NationStates Jolt Archive

OOC: This is an idea that came to me since the presidential election campaign is currently underway here in France. I'm floating it to see who's interested, but I won't be starting it just yet, since I'm currently co-hosting the World Cup and that's quite time-consuming.

Anyway, the idea is simple. PINA will interview each candidate (or party leader, etc...) running in your upcoming national election. PINA will give every single candidate, even the most obscure, an equal opportunity to be heard by viewers. It'll be about all the candidates, not just the "big names".

If you're interested, simply

* indicate what type of election it is (it has to be a national one, not on a local level)
* list all the candidates taking part, along with the party each one represents
* for each candidate, I'll need to know their main policy suggestions, along with basic background information (anything you consider to be relevent; a link to an NSwiki article, if there is one, would suffice), plus their projected score in the latest opinion polls, and the result they (or another member of the same party) obtained in the previous election.

PINA will then interview each candidate one by one, in a random order.

I'd prefer it if each nation listed no more than six candidates, but if you want to list more, you can.

For example, if West Ariddia were to take part, this could be their "signup" post. (It's just an example, since I don't intend to interview myself.)


Presidential election (first round)

Ea L'lew (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Ea_L%27lew) (Democratic Communist Party)
current President

projected score in latest polls: 44.6%
score in previous election: 47.0% (first round); 50.2% (second round)

key policies:
* complete nationalisation of all sectors of the economy
* ensure housing and access to water and food for all
* continue reforms to improve public education system
* continue firm environmental policies to reverse environmental damage
* consider rapprochement with neighbouring Ariddia
* facilitate reclaiming of ancestral lands by Indigenous Ariddians
* begin gradual phasing out of monetary economy

Jean-Charles Paon (Free Democratic Party)
projected score in latest polls: 45.1%
score in previous election: 47.4% (first round); 49.8% (second round)

key policies:
* re-legalise and encourage private enterprise
* massive tax cuts
* rapid withdrawal of the State from most sectors of the economy and of society
* initiate rapid economic reforms to attract foreign businesses back into the country

Serge Terrassier (Socialist Party)
projected score in latest polls: 4.9%
score in previous election: 3.8% (first round)

key policies:
* seek consensual policies, drawing on ideas from major parties to take the country out of its bitterly divisive politics
* make it compulsory for the four parties having obtained the best results to be represented in Cabinet, proportionally to their results: implement coalition governments for greater consensus
* encourage free enterprise and economic growth, but with strong social regulations to ensure social justice
* maintain strict environmental policies and continue undoing environmental damage

Cassandra Jayston (Morality Party)
projected score in latest polls: 1%
score in previous election: 0.4% (first round)

key policies:
* legalise free enterprise, but with social legislation to ensure basic social rights
* encourage private charities
* repeal seperation of Church and State, and give a greater voice to religious movements in government
* implement censorship to prevent the spread of violence and pornography in fiction and the media

Bruno Howler (National Fascist Party)
projected score in latest polls: 0.7%
score in previous election: 0.2% (first round)

key policies:
* legalise free enterprise, while retaining "mild" social laws
* close the borders completely to immigration; expel all non-naturalised immigrants and all non-anglophone, non-francophone and non-white immigrants who have arrived in the past ten years
* abolish national elections; NFP to remain in power indefinitely once elected

Julien Schembri (Blank Party)
projected score in latest polls: 1.5%
score in previous election: 0.8% (first round)

key policies:
* represent "blank votes" in the election; no other policies

Sölvi Eiriksson (Political Party)
projected score in latest polls: 0.3%
score in previous election: 0.1% (first round)

* relocate the President's office to a random small village, and make him or her get up every morning to work in a farm
* make glass marbles the new national currency, with a committee to decide on the value of each colour; such value is to be changed at random every two months, to "reduce economic inequality and stability"
* mandate that all news programmes have at least 32.936% humorous content, to be measured by a National Committee on Measuring the Implementation of the Most Serious Requirement for 32.936% Humourous Content in All Media (NACOMIMSERHCAM); all newsreaders to be either naked or dressed as clowns
* provide funds for the breeding and cloning of chocolate bunnies

Siobhan Donovan (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Rainbow_Party) (Rainbow Party)
projected score in latest polls: 1.8%
score in previous election: 0.3% (first round)

* vesting all power into a Parliament made up of citizens selected at random and compelled to serve a three-year term; no other policies

sounds interesting, St Samuel would be hope for it when your ready.

