work in progress
Rally dates:
RALLY #1 - KAANPAŞA, ALKHARYA - JANUARY 23RD, 2021
Münevver was ready to start her heavy rally schedule, starting with Alkharya's capital: Kaanpaşa. Thousands of people waited for her, some supporting her all the way, some just excited to see an Alkharyan in the Commission. And she had no time to waste. She had to fly to Fremet the same day to rally there, and it was going to be a long, long two weeks.
She stepped on the stage, as the announcer announced her name. She was ready to give her first speech.
"Oh, Alkharya, I have served you for many years, and I believe I served you well, for more than twenty years. But it is time for me to move on to new horizons. This union's health, now deteriorating, is crucial to Alkharya and any other country. I have the power to handle anything that comes in my way. I just hope that, whether I lose or not, I hope that I can make Alkharyans proud, exactly like I've done in the past 20 years. And... I am now aiming at Europolis, as I am now a candidate for the Commission!"
The crowd cheered loudly. The glass of the buildings across the stage was shaken as cars passed by. Münevver continued:
"I will be running as an Internal Affairs Commissioner..."
Münevver had to stop for a second as the cheers continued. When the audience calmed down, she continued talking:
"We have seen far too many conflicts and incidents to understand that this union has a problem in how it functions. Nofoaga. Eastern Haane. The Caspian. The Union doesn't know its purpose. Mess. An absolute mess. And it's full of contradictions. It tries to teach us and others democracy, while it keeps undemocratic member states. It shoves more taxes down our throats over useless programs. It often doesn't listen to us! Aren't we tired of these people?"
The crowd cheers and shouts "YES!", some over and over again.
"I say no more! If I become the Internal Affairs Commissioner, I will always negotiate and settle down with all member states regarding all my plans. I will create a union that will serve its member states, not the other way around. I will always focus on peace, transparency and stability. I will actually work for the Alkharyans, for the Europeans, I will do more than the simple faux gestures of change. This union has suffered long enough with incompetent leadership. It needs a new face, it needs a new name, and I am more than willing to be this face, bringing the European Union into new heights of harmony. Folks, I have a long way to go. These two weeks are going to be tough, I will be going from country to country, for debates, for rallies, just to give the best effort I can for my candidacy. I believe that I'm the one who will be the greatest successor to Juncker. His works... Some unfinished, I'll finish them. Some don't work efficiently, I'll fix them. Some work perfectly... I'll continue them in the best way I can. I'll work for the people, and I will never back down! Never!"
Cheers became even louder, almost deafening. For Birdane, this was a new chapter of her life. It was up for Europe and Europeans to choose her destiny.
RALLY #2 - RHODENHEIM, FREMET - JANUARY 24TH, 2021
Münevver was flying to Rhodenheim to give out her second of nine rallies total. After her speech in Alkharya receiving critical acclaim in the Alkharyan media, Münevver felt confident. She knew how to get into people's hearts, and she knew how to persuade people to vote for her. She hadn't felt like this for a long time and wondered if this would actually work. But even then, even if it didn't work... People would still know her name. After all, you miss 100% of the shots you don't take, they say.
Landing at the airport, Münevver took a cab to where she would rally. She arrived at the area and saw a lot of people there, surely more than she could count in one sitting. People have now known her outside Alkharya. This was the first time she would ever speak outside her homeland. As the announcer told her name, she slowly walked to the middle of the stage.
"Hello, dear Rhodenheim, Hello Fremet!" She started speaking. Those two sentences were enough to drown the crowd in a sea of applause.
"A hello from an island country to another, I salute you!"
The applause continued. After it faded a little, Münevver continued:
"I, and many Alkharyans, do not like to elongate whatever we're talking about, so I'll get straight to the point: If you shouldn't pay for a bridge that you will never pass, then you should never pay for a project that won't even benefit your country. This is why, If I get into the office, I will not take a single cent off Fremet for Eurorail. Not a single one! Your taxpayer dollars should always benefit you first. And this goes for any other country that won't participate in Eurorail. If you're not in it, then you're not paying for it. Simple!"
