Internal Affairs Debate, June 2021
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I'd like to thank the candidates for their opening statements.
Our first question tonight will get to the heart of the disagreements in this campaign. All elections are a war of words, but this is a whole new arms race.
Peter Leeson, you've called Emma Granger a 'hypocrite' who wants a 'European monoculture'. You've also launched multiple broadsides at Jean-Claude Juncker, who isn't even running for this position.
Piane Daggott, your campaign has called Joe Biden 'shifty'.
Emma Granger, you've called some of your opponents 'architects of fear' and accused them of using 'conspiracy theories'.
Josephine Areai, you've said Peter Leeson is 'one step from insane'.
Joe Biden, you've dismissed many of your opponents' policies as 'malarkey'.
So my question is this: do you stand by all the statements you've made during this campaign so far; and do you believe the rhetoric in this campaign is helping to bring the EU back together?
You each have two minutes to respond ((OOC: 300 words)). You can then debate with each other, in turns of one minute each ((OOC: 150 words)).
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Peter Leeson:I stand by all my words about the EPA. They have shown in both how they've acted in the council and in this campaign with their promises and policies they have no interest in sovereignty, no interest in taking into account any culture that’s not liberal and no interest in representing any other voice than the so called “progressive” voice.
If you are conservative and believe gay marriage should not be called that but a civil union well under the EPA #ShutUp . If one believes that in any conservative social policy #ShutUp . If one is not a hardcore feminist again #ShutUp under them. This is not how the EU should be and its leaders should be , we need a leader who can listen to both liberals and conservatives and come to a consensus something I have experience in doing having been prime minister of the Duchies where its an essential quality if you want to even be a successful party leader never mind a prime minister. This is why I am the best person to vote for to unite Europe it doesn’t matter your economic or social creed I will work with all to achieve a consensus that pleases all or at least not everyone hates.I will offer sovereignty and the freedom to choose exactly how much money and where EU nations put money in no more Eurorail funded by all but only benefitting some members. I stand by all my words , EPA stands for Globalism, Euro-Diktats and politician power and believe its crazy to give real European people a voice in referendums. Frankly if you want an EU of sovereignty you should vote anyone but the EPA dictators. -
EMMA GRANGER: Thank you Touker! I stand by my words. But I believe that a divisive rethoric is leading us astray, as some candidates stand in a place of hate and not of hope.
Those are the architects of fear, who fuel Europeans under the disguise of words such as "Euro-Diktats", a false understanding of globalism and calling others to shut up.
That is not who we are Europe, we are more than that.
And now, here I am, out on the campaign trail in an election where we have consistently been hearing hurtful, hateful language - language that has been painful for so many of us, not just as women, but as europeans trying to be caring, respectful of our ideals, and as Europeans who think that our Union leaders should meet basic standards of human decency.
We are not seeing conservatives, liberals or socialists we are seeing reactionaries. And that is hurting our Union. Remember that courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; but courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.
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I will say this - we have to look simply into his obsession with matters that absolutely no one else cares about to the same extent. I have never seen a candidate, or even a politician, who obsesses this much about gay marriage and feminism. Never. The same, of course, goes for his inane repeating of "globalist Eurocrats," his constant attacks on people who are not even running against him, and his bizarre referendum policy, which will never work, if it is even ever passed.
In short - the obsessiveness and the sheer vitriol contained in his words leads me to believe this. I stand by my words. How does this unite the European Union? We cannot have people like this, who seek to create a division between us and them, running, especially if they have this level of obsession.
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Thanks Touker.
I think my critique of Joe Biden, unfortunately stands. He has been in 3 parties over his long political life, and is now running as an independent. What does he truly stand for ? You tell me. I think Europe deserves a candidate with a bit more consistency than that.
As for the tone of the debate, I will always call out the EU's elite. They have endangered what is, at its essence, a good, moral project. The people around me want to destroy the Union. I want to reform it and make it work. I will do anything to keep Europe kicking, for the people - not for billionaires or for gravy train politicians.
