UNSR Elections 2020

[Icholasen]

Stephanie DeVey: Hello everyone and welcome to the first of several town halls that will be held across the country as we prepare for the coming elections. Today we have with us Harriet LeRauk, TANKIES candidate for manufacturing in the Assembly of Workers, and we have Carole Baskin, the Alliance Écologique Nicoleizienne candidate for Healthcare and social assistance in the Assembly of Workers as well. To get the debate started, each candidate will be able to give a short opening statement. Let's start with Ms. LeRauk.

Harriet LeRauk: Hello Comrades. Today, we stand at a crossroads between economic chaos and economic order and strength. We must collectivise to become more efficient and more orderly. If we let ourselves be governed by the AÉN, chaos will reign, the economy will crumble and reactionary influence will spread. You have been warned.

Carole Baskin: Comrades. It is time for the economy to work for everyone. The best way to make that happen is to give people the power to change it at the lowest level. We must move to have a smaller state, a smaller centralised influence on people's lives so they can live free. Free from capitalism and the state.

SDV: Thank you. We move onto our first question. If a more isolated local community wanted to start up a bus service, what would be the best way to set that up? Carole you may start.

CB: I would advise them to start up a local cooperative of drivers who were willing to drive and pick them up from community-organised locations. Unlike under capitalism where companies decide what routes are profitable and local bus routes are cut due to their unprofitability, local communities can now start up their own bus cooperatives that serve them.

SDV: Harriet LeRauk.

HLR: I would urge that community to contact their local government representative. You see, folks, it's best when there is a plan to all sorts of things. Local communities might, by no fault of their own, miss an opportunity to coordinate with towns across their Département to form a cohesive network of buses that serves best the needs of the people. Without a top down view, there will be so much waste.

SDV: Okay, let's move onto the next question. This is a question for Harriet LeRauk. Your faction has been accused of having a 'muddled' approach to agriculture, with people unable to tell what crops will be nationalised and collectivised, and what will be free for cooperatives to learn.

HLR: Well, there's a divide in our society and in our party about that, but I personally think that wheat and meat should be owned by the state and most people in my party believe that too. Wheat and meat is the answer. And that's because we all need bread and meat to survive. Other crops like wine and sugar beet are good but not necessary for one's survival.

SDV: And, Carole Baskin, your policy is to open more farms up to cooperative management. Won't that lead to a lack of foresight and efficiency in farming?

CB: I think that there should still be government subsidies, government advice and statistical research open to the cooperatives and for them to vote on and decide the direction of their farms. We can have efficiency and foresight whilst also giving cooperatives the power to make their own choices about their farms.

SDV: The next question is about trade. To what extent do you think that Icholasen should engage in trade with other nations? Let's start with Ms. LeRauk.

HLR: I think we should avoid it as much as possible with capitalist countries. I am of course in favour of trading with Czech Slavia, Eastern Haane or Marnoua as they have opted to follow communism. However, Inquista is a hard pass for me. Unless that deal truly and deeply benefits our people.

SDV: The same question to you, Mrs. Baskin.

CB: I think we should give our cooperatives the right to trade with whoever they want. As long as the cooperative is owned by the people who work for it, there is no exploitation happening if they sell it here in Icholasen or abroad. As for state contracts, the answer is maybe. It's a hypothetical and I'd have to have the contract in front of me to make my mind up.

SDV: This question is about foreign investment in Icholasen. Would you feel comfortable with foreign investment here in the UNSR. Ms. LeRauk you may begin.

HLR: I am against any and all foreign investment in Icholasen. It is a conflict of interest and a form of economic imperialism. If that happened, how would we ensure that our workers weren't being exploited? We need to make sure that any and all influence in Icholasen's affairs are positive.

SDV: And Mrs. Baskin.

CB: I am in favour of worker owned cooperatives receiving funds to create products from anywhere. We must empower workers by offering them the chance to expand their cooperatives with foreign capital.