"I always put diversity first, above all. And I will be honest here, I am concerned about policies put by some countries, in the name of "progressivism", just as much as you guys. It is obvious that these policies are made for one country, and the legislators behind it are trying to do this "one size fits all" thing, it does not work! It will never work! I have never seen it work! If I get elected, I'm saying this, right now: I will be one of the most progressive commission members the EU has ever elected. Each and every single one of my policies will have the confirmation of as many member states as possible. I will make sure to hear every member state's voice. Every one."
"I will give this union a purpose. A purpose to exist. I will bring competent leadership. I will work as hard as I can, and if I get to live, I will never back down. And I hope that I can get you, the people of Fremet by my side during this journey. Thank you all."
Cheers continued for a good five minutes as Münevver left stage and prepared for her next rally in Ruthund.
RALLY #3 - KAZMURBIRHA, RUTHUND - JANUARY 25TH, 2021
After eating at a local restaurant and shopping for some time, it was time for Münevver to leave Fremet, to attend her third rally in Kazmurbirha, Ruthund. She had actually visited Ruthund as a kid before. That summer vacation of 1972, she and her mom hiking together through the forests. The memories were flowing as she looked at the clouds through her aeroplane window. She eventually landed at the airport and made her way into the rally. The schedule was quite tiring for her, but she was going to get a break before she was going to attend her rally on Vayinaod, so she definitely looked forward to that. Maybe she would go visit those forests again...
She walked up to the stage, thousands waiting. She saluted them all:
"Greetings, Ruthund! Ah, this country, it feels great to come back here! Most of you are aware of the campaign that I'm running throughout Europe... I am running for the position of Internal Affairs Commissioner. I want to help, to make this union functional, efficient and diverse. No more wasting money. No more policies drowned in bureaucracy, and, I hope, no more conflicts. You know, there's an easy way to fix most of the conflicts, some respect. We have independent countries that want to do it their own way, in their own land. We have cultures. We have diversity in this house and it appears that some people do not want to listen... I will remind those tone-deaf politicians that the European Union is no one nation, and no state is their backyard!"
The applause was deafening. She continued after the audience calmed down a little.
"The concert of Europe, which has gone on for centuries, shall prosper with my songs, and when I say songs, I mean my policies. My policies will surf through the European Union, giving all citizens a relief. I will work my hardest to give this union harmony, give it purpose and give it peace if I can. I will guide you through the worst of the worst, the best way I can. I will not give up. I haven't given up in Alkharya, I will not give up in Europe. I will not give up on this union. If elected, I will make the best of my term, and I would love to see the nation of Ruthund alongside me. Thank you all, and let's move forward for a brighter Europe!"
After spending her break on Ruthenish wilderness, it was finally time for her to continue her schedule. Next stop: Nyetthem, Vayinaod. She took the flight from Kazmurbirha through the northern lands and landed after six hours. She wasted no time and immediately took a taxi to ride her to the rally area. Applause followed as she got to the centre of the elevated stage.
"Hello, Nyetthem! You may have heard that I am running for Internal Affairs Commissioner, probably from my previous rallies. After a political career in my homeland that spans one-fifth of a century, I am now expanding into Europe, and I have many, many visions. If I get elected, I will work for everyone, those who agree with me and those who disagree with me. I'm all about unity, peace and harmony."
"But, in its current state, the European Union is as far as it can be from those three principles. The strikes in Azrekko show that some politicians are tone-deaf and would rather put faux policies for the sake of creating changes. I constantly hear complaints, from Alkharyan citizens, from citizens of Europe, that the EU simply does not sit down and negotiate enough! I have mentioned this on my previous rallies, and I will mention it everywhere I can: Collaboration is key if you want to keep peace in the Union. If you do not listen to the member states, they will be dissidents. If we want a powerful union, we will listen to Vayinaod, we will listen to Fremet, we will listen to everyone! We will leave no nation behind! We will bang the walls of the rooms the deaf politicians sit, we will bring change!"