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Our Union can only last with consent from nations, and taking away nations' right to have their own foreign policy and trade policy with the Sanctions Act will destroy the Union. And so I would like to take issue with what my friend Emma Granger has said about me, that I am hurting the Union.
Could you point out why or which of my policies hurt Europe ?
On the other hand, your party's policies and Premier Cocx's policies (that you have expressed approval for) have taken away power from nation-states to formulate their own foreign policy and trade policy.
Ms. Granger, should nations in the EU have the right to conduct their own foreign policy and trade policy ?
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Ms. Daggot, what is with your obsessions with sanctions? They are hardly the most pressing issue in these times regarding sovereignty. Do you hold an ulterior motive in speaking about them and almost exclusively them when speaking about soveriegnty?
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EMMA GRANGER: Look, nations policies should always be respected under the guidance of what we as Union have agreed upon. Because we are a community of nations, not of little individualistic islands.
When we see situations like Istkalen, Copala City and the dispute in the Caspian Sea I say we need to held accountable those who bring disunion to our union, and act together. Repealing the Sanctioning Powers Act would be a huge mistake and, moreover, it could risk the whole European Union range of action. And that’s dangerous because anarchy is not the way, unity is.
Amendments, yes! It takes all the Councillors to propose, but not when a crisis happens, that is my big critic on this issue.
Because we say "ok we agree" and then we put the Act into action and we later say "well I will repeal"; that's not the way.
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I think I am entitled to discuss a thing that has such a damaging effect on peoples' lives.
You are seem to be implying that I only care about this issue because I am Nicoleizian, or left wing, but even if there were sanctions put on Inquista, or on Fremet, on the European level, I would not be in favour of that Act.
The EU dictating sanctions and trade policy is an assault on sovereignty, among many others committed recently. The likely outcome of a repeal would still mean nations would be sanctioning the UNSR - but only the ones who choose to themselves.
Far from being obsessed about sanctions, I have been incredibly vocal about my other policies to improve our Union, such as investment in nations' economies, worker representation on boards, and an effort from the Internal Affairs department to mitigate some of the negative effects of globalisation.
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Peter Leeson:Granger you are lying and twisting my words. I'm not telling Conservatives to shut up its you and your party with their hyper-liberal policies that are killing the EU.Also I ask you what gives the EPA and Europe the right to dictate nations social policies in Europe? Surely the best placed to create their own social policies is the nationstate itself and the people of that nation?
And to AREAI and all the others who have called the referendum policy mad or crazy or insane, are we saying sovereignty and democracy are crazy now? What is crazy about people having a say over the laws and constitutional changes that affect their nation with the political class and Eurocrat Elites dictating them? Are you scared that the people may actually say something you don't like or do you think the European people are idiots who don't know about politics Which is it?
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EMMA GRANGER: Piane, my friend, Yes! you are entitled to your opinion.
You’re say is that globalization is the big opium; I don’t agree with you, and that’s ok.
And look, we know they are challenges but that doesn’t mean is bad. It means we need to do better on what we have. And tackle it together, by going forward.
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EMMA GRANGER: Leeson, there was a little girl in Montenbourg who had a brother whom she loved so much. He was gay, and some bullies ones said that loving a guy was and is the most disgusting thing. And every day he cried, until depression came in and took him. That was my brother, Drake Granger.
There are moments in history where we as member states fail to preserve the civil rights of all people. And promote a culture based on hate and not love. I do not agree with that vision.
That’s not promoting any “hyper-liberal” policies, they are human rights. And as a human is common sense.
Surely the best placed to create their own social policies is the nationstate itself and the people of that nation; again based on what we as Union have always agreed upon and defended always.
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Peter Leeson:So you are telling countries people what they should define as marriage? Why is civil unions with equivalent rights not enough? You have only proved you don't care about Conservatives and the views of many religious people and want to tell them what to do. I certainly hope they don't vote you!
