06-12-2015, 02:24 PM
It's election time in the Prosaic Union, and the nations of the IDU are invited to cast their votes. You're allowed to vote for two parties.
The backdrop for the election is grounded in NS facts, but these are somewhat modified to create a more realistic and interesting situation, for example the economy here is not, like in NS, solely made up of Book Publishing. Because, you know, that's absurd. It's still very much in a shitty state though, that much hasn't changed. The outline here is that Gnejs has had a weak and inefficient economy for several years (think category: fair/reasonable), but are now in the midst of a major recession.
Context of the election:
The Prosaic Union is a parliamentary democracy where the Prime Minister exercises the executive powers. Legislative power lies with both the government and the Parliament, but the latter is the supreme legislature. The parliament is called the Storting, and consists of one chamber. The Storting can pass a law by simple majority of the 169 representatives, elected based on proportional representation for four-year terms.
Gnejs is a fairly average and left-centrist representative democracy, with a few quirks, pockets of radicalism and a big soft spot for its beautiful environment. Political freedoms are pretty standard, and civil rights are on the verge of abundant. But it's the economy everybody is talking about at the moment. The Gnejsian economy is sizeable, but terribly stagnant. 78.3 % of the economy is government activity and state-owned industry. Private industry accounts for 15.7 %, whereas black market activity is estimated to 6 % (probably too low an estimate).
For the last decades, the economic situation has been vulnerable, but somewhat stable. The dominant publishing and printing industry employ a large number of citizens, and have in intervals achieved respectable export figures of both material and end products. The nation has a large but extremely inefficient agricultural sector, and a terribly outdated fishing industry. Both have been pillars of the Gnejsian economy for a long time, mainly due to their share size, but they have struggled for years. Publishing and printing have experienced a massive drop in revenue in the last decade as demands from foreign markets have plummeted, due to the "digital revolution". Few of the market actors have successfully managed the paradigm transition.
The combined effects have thrown Gnejs into a deep recession ? with the smallest GDP per capita in the IDU, and an unemployment rate at 14.89 % - shaking the foundations of political life, as the dominant Unionist Party of Gnejs and their junior government party the Socialist Party of Gnejs struggle against a vocal opposition.
The Election: your options:
Unionist Party of Gnejs (UPG)
The grey eminence of Gnejsian political life, the UPG have been in power, with various coalition partners and on their own, since the early 60's. UPG advocates a strong welfare state, funded through taxes and duties, and profiles itself as a progressive party. They are essentially the architects of modern day Gnejs. Having been very popular with the electorate for years, the recent exposure of the nation's economic vulnerability have landed them in a difficult position. UPG additionally have a strong commitment to environmental issues, and this has often guided their policymaking. For example in their managing of agriculture and fisheries, their resistance to extensive tourism, and most radically the controversial decision of outlawing the use of cars outside of the public transportation system. The banning of cars was, however, a cause mainly driven by the Gnejs Green Party, a junior coalition partner of the UPG at the time. UPG have always had an ambivalent stance towards membership in the IDU and the WA. However, in later years they have consolidated their stance as cautious proponents of both.
The current leader of the UPG is Cornelis Naess, who is also the Prime minister.
UPG currently holds 69 of the 160 seats in the Storting.
Socialist Party of Gnejs (SPG)
?The reds? were founded after a split in the UPG in the mid-80's. They have jumped from being junior coalition partners to an extremely vocal opposition party and back again ever since. SPG have managed to attract a more or less steady 15-17 seat in the Storting for a long period of time. They claim to be advocates for the working class and society's unfortunate, although voices within the opposition maintain their claim that the party always have, and still only attract the lazy and ignorant. They are mainly concerned with maintaining government dominance in the business sector, providing a well-functioning welfare system and a top quality public school. Although on these issues, they are not far apart from the policies of the UPG. The division between the SPG and UPG is mainly connected to civil rights issues, multiculturalism and liberalizing refugee immigration policy. However, somewhat paradoxically, the SPG are fierce opponents of labor immigration, a trait they share with the UPG. The SPG have gone from being opposed to Gnejsian IDU-membership, to becoming great proponents. They remain opposed to Gnejsian WA-membership. The SPG are also in favor of re-allowing cars within Gnejs.
