Dankuk

[Alain Delors]

LeCoultre Expresses Fears About Low Voter Turnout
April 3269

Larissa LeCoultre: 'Low Turnout must be taken seriously"

lecoultre5.png (134.28 KiB) Viewed 1890 times

House Speaker Larissa LeCoultre (GNP) has expressed concerns over the consistently low turnout at elections since the last decades: "In 3246, 55,328,354 Dranians made use of their right to vote. This number has steadily decreased down to 32,725,608 in 3266. We should be aware of the significance of this problem. Every time in our history when voters were dissatisfied with the democratic parties, totalitarian movements sweeped the elections", she warned the members of the Parliament. "Democracy requires incessant committment by the political leaders. It is not self-evident, and we must take care of the people's concerns, or the desire for a totalitarian regime will rise again." LeCoultre also appealed to Queen Victoria to show that she's close to the people: "Sometimes it seems that the royal family is a bit out of touch with the common people. This is dangerous for the monarchy, because people will start rethinking its legitimacy." At the end of her speech, she called all active politicians to show their commitment for freedom and democracy in order to raise the voter turnout in the elections to take place next year.

[Alain Delors]

Gutierrez Wins GNP Leadership Election
March 3270

New GNP Leader Gerardo Gutierrez

jm.PNG (106.54 KiB) Viewed 1851 times

Defeated: Janine Trichet

trichet.PNG (118.79 KiB) Viewed 1848 times

At the annual Convention of the ruling Grand National Party, Gerardo Gutierrez, the well-known author and philosopher and current Governor of the Ulbrach province, was elected as new Chairman by the 5000 delegates. Gutierrez, who had been backed by Prime Minister Luigi Delgado, House Speaker Larissa LeCoultre and cabinet members Hans Kaltenberg, Lee Jong-Kyu and Ernst Freyung, won 64% of the delegate's vote, compared to 25% for his strongest rival Janine Trichet, who currently serves as MP for Ponte Iglesias and as Chairwoman of the Parliamentary Council for Pension Affairs. Trichet had received the support of Minister for Environment Marit Jensson and Dana Hayward, the Governor of Elbian province. 11% of the delegates voted for Alberto del Ponte, the former Mayor of Iglesia Mayor.

Gutierrez, who is succeeding the quitting Prime Minister Luigi Delgado as GNP Chairman, thanked the delegates for their support. "I am grateful for the overwhelming support. Now we have to seek the mandate of the people", he said with regards to the upcoming elections in September. He also revealed details about his campaign strategy: "We will focus on economy and tourism. The new tourism project launched by the government will be a major issue. I fully support the project and will heavily campaign for it. I will also defend the recent raise of the retirement age."

His opponent Janine Trichet accepted her defeat and congratulated him. "The polls were obviously false", she said, referring to a couple of polls who had predicted a narrow race between the two candidates. She also assured that she will now endorse Gerardo Gutierrez for Prime Minister. "If the GNP wants to keep its majority, we have to prove unity. I will fully back our new leader for the elections in September."

Trichet's loss was probably due to her socially conservative views, say GNP insiders. "It would be self-damagaing if the GNP, as a libertarian party, would have nominated someone who opposes gay marriage and abortion", explains Carlos López, a delegate from Santa Sharika. "Gerardo Gutierrez, however, is the ideal candidate. He is socially liberal and fiscally conservative, and he supports free markets and low taxes." Other delegates declared disappointment over Trichet's defeat: "We lose conservatives to the PDM, because we focus too much on the economy and forget about social issues. Many GNP members are totally against abortion, and we do nothing about it."

However, despite the defeat, here remains one consolation for Janine Trichet: She was subsequently appointed as the new Majority Leader in the Parliament, following the resignation of Federico de la Ruíz, which is the third-highest political office after the Prime Minister and the House Speaker.

[Alain Delors]

Elections of 3270: GNP Keeps Majority, PGR Gains, PDM Stagnates
September 3270

GNP Supporters Celebrate Their Party's Victory

grandnationals.PNG (175.93 KiB) Viewed 1823 times

GNP Leader Gutierrez to Become Next Prime Minister

gutierrez2.PNG (92.64 KiB) Viewed 1818 times

The elections of 3270 have not brought major changes in the political landscape of Dranland: The libertarian Grand National Party with its leader Gerardo Gutierrez, which rules uninterruptedly since 3246, won its fifth consecutive absolute majority, although it lost four percentage points to its ally, the liberal-nationalist PGR, which won 31%. The socially conservative PDM, led by opposition leader Laura Castaneda, could not make any gains and remained at 17%. Overall, the coalition gained control of 83% of seats in the Parliament.

