Dundorf

[Drax]

NDZP DOES NOT SEE PROBLEM ON CHANCELLOR SELECTION METHOD
 
ODERVELD – LEUCHTFEUER
 
Presidential Palace, May 29, 5683: According to ODERVELD – LEUCHTFEUER sources in the Presidential Residence, Bundeskanzlerin Frieda Gimbel of Neue Dundorfische Zentrumspartei (NDZP), met with Bundesprasident Wolfgang Prawius to discuss whether a constitutional amendment or legislation was necessary or desirable on the issue of which party gets the first chance to form a government after an election.
 
In the wake of the most recent election which produced a freak result of 315 seats in the Bundestag for the “Left” and 315 for the “Right,”  Since the current governing coalition led by Lorena Oberlitz as Chancellor did not have a majority after the election and since NDZP had the most seats in the Bundestag, the clear precedent was for Prawius as President to ask the NDZP Leader to see if she could form a government.  Which she did.
 
There have  been instances in the past where the existing Chancellor still had the votes if the coalition chose to stay together, so the question arises whether the President should first ask the Chancellor or first ask the Leader of the party with the most votes.
 
Legislation states the President first asks the Leader of the party with the most votes. The Constitution still says any party can nominate a slate for election of the Federal Council of Ministers.  Prawius and Gimbel recalled this was originally a provision to oust a Chancellor from indefinitely thwarting change of government.  They further noted when the legislation was passed for the President to ask first the Leader of the party with the most votes, the constitutional provision was retained so that a President or party Leader could not indefinitely delay a change in government by inaction as had occurred from time to time.
 
Although a President asleep at the wheel or a party leader refusing to act or step aside is much less likely today, Prawius and Gimbel agreed that it was a safeguard which should remain in place and agreed that the legislation would be interpreted to mean the President would move expeditiously to install a Federal Council of Ministers first asking the leader of the party with the most seats but not limited to making other contacts thereafter.
 
It thus seemed to them no amendment to the Constitution or additional legislation was necessary at this time.


Presidential Residence

[TheNick]

DSDP Says Dundorf Should Return to a Direct Election of Presidents
October 5684

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The entrance to Karlottenberg Schloss, the official residence of the Federal President.

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Dunburg - While the grand-coalition Government of Freda Gimbel continues to work within the framework the two governing parties, NDZP and DSDP, set before entering this coalition agreement, the individual parties are beginning to make moves to differentiate from each other eyeing the Presidential Election set for next year and the Federal Election set for 5686. Matthias Werner, a Bundestag member for the Social-Democrats (DSDP) has proposed yesterday in the Bundestag commission for Constitutional Affairs a proposal to amend how our country votes for its Federal President. Currently, the Head of State is elected by the Bundestag in an indirect election: voters choose the members of Bundestag every four year, and those members, every five years, meet to elect the Federal President. Mr. Werner's amendment would restore the direct election of the Federal President by Dundorfian voters, a practice that was in place from the restoration of the Republic in 5218 until Rudolph Kaltenbrunner's election as President in 5624. Sixty years later, a proposal to go back to what it was. But why?

We interviewed the Hon. Matthias Werner to ask him directly why he proposed this amendment:

[...] the matter of the fact is that our party, the Social-Democratic Party, believes in the power of the people to choose directly its representatives, even for the highest office in the country. My proposal would allow anyone to launch their candidacy for President, provided they get signatures from a minimum of 5% of the registered voters in each Bundesland, or they get nominated by at least 5% percent of the members of the Bundestag, which amounts to 32 members. This would allow parties to retain some power in selecting their own nominees for President, but would give minor or alternative candidates a chance to get on the ballot. Our current system wouldn't allow them to run for President because parties nominate and endorse people who are already in the high ranks of politics. All candidates compete in the first round, and the two most voted people will advance to a run-off election where endorsements are allowed. The person which gains a majority of the votes already in the first round of voting is elected President. I believe this is a very common sense reform and something that would empower citizens even more, that's why I am optimistic that this amendment gets passed.

Vice-Chancellor and DSDP Leader Lorena Oberlitz said that she will vote in favor of this bill but also reminded that this is not a proposal of the Federal Government: "we are thinking about other issues at this moment, but this is a very good proposal", she said. Chancellor Gimbel (NDZP) has not yet released a statement, while an ally to her party, the Konservative Bundespartei (KBP), has expressed its approval saying in a statement: "This amendment would empower people and not politicians, we commend Mr. Werner for including a clause that would require a minimum of signatures in each state, so that all territories are represented in this process." The Greens are more cautious: "the current system is an ironclad guarantee against extremists being elected to Karlottenberg Schloss, but Matthias Werner included some clauses to prevent that. We will have a frank discussion in the Bundestag and decide together."