SDV: Now, let's hear your closing statements summing up your general position on the economic issues. Ms. LeRauk you may begin.

HLR: We need to have efficiency and order, rather than mess and chaos. Cohesion and strength in the economy is what we TANKIES want, it is the only way that we can succeed. The more the economy is run from above, the more prosperity can be produced. And that's what its about, folks, prosperity. Only with order can prosperity be achieved.

SDV: Mrs. Baskin.

CB: To achieve prosperity, we need the people in charge. The state is blundering and bloated and cannot tailor itself to the needs of localities. We need local people to solve local issues as they're the people who know best. Bureaucrats in Cesae Vauvra do not know what life is like in, say, Miens Marx. They just don't. We need people there and everywhere to offer their own local solutions to local problems as they know best.

[Icholasen]

[Icholasen]

Anne-Marie David, AÉN candidate for the Romain Republic Assembly says 'the revolution was done with arms and structure, but it doesn't have to continue that way'

Anne-Marie David, former leader of the separatist party, the Parti national de Romain, has said that despite the revolution being carried out by Chairman Jirluchuz, the communist party, and the armed forces, the revolution does not have to continue that way. 'We need to move away from the centralised running of the communist party and the state to a more free society. Power corrupts. Any hierarchy that cannot be ethically justified must either be dismantled or replaced by decentralized egalitarian control, mawma.'

Her TANKIE opponent, Martin Dujardin commented that 'there is an ethical mandate for centralised control, it is the betterment of how we supply the people with the basic necessities for life. How can we hope to provide people with their needs without a centralised system of control?'

[Icholasen]

Factions inside Factions?!

There are no official parties allowed in the UNSR except for the Communist party. Despite this, there are 2 major factions and 1 minor faction who act almost like parties within the Communist party. And, within these factions are sub-factions that argue for different things. This article will break down the different factions and what they stand for more broadly, and also which politicians are in which subfactions.

TANKIES all believe that the state is the most decisive way to enact revolutionary change. They believe the state should influence most aspects of life and the Secret Police (the Nicova) and military should be funded adequately to prevent attack from both within and without. TANKIES are more 'patriotic' in the traditional sense as they believe the nation is a useful conduit to spread the revolution overseas. They also believe the nation-state should exist and oppose all attempts to decentralise the nation into small units of communism as they do not believe the time is right for that to happen.

TANKIES 1 is known as the 'authoritarian TANKIES'. On this diagram it is around the political location of where people like Harriet LeRauk are. Some would describe this hard-authoritarian faction as 'hawks' who want to beef up the Nicova and the military in order to prevent capitalist influence in the UNSR. They're also in favour of the percentage of the GDP that the government control increasing, as they believe that that will make the economy more efficient and will work better for the proletariat.

TANKIES 2 are known as the 'moderate TANKIES' and on this diagram is where conventional TANKIES centre. They have more moderate policies about foreign affairs and funding for defence initiatives. This faction differs only slightly from TANKIES 1 as they hold the same majorviews (give more power to the Nicova and the state, fund the military more etc), but they are more moderate. The TANKIES are a lot more united than the AÉL with there only being 2 main schools of thought, and even then they are not that far apart.

The AÉN is a lib-left faction within the communist party. They generally centre around the idea that there should be less state in the daily lives of Nicoleizians and there should be more civil liberties despite any national security risks that might come of that. They also believe in a sustainable national budget, targeting military expenditure as an important source of income for ordinary Nicoleizians. They are accused of being less 'patriotic' as they do not believe the nation is a useful conduit for global revolution.

The mainstream party revolves around AÉN 1. This faction is known as the 'AÉN moderates'. This faction still believes there should be a Nicova and that there should be some state control of some industries. The whole AÉN believes in a smaller military and that Icholasen should rely on more its nuclear weapons as its major deterrent.

