The Serene Republic votes!

[Imperator Azenquor]

[b](OOC: This thread takes place after the conclusion of the Not-So-Serene Republic thread)[/b]

IC:
[b][u]BCNA: The Serene Republic votes [/b][/u]

[i] “Voters in the Serene Republic of Vaule have been tasked to elect the first government of an independent Vaule since the creation of Vauleyo-Buryatia in 2010. Voters across the nation will select representatives for the 651 member Parliament of the Serene Republic from a wide roster of political parties which span the political spectrum. This crucial vote is the final step towards the creation of an independent Vaulian state and the dissolution of Vauleyo-Buryatia.

Voter enthusiasm is high as the nation decides who shall be tasked with guiding Vaule to independence once more. Will it be the Nationalists, the Right, or perhaps the Left gain enough support to form a government, or will the first Parliament require a coalition for a working majority? Only you the voters shall decide!”[/i]-Reporter


=== [quote]
[b][u] Political Party Roster: [/b][/u]

[IMG]http://i328.photobucket.com/albums/l358/ImperatorAzenquor/NewNationalistFrontLogo.png[/IMG]
[b]New Nationalist Front (NNF) (Orange)[/b]
Ideology: Center Right Nationalism, Economic Liberalism
Leader: Vladimir Prevalšek

[IMG]http://i328.photobucket.com/albums/l358/ImperatorAzenquor/LibDemLogo.png[/IMG]
[b]Liberal Democratic Party of Vaule (LDP) (Blue)[/b]
Ideology: Centrism, Economic Liberalism
Leader: Eva Marija Potušek

[IMG]http://i328.photobucket.com/albums/l358/ImperatorAzenquor/PartySocialJusticeLogo.png[/IMG]
[b]Party for Social Justice (PSJ) (Red)[/b]
Ideology: Center Left, Economic Liberalism, Meritocratic Socialism
Leader: Bryon Svatek

[IMG]http://i328.photobucket.com/albums/l358/ImperatorAzenquor/UnitedVauliaLogo.png[/IMG]
[b]United Vaulia (UVP) (Yellow)[/b]
Ideology: Zhukovism, Centrism, Democratic Socialism
Leader: Adam Kerbev

[IMG]http://i328.photobucket.com/albums/l358/ImperatorAzenquor/ChristianDemocratsLogo.png[/IMG]
[b]Christian Democratic Party (CDP) (Green)[/b]
Ideology: Right, Social Conservatism, Economic Conservatism
Leader: Radislava Terdič

[IMG]http://i328.photobucket.com/albums/l358/ImperatorAzenquor/UnionofPatrioticRightForcesLogo.png[/IMG]
[b]Union of Patriotic Right Forces (PRF) (Purple) [/b]
Ideology: Far Right Nationalism
Leader: Rinald Kanič

[IMG]http://i328.photobucket.com/albums/l358/ImperatorAzenquor/SlavicUnityPartyLogo.png[/IMG]
[b]Slavic Unity Party (SUP) (Red and Blue)[/b]
Ideology: Pan Slavism, Economic & Social Liberalism
Leader: Antonin Bošković
[/quote]

Edited January 2, 2011 by Imperator Azenquor

[Amyante]

A Zargathian reporter covering the elections would call the PSJ party bureau.

"Yes, Simon Thomas, Zargathia News... We are curious how you plan to successfully combine socialism with economic liberalism, your ideas on this please?"

[Imperator Azenquor]

[quote name='Amyante' timestamp='1293724696' post='2558305']
A Zargathian reporter covering the elections would call the PSJ party bureau.

"Yes, Simon Thomas, Zargathia News... We are curious how you plan to successfully combine socialism with economic liberalism, your ideas on this please?"
[/quote]

A spokesman for Party Leader Svatek would respond:

[i]"We feel that Socialism, particularly Meritocratic Socialism can work hand in hand with a liberal economic policy. We feel that the government should have programs in place to level the playing field for citizens so that ability and skill rather than class or financial situation determine the altitude to which one can rise in society. In the same breath, we have a deep respect for an individual's right to own property and to use that property as they see fit. As such we oppose the nationalization of the means of production and likewise oppose extensive government intervention in the markets. While one can traditionally argue that Economic Liberalism and Meritocratic Socialism are two opposites on the political spectrum, we feel that a more rational and level headed approach to both policies brings them much closer together than one would imagine."[/i]

