Yu Dynasty Yingdala (4338-4636)

[Wu Han]

Lotus Party Leadership Election Enters Final Phase
Four candidates vie for the leadership after Wu Hán's resignation
KAIZHOU, JIAOZHI - 4 April 4270


Lotus Party leadership candidates (Top, left to right: Thao Thanh Thai, Huang Zitao. Bottom, left to right: Yi Shufen, Linda Wong

As the Lotus Party leadership race enters its final stretch, four candidates remain: Thao Thanh Thai, a member of the National Conference and ethnic Dinh activist; Former Finance Minister and human rights lawyer Huang Zitao; Yi Shufen, long time student and labour activist and member of the National Conference; and Linda Wong, a star venture-capitalist and former economist. The shape of the race is hard to tell so far, although polls suggest that the race is solidifying around Huang Zitao and Yi Shufen, which indicates the party base is supportive of its establishment. Linda Wong recently sent out a fundraising email which in part asked for her supporters to select Huang Zitao as their second choice in the ranked preferential ballot. However, 400,000 members have joined the party in recent months, increasing Lotus Party membership to a record 1.8 million, and adding a level of unpredictability to the race.

Thao Thanh Thai

Thao Thanh Thai was the first candidate to announce his intention to run when he launched his campaign five days after Wu Hán's resignation. He was noted in the media for his open frustration with the Lotus Party candidate registration process which, among others, asks candidates to submit a 50,000 INS deposit. Thao criticized this at a campaign stop, claiming that: "the Lotus Party has become a party for the bourgeois in our country. When I am elected leader, this party will have one requirement to live by: Socialism, socialism, socialism." Thao Thanh Thai hopes to become the first Dinh Leader of a major political party in Indrala.


Huang Zitao

Huang Zitao has been a well-known name in legal circles for many years for his success in human rights arbitration and trials. Huang was a founding member of the Lotus Party, having been a close friend and advisor to former leader Wu Hán. Huang served as the first Lotus Party President and later Huang served as Minister of Finance for all eleven years the Party was in power. As leader, Huang hopes to continue Wu's legacy, as well as work to continue to "expand our movement to embrace as many compassionate Patriots as possible." Huang was the third candidate to enter the race. Huang and his family are well known in Jiaozhi and across the country: His youngest son Huang Yao (known commonly as just Yao) is a popular teenage pop singer in Indrala. His oldest son, Huang Bohai, is a professional archer, and his daughter Huang Xia is the founder and Chairwoman of the International Children's Defence League.


Yi Shufen

Yi Shufen is a founding member of the Lotus Party and has served as chair of the Women's Council of the Lotus Party since the party's founding, as well as serving as the first chair of the Young Lotisians (the Party's youth wing). Prior to entering politics, Yi graduated Indrala University with her bachelor's degree in Indralan history, and later entered the Armed Forces, serving for seven years in the Navy. During her time in the Navy, Yi became a vocal critic for the rights of women in male-dominated fields of work. Yi served as Minister of Justice in Chancellor Wu's first term, having been replaced with the Coalition candidate afterward. Yi has been a critic of the Party's "list toward the right" and promises to reaffirm the Lotus Party as "fiercely and unabashedly leftist." Yi was the second candidate to enter the race.

Linda Wong

As host of the daily investment commentary show "Wong Weighs In" on the Tian'an News Network, Linda Wong has been a fixture of Indralan economic news broadcasting for the past 15 years. Linda Wong is a multimillionaire celebrity venture-capitalist who has long advocated "progressive and sustainable" investment, and has used her media platform to showcase this investment strategy. Wong first became active in politics during the manufacturing crisis of 4255, when she publically joined the Lotus Party after criticizing the RC's "disgusting, dumb and dimwitted neglect of our economy." Wong again made headlines after announcing she would be the only leadership candidate to personally finance her campaign. Wong was the last candidate to enter the race.

---

Originally posted by Wu Han on 11 September 2017.

