ZNN National Election Update
The New and Improved Map of Zellatia Below!
Last Time, During the Fourth Zellatian National Election...
The Zellatian Moderate Party, along with the Progressive Action Party, the Thelakisto-Socialist Party, and the Technocratic People's Party (an alliance of four, smaller parties) took control of the Parliament from the United Democratic Party after the Third Zellatian Civil War...
In the four years since, many of the priorities of the constituent parties of the ruling coalition have been accomplished. Every province of Zellatia now has access to the Parliament, growing the size of the lower house to a total of 8,000 normal seats and 1,000 put aside for particular interest groups throughout the country. The remaining territories of Zellatia get to choose their own representatives that are, otherwise, chosen by the local legislatures, almost all of said representatives being from the Zellatian Far Isles, to the northwest of the country, with the remainder being from the Zellatian Arctic Territories. LGBTQA+ rights have expanded throughout Zellatia to formalize what was already common practice - identity was entirely based on who you thought you were and identified as. Tensions with erstwhile neighbors, such as Xuande-Xiphoi and Andrenada, to the northwest and northeast respectively have risen and lowered, all depending on discussions as to what Zellatia will do with its nuclear weapons - reminder, as always, in the form of the town of Fallout, which was built after the coastline of the Province of Mekkania was mostly destroyed by a detonated nuclear bomb during the Third Zellatian Civil War.
And while there are yet many matters still at large in the Zellatian political mind - whether to press their claims on the Zellatian colonized Kenos islands to the northwest, whether to give up its nuclear arsenal, whether to even remove the office of Emperor and make the Head of State the Prime Minister, these matters will have to wait after today's election and the tabulation of the results over the next few days...
In the four years since, many of the priorities of the constituent parties of the ruling coalition have been accomplished. Every province of Zellatia now has access to the Parliament, growing the size of the lower house to a total of 8,000 normal seats and 1,000 put aside for particular interest groups throughout the country. The remaining territories of Zellatia get to choose their own representatives that are, otherwise, chosen by the local legislatures, almost all of said representatives being from the Zellatian Far Isles, to the northwest of the country, with the remainder being from the Zellatian Arctic Territories. LGBTQA+ rights have expanded throughout Zellatia to formalize what was already common practice - identity was entirely based on who you thought you were and identified as. Tensions with erstwhile neighbors, such as Xuande-Xiphoi and Andrenada, to the northwest and northeast respectively have risen and lowered, all depending on discussions as to what Zellatia will do with its nuclear weapons - reminder, as always, in the form of the town of Fallout, which was built after the coastline of the Province of Mekkania was mostly destroyed by a detonated nuclear bomb during the Third Zellatian Civil War.
And while there are yet many matters still at large in the Zellatian political mind - whether to press their claims on the Zellatian colonized Kenos islands to the northwest, whether to give up its nuclear arsenal, whether to even remove the office of Emperor and make the Head of State the Prime Minister, these matters will have to wait after today's election and the tabulation of the results over the next few days...
"And we're on. Hello again, everyone, this is Beatrice ZeTreppe from the Zellatian News Network, coming to you live from Zelatun, the capital of our wonderful nation. Joining me as he has every election, big and small, my colleague Sir Ezerek Neuhauser is here in the studio," a well-dressed woman in her late 30's said, using a baton to smack into the napping older gentleman as he seemed to not have noticed that they were once again live.
"Hmm? Oh, yes, I apologize. I was remembering our...erm. We did have a trip to some nation ruled by ponies right?"
"I think I'd remember that Ezerek," Beatrice said, shaking her head, "Next you'll be saying they named some booze after you."
"Well, yes, but-"
"Anyways, we come to you live here in ZNN Capital Studios, just as the latest updates have come in. Sir Ezerek, mind reading the teleprompter?"
"Oh, of course, of course," Sir Ezerek said, adjusting his bifocals to stare hard into the screen. "Is it really 2021? Oh, how the time has flew and flew, like a Pherdis-, uh," he said, interrupting himself as Beatrice poked him with a sword. "Right, today is a momentous occasion - the first Election in Zellatian history where there wasn't some kind of civil conflict between elections. How novel!" he said, smiling to the camera. Scruffing up his greying beard, he continued, "the first bit of news as the polls close is that the alliance that was the Technocratic People's Party is no more. Citing irreconcilable differences and an obviously bad polling result from various Zellatians Choose polling, showing the TPP in 10th place, means that the four parties that made up the party no longer see any reason to work together. The new parties from the corpse of the TPP include the Neo-Thelakistine Party, the Community Rights Party, the Regal Reform Party, and the Zellatian People's Party, as a reminder to those at home who may have forgotten. Beatrice?"
