@Umbarra Accepted! Welcome.
Posts made by Inquista
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RE: Member State Applications
@West-Friezen Accepted! Welcome.
@Umbarra Unfortunately plot 49 is taken. You can find a list of empty and available plots here. Is there another one you like?
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RE: Amendment to the Constitution of The European Union
On behalf of the Most Blessed State of Inquista, I vote AGAINST this constitutional amendment.
Bp. Karinn Lallana
Councillor for Inquista -
RE: Member State Applications
@Yosai Puppet request is rejected at this time. Going forward, there needs to be more substantive RP reasons for a puppet's existence, as well as greater differences between primary and secondary nations.
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RE: Amendment to the Constitution of The European Union
I will not be supporting this constitutional amendment in its current or amended form. Simply put, my objections range from this amendment being incomplete and unfinished, my belief that instances of unopposed candidates are products of existing political culture rather than institutionalized problems, my belief that the existence of unopposed candidates are a demonstration of democracy and not a democratic deficit, and the fact that this amendment gives shades of 'Commission confirmation's' which were an election procedure that eventually culminated in a political rift that tore the EU in half and left its intuitions inactive for almost 2 years.
First and foremost, even with the suggested amendments, this proposed constitutional amendment is incomplete. Presumably, this approval voting procedure replaces or takes place concurrently with the regular Commission voting for that specific Office? Or does it take place afterwards? This needs to be specified. Also, the length and times of the process need to be specified.
Now onto my objections based on principles. I feel as if this proposal is attempting to address a problem that is a misdiagnosis. I get the impression that this alleged issue stems from the recent Commission elections, which had to be re-run due to the success of write-in candidates and the rejection of all other the candidates. The election had to be re-run NOT because the candidates ran unopposed - although, for some reason, a certain IA candidate thinks this was the issue, and that idea has somehow transplanted itself here - it was because the quality of all the candidates, including those in competitive races, were roundly rejected. This is evidenced by the fact that there were two candidates who ran for Premier, and both of them were rejected for a write-in candidate. In the following election, the current Premier ran unopposed and won. In summary, people approved of the single candidate who ran in the unopposed election, but didn't like the candidates who ran in the competitive race. The issue was never about the candidate running unopposed, it was about the quality of those specific candidates. As an aside, the EU also has a long and storied history of unopposed Foreign Affairs candidates and it has never been an issue.
A hallmark of what makes a democracy a democracy is the ability to put oneself forward for election. Currently, the EU presents virtually no barriers for candidates to nominate themselves, save for the fact that they can be term limited. If someone wants to run for Commission, then they are completely free to do so. Mandating a quota that there needs to be at least two candidates in a potential special election is a forced, inorganic and actually inherently undemocratic process, one which seems especially unusual to force in an instance where there was only one person trying to run in the first place. Standing for election (or not) is a democratic choice, and it is a choice that is currently available.
Uncompetitive elections are also the result of a political climate, not an institutional problem. As I've explained, the EU currently has no institutional barriers preventing people from running, minus term limits. However, certain political climates, whether it be due to political fatigue, inactivity, toxicity or any other variable, can lead to instances of uncompetitive Commission elections. It's these political climates that need addressing, not the institutions. Trying to fix a broader political culture issue with an institutional fix can potentially exacerbate the issue itself, as we have seen in the past.
At one point, the European Council enacted reforms as to how we elected Commissioners. One of those reforms included 'Commission confirmations' where Commissioners had to actually be confirmed to office by the European Council after being elected. At the time, my Inquistan predecessor actually opposed this measure, because it was blatantly unnecessary, but he didn't make too much of an issue of it when it passed because it was done on rather innocuous terms of democratic accountability.
