conservative, while the (directly-elected) Governor is a Progressive. This election cycle, the Corday Parliament (a unicameral provincial legislature) will be up for election, and the Municipality of Cordeliers will elect a Mayor. The Corday Parliament is currently governed by a Conservative-Progressive grand coalition. However, the Conservatives are expected to lose some seats in favor of the LPP, which has been trying to sway the upper-class Arrivée population, which has historically played a major part in electing Conservatives. Meanwhile, the New Democratic Alliance is hoping to gain seats in the provincial Parliament as well by campaigning across religious and racial lines, as well as appealing to voters, especially women, in the suburbs of Cordeliers.

---

Campaign Trail Update

Le Laeralien: With Three Days Until Debate, Candidates Work To Refine Message

La Sentinelle: Errante Fires Campaign Manager; Shakeup Underway In Conservative Campaign

Le Pays: Foreign Interest In Election Higher Than Ever

Les Couloirs: Film Star Aurelie Liao Appears With Misra- Do Celebrity Endorsements Work?

Le Stylo: What Do Candidates’ Rén Zodiac Signs Tell Us About Their Personality?

---

Latest Polling, from Le Laeralien
Prime Minister Tanvi Misra: 26% (+2)
Delegate Damien Vendorme: 24% (-1)
Governor Liu Mei-han: 16% (-1)
Representative Jean-Pierre Nury: 11% (+2)
Delegate Bernard Errante: 11% (+1)
Representative Hsieh Pai-han: 6% (+0)
Undecided/Other: 7%

Polls show that Tanvi Misra has taken the lead, although her 2-point lead is within the polls’ 3-point margin of error. Down-ballot Progressive candidates have also surged slightly as well. Representative Jean-Pierre Nury has also increased his vote share, although this change is once more within the margin of error of the poll. Representative Hsieh Pai-han has stabilized his fall, although he is once more at the same vote share as he was at the beginning of the campaign.

Overall, political commentators are beginning to speak of another Progressive-Laeralian People’s Party race, similar to 2014 and 2010. This is largely as expected, although there are still another 26 days until the general election, and the upcoming debate provides an opportunity for every candidate to have their message heard across the country.

[Laeral]

Breaking News Update: Tanvi Misra Scandal

PM Tanvi Misra, accused of accepting bribes

The popular news publication Le Laeralien has just released an explosive news story which alleges that Progressive Party candidate and incumbent Prime Minister Tanvi Misra may have accepted special treatment from the government of Serriel in an quid pro quo deal in exchange for a free-trade agreement. The news story, released after weeks of research and interviews with numerous Serrielan government officials, regards a parliamentary trip which Ms. Misra, then a Delegate in the General Assembly, took along with 2 fellow Delegates and 7 Representatives in October of 2009, when then-Delegate Misra was running for reelection. Minister Misra was apparently treated to a luxurious trip including stays at five-star resorts and gourmet dinners. Several large yet anonymous donations from individuals in Serriel and a shadowy group known as the Serrielan Cooperation Council were made to Misra’s election campaign two days after the trip. Upon her return to Laeral, she was the co-sponsor of a bill, the Laeral-Serriel Trade Act of 2009, promoting Laeralian trade with Serriel. The Catican nation, formally an Islamic republic, has been accused of human rights abuses by various watchdog groups. Critics have accused Misra of effectively taking bribes from the Serrielan government in exchange for working to pass the bill, while Ms. Misra denies all wrongdoing. Given that Misra is a leading candidate for the office of the presidency, this is likely to become a political issue as opponents question Misra's character. This is a developing story; more details will be available shortly.

[Vienna Eliot]

Sushi on Espoir
Althea, LR. Laeral.

The chef was wiping down the small bar as the four foreigners chatted. It was drizzling, but a small canopy overhead kept the four-seat restaurant, one Vienna had heard of from a friend of a friend, dry as a little outdoor bar could be.

"Yeah, I don't know how I missed that. They probably think I'm idiots."

"How much is the max?"

"Twenty four hundred. And I sent them a check for two million." The others laughed. Vienna sighed, but smiled. "They recommended some charitable causes to donate to, alternatively, though. I wrote them both checks for a million each."

Joyce, sitting on the stool at the far end, rested her elbows on the bar. "I've got a meeting with Vendorme," she said. "Wednesday. Vienna, you're coming?" Vienna nodded, staring off into the distance behind her. She glanced over her shoulder. "What is it?" she asked.

"I can see the sunset," Vienna said. To the west hung a few red wisps, the sky starting to burn itself down.

---

1608 H Street
Kentang, Elizia.

A whiteboard at the entrance to the room displayed in bold letters, "影响空间." Influence room. Inside, fluorescent lights flooded over rows of desks with old computers on them, a worker at each one. Two managers paced the room, inspecting the work, as each employee handled ten, maybe fifteen social media accounts. Twitters, Facebooks, Setsuzokus, etcetera. The work itself was simple, but the content behind it had been carefully generated with rigorous logic, a simple intent in mind — divide the people against themselves.

A supervisor entered, and Brad Egilson — Director of the Political Department at Vienna Consulting, a title he was quite proud of having attained thank you very much — followed her through the door. "So this is the room?" he asked, a little underwhelmed. She nodded, speaking as they strolled down the aisles separating the desks.

"We have five types of influencers," she said. "The first type appeals to the right wing in the target country. In the Laeral case, which is what these employees are working on, they are voicing pro-populist sentiment. Their content supports the People's Party and the Unbowed party. They avoid traditional conservative themes — taxes, regulation — and instead they rile people up. Push them to the right.

@LeroyLovesLaeral | ONLINE | Adelaide, Meridoc | | | REPLY

#ThanksBrennan We're FINALLY evicting Brennan. Now Damien Vendorme will bring back jobs for the lazy ass welfare recipients

@THEFOUNDINGSON | ONLINE | Hanshui, Nanhai | | | REPLY

It’s not about electing our next president. It’s about giving up everything we stand for or fighting back! #WakeUpLaeral #SerrielScandal

"Then there are influencers who appeal to the left wing. They are not like the right wing influencers. Instead, their target is to divide the left wing and lower the voter turnout among them. They are big socialist supporters."

@RENLIVESMATTER | ONLINE | Lyrene, Bethune | | | REPLY

#Misra Campaign said they pitched a story to #LePays to attack #JeanPierreNury. Why are we not surprised?

"We have a number who are purely newsfeed accounts. That is, they aggregate news articles and share them. They are connected to local communities, and cater toward local news often. Generally we're able to use more subtle techniques with them, occasionally tossing in less-than-reliable news sources to build up their credibility. And then we have hashtaggers, who play games with hashtags to drum up interaction and make the algorithms of the social network more likely to share our divisive content. And lastly we have fearmongers. They make fake news."

@LoraGreen | ONLINE | St.Clair, Aumont | | | REPLY

Silver Harvest reports that #immigrants let in by Brennan killed 200 Laeralian citizens this month. #Misra says reducing #Red quotas is the answer. ????????

"And how many are there?" Egilson asked.

"1,200." They entered the supervisor's office in the corner of the room, and she picked up a sheet of paper off her desk and handed it to Egilson. "This shows our network."

Egilson looked down at the paper and felt a twinge of guilt.

[The USA of America]

:
President Donald J Trump.
Conservative Republican Nationalist Party.
USA Council of Ministers.
The Democratic Republic of The USA of America.

I Donald J Trump President of The USA of America, 100 % support, far right nationalist Party leader of Laeral Unbowed, Hsieh Pai-han, and consider him the Trump of Laeral. Should he become President of Laeral as he should, I will establish close friendly economic, political, cultural, tourist and military diplomatic relations with Laeral.

The Trump of Laeral.
:
Hsieh Pai-han - Laeral Unbowed
Make Laeral Great Again.
Keep Laeral Great Again.
President Donald J Trump.

"Policies:
-Taxes: Lower taxes on Laeralites while enacting some tariffs. Lower taxes on the wealthy and corporate taxes, in order to promote economic development.
-Healthcare: Limit the ability of medical workers to strike. Promote traditional medicine, and eliminate mandatory vaccination policies. Prevent immigrants from “overwhelming” medical system.
-Education: Reduce federal control of education, while allowing charter and private schools to receive government funding. Enact school uniform policies within K-12 education. Support the Ministry of Culture in promoting Laeralian culture domestically and overseas.
-Foreign Policy: Slash funding, reduce the ‘bloated’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Withdraw from “corrupt” UN, WA, IDU in order to put “Laeral first”.
-Energy: Retain nuclear plants while shutting down funding for alternative energy.
-Military and Justice: Massively increase military spending in order to protect Laeral. Remove the laws regulating the powers of the military and police force. Begin an immense crackdown on crime by increasing punishments and reintroducing the death penalty for crimes such as treason, murder, and rape. Criminalize prostitution.
-Immigration: Create strict immigration restrictions to protect Laeralian national identity, including a complete halt to admission of refugees which may pose a threat to national security.
-Infrastructure: Use unspecified methods to improve Laeralian infrastructure."

Make Laeral Great Again, Keep Laeral Great Again.
Make America Great Again, Keep America Great Again.
President Donald J Trump.

[Laeral]

Day Six: A Prostitute in Felliere
Elodie* is 25 years old, working in Saint-Chamant, Felliere. Her parents and friends believe that she works as a publicist and spokesperson for a local hotel chain. Instead, she works as a prostitute at a local brothel.

Elodie dislikes her job- the hours, and the job itself, are unpleasant and the pay only mediocre. The social stigma surrounding prostitution following its’ controversial legalization in the province in 2011 means that she must enter her workplace by an unmarked back door. In her off-hours, she searches online for openings related to her bachelor’s degree in Multimedia Communications. She hasn’t found a new job yet, but Elodie knows that she has to keep looking- she can’t imagine working as a prostitute for the rest of her life.
*Her name and certain identifying details have been changed

What do you think the government should be doing to help underemployed people like you?
“I honestly don’t know exactly what the government should do, but I know what the government is doing wrong. What makes me angry is that I did all the right things. I studied hard, I got good grades in school, I never let myself get distracted in college. I even interned with various news agencies before the recession hit. But when I graduated, no one was hiring and I just couldn’t find a job. I still can’t find a job related to my field, regardless of how hard I work. So in response to your question, I don’t know exactly what the government needs to do for me. But they need to get the economy working again and bring down unemployment so that I can finally get a dignified, well-paying job and buy a house. So I intend to vote for [Progressive Party candidate] Tanvi Misra. ”

What can you tell us about your current occupation?
“Well, it’s not very pleasant. I prefer not to focus very much on what I’m doing. I’ve met a few interesting people, but it actually gets pretty monotonous after a while. In addition to the job itself, I have to be more worried about my personal safety. The rumor is that a lot of the girls who work at brothels were sex trafficked, and there’s always the risk that some client gets it into his head to do something criminal. Being afraid for my personal safety is probably the worst part.”

You’ve stated before that you intend to vote for Prime Minister Misra. What do you think about the recent accusations that she took money from the Serrielan government to promote economic ties between Laeral and Serriel?
“Well, I haven’t had the chance to read the full story- I just saw the headline- but I don’t think I believe it. It just seems too convenient for her opponents for the story to come out right now in the election cycle. I think that anyone- especially any woman- who advances as far in politics as she has is going to make enemies. My question is, why aren’t people talking about the other people on the trip with her? I just think Vendorme and the rest of them have it in for her, and that’s why this is coming out now.”

---

Felliere is a coastal province with an export sector that was hit hard by the economic downturn. Due to the decline of Laeralian manufacturing, the Progressive government of Felliere province was seeking to reinvent the province as a tourism destination. However, the regional economic slump resulted in far fewer tourists coming to Felliere. The province had borrowed heavily to modernize transportation facilities including an international airport, leaving the province heavily in debt. Felliere’s unemployment and crime rates are both around double the national average. Politically, Felliere province has tended to attract moderates from both sides of the political spectrum as well as centrists. Felliere’s Governor is an individualistic independent named Philippe Lanier, while the bicameral provincial assembly (consisting of a Senate and a Provincial Assembly) is controlled by the Progressives. Felliere will elect Delegates this year in what looks to be a race to watch. The Laeralian People’s Party candidate has surged into first place recently, exploiting the unpopularity of the Progressive-led government, while the Progressive, Conservative, and New Democratic candidate are struggling to make it into the eventual runoff. The Progressives’ efforts are hindered by their party’s current unpopularity in the province, while the Conservatives are competing for votes with the LPP and the New Democratic candidate is receiving little media attention.

---

Campaign Trail Update
The scandal involving Prime Minister Tanvi Misra continues to accelerate, with the media already dubbing it the ‘Serriel Affair’, following the customary naming convention for Laeralian political scandals. Many are calling for Ms. Misra to drop out from the race or resign from her position, and others are calling for an investigation into her actions. Supporters of Minister Misra are calling the accusations insubstantial, and they say the charges are politically motivated. The Serrielan Ambassador to Laeral, meanwhile, said in a statement that Serriel has not attempted to sway legislation in Laeral in any way.

The other members of the National Assembly who were on the trip have been identified. These were Delegates Gaelle Fouquet (Socialist) and Philippe Leveque (Conservative), both of which are still in office, as well as Representatives Denis Huang (LPP), Lim Hua (Progressive), Fan Jie (Conservative), Jean-Marie Lamy (Socialist), Lionel Wong (LPP), Ronan Perret (Progressive), and Jean-Dominique Gueguen (LPP). All of these are still serving, with the exception of Lionel Wong, who died in 2010, and Lim Hua, who retired in 2016. None of the other members of the delegation have responded to the press, with the exception of Philippe Leveque and Fan Jie, who have both denied any wrongdoing. All of the members of the delegation voted in favor of the Laeral-Serriel Trade Act of 2009, but it has not been determined whether they received similar payments.

