Englemar
25-07-2005, 14:49
Elections in the Republic of Englemar
The Republic of Englemar is a small nation based upon an Island in the Atlantic Ocean, roughly thirty-five miles south of Iceland. A relatively unobtrusive nation up until now, if has come momentarily into the international news cycle due to the national elections currently taking place.
Background Information
The Republic of Englemar is a geographically cold nation, covered mostly in grassland that becomes frozen for about a third of the year. The populace has largely benefited from the current administration, which has managed economic and social issues with considerable satisfaction from most groups.
Recently however, political debate has been stirred between groups dissatisfied with the current administration and those who wish to maintain the status quo. Nationalist emotions have been flared due to an influx of predominately Asian minority groups, which many natives believe are endangering their own employment. This has been met with fierce criticism by minority leaders and pro-rights groups, who claim this is unfounded and agitated by propaganda put forward by the right-wing media and political groups.
Englemar Government Structure
Englemar is defined as a Democratic Republic, whereby representatives are elected by the Public in order to serve their interests in the Parliament. 300 Members of Parliament (MPs) are chosen in a national election held every 5 NS Years (RL time varying) representing the political party that they are affiliated to. The Party that gains the most seats in the Parliament then elects a Prime Minister and a President. The Prime Minister acts as Head of Government, managing the daily activities of running the country with an appointed Cabinet, whilst the President serves as the Head of State and as the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces. Acts in front of the Parliament are created by the Central Committee of each Party and then submitted to be placed on the Agenda by the Head of Parliament; a Civil Servant with no affiliation to a Party organisation.
Current political groups
The Conservative Democrats
The current incumbent administration, the Conservative Democrats have worked to maintain a strong economy and ensure the protection of basic rights. They have been praised for ‘fiscal prudence’ by the independent economic analysis group EconWatch, and plan to continue this pace of economic growth in a second term. They intend to lower taxes and promote youth training schemes in and out of the classroom to encourage entrepreneurship and innovation. The Democrats also wish to promote Foreign Direct Investment by Multinational Corporations in order to strengthen the economy. The Democrats have cut a cautious line with regards to the current immigration policies as they recognise the economic benefits that are available. In order to pacify the nationalist groups, they have promised to restrict immigration to the levels required by the economic situation to fill vacancies in the job market.
The Freedom Party
A conglomeration of several progressive liberal and left-leaning political parties, the Freedom Party has been highly critical of the Conservative Democrats’ plans for tax reduction and the treatment of immigrant workers. The Freedom Party, if elected into power, plans to maintain the current tax levels with future increases on goods deemed to have negative externalities. They also plan to develop a Constitution to protect the basic rights of the populace, and do not wish to restrict the rights or the quantity of those wishing to migrate to Englemar from other nations. In other areas, the Freedom Party closely resembles the Democrats, planning to encourage Foreign Direct Investment in order to boost the economy and use the increased tax revenues on a range of social plans.
The Englemar Communist Party
The ECP has up until now been a small player in the political realm of Englemar. The Party rejected amalgamation with the Freedom Party during that merger of several parties, believing that such a move would compromise their ideology for a revolution. The ECP works upon the premise that being elected to government by the populace equates to the same as a revolution installing the party, as it is likely that only the working classes would vote for the Communists in the first place.
The ECP plans to nationalise all industries in Englemar and restrict international trade to that pre-planned by a proposed Central Management Committee (CMC). The ECP also intends to raise taxes substantially from the current 13 percent on Income tax to roughly 60 percent in order to fund a wide range of universal Social Services plans that would create a minimum standard of living for all citizens. The ECP also intends to use the tax revenues to subsidise prices on a wide range of ‘basic’ consumer goods decided upon by the CMC, believing that this form of ‘market control’ would be more efficient than the fixed price decisions carried out by past Communist governments. With regards to immigration, the ECP intends to maintain the proposed quota, but ensure that immigrant workers are treated to the same standard of living as native Englemar citizens.
The Englemar Nationalist Front
A small party representing the extreme end of the nationalist swing, the ENF has seen an increase in membership and popular support due to the recent controversy regarding immigration. The ENF plans to close the borders of Englemar to immigrants and enforce strict border control through the use of the Armed Forces. The ENF has also spoke of polices to create a unified culture within Englemar, although they have never been clear on what precisely is intended by these policies.
On the economic front, the Nationalists intend to abolish income tax and support the creation of large corporate bodies through encouraging mergers of Englemar industries in order to take advantage of the Economies of Scale that will result. In order to maintain full employment, those not employed by one of the large ‘Supercorporations’ would be guaranteed a job in the Public sector. The Nationalists also intend to guarantee state-provided care for the elderly and the ill, although state welfare benefits for the unemployed would be completely abolished as an encouragement to find employment. The ENF has also announced that they will bring in Conscription and boost funds to the Armed Forces in order to create a ‘strong and safe’ Englemar. The Nationalists also favour a non-interventionist foreign policy, although they have not ruled out changes in this decision.
(OOC: I’m not completely sure where to go with my nation in the long run, so I thought I’d get some help from the other participants of the board. :) I honestly don't mind which Party gains power - I may intend to have a Coup/Civil War later on to keep things interesting, depending on who wins.)