The party?s leader is Marfa Fredhell from the northern city of Finntorp on Ecpatia, who is also the Minister of Finance. She is 47 and has a PhD in economics from the University of Kejm in Port Kejm.
SPG currently holds 17 of the 169 seats in the Storting.
The Moderate Party (MP)
The "Mod's" are the biggest opposition party. The party advocates economic liberalism, reduction of taxes, and individual rights, and defines itself as a centrist-liberal party. It has historically been - alongside The Progressive Alliance - the most outspokenly pro-IDU party in Gnejs, supporting membership during the 2005 referendum. They also support membership within the WA. The party generally supports privatization of certain government industry, semi-privatization through state-funded private services, cutting taxes and increased labor immigration. MP have supported many of the UPGs reforms in welfare and certain civil rights issues. One of their big proposals during the campaigning have been facilitating the establishing of a tourism industry, making use of the country's famous environment in the pressing economic times. MP are also in favor of re-allowing cars within Gnejs.
The current leader of the "Mod's" is Arne Vreeswijk, a 36-year-old ex-civil servant from Esias in the southern parts of Gnejs.
MP currently holds 33 of the 169 seats in the Storting.
Gnejs Green Party (GGP)
GGP are a fairly new edition the Gnejsian political scene. They entered the Storting in the mid-00's, and have been a junior coalition partner to the UPG for one full term. Because of the UPG's strong position on "green" issues, there has traditionally been little room for other green parties in Gnejs. However, GGP have taken a somewhat more radical stance in many environmental discussions, and coupled with growing dissatisfaction with UPG-dominance, they have been able to achieve a stable representation for consecutive terms. Environmental issues are, obviously, GGP's top priority and strict environmental regulations, such as a banning of cars outside the public transportation system is one of the most radical ideas the party has put in front of the Storting. Besides the environment, the party is concerned with social welfare, education, Gnejsian involvement in the IDU and the WA, feminism, a more decentralized government, direct democracy and gay rights.
The party is led by a duo: Nicolas Winborg, a 25-year-old journalist from Port Kejm, and Ingra Karlberg, 47 years old from Finntorp on Ecpatia.
GGP currently holds 8 of the 169 seats in the Storting.
Centre Party (CP)
The Centrists are an agrarian interest party for the Gnejs farming population, although they have broadened their scope somewhat over the last decades. They sport fairly conservative views on social issues, whereas they generally support the statist approach to the economy. The great dividing line between the CP and the ruling coalition lies in government support to the agricultural sector and the trout fishing industry, which the CP believes to be grossly insufficient. The party is opposed to Gnejsian WA-membership, and remain somewhat skeptical about involvement in the IDU.
The Centrists leader is Hanna De Laval, a 37-year-old farmer from western parts of Gnejs.
CP currently holds 24 of the 169 seats in the Storting.
The Progressive Alliance (TPA)
Social-liberals. Advocates personal freedom under the pre-condition of an active state. Have traditionally supported many of the UPG-reforms in welfare and certain civil rights issues. The party is a strong supporter of multiculturalism and overall relaxed integration measures, a position they share with the GGP and portions of the SPG, and to a lesser extent the UPG. The dividing line between TPA and the parties traditionally considered 'Left-wing' lies in economic issues, where TPA advocates substantial privatizations of state-owned businesses, abolishing, among other things, wealth and inheritance taxes to stimulate private capital growth and investment. TPA are also strong advocates for increased labor immigration, an issue where they are very much at odds with the UPG and the SPG. Big supporters of the IDU, somewhat skeptical towards the WA.
The current TPA leader is Trond Norrby, a 52-year-old lecturer from Port Kejm.
TPA currently holds 14 of the 169 seats in the Storting.
National Democrats (ND)
The National Democrats is the newest party to gain seats in the Storting, having only received their four representatives' last election. They are very socially conservative, while moderate in economic terms. They are often disregarded as a "one-issue-party", the issue in question being immigration. They advocate a withdrawal from the WA, only partial contact with the IDU, a closing of borders and repatriation of non-citizens and citizens they refer to as "ethnically and culturally distinct" from the majority. None of the other parties wish to be associated with ND, something that several prominent politologists in Gnejs claim have increased their popular support, as some view them as unfairly treated by the established parties.
Their current leader is Knut Atrix, a 68-year-old farmer from the south of Gnejs.
