Lynland Legislative Election 2017 - Results in

by **Lynland-** » Sat Jun 24, 2017 4:33 pm

On Friday the 14th of July this year a vote will be held in the Kingdom of Lynland to elect the 100 Members of Parliament (MPs) for the Lynland Folketing. 5 MPs are elected from each of the 20 electoral districts, with MPs appointed based off closed list Proportional Representation (PR) by each political party running in a district, with only residents of a particular district able to run in and vote in that district, except in cases where a candidate or voter occupies more than one district (such as living part time due to study or work, while living part time in another, in which case they must choose only one to vote in, and stand in should they choose to.

The vote, traditionally held on the second Friday of July once every 5 years, with the ability for an early vote to be called with the support of a two thirds majority in the Lynland Folketing (67 votes out of 100), was last held in July 2012. Only 2 weeks of campaigning remain before the vote is to be held. Foreign citizens and outside nations can endorse a particular candidate / particular candidates and / or a particular party / particular parties. This may influence the election, but ultimately it is the voting citizens of Lynland over the age of 18 (OOC: represented by myself) whose vote will bring about the result.

System

-> Each District elects 5 MPs through an Closed List PR system, resulting in a total of 100 MPs.
-> The position of Speaker of the House is filled by a sitting or retired Judge, appointed once a year in early January by a convention, too which all sitting and retired judges with expertise in constitutional law are invited. Judges nominate fellow judges with said expertise, and the appointed Judge full the role of Speaker for one year, overseeing the day to day business of the House. Judges can be re-elected to this role, but only after a four year period off from the 1 year on the job.
-> MPs can draft bills and elect the Prime Minister, as well as vote motions of confidence or no confidence.
-> Motions of no confidence must be voted at a 2/3 supermajority (67 votes). If passed, the Cabinet is dismissed.
-> Bills are debated voted at simple majority (50%+1 at least) in the Chamber - 51 votes.
->The Speaker may not hold any official party affiliations, and must temporarily abandon any party affiliations should they be appointed to their role for the duration of their term.
->The Speaker may not vote.
->The Prime Minister may appoint a Cabinet
-> The Prime Minister is elected by the Lynland Assembly, at simple majority (50%+1 at least) - 51 votes.
-> In the event that no one party has enough seats to elect a Prime Minister, the party with the most seats in given the first opportunity to negotiate a coalition.
-> Should they fail to do so within two weeks of the election, the second largest party is given two weeks to negotiate a coalition.
-> Should they also fail the third largest party is given one week to negotiate a coalition.
-> Should they fail to do so the sitting monarch has two weeks to negotiate a coalition. If even this fails, then a new election must be called.

5 Provinces - 20 districts:

Havn Måge Provins:

1-7: Havn Måge (Capital city)
1) Ravnby (Harbour and working class area)
2) Nordstrand (working and middle class district, industrial area)
3) Kirkeby (working and middle class district, location of the Sankt Algran Katedral)
4) Kongensby (Harbour and working class area, middle and upper class area around the royal castle of Mågereden and the Lynland Folketing)
5) Gammelby (Harbour, working and middle class area, location of the old Bardic Mead Tavern Hall)
6) Fiskereby (Harbour and working class area, location of Havn Måge Universitet slightly inland)
7) Stålhavn (Harbour and working class area)

8.) Rødstrand (middle class suburbs / town just south of capital, includes historical battle site of Rødstrand)
9) Bjerg af Bannere (middle and upper income suburbs, historical army rallying hill, rural surrounds)
10) Grønskov (middle and upper class suburbs, location of exclusive Kongens Kollegium, rural surrounds - forest)
11) Kongensfelt (middle class suburbs, location of Kongensfelt Rugby Stadium and Prinsfelt Soccer Stadium, rural surrounds - fields)

Drage Bjerg Provins:

12) Vildland (the rural expanse of Lynland, includes the dormant volcano of Drage Berg and the Drage Tårer Søer - Dragon Tear Lakes, small fishing villages of det Stenfjorde)
13) Dværgby (working class western half of mining town of Guldby)
14) Guldmarked (working and middle class eastern half of mining town of Guldby, home to old Guldmarked gold market and Guldby Universitet)

Havn Torsk Provins

15) Grønnefelter (middle class suburbs and outskirts of Havn Torsk)
16) Havn Torsk Vest (docks and lower, middle and upper class western part of Havn Torsk, site of Havn Torsk Universitet and castle of Borg Gråsten)
17) Havn Torsk Gamle (old docks and lower class central part of Havn Torsk)
18) Havn Torsk Øst (docks and lower and middle class eastern part of Havn Torsk)

19) Mågekyst (inland town of Æselby - home of Æselby Universitet, coastal town of Havn Alric, coastal town of Randers-på-Havet, inland town of Rytterens Hvile, fishing villages and small inland hamlets)

20) Sten Øer (coastal town and fishing villages on three small islands of Storsten - home of Stenkrone Universitet, Sortsten and Lillesten)

by **Liburia** » Sun Jun 25, 2017 12:59 am

Liburia votes for the Traditionalist Party

by **Radimostan** » Sun Jun 25, 2017 5:41 am

President Viliam Zeintek officially endorses the Traditionalist Party (TP).

by **Starlaris** » Sun Jun 25, 2017 5:55 am

Starlaris supports the LP, GP and the MFP.

by **The Chris Empire** » Sun Jun 25, 2017 6:25 am

Christos endorses the MFP, LP and GP.

by **Lynland-** » Sun Jun 25, 2017 12:24 pm

Major Policies of the Political Parties:

SP
Education: Increase public education spending, particularly on spending more on computer literacy. Implement more state scholarships for universities, focused on female students.
Healthcare: Increase public healthcare spending, particularly on treating mental health problems
Foreign Affairs: Remain in NATO. Stay out of foreign interventions as far as possible
Environment and Energy: Continue to promote wind, solar and tidal energy usage to meet growing energy demands, expand hydro energy usage
Law and Order: Ensure local community members make up local police forces as far as possible. Supports legalising Majiuana for medical use. Keep Marijuana illegal for recreational use, but fine users and dealers rather than detaining them.
Defence and National Security: Maintain a strong defensive military
Immigration: Promise to take in at least 750 Syrian refugees over the next 2 years, and integrate them into Lynlandian society

