Davostag

[Augustus]

 

Election Campaign in Full Swing as the Opposition Attracts More Supporters Than Ever

6 May 5633 | Fladborg, Davostag

 
Never have Davostag seen such intensity in a Riksdag election since 5604, when the Popular Party for Democracy (FPD) had attracted large parts of the electorate, only to be ridden with scandals, corruption charges and more as the election day neared. This time it is the Union for Democratic Reform, UDR, that is making noise around the country. Founded and led by former Riksbladet journalist John Greger, who accused the government of promoting so-called "demographic manipulation". Together with his wife, Lena, they have managed to bring the party's spirits up after their disastrous 5628 Riksdag election where they only managed to garner 3.1% and over 124 thousand votes. In order to gain parliamentary representation in Davostag, a political party needs to reach the 4% threshold.
 
As we follow the Greger couple on their campaign trail, now in Fladborg, we managed to snatch the party leader for an interview, to ask him what he and his party hopes to achieve, what kind of politics they seek and what foreign policies they want.
 

Do you think, as a former journalist yourself and with a good understanding of Davostag politics, that the UDR have the ability to enter the Riksdag this time?

– Of course. Davostagers are not a naive people. There is, of course, skepticism due to the damage the former FPD did to opposition politics, but I believe in the good hearted nature of our country to dare seek change and reform.
 
What kind of change and reform would that be?
 
– First of all, we need to democratize. It is probably the most important step for us as a nation in order to develop and progress. The office of the rikspresident should not be elected by an elitist senate, instead we wish to abolition the Act of Senatorialism and have direct popular presidential elections. We also think that it would be good for the soul and health of the country to have the rikspresident be a solely ceremonial role, transfer its powers to the Riksdag and have the government led by the premier represent the executive. The judicial branch needs also be reformed, if not overhauled completely. It is time we moved towards a more liberal view of the world.
 
You say liberal, does that mean that you denounce the efforts of past national heroes such as Julia Neusohn, af Redling and Jörgen, who risked their lives and reputations to preserve our Davostager way of life in opposition to foreign influences? In such a case, that would be a denunciation of our current Davostag Republic, which exists as a direct result of their struggle.
 
– This is the issue of journalism in Davostag. You bait me by phrasing your questions like this, you question my character and patriotism. We would have to reform the entire journalist corps in the country as well if we are to truly live free. I seek, the party I lead seek, the preservation of our current republic, and by it the honoring of its founders. Without a doubt. But presenting new ideas should never be a cause for ignorance. I wish to push for a "liberalism with Davostager characteristics" so to speak.
 
This is a lot to take in. You want to reform journalism in Davostag? Overhaul it as you would say. Is that democratic? And on the matter of Davostager liberalism, is it not already the case that Davostag is already very liberal in its own way? A character we inherited from the old reigns of the Reinhardts.
 
– I suppose you are right about the Reinhardt-part, but I think this interview is over. I will not engage in the manipulation of statements that you conduct yourself in.

As Greger left our interviewer, we could clearly take notice that an increasing hostility was shown against the media outlets on site. A clear indication that this election year will be more intense than ever. The leader of the main opposition party showed a desire to reform the executive, legislative and judicial branches in his own image, not to mention his personal vendetta against journalism, something he and the UDR clearly seeks to dismantle. In any case, we hoped to find out more about specific policies taken, for example foreign affairs. To this end we, conveniently, managed to come into contact with none other than UDR's spokesperson for foreign affairs, Rikard Fabriansson.
 

On the topic of foreign affairs and foreign policy, where does the UDR stand and what does your party hope to accomplish?
 
– The first thing, and I'll say the absolute first thing we will do should we form a government is to withdraw our Navy, Air Force and Army from their patrols in the Lievenian and Unholy seas. This is a must. Davostag can not be part of regional provocation and threats. The second thing would be to completely halt all trade with the Legionary dictatorship, stop all of VGAB's ("Västmakoniska Gruvindustrin AB", Davostager mining company) operations on the Kundrati mainland, rescind any recognition of the Legion and recognize the Etxean government as the legitimate Kundrati government. This is the only right thing to do. The only moral thing to do. After this we hope to bring Davostag closer to the global community and integrate ourselves more properly with the global economy.
 
You are aware that the situation regarding Kundrati is a lot more complicated than simply doing what is "morally right"? There were about around 1.1 million ethnic Davostagers in Kundrati before the war, and remains around 1 million, with many taking refuge here and many on Etxea. Is it morally right to abandon all of them for the comfort and luxury of material gain provided by globalism?
 
– It is a complicated situation as you say, but our belief is doing what is fundamentally right, no matter what.

As we ended the interview, it was obvious that the politicians, members and activists of the UDR had a completely different view of the world than the average Davostager. One might suggest that they have been surfing on the internet a little too much. Analysts say that the party has a chance of entering the Riksdag, but is very much unable to form a government any time soon. Overcoming the 4% threshold can be done, quite easily according to some, but to form a government with a hypothetical Riksdag divided between two parties would require overcoming a 50% threshold. As one analyst said lycka till ("good luck" in Befeskan).
 
News report written by Karla Fridasdotter.