Rutania

[kj#2]

Rutanians prepare for elections after 5 years of inaction from Vanderburg
August 4284

Rutanians will take to the polls in January of 4285 to elect a new Peoples Assembly and decide on the next President, this election comes after one of the most unproductive Peoples Assembly in decades. Just 5 bills have passed the Assembly since they took office nearly 5 years ago if you dont count the resolution to select the Foreign Affairs committee:
Coastal Industries Act http://classic.particracy.net/viewbill. ... lid=539211
Funding of Public Transport http://classic.particracy.net/viewbill. ... lid=539223
Rent Regulation 4281 http://classic.particracy.net/viewbill. ... lid=539285
Minimum Income Gurantee 4282 http://classic.particracy.net/viewbill. ... lid=539434
Scientific Restriction Act http://classic.particracy.net/viewbill. ... lid=539522

The term is not over yet however with the Peoples Assembly still set to decide on 4 bills in September and one in October. So far this term has been called a do-nothing government with the Assembly averaging one bill a year at this rate. The majority of bills that have been passed have been a win for the conservatives, the stock market and private enterprises. The government started their term off by lowering the sales tax on general goods and loosening restrictions on hunting fishing and whaling. That was followed by handing control over public transportation to the provinces. Then came the Minimum Income Gurantee, a major left wing victory of the term ensuring that individuals not supported by another person would be granted a indefinite reasonable standard of living. This was done and since the bills passage the Peoples Assembly has released no new budget to fund this new government policy. There are many questions as to how the Health and Human Services Ministry is managing to abide by this new policy without receiving additional funds to cover this, so far Minister Nick Ninto of the Radical Centrist grouping has been silent on this issue.

Lastly the Peoples Assembly voted to prohibit human cloning research making it quite the uneventful term. Some within the nation have been happy with the lack of legislation coming out of the Peoples Assembly considering the amount of proposals from the Grand Whig Party that have been rejected over the last few years. Conservatives however are hoping to take advantage of the campaign season however with several bills on the floor of the Assembly that would loosen restrictions on businesses, the stock market and would open many sectors open to privatization such as police and fire fighting services.

[kj#2]

Stock Markets rally as Conservatives win big on Free market legislation
http://classic.particracy.net/viewnews. ... 0&nation=6

Stock Markets in Rutania are giddy after the Peoples Assembly approved the Free Market Act of 4284, the bill passed 369 to 301 with 80 abstaining. The bill removes price regulations from energy companies, removes salary caps for companies nation wide and completely de-regulates the stock markets. The Peoples Assembly also narrowly approved the Infrastructure and Privatization Acts. The to bills will turn many former public sector jobs over to the private sector to be subcontracted. Under the new changes police, fire fighters, Highway construction, and public work construction will all be subcontracted to private firms. One of the most controversial pieces of this legislation is the clause within the Privatization Act that allows for private property to be seized for government use, critics of the bill are questioning the influence of corporations over members of the Whig Party.

This slew of bills passed only months before the election will for sure be a campaign issue, only time will tell if it will hurt or help the right.

[kj#2]

4285 Elections
President Benedict Hawley wins reelection

The elections of January 4285 are complete and President Hawley has won an impressive reelection. The big winners in the election are the New Peoples Party of Rutania and the Grand Whig Party of Rutania, two parties thought to be completely at odds with one another. Both are recreations of older parties that were also at different ends of the ideological spectrum. President's Hawley's first term was one in which his own party held very little power making his role mainly ceremonial. This election has dealt President Hawley with a similar situation, the balance of power appears to be in the hands of the right wing but Rutanians have spoken and they clearly respect and desire the input and viewpoint of President Hawley.

The Grand Whig Party under the leadership of Royce Blood have proposed a cabinet to include the National Front who won seats for the first time in this election. Notably their cabinet proposal does not include the Radical Centrist Grouping who has stood united with the Moderate Right Alliance for over a decade. When asked about this Royce Blood seemed to confirm conflict within what has composed the Moderate-right alliance. Here is Mr. Bloods post-election speech:

These ideologues within the Radical Centrist Grouping have handed the Presidency back over to Hawley!!! Look at those election numbers, John Logs got a little over 6 million votes, and how much did President Hawley win by? about 6 million votes. The Radical Centrist Grouping has worked against the progress many in the Peoples Assembly have tried to achieve for one term already, I am calling on the other members of the Peoples Assembly to send a message to the Radical Centrist Grouping that their obstructionism will not be tolerated.

In other news around the nation Albert Bennett, the owner of Bennett Grocers and Bennett Shipping and son of the late President Frank Bennett has now formed a security services division of the company and is currently hiring and training security workers. Mr. Albert Bennett also announced that he would be consolidating all of his businesses and issuing an IPO for the Bennett Corporation. There is speculation that Mr. Bennett has plans on gaining policing contracts from the Federal government with his companies new security division.

