Kanjor

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Kanjor

Postby Vandelhelm » Thu Apr 09, 2009 11:33 am

Union Back in Opposition!

That is right ladies and gentleman, after 19 years as the majority party and leaders of the nation, the Union has lost an election, marginally to the PRT and are back in the official opposition. Marque-Paul Fenkath, Union Leader and the first ever Royal Vizier of Royaume Royal de Kanjor (Serving for a decade ((10 years))) said that he was disappointed by the results but would not resign as Leader as people would soon realise the Union was the right government all along and they will be swept back into office.

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The Union Leader, Marque-Paul Fenkath

The rise of the Kanjoran Centre Party was also a shock but they only managed to take 4 of the Unions seats, while the PRT took 25, pushing them over the 301 needed for a majority by only 16.
Union Conseratrice of Royaume Royal de Kanjor
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Re: Kanjoran Time

Postby Calum S » Sun Apr 19, 2009 4:34 pm

Grève Rouge: Pressure Mounts on Betrand after election defeat

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Pressure on Party Chairman Olivier Betrand is mounting after his defeat in the 2743 Presidential election by a slim margin by the Monarchists.

Hardliners, such as Defence Minister Jacques Fouillant, have attacked Betrand's moderation, claiming that by allowing the Monarchists to stand in the elections unchecked he endangered the Republic's survival.

Reformers in the party conversely claim that by pursuing a radical agenda too quickly, the PRT lost its appeal too quickly, and that by refusing to co-operate with other parties it left itself vulnerable to coalition.

Whispers have already begun circulating about Betrand's leadership chances at the next Party Congress. Previously Betrand had been unchallenged in his position as Party Chairman, yet now some senior party members believe he may face a challenge from either liberal General Secretary Eleanor Souvellent or conservative former Chairman of the Party Defence Bureau Jacques Fouillant.

Both have denied plans to mount a challenge to Betrand at the next Party Congress. Speaking to this newspaper, Fouillant exclaimed he was an "ardent supporter of Betrand's vision for the nation", while Souvellent told 'Le Gardien' newspaper that she "had little or no intention to stand for any position besides General Secretary at the next Party Congress".

Commentators believe that this may be testing the waters on both parts, amassing resources enough to challenge such a powerful figure as Betrand. This election could therefore may not be the only election Betrand loses before the next General Election.
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Re: Kanjoran Time

Postby Calum S » Mon Apr 20, 2009 4:29 pm

Le Gardien: Liberals gather around Francois Deran to mount challenge to Olivier Betrand

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Liberal members of the PRT have gathered around Infrastructure Minister, Francois Deran, who has today openly criticised the leadership of former Président and Party Chairman Olivier Betrand.

Speaking to the University of Sovalt, Deran attacked Betrand's record on human rights, claiming that he employed the police as "his own private army" and "vastly undermined the rule of law". He decried the 'Anti-Fascist Act' as a piece of "reactionary propaganda, with the intention of legalising a police state" and has "opened Kanjor up to a rule of terror by the Monarchists".

Speaking so openly against the party's previously-unquestioned leader has led many to believe Deran in preparing to mount a challenge against Betrand at the next Party Congress for the role of Party Chairman. While General Secretary, Eleanor Souvellent, and former Chairman of the Party Defence Bureau, Jacques Fouillant, were speculated to mount similar challenges both have sheepishly denied these intentions as of yet.

A senior party figure commented, "Liberals in the party looked to General Secretary Souvellent to begin the culture of reflection, to look at where we went wrong and why we were not re-elected, especially why Betrand was not elected, yet she remained silent. Deran has now boldly stepped into Souvellent's shoes, and is reaping the benefits."

Despite the support of liberals, conservatives in the party have attacked Deran as 'reactionary' and 'counter-productive', terms that were once thrown at Souvellent during her term as Finance Minister. Jacques Fouillant, Defence Minister, said of the event: "Francois Deran is putting his career in danger, and will only further damage the party's reputation if he continues in this manner."
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Re: Kanjoran Time

Postby Calum S » Wed Apr 22, 2009 3:43 pm

Le Temps Economiques: PRT leadership challenger Francois Deran found dead in apartment

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Former Infrastructure Minister and potential leadership challenger, Francois Deran, has been found dead in his apartment this evening.

Six months ago, Deran came out on the offensive against the tactics employed by his Party Chairman, Olivier Betrand, and the record Betrand left behind him as Président. Liberals in the party rallied around Deran, who criticised human rights abuses, yet he received furious condemnation from Betrand's allies and conservatives.

Police are investigating whether foul play is afoot, with some friends of Deran believing after his speech he was the target of a hate campaign from within the party.

