Faxanavia
11-10-2008, 15:29
The Vallingard Times
New Prime Minister Elected in Senate Upset
After three days of debate, the Senate brought forward their final vote today on who would replace Prime Minister Garret Linsares as the nation's new leader. In a surprise selection, Liberal Senator Andrew McCarthage was selected, in a strong counterbalance to the Conservative majority in the Senate. Many attribute this surprise selection to Senator McCarthage's more centrist views, as well as the Conservative party's shame at the recent actions of Garret Linsares, suspect in the murder of ex Arch-senator Sergio Lindon and foreign leader Lord Sumguy. Voting records, released this morning, indicate that a strong Populist/Liberal/communist coalition was aided by an influx of nearly half the Conservative vote, detracting vital support from the Conservative/Freedom backed candidate Paul Veritense. Prime Minister McCarthage is expected to make a speech in Vallingard Square this afternoon, though it is yet unknown what topics he intends to address.
Andrew McCarthage did not fit the profile of most Prime Ministers. He was not tall, not grey haired, nor strikingly venerable in anyway. He had an almost boyish, cleanshaven face, bright blue eyes, and short, blond hair that fell to just his ears before slanting off into nowhere. Still, something about him projected an air of knowledge- perhaps it was the all-knowing smile that seemed to play across his lips, suggesting something known only to him, some deeper truth or power that he alone possessed. Now, as he took the ever erected platform in Vallingard Square, the center for many a historic speech, he cast his gaze out over the gathered crowd. There were reporters, of course, as there always were. But the sheer number of people, ordinary people there shocked him. He would, it would seem, have to speak directly to the masses, rather then through the pens of the newspapermen, already eagerly preparing their tiny notepads and cumbersome laptops. Tapping the microphone, he began to speak.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I thank you all for being here today with me on the dawn of a new age for Faxanavia. The recent, most regrettable end to my predecessors administration has, while a tragedy, none the less been a blessing in disguise." He smiled, waiting for the excited newspaper reporters to mentally write their front page headlines.
" There are many of you out there unsure about where Faxanavia needs to go from here. This long, hard war has lost us so many allies, has caused so much pain to our country. We need a new start, a new way to look at life. Which is why I am so pleased to have been elected as your new Prime Minister. I feel that Faxanavia needs two things." He raised two fingers, as if to illustrate his point.
"One is to rethink our home policy, and one is to rethink our policy abroad. Firstly." He raised the first finger. "It is important to recreate the social responsibility systems which has kept Faxanavia's children, elderly, and disabled healthy and safe. I intend to work with the Senate to insure that the social security net which keeps our country happy remains strong- that every citizen can be assured to receive free health care, the elderly receive social welfare payment, and the people who need to be protected by the state are. On the other hand," He paused for a breath, "It is vitally important that we work to cut spending in other areas. More then %40 of the national budget under the Linsares administration went to the military. We must cut that spending, must stop making such a tax burden on our people so that their sons can die in needless warfare. The military is an important part of our nations, but it is filled with bloat and corruption which must be stopped." He paused, this time for the crowd to take in what he was saying.
"Secondly, I must discuss Faxanavia in relation to the rest of the world. The long, long war against the Hegemony has come to an end, but we must not let ourselves be caught up in another one. My predecessor made the LION a tool for war- we must make it a tool for peace. Therefore, I call upon all who would consider themselves still faithful to the LION to meet with me, to discuss her future. Furthermore, I feel it necessary that Faxanavia considers her place in Mediterranica. We must not let this war get in the way of the region's peace, nor ours. Finally, I find it imperative that Faxanavia take itself first in foreign affairs- without our nation, there would be no affairs to attend to."
He stepped down from the podium to a varied range of applause, some strong, others only polite. Striding back through the curtain that separated the stage from the outside world, he took a long drink of water from a glass someone handed him. Sitting, he thought on his speech: What would happen? Would the League come? Was it all too late? Could he turn his nation around? 4 days ago, Andrew McCarthage thought himself just another Liberal Senator. Now, he was leading his country. It all seemed a little much for the man.