"I am tired of infighting, I am tired of useless debates with others, I am tired of distractions. People vote on politicians work on people, not to be useless rivals on each other. I don't have time to waste on dead-end debates. The only thing I have time for, right now, is to work for Europe, efficiently, without wasting anyone's time! No more trivia! Only progress! Thank you!"
Vociferous applause followed her speech. By the rally, she was getting more and more confident.
"Now, If any of you want to talk, I'll be here for a couple of hours until my next rally, I forgot to do this in my previous rallies, so ask away!"
After missing her rally in Hampton City, Münevver had no chance but to skip it and delay it sometime later. She quickly tweeted that the rally would be held tomorrow, although she wasn't sure if the venue would be available at that time. She immediately took the first flight to Saint Dominico, a budget class, which was a downgrade from her usual business class, but she had no time to waste. She took the first cab she saw at the airport and told the driver to move. She couldn't believe how dense this city was. More than a hundred million people living in such a small area. Why didn't they expand more, she thought to herself.
She arrived at the rally area surprisingly quickly as she thought it would take hours to get there. She was right on time, assisted by those organizing the rally. She walked in the podium, took a deep breath, and started talking when the applause calmed down:
Saint Dominico! I salute you all! I have come to this city today to once again spread my message on why you should vote for me. For one, I am running on a platform in which every single country is going to have an equal voice, they're all gonna be heard equally. This union has not been this scattered for the longest time. I will work for all, those who have voted for me and those who haven't. There are people that trash me, think that I will destroy Juncker's ideas, which is not true and never will be. I will do changes that won't change the project itself, but make it more efficient, like not making those who won't benefit from Eurorail pay for Eurorail! Simple! I will make his ideas more competent and reasonable, that's it! Besides, are we really gonna have Winston in an important position, like a member of the Commission? One who has bloated all discussion? Who has enforced toxic integration policies? Do we believe that Winston can provide us with a more stable Europe?
Repeated "No!" came from the audience, growing stronger and stronger.
Exactly! It is about time that we've stopped paying attention to these con artists and bring in the politicians that will bring change! I am tired of infighting, I am tired of useless rivalry and I am tired of distractions! And I am sure you have, too. If I win, thanks to you, I will work my hardest and never give up. I will bring more diversity and more competence. I will respect each and every member state's boundaries, in accordance with the laws of the Union. I have come this far, after twenty years of experience in Alkharyan politics and all these rallies, I will not step back. Let's move forward to a functioning Europe again!
Loudest applause she had heard so far, but she wasn't sure if it was because of the dense city or the audience itself. After the rally had ended, she listened and discussed her plans with the attendees.
Birdane was frustrated, to say the least because her rally to Reitzmag was cancelled last minute, even though they told her that it would be fine and the arena would be empty. Because complaining wouldn't fix her problems, she moved on surprisingly quickly to give her speech on Antequera. Took the flight, got to the rally, waved at all standing there, waiting for her to speak.
Greetings, Antequera! I've been waiting to visit here for the longest time. Not gonna lie, I wish I could stay longer here but I gotta go to Leagio and Mennrimiak in three days so, maybe next time! This would be my third to the last rally, so let's make it count.
Now, I would like to talk about my own past, which is something I've never done before in my rallies. I have been on this game called politics for over twenty years now. I started off small as a member of a provincial parliament in the region of Barbaros. I then served in the regional parliament in that same region. Then, I joined the Kurultay, the national parliament. In Alkharya, I'm known as one of the most liberal members of Kurultay. I was one of the founding people of modern religious freedom in Alkharya. In 2002, I have supported, also submitted some, various religious freedom laws which were lacking in Alkharya for the longest time. I sadly feel that these changes are gonna be reverted over time, but I have done my part, always have, and can't wait to continue working in Europolis.