Not to be outdone by his brother Norman Bennett, the owner of Bennett Tobacco announced that Bennett tobacco would now be sold nation-wide, to commemorate this occasion large Bennett Tobacco billboards have been put up around the nation.

[kj#2]

Summer Snap Election........Hawley Wins in landslide

Benedict Hawley 65.90%
Royce Blood 33.91%


After the departure of the New Peoples Party a snap election was called in June with President Hawley defeating his conservative rival once again. This time Hawley faced up against the Royce Blood the new and former Prime Minister. Prime Minister Blood who served 20 something years ago as Prime Minister under the late Frank Bennett faced off against Hawley in the second round and lost terribly. He has refused to answer questions about his loss, it is notable since he blamed the conservatives loss in January all on the lack of support from the Radical Centrist Grouping, an argument that will not stand this time given the wide margins the Prime Minister loss by. The country shall now embark on an interesting path, Royce Blood will continue as Prime Minister after being publicly rejected in the Presidential election. His boss is President Benedict Hawley, a leader with a minority in government. The President still has considerable power in regards to foreign affairs since any major piece of foreign policy would require the Civic Republican Leagues approval. on the domestic front however it seems the Conservatives have maintained their edge in the Peoples Assembly.

[kj#2]

Prime Minister Royce Blood age 79

New Bloc's emerge as People's Assembly gets off to busy start

The 'Moderate-Right Alliance' as the governing coalition that has governed the Commonwealth of Rutania continuously since 4273 has shown signs of changing as a the right and the moderate sections of the Moderate-Right Alliance have voted against each other on recent bills. The coalition became actively engaged in Rutanian politics after years of inactivity in 4264 and parties organized a government under Frank Bennett, since then the coalition has been a staple of Rutanian politics with the 'moderate' parties banding with the right-wing parties to halt what was seen as socialist and communist policies from the left. With the exception of administration of Celia Rivers the Moderate-Right Alliance has had their run of the mill, they have been unimpeded except by themselves.

After nearly 2 solid decades they can no longer rail against the establishment, they are the establishment. Rutania has turned to the right over the last two decades with business friendly legislation and tax policy that is friendly to corporations and in recent years privatization efforts have gone farther than ever before in most Rutanians lives.

The right-wing of the governing coalition consisting of the Conservatives, Whigs, and the National Front have continued a push for pro-business policies being opposed by the United Democratic Party and the Radical Centrist Grouping. The UDP and the RCG have asserted a unique power in the Peoples Assembly despite currently being the two smallest parties in the coalition their presence is the glue that has kept the coalition dominant for so long. The moderate parties have used this influence to prevent some of the more right wing bills from passing the Assembly just as in years past they provided the necessary votes to halt the advance of the left.

Tax reform seems to be a conundrum that the previous government couldn't solve and so far this government has failed at tackling it as well. Tax proposals from opposite sides of the aisle have so far failed or appear to be near failure in the Peoples Assembly. President Hawley who was vindicated in two elections in one year, the second of which he won in a landslide has persisted with his agenda before the Peoples Assembly despite opposition from Prime Minister Blood and the right-wing parties. The President's agenda seeks to reverse the Privatization reforms passed by the last government. The government has also began discussions on the possibility of a state visit from officials in Dorvik, what would for sure be an interesting meeting with President Hawley and Prime Minister Blood sitting at one table .

The Grand Whig Party has shaken up its leadership with Prime Minister Blood and Foreign-Secretary Blythe have stepped down from their positions on the Whig National Council to focus more on their current post in government. Bill Hightower was selected to serve as the new Chairman of the council and Winston Vernon and Carlton Banks were selected to serve the vacant post on the council. Bill Hightower the chairman of the council is well-known for his strong conservative economic beliefs while Winston Vernon is a rather extreme free market ideologue favoring an end to Anti-monopoly laws and other regulations. Carlton Banks on the other hand is a fierce segregationist from Ardinia who has what many consider extreme views on race.

[kj#2]

Prime Minister Royce Blood announce intention to begin massive Illegal Immigration crackdown



Prime Minister Royce Blood's speech to the nation:

Today I formally requested that Home Secretary Frank Donald devote all possible resources to investigating the Illegal immigration problem within Rutania. I intend my administration to use the Immigration Enforcement Act to the fullest extent of the law. Many in this nation have watched as the communities of foreigners have grown, communities of Jelbics, Hawu, and other degenerate races threaten to poison our heritage and national identity. I have asked the Home Secretary to investigate any suspicions of illegals within the immigrant communities from The Free Kingdom of Hawu Mumenhes especially, for years a blind eye has been turned toward these illegals, no longer shall this be allowed. These criminals shall be pursued and expelled from this nation with impunity.
http://classic.particracy.net/viewbill. ... lid=540160

In other news the Peoples Assembly narrowly rejected the the latest version of the Term Length Reduction Amendment, the bill needed only 7 more votes. That amendment has been a major policy goal of the Moderate-Right Alliance for some time now. President Hawley's Agenda did however pass the People's Assembly however due to the support of the Radical Centrist Grouping and the United Democratic Party, police, fire fighters, highway construction and maintenance and public works are all now back in the hands of the government after a brief period of being subcontracted to private companies that led to a huge increase in security firm stocks, many investors have lost thousands now that the government has ended this policy; the bill also reversed the eminent domain policy that allowed lands to be seized for corporate use, causing the markets to slow their growth briefly. Highway maintenance and Public Works will now be down with significantly less funds thanks to the Peoples Assembly approved a budget cutting the Infrastructure budget by 3 billion Ruta's.