LP
Education: Maintain public education spending, branch out more to charter schools. Implement more state scholarships for universities, focused on medicine, commerce, engineering and science, and focused on female students
Healthcare: Maintain public healthcare spending, strengthen ties with European hospitals and medical research
Foreign Affairs: Remain in NATO. Stay out of foreign interventions as far as possible. Strengthen ties with EU
Environment and Energy: Continue to promote wind, solar and tidal energy usage to meet growing energy demands, expand hydro energy usage, engage in nuclear energy research
Law and Order: Ensure local community members make up local police forces as far as possible. Ensure the force is better at addressing cases of rape. Supports medical marijuana usage. Propose a referendum on legalising marijuana for recreational use.
Defence and National Security: Cut waste in the military and move to addressing growing threat of cyber-warfare
Immigration: Promise to take in at least 1 000 Syrian refugees over the next 2 years, and integrate them into Lynlandian society[/b]

GP
Education: Increase public education spending, promote school vegetable gardens. Implement more state scholarships for universities, focused on female and minority group students.
Healthcare: Maintain public healthcare spending, strengthen ties with European hospitals and medical research
Foreign Affairs: Neutral on NATO. Stay out of foreign interventions as far as possible. Strengthen ties with EU
Environment and Energy: Increase spending on wind, solar and tidal energy usage to meet growing energy demands, move away from coal
Law and order: Ensure local community members make up local police forces as far as possible. Ensure the force is better at addressing cases of rape. Expand sensitivity and crisis management training for police. Legalise marijuana for both medical and recreational use.
Defence and National Security: Cut waste in the military and reallocate funds to energy, education and environmental spending
Immigration: Promise to take in at least 1 500 Syrian refugees over the next 2 years, and promote multiculturalism

TP
Education: Decrease public education spending, promote charter schools instead. Reassign state scholarships for universities so they focus on medicine, commerce, engineering, science and law, rather than across the board.
Healthcare: Decrease public healthcare spending, limit ability for emergency worker's (nurses, firefighters, doctors) strikes, focus on ensuring people are not too highly taxed to seek private healthcare
Foreign Affairs: Strongly committed to remaining in NATO. Cooperate with our allies, but stay out of foreign interventions as far as possible.
Environment and Energy: Cut government subsidies to wind, solar and tidal energy, allow the free market to operate. End demonisation of nuclear energy
Law and order: Cut wastage in the police, ensure the police are well trained and armed to address instances of terrorism. Keep marijuana illegal.
Defence and National Security: Marginally increase military spending and move to addressing growing threat of cyber-warfare
Immigration: Toughen boarder security, while maintaining the right for skilled immigrants to enter the country legally.

KP
Education: Decrease public education spending, promote charitably run religious schools instead. Allow public schools to teach Intelligent Design in place of the theory of evolution. Cease propogating lies about human caused global warming in public schools. Reassign state scholarships for universities so they focus on theology, medicine, commerce, engineering, military strategy and law, rather than across the board.
Healthcare: Decrease public healthcare spending, limit ability for emergency worker's (nurses, firefighters, doctors) strikes, focus on ensuring people are not too highly taxed to seek private healthcare
Foreign Affairs: Strongly committed to remaining in NATO. Remain cautious of Russia. Cooperate with our allies, but stay out of foreign interventions as far as possible. Strengthen ties with USA and Israel.
Environment and Energy: Cut government subsidies to wind, solar and tidal energy. Bring back subsidies to coal, nuclear and hydro-electric energy. End demonisation of coal and nuclear energy. Dismiss lies about human caused global warming.
Law and Order: Increase spending to the police, ensure the police are well trained and armed to address instances of terrorism. Arm more police. Reintroduce the death penalty for murder, rape and treason. Keep marijuana illegal and propose harsher sentences.
Defence and National Security: Reintroduce 2 years national service for all male citizens over 18. Increase military spending.
Immigration: Toughen boarder security, while maintaining the right for skilled immigrants to enter the country legally. Promote the entry of Christian immigrants, while seeking to limit the number of Muslim immigrants.

LF
Education: Decrease public education spending, promote charitably run religious schools instead. Allow public schools to teach Intelligent Design in place of the theory of evolution. Cease propogating lies about human caused global warming in public schools. Reassign state scholarships for universities so they are only for medicine, commerce, engineering, military strategy and law, rather than across the board.
Healthcare: Maintain public healthcare spending, limit ability for emergency worker's (nurses, firefighters, doctors) strikes. Decreased immigration will free up public hospitals
Foreign Affairs: Strongly committed to remaining in NATO. Strengthen ties with USA and Israel. End Lynland membership of the European Economic Area (EEA)
Environment and Energy: Cut government subsidies to wind, solar and tidal energy. Bring back subsidies to coal, nuclear and hydro-electric energy. End demonisation of coal and nuclear energy. Dismiss lies about human caused global warming.
Law and Order: Increase spending to the police, ensure the police are well trained and armed to address instances of terrorism. Arm more police. Reintroduce the death penalty for murder, rape, treason and terrorism. Keep marijuana illegal and propose harsher sentences.
Defence and National Security: Reintroduce 2 years national service for all male citizens over 18. Increase military spending.
Immigration: Toughen boarder security and put a yearly cap of 500 immigrants moving to Lynland. Increase vetting of immigrants. Promote the entry of Christian immigrants, while seeking to place a moratorium on Muslim immigrants entering the country.