Ambassador Şerife Kundakçı (@AmbassadorKundakçı)
Just now from Laeralsford, Laeral

I am extremely troubled by @LeLaeralien‘s allegations of Serrielan involvement in @PMofLaeralEnglish‘s role in brokering the Laeral-Serriel Joint Economic Agreement of 2009, which has brought great mutual economic prosperity to our two nations. Serriel welcomes a fair, objective, investigation of these charges, and I offer my embassy’s support to these efforts.

---

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Representative Jean-Pierre Nury has said that he is ‘shocked’ by the accusations, and has said that he believes the government should investigate the charges. He has also said that if he is elected, he will work toward campaign finance reform in order to make campaign contributions more transparent. Nury voted for the Misra-sponsored trade bill featured in the accusations, but was not a part of the Laeralian delegation.

Prime Minister Tanvi Misra made a statement to the press, denying that her sponsorship of the bill was influenced by her trip, and saying that the accusation is “a cheap, politically motivated attack” on her candidacy. Misra maintains that she has not committed any wrongdoing, and has said that she will not drop out of the race.

@MisraCampaignEnglish | ONLINE | Althea, Loiraine | | | REPLY

I would like to personally reiterate that accusations of wrongdoing on my part are a politically-motivated attack by the People’s Party and other actors. I have made open and transparent all campaign finance statements, and my visit to Serriel nine years ago was entirely professional. Our Serrielan hosts, not me, picked our accommodations.

Governor Liu Mei-han has not indicated a firm stance on this issue, instead saying that “if Minister Misra was illegally influenced by the government of another nation, I would urge her to step down as her party’s candidate”. She also mentioned Serriel’s ongoing human rights violations. Governor Liu has a well-known rivalry with Prime Minister Misra stemming from Liu’s defection from the Progressive Party six months ago. She clarified her position in a later Setsuzoku message:

Liu Mei-han (@LiuMei-han)
Just now from Songshan, Meilinis

聽到有關總理的指控，並擔心她與Serriel的不當關係，我感到很難過。代表Vendorme抓住這個機會攻擊他的對手也令人失望。絲綢共和國 應該得到比這更好的政治。

Je suis attristé par les accusations portées contre le Premier Ministre Misra et préoccupé par ses liens supposés inappropriés avec Serriel. Il est également décevant que le Délégué Vendorme ait sauté sur cette occasion pour attaquer son adversaire. Laeral mérite une meilleure politique que celle-là.

I’m saddened to hear of allegations against Prime Minister Misra, and concerned about her alleged improper ties with Serriel. It’s also disappointing that Delegate Vendorme has jumped on this opportunity to attack his opponent. Laeral deserves better politics than this.

---

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Delegate Bernard Errante has called the accusations “extremely troubling”, and has also called for an investigation into the charges. Errante, a Delegate at the time of the trip, also voted for the trade bill.

Delegate Damien Vendorme has taken a strong tone, calling Misra’s actions “morally bankrupt” and has called upon Misra to exit the race. In a speech, he said that “the Laeralian people deserve answers, Ms. Misra. And if you won’t provide them, then an independent investigation is needed”. His comments drew cheers from the crowd- the strategy of targeting Tanvi Misra is popular among conservative voters due to their distrust of the controversial politician.

Del. Damien Vendorme (@damien_vendorme_english)
Just now from Laonong, Jinhua

Tanvi Misra’s actions are a disgrace to our nation. A Laeralian Prime Minister should never be beholden to authoritarian foreign governments, and Misra is not above the law. We need a full investigation of Misra’s finances and corruption in order to determine if she has the character to serve as our President. I for one know she’s hiding something.
#InvestigateMisra #TanviMisraLiar #NoSerrielanPresident

---

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Representative Hsieh Pai-han’s response to the scandal was simple: a Setsuzoku message, saying simply “I told them Tanvi Misra is a crook”. In response to a reporter’s question asking what he thought about the scandal, he said that “I could have told you she was a crook. She took money, or should I say bribes, from Serriel. That’s collusion, and she should drop out of the race.”

Misra's husband Arjun, a poet, has also made a statement to the press, in which he said: "I stand with my wife in our efforts to resolve this situation. I am confident in my wife's moral character. Any further investigation into the matter should be handled following the election, so as to avoid political interference. I am certain that my wife is innocent and that these allegations are just a politically-motivated attempt to prevent her from being elected President." Misra's children Pranav, Lakshmi, and Priya, all of them politicians in their own right, have referred reporters to Mr. Misra's statement.

---

Latest Polling, fromLe Laeralien
Delegate Damien Vendorme: 24% (+0)
Governor Liu Mei-han: 17% (+1)
Prime Minister Tanvi Misra: 17% (-9)
Representative Jean-Pierre Nury: 12% (+1)
Delegate Bernard Errante: 9% (-2)
Representative Hsieh Pai-han: 7% (+1)
Undecided/Other: 14%

Prime Minister Tanvi Misra has seen her poll numbers plummet as a result of the scandal, to the point where she is now tied with Governor Liu Mei-han. Liu and Representative Nury have both seen slight increases in their poll numbers, and they will likely seek to win over Progressives who intended to cast their ballots for Misra.

[Budapest Hungary]

:
Hungarian Péter Szijjártó
Minister of Foreign Diplomatic Relations and Trade.

Like the Democratic Republics of Miami Shores under President Lincoln Diaz-Balart and Vice President Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, The USA of America under President Donald J Trump and Vice President Mike Pence and Brasilia Brazil under President and Captain jair Bolsonaro and Vice President and General Antônio Hamilton Mourão, we support far right Presidential candidate Hsieh Pai-han, of the Laeral Unbowed Party to Make and Keep Laeral Great Again.

The Trump and Victor Orbán of Laeral.
:
Hsieh Pai-han - Laeral Unbowed

"Policies:
-Taxes: Lower taxes on Laeralites while enacting some tariffs. Lower taxes on the wealthy and corporate taxes, in order to promote economic development.
-Healthcare: Limit the ability of medical workers to strike. Promote traditional medicine, and eliminate mandatory vaccination policies. Prevent immigrants from “overwhelming” medical system.
-Education: Reduce federal control of education, while allowing charter and private schools to receive government funding. Enact school uniform policies within K-12 education. Support the Ministry of Culture in promoting Laeralian culture domestically and overseas.
-Foreign Policy: Slash funding, reduce the ‘bloated’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Withdraw from “corrupt” UN, WA, IDU in order to put “Laeral first”.
-Energy: Retain nuclear plants while shutting down funding for alternative energy.
-Military and Justice: Massively increase military spending in order to protect Laeral. Remove the laws regulating the powers of the military and police force. Begin an immense crackdown on crime by increasing punishments and reintroducing the death penalty for crimes such as treason, murder, and rape. Criminalize prostitution.
-Immigration: Create strict immigration restrictions to protect Laeralian national identity, including a complete halt to admission of refugees which may pose a threat to national security.
-Infrastructure: Use unspecified methods to improve Laeralian infrastructure."

"As a fictional Laeralite, which party would you vote for? Feel free to post explaining your response"

According to a Poll by our Center of National Statistics Cen:

The Trump and Victor Orbán of Laeral.
Hsieh Pai-han
:
Hsieh Pai-han - Laeral Unbowed

49.50 % - 75.00 % - Laeral Unbowed! (Hsieh Pai-han) their is strong support for Laeral Unbowed!, even from the Laeralian People's Party of (Damien Vendorme), the Conservative party of (Bernard Errante) and the United Right.
11.00 % - 16.67 % - Conservative Party (Bernard Errante)
05.50 % - 08.33 % - Laeralian People's Party (Damien Vendorme) People's Party, gulp very hard to swallow lol, might have gained more votes in our nation without that name, but their is very strong opposition in the right to stay in IDU, WA, UN, etc, or in any international organizations and treaty's
66.00 % Total votes on the Right.

25.50 % - 75.00 % - Progressive Party (Tanvi Misra)
05.95 % - 17.50 % - Socialists (Jean-Pierre Nury)
02.55 % - 07.50 % - Greens Party/Laeralian Ecology
34.00 % Total votes on the Left.

In our nation we don't use NS stats, we hate NS stats and we don't use + or - percent % margins of error.

Should be become President of Laeral, we will establish, close friendly, economic, political, cultural, tourist and military relations with Laeral.

Make and Keep Laeral Great Again, Make and Keep Budapest Hungary Great Again.

Hungarian Péter Szijjártó
Minister of Foreign Diplomatic Relations and Trade.

:
Protect our Nation.
Hungary for the Hungarians, Europe for Europeans.
Ethnic Homelands for Homelanders.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
Right Wing Fidesz KDNP Christian Social Democratic Party.
Hungarian Council of Ministers.
Democratic Kingdom Republic of Budapest Hungary.

[Vienna Eliot]

Le Diplomate, Althea
Althea, LR. Laeral.

The intern was getting nauseous thinking about the idea. She rubbed her forehead and leaned over the balcony, looking out over the water.

"So, let me try and understand... we're putting people in cages?"

"Think of it as a museum," Clint said. "It's all just for show. Once the journalists see it, it'll all be disbanded."

"But we are putting people in cages."

"Not all of them. Just the children," Vienna said. The intern's face drained of color. "Marco, can you go over the finances?"

"Sure," he said, drawing his phone from his pocket. "So, we've already dispatched people to reach out to displaced Lauchenoirian families seeking refuge throughout Hespia. We should be able to transport them to Lijiang in two, three days, and all of that, commissions and transportation and what not, will cost fifty, maybe up to seventy-five thousand dollars."

"Cheap."

"Yeah, they're empty leg flights. Uh, then tomorrow we'll start furnishing the detention center, it's a warehouse in a nice rural town that we found. That's another 25k. So, it'll probably look like a hundred thousand, nothing excessive. We'll be able to cover it under the trip budget. And then calling the journalists to it, making the scandal, that's just part of people's jobs. No extra fees for that."

"This is clever," mused Joyce. "There's no way the Progressives will be able to explain this away. I'm glad we came up with this."

"Yeah," Vienna said, "what a wonderful way to destroy somebody's career."

[Yohannes]

---

Yohannes is governed by Yohannesians. Nifon is governed by Nifonese. And Laeral is governed by Laeralians. We reject the radical influence of internationalisation and welcome nationalism and patriotism. I’m proud of my nation-state. I am, T.H.E. P.R.O.U.D.E.S.T. P.E.R.S.O.N. out there. For Yohannes. I know Shogun Maki Kojiro is P.R.O.U.D. of Greater Nifon. And I know that Representative Hsieh Pai-han — great man, by the way, great man; fantastic, fantastic man — is P.R.O.U.D. of Laeral too.

In less than two years we have seen great patriotic movements all around nation-states beyond the International Incidents! The alt-lefts are slowly retreating — like cowards, like cowards — as we, P.A.T.R.I.O.T.I.C. people, take back our nations from the dirty influence of the internationalist J.I.H.A.D. and the corrupt World Assembly establishment.

Representative Hsieh Pai-han of Laeral, U.N.B.O.W.E.D.! Make Laeral Great Again. Keep Laeral Great Again. He is a man of his W.O.R.D. and he said that he will be tough on B.O.R.D.E.R. I agree with him. I think that he is a great, great man. He is tough on border. He will make Laeral great again. Just like I will make Yohannes Great again. He is U.N.B.O.W.E.D. He will strengthen Laeral for its people. He will make the right move for Laeral. Thanks Representative Hsieh Pai-han!

Now, we see people. It would be S.M.A.R.T. for the internationalist J.I.H.A.D. and the World Assembly establishment — corrupt Imperium Anglorum and scheming Separatist Peoples, dirty Bears Armed and now, the dirty, corrupt and lying World Assembly establishment in Laeral — to note that the voices of the people are W.I.N.N.I.N.G. even in Laeral! Can you see that? Can you believe that people? It is great. Just great.

F.A.N.T.A.S.T.I.C.

Just look at Jocospor. The “Imperial Empire of Jocospor.” The “Imperial Empire.” They are winning too. Winning much inside the World Assembly headquarters! B.U.T. the corrupt, lying establishment in the World Assembly do N.O.T. like patriotic winners. Even after they have spread their fake news to liberate the Confederation of Corrupt Dictators, Jocospor is still totally W.I.N.N.I.N.G. The New Pacific Order is losing too, but that is another world, we will not go there for now people.

Back in Laeral, Representative Hsieh Pai-han is standing up for Laeral and for all Laeralian citizens and legal residents. Isn’t that great? He is promising to throw out the caravans by the boatload. I commend him. The internationalist elites and the World Assembly establishment have created this problem. And now it is up to us, anti-establishment fighters to fight and take back our nations; build our walls so high; and turn back the caravans!

No crossings!

The Honourable Ronald Chump
Member of Parliament for the Electorate of New Cleyra

[The USA of America]

:
Make and Keep America Great Again.
President Donald J Trump of The USA of America.
Conservative Republican Nationalist Party.
Democratic Republic of The USA of America.

When the leftist Fake News Media and your leftist opponents hit you, do what I do, hit back harder and Make and Keep Laeral Great Again, like I do America.

The Trump and Victor Orbán of Laeral.
:
Hsieh Pai-han - Laeral Unbowed

"Policies:
-Taxes: Lower taxes on Laeralites while enacting some tariffs. Lower taxes on the wealthy and corporate taxes, in order to promote economic development.
-Healthcare: Limit the ability of medical workers to strike. Promote traditional medicine, and eliminate mandatory vaccination policies. Prevent immigrants from “overwhelming” medical system.
-Education: Reduce federal control of education, while allowing charter and private schools to receive government funding. Enact school uniform policies within K-12 education. Support the Ministry of Culture in promoting Laeralian culture domestically and overseas.
-Foreign Policy: Slash funding, reduce the ‘bloated’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Withdraw from “corrupt” UN, WA, IDU in order to put “Laeral first”.
-Energy: Retain nuclear plants while shutting down funding for alternative energy.
-Military and Justice: Massively increase military spending in order to protect Laeral. Remove the laws regulating the powers of the military and police force. Begin an immense crackdown on crime by increasing punishments and reintroducing the death penalty for crimes such as treason, murder, and rape. Criminalize prostitution.
-Immigration: Create strict immigration restrictions to protect Laeralian national identity, including a complete halt to admission of refugees which may pose a threat to national security.
-Infrastructure: Use unspecified methods to improve Laeralian infrastructure."

