Kirlawa

[Aethan]

Bright Spring falls short of national government but saves electoral expectations
The left-wing party wins in three of the five regions, including Merkan, and quadruples its number of votes


Brody Kerrisk, new Governor of Merkan

Against what all polls predicted, the last Kirlawan elections have been close until the last moment.

On Election Night, the Bright Spring headquarters was a bustle of nerves. The first results to be made public, those of the presidential elections, threw the first jug of cold water on the electoral expectations of the party: the until then Uachtarán Caelan Allen lost the presidency against Joseph Millroy, the People's Party candidate, by a difference of just over 1 million votes out of the total 40 million cast. Just a few minutes after the results were known, Mr. Allen conceded his defeat and congratulated the new Uachtarán of Kirlawa, hoping that he would continue to be a figure of consensus and unity for the people. In addition, he announced his withdrawal from the front line of politics to become a simple councilor in his hometown.

After those results, the party headquarters in Merkan feared the worst. However, the first results to be made public, those of the Dirlana region, returned the hope of the sorpasso to the party: the candidate Victoria O'quinn, who already ruled the region in the period 4783-4787, regained the government of the region by a difference of 66-53. The following results, from the Nutchmark region, came as no surprise: the People's Party retained the regional government for quite a difference. But what really brought joy to the party were the results at Merkan: the current winner of this year's Kirlawan Aquatic Games and former water polo player for the Kirlawa national team, Brody Kerrisk, recovered the government of the region considered the most progressive of the country after obtaining more than 60% of the votes. In addition to Dirlana and Merkan, Bright Spring also obtained the government of Dirguzia, thus exceeding 3 to 2 the number of regional governments compared to the People's Party, in addition to also recovering the government of the capital.

However, nationally, the People's Party remains the most voted party, with 304 seats compared to 291 won by Bright Spring.

After learning the results, the party chose to be Brody Kerrisk himself, a rising figure within the party, who spoke for them in front of the media.

"It is obvious that it is not the result that we would have wanted, but it is also evident that we have doubled our results from the last elections, going from 20% to more than 45%, and from 5 million votes to almost 20 million, which shows that we are recovering the confidence of citizens that we can change things for the better. It is true that, unfortunately, we have to be one more legislature in the opposition, but with these results, we are going to be a firm opposition to the conservative policies that the People's Party government can promote, always from the sense of State to which we owe ourselves. In addition, we must remember that, despite not having been able to achieve the national government, we have won in 3 of the five regions of the country, which means that we gain considerable power when it comes to politics, and we will enforce those votes. Personally, as the new governor of Merkan, I can only say that I am very grateful to the citizens and that I will do everything that may be in my hands so as not to disappoint them. To the People's Party, I can only congratulate them on the result but warn them that we are going to go for all. "

The new governor of Merkan, who a few months ago proclaimed himself the winner of the Kirlawan Aquatic Games and who had previously represented Kirlawa with the national water polo team, belongs to the most radical branch of the party, aligned with the communist sector, and although he has denied it on numerous occasions, he is considered a candidate with many possibilities of replacing Caolán Hughes, current secretary general of the party who has managed to save his leadership thanks to this great electoral rise, but who many do not see as a future candidate for facing the following elections.

[Aethan]

The left regains the Kirlawa government after 20 years
Earrach Geal wins in the five regions of the country and obtains more than 2/3 of the seats in the national Senate with a new candidate


Joshua Devane, new Taoiseach of Kirlawa

Appealing to the workers, and after almost twenty years of conservative governments in a nation until recently unused to them, the left has once again regained the Kirlawan government after sweeping the last elections.

With 77% of the votes cast, Earrach Geal has proclaimed itself the absolute winner of the 4803 elections, obtaining 456 of the 595 seats at stake and also winning the governments of the five regions of the country with absolute majorities. Even in Nuchtmark, the most conservative region that had not had a progressive government since the year 4787, the Blue ones have taken over 60% of the registered votes.

In his appearance before the media after knowing the results, the new Taoiseach Joshua Devane, elected as new secretary general of the party a year ago after the resignation of Caolán Hughes, believes that his success is due to "having campaigned in favor of the workers ", with a discourse more socially and economically favorable to the lower classes and a clear turning of the party towards the left.

"I think we have recovered the essence of what Standing Left was at the time," he declared moments after pledging his position as Kirlawa's new Taoiseach. "We had been dragging a burden of not knowing how to recover all those voters who at the time trusted Standing Left but who, when the scandals broke out, fled in terror. But we believe that now we have managed to attract them again."

