Kalistan

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Kalistan undergoes first Competitive Election in more than a Century
Institutional Party turns in massive Victory in National Assembly
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
April 2, 5653


Massive turnout for first competitive election in almost 120 years

Kalistanis voted in the first Competitive Election in almost 120 years last week, and results show a conclusive victory for the Institutional Party. The election saw four Parties participating in the Nationwide Canvas, with significant sheering of the International Caucus off from the Party, while Orthodox Caucus and Brethrenist Caucus Deputies remained largely with the Party. Monitors called the election fair and transparent, with a 57% voter turn out, while critics lamented the short period of time between the lifting of the Party Monopoly and the election. "We saw no significant barriers to people voting for who they wanted," said Professor Henry Berger of the University of Sulari. "But the Institutional Party had a 120 year advantage, while new Parties had only 3 months to organize, campaign and attempt to sway voters to their platforms. Two or three elections we should see the Institutional Party's advantages washed out."

Vote counts broke the votes down according to Party

Seat Totals

Institutional Party Caucus Breakdown
Faction Seats
Orthodox 33
Brethrenist 11
Internationalist 2

The results showed Internationalist Deputies of the Institutionalist Party defecting largely to either the Socialist Party or the Liberal Party. Unfortunately for the Liberals, the two wings of the ideology split the bloc between them, with most voters swinging pretty heavily to the Social Liberals, who named themselves the Social Democratic Party of Kalistan immediately before the election, while the pro-capitalist economic neoliberal internationalist Factions retained the name of the Liberal Party of Kalistan. Due to the split, as well as the long history of anti-Laissez Faire propaganda in Kalistan, the Liberal Party finished a distant fourth in each constituency, never gaining beyond 5% while Social Democrats regularly finished in the double digits.

The results of the Elections have yielded a 4-Party Legislature, while internally, the super Majority continues to be retained by the Institutional Party of Kalistan, which is primarily divided between Orthodox and Brethrenist Factions, while Internationalists were decimated in the elections.

"The election largely consolidates our Party," said Chancellor of the Empire, Lady Jennifer Alvarez-Miller. "While leadership of the Orthodox Caucus has the right to call my Administration's Leadership to a vote within the Party, Caucus leadership said they intend to defer to the Her Imperial Majesty's will. I shall of course continue to serve at Her Imperial Majesty's pleasure, but it shall seem that the Kalistan People have spoken, and now Kalistan will get the opportunity to see whether our experiment with democracy really produces better outcomes or not for the People of Kalistan."

Seat Breakdown By Constituency

Voter turnout was around 57% nationwide, with Suldanor once again turning in the highest totals. Suldanor also sent the most Leftists to the National Assembly with nearly half of all Deputies from the Duchy identifying with the Socialist or the Social Democratic Ideology. Ananto, on the other hand, remained the Bastion of Institutional Support, with 12 of 17 total seats going to the Institutional Party. Nevaras and Vrassa also had strong Institutional showing.

Both sides of the Democracy question claimed vindication here, with Chancellor of the Empire Alvarez saying that these results still show a strong well of support for the Institutional Party and the Monarchy, while pro-democratic activists in the nation can legitimately say that peaceful democratic pressure has been brought to bear to cause Her Imperial Majesty's Government to pay attention to the demands of the people and give voters a real choice in the Legislature of the Nation.

While poll watchers from Kaliburg to Sulari are breathing a sigh of relief that the worst fears of some individuals did not materialize around the Nation, it should be noted that the Act which permitted new Parties to run for office this cycle only repealed the absolute Monopoly on Political Party organization. It did not legalize fascism of any support, nor did it legalize attempting to abolish the Monarchy, a provision that the Liberal Party and the Social Democrats complained about loudly before the election. "Her Tyrannical, excuse me, Her Imperial Majesty still sits protected by the Monarchy provisions, the Fiat, and the Lese Majesty," said Mark Brown, General Secretary of the Liberal Party. "We included a plank in our Platform that we intend to overturn that whole law, with exception to the anti-fascism laws, if we ever get a majority coalition that is willing to stand up and grow a spine. But we now have some seats in Odufaray and Suldanor, and at least we have a chance to propose additional changes, and so we call that 'baby steps.'"

The Chancellor has signaled that there is likely little appetite for additional reforms to the Regime structure in the near future. "I think Her Majesty has flirted safely with democracy," said Lady Alvarez. "But if people take it too far, it is still very easy for her to clamp down, so I would advise the people not to go too far or too fast. Her Imperial Majesty has graciously allowed this reform to an ancient tradition in our nation. We should all let this set in before we try anything more. Let's see how it works out, see if it can do some good, but that requires time and patience. Who knew, when I was first elected, that we'd see a day when there is more than one Party on the ballot? Who knows whatelse her Imperial Majesty may be willing to permit? So let's try to get this right first before a bunch of idiots fly off the handle about all the changes they intend to make when they can't even get into the majority."

As of press time, an update: Chancellor of the Empire, Lady Jennifer Alvarez has just been reconfirmed as Chancellor of the Empire, with a vote of 67-12, with strong cross over voting from the Socialist Party and the Social Democratic Party's Deputies. These are truly wonderous times for the Empire of Ananto and Kalistan.

@TheRepublic