Make and Keep Laeral Great Again.
President Donald J Trump.

On Laeral Progressive Party Leader, Tanvi Misra
:
Hsieh Pai-han of Laeral Unbowed
“I told them Tanvi Misra is a crook”.
I say, lock her up, lock her up, lock her up.
President Donald J Trump.

[Lauchenoiria]

Liberal Party of Lauchenoiria HQ, Buttercity, Lauchenoiria

Laura Moore, former Prime Minister and technically-still-Leader of the Liberal Party (at least until the emergency party conference on Friday), sat in an small office in her party HQ trying to act like everything was normal in her life. Josephine Alvarez, the frontrunner in the party leadership election, had "strongly advised" her to keep her nose out of domestic politics, given how controversial she'd become since the war. So, in between meeting her lawyers and fearing the future, Moore turned her attentions to foreign politics.

She brought up her Setsuzoku account, typing out what she wanted to say and sending it, before Alvarez could run in and object. She quickly gathered up her things and slipped out the back door to a waiting car, exiting just as she heard Alvarez's voice yelling "MOORE!" behind her.

 

Laura Moore (@L_MooreLiberal)
Just now from Buttercity, Lauchenoiria

Having worked with Tanvi Misra, I know her to be a woman of outstanding character, and I am certain the allegations against her will be proven false. She is absolutely the right person to lead Laeral going forward and I endorse @MisraCampaignEnglish wholeheartedly!

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Josephine Alvarez let out what sounded like a low growl as she caught a glimpse of one of Moore's security guards (presumably) following her out the door.

"Didn't everyone just agree yesterday we weren't endorsing anyone in the Laeralian election?" asked Leonie Bennett, the newest recruit to their campaign staff, while she stared at her phone. Alvarez rolled her eyes.

"Have the Communists said anything?" she asked the eighteen-year-old.

"Nope, they're probably too busy arguing about Kerlile to pay any attention to anything else. But Paul Doberman of Lauchenoiria First has endorsed Hsieh Pai-han, and the Feminists and Greens have endorsed their counterparts."

"That's all to be expected, anyone else?"

"Nope, all the other parties are staying out of it," Leonie said, and then added like an afterthought, "for the moment."

[Laeral]

Day Seven: An Attorney in Sarene

Joël de La Verpillière is a campaign finance and election law consultant in Dovasary, the capital of Sarene province. He has worked for noted politicians including a former Governor of Sarene. His responsibilities have included overseeing the candidate’s campaign contributions in order to ensure that Laeralian campaign finance law is followed. As such, de La Verpillière has professional insight into the scandal involving Prime Minister Tanvi Misra’s campaign contributions from Serrielan donors.

Would you please briefly describe Laeralian campaign finance laws to us?
“I’d be glad to. Basically, modern campaign finance law was set forth in 1988, with the Election Financing Transparency Act, and this was elaborated on with the Foreign Campaign Contribution Act of 2004 and the Candidate Financial Disclosure Act of 2013. What does laws do is they set a limit on how much a candidate can receive from any one donor, establish regulations on how these donations need to be documented, and crucially, prohibit a candidate from receiving financing directly from a foreign government. Foreign citizens can contribute to a campaign, with a cap of 2200 Marks per person, and this has to be more heavily documented than a Laeralian citizen’s donation. Foreign organizations can give to a campaign as well, with heavier documentation, and there’s a cap of 30,000 Marks. But foreign governments can’t give money to a candidate. So if the government of Serriel did in fact donate to Prime Minister Misra, there could be legal consequences.”

What kind of legal consequences?
“Well, the case would either be settled out of court or go to trial. If the court finds that the Prime Minister knowingly accepted money from the government of Serriel, there could be heavy fines. If this case does go to court- keep in mind that we’re a long way from there right now- the prosecution will have to prove that the money was donated on behalf of a foreign government, not by individual citizens. The defendant will likely claim that they do not believe or were unaware that the contributions are from the Serrielan government. If the court finds Prime Minister Misra guilty, her campaign could be fined hundreds of thousands of Marks.”

How do you think the Misra case will end?
“Anything I told you at this point would be entirely speculation.”

What kind of changes to campaign finance law are candidates proposing?
“Well, several candidates have come out in favor of campaign finance reform- Jean-Pierre Nury has called for a massive reorganization of campaign finance law to reduce the amount individual donors and corporations can give, while Liu Mei-han has said that we should require greater transparency about candidate funding, and Damien Vendorme has made similar proposals. With all the publicity that campaign finance is getting right now, I think campaign finance reform is more likely in the next session of the National Assembly then it has been in years.”

One final question: Which Presidential candidate do you support in the upcoming election?
“Given that I work with clients of many different political leanings, I would prefer not to answer that question.”

---

Sarene province is a coastal region along the Malabran border. The province has a population of around 1 million, clustered mostly around the coast and the port city of Dovasary rather than the mountainous interior. Sarene is a right-leaning swing province: the province has higher racial tensions than most, fueled by a lack of affordable housing and tensions between the majority-Arrivée working-class coastal population, the middle-class Rén population in the suburbs, and the working-class Rén in the interior. Poverty rates and tobacco use are higher in Sarene than the national average. Major political issues include the dredging of Dovasary Harbor, as well as a proposal to increase tobacco sales tax. The dredging is intended to make Dovasary a deepwater port, a project championed by the Governor of Sarene and the Mayor of Dovasary Municipality, an LPP and a Conservative, respectively. However, the project is over budget and delayed due to environmental concerns, likely harming the chances of incumbent Conservative Mayor Corinne Allizard, who is up for reelection. She is facing tough competition for her seat as Mayor of Dovasary Municipality from, surprisingly enough, a populist Socialist candidate and veteran named Gérard Maurey, as well as an LPP and a Progressive candidate.

---

Campaign Trail Update
President Brennan has released a statement indicating that he is ‘concerned’ by claims that Prime Minister Tanvi Misra accepted bribes from Serriel in exchange for the passage of a trade bill favorable to the Serrielan government. However, he also states that he “from the years I’ve spent working with Tanvi Misra, I’m confident that she has not committed any wrongdoing”. However, some from within his center-left Progressive Party have joined the calls for an investigation into Misra’s finances, most notably Representative Kuo Chang, a member of the influential Commons Judicial Council. Minister of Justice Liu Che-wei (no relation to the New Democratic presidential candidate) has said that his staff is investigating the charges.

Additionally, the staff of the media project 33 Provinces in 33 Days has secured an interview with current Prime Minister Tanvi Misra, who is at the center of the current Serriel Affair. This interview is expected to feature Ms. Misra’s view of the emerging scandal, and represents a rare opportunity to interview the candidate privately. The interview will be released tomorrow.

Representative Jean-Pierre Nury, speaking to a crowd in Bethune province, continues to call for an investigation of Prime Minister Misra, but he also took pains to remind the crowd that “Prime Minister Misra represents only one small part of the epidemic of corruption that plagues our democracy”. Nury is hoping to portray himself as the ‘anti-corruption candidate’, especially as Prime Minister Misra is one of his main competitors.

Prime Minister Tanvi Misra appeared at a rally in Laeralsford’s firmly Progressive 6th Arrondissement today, to a largely supportive crowd, although some protestors aligned with the Socialist Party were outside. Misra largely stuck to her talking points of reducing income inequality, increasing school funding, and increasing wages. Misra continues to deny all wrongdoing regarding her 2009 trip to Serriel. However, the Prime Minister’s daughter, Rep. Priya Misra, said today in an interview with LNBS News that she believes that the ‘right-wing conspiracy machine’ to be responsible for the scandal, adding that she has complete confidence in her mother.

Governor Liu Mei-han was speaking to a crowd of Minjian (believers in the Minjian Faith, the largest religion in Laeral) at the Temple of Ravens Swooping in Nanhai province. Minjian make up around 24.3% of the Laeralian population, but have historically voted in lower numbers than members of other religious groups. As Liu is herself a Minjian, she took the opportunity to discuss her own religious beliefs and the impact they’ve had on their own life. She pointedly avoided commenting on the Serriel Affair, saying that she would not comment on the moral character of a fellow candidate for the presidency.

Delegate Bernard Errante, seeking to revive his flagging campaign, has chosen to focus on promoting ‘kitchen-table issues’. Bizarrely enough, Errante chose to devote an entire rally in rural Cenefort province to discussing the future of farm subsidies, proclaiming that his party will be a steadfast defender of these payments from the government to Laeralian farmers. His rally had few people in attendance, and Errante was forced to once more publicly deny that Conservative Party leadership were planning to replace him with another candidate.

Delegate Damien Vendorme, now the front-runner in the presidential race, seemed triumphant at a rally today, where he led chants of ‘shame!’ directed at Prime Minister Tanvi Misra for her involvement in the Serriel Affair. His rally once more featured large attendance, and Vendorme pledged to ‘keep her accountable’ as the election continues.

Representative Hsieh Pai-han spoke to a crowd at dockyards in Marist, Choisel today. He spoke about how his proposed solution to immigration would ‘solve unemployment’, and also that if his proposed immigration restrictions had been law several decades ago, ‘that crook Tanvi Misra’ wouldn’t have been able to enter the country. Rather predictably, he was met with protesters, who attempted to drown him out by chanting slogans. Additionally, a single overripe tomato was thrown at Representative Hsieh, which missed him.

Prime Minister Tanvi Misra (@MisraCampaignEnglish)
Just now from Fuxing, Laeral

Pleased to see @L_MooreLiberal's endorsement of my campaign. Former Prime Minister Moore is a patriot, an outstanding leader, and dedicated to her nation. We worked together in coordinating the counterattack against Suleman Chaher's junta, and I'm pleased to have her support as Laeral strives to help Lauchenoiria rebuild from their civil war.

---

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Del. Damien Vendorme (@damien_vendorme_english)
Just now from Tessé, Felliere

Why should Laeral be beholden to the Int’l Affairs Committee? The IAC is an unelected court with jurisdiction over Laeral where we sit alongside rogue state Separatist Peoples, neo-colonialist Sanctaria and human rights abuser Serriel. We shouldn’t let that unelected crowd of dictators decide our future. When I am president, I will withdraw Laeral from the IAC, and take back Laeralian sovereignty.

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Latest Polling, fromLe Laeralien
Delegate Damien Vendorme: 25% (+1)
Governor Liu Mei-han: 18% (+1)
Prime Minister Tanvi Misra: 16% (-1)
Representative Jean-Pierre Nury: 13% (+1)
Delegate Bernard Errante: 9% (+0)
Representative Hsieh Pai-han: 7% (+0)
Undecided/Other: 12%

[Laeral]

“Race in Laeralian Politics” - from The Diplomat

The Diplomat, a Laeral-based magazine focusing on international comparative politics and foreign relations, wrote a series of articles about the major factors dividing voters in Laeralian politics. For the benefit of international readers, this article is reprinted here.

By The Diplomat staff
It was in 1863, only eight years after Laeral’s founding as an independent nation, when none other than Jean-Paul Liu, Rén revolutionary leader in the Laeralian War of Independence, proposed that the new nation be divided among racial lines. “How is the native oriental to prosper in a nation governed by the white man?” he asked the Assembly of Commons. “I see no better solution, for the purpose of ensuring the prosperity and sanctity of the natives, than to partition the country” into a nation of Arrivée and a nation of Rén. The proposal would continue to be suggested over the next several decades, but never seriously considered. And yet it seems that racial cleavage, or the degree to which race correlates with voting patterns, has only increased since Liu’s day.

"It seems that racial cleavage, or the degree to which race correlates with voting patterns, has only increased since Liu’s day."

To some extent, the present racial divide in Laeralian politics is yet another toxic byproduct of the colonial era, another legacy of the centuries of oppression and racial discrimination that marred Laeral’s history. While Rén, or Laeralian Asians, were not forbidden from voting under the First Allied Provinces (1858-1922) literacy requirements, poll taxes, and voter intimidation efforts meant that Rén voters made up only 6% of ballots cast in the elections of 1864, and Rén continued to play only a marginal role in Laeralian government for decades to come. Indeed, the Conservative party, which exists to this day, was founded on principles of racial exclusion, while the Progressives as well originally harbored racism and bigotry. Although some Rén, frustrated with lack of political power, did found their own political parties, such as the short-lived United People’s Democratic Congress, many others turned to fraternal organizations and the labor unions which would accept Rén members as a means of advancing Rén political interests.

The ascendancy of the left-wing Social Democrats following the 1919-22 Laeralian Civil War meant that, in the spirit of the egalitarianism promoted by the new Republic of Laeral’s founders, all men and women, regardless of race, were granted the ballot. Although voter turnout among both races was very high throughout the Republic of Laeral period, Rén voters voted almost uniformly for the Social Democratic party, leading to Social Democratic dominance of the legislature and the presidency throughout the period. In the presidential election of 1926, for instance, the Social Democrats’ Réne-Louis Gramont won 54% of the Arrivée vote- but an astonishing 82% of Rén voters. The Social Democrats maintained their hold on power by courting Rén voters with infrastructure improvements, government handouts, and in some cases actual monetary payments. The opposition Conservatives, meanwhile, as well as the centrist Labor Party, aggressively targeted Arrivée voters, including by opposing the Social Democrats’ Rén-focused welfare programs, to little avail.