I have always followed European politics from the sides and I can tell you that Jean-Claude Juncker is one of the most recognizable faces we've had in the European Union for a long time, and I have always followed him and his legacy closely. I admire his efforts to build a united Europe, and I promise the Spanish, and the Europeans to continue and respect his legacy. All his ideas, the Green Deal, the anti-racism plan, the summits, and many other remarkable things he has done, I promise to continue them.
I want to work for people. I always worked for the people. I want to listen. I want to listen to their interests, their demands, their country. Their region. Their Europe. I believe in peace, harmony and stability. Let's move forward!
Birdane was getting tired of the schedule and was looking forward to the end. But she had to push forward. She wasn't the type of person to give up. Next stop was the city of Tullion of Leagio. She took the airport in Antequera and took the first ticket she can to Tullion. It was an unusually sunny day for January. She eventually arrived at the rally.
I salute the city of Tullion and the great country of Leagio! The commission elections are right around the corner, and I am here for my second to last rally in the schedule. To be bluntly honest, I am the greatest successor to Jean-Claude Juncker there is this election. Everyone knows this. Winston can't come close to that guy, he wanted to, so bad in fact he had to sue the entire country of Spain in European Court of Justice just to get something! Obviously, he couldn't succeed. I will succeed, however. Not coming close to him physically, though a visit would be great, but coming close to his legacy and fame. He was a great politician and he'll surely be missed. I will continue his "Diplomacy First" strategy to ensure no armed conflict ever happens again.
I have repeated my sentences about harmony, competence and peace. But aren't these three what we need to make this Union better? Harmonious diversity? Competent politicians? Peace itself? Don't you agree? Don't we all want this? Don't we want equality?
I believe in equality for all, no matter your story, looks, wealth or anything else. I came from a lower-middle class family in Southern Barbaros. It was a hard life, I was babysitting my siblings, working on my academic stuff, trying to get a job, just trying my best so my children don't have to struggle like me. There are many that share my story. Throughout my political career in Alkharya, I have supported legislation that would expand Alkharyan welfare to make sure every Alkharyan citizen has a roof under their head and no financial anxiety. I have supported their freedom, religious freedom in a country where religion is still a big stigma. Now you might be asking... Why am I telling you this? To assure you that I am a woman of my word, I have healed Alkharya whenever I can and will continue to heal everywhere I go, including Europe! It's time to move forward!
Since the flight was gonna be really long this time, Birdane couldn't have time to discuss with people in Leagio. After the rally, she immediately went to the airport again for a final rally: in Hannkkara, Mennrimiak. She walked this time as the rally arena was close to the airport.
Hello, Hannkkara, Hello, Mennrimiak! I run for this position to give this world my best... Like how I gave the island I lived in my best. I am here to give one last rally before elections. I have said mostly everything that I can say. I have preached my message all around Europe and will continue to do so, even if I lose this election. After all, even if I don't get the position, I'm still a human. I will work for everyone, even those who have not chosen me. Because it doesn't matter. Polarization and division is the last thing Europe needs. We need peace, unity, harmony and competence. We need competent people in the office, and since I believe that I am competent, I am running for this position.
The European Union is chaotic. Nobody will deny this. It's a collective entity of member states with vastly different cultures, views, opinions, among other things. I have always expressed disdain to those who do not listen to these states enough. Many member states are quite isolated from Europolis, more than you think, they cannot make their voice heard enough, and I feel Mennrimiak is one of them. I will work hard to make sure this never happens in my term. We need communication, we need diplomacy, we need respect. We don't need Europolis telling states what to do. We don't need half-baked policies whose submitters never think of long-term effects. We need vision, and not many have it. We need to move forward. We need to have stable grounds, we need to stop wasting our time with showbiz, we need to move. Forward. No more infighting. No more useless arguments. I don't want it! I won't do it, If I get elected. The Concert of Europe moves on, and I want to make it a little peaceful during my lifetime.
Some last words... I want to thank Alkharya, Europe, supporters or not, to giving me the opportunity to speak in various countries. Even if it all fails, may the torch light on for progress, success and better days... Thank you all. I love all of you.