2019 Prymontian General Election

[Prymont]

OOC: This RP will be taking place in the past, although I figure it's recent enough for it not to be in the history subforum. This RP will cover the 2019 Prymontian general election, from the revelation of the vote counts on February 2nd 2019 to the declaration of the government on April 26th 2019. Expect news coverage of all important aspects, alongside undercover meetings, violent public protests, political backstabbing, and the rise of a new era of Prymontian politics.

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2nd February 2019 | 2153hrs
PTV Broadcasting House
New Halsham
United States of Prymont

 

“- and that’s why the communists have to go, they simply --”

“I’m sorry Julian but we’re going to have to cut you off as we have some breaking news. George Duval, the President of the United States from the 2017 elections, has lost his seat. This marks the fatal blow of the National Party’s dreadful 2019 election campaign, as the party leader is beaten in his home constituency by Markus Olsen of the United Prymont Future Party. The Nationals will surely have to elect a new head now. We can go live to the East Bremanger constituency, with our correspondent Anders Randen. Anders?”

“Yes Julia, we’re live here in East Bremanger, having just witnessed George Duval losing his seat to Markus Olsen. The National Party ranked fourth overall here, behind the Liberals, the People’s Party, and of course the victorious UPFP. Mr Duval was gracious in his defeat, but we expect that the end is near for the National Party as they deal with losses throughout the country. In a historically National constituency of eight thousand people, Duval lost his overwhelming majority and received only nine hundred votes.

“Despite this amazing win for the UPFP, we don’t believe it’ll be enough for them to take the challenge to the People’s Party, who are currently in the lead with 39% of the seats throughout Prymont. There aren’t many constituencies left to reveal their vote counts, meaning that both the UPFP cannot overcome the gap to the People’s Party, and that the People’s Party have not reached the majority threshold to claim the government.”

“Thank you Anders. We now go to Rock Island North, where our correspondent Helena Antonsen is with the People’s Party leader Felix Frey.”

“That’s right Julia, we’re here with Felix Frey who, if he can find a coalition partner, will likely be the next President of the United States. It’s been a great success for you in your home constituency Felix, but unfortunately for your party, the statistics aren’t in your favour and you most likely won’t have enough for an outright majority. Where do you go from here?”

“It has been a great success and I feel very honoured and lucky to have been voted as the representative for Rock Island North. I would like to thank the voters throughout the country who have unwaveringly supported the People’s Party, and want to tell you all that we’re dedicated to bringing you a better Prymont. Your voices will not go unheard. As for where we go now, we will wait until all of the constituencies have been finalised before taking the next step. I understand we won’t have enough for a majority on our own. The US has never been in this position before so as we enter these unchartered waters, we will need to tread carefully and be straightforward with the voters. That’s our utmost priority right now.”

“Are there any parties in particular that you’ll be hoping to side with, and any to avoid?”

“Like I said, it’s hard to say until we know the full story, and I don’t want to tell you something without being sure of it first. The people of Prymont have been lied to enough over the past year and a half of George Duval and his cronies, and we have every intention of laying out the entire truth to our voters, who naturally deserve nothing less. The People’s Party will work quickly and we will work hard to find a suitable partner that mirrors our views and will ensure that the people’s voices are heard. We have every intention of doing things right and quickly creating a government so we can get to work.”

“Some very neutral words there from Mr Frey, which unfortunately doesn’t tell us a great deal. What we have learned tonight though is that Prymontian politics will never be the same again. The People’s Party will be scrambling to find suitable coalition partners before their month is up, by when the country will be sent to the polling stations once more in the hopes of creating a majority government. Be sure to stick with us here on PTV1, as we bring you live updates from constituencies across the United States.”

Edited May 4, 2019 by Prymont (see edit history)

[Prymont]

3rd February 2019 | 0840hrs
PTV Broadcasting House
New Halsham
United States of Prymont

 

Soon-to-be-President Felix Frey hadn’t slept all night. His limbs ached, dark circles clung around his eyes, and copious amounts of coffee couldn’t stop the yawning. It was a credit to PTV’s makeup team that he was so presentable and fresh as he appeared on live morning television, just hours after his party had won the 2019 general election. Despite his amiable appearance, Frey felt like shit.