Cafundéu's elections for Head Counselor could be followed by PINA. More details coming later.

Well, you can start giving your list and details as soon as you like. As I said, though, I doubt I can start this before the end of the World Cup.

The upcoming Swilatian presidential election could be soomehow covered by your network. I'm not sure how just yet.

The upcoming Swilatian presidential election could be soomehow covered by your network. I'm not sure how just yet.

Well, this thread is for interviews of candidates. PINA's aim would be to give each and every candidate in your presidential election (even the most obscure) an opportunity to be interviewed.

I'm in if the World Cup is over before my election ends.

I'll participate, but I'll need more specific information about when it's happening. The next Xanthalian election isn't far off, so depending on when the World Cup ends, the election in question will be different.

((ooc: Since things in Iansisle are pretty stalled awaiting developments in the “Death of Kings” thread, I suppose I can wait for the WC to end. Ack, I should be participating in that anyway. Maybe I’ll sign up for the next one, making a second triumphant comeback >.>))

Section One
Politics in the Gull Flag Republic

By the Constitution of 1954, amended in 1957 to eliminate the King and create the Republic, there are to be no political parties in Iansisle, a backlash against the inefficiencies and bickering of the Combined Parliament. However, it is obvious to all but the most uninformed voter that there are three primary factions in the National Assembly – although one is outlawed – and that nearly all MAs fit neatly into one of the categories. Most of the institutions of the party system – shadow government watchdogs, party whips, etc. – are present in the Assembly, albeit non-officially.

The three primary parties can be described in a number of ways, but the most common are Radical, Moderate, and Royalist. Some foreign powers, Beth Gellert prime among them, prefer to describe the factions as “Lunatics, Conservatives, and Reactionaries.”

Section Two
Governmental Structure

There is no official head of state in the Iansislean Republic, with the “People” being most often cited. The head of government (titled ‘Premier of the National Assembly’) most often serves as the ceremonial head of state. Iansisle is unicameral, with two hundred and twenty-five members (MA) elected in individual districts across the Shield, Gadsan, and Sentry Island (but NOT Dianatran, Gallaga, or the other colonies) by first-past-the-post elections.

The Premier is elected following the general election by a system vaguely similar to the American Electoral College. An MA, once elected for his district, campaigns in the other two hundred and twenty-four for the right to lead the government. A candidate must win a majority (113) of the districts to be elected Premier; otherwise, the top candidates must submit to a run-off vote by the Assembly.

Once the Premier is elected, he forms a government comprising sixteen Directors, each heading a committee of thirteen junior MAs, who make up the new cabinet. Sample Directories include War, Foreign Affairs, the Gallaga Office, and Education. Directors are not always from the same faction, particularly in the face of paper criticism of the ‘increased parliamentary trends’ of the Assembly.

The current government includes Benjamin Rinehart as Premier, Lawrence Madders as Director of War, Peter Appleton as the Director of the Gallaga Office, and Thomas de Fenne as the Director of Foreign Affairs.

Section Three
The Factions, their Issues, and their Leaders

Lawrence Madders, MA Eastergate, leads the radical faction, most commonly referenced as ‘Grand Streeters’, a throwback to Madders’ days as a union organizer. The radicals favor a more revolutionary redistribution of Iansisle’s wealth, a nationalization of the remaining independent corporations, and a redrawing of the district lines to more adequately represent Iansisle’s vast but under-franchised industrial workers. They are the champions of the working poor, and poll the best in the poorest regions of the industrial cities, the worst in rural areas where royalism is strong.

Benjamin Rinehart, MA Vesshampton, is the current Premier and leads the moderate ‘Gull Flag’ faction. While the Gull Flaggers, who are largely elected from middle-class and some rural districts, have the greatest number of seats in the current Assembly, their continued association with the unpopular wars in Gadsan and with Magnus Valerius, as well as their ineffective (or nonexistent) replies to the food crisis undermines their credibility with the people. The Gull Flaggers stand by the Constitution of 1957 and the current state of affairs on the Shield. In general, their policy is more reacting to the Grand Streeters than in creating a unique platform.