This might be supported by the fact that in Merkan, the regional branch of the party has won over 80% of the votes, getting 100 out of the 119 in the regional parliament and allowing Brody Kerrisk, its current Governor, to continue for one more tenure in his position. Kerrisk, the most well-known regional secretary, has become really involved in this campaign under the new leadership of the party, after he publicy critizised previous general secretary Hughes as a "traitor to the left".

The new Taoiseach, an economist by profession, has stated that during his tenure he will focus more on economic than social issues, including a reform of taxes, general state budgets by increasing the expenditure in fields such as science, education, environment, trade or industry, as well as greater social protections for workers, whom he considers "the great victims of the conservative governments of the last decades".

Asked why the party has not presented a candidate for Head of State in these elections, the Taoiseach has replied that

"the performance of Mary Carrington - the current Uachtarán de Kirlawa - during the past legislature has been good and therefore, not we have found reasons to present a candidate against her. If when the next elections arrive we consider a change in the Head of State necessary, it will be then that we present an alternative candidate who will challenge her position. "

[Pragma]

Uachtarán pledges to make Cileanoi education 'number one priority'

The recently re-elected Uachtarán, Siobhán Nic Conbhuide of Aontacht, has promised to focus the upcoming legislative session on the project to make Cileanoi (sometimes spelt 'Kilani' by non-speakers) the first language of Coiarlabha. Describing the native language of the country as 'part of the rightful heritage of our nation', Uachtarán Nic Conbhuide made clear her intent to significantly de-Luthorianise the culture of the nation in favour of a decolonial vision of Coiarlabha. Nic Conbhuide did not go as far as to suggest that Luthorian was inherently colonial, though she has not shied away from lamenting the minority status of the Cileanoi language.

Her pro-Cileanoi agenda has started with the renaming of various offices of state and the nation itself to more 'culturally apt' alternatives. Luthorian versions of government-related terms - i.e. Kilani, Kirlawa, President and Prime Minister - have been excluded in favour of Cileanoi words - Cileanoi, Coiarlabha, Uachtarán and Taoiseach. Education for students between the ages of five and sixteen will soon be available only in Cileanoi, while Luthorian language services are set to be steadily fazed out. Despite the protests of Luthori monolinguals, the Uachtarán's linguistic agenda has been an unwavering part of the Aontacht vision. It is unlikely that those opposed to the change will be able to get the changes reversed, and as such the first generation educated in Cileanoi only will soon enter primary education in the coming autumn.

An Coamhnóir is an independent newspaper in Coiarlabha.

[Pragma]

Progressive tax proposal to enable 'significant' investment in military and social services

The Finance Minister, Ceat Ó Deághaidh, announced this morning that the government would pursue a significant reform to the Kirlawan taxation system. The two major proposals were to replace the current flat tax with a progressive tax structure and to reduce corporation taxation from 50% to 30%. Both proposals are likely to be approved by the Aontacht-controlled Dáil and assent from Uachtarán Nic Conbhuide. Aontacht has been split between different perspectives on the tax system, but the current proposal from Ó Deághaidh has received support from most party members.

Though wealthier Kirlawans will likely be paying more in tax under the new scheme, most people on modest incomes (100,000 KDI and under) will see their tax bills shrink significantly. The move has been celebrated by many in the business community - who have long complained about the nation's 'uncompetitive' corporate tax rate - but has received a mixed reaction among many in the public at large, with conservative commentators expressing fear that the new system will be overly complicated and discourage people from becoming successful. The Minister of Finance has rubbished these claims, noting that the marginal tax rates will still allow people of all income levels to keep most of their pay when deductions are factored in.

The increase in government income overall has enabled Minister Ó Deághaidh to increase government expenditure in a variety of key fields. The Defence Ministry will see a doubling of their budget, enabling the Kirlawan armed forces to purchase new equipment and establish a strong control of the coastline. Further increases in funding will be made available to social services like education and the health service. In a move celebrated by climate campaigners, the government will also be allocating 200 million KDI to a newly revitalised Ministry for the Environment, representing a renewed commitment to the country's ecological goals.

An Coamhnóir is an independent newspaper in Coiarlabha.

[Pragma]

Iuchra Ní Flaitile will sing 'Moladh An Bhoinéid Mhór' at FOMAT for Kirlawa



Iuchra Ní Flaitile will sing 'Moladh An Bhoinéid Mhór' at FOMAT for Kirlawa, it has been announced. The well-known and beloved folk singer has been selected by the broadcaster RTC to represent Kirlawa after the success of her third album, which reached number two on the Kirlawan charts and number one on the Kilani-language chart. Though Ní Flaitile is not as known outside of the country, her unique traditional style means that she is bringing something very different to the contest, which RTC hopes will stand out among a sea of more modern songs.