The Justice minister, Anna Leesdorf (DSDP), said that an eventual constitutional reform on the process of election of the Federal President would not become effective in time for next year's Presidential election, which then will be held as an indirect election. She explained that a constitutional law requires 2/3 of the members of Bundestag to vote in favor in order to directly adopt the amendment. In case the bill is only approved by a simple majority, a longer process is required: a confirmative Referendum following the final passage. The confirmative Referendum, in order to pass, must have 50% +1 positive votes and the "Yes" side must be prevailing in four out of five states. This whole process would require "at least 2 years", and would become effective for the 5690 Presidential election.

[Drax]

TLD OPPOSES CHANGE IN PRESIDENTIAL SELECTION METHOD
 
ODERVELD - LEUCHTFEUER
 
Dunburg, October 27, 5684: ODERVELD – LEUCHTFEUER asked the Team Liberaldemokraten (TLD) Party Leader, Former Deputy Chancellor Gunther Krancke what TLD thought of the proposal to again elect Presidents by popular vote in a general election, and he responded:
 

TLD is planning to oppose the Social Democrat’s (DSDP) proposal as we understand it. There are modifications to the suggested change which would lessen our concerns. 
 
But first, we are not unmindful that the Federal President is the head of state and often represents the Bundesrepublik in international gatherings where it is important to have a respected citizen and not a buffoon attend on our behalf.  But most duties are ceremonial except the statutory function of facilitating the formation of a Federal Cabinet after Bundestag elections.
 
We would note even this statutory function is subject to override by the Constitutional authority of the Bundestag to move past the Presidential efforts and select whatever Federal Cabinet it chooses should it wish to do so.
 
With these limited functions of the office of Federal President in mind, we do not feel the expense of a separate general election is warranted.  We are aware of the DSDP argument for greater participatory democracy.
 
Two modifications to the idea as we understand it might well change the TLD position.
 
 First, making the Federal Presidential election simultaneous with Bundestag elections again and, second eliminating the run off second separate national election. Frankly though, we prefer the current system with partisan competition and negotiation to form the Federal Cabinet every four years and deliberation looking for an appropriate representative of the Bundesrepublik every five years.

TLD Party Leader Krancke

[Drax]

NDZP UNSURE ON PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CHANGE
 
ODERVELD - LEUCHTFEUER
 
Chancellery, October 28, 5684: After she met with the Defence Minister on where to place budgetary priorities for national security, ODERVELD – LEUCHTFEUER asked Bundeskanzlerin Frida Gimbel  what her party, Neue Dundorfische Zentrumspartei (NDZP) thought of the proposal to again elect Presidents by popular vote in a general election, and she responded:
 

I think generally the NDZP analysis is virtually the same as TLD except that many of us feel more weight should be given the DSDP argument on participatory democracy. 
 
NDZP as a whole believes the actual Bunespraident(in) selected have done rather well and been responsible and, accordingly, have no real worries about continuing as we are or returning to the former system.
 
We do not really favor changing back to having the vote be simultaneous with Bundestag elections but prefer a  separate date when a different approach can be taken toward who is representing us.
 
We will look at what is actually introduced; but, if we correctly understand the proposal, NDZP leadership expects to suggest each member vote as she  or he thinks best.

Chancellery

[TheNick]

Foreign Minister Oberlitz Speaks with Students on Foreign Policy
November 5684

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Vice-Chancellor and Foreign Minister Lorena Oberlitz at the Nicholas Bauer School of Public Policy in the University of Dunburg.

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Dunburg - Foreign Minister Lorena Oberlitz (DSDP) attended today a meeting on foreign policy with 150 students of the Nicholas Bauer School of Public Policy, a graduate-level institution within the Department of Political Science of the University of Dunburg. She discussed various topics and responded to questions posed to her by the students on foreign policy, international law and her philosophy. First thing first, she explained the continued Dundorfian foreign policy doctrine to the students:

Our international agenda follows two main pillars: human rights and pan-Dundorfianism. The job of a Dundorfian diplomat, which I know many of you want to become, is to balance these two pillars. There is a third pillar, exisiting in every successful foreign policy: the right amount of realism and pragmatism.  This is our century-long and standing doctrine which is respected by almost the entire Dundorfian political world. Pan-Dundorfianism doesn't mean "Dundorfians only" or "Dundorfians First", it simply means building a primary cooperation framework with the nations we share a culture with. As shown by our history we maintain good relations with our non-Dundorfians neighbors as well, like Kundrati, before and after it's ultra-nationalist period, and Luthori.