New Prime Minister Elected in Senate Upset
After three days of debate, the Senate brought forward their final vote today on who would replace Prime Minister Garret Linsares as the nation's new leader. In a surprise selection, Liberal Senator Andrew McCarthage was selected, in a strong counterbalance to the Conservative majority in the Senate. Many attribute this surprise selection to Senator McCarthage's more centrist views, as well as the Conservative party's shame at the recent actions of Garret Linsares, suspect in the murder of ex Arch-senator Sergio Lindon and foreign leader Lord Sumguy. Voting records, released this morning, indicate that a strong Populist/Liberal/communist coalition was aided by an influx of nearly half the Conservative vote, detracting vital support from the Conservative/Freedom backed candidate Paul Veritense. Prime Minister McCarthage is expected to make a speech in Vallingard Square this afternoon, though it is yet unknown what topics he intends to address.
Andrew McCarthage did not fit the profile of most Prime Ministers. He was not tall, not grey haired, nor strikingly venerable in anyway. He had an almost boyish, cleanshaven face, bright blue eyes, and short, blond hair that fell to just his ears before slanting off into nowhere. Still, something about him projected an air of knowledge- perhaps it was the all-knowing smile that seemed to play across his lips, suggesting something known only to him, some deeper truth or power that he alone possessed. Now, as he took the ever erected platform in Vallingard Square, the center for many a historic speech, he cast his gaze out over the gathered crowd. There were reporters, of course, as there always were. But the sheer number of people, ordinary people there shocked him. He would, it would seem, have to speak directly to the masses, rather then through the pens of the newspapermen, already eagerly preparing their tiny notepads and cumbersome laptops. Tapping the microphone, he began to speak.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I thank you all for being here today with me on the dawn of a new age for Faxanavia. The recent, most regrettable end to my predecessors administration has, while a tragedy, none the less been a blessing in disguise." He smiled, waiting for the excited newspaper reporters to mentally write their front page headlines.
" There are many of you out there unsure about where Faxanavia needs to go from here. This long, hard war has lost us so many allies, has caused so much pain to our country. We need a new start, a new way to look at life. Which is why I am so pleased to have been elected as your new Prime Minister. I feel that Faxanavia needs two things." He raised two fingers, as if to illustrate his point.
"One is to rethink our home policy, and one is to rethink our policy abroad. Firstly." He raised the first finger. "It is important to recreate the social responsibility systems which has kept Faxanavia's children, elderly, and disabled healthy and safe. I intend to work with the Senate to insure that the social security net which keeps our country happy remains strong- that every citizen can be assured to receive free health care, the elderly receive social welfare payment, and the people who need to be protected by the state are. On the other hand," He paused for a breath, "It is vitally important that we work to cut spending in other areas. More then %40 of the national budget under the Linsares administration went to the military. We must cut that spending, must stop making such a tax burden on our people so that their sons can die in needless warfare. The military is an important part of our nations, but it is filled with bloat and corruption which must be stopped." He paused, this time for the crowd to take in what he was saying.
"Secondly, I must discuss Faxanavia in relation to the rest of the world. The long, long war against the Hegemony has come to an end, but we must not let ourselves be caught up in another one. My predecessor made the LION a tool for war- we must make it a tool for peace. Therefore, I call upon all who would consider themselves still faithful to the LION to meet with me, to discuss her future. Furthermore, I feel it necessary that Faxanavia considers her place in Mediterranica. We must not let this war get in the way of the region's peace, nor ours. Finally, I find it imperative that Faxanavia take itself first in foreign affairs- without our nation, there would be no affairs to attend to."
He stepped down from the podium to a varied range of applause, some strong, others only polite. Striding back through the curtain that separated the stage from the outside world, he took a long drink of water from a glass someone handed him. Sitting, he thought on his speech: What would happen? Would the League come? Was it all too late? Could he turn his nation around? 4 days ago, Andrew McCarthage thought himself just another Liberal Senator. Now, he was leading his country. It all seemed a little much for the man.