Iansisle
12-12-2003, 09:03
From the Ianapalis Star-Tribune:
Iansisle Considers Changing Name to ‘Italy’
General Elections called for December 2003; Free Trade leaves Centrist Coalition
Albert Brewer
Staff Writer
IANAPALIS, Iansisle -- The third general elections in just over two years were called yesterday following a successful vote of no confidence in Prime Minister Hiresh Dhawan’s government.
A decision had been reached by the Prime Minister’s cabinet’s council to invite select members of the Coalition of Anti-Capitalist Economies (CACE) and the leaders of a recently formed anti-CACE alliance to a summit in Ianapalis with the goal of bilateral easing of tensions. However, when the leaders of the Liberal Coalition forced the issue to a review vote in a full house of parliament, the motion failed and an immediate vote of no confidence was called.
At first, Dhawan’s government seemed safe: the Centrist Coalition controlled a near-majority of votes, and the division of its opposition into liberal and conservative blocks would appear to guarantee that the sixty per cent majority needed to call the elections could not be achieved. However, most analysts figured without the growing divide between Dhawan’s Commonwealth Party and former Prime Minister Edward Tarriff’s Free Trade Party.
Commonwealth and Free Trade made up the nucleus of the Ruling Coalition, providing 850 of its 985 votes. For five years after the October 1996 general elections, Edward Tarriff’s Free Trade Party had been solidly in the plurality, commanding nearly six hundred seats. The October 2001 elections proved an ominous warning; Free Trade lost thirty seats and Commonwealth gained twenty five. After a cynical alliance of the right and left wingers combined with pitifully low attendance among Free Trade and Commonwealth’s MPs forced a second election in August 2002, Free Trade at last came crashing down.
Both Free Trade and Commonwealth lost several dozen seats, but Free Trade suffered much worse. Commonwealth and its newly appointed leader found itself thrust into the leadership role of their coalition, much to Tarriff’s resentment. Dhawan, much to his own resentment, found himself guiding a dying horse across the desert while buzzards circled overhead.
Retaining most of Tarriff’s old cabinet, Dhawan pieced together a fairly effective government. He cracked down on the poor attendance and apathy among his own MPs, enforced the party line, and enticed the Liberal Coalition with vague comments about greater Tharian independence.
However, the Conservative Coalition soon regrouped, fueled both by the growing tension between the first and second world economies and Iansislean industrialist’s concerns that Dhawan may be leaning too heavily towards the CACE.
Within Dhawan’s own government, it was quickly obvious that discontentment was brewing, particuarly between the Commonwealth and Free Trade parties. Commonwealth had always been the more liberal of the two, though not so left wing as to belong with the Tharian Secessionist Party and the Iansislean Democratic-Socialists, whereas Free Trade gravitated towards the right wing. They split most frequently over matters concerning Iansisle’s space flight program - supported by Commonwealth, but not Free Trade - and foreign affairs, with Free Trade somewhat put off by the blatantly socialist states Commonwealth associated with.
Free Trade broke with the Coalition’s line, with 403 of its 415 seats, including Edward Tarriff, voting no confidence in Dhawan’s government, and was summarily thrown out of the Centrists. The Conservative Coalition has of yet made no overt overtures to Tarriff, but will undoubtedly make their position on the squabble known following the elections.
[ooc: A brief rundown on the three main coalitions, the Free Trade Party, the ultra-extremist Neo-Royalist Party, and the new to Commonwealth-wide politics Progressive Reform Party follows. It may also be worth noting that the poll is almost just a formality; the actual elections will be affected by it, but not to any great extent. For the most part, it just lets me gauge international opinion of the various parties.
The Centrist Coalition
Pre-election seats: 570 (28.5%)
Leader: Hiresh Dhawan
Commonwealth Party [445/570]: The senior member, by a healthy margin of the Centrist Coalition, the Commonwealth Party is one of the longest entrenched parties in Iansislean politics, dating back to the day of High King James I and the start of parliamentary rule in Iansisle. Then, it was considered a fringe group, struggling for nearly one hundred years to attain its goal of independent government for the Empire’s provinces. That goal was at last realized under High Queen Jessica I when she granted self-government in internal affairs and the right to seperate representation in a Combined Parliament to what became the five Dominions.
