10-25-2022, 12:49 AM
United Commonwealth Press - Druk Abjadnanaj Sadružnasci
Elina Sisask's 4 River Association, once a regional party primarily located in the cities of Solavan, has rapidly expanded in the last years. With many unfamiliar with the 4RA, the United Commonwealth Press has elected to explore the party and its creator.
The first thing to address when discussing Elina Sisask is her surname: no, it is not a mere coincidence. The 39-year-old woman is the only daughter of General Urjo Sisask, nicknamed "the Rock of the Hrvali" for his spirited defense of the titular forest in the Great War. Elina graduated from the prestigious Palždai Law School in 1975, just years after her father's death.
Elina started the 4 River Association in 1982 after seeing the widespread poverty of many service members throughout the Commonwealth. Intended initially to advocate on behalf of veterans of both the Commonwealth and former Dual Monarchy, the 4RA would evolve to become a political party in its own right following Hilar Zaborski's election as prime minister in 1985.
While Elina frequently used her father's reputation for her benefit, she has managed to become a prominent figure in her own right. Sisask established something her critics call a cult of personality inside the organization – while the 4 River Association is ostensibly a left-wing populist party, Elina dictates the Association's views, leading to the party's platform changing to suit her every whim. The only part of the 4RA not directly controlled by Sisask is the party's paramilitary wing: the Scarlet Order.
Sisask announced her party's collaboration with the Movement for the Defense of the Country last year, which was seen as unusual due to the 4RA's policies clashing with the MDC's broadly right-wing agenda. Both the 4 River Association and Ikuinist Movement have increased in popularity since the start of the depression – both groups' radical agendas have become increasingly popular in the Commonwealth's cities.
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The Monthly Gathering of the Movement for the Defense of the Country
A small group of people filed into a smoky room and quietly took their seats at the conference table. They gathered in a different place every month, wary of their opponents spying on them. Elina Sisask and Halšan Borushko, the leaders of the 4RA and NRP, sat opposite one another, flanked by advisors. At the head of the table sat Engus Caune, a former member of the pre-revolution Sovereign Law Party, the founder of VzN, and the de facto leader of the coalition. Caune had just celebrated his 65th birthday but remained as dedicated as ever to the group's purpose.
"Welcome, welcome!" Caune spread his arms, warmly greeting the rest of the table. "Let me assure you: today is an important day in the MDC's history. First, though, I trust there were no issues getting here?"
"They tried to tail me inside the city center. My driver managed to slip away." Borushko spoke bluntly. Halšan Borushko was born into a Loravian peasant family, something the media was unlikely to forget. Comedians and political cartoonists used every stereotype imaginable to depict him: dressing him in traditional farmer's clothes, covering him in mud and grime, and comparing him to a Sudraba boar (something easy to do, given his large frame, gruff manner of speaking, and dark hair.)
"Are you sure?" Sisask, the newest addition to the coalition, had little confidence in the group's capabilities. She had agreed to cooperate for a senior position in the event of their victory and was ready to cut ties at the first sign of trouble.
"That's good news," Engus said soothingly, prompting confused looks from the rest of the table. "It shows the Triarchy is worried about our chances. As it stands, they have 24 more seats than us. Fourteen of those seats come from Otika. With the Party of the Stag outlawed, most successors either can't or won't take their seats in parliament."
"Yes, and if they refuse to participate, they're redistributed to the coalition with the most votes. A shameless power grab, but there's no chance of the Supreme Court declaring it unconstitutional. That advantage got them the seats in the first place, so why would they give it up?
"They wouldn't," Borushko spoke up, content to have listened in until now. "Just need to work around it."
Caune nodded. "Precisely. The Solavanian Democratic Alliance and New League have shifted away from the Triarchy and would likely be willing to join the coalition. The New League blames them for the state of the economy, and the SDL is practically belligerent by this point. Sisask, you're Solavanian – see if you can arrange a meeting with Raud."
"Of course. I'm on good terms with Raud, so I doubt it will be too difficult."
"Wonderful. Baǔharynovič will be harder to contact, but I have my methods. I'll send her an invitation to my home and gauge if the New League is willing to work with us." Caune clapped his hands together. "With funding no longer an issue, thanks to our generous patrons, nothing is holding us back now. I expect to see posters in every town and ads on every TV. That concludes today's meeting."