An Coamhnóir is an independent newspaper in Coiarlabha.

[ReformedEndralon]

The Right Win by the Narrowest of Margins

February 4879

With the final results tallied the right-wing National Party have returned to government by the slenderest of victories. 60,000 votes, or slightly over 0.1% of the 56 million votes cast separated the two parties of Kirlawan politics producing a National majority of one seat in the 135 member Dail. If a few thousand votes had been cast differently and in favour of the Peoples Justice Party (PJP) in a single province it would've been enough to switch a single seat to the PJP and hand Kirlawa's left a second three year term in office.

The National Party led a campaign that focused on the PJPs limited legislative record (one law passed in three years) and advanced a socially conservative and economically liberal platform. The Nationals also ran on a pro-military platform which likely helped win votes in Mearca where the Nationals gained five seats, although an ultimately unsuccessful anti-immigrant platform in Ubhaca where the National Party lost four seats. The National Party also focused campaigning in An Mairc, the only region in which the National Party retained the majority of the vote in the 4876 legislative election, although this time increasing their share of the seats from 14 to 20.

Many PJP supporters were left distraught after the final votes were counted as the National Party will have unlimited power for the next three years. Kelly Smith, a prominent political analyst suggested that;

Kirlawa's two party experiment is failing, it has driven up turnout by creating ideological conflict and in essence creates a elective dictatorship whereby the National Party with 50.05% of the vote have 100% of the power. How is that fair? How is that going to work? We need a return to multiparty politics as soon as possible.

Presidential elections

In the Head of State elections, National Party and fourth time candidate Fiona Uí hIarfhlatha won by a more convincing 590,000 votes, defeating incumbent PJP President Cormac Henley who failed in his reelection attempt. Although the President is a largely ceremonial position, the President has the responsibility of forming a government, although as Kirlawa continues with its experiment in two party politics the National Party holds a narrow majority and President Uí hIarfhlatha is unlikely to reach out to the PJP to form a coalition government.



President Fiona Uí hIarfhlatha the morning after her narrow win.

Fiona Uí hIarfhlatha, only 40, has becomes the standard bearer of the conservative right in Kirlawa and hails from a family with a tradition of nationalist politics with various members of her family having served in elected office. She was naturally delighted with the result and has promised that the National Party has an exciting set of legislative proposals that they will push through the Dail as soon as possible.

[ReformedEndralon]

Reinvigorated National Party Hope for Election Success

Oct 4887

By the time of the next election in February 4888 the National Party will have been out of power for six years, and in the era of two party politics have only won one legislative elections by the narrowest of margins (a single seat) almost nine years ago. However under the leadership of their new leader James Butler, the party has moved a considerable closer to the centre ground of Kirlawan politics and must favour its chances of winning the next set of Presidential and Legislative elections.



James Butler (left) at a party meeting in Merkan.

Butler heralds from a family that has provided a number of National Party TD's since the reformation of the party in time for the 4868 elections. He also comes from the southern Nuchtmark province and represents the Liberal Conservative Luthori speaking wing of the party. For the first time since the party was refounded the party is largely dominated by luthori speakers who have pushed a more progressive brand of politics aiming to reengage the party with moderate voters throughout Kirlawa but in particular in Uwakah and Dirguzia where the party has repeatedly struggled to make any progress.

Recent proposals in the Dail have been designed to emphasise the commitment of the party to supporting Kirlawa's LGBT and ethnic minority communities and increasing Kirlawa's commitment to internationalism. However, figures within the People's Justice Party have noted that the National Party has not committed itself to ending Kirlawa's highly restrictive policies on immigration, including controversial restrictions on refugees and the expulsion of illegal migrants. The PJP believe that this is all part of a cynical electoral strategy designed to moderate the National brand and make them more appealing to a wider segment of the electorate. The PJP have potentially woken up too late to this strategy with their own efforts to propose legislation that attempts to appeal to pro-military constituencies in Merkan, but this might be a case of too little too late.

Given that the Nationals only need to gain four seats across the country to form a majority government there is a strong possibility that the Nationals move to the centre will succeed. With a continued commitment to strong defence and pro-business policies the Nationals are likely to continue to do well amongst their historic vote base and with no party to the right of the Nationals the only risk to their current strategy is that long term supporters on the right of the party sit the next election out and depress turnout.