[Wu Han]

Song Yi’s Greens Pass Living Wage Act
Indrala moves to guaranteed minimum wage for workers

[image unavailable]
Song Yi at the Indralan Labour Conference

HAZHOU: A historic moment for Indralan politics as the Living Wage Act was passed in the National Conference. This is the first legislation to be introduced, voted upon and passed by the Greens since Song Yi announced her new party in the rice fields of Shu province late last year. This is a huge boost for the party following their disappointing election results last year. Song Yi made an appearance at the Indralan Labour Conference after the vote:

This bill is the result of hard work and brilliant ideas. This bill is a Green bill, and there will be many more of these in the future. Today we changed the lives of hard working people who just couldn’t get ahead with the unregulated wages that were permitted by the government up until this point. Greens stand with you: the hardest working and most devout people in this country. Greens have your back, and we will be the voice of the working class while Tian’an continues to ignore your cries for a more equitable Indrala.

The Living Wage Act was passed unanimously, with only the Popular Unity party abstaining from the vote. Miraculously, the Greens managed to attract the support of the governing Nationalist Party, as well as the opposition Lotus party who had previously received very harsh words from Song Yi.

The bill changes longstanding Indralan law that previously had no guarantee for a minimum wage in the country. The new bill states: “There shall be a minimum wage at a level considered a "living wage," well above the poverty line for a full-time worker.”

Song Yi did not leave the conference without underlining the significance of this bill for the Greens:

The Greens made your lives better, the Greens changed this country. We did all of this without a SINGLE SEAT in the National Conference. Now just think of the possibilities with us in government. Let this be a message to our rivals and the whole country: we are here to get things done for our people.

Another bill that came into law, the Airport Nationalization Act, could arguably be credited to the Greens as well. They initially proposed the National Transport Act, However the Lotus Party did not side with the Greens’ proposal and decided to introduce their own legislation. When asked about this, Song Yi only had one thing to say:

Selfishness.

Many hours passed by before Song Yi’s colleagues had to get on stage and tell her she’d run overtime, but Song remained cheerful throughout her exit, which was met with applause and a standing ovation.

More to come…

---

Originally posted by Treehugger on 11 September 2017.

[Wu Han]

Coverage of the Lotus Party Hangzhou Convention
Results will be given at the Lotus Party Hangzhou Convention on 21 June 4270
HANGZHOU, MIN - 20-23 June 4270


Hangzhou Convention title card

The Day Before Convention - 20 June 4270

For the past two weeks, over 1.8 million registered Lotus Party members have had the opportunity to vote, either online or by mail, for their preferred choice of four candidates for the leadership of the party. Each candidate spent the day before the convention differently. Thao Thanh Thai served customers and supporters at his family's Dinh restaurant in Tian'an. When asked how he expected to do at the convention, he replied "it's out of my hands, I look forward to seeing the results.

Linda Wong spent the day with her daughter thanking campaign staff before heading to her private jet at Tian'an International Airport, where she flew to Hangzhou. She spent the evening with Lotus Party members at the Park Garden Hotel in advance of the Convention. Speaking briefly to media in the hotel's conference room, Wong had this to say:

This has been a very... unique experience. I'm quite excited, because I have some exceptionally fresh ideas to bring to the party; ideas which will lead our party to a majority in 4274. I promise you, the minute this leadership race is over I’m hitting the road, and I’m going after the government. Every step Feng Xinyue takes, I'll be right behind her.

Wong's comments seem to suggest that she is quite confident with her campaign heading into the convention.


Wong speaking at the Park Garden Hotel (Courtesy: Wu Riu)

Yi Shufen has been in Hangzhou for the past week, attending the Hangzhou Summer Festival and personally canvassing Lotus Party members as part of her dedication to "empowering the grassroots of the party." She spent the final day holding a large campaign event at the Jade Hotel Conference Centre, where she delivered a speech to a packed room of supporters:

It's time to be fiercely progressive. How is it that our party has drifted to the centre when it was once Indrala's only left-wing party? We need to empower our grassroots and return to our tradition of socialist activism.