FV
Central Policy: Any citizen who wants a job may approach the department of Labour. Provided they meet the requirements of the particular job, a job will be created for them in the public sector (be it in education, healthcare, park maintenance, police, defence, etc)
Education: Increase public education spending significantly. Make universities tuition free for all Lynlandian citizens and minimum 5 year residents of Lynland with sufficient grades.
Healthcare: Increase public healthcare spending, particularly on treating mental health problems. Raise wages for nurses and junior doctors.
Foreign Affairs: Hold a referendum on leaving NATO. Support the formal recognition of the State of Palestine. Support the creation of an independent Kurdistan. Ban the sale to or purchase of weapons from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Israel, Russia, Iraq, Iran, Syria, China, the Philippines, Sudan, Rwanda and the USA
Environment and Energy: Continue to promote wind, solar and tidal energy usage to meet growing energy demands, expand hydro energy usage, engage in further research on nuclear energy
Law and Order: Ensure local community members make up local police forces as far as possible, end cuts to police. Legalise Marijuana for both medical and recreational use.
Defence and National Security: Maintain a strong defensive military. Promote women with the sufficient capabilities entering the military as a way of challenging sexist preconceptions.
Immigration: Promise to take in at least 1 500 Syrian refugees over the next 2 years, and integrate them into Lynlandian society. Dismiss the idea that someone can care about people from a war torn nation, and yet simultaneously deny them entry

BFB
Immigration: Toughen boarder security and ban all immigration to Lynland, except in specialised cases. Deport all blacks, Asians and other non-whites from the country. Deport all Muslims, Jews, and other non-Christians from the country. Deport all homosexuals, transgender individuals and other 'deviants' from the country.
Defence and National Security: Reintroduce 2 years national service for all white straight Christian male citizens over 18. Massively increase military spending.
Law and Order: Increase spending to the police, ensure the police are well trained and armed to address instances of terrorism. Arm more police. Allow police to detain suspected terrorists without trial until courts are available. Allow the use of torture to gain emergency information. Reintroduce the death penalty for murder, rape, treason, terrorism and drug dealing. Keep marijuana illegal and impose strict prison sentences on users.
Education: Decrease public education spending, promote charitably run religious schools instead. Make it illegal to teach the theory of evolution in public schools and teach the Bible. Ban spreading lies about global warming in public schools. Reassign state scholarships for universities so they are only for military strategy, theology, medicine and engineering, rather than across the board.
Healthcare: Maintain public healthcare spending, limit ability for emergency worker's (nurses, firefighters, doctors) strikes. Decreased immigration and deportations will free up public hospitals
Foreign Affairs: Immediately leave NATO, the European Economic Area (EEA) and the United Nations (UN). Cut ties with all other nations and implement strong protectionist policies.
Environment and Energy: Dismiss wind, solar and tidal energy as the absurdities they are. Bring back subsidies to coal, nuclear and hydro-electric energy. End demonisation of coal and nuclear energy. Dismiss lies about global warming.

MFP
Education: Make Universities free for all Llamas to attend. Make microwaved watermelon the breakfast, lunch and dinner of all school meals. Give university students free beer.
Healthcare: National Dental care for all Llamas. Humans must wait in line as Llamas given preferential treatment. Ban apples to ensure doctors aren't kept away.
Foreign Affairs: Join the Intergalactic Senate. Declare Lynland to be part of Antartica to piss off the Europeans.
Environment and Energy: Ban electricity and use scented candles instead. Light farts for warmth. Rename global warming "spherical hotty-hotty".
Law and order: Legalise all drugs for use by people of all ages, except tobacco, which propose to ban for everyone but Llamas. Insist all police wear fake moustaches, even if they have real moustaches.
Defence and National Security: Get rid of the military and replace it with parents with newborn children without access to coffee, and with toddlers who have had caffeine. Replace tanks with attack llamas.
Immigration: Ban borders, declare the entire world one massive nation and all people citizens of the world, welcoming everyone in. Ban people named Sven and have them sent to start a colony on Mars. Declare the Llama the national animal of the world and sacred animals that may not be harmed, only spray painted rainbow colours.

by **Laeral** » Sun Jun 25, 2017 12:36 pm

I have voted. By the way, very nice job- it's clear you've put a lot of work into this.

by **Darmen** » Sun Jun 25, 2017 5:09 pm

Darmen supports the Christian Party.

by **Vatican Ssr** » Mon Jun 26, 2017 2:18 am

Vatican srr vote a sp

by **Lynland-** » Mon Jun 26, 2017 5:45 am

Monday the 26th of June 2017:

A number of university students and staff (academic, support, cleaning, grounds and gardens and kitchen) have taken to the streets, protesting demanding free university for all citizens with the sufficient expertise, and demanding wage increases for university staff.

The August / September 2016 to June 2017 academic year has almost concluded and has concluded elsewhere, with Summer holidays underway in some places. Students and staff are pushing to try put pressure on ensuring this system is enabled by the next academic year - August / September 2017 to June 2018. The protests so far have been quite peaceful, although a number of motorists are angry that they have slowed traffic and blocked some roads. Prime Minister Elisabeth Skomager has called for calm from all sides and for negotiations to go ahead.

Wage increase strikes are also being organised by Furniture Restoration Industry workers, demanding wage increases and vowing to boycott work until "a reasonable wage increase and improvements to worker benefits are offered by employers".

by **Lamerika** » Mon Jun 26, 2017 7:06 am

The Communist Party of Lamerika, President Lybarger, and General Secretary Jameson Taylor officially endorse the Forenede Venstre. They have also voiced their support for the Workers currently on Strike, as well as disenfranchised students, unhappy with the current system. In a short press briefing, President Lybarger said, "Only radical change can bring about a better future."

by **United Massachusetts** » Mon Jun 26, 2017 7:26 am

Make Lynland Llama Again

by **Lynland-** » Tue Jun 27, 2017 9:05 am

A leadership debate between the leaders of the 7 largest political parties is set to take place tomorrow night, Wednesday the 28th of June 2017. The following leaders will be present:

Prime Minister Elisabeth Skomager (SP)
Opposition Leader Anna Skov (TP)
MP Erik Kul (LF)
MP Caja Dokker (FV) - spokeswoman and party co-chair as party was 8 co-chairs
Minister of Interior Hanna Tømrer (LP)
Minister of Energy Sara Blomst (GP)
Shadow Minister of Interior Johanna Stenbro (KP)

by **Lynland-** » Wed Jun 28, 2017 8:17 am

The daily newspaper "The Lynland Times" has released its current prediction on the layout of seats based on polling before the leadership debate tonight. It will release another on Friday the 30th of June after reactions following the debate come in. The paper is subsidised by the sitting government, and as such tends to be seen as somewhat biased towards them. As it is the sitting government with funds them, the paper is also seen as tending to also be somewhat biased towards established parties and their allies and against those outside of the government and official opposition.

