July 1997 articles

Labor, Conservative parties face-off in general election 07/23/97
Labor wins Presidency 07/23/97
Bavan Parliament votes for sales tax increase 07/23/97
Glora Estef goes on music, speaking tour 07/23/97
Scandals rock the Labor party 07/24/97
Conservatives speak out against the media 07/24/97
People's Liberty party to merge with the Conservatives 07/24/97
Kerns takes the Oath of Office 07/25/97
Anarchist party wins an unexpected victory 07/25/97
Socialist Leader Resigns 07/25/97
Menet faces high unemployment 07/25/97
Scandal Spreads Like Wildfire 07/26/97
Vote Expected by Monday 07/26/97
Socialist Scandal? 07/26/97
Minority Leader Resigns 07/27/97
Fund-raising Scandal hits the Socialists 07/27/97
Liberals, Democrats vote to merge 07/27/97
Corli a Labor stronghold 07/27/97
Libertarian Becomes Minority Leader 07/28/97
Socialist Treasurer Resigns 07/28/97
Chamber Passes First Resolution 07/28/97
Socialists, Liberal Democrats Vote to Merge 07/28/97
President to announce his legislative agenda 07/28/97
Majority Leader attacks Conservative resolutions 07/30/97
First bill signed into law 07/30/97
Prime Minister contest begins 07/30/97
Social Democratic Conference 07/30/97

---

Labor, Conservative Parties Fact-Off In General Election

CYBER CITY -- In Cyberia's first general election, the two main parties in the country are expected to fight hard to win control of the Chamber of Ministers and General Assembly. Polls show the Labor Party to be the public's favorite, although rumors about an intra-party plot against the life of Labor Party's presidential candidate, Ken Kerns may hurt them enough to give the Conservative's an edge to win both chambers.

BAVA CITY -- Tonight is a night to be remembered by the citizens of Bava's provincial capital. Labor Party candidate Ken Kerns, opposed by three other candidates, has just won more than 61% of the popular vote throughout the country, and more than 75% in his home province, Bava.

President-elect Kerns found himself full of glee tonight when the evil intra-party plot rumors served to benefit his campaign. "I just couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the numbers in every province head my way," he said at a press conference a couple hours ago. In fact, the only province that went heavily to an opponent was Menet, where Ken only won 40%, versus 47% of the Conservative party candidate. He also had a tight race in Belar, winning by a mere 3% margin.

His entire campaign was based on three words: trust, honesty, and populism. To tell the truth, his entire party pledged that their budget plans were to benefit the country as a whole, not just those who are rich enough to invest. Those words really hit home for most voters, and really shows when polls are favoring the Labor Party to take control of the upper house by at least a three seat margin.

BAVA CITY -- The morning after President-elect Kerns' astonishing electoral victory, the Bava Parliament, a 65-seat unicameral legislature, voted to increase sales tax from 5% to 6.9%. The Parliament, which is governed by a Socialist-Labor coalition of 37 seats, astonished the public today when they released their budget plan, which planned to increase the tax on sold goods by nearly 40%.

Bava Primer, Jacob Sollison, a Socialist who usually votes with the Labor Party, in his weekly press release, explained the tax increase as necessary, unless the province wanted cuts in welfare, education, and block grants. "Inflation has hit this province especially hard, and unless they want deep cuts in [welfare] programs, the public will have to take this tax increase."

This comes at a bad time for Socialist and Labor Party candidates for Congress. Within hours of the press releases, polls showed the Socialist and Labor Party leads sharply drop, and in many cases fall behind several of the Conservative and Indepedent candidates. Only time will tell if this tax increase will hurt the power President-elect Kerns will have in forwarding his populist agenda.

BELARIA -- Pop artist Glora Estef begins a new nation-wide tour Thursday. Her music, which has topped all the major charts for nearly three months, announced Tuesday that she was planning to make a major three-week tour starting Thursday, which helped pull her lagging campaign back into full gear.