Anthony Fishton-Hollen, the ci-devant Baron Pritchard, de jure MA Pritchard, is the leader of the royalist faction, which commonly polls well in the northern, rural, and underpopulated regions of the Shield. However, as royalist MPs are forbidden to take the required oath of allegiance to the Republic, they are routinely disallowed to take their seats in the Assembly. Royalists oppose the Republic and wish to see a return to the original Constitution of 1954, before the abolition of the monarchy. Support in the cities is almost nonexistent, especially in the climate of fear and semi-enforced patriotism caused by the purges of the military under Director of War Lawrence Madders. Because he will not take the Oath of Allegiance to the Republic, Fishton-Hollen will not be allowed either his seat in the Assembly or the Premiership, on the extremely remote chance he should win it.

Once this takes off, I'll add the candidates running for Altanar's first-ever Prime Minister elections to the thread. I'll need to think of them all, though. I do know the current PM would be standing for re-election.

sonds good, but is incompatible with kalesic elections as in rejistania.

OOC: I'll try to get this started by the middle of the coming week.

Which means you can start giving details about your candidates.

OOC: this looks cool!

It could pwn for the Knootian elections too. As the parliamentary and Prime Ministerial elections are simultaneous, perhaps it would be good if you were to interview the "serious" Prime Ministerial candidates? That would cut the number down to three contestants:


Jan Willem Daatman (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Jan_Willem_Daatman) (Incumbent, SLP/KGP joint candidate)
Hugo Deburghraeve (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Hugo_Deburghraeve) (Conservative)
Staalman (National Liberal party)

I still have to write Staalmans wiki.

Knootoss uses the French system of electing the Prime Minister. There are about twenty candidates in the first round, which are held in concord with the parliamentary elections. However, we don't have any laws that demand equal attention for all candidates, so it would be quite natural for the media to focus on these three candidates.

As the parliamentary and Prime Ministerial elections are simultaneous, perhaps it would be good if you were to interview the "serious" Prime Ministerial candidates? That would cut the number down to three contestants.


Well, PINA would send out an invitation to all candidates for Prime Minister, but they don't all have to accept.


Knootoss uses the French system of electing the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister isn't elected in France. ;) He's chosen by the (elected) President, from within the party or coalition which has a majority of seats in Parliament.

But I see what you mean.

I know, I know. The Prime Minister is simply the Knootian equivalent of the French President. He is both the Head of State and the Head of Government.

And I had everyone answer your questions in my tread. ;)

And I had everyone answer your questions in my tread.

So I saw. Thanks! :)

If you want to throw a few "minor" candidates into the mix for the interviews, feel free.

Before I start, here's an overview of Xanthal's main political parties (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Xanthalian_political_parties). I'm only submitting the top five candidates, because the list of all candidates would take forever to interview. Not to worry though, there are a couple underdogs even in this small sampling. Note that the Domestic Defense Party is prevented by the Xanthalian Constitution from fielding a candidate in this election because they already have a man (Yatzil Omsai) in the three-member Triumvirate (the third sitting Triumvir is an independent named Teanin Kisnash, for the record). Oishi is in the Triumvirate seat up for election this year.

Xanthal suffered an invasion of its capital since this seat was last up for election, in which the defending forces were crushed with little difficulty. Xanthal managed to negotiate a surrender that preserved the sitting government, but the experience highlighted the weakness of the Xanthalian military and understandably caused a great deal of discomfort among the populace. That's the biggest reason for the large shifts in support for some parties between this election and the last one. The issues in this election reflect the fact that the Triumvirate's powers are rooted in foreign policy (commanding the military, managing diplomacy, negotiating treaties, setting tariffs, and things of that nature).