Elina Sisask's 4 River Association, once a regional party primarily located in the cities of Solavan, has rapidly expanded in the last years. With many unfamiliar with the 4RA, the United Commonwealth Press has elected to explore the party and its creator.
The first thing to address when discussing Elina Sisask is her surname: no, it is not a mere coincidence. The 39-year-old woman is the only daughter of General Urjo Sisask, nicknamed "the Rock of the Hrvali" for his spirited defense of the titular forest in the Great War. Elina graduated from the prestigious Palždai Law School in 1975, just years after her father's death.
Elina started the 4 River Association in 1982 after seeing the widespread poverty of many service members throughout the Commonwealth. Intended initially to advocate on behalf of veterans of both the Commonwealth and former Dual Monarchy, the 4RA would evolve to become a political party in its own right following Hilar Zaborski's election as prime minister in 1985.
While Elina frequently used her father's reputation for her benefit, she has managed to become a prominent figure in her own right. Sisask established something her critics call a cult of personality inside the organization – while the 4 River Association is ostensibly a left-wing populist party, Elina dictates the Association's views, leading to the party's platform changing to suit her every whim. The only part of the 4RA not directly controlled by Sisask is the party's paramilitary wing: the Scarlet Order.
Sisask announced her party's collaboration with the Movement for the Defense of the Country last year, which was seen as unusual due to the 4RA's policies clashing with the MDC's broadly right-wing agenda. Both the 4 River Association and Ikuinist Movement have increased in popularity since the start of the depression – both groups' radical agendas have become increasingly popular in the Commonwealth's cities.
-------------------
The Monthly Gathering of the Movement for the Defense of the Country
A small group of people filed into a smoky room and quietly took their seats at the conference table. They gathered in a different place every month, wary of their opponents spying on them. Elina Sisask and Halšan Borushko, the leaders of the 4RA and NRP, sat opposite one another, flanked by advisors. At the head of the table sat Engus Caune, a former member of the pre-revolution Sovereign Law Party, the founder of VzN, and the de facto leader of the coalition. Caune had just celebrated his 65th birthday but remained as dedicated as ever to the group's purpose.
"Welcome, welcome!" Caune spread his arms, warmly greeting the rest of the table. "Let me assure you: today is an important day in the MDC's history. First, though, I trust there were no issues getting here?"
"They tried to tail me inside the city center. My driver managed to slip away." Borushko spoke bluntly. Halšan Borushko was born into a Loravian peasant family, something the media was unlikely to forget. Comedians and political cartoonists used every stereotype imaginable to depict him: dressing him in traditional farmer's clothes, covering him in mud and grime, and comparing him to a Sudraba boar (something easy to do, given his large frame, gruff manner of speaking, and dark hair.)
"Are you sure?" Sisask, the newest addition to the coalition, had little confidence in the group's capabilities. She had agreed to cooperate for a senior position in the event of their victory and was ready to cut ties at the first sign of trouble.
"That's good news," Engus said soothingly, prompting confused looks from the rest of the table. "It shows the Triarchy is worried about our chances. As it stands, they have 24 more seats than us. Fourteen of those seats come from Otika. With the Party of the Stag outlawed, most successors either can't or won't take their seats in parliament."
"Yes, and if they refuse to participate, they're redistributed to the coalition with the most votes. A shameless power grab, but there's no chance of the Supreme Court declaring it unconstitutional. That advantage got them the seats in the first place, so why would they give it up?
"They wouldn't," Borushko spoke up, content to have listened in until now. "Just need to work around it."
Caune nodded. "Precisely. The Solavanian Democratic Alliance and New League have shifted away from the Triarchy and would likely be willing to join the coalition. The New League blames them for the state of the economy, and the SDL is practically belligerent by this point. Sisask, you're Solavanian – see if you can arrange a meeting with Raud."
"Of course. I'm on good terms with Raud, so I doubt it will be too difficult."
"Wonderful. Baǔharynovič will be harder to contact, but I have my methods. I'll send her an invitation to my home and gauge if the New League is willing to work with us." Caune clapped his hands together. "With funding no longer an issue, thanks to our generous patrons, nothing is holding us back now. I expect to see posters in every town and ads on every TV. That concludes today's meeting."
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