AÉL 2 is a faction known as the 'AÉN market-socialists'. They believe the means of production should be in control of the workers, but that a more market system should exist than does currently. They believe the state should leave alone cooperatives and reduce regulations on these industries. This is a smaller faction in the AÉN, the major dichotomy is between the AÉN moderates and the AÉN anarcho-communists. This faction can also vary in levels of authoritarianism. Some agree with the moderates that there should be a stronger state, others agree with the anarcho-communists who want to reduce the state's size. This faction's single issue is more power for local cooperatives in the economic system.

The AÉN 3 faction is known as the 'AÉN anarcho-communists'. AÉN 3, as a faction, believe in varying forms of anarchism and disagrees with the existence of the Nicova, state control of industry, scientific progress and urbanisation, and, some members are in favour of the abolition of the central state in its entirety, (but that is a fringe belief even within this faction.) This faction is hyper-environmentalist, arguing for the scaling back of all Nicoleizian industry in favour of new, ecologically friendly industry.

The AÉN is a much more divided party than the TANKIES and as leader, Carole Baskin has to keep all of these factions happy. Some in her party will not rest until the Nicova is abolished and this is the thorn in the side of any seeming victory for the party.

[Icholasen]

Elections To The Politburo: What To Look Out For

The Politburo is elected by members of a section of the workforce or a section of society and they elect a post that represents them at the Politburo. Though some call for their subdivisions to be elected, this is usually rejected by most people except the anarcho-communists of the AÉN. These are as follows:

• Interior Ministry - elected by the Border Force, Police, the Nicova, and Fire departments

• Defense - elected by members of the Navy, Army, Air Force and Coast Guard

• Foreign Affairs - elected by everyone

• Treasury - elected by everyone

• Education - elected by educators

• Health and Social Care - elected by doctors and social care workers

• Culture and Sport - elected by artists, sportspeople, and other people engaged in cultural works

• Housing - elected by people who live in houses - aka everyone

• Energy - elected by people who work in energy

• Industry - elected by people who work in resource extraction and manufacturing

• Agriculture - elected by agricultural workers

• Transport - elected by transport workers

• Justice - elected by lawyers, judges, prison guards and other legal workers

• Welfare and Pensions - elected by pensioners and people on state benefits

• Romain - elected by voters in Romain

• Rujonau - elected by voters in Rujonau

• Portland - elected by voters in Portland

• Nuwnociluosoaulaunk - elected by voters in Nuwnociluosoaulaunk

• Consul of the Plebs - elected by everyone

The Politburo also elects the head of the executive via a somewhat convoluted system. Each major ministry gets 3 votes, totalling 54 votes. The position of 'Consul of the Plebs' ('Tribun de la plèbe' in French and 'Kinsel if shu phluls' in Nicoleizian) gets 46 votes in a winner takes all election. The Kinsel's main role is to vote in this election, but they have other roles too. The Kinsel often acts as the 'Prime Minister' does in a semi-presidential system, they liaise with the 2 legislative branches of the UNSR's system of government in order to pass the Korojaunu's legislation.

The Korojaunu must have been elected to the Politburo, outsiders cannot come in and become Korojaunu. If a Minister becomes the Korojaunu, their deputy is voted in and a special election takes place in 2 year's time.

[Icholasen]

Bernie Sanders touts record in speech in Miens Marx as he runs national campaign to stay on as Foreign Secretary

Bernie Sanders today spoke to roaring crowds in Miens Marx about his record as Foreign Secretary and his suitability to lead the government.

"Listen, folks, Inquistahn billionaihs are targeting the UNSR and our campaign. But folks, what we have to remembuh is that Inquistah does not own us. We control the means of production, and most importantly, healthcaire. We now are stahting to make our own medicine and other healthcaire goods - and it should stay that way.'

Sanders then spoke about his record as Foreign Secretary and why that qualifies him to continue. He cited, the establishment of the IEL and the PEL, the talks lead by Kristian Nyuland in which he got a favourable settlement for the UNSR, and his success in escaping Reitzmag. These achievements make him one of the most recognisable Nicoleizians on the world stage.

