UNSR Elections 2020
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UNSR ELECTIONS 2020
SDV: Hello and welcome to the UNSR's election period. In the UNSR, there are several elections happening at the same time. The first of these is the Assembly of Workers. Cooperatives in the same sector elect a certain number of common representatives to the Assembly of Workers. The amount of seats is determined by the size of that sector in relation to how many workers it employs. In addition to this, each Départment elects 2 members to the upper house, the Assembly of Nationalities. There are 40 Départments so there are 80 members in this body. In addition, within each Socialist Republic there are FPTP elections for members of their legislative body, who then in turn elect the President of that Republic. And, the Politburo is elected by the people who work in the sectors directly affected by the actions of the industry. For example, teachers elected the Minister of Education. These 4 elections will mean a lot for the UNSR. Despite there being no multiparty system, there are 3 main factions within the Nicoleizian Communist Party.
The first of these is the Transitory Alliance for Nicoleizian Kinship, Internationalism and Economic Strength, or, TANKIES. This grouping of communists want Icholasen to be more statist, with the state getting involved with not just the key industries seized by Chairman Jirluchuz. Foreign Minister Bernard Sanders leads this group. They also believe that climate change is a lesser evil than losing strength to capitalists, arguing that Nicoleizian industry must expand to combat the capitalist menace in all ways. They despise the idea of 'Socialism in one country' and support increased involvement in communist uprisings in areas such as Neo Venetia, the USV and Reitzmag. They maintain that Icholasen should spend a lot on its military.
The second faction is the Alliance for the Nicoleizian Left - the ANL. Not to be confused with ANAL, the Atlantic Alliance formed during the old regime, this faction wants to continue to democratise the economy, giving more power to the Assembly of Workers and the cooperatives. They believe in a moderate policy of intervention in the world at large, keeping the influence of the UNSR strong. This is one of the strongest factions, with Chairman Jirluchuz supporting it. Its leader is Georgia Francis, the Minister of the Interior.
The third faction is an anti-statist ecological faction, is called the Alliance écolo nicoleizienne, with the acronym AEN. It is lead by Carole Baskin, an animal rights activist. This faction advises the removal of all Nicoleizian industry and for reforms to be voted on by the Assembly of Workers end all CO2 emissions. They also want to give even more powers to cooperatives and less power for the state, and think that as long as the means of production are controlled by workers, it is possible to avoid reactionary influence. They believe the state should only regulate, and never control industry as it should be controlled by the workers. They are peaceful and aim to spread communism via peaceful means, fully supporting the IEL and the PEL, but they still support Nicoleizian ownership of nukes as the best way to prevent war, they say, is being armed to the teeth with nukes.
These factions will compete to win the 4 elections. All these factions are new, without attachment to the ancien régime. What will come of these elections? We will see. Thanks for watching this first broadcast, I will be back in the coming weeks to present more information about these factions and the developments in this election.
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Carole Baskin announces support for a carbon budget
Carole Baskin: Comrades, workers, thank you for coming. As a communist society transitioning to full communism, we have a real opportunity to make a better world from the ashes of capitalism. We have abolished the main polluters, there are no more multinationals here in Icholasen and no more excessively rich individuals whose lifestyles produce absurd amounts of CO2. This is why I'm proposing a carbon budget that we will all have to start abiding by. This shouldn't seem punitive though, as we cut down on carbon in sectors like energy, by investing in wind turbines for example, we will be able to increase some cooperatives' carbon budget. This will improve our environment, create jobs, and just make Icholasen a better place for everyone.
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Candidates Attend a Summit for Economic Justice
The 3 leaders of the 3 main factions of the PCN (Nicoleizian Commuist Party) attended a forum today at the Summit for Economic Justice in Cesae Vauvra today and told the audience their vision for the PCN. The anthem played and the flag of the UNSR adorned the background of the stage. Chairman Jirluchuz started off the proceedings giving a short statement about how now landlords and CEOs are a thing of the past and how full economic justice was becoming closer each and every day.
Carole Baskin took to the stage first and discussed her ecological way forward for economic justice. 'With a clean environment,' she said, 'we can pursue justice both in the economy and also in the health of our citizens. A legacy of capitalism is ecological inequality, with our city dwellers having higher pollution, lower quality air, and dirtier environments.' She the concluded saying that though Marx didn't know about global warming, he would want us to take a stand to maintain the standards of living for all people in the face of environmental challenges. She also highlighted that the end goal of all communist societies is the abolition of the state and Mrs. Baskin argued that that should be the end goal of the UNSR.
Georgia Francis took to the stage next and discussed the ANL's stance on economic injustice. She argued that we still need to work on economic injustice here in the UNSR, and the angle she wants the Politburo to take is that of a continued effort to stamp out reactionary influence in the UNSR, continue to integrate Icholasen into the European Union, and to increase Nicoleizian influence abroad.
