NationStates Jolt Archive

OoC: This thread is open to those who agreed to observe elections in Létat. (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=589928) Others who want to observe or otherwise participate should TG me first.

The following nations offered to observe Létatian elections:

Pacifican Commonwealth, Avenio, the Marktoria State, New Chalcedon, Takaram, Angenteria, Kingdoms of Cal


IC:

Yes, our guns break the silence of tyranny, but you will hear a roaring louder still than guns; the noise unleashed shall not again be silent: I call it "voice." The voice unleashed shall forge a thing at once intangible and invincible: I call it "a people." A people unleashed shall carve out a new world and a new order based on the vision in them: I call it "democracy." May I ever hear that noise ringing in my ears."
Guy Rougeard,
Excerpt from a speech delivered
at the 2d Republican Front Congress,
1 May, 1999

Our voice, our people, our democracy:
Louder still than guns

They are the Poet's words, but it is the Virgin Mother's face who adorns the posters now crammed in every available wall space in Ville-Sur-le-Champs and Paname. The picture is famous - a boy of no more than 17 in filthy fatigues and sporting the saffron kerchief of royalist soldiers on the verge of tear. He presses his head against Marine Bréton's chest. She cradles it with the tenderness of a mother, an otherworldly touch of saint-like grace upon her sad, bright eyes and serene lips. Beneath this image, in smaller print, is written:

Breton for President - Vote DSP

DSP - the Democratic Socialist Party - had taken off in Létat, and it was no accident. For one thing, the three most popular Republican leaders - the Devil Himself, the Virgin Mother, and the Poet (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showthread.php?t=589300) - were prominent members. For another, much of the propaganda apparatus and organization of the Republican Front had been directly inherited by the DSP thanks to Guy "the Poet" Rougeard. These posters had hung for a full week before an observer delegation arrived - and only now as they began trickling in did the first appearances of Fatherland or Libertarian Democracy begin. The airwaves of Létat became replete with the chatter of debate: the DSP, myriads of microparties and a handful of groups beginning to find their voice. The birth of democracy was messy - but it was. At least it was.

OoC: This is how this is going to work - if none of the observer nations want to participate, I'm just going to make five posts each representing a week of the election cycle.

The elections are to fill national government positions. In Létat, there will be a President and two legislatures, a Senate and a National Assembly. There are three Senators per province, selected by the Provincial government (or by election if the Provincial government so determines) and they will serve for two to six years (Senators are supposed to have a six year term, but some of the Senate is to be reconsidered every two years).

There are fourteen provinces in Létat. The National Assembly is to be composed by direct election and represent the population proportionally. Since I'm lazy, I have no idea how many National Assembly seats there are, so this will just be a percentage unless I decide to invent more detail. Man do I blather...

IC:

Beginning of the Second Week of Létatian elections

Most of the major parties have taken shape and put up their candidates. In the case of the Presidential race, this is largely a formality as no one doubts that Marine Bréton - widely regarded as a national mascot for democracy - will win in a landslide. But they hope to pull in seats in legislative elections.

In the cafés, offices and factories finally starting to come back to life after a decade of civil war, animated discussions and debates zoom back and forth over the merits of this candidate and this party, the gaffes of this one and the lies of that one.

Television stations fall over themselves trying to get candidates to talk on the air, hoping to pull in the electrified electorate. Party pundits blather endlessly, and candidates are almost comical in their attempts to show off the most revolutionary credentials. At the moment the two most popular Youtube clips are DSP National Assembly candidate Hari Yung's infamous claim that he had participated in no less than seven battles between Republicans and Royalists on widely dispersed front on the same afternoon and LibDem Senatorial candidate Paul Jussieu's outburst "and I got four!" in response to a DSP candidate's claim to have rescued a family of three from Royalist brutality.

Ah, democracy.

Parties and Stances in the Létation Elections

Democratic Socialist Party - (DSP)
Background: The gross excesses of Létat's wealthy elite prior to the Republican Revolution gave the uprising a Red tinge. Though the Revolution was always primarily about representative government and opposing tyranny, many agreed that concentration of wealth and thus economic power could itself be a form of tyranny.