"Thank you Ezerek," Beatrice said, withdrawing her poking sword and sheathing it away as she shuffled papers with one hand. "In other news, the Zellatian Communist Party, currently led by Stevie Who, born to refugees taken in during the 90's following the Second Civil War and the need for foreign immigration to pick up the pieces, has announced that internal polling has them up to fourth place in the Zellatian Parliament, also known as the Khain. If true, this would be a stark difference compared to her two predecessors, who only managed to to gain 2% and 0% of seats in the last two elections. Incredible if true and I wish her the best in today's election. Ezerek?"
"This is a reminder for our International Viewers - Unless a party gets 5% of the seats in the legislature, they cannot be seated and the seat goes to the next runner up. This rule was instituted following the First Zellatian Civil War and the first Democratic elections, in which no fewer than seventeen smaller parties deadlocked the legislature for weeks on matters that did not pertain to governance. Parties with fewer than 5% of the seats are seen as likely to cause problems in the legislature and largely ego-run. This is going to be especially harder to reach these days with 9,000 seats on the line, but y'know? It should be fine."
"And now that we have all of that out of the way, why don't we discuss the various parties up for election today?"
"Yes, lets, Beatrice," Ezerek said, clearing his throat before being interrupted by a third person.
"Did you really think that you could do this little reunion without me?" Johannes Ziebrecken said, stepping into view. "I can handle this, if you don't mind?"
"Go on ahead," Beatrice said, much to her apparent bemusement.
"Oh good, I can take a little nap, then," Sir Ezerek added, nodding off so quickly you might have never noticed he was ever awake.
"Lets start with the ruling party, the Zellatian Moderate Party - and boy has it been an interesting run with this new party in charge. Currently led by Prime Minister Hardek Destronikan, the party was a bit player on the scene prior to its ascension to having a plurality of seats, taking 999 seats in the legislature of 4,000 at the end of the last election, and has proven somewhat effective at keeping the ruling coalition in check. Realistically it shouldn't have succeeded - the potential allies were too few in number, but surprising everyone they aligned themselves with the Technocratic People's Party, the Progressive Action Party, and the Thelakisto-Socialist Party. Over the last few years, they've largely absorbed the Technocratic elements of the TPP into theirs, including about 90 reps switching labels, but that still left the party at roughly 25% of the total seats. Their main priorities are protecting the, at times, vulnerable Zellatian economy from outside powers, including Xuande-Xiphoi, and shoring up domestic production, rejecting the Internationalist consensus that largely drove the previous leading party. They've also been aggressive in foreign affairs with Zellatia's only land neighbor, Andrenada and the always curious Xuande-Xiphoi."
"Following that, there's the United Democratic Party, the successor party to the Loyalist Democratic Party of yesteryear. Lead by former Grand Admiral, Theodore von Leone of Leonitia, where he held a position as Special Representative for a number of years, he has emphasized the strengths of the party, including its Pro-Union stance, a focus on Internationalism and Cooperation, Civil Democracy, and Fair Trade, which has in the past garnered them two Prime Ministerships. Having been utterly left out of government despite nearly securing other Parties' support, they have spent much of the time on the Back Bench focusing on local races, easily winning the City Council and Mayor's races of Zellatia's three biggest cities, Zelatun, Mekkanis, and Garrison respectively. Still, unaccustomed to being out of power, no small number of representatives defected to the Progressive Action Party in the last few years, adding to the ruling coalition's total. Still, Theodore von Leone is adamant that his party will retake the Prime Ministership, promising a left-wing coalition that will work with its neighbors and not antagonize, such as the ZMP has done."
"And you can't speak of the UDP if you don't talk about their greatest left-wing rival, the Progressive Action Party. Heavily defined by both its pro-LGBTQA+ stance, Interventionist stance on dealing with dictatorships, and its Democratic Socialism, they consider themselves the Party of a New, Better Age. While not explicitly pro-limiting the power of the Emperor, the first elected members of the PAP were elected to do just that - and Emperor Zellan III did just that, though not necessarily as a result of their membership in two of the last three coalitions. Their leader, Special Representative Chapra Gorra has led the party during the last three elections and promises that, if elected to the office of Prime Minister, to pick a successor among the ranks so that the following election will have new blood. If not? The same, I suppose. Regardless, their rejection of the offer by the now UDP leadership to create a coalition still baffles many, as they would've had enough support to win, but you can't argue with the results - the PAP has largely gotten exactly what they wanted in the social sphere."
"The Democratic Conservative Party is the third party, out of three, that has once held the Prime Minister position. Having won in the Second National Zellatian Election, they were largely seen as the most moderate of the Pro-Business parties, outlasting and absorbing many members of the former Death and Taxes party following its collapse during the Fourth National Election. However, much like the UDP, they were left in the wilderness, a shock to them considering that they were more aligned to the ZMP's core interests than either the PAP or the Thelakisto-Socialist Party. Still, its leader, Mostras Zelkann, currently representing the city of Narke in Arke Province, is confident that their Pro-Business, Socially Moderate, Fiscally Conservative party will be able to once more become one of the top two parties of parliament and dethrone the leading ZMP."