Yi Shufen speaking at the Hangzhou Summer Festival


Huang Zitao spent the final day of his campaign at a mini-concert his son, Huang Yao (known popularly as Yao), hosted in support of Huang's leadership bid. Yao has been criticized for influencing his young fan base to support the Lotus Party, to which he responded last week by saying "I don't wish to be a political artist, but I would be neglecting my duty as a son to not support my father's ambitions. My father has always supported my dreams, and I must support his. That is family." The concert was streamed online by Huang's campaign, which granted access after a donation. The concert attracted a viewership of 3.3 million. During the concert, Yao made an emotional appeal to the viewers:

... there is no better individual that I can imagine to lead our country. My father is such a great man that I feel ashamed to be his son with my many flaws. I hope that when I die I can have the chance to be born again as his son so that I can work even harder to be deserving of his love...

The broadcast had a continuous shot of Huang Zitao in the top-right corner, and he was shown shedding a few tears during Yao's speech.

A screenshot of the broadcast

21 June 4270 - Leadership Election Results Day

On the first day of the convention, all candidates descended on the Hangzhou Convention Center, along with around 22,000 party members. The morning began with the release of each candidate's final financing numbers to the media, which show Huang Zitao as the frontrunner in donations, though closely followed by Yi Shufen.

The Conference was opened by Party President Wei Cheng at 10:00 a.m. with results being announced around 1:00 p.m. Yi Shufen was the first candidate to walk onto the convention floor, followed by a throng of supporters. She strode confidently across the room to take her seat at the front of the stage. Next, Thao Thanh Thai entered, walking with his wife to his seat, and waving to his supporters across the room. Linda Wong entered about 15 minutes later, walking hand in hand with her daughter and her mother and followed by supporters. Huang Zitao was the last to enter, walking with his wife, son Huang Bohai and daughter Huang Xia. Huang was followed by an enthusiastic group of supporters carrying balloons and signs.

At 1:00 p.m. the first ballot results were announced. As the party only releases vote percentages, that is what will be displayed. Yi Shufen was established as the early leader with 36.43% of the vote, followed by Huang Zitao with 34.82%, Linda Wong at 20.43% and Thao Thanh Thai at 8.32%. Thao Thanh Thai will be eliminated.

At 1:12 p.m. the second ballot was announced: Yi maintained her lead at 41.57%, Huang followed at 36.32% and Wong at 22.11%. Linda Wong will be eliminated.

At 1:40 p.m. the third and final ballot was announced: Huang took the lead at 51.38%, with Yi falling to second place at 48.62%. Huang Zitao is elected Leader of the Lotus Party.

It is clear from the results that Linda Wong's earlier message to supporters to choose Huang Zitao as their second choice was a message well received, as the majority of her votes went to Huang, boosting him over the 50% mark.

Huang Zitao is Elected Leader of the Lotus Party - 21 June 4270


Huang Zitao takes the stage after being elected leader of the Lotus Party

Wu Hán, first leader and former-Chancellor of Indrala walked onto the stage where he delivered brief remarks. Huang Zitao took the stage around 2:00 p.m., where he embraced Wu Hán, and went on to deliver a speech. His remarks emphasized the need to expand the party and grow the base as large as possible. At the end of his remarks, he made an appeal to nationalism:

I want our nation to be the most beautiful in the world. By this, I do not mean the most powerful nation. Because we have felt the pain of being invaded by another nation in our history, I do not want my nation to invade others. It is sufficient that our wealth makes our lives abundant; it is sufficient that our strength is able to prevent foreign invasions. The only thing that I desire in infinite quantity is the power of a noble culture. This is because the power of culture both makes ourselves happy and gives happiness to others. This is the dream I will carry with me until the day I take my last breath, and it is a sentiment I will carry into the National Conference on Monday. Thank you, compatriots, for your support. I will work hard every day to be deserving of your continued faith.

