Solentia

[SenorNoPants]

Lefolst Pushes Federal Independent Senators to Introduce "Third Agenda"
The new Party President asks Senators to aggressively adopt his new platform

A Solvernment News Network! Report

RHEGIUM - If there's one notable difference between Federal Independent Party President Christopher Lefolst and former Party President Barry Elridge, it's their approach to legislation.

The recently elected Party President has made known his desire for the party to become vocal on issues of legislation and focal points the party has been known for in the past. Speaking before a chapter of the IBEW, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Lefolst declared that the party would no longer idly sit by and simply reject legislation it disliked. Rather, he said, it would take an affirmative role in proactively creating new legislation that protects the party's interest groups and constituency base.

"You've seen for too long a party, once known as the lion of the Senate for its aggressive, constant demand to vote in new laws popular with the people, now become apathetic with policy creation," said Lefolst. "That time is over and done."

Our party has struggled with useless division at a time of crisis in Solentia. The economy is bleeding jobs with runaway privatization and hijacked markets by invasive foreign corporations. This is the time for us to pick up our things, get the picture together, and emerge the country's leading political force once again. - Party President Christopher Lefolst

Many of the party's most supportive bases are hoping that a Lefolst presidency will create a stronger party on the national scene where it has gradually dwindled in strength over the past few elections. Conflict between the party's traditional labor base and its more recent welcome of fiscal organizations as a key interest group has caused some friction between party members. The party's Supreme Presidential primary in 2936 is cited as the climactic moment in which Russ Donahue and Jeremy Frawl, appealing to two different bases, fought one another in a close race and refused to seek the other's interest group's support. Ultimately Donahue won the nomination with the fiscal caucus' support, but went on to lose the general election in which organized labor was unsympathetic to Donahue's campaign.

Lefolst's strongest supportes claim that his track record shows he is able to bring competing sides together, something he has already done by appointing both labor representatives and fiscal group representatives on the party's electoral board. He has also urged the Federal Independent Senatorial Committee to consist of both groups to ensure unity at the ballot box. But his most recent prodding of the party to accept and embrace TASA, the Third Agenda Series Acts, has established a firm grounding of the party in its bases.

Criticized by some in the political arena, Lefolst has generally brushed off attacks by the Conservative Party of Solentia and the Utilitarian Party of Solentia. In a letter between Lefolst and an unnamed UPS representative, Lefolst wrote scathingly of the current coalition government.

"If the FIP will not defend the Solentians when its help is most needed, Solentia deserves better than the FIP," the UPS representative writes.

To this Lefolst responded: "Then you are right. The Solentia you continue to imagine deserves to be without this party. But that is not the Solentia we live in. Enjoy working in the authoritarian coalition. I just hope that the CPS doesn't pull the strings of its UPS puppet too hard. In previous times, the CPS has strangled many of its pawns by doing such."

[Sir Thomas Hill]

Solentia Broadcasting Corporation
- Your Solentia, your way
- January 2942


Masters warns against a “two-way race”


HALION – Andrew Masters, former advisor to Supreme President Cirroc Kennedy, has today warned CUP members and potential voters against tactical voting in the marginals. He said that Solentia could not risk a “coalition election” and advised voters to select the party that best reflected them. He said that he hoped that the public would heed his call and avoid “assuming that past coalition agreements will stand in the coming term.” He said that the CSP-UPS deal was “running thin on momentum” and that calls for a FIP-CUP coalition may be “running out of steam in come circles if suitable gains are not made.”

The announcement came during an interview on Solentia Today just after it was announced that CUP core-voters in FIP-CSP marginals were preparing to vote Independent as a way of avoiding CSP Senators. However Masters said that the best “duty that CUP-voters and members can do, is to vote Unionist this year.” He made a total of three calls during the interview stressing that the situation risked “breaking Senate and our democratic system.” He also claimed that voters in his own home constituency of Nukeya should remember the Party that had served them best and “regain a bit of loyalty.”

Mr. Masters, once a key advocate of the Party line is viewed in most modern CUP circles to be a rebel leader. Though no risk himself for leadership, he is said to be earmarking future leaders ready to challenge the “centre-left” of the party and bring back firm Centre-right control. He does however, have an enemy in the current religious-right grouping that has risen in recent months and is known to argue bitterly in public with Cardinal Callaghan. He openly opposed the return of Nicholas d’Amiens to the CUP shadow cabinet despite having agreed with him on his comments on homosexuality.