Huh? You must be asking. Remember that just a week after the Belarian gubernatorial race ended in May, Glora Estef, a well-known Labor Party member, announced her candidacy for Governor. The only candidate thus far for the Labor Party nomination, she is expected to sail through the primary and fight the gubernatorial incumbent of Conservative Jesse Bailey. Bailey, who not only has served as Governor for the passed three terms, but is the leader of the majority party in Belaria, was highly regarded as a possible contender for the Presidency next year. Also, with a decline in public appearances, Estef dipped in the political polls.

However, with this new music and speaking tour, you can be expected to see her popularity to begin to climb back up into the 50s. Not to mention keep her music up at the top of the charts.

CYBER CITY -- On the eve of Labor Party candidate Ken Kerns' amazing electoral victory, a scandal lite up on his heals.

Minister Jennifer Kerns, (L)-Menet, released a statement to the press Wednesday that she was resigning from the Chamber of Ministers, and will become a private political consultant. This 11th hour decision, made on the eve of an expected Labor majority in the Chamber of Ministers, surprised the Minister's brother, President-elect Ken Kerns.

In a press conference held Thursday, the President-elect released a statement made in Minister Kerns' resignation letter that implied that she had toyed with the idea of plotting against his life in order to pave the way for her rise to power.

President-elect Kerns said that this scandal should not look badly upon the Labor Party, and he would like to see this mess be put behind him, especially before he takes office and offers his first three resolutions to the Congress.

BELARIA -- Former speaker of the Assembly, and Conservative candidate for the Chamber of Ministers Chris Harrop made a speech in front of his supports Thursday that blasted the media and offered a plan to create a Department of Media, which would ensure that liberal bias would be restricted.

Polls show candidate Harrop can expect a landslide victory into office, despite harsh criticism from Labor, Socialist candidates. He made this statement in an effort to appeal to the Labor Party's platform for new departments that will improve the country, and win legislative support for his amendment.

It is still too early to tell if this anti-liberal speech has any political impact.

MALA CITY -- Cameron DeJong, leader of the People's Liberty Party, and former deputy primer of Mala, announced Wednesday that his party will merge with the Conservatives.

Analysts say that this move was to help bolster his chances of winning a Minister seat, and hold a balance of power in the Chamber. However, critics claim that he is attempting to split the Conservatives, in case he doesn't win the nomination from the Conservative Party for the Presidency next year.

CYBER CITY -- In front of dozens of friends, family, campaign supporters, as well as many members from the former Government, watched tear-eyed as Ken Kerns, the Labor Party's presidential candidate who won a great landslide victory last week, took the Oath of Office as Cyberia's first president.

During his inaugural speech, President Kerns emphasized the need to protect the people from the economic strains being felt by even the middle-class. This populist message helped him get elected; time will only tell if he holds to his campaign promises and deliver this country a dose of populism.

The President is expected to deliver his $3-billion budget plan to Congress within the next two weeks.

MALA CITY -- The Anarchist Party, a splinter group of Minister DeJong's defunct People's Liberty Party, has won a surprise electoral victory Friday when the people voted Damian Cronin into a Ministry post with nearly a 10% lead over his main opponent, former Labor Party of Mala state chairman, Jacob Cobbes.

The Anarchists, pledging to promote a campaign similar to the one used by the People's Liberty Party, have made astonishing victories in the past week, picking up 4 seats in the Mala Legislature.

MENETIA -- The terrible saga of an assassination scandal that has nearly paralyzed the country's favorite political party, the Labor Party, is not yet over. Socialist Party Chairman Tod McKee, a former member of the Menet Legislature, resigned Friday after being accused of being involved in the assassination plot.

"I am terrified that a witch hunt has started in an effort to purge opponents of Mr. Kerns' presidency. I will resign effective immediately from the Socialist National Committee, and I have also decided to resign from politics in general," said Chairman McKee in a press conference Friday.