The DSP has the most visible national membership. Antoine Lecroix, Guy Rougeard, and - of course - Marine Bréton have all declared themselves members. These three are national celebrities and regarded as the foundations of the Republican revolution, giving DSP a substantial popularity boost. Rougeard, as head of the Interim Government, has been careful to avoid being too publicly supportive of the Party, for fear of appearing to offer governmental endorsement. He has come under fire for the "Primed Printers" debacle, whereby DSP fliers were up almost as soon as elections were announced, thanks to his contacts. He has since taken a low profile and insisted on a "fair fight."
Party Chair: Guy Rougeard
Presidential Candidate: Marine Bréton
Stances:

Managed Markets - DSP does not wish to do away with a market economy, but insists that it must be managed to provide optimal outcomes. DSP would put in place a social welfare net, starting with a universal healthcare program. DSP would also start a state-run management agency to undertake "targeted investments" laying the foundations for strong economic growth.
Moral Authority - DSP wants to approach the world as a moral authority. Foreign policy must be considered with attention to "what is right for all" rather than merely "right for us." Létat should be a champion of the oppressed, the persecuted, and the forgotten.
Expand Democracy - DSP believes in popular rule, and will seek to expand the number of institutions taking into account the opinions of those they affect. DSP will press for provincial governments to democratize and will experiment with economic democracy as well.



Libertarian Democrat Party - (LibDem)
Background: While the LibDems do not have national figures as popular as Bréton, presidential candidate Alain Tatar is a well-respected Republican Front leader and veteran of the revolution. Additionally, on the local level, they run about evenly against the DSP. Both parties have a significant number of "local heroes" who aren't known outside of their particular province or town. Opposed to tyranny but still favoring capitalism, LibDem favors a decentralized state and free markets.
Party Chair: Alain Tatar
Presidential Candidate: Alain Tatar
Stances:
Free Markets, Free People - LibDem believes that capitalism is the fastest path to wealth and prosperity. The best thing for the state to do is to step out of the way and let the market work its magic. Low taxes and limited regulation will permit Létat to grow swiftly.
Limited Engagement - Létat is small and shouldn't try to throw its weight around. In foreign policy, it should quietly pursue its self-interest and look to secure its position and prosperity, but not try and overextend its reach.
Bottom-Heavy Government - The central government will be too far away from most people's problems to help them. Instead, much of the work of government should occur - democratically - at the level of provinces and towns.



Conservative Party for Justice and the Fatherland - (Fatherland)
Background: A surprisingly popular party, representing many of those who were not entirely opposed to the monarchy or did not fully support the revolution, as well as suspected royalists. It is especially popular in the six provinces ruled by royally-appointed governors. It bears noting that these six governors have reserved their right to appoint Senators by fiat and have already decided to send 18 Fatherland representatives. Nonetheless, there is a real element of popular support for Fatherland, especially among the older and wealthier demographics.
Party Chair: Pierre Détoile, Governor of Chevallois
Presidential Candidate: Eric Bruges
Stances:
Noblesse Oblige - The wealthiest in society do have a responsibility to the poorest, and the state should offer some support to those who cannot support themselves. However, this should be limited and the market should be allowed to operate freely.
Traditional Values - Létat must not forget its past and throw away all values. Traditional forms of governance - such as provincial autonomy - must be preserved and the nation must not be too swift to do away with all the vestiges of the old monarchy.
Amnesty - Philippe-Michel, formerly king of Létat, should be cleared of all charges against him and permitted to return from GWO without fear of arrest. Palaces and works of art should be restored to him and a constitutional monarchy should be considered, perhaps starting with his son.