The reform lasted a single election cycle. In the following elections, Commissioners-elect from Icholasen, Inquista and Inimicus barely managed to squeeze out victories, and their bitter election opponents quickly rallied to have all their confirmations blocked, despite them winning the election. The ensuing toxicity resulted in Icholasen, Inquista and Inimicus withdrawing from the EU's political institutions for quite some time. While I feel, and certainly hope, that this proposed amendment won't necessarily have the same impact in magnitude, it's another instance where an unnecessary institutional procedure has been put into place to fix a non-existent issue, which then end sup creating an issue. While the current political climate is perhaps not as polarised and vicious now as it was then, it certainly could be in the future, and we certainty do see instances now where certain countries do oppose or would block a candidate not on their merits, but based on their political affiliation or which country they are from. I can name at least 2 but probably 3 countries who would misuse this procedure to block an unopposed candidate simply because they come from a specific member state, which is not the spirit in which this amendment is being made. If certain member states have problems with another member state running an unopposed candidate, then they are free to run their own candidate against them and beat them, since that options exists. There is no reason to block anything that is already fair.
Bp. Karinn Lallana
Councillor for Inquista -
RE: Member State Applications
@Gadalland You can now post on this account. Next time please let me know if you can't login into your account, because I can reset your password and email address if need be. Thank you.
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RE: Commission Elections, Jan 2023
The Most Blessed State of Inquista votes as follows:
For the Office of Premier Commissioner
- Jean Claude JUNCKER (Spain)
For the Office of Internal Affairs Commissioner
- Wirt HARLAND (Elthize)
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Commission Elections, Jan 2023
EUROPEAN COMMISSION ELECTIONS
VOTINGIt is time to vote for the next European Commission. Each office will be elected separately, and each player has one vote for each office. Please rank as many or as few candidates as you wish for each office.
(In accordance with Article III, Section III, §IV-V of the EU Constitution, for each Office, voters vote by ranking in order of preference as many candidates as they wish. Each Commissioner shall be elected under the Alternative Vote system. Ties shall be broken by determining the proportion of each candidate’s votes that are first preferences, with the candidate with the highest proportion winning the tie. If that is tied, the process shall be repeated for the next-highest preference. If the candidates are tied for all preferences, then the tie shall be broken by a coin toss.)
The candidates are as follows:
For the Office of Premier Commissioner
- Jean Claude JUNCKER (Spain)
For the Office of Internal Affairs Commissioner
- Tarek AL-WAZIR (United Duchies)
- Wirt HARLAND (Elthize)
Voting starts NOW and ends at 23:59 GMT on January 14th, 2023.
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RE: Special ECoJ Election, Dec 2022
Voting has now concluded. There were a total of 4 votes cast. The votes were thus:
Betsy JOHNSON (Oregon): 4 votes (100%)
Betsy Johnson is thus duly elected to the European Court of Justice.
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RE: Rugby Champions League
Nation/League: Inquistan Rugby Championship
Top Four Teams:- Hillfort Titans
- Sundance Centaurs
- Swanridge Griffins
- Silversand Krakens
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RE: Requests for regular ENAA inspections on all Nuclear plants in United Duchies
The ENNA currently does not conduct nuclear power plant inspections of EU member states, nor is the ENAA tasked or obligated to do so. However, to qualm the United Duchies' own fears of itself, and clear the United Duchies' own name to itself, the ENAA is willing to conduct a single one-time inspection.
The inspection will be carried out by one of the permanent members of the ENAA, who will lead the Intelligence Unit. The Head of Intelligence of this inspection will be Her Holiness Archbishop Mikaela Klingenberg, hereinto simply referred to as the Head of Intelligence. The Head of Intelligence will conduct the inspection and publish the subsequent report, and will more than likely be accompanied by a companion who may or may not be a member of the ENAA as well.
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RE: EU Sanctions package on Svarna Surya Act 2022
Comrade Tilkanas has succinctly described this farce for what it is. I am rather disappointed to see a colleague put forward a proposal in such bad faith, clearly saying one thing, but practicing something else in the shadows. I can't help but feel this proposal was put forward so that the war machines and military-industrial complexes that Cllr. Mizrachi-Regime-Change-War-Roscoes so enthusiastically supports could buy time for their invasion.
