- Malan Berisha claims the Presidency as Reform Party storms to a majority in the Assembly
- President calls for "social upheaval"
- President's political ally, and University roommate, Taulant Kaleci, becomes Prime Minister
President Berisha spoke in the capital Helios, following his Presidential Election victory.
The Reform Party and Malan Berisha have stormed to an unprecedented victory in the latest elections in Kalopia, claiming the Presidency and a legislative majority just five years after the refounding of the party. Berisha, popular due to his efforts as Prime Minister during the Kalopia-Solentia Border Wall Crisis that characterised the last Ministry, won comfortably with over 55% of the vote, whilst the parliamentary party received just shy of 52% of the seats in the Grand National Assembly.
The last three years have seen very little change in legislation in Kalopia due to the tensions with Solentia. A remarkable moment in Kalopian politics, the three parties put aside their differences and formed a National Unity Cabinet that allowed Kalopia to remain stable during their stand-off with Solentia. The international standing of Kalopia has long been a critical issue for the voters, and through their running commentary of the situation, the Reform Party appear to have given the voters what they want - greater international influence. Although the other parties were crucial during the Unity Cabinet, neither were able to convey this message to people as well as the Reform Party, and this has almost certainly been reflected in these election results.
And the Reform Party have spent no time at all pottering about, introducing controversial and historical social reform immediately. The Grand Social Liberties Act removes government from marriage, as well as gives the individual the right to decide their own identity. Even three years ago, this would have been impossible, with a majority being held by conservative parties ever since the demise of the Liberal Democratic Movement in 4300s, however, the Reform Party have finally returned a socially liberal party to the political foreground, something that will send political shockwaves for years to come.
The Reform Party has also introduced a new International Relations Bill that has announced Kalopia's support of Cobura for Seat B in the Security Council. Following the elections, the new government announced that it had been in dialogue with Cobura, and that it planned to support their drive for the Security Council in order to establish a "more democratic International Community." The new government's withdrawal of support for Indrala is also suspected to be an attempt to help Cobura catch up before the elections in 4226. The bill also relaxes passport and border control regulation, in order to create a more open image of the nation.
However, the critics are already pointing their fingers at the new Prime Minister, Taulant Kaleci. With no ministerial experience, it is expected that his appointment was made by the party's Executive Committee, a committee he is part of. The Assembly Member, whose seat is in Seshold, is a close friend to Malan Berisha, and this proximity, along with his similar political alignment, is expected to be the reason for his selection. This is perhaps most telling if you look at his cabinet, where the majority of Berisha's closest allies have been given promotions or retained their jobs, whilst the "less important" positions have been chopped and changed.
Addressing a large crowd, Berisha said the time was right for "social upheaval". In his speech, broadcasted throughout the country, Berisha said his Presidency would be "characterised by monumental social and economic development that would launch Kalopia into the wider world as a more influential nation." During his speech, where he made several bold promises, such as promising an "education system so good that even communists will have to admit that privatisation in education works." However, it is undoubtedly his positivity that stood out the most. Despite a rocky few years for Kalopia, it is clear the new President believes things are beginning to pick up, and Kalopia is beginning to make the progression envisaged by the party's original founders in the 4290s.
The new Prime Minister, Taulant Kaleci.
OTHER NEWS: Kalopia Urges Communication and Teamwork to deal with FNB Reemergence
- Foreign Affairs Minister says it is necessary to keep "tabs" on the FNB
- Reform Party introduce vote that will see FNB listed as a "proscribed organisation"
- Berisha says Solentia must take action to prevent it falling back into fascist hands
Kalopia has called upon Solentia to work together in order to prevent the resurgence of the FNB. Following the fascist party's reformation, and announcement that it intends to run for the Solentian Senate, the Reform Party has proposed legislation to "place tabs" on the FNB as a preventative measure in the name of national security. In one of his first appearances as President, Malan Berisha called upon Solentia to take the appropriate steps to avoid more fascist rule, and tension with neighbours.
In the proposed Continuing Surveillance of Solentia Act, are plans to legally recognise the Faschistische Nationalbewegung as a proscribed organisation. Through this proposal, the Reform Party hopes to legitimise through law the ability to survey and gather intelligence regarding the FNB. It is proposed that intelligence is gathered regarding certain leading individuals of the FNB, as well as any events, such as rallies, held by the organisation.
However, it is not clear how this would be achieved. The vaguely worded bill fails to place the Grand National Assembly as responsible for the gathering of intelligence and merely says it backs and permits funding. This lack of clarity demonstrates the difficulty in pulling this off. It would almost certainly be taken badly within Solentia were Kalopian Secret Service Officials discovered spying on effectively getting involved in the political process in Solentia, and some reports suggest that the Reform Party will send some members of its own paramilitary to conduct the mission.
However, the Foreign Affairs Minister, Kolenta Kapllani, has said it is necessary to place tabs on the FNB in order to retain stability in both nations. Speaking to the newspaper, the Minister said:
I am convinced that the best way of preventing conflict is to regulate, and place tabs on the Faschistische Nationalbewegung. We believe that this legislation is required to prevent Solentia relapsing back into fascist rule - something that would be disastrous for both nations. Naturally I cannot give greater details on how this is achieved, nor can I confirm or deny reports regarding the use of non Secret Service organisations to carry out intelligence work, but I can assure you that this intelligence work will lead to a safer, more secure, and more stable Majatra.
The President has also discussed the issue, though expressed himself in a much more diplomatic way. When addressing a rally in Mossavi, near to the Solentian-Kalopian border, the President called upon "greater ties, and greater communication" between the two South-Eastern Majatran nations. He called upon his Solentian counterpart, Alexander Laudenslager, to create the necessary preventative measures required in order to stop fascism in its tracks, and retain peace in the region. He also warned that it would be Kalopia's duty to act should fascist rule ever be reinstalled in Solentia.