Xanthalian Triumvirate election
-----------------------------

Eiko Oishi (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Eiko_Oishi) (Xanthalian Socialist Party) (incumbent)

Biographical information:
*Female albino xanthalian, 79 years old
*Birthplace unknown, lived on Freeland for 40 years, has lived on Renku for 35 years
*No permanent romantic partner, no children

Political experience:
*Personal secretary to the President of Trasnia (2 years)
*Councilor representing Raveej, Freeland (6 years)
*Triumvir (35 years, current)

First-choice support in latest polls: 38.8%
Candidate's first round score in previous election: 50.2%

Key policies:
*Extend Xanthalian alliances
*Expand military production capacity

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Terao Kido (Nationalist Collectivization Party)

Biographical information:
*Male caucasian xanthalian, 52 years old
*Born and lives on Renku
*Romantic partner is Kimie Nonomura, one child (mature)

Political experience:
*Director of Affairs, Nationalist Collectivization Party of Treyna (4 years)
*Renku Conclave member representing Treyna Ward 2 (10 years)
*Councilor representing Treyna, Renku (4 years, current)

First-choice support in latest polls: 17.5%
Party's first round score in previous election: 3.2%

Key policies:
*Upgrade military technology and expand military numbers
*Extend emergency powers for the Triumvirate
*Hasten development of Kanell

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Carrie Anders (Party Internationale)

Biographical information:
*Female caucasian human, 40 years old
*Born and lives on Freeland
*Romantic partner is Norman Green, no children

Political experience:
*East Weston Board member representing Precinct 29 (6 years)
*Councilor representing East Weston, Freeland (8 years, current)

First-choice support in latest polls: 17.0%
Party's first round score in previous election: 18.7%

Key policies:
*Improve relations with the GFFA
*Begin negotiating for alliances with friendly ESUS nations
*Reduce tariffs on imports from allied countries
*Reconcile with Northrop-Grumman
*Rebuild the military

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fletcher Seshfur (independent)

Biographical information:
*Male bobtail catperson, 46 years old
*Born on Freeland, has lived on Renku for 4 years
*No permanent romantic partner, three children (two mature)

Political experience:
*Raveej Board member representing Precinct 8 (6 years)

First-choice support in latest polls: 8.6%
Top independent's first round score in previous election: 9.4%

Key policies:
*Construct an integrated homeland defense grid
*Increase military capacity and size
*Extend Xanthalian alliances
*Expand the Common Bank and International Aid Consortium

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Veronica Nelson (Democratic Capitalist Party)

Biographical information:
*Female caucasian-asian human, 61 years old
*Born and lives on Freeland
*Romantic partner is Ezekiel Nelson, two children (mature)

Political experience:
*Cove Board member representing Precinct 1 (6 years)
*North Novay Board member representing Precinct 54 (4 years)
*Freeland Conclave member representing North Novay Ward 6 (12 years)
*Councilor representing North Novay, Freeland (8 years, current)

First-choice support in latest polls: 3.9%
Party's first round score in previous election: 13.0%

Key policies:
*Sign contracts with the private sector to improve military technology and numbers
*Eliminate trade barriers to promote influx of capital
*End emergency powers for the Triumvirate
*Oppose draft laws

OOC: My elections came and went already. I guess I could still try to get an interview in the other interview thread.

Here are the major-party candidates for Altanar's first-ever Prime Minister elections, currently slated for a special election on June 1st:

Altanari Unity Party (AUP): Altanar's traditionalist-royalist party candidate is Norgan Sheloran, the current justice minister. Sheloran is currently polling at 41% in favor. His platform consists of tightening Altanar's immigration policies slightly, decreasing funding for the social welfare and education sectors, and increasing defense and law enforcement spending. He also supports lowering Altanar's traditionally high tax rates, and wants Altanar to take a more high-profile stance in the international community. Sheloran favors a hard-line approach to the issues of Akamian separatism and dealing with the remnants of those who rebelled against the Altanari government, and has called for Altanar to be more forceful in encouraging their neighbors to hand over "traitors" who fled to those nations after the fighting ended.

Modern Democratic Party (MDP): Altanar's moderate-progressive party had originally planned to run Jaris Krytellin, current PM, as its candidate. However, Krytellin recently announced that he would not stand for election, due to the death of his father during Altanar's recent civil conflict. The MDP had to scramble to find a candidate, and chose Alana Kasimira, an assemblywoman from Kyrinia province. Kasimira is currently polling at 33% in favor. Kasimira's platform consists of maintaining Altanar's high education spending, increasing funding for social welfare, and capping military and law enforcement spending at no more than 5% GDP each. She also favors an amnesty for all but the leaders of the rebellion against the government.