General Party Conference - 21-23 June 4270

Following the leadership election, the Party went on to debate and vote on policies which would make up the Lotus Party's manifesto going forward, updating the 10 Point Jienist Purification and Renewal Agenda which has not been modified since the Party's first convention in 4252. On the final day of the convention, the Party released the new manifesto to the media which is as follows:

Protecting Our Future - The Lotus Party Manifesto
(1) Protecting our vital public services from the threat of privitization;
(2) Protecting our environment for generations to come by investing in our national parks, renewable energy, retrofitting and recycling;
(3) Protecting our infrastructure by founding an public train-operating company, nationalizing our highways, and examining the way government constructs public projects;
(4) Protecting our national character by supporting cultural industries and sites, supporting our Jienist/Guidao heritage, and protecting our children from damaging vices;
(5) Protecting our children's future by increasing tuition subsidies, limiting the growth of private schools, and protecting our public education system;
(6) Protecting our economy by driving growth through public subsidization and investment and protecting industry from foreign competitors;
(7) Protecting our nation by maintaining a strong military with a proud conscription tradition;
(8) Protecting our labour rights by continuing and expanding government support for labour unions and democratic workers councils;
(9) Protecting our most disadvantaged by growing the welfare state, and;
(10) Protecting our farmers by introducing legislation to assure their continued success.

---

Originally posted by Wu Han on 12 September 2017.

[Wu Han]

Government Taking Advice From Nobles
Potential return to monarchy reportedly being proposed by the Nationalist administration
23rd April 4271

Indrala's government has been receiving extensive advice from a number of historic noble families on subjects as varied as the economy and agricultural life, it has emerged. It follows speculation that the Nationalist Party, who hold a majority in the legislature, were in close contact with leading figures in the monarchist movement. Aiming to provide clarification on the engagements, Internal Affairs Minister Deng Zheng told reporters, "the government meets regularly with citizens from across our country. Recently, we have held a series of meetings with the traditional Indralan ruling clans, where a plethora of subjects were discussed".

In spite of this, it has since been leaked by an unnamed source close to Tian Qiu- leader of the Tian Clan- that plans to abandon republican government are being formulated. According to the source, the government wishes to enter a new Indralan era by overhauling the constitution. Under their proposal, which will be published later in the year, the country would become an 'elective monarchy'. Similar to the system employed in the days of the United Indralan Commonwealth, the emperor would be elected by the entire nobility and would need to be approved by the National Conference. An elected Chancellor would represent the monarch in political life.

Undoubtedly, the reveal of the plan will be a source of controversy within the country. While there are many people who romanticise the fallen empire and support a return to monarchy, there are as many who despise the system and wish to remain a republican state. Reigniting the debate which has been settled for several decades is extremely risky by the regime of Feng Xinyue; she will require cross-party cooperation for the measures to be successful. The leaks come shortly after it was revealed that Feng had made contact with officials from the Greater Nationalist Party of Vanuku to discuss a closer relationship.

---

Originally posted by jamescfm on 12 September 2017.

[Wu Han]

Huang Zitao Critizices NP Government Reforms
The Lotus Party leader in first press conference expresses "deep reservations" about Feng Zinyue government
TIAN'AN, HAN - 3 November 4271


Huang Zitao speaking to reporters at the Opposition wing of the National Conference in Tian'an (Courtesy: Yi Fenshi)

In his first press conference since becoming Lotus Party leader, Huang Zitao had some harsh words for the Chancellor and her Nationalist Party majority-government. Appearing with Yi Cijiong of the Jiaozhi Yi's and Ming Youhua of the Anle Ming's, Huang critiqued Feng's closed-door meeting with various noble families, and accused the government of "picking favourites" and consulting only those noble families which support the Nationalist Party:

We are deeply concerned that this government will use these changes to stack the deck in their favour. If the Nationalists are planning to move away from our republican system, the conversation should be extended to everyone, not just those who support Feng Xinyue and her government. Today we introduced legislation to ensure that with the restoration of the nobility, only those with legitimate noble claims will be able to attain the status. The Lotus Party will not support any restoration of noble rights without the passage of this legislation.