Mr. Sanders was the last to speak and discussed how the state has a crucial role for the transition to true communism, and it would take 'a while' for the state to be dismantled. He argued that capitalism had not yet been eradicated from Icholasen and argued for the scaling back of the semi-market economy that exists in Icholasen with cooperatives, and having more state run companies. At present, in the UNSR, the motor industry is controlled by cooperatives. Sanders believes that this industry needs to be controlled by the state as cars are a crucial part of the daily lives of Nicoleizians. Other industries that Sanders believes should be nationalised and not cooperative-ised is mail and grocery stores.
The convenor, Fanny Légault, thanked the 3 for coming to the summit and for sharing their views.
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SDV: The first opinion poll of the election has been released, and the Tankies are in the lead with one point and the AÉL are just behind them. The ANL is trailing behind with only 18% of the predicted vote, which most likely won't get them very far in the Republic Assemblies or the Assembly of Nationalities. Despite this, analysts believe that this will get them quite far in the Assembly of Workers as that body is proportionally elected. I have invited polling boffin Alex Hardy who is going to explain what these polls really mean.
Alex Hardy: Well these polls don't mean the world. The ANL might do better than just a mere glance of these polls suggest. In the elections for the Politburo, there might be a high concentration of ANL supports in, say, the healthcare industry which will elect an ANL Health Minister. This process could repeat, with just 18% of voters giving them, say, 40% of politburo members. There are also regional disparities. Our polling seems to suggest that ANL support is spread widely across the country, which is bad news for them in terms of seats in the Assembly of Nationalities as that is a FTPT system. We'll have to see where this goes though -are we devolving into a 2 faction system? We'll have to see.
SDV: Thank you Ms. Hardy.
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'Globalisation is Dead' - Sanders
Foreign Minister Sanders has today claimed that globalisation is dead and is no longer a sustainable form of economic policy. Sanders wants to produce more products here, in the UNSR, and not rely on globalisation of supply chains or workers, arguing that any freedom of movement is unacceptable to the UNSR.
'There is a pool of labour here, in this country, that should be trained, syndalised, and allowed to work for their own fulfillment.' Sanders said.
Mrs. Baskin was asked to comment on these statements: 'Immigration should be allowed. People from Copala City or New Birmingham should be able to share in the fruits of our socialist dream. As for globalisation, trade can occur as long as it is fair. But, I agree that globalisation is a bad thing. Factories moving overseas is bad for workers here and abroad and huge, unaccountable and untaxed multinationals are repulsive. I look forward to working with Mr. Sanders to return factories to Icholasen as, I'm sure he's aware, globalisation is also an environmental issue. Polluting cargo ships make up a huge portion of global and European pollution and that, as much as possible, should end.
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SDV: We are going to be taking a look at nearly every Département in the UNSR as the election cycle unfolds. We are starting with the largest in area, Miens Marx. We will be bringing you the news from all of the UNSR's Départements that are going to be voting for representatives that will represent you in the Assembly of Nationalities.
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SDV: How is the Assembly of Workers elected? You are assigned a 'constituency' by what sector you work in. If you work in a restaurant, your 'constituency' is leisure and hospitality. You then vote for a faction to represent you, and the votes are split proportionally per sector. If a party got 40% of the votes in Educational Services, they would receive 8 seats from that constituency. This is to ensure that all workers get a say in the regulatory system of the UNSR, with each sector having different challenges that they have to face in their journey to true communism. The Assembly then elects a speaker with whatever faction of the communist party holds the majority.
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The Marijuanas of Productionn
Carole Baskin today announced support for the legalisation of all drugs. Following recent events in Inquista, Mrs. Baskin has announced her support for the policy to be enacted by the Assembly of Workers after the election. She envisages a future of marijuana selling cooperatives where a group of people own the means of production necessary to produce and sell cannabis, LSD and other drugs for their own benefit, and not a multinational corporation.
Sanders retaliated saying that opium is the opium of the masses. We must help drug addicts in any way we can, but decriminalising drugs is not the way forward. Sanders believes in a strong and robust policing policy to make sure that drug dealers are not dealing drugs in the black market. Sanders said that it the role of the state to make sure that people do not misuse drugs.
Mrs. Baskin continued, saying, 'if we allow cooperatives to produce and sell their own drugs, then there will be no black market selling of drugs and we can avoid a subversive capitalist subculture in Icholasen where, often vulnerable people are forced to sell drugs to make ends meet and will produce profit for drug lords. Those people could set up their own cooperatives where they could sell legal drugs to people.'
Georgia Francis of the ANL said that she is 'in theory' in favour of some decriminalisation of some drugs.