Green Altanar Movement (GAM): The nation's major environmentalist party chose longtime activist Akiri Rainwater Barasath as its candidate. Barasath is currently polling at 11% in favor. He favors a proposal made by the mayors of some of Altanar's largest cities which would require developers to pay for urban green space in return for development licenses. He also authored a proposal requiring all foreign and domestic companies doing business in Altanar to pay "mitigation" fees for funding new national parks and wildlife preserves. He wants to impose strict new regulations on the mining, timbering, agriculture, development and manufacturing sectors as well, and has railed against Altanar's relatively low fuel efficiency requirements and lack of government funding for alternative energy sources.

Altanari Conservative Party (ACP): As expected, the far-right-wing ACP chose party leader Tarjan Askinath as its candidate. Askinath wants to stop all but the most "desirable" immigrants from being able to come to Altanar, favors sending immigrants who don't "adapt" to traditional Altanari values back home, and favors massive increases in military and law enforcement spending. Askinath also wants to slash Altanar's social welfare and education spending as much as possible, and wants to end the long tradition of free college education for Altanari citizens. Askinath has been very vocal in criticizing Altanar's kings for allowing "unfettered" immigration and for "betraying our old ways", and has flirted with treason charges. Askinath also wants Altanar to take a more "muscular" approach to its international relations. Due to his extreme stances, Askinath is currently polling at 2% in favor.

Indigenous and Minorities Party (IMP): The party for Altanar's indigenous groups, as well as minorities of every sort, chose Akamian Mara Aspare as its candidate. Aspare is a social activist whose main goal is greater acceptance of new immigrants. She also wants to campaign for greater autonomy and support for the Akamian minority, although she is aware of that being a touchy subject in Altanari politics after the civil conflict and has downplayed her previously strong speeches in favor of autonomy. Aspare is currently polling at 5% in favor.

Altanari Liberal Party (ALP): In order to boost the chances of the MDP unseating the AUP's traditional stranglehold on Altanari power, the ALP has withdrawn its candidate and thrown its support behind the MDP. The ALP was polling at 3% before withdrawing its candidate.

Altanari Socialist Workers' Party (ASWP): The ASWP chose union leader Jamir Kamala to carry its banner in this election. Kamala's strongest stand has been one calling for the abolition of the monarchy, which has been a tough sell in a nation that (for the most part) venerates its monarchs. Kamala also wants to cut military and police spending to just 3% of GDP total, and favors Akamian autonomy. Kamala also favors sharply increasing the tax rate on the very wealthy and on all companies in Altanar, and the nationalization of all natural resources. Kamala currently is polling at 4% in favor.

The major issues in this election are expected to be immigration, and what to do to resolve the lingering issues of Akamian separatism and rebels who fled the country. Another big issue is whether to maintain Altanar's traditional welfare state, or dismantle it in favor of boosting law enforcement and military spending to make up for perceived weaknesses in those areas revealed during the civil conflict of just two months ago.

I'll get this started on Thursday, if I have time. Xanthal and Altanar have provided all the requested information. Knootoss, do you want to add more candidates, and could you give me some indications on poll predictions and results from the previous election? Iansisle, likewise.

((ooc: Lawrence Madders was actually arrested (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=12642904&postcount=22) just about a month before the elections, because I didn't know how imminent this thread was. However, for the sake of fun, I'm going to suspend the last few posts of that thread for the purposes of this interview. The election campaign lasts some six months, so it should be easy enough to go closer to the start. Here's some numbers:

Polls -- Elections of the Year VII of the Revolution

Grand Streeters (Radicals - Madders): 71 secure districts, contesting 19 (31.5% - 40%)
Gull Flaggers (Moderates - Rinehart): 75 secure districts, contesting 23 (33.3% - 43.5%)
Royalists (Reactionaries - Fishton-Hollen): 56 secure districts, contesting 4 (24.8% - 26.6%)

Note: Royalist MAs will more than likely not be able to take their seats, effectively leaving the election as a race between the Gull Flaggers and the Grand Streeters. This will be the third election under the Constitution of the Year II (amended VII).