Huang Zitao explained that the Lotus Party "respects our imperial legacy" and would support a transition back to monarchy, but as Huang added:

If Feng Xinyue doesn't want to work with us, her constitutional overhaul will be dead-on-arrival to the National Conference.

---

Originally posted by Wu Han on 13 September 2017.

[Wu Han]

Green’s Internal Affairs Critic Chen Ruogang Lashes Out at Chancellor Feng Xinyue

Tensions rise in the National Conference with debate over nobility rights


Chen Ruogang was furious in the legislature

Tian’an: The air in the National Conference was thick after a heated exchange between the Greens and the Nationalist Party on Wednesday. The Green’s internal affairs critic Chen Ruogang had harsh words for Chancellor Feng Xinyue after the Nationalist Party tabled a bill that would give major rights to nobility – something Mr. Chen could not stomach:

We are a strong and democratic REPUBLIC. The Nationalists want to strip our democracy away and turn the clock back on the people of Indrala so their pig-bellied friends can enjoy government welfare checks and prostitution. The Greens are the ONLY party that believes in a republic and that will fight for our democracy.

Just as Chancellor Feng Xinyue was about to respond, Chen Ruogang had another thing to say:

PIGS! Go breed with your nobles in the mud where you belong! Oink oink!.

He shouted with cheers and laughter from the Green caucus.

While the Greens have promised to be the voice for Indralans, Indralans themselves had mixed responses about Mr. Chen’s comments:

That man boasts a loud mouth but a tiny heart

said Qiao Bi

Mo Hong says:

Finally someone sticks it to the big guys! Greens have my vote.

We reached out to the spokesperson for Mr. Chen as well as Green Leader Song Yi, but both declined to comment.

---

Originally posted by Treehugger on 14 September 2017.

[Wu Han]

The Final Emperor Biopic Recieves Record Viewership as Interest in the Monarchy Rises
The biopic drama by the Wenhua Broadcasting Company achieved record-breaking 66% viewership during the final episode last night
May 4272


Actor Yang Chin as Emperor Wu Ren in a screen shot from the drama (Courtesy: The Wenhua Broadcasting Company)

Viewers across the nation tuned in to the WBC channel in droves last night to watch the final episode of the drama-biopic The Final Emperor, which chronicles the short-lived restoration of the Monarchy between the Third and Fourth Republics. The finale focused on the aftermath of his sudden and mysterious death, and the establishment of the Fourth Republic. The television program comes at a time of intense debate within the country regarding a possible monarchy restoration. Last month the Shi Yawen Institute for Democracy Studies published a report titled "The Fourth Republic (4220-Present): Challenges Moving Forward" which declared:

...it is almost certain that the Fourth Republic will come to an end. (New link here.)

Tensions have been rising across the country as the Nationalist Party continues pro-monarchist consultations with noble families and experts across the nation. Protestors on both sides have gathered outside the National Conference and are expected to stay until Feng Xinyue introduces her constitutional reforms. The Greens have been aggressively opposed to any change to move away from the republican system, and the Lotus Party has expressed concerns with the Nationalist Party's lack of transparency.

---

Originally posted by Wu Han on 14 September 2017.

[Wu Han]

This essay was originally posted on a thread for the Shi Yawen Institute for Democracy Studies. It is reproduced here as it is referenced in more than one news post, and covers the period decently. Many of the linked articles throughout are not archived.