He’d disappointed his party. The celebrations had gone on late into the night at constituencies throughout the country, but one looming question hung above their heads like a thick storm cloud. Who would be their coalition partners? It was a question Frey had considered throughout the night after the election results were confirmed and his party ended with just 42% of the vote. They had a majority, but it wasn’t the one they needed.

A cursory media briefing had been sent to all elected party members before sunrise, detailing the coalition shortlist and outlining the official party stance. There were two technical options, but only one made sense. Felix had the honour of declaring that on national TV, sleep deprived and all. His electorate were counting on good news, and he had to give it to them straight.

“So Mr Frey, where do we go from here? Last night you were reluctant to tell us anything regarding the future of the Prymontian Parliament. Has any progress been made overnight?”

The direct question brought him out of his daze, back into a reality of everlasting media responsibilities. His every move would be scrutinised, every word, every emotion. There would be questions galore, some intrusive, some stupid, but each one had to be handled with respect and tact. He was the figurehead of not only his party but the entire country, and his first impression would be memorable. The onus was on him to make it memorable for the right reasons.

“While I’ve not had the chance to sit down with every candidate and thoroughly discuss any potential cooperation, last night was full of discussion and debate within the party of who to side with. As you will know, Prymontian law mandates that a coalition cannot be formed with the opposition, so that leaves just two eligible parties. The Ostport Independents and the Liberals both have the number of seats needed to create the majority, and we will work hard to come to a quick conclusion with one of them.”

“So between the Independents and the Liberals, which is sticking out at you the most? Overnight, our correspondents deliberated over every party and predicted that a deal would best be made with the OIPs. Do you agree with that decision?”

“I’m reluctant to tell you anything without discussing it with my party with a clear head. Last night was full of overwhelming emotions and we’re yet to come to a conclusive agreement. Both of those parties have their benefits and drawbacks, and over the coming days, I will be carefully deciding between them. Regardless of my choice, negotiations with our preferred coalition partner will begin on Thursday. The goal is to make this a quick, effective transition between governments, so everyone in the party will be working at maximum capacity to deliver a satisfactory result.”

It was a response that didn’t particularly reveal anything at all, but what more could he do? Making empty promises that couldn’t be fulfilled just for short-term support was exactly what had lost Duval the Presidency. The last thing Frey had on his mind was losing the support of the people just hours after he’d won it, and if that meant giving vague answers for the time being, then so be it.

One thing was for certain. Cross-party meetings would begin on Thursday. Felix and the People’s Party had three precious days to correspond with the OIPs and Liberals, determine their preferred candidate, and organise the first meeting. It would be a media frenzy, and the pressure was on to provide a rapid solution so the country could return to normality and improvements could be made. Frey was willing to cooperate, but the candidates were the ones with the power. They held the key to the majority and to claiming his rightful rule over the country, but any delay in an agreement would fall on him. In the space of a few hours, Frey had gone from child-like elation at winning the Presidency to resenting the responsibility and backlash that naturally came with the job.

“One last question, if I may. We asked President Duval this at the beginning of his term, and it’s only fair to ask you the same. What are the three biggest objectives of the People’s Party for the duration of your Presidency?”

“This was all discussed in great detail throughout our election campaign, but for you I’ll reiterate. Our primary objective is to right the wrongs of the National Party. We will not make promises that we cannot keep, we will listen to the people, and we will create and maintain a strong, thriving country. So I suppose that’s objective number one. We hope to revive the falling industries of the country or, if that fails, create and support the growth of new ones to create more jobs and strengthen a stagnating economy. There are also intentions to increase the funding and quality of several crucial public sectors, such as health, transport, and emergency services, amongst many others. There are many services in this country that are worth paying for, and it’s our goal to ensure that they have adequate funding to provide those services at a satisfactory standard.”