NationStates Jolt Archive

Announcement from the Compadrian Broadcasting Corporation, today 11:25 P.M.

"It has been announced by the Luris of the Congress of the People, Samuel Cromwell, that campaigning for elections for the Congress shall begin tomorrow, with the election to be held on the 3rd of December. According to Compadrian law, the election shall be overseen by the Independent Elections Commission and for the first time, U.N. observers shall be invited to oversee the campaign process and actual ballot casting and counting. In addition, all nations who wish to send representatives to act as international observers, shall be more than welcome.

The political process of Compadria operates as follows:

Compadria is a parliamentary democracy, based on universal adult suffrage from the age of 20. The Houses of Parliament are composed of two great chambers: The Congress of the People, the lower house and The Union Senate, the upper house.

The Luris, the leader of the lower house, is responsible for all internal affairs and policy, as well as formulating foreign policy (in partnership with the Lontra, the supreme leader). He is chosen by the Lontra, usually from the largest party in the Congress of the People. The present Luris is Samuel Cromwell (MP Tarkan Watershed), leader of the Centre Coalition. The leader of the opposition is Vos Mulligan (MP Olmenholt East), leader of the National Liberals.

The Congress of the People is composed of 845 members, each elected from single member constituancies, by the First-Past-the Post electoral system. They are elected for terms of between 4 and 5 years and debate all legislation as well as vote on all laws. In order to stand for election as a member, you must be at least 20 years old and have collected 60 signatures on your Voting Petition.

The Lontra is supreme leader of the nation and chair of the Union Senate. He is selected by a vote of state delegations every 7 years and controls the armed services (during a time of war), decides foreign policy, signs treaties, has the final say over constitutional matters and presides over the Union Senate. The present Lontra is Gerald Lutinae, a DWP (Democratic Workers Party) member.

The Union Senate is composed of 135 members, elected by First-Past-the-Post, based on super-constituencies composed of between 5-8 Congress of the People seats. They are not allowed to obstruct manifesto commitments by the Congress of the Peoples largest party from passing, but can debate finance bills, constitutional bills, armed-services bills, appropriations bills and welfare policy.

The local governance is conducted at a state level. There are 7 states, each of which have a local legislature and devolved powers on secondary legislation concerning education, law and order, environment, housing, health-care and transport.

At the last elections (2001), the party results for The Congress of the People were as follows

Centre Coalition (centrist-centre left, -4.5 social scale, 0 economic scale) 468 seats, 21,465,321 votes

National Liberals (liberal-social democrats, -4.5 social scale, -4 economic scale) 217 seats, 19,398,777 votes

Democratic Workers Party (far-left -8 social scale, -9 economic scale) 100 seats, 12,900,004 votes

Advance Compadria (centre-right, +3 social scale, +5 economic scale) 41 seats, 5,732,224 votes

Greens (environmentalist-left, -5.2 social scale, -6.4 economic scale) 10 seats, 1,356,617 votes

Liberatrians (libertarian. -9.5 social scale, +9.2 economic scale) 9 seats, 205,852 votes

Turnout: 62%

The leader of the opposition, Mr. Mulligan, has said that he is delighted to have the opportunity to "finally right the wrongs of the past four years". He said his party would focus on the weak state of the economy, healthcare, international relations and government waste.

Mr. Cromwell insisted that his party would defend their record on all issues and put forwards positive plans for the legislative programme of the Centre Coalition, who, he claimed, were "the only responsible party for power".

Minor political parties have reacted with joy at the news and say that they will use this as an opportunity to hold the government to account.

Opinion polls show the following states of support for the parties:

Centre Coalition: 23%

National Liberals: 40%

Democratic Workers Party: 25%

Others: 12%

We shall bring further coverage as the election campaigns and debates progress."

OOC: For those wishing to obtain an explanation of the +, - rankings:

http://www.politicalcompass.org/

What are your views on the General Election in Compadria?

Are you interested?

Do you even know where Compadria is?

Do you know what Compadria is?

Please, feel free to comment and post your views, opinions and beliefs here on this thread.

For those seeking further information on Compadria:

http://ns.goobergunch.net/wiki/index.php/Compadria

Which is the most pro-otter party?

Ah, the backing of the otters is a difficult one. Some are conservative traditionalists who vote "Advance Compadria", others are more environmentalist and vote "Green". It's very hard to say. On balance, based ont the figures of the last election, it would have to be the "Greens".

Vos Mulligan, Leader of the Compadrian Oppositon:

A response to the announcement of yesterday

My fellow Compadrians!

On the 3rd of December, a new set of opportunities shall present themselves to Compadria. Opportunities to make our country strong, with a powerful economy, firm public services, wide trade links and greater social cohesion. A government of accountability, not of deceit.

In the last four years, we have seen our once mighty economy splutter and descend into near collapse. Consumer confidence is at a record low, as is worker's morale. Unemployment stands at 21%, up 14% from 2001. GDP per capita has fallen from 10,000 strachans per annum to 4,676 strachans per annum. Imports swamp our domestic market, whilst the protectionist trade policies of our government have led to our own industries being suffocated. Government waste stands at S$60,794,043,901.50, administration takes up some 16% of the budget. Can this go on?

Public services, including roads and ferries are struggling for funds, whilst the over sub-sidised air sector and inefficiently run railways splutter along, as per usual. Hospitals are laboured down by targets and 'choice for the patient' is the new mantra, without even a thought it seems of the patient's actual treatment.

Free Trade Legislation has been embraced, but only under duress. We need freer, fairer trade to actively improve the welfare of our economy and enrich our consumers. We need to work at eliminating waste. We need to make sure growth does not come at the price of our land's beautiful countryside and pituresque cities and conurbations.

We shall not negotiate with tyrant regimes. We shall above all work harder in the U.N. and we shall sack the drunken, incompetent buffoon who calls himself our ambassador.

The choice is yours my fellow Compadrian's. Vote for change, or vote for regression. No other party than the National Liberals can do what is right for our country. Vote for us and watch the flowers of advancement bloom.

May the blessings of our otters be upon you all.