---

Report: The Fourth Republic (4220-Present): Challenges Moving Forward
Published by the Shi Yawen Institute for Democracy Studies: Written by Professor Duan Zedong, reviewed by Professor Xia Guiying (Kaizhou National University) and Dr. Kang Yuhan (Indrala University)
April, 4270

Introduction
Just over fifty years have past since Shi Yawen declared her intention to establish the Fourth Yingdalan(Indralan) Republic. Shi declared in a speech that “[t]he time has come for Yingdalans to stand up and set their own course” (viewtopic.php?p=115890#p115890) Something has been abundantly clear during this period however, and it is that the course Indralan’s have chosen for the nation itself hasn’t been clear. The Fourth Republic until now has been notably volatile, ruled by transitory and temporary governments. Certain parties have flirted with authoritarianism, while others have gone a more liberal route. Recent political developments suggest a rise in pro-monarchist sentiments, something which hasn’t been observed in Indrala in over a century. This report will seek to understand the political reality of the Fourth Republic.

Before the Fourth Republic

To understand the establishment of the Fourth Republic, it is important to understand the context under which it came to be.

The two decades preceding the Fourth Republic were a time of instability; the short-lived Third Republic came to a sudden halt after the assassination of President Zhou Xuegang in 4198 and the freshly coronated Emperor Wu Ren ascended to the Dragon Throne to find his legitimacy had been damaged by a foreign claim on his grandfather’s throne years earlier (viewtopic.php?f=17&t=1852&start=120#p108889) and by very strong pro-democratic sentiments domestically (viewtopic.php?p=113445#p113445).
The brief 22-year period of monarchy restoration was a time of economic decline, initiated by the laissez-faire Wei Wu Wei reforms of the Jien-Democrat - Concord Coalition government. This caused many Indralans to put their faith in the centre-left New Progressive Party, lead by Shi Yawen. While initially Shi was in favour of maintaining the status quo (viewtopic.php?p=114524#p114524) it was shortly after Emperor Wu Ren mysteriously died that she made her objectives clear:

I stand before you today to declare my intention to establish a new Republic. - Shi Yawen

Early Years of the Fourth Republic (4220-4245)
A decade after the death of Emperor Wu, the Constitution of the Fourth Republic was drafted and signed into law by the Nationalist Party of Yingdala (not to be confused with today’s Nationalist Party), and President Shi’s government. The New Progressive Party, under the banner “Yingdala Progressives” maintained their position in government until 4238 when the party dissolved, leaving the Nationalist Party of Yingdala as the sole political party in the country. This was a period of relative stability, however from 4238-4245, the Nationalist Party of Yingdala held 100% control of the legislature, which ushered in a new era of rapid de-regulation, including the privatization of the healthcare system, the education system and most national infrastructure. This period also saw the creation of two different political parties, the People’s Justice Party (PJP) and the Republic’s Conservatives (RC’s).

Authoritarian Challenges (4245-4249)
The Nationalist Party of Yingdala lost the Presidency in October 4245, as the legislature divided into thirds between the PJP, the Nationalist Party of Yingdala, and the RC’s. While the PJP was obstensibly “social democratic” all three parties agreed on further regulation cuts and privatization. The time also was characterized by the rise in election manipulation and authoritarian tendencies, with constant modifications to the constitution and democratic institutions (i.e. the term limit was frequently increased and then decreased, etc.). There were also many elections in this period, resulting in an era of instability, including in one instance 2 elections over the span of two months (http://classic.particracy.net/viewnews. ... &nation=30).

Pua Dictatorship (4249-4258)
In the August 4248 General Election, Tony Pua of the People’s Justice Party was elected President of Indrala after receiving the endorsement of the Republic’s Conservatives. While Pua lost this position to the Nalan Wuhao of the Nationalist Party of Yingdala in July 4249, he would regain it in the November election of the same year. During this term, the People’s Justice Party, with the support of the Nationalist Party of Yingdala, introduced a constitutional amendment which would see Pua assume the role of Emperor, namely “His Royal Highness (HRH) Emperor of the Land.” While Pua was able to consolidate his power over the executive, his party was unable to retain control of the National Assembly, and lost it to the Republic’s Conservatives in July 4251. Further, without a legitimate mandate from heaven, Tony Pua did not govern with the enthusiastic consent of the people. With the Nationalist Party of Yingdala having dissolved, the RC’s were able to gain a majority of seats, after which the PJP dissolved, leaving Pua without any allies in the government. During this period, Chancellor Peng-Lee Minogue underwent a vast and authoritarian restructuring of the nation, including the reintroduction of the death penalty for acts of treason which it applied liberally, and increasing the term limit from two to eight years. The Republic’s Conservatives did however legislatively end Tony Pua’s short-lived dictatorship, by merging the position of head of state and head of government, although this would not effectively end Pua’s reign until the election of 4258.