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Thank you, Emma. I hope that whoever wins we can work together, despite fundamental differences.
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Ms. Daggot, I myself am concerned with sanctions, and believe that you are in the right for discussing this issue in this way. I am simply asking you, why, for example, whenever you speak about sovereignty, it is only about sanctions - especially concerning as almost immediately after you generally jump to speak about the various ways you plan to violate sovereignty. Yes, workers should be guaranteed a voice - but it is not for the EU to legislate the method that voice should take. Only to ensure that they have that voice.
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This is not true, I have spoken about economic sovereignty and sovereignty in other economic issues, like the ECB, as well as on other areas of policy.
My plans would increase nations' own self reliance in this globalised world, in the way they see fit. This will increase their national strength.
And as for worker representation on boards, it is nowhere near as big as deciding the minutiae of the foreign policy of individual nation states. My workers' rights policy is in the same vein as human rights laws and the like. It is necessary to ensure the dignity of all people. I am obviously not opposed to every international law.
There will also be the freedom to choose in certain aspects. What is missing from this discussion is the fact that many EU nations already have this policy invoked, and it is creating a level playing field for them.
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EMMA GRANGER: Lesson, I care and respect the views of those who think different than me. That’s tolerance.
What I do not support is suppressing others rights. That’s intolerable.
These matters, involving the most intimate and personal choices a person may make in a lifetime, choices central to personal dignity and autonomy, are central to the liberty protected by the UDoHR and our Constitution.
Everyone has the right to marry or be in a marriage in accordance with the law without distinction as to their sex or sexual orientation. That’s section XXIII of the UDoHR.
Proposing to restrict civil marriage is an attempt against human rights.
This is not a religious, liberal, conservative, left, right or anti-religious agenda is a human rights issue. We are not mandating churches, we are working with nations.
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I do not think you have mentioned this, Ms. Daggot, on nearly the same level that you have mentioned sanctions; regardless, let us move on. How exactly do you intend to increase nations' self reliance? Simply throwing money at them is not enough; there needs to be a pattern to investment. For example, under my commission, the focus would primarily be on social services and infrastructure; could you give, perhaps, slightly more detail regarding this?
As for Ms. Granger, I have a simple question. Your devotion to social causes is admirable; but what exactly are your plans regarding, for example, cooperation between nations?
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I have been quite clear the investment is meant for infrastructure and the production of goods, whether investment-based or otherwise, so that the nations of the EU can be sovereign in their economies.
It is down the states to choose how exactly to use the money, but it is aimed at helping the communities most at risk from globalisation.
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During my campaign, I have repeatedly dismissed a lot of what my opponents' agenda as well as some of the current entities that make up European Union, and called them malarkey. I stand by my statement, these malarkey must end. All these other candidates fight for their ideologies, while I am here fighting for you the people of Europe. I stood away from party politics during my campaign and aimed to end them because I myself have seen the negative effects it had brought to our union.
In my administration, my main focus is to end these malarkey and give true freedom that the European people deserve. They who pay for the budget shall be free from the oppression brought by this group of politicians that do not even represent their interests.
Finally, I'd like to end by criticizing my opponents policies and actions throughout their campaigns. With Ms. Granger, do you believe that the EU is oppressing its member-states or no? Why are your policies mainly focusing on women and children rather than equality amongst all people? For Mr. Leeson, do you think that the solution to europartisanship is by calling people and organizations as hypocrite? Do you think it is helpful for the EU if you make memes about other candidates and people you don't like? For Ms. Daggot, do you think that calling me sleepy would stop me from fighting for the European populace? I've been on 3 different parties during my political career in Reitzmag, and yet you criticize my anti-europartisanship policy because you believe that the EU is an instrument for your ideology to take over Europe? Finally for Ms. Aerai, could you tell me how we would trust someone like you who came from a nation who randomly declared war against all European nations?