[Imperator Azenquor]

[b][u]BCNA News: Serene Republic Election Results [/b][/u]

[IMG]http://i328.photobucket.com/albums/l358/ImperatorAzenquor/ElectionResultsSmall.png[/IMG]
-The Results

[i]“All voting has ended in the first elections to the Parliament of the Serene Republic of Vaule. With a turnout of approximately 89% of eligible voters, the result is a hung parliament with no one political party having a clear majority. With 99% of all votes counted, the Vauleyo-Buryatian Electoral Commission (VEC) has announced that the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) of Eva Marija Potušek will be the largest party in the new Parliament with 260 seats out of a total of 651, a share of 40% of the vote. In second place, the Party for Social Justice (PSJ), and its leader Bryon Svatek won 130 seats and 20% of the vote.

Despite a strong showing by the New Nationalist Party (NNP) and its leader Vladimir Prevalsek, the party obtained only 15% of the vote and 97 seats in the new Parliament. The Christian Democratic Party (CDP) of Radislava Terdic managed an impressive 10% of the vote which translates to 65 seats in the new Parliament. The three remaining political parties, United Vaulia (UVP), Union of Patriotic Right Forces (PRF) and the Slavic Unity Party (SUP) each gained 5% of the vote and 33 seats in the new Parliament.

With no single party across the threshold of 326 seats it appears that Eva Marija Potusek will be sworn in as Prime Minister of the Serene Republic with either a minority government or a coalition. The Liberal Democrats are only 66 seats short of a clear majority, but given that there is a slim chance of the other parties forming a single opposition bloc the Liberal Democrats could easily stand on their own.

The new Prime Minister will be sworn in tomorrow morning at the Imperial Palace. An Imperial spokesperson has confirmed that the Imperator will issue the decree dissolving Vauleyo-Buryatia during the inaugural session of the new Parliament tomorrow at midday. [/i]-Reporter

[IMG]http://i328.photobucket.com/albums/l358/ImperatorAzenquor/439x.jpg[/IMG]
-Prime Minister-elect Potusek & Lord Petrovic

[Justinian the Mighty]

Prime Minister Medvedev personally calls Prime Minister-elect Potusek, hoping to exchange a few words and to congratulate her on winning the election. Later a statement goes out stating that Slavorussia acknowledges Vaule’s regained independence as well as the new Prime Minister and Parliament.

[Imperator Azenquor]

Prime Minister-elect Potusek thanks Prime Minister Medvedev for his congratulations and expresses the desire to greatly improve diplomatic ties between Slavorussia and the Serene Republic. The new Prime Minister also expresses a desire to hold a high level inter-governmental meeting with the Slavorussian Empire.

[b]===[/b]

[b]***Parliament building, Sygh-Varthys, Serene Republic of Vaule*** [/b]

[IMG]http://i328.photobucket.com/albums/l358/ImperatorAzenquor/VauleanParliament.png[/IMG]

One by one each of the newly elected MPs entered the Parliament Chamber. As soon as they were seated, Prime Minister-elect Potusek and Imperator Pyotr enter the room and take their seats at the speaker’s podium. Three soldiers enter the Parliamentary Chamber carrying the national flag, the Imperial Flag and a copy of the 1675 Constitution of Vaule.

[IMG]http://i328.photobucket.com/albums/l358/ImperatorAzenquor/0133629550085.jpg[/IMG]

Imperator Pyotr steps to the podium and addresses the Parliament:

[i] “Ladies and Gentlemen, honorable guests I welcome you.

As a nation we stand on the threshold of a new beginning and of a new Vaule. As we look hopefully towards the future, we reflect upon our centuries of history, culture and tradition. We reflect on our history of accomplishing the impossible and standing firm in the face of the largest of obstacles.

To the people of the Serene Republic, I urge you to continue to work with dedication, strength and vigour in the service of your fellow citizens and of your country. I urge you to remember the ideals which liberated our nation from the Soviet Union. The ideals which maintained our independence throughout the years and the ideals that laid the foundation for the events of today. I urge you, as you have always done, to hold your government accountable and to participate in the democratic process. A state is nothing without its people. So let us work together to build our nation.

To the Members of Parliament before me today, I urge you to at all times remember that you serve the people of the nation and not yourselves. You represent the people of this nation. Their hopes, their dreams, their concerns and their fears. I urge you to do your utmost, and always remember that you serve the people and the nation. Let us march forward into the future.