Masters may be the voice of the old right, but he stands firm in a position to reform the party when a suitable time arises. At age 68, he still holds a decades worth of service in him some suggest and may even be the one to call a leadership election if “Big Jim” Clarke is unable to salvage his leadership at this years polls.

[SenorNoPants]

Federal Independents See Immense Success at Polls
The party capitalizes off of its popular Third Agenda platform in the general election

A Solvernment News Network! Report

RHEGIUM - There is probably no one happier today in all of Solentia than Christopher Lefolst.

With strong showings at the polling stations and results nearly final, the Federal Independent party doubled its seat share in the Senate and performed well in the Supreme Presidential race against an incumbent with a formerly popular agenda. This sets the party at a huge advantage in the upcoming term on the national level as it is expected to introduce further measures of the Third Agenda. The victory for the party is also a setback for the Conservative Party-Utilitarian Party coalition which had previously rigorously attacked the Federal Independent Party has holding an obstructionist agenda unpopular with the people.

Party President Christopher Lefolst is widely credited with the great performance of the party in the election, shaking the party up and forcing it to proactively take an approach in national politics. Some analysts had expected Lefolst to lead his party into an election lacking unity due to a shortage of time, but this prediction was proven false. Instead, the relatively new party leader campaigned successfully in his first national election.

"We won. We did it. We proved them wrong. They called us obstructionists, dragging our feet. They said we were unrepresentative of what Solentians want. They said Solentia deserved better than us and that we were a relic of the past ready to be retired. Well, as history has shown and as the citizenry has made history today, they stand corrected," said Lefolst at a victory rally in downtown Rhegium at the Bailen Building, Federal Independent HQ. "No one knows this country better than we do and no one runs this country better than we do. When this party is unified and focused, it is the premier protector of the Federal Republic."

Now that the country has mandated reform and overwhelmingly removed the coalition from a majority government, it is time for a new government. More importantly, it's time the CPS and UPS step into reality and get out of the bubble they continue to live in and realize that Halion is not their personal playground. - Party President Christopher Lefolst

Senator Hugh Bridgen, Chairman of the Federal Independent Senatorial Committee, credited most of the party's victory to Lefolst.

"He's a great leader with unparalleled drive. We have most of this to thank him for," said Bridgen.

The party was largely able to unify its interest groups by bringing organized labor and more conservative fiscal groups together. Also active was the powerful environment lobby Solentian Generation, a group loyal to the Federal Independent Party ever since the Tisgeki Administration's green agenda. In the previous election disputes between labor and fiscal groups created tension while the Solentian Generation refused to offer its support to a party it felt was lacking coordination. The Solentian Civil Liberties Union became a strong arm of the party's campaign as Federal Independents ruthlessly attacked the Harding Administration for its support of slashing civil liberties.

The party's platform promised a continuation of the Third Agenda made popular under Lefolst during the last term. Interestingly, a key point of the campaign was to continue the Progressive Independence Agenda, which mandates that the party attempt to direct policy and decision making largely under its own initiatives. Party leadership defended the Progressive Independence Agenda by saying it was the only option in a Senate divided by partisan bickering. However, Senate Majority Leader Quincy Seville called on the CPS-UPS coalition to relinquish its power.

"The CPS and UPS must open up government to new ideas and parties. It will only hold the country hostage by running it with a minority government that has lost 21 seats in the Senate," said Seville. "To ignore the new majority would be irresponsible, undemocratic, and ultimately lacking of Solentian values."

Former Senate Warden Nathan White, now Governor of Fuwan, warned of a continued CPS-UPS coalition government running the country.

"They've lost the right to exclusively govern as they have done in the past, now it's time to move on. If the UPS allows the CPS to hold the country in a submissive state, then it truly demonstrates that the party is nothing more than a puppet."

[Sir Thomas Hill]

Solentia Broadcasting Corporation
- Your Solentia, your way
- January 2942


Battles Lost and Won


ALYA - Tory Leader James ‘Big Jim’ Clarke has survived a leadership challenge despite a lack of gain at the general election. The call for a VONC was called by Leading member of the Religious Right, Nicholas d’Amiens and involved Deputy Leader Eoghan Cardinal Callaghan supporting. At approximately 3pm yesterday afternoon the call was made and an emergency sitting of the 2616 Committee was held at 21 St. Thomas Street, Alya.