Today, the Commonwealth Party has come to represent unity rather than division. Although it still holds the rights of the Dominions to be sacred, it did support Free Trade and the crown’s war to keep Dianatran from breaking all ties with Ianapalis. Likewise, it was opposed to the Empire’s disenfranchisement of Dianatran after the war, as well as its earlier decision to annex the Grand Duchy of Sentry Island from Tharia.
Hiresh Dhawan, Commonwealth’s leader, was the first non-Shieldian to represent a party in the plurality, as well as the first non-Commonwealther to represent a party in the Combined Parliament. Dhawan hails from the Delta region of the Domain of Iansislean Gallaga, a territory under the control of the East Gallaga Company of Ianapalis. He immigrated to the Shield twenty years ago, and after attending school at Royal Standard University became a major force in Imperial politics. He made the jump to Commonwealth-wide politics eleven years ago, and just two years ago became Commonwealth’s leader. His primary issue, the adoption of Gallaga as a member of the Commonwealth and the abolition of the East Gallaga Company, has had to be put on hold with the de-stabilization of the area.
Unity Party [88/570]: By and large considered to be a marginal party at best in Iansisle, Unity often struggles with its role. With 88 seats, most coming from electorates within the Dominion of Gadsan, it is powerful enough to get its issues on the Centrist agenda, but not large enough to force them through despite Commonwealth’s wishes.
Unity is the most liberal member of the Centrist Coalition, though it would be considered most conservative by most modern states. On its agenda are things such as the out-law of “yellow dog” contracts, though most in the Centrist Coalition don’t take them quite seriously.
Lance Greenson, Unity’s leader, hails from Lakeriverwood, Gadsan, and actually grew up down the street from Edward Tarriff. He’s a most unremarkable man, but has managed to hold the party together in troubled times. Considering his age and the fact he’s spent seven years as the party’s head, Unity is looking into politely retiring him, and may use this election as an excuse.
Prosperity Party [37/570]: By far the smallest member of the Centrist Party, Prosperity is also the most conservative after Free Trade’s departure. They found their niche within the Empire, mostly in the Kingdom of Vesshampton, where their leader not only hails from but is hailed in.
King John IV MacIntyre of Vesshampton is both Prosperity’s leader and the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Dhawan’s government. The slight Shieldian nobleman is most famed for the sheer sloth of the MoFA under his administration. After Prosperity’s poor showing in the last election, MacIntyre is being given ‘one last chance’ as the party’s head.
The Liberal Coalition
Pre-election seats: 618 (30.9%)
Leader: Alfredo D’Carlonia
Tharian Secessionist Party [306/618]: Representing some 95% of Tharia’s votes, the TSP is far and away the most powerful party in the Liberal Coalition. While its favor outside the Dominion is negligable, it has aligned itself with some of the faster-growing parties in the Empire.
D’Carlonia’s main concern is that the other parties will grow so much faster than the TSP - which has more or less tapped out all of its resources already - that it will cease to be a major part of the Liberal Coalition it has built. He hopes that the fracture in the Centrist Coalition - which has temporarily left the LC in the plurality, pending the election - will give his coalition power long enough to secure Tharia greater independence before it’s too late.
The TSP’s old leader, the persuasive Nicomedo Sabino, was assassinate by Tharian Nationalists when they tried to elevate Archduke Sentry Island to the High Kingship by the Right of Succession. It was theorized that Sabino’s (a moderate) assassination would give control to the more radical elements of the party, but D’Carlonia, Sabino’s chosen successor, withheld power.
Independence Party [236/618]: Similar to the TSP, but generalized for all the Dominions. Independence is predicted to lose major seats in the next election with the disenfranchisement of Dianatran while that province is rearranged, as most of its seats came from that Dominion. Led by one Taylor Bullton of Delton, Gadsan.
Iansislean Democratic-Socialist Party [67/618]: Though it slipped slightly in the last election, the Democratic Socialists are expected to make a full recovery, and perhaps even break one hundred seats for the first time in the party’s history. Led by Claude St. Jacques of Noropia, who started out life as a mere coal miner, the Democratic Socialists have rapidly gained popularity among the industrial masses all over the Commonwealth, though they have so far had trouble establishing a majority in more than a few heavily urbanized electorates.