"When Deran spoke out, he received death threats, his cars were vandalised, his wife was followed home, his home was broken into on numerous occassions - these past six months have been hell for him, yet he was still intending to pose a leadership challenge regardless," says one anonymous informant.

Speaking on behalf of the PRT Politburo, Eva Trieste, Chairman of the Party Defence Bureau, said, "We express the greatest sympathy for the Deran family - Francois was a respected man, in his community and within the party, and his work in office was of ethical fibre. He will be missed."

The investigation continues.
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Re: Kanjoran Time

Postby Calum S » Thu Apr 23, 2009 9:20 am

L'Héraut: Communist Chairman Betrand faces difficult Party Congress

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Olivier Betrand, Chairman of le Parti Révolutionnaire des Travailleurs, faces a difficult election ahead of him in the coming years. Following another defeat in the presidential election by the Monarchists, the republican Betrand must now face the wrath of an increasingly disillusioned party.

The Party Congresses take place every 5 years, and elect members to the 4-man Politburo, the most important organ of rule within the communist party. Betrand has never faced a challenger for his role of Party Chairman, the most important position within the party, yet this may all change.

After the 2745 early election, Betrand was defeated in the presidential election by a united Monarchist alliance, opposed to putting forward a candidate. Opinion polls indicated the death of Francois Deran, a candidate for the role of Party Chairman at the next Party Congress, resulted in a backlash against Betrand's candidacy for Président.

"We all know Betrand was behind it," says one PRT member, who voted for the Monarchists in protest. "Betrand has proven himself to be thuggish, just like his supporters are thuggish. We need change within the party, and it needs to come from the top."

Police are continuing their investigation into the death of Francois Deran, while Premier Margaret Stonemason has expressed her commitment to apprehending those behind the murder.

During his presidential campaign, Betrand refused to make a comment on the Deran Scandal, however emphasised his tough stance on law and order.

Despite growing dissatisfaction with Betrand's leadership, no challenger for his position is yet to come forward. Many believe liberal General Secretary, Eleanor Souvellent, is the most likely candidate, as she has often been a figure of opposition to Betrand within the party. Despite this, she has remained disconcertingly silent over the issue of the upcoming Party Congress.

Another potential challenger, conservative, Jacques Fouillant, former Chairman of the Party Defence Bureau who was ousted from his postion at the last Party Congress, has urged for "party unity" at the next Party Congress. Fouillant continued to say that he had no intention of challenging Betrand.

"We can only pray that Souvellent puts her name forward for the election," one dissatisfied supporter told us. "If she doesn't, the party will never stand a chance of returning to power."
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Re: Kanjoran Time

Postby Calum S » Fri Apr 24, 2009 11:11 pm

Grève Rouge: Chairman Betrand surprises Congress by announcing retirement, and his successor

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Beleaguered Party Chairman of the PRT, Olivier Betrand, was about to face the most difficult Party Congress of his career.

After twenty five years at the helm of the party as a virtually unquestioned figure, with unrestrained authority, the past few years have signified a dramatic turn around in that assumption. Three presidential election defeats in a short space of time have only provided the backdrop to the bickering and infighting Betrand has overseen within his party.

Amid accusations that he was to blame for the death of former Infrastructure Minister, Francois Deran, and undergoing investigation by the police, Betrand opened the Congress with a surprise: a declaration of his retirement. There was literal gasps in the ampitheatre as Betrand paid lip-service to his "glorious twenty five years as the architect of our revolution", and his intention to take "a more background role in the future of our party".

"We must constantly evolve as a party, we must always seek other ideas and improve our position. This is why we are communists, this is who we are," Betrand told his party comrades, before revealing another shock. Beckoning her onstage, Betrand was joined by former Justice Minister, Brigitte Bovary.

A moderate within the party, Bovary held a record as Justice Minister of being tough on crime, personally licensing the reintroduction of the death penalty, while at the same time expressing support for gay rights and the rights of minorities. After several moments of exchanging pleasantries, Betrand announced, "After lengthy consideration, I believe Ms. Bovary is the evolution this party needs to bring it electoral success in the coming years."

Betrand's opponents were stunned by the move. One party supporter told us, "This was our chance, to elect our candidate, while the Betrand faction was in disarray and the rest of the party was floating. Betrand has wrong-footed us once again."

While some Betrand antagonists still believed even after the announcement a senior party figure, such as General Secretary Eleanor Souvellent, may put forward their name for the Party Chairman competition, only former Agriculture Minister, Paul Durant, came forward.

With overwhelming majority, the Congress ratified Brigitte Bovary's election as Party Chairman.