Many critics of the Socialist chairman believe that he shared Minister Jennifer Kerns' sentiment about ridding the country of its first democratic president.

MENETIA -- The Socialist/Labor coalition which controlled the Menetian Legislature, and helped Socialist Truth Noell get elected last month, will face the most difficult challenges yet.

Menetian Finance Minister Rebecca Chasely has filed a report with the Menetian executive branch that indicates that the unemployment rate has risen to more than 8%, most of it in the past 4 months.

The national unemployment rate is a slim 5.6%.

BELARIA -- As the investigation proceeds into a plot to assassinate President Ken Kerns only days into his presidency, a dark twist unfolds.

After President Kerns' sister, Jennifer resigned from the Chamber of Ministers, despite an expected landslide victory, and the Socialist chairman resigned from politics in general, the investigation turned to Minister Sean Kerns, a Labor from Belar, for answers about the possible assassination plot. However, once the tabloids learned of this, accusations flared that Sean was involved in the plot to kill his brother for political gain.

Sean was found dead Friday afternoon, after jumping off the roof top of the Belarian Capitol. He was 32. (In real life, he is only 12.)

CYBER CITY -- President Kerns didn't waste any time in setting up his legislative agenda. The first resolution, which creates 5 executive departments and one Minister committee, is expected to have voting completed by Monday.

President Kerns has announced that his budget plan to utilize the $3-billion in tax revenues should be ready within a week or so. Also, he hopes to send to the floor of the Chamber three more resolutions within the next week.

In true Labor fashion, he is eager to jump start the legislative session, and is hope to suggestions for other resolutions.

MENETIA -- The sight of an unexpected resignation by the Socialist Party Chairman has not seen the last of Socialist problems. The high unemployment rate has dramatically reduced the popularity of the Socialist Party. Those aren't the only problems. Property values are falling, causing the need for new property taxes to hold up local revenues.

Also, the Socialist Party has recently recieved a $1 million dollar check from questionable donors, at a time when their debt is around $710,000. Only time can tell if this party decides to fold under political pressure.

CYBER CITY -- In the midst of the Minister campaigns, the Socialist and Labor Parties have faced many problems, such as internal scandals and resignations of their top leaders. The only constant in this political intrigue was the Conservative Party, unified and with the merger with the People's Liberty Party, has had a great boost in the polls.

However, all that changed recently. Chris Harrop, the expected Conservative Party and Minority Leader of the Chamber of Ministers, announced Saturday that he will resign effective immediately from his leadership bid. Making a speech outside the Congressional Building, Harrop said "I can no longer meet up to the time and effort of the Cyberian government. I hope to go on to other ventures in politics and wish you all the best of luck."

Harrop announced that he would use his experience to join other political oraginizations, such as the Republican Youth Coalition, and will be running for President in Student Council.

This leaves the question of who is the heir of the party's #1 spot. In former Minority Leader Harrop's opinion, Cameron DeJong, the former leader of the People's Liberty Party, looks to be the next in line.

MENETIA -- The Socialist Party is in deep trouble these days. Their popularity as a government in Menet is down in the 30s as Menet's economy crumbles to pieces. The Socialists have also lost one of their most popular chairman. And finally, a $1 million donation is under close scrutiny by the Federal Elections Commission.

In fact, federal investigators have declared a full investigation into the finances of the Socialist Party. The total amount of contributions they are investigating includes more than $2.1 million! Time will only tell if the Socialists come under more investigation.

MENETIA -- With all the problems of the Socialist government in Menet, it is no surprise that two minor parties that play a large role in the Menetian Legislatiure have decided to merge. The Liberals, headed by Assemblyman Cory Delmond, first suggested the merger at an Alternative Parties Convention last month. Now, of course, it seems more politically advantageous to merge, and thus, Democratic Party Chairman Ralph Morgan invited the Liberals to merge together.