2017 Lynland election predicted seats - Wednesday 28th June 2017 (pre-debate):

SP 28/100 (-4)
TP 20/100 (+1)
LF 15/100 (+1)
FV 15/100 (+2)
LP 13/100 (-)
GP 5/100 (-1)
KP 4/100 (+1)

Result: Hung Parliament

SP-LP-GP Coalition: 46/100 (-5)
Governing Coalition 5 short of a governing majority

Potential alternate coalition governments:

SP-TP-LP Grand Coalition: 61/100
10 seats above threshold required for governing majority

SP-FV-LP Left and Centre Coalition: 56/100
5 seats above threshold required for governing majority

TP-LF-LP-KP Right and Centre Coalition: 52/100
1 seat above threshold required for governing majority

by **Lynland-** » Wed Jun 28, 2017 12:49 pm

First Leaders Debate: Havn Måge Universitet in Fiskereby, Havn Måge, Havn Måge Provins
Wednesday the 28th of June 2017

The seven leaders or spokespeople of the seven largest parties have drawn numbers from a hat to determine the order of their opening and closing statements. Drawing number 1 means giving the opening statement first, and being the seventh (last) to speak in the closing statement. This goes all the way through to the person drawing number 7, who will give the opening statement seventh (last) and give the closing statement first.

MP Erik Kul drew number 1, and so will speak first.
“Tonight you are going to hear a lot from the different parties here on their differences, but the reality is that on so many issues so many of them are pretty much identical. None of them enforce a strict cap on immigration, and none of them halt the tide of Muslim extremists entering this country, dangerous Muslim extremists who could endanger our nation. None of them are committed to our sovereignty as none of them support leaving the European Economic Area, which takes away controls of our borders and puts it in foreign hands. There is only one party which will get us out of that disastrous deal, which will secure our boarders, which will end the Islamification of our country. By closing the tap on unskilled and often dangerous immigrants pouring into this country we will free up the space our people deserve in the overstretched public hospitals and public schools. Furthermore, by bringing back national service we will keep our people safe. Only we will secure our borders, safeguard our people and put Lynland First!”

Minister of Energy Sara Blomst drew number 2.
“Good evening ladies and gentlemen. By contrast to the fear-mongering being pushed by Mr Kul and those like him, the greatest threat to this nation is not the most vulnerable in society, escaping violence and extremism elsewhere. No, the great threat that we as a world face is climate change and the degradation of our environment that puts the people of both our nation and our world at risk. This is an issue that almost every nation on earth came together to take on with the Paris Climate agreement. This threat of climate change caused by human activity is one that almost every scientist on earth, some 97%, acknowledge as a the real and serious threat it is. Despite this, Mr Kul and Mrs Stenbro believe they know better than 97% of the world’s scientists and dismiss human activity in causing climate change. We, the Green Party, are the party that takes more seriously than any other the massive threat of climate change, and we have worked tirelessly to address this issue through transitioning to clean, green, renewable energy such a wind, solar and tidal energy. So vote Green, vote clean, vote for your future and for your children’s future. Thank you.”

MP Caja Dokker drew number 3.
“Good evening. As anyone on the street will know, Lynland is in a difficult time right now. The nation has been on a slow recovery since the 2008 crash, but many people, many good, hardworking Lynlandian citizens are out of work and losing hope with a political system that seems to be overlooking them and tossing them aside. Well to those citizens I have good news, we in the United Left have the answer. That answer is not ongoing grinding austerity, screwing over the poorest and most vulnerable to line the pockets of the rich. That answer is most closing our doors and throwing out good hardworking immigrants either. No, the answer is guaranteed public sector employment for all who want a job, and who meet the necessary qualifications. This is a policy which will give every hardworking citizen out of work the job they need and deserve, and will help our struggling public services recover. This means rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure, staffing our underfunded hospitals and schools, and indeed restaffing our overstretched police and military services. So vote United Left, vote for a Lynland For All!”

Shadow Minister of Interior Johanna drew number 4.
“Good evening ladies and gentlemen. As you will know, the Christian values of this nation are under a full scale attack. The surge of Muslims entering this country and bringing Islamisation is just one part of it. The undermining of the traditional view of marriage, one man and one woman, the continued legality of murdering unborn babies and the teaching in public schools of the ridiculous theory of evolution, all of this reflects the attack on our Christian values. Well we will not allow it. We will stand up for persecuted Christians and will defend our Christian heritage and values. We will bring back national service and will strengthen our borders, and while we will not ban the entry of Muslims, we will crack down on attempts to Islamise our Christian nation. We will ban gay marriage and restore traditional marriage. We will end the murder of unborn children and illegals abortion. We will allow the teaching of intelligent design in schools. And we will bring back the death penalty for the violent crimes of rape, murder and treason. So vote Christian Party, vote to defend Christian values!”

Minister of Interior Hanna Tømrer drew number 5.
“Well ladies and gentlemen, if there was ever any doubt of the divisions within our politics, they are quite evident here tonight. We have some parties trying to pull the nation to the far-right, blaming the nation’s every woe on immigration or allowing two men or two women to love one another, feeding off fear, and on the other side we have the United Left promising to give every citizen exactly what the want with money pulled from thin air, or else picked from hard working citizens pockets. Well we here in the Liberal Party know what it is actually like to be in government, and what it actually takes to help run a country. We are a party of common sense and stability, able and willing to work with parties on the centre-left and centre-right to help them implement stable and sensible centrist polices that benefit all in this nation. It is to this aim that we will work with our allies to further economic and social freedom. So vote for the Liberal Party, vote for sense and stability.”