"This is a dark day for liberals in our party," one exasperated party member told us.
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Re: Kanjoran Time

Postby Calum S » Sat Apr 25, 2009 7:00 pm

Le Gardien: Interview with new PRT Chairman, Brigitte Bovary

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LG: You appear to have come from nowhere, and have emerged the leader of the largest party in L'Assemblée - what is your background?

BB: I was a lawyer before I entered politics. The two career paths are very linked - both are very much motivated by discontentment and a desire for change. I joined the PRT hoping that if elected into office, I could alter the judicial system.

LG: You are also one of the most outspoken republicans in your party, are you not?

BB: I detest the Monarchy. They embody everything which we must oppose in politics: parochialism, elitism, deference, class. We cannot call ourselves a truly modern nation, when we cling to such an archaic feature of our past.

LG: This sounds very much like the opinions of Olivier Betrand. Would you say your ideas are deeply linked?

BB: I would say that all members of the PRT are inspired by Olivier Betrand; without him, our party would not exist. I believe in Juche, self-reliance, a strong state, a protection against injustice, but I think that I am evolutionary, in a sense.

LG: Evolutionary?

BB: Yes. I think that as a party we must learn from our mistakes, and adapt to new situations. We must look at what we have achieved, and feel proud, but we also must acknowledge where we have gone wrong.

LG: So are you saying Olivier Betrand got it wrong?

BB: No, you were twisting my words. I simply feel that every government must be accountable to the people; that is the problem with Monarchy, they are accountable unto themselves. In a democratic republic, the government must always look at itself, and its policies, and put the people's interests first.

LG: As Justice Minister you were responsible for re-introducing the death penalty. Would you say you are a conservative?

BB: I would say that I am revolutionary in my judicial ideology. I believe in fairness and justice - we must make sure we do not tolerate those who endanger our people, whether they are our own people, or outsiders.

LG: You were also one of the biggest supporters of the 'Anti-Fascist Act'. Would you say you regret this now?

BB: I think the ideas were right, we were not wrong to implement it, but we must learn from this, and accept greater tolerance. I would say more than anything I would adhere to an ideology of 'Compassionate Juche' - we must respect democracy and the rights of the individual, while also protecting our nation from reliance on others.
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Re: Kanjoran Time

Postby Calum S » Sun Apr 26, 2009 1:26 pm

Grève Rouge: Coalition struggling to meet compromise on free-market

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The Monarchist Coalition, headed by Premier Margaret Stonemason, has in recent months met a major stumbling block over the issue of privatisation and free trade. With bickering within the cabinet, the coalition is divided to its very core.

Stonemason, from the English-speaking Kanjorien minority, is a bold figure and has been referred to by allies and enemies alike as 'The Iron Lady'. A keen advocate of privatisation and free-market reform, Stonemason pushed her party to the center of the Gouvernment, making the KCP an invaluable member amongst monarchists and nationalists.

Calling the shots on several issues, Stonemason refused to collaborate in a coalition if the SS were present; their allies backed down. Despite supporting the abolition of the Monarchy under the PRT, Stonemason ensured her appointment as Premier within the Monarchist coalition, representing the sway her party had, and how much her party was needed by the monarchists.

Despite such influence, the KCP has been at the center of a feud, due to their enthusiasm for free-markets.

The MRN and PRNK both come from more statist backgrounds, believing in greater dirigisme in the political economy, which differs crucially from the KCP's laissez-faire economics. However, the issue runs deeper than simple economic theory; some party members believe that the KCP is holding too much sway within the coalition, and abusing their influence without co-operation.

Paul Beaumont, MRN Foreign Minister, said, "The KCP is being completely unreasonable...we need real solutions and true compromises. The coalition isn't simply an extension of the KCP's free-market crusade."

However KCP enthusiasts believe that the other parties would simply use the KCP to further their monarchist agenda.

Andrew Payne, KCP Health Minister, told us, "The PRNK and MRN have no real desire to see a free-market flourish in Kanjor. As long as the Communists are out of power, and the Monarchy is re-established, they are content to have a state-owned economy, so long as it is in their hands. We as a party must therefore push boundaries, to ensure that we get a fair deal."

Brigitte Bovary, Party Chairman of the PRT, commented, "The current Gouvernment is disunited due to lack of purpose, not because of personalities. I respect Margaret Stonemason, she is a politician of conviction, but she cannot transmit this same conviction to their coalition allies. They all desire power for themselves; the MRN want a dictateur, the PRNK want an absolute Monarch, and the KCP want a different kind of overlord: unrestricted capitalism. Until they realise their differences, and speak honestly about their individual intentions, they will flounder as a Gouvernment."
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Re: Kanjoran Time

Postby Calum S » Wed Apr 29, 2009 3:13 pm

Le Temps Economiques: What does Stonemason's departure mean for the coalition, and her legacy?

