Date: 15th September 2024
Breaking News: Minerva Todd announces withdrawal from Báslan
In an announcement that came as a surprise to many the President of the UCCS, Minerva Todd, announced that the Concorder military will be withdrawing from Eastern Báslan. Stating that the administrative duties of the East will be given over to the recently declared Báslanian government. This has come during a period of much uncertainty as the UCCS and Norgsveldet had diplomatic spats over the future of the islands. Which also includes Todd condemning the Crown Realm lead naval exercises held around the islands, calling the act as an “intimidation” attempt from the Norgsveltian government. Despite the diplomatic spats and condemnations Todd has come to an agreement with Kirkeland’s government to end the joint military occupation of the islands and give all administrative duties to the Federal Republic of Báslan under the presidency of Bhean Finsi. Stating that she look forward to working together with Mrs. Finsi’s government in the future.
The official date of withdrawal of not just Concorder but also the Norgsveltian military presence on the islands will begin on the 20th September. Being set as the official end of the joint occupational authority. Though it de facto ended back on the 30th August with Norgsveldet relinquishing its administrative duties of the western islands to the Báslanian government it set up.
Kirkeland made an official statement thanking Todd for her cooperation and for helping avoid a repeat of Atlalandr. Proclaiming the withdrawal as the only just solution to the crisis. These sentiments were quickly backed up by the Báslanian president who held a speech in Vhiriti celebrating the news in which she stated she will help ensure that a “new era” for Báslan will be set. To have Báslan become a genuine democracy for the first time in its history. In which she reassured the people that the PPB will be banned from participating in Báslanian elections. According to some insider reports the leader of the PPB, Alinyate Életinte, currently whereabouts is in the UCCS.
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Date: 9th November 2024
Breaking News: Religious Bloc becomes largest largest political bloc in parliament
With the election coming to an end with the votes being tallied up the Religious Bloc led by the Ulvriktru Democrats (UD) has come up on top with the largest share of the parliamentary seats with them winning 283 seats out of 600, with the UD becoming the second largest party in parliament for first time since the 1970s. The UD itself grabbed hold of 178 seats, while its parliamentary partners in the Fatherland Party (FP) grabbed 87 seats for itself while the Akuan Interest Party (AIP) grabbed hold of 18 seats. With the AIP only able to come into parliament as a result of gaining 14,1% of the vote in Stor Osfjord, being below the electoral threshold of 4% elsewhere in the country.
Meanwhile the People’s Alliance led by the ruling Labour Party (LP) gained 266 parliamentary seats, with the LP becoming the largest party in parliament with them winning 203 seats, toppling the National Center Party (NCP)’s dominance in the parliament. With the other parties of the LP’s political bloc doing much worse. With the Liberal National Party (LNP) winning only 29 seats becoming the second smallest party in parliament ahead of only the AIP, with the party losing 59 seats. Making this election one of its poorest showings in its history. Though the People’s Workers Party (PWP) the only self described socialist party in parliament have had decent success with it winning 33 seats, an increase of 8 seats from the previous election. Though with the Religious Bloc having 17 more seats they have been ordered by the king to the task of forming a ruling government.
The NCP has come out as the biggest losers in this election with it becoming for the first time in its history only the fourth largest political party with only 52 seats in parliament. With the FP for their first time in history becoming the country’s third largest political party. The NCP shrinking by 163 seats, the biggest decrease in its history for a single election. Making this its worst ever electoral performance. With only the LNP having had a similar decrease this election. With the UD and LP gaining the most from the two parties’ fall of grace, with the UD gaining 96 seats, more than doubling their previous size. With the LP gaining 64 seats in this election.
Make up of the new Grand Assembly
Despite the Religious Bloc gaining most seats in parliament, the People’s Alliance had the largest share of the vote with the People’s Alliance having in total 45.2% of the vote compared to the Religious Bloc’s 44.3%. With the NCP being affiliated with neither political bloc gaining only 10.5%, a decrease of 25.3% from its 2020 election. And a decrease of 5.3% when compared to the local elections in 2022. Despite the major decrease it did gain the third largest amount of votes, beating the FP who got 10.1% of the vote. With the FP’s massive overperformance in Nyveldet, gaining 55% of the Nyveldian vote, and with AIP’s voter base centered around Osfjord, being the source of the Religious Bloc’s larger share in parliament. As a result of overrepresentation being given to both regions.
In terms of demographics this election the UD and FP both overperformed among women especially among elven women in the case of the FP. With the FP gaining the huge majority of Hjørdist vote, especially among the Lapérousian diaspora in Nyveldet. Meanwhile the UD has been successful in expanding their voter share in the mainland, having the biggest gain among older men and women at the cost of the NCP. Though the UD’s largest voter base remains to be middle aged women. In contrast the LP has gained the largest share of the predominantly youth vote, more so among the young human male electorate. With the LP having lost a huge majority of its Akuan base to the AIP and UD this election. With it now having gained less Akuan voters than the FP who has been successful in gaining 15.1% of the Akuan vote in Nyveldet. With many assuming the number being as a result of the FP leader, Rosia Sannadatur, attempts to improve her standing with the Akuan community in Nyveldet. Despite her controversial remarks over said community in the past.
Meanwhile the PWP remains the predominant political party for Duarist tieflings in Nyveldet and now also in the mainland. Though with the Duarist vote in the mainland being split between them and the LP. With 18 out of the PWP’s 33 parliamentary seats coming from Nyveldet, highly concentrated around the Duarist majority regions of Duarland and Ånslan. Though the PWP has, according to some polling organisations, gained a new voter base among Norgsveldet’s LGBTQ community. With the Nyveldian based, Equality in Identity and Love (EIL), an organisation having done opinion polls asking members of said community on who they voted. With 45.4% stating they voted for the PWP, 26.6% stating they voted for the AIP and 11% stating they voted for the LNP. According to the EIL this would be a large loss for the LNP and LP among the Queer community with the two parties having historically been most predominant among said communities. Interestingly enough some polling showed that around 4% of LGBTQ folk voted for the FP in spite of the party’s extreme conservative positions on LGBTQ issues.
Electoral result when compared to the 2020 election
Prime Minister Wilhelm Kirkeland made a press conference together with the leaders of the LNP and PWP, Carl Agnar and Merli Cirivele, congratulating the Religious Bloc on their electoral victory and wished them luck in forming a government. With the UD leader, Bjørn Varg, making a video message making clear he and the rest of the Religious Bloc parties will begin working with the rest parliament to form a ruling coalition government. It is expected that while the NCP is expected to stay outside any potential ruling coalition government by either political bloc, they may be able to act as king makers.
The NCP leader, John W. Vultz, has announced that he will be stepping down as the party’s leader. With Mr. Vultz had been in charge of the party since August of 2022, after Johanna Sverdrup stepped down as both party leader and prime minister that year. With Vultz stating he will be retiring from politics altogether pointing towards his age and worsening health. The NCP leadership said they will hold a meeting of a replacement at start of the next year.
John W. Vultz, leader of the NCP and former Foreign Minister. One of Norgsveldet’s longest serving parliamentarians