Opposition Leader Anna Skov drew number 6.
“Good evening ladies and gentlemen. The simple reality is that only one of the two major parties are going to be able to govern, either with an outright majority or through a coalition. As such, this election is really down to which of the two major parties you want to run this country. Over the past five years the Social Democrats have done what they do best, cause economic stagnation and uncertainty, raise taxes on hard working taxpayers, and blindly throw money at things expecting results. Well we here in the Traditionalist Party know the actual way to bring about progress and prosperity. The answer is cutting taxes, not raising them. The answer is in promoting the private sector and entrepreneurs, allowing citizens to make their living and ensure they are not taxed out of their hard-earned money. As such we will promote charter schools and private healthcare. Of course we will support the public sector, but we will not do so at the expense of free enterprise. So let us help you, vote Traditionalist!”

Prime Minister Elisabeth Skomager drew number 7.
“Thank you for that Anna. For those of you who may have forgotten, Anna here was the Minister of Education under the Hvidstrand administration who oversaw the 2008 economic crash. As you will remember, Anna here oversaw the cuts to public education, much as public sector cuts were seen across the board as the Traditionalists turned to austerity to dig the nation deeper into the hole they had led us into. Blaming and shaming the poor for what they had caused. For the past five years we have set about rectifying those wrongs. For the past five years we have set about rebuilding the economy the Traditionalists wrecked, restoring our underfunded public sector and taking it to new heights, all while balancing spending and keeping taxes reasonable and low, particularly for the middle and working class. Against the odds we have led the nation to success. A vote for the Traditionalists is a vote to return to chaos and austerity, a vote for the Social Democrats is a vote for continued success and a bright future!”

by **Lynland-** » Wed Jun 28, 2017 1:11 pm

The first debate topic will be on education. A summary of this will be posted soon.

by **The Brand New Salvatagard Republic** » Wed Jun 28, 2017 1:18 pm

Emperor Charles I endorses the 'Lynland Først! (LF) / Lynland First! (LF)' Party.

by **Elykyellek** » Wed Jun 28, 2017 1:35 pm

President Eliza Kierke has been overheard saying pleasant things about Elisabeth Skomager and the SP.

by **Lynland-** » Wed Jun 28, 2017 6:48 pm

Summary on section of debate on Education:

MP Caja Dokker was asked about United Left’s proposal for the government to subsidies university education so as to make it free for all Lynlandian students with the sufficient marks, and for non-Lynlandian residents who had lived In Lynland for a minimum of 5 years. In particular MP Dokker was asked how the United Left intended to pay for this.

MP Dokker fired back by first stating that she found it "interesting that the question of affordability is so often raised when it comes to increasing access to education and training, but was barely raised at all when it came to forking over some 100 billion Lynlandian Krona (OOC: the equivalent of about US $ 50 billion) of taxpayer money to bailout the banks after their risky gambling failed in the 2008 crash. That fact is an inditement of the way corrupt bankers are valued over conscientious students in this country”. This comment brought applause from the crowd. MP Dokker then went on to say that the subsidies to university education would come from introducing sharp progressive asset tax rate that would almost entirely only effect the top 20% of the nation’s wage owners, and then would further place the brunt of the burden on the top 1% and top “1% of 1%” in order to see them “pay their fair share”. MP Dokker also said the party would tax passed on inherited wealth valued at over 900 000 krona or higher, down from the 1 million it had previously been set at; would remove the loophole by which inherited wealth was split up over various family members to keep the amount under 1 million for all while well over in total by taxing the passed on amount in total, and splitting the tax by how much each separate inherited “package” was functioned, meaning those getting inherited wealth worth 100 000 krona would bare a fractional amount of the inheritance tax, while several individuals bequeathed 800 000 krona each would face a higher proportion of that tax. MP Dokker stated “this tax would not effect poorer citizens and would have marginal effect on middle class citizen, but would only really effect those passing on significant estates and luxury items such as yachts, sports cars and private planes. The future of this nation is an educated young workforce capable of succeeding in the modern world, not billionaires giving their children massive handouts and huge estates tax free”. This drew some applause.

MP Erik Kul had been angrily shaking his head throughout this exchange and was given a chance to respond. MP Kul started that the United Left were proposing a “death tax. An added tax on you even after you are dead on top of all the taxes they put on you while you are alive. We all know the old saying, that there are only two certainties in life: death and taxes, but clearly the communists over at the United Left think that even death shouldn’t end their opportunity to tax you”. MP Kul stressed that Lynland First! were committed to “completely abolishing the death tax, allowing deceased citizens to rest in peace”, and stated that if anyone should be taxed more “it should be the illegal immigrants sucking the very life blood from this country”. This drew a mix of cheers and boos from the crowd. MP Kul went on to say “the only reason we are even having this discussion is because there are a small group of violent and entitled young people in this country expected government handouts to get the luxury to go to university and are disrupting people’s lives to get it. To them I say, get a job and pay for it yourself! That is if you even need university anyway. So many in this nation did not and do not go to university and still make a success of their lives. Lynland First! supports university scholarships for medicine, commerce, engineering, law and military strategy, because those are academic fields vital to this nation. But if you want to waste your time in university trying to become an artist or poet, do so with your own hard earned cash, not with that of the taxpayer!”. This comment drew some cheers from the crowd.

Prime Minister Elisabeth Skomager was called on to speak next. She stated that before she discussed education she must first condemn MP Kul’s demonisation of “the many hard working immigrants who come to Lynland to seek a better life. These are not blood suckers feeding off society. These are, overwhelmingly, good people who have contributed more to our society than you and those like you ever will!”. This brought cheers from some in the crowd, but led to some boos from other, as well as MP Kul shouting “utter nonsense and drivel, that is absolute slander!” at the Prime Minister before the moderator asked for more calm from all the participants. With order somewhat restored, Prime Minister Skomager stated that MP Kul’s removal of scholarships was also to science (including physics, chemistry and biology), which she stated would put Lynland on a massive back foot in terms of advancement “all to satisfy Mr Kul’s refusal to believe in global warming”. She further stated that the ending of scholarships to the arts and humanities would lead to a massive reduction of future teachers in subjects like Danish and other languages, history and geography, even at formative primary school level, and particularly from prospective students from poor backgrounds aspiring to be teachers. Prime Minister Skomager stated that the answer did not lie in either killing these “vital scholarships”, nor in giving all citizens “a free pass on entering university, even those from rich families”, but on “targeted scholarships to those from poor backgrounds, and in particular to women, who are still under-represented at this level. These scholarships can be payed back over time, either in part or in full, depending on the scholarship”. She stressed this was the “best and most sensible way forward”. This brought some applause from the audience, but from a more middle class segment.