Return to Stability: Coalition Period (4258-4269)
The Lotus Party was founded in 4252 during the RC/Pua era by Jienist scholars and other activists. The Party was an early supporter of the student-led pro-democracy protests and this connection can be found in the biographies of its leaders. It was also during 4252 that the People’s Justice Party dissolved. The Republic’s Conservatives capitalized on this development and organized a snap election to gain a super majority of seats, leaving the Lotus Party as the official opposition with just five out of of one hundred-twenty-five seats. The Nationalist Party was also founded during this time, although unrecognizable from it’s current manifestation, standing as a staunchly classical conservative movement. Another party, the National Democrats, were also founded during the RC government, dedicated to classical liberalism. Nonetheless, in the 4258 election, the Lotus Party was able to win 266 seats, becoming the largest party in the newly-renamed National Conference, while the Republic’s Conservatives were reduced to official opposition status with 172 seats, the National Democrats gained 155 seats and the Nationalist Party gained 72 seats. While a seemingly unfit match, the Lotus Party formed a coalition with the Nationalist Party. While initially there were economic policy disagreements between the coalition partners, both parties united over their shared nationalism. The Coalition’s first move was to purge all RC government officials from the National Conference, and to renationalize a number of public services, breaking from the prior two decades of de-regulation and austerity. The government also gradually repealed the RC constitutional reforms, although this was challenging due to National Democratic opposition. It was during the coalition that the Nationalist Party began a slow move toward the left, a move which was substantiated by the election of Feng Xinyue as party leader (viewtopic.php?p=121011#p121011). The coalition period was one of stability, as the coalition lasted in government for eleven years, with one year interrupted by a brief hung parliament. Ironically, it can be the Republic’s Conservatives who can be credited with this due to their creation of the Chancellor’s Office, which Wu Hán used to deny the National Democrats and the RC’s their cabinet proposal. This caused both opposition parties to dissolve, leaving just the Lotus Party and the Nationalist Party in the National Conference.

Future of the Fourth Republic (4269-Present)
The coalition period came to an end in 4269, after the Lotus Party was denied a majority government by the Nationalist Party in their best electoral performance since their founding. While this doesn’t represent much of a economic or social policy disagreement, this is a significant development on the issue of the future of the Fourth Republic. While both parties have publicly expressed sympathy for the monarchist position and an interest in reestablishing the monarchy, the Nationalist Party has been far more vocal in their advocacy for a return to this system. The Lotus Party’s reluctance and disinterest in this issue during their period in government could be evidence of a far more moderate position being taken by the party. Thus, in the current legislative period we can see a far more radically-monarchist Nationalist Party, a more moderate-monarchist Lotus Party and the republican Greens. Therefore it is almost certain that the Fourth Republic will come to an end, although it is yet to be seen when and to what extent the return to monarchy will be implemented in Indrala. A bigger question, however, looms over this debate; who will become the Emperor?

Conclusion
Throughout the history of Indrala, we have seen monarchist and republican sentiments wash in and out like waves on a shore, sweeping one ruler in and another out. We have also observed that the Fourth Republic has had a reactionary tendency following the dissolution of establishment parties, lurching from left to right on the political spectrum. The course Indralans have set after the foundation of the republic by Shi Yawen has been a rocky one, the transience and fluctuation of which has reignited interest in the stability of the monarchy. The National Conference is now controlled by pro-monarchist parties, heralding the end of the Republic as we understand it today unless the Greens can somehow form a majority government, an unlikely prospect. The saturation of parties left-of-centre is also a potential problem moving forward as the political right has no representation in government, something which could be capitalized upon in the future.