Sanders continued; 'but what about the futuh? What next? We need to have a strong military to counter threats, more powers for our secret service, and we need to work with other communist countries first and foremost. We should only work with capitalists when there is a mutual benefit. We must be firm against capitalist countries and welcoming of our communist brothers.'

We asked Carole Baskin to comment, 'obviously' Mrs. Baskin said 'he did not mention his involvement with Craticus, a reactionary authoritarian and I am, as I'm sure many are, happy that a more liberal leader has taken over.' She paused. 'Sanders has had many achievements and I am proud of him for serving the Party and the Country, but we should not be blind to some of the more damaging things that he organised in his term so far.'

Despite this attack, Sanders currently polls at 70% in his election bid for Foreign Minister and is a frontrunner in the race to become the Korojaunu.

[Icholasen]

Georgia Francis, Interior Minister, Finalises Merger Deal with the TANKIES

Georgia Francis, now former leader of the ANL has reached a deal with the TANKIES and has now officially merged her faction with them. Speaking on Wednesday, Francis claimed that 'some in the AÉN have dangerous ideas that the TANKIES are firmly against. I and my colleagues side with the TANKIES on 95% of these critical issues. We must keep the Nicova, state control of key industry, a strong military to oppose capitalist forces, and the power of the central state as these ideals are sacrosanct. It is a crucial time for our nation, and I do not want to split the vote against the TANKIES who are a key ally in this, the fight against the dilution of our values.'

The old TANKIE candidate for Interior Minister has now pulled out of the race for Interior Minister, and Francis now runs only opposed by the AÉN for her spot at the top of the Politburo.

[Icholasen]

Françoise Follin, Treasury Minister, Announces Support for a Lower Taxes

The AÉN Treasury Minister today announced that she is in favour of tax cuts to cooperatives and to people's' incomes. 'This' said Follin 'will stimulate people to engage in the economy and make the country's populace freer to use their time and money in the ways they see fit. We need to reduce the size of the government so that people can use their own discretion to buy things. We need less government control of most things.'

The former candidate for the Socialist party for Icholasen's EU Councillor continued saying that 'people need to be able to make decisions for themselves, instead of free public transport, people should be free to decide whether to buy a car or to take the bus. It should be an option that we can give to people by reducing tax.'

Cécile Laucre said that 'the reason we have higher taxes than other EU countries is that we provide better services than them. We can afford to give people what they need to survive and work because we have a bigger government. The government does a tremendous amount of good and devolving decisions to individuals leads to chaos.'

[Icholasen]

Harriet LeRauk Denounces AÉN Policy On Drugs and Dairy

'I want a crusade against drugs and dairy. And of course I include alcohol in that. Icholasen was fundamentally wrong to reverse its decision on dairy and I support a total u-turn on our national policy of reopening. This shouldn't have too much of an impact on the economy, as the dairy industry hasn't developed much, Icholasen just imported most of its dairy from other nations. I think a national crackdown is in order and I want to see that happen very soon. Other harmful substances like drugs should also be limited, including alcohol. I am in favour of banning cannabis, and restricting alcohol sales to a bare minimum to protect the bodies of our workers.

Carole Baskin defended dairy saying 'the nation voted to restore dairy and I think that we should keep dairy. I love ice cream, tiger bread with butter, and of course I can't believe it is butter. We should keep dairy. I also think that restrictions on alcohol are counterproductive, people will make their own alcohol which could straight up kill them.' She chuckled. 'I also want to keep cannabis legal.'

However, the anarcho-primitivists in Baskin's faction, agreed with banning dairy, but not banning drugs and alcohol. 'Look,' Said Misty Foxx, anarcho-primitivist, 'dairy is not natural. By banning it we will reduce CO2. I think that anarcho-primitivists in all branches of government can work with the TANKIES to deliver this, it'll put us in the right step towards a less polluting and more simple society where rivers run clean and the skies are free of pollution. Yet, while enjoying this we should keep drugs, especially cannabis. Cannabis is a great drug, I'm on it right now' Ms. Foxx stated.