League of Workers' and Communist Parties - (LWCP)
Background: It's only half a joke to say that the LWCP is still fighting the revolution. A coalition of fractious radical-left parties demanding the overthrow of capitalism and the establishment of a workers' state garners a small but vocal support base. LWCP regards the DSP as "social-democratic stooges," and is fond of large marches and red banners.
Party Chair: Olivier Nobersance
Presidential Candidate: Olivier Nobersance
Stances:
Soviet System - Production should be controlled by the producers, and so the workers should determine what they create via "soviets" or workers' councils. Workers' councils will permit production and development to follow a path based on justice and equality for all.
Export the Revolution - The revolution for democracy and communism must engulf the world. Once capital has been thrown down, a united international working class will enjoy the fruits of its own labor without exploitation.
Workers' State - Everything should be determined by a hierarchy of workers' councils, from producers, to towns, to provinces, to the national government. This cannot be accomplished, however, until the present economic relations are abolished. Thus the Revolution must continue until the way is cleared for a true workers' state to arise.

OoC: Whereas I doubt the interest others have in rping observers and I've lost interest in filling in five weeks worth of stuff, it's pretty much going to be this post and then an election.

IC:
The means are old but trusted - locked boxes and millions of tiny slips of paper, ultimately to be counted laboriously by hand. The Interim Government has aggressively promoted voter registration by all means available - community councils have been ordered to stay open extra hours to accommodate registrations, Republican Front soldiers and civil guards have been sent out to form mobile "Registration Front" brigades, charged with providing voter registration services on the go. The approach has worked, and now 80% of the eligible population - anyone over eighteen - is registered, with a week remaining.

The airwaves are abuzz with debate, and Létatians cheerfully work around disruptive solidarity strikes and political demonstrations touting this or that candidate. Despite Marine Bréton's healthy lead for the presidency, the houses of legislature are hotly contested, especially between DSP and LibDem, though Fatherland is making a surprisingly strong showing as well.

Things bode well...

OoC: Okay, ending this, so I can RP my nation fairly normally. Besides, I have too much to do IRL to be able to devote more time to this particular RP

IC:

History books would remark favorably upon the conduct of the young democracy of Létat. Obviously it was not perfect. There was, of course, the questionable nature of the DSP's initial advertising blitz, largely backed by the apparatus of the Interim Government. There was, of course, the issue of the DSP's support from the Republican Front's most popular figures and the issue of support for the Fatherland Party from the morally-dubious royalist-sympathizing billionaires still seated as provincial governors. There was the case of the factory manager who threatened to fire anyone who didn't vote LibDem, the union leader who threatened to expel anyone who didn't vote DSP, and the mayor who voted no less than two hundred times in his own bid to sit in the National Assembly.

But in the end, all these were mere anecdotes in the greater picture: a vibrant, widely-argued election enhanced by a myriad of small and large parties offering their particular voices. Beyond the Big Three - DSP, Fatherland and LibDem - small parties succeed in gaining local power and a small share of the national bodies. Marine Bréton's landslide presidential victory surprises none. The consensus of observers is a fair and representative process that reflects the views of Létatians throughout the Republic.

Thus, without further adieu, the results:

The Presidency
Marine Bréton 82% - Winner
Alain Tatar 10%
Olivier Nobersance 5%
Eric Bruges 2%
Other 1%

The Senate - 42 Seats
DSP - 16
LibDem - 4
Fatherland - 18
LWCP - 4

The National Assembly - 200 Seats
DSP - 96 Seats
LibDem - 40 Seats
Fatherland - 24 Seats
LWCP - 20 Seats
Les Verts (Green Party) - 6 Seats
Centrists - 6 Seats
Other - 8 Seats

Thus, despite the DSP's natural advantage, it failed to secure a clear majority in either chamber and thus hopes to build coalitions to consolidate its power. Aligning with the Left, it primarily works with the LWCP, Verts and Centrists, though it hopes to attract some LibDems to its program of civil and political liberties.

Fatherland and LibDem are playing up free market similarities to try and present a united opposition to the DSP, though there are concerns between the groups - as Fatherland is clearly more authoritarian while LibDem sympathizes with DSP's pro-democratic stances.