On a regional level, the GNP won in all five Province except of Valdor, which was won by the PGR. In Ulbrach Province, the GNP even won a crushing majority of 72%. In the gubernatorial elections, candidates of the coalition prevailed in all Provinces: Governors Dana Hayward (GNP, Elbian Province), Fernando González (GNP, Ulbrach Province), Arnold Woolridge (GNP, Magadonia Province) and Pedro Cervantes (GNP, Loren Province) were re-elected. In Valdor, the candidate of the PGR succeded.

After the results were announced, the leaders of the three parties met in the Parliament to discuss the results and answer the questions of journalists in a podium discussion. GNP leader Gerardo Gutierrez said that he considered his party's result "satisfying" and announced to continue the current coalition. PGR leader Taliesin Prichard was also content with his party's result. PDM Chairwoman Laura Castaneda said that she accepted the results, but said that she would have hoped to win more seats. All three leaders agreed that the voter turnout of 42% was "way too low" and promised to make efforts to raise the public awareness for politics in general.

Gerardo Gutierrenz (GNP), Laura Castaneda (PDM) and Taliesin Prichard (PGR) discuss the results of the elections

Gutierrez_Castaneda.PNG (175.8 KiB) Viewed 1822 times

[Alain Delors]

GNP Takes On Religion and Welfare
October 3270

Majority Leader Janine Trichet: 'Cut Welfare, Restrict Religious Influence'

trichet3.PNG (153.98 KiB) Viewed 1815 times

After its electoral victory, the Grand National Party is taking a tougher stance on relgion and welfare: After Minister for Internal Affairs Lee Jong-Kyu's proposal to require foreign missionaries to register within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Janine Trichet, the Majority Leader in the Parliament, came out to explain the GNP's stricter line on the issue: "What we are trying to do is not aimed at restricting religious freedom, but rather avoiding the propagation of dangerous cults who try to manipulate the people. Requiring missionaries to register themselves in the ministry is actually only a minor change, but it can help the government having an eye over the activities of dubious groups, so that we can intervene if a threat occurs."

Trichet, who is also responsible for outlining the fiscal policy of the GNP, also launched a bill to abolish the guarantee of minimum income, which is currently based on a temporary payment system. "I really see no pont why we have to maintain additional grants when we already subsidize housing and health care expenses for poor families", she said. "Scrapping the minimum income will thus relieve the budget and the taxpayer, while having virtually no effect on the life standard of the poor, since it is only a temporary service anyway".

[Alain Delors]

Coalition Enjoys High Approval Rating According to Polls
May 3271

It's all very well for Prime Minister Gutierrez and his Deputy Trichard

gutierrez5.PNG (122.74 KiB) Viewed 1788 times

According to recent polls published in several newspapers, the libertarian coalition of GNP and PGR enjoys considerable popularity among the people of Dranland, despite having conducted rather unpopular reforms such as the abolition of the minimum income and raising the retirement age by four years. Asked to rate the government's current overall performance, 59% of those surveyed answered with "favorable", while only 31% said "unfavorable". 10% were undecided.

The personal approval ratings of the leading figures of the cabinet are also on a high level: 62% stated that they had a favorable view on the new Prime Minister Gerardo Gutierrez (GNP), who is in office since the beginning of the year. An equal number approved the performance of Deputy Prime Minister Taliesin Prichard (PGR), who had already served under former PM Delgado. The field of ministers is led by Minister of Finance Jean-Jacques Villeroy, who's popularity is at 69% due to his successful attempts to balance the budget. At average, the ministers enjoy a popularity of 56%.

In a hypothetical direct election of the Prime Minister, Gerardo Gutierrez (GNP) would receive 44%, followed by Trichard (PGR) with 31% and 21% for opposition leader Laura Castaneda (PDM). 4% of those questioned did not make a choice.

The approval rating of the opposition is modest, but still much higher than its voter share in the last election: 38% said they approved the opposition's performance, while 45% didn't. 17% were undecided. PDM leader Castaneda has a high personal popularity rating of 51%, but her party's support is way below that level.

[Alain Delors]

Scientology Celebration Day to be Abolished in Elbian Province?
April 3272

Gov. Dana Hayward (GNP) thinks about abolishing the Scientology Day

Hayward.PNG (229.72 KiB) Viewed 1759 times

Regarding the recent celebrations of the Scientology as part of the so-called Day of beginning the formation of the Church of Scientology on April 26, which is a national Holiday in the Elbian Province, new discussions have emerged whether the holiday should be abolished or not. Some years ago, former Minister of Infrastructure Lee Jong-Kyu (GNP) and the PGR have condemned the celebrations. Lee even called for its abolition. Now, Elbian Governor Dana Hayward (GNP) seems to be picking up this old idea and came out in support of such a measure. "It is an obtrusive insult to the Welsh-Dranians seeing the religion celebrated which was responsible for the mass killing of their ancestors", the Governor said, referring to the so-called "Welsh Genocide", which took place in the 2000s. "The Scientologists can celebrate whatever they want, but not with the state's support", she continued. However, Hayward also said that she would not put forward an according bill unless she has the support of at least one other party. Since the GNP does not have an absolute majority in Elbian's Regional Parliament, it requires an ally in this respect. "I call the leaders of the regional organizations of PGR and PDM to get involved in the discussion and state their opinion on the issue. I am hoping for broad support", Governor Hayward concluded.