The statement from Ms. Foxx indicates that there is a chance that dairy will again be banned on a federal level.

[Inquista]

June 19th, 2020
Chalons, Courvières
Campaign Rally

Bishop Karinn Lallana, still wearing leopard print

Good afternoon Challonators and Challonateurs! Wow, I am so pleased to be with you all in such a beautiful place! Chalons is truly remarkable.

As I've been touring and campaigning throughout Icholasen, I've been struck by two things. First, I've been struck by the extraordinary beauty of the country and its robust agricultural advancements and agricultural output. Secondly, I've been struck by the amazing diversity of the Nicoleizian people, and their ability to come together as comrades.

It is such a shame that the TANKIES wish to destroy these beautiful things in Icholasen. It really, really is sad.

Whether it be the vineyards of Courvières, the farms of Honoré-Mercier or even the onion farms of Nirshauzun, Icholasen's agricultural sector is at the heart of the country's economy. Agriculture not only offers tremendous economic opportunity and employment to the country, but it also offers the bread, food and sustenance that is vital to life of every Nicoleizian. Only the AÉN recognizes the importance of Icholasen's agricultural sector, and only the AÉN will prioritize agricultural advancement and protection, and only the the AÉN seeks to protect the environment and combat land degradation and climate change.

What the TANKIES aim to do to Icholasen's environment is nothing short of bourgeoisie exploitation. The TANKIES hope to exploit Icholasen's lands until they're degraded, destroyed and inhospitable. Under the TANKIES, there is no future for Icholasen's agricultural sector... there is no future for rural communities... there is no future for farmers... there is no environment... there is no future. There is only destruction, degradation and exploitation. Just look at what they hope to do in Nirshauzun. Nirshauzun is home to many onion farms, one of which is even famous for belonging to that bourgeoisie fascist, Eilidh Whiteford and her family. Remember how she sold out on onion farming to becoming a neoliberal pig? How she sold out on a humble and important industry just so that she could make money off the backs of her countrymen? As we know, Whiteford is a lying little bitch who ruins things. That's what the TANKIES aim to do to the entire department. They will focus solely on oil production, totally forgetting and ignoring the plight of onion farmers, and then they will put them out of work by destroying their onion farms through environmental damage and dirty oil. Best case scenario, it will take 10 years of environmental damage for all onion farms in the region to cease production, and in worst case scenario, there is an oil spill tomorrow and all the onion farms will be destroyed. Under the TANKIES, there is simply no future there for onion farmers or the rural community. Imagine Icholasen without onion farms? That would be a betrayal of the people and a betrayal of the country. The TANKIES are traitors.

By focusing only on heavy industry, the TANKIES will send Icholasen spiraling head first into an environmental catastrophe and will accelerate climate change. Climate change ultimately effect who the most? Farmers. Rural communities. Do the TANKIES care about these communities? No. Only the AÉN has policies for farmers and for rural communities, and it is only the AÉN who sees the value in your work and your communities. The TANKIES only care about cities, and they only care about putting ugly, brutalist structures and pavement onto Icholasen's picturesque countryside.

Worse yet, the TANKIES do not care for all Nicoleizians, and the diversity and camaraderie between your people. I don't think the TANKIES even have one French-speaking candidate on their entire electoral list. The TANKIES are anti-French. If you look at the AÉN's electoral list, you will see a diverse array of names and cultural backgrounds. The TANKIES will have you believe that cultural backgrounds don't matter, but they do. How can we construct a truly equal and egalitarian society if not every person and community has a voice? How can there be equality and prosperity for all Nicoleizians if there are not both Nicoleizian and French speaking people at the table? Equality requires an equality of the voices. Without Icholasen's French speaking people inside of the Assembly, their problems will be overlooked and unaddressed by the Nicoleizian speaking majority. The AÉN understands this, and understands the importance of giving voice to Icholasen's linguistic and cultural minorities.