Here we are yet again, without any proper Council discussion or any investigation of events, and member states of the EU have instantaneously decided to mobilize and invade another member state of the EU. War first, peace last, as is typical of our Union.
I condemn this invasion and I mourn for every life that will be lost from this fiasco. I condemn those who sully our Council chamber by so shamelessly and clumsily discussing war plans, invasions, and and air raids in front of the European people.
This proposal has been both a deception and a waste of our time. It should be withdrawn. We should now fully focus on reaching peace as soon as possible, bringing humanitarian assistance to the country, and ensuring the utmost minimal loss of life.
Bp. Karinn Lallana
Councillor for Inquista -
RE: BUDGET OF THE EUROPEAN UNION FOR 2022 - 2023
On behalf of the Most Blessed State of Inquista, I vote FOR this budget.
Bp. Karinn Lallana
Councillor for Inquista -
RE: BUDGET OF THE EUROPEAN UNION FOR 2022 - 2023
I vote FOR Amendment I and AGAINST Amendment II.
Bp. Karinn Lallana
Councillor for Inquista -
Commission Nominations, Dec 2022
EUROPEAN COMMISSION ELECTIONS
NOMINATION OF CANDIDATES
It is time to elect the next European Commission. In these elections, the offices of the Premier Commissioner and the Commissioner for Internal Affairs will be up for election. The offices of Premier Commissioner and Internal Affairs are subject to a four-month term.
As is traditional, I shall quote the words of our Returning Officer back in January 2011, who opened these nominations thus:
"These elections are supposed to give our member-states fair representation in this region - if candidates cannot take it upon themselves to be active, then I in particular, question their ability and willingness to take part in a body who must be active, accountable and able. I do not wish to threaten nor scare, but I want, for once, our European Commission to consist of Commissioners who are active and who play a part in the region both on and off this forum."
Interested candidates should fill out all information below:
[Candidate photograph or image] Candidate Name: Home Nation: Office(s) sought: Incumbent? (Y/N): Eurogroup Affiliation: Biography:
Nominations are NOW open and will close at 23:59 GMT on December 26th, 2022.
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RE: Prohibition of Private Prisons, Minimum Rules for Treatment of Prisoners and Minimum Standards for Correction Officers Act
On behalf of the Most Blessed State of Inquista, I vote FOR this Act.
Bp. Karinn Lallana
Councillor for Inquista -
RE: EU Sanctions package on Svarna Surya Act 2022
Comrade Čikarová is right to point out the hypocritical violations of human rights in the United Duchies, which requires immediate address from Councillor Mizrachi-Roscoe. My honourable comrade is also right to call for a measured and equally beneficial approach to this situation, rather than immediately employing what seems to be total and suffocating isolation, which will ultimately impact the people of Svarna Surya more than its government.
Svarna Surya and its people are members of the European Union. Why are we thrashing our fellow Europeans so viciously? This sanctions package seems intent on entirely collapsing the economy of the country, and the livelihoods of the working class people of Svarna Surya, who seem especially vulnerable and oppressed, will be the ones who bare the brunt of it. Countless lives could be lost and many more could become impoverished.
If the crimes of the government of Svarna Surya are indeed true, then it makes sense to eject them from our Union, since it's clear that they are violating the Constitution and spirit of our Union on a multitude of levels. However, anything beyond that requires peaceful and meaningful dialogue with Svarna Surya.
Bp. Karinn Lallana
Councillor for Inquista -
RE: Special ECoJ Election, Dec 2022
Nominations are now closed. The candidates are as follows:
- Betsy JOHNSON (Oregon)
- Stephano RAMÍREZ (Yorubrailia)
Voting starts NOW and ends at 23:59 GMT on December 20th, 2022. The candidate with the most votes will be elected to the European Court of Justice.
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RE: Member State Applications
@33-6 Plot #11 is currently taken. You can find the list of available plots here. Is there another space that suits your fancy?