NationStates Jolt Archive

Oliver City Daily Herald

62% SAY YES!

Exit polls following a referendum called by Congress have given a 62% majority for the calling of snap elections. Following the pullout of the Colonial Conservative Party from the governing Grand Coalition and the baning of the Colonial Fascist Party after last years fascist-sponsored insurrection in the Southern Province it became clear that the government could no longer maintain a majority in either house of Congress. Using a never before used clause in the constitution the referendum calling for elections was passed last night by 62%.

The main parties have already started electioneering, with the two main camps seperating. The governing Grand Alliance (comprising the Democrats, Liberals and Socialists) are maintaing a "status quo" manifesto. Having pulled out from the Grand Alliance, citing the "undemocratic and unconstitutional" banning of the Fascist Party, the Conservatives are maintaining their own platform, calling for little cjange in foreign policy but massive overhauls in internal policies, including mass privatisation and extension of the military. Most Fascists have now formed the "People's Front" with the Colonial Isolationist Party, calling for internal reform and ties with previously-ruled "undesirable" foreign governments.

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OOC - Looking to hold an election and then, seeing on how it goes, maybe developing into a civil war. Please vote and feel free to comment.

Details of the parties positions and Ollieland’s political system can be found at www.freewebs.com/colonyofollieland

Governor Candidates

Party – Candidate - brief description

Socialist Party of Ollieland (SPO) (Grand Coalition) – Governor Connie Chung – Has been in power for the last 8 years and has overseen Ollieland's transition fron the Woodstock Pact to the Sovereign League

Colonial Democrat Party (CDP) (Grand Coalition) – Defence Secretary Oliver Peterson – Held position for 3 years, overseen expansion of military

Colonial Conservative Party (CCP) – Former Home Secretary Oliver Ogilvy – Resigned position in protest at "unconstitutional" government actions

Colonial Liberal Party (CLP) (Grand Coalition) – Mayor (of Blofeld Bay) Lenny Dunston – Has been mayor for 20 years, supports alliance coalition but has been mildly critical

Communist Party of Ollieland (CPO) – Ivan Reshenko PHM (Peoples’s House Member)

Peoples Front - Senator Keith McPherson - Wants to completely overhaul domestic and foreign policy

Green Party of Ollieland (GPO) – Diane van Tranter PHM

The election will be open for 8 days. Results will be announced on December 27th.

OOC - Feel free to comment

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Oliver City Daily Herald

EARLY LEAD FOR COALITION

After the first days polling exit polls suggest an early lead of aproximately 10 - 20 percent over the combined votes of the Conservative and Peoples Front. Governor Connie Chung was said to be "pleased, but not complacent" about the performance of her socialist party, so far running at 40% of the vote. However, Conservative leader Oliver Ogilvy maintained confidence in his party's ability to win this election, stating that "the coalition's days are over. This once great nation will be great again once we have thrown out these spinners and cheats".

GUBERNATORIAL FACE OFF

Prospects for the second round of the Governor's election are so far looking at a face off between Chung and Ogilvy, again seeing a polarisation of voters between the leftist socialists and the rightist conservatives. Both party leaders dismissed speculation as being to early to comment yet.

FASCIST ACCUSATIONS

People's Front leader Senator Keith McPherson last night launched a scathing attack on the government during a television debate, accusing them of manipulating the Colnial Police Force to political ends. He stated that "Police General Barton [CO of Police in the Southern province] is in the pocket of the Governor, and he will do all he can to prevent our supporters taking to the streets and the polling booths". General barton himself strongly denied these accusations, stating that his officers "were acting entirely within the law and completely impartially". Reports of Police harrassment of People's Front activists would seem to coincide with these accusations, with Conrad Richhards, the former Fascist leader and instigator of last years failed coup, still imprisoned at La Porschette Military Stockade awaiting trial for treason.

Oliver City Daily Herald

CONSERVATIVES RECOVER

Latest exit polls have suggested a surge in Conservative support, overtaking the socialists but still not matching the combined vote of the Grand Coalition. Oliver Ogilvy, Conservative leader, during a speech in Veron he said that "the days of this corrupt administration are numbered. We will take the Green House and sweep it free of corruption and bad governance". Governor Chung responded with her often repeated call for Ogilvy to prove his allegations, stating there was "not one shred of evidence" against the Socialists or any members of the Grand Coalition.