The new political party, the Liberal Democratic Party, "offers a center-left platform and alternative to the socialist and 'far left policies' of the Socialist and Labor Parties," says the Lib-Dem Co-Chairman Cory Delmond. Political repercussions include uniting almost 5% of the voters in Menet, which could give them great political power in the upcoming Congressional elections.

CORLI -- President Kerns' popularity has finally rubbed off on his party. Corli pollsters have indicated that the province is starting to turn to the left, and supporting Labor candidates for public office. In fact, present polls show all 3 Minister candidates for the Labor Party are leading by at least 10%.

CYBER CITY -- Cameron DeJong has certainly had a wilde political career in the past few weeks. He was the leader of the People's Liberty Party until its merger with the Conservatives after the presidential election. Then, he became an advocate of smaller government, as well as a stronge supporter of the Conservative Party. Now, thanks to the resignation of Chris Harrop, he has become Minority Leader in the Chamber of Ministers.

Minister DeJong was glad to become the Minority Leader, citing wishes to prevent big government in Cyberia as one of the reasons he has made efforts to strength the Conservative Party's power in the Chamber of Ministers.

He also now leads the Conservative Party, which holds 1/6 of the Chamber.

MENETIA -- The Socialist Party faces a new problem. Along with the leadership toppling, the Socialist Menetian government becoming unpopular with the economic problems, a fund-raising scandal has surfaced.

A $1-million contribution was made by a series of donations from 10 people, including 3 former American citizens. These three contributions, coupled with another $1.4 million in questionable donations over the past three years, are being investigated by federal elections commissioners for the possibility of them being illegal.

To make things worse, Socialist Party Treasurer Jim Young, has resigned. Treasurer Young was responsible for receiving the donations of these former Americans and many other possibly illegal contributions. He cited weakening health, growing unpopularity of the Socialist Party, and increasing criticism of his term as Socialist Treasurer as reasons for his resignation.

CYBER CITY -- With the voting period ending in the Chamber, President Kerns has announced the results in a news conference Monday. The resolution, CMR #001, was offered by the Kerns Administration in order to jump start the creation of his Cabinet. It was passed with support from all parties, with a 8-1 vote, and the one no vote coming from Minority Leader Cameron DeJong, who objected to the amount of departments created.

The departments created by this resolution include a controversial Department of Space Exploration, a Department of Armed Services, Department for Provincial Affairs, Department of State, and a Department of Finance and Budget. It also created a Committee on the Impact of World Events for the Chamber of Ministers. One amendment which was defeated would create a bipartisan Department of Media, intended to balance out the ideology of the media, but was pictured as a regulatory agency on the freedom of speech and press.

President Kerns will ask the Chamber to speed up their voting and actually vote. He would like to see, if not all, nearly all Ministers vote on a measure, not just 70% of them.

MENETIA -- In an effort to cut their losses, the Socialist Party pleaded with the newly formed Liberal Democratic Party to allow them into the coalition. And Monday, the Liberal Democrats's Co-Chairmen Assemblyman Cory Delmond, and Ralph Morgan, agreed to merge with them, so long as the Socialists agree to tone down their socialistic agenda.

Acting Chairman of the Socialist Party Jason Crapps eagerly accepted the plan, and has announced that the publication of "Social and Economic Democracy: An Approach From the New Left," a new party program, will be complete by the end of next month. The coalition has agreed to the name Social Democratic Party, and will be a broad coalition of progressives, environmentalists, socialists, and liberals. Their platform will be one of moderate-left ideology, with political reforms to bring democracy back into the hands of the people and away from special-interests.

The merger will know allow the Menetian Government to quite possibly survive near self-destruction. Also, it may allow as many as 7 assemblyman to be elected in the upcoming general elections.

CYBER CITY -- Not wasting any time after his first bill is passed with wide-reaching support, the President is finalizing his legislative agenda Tuesday, and plans to announce it to the members of Congress Wednesday.