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The unexplained illness of Premier Margaret Stonemason carries with it none of the connotations of communistic 'illness'. Mysterious illnesses have on occassion been the tool for the removal of a party leader, without suffering the propaganda defeat of a party turning inwards on itself; to the contrary, Stonemason - "The Iron Lady" - remains vastly popular with the majority of her party members.

Yet her standing down from the Premiership within the last year of the coalition's term is no less symbolic than the 'illness' of an unpopular Communist leader. While popular within her own party, Stonemason had become too much of a liability for the coalition. Her ruthless pursuit of free-market reforms, often to the distaste of her coalition partners Father St. Martin of the PRN and Charles Chevalier of the MRN, has made her many enemies within government.

The massive deadlock over the Privitisation and Enterprise Bill, resulting in the PRN's and MRN's voting against their coalition parner, forced Stonemason to become reliant on the opposition PRT and PM in order to push through the reforms, and her sway within the coalition was significantly weakened. This represented the extent to which her leadership was incredibly divisive, and also losing its influence.

Despite the coalition's insistence they were working adequately as partners, the orchestrated resignations of Pierre Buchard, Education Minister, and Robert Wiese, Transport Minister, symbolised the end of the "iron grip" Stonemason had previously held over the reigns of the coalition. Even St. Martin, leader of the PRN, came out on the offensive, issuing a stark warning that, "If the KCP does not wish to work with the coalition partners...their agendas will be afforded no protection or preferential treatment by the remaining parties."

"Stonemason had pushed too far, too fast over the economy," insists Prof. Henri Lechart, Head of the Political Science Dept. at L'université de Sovalt. "Her dominating personality, and personal charisma, had extended beyond its reach this time, and really was the beginning of the end for her."

While Stonemason received outstanding polling figures in comparison to the other coalition party leaders, often leading St. Martin and Chevalier by a margin of 10 points, backroom plotting secured her removal, and the selection of the more moderate Tom Quick in her place.

Quick, a more orthodox member of the KCP, lacks the flair Stonemason possessed, but is also less bullish in his leadership style.

Alexander Montague, KCP Defence Minister, says, "Quick is much more of a people person, and alot more pragmatic. Stonemason was really ideological, she wanted to make laissez-faire economics into a mantra for Kanjor. I think Quick is more willing to compromise - that's why he was chosen."

Despite this, and despite the KCP's retaining the Premiership, where does this leave Stonemason's legacy of the last term?

"Stonemason was a social conservative and an economic radical, a laissez-faire conservative," says Montague. "Quick is more of a libertarian: small state, socially liberal, economically liberal. He will not be so willing to defend the Church and will be seeking to implement a more tolerant social policy. While he may be more accomodating over the economy, I think the coalition will have a new battle over social policy after the elections."
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Re: Kanjoran Time

Postby Calum S » Wed Apr 29, 2009 9:46 pm

Le Gardien: Stonemason fools public, and makes suprise victory at allies expense

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The wiley Margaret Stonemason has flat-footed both the public and her coalition partners in the past few months, removing herself from the political scene to gather her resources for one burst.

Following difficulties with her coalition partners over their reluctance to endorse her free-market policies as Premier, Stonemason stepped out of the limelight of politics until she could ready herself for the ultimate spurt: waging a Presidential election campaign. Without notifying her peers, and making backroom deals with the minority Party d'Maison, Stonemason has manipulated her way into the heart of governmental operations.

Now the KCP occupy both the presidency and Premiership, and as well as becoming the second-largest party in L'Assemblée Nationale Populaire, the KCP has solidified its position at the expense of its monarchistic allies, the PRN and MRN.

Already disgruntled monarchists are claiming "stab in the back" by the KCP, using them to their own ends and then pursuing their own agenda.

The PRN was significantly damaged by the recent early elections, losing a crippling 41 seats, and the status of second-largest party, garnering only 18.09% of the vote. The MRN was equally hurt, losing a crucial 29 seats, as well as being pushed behind the Parti d'Maison in terms of seats.

"The future of the coalition is up in the air," says Prof. Henri Lechart, Head of the Political Science Dept. at L'université de Sovalt. "There is a strong bond between the KCP and the Parti d'Maison, and greater acceptence for a more liberal and small-state rule of Kanjor. The Communists have benefitted from the election, but are politically isolated. The new Parti du République Royal may sit more at ease amongst the PRN and MRN; perhaps this is where we will see new blocs of power forging."
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