Following the Bloody Summer, when the Republic of Laeral was replaced with the Second Allied Provinces, the Social Democrats, under Paul Lematre, sought to maintain their hold over Rén voters. By contrast, opposition parties, such as the Conservatives and the Citizens’ Movement, became Arrivée-dominated bodies, through little effort of their own. This led to alternating periods of left- and right-wing governance, although ideological lines were blurred as both Social Democrats and Conservatives moved towards the center. The Social Democrat coalition remained competitive, however, and it wasn’t until the elections of 1980 that it was upset. In 1980, the newly founded Socialist Party nominated Simon Luo, Governor of Enara province, as presidential candidate. While the Socialists’ landslide victory was due to a number of factors, a major factor in their success was that Luo, the first unabashedly Rén presidential candidate in Laeralian history, held appeal for both Rén voters who had always cast their ballot for the Social Democrats and for the new wave of young, activist Arrivée voters who rejected the politics of their parents. For a time, the racial divide in Laeralian politics was erased, with age- and class-related divides taking it’s place.

In the ensuing decades, however, the racial gap steadily began to reemerge. Due to electoral reforms during the 1980s, political fragmentation within the National Assembly increased. Meanwhile, political debates, including debates over race-based college admission in the 1990s and the impeachment of Socialist President Maurice Fesnau in 2006 polarized Laeral along racial lines. The 2014 election, between the Progressive incumbent, Nicholas Brennan, and People’s Party candidate Corinne Pelletier, as well as other candidates, revealed the full extent of the racial divide.

"The 2014 election...revealed the full extent of the racial divide."

Brennan, sometimes called a ‘Rén president’, and Pelletier drew a combined 70% of Rén votes. By contrast, the Socialist and Conservative candidates drew only about 12% of Rén votes in the first round of the presidential contest. Votes cast in elections for the National Assembly, Laeral’s legislature, were similarly skewed by race. The 2016 midterm elections only seemed to reinforce the racial divide. It should be stressed, however, that the sizeable percentage (38%) of Laeralites identifying as multiracial continue to be a key swing demographic, and are generally less tied to a particular party. Members of minority groups, such as the Gao, meanwhile, tend to flock towards smaller parties, such as the United Right or the Secular Democrats.

So what does this mean for Laeral’s upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections? While the Progressives and the People’s Party (LPP) continue to be more cosmopolitan and racially diverse, the Socialists and Conservatives have both taken steps to widen their demographic appeal, most notably through the Conservative Party’s “Agenda 2020” which aims to have 30% of support from Rén and multiracial voters by that year. An interesting factor is the emergence of Liu Mei-han’s New Democrats, which some observers have likened to either the Social Democrats’ patronage campaign style or Simon Luo’s cross-racial appeal. Most certainly, Liu’s popularity among Rén voters is a threat to the Progressives’ traditional dominance of center-left and left-wing Rén, and possibly to Rén voters on the political right as well, especially since the People’s Party nominee, Damien Vendorme, is Arrivée. With few opportunities to pick up Rén and multiracial voters, it seems that the Socialists, and their candidate, young political scion Jean-Pierre Nury, are doomed to electoral defeat. The Conservatives, as well, are on edge, given the large number of General Assembly seats they are defending, most of them picked up in their banner year of 2012.

The emergence of the far-right party Laeral Unbowed! demonstrates, however, how a previously fringe political party focused on a particular racial demographic can broaden it’s appeal to include voters of all races. Founded in 2003, the party was initially a fringe party, missing the 0.75% threshold to enter the Assembly of Commons when it first contested elections in 2004. Although it’s vote share improved over the coming elections, it was only in 2015, when TV and radio commentator-turned-Representative Hsieh Pai-han took over party leadership, that the party’s fortunes began to change. Hsieh struck out many portions of the party platform which had driven off Arrivée and multiracial voters, such as support for colonialism reparations, replacing them with more broadly-focused clauses focusing on economic revival and a challenge to inclusion-based, consensus politics. These actions appear to have paid off- in 2016, Laeral Unbowed! won a record number of seats in the Commons, receiving 4.4% of the vote. In 2018, polls show Hsieh’s party doubling their vote total, largely due to appeal to multiracial and Arrivée voters. Mr. Hsieh’s success at creating a broad-based political party, which many mainstream parties continue to struggle with, provides a blueprint for moving past the historical race-based cleavage in Laeralian democracy.

[Darmen]

Darmen supports Bernard Errante and the Conservative Party.

[Coconut Palm Island]

King Alexander (@CPI_King)
Just now from Largo Beach, Coconut Palm Island

As King of Coconut Palm Island, I officially endorse the Progressive Party. I find its platform to be the most logical of all of the parties. The Senate and I wish the Progressive Party a swift and decisive victory!

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[Laeral]

Day Eight: Madam Prime Minister

Tanvi Misra is one of the most prominent and influential figures in Laeralian politics today. Born in 1959 to a family of Andhran immigrants resettled in Fuxing province, Misra excelled at school, and was also elected to the Student Council at Eastern Mingde Public High School. From her position as an ordinary member, she was elected as Prime Minister in her 11th grade year, and President in her 12th. She also became involved with the Fuxing Branch of the Student Progressives, which she joined at age 15. She attended the University of Fuxing, where she majored in Communications Studies, before attending Riverlands National University for her Master’s degree. She was hired as a Progressive Party consultant, where she oversaw party messaging. After working for the Progressive Party for 12 years, she rose to the position of Executive Director of the Progressive General Assembly Campaign Committee, a powerful position within the party, following the Progressive success in the 1990 elections. After serving as an important figure in the Progressive Party for years, she ran for Delegate from her native Fuxing province in 1992, narrowly edging out the Socialist candidate to become the junior Delegate from Fuxing. She continued to serve as the Executive Director of the PGACC as Delegate, and co-sponsored numerous pieces of legislation during her time in the General Assembly. In 2004, she was reelected with a greater number of votes than her Conservative fellow Delegate, becoming the senior Delegate from Fuxing. She became the General Assembly Leader of the Opposition in 2006, and Speaker of the General Assembly when the Progressive-Socialist coalition took control in 2008. She served in this capacity for six years, before President Brennan chose her to serve as his Prime Minister following the 2014 elections. As Prime Minister, she has a lower public profile than her predecessors, preferring to focus on behind-the-scenes negotiation rather than delivering speeches. She enjoys much power within the Progressive Party, where her intervention was largely responsible for electing Chen Ting-fei as Chair of the Progressive National Committee and leader of the party. Many of her enemies describe her as manipulative and cunning, having engineered her own rise to power within the Progressive Party. By contrast, she enjoys fierce support among many rank-and-file Progressive Party members, despite the Serriel Affair and a previous controversy she was involved in, the 2003 Yǔ Scandal. She is known in political circles as a weak campaigner and public speaker, but has numerous friends and allies within the political world. We catch up to Prime Minister Misra, a polarizing public figure, on the campaign trail.

Prime Minister Misra: Let’s start with your personal life. If you were elected President, you would become both Laeral’s first modern female leader and the first President not of Arrivée or Rén heritage. Do you think that Laeral is ready for someone of your ethnic and racial background to serve as President?
“Well, I can’t change who I am, and so my own background is something of a non-issue, as far as I think of it. There are certainly some people who say that, oh, a person who looks like me shouldn’t be the leader of Laeral, and I disagree- I’ve lived in Laeral all my life, I attended an ordinary Laeralian school, and I’ve worked as hard as any Laeralite to get to where I am today. In my time campaigning I’ve seen so many Laeralites who are supportive of who I am- from daughters and sisters and mothers to young immigrant children, dreaming of improving the country they’ve come to- and they’ve helped me believe that I am just as capable of being President as anyone else. And I think the Laeralian people agree with me- that my family background, and my lack of a Y chromosome, shouldn’t prevent me from leading this great nation.”

Madam Prime Minister, you’ve said many times on the campaign trail that you don’t support the free college education proposals endorsed by Delegate Nury of the Socialists, and even some members of your own party. Why is that?
“Well, the reason for my views on education policy comes down to my own background, and the experiences I’ve had growing up. When I was preparing to graduate high school, I knew that I had very little money saved to pay for college. But I also knew that I wanted to do more than run my parent’s store. So I worked as hard as I could and applied for every scholarship that I could in order to attend college. And that system- of me working as hard as possible in order to enter a public college- worked out well for me. Although my grandfather would say otherwise (laughs).
But the path I took isn’t for everyone. There are many people for whom college wouldn’t be the best choice. If someone who would be best suited for a trade school instead is pressured into getting a four-year degree, then that’s a waste of taxpayers’ money. But what’s more of an issue is that free college tuition represents a giveaway to the rich when it’s intended to help the poor. If we take a look at the proposals that Delegate Nury and others have put forward, they all call for billions of Marks in order to pay for it. This money would be used to pay for the tuition of not only the poor and those who truly need it, but also those perfectly capable of paying for college themselves, such as the wealthy. In effect, these programs would use taxpayers’ money in order to subsidize, among other things, the college education of the rich. At a time when Laeral is 750 billion NSD in debt, we simply can’t afford to do that. Yes, we should certainly help those in need who have shown that they can excel at a traditional college by reimbursing their tuition, and I’ve outlined my plans to do so in depth in the Progressive party platform. But it’s completely unrealistic and impractical to pay for everyone’s schooling.”

You mentioned the matter of Laeral’s national debt, which is projected to increase to 775 billion NSD by 2020, or 83% of the national GDP. In fact, a major point of criticism for President Brennan’s budgets over the years has been that they have added significant amounts of money to the national debt. As President, how would you deal with this?
“My colleague, Delegate Vendorme, says that we should slash welfare funding, slash healthcare, slash education, slash funds for the elderly. If we do that, people will die. So we need to strike a balance, between relieving the national debt and ensuring that everyone’s needs are met and that everyone is cared for. This has been a major concern of mine- I have worked with President Brennan to ensure that this year’s budget will be able to pay for everything that’s needed, for education and healthcare and the like, while reducing our reliance on foreign loans from Sanctaria and other foreign powers. Our goal is to save taxpayer money by reducing government waste. For example, we were able to save the Laeralian people millions of Marks by auditing the Ministry of Transportation and reevaluating all of their projects, removing those which were inefficient or unnecessary. As President, I would continue that task, trimming budgets to create a sleeker government and bureaucracy which can still maintain its vital work in running the country and promoting the interests of the public.”

Madam Prime Minister, let’s talk about what newspapers are calling the ‘Serriel Affair’. As detailed in the newspaper Le Laeralien, a parliamentary visit you took to Serriel in 2009 and campaign contributions summing to millions of Marks from Serrielan donors are being cited as factors in your co-sponsorship of the 2010 Serrielan Economic Relations Act, which established greater economic ties with that nation. Prime Minister Misra, was your trip to Serriel, and ensuing campaign contributions from the Serrielan Cooperation Council and various Serrielan donors, the reason that you co-sponsored that bill?
“Well, first of all, one thing that I’d like to make clear is that I dislike how some people in the press, and even some of my Opposition colleagues, have been referring to my parliamentary visit as a ‘vacation’. It was not a vacation. It was a business trip, intended to assess Serrielan industry and workers’ rights, as well as compliance with international human rights regulations. We were touring chemical plants- we weren’t sunbathing on the beach, as some people have implied.
But when we weren’t touring factories and industrial facilities, we did stay in nice accomodations. However, our foreign ministry has extended the same courtesies of comfortable lodgings and expensive meals to visiting foreign dignitaries, as well. In the world of international negotiations, that’s just how things are. I didn’t ask to stay at fancy hotels- if they’d put us up in a Traveler’s Rest*, the only person to complain would have been my arthritic joints.
As for the donations from the various Serrielan people- I have no idea why they’d want to give me money. Maybe they enjoyed my company. Regardless, any rumors that I was involved in some sordid deal with the Serrielans is just that- rumors. I have never been involved in any kind of corrupt deal, and I feel this has all the hallmarks of a politically motivated attack. I’m disappointed that my opponents would stoop so low.”

*A chain of budget motels in Laeral

Tanvi Misra will appear at the First Presidential Debate tonight.

---

Tanvi Misra’s home province of Fuxing is very proud of its native daughter. With a population of around 820,000, this small, rural, mountainous province has never before had one of its own become such a player on the national stage. Fuxing’s popular Governor, Lin Yan-ting, is a moderate Progressive, and is widely expected to win reelection. Fuxing is notable as being a notable site for immigrant resettlement, a decision which is controversial in this rural province. Although controversial is a new proposal to reduce the size of the Yaling Gai National Reserve, a national park located in the mountains of Fuxing, in order to allow commercial exploitation. This measure is opposed by environmentalists, yet the unicameral Fuxing Provincial Assembly, controlled by a coalition between the Laeralian People’s Party and the Conservatives appears cautiously in favor.

---

Campaign Trail Update
Le Laeralien: Misra Takes On Critics In “33 Provinces” Interview

La Sentinelle: Investigation of Misra Unlikely For Months, If Ever

Le Pays: IAC Membership Becomes Campaign Issue

Les Couloirs: Historically Speaking, Laeral-Serriel Relations Have Been Closer Than You Think

Le Stylo: Misra’s Crooked Cabal Schemes To Evade Justice!

---

Prior to tonight’s debate at Althea City University, the newspapers Le Laeralien and La Sentinelle have both released within their pages full polling for virtually every contest in the 2018 Laeralian elections. This polling was produced using large samples (around 3000 likely voters, for the presidential election) and is considered very reliable. The results are reprinted below.