The plan, called the Popular Inaugural Plan, consists of a $3 billion budget, as well as such measures as legalization of pot, a guaranteed minimum wage of $6 an hour, and several political freedoms.

You can expect the opposition parties to attempt to defeat several of these, and thus make it kind of interesting for the next two weeks.

CYBER CITY -- Majority Leader Keegan Drake, who recently won the JTJ Presidential Election, has begun to flex a new-found political muscle. He held a press conference Wednesday that did several things. One was to announce his recent JTJ victory, another was to announce that he would not seek the seat of Prime Minister, a title given to the presiding officer of the Chamber.

Lastly, Minister Drake's press conference was to denounce two new bills currently being considered by the Chamber. Both were offered by former Minority Leader Chris Harrop just before he resigned.

One was to ensure that all government projects would have half of its employees be civilian contractors, and the other half government workers. In response, Drake said, "Would a private industry expect the government to pick up half of its tab? Then why should we tell private industry to pick up half of the government's tab? A government project is just that, a GOVERNMENT project. This also leads into a debate about what is or isn't a government project. Should our government subsidize only half of the military? How about half of police or fire protection? Roads? Education. I say no. Government and private industry will take care of their respective jobs."

The other was intended to ban affirmative action. However, the wording made it sound like businesses had to favor the older, and more heavily trained people. "It's wrong to force business to narrow their focus. Take a construction position, for example. Should the government force the foreman to hire an elderly gentleman who has been laying bricks for fifty years? While hiring on experience alone sounds like a good idea, the fact is, in this case, younger men would be neglected and those who get the position are probably too inept to get the job done."

A Times-Union poll found two days ago that 58% of the public supported the first bill, and 73% supported the second. However, a poll we conducted just a few hours ago shows only about 49% support the first, and 55% support the second. This could possibly show the beginnings of a growth in support of Drake, and an opposition to Kerns' presidency next year.

BAVA CITY -- During a nation-wide trip exploring damages done to the ecosystem, the President held a special ceremony to sign the first of his Popular Inaugural Program initiatives into law.

The bill, CMR #001, created 5 executive departments, including one for the Space Exploration, and one for Finance and Budget. It also created a Chamber Committee on the Impact of World Events, as well as limiting future resolutions that created or demolished ministries to a 2/3 vote.

A speech he made at the ceremony expressed relief that two amendments to the bill, one would create a Department of Media, and the other would eliminate the Department of Space Exploration, did not pass. The President also promised that he will create a $30-million fund for loans to support cities suffering economic stress.

Some analysts say that this is a mild attack on the defunct Socialist Party for their move to join the Liberal Democrats and to abandon former Socialist programs. Others say that he is attempt to salvage what voter confidence in Menet is left in order to lift the Labor Party to power there, rather than had the Social Democrats the government.

CYBER CITY -- In an effort to reduce his role as a leader of the legislative duties for the Chamber, President Kerns has announced his wish for the election of a Prime Minister Wednesday. He has indicated that the duties of a PM include leading a debate, putting bills to a vote, gathering the votes, and reporting the results to the webmaster, as well as handing the bills to the President for his signature or veto.

Majority Leader Drake, hoping to have more influence at his current post, declined the nomination from the Labor Party, sparking a contest for the Labor's nomination. However, it is clear the Minister Shawn Auberzinski is a front-runner for the nomination, and thus, for the post.

MENETIA -- Salvaging what political power they had left, the Socialists asked to merge with the Liberal Democrats earlier this week. Leaders of the former three minor parties will meet in a conference next week to discuss a party platform, as well as electoral strategy and methods to merge the three organizations.

The center-left coalition organizes over 10% of voters, and can compete for major party status nationwide. The Social Democrats are expected to vote on a new Chairman by the end of next month, but meanwhile the former chairmen of the three parties will share power evenly, like in a committee.