PRE-ELECTION COVERAGE, OP-ED ON ECONOMICS [I-PAN]

[IEC 229]

[!] Pre-election coverage of the 1689 by-elections are published a day ahead of the elections, giving voters everything they need to know.

((Elections for Markev and Belvitz are held tomorrow. Polls are open from 3pm – 11pm EST. Please ensure that you’ve picked up your voter ID.))

 

 

 

7^th of Sigismund’s End, 1688

I-PAN ISSUE FIVE

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.

 

And now, without further ado, the news.

ELECTIONS IN BELVITZ, MARKEV TOMORROW; EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

[!] A parliamentary election map of the Empire, as of 1686

 

       With the anticipated Parliamentary by-elections right around the corner, voters are arguably more energized now than they were last year, during the first set of general elections. Recent polarization between the Priorist Party, who’s seemed to established themselves well the Crowndlands, and the Common Civic Party, who have garnered monumental support from rural areas, has lead voters to become very anxious for the upcoming set of elections. The results will determine who replaces two previous CCP Prefects; Robert Sigismund of Markev and John Hugh Sarkozic of Belvitz. Priorists have a chance to secure both seats, but the previous election results suggest that both seats will be difficult to win.

 

MARKEV’S ELECTION

[!] Dominic Grimm (left) and Rhys var Ruthern (right), who are scheduled to debate this afternoon.

 

       In Markev, where Palatine Robert Sigismund resigned a mere year into his term over alleged health issues, Priorists have noticed an open power vacuum. As a result, Priorist hopeful and Maer of Markev, Dominic Grimm, announced his candidacy to become the next Prefect of Markev. Grimm is running on a platform which is very similar to the platform adopted by Carolustadt Prefect, Victoria Oxenstierna-Muhlen, seeming to embrace the central tenets of Priorists. He calls for tariffs to be imposed on foreign goods to enrich the working class of Haense, increased healthcare standards, increasing military funding, and for “the young people” to seize control of Imperial politics, decrying his opponent as “too old” to represent Markev on a Parliamentarian level. In contrast, CCP candidate Rhys var Ruthern, who announced his candidacy very early in the race, has embraced tenets almost identical to the notoriously popular prior Prefect, Robert Sigismund, and has even acquired the Palatine’s endorsement, alongside the party’s. He staunchly opposes tariffs, instead opting to push free trade agreements with foreign nations in the name of cooperation and global unity. Similarly to Grimm, he supports military expansion, but staunchly opposes an increase in taxes. Grimm and Ruthern both hold some capacity of local experience in politics, with Grimm being the first term Maer of Markev, and Ruthern being the twenty-year Marshal of Haense. They two are scheduled to debate this afternoon in Markev. The district has no precedent to measure how well each party will perform, as Sigismund was unopposed, but it’s been highly regarded as a CCP stronghold. Tomorrow will put that assumption to the test.

 

BELVITZ’S ELECTION

[!] Speaker of Parliament, Alexander Frederick, swears Prefects Ostrobor Carrion and Robert Sigismund into office; 1688

 

       Belvitz is a different story entirely. Pollsters and electioneers have absolutely no idea how tomorrow’s elections will go, as CCP candidate John Hugh Sarkozic won the prior election by a mere six points. Adria is considered a tossup Prefecture, where voters could swing towards either end of the political spectrum. The Priorist nominee, Ostrobor Carrion, who was appointed as the acting Prefect after Sarkozic’s resignation, is now running to serve a full five year term. He’s remained awfully quiet during this election cycle, but has insisted on supporting pro-Priorist policies. He’s now running against CCP candidate and twenty year Captain of the Belvitz Watch, Antanios Opal Rutledge, to represent Belvitz using the motto “Root for Rutledge; Root for Adria.” He’s on record as endorsing the CCP’s platform, and touts himself as a strong family man. A third electoral hopeful, Steve Default, is running for the Prefecture as well. He’s remained awfully quiet in the election, but has been reported to criticize Rutledge for his elaborate campaign tactics. Default is a local guardsman. 