The Republic of Englemar is a small nation based upon an Island in the Atlantic Ocean, roughly thirty-five miles south of Iceland. A relatively unobtrusive nation up until now, if has come momentarily into the international news cycle due to the national elections currently taking place.
Background Information
The Republic of Englemar is a geographically cold nation, covered mostly in grassland that becomes frozen for about a third of the year. The populace has largely benefited from the current administration, which has managed economic and social issues with considerable satisfaction from most groups.
Recently however, political debate has been stirred between groups dissatisfied with the current administration and those who wish to maintain the status quo. Nationalist emotions have been flared due to an influx of predominately Asian minority groups, which many natives believe are endangering their own employment. This has been met with fierce criticism by minority leaders and pro-rights groups, who claim this is unfounded and agitated by propaganda put forward by the right-wing media and political groups.
Englemar Government Structure
Englemar is defined as a Democratic Republic, whereby representatives are elected by the Public in order to serve their interests in the Parliament. 300 Members of Parliament (MPs) are chosen in a national election held every 5 NS Years (RL time varying) representing the political party that they are affiliated to. The Party that gains the most seats in the Parliament then elects a Prime Minister and a President. The Prime Minister acts as Head of Government, managing the daily activities of running the country with an appointed Cabinet, whilst the President serves as the Head of State and as the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces. Acts in front of the Parliament are created by the Central Committee of each Party and then submitted to be placed on the Agenda by the Head of Parliament; a Civil Servant with no affiliation to a Party organisation.
Current political groups
The Conservative Democrats
The current incumbent administration, the Conservative Democrats have worked to maintain a strong economy and ensure the protection of basic rights. They have been praised for ‘fiscal prudence’ by the independent economic analysis group EconWatch, and plan to continue this pace of economic growth in a second term. They intend to lower taxes and promote youth training schemes in and out of the classroom to encourage entrepreneurship and innovation. The Democrats also wish to promote Foreign Direct Investment by Multinational Corporations in order to strengthen the economy. The Democrats have cut a cautious line with regards to the current immigration policies as they recognise the economic benefits that are available. In order to pacify the nationalist groups, they have promised to restrict immigration to the levels required by the economic situation to fill vacancies in the job market.
The Freedom Party
A conglomeration of several progressive liberal and left-leaning political parties, the Freedom Party has been highly critical of the Conservative Democrats’ plans for tax reduction and the treatment of immigrant workers. The Freedom Party, if elected into power, plans to maintain the current tax levels with future increases on goods deemed to have negative externalities. They also plan to develop a Constitution to protect the basic rights of the populace, and do not wish to restrict the rights or the quantity of those wishing to migrate to Englemar from other nations. In other areas, the Freedom Party closely resembles the Democrats, planning to encourage Foreign Direct Investment in order to boost the economy and use the increased tax revenues on a range of social plans.
The Englemar Communist Party
The ECP has up until now been a small player in the political realm of Englemar. The Party rejected amalgamation with the Freedom Party during that merger of several parties, believing that such a move would compromise their ideology for a revolution. The ECP works upon the premise that being elected to government by the populace equates to the same as a revolution installing the party, as it is likely that only the working classes would vote for the Communists in the first place.
The ECP plans to nationalise all industries in Englemar and restrict international trade to that pre-planned by a proposed Central Management Committee (CMC). The ECP also intends to raise taxes substantially from the current 13 percent on Income tax to roughly 60 percent in order to fund a wide range of universal Social Services plans that would create a minimum standard of living for all citizens. The ECP also intends to use the tax revenues to subsidise prices on a wide range of ‘basic’ consumer goods decided upon by the CMC, believing that this form of ‘market control’ would be more efficient than the fixed price decisions carried out by past Communist governments. With regards to immigration, the ECP intends to maintain the proposed quota, but ensure that immigrant workers are treated to the same standard of living as native Englemar citizens.
The Englemar Nationalist Front
A small party representing the extreme end of the nationalist swing, the ENF has seen an increase in membership and popular support due to the recent controversy regarding immigration. The ENF plans to close the borders of Englemar to immigrants and enforce strict border control through the use of the Armed Forces. The ENF has also spoke of polices to create a unified culture within Englemar, although they have never been clear on what precisely is intended by these policies.
On the economic front, the Nationalists intend to abolish income tax and support the creation of large corporate bodies through encouraging mergers of Englemar industries in order to take advantage of the Economies of Scale that will result. In order to maintain full employment, those not employed by one of the large ‘Supercorporations’ would be guaranteed a job in the Public sector. The Nationalists also intend to guarantee state-provided care for the elderly and the ill, although state welfare benefits for the unemployed would be completely abolished as an encouragement to find employment. The ENF has also announced that they will bring in Conscription and boost funds to the Armed Forces in order to create a ‘strong and safe’ Englemar. The Nationalists also favour a non-interventionist foreign policy, although they have not ruled out changes in this decision.
(OOC: I’m not completely sure where to go with my nation in the long run, so I thought I’d get some help from the other participants of the board. :) I honestly don't mind which Party gains power - I may intend to have a Coup/Civil War later on to keep things interesting, depending on who wins.)