If the markets confidence was shaken by this reversal of privatization it was surely restored when the Peoples Assembly voted for the Tax Relief Act lowering taxes for nearly every bracket and lowering corporate taxes yet again.

[kj#2]

Government votes to shorten their term

In march of 4288 the Peoples Assembly of Rutania voted for the Term Length and Legislative Restraint Amendment cutting their own term by one year. A modified form of this amendment that has been pushed by the Moderate-Right Alliance for over a decade, at the Prime Ministers urging a bill was introduced without a clause to reduce seats in the legislature, an obvious bow to the Civic Republican League. This it seems may be Prime Minister Blood's legacy.

Other pieces of the Prime Ministers agenda havent been as successful such as the Prime Minister's business reform and law and order reform efforts. The Prime Minister has enjoyed success in some areas however like raising the retirement age to 70, a move lamented by leftist.


Prime Minister Royce Blood

[kj#2]

Right Wing wins election of 4293




Newly Elected President Hiram Blythe

Hiram Blythe the former Foreign Secretary was elected the new President of the Commonwealth of Rutania. Shaking things up after years of Moderate-Right Alliance the right wing has now formed a government without including members of the political middle. The National Coalition Party of Rutania, the Whig Party, and the Conservatives have banded together to form a coalition government. The Peoples Assembly and this government have already gotten off to a busy start passing a slew of bill only months after beginning this new legislative session. Markets in Rutania rallied this summer when the Peoples Assembly voted to deregulate monopolies completely alongside with a major tax overhaul lowering income taxes for nearly all Rutanians in attempt to stimulate the economy and consumption.

In an un-orthodox move Prime Minister Royce Blood stepped down in December and gave a rousing speech in support of the new governing coalition. The former Prime Minister has now begun work on a new conservative think tank called the Rutanian Center for Right-Wing Reform or RCRR for short. This organization has so far brought corporate, religious, and community leaders together with politicians to formulate the best policies for the economy.


Former Prime Minister Royce Blood (age 88) posing with RCRR director Veronica Douglas

[Stadius]

Vanderburg Workers' Council Backs DSPR Affiliation



The Vanderburg Workers' Council (officially the Vanderburg Council of Workers' Deputies), the central body of the Workers' Council movement in the capital, voted today to affiliate to the DSPR. Although the DSPR and the Workers' Councils have historically been allies, the the Workers' Councils have previously maintained a tradition of political independence.

Political analyst Roy Chambers stated 'This move reflects increasing radicalisation of the Workers' Councils in Vanderburg and elsewhere since the re-legalisation of non-democratic management several years ago. I expect that Councils across the country may soon follow suit. This should give the Councils increased influence within the DSPR, in line with that of the trades unions, while at the firm level affiliation may be unpopular with supporters of other political parties, and the move is unlikely to make them any friends among the current government. Clearly the Vanderburg Council has decided the risk is worth it.'

[kj#2]

Whig Hardliners protest in Vanderburg

Following the passage of the Cultural Recognition Act a large protest of lower income Whig Hardliners came to protest what they are calling a lack of action on behalf of the Whig leadership to push for more policies to protect their 'Rutanian heritage'. The protesters cited the continued blind eye toward interracial marriage and allowing minorities to hold positions of power in the military.

President Hiram Blythe arrived to speak to the Protesters in attempt to calm the scene:

People I understand your frustration and believe me we are not turning a blind eye to anything but progress must be made incrementally. We must know when to celebrate victory and now is one of those times. With the passage of the Cultural Recognition Act private institutions have been freed from the forced multiculturalism.
This is the first step in creating the Great Rutanian Society dreamed of over 100 years ago by the once and forever Duke of Ardinia, Elmer Clark. I am happy to announce to the nation that my own company Blythe Mining will begin enforcing segregated facilities at all of our locations and I have it on good authority that other leaders are looking to do the same such as Bennett Corporation. I've been informed that the Bennett corporation is looking into how to best segregate all the many parts of their growing corporation.

Once we begin the change of society in our everyday lives, at our workplaces, in where we choose to send our children to school then we shall see change in other areas. Another important step people is placing intelligent individuals who seek to protect the Rutanian identity in positions of nobility and enshrining the nobility with power to safeguard our values. Work is already being done on this front and I promise you all that if you give me your patience I shall not let you down.

President Hiram Blythe