Where there is discord, let us bring harmony! Where there is despair, let us bring hope! Where there is oppression, let us bring freedom! Where there is injustice, let us bring truth! As the world sleeps, Vaule shall stir from her slumber yet again. Ladies and gentlemen, a new dawn has broken.”[/i]-Imperator Pyotr

[b]**Applause**[/b]

[IMG]http://i328.photobucket.com/albums/l358/ImperatorAzenquor/1135252320351.jpg[/IMG]
-Prime Minister-elect

As Imperator Pyotr steps down, Prime Minister-elect Potusek takes her position on the speaker’s dais. She places her hand on the Constitution before reciting her oath from memory:

[i] “I, Eva Marija Potusek, in the office of Prime Minister of the Serene Republic of Vaule, swear to uphold the laws of this nation as set forth in the Constitution. I swear to honor my sacred duty to serve the people of the Serene Republic as their Prime Minister. I pledge my loyalty to the Serene Republic and to no other nation or state upon this earth.”[/i]-Potusek

[b]**Applause**[/b]

Imperator Pyotr stands and shakes the new Prime Minister’s hand. The Imperator takes out a red folder with the Imperial Seal on it and hands it to Prime Minister Potusek. The Prime Minister opens the folder and then announces:

[i]“Honorable members of Parliament, I present the following Royal Decrees as signed by His Most Orthodox Royal Highness. Firstly, as of midnight tonight all governmental institutions of the Socialist Union of Vauleyo-Buryatia have been dissolved and the power formerly held by these institutions has been transferred to the governments of the Serene Republic of Vaule and the Commonwealth of Buryatia.

Secondly, all members of this Honorable Chamber are duly elected as representatives of the people of the Serene Republic with all of the privileges and responsibilities that go along with that office. The legislative powers which formerly resided with the Great People’s Khural of Vauleyo-Buryatia are now vested with the Chamber of Deputies of the Serene Republic and the corresponding legislature in the Commonwealth of Buryatia.

Thirdly, as specified under the Treaty of Union (2010), the Serene Republic of Vaule shall be the sole successor state to the former Vauleyo-Buryatia and shall be responsible for all financial and treaty obligations of the former Vauleyo-Buryatia. Accordingly all foreign embassies of Vauleyo-Buryatia shall, until separate facilities are constructed act as both the Embassy of the Serene Republic and of the Commonwealth of Buryatia.

Finally, by Imperial decree the Commonwealth of the Former Vauleyo-Buryatia (CVB), whose membership shall include all states formerly a part of the Socialist Union of Vauleyo-Buryatia, shall be created. Membership in this Commonwealth must first be ratified by the respective national legislatures. The Commonwealth shall consist of a common currency and a common monarch (who in the case of the Commonwealth of Buryatia shall only have symbolic power).

I thank you.”[/i]-Prime Minister Potusek.

As the Prime Minister finishes her speech, the feed from the Parliament building ends and the roof of the Imperial Palace is shown. The flag of Vauleyo-Buryatia flutters in the wind, illuminated by a single floodlight. The floodlight is suddenly switched off for a moment as the flag is lowered. When it is switched back on, the flag of the Serene Republic has been hoisted.

[IMG]http://i328.photobucket.com/albums/l358/ImperatorAzenquor/SereneRepublicFlagProp1.png[/IMG]

[Imperator Azenquor]

[b]BCNA News: Parliament approves new government, Commonwealth [/b]


[i] “The newly elected Parliament of the Serene Republic held its first legislative session this morning. The session was opened by Prime Minister Potusek who congratulated the elected members of Parliament and expressed a desire to work with other parties in the legislature. As the head of the Liberal Democratic Party, Prime Minister Potusek spent much of the first session of Parliament outlining her government’s agenda for the first 60 days.

The Prime Minister revealed that her party would seek to introduce legislation to create several new government bodies and to tackle the country’s financial situation in the aftermath of the end of the Treaty of Union (2010). The Prime Minister revealed that she would also introduce legislation to reform the structure of the armed forces and the police. Too long, she said, has the Police Force been a branch of the military rather than a stand-alone organization. This she said, contributed to several problems particularly with the administration of the Police Force. To resolve this, the Prime Minister revealed that the government would create a separate civilian police force, the ‘Guardians of the Peace of the Serene Republic (GPSR)’. This new police force would be divided into regional divisions and would be accountable to the Ministry of the Interior.