President of Laeral

Sample Size: 3005 likely voters

Delegate Damien Vendorme: 26% (+1)
Governor Liu Mei-han: 18% (+0)
Prime Minister Tanvi Misra: 15% (-1)
Representative Jean-Pierre Nury: 13% (+0)
Delegate Bernard Errante: 10% (+1)
Representative Hsieh Pai-han: 8% (+1)
Other Candidates: 4%
Undecided: 6%

Assembly of Commons

Sample size: 3005 likely voters
-386 Representatives, elected proportionally
-194 seats (or 193, and the President’s support) needed for majority

Progressive Party: 88 (-10)
Laeralian People’s Party: 84 (+22)
New Democratic Alliance: 55 (+36)
Laeral Unbowed!: 34 (+17)
Socialist Party: 30 (-45)
Conservative Party: 26 (-46)
Radical Party of the Left: 25 (+25)
Secular Democratic Party: 17 (+17)
Green Party/Laeralian Ecology: 10 (-1)
United Right: 8 (-10)
Minjian Appeal Party: 5 (+5)
Women’s Alliance: 4 (+4)

Result: Hung Assembly of Commons

Malcom Cadiou, Les Couloirs: The biggest winner projected in the Assembly of Commons is Liu Mei-han’s New Democratic Alliance, which is expected to over double in size to 55 seats. Don’t get me wrong- that’s an excellent showing for Liu’s young party, but it’s actually less astounding than her showing in the presidential race, where she’s elbowed Prime Minister Misra aside to take a spot in the runoff, if current poll numbers hold. The Socialists and the Conservatives, both junior partners in Misra’s coalition, look as if they’ll be suffering, losing around 45 seats each. Leaders in both parties should be seriously working on damage control at this point, because it looks as if the voters will be punishing them in a few weeks.
The Progressives and the LPP will be practically neck-and-neck, with our polls showing that the Progressives will remain the largest party, but be only four seats ahead of their rivals in the LPP. Laeral Unbowed!, meanwhile, looks as if it’ll be doubling its Assembly of Commons delegation, leapfrogging the Socialists and the Conservatives to become the fourth-largest party. This matches a pattern seen in many other nations over the past few years, of far-right populist parties making strong electoral showings.
The number of parties in the Commons looks as if it’ll increase from 10 parties to 12, making the job of would-be Prime Ministers harder, with more parties than ever needed for a coalition. It looks as if a grand coalition or a left-center coalition are the most likely, but in the fragmented political environment polls are projecting, it’ll be hard for anyone to forge a majority.

Possible Coalitions:

Grand Coalition
Progressive Party-Laeralian People’s Party-New Democratic Alliance: 227/386 seats
33 seats above threshold for governing majority

Left-Center Coalition
Progressive Party-New Democratic Alliance-Socialist Party-Radical Party of the Left: 195/386 seats
4 seats above threshold for governing majority

Center Coalition
Progressive Party-New Democratic Alliance-Conservative Party-Secular Democratic Party-Green Party/Laeralian Ecology: 194/386 seats
2 seats above threshold for governing majority

Right-Center Coalition
Laeralian People’s Party-New Democratic Alliance-Laeral Unbowed!-Conservative Party: 199/386 seats
5 seats above threshold for governing majority

General Assembly

Sample size: 3005 likely voters
-66 Delegates, elected by province
-22 seats up for election
-34 seats required for governing majority

Lematre: Conservative Party Hold, Laeralian People’s Party Hold
Arquien: Conservative Party Hold, Laeralian People’s Party Hold
Aumont: Progressive Party Hold, Socialist Party Hold
Celeste: Progressive Party Hold, Conservative Party Loss to New Democratic Alliance
Felliere: Progressive PartyHold, Conservative Party Loss to Laeralian People’s Party
Peichen: Laeralian People’s Party, Conservative Party Loss to New Democratic Alliance, Laeral Unbowed!
Sendrasi: Progressive Party Hold, Conservative Party Loss to Laeralian People’s Party
Shaoxing: Conservative Party Hold, Progressive PartyHold
Harcour: Progressive Party Hold, Socialist Party Loss to New Democratic Alliance
Meridoc: Laeralian People’s Party Hold, Socialist Party Loss to New Democratic Alliance
Meilinis: Conservative Party and Progressive Party Loss to Laeralian People’s Party and New Democratic Alliance

Laeralian People’s Party: 17 (+2)
Progressive Party: 16 (-2)
Conservative Party: 14 (-4)
Socialist Party: 12 (-2)
New Democratic Alliance: 6 (+5)
Laeral Unbowed!: 1 (+1)

Result: Hung General Assembly
Possible Coalitions:

Grand Coalition
Laeralian People’s Party-Progressive Party: 33/66 seats
1 seat below threshold required for a governing majority

Center Coalition
Progressive Party-Conservative Party-New Democratic Alliance: 36/66 seats
2 seats above threshold for a governing majority

Left-Center Coalition
Progressive Party-Socialist Party-New Democratic Alliance: 34/66 seats
0 seats above threshold for a governing majority

Right-Center Coalition
Conservative Party-Laeralian People’s Party-New Democratic Alliance: 37/66 seats
3 seats above threshold for a governing majority

In order to form a government, there must be a coalition in place in both houses of the National Assembly, but a majority is only required in the Assembly of Commons. The Assembly of Commons is responsible for electing a Prime Minister and confirming their Cabinet. A coalition in the Commons is therefore responsible for maintaining a Prime Minister and their cabinet, and the Prime Minister and their entire cabinet can be removed by a Vote of No Confidence in the Commons. Note that the National Assembly cannot remove the President with a vote of no confidence. Polling currently shows that another massively fragmented parliament is likely, with 12 parties expected to gain representation.

The General Assembly is less powerful than the Assembly of Commons. The coalition which has a majority in the Commons does not need to have a majority in the General Assembly in order to form a government. The ruling coalition in the General Assembly elects a Speaker, which is responsible for overseeing debate in that Assembly, but cannot exert influence over the Prime Minister and their cabinet.

---

OOC Note: The presidential debate takes place tonight, and I was planning to post the transcript of the debate as it happens. Unfortunately, something's come up in my non-NationStates life, and so I won't have time for that tonight. I'll try to have the debate posted tomorrow. Thanks for understanding.

[Vienna Eliot]

Rural Lijiang
Near the border of Laeral and the Wilderlands Protectorate

Vienna began speaking immediately once Eleni picked up the phone. "Status of the detention center?" he asked.

"Uh—" she had to think for a moment, taken aback by the abruptness of the question. Then she turned around and looked across the small warehouse, in which a little town of tents and cages had been set up. "Affirmative. Completely prepared."

"Okay. What about the refugees? Are they there? Are they en route?"

"There have been some logistical errors. Mainly with finding refugees. I don't think we can hit the three day target."

Vienna sighed. "Okay, we'll figure something out. Give us a day, then we'll send you locations of refugees to transport. The transportation is in order, correct?"

"We'll have to rearrange some flights, I don't know. But it should be fine."

"Great. Thank you for your wonderful work." Vienna hung up.

Le Diplomate, Althea
Althea, LR. Laeral.

Vienna turned to the others. Coverage of the Misra interview played mutely on the TV. "It's in order," Vienna said. "There are just some delays. I'll handle it. As for the contributions, how do we do it? Can you elaborate, Marco? There's a contribution limit."

"Right," said Marco, "of course. So, we can't actually donate directly to Misra, but we can campaign for her. Let's say we set up a fake state—"

"A fake state?" Joyce looked at the others to be sure she wasn't the only one who couldn't take the proposal seriously. "We're not setting up a fake government. People will see through that shit immediately. We aren't bound by conventional ethics. That doesn't mean we're invincible," she said.

"Joyce is right," said Vienna, but Marco interjected — "What's your plan?" he asked. He started listing Laeralian campaign finance statutes from memory, but Joyce cut him off.

"How about we donate directly to her campaign through multiple fake businesses — then we leave bread crumbs linking them together, and we leak that to the press? That's not necessarily going to be as bad as getting more from a foreign government — I mean, it wouldn't be a scandal in and of itself. But together with this, coupled with what's going on right now, it'll be a big fucking deal. I can take the lead on this, too. I've got plenty of front businesses in Elizia and Aurentina."

The others nodded. Vienna grinned approvingly. Marco sighed, getting up to pour himself a glass of wine.

---

Recent Contributions to Tanvi Misra for President
advisor.ly (Burkit Zu Nam, Elizia) — M30,000
Moreign (Solzia, Elizia) — M30,000
CFairs (Daerah Pandai Besi, Elizia) — M30,000
Gagench (Marasak, Elizia) — M30,000
LIASOR (Bandarbaru, Elizia) — M30,000
Finance Batch (Periran Putih, Elizia) — M30,000
Agence (Solsi, Elizia) — M30,000
investry.io (Changkat, Elizia) — M30,000
PlusWire (Limbang, Elizia) — M30,000
Ghozi Corporation (Bandar Lautan, Elizia) — M30,000
Ghozi PAC (Bandar Lautan, Elizia) — M30,000
Ghozi Communications (Bandar Lautan, Elizia) — M30,000
Taren (Telok Mesira, Elizia) — M30,000
Council on Elizian Business (Kentang, Elizia) — M30,000
Elizian Business Council (Kentang, Elizia) — M30,000
EBC Enterprises (Kentang, Elizia) — M30,000
Thang Hien (Burkit Zu Nam, Elizia) — M2,200
V.S. Vishal (Solzia, Elizia) — M2,200
Inuna Pakar (Daerah Pandai Besi, Elizia) — M2,200
Li Peng (Marasak, Elizia) — M2,200
Christopher Ching (Bandarbaru, Elizia) — M2,200
Suria bin Suuha (Periran Putih, Elizia) — M2,200
Asako Lee Yuen (Solsi, Elizia) — M2,200
Abdul Halim Rasheed (Changkat, Elizia) — M2,200
Jumaat Noh (Limbang, Elizia) — M2,200
Chi Ghozi (Bandar Lautan, Elizia) — M2,200
Taren Kentaro (Telok Mesira, Elizia) — M2,200
Tijah bin Dian (Kentang, Elizia) — M2,200

Text Message: Vienna Eliot to a reporter at Le Pays
Misra said she's publishing her campaign contributions, right? look at the most recent few. half a million dollars from donors in one country. spooky [ghost emoji]

[Ru-]

King Yoshio (@realkingyoshio)
Just now from New Ru City, Ru

Prime Minister Misra's interview was impressive. I applaud her vow to publish her campaign contribution records, and will go further in urging alll of her opponents to follow her example. Hopefully with full transparency, this silliness can be put to bed once and for all and the candidates can go back to battling each other on the issues and offering thier ideas for real solutions for the problems faced by their nation's people.

---

|⇧ UPVOTE| |⇩ DOWNVOTE| |REPLY|

[Laeral]

Les Couloirs: The Magazine of Laeralian Politics

---

November 27, 2018

Within the Corridors of Power

International Edition

---

What The Candidates Need To Do At Tonight’s Debate
By Malcom Cadiou, Political Correspondent

Althea, Auvergne The first Presidential debate of the 2018 campaign begins in several hours. This debate will see the six most important candidates (out of 13 total) debating at Althea City University. The debate will be moderated by Mssr. Adrien Lin, of LNBS News, and Mme. Elisa Joubert, of Western Broadcasting. Over two hours, the campaign’s six frontrunners- Damien Vendorme of the right-wing Laeralian People’s Party, centrist Liu Mei-han, incumbent Prime Minister Tanvi Misra of the left-wing Progressive Party, Socialist candidate Jean-Pierre Nury, far-right wing firebrand Hsieh Pai-han, and Bernard Errante of the center-right Conservatives- will explain their platforms before an audience of 440 people in the auditorium and a TV audience of around twenty-five million. I’ll be reacting to the debate as it happens with commentary and analysis at http://www.lescouloirs.com.lr. You can find me on Setsuzoku at @MalcomCadiou.

Each of the candidates knows that this is one of their two best chances to reach a large segment of the voting public, with the other one being the second debate 11 days from now. With that in mind, they’ve likely outlined a plan with their campaign team for what issues they’re going to cover. Tonight’s debate will be split into three parts. First, an introduction from each candidate and a discussion of coalition opportunities. Next, a debate on how to revitalize the struggling Laeralian economy. Finally, a discussion over the social issues facing Laeral today. Let’s go over what each candidate will be trying to get out of the debate. In order from worst to best-polling candidates:

Hsieh Pai-han is on an openly anti-immigrant, populist, anti-WA platform but his economic proposals aren’t as far right as his social views. He’s said quite a lot of controversial things on the campaign trail, so it’ll be interesting tonight to see if he’s going to double down on that populist, outspoken rhetoric or if he’s going to try and present himself as reasonable and collected. He’s polling at 8% right now, so little hope of getting into the second round, but this is the best performance his Laeral Unbowed! party has ever shown, and he’s likely going to try to turn that into seats in the Commons. It should also be interesting to see if he’ll try to court Arrivée voters or if he’ll stick to his base of mostly Rén voters who are fed up with what they see as a system tilted against them.

Bernard Errante isn’t doing so well in the polls- certainly much worse than he was expecting, so I’m fairly certain that he’s been talking with his campaign team, trying to figure out something he can do to stop his support from draining away to Vendorme and Liu. He fired his campaign manager several weeks ago as part of a large shift in leadership. That means he’ll almost certainly be going on the attack against Vendorme and Liu so that he’s not ignored up on the debate stage.

Jean-Pierre Nury is probably going to try and reclaim his voter base in the far-left. Traditionally Socialist voters have been attracted by the new-founded Radical Party of the Left, as shown by their sudden bump in the polls. Nury has probably also concluded that, with Tanvi Misra and
Liu Mei-han also competing for moderate left-wing votes, he’ll lose more votes than he’ll gain by pivoting to the center. So I’d expect him to double down on his more controversial proposals for healthcare and education.