The TANKIES don't care about representing Icholasen's marginalized and vulnerable communities, and instead, are more concerned about representing foreign voices. They're more interested in towing the line to the PEL and kneeling down to the state of Czech Slavia. Chairman Václav Kohout controls the PEL with iron chains and he fully expects to have Icholasen on a tight leash. Who is Comrade Bernie Sanders meeting with right now? President Sova of Czech Slavia. Comrade Sanders is kneeling before President Sova, asking him what he should be doing and how high he must jump for Czech Slavia. What was the Revolution ultimately for? Was it to advance the betterment of the Nicoleizian working people, or was is to bend at the knee to Czech Councillor and the Czech President? The TANKIES are selling you out to foreign powers, and that's why the TANKIES want Icholasen to be isolated. The TANKIES want to see Icholasen isolated and alone so that they have no choice but to accept Czech Slavia's tight leash.

I have been calling for all of Europe's leaders to recognize the legitimate government of Icholasen in Cesae Vauvra. Icholasen deserves to be a free and equal partner in Europe. Isolationism only hurts Icholasen, and ultimately, it hurts your working and your most vulnerable people. I have made tremendous progress lobbying on this matter in Inquista, and I know that Carole Baskin and the AÉN are the best equipped to lobby for Icholasen's true government to be recognized abroad. Say no to the isolationism of the TANKIES and say no to kneeling down before the Czech overlords.

Please join me on Sunday for my next Comrades in Christ broadcast. I also ask that you please support the AÉN and to please support Carole Baskin. [Bishop Lallana then raises a communist crucifix to the crowd] God bless the Revolution, and may God bless Icholasen! Thank you.

[Icholasen]

Rebecca Bareham, Cousin of Lucinda Bareham, Announces Support for Capital Punishment

'Some reactionaries have been very naughty, and they deserve to be punished' Rebecca Bareham said, cracking her whip. Bareham, who is a candidate for the TANKIES for 'other services', which includes actors from a number of different settings (and positions) has said that she thinks reactionaries deserve the harshest punishment. 'If we found Firoux, I would be the first to call for his public whipping in the centre of Cesae Vauvra, maybe on a crucifix too, or on a swing. Either way, it would be the kinkiest shit, but it would also serve and ideological purpose. That purpose is to discourage other reactionaries from being naughty.'

'I am 100% in agreement with the Nicova. I have starred in numerous films where a reactionary is detained by them. With no Nicova, stars like me will have no choice but to lose a key sector of interest and also money. The AÉN has no respect for our profession. None at all.' Rebecca cracked her whip and said; 'interview's over, boys.'

[Icholasen]

Marie Myriam, Candidate for the Politburo Post of 'Minister for Romain Affairs' has today Announced Support for more French Language Protections

Myriam called for more protections for the French language, calling for an overhaul of the way the law works for French speakers, and calling for more French language classes in the North of Icholasen, where Nicolophones live and make up the majority of the population, at 55%. Lots of Nicolophones do not speak French, especially in more deprived areas of which there are many. People see English as a more useful language as it is a kind of UNSR-wide and Europe-wide lingua Franca, but Marie Myriam argues that the French language must be taught more robustly in Nicolophone regions. 'The French language is beautiful and strong, but in danger. The majority must learn it.'

Myriam is also in favour of a ratio of songs on the radio in French, at 40%. Though Francophone music is much more popular in the UNSR than Nicoleizian music, English music from Inquista and elsewhere often dominates the charts, pushing some home grown talent off of the charts.

TANKIE candidate for Minister for Romain Affairs argued that 'people don't listen to music on the radio anymore, grandma. Good luck policing spotify you old wench.'

[Icholasen]

[Icholasen]

Jane Birkin Announces Support for a Bill that will set Icholasen on a course for normalisation of relationships with Europe

After attending an event with Bishop Lallana in Chalons today, Jane Birkin lead a press conference where she stated she would push for a bill in the Ausnat (short for the Assembly of Nationalities, the Nicoleizian upper house) that would lead a path to the normalisation of relations with all European powers, notably Inquista and Fremet. 'It has been a difficult few months for Icholasen, and with this Ausnat bill, we will reopen, negotiate our rejoining of the European Union, and normalise relations. After that, I'm sure more people will support a smaller military and a smaller Nicova as then the nation will be more secure.'