"And speaking of the odd one out in the ruling coalition, there's the Thelakisto-Socialist Party. Long led by Special Representative Mog Campari of Ul'Muja, the TSP is an unusual party in an International sense. Belief in Communalism, having religious, ascetic compounds where communities share resources communally, making group decisions based on the needs of the whole, this Thelakistic Socialist party has long been a minority party, being a part of two different coalitions during its existence. Historically popular in rural locales, they also believe in supporting even those outside of the communes during times of famine or difficulty. Many
of the more religious, rural peoples of Zellatia find themselves drawn to the open charity and collective operations of the TSP, allowing them to withstand previous elections that might have gone against them. Can they survive this time?"
"The last of the Established parties in opposition to the ruling government, the Green Party of Zellatia, is as old as the Democracy of Zellatia itself, having been among the first parties founded. Anti-Imperialist, Anti-War, and pro-Green policies, such as Nuclear, Solar, and Wind power, along with Geothermal and Tidal power, and 'Green Infrastructure', has largely been their plank from day one. Zeke Jol has long been a community activist, formerly Mayor of Zolwood, and one of the more benignly popular figures in Zellatian politics. Additionally, they've made many in-roads in helping farmers transition to more sustainable forms of farming and new crops, earning them the support of smaller farmers around the nation. Managing to turn around their luck last election, having almost been eliminated, can they keep their seats and expand their percentage from just over 5% to more?"
"and then we have the parties that have, historically, not held enough seats to hold to stay in the legislature. We have, as discussed previously, the Neo-Thelakistine Party. Seeing themselves as the natural successor to the Dolmant's Party, which once ruled Mount Guan and Arke, these heavily religious Thelakist fundamentalists are, at times, overly strict in their views on the scripture that make up the Thelakist canon of the Ancestors and Their Deeds and Desires, which is a foundational text of Zellatian culture. Some consider them religious fundamentalists, while others call them extremists. They are, themselves, led by radio host and former Vice-Dolmant, Vikk Zelnost."
"We also have the Zellatian Communist Party, largely seen as a successor to the former Zellatian Zellikist Party, which sought to Nationalize many industries based on the teachings and inspirations from former Emperor Zellikist the Pure, who in the late 1800's brought upon a medical revolution in Zellatia. Much before his time as Emperor, he was purportedly a devout marxist, only taking the throne out of necessity. The modern Zellatian Communist Party, however, models itself much on the idea of National Control of key industries, such as the Railways, Aviation, Shipping Lanes, Insurance, and other industries. Last year, following people accusing its leader, Stevie Who, of looking like a Goat, many young people began to display Goats on their Twitter handles, in support of Stevie Who."
"Last and not least of the major minor parties is the Zellatian Peoples' Party. Considered Moderate by many, they seek to increase the Devolution of Zellatia, allowing more local control, as well as more rights for the many minority people's of Zellatia who don't currently have the same representation in the legislature as they believe should be. This is despite reforms by the leading coalition which guaranteed many seats to indigenous minorities, something that, they feel, hasn't gone far enough. Their leader, Jak Zelkoto, of Oku Palu in the Zellatian Near Islands, has said that the conversation is needed and as Prime Minister he would focus on increasing the representation from people like him, who belongs to the minority Zeltiki people of the Near Isles."
"There are, of course, many local parties, such as the Frurian National Front, the Neukinian Alliance Party, and the Kenos Ocean Party, as well as other national parties such as the Radical Democratic Party who want to remove the Emperor from power, the Regal Reform Party who wish to empower the Emperor instead, the Anti-Xuande-Xiphoi Party who wish to remove all XX influence in the country, the Community Rights Party who want to remove Government roles in local communities, and the Veterans' Party, who wish to end all interventions and miltarist activity in Zellatia."
"Wow, thank you Johannes. Breathe. That was a lot of information," Beatrice said, poking Sir Ezerek with a baton.
"Yes, yes, right," Sir Ezerek said, yawning loudly, "I think we have it from here. Thank you, old friend."
"Any time. I'll be around the studio as the results come in, so I might chime in from time to time," Johannes Ziebrecken said with a smile, walking off-camera as the two anchors continued.
"And there you have it, as the polls begin to close in the Zellatian Far Isles, we'll soon be getting the results from Northern Fruria, part of an island chain to the east of Zellatia Proper," Beatrice said.
"I though it was- ah, whatever. This is Sir Ezerek Neuhauser-"
"And Beatrice ZeTreppe, signing off as we await the results! We'll let you know the results as they begin to come in!"
OOC NOTE: As I've noted in my absence from doing these sorts of threads, there's been some amount of brigading towards certain types of parties. While all votes will be counted, they will be weighted towards the tendencies of Zellatia, so we're unlikely to see a party that has no seats currently become the next Prime Minister. There is no pro-ordained winner either. Even with that information though, I look forward to seeing all of your votes come in and feel free to have your nations weigh in and endorse specific parties. Happy voting!
