Internal Affairs Debate, June 2021

[Pravoslaviya]

I think it's time we move on, but since they've been mentioned, Ms Daggot and Ms Granger are entitled to an additional minute in their response to this question to rebut Mr Biden ((OOC: 150 words / 450 words in total)). My next questions are directed at each candidate individually:

JOE BIDEN: What would you actually do in office?

PETER LEESON: Same question to you. You've said a lot about what you oppose, but what would you do in office?

EMMA GRANGER: What do you have to say to the straight, male voters of the region? Why should they vote for you?

JOSEPHINE AREAI: You've been open about your dark past, but why should the voters trust you?

PIANE DAGGOT: You've been accused of being a puppet of the UNSR. As a proud Czech Slavian, will you uphold existing EU law against the UNSR?

As ever, you each have two minutes ((OOC: 300 words, unless stated otherwise)) to respond, followed by a free debate phase of turns of one minute ((OOC: 150 words)) each.

[Istkalen]

This is my penance - what I must do to repay for what was done through me. I let a military clique use me as a puppet. They drugged me, they did all sorts of things in my name, killing so many - how am I to be forgiven if I do not make penance?

In order to trust, one must make a leap of faith. I did many terrible things, in the name of stability; but I have realized, looking upon the death and suffering that began by it, whether directly or indirectly, that I was beyond wrong. The action that I took was evil, and I will and must spend every remaining moment of my life paying for it. If you do not trust it, then do not trust it. I understand why.

[BrumBrum]

Peter Leesoon:II can't tell you exactly like some others because I would be led by the nations listening to each nation and crafting a plan acting as a servant of the nations. That is how the role should be done but as a basic guide I'd work with nations to remove red tape they identify as in the way and work every day to get them sovereignty in areas that nations express the EU has gone too far, I would as I have said introduce a bill of popular sovereignty outlining how citizens will engage with the EU including returning power to the people through a referendum law, and finally I would work to roll back a lot of the overreach on social issues or telling countries how to run their economy for example refocusing the EU on being a talking and co-operation union rather than one of Euro-Diktats from Euro Elites

I will also look at introducing new schemes to join and make all EU schemes based on funding only schemes they benefit from and are members of, I will look at introducing a joint euro-evisa programme, free trade area within the EU and other programmes that nations identify to me if enough do. The would all of course be opt-in.On budget I'll make the EU central budeget much smaller to cover only adminstration costs of the council , ECOJ and Commission as it should be and was before the EU decided to become a institution run Euro-dictators from the elites.

[Icholasen]

I don't need to be lectured by Mr. Biden. I honestly have no idea what he is trying to say, what his platform is, or anything. Shifty individual.

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I will work with whatever the laws on the books are. However, I will certainly seek to change them.

Whoever is elected as Internal Affairs Commission has a responsibility to work towards peace in Europe. I will continue the work that Whoopi and Bernie have achieved in the Fremet talks, hosting, if necessary, supplementary talks that will lead to a lasting peace settlement between the UNSR and the nations in the region, so that sanctions can be removed, with assurances, and the region can become as prosperous and peaceful as possible.

The other candidates do not share this goal. The status quo suits them. But it doesn't suit the people of Fremet, or of Ruthund, or of Icholasen or of the ensemble of the nations in that region.

It is only when we work together that we will achieve a lasting peace in the region. Frankly, the other candidates on this stage do not have what it takes to achieve this.

Do we not all deserve to live in peace ?

[Montenbourg]

Good question Touker! I don’t think that any woman or any man should be asked to vote for someone because she’s a woman. Vote for the ideas, and my message to you is this, we believe in the social, political and economic equality of the sexes, either you be straight or gay. You are a person and you should be respected for that. There is no privilege on that, just dignity.

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Responding to the candidate of Istkalen, my plan on cooperation is simple but demanding: Dialogue, is the key to healing our relationships. Is not about forgiving, forgetting or excusing the other. Dialogue is about listening and learning why and how it was done. And taking action.

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Mr. Biden drop the malarkey, and stop confusing the European people. The European Union is a community and do not oppress any European, it delivers on the basis of common ground and the umbrella of the dignity of each man and woman. We have to say no to conspiracy theories of oppression when we have witnessed the ones who oppress fueling fear. And as an answer to your other question, I believe in human rights and women's, children rights and gay's rights are human rights. Simple.

[Pravoslaviya]

Thank you, candidates. I have one final question for you. You each have 2 minutes ((OOC: 300 words)) to answer this and, if they wish, include a final statement to the voters.