Harriet LeRauk commented that the whatever the makeup of the Auswirr (short for the Assembly of Workers, the Nicoleizian lower house) 'people will find it hard to support the regulatory change that comes with reintegration into the European Union. The Czech Slavia amendment is a start, but there has to be a fundamental change at the heart of Europe for us TANKIES and many on the AÉN benches to support reintegration with Europe.

Carole Baskin dismissed this, saying that 'with an AÉN majority in the Ausnat and the Auswirr we will ensure that we rejoin the European Union and reintegrate with the world at large, in the spirit of internationalism and friendship between nations. Bishop Lallana's speech today was magnificent and she should be proud of the future Icholasen she is helping to bring about.'

[Icholasen]

Cécile Laucre Attends Campaign Gala in Cimsau

Though Cécile Laucre is a candidate for a geographically specific region, Leuse Valley, she is a national figure for the TANKIES and has proven herself popular amongst industrial communities. 'Comrades, this is a crucial time. Most people in this Département know someone who works in the mines or in factories here. These industries have a direct effect on all aspects of life in regions like Cimsau. They provide customers for retail and other services, students for educators and clients for construction workers. Bishop Lallana talks about the desolation of industry, but, here, industry is the lifeforce. Without industry there would be no jobs here. It is a tight-knit ecosystem that will crumble without its central pillar. The AÉN and other globalists want industry to be relocated to other countries, but here, today, we say no. Imagine the desolation of this region if industry were gone. It would mirror the fates of so many regions in Europe, where rapid deindustrialisation has killed opportunity and dreams. And so I say to ''Bishop'' Lallana that that is desolation and destruction. Industry is a force for good, it provides for Icholasen. We do not need foreigners to tell us our industry is bad, and that we should be ashamed. No, we are proud!'

Cécile Laucre then toured some coal mines and other industrial implantations in the region, noting their 'efficiency, strong labour, and potential.'

[Icholasen]

[Icholasen]

[Icholasen]

FOREIGN AFFAIRS TOWN HALL PART ONE

SDV: Hello, I am Stephanie DeVey and I am here with the two most Senior candidates for the Ausnat, the Assembly of Nationalities. This house has a unique job, of scrutinising the executive on all manner of things by holding hearings, voting on foreign agreements (including membership of the EU), approving and amending the bills passed in the Auswirr (the Assembly of Workers, aka the lower house) and a whole range of different jobs. To start off, our candidates will present themselves and their party. Since in the last town hall, the TANKIES started, Jane Birkin of the AÉN will start us off with her opening statement, Jane.

Jane Birkin: Hello Comrades. Icholasen stands at a crossroads. We can either be excluded from Europe and the EU or we can embrace involvement in a body which we can use to affect change. I and the AÉN support our adhesion into the European Union, and that is one of our main political objectives in the Ausnat. Our other objectives are the decreasing of conventional military forces in favour of a stronger nuclear deterrent instead. We are also in favour of opening up relations with Inquista and other powers as if we work with them, their proletariat masses are more likely to follow us on our path to enlightened socialism.

SDV: Madam Laucre.

Cécile Laucre: Hello Comrades. We need to have a stronger foreign policy. We need to shout from the rooftops our support for communist movements the world over. I think that we cowered in fear in Neo Venetia after a dangerous battle over Reitzmag. Despite the benefits we could reap by inflicting a blow against the capitalist menace of Angleter, the government cowered from the moment and did not send conventional forces into the country. What is Angleter going to do? Nuke us? I and other TANKIES are ready to engage in brinkmanship with the capitalist menaces of the world in order to enact proletarian change in the world.