Tanvi Misra is wounded right now. She’d been expecting to sail into the second round of the presidential election easily, based solely on her high profile and through support by loyal Progressive voters. Unfortunately for her, Progressives have shown that they’re willing to defect to Nury and Liu, and the Serriel Affair definitely damaged her credibility. I fully expect her to be on the offensive tonight, trying to win back votes from Liu and Nury.

Liu Mei-han is in a practically unprecedented position. She’s now on track to enter the presidential runoff as a candidate from a party that barely existed even a year ago. She was a fairly undistinguished provincial governor and member of the Misra Cabinet until recently, and now it’s looking as if she’s the main opposition to Damien Vendorme. Tonight is very important for her campaign because she’s so far been untested on a debate stage. Today, a large segment of Laeral will be meeting her for the first time, so to speak, and she’ll have to prove to them that she’s qualified to handle the presidency.

Damien Vendorme has a fairly large margin ahead of his opponents, and he’s almost certain to make it into the presidential runoff. Expect him to try to shut down his right-wing opponents, and to go after Liu and Misra. Tonight is his night, he’s in control, and he’ll just want to make sure that he’s still the frontrunner after the debate is over.

[Laeral]

@MalcomCadiou | ONLINE | Althea City University | | | REPLY

Hello and welcome to Les Couloirs’s live coverage of the first debate between the six major candidates in Laeral’s presidential election. This is one of the most-watched elections in Laeralian history, and voter interest is high, as the leading candidates meet each other on the debate stage for the first time. After weeks of scandals and verbal attacks, the candidates will finally outline their policy proposals to the voters themselves.

@MalcomCadiou | ONLINE | Althea City University | | | REPLY

In addition to releasing the order of debate topics I outlined earlier (introduction, economic issues, social issues), it’s also been revealed that each candidate will have ninety seconds for introductions, and two minutes to answer each question. Some interrupting from other candidates will be allowed after each question (not including each candidate’s introduction) after 60 seconds.

@MalcomCadiou | ONLINE | Althea City University | | | REPLY

The candidates have come onto the stage and taken their places behind the podiums to applause and boos. The higher-polling candidates are in the center, the lesser-polling ones on the outside. The moderators are outlining the rules as reporters are taking pictures.

@MalcomCadiou | ONLINE | Althea City University | | | REPLY

The candidates are picking a number from a hat to determine who introduces themselves first. Jean-Pierre Nury has drawn a 5, Tanvi Misra the number 1, Liu Mei-han the number 4, Bernard Errante number 2, Damien Vendorme the number 6, and Hsieh Pai-han has number 3.

OOC: Since I obviously don’t want to write out the entire debate, I will continue with summaries and the live blog in most sections, and I will write in the full transcript of the debate in a few places.

---

Althea City University, Althea, Loiraine

The six candidates are on stage at Althea City University, with just over 400 people watching in the room. The moderators, Mssr. Adrien Lin and Mme. Elisa Joubert, are facing the stage with their backs to the audience. “The candidates,” Lin explains, “have each drawn a number to determine in what order they will present their opening statements. Prime Minister Misra has drawn a number one, and will give her opening statement first, while Delegate Vendorme has drawn the number six, and will therefore speak last. This order will be reversed at the end of the debate, where Delegate Vendorme will speak first and Prime Minister Misra will speak last.”

Prime Minister Misra, having drawn the number one, began. “Thank you Adrien, thank you to Althea City University for hosting us, and most of all, thank you to everyone watching tonight. All of us remember the horrible financial crash in 2009 that devastated our economy. As Laeralites, we all remember the hardships that our nation faced from this financial mismanagement, and the disastrous string of bad decisions responsible for the crash. My esteemed colleague, Delegate Vendorme, was a part of the previous Ganard Administration, whose disastrous economic policies led to the crash. As a Delegate, Damien Vendorme voted to impose heartless austerity measures, which cut funding from our children’s education and our own health care. When President Brennan was elected in 2010, he vowed to turn around the economic recession, and I’m proud to have been a part of the economic reforms which have restored our nation’s prosperity. GDP has been increasing and unemployment falling for the past five years in a row, and it has been the highest honor of my life to work with fellow Progressives, and across the aisle, to help restore Laeralian prosperity. In our nation’s system of coalition government, only the Progressives and the LPP have a chance of forming a working, effective government that can deliver the kind of stability our nation needs. Don’t waste your vote on the party that led us into recession, or another party with no chance of forming a government. Instead, vote Progressive for stability and a better future for Laeral!”

@MalcomCadiou | ONLINE | Althea City University | | | REPLY

Tanvi Misra has a slightly awkward introduction as she pivots from attacking the LPP to trying to win back votes from the Socialists and NDA.

Bernard Errante, having drawn number two, spoke next. “Good evening ladies and gentlemen. When I started my career in politics, Laeralites could count on being able to succeed, if they worked hard and played fair. You could go out to get a job, and you could count on being able to hold that job for your entire life.. And if you ever fell, you could count on your community picking you up and putting you back on your feet. But today, people worry for the future. They worry that the jobs they’ve held for decades will be gone, sent overseas or automated. They worry that the strong family and community bonds that have kept Laeral as a nation together for so long don’t have a place in the world we live in. Some people say that the answer to the problems we face as a nation is in shouting and name-calling and blaming the problem on our fellow Laeralites. Others say that the answer to our problems is to disparage our hard-working businesses and businesspeople. Going after immigrants won’t solve our problems, and neither will going after business. If we want to fix the problems that afflict our nation today, we need to pull together as a nation. We need to come together in supporting our traditional values, from filial piety to self-reliance. We need to bring our government back to where it belongs, closer to the people. We need to ensure that we’re looking out for rural interests, so that our nation’s great wealth and potential can be shared more equally. And we need to forsake pointless arguments and name-calling so that we can all pull together in promoting this great Laeralian project of building a better nation. Reject the politics of self-interest, and help us move forward in rebuilding the nation we wish to live in. A vote for the Conservative Party is a vote for that nation.”

@MalcomCadiou | ONLINE | Althea City University | | | REPLY

What is filial piety? www.encyclopedialaeralian.com.lr/definition/filial-piety. Also note that filial piety is a virtue highly prized among Rén, a demographic the Conservatives have historically struggled to attract. And for the record, Errante started in politics in 1966, 52 years ago.

Hsieh Pai-han drew number three. “Ladies and gentlemen, you’re going to hear a lot of different people tonight about their differences, and about how they’re different from all the others. But in truth, none of them are addressing the real issues that we face today. Namely, the immigrants who are flooding into our nation. I grew up in a small town in Lijiang- do we have anyone from Peichen here tonight? Glad to see it. I grew in a small town with a Minjian temple in there that was built during the Gao Dynasty. The Gao Dynasty! Fifteen hundred years ago. It stands for the shared culture that we as Laeralites all hold dear. But now, when I go back to my hometown, it’s being overrun. Overrun by people who know nothing about our heritage. Immigrants. Brennan swore the Presidential oath, to protect our shared culture, when he became president. He failed.” [Pause for applause] “We’re being overrun by immigrants who are taking our jobs, immigrants who disrespect our heritage. The temple in my hometown is being overrun by people who have no idea about what it means, people who know nothing of its history. People who know nothing of our culture and religion. Immigrants. We at Laeral Unbowed! just want to help keep Laeralian jobs for Laeralites, and safeguard the culture we hold dear. Our nation’s schools and hospitals are stretched too far by immigrants trying to profit off our own taxpayer-funded healthcare, and our culture is under attack. And so we need to rise up, to take back our culture and our nation. We are at war, and we need to ensure our culture will survive. A vote for Laeral Unbowed! is a vote to take back our nation.” There was some cheering, and more booing once Hsieh finished.

@MalcomCadiou | ONLINE | Althea City University | | | REPLY

This is very similar to Hsieh’s stump speech, especially the anecdote about the temple in his hometown.

Liu Mei-han took the stage next. “If anyone has any doubt about the toxic partisanship that runs rampant in our government, it’s been confirmed tonight. We have far-right reactionaries, spewing venomous rhetoric at immigrants and trying to blame them for every problem in our nation since we kicked out the French Empire. We have far-left radicals, trying to blame every problem our nation has ever faced on the wealthy, and planning to bankrupt our nation with outlandish pension and welfare proposals. And we have two candidates bent on playing a rematch of the same election we saw in 2014. And 2010. And every election for the past decade.” She paused. “What we aren’t seeing is a candidate and a party that can bridge our nation’s differences. Our next president needs to recognize that there are good ideas on both sides of the left-right divide. We need a president who can understand both sides of an argument, and search for compromise. We need a president who can find a new way for our nation to move forward. We in the New Democratic Alliance know that our nation can’t afford to waste time fighting over ideology, when there are real problems that need to be addressed. As a candidate, I won’t give you identity politics. I won’t play off your religion, or your race, or your net worth. What I will give you is a determination to address the issues that matter. It’s not about winning ideological battles, or blaming the other side. It’s about addressing affordable housing. Tobacco control. The energy grid. And it’s about looking to the future. Coming up with solutions for the 21st century, not the 20th. A vote for me is a vote to move our nation a different way. Not left. Not right. Forward.” There were cheers and some booing, as Governor Liu smiled and waved to the crowd.

@MalcomCadiou | ONLINE | Althea City University | | | REPLY

Liu Mei-han has always been a good speaker: rumor has it that she wrote many of her own speeches as WA Ambassador and as Governor of Neidong. Agree or disagree with her political views, you can’t deny that she has a captivating opening speech.

Jean-Pierre Nury took the stage to speak next. “Good evening, everyone,” he said. “First of all, thank you to everyone here at Althea City U for hosting us here tonight. The buildings may be newer, but the warmth and energy of the people here haven’t changed a bit since I graduated.” He took a breath. “Now, our nation is at a crossroads. Anyone can tell you that our economy isn’t working the way it should. Too many people are unemployed, and struggling. The economy doesn’t work for ordinary people any more- it works for those at the top. Our political system, and our economy, have shown that they’re only working for those who have the power. The Brennan government’s austerity measures, launched under the guise of cutting debt, have made life harder than ever for the unemployed and the struggling. It’s time for the government to end this misery, and take the courageous steps our nation needs. That means moving forward toward a health care system that works for all. Representation for all workers in the workplace. And what’s more, increased steps towards promoting local government. The national government has demonstrated that it is inflexible. Unwilling or unable to address the problems that young people, and all people, face. What we need is wide-scale devolution of government to local authorities, in order to address the problems and opportunities that the future holds. We also need to ensure that our workers are protected from the struggles and competition they face, at home and from abroad. No longer will our workers be attacked on both fronts- from undercutting businesses abroad and from employers at home. A vote for the Socialists is a vote for the welfare of the working people!”

@MalcomCadiou | ONLINE | Althea City University | | | REPLY

Note that Nury’s last words, ‘for the welfare of the working people’, is the translation of a popular revolutionary slogan dating back to the 1919 Laeralian Civil War, and seen most commonly at radical workers’ strikes.

@MalcomCadiou | ONLINE | Althea City University | | | REPLY

Nury’s focus on devolution of government was unseen earlier in the campaign. It’s likely that this is his bid to break away from the competition and define himself as a candidate.

Finally, Delegate Damien Vendorme, of the right-wing Laeralian People’s Party, came to the stage. “Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you. First of all, I’d like to say that 30 years ago, I became the luckiest man in the ‘verse when Jia-ling Vendorme agreed to marry me. And I’d like to wish her a happy anniversary. Jia-ling and I have raised two wonderful children together, and more than anyone else, I’m running because of them. Right now, Laeral is in an explosive situation. And as a father, that makes me worried. We have immigrants streaming across our borders. Corruption rampant at the highest levels of government. Hospitals unable do their jobs because of a rigid and inflexible state-run system that chokes innovation and is millions of Marks in the red. Our nation, humiliated by the CDSP in the Northeastern Sea and by Gonhog and Kerlile in Lauchenoiria. Schools that are failing to educate our children in Laeralian culture and identity. And jobs and businesses fleeing our country, in search of better opportunities abroad. Our economy can’t go on like this. President Brennan has thrust our nation into this crisis, and he’s promised us the world while he’s doing this. He’s pledged to build a better Laeral, but the voices of Laeralites around our great nation tell us that his solutions have failed. Our unemployment refuses to budge. Our hospitals and health care, and our government, are taking on more and more debt. And Brennan is outmatched at every level on the international stage, with our enemies' leaders and military beating us at every turn and the World Assembly acting like a radical activist, putting out more and more laws that hurt our economy and make it harder to compete on the global stage. We’re being cheated, and we can’t let that continue.”

@MalcomCadiou | ONLINE | Althea City University | | | REPLY

Delegate Vendorme mentions multiple times the Northeastern Sea Crisis, which occurred several months back. The CDSP, a powerful and militaristic nation in the IDU, created a no-go zone in international waters in order to use chemical weapons against pirates active in the region. Laeralian ships took part in a coalition relief fleet which sought to evacuate Laeralian citizens, but was embarrassingly turned away. The government, however, was able to broker a deal through the International Democratic Union government to evacuate Laeralian citizens through private airlines.

The first question for the candidates was, “In our democracy, it is required that a governing coalition be created in the National Assembly in order to elect a Prime Minister and Cabinet. Which parties would you be willing to form a coalition with in order to get necessary votes in the National Assembly?”