The vote was expected to pass as the Senators and Councilmembers flocked into Nukeya to say their piece and cast their vote on the future of the party. Ultimately however the vote was blocked. Modernists were already pledged to support Mr. Clarke however there was speculation that if the other three “Big Blocs” in the CUP did not that he would have to face re-election. The Centrist Bloc ultimately split each way with no definite agreement in their group on how to respond to the polls. The Religious Right voted for the Vote of No Confidence. The biggest surprise was the voting pattern of the Traditional elite, led by the Conservative Reform Group who chose to isolate the Religious Right and some top centrists by supporting Mr. Clarke.

Cardinal Callaghan, Nicholas d’Amiens, Jordan York, Sayeed Akil Al-Aahil and leading Centrist Ivan Beachamp have all been removed from the Shadow Cabinet. Replacing them are key members of the Centre and Traditional Right. Some speculate that the “Hillite” faction is preparing to take-over the party when Mr. Clarke makes a fatal mistake for himself, without launching a leadership election.

Some have suggested that the Conservative Reform Group, under Andrew Masters, is now in a position to dominate party politics. This is backed by the fact that in a surprise move this evening, Mr. Clarke has petitioned the Party Board to change the name of the Party back to “Conservative and Morality Party”. Certainly this is a risk for the last three leaders who tried this ended up resigning in shame. It is understood that with the Religious Right isolated, the vote may pass.

[Zanz]

Voice of Solentia
"The News Solentia Wants!"
November 2942

Solentia split over "who's to lead?"

HALION - After what many see as one of the most split elections in recent Solentian history, many political experts are left scratching their heads in the aftermath. Though the CPS lost a significant share of seats in the Senatorial election to a revitalized Federal Independent Party, incumbent Supreme President James Harding was voted to a third term by a margin larger than either of his previous victories.


The Solentian Senate is more divided than it has been in a decade, and although no 'coalitions' have been officially confirmed, neither the rumored CPS-UPS nor the loosely affiliated FIP-CUP coalitions comprise a majority.

The situation is the first of its kind since the Senate granted the right to propose cabinets solely to the Supreme President, and Supreme President Harding responded to the FIP's narrow Senatorial victory by proposing a new cabinet which includes the Independents in several prominent positions. The cabinet comes in spite of continued taunting by FIP leadership calling the Supreme President 'partisan,' and calling the Utilitarian Party of Solentia (Solentia's third largest party) a puppet of the CPS. Many in the CPS see the cabinet as a clear indicator of the party's willingness to cooperate with parties which have been given the trust of the citizens. CUP Senators have declared their support of the coalition cabinet.

[SenorNoPants]

Senate Leaders Agree to Cabinet Proposal, Tackle Further Issues
A fresh Senate with new faces begins a productive session in Halion

A Solvernment News Network! Report

After the confetti and political pundits have all come and gone, the Senate has come together to begin work once again in the nation's capitol. This time however, the session has begun on what many are hoping to continue to be a productive and bi-partisan term.

Much of the bi-partisan spirit began after negotiations for a new government were established by a bill proposed by the UPS to eliminate the Supreme Presidential cabinet procedure. In reaction to the bill, Supreme President James Harding nominated a new cabinet comprised of CPS, UPS, and Federal Independent Party representatives. There was speculation the cabinet might be grounded and progress slowed when the Federal Independent Party announced it needed time to review the proposal and made the point of the Senate Wardenship an issue. However, after deliberation, the party came out in favor of the cabinet proposal.

Also currently an issue at stakes is the size of the legislature which is under debate as of the moment. Despite CPS and UPS initial opposition, debate is set to continue with the Federal Independent Party opposed with reservations. The CMP has proposed the bill and has argued the increase of 325 Senators to the Senate delegation will be a push in favor of "tradition" alongside representing the needs of Solentians more thoroughly. Analysts suggest the bill will be hard to pass and ultimately impossible to push through without Federal Independent support. As of the moment, the bill's fate is yet to be decided.


Freshmen Senators line up in front of the capitol building. Many expect new officials to play an important role in policy development

Up for debate are bills ranging from civil rights to tap water, promising a productive legislative session. Senate Majority Leader Quincy Seville told SNN to expect freshmen Federal Independents to introduce legislation in line with the Third Agenda platform.