GREEN SUPPORT

Mirroring the last election, the Greens have again polled some support, getting an early start to their campaign. Green leader Diane Tranter told The Herald "that this is again indicative of the growing environmental awareness of the Ollish people", dismissing some analyst's view that voters are using the Greens as a "dustbin party" to register a protest vote against the main parties.

COLONIAL POLICE PATROL LA PORSHCETTE

So far in this election there has been no repeat of the violence and civil disobedience that was a feature of the last election across the Southern province and most notably in the provincial capital of La Porschette. Police General Barton has put 5 whole divisions of Colonial Police into the city to maintain a highly visible police presence and prevent any rioting. He refused to answer questions concerning People's Front leader Keith McPherson's accusations, saying that he had "said all I have to say on the subject". McPherson himself addressed a hostile crowd at the Dauphin University in La Porchette, repeating his claims of police harrassment.

OOC - Feel free to comment

Reserved for later post

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Oliver City Daily Herald

LAST DAY OF POLLING LOOKS TO ALLIANCE VICTORY

As Ollieland enters the last day of polling a Grand Alliance victory looks likely with a combined vote of 55.5%. Conservative support has stalled at 25-30% and the Peoples Front has bombed at just over 10%. Democrat leader Oliver Peterson expressed stisfaction with his increase in the vote stating this represented a "return to traditional Ollish values". Governor Chung also expressed satisfaction with the result, telling The Herald that "voters have unanimously rejected right wing ideaolgies in the form of conservativism and fascism". Conservative leader Oliver Ogilvy expressed "some disapointment" but refused to concedde defeat yet. During an election speech to the Oliver City Stock Exchange he said "Ollish voters must realise the unconstitutional measures thios government has taken. They still have time to reject them." Peeople's Front leader Senator Keith McPherson refused to comment. It is thought he still harbours resentment at Colonial Police actions in th Southern Province and blames them for his party's poor performance at the polls

OOC - Only a couple of hours left!.

-LAN-
Tie?
This this Tom of Lone Alliance News, "It seems that both the Socialist Party of Ollieland and the Colonial Conservative Party have reached a tied vote at 26.09% of the total votes, this places an unusual position on both ends."
"Yes Tom, further more this is also a tied vote between the Grand Alliance parties as well as the Conservative and People's front parties."

"A very unusual situation indeed." "This is Tom and Linda, we will keep up to date information as it is released.

"Good Evening, I'm Oliver Dimbleby, and welcome to this election special, brought to you by CNN, the Colonial News Network. Joining me this evening are Professor Oliver Thompson, Chair of Political Science at the University of Oliver City, and representativesfrom all 7 parties contesting the election. With only ninety minutes till polls close, we are faced with a unique result in electoral history - a dead tie. Not only between Governor Chung's Socialists and Oliver Ogilvyy's Conservatives, but also between the Socialist led Grand Alliance and the combines opposition of the seperate right wing parties, the Conservatives and the newly formed People's Front. If these results stand what will happen? Is is possible for the Conservatives and Fascists to form a minority government? Will the Greens join the Grand Alliance? Professor, your thoughts on these subjects?"

"Well, David, firstly may I state that the results are far from concrete yet. Ninety minutes may not sound long but most outstanding stations are from the south, a traditionally right wing voting area. Secondly, as to your possible outlines of alliances who knows? 10 years ago no one could have forseen the formation of the Grand Alliance, yet here it is."

"Yes Professor, but is it possible? Previously no Party in political history has agreed to work with either the Fascists or Communists, in fact, if you'll recall they were the very reason the Grand Alliance was formed in the first place - to prevent a Fascist governnent at the last election and a Communist one at the election before that. Is it possible Mr Ogilvy will break all protocols and do a 'deal with the devil'?"

"That is the 64 million Ollie question David, and as I'm not Oliver Ogilvy or Keith Mcpherson, I'm afraid I can't tell you."