Key points:
Prime Minister Tanvi Misra said that she would draw on her experience in the General Assembly and as Prime Minister to form a coalition. “Progressives,” she said, “are open to working with any parties which are willing to work to move Laeral forward”. She also said that she would be open to forming a ‘grand coalition’ with whatever other party does well, and that she would also be willing to put aside her previous conflicts with Governor Liu Mei-han to form a government.
Governor Liu Mei-han said that she would be open to working with any party, even Hsieh Pai-han’s Laeral Unbowed! party. “The New Democratic Alliance,” she said, “has no partisan baggage, and work with whoever the voters choose”.
Delegate Damien Vendorme said that he believes that the LPP’s first choice should be the Conservatives or the New Democrats, and that he thinks there are “irreconcilable differences” between the LPP and the Socialists. He did not mention Laeral Unbowed!, but upon being prompted by the debate moderators, he said that a coalition with that far-right party “is not off the table”.
Representative Hsieh Pai-han said that he would be willing to stay in opposition if election results proved unfavorable. He added that he would be especially unwilling to work with “radicals and sellouts”.“Laeral Unbowed! will not,” he said, “compromise our values and beliefs in order to get into government”.
Representative Jean-Pierre Nury said that although he would opn up coalition decisions to members of his party, he is personally opposed to entering coalition with the Conservatives, the LPP, or Laeral Unbowed!. “Those parties,” he said, “don’t have our best interests or the best interests of Laeral in mind”.
Delegate Bernard Errante said that the Conservatives are open to working as part of a center-right or grand coalition, and that he is personally “troubled” by thought of working with either the Socialists or Laeral Unbowed!, whom he described as ‘radicals and reactionaries’.

The next question for all candidates was, “How will your policies reduce unemployment?” Unemployment in Laeral is currently 7.2%, and is especially high among the young. President Brennan declared unemployment to be one of his administration’s major priorities when he took office in 2010. At the time, unemployment was over 15%.

Key points:
Representative Jean-Pierre Nury said that the solution is to reduce the number of foreign workers, while penalizing companies which send jobs abroad and enacting free college tuition policies. He said that he would aim for 0% unemployment in the short term- “mark my words, not a single Laeralite without a job”- as a prelude to a universal basic income plan which would gradually be implemented. The most important goal of his presidency, he says, will be to “bring back opportunities for every Laeralite”.
Representative Hsieh Pai-han said that Socialist and Progressive plans were “absurd and unworkable”. He noted that reducing college tuition would only lead to more bureaucrats and “layabout liberal arts majors”, and that the key to reducing unemployment lies in reducing immigration and cutting back on free trade, to prevent jobs from being taken by competitors abroad.
Prime Minister Tanvi Misra noted that President Brennan’s policies had resulted in reducing unemployment by 7% over the past eight years. She said that as President, her focus would be on increasing access to education, enacting a system of vouchers for lower-income students to attend college, and imposing penalties on companies which relocated away from Laeral.
Governor Liu Mei-han said that the economy and employment are driven by “innovation and enterprise”, and that she would focus on promoting this in order to create jobs. A focus of this drive for innovation would be in promoting technology and IT jobs in economically disadvantaged areas. Governor Liu said that in future, traditional manufacturing jobs in fields such as textiles will be replaced by automation. In order to cushion the transition, she said that she would focus on creating trade schools and adult education colleges.
Delegate Damien Vendorme said that Liu’s plan wasn’t enough. “Governor Liu, you can’t assume that this one-size-fits-all plan will magically solve our economy.” Instead, he said that Laeral’s governments need ‘economic patriotism’, or rather a focus on promoting exclusively Laeralian businesses. This would include renegotiating free trade agreements which “benefit foreign businesses at the expense of our own”, as well as lowering “crippling” tax rates on corporations.
Delegate Bernard Errante said that his focus would be on “giving corporations the freedom to optimize” their business practices. Businesses should be allowed to negotiate wages and work hours with unions individually. He would also like to change the requirements for the year of service, the mandatory year Laeralian students spend working between high school and college, to eliminate “unproductive” government internships with worthwhile jobs such as in agriculture and manufacturing.

Candidates were next asked, “What steps would you take to address the growing national debt?” Laeral’s national debt stands at 83% of GDP, and is projected to reach 775 billion NSD by 2020. This debt is owed to both the public and various foreign nations, notably Sanctaria.

Key points:
Delegate Damien Vendorme said that the solution to Laeral’s debt woes is to privatize “hugely unprofitable” state-owned businesses. When pressed by moderators as to which he intended to privatize, he stated the postal service and the national electric company, Laeralian Energy, which has been blamed for the Laeralsford Blackout last week.
Governor Liu Mei-han said that she would reject austerity measures and focus on driving the economy, in order to increase tax revenues in order to repay these debts.
Representative Hsieh Pai-han said that the obvious solution is to cut foreign aid spending and to create stricter requirements for welfare recipients. “If someone is not working or searching for a job in order to contribute to our economy, than they should not be allowed to draw money from the contributions of hard-working Laeralites!”
Representative Jean-Pierre Nury said that he would “reject the politics of austerity” and gradually repay the national debt from the increased tax revenue generated by increased taxes on the wealthy and a new tax on carbon emissions. He touted his “special relationship” with the Sanctarian Prime Minister Charlene Hendry, of the Democratic Left Party, and said that he would use that to his advantage during negotiations with the Sanctarian government.
Prime Minister Tanvi Misra said that she continues to support austerity measures as “the only, and I repeat, the only practical means of keeping our debt at a manageable level”. While she acknowledged the potential negative effects of improperly enacted austerity measures, she repeated that “cuts have to be made somewhere, and those cuts will go only to the places where cuts will not affect the quality of life we as Laeralites expect”.
Delegate Bernard Errante promised to keep tax hikes to a minimum, saying that he would focus on addressing government waste while vowing to save money on the Foreign Affairs Ministry and on foreign aid.

@MalcomCadiou | ONLINE | Althea City University | | | REPLY

Quick summary of the remaining economic questions- Misra sticks to the Progressives’ social democratic roots with government regulation and austerity, Nury makes appeals to unions and the working-class, Liu proposes modest economic liberalization and speaks of driving innovation, Vendorme proposes drastic measures to support business such as slashing regulations, Errante seems to be spouting scripted lines, and Hsieh’s proposals range all over the place, from ultra-right to even social democratic.

The debate soon moved to social policy. The moderators asked the candidates, “What is the greatest public health issue Laeral faces, and how would you address it?”

Key points:
Delegate Bernard Errante took the lead on this question, saying that Laeral faces the serious issue of an aging population. “As a nation, we need to ensure that our seniors are properly cared for, and that means making our hospital system better able to adapt to the issues on the ground.” He argues that hospitals need more independence, and that the government needs to give more support to rural and small doctors and hospitals.
Representative Hsieh Pai-han pivoted back to immigration, saying that hospitals are being “swamped” with immigrants and the poor. He said that stricter standards are needed, and that doctors need to reduce overprescription of drugs, saying that as a father of four, he has enough extra drugs in his house to stock a pharmacy.
Prime Minister Tanvi Misra rebuked Representative Hsieh, saying that “your obsession with immigrants in our health system will only make it harder for the sick to receive care.” Hsieh replied, “False!”, while Misra continued, saying that the biggest healthcare problem in the country was the lack of funding for healthcare, which she has “fought for throughout my career”.
Governor Liu Mei-han said that she intends to make it so that less people need medical aid. This would be centered on an extensive and drastic anti-tobacco campaign intended to reduce smoking rates by 20% within her first term.
Delegate Damien Vendorme said that drug addiction is a serious concern for him, and that he would focus on preventing drug use, “the scourge of our cities”, by imposing harsher punishments on those who sell drugs, and by increasing the number of police officers.
Representative Jean-Pierre Nury said that the healthcare system needs to be given more funding to extend operations in impoverished areas, and that pay for doctors needs to be higher, to prevent doctors from moving abroad.

@MalcomCadiou | ONLINE | Althea City University | | | REPLY

Off-topic: following Representative Nury’s comments earlier tonight about his “special relationship” with Sanctarian PM Charlene Hendry, several online commentators have reportedly threatened to write fanfiction about a romantic relationship between Nury and Hendry.

“As President, what changes, if any, would you make to the national education system?”

Key points:
Representative Jean-Pierre Nury jumped into the debate, highlighting his proposal of subsidising college education to make it free for all Laeralian students or Laeralian residents of 4+ years with sufficient grades. He said that this will provide a vital boost to Laeral’s economy and ensure a workforce which is ready to succeed in the future, while eliminating the crushing burden of college debt.
“That’s absurd!” replied Delegate Damien Vendorme angrily, retorting that this proposal would be a massive drain of money. Nury interrupted, replying that the government would have enough money to pass it had Vendorme’s party not prevented passage of the Moreau-Hwang Act (a controversial Socialist-sponsored bill which would have imposed new taxes on the wealthy, defeated in 2016). Vendorme theatrically ignored him, waving his hand dismissively in Nury’s direction while turning back to the crowd and declaring that, “What we don’t need is millions of underqualified students flooding our universities,” and that any expansion of colleges would overstuff classes and decrease the value of education. Vendorme’s plan involves increasing the number of privately-run colleges to save funds, while giving individual provinces “the freedom to set curriculums as they wish, without high-handed interference from the national government”.
Representative Hsieh Pai-han said that while Delegate Vendorme’s plan had some good parts, it didn’t go far enough. “We need,” Hsieh said, “to bring down the system of entitlement where elite NOU [National Open University] graduates snatch the best jobs, while everyone else is left with the scraps”. He also echoed Vendorme’s calls for school curriculum to be written by provincial governments, and said that this would “prevent our children from being taught erroneous or slanted information”.
Prime Minister Tanvi Misra touted her credentials with teachers’ unions, noting her ‘A’ grade from the Confédération Laeralien des Éducateurs, a Laeralian teachers’ union. She said that her plan for higher education would focus on increasing the number of scholarships available for women and other historically-disadvantaged minorities, to increase the percentage of women and Rén student attending Laeral’s “grandes écoles”, or NOUs, the network of 18 prestigious colleges that are often a gateway to success in later life. Misra said that she would aso create a “task force” of teachers and education experts to explore ways to improve the education system.
Governor Liu Mei-han explained that this issue is very important to her, since she is a former scholarship student herself. She said that she intends to expand the number of scholarships, in all fields, for deserving applicants. She did, however, describe plans to offer free college tuition as “unproductive”, saying that it would allow rich households to save on college as well as poor households. She said that her preferred approach to expanding college tuition centered on increasing the number of scholarships and increasing funding for education and for child care before and after school.
Delegate Bernard Errante said that his focus would be on improving the number and quality of teachers. He said that he would support a teachers’ pay raise, but would also support efforts to make it easier for school administrators to fire underperforming teachers. At present, powerful teachers’ unions have made it difficult to fire any teacher, regardless of their performance. He said that he would also support increasing the number of two- and four-year trade schools, to teach students vocational skills as an alternative to a degree.

Moderator Adrien Lin read the next question of the social policy section: “The topic of corruption has been in the news recently, following allegations surrounding Prime Minister Misra’s 2009 trip to Serriel. As President, how would you address the issue of corruption in the Laeralian government?”

Key points:
Prime Minister Tanvi Misra jumped in to defend herself from charges of taking bribes. Through occasional interjections of from Delegate Damien Vendorme, she described her trip to Serriel as “purely professional,” saying that allegations were “politically motivated”. She then continued, saying that “luxury accommodations are just part and parcel of international diplomacy”. Delegate Damien Vendorme interjected that “this doesn’t change the fact that you took dark money, shady cash, from Serriel” to which Misra stumbled a bit, saying that “I’ve gotten a lot of donations from a lot of supporters”. “Bought and sold, bought and sold!” Vendorme replied. Misra ignored that, saying that she’s willing to go before the General Assembly Ethics Committee in order to clear her name.
Delegate Damien Vendorme spoke next, saying that Misra’s actions are “a crime”, and that the investigation should proceed through the legal system, not through the General Assembly. “If Tanvi goes up before the General Assembly, we know she’ll find some way [he rubbed his thumb and forefinger together to symbolize money] to get off. We need a special prosecutor from the Ministry of Justice, not a corrupt jury of Misra’s corrupt peers!” There was loud cheering and booing from the crowd, which the moderators hushed.
Representative Jean-Pierre Nury came to Misra’s defense, saying that the focus on her was a “right-wing plot to distract from the corruption found across the political spectrum”. Nury said that “us Socialists stand ready to cleanse politics of dirty money and nepotism”, saying that he would fight to make foreign donations illegal for candidates and crack down on corporate donations in politics.
Delegate Bernard Errante saw an opening in Nury’s denunciation of corruption, saying “Representative Nury, you voted with Maurice Fesnau 94% of the time when you were in the Commons, and you voted against his impeachment. It’s hypocritical, isn’t it, for you to suddenly become a crusader against corruption?”

@MalcomCadiou | ONLINE | Althea City University | | | REPLY

For those of you watching from abroad, Maurice Fesnau was a Socialist, President of Laeral from 2004 until he was impeached by the National Assembly on corruption and nepotism charges in 2006. Jean-Pierre Nury voted against his impeachment, arguing that the charges were trumped-up by Fesnau’s political opponents.

Jean-Pierre Nury replied to Errante angrily, saying that “the impeachment was a political witch hunt. My campaign is funded almost entirely through small donations from ordinary Laeralites, with an average donation of 38 Marks”.
Delegate Bernard Errante replied that “while you may not think you’re corrupt, you seem more than willing to ignore corruption when the person in question has an ‘S’ by their name”. At this point, the moderators turned off the candidates’ microphones and told Nury and Errante to be quiet, before asking Representative Hsieh to give his remarks.
Representative Hsieh Pai-han said that corruption is a major issue he and his party want to tackle. “Laeral Unbowed! isn’t bound to any big-money donors. We’re driven by the incredible grassroots energy, and we won’t stop until corruption and nepotism are dead”. Hsieh went on to say that he intends to “purge, absolutely purge” Laeral of corruption.
Governor Liu Mei-han, who had not taken part in the verbal sparring, said that corruption affects many politicians and business leaders, of all parties. She said that her plan for addressing corruption would involve creating a Presidential Special Envoy, given the resources of the Ministry of Justice to address high-level corruption.

