SARKOZIC RESIGNS, POLITICAL ISSUES [I-PAN]

[IEC 229]

[!] Another issue of the Empire’s public newspaper, the Imperial-Parliamentary Affairs Network, has been published. Consumers purchase the newspaper at three minae a copy – what a bargain! 

 

 

13^th of Horen’s Calling, 1688

Third Issue

Brought to you by the Imperial Election Commission

       The Imperial-Parliamentary Affairs Network, otherwise abbreviated to I-PAN, has been established as a journalistic outlet to inform the Empire’s constituents of the public affairs occurring from within the Imperial Parliament, and other important political topics within the realm. I-PAN shall be a nonpartisan, neutral news outlet which covers a variety of political affairs and happenings in the Empire. I-PAN was established under the supervision of the Imperial Election Commission in 1687, as a method to combat a disturbingly low amount of journalistic news outlets in the Empire. I-PAN shall be very strict in our core principle of prohibiting biased articles. An Imperial outlet, funded by the constituents, do not deserve slanted news or unfair coverage of individuals. We are wed to facts, and facts alone.

       If you are an aspiring journalist tempted by the allure of this newly established outlet, feel free to contact Fabius Bracchus, Election Commissioner ((Liam#7649)) to become a Parliamentary journalist. Trusted and worthy journalists shall be given press credentials to Parliamentary sessions, in order to cover current affairs. In addition, we encourage journalists to also establish private news outlets, to expand the journalistic integrity and ability to publicize information. They, too, may receive press credentials, and are not subject to the same standards as public journalists are. However, as far as I-PAN is concerned, we shall provide the utmost neutral coverage.

 

Without further ado, the news.

PREFECT SARKOZIC RESIGNS; CARRION APPOINTED TEMPORARY PREFECT

       Just a mere four Saint’s days following the Parliamentary general elections, John Hugh Sarkozic, who won the Belvitz prefecture seat by a mere six points, has quietly announced his resignation. The former Prefect-elect’s rationale included accusations of “election rigging” against the CCP candidate’s political ambitions, labeling the various electoral oversight agencies as being slanted in favor of his opponent, Ostrobor Carrion. This comes after an investigation was launched into the Belvitz election, amidst accusations that “deceased voters” had participated in the elections. The investigation yielded no conclusive results.

       In accordance to the Statute of Carolustadt (V.II.IV), a by-election is to be held, nominating a new Prefect to serve in Parliament. This election, however, will likely follow the first session of Parliament, scheduled for the 12^th of Tobias’ Bounty, 1688. Until a by-election can be organized, Priorist nominee Ostrobor Carrion has been appointed to serve as the temporary Prefect for the Belvitz seat. He will likely serve for roughly one Saint’s week. Carrion also has the option to run for the seat himself, should he wish to serve a full term as Prefect.

       Belvitz has decidedly become a “tossup” seat for both parties, being the only present Prefecture with mixed political results. The Common Civic Party only secured their seat by a six point lead, which means that if the Priorist Party wishes to retain their newly acquired seat, they’ll need to sway some of the CCP voters in the district to vote Priorist, or encourage those who didn’t vote in the last election to vote in the upcoming by-election. In contrast, the CCP will need to defend their reputability, and locate a suitable replacement candidate for the district.

The CCP nor the Priorist Party have made comments on the matter as of yet.

 

PARLIAMENT SCHEDULED TO MEET IN THREE SAINT’S DAYS

       Speaker of Parliament and Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal, Alexander Frederick, has scheduled the first session of Parliament to be hosted on the 12^th of Tobias’ Bounty, 1688. After this meeting, the five year terms for elected Prefects will begin.

Here are some future hot button issues which will likely be debated in Parliament;

 

Voter Suffrage

Ever since the establishment of the Parliament, voters and political candidate alike have been calling for expanded voter suffrage. To many, the currently drafted Prefectures offer little representation to a large portion of the Empire, offering representation only to some urban areas. Robert Sigismund, Prefect-elect of Markev, made it one of the focal points of his campaign. Multiple barons have also called for expanded voter suffrage, namely in their holdings. The debate will likely not be along partisan lines, but instead between those who wish to see the Parliament take radical steps towards pro-legislative reforms, or if leadership should take the process more cautiously when considering voter expansion.

 

Merit-Based Knighthood

One of the Priorist Party’s promises during the elections, representatives in Parliament will likely be drafting up a bill to propose merit-based knighthood standards. A common critique as of the current knighthood process is that obtaining knighthood status is far too common, and the process must be overhauled to more accurately reflect the contributions made by individuals obtaining the aforementioned title. “Knighthood is given out to landed nobles,” noted PPR chairman Hans Rovin in an interview. “The issue with this is that some nobles are warriors and others are burghers. The warriors fight. Burghers write.”

 

Taxation

Both major parties tend to agree on the overall concept of having little to no imperial taxation, leaving the matter of funding to the vassals. However, it is unclear how other independent Lords in the Parliament will view the matter. Regardless of anyone’s opinions on taxes, the Imperial government needs to garner a budget from somewhere. Solutions proposed by the CCP have been block grants to vassal states, whereas the PPR has suggested eliminating the need for Imperial taxes by granting more economic responsibility to the vassals.

 

Cultural Integration

Easily the most divisive issue in the ‘87 elections, the CCP and PPR have been on staunchly opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to debating cultural integration. While the PPR embraces a more ethnocentric, nationalistic message, advocating to retain traditional Renatian values, the CCP has long since advocated for the gradual integration of cultural minorities into society, justifying such through promises of economic prosperity for all of the Empire’s constituents, and a decreased sense of inter-polarization.

 

International Trade

Another issue which drives a wedge between the PPR and CCP is the matter of tariffs versus free trade. While the Priorist Party advocates for enacting tariffs on merchants who wish to trade with individuals and businesses outside of the Empire, in order to disincentive foreign investments and keep Imperial business ties in the Empire, the CCP has decried such, rebutting by stating that free trade is keeping our affluent economy afloat, and that without it, our domestic production would have to skyrocket in order to keep up with demands.

 

We fully expect these essential issues to be debated on the national scale in the days to come.

[osumanduas 1442]

Moved to The Great Library. It shall be sorted into the appropriate category shortly.

 

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