In her address, Prime Minister Potusek confirmed that the military would be restructured to deal with the territorial changes that have occurred since the end of the Treaty of Union (2010), but that the Organization of the Zodiac (OZ) Special Forces shall remain with its current structure and organization. Unlike the regular branches of the military, which were divided between Vaule and Buryatia, the OZ Special Forces remained entirely in Vaule, thus there is no need to reform or upgrade their units at this time.

In the area of foreign affairs, Prime Minister Potusek announced that she would shortly nominate her Foreign Minister for the approval of the Parliament. The time has come, she revealed, to have a more widely focused foreign policy which sees ties with Europe as essential. The Prime Minister also announced that she would be appointing several new diplomats to the Diplomatic Corps. In her closing remarks the Prime Minister congratulated the newly appointed Speaker of Parliament Mikhail Zhukovich.

On the legislative front, the Parliament approved the proposal for a Commonwealth of the Former Vauleyo-Buryatia (CVB) as well as the candidates for several government Ministries. The breakdown of the votes on the resolutions are as follows:”[/i]-Reporter

[quote][b][u]Resolution #1: Commonwealth of the Former Vauleyo-Buryatia (CVB)[/b][/u]

The government of the Serene Republic of Vaule shall enter into the Commonwealth of the Former Vauleyo-Buryatia (CVB) along with the Commonwealth of Buryatia.

The Commonwealth of the Former Vauleyo-Buryatia shall consist of a monetary union alongside a political union, the terms of which shall be finalized by mutual agreement of the governments of the Serene Republic and the Commonwealth of Buryatia.

The Commonwealth of the Former Vauleyo-Buryatia (CVB) shall not enter into force until a formal charter document is drafted and signed.

[u]Result:[/u]
[b]Yes: 358 (55%)[/b]
No: 260 (40%)
Abstain: 33 (5%)

[u]Party vote: [/u]
For: LibDems, Christian Democratis, Slavic Unity Party
Against: New Nationalist Front, Party for Social Justice, United Vaulia
Abstain: Patriotic Right Forces
[/quote]

[quote] [b][u]Resolution #2: Government appointments [/b][/u]

Minister of Foreign Affairs: Aleksandar Trubachev (Lib Dem)
Minister of Interior: Sukhbataar Li (Lib Dem)
Minister of Finance: Mikhail Chuluunovich (Lib Dem)
Minister of Education: Anatoly Morgunov (Nat.)
Minister of Defense: Andrei Grigovich Ouromov (Lib Dem)
Minister of Labor and Social Services: Vladimir Sokov (Lib Dem)
Minister of Health: Nikolai Symonova (Nat.)
Minister of Trade and Industry: Ana Borisov (Nat.)
Minister of Resource Management: Adrian Zhukovsky (Nat.)

[u]Result:[/u]
[b]Yes: 455 (70%) [/b]
No: 130(20%)
Abstain: 66 (10%)


[u]Party vote:[/u]
Yes: Liberal Democrats, New Nationalist Front, Slavic Unity, Christian Democrats
No: Party for Social Justice
Abstain: Patriotic Right Forces, United Vaulia[/quote]

[Imperator Azenquor]

[b][u]BCNA News: Senate Election begins[/b][/u]

[i]"A few minutes ago, voting began across the Serene Republic as voters select the 50 candidates who will be elected to the 100 member Senate. Coming just a few days after the elections to the Parliament, Prime Minister Potusek and the Liberal Democrats are hoping to sustain their momentum as they push for a much needed victory in the Senate.

The Senate, or as it is officially known the Chamber of Senators of the Serene Republic, is the upper house of the nation's bicameral legislature. The Senate consists of 100 Senators, 50 of which are elected by the people, 25 are appointed by the Prime Minister and 25 are appointed by the Imperator. While some could say that the ability to appoint 25 Senators puts the government of Prime Minister Potusek at an unfair advantage, each of her Senate appointments must be approved by a majority of the Parliament. The Imperator's appointments will be based upon consultations with business leaders, regional delegates and the clergy.

In other news, Imperator Pyotr signed Parliamentary Resolutions #1 and #2 into law. This final hurdle confirms the Ministerial appointments and opens the way for direct negotiations with the Commonwealth of Buryatia regarding the proposed Commonwealth of the Former Vauleyo-Buryatia."[/i]-Reporter