[Auditorii]

Kirlawan Sun
Our Homeland organizes and calls for convention on Constitution
July 4908

Telon, An Mairc - When constitutional lawyer Cameron Tiernan was approached by close friends Brian Mitchell and Elena MacGilroy regarding a possible career in politics, he waved it off. "It's not for me." he would often be overheard saying but as the situation in Kirlawa began to worsen, they continued to push for him to use his charismatic personality to organize a movement for the country. The economic crisis in the country deepened and in June, 4908 he put together an exploratory committee to discuss possible solutions to issues. Following a series of discussions, Tiernan announced the formation of "Our Homeland" a big-tent, largely center-right political party that espouses Kirlawan nationalism, Hosian values and the development of Kirlawa as an active member of the Artanian Community of Nations (ACON), a personal project that Brian Mitchell has campaigned for within the party, it became apparent it would be popular. Tiernan argued that Kirlawa should borrow from their neighbors Luthori in adopting a parliamentary system of government, believing it to be superior to any other forms of government and the one with the most flexibility for the Kirlawan people as a whole. The interim government called for a general election to be organized shortly after the announcement of "Our Homeland" in the wake of rising pressure and the threat of general strike by some of the countries largest labor unions and organizations. Tiernan urged calm and urged every Kirlawan to get out and vote. Our Homeland's party platform as a whole focuses on the development of economic stability, regional prosperity and the restoration of Hosian values within Kirlawa as a whole. While not always favorable towards their Kilani brethren, Luthorians within Kirlawa (sometimes referred to as "North Artanian's") have signed onto the party as a means to an end.

Mitchell, the party's foreign policy expert, has announced that upon results of the general election and Our Homeland winning a majority or any sort of share of the seats, they will propose a cabinet to immediately begin the process of joining the Artanian Community of Nations (ACON). Mitchell and Tiernan are both slightly skeptical of the whole process but are eager to get to work, especially improving the dire economic situation in Kirlawa. Tiernan has enlisted the help of the Aurorian Church in Kirlawa, still a powerful institution in Kirlawa, to assist in providing public welfare to citizens across the country. Cardinal Henry Coghlan, the highest ranking Aurorian official in Kirlawa, noted that the church was cooperating with government officials to assist in distribution of church based public welfare and other items as needed. The distribution of public welfare and goods was not the only topic discussed at the plenary session of Our Homeland's public policy talks, Ollie MacGannon, a former Colonel in the Kirlawan Army, has been anointed as the "top man" for the position of Minister of Defense. MacGannon noted that the Kirlawan military was in dire need of rebuilding especially if it was going to provide for any common defense of Artania as a component of ACON. "Our Homeland's goal is the development of the Kirlawan Defense Forces as a means to protect KIrlawan's as well as assist in any sort of collective security or collective defense of the Artanian community."

[Danivon]

Political Vaccuum filled by the return of the KPF

After the dissolution of all political parties, the banner of the Kirlawan Popular Front has been raised in Kirlawa again.

Leader Eoin Ó Riordan has said that he hopes to unite the nation with proposals for a free and fair country, and that

Kirlawa rejects totalitarianism of any stripe. We originally stood up to the CandyKids and their drug-fuelled, enforced capitalism. We led the fight against the National Fascist Front in the civil war. and now we are back again, to liberate the people of Kirlawa, for the people of Kirlawa.

[Danivon]

Popular Front Restores National Symbols

Following the ratification of the KPF assumption of power with a 100% vote in the 4949 elections (observers note that turnout was only about 16%), the government has been active in removing many of the symbols and artefacts of the "Soviet" regime under the Communist Workers Party.

The position of Presidency has been restored, with Eoin Ó Riordan elected to serve, and the former Council of the Central Committee of the Peoples Assembly has been removed and replaced with the elected Dáil, with the government led by a Taoiseach. KPF leader Aoife Ó Niall has been elected as Taoiseach by the first sitting of the Dáil.

The communist flag has been replaced with a design that recalls the original orange, blue and white banner, featuring a lion rampant. In the 2000s-2200s this was a white lion on a blue/orange horizonal tricolor. The new Populist Flag has a blue lion on an orange and white background, and is currently being voted on in the Dáil. The national anthem has been restored to the version written in 2369 by Horatio Luze to celebrate the reunification of the country following the Civil War.

The government and the Dáil are working through mass legislative changes to remove the heavy state control of the CWP era. The first Acts removed all curfews, re-established the rights to trial by jury and to a judicial appeal, liberalised marriage and abortion laws, broke up the state monopolies on banking an other industries and removed strict border controls on visitors. Additionally, a major cut in defence spending (which was causing huge deficits) has been passed, with military control on civilian life having been rolled back. The hardliners in the army have been sidelined and several are facing legal action for crimes against the people under communist rule.