ND currently holds 4 of the 169 seats in the Storting.
The backdrop for the election is grounded in NS facts, but these are somewhat modified to create a more realistic and interesting situation, for example the economy here is not, like in NS, solely made up of Book Publishing. Because, you know, that's absurd. It's still very much in a shitty state though, that much hasn't changed. The outline here is that Gnejs has had a weak and inefficient economy for several years (think category: fair/reasonable), but are now in the midst of a major recession.
Context of the election:
The Prosaic Union is a parliamentary democracy where the Prime Minister exercises the executive powers. Legislative power lies with both the government and the Parliament, but the latter is the supreme legislature. The parliament is called the Storting, and consists of one chamber. The Storting can pass a law by simple majority of the 169 representatives, elected based on proportional representation for four-year terms.
Gnejs is a fairly average and left-centrist representative democracy, with a few quirks, pockets of radicalism and a big soft spot for its beautiful environment. Political freedoms are pretty standard, and civil rights are on the verge of abundant. But it's the economy everybody is talking about at the moment. The Gnejsian economy is sizeable, but terribly stagnant. 78.3 % of the economy is government activity and state-owned industry. Private industry accounts for 15.7 %, whereas black market activity is estimated to 6 % (probably too low an estimate).
For the last decades, the economic situation has been vulnerable, but somewhat stable. The dominant publishing and printing industry employ a large number of citizens, and have in intervals achieved respectable export figures of both material and end products. The nation has a large but extremely inefficient agricultural sector, and a terribly outdated fishing industry. Both have been pillars of the Gnejsian economy for a long time, mainly due to their share size, but they have struggled for years. Publishing and printing have experienced a massive drop in revenue in the last decade as demands from foreign markets have plummeted, due to the "digital revolution". Few of the market actors have successfully managed the paradigm transition.
The combined effects have thrown Gnejs into a deep recession ? with the smallest GDP per capita in the IDU, and an unemployment rate at 14.89 % - shaking the foundations of political life, as the dominant Unionist Party of Gnejs and their junior government party the Socialist Party of Gnejs struggle against a vocal opposition.
The Election: your options:
Unionist Party of Gnejs (UPG)
The grey eminence of Gnejsian political life, the UPG have been in power, with various coalition partners and on their own, since the early 60's. UPG advocates a strong welfare state, funded through taxes and duties, and profiles itself as a progressive party. They are essentially the architects of modern day Gnejs. Having been very popular with the electorate for years, the recent exposure of the nation's economic vulnerability have landed them in a difficult position. UPG additionally have a strong commitment to environmental issues, and this has often guided their policymaking. For example in their managing of agriculture and fisheries, their resistance to extensive tourism, and most radically the controversial decision of outlawing the use of cars outside of the public transportation system. The banning of cars was, however, a cause mainly driven by the Gnejs Green Party, a junior coalition partner of the UPG at the time. UPG have always had an ambivalent stance towards membership in the IDU and the WA. However, in later years they have consolidated their stance as cautious proponents of both.
The current leader of the UPG is Cornelis Naess, who is also the Prime minister.
UPG currently holds 69 of the 160 seats in the Storting.
Socialist Party of Gnejs (SPG)
?The reds? were founded after a split in the UPG in the mid-80's. They have jumped from being junior coalition partners to an extremely vocal opposition party and back again ever since. SPG have managed to attract a more or less steady 15-17 seat in the Storting for a long period of time. They claim to be advocates for the working class and society's unfortunate, although voices within the opposition maintain their claim that the party always have, and still only attract the lazy and ignorant. They are mainly concerned with maintaining government dominance in the business sector, providing a well-functioning welfare system and a top quality public school. Although on these issues, they are not far apart from the policies of the UPG. The division between the SPG and UPG is mainly connected to civil rights issues, multiculturalism and liberalizing refugee immigration policy. However, somewhat paradoxically, the SPG are fierce opponents of labor immigration, a trait they share with the UPG. The SPG have gone from being opposed to Gnejsian IDU-membership, to becoming great proponents. They remain opposed to Gnejsian WA-membership. The SPG are also in favor of re-allowing cars within Gnejs.
The party?s leader is Marfa Fredhell from the northern city of Finntorp on Ecpatia, who is also the Minister of Finance. She is 47 and has a PhD in economics from the University of Kejm in Port Kejm.