 

CAROLUSTADT’S ELECTION

[!] The city of Carolustadt; 1685

 

       An election which has – justifiably – received much less media attention has been the Carolustadt mayoral race, which is uncontested. The lone candidate, Obediah Dun’hope, is running as an independent. Little is known about Dun’hope, aside from his respected status among the Imperial administration. There is no Parliamentary election in Carolustadt this year, with incumbent Priorist, Victoria Oxenstierna-Muhlen, retaining her seat.

 

CANDIDATE ROSTER

 

BELVITZ – PREFECT RACE

Ostrobor Carrion – Priorist Party of Adria (PPA)

Antanios Opal Rutledge – Common Civic Party (CCP)

Stéve Defáult – Independent (INDP)

 

MARKEV – PREFECT RACE

Rhys Vladrick var Ruthern – Common Civic Party (CCP)

Dominic Grimm – Priorist Party of Haense (PPH)

 

CAROLUSTADT – MAYORAL RACE

Obediah Dun’hope – Independent (INDP)

 

((Elections for Markev and Belvitz are held tomorrow. Polls are open from 3pm – 11pm EST. Please ensure that you’ve picked up your voter ID.))

 

HOW THE CCP CAN BEAT THE PRIORISTS ON ECONOMICS; AN OUTSIDE VIEW (OP-ED)

The following is an opinionated editorial, written by political reporter and Disculpuli of the Academic Union, Daisy Applefoot. The views expressed by this article are not reflective of the newspaper itself. I-PAN continues to remain an unbiased and nonpartisan source of news for the Empire.

 

       In my recent travels across the Empire, I have noticed something peculiar with the politics. The Common Civic Party bases most of their platform on having free, untaxed, and unregulated markets despite said markets not playing a large role in feeding and clothing the populace. As is seen in Belvitz, food goods are simply not bought in the market often due to the proximity of public farms. This principle applies to many other resources, like iron and wood. While the mines are left open for all to use, all shall use them and thus markets are used less, and when the forests and tree farms are free for anyone to chop, all shall chop them. With this in mind, it should be no surprise that markets play less of a role in feeding Man as otherwise expected.

       But why then does the Common Civic Party focus on markets in this way? The Capitol of the Empire, Carolustadt, has fallen into the Priorist voting block, yet the CCP still does not change their stance on things. In my mind, if the CCP and other market enthusiasts wish to beat the more populist Priorists, they must rethink and reevaluate how they are to encourage the market.

First, they should advocate for more market competition so as to lower prices and increase the usefulness of markets. This can easily be done by breaking large merchant enterprises into smaller, more competitive ones, and also by increasing the number of market stalls available to compete with one another.

       Second, they ought to solve the dreadful issue of the public farms, mines, and lumber mills. While these exist, the markets will struggle to be the main provider of the Empire. The CCP should advocate for the sudden Nationalization or Privatization of these resources so that the government and/or the locals can regulate who is allowed to access them. By doing this, people will be forced to buy farm goods, lumber, and iron through the market instead of getting it themselves.

       Third, the CCP should take on a few of the Priorists’ populist ideas. By doing this, they could take out the fire behind the Priorists, letting the market enthusiast do as they please with their newly acquired popular support.

 

WORLD NEWS

• Parliament is scheduled to meet this Saint’s day. They’re scheduled to vote on the Emperor’s Road Act. Proponents of the bill argue that the legislation will allow the Empire’s residents safe travel from Haense to Kadarsi, whereas opponents argue that it violates the vassal autonomy of governments who’s territory is split by the proposed road.

[Sultan 3953]

The Emperor while drinking his morning tea, reads the paper. 

[Reckless Banzai Screamer 15456]

Commodus waves his Renatian battle standard. “Obediah for mayor!”

[UnitedFederalistParty 27]

Approves 

[Beyonce4Pres 57]

steve does default thumbs up

[NotEvilAtAll 10906]

Daisy Applefoot approves of her economic advice, nodding as she sees it in the paper.

[osumanduas 1442]

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

 

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