Baltusia

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Major Electoral Shake Up:
First Republican President in Over Half a Century
Materialist Circuit goes from Smallest to Largest Party
Left Wing Loose Control in Congress
Socialist Alliance becomes the Largest Opposition Bloc

Brian Burgmuller has become the first Republican President in 56 years, this is a major victory for the party which has become the second largest. The party is expected to form some sort of a cabinet alliance with the 'Materialist Circuit', who combined have an overall majority of 332 seats. This following the last election result, where the Left Bloc and Socialist Alliance had a majority but couldn't form a cabinet because of the Green Alliance holding the Presidency.

For the Materialist Circuit it was an excellent election, they went from the smallest party in Congress, with only 18 seats however following the collapse of the Green Alliance they appear to have taken most of their former voters and have achieved an excellent 202 seats.

For the first time in a long while both of the parties who got through to the second round of Presidential vote were right leaning. With only the Republicans and the Materialists getting through, it is as yet unclear whether or not this will create tensions between the two parties who as previously mentioned are likely to form a cabinet alliance.

As a milestone in its history, the Socialist Alliance obtained more seats in Congress than the Left Bloc and are likely to form the official opposition, in history the Secularist, Socialist Party of Baltusia (SSPB) have been in favour of a shadow cabinet so it is likely that there will be a shadow cabinet for the first time in quite a while.

For the third election in a row the Liberal, Socialist Party of Baltusia (LSPB) and the SSPB have got less than three seats difference of each other, with the LSPB having a two seat advantage this time around.

[matthewleitch]

Far-Right Populist Groups growing across the country

The Far-Right demographic in Baltusian has been quenched since the dissolution of parties such as the Hosian Front and more recently the Baltusian Green Alliance. With the Materialist Party, which some have called anarcho-capitalist, becoming the largest party by far at the 4266 election, it appears that many far-right and social conservative voters are opting for the materialists. However, the Materialists policy couldn't be socially further from those of the far-right voter. In favour of many socially left-wing views, such as complete legalisation of abortion throughout pregnancy and other more social left-wing views, it means that social conservatives are opting for the Materialists conservative fiscal policy as compared to their social policy.

President Burgmullers Republicans have always appealed to the more middle and upper class voter, in favour of globalist business. Socially the party is still very centre, making it very difficult for neoconservatives voices to be heard in Congress.

Rumours of growth amongst regional Neoconservative and Far-Right wing groups have spread like wildfire across Baltusia, with protests taking place in Albiland, Terrarokka and Lindar Valley. Many of these people also hold anti-immigration and anti-globalist views, something very poorly represented in Congress.

Will a neoconservative party emerge in time for the next elections and a far-right comeback emerge? Continue to tune into the BPBC for all of your up-to-date Baltusian political news.

[jay42544]

Our Party Chair has resigned!
After a disastrous election. Party members begin blaming our chair who didn't give our members and this country a real solid message. Some said it was too broad and was only a matter of time before it showed in elections. Noram Ray grew tired of calls for his resignation and decided to step down after a meeting with a few of our congress members. We will be rolling out our new party name and agenda soon.

Newly elected press secretary, Madam Edeh.

[jay42544]

Newly elected Working Class Party Chair message send chills throughout Baltusia!
Louis Frankens is a young long time political aid who grew frustrated at his party's lack of message and confusing agenda. His first order of business as the new chair was to create a new name and agenda for our party. His message was this "The days where the citizens of this country didn't know where we stood on a number of issues are over. When you start to see more money going into your pockets and your everyday life becoming easier, you will see this isn't just talk. We will make it clear that we are champions for the middle class!"

Press secretary, Madam Edeh.

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Secularist, Socialist Party of Baltusia Builds a 'Wall For Vandals' Following Vandalism of Party Headquarters

The Secularist, Socialist Party of Baltusia (SSPB) has erected a large wall next to their party headquarters in Llajita, Terrarokka. This following a mass vandalism of the building. The party's budget and tax proposal were met with much criticism in the Congress, particularly by the Block Bloc, who branded it an "Illegal Budget and Taxation Proposal...", the new party which has gathered the support of many first time voters and the politically unengaged has spread the false rumour that only the minister for finance can propose a taxation or spending bill. This in turn has lead to many of those people sticking notes with slogans such as "down with illegal tax bill" and "down with budget tax bill" on the external walls and windows of the SSPB headquarters. In response, the party leader Penny Sargent travelled to the building and said the following:

