Protests Spread as Economy Worsens
Eredron News & Information Network
Groups ranging from 200 to 40,000 have taken to the streets in nearly a dozen cities throughout southern Eredron following the Finance Minister's predictions that things would "get worse, before they got better".
Eredron is preparing to enter into the fifth consecutive year of economic downturn, leading to the rise of several conservative groups blaming the country's woes on the "leftist, liberal agenda", and accused Consul Hill of "hijacking the country" for his own socialist agenda.
The Consul has refused to respond directly to the attacks, although he did promise to revitalize the economy.
With Regional Elections less than four months away, the state of the economy could bring about a sounding defeat for the Consul's National Democratic Party, and allow several conservative groups to gain vitally needed seats in the Senate, possibly providing the leverage needed to oust Hill from the Consulship.
The Senate voted by a narrow majority to authorize the Consul to deploy military forces in eight cities to "maintain civil order", following the deaths of fifty citizens and ten police officers during a protest in the capital.
Called a "precautionary measure", the Consul said he would not use the authority, save as a last resort, and called for an end to the violence sparked yesterday by an unknown cause. Jorj Fariz, former chairperson of the far-right Liberty Action Party and two-time contender for the Consulship, is seen as the source of the protests; senior Senator A. C. Reid, before casting his vote for the Civil Protection Resolution, accused Fariz of feeding on the anger and fear of the general populace brought to a head by a worsening economy and the announcement that several IT-related corporations had declared bankruptcy.
Fariz called the resolution "further evidence that the Consul was prepared to use force to suppress the rights and voice of the people", using it as a focal point to rally support for those Senatorial candidates running under the LAP banner, as well as for his own campaign for the Consulship.
"Yes, I can see them now: they've stationed themselves at the intersection of 3rd and Main. Maybe two dozen visible on foot, probably another half dozen in the vehicles."
The boisterous jeering grew, forcing him to step into a narrow alley so that he could still be heard.
"Yes, they signaled just a minute ago - I think, yes, I can see all four of them now."
Looking down the street, the man recognized amid the crowd four individuals, all once members of his unit.
He saw one of them raise a cellphone to his ear; a moment later, his own became to vibrate, indicating a new voice mail. He knew not to bother checking it; it was meant only to serve as a signal.
Pausing to step inside a movie rental store, where a number of others had gathered to watch the commotion taking place down the street, the man moved the cell phone to his other ear. "Yes, it was nice talking to you too."
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Eredron News & Information Network
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The words blazed crimson against a black background, before being replaced by the image of a crisply dressed woman seated behind a silver desk.
"I'm Sandra Banks bringing you this breaking news bulletin. An explosion has just occurred in the downtown district of the capital, less than four blocks from the Senate Chambers. No information has been released as to the nature of the explosions, which went off in the streets near a military checkpoint.
Police say the explosion destroyed and severely damaged three nearby office buildings, as well as an oncoming mass transit rail; the casualties are expected to exceed three hundred.
We go now live, to Peter Parks, who is on scene near the incident..."
Preparations for national elections commenced under heavy security following a spike in violence last week resulting from the announcement that Meridian Enterprises was filing for bankruptcy protection.
Jorj Fariz stepped up his attacks on the Consul, blaming the economic woes once again on the "socialist agenda", campaigning on the promise of reviving a sluggish economy, strengthening the Republic abroad, and pushing for a strong pro-democracy foreign policy, promising no compromises when it came to "dictatorial regimes who maintain power through genocide and oppression". Campaigning in southeastern Eredron, Fariz' pledge to double the size of the navy grew widespread support.
The embattered Consul Hill meanwhile fought to bring an end to the protests and regain his political footing even as polls showed his approval rating dropping to 35%.
Eredron News & Information Network
Voting began in the western districts under heavy guard this morning as violent protests continued throughout the country, increasing as radical groups took advantage of the tense atmosphere, with a series of small explosions rocking the city of Danfalls two days ago. The extremist Liberal Front group claimed responsibility for the bombings, which damaged the offices of three private contractors tied to the space program. Liberal Front has claimed the ESEA is "polluting space with weapons of war", accusing the agency of putting orbital weapons platforms into space armed with nuclear warheads.
The explosions killed sixty-five civilians, fewer than at first expected, and prompted the deployment of three thousand soldiers to the city.
The Senate assembled itself for the first emergency session in a quarter of a century to combat what some have called a "breakdown of law and order", drawing comparisons to the events occuring in the Weimar Republic, although on a smaller scale: the Consul has urgently sought to pacify fears that the country was facing a crisis, saying that major protests had only occured in a handful of cities. His political opponent Jorj Fariz responded by declaring Hill out of touch with the reality of the situation.
With polls showing Fariz leading by 6%, voting has officially opened in all 535 districts in one of the bloodiest election seasons ever. Violence has erupted at nearly three dozen polling centers nationwide since opening, with groups fighting in support of their candidate. Although quickly suppressed, the violence has nevertheless shed doubt on the legitimacy of the elections outcome, which will be announced later today, as fear may keep millions at home.
The Consul, spending the weekend at his private home in the Kel'los Isle, seems content to let the chips fall where they will; his main opponent, however, has kept up his flurry of campaigning, crisscrossing around the country, energized at the prospect of winning, after failed attempts in the past.
In a significant victory, the Southern Region districts were declared to have gone to Jorj Fariz, with the opponent receiving 58% of the Region's popular vote. The conservative, military-dominated area has long been the bane of leftist parties, although Consul Hill managed to eke out a narrow victory six years ago during his campaign.
The Western Region is still too close to call, with polls showing a 51-49 split in favor of Fariz. The Northern Region appears to have also gone to Fariz by a 12% lead; only the Eastern districts show any hope of a Hill victory, with the historically liberal-voting Region showing a 7% lead to Hill.
Jorj Fariz was officially declared the winner this evening of the national elections, winning with 53% of the popular vote amid accusations of voter intimidation and fraud. Speaking to reporters, Jorj Fariz promised decisive action would be the cornerstone of his administration.
"For too long has the economy plunged deeper into stagnation; for too long has the consul allowed political games and the United Nations to stop Eredron from doing what we know to be morally right. Today the people voted against such indecisiveness. Today the people voted for strong leadership that will not tolerate corruption, at home or abroad."
Fariz will assume office later this month.
Hogsweat
05-12-2004, 01:36
OOC: Post tommorow. Good to see you back Eredron. I hope you remember me ; )