SDV: Okay, the first question comes from Mikaela an Inquistan living here in Romain City. No relation to the Kligenberg. She asks, 'when will travel reopen between Icholasen and the world? I want to see Lizzo in concert.' Ms. Birkin you have the floor.

JB: Well, I want to see us open to the world. I think that our cooperatives are great and should be able to engage with other companies, this will show them that our system works. I await the day when Inquistan wine-moms come to Chalons and taste our communist wine. I want restrictions lifted in all domains including travel.

SDV: Madam Laucre.

CL: I think that we need to be careful. I think that the travel restrictions are important for now to prevent reactionary influence in Icholasen. We need to be fully vigilant before we let anyone in our out. I think before we allow immigration, we need a law to prevent people taking advantage of our medical and other keys schools to prevent people leaving the UNSR after receiving a free education here before a certain number of years have elapsed.

SDV: We'll be right back. After the break, we will be discussing the contentious topic of the European Union among other things.

[Icholasen]

FOREIGN AFFAIRS TOWN HALL PART TWO

SDV: We are back with the second installment of this town hall, live from Romain City. Let's get straight back to the debate. We are now going to discuss the European Union and what our candidates think about it. We first are going to discuss adhesion into the European Community. Jane Birkin, what are your thoughts on Icholexit and UNSRejoining?

JB: I'm in favour of a UNSRejoin, I want us to reintegrate into the European Community, so that we can start to have a normalisation of relations with the rest of Europe. I want the UNSR to have a role in legislating in the European Council and for a AÉN candidate to be legally elected to serve in the Council. I am willing to work with other EU Councillors in order for us to be recognised by the European Council as the legitimate government of Icholasen.

SDV: Madame Laucre.

CL: I and my colleagues think that adhesion into the EU isn't our biggest priority. It wasn't so much as an Icholexit, than a Nicoleiziexpulsion. Of course, the conditions in the European Council have to change to allow a UNSRejoin, as the PEL alone does not have enough votes. Myself and colleagues, are not prepared to move away from Socialism in order to convince EPA globalists to convert to our cause, and so I am in favour of a UNSRejoin but it ain't happening any time, suga!

SDV: In the final part we will discuss the status of the so-called 'Free Icholasen' and other foreign policy questions.

[Icholasen]

FOREIGN AFFAIRS TOWN HALL PART THREE

SDV: Welcome back to the final part of the Foreign Affairs Town Hall. We are now going to discuss so-called 'Free Icholasen. Should the UNSR interact with any nations who recognise Free Icholasen, Jane Birkin.

JB: I think we can, to an extent. If the recognise both nations, then I am okay with that. But if they just recognise so-called 'Free Icholasen' then we should cut all ties, if they haven't already cut ties with us. I am all in favour of reaching out a hand to the international community so long as they reach out a hand to us too.

SDV: Madame Laucre.

CL: We should not interact with any country who has recognised Free Icholasen, even if they recognise us. To quote Miss Taylor Alison Swift, 'The old Icholasen can't come to the phone right now. Why? Because she's dead.' If reactionaries are going to continue to recognising a dead state, with no land and no legitimacy, we shouldn't give people who recognise them the time of day.

SDV: And now for closing statements. Jane Birkin you may begin.

JB: Comrades, a tricky path lays ahead of us. But I believe, with diplomacy and dialogue, we can reintegrate into the international community and foster peace in Europe. I think we should absolutely keep a strong military, but we can afford to reallocate some of that money to the people who need it most by using our nuclear deterrent as a deterrent, rather than a bloated military that takes money from schools and hospitals.

SDV: Madame Laucre.

CL: Right now is the time for strength. The globalists only respond to physical strength. That is what the AÉN does not understand. They do not care about diplomacy, they do not care about goodwill. They care about the market of 75 million people here in Icholasen that they have lost. They have lost a cash cow and they will do anything to make us move an inch from Socialism. Will we let them move us? To exploit us once again? Absolutely not.

SDV: Thanks for watching folks, remember to tune in for the first day of election coverage on Tuesday.