Opposition Leader Anna Skov was offered to comment next, asked to comment as her party also supported cutting state scholarships to the arts and humanities. Opposition Leader Skov was here quick to note that her party did not support cutting state scholarships to science however, indeed stating that cutting state scholarships to the arts and humanities allowed more to go to state scholarships to science. She then went on to say that it was simply untrue that cutting state scholarships to the arts and humanities would cause such a shortage, stating that private scholarships from private citizens, foundations and companies still exist to go towards fields like Danish, Art, Politics, History and Philosophy to name a few, but that this was not, or certainly should not be, a government priority. Opposition Leader Skov said that on the faculties of medicine, commerce, engineering, science and law were all those that could justifiably be viewed as in the national interest to commit taxpayer money to, but she could not justify taking hard earned taxpayer money and putting it into a state scholarship for “ancient poetry”. She stated “I am sure there were private individuals and foundations willing to spend their own private money on such scholarships, but that is for them to decide as private individuals. And maybe if we stopped taxing everyone through the nose we would have more people and groups with the money to spend on such scholarships”.

The moderator then responded to a hand that had been raised by Minister of Energy Sara Blomst, asking her to keep the matter brief as they were running out of time for this topic. Minister of Energy Blomst stated it would be quick, starting her address by reprimanding the speakers other than the Prime Minister for not mentioning primary schooling and high school education and being so focused on university education. Blomst went on to say her party remained committed to increased public education spending across the board, and proposed more money and focus to go to the growing of vegetable gardens by students, to promote sustainability and healthy living from a young age.

Minister of Interior Hanna Tømrer and Shadow Minister of Interior Johanna Stenbro were promised the opening statements on the next topic of debate, healthcare, as they had not gotten the chance to comment on education.

(OOC: Will do healthcare later today. Just takes me a while to type all this).

by **Kvatchdom** » Thu Jun 29, 2017 2:10 am

The Parliamentary Prime Minister, Taen Khan, has given his support to the Liberal Party in this specific election, but urges the party majority to push for Republicanism, citing the struggle the Kvatchdomian peoples had under the Kingdoms of Kvatchdom that ended in a bloody civil war.

The President, Balon Hassan Redwood, rejected supporting a party, but wished the Lynlandian people to have a good and elegant election, congratulating the future winner.

by **Azarbaijan** » Thu Jun 29, 2017 3:45 am

Azarbaijan extends its support for Traditionalist Party. We share similar views and ideals, particularly in the realm of foreign affairs, law and order, immigration, the energy industry, and the concerns of defense and national security. We hope that this election helps shape Lynland for the better.
- Azarbaijan Ministry of Foreign Affairs

by **Radimostan** » Thu Jun 29, 2017 4:27 am

Is it possible to fund parties?

by **Lynland-** » Thu Jun 29, 2017 6:20 am

Radimostan wrote:Is it possible to fund parties?

No. Lynlandian campaign finance law has long made funds from foreign individuals and organisations illegal. Campaign finance laws have also recently been made stricter, limiting the total amount that can be donated by an individual, company or organisation to a maximum of 100 000 Lynlandian krona (the equivalent of about US $40 000). Politicians running themselves can donate the maximum of the same amount, 100 000 Lynlandian krona (the equivalent of about US $40 000) to their own campaigns, but cannot use any more of their own funds to run their own campaign. This does not extend to use of their own private transport and property to help run their campaign.

The FV want to reduce the maximum donation to 20 000 Lynlandian krona (US S8 000) per person, banning donations from companies and organisations, and closing the loophole whereby individuals, companies and organisations transferring funds to other individuals, companies and organisations to further fund political parties over the maximum donation, calling such transfers "corrupt transferals of bribe money".

by **Lynland-** » Thu Jun 29, 2017 4:03 pm

Healthcare section of debate:

Minister of Interior Hanna Tømrer was given the opening statement on healthcare, asked about her party’s proposal of maintaining healthcare spending and moving closer to Europe in terms of medical research, asked if she though this was really the best idea now, in a time when the ‘European vision’ was under attack and events such as Brexit threatened it.

Minister of Interior Tømrer fired back that “now more so than ever it is important to defend the European vision, and strengthen our ties with our neighbours and allies”, further stating that joint cooperation with other Europeans, particularly in terms of medical research, would help “the nation move forward to a better future, helped by and helping Europe, of which we are a part even though not a part of the EU”. She further went on to say that many of those who had supported Brexit may be regretting it now, and that across Europe “the blowback and negative effects of Brexit are beginning to be felt, as people realise that community and togetherness, even if not in the formal organisational structure of the EU, are better than angrily and stubbornly pushing a form of national sovereignty that implicates standing alone and ostracised from the rest of the world, leaving them worse off behind their closed doors”. In addition to this, Minister of Interior Tømrer briefly spoke about how maintaining the current level of public healthcare spending was a good decision “balancing the need for taking care of all the people of our society and their needs, while not being ridiculous about it and taxing hardworking Lynlandians through the nose to produce a unwieldy medical bureaucracy”

