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March 29, 2024, 05:46:29 AM
News: Election Simulator 2.0 Released. Senate/Gubernatorial maps, proportional electoral votes, and more - Read more

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  Atlas Fantasy Elections (Moderators: Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee, Lumine)
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Lumine
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« Reply #25 on: July 27, 2020, 12:25:50 AM »

On the sixteenth year since the founding of the REPUBLIC,
under the Presidency of Pericles and the Vice Presidency of Sestak

NEWS UPDATE / NATIONAL

Atlasia battles the Coronavirus (IV)
Death toll stabilizes around 75,000 as slowdown continues,
Hardest hit areas change from New York to California and Texas,
Public pressure to end lockdown and quarantine measures grow,
health experts warn of "second wave" danger

NYMAN, Atlasia - Following six weeks of a marked improvement concerned the steady decrease of the Coronavirus death toll, public experts generally agree the rate is stabilizing further, having hovered around the 75,000 mark for the past two weeks (and having just crossed it on July 26th). While the growth in active cases has gone from a previous total of 2,5 million to over 3 million, this also coincides with further growth on test capabilities, which also peaked - and stabilized at the 1,000,000 goal - around ten days ago. Barring scenarios in which the death toll returns to exponential growth - which experts cannot yet rule out -, Atlasia would be placed third in global terms regarding deaths, below Brazil and China.

Residents in New York City - currently undergoing its Mayoral Election - were particularly optimistic as of last week, in which no further pandemic related deaths occurred for the first time in months, marking an end to the state's unenviable role as one of the worst hit areas of Atlasia. However, other states have replaced New York as those worst hit under present trends, with California and Texas in particular starting to shoulder most of the current growth in terms of the death toll. With no consensus from the scientific community regarding the causes of the so called "flare-ups" in these states and in the southern direction, this trend also becomes an issue for concern (or celebration) among residents and authorities in states affected either positively or negatively.

Although the current trends and their relative stability have certainly come as well-recieved news (and been celebrated by local authorities), it also signals the start of a complicated local, regional and national debate over the end of the harsh quarantine measures. Already there is talk among different state governments to coordinate efforts either to ensure a measured re-opening or to force regional and federal authorities to accelerate the process, citing different priorities and/or issues currently in need of address. Whereas those in favor of an accelerated re-opening quote (outside from economic arguments) the ever rising tide of pandemic-related suicides, mental health issues and/or factors such as domestic abuse, those against counter with the examples set by anti-quarantine protesters, whose efforts they suspect were a factor in increased rates in certain states.

Thus far, a significant number of health experts has attempted to combat rising enthusiasm regarding a rapid return to normal life, asserting that combating the pandemic could still take months and that the danger of a so called "second wave" (or, alternatively, of localized outbreaks) could not and should not be understated.
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Lumine
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« Reply #26 on: July 27, 2020, 01:08:51 PM »
« Edited: July 27, 2020, 03:23:52 PM by Lumine »

On the sixteenth year since the founding of the REPUBLIC,
under the Presidency of Pericles and the Vice Presidency of Sestak

NEWS UPDATE / ELECTORAL

Atlasia Elects: July 2020
Labor underperforms, but holds the line in several strongholds,
Federalists make limited gains despite Fremont weaknesses,
Democratic Alliance emerges as serious challenger,
Liberal Party surprises in strong performance

Governors / Mayors:

Party   Executives
Labor Party6
Federalist Party3
Democratic Alliance1

State Legislators:

Party/Alliance   Seats
Labor Party/SF/STRP879
Federalist Party381
Democratic Alliance/AFP/PPL/LPL288
Liberal Party73
Green Party48
Peace Party16
Tricolor Party4
Dixieland Patriots Party2
Law and Justice Party1

NYMAN, Atlasia – Despite fears of very low turnout due to the ongoing struggle with the pandemic, election officers across nine states reported decent numbers (if lower than usual) as Atlasians voted in Gubernatorial, Legislative and Mayoral races after an active and engaging campaign. With