Altanar
17-05-2007, 22:41
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.
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.