"Our party has done nothing wrong, the Block Bloc is just less experienced and thus ignorant of the situation regarding who may propose budget and taxation bills. As a message to those who would sensor our party in Congress and those who are exercising their right to protest us by plasting our headquarters with messages, we have erected next to our building a wall for anyone to use to protest us if they wish. This is because, unlike the Block Bloc, we support the right of freedom of expression and speech for all. And while we will clear those messages which are put onto our party headquarters, I promise you now that we will do nothing to clear anything which is put on our 'Wall for Vandals' as we are naming." Sargent later clarified that if any extreme profanities, sexually explicit images or anything else which would be considered socially unacceptable were put on this wall then they would take it down

[matthewleitch]

Burgmuller resigns sparking leadership contest

The Republican ex-President, Brian Burgmuller, has today announced his resignation from politics and thus his position as Leader of the Baltusian Republican Party.

Burgmuller, who served a single term as President, contested several elections, always becoming a Congressperson, however, he only managed to successfully become President on one occasion. A disappointing result for Burgmuller in the 4270 Presidential Election saw him only take a mere 17.19% of the First Round vote, in comparison to 25% at his victorious election.

The Republican position has been somewhat muddled over the past few years, with their position ranging to Centre to Right Wing.

Mr Burgmuller also announced that there would be a Leadership Contest, in which it appears 3 candidates have emerged.

The results from that contest will be broadcast live, here on Baltusian Public Broadcasting Corporation.

[matthewleitch]

Centrist Andrew Trudeau named as Republican Leader

The Republican Congressman Andrew Trudeau has been announced as the new leader of the Republican Party. As per party rules, each congressperson was allowed a vote, with Congresspeople voting in as many rounds as required and the candidate with the least votes in each round dropped out. If any one candidate received more than 50% of the votes in any round, they automatically won the contest and became leader.

3 candidates contested the election.

Andrew Trudeau - A centrist businessman from Villita's financial centre. Very wealthy and globalist. He has been a congressman for two terms.

Jacob Mogg-Rees - A right-wing Republican 3-term congressman that support socially conservative policy combined with a globalist outlook.

Dr. Samantha Webster - A centre-right professor of History at Villita University and member of the 'Free minds, Free market' think-tank. She has never contested a congressional or gubernatorial election.

Round 1

Andrew Trudeau - 38 votes

Dr. Samantha Webster - 29 votes

Jacob Mogg-Rees - 17 votes ELIMINATED

Round 2

Andrew Trudeau - 48 votesWINNER

Dr. Samantha Webster - 36 votes.

Mr Trudeau said in his victory speech : "The time is now right to take a long hard look at ourselves and where we stand. The Centre is Baltusia.

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Government in Disarray:
Socialist President Elected
No Bloc has a Majority
Capitalist Alliance likely to Retain Cabinet by Default

Denver Hibbert has been elected as President of Baltusia on behalf of the Socialist Alliance, he is the first Secularist, Socialist Party of Baltusia (SSPB) President for 19 years, he now chairs a cabinet from the last government comprising of the Baltusian Republican Party and the Materialist Circuit.

Despite winning the Presidency the Socialist Alliance are the smallest bloc in Congress, after the Left Bloc and the Capitalist Alliance who remain in government for now. Unfortunately for the Capitalist Alliance, they do not have an outright majority and even when combined with the Block Bloc who have become the largest party and are broadly centrist, they do not have enough.

This was a slightly better election again for the Left Bloc who were eliminated in the first round of Presidential voting and have become the second largest alliance in Congress. There chances of getting into government are next-to-none however as a Left Bloc - Socialist Alliance coalition would fall short of the 301 seats needed to pass a cabinet.

The parties which hold the keys to power appear to be the aforementioned Block Bloc and the Baltusian Neo-Conservative Party. The Bloc Block has been very critical of the Socialist Alliance in the past and is thus unlikely to go into coalition with them and the Left Bloc and obviously the Neo-Conservatives would not join with the Left Bloc.

The toxicity of the Neo-Cons makes it unlikely for the Capitalist Alliance to try to go into government with them, especially as they remain in control until a new cabinet can be found however even if they did President Hibbert would veto it.

All told the likely scenario throughout the lifetime of this Congress, however long it can last, is a socialist President chairing a centre-right cabinet.

[jay42544]

Working Class Party Chair Lashes out at Secularist, Socialist Party of Baltusia!