---

Originally posted by Wu Han on 14 September 2017

[Wu Han]

Greens Amid Political Crisis
Song Yi missing on campaign trail, Chen Ruogang silent


Leader of the Greens, Song Yi (pictured left) and the Greens' Internal Affairs Critic Chen Ruogang (pictured right)

Tian’an: T Leader of the Greens Song Yi acknowledged that her party is much less united as it was when she formed it 4 years ago. Blaming the current shift to monarchy proposed by the Nationalist Party – she sees this as a vital issue to the country, but notes that there are more pressing issues to focus on. Worried that this issue will dominate the election in November of next year, Song Yi has been trying to rally her party to fight for the issues it was founded on – rather than give in to the political firefighting in the National Conference. This effort has been met with deep resentment from the loyal republican section of the Greens. Led by Internal Affairs Critic Chen Ruogang, there appears to be an entire swath of the Greens’ caucus who wish to abandon their social democratic routes in favor of a more aggressive, republican agenda that would see the Greens shift to the right.

A popular misconception about the Greens (besides their unity) is the political leanings of a majority of its members. While Song Yi has championed a leftist agenda that saw the country introduce a minimum wage, as well as publically funded childcare and a nationalized post office, the Greens’ base is mostly made up of farmers who simply wanted some form of political representation. At the time of the Greens formation, the brilliance of Song Yi was found in her ability to bring people together around a common desire: Environmentalism. But now that the party has proven it can pass laws and instill its political will in the National Conference, its base sees an opportunity to further a hidden agenda – one that Song Yi could never have imagined.

Today an unconfirmed source leaked to the media that Chen Ruogang is leading an effort to take over the Greens and eliminate Song Yi’s leadership “by whatever means necessary.” While this information is unconfirmed to be true, Mr. Chen has refused to comment – which has only furthered speculation. Song Yi has not been in the Capital for the past 3 days as she is currently on tour around the country trying to grow her party’s support ahead of next year’s election. When reporters flocked to the farm residence where she was supposed to be staying, she was nowhere to be found.

Song Yi has a full load of legislation waiting to be voted upon in the National Conference, yet the party she once called dear is nowhere to be found.

More to come…

---

Originally posted by Treehugger on 16 September 2017.

[Wu Han]

Song Yi FOUND
Green Leader in good health, offers message to voters

[image missing]
Song Yi interviewed by reporters in Kaizhou

Jiaozhi Province: Song Yi emerged from a townhouse in Kaizhou early Monday morning looking refreshed and happy, something the people of Indrala would not expect following her abrupt disappearance. The leader of the Greens’ only had a few words to say regarding the comments made by Chen Ruogang:

Those with black hearts have dark souls, and dark souls never go to heaven.

The comments are surprising considering Song Yi’s historically secular views, but nonetheless the words shook the ground of Jiaozhi Province.

Reporters continued to heckle the Green leader about Mr. Chen’s comments and her disappearance, but Song Yi ignored them altogether and reiterated her party’s legislative successes in the National Conference, as well as her platform moving towards the 4274 election later this year.

I am running to be Chancellor of the State of Indrala. I will bring justice to the working class. I will clean our air. I will save our republic.

Looking and sounding exquisitely cancellarian, Song Yi seems to have regained her form while her party base continues infighting. This could not have come at a better time since election season is right around the corner. Meanwhile Chen Ruogang continues to be silent following a leak that he would eliminate Song Yi’s leadership “by any means necessary.” No action has been taken by police, nor has anyone asked for it. These comments, while not proven to be fake, have still not been confirmed.

More to come…

---

Originally posted by Treehugger on 18 September 2017.