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Baskin Appeals to Agriculture in visit to Romain Vineyard
Carole Baskin today visited a vineyard in Romain to pledge that all non-essential agriculture will not be collectivised. Baskin stated the government should only collectivise wheat and certain basic meat production, the rest should be owned by cooperatives -- like this vineyard in Southern Romain.
Cooperative president, Simon François, who was a grape picker before he was elected by his colleagues to the position of president, said that 'Ms. Baskin's proposals are just and correct. Sanders just wants more government control, when we here are proving that its the workers who need to be in charge.'
A Sanders source commented saying that 'we do not want to nationalise vineyards, but, we want to focus on making the UNSR self sufficient in food. That might mean that we have to take some frivolous usage of land into government control.'
A Baskin spokesperson continued, 'we need to be self sufficient in food, but we can do that without confiscating land. The right of a cooperative to buy land and exploit it should be a fundamental right. We would, however, like to see more trees being planted across Icholasen, with the consensus of cooperatives.'
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TANKIE Spitzenkandidaten for Manufacturing, Harriet LeRauk, announces her aims as she is named 'Future Speaker of the Assembly' by Sanders
Harriet LeRauk spoke today about her aims as she and the other TANKIES aim to take control of the Assembly of Nationalities. 'When industries are controlled directly by an accountable management team from the central government, output is much higher and factories or other types of production can be optimised together in a way that can't be achieved by decision making on the local level. Government is good, and with harmonised targets we can make the economy better for everyone.' LeRauk said in a speech to the Congress of Miners in the Miens Marx Département.
'We'd also like to strengthen the Police and more specifically the secret police. We can never be too careful in protecting the revolution that we have worked so hard to achieve. There could be spies, reactionaries and general disorder in the nation.' LeRauk said. 'We might have to give up some freedoms to protect the revolution, and Assembly of Workers TANKIES will always vote to uphold the revolution from subversive, reactionary influence.'
'Mining has to continue.' LeRauk said, to rapturous applause. 'We have so many raw materials here that must be extracted so that we may become self sufficient. We have oil, coal, and natural gas and we exploit them as we need them. The people own these resources and they have a right to use them. The faux-environmentalists at the AÉN have not taken into account the wastage of the former 1%, they caused probably as much pollution as any mines did. But who had to suffer during mine closures? It was not the 1% it was you. Now, the AÉN under Carole Baskin want to end your mines - is that acceptable? No. It's bourgeois, reactionary and counter-revolutionary.
'One of the main privileges of working in the Assembly of Workers is that we can commission big public works that stretch across our nation, across all of our Socialist Republics. TANKIES want our UNSR to be one big united country, with works that link our nation rather than divide us into local pockets like the AÉN wants.'
Madam LeRauk then thanked everyone at the conference for coming and shook hands with the Mining Union leaders there.
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Politburo Elections Heat Up As Eurovoice 'Star' Announces Candidacy
Communist Taylor Swift has today announced her candidacy for the Ministry of Culture, declaring that: 'just as I brought in a pop revolution, so too should the UNSR institute a cultural revolution to bring the people closer to socialism.' She has aligned herself with the TANKIE faction of the Communist Party, arguing that the UNSR 'needs a strong state to act as a vanguard against reactionary influence and also Lizzo.'
Responding to critics that say she is not the real Taylor Swift, Communist Taylor Swift said that 'Trympov and many in the Pravoslaviyan media are reactionaries and want to see our revolution fail. Through the medium of song I will stop them.'
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Baskin, Sanders attend international relations summit in Cesae Vauvra today
Baskin spoke first and highlighted her commitment to reenter the international community, including the European Union, claiming that 'we need to have good relations with everybody, foster peace, and support communism through our actions, rather than through any force.'
Sanders said that EU membership would be 'acceptable' but advocates the changing of some laws, in tandem with the PEL. He says that we must be 'wary of other powers' and continued saying 'I have literally been kidnapped by capitalist monarchists. If we're going to reintegrate into the international community, I urge caution.'
Asked about trade, Baskin said 'the best way to export our philosophy of worker controlled cooperatives is to prove they work and they can produce good products. I hope that other countries enjoy cooperative produced wine, flowers and other products and services. I love that the UNSR has cooperatives opening in Copala City. It is a brilliant exposition of the wealth of working together in a democratic workplace.' Sanders disagreed, saying that 'self sufficiency in all aspects of our economy must be achieved before we enter into deep trade with capitalists.'
Baskin went so far as to say she would open talks with Fremet and Inquista to pave over the rocky relationship that the UNSR has had with these countries in the last few months. Sanders agai disagreed. 'We must avoid working with those nations, they do not support our revolution and they will not just because we offer them flowers and wine.'