The SSP put out fake news that they're the largest bloc after Capitalist Alliance. That's very incorrect..The left party bloc is the second largest bloc in Baltusia. We're not the smallest alliance in congress. The Socialist Alliance of Baltusia is the smallest alliance. So when you say a disappointing election in congress, you must've been talking about yourself. Seems like the SSP should have put money into education in their doomed anti worker budget bill.
Working Class Party Chair, Louis Frankens.

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First Post Election Interview with President Denver Hibbert on Andrew Barr Show

On Sunday President Denver Hibbert was on the Andrew Barr show, this was his first interview since his surprising election victory.

Good Morning Mr President, thank you for coming on the show. Now firstly, congratulations for your surprise election victory, which I defy any pollster to have seen coming. Despite your party now controlling the executive branch, you are the second smallest in Congress and the Socialist Alliance is the smallest party bloc. With that fact combined with that you cannot rely on the Left Bloc for a combined majority, you are left chairing a cabinet of the Capitalist Alliance who you disagree with on a great many things. All told are you the least powerful Baltusian President in centuries?

Well, good morning Andrew, thanks for having me. Now the thing you need to bear in mind is that when we came into this election nobody thought we could win, the thought didn't occur to them. Every pollster was certain it was going to be another four years for the Republicans. Given that we were complete underdogs, I think this was, contrary to what you're saying, actually this was one of the strongest performances of a Presidential candidate for quite some time.

But with all due respect Mr President, that doesn't really answer my question. The last time we had a President from your party was Jenessa Hawkins twenty years ago, now she oversaw massive changes, both constitutionally and economically. That was in the Parliament of the Baltusian Prime Minister and it oversaw massive nationalisation of industry. By comparison, you're completely powerless and unable to implement anything, aren't you?

Well there's two things I'd say to that, firstly I am still the President and thus have quite a lot of power and given that the situation with the cabinet, a lot of their responsibilities are being passed to me. But secondly I would say that you're underestimating how much influence the Presidency entails, you say that we can't pass a cabinet and that we can't get anything done in Congress, but I would say to you that the Presidency gives us the power to do those things.

Now that's interesting, because you say that you can pass a cabinet or for example a budget, however the way the public have voted, you simply don't have the numbers in Congress, do you?

Well look Andrew, the way things are now, it's unsustainable. Congress needs to pass a cabinet or else we'll need to explore other options, and the way I see it, my party needs to be part of that cabinet so we can negotiate to get the things that we want onto the agenda.

You say you may need to explore other options if Congress can't pass a cabinet, would that include an early election?

Look Andrew, all I'm saying is that the situation as it is now cannot continue throughout a whole Congress, so a cabinet needs to be passed or else something else will have to happen.

I'll ask you again, will you call or would you support an early election if a cabinet can't be passed by Congress?

I'm perfectly clear that the current situation cannot last, and thus we need to explore all possible options.

Including an early election?

All possible options.

Okay, I can see I'm getting nowhere. You say that a cabinet needs to be passed and obviously that needs to contain your party, how will that happen when you don't have the necessary seats between you, the LSPB, and the Left Bloc, and will you rule out a coalition with any right wing party?

Look, a cabinet needs to be passed and we will explore all possible options when trying to form it. But the bottom line is this Andrew, the current situation is that I am chairing a cabinet of wholly right wing parties, and nothing could be worse than that. So that must end and that will end.

What about a cabinet, for example with the Socialist Alliance, the Left Bloc and the Republicans. Would you support that?

Obviously the Republicans are more centrist, making them somewhat less, well, but the thing is that you would have to ask the Republicans if they would support that because I have no idea.

You've had no contact with them regarding it?

You would have to ask them.

Okay, assuming the Republicans would say no to that then would you go into coalition with the Materialist Circuit?

Look, I'm not going to engage in hypotheticals with you Andrew, I'm perfectly clear that the current situation is unsustainable and needs to end and we will pursue all necessary means to achieve that.

Now, as President it is your job to chair the cabinet. However as the cabinet is comprised of the Capitalist Alliance, could you give our viewership an inkling as to the atmosphere in the cabinet meetings?

It's my belief that what goes on behind closed doors, in Government should stay there.

Is your party no longer then a party of open government?

Oh, of course we are a party of open government, which is why in fact we have started to publish the agenda of each cabinet meeting online. And can I just say that the Republicans were in power for four years and they never did, well, yes, they never did that, however of course what's important is that they've agreed to it now, or at least that they haven't, well anyway, yes we are a party of open government.

Will you run again in 4274?

Of course, but what's important is that we focus on the here and now and on making the lives of Baltusians better.

President Hibbert, thank you.

Thank you.