[Alain Delors]

While Debate About Scientology Gets Heated, Trichet Adds Fuel to the Fire
May 3272

Protesters in Mynydd Mawr came out in support of Gov. Hayward's proposal

antiscientology.PNG (255.57 KiB) Viewed 1749 times

After the proposal of Dana Hayward (GNP), the Governor of Elbian, had proposed abolishing the Scientology Day as a national holiday in the Province, a heated discussion has emerged all over the country. In Mynydd Mawr, a predominately Welsh city in Elbian, a group of protesters showed their support for the Governor's proposal, repeatedly shouting "Scientology is fraud". In response, Jorge Chávez, the spokesman of the local Scientology branch, fired back at Gov. Hayward and the protesters in a press release: "They are not only campaigning against Scientology, in fact they're planning an assault on religious freedom. The government must stop the hate speech against the members of our church and actively protect them from attacks. The local police department has documented three violent actions against Scientologists within the last two weeks. This is a result of Governor Hayward's populist defamation of our community."

Majority Leader Trichet speaks out in favor of the protestors

trichet4.PNG (203.54 KiB) Viewed 1755 times

Kaltenberg Calls for Deescalation, Trichet Adds Fuel to the Fire
On a federal level, government officials have yet failed to issue an explicit statement on the heated situation. Eric Walton, the cabinet's chief clerk only said that the government would "observe the situation carefully and consistently". Today, Minister of Internal Affairs Hans Kaltenberg (GNP) also briefly referred to the topic at a press conference in Iglesia Mayor, when he was asked what he thought about the tensions in Elbian Province. "I call both sides to pursue a course of deescalation and pragmatism", he said vaguely. However, the GNP apparently fails to display unity on the issue, since Janine Trichet, the Parliamentary Majority Leader, today spoke out in favor of the protestors and their goals: "I firmly stand by the protestors and their causes. Scientology and its dangers must not be trivialized."

[leuer]

Laura Castaneda before Elections 3274
February 3273



Iglesia Mayor, Dranland - "In recent years, our party has stagnated. This must be changed", said Laura Castaneda in the beginning the press conference. She responded to the poor results in the last elections. Mrs. Castaneda proposed changes of the candidates in the elections 3274 and began with the presentation of the new party electoral program, which will offer citizens better conditions for life as now offers the majority party. GNP is a very long time in the majority, has unlimited power because of its majority in government, and this must be changed, because GNP ignore the requests of citizens who disagree with their actions. Not the whole country asked for reforms that they did.

Country and people are ready for change. - Together we can! - This is the new motto of the party in elections 3274.

[leuer]

Protests against the hunting of endangered animals
March 3273



Iglesia Mayor, Dranland - Citizens who are against of hunting endangered animals, calling the government to support its illegality in all regions and prevent corrupt practices at the local governments. Thousands of protesters expressed their opinion in the streets of the capital city of Dranland in Iglesia Mayor. Protesters urged the local governments and Governors to transfer the power of this law to the National Government.

"We are not a big country, we do not need to have a federated regions. The benefit of this system is minimal and opens the door to corruption and clientelism at the local level", PDM party members supported the protesters.

[Alain Delors]

LeCoultre Mocks PDM and Protestors
April 3273

lecoultre7.PNG (96.43 KiB) Viewed 1706 times

During a press conference about the current political situation, House Speaker Larissa LeCoultre (GNP) issued attacks on the PDM's recent remarks and its support for the protests against the government's policy on endangered animals. "I'm not afraid of the PDM teaming up with a bunch of awkward hippies", LeCoultre said. "Moreover, I took a look at the PDM's new electoral programm, and i have to confess that I had some great laughs while reading through it. Indeed, isn't it ironic when the PDM complains that the GNP 'ignore ignore the requests of citizens who disagree with their actions', while they just submitted bills that included anti-freedom, homophobic and racist proposals? Maybe it's meant as a joke, or maybe Mrs. Castaneda is a mere hypocrite", she said. "And one word to the animal protests: The local government should know better if the local species are endangered and may be hunted or not than the federal government. Claiming otherwise is illogical."