"Many of our freshmen rode to victory on a campaign of the Third Agenda. Expect them to deliver on the promises they made," said Seville.

[Zanz]

Voice of Solentia
"The News Solentia Wants!"
November 2943

Supreme President Harding to "step away" from politics, former Minister of Defence likely successor

HALION - Since the end of the Federal Independent era of one-party rule 10 years ago, Conservative Party Supreme President James Harding has guided the nation with a steady hand toward fiscal and civil freedom, and strong national defence and identity. Three times he has come before the citizens of this nation, and three times have they chosen him as their executive. Unfortunately, a fourth term is no longer in the cards.

Supreme President James Harding announced today to a gathering of Conservatives that he would not seek another Supreme Presidency.


The descendant of former Supreme President Roger Harding, few can claim that James Harding has not been a dedicated leader, even if his administrations have created controversy.

Mr. Harding stated that he must 'step away' from Solentian politics to focus on his family. His youngest son, Alan, was recently diagnosed with lung cancer.

"I need to focus on Alan and my wife now, they need me more than they ever have before," said the visibly emotional Supreme President. "I have lead the nation as best as I can for seven years, and I will complete my next two years, and then I have to step away from the political scene."

The Supreme President's declination to run in 2945 has lead to a debate over who the Conservative Party will back as a successor to the successful Supreme President.


Primary candidates include several CPS Senators, and former Minister of Defence Helen Brown, who is seen as the favorite for the position.

The Voice of Solentia will release information on the CPS primary election as it becomes available.

[Sir Thomas Hill]

Solentia Broadcasting Corporation
- Your Solentia, your way
- November 2942

Leading Lady sidelined as Clarke reshuffles team


HALION – Shadow Senate Warden Annie Weston, holder of the title for the last six years, is being removed from her post in a reshuffle of the CMP shadow cabinet. Party Leader James Clarke is conducting a reshuffle of his team in preparation for next year’s launch of the 2945 election campaign. The campaign is being regarded as Mr. Clarke’s last chance to prove that he can make gains at the polls.

Ms. Weston, Senator from Tesuhen, is a CMP favourite with the grassroots and will likely cost Mr. Clarke votes if she is not kept on the team. A confident Senate performer, Ms. Weston had been tipped for Big Jim’s deputy six years ago, a role that eventually went to Anthony Benjamin.

Ms. Weston is being moved to a newly created post of Women and Equality Spokesman and will also chair a Party Commission on Workplace Equality. The move is a severe demotion for the usually-safe pair of hands. Ms. Weston said that she was “happy to accept the role offered having enjoyed a long stint leading the party in Senate.” Fears that Mr. Clarke is sidelining women to favour the traditional right are being dismissed by Kennedy House, who say that Party Deputy Leader Catherine Keller is proof-enough of the Party’s dedication to it’s female team.

Ms. Weston is not a controversial figure, leading some to question Mr. Clarke’s judgement in having her removed. The position of Shadow Senate Warden, who has responsibility for organising and leading the party in the Senate, needs to go to a sitting Senator. With only 8 members to choose from, a reshuffle was in order.

The post has instead been offered to former Party Chairman and incumbent Internal Affairs Spokesman, Heikki Hämäläinen. The Nukeyan Senator is also seen as a safe pair of hands though is more liberal than Ms. Weston. Leading figures have now called to question whether Mr. Clarke is truly moving to the Right or is simply putting on a façade. Either way, Mr. Clarke is going to have to work hard to prove that this was a wise decision.

[Zanz]

Voice of Solentia
"The News Solentia Wants!"
January 2944
Brown to be next CPS Supreme Presidential candidate

HALION - With elections only a year and a half away, and incumbent Supreme President James Harding no longer seeking a fourth term, the Conservative Party of Solentia held a quick and quiet primary that proved to be all but a formality, with the favorite, former Minister of Defence Helen Brown emerging as the clear choice.

Ms. Brown, who is a CPS Senator from the Conservative stronghold of Nukeya, is seen by many as the logical successor to Supreme President Harding. The primary vote was a landslide, with 64% of Conservatives voting in her favor. Her popularity will be a necessity this election, with strong challengers expected from the Federal Independents, the Conservative Moralists, and even the Utilitarians. In the election of 2942, Supreme President Harding only defeated FIP candidate Jeremy Frawl with the help of a Utilitarian endorsement in the second round. Though it is believed that this second round endorsement will also be extended to Ms. Brown, the Conservative is preparing for a tough race.