Responding to a student about the long-awaited Kundrati state visit in Dunburg, the Minister responded:

I can announce that sometime in 5686, we will be hosting Kundrati President Alaiza Kubitchek in our capital. The first Kundrati leader to ever step foot in our nation after the horrible fascist period, and this will be a good chance to restore fully our relations and work towards putting back in place a partnership as it was before the 5585 suspension.

Mrs. Oberlitz addressed the situation in NEK, whose fate is currently being discussed in the Norterra Summit:

We are not a part of that summit and Keris isn't of course our primary field of action. I just have to say that our position in regards of self-determination remains simple and unchanged: every people has a right to self-determination. We will bring our viewpoint to Egelion and the other powers involved in the summit. We have a good relationship with Egelion and we trust them on this matter, we trust that self-determination will be respected. I must say that I found the words of the Foreign Secretary of Tel Bira very convincing on this.

After mentioning Tel Bira, a student promptly asked the Foreign Minister about the Federal Government's stance on the division of Amudim into city-states:

The formation of city states was a result of internal policy proceedings which we won't comment on, although we are seeking to maintain a good or at least neutral relationship with all of them. On this issue, we care the most about the influx of Yeudi people that are seeking in Dundorf a new home, a trend that started when those nobility families [Aristocrat-Goldbloom and Goldbloom] first came in Grozvic.

A student asked the Minister about her personal philosophy and how it affected her time in politics and in this office:

Well, that's a tough question, isn't it? This room is full of very bright people and the future of our country looks very good. My philosophy is rooted in Egalitarianism. During my time in office as Chancellor I governed with a center-left coalition which sought to affirm Dundorf's social-democratic roots, which after 450 years of Democratic rule, are quite evident. As foreign Minister, I believe that egalitarianism is rooted in the rule of law, self-determination, and fraternity. We must cooperate so that every people is treated the same and has the same tools to advance as others.

After a couple hours the meeting with the students was over and the Minister thanked them for their attention and partecipation. She was asked by a Professor if she had plans to start an academic career after her political one: "I remain committed to lead my party and to remain active in our country's politics as long as the people want me to. I don't think about an hypotetical future". After this very diplomatic response, the Minister left the University to return to her office in Platz der Republik.

[Drax]

DRF FOR DIRECT ELECTION OF PRESIDENT
 
ODERVELD - LEUCHTFEUER
 
Dunburg, October 29, 5684:   After a meeting of the Dundorfische Rote Front (DRF) Central Committee at its Party Headquarters,  ODERVELD – LEUCHTFEUER asked the new DRF First Secretary Gerda Kempf what the DRF thought of the proposal to change the method of election of the Federal President and she replied:
 

As you know, former Interior Minister Karl-Heinrich Muller has retired as DRF First Secretary. I have just been elected to replace him, and at that meeting we did discuss the proposal you mention.
 
Here is our thinking.  We are going to be more amenable to joining other parties in legislation support and possibly formation of Federal Cabinets by being less demanding.  Specifically we will insist on maintaining our right to vote as we think best on any measure but not be insisting on a set of demands as a precondition of cooperation.
 
With that in mind we looked at the historical tendency of the Bundesrepublik to generally vote slightly left.  In the deal making process in effect now our only real influence has been to make it easier for a slightly right President to emerge by withholding our vote.  Conceivably now we could endorse a slightly left candidate.
 
In a general election, usually there are endorsements so seven or eight parties are not all competing. It is conceivable we could actually emerge as second in a race and win a runoff.  Not likely but conceivable.
 
So while we will look at what is actually proposed in the Bundestag, DRF is inclined to support the proposal as we understand it.
 
As you know, we are no longer living in a mutually hostile environment with Demokratishe Sozialunion (DSU) and we support many measure they support particularly concerning the safety net.
 
DSU Party Leader Ursula Hoepner has  let us know DSU will support the proposal as well. Like DRF, DSU does not much care whether the Federal President is or is not elected simultaneously with the Bundestag.

