"UNCHAINED" Vol. 1: President May Resigns, New Polling Data

[UniversalUnion 70]

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UNCHAINED Vol 1.

The Commoner’s News and the Official Publication of the Universal Union

14th of Tobias’ Bounty, 1678

 

 

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       “UNCHAINED” is an alternative newspaper, offering crucial political coverage to the commoner class. Our ultimate goal is to educate and inform the masses of the affairs of government, especially the happenings of the legislature, which will impact the lives of the average person. It is the official publication of the Universal Union, an organization designed to protect the rights of working people, and improve society for the many, not the few. If you wish to become a reporter for UNCHAINED, please contact the primary editor, Abeyot Okoro. ((Liam#7649))

 

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Quick Headlines:

• Josephites Maintain Narrow Margin in the Polls
• President Terrence May Resigns
• The House confirms Jasper Carrington considered for Interior Secretary
• Peter II Coronated as King of Kaedrin
• Interview with Jonah Elendil
• Interview with Amadeus d’Aryn

 

 

 

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President of the House, Terrance May, Resigns

President Terrance May, speaking at the Second Josephite Convetion, delivering his resignation speech.

 

       At the most recent Josephite party convention, held in New Reza, long-time civil servant and President of the House of Commons announced his resignation, both from the legislature and his post as party chair. It was initially a melancholy moment for many at the convention, with the distraught room chanting “Four More Years!” The tone then switched to revolutionary optimism, as party officials and future candidates took the stage, and eventually dubbed leading Josephite, Jonah Stahl-Elendil, the new party leader. Should the Josephites maintain the majority of seats in the next election, Mr. Elendil will be the presumptive President. Below is a transcript of President May’s resignation speech.

 

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Morning in Orenia

       Thank you, thank you all for attending. Let us begin in 1715, where the fight against oppression was waged. The Nenzing Proclamation brought forth the notion of a sacred social contract between the governed and the governing. Here we stand, freely electing our officials and holding those who hold power to account. My fellow Josephites, I am proud that we are here to forge the discretion of our future! We are gathered today under the generous auspices of the Northern Geographical Society.

       I thank the good director Celestine Herbert, a staunch supporter of our cause, for her support and hosting us. We are here because we are reminded of what an enlightened era has brought us. Advancing education, knowledge, and intuition has led us into a period of unprecedented growth. We must be champions of this movement. Today, we face many new challenges and an opportunity to improve the lives of our people. We are the side with a heart of gold, pledging our service to champion the dignity of all in Oren. Our goal is to advance the cause of liberty, the cause of businessmen, and the cause of the farmer.

Up and down this country, people are seeking something new. They have found that they have yet to find the necessary support to help them prosper. Our message is to forge a compassionate society, welcome all who seek to build on a future that works for all of us. I have been serving as an elected official in the Imperial Diet since 1736. In the last thirty-two years, I have devoted my life to work towards many goals. From legislation that promotes transparency in the legislature, to the institution of juries, to the promotion of business and labor opportunities, to the increased funding to our clinics, to the passage of civil unions, it has been my pleasure to uplift every sector of our Imperial livelihood. In both times of war and peace, this body has stood to defend the values of a compassionate society. We, as a convention and we, as a movement of people across the Empire, we have done this and more!

       In the last election, we campaigned on a promise of many things. We have sought to promote education, fairness in property laws, and reforming our justice system. We need to keep the vision consistent, firm, and unyielding. Our campaign must be broad and bold. It must comprise every sector of our society. Everyone who calls themselves a Josephite, be they noble or common, finds themself to be a valued partner in our vision. We must reach out not to the frontiers and the fringes of society, bringing together those who are seeking change for the better. Those on the other side like to prey on fear. . . They want to draw out the gloominess of an Orenian wave of change. I ask you all this -- why fear a future of change rather than control it with our deeds and convictions? 

       As you know, they campaigned that we are a movement that is anti-Church and secularist. So let me bring up scripture as a way for us to find our message. The Holy Scrolls tell us that we must be charitable, sharing the abundance of our bounty to others. The Josephite Union is a union that negotiates and speaks for all! We must protect the cultural fabric of Oren, respecting the rights of individual people. We must uphold the provincial character of our Empire, maintain accountability of government, and strengthen our bond with our fellow people.

       My friends, in this spirit. . . I recognize that this movement must be energized to represent the new generation of leaders seeking to bring change to Oren. With change, we also see that new leadership is in order. I am proud to say that my last four decades have been in your service. Now, I no longer hold the strength needed to carry on this fight with what I believe one needs. At our second convention, I remind you all that power must be transitioned peacefully. We must relinquish our authority and respect the changing tides of the electorate. Power concentrated in the hands of one or a few for far too long is a dangerous misstep towards tyranny. For some, I have known for most of my life. Others, I have just met, and I thank God for giving me the chance to learn your stories.

 

Let it be known that at this Second Convention of the Josephites, I hereby announce my resignation as your Chairman.

 

- Terrence May, 1768

 

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Interviews with Party Leaders, Amadeus d’Aryn, Jonah Stahl-Elendil

       The leaders of both political factions in the House of Commons, Amadeus d’Aryn of the Evardines and Jonah Stahl-Elendil of the Josephites, were willing to give their perspectives on the upcoming elections for the national legislature. We shall, for now, leave their viability and dedication to the voters at the reader’s discretion. Both leaders maintain that they strongly believe their party will be successful in the next election, and one of them is sure to be disappointed. Elendil maintains that the Josephites have a winning strategy, communicating with people across the Empire in their hometowns, whilst the Everadines are rolling out an ambitious new platform they hope will appease voters. Each party has stated that they are delivering a new slate of fresh faces to the electorate this upcoming election.