Iansislean Green Party [8/618]: The Iansislean Green Party, led by Fencourt Judd of Ianapalis, finds itself in an awkward position: it can neither court the favor of the masses nor the elite. Environmental concern in Iansisle is extremely low, and the Green Party is expected to lose two or three of its seats in the coming elections.
Iansislean Communist Party [1/618]: Represented by ‘Judicator’ (for some odd reason, ICP members always choose to put a pseudonym when running for office, perhaps to keep safe from corporate reprisals) from an electorate outside Westergate, Iansisle. The ICP, because of its eccentric behavior, often does not appeal to the masses as broadly as the Democratic Socialist Party. The Democratic Socialists, fearing that the ICP may be stealing votes from them in key electorates, have proposed a merge, though the ICP is holding out for the time being.
The Free Trade Party
Pre-election seats: 415 (20.75%)
Leader: Edward Tarriff
Another old party, this one dating back to the mid nineteenth century, Free Trade opposed Commonwealth for a long time. It has always been the darling of the Iansislean corporations, whereas Commonwealth started out very liberal. However, with the achievement of Commonwealth’s goal (..of Commonwealth...confused yet? ;)) the two parties started to drift together, until Edward Tarriff established their first coalition in the early 1990s.
Free Trade recently lost the support of the corporations, but its breaking with the (in some opinions) dangerously liberal Unity and Commonwealth parties leads many to assume the two groups will have a reunion very soon.
The Conservative Coalition
Pre-election seats: 396 (19.8%)
Leader: Sir Humphrey S. Appleton, KIO
Imperialist Party [230/396]: Along with Commonwealth and the Royalists, the Imperialist Party is one of the three oldest in Iansisle. However, the Imperialists find themselves out thought more and more often by younger, more dynamic conservative parties such as Conservation and Tradition. Sir Humphrey, famed for his adventures in south east Asia in the name of the crown, is just about ready to be retired.
The Imperialists are ardent expansionists. Ironically, one of their main campaign platforms is that the East Gallaga Company be abolished, but that Gallaga be included in the Empire as a province rather than granted Dominion status.
Conservation Party [102/396]: A fairly new party, Conservation - despite the name, which many claim brings up images of the Green Party - is one of the largest conservative presences in parliament. The Duke of Derwisham is the de facto leader of the coalition with the senility of Sir Humphrey.
Tradition Party [37/396]: A relatively new force, Tradition is finding popular support among those who wish to return to the “good old days” before James III’s technological reforms. It is led by Sir Walter Brown of the Foothills.
Iansislean Royalist Party [26/396]: An ancient and always marginal party, the Royalists are just what their names imply; those who wish the abolition of Parliament and return of ancient privileges to the crown. Unusually, even the High King condemns the extremests, reminding the public there was a very good reason his ancestors granted them rights.
The Neo-Royalist Party
Pre-election seats: 1 (0.05%)
Leader: Sir Wesley Fumpleham, KNO
Representing one electorate just outside Thorntree, the Neo-Royalists seek to replace House Callahan on the High King’s throne with the heir to House Whitman. Inside Thortraia, they account for only about 33% of the popular vote. Outside it, the number is much closer to zero, but the King of Thorntree’s influence will always ensure they have that one seat.
The Progressive Reform Party
Pre-election seats: 0 (0.0%)
Leader: Jean-Benoît Foisnon
Relative newcomers, the Progressive Reform Party has been making waves on the regional level lately in Noropia. After they captured roughly three per cent of the seats on the Imperial Parliament, the PRP decided they were ready to shoot for the Commonwealth Combined Parliament. Foisnon will be running in the PRP’s strongest electorate, outside Cape Deliverance, Noropia.
Falling somewhere between the Unity and the Democratic-Socialists ideologically, many observers are interested to see where a truly moderate liberal party will fall in the scheme of Iansislean politics. Though there are no reports of attempts to form a coalition yet, many expect the PRP to be pursued by both the Centrist and the Liberal Coalitions.