[TheNick]

Oberlitz Backs Prawius for 2nd Term
December 5684

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Federal President Prawius outside Karlottenberg Schloss.

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Dunburg - Two months to go for the 5685 Presidential election, Federal Deputy Chancellor Lorena Oberlitz (DSDP) has announced that her party will support incumbent Federal President Wolfgang Prawius (NDZP) for re-election. The Bundestag elected Mr. Prawius in February 5680 with 329 votes in the third round of voting. Back then, the DSDP did not explicitly state its voting behavior and allowed its Members of the Bundestag to vote freely, while this time it's clear that the junior partner in the Grand Coalition would like to avoid a lengthy process to re-elect Mr. Prawius. A Zeitung source close to Lorena Oberlitz says that the Social-Democrats would especially like to avoid being perceived as excessively partisan during this Presidential election, since they're the main sponsors of a proposal of Law to modify the way Presidents are elected in this country.

The Greens said that their plans to contest the presidential election with their own candidate remain unchanged even after the DSDP's announcement. While the KBP said they're "enthusiastically supporting" Mr. Prawius for re-election, as the TLD is likely to do. DRF, given the recent change in leadership, might lean towards supporting a united center-left candidate after years of running the separate far-left candidacy of former leader Karl-Heinrich Muller. Some leftist DSDP MPs have also released a note explaining that they will not support Prawius but they'll either vote blank or back the Greens/DSU nominee: 

President Prawius is a respectable person and has been an adequate President. But we are Social-Democratic members of the Bundestag elected by Social-Democrats and its our duty to represent those voices in the Presidential election.

[TheNick]

President Prawius Re-Elected in Landslide
February 5685

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Karlottenberg Schloss, Official Residence of the Federal President

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Bundestag, Dunburg - With an overwhelming two-thirds majority in the first round of voting, Federal President Wolfgang Prawius has been re-elected to a second term as our country's Head of State. Prawius, a member of the Hosian-Democratic party NDZP, was supported by the entire center-right bloc (Team Liberaldemokraten and Konservative Bundespartei) as well as a majority of DSDP members of the Bundestag. Prawius defeated the candidate of the united center-left bloc, Ursula Albrecht, of the Green Party, who immediately congratulated President Prawius in the Bundestag, as both candidates were in attendance in the gallery. Ms. Albrecht candidacy was supported by the DSU and the DRF, who for the first time ran a joint candidacy with other leftist parties. It's speculated, but not certain given the secrecy of this vote, that a flank of 20-30 DSDP MPs voted in dissent with the party line and backed Albrecht over Prawius.

This election comes as the Bundestag debates whether to reform or not the way Dundorf chooses its Federal President, a recent DSDP proposal would introduce back the popular direct election of the President. If passed, the next Presidential election in 5690 would be held in that manner and would make this one the last election to be held under the indirect system. President Prawius abstained from commenting on this reform, basically deferring entirely to the legislature, saying: "the elected Bundestag, representative of the people, will make the best decision on this issue". Below the results of the Presidential election:

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5685 Presidential Election (420 to win in the 1st and 2nd ballots, 316 to win from the 3rd ballot onwards):
- Wolfgang Prawius (NDZP, endorsed by DSDP, KBP, TLD): 440 votes
- Ursula Albrecht (GPP, endorsed by DSU, DRF): 182 votes
- Blank: 5
- Absent: 3

[TheNick]

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Bundestag Approves Constitutional Reform Bringing Back Direct Election of the President

June 5686

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The Dundorfian Bundestag at night.

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Dunburg - The Bundestag gave its final approval to a constitutional proposal of law which would re-introduce the election of the Federal President by direct universal suffrage, amending the current version of the law which states that the election of the Head of State is a responsability of the Legislative branch. This proposal of law was introduced in October 5684 by DSDP Member of the Bundestag Matthias Werner, and received a mostly positive feedback from all parties, except the TLD, and a more neutral/cautious approach by the NDZP and GPP, respectively.

Since this was a proposal of law meaning to amend the Constitution, the bill had to be discussed and approved twice, and in case the bill didn't receive the support of two third of the total members, the approval of this proposal was subject to a confirmatory public referendum vote. In this case, the bill received the support of 2/3 of the members, clearing the threshold. The DSDP, DSU, DRF and KBP were parliamentary groups to state their explicit approval of the bill, the NDZP and the Greens gave their members freedom of choice, while only the TLD group decided to oppose. Based on this, the starting situation was that the "yes" base could count on already 331 votes while the "no" base started at only 60, and both sides had to convince some NDZP and Green members, the so-called "swing" votes, which were 239 in total. Of course, the toughest job was for the opposing side.