The topic then turned to nuclear weapons, with a new ENAA bill with Free Icholasen on the board of permanent members was announced. Carole Baskin said that 'despite being an environmentalist, I think we need nukes to ensure the health of the revolution. We can spend less money on the military as no one would invade a nation with nukes in silos and in submarines and in the sea. It would be suicide.' Sanders said that he supports nuclear weapons and keeping a large military budget. 'We have a smaller GDP than our capitalist neighbours, but we need to use it to keep our island fortified.'
The two then shook hands with ministers in the Foreign Office, most of whom Sanders works with as the Foreign Minister.
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Misty Foxx, Anarcho-Primitivist, has been declared the spitzenkandidat for 'Other Services'
Misty Foxx, famous Anarcho-Primitivist and singer has been declared the spitzenkandidat for 'Other Services' which is a grouping of singers, performers, actors (both clean and filthy), and general services that don't fall into either financial, retail or hospitality.
Foxx is on record saying that the 'industrial revolution and its effects have been terrible for human society' and that the UNSR should scale back its industry, reduce hydrocarbon production and reduce farmland area by 20% and make the rest of farming pesticide free and battery free.
Not just wanting to make Icholasen carbon neutral, she advocates the UNSR becoming a carbon sponge, saying that 'since we cannot convert all capitalists, we must do the work for them.' She plans to achieve this by planting trees, encouraging vegetarianism and veganism and encouraging the use of electric cars over petrol cars.
The TANKIE spitzenkandidat for 'Other Services' Peter Castle has said that 'if we get rid of our hydrocarbon industry we'll have no jobs, no electricity and no independence. Anarchists like Foxx cost the proletariat the revolution. Without strength, centralisation and energy independence we are nothing.'
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Cécile Laucre, Assembly of Nationalities Candidate for Leuse Valley, attacks Baskin accusing her of being 'soft on reactionaries'
Cécile Laucre today has attacked Carole Baskin, accusing her of being soft on reactionaries because of her policy on policing. 'Carole Baskin does not agree with the expansion of the Nicova' (the UNSR secret police) 'and as such is soft on reactionaries.' Laucre continued, saying that 'if we do not keep tabs on reactionaries and other un-patriotic influence in Icholasen, it will spiral out of control and the revolution will end. She may say that the revolution is diluted by this expansion and funding of the Nicova, but surely that is better than having no revolution at all.'
Baskin responded saying that 'of course we want security for the revolution, but there comes a time where that infringement on rights dilutes the revolution that we are all fighting to uphold. The Nicova is important and it should stay, but it should not get any more powers.'
However others in Baskin own faction disagreed with her. Misty Foxx said that all aspects of the centralised state need to be removed and the UNSR should put all of the power into the hands of workers, people and hyper-local government. Foxx said that 'there shouldn't even be a Nicova, we should defund it and use the money for local projects.'
On the (even) more authoritarian side of the TANKIES faction, Harriet LeRauk said that 'people like Misty Foxx do not get it. The state has to exist for basic order and for the revolution to be protected. It feels like these people want the revolution to fail.
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Harriet LeRauk Visits Nicova HQ
Harriet LeRauk has visited the Nicova's HQ today to rally support around the organisation. She has said that the organisation is the vanguard of the revolution and the protector of our freedom from capitalism. She hit back at the anarchist wing of the AÉN, citing people like Misty Foxx and others who call for the agency's abolition. 'Those people don't understand Marx and they don't understand the sacrifices people have made for the revolution. We need this body to keep an eye on the people of this nation, to make sure there aren't reactionaries or foreign influence in our affairs. If you have nothing to hide you have nothing to fear.'
When asked by a journalist what she thought about musings Bishop Lallana might be coming to Icholasen, LeRauk used the occasion to speak out against Bishop Lallana's TV show and all organised religion. 'Folks, religion is the opium of the masses, okay? And Bishop Lallana's lovey-dovey peace and love religious attitude isn't terrible, but it is still counterrevolutionary. Now, we TANKIES draw the line before iconoclasm, the Catholics do make a mean Virgin Mary statue and I won't take that away from them. But we're going to get rid of the political, economic and social power that religion still holds over Icholasen like a stranglehold. And that includes Bishop Lallana's show.'
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Baskin Defends Lallana's Show, Religion
Carole Baskin today defended the right of Bishop Lallana (of Inquistan fame) to broadcast in Icholasen. 'Look, whatever you believe personally about religion, it is not for the state to ban or encourage any religion or religious activity. Religion may be the opium of the people, but we at the AÉN actually support the legalisation of opium - we don't encourage people to take it up, but it shouldn't be for the government to tell people what to do with their bodies or their minds.
Harriet LeRauk hit back saying 'people believe in capitalism, too, which is clearly a thought that Baskin has problem with. She does tell those people what to think. Does Baskin think that we can just pick and choose aspects of Marx's work we agree and disagree with? We must follow Marx's word more closely and reduce the influence of organised religion in our society.'