Iansisle Considers Changing Name to ‘Italy’
General Elections called for December 2003; Free Trade leaves Centrist Coalition
Albert Brewer
Staff Writer
IANAPALIS, Iansisle -- The third general elections in just over two years were called yesterday following a successful vote of no confidence in Prime Minister Hiresh Dhawan’s government.
A decision had been reached by the Prime Minister’s cabinet’s council to invite select members of the Coalition of Anti-Capitalist Economies (CACE) and the leaders of a recently formed anti-CACE alliance to a summit in Ianapalis with the goal of bilateral easing of tensions. However, when the leaders of the Liberal Coalition forced the issue to a review vote in a full house of parliament, the motion failed and an immediate vote of no confidence was called.
At first, Dhawan’s government seemed safe: the Centrist Coalition controlled a near-majority of votes, and the division of its opposition into liberal and conservative blocks would appear to guarantee that the sixty per cent majority needed to call the elections could not be achieved. However, most analysts figured without the growing divide between Dhawan’s Commonwealth Party and former Prime Minister Edward Tarriff’s Free Trade Party.
Commonwealth and Free Trade made up the nucleus of the Ruling Coalition, providing 850 of its 985 votes. For five years after the October 1996 general elections, Edward Tarriff’s Free Trade Party had been solidly in the plurality, commanding nearly six hundred seats. The October 2001 elections proved an ominous warning; Free Trade lost thirty seats and Commonwealth gained twenty five. After a cynical alliance of the right and left wingers combined with pitifully low attendance among Free Trade and Commonwealth’s MPs forced a second election in August 2002, Free Trade at last came crashing down.
Both Free Trade and Commonwealth lost several dozen seats, but Free Trade suffered much worse. Commonwealth and its newly appointed leader found itself thrust into the leadership role of their coalition, much to Tarriff’s resentment. Dhawan, much to his own resentment, found himself guiding a dying horse across the desert while buzzards circled overhead.
Retaining most of Tarriff’s old cabinet, Dhawan pieced together a fairly effective government. He cracked down on the poor attendance and apathy among his own MPs, enforced the party line, and enticed the Liberal Coalition with vague comments about greater Tharian independence.
However, the Conservative Coalition soon regrouped, fueled both by the growing tension between the first and second world economies and Iansislean industrialist’s concerns that Dhawan may be leaning too heavily towards the CACE.
Within Dhawan’s own government, it was quickly obvious that discontentment was brewing, particuarly between the Commonwealth and Free Trade parties. Commonwealth had always been the more liberal of the two, though not so left wing as to belong with the Tharian Secessionist Party and the Iansislean Democratic-Socialists, whereas Free Trade gravitated towards the right wing. They split most frequently over matters concerning Iansisle’s space flight program - supported by Commonwealth, but not Free Trade - and foreign affairs, with Free Trade somewhat put off by the blatantly socialist states Commonwealth associated with.
Free Trade broke with the Coalition’s line, with 403 of its 415 seats, including Edward Tarriff, voting no confidence in Dhawan’s government, and was summarily thrown out of the Centrists. The Conservative Coalition has of yet made no overt overtures to Tarriff, but will undoubtedly make their position on the squabble known following the elections.
[ooc: A brief rundown on the three main coalitions, the Free Trade Party, the ultra-extremist Neo-Royalist Party, and the new to Commonwealth-wide politics Progressive Reform Party follows. It may also be worth noting that the poll is almost just a formality; the actual elections will be affected by it, but not to any great extent. For the most part, it just lets me gauge international opinion of the various parties.
The Centrist Coalition
Pre-election seats: 570 (28.5%)
Leader: Hiresh Dhawan
Commonwealth Party [445/570]: The senior member, by a healthy margin of the Centrist Coalition, the Commonwealth Party is one of the longest entrenched parties in Iansislean politics, dating back to the day of High King James I and the start of parliamentary rule in Iansisle. Then, it was considered a fringe group, struggling for nearly one hundred years to attain its goal of independent government for the Empire’s provinces. That goal was at last realized under High Queen Jessica I when she granted self-government in internal affairs and the right to seperate representation in a Combined Parliament to what became the five Dominions.