The result ended up being 475 votes in favor of the amendment, 98 opposing and 52 abstaining, with five members of the Bundestag being absent, some for health reasons and other some for personal reasons. The President of the Bundestag, upon reading the final tally of the vote, stated that:

[...] having obtained a qualified majority of the members of this assembly voteing in the affirmative, this bill is thereby sent to the Federal President for his final consideration and approval. The session is adjourned.

Which meant that the bill did not need to be confirmed by a public vote and was instead heading immediately to Karlottenberg Schloss awaiting President Prawius's final approval.

After the vote, the Hon. Matthias Werner celebrated the result with a social media post:

The choice is now back in the hands of the people! Thanks to every member who supported this bill and thanks to our party leader @LorenaOberlitz for the support she showed me.

The Office of the Federal Chancellor acknowledged the change, stating: "The passage of this bill amending the Constitution, with such a large majority, is a testament to power of democratic reform, which the NDZP champions as an important factor of stability". Other reactions included the one of the Liberal-Democratic group, the only party to strongly oppose the change, the TLD Bundestag Leader said:

We hoped to convince enough members to vote no and force a public vote on this issue. The TLD acknowledges the change in policy but our position remains the same: the indirect election of the Head of State prevents the radicals and crazy people from being tenants of Karlottenberg.

[TheNick]

Kundrati President Visits Dunburg in Historic Visit

June 5686

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Dundorf President Wolfgang Prawius (left) meeting Kundrati President Alaiza Kubitchek at Karlottenberg Schloss.

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Dunburg - In the past few days, an historic state visit took place in Dunburg: Kundrati President Alaiza Kubitchek visited our capital city at the invitation of Federal President Wolfgang Prawius, Federal Chancellor Freda Gimbel and Foreign Minister Lorena Oberlitz, to mark officially the re-estabishment of a partnership between Dundorf and Kundrati.

Foreign Minister Oberlitz set the state visit to occur this year for a symbolic reason: it marks one century since Dundorf suspended its partnership with our eastern neighbor amid the rise of the authoritarian fascist regime in Kasaema. One hundred years later, a Kundrati leader steps foot in Dunburg, marking history, to put that past behind and to look at the future. President Kubitchek met with Chancellor Gimbel and Deputy Chancellor Oberlitz at the Federal Chancellery, a setting where they discussed the formal reopening of a state partnership between Dundorf and Kundrati. Before the rise of the fascist regime, Dundorf and Kundrati cooperated closely in many areas: defence, commerce, transportation and energy. The suspension of the partnership represented an economic toll for both countries, as they both had to look at new trade routes and modified their military doctrines. That cooperation was enshrined by a treaty both nations were signatories to, referred to as "The Dundorf-Kundrati Partnership".

After the meeting at the Federal Chancellery, President Kubitchek and spouse were received at Karlottenberg Schloss by President Wolfgang Prawius and his wife, Paula. The Prawiuses and the Kubitcheks partecipated in a state dinner featuring dishes cooked by famous Dundorfian chef Otto "Yummy" Bergenbrunner. The chef cooked several delicacies originating from both countries, and after the dinner all the invitees partecipated in a ball.

Yesterday, the last day of the state visit, President Prawius and President Kubitchek signed the Treaty of Lutzenkamp-Tomasadyn, which re-establishes the Dundorfian-Kundratijan partnership. The partnership consists in the elimination of border controls for citizens of both countries, the lowering or elimination of tariffs on goods flowing between the two countries, stronger cooperation on scientific research and the re-opening of the Dunburg-Kasaema HSR passenger train, suspended too a century ago. The negotiations were led for almost a decade by both governments, ever since Dundorf formally reopened diplomacy with Kasaema in 5677.

President Prawius commented to the press: "It's great to have President Kubitchek and her spouse here at Karlottenberg Schloss. The reopening of this partnership was frankly overdue and I thank the tireless work of the Foreign Minister, Lorena Oberlitz, and the Federal Chancellor, Freda Gimbel, to make this happen. We choose the name "Treaty of Lutzenkamp-Tomasadyn" because those are two cities bordering on the Dundorfian/Kundratijan border, two cities who have been separated for too long and that now can return to be brotherly again."