"We're coming into the election in a bad way, to be frank," Brown told supporters at a rally after her primary victory was announced. "The Federal Republic will greatly miss a man as influential and powerful as Supreme President Harding. I cannot hope to replace him, but I will do my best and I know that I speak for all Solentians when I say that we wish him and Alan the best of luck and that we thank them for the sacrifices which they have made over his public service.

"In 2942, the voters of Solentia showed the first signs of trust in the FIP in six years. In response to this, Supreme President Harding opened the cabinet and allowed ministers who may not have agreed with him ideologically but who the Solentian people said ought to have a say. If only we could all be so devoted to nation over party. Even though Supreme President Harding should be commended for his steps to close a divide, we cannot neglect the fact that the CPS is still the party of the people. We cannot allow ourselves to lose another mandate like we did in the last election, and it is time for us to renew our commitment to a free market, a strong military, and a free Solentian nation!

"The old alliances and coalitions are important and our relationship with the UPS is as vital as ever, but we have seen now that even our parties, which have worked so closely, do have important differences. This is why it is imperative that those Solentians who are on the fence, those Solentians who consider themselves to be members of the center, those Solentians who are moderate or who are apathetic, come to the polls next August and vote Conservative. Our party has stood for internationalism, our party has stood for free markets, our party has stood for civil freedoms and our party has defended the Solentian. While each of the parties in Solentia's government has its strong points, the CPS remains the only one lacking weakness. If I become Supreme President, I will work for you, just as Supreme President Harding has done."

[SenorNoPants]

Primary Season Kicks Off
A party aching to recapture the Supreme Presidency offers its usual unpredictable primary

A Solvernment News Network! Report

RHEGIUM - In Rhegium, the heart of it all, a special event is taking place today: a primary. For many it is that something special that comes every election cycle, pushing the political aficionados to partake in what they love most. And to those who gathered at this event, Rhegium is perhaps the only thing that matters.

Something learned quick and early in any successful Federal Independent's career: you don't go far if you don't get the go-ahead from Rhegium. The capitol of the party and the home of the renowned Bailen Building, Rhegium has been the breeding and testing grounds for every Federal Independent from Father George Bailen to Grigori Brandt. With its constituency representing every interest group in the party, the city serves as the culmination of what the party typically stands for. Dominated by organized labor, an overwhelming Xzarin Catholic population, environmental activists, fiscal watchdogs, and progressives in general, the city usually gives the most radical of the party its support.

I talked with several volunteers organizing a rally for Senator Hugh Bridgen who they are attempting to draft into the primary. Their attitude reflected the spirit of many citizens of Rhegium and their respective views of primary season.

"I look forward to this time of year every election. I really love to be involved in the foundations of the primary before anyone has really emerged. There's an element of excitement to it all," says Rob Geist, a lobbyist for Solentian Generation, one of the country's key environmentalist groups.

Don Pasavic, a local grocery store owner campaigning for Governor Nathan White, voices similar thoughts.

"My question is how could you not be part of this? It's wonderful. I've supported this party for as long as I can remember. To think that I could support a party for so long but never have a role in who this party nominates is an awful thought," he says. "I love this time of year; it's an open invitation for some good political discussion and even a friendly barbecue with fellow primary activists."

Among the field of candidates in the primary are several large national names. But it's the people you least know that often are most popular in this party says Professor Eugene Krunger.

"Look at Huey Long, the famous southern Federal Independent Supreme President. He emerged from nowhere a nobody, but ended up in the Supreme Presidential mansion four times and won the party's nomination six elections straight" explains Krunger. "You've gotta watch out for the people you'd least expect in this party."

Big names in this one include Fuwan Governor Nathan White and Shinatawa Senator Brent Jansen, while a movement to draft the notably fierce liberal Senator Hugh Bridgen, son of former senator Lionel Bridgen who is a self-proclaimed communist, has gained momentum. Little known candidate Vincent Genchyki, mayor of Lorain, Fuwan, has also thrown his hat into the ring.

It's always a guessing game as to who might get the nomination, but this year is expected to be pivotal in an unsure political climate. For now I'm Reno Taddo with SNN, with more soon to come.