Today, the Commonwealth Party has come to represent unity rather than division. Although it still holds the rights of the Dominions to be sacred, it did support Free Trade and the crown’s war to keep Dianatran from breaking all ties with Ianapalis. Likewise, it was opposed to the Empire’s disenfranchisement of Dianatran after the war, as well as its earlier decision to annex the Grand Duchy of Sentry Island from Tharia.
Hiresh Dhawan, Commonwealth’s leader, was the first non-Shieldian to represent a party in the plurality, as well as the first non-Commonwealther to represent a party in the Combined Parliament. Dhawan hails from the Delta region of the Domain of Iansislean Gallaga, a territory under the control of the East Gallaga Company of Ianapalis. He immigrated to the Shield twenty years ago, and after attending school at Royal Standard University became a major force in Imperial politics. He made the jump to Commonwealth-wide politics eleven years ago, and just two years ago became Commonwealth’s leader. His primary issue, the adoption of Gallaga as a member of the Commonwealth and the abolition of the East Gallaga Company, has had to be put on hold with the de-stabilization of the area.
Unity Party [88/570]: By and large considered to be a marginal party at best in Iansisle, Unity often struggles with its role. With 88 seats, most coming from electorates within the Dominion of Gadsan, it is powerful enough to get its issues on the Centrist agenda, but not large enough to force them through despite Commonwealth’s wishes.
Unity is the most liberal member of the Centrist Coalition, though it would be considered most conservative by most modern states. On its agenda are things such as the out-law of “yellow dog” contracts, though most in the Centrist Coalition don’t take them quite seriously.
Lance Greenson, Unity’s leader, hails from Lakeriverwood, Gadsan, and actually grew up down the street from Edward Tarriff. He’s a most unremarkable man, but has managed to hold the party together in troubled times. Considering his age and the fact he’s spent seven years as the party’s head, Unity is looking into politely retiring him, and may use this election as an excuse.
Prosperity Party [37/570]: By far the smallest member of the Centrist Party, Prosperity is also the most conservative after Free Trade’s departure. They found their niche within the Empire, mostly in the Kingdom of Vesshampton, where their leader not only hails from but is hailed in.
King John IV MacIntyre of Vesshampton is both Prosperity’s leader and the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Dhawan’s government. The slight Shieldian nobleman is most famed for the sheer sloth of the MoFA under his administration. After Prosperity’s poor showing in the last election, MacIntyre is being given ‘one last chance’ as the party’s head.
The Liberal Coalition
Pre-election seats: 618 (30.9%)
Leader: Alfredo D’Carlonia
Tharian Secessionist Party [306/618]: Representing some 95% of Tharia’s votes, the TSP is far and away the most powerful party in the Liberal Coalition. While its favor outside the Dominion is negligable, it has aligned itself with some of the faster-growing parties in the Empire.
D’Carlonia’s main concern is that the other parties will grow so much faster than the TSP - which has more or less tapped out all of its resources already - that it will cease to be a major part of the Liberal Coalition it has built. He hopes that the fracture in the Centrist Coalition - which has temporarily left the LC in the plurality, pending the election - will give his coalition power long enough to secure Tharia greater independence before it’s too late.
The TSP’s old leader, the persuasive Nicomedo Sabino, was assassinate by Tharian Nationalists when they tried to elevate Archduke Sentry Island to the High Kingship by the Right of Succession. It was theorized that Sabino’s (a moderate) assassination would give control to the more radical elements of the party, but D’Carlonia, Sabino’s chosen successor, withheld power.
Independence Party [236/618]: Similar to the TSP, but generalized for all the Dominions. Independence is predicted to lose major seats in the next election with the disenfranchisement of Dianatran while that province is rearranged, as most of its seats came from that Dominion. Led by one Taylor Bullton of Delton, Gadsan.
Iansislean Democratic-Socialist Party [67/618]: Though it slipped slightly in the last election, the Democratic Socialists are expected to make a full recovery, and perhaps even break one hundred seats for the first time in the party’s history. Led by Claude St. Jacques of Noropia, who started out life as a mere coal miner, the Democratic Socialists have rapidly gained popularity among the industrial masses all over the Commonwealth, though they have so far had trouble establishing a majority in more than a few heavily urbanized electorates.