Joe Biden will have an additional minute ((OOC: 150 words; so 450 in total)) to answer his previous question and, if he wishes, respond to Emma Granger and Piane Daggot.

My final question to all the candidates is this:

Recently, Commissioner Birdane hosted the Bergen climate conference. But in this entire debate, not one of you has mentioned the word 'climate' or 'environment' once. Do you believe it's the EU's responsibility to take action to tackle climate change and protect the environment; and if so, what would you do on that issue if elected?

[Icholasen]

Climate change is one of the key parts of my agenda, and my policy package on this issue is the most cohesive.

One of the key drivers of climate change is globalisation. That is a fact. The big opium, indeed.

Just one cargo ship produces the same amount of CO2 as 50 million cars - many EU countries do not even have that many people.

My policy proposal is clear. We will put money into funding local production of goods, so less ships of this kind operate, thereby reducing CO2 emissions and other deadly pollutants that are choking us.

This policy will also ensure that the regular people of Europe are supported and more jobs are created, not the mass-unemployment that some of my interlocutors' policies will create and are creating.

We will make sure that ordinary people are not over-taxed and over-regulated for the "crime" of participating in a system that they have little agency to change, and a system where they are not the principal drivers of harm. My policy is vastly different from the other candidates on this stage, as they want the ordinary people of Europe to pay for the climate mess that the globalist elites have caused.

Individuals' car usage, individuals' plastics usage, and other forms of consumption per average person, pale in comparison to that of large companies and incredibly rich individuals. The example of car emissions vs the emissions from just one cargo ship is a great example.

Companies and rich individuals pump oil into our natural seas, pump CO2 into our clean air, use private jets and drive inefficient cars to get around. If we continue with the globalist status quo as my opponents want, I worry for the health of our seas, skies and countryside.

I will prioritise YOU in the transition to a greener future.

[BrumBrum]

Peter Leeson:I absolutely plan to continue action on the climate change and thank Juncker and Birdane for all their hard work on this crucial work. I support the Bergen agreement if its supported by the nations of Europe and if not would work hard to find a way for nations and the EU to cooperate to help reduce emissions and environmental damage.
However I disagree with the right honourable friend on local goods being the answer while local goods are great there is cases when its just more environmentally friendly and efficient to let a country good at making those goods make it, we tried autarky in the past and it didn’t work out well what is key is we make the transport between nations green to make the products greener.
I’d like to finish by saying you now have a choice that’s been made clear you can vote for candidates like myself that trust European citizens and nations to make responsible choices and believe in them making their own way and decisions or you can vote for the EPA who obviously think and have said tonight that Europes citizens are too stupid to decide their own future , essentially when they say referendums could confuse voters they are saying one thing , you “plebs” are just idiots who don’t know whats best for you, do you want that kind of commissioner in power. If elected I will start the process of returning sovereignty to the people and the nationstate and reverse the federalisation trend. Now let me be honest I won’t be able to fix it overnight and it may take a successor to continue the process but we can start to reclaim the peoples and nations sovereignty tonight with a vote for me and anyone but the EPA!

[Montenbourg]

EMMA GRANGER: The Bergen Climate Conference is an accomplishment on the European dream of finally having a Green Deal. I applaud Commissioner Birdane of Alkarhya on her approach and continuity is my answer. It is our common responsibility to tackle climate change by doing climate action, under treaties, under acts that put member states together in tackling this menace. That’s my agenda. Putting words into action and going forward together.

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Friends of Europe, every office I've run for, I was told each time, it can't be done. They said nobody like you has done it before, nobody's ready for you. And they put names on you based on what they want you to be….an enemy. Transforming nicknames into fear have converted conspiracy theories, like the speech of nationalism or elitism, into an instrument for them to advance their agenda. We have to know what we are about as Europeans, and fear is not one of them.

This election is not about any of us up here. It is not about this Commission, even though it's hard to talk of anything else some days.

It's about the people who trust us with their lives, a kid wondering if we're actually going to make their schools safe when they've learned active bully drills before they've learned to read, a generation wondering we will actually get the job done on climate change. And if we hold to that, then it doesn't matter what happens to each of us professionally. Together, we will win a better era for our Union. Let’s do it walking forward together.

[Istkalen]

The EU should combat climate change as a single entity; but its actions should not be repressive. It should instead primarily focus on re-organizing the effort in the form of encouragement - allowing member-states to coordinate efforts regarding research into the transition and the necessary technology, as well as partnering with existing financial institutions as to allow for funding to those who are innovating, so to speak.

Not a single unit more will be taken; not a single regulation more will be forced upon the European people.