Results -- Elections of the Year V of the Revolution

Grand Streeters: 54 seats, Madders received 42 electoral votes (24% / 33.9%)
Gull Flaggers: 105 seats, Bradsworth received 142 electoral votes (46.7% / 66%)
Royalists: 66 seats, Fishton-Hollen received 41 electoral votes (29% / 0%)

Note: After the formation of the Republic in VI, the Royalist MAs were disallowed their seats in the Assembly, resulting in a 66% super majority for the Gull Flaggers. Ben Rinehart became the Premier Interim after Bradsworth resigned following the regicide of King James, against which he had campaigned.

Key Issues in Contested Districts:

The economy, stupid: Probably the biggest sore on the Gull Flaggers. Since III, when the Gull Flaggers came to power, Iansislean industry has fallen far off the numbers from the 1940s highs. Steel production, automotive construction, merchant shipping, opiate refining, and agriculture -- all of which are staple industries on the Shield -- are the industries most affected. Unemployment has hit a high point just as food prices are skyrocketing due to the failure of the northern harvests, the devastation of Gadsan, and the quasi-blockade enforced by Magnus Valerius. The Shield is also gripped by runaway hyper-inflation, although prices are inflating far more rapidly than wages.

Gallaga: What is the Gull Flag Republic, a modern egalitarian power, doing enforcing an unpopular, undemocratic colonial regime on a country three times more populous than itself? The Radicals, Thomas de Fenne chief among them, argue that the time has come for Iansisle to withdraw from the subcontinent, which he characterizes as having an 'inhuman government' under the Iansislean Raj and as a 'vast, tropical sinkhole for lives, fortunes, and reputations.' The moderates reply that the domination of Gallaga is absolutely essential to Iansisle's position as a world power and that a 'Quit Gallaga' program would further destabilize the Shieldian economy.

Electoral Reform: The Grand Streeters, who draw their primary support from the working poor, have pointed out that the election districts are primarily based upon historic and geographic, not demographic, delineations. An MA from an industrial seat in Ianapalis or the Daldon Basin may represent as many as a million and a half voters, whereas an MA from a seat in the rural north may represent only 80,000 voters. Radicals also argue that colonial areas, such as Gallaga and Dianatran, are disenfranchised completely. The Radicals would like to see a division of electoral seats more equitable to the population and less tied to historic geographic boundaries.

Military Reform and Security: This is one issue where the Gull Flaggers are now out polling the Grand Streeters. Lawrence Madders, as Director of War, worked hard to create a climate of fear and paranoia. Two years later, the anti-royalist sentiment is starting to die down and many resent the loss of rights and privileges caused by Madders’ fierce campaign, which included massive purges of loyalist officers and, for a few months in the winter of VII, more than twenty executions a day on the gallows of Gull Flag Square.

Knootoss, do you want to add more candidates, and could you give me some indications on poll predictions and results from the previous election?


Jan Willem Daatman (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Jan_Willem_Daatman) (Incumbent, SLP/KGP joint candidate) - polled at around 40% in the polls. In the previous election he narrowly beat a green run-off candidate.
Hugo Deburghraeve (http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Hugo_Deburghraeve) (Conservative) - Polled at around 20% in the polls, no improvement from four years ago.
"Staalman" (National Liberal party) - polled at around 30% in the polls. First time he runs.

Bump. Are we doing this?

OOC: *sigh* I'd meant to get it started several weeks ago. I've been struggling for time.

If I can, I'll start it tomorrow (or in the next few days), but I can't promise anything. I don't want to start it and then immediately have to drop it.

Just making sure you haven't forgotten about us. Hold off much longer and I'll have to push it ahead to the next election. Might be more fun anyway, the one currently slated for the debate is sort of a foregone conclusion.

My election's already taken place (and the guy who won just got assassinated in another thread), so I'll have to drop out. :(

Xanthal's elections have just taken place, so I think I'm going to drop out, too. There are other RPs that I need to do, and the list is getting a bit long.