Cielonia
21-05-2005, 07:18
OOC: Continued from http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=420623 so as not to get lost in II spam. Meh.
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YES ON GOVERNMENT REFORM
Citizens vote overwhelmingly for Social Democratic agenda
CIELON, Cielonia - Citizens of Cielonia voted overwhelmingly to adopt the proposed changes to government put forth by the newly elected Grand Duke Lucien Leblanc of the Social Democratic Party.
The votes came in at 78% aye, 22% nay when all districts finally closed.
As a result of this vote the office of Grand Duke and the classification of Cielonia as a Grand Duchy have been officially abolished. Leblanc has been reinaugurated as Prime Minister of the Democratic Federation of Cielonia. He has selected fellow Social Democratic mainstay Akira Tsuda, age 52, as his Deputy Prime Minister.
By-elections will be held in one month to determine the first official House of Commons and Senate - the former a proportionally representative body of 438 members of Parliament in which each member represents approximately 500000 citizens, the latter a debate-oriented body of 100 Senators. In the meantime, the former House of Counts will serve as the Interim House of Commons, while the former Grand Council will function as the Interim Senate.
"This is a momentous victory for the Cielonian people," said the soft-spoken Prime Minister, aged 36. "It's gratifying to see such a huge majority of the populace choose to follow the winds of progress. I will of course be running for reelection in the coming by-elections. After all, the Prime Minister is a member of Parliament just as much as any other man or woman, leader of the party or not."
Leblanc is expected to easily carry his riding of South Namioto, where he was first elected to the House of Counts with an overwhelming 61% victory.
"I think this will ultimately be the best thing for the country," Leblanc added when questioned further. "While the in-name-only Grand Duchy system served its purpose, it was high time that Cielonia moved fully into the modern world, politically speaking."
When questioned as to his opinions on the referendum, Liberal Party leader and former Grand Duke Francis St. Marie expressed support. "I wasn't convinced at first," said the 63-year-old, who is expected to run for reelection in the Northwest Cielon riding, "but the Prime Minister sold me on the idea. I'm very optimistic that this will turn out well for the country."
Conservative Party leader Jean-Jacques Takei, however, expressed some misgivings. "I don't see why Mr. Leblanc saw fit to try and fix something that wasn't broken," said the 58-year-old, expected to run for reelection in the riding of Epee. "To me this move is just foot-dragging by the Social Democrats to hide the fact that they really have no policy."
The Social Democrats are expected to continue to hold a slim majority in the House of Commons, though analysts predict that the Cielonian Alliance will make big gains. The Conservatives' drift to the right has been countered by the Alliance's recent selection of Miyoko Satashi as party leader. The 43-year-old, expected to run in the riding of Inala West, is a social moderate and a fiscal conservative, leading the Alliance on a more moderate course that most predict will present them as a viable alternative to the left-wing Social Democratic Party.
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YES ON GOVERNMENT REFORM
Citizens vote overwhelmingly for Social Democratic agenda
CIELON, Cielonia - Citizens of Cielonia voted overwhelmingly to adopt the proposed changes to government put forth by the newly elected Grand Duke Lucien Leblanc of the Social Democratic Party.
The votes came in at 78% aye, 22% nay when all districts finally closed.
As a result of this vote the office of Grand Duke and the classification of Cielonia as a Grand Duchy have been officially abolished. Leblanc has been reinaugurated as Prime Minister of the Democratic Federation of Cielonia. He has selected fellow Social Democratic mainstay Akira Tsuda, age 52, as his Deputy Prime Minister.
By-elections will be held in one month to determine the first official House of Commons and Senate - the former a proportionally representative body of 438 members of Parliament in which each member represents approximately 500000 citizens, the latter a debate-oriented body of 100 Senators. In the meantime, the former House of Counts will serve as the Interim House of Commons, while the former Grand Council will function as the Interim Senate.
"This is a momentous victory for the Cielonian people," said the soft-spoken Prime Minister, aged 36. "It's gratifying to see such a huge majority of the populace choose to follow the winds of progress. I will of course be running for reelection in the coming by-elections. After all, the Prime Minister is a member of Parliament just as much as any other man or woman, leader of the party or not."
Leblanc is expected to easily carry his riding of South Namioto, where he was first elected to the House of Counts with an overwhelming 61% victory.
"I think this will ultimately be the best thing for the country," Leblanc added when questioned further. "While the in-name-only Grand Duchy system served its purpose, it was high time that Cielonia moved fully into the modern world, politically speaking."
When questioned as to his opinions on the referendum, Liberal Party leader and former Grand Duke Francis St. Marie expressed support. "I wasn't convinced at first," said the 63-year-old, who is expected to run for reelection in the Northwest Cielon riding, "but the Prime Minister sold me on the idea. I'm very optimistic that this will turn out well for the country."
Conservative Party leader Jean-Jacques Takei, however, expressed some misgivings. "I don't see why Mr. Leblanc saw fit to try and fix something that wasn't broken," said the 58-year-old, expected to run for reelection in the riding of Epee. "To me this move is just foot-dragging by the Social Democrats to hide the fact that they really have no policy."
The Social Democrats are expected to continue to hold a slim majority in the House of Commons, though analysts predict that the Cielonian Alliance will make big gains. The Conservatives' drift to the right has been countered by the Alliance's recent selection of Miyoko Satashi as party leader. The 43-year-old, expected to run in the riding of Inala West, is a social moderate and a fiscal conservative, leading the Alliance on a more moderate course that most predict will present them as a viable alternative to the left-wing Social Democratic Party.