Shadow Minister of Interior Johanna Stenbro was the next to speak. She stated that the key issue related to healthcare was ensuring that people who needed emergency care were given that care in their time of need. As such she and her party would push for much stricter rules and limitations on strikes by emergency service workers, such a nurses, doctors and firefighters. Shadow Minister of Interior Stenbro stated that taking on these jobs was more than just a standard job, it was a duty to the community, and one that meant these workers held people’s lives in the balance. “The simple truth is that people’s lives are more important than nurses and doctors in the public sector wanting even higher wages, and trashing hospital rooms and endangering patients lives all so they can squeeze the tax payer for more”, said Shadow Minister of Interior Stenbro, before stressing that “most nurses and doctors in public healthcare are good, honest, hardworking people who put their head down and do their work, and don’t expect ridiculously high pay checks at the end of the day. If anyone is to blame it is the union leaders, uppity bureaucratic hospital administrators, and young and inexperienced doctors and nurses making ridiculous socialistic wage increase demands and causing chaos just because they can. That is why the Christian Party is proposing that striking nurses and doctors, and their union bosses and administrators, be held financially and legally accountable for any deaths that come about, and for infections, injuries or illnesses that are left to fester and worsen, due to their selfish strike activity demanding even more taxpayer money. The Christian Party further proposes that any nurses or doctors taking part in the strike who have not worked at a practise for at least five years, who are relative newcomers to the post who have given very little to the practice, can be immediately fired from their job, or else have pay docked”. Shadow Minister of Interior Stenbro concluded by stating “people’s health and life is far more important than the increased luxuries a greedy few medical staff violently demand”.

MP Caja Dokker was called on to respond as the United Left support increasing wages for nurses and junior doctors, groups who have threatened to go on strike in the coming weeks unless they see wage increases, improved benefits, and overtime pay for extended or emergency shifts (shifts which are over 8 hours long). Again the moderator asked MP Dokker how the United Left intended to pay for this. MP Dokker tore into Shadow Minister of Interior Stenbro stating that she found it interesting that the “so called Christian Party can find to money to back increased spending on keeping out refugees, but actually wants to reduce public healthcare spending and would see hardworking nurses and junior doctors working longer hours for less pay. Quite frankly I suspect if Jesus were to come down to earth right now he would say ‘shame on you for’ for the way you are demonising these hardworking nurses and junior doctors. If anyone deserves a living wage, they do, these are the people who save people’s lives on a daily basis. The idea that we allow bank and business executives to take home massive bonuses, and to take time off left right and centre, but suggest further cuts to the already meagre wages of the hardest working and most vital workers in our society is disgraceful. If there are two groups whose wages should be cut, those groups would be those banking executives who wrecked this nation’s economy, and us, the politicians. That way maybe my fine friend over here would learn what it is actually like to struggle to live pay check to pay check, and struggle with underfunded public healthcare unable to go off and pay her expensive private doctors”. This brought many cheers.

Prime Minister Elisabeth Skomager was called on to speak next, asked to respond to the allegations made by MP Dokker that the public healthcare sector was “underfunded”. Prime Minister Skomager stated that she believed that this wasn’t really the point MP Dokker was getting at - and that it had been more a point that politicians needed to stop being so elitist, and on the class differences between public and private healthcare, which MP Dokker nodded in agreement to. Prime Minister Skomager went on to say that there were real issues with the public healthcare system, but that these issues had been far greater five years ago at the start of her term. Prime Minister Skomager talked about the “massively underfunded public healthcare system” she had inherited from the last Traditionalist government, with massive cuts made, particularly as part of austerity after the 2008 crash. Prime Minister Skomager spoke about how during her tenure she had restaffed understaffed public hospitals, had “cut waiting lines in half”, had opened new hospitals and clinics “particularly in isolated rural areas which vitally needed them” and had ended medicine and ambulance shortages. Prime Minister Skomager said that this wasn’t enough however, and promised to “carry on strengthening and growing our public healthcare services, in particular putting resources into treating mental health problems. She concluded by saying “a vote for the Social Democrats is a vote for continued progress, a vote for the Traditionalists and their allies is a vote to return to the bad old days of underfunded and overcrowded hospitals”.

Opposition Leader Anna Skov was given the chance to respond. Opposition Leader Skov started by jokingly saying “it seems, despite not having been in power for five years, the left can’t stop blaming us for their mistakes”. This brought some cheers from the crowd, but led to MP Caja Dokker quipping “but the crash was all yours”, which led to cheers from a different portion of the crowd. Opposition Leader Skov shot back with “excuse me, you have had your chance to talk, it’s the adults’ time now”, a comment perhaps aimed at MP Dokker only being 32 years old. This brought some cheers and boos from the crowd before the moderator restored order. Opposition Leader Skov went on to say that “what the Traditionalist Party recognises is that solving the issue of healthcare cannot be a matter for public healthcare to handle alone. It does not have the means to treat the entire country by itself, and pouring in more money just means creating more bureaucracy. It does not mean treating more sick people”. This lead to some boos. Opposition Leader Skov pushed on however “Oh you might not like the facts, but those are the facts. The simple truth is that what we really need is for private doctors and private hospitals to work in conjunction with the public sector. That way those who can afford private healthcare service can be treated privately, and create private jobs and boost employment in the process, and simultaneously reduce the number of sick people seeking treatment in pubic hospitals. Public hospitals are vital, don’t get me wrong, and need to be funded; but it is all part of a delicate balancing act with private hospitals, big and small, to ensure no one place is completely overburdened. And, if we are to ensure this balance, we need to stop taxing Lynlandians so damn much so they can afford to go to private hospitals when they get sick, they need some of their hard-earned money left to take care of themselves, something that the leftists in this room do not understand!”. This was met by some cheers and a number of boos, leading to the moderator asking for the ceasing of boos from the audience directed towards any candidate.

The third topic of debate, immigration, would be opened up by MP Erik Kul of Lynland First! and would be followed by Minister of Energy Sara Blomst of the Green Party, as neither had gotten to comment on the healthcare debate. (OOC: Will do that section of the debate soon).

by **Lynland-** » Thu Jun 29, 2017 8:06 pm

Immigration:

MP Erik Kul was asked by the moderator on his proposal to put a moratorium on all Muslims entering the country and on a yearly cap of 500 immigrants, with the question raised on whether this meant that Muslim refugee orphans would be denied entry to Lynland.