SPG currently holds 17 of the 169 seats in the Storting.
The Moderate Party (MP)
The "Mod's" are the biggest opposition party. The party advocates economic liberalism, reduction of taxes, and individual rights, and defines itself as a centrist-liberal party. It has historically been - alongside The Progressive Alliance - the most outspokenly pro-IDU party in Gnejs, supporting membership during the 2005 referendum. They also support membership within the WA. The party generally supports privatization of certain government industry, semi-privatization through state-funded private services, cutting taxes and increased labor immigration. MP have supported many of the UPGs reforms in welfare and certain civil rights issues. One of their big proposals during the campaigning have been facilitating the establishing of a tourism industry, making use of the country's famous environment in the pressing economic times. MP are also in favor of re-allowing cars within Gnejs.
The current leader of the "Mod's" is Arne Vreeswijk, a 36-year-old ex-civil servant from Esias in the southern parts of Gnejs.
MP currently holds 33 of the 169 seats in the Storting.
Gnejs Green Party (GGP)
GGP are a fairly new edition the Gnejsian political scene. They entered the Storting in the mid-00's, and have been a junior coalition partner to the UPG for one full term. Because of the UPG's strong position on "green" issues, there has traditionally been little room for other green parties in Gnejs. However, GGP have taken a somewhat more radical stance in many environmental discussions, and coupled with growing dissatisfaction with UPG-dominance, they have been able to achieve a stable representation for consecutive terms. Environmental issues are, obviously, GGP's top priority and strict environmental regulations, such as a banning of cars outside the public transportation system is one of the most radical ideas the party has put in front of the Storting. Besides the environment, the party is concerned with social welfare, education, Gnejsian involvement in the IDU and the WA, feminism, a more decentralized government, direct democracy and gay rights.
The party is led by a duo: Nicolas Winborg, a 25-year-old journalist from Port Kejm, and Ingra Karlberg, 47 years old from Finntorp on Ecpatia.
GGP currently holds 8 of the 169 seats in the Storting.
Centre Party (CP)
The Centrists are an agrarian interest party for the Gnejs farming population, although they have broadened their scope somewhat over the last decades. They sport fairly conservative views on social issues, whereas they generally support the statist approach to the economy. The great dividing line between the CP and the ruling coalition lies in government support to the agricultural sector and the trout fishing industry, which the CP believes to be grossly insufficient. The party is opposed to Gnejsian WA-membership, and remain somewhat skeptical about involvement in the IDU.
The Centrists leader is Hanna De Laval, a 37-year-old farmer from western parts of Gnejs.
CP currently holds 24 of the 169 seats in the Storting.
The Progressive Alliance (TPA)
Social-liberals. Advocates personal freedom under the pre-condition of an active state. Have traditionally supported many of the UPG-reforms in welfare and certain civil rights issues. The party is a strong supporter of multiculturalism and overall relaxed integration measures, a position they share with the GGP and portions of the SPG, and to a lesser extent the UPG. The dividing line between TPA and the parties traditionally considered 'Left-wing' lies in economic issues, where TPA advocates substantial privatizations of state-owned businesses, abolishing, among other things, wealth and inheritance taxes to stimulate private capital growth and investment. TPA are also strong advocates for increased labor immigration, an issue where they are very much at odds with the UPG and the SPG. Big supporters of the IDU, somewhat skeptical towards the WA.
The current TPA leader is Trond Norrby, a 52-year-old lecturer from Port Kejm.
TPA currently holds 14 of the 169 seats in the Storting.
National Democrats (ND)
The National Democrats is the newest party to gain seats in the Storting, having only received their four representatives' last election. They are very socially conservative, while moderate in economic terms. They are often disregarded as a "one-issue-party", the issue in question being immigration. They advocate a withdrawal from the WA, only partial contact with the IDU, a closing of borders and repatriation of non-citizens and citizens they refer to as "ethnically and culturally distinct" from the majority. None of the other parties wish to be associated with ND, something that several prominent politologists in Gnejs claim have increased their popular support, as some view them as unfairly treated by the established parties.
Their current leader is Knut Atrix, a 68-year-old farmer from the south of Gnejs.
ND currently holds 4 of the 169 seats in the Storting.