 

Amadeus d’Aryn

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OKORO: Firstly, I’d like to know what progress you think the Everadines have made over the course of the last session?

 

d’ARYN: Excellent. Firstly, I’d like to know what progress you think the Everadines have made over the course of the last session?

 

 

Truthfully, I read a missive -- something about non-partisan judges and penalties bill.

 

 

We live in a unique time, where we have the destiny of the very world in our own hands for the first time in a century. Our institutions have grown tenfold, and so we now have the opportunity to properly legislate out of wartime needs. We have made brilliant progress, contrasting to the Josephite’s lackluster all session. We have now submitted five individual bills to the House, while they have only uniquely authored one of their own. Our Non-Partisan Bill has ensured that justices cannot align with political factions. It still amazes me how this was not legalized beforehand. The Fixed Penalties bill likewise ensures swift justice to criminals committing minor offenses, so that we may not have prolonged trials whilst still guaranteeing the right of the individual. This supported our boys in red and blue. 

 

 

I see. How many new candidates are you running in the upcoming election compared to your incumbents?

 

 

All current Everadine members of the House will continue to be on the list unless any convention reorders it, and therefore we will be introducing six new faces to the faction.

 

 

And in the upcoming election, do you believe the Everadines will take control of the House?

 

 

Yes. We will win because we believe in a collective social responsibility towards and between the citizens of the Empire over state control, and we bring a new energy to politics that the Josephites have been lacking for many years now. 

 

 

Can you tell us what’ll be on the agenda, should the Everadines take control of the House?

 

 

Our agenda will be fully described when we release our manifesto, which is coming very soon. I can tell you and your readers, however, that it will include an expansion of the judiciary, new plans for a national infrastructure project, a reformed criminal justice system, a promise on the expansion of open government and transparency in decision-making. Although, I wouldn’t want to spoil it all too soon, we have a lot coming.

 

 

Are legislating primary elections as a formal part of the electoral process on that agenda?

 

 

No, although I am constructing an internal proposal for a primary system for the Everadines, which will work in a fair way and guarantee representation of the people. It is not practical to force another faction as how to deal with their internal business. 

 

 

Final inquiry, do you believe voter turnout will be up or down compared to the last election?

 

 

On this one, I am not too sure. Of course the momentum of the first election will have increased voter turnout to great heights, and so naturally, we may see a decline this time around. I encourage every one of your readers, however, to sign up for the census as soon as possible, and to vote Everadine when it comes to ensure that we create a big society for everyone, not just the few.

 

 

Mister d’Aryn, thank you for your time.

 

 

Jonah Stahl-Elendil

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OKORO: I’d first like your thoughts on what progress the Josephites have made this past session?

 

ELENDIL: I won’t lie, it wasn’t as good as it could have been.

 

And why’s that?

 

I mean, it was good! We’ve scrutinized and confirmed every judge that came our way. We created the Ministry of Education. We revised the ORC so juries make more sense and can be established with greater ease, as well as made it so the ISA and Provinces can carry out the law more efficiently in their domains. Later today, we’ll have bi-partisan standing rules as well. But. . .

 

But?

 

A lot of our older members are comfortable with where the Empire is -- and they should be! We have made considerable progress the past few decades in the Senate and House of Commons. Yet the progress achieved yesterday doesn’t mean that perfection is found in today. It’s largely why we’re running youngblood candidates.

And how many incumbents are you planning to run?

 

The list needs finalizing, but four to five is my best answer. Really, it comes down to running the ones who knew things weren’t perfect, and running new people who have bold ideas.

 

And the upcoming election, do you believe the Josephites will retain control of the House?

 

I do. And largely because we’re meeting our voters where they are. Me and my colleagues are traveling across the Empire, finding candidates, largely common born, in their communities. We’re trying to get to the root of the frustration folks have for the economy and, maybe even the government itself. I think we’re listening the most, and asking the right questions. I don’t like making too many promises, because it’s easy to get carried away. And then things don’t end up happening. But what we do commit to, comes from the bottom up.

 

I see. Can you give us some insight as to what’ll be on the Josephite agenda next session?

 

We’re going to hammer that out tonight at the convention. But I believe we’ll need to make sure our bureaucracy works. 

 

Are you saying it doesn’t work now?

 

It’s getting there -- you can see gaps just walking around Helena, though. The library closed down. The Livery only just dealt with their abusive landlords, and a lot of houses and shops are empty now. I don’t think there’s blame to place, either, but we need to make it so these things can work efficiently, and that participation is consent.

 

Final inquiry -- Do you think there’ll be room to legislate and codify the process of primary elections next session? We know it’s something being considered on both sides of the aisle.

 

I’d have to look into it, but I am very open to the notion. We want the most participation possible. The Senators of the past government had an obligation to the voters, not their parties, to succeed.

 

I’m sorry, another question. Speaking of that participation, do you expect voter turnout to be higher or lower compared to the last election?

Higher. Definitely higher.

 

And how’s that?

 

Like I said before, we’re meeting people where they are. We’re inspiring new voters. We’ve started a census drive to turnout voters from every corner of the Empire.

 

Thank you for your time.

 

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Please contact Abeyot Okoro ((Liam#7649)) with inquiries about reporting for UNCHAINED.

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