MP Kul retorted back by calling the question “ridiculously biased and disconnected from reality”, stating that “the majority of Muslim refugees flooding into Europe are young men of fighting age who, quite frankly, would be better to stay in their nations and fight the scourge of ISIS, if they are not ISIS fighters themselves. As to the few children, quite frankly I don’t believe we should be breaking them up from their families and dislocating them from their own country of birth. Our own nation went through struggles in the past, and the people of our own nation stayed put, fought those struggles and defeated them. I daresay if so many refugees were not pouring out of Iraq and Syria, the treat of ISIS would have been defeated by now”. This brought some cheers from a group in the audience, but much shaking of heads from most other debaters and audience members. MP Kul went on to say “beyond this simple matter, there lies a much deeper one, and that is what is the priority of the government. Now many of my colleagues here tonight would happily see this country flooded, flooded I tell you, with foreigners. Across the world there are so many lost and destitute people who have become so because of idiotic socialist policies and due to the scourge of radical Islamic terrorism. These people now want to flee to our own land, built on the hard work, sweat, blood and tears of good Lynaldian citizens and enjoy a cushy ride from it. Well I say no. Let them stay where they were born and work for their success. If they want their nation to be a great one like Lynland, then let them put in the hard work and effort, not just hitch a free ride off our hard work. My colleagues here tonight are happy to waste your hard earned tax money by throwing it at foreign socialist and Islamist leaders in Africa and the Middle East. Well I say let us keep that money and spend it on strengthening our own borders and bettering our own lives! I say we put Lynland First!” This brought quite some cheering.

Minister of Energy Sara Blomst was then given a chance to speak. She started by saying “so then, let it be clearly stated for the record, MP Kul does not support offering young Muslim children asylum, young Muslim children fleeing a violent civil war and the scourge of ISIS. MP Kul does not support letting them in if they are orphans. MP Kul does not consider letting them in if they are wounded, homeless and lost. MP Kul is happy to slam the door shut on vulnerable little children escaping a war zone and the violent death cult of ISIS, simply because they are Muslim. And, let us be clear, it is because they are Muslim. MP Kul has not ruled out letting in Christian refugees from Syria. No, they can be among the 500 immigrants he has proposed will be allowed in yearly, although more likely he is eager to allow in wealthy Christians seeking the tax haven he is proposing to make Lynland into than vulnerable children. Because that is the reality, MP Kul does not care about what is right or decent, he doesn’t even care about putting Lynland First, what he cares about is further enriching his rich friends so that they can further enrich him later on!” At this stage a cacophony of cheers and angry shouts from the audience drowned out Minister of Energy Blomst, including a shout from MP Kul himself shouting out “utter lies you lefty loon!”

The debate moderator demanded calm and called on Shadow Minister of Interior Johanna Stenbro to comment, as the responsibilities of the Ministry on Interior include administering border security and the police, and asking Shadow Minister of Interior Stenbro if she thought current border security from her opposite member was adequate, to which the Shadow Minister compared the Lynlandian border to a “door thrown wide open letting everyone in no questions asked”. Shadow Minister of Interior Stenbro said that she supported strictly vetted and limited immigration. She said that she and her party would put no minimum number of refugees to be taken in, but would consider each application, be it asylum or immigration, on a case by case basis. She went on to say that she and her party felt it was better for Muslims, be they immigrants or refugees, to live in a Muslim nation, and not in a “nation with such strong Christian values”. That said, Shadow Minister of Interior Stenbro said that she and her party would take “every action available to limit the entry of Muslims entering this nation, just short of a moratorium on their entry, for an extraordinary case such as a single injured orphaned Syrian Muslim girl being adopted by Lynlandian Christian parents. That said, she said her party believed skilled Christian immigrants and Christian refugees would be far better and well suited to living in Lynland.
Minister of Interior Hanna Tømrer, who is ultimately in charge of border security and police policy, asked by the moderator for a chance to respond, with the moderator saying that she was about to have called on her. Minister of Interior Tømrer started by laying into Shadow Minister of Interior Stenbro, calling her understanding of Lynlandian border security “utterly lacking” and accused her of “fear-mongering”, further stating that entry to Lynland required a careful check at the airport or port of entry, and that Lynland’s island location meant that “refugees from Syria are not swimming across the North Sea to get here”. Minister of Interior Tømrer further called Lynland’s process of background checks for immigrants, and particularly for refugees, to be one of the most extensive and in depth in the world, stating “the threats this nation does face are from radicalised home grown terrorists within this nation, including the many far-right white supremacist terrorists who have links with some members of Lynland First!”. This comment brought a hail of angry shouts from some of the crowd, and a shout from MP Kul of “slander!” Once order was restored Minister of Interior Tømrer pushed on to say “the truth is that in times of struggle some of the best and brightest of this nation turned to other nation’s for aid. When the fascist Nationalists of the Beslagsmed regime (OOC: the far-right Lynland Nationalistiske Parti (LNP) fascist regime that ruled Lynland from 1939 to 1945 with the military backing of Nazi Germany) had an iron grip on this country, it was Lynlandian refugees who fled to Norway and the UK, and it was with the backing of British troops that Lynlandian freedom fighters retook this nation! Even today, we succeed because some of the best minds in Europe and in the World are able and willing to come to our beautiful nation, work here, live here, come to love it and make it their home. They work and succeed alongside our citizens. They become citizens of Lynland. And at the end of the day, being a Lynlander is not about whether or not you are born here, it is about whether you come to love Lynland, work hard, and view it as home, and that is a reality for so many immigrants: black and white, Muslim and Jewish and Christian and Atheist!” This was met by a loud amount of applause, including from Minister of Energy Sara Blomst, Prime Minister Elisabeth Skomager and MP Caja Dokker. Many other members of the crowd were silent or shook their heads however, and MP Kul angrily stated “they are pulling the wool over your eyes!”

This rather long exchange from Minister of Interior Hanna Tømrer led to the debate having to push on, with promises made that Opposition Leader Anna Skov would open on the next issue, that of employment, followed by Prime Minister Elisabeth Skomager and then by MP Caja Dokker.

(OOC: section of debate on employment to come in due course).

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