Iansislean Green Party [8/618]: The Iansislean Green Party, led by Fencourt Judd of Ianapalis, finds itself in an awkward position: it can neither court the favor of the masses nor the elite. Environmental concern in Iansisle is extremely low, and the Green Party is expected to lose two or three of its seats in the coming elections.
Iansislean Communist Party [1/618]: Represented by ‘Judicator’ (for some odd reason, ICP members always choose to put a pseudonym when running for office, perhaps to keep safe from corporate reprisals) from an electorate outside Westergate, Iansisle. The ICP, because of its eccentric behavior, often does not appeal to the masses as broadly as the Democratic Socialist Party. The Democratic Socialists, fearing that the ICP may be stealing votes from them in key electorates, have proposed a merge, though the ICP is holding out for the time being.
The Free Trade Party
Pre-election seats: 415 (20.75%)
Leader: Edward Tarriff
Another old party, this one dating back to the mid nineteenth century, Free Trade opposed Commonwealth for a long time. It has always been the darling of the Iansislean corporations, whereas Commonwealth started out very liberal. However, with the achievement of Commonwealth’s goal (..of Commonwealth...confused yet? ;)) the two parties started to drift together, until Edward Tarriff established their first coalition in the early 1990s.
Free Trade recently lost the support of the corporations, but its breaking with the (in some opinions) dangerously liberal Unity and Commonwealth parties leads many to assume the two groups will have a reunion very soon.
The Conservative Coalition
Pre-election seats: 396 (19.8%)
Leader: Sir Humphrey S. Appleton, KIO
Imperialist Party [230/396]: Along with Commonwealth and the Royalists, the Imperialist Party is one of the three oldest in Iansisle. However, the Imperialists find themselves out thought more and more often by younger, more dynamic conservative parties such as Conservation and Tradition. Sir Humphrey, famed for his adventures in south east Asia in the name of the crown, is just about ready to be retired.
The Imperialists are ardent expansionists. Ironically, one of their main campaign platforms is that the East Gallaga Company be abolished, but that Gallaga be included in the Empire as a province rather than granted Dominion status.
Conservation Party [102/396]: A fairly new party, Conservation - despite the name, which many claim brings up images of the Green Party - is one of the largest conservative presences in parliament. The Duke of Derwisham is the de facto leader of the coalition with the senility of Sir Humphrey.
Tradition Party [37/396]: A relatively new force, Tradition is finding popular support among those who wish to return to the “good old days” before James III’s technological reforms. It is led by Sir Walter Brown of the Foothills.
Iansislean Royalist Party [26/396]: An ancient and always marginal party, the Royalists are just what their names imply; those who wish the abolition of Parliament and return of ancient privileges to the crown. Unusually, even the High King condemns the extremests, reminding the public there was a very good reason his ancestors granted them rights.
The Neo-Royalist Party
Pre-election seats: 1 (0.05%)
Leader: Sir Wesley Fumpleham, KNO
Representing one electorate just outside Thorntree, the Neo-Royalists seek to replace House Callahan on the High King’s throne with the heir to House Whitman. Inside Thortraia, they account for only about 33% of the popular vote. Outside it, the number is much closer to zero, but the King of Thorntree’s influence will always ensure they have that one seat.
The Progressive Reform Party
Pre-election seats: 0 (0.0%)
Leader: Jean-Benoît Foisnon
Relative newcomers, the Progressive Reform Party has been making waves on the regional level lately in Noropia. After they captured roughly three per cent of the seats on the Imperial Parliament, the PRP decided they were ready to shoot for the Commonwealth Combined Parliament. Foisnon will be running in the PRP’s strongest electorate, outside Cape Deliverance, Noropia.
Falling somewhere between the Unity and the Democratic-Socialists ideologically, many observers are interested to see where a truly moderate liberal party will fall in the scheme of Iansislean politics. Though there are no reports of attempts to form a coalition yet, many expect the PRP to be pursued by both the Centrist and the Liberal Coalitions.