@MalcomCadiou | ONLINE | Althea City University | | | REPLY

Note that Liu Mei-han is trying very hard to avoid the shouting matches over corruption, because she’s shrewdly staked out a position for herself as being above partisan squabbling. She also has a reputation for being incorruptible, so that helps her there.

Moderator Elise Joubert read aloud the final question of the social policy section of the debate: ”One of the most controversial issues on the campaign trail is that of foreign immigration. As President, how would you intend to address the influx of foreign migrants into Laeral?”

Key Points:
Representative Hsieh Pai-han, a major part of whose campaign platform centers on his hardline approach to immigration, jumped in. He started by moderating the public tone he’s previously taken towards immigrants and refugees, saying that “I understand that many of these people may have faced difficulties in their own countries, and I sympathize with those people. Despite what some people might say, Laeral is the greatest country in the world, and so we are of course an desired destination for those seeking to leave their home countries behind”. He continued, however, by making the distinction that “I support taking in deserving refugees who will fit within our society as it is, such as the women and children fleeing conflicts like the horrible civil war in Lauchenoiria”. However, he continued, “we need to remember that Laeral is a home for Laeralites. We are not a dumping ground for Lauchenoirians, or Serrielans, or anyone who does not respect Laeralian culture and values”. He said that current immigration policies are “letting immigrants flood into our nation and take away jobs and healthcare from hard-working Laeralites”. Hsieh continued, saying that native-born Laeralites deserve to send their children to uncrowded schools and to live in communities where “people speak our beautiful, Laeralian, languages of Min Chinese and French”, not other languages, and “worship in temples and churches, not other places”. He finished by saying that a vote for Laeral Unbowed! is a vote to “protect our people and take back our nation!”.
Prime Minister Tanvi Misra quickly interjected, saying that “what I heard from you, Pai-han, is that you would let immigrants who don’t fit your own ideas of what is Laeralian languish outside our borders, while those who are Minjian, or Catholic, or have the right kind of epicanthal folds, come in unhindered. You would slam shut the door to those who most desperately need our help, in favor of those who please your own sense of aesthetics. Representative, one of the values that has shaped this nation is that of acceptance and tolerance for those who are different. Your policies would throw away this badge of honor. Representative, at a time when there are thousands- thousands - of immigrants and refugees seeking to build a better life for their family in Laeral, we cannot close our doors and our borders to those people.”
Representative Hsieh Pai-han replied that “the only reason that we have so many immigrants in our country is because your party, the Progressives, wants to keep immigrant votes coming so that you can give them a few handouts in election season to buy their votes. You’re so happy about the immigrants coming into our nation because in every single one of them, you see a Progressive voter and a future Tanvi Misra!”
At this point, the moderators called for order and asked Governor Liu Mei-han to give her thoughts on the issue. She said that increasing immigration “is not only the morally right thing to do, it also makes our nation stronger”. She pointed to statistics showing higher rates of entrepreneurship among immigrants, mentioning the example of Serrielan immigrant Semir Teke, now the CEO of tech company Lixiang and noting the many economic benefits of immigration, including the estimated immigrant contribution to GDP. She said that “Laeral must remain a place for the best and the brightest of the world to dream of coming to”. Her plan for immigration would include increasing the number of immigrants’ visas granted, specifically for talented individuals and family reunification, while also increasing funding for immigrant acclimation and making agreements with foreign countries to deport illegal immigrants.
Delegate Damien Vendorme said that while it’s all well and good to take in immigrants when the economy and welfare system is capable of handling, “unrestricted immigration at the level some leftists are proposing would overwhelm our welfare system with foreign freeloaders”. He said that Laeralian concerns about immigration are “completely justified” and that as President, he would focus on accepting only immigrants capable of assimilating fully with Laeralian society and willing to become a productive part of the Laeralian economy. He says also that “illegal immigration needs to be
Representative Jean-Pierre Nury said that “although we bear a responsibility to those seeking refuge” in Laeral, “the current asylum and immigration system is flawed”. He called for the government to seek out guaranteed jobs for all immigrants, and to change immigration levels yearly based on projected labor force requirements. He also supports the policy of family migration, adding that “immigration contributions to the Laeralian economy are diminished when their entire paycheck is going to support their family back in the old country”.
According to Delegate Bernard Errante, Laeral needs stricter quotas on the number of immigrants entering Laeral, as well as a point-based system for accepting immigrant. When questioned by the moderators as to what factors would be used in this system, Errante said that these would include likeliness to adapt into Laeralian society, likelihood of criminal behavior, and education level. “Bernard, do tell me, how many points does being a Catholic get you above being, say an atheist or a Hindu?” Prime Minister Tanvi Misra asked sharply. Errante replied that there would not be benefits from religious status.

@MalcomCadiou | ONLINE | Althea City University | | | REPLY

With another heated exchange, the first presidential debate lurches to an end after two hours. Laeralian presidential debates tend to be polite and muted, so this is a break from tradition. The moderators are thanking candidates for attending, and the audience and those watching at home.

@MalcomCadiou | ONLINE | Althea City University | | | REPLY

The next couple days will see what the voters thought. In my opinion, Liu and Vendorme both did well, Hsieh (and possibly Nury) came off as incoherent and angry, and Errante just faded into the background. Misra did well, but she’s so polarizing I doubt she broke through to the independents she needs to convince.

@MalcomCadiou | ONLINE | Althea City University | | | REPLY

With that, I’m going to sign off. Thanks for reading, and good night!

[Laeral]

OOC Note: I’m going to make a few changes to the format of the daily updates to make them quicker for me to write and hopefully so that they’ll flow better. Tomorrow’s update will be the first to have these changes.

Day Nine: A Retiree in Celeste

In the small town of Rouzon, in Celeste province, lives Yves Pouliquen with his wife, Jocelyne. Mssr. Pouliquen, an amiable man with keen blue eyes behind his wire-rimmed glasses, confesses that he doesn’t know who he’ll vote for. He cast his vote for the Conservative ticket in the 2016 midterm elections, but is unimpressed with Bernard Errante, their nominee. “His positions are fine,” Pouliquen says, “but he’s just not exciting.” Still, he admits he’ll probably end up voting Conservative this election, since staying home on Election Day isn’t an option. “I’ve voted in every election since 1962,” he says, “and I won’t miss one now.” He’s recently signed up to run a polling place near his home on Election Day.

Pouliquen has a low opinion of most other candidates for president, saying that they haven’t done enough to address rural issues. “I haven’t heard one candidate, aside from Errante, say anything about rural hospitals,” says Pouliquen. His local hospital shut down nine months ago, and since then, he’s needed to drive forty miles to reach his nearest hospital. “There’s people dying out here without medical care,” Pouliquen says, “and the politicians are too busy feuding with one another to do anything about it.”

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Celeste province, a rural province of 700,000 along the Malabran border, is home to a brand of centrist politics unseen in other provinces. Politics are simply more laid back than in other places. The unicameral Celeste Parliament’s 72 MPs show up to work in button-downs or even t-shirts, while First Minister Fernandes, a Conservative, is an elderly former farmer willing to compromise on key issues. Provincial government is currently in a Grand Coalition between the Conservatives, Progressives, and New Democrats, which collectively make up 63 of the provincial Parliament’s 72 MPs.

The most important election in Celeste province this year is for the General Assembly, where Delegates Brandon Brault (Progressive) and Cedric Wen (Conservative) are running for reelection, having served 12 and 18 years in the General Assembly respectively. They are facing stiff competition from self-funding New Democratic feed business billionaire Morgan Zhou, who is currently polling four points ahead of Wen. Wen is an influential member of the General Assembly, known as a leading Conservative voice on foreign relations issues. Winning’s Wen’s reelection is a major goal of the Conservative General Assembly Campaign Committee (CGACC), which has plans to pour 10 million Marks into the campaign in the coming weeks.

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Campaign News Update

Service de Nouvelles Nationales Laeralien (SNNL, state-run TV broadcaster): Over 50 Million Laeralites Tune In To Presidential Debate

Le Pays: Vendorme Takes A Stand At Pres. Debate

Le Laeralien: Liu, Vendorme Make Mark At Debate; Nury, Errante Flounder

La Sentinelle: Polling Suggests Hung Parliament

Les Couloirs: Liu’s Debate Introduction Hailed As ‘Performance of the Night’

Le Stylo: Misra’s Debate Lies Exposed!

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Latest Polling, from Le Laeralien
Delegate Damien Vendorme: 28% (+2)
Governor Liu Mei-han: 20% (+2)
Prime Minister Tanvi Misra: 17% (+1)
Representative Jean-Pierre Nury: 11% (-2)
Delegate Bernard Errante: 10% (+1)
Representative Hsieh Pai-han: 7% (+0)
Undecided/Other: 8%

[Naboompu]

Prime Minister James Bond of Naboompu delivers the following remarks on the election in Laeral:

The anti-liberalism and nativism shared by the far-left and far-right pose a severe threat to diplomatic relations and access to common markets. It is incumbent upon both the leader and his or her government of a nation with regional delegate authority to embrace the symbiotic relationship of government with both private enterprise and foreign countries in the spirit of growth, efficiency, diversity and inclusion for the ultimate betterment of all. With that said, I, Prime Minister of Naboompu, endorse Bernard Errante and the Conservative Party in a coalition government with the New Democratic Alliance and the Secular Democrats. Should this not be sufficient in passing legislation, I'd recommend a less formal alignment with the Progressives and Greens on a case-by-case basis. It is in keeping with a strong emphasis on free trade and international relations that I believe such an approach to governance shall prove to be in the best interest of Naboompu, Laeral and the International Democrat Union.

[Kerlile]

 

President Joanna Greenwood (@President_Kerlile)
Just now from Grapevale, Kerlile

The Laeralian election is yet more proof that democracy is a sham designed to perpetuate the misogynistic system of the patriarchal countries. Women will never have a fair chance in these nations. If Damien Vendorme wins, this will be a massive blow to all Laeralian women.
However it is good to see the Women's Alliance may gain some seats, which shows remarkable progress in a system where the odds are stacked against women from birth.

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[Ru-]

King Yoshio (@realkingyoshio)
Just now from New Ru City, Ru

Got a chance to watch the Laeral election debates. My thoughts:

Liu Mei-han won this thing. She was charismatic and inspirational throughout, she has a good platform and explained her positions intelligently, and was very persuasive. She showed alot of the great leadership qualities that she demonstrated during her time speaking for her nation in the WA tonight. I was especially impressed with her immigration arguments, she makes a very good point there.

Tanvi Misra definitely has the strongest platform. Her positions on the issues are all very solid, and she has the experience to see them through. But I was unfortunately able to see why she is struggling and some are just not enthusiastic with her, especially when compared to Liu Mei-Han. Hoping whoever wins this forms a coalition with the progressives and involves her heavily, since I think her positions are what Lareal will need to move forward. And that "scandal" remains completely ridiculous. I'm glad she was able to stand up and defend herself on that so well. She was persuasive in shutting it down.

Bernard Errante is someone that I had overlooked and I should apologize for that. I'm impressed with him tonight as well. He showed himself to be a calm, intelligent, level headed leader who has a solid vision for his nation and a real plan to actually make it happen. I like that he stuck to the issues and didn't try so hard to seem "flashy." Any nation could use a nice steady hand like his, it's a shame he isn't doing better in the polls, I think. As he'd be a solid option.

Damien Vendorme's performance was effective and he represented himself well, I must admit. Though I have my own personal disagreements with a few of his policies, I can now see why quite a few of the people I have talked to in the Ruvian Palace are excited about him. He is the candidate that I think would benefit Ruvian business interests the most, should he win. So if that does indeed happen I expect Ruvian and Larealan relations to improve dramatically. If I was a citizen of Lareal, he probably wouldn't be my choice though, as I do not think he's putting the needs of the people of his nation first. I have a feeling though I'll be a very happy boy when the election is over, however. Seeing how well he is doing in the latest polls.

Hsieh Pai-han and Jean-Pierre Nury .... did not impress me. I'll just leave it at that.

Overall, it's a strong field of candidates. I'm certain that Lareal will be in good hands.

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[Byzconia]

President Charles Korvey (@DSRB_President)
Just now from Byzconia City, Byzconia

Completely unimpressed by the Laeralian candidates. Liu is a neoliberal kleptocrat, Misra and Errante are corrupt elitists, and Vendorme and Hsieh are reactionaries. Nury's the most approachable by far, and has the best social policies, but the Left's nativist immigration policies are a betrayal of everything socialism represents. My advice to Laeralians: find a new government, because this one's broken.

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[Laeral]

@MalcomCadiou | ONLINE | Althea City University | | | REPLY

International interest in the Laeralian election is at an all-time high this election, and nowhere is this more apparent than the interest foreign leaders are showing in the election's progression. Yoshio, boy king of Ru, has reportedly been following the election closely, and has posted on Setsuzoku regarding his feelings about this election. Considered a centrist in his home nation, Yoshio I has been vocal in his support for Liu Mei-han, although he had complimentary things to say about Misra, Errante, and Vendorme as well. Byzconia's president joins the Cascadian Socialist Republic's Kristen Brown in supporting the Socialist Party's economic stance, but criticizing their position on immigration as contrary to socialist tenets.
But it's Kerlian President Joanna Greenwood's response to the election that is likely to elicit the greatest reaction from Laeralites. Greenwood, the widely reviled leader of an enemy nation opposed by politicians from across the spectrum, posted on Setsuzoku as well. In addition to condemning all of Laeralian democracy, a frequent message from the matriarchal dictatorship, Greenwood also voiced her support for the Women's Alliance. While Greenwood's social media posts would otherwise be little more than an amusement to Laeralites, her support for the Women's Alliance is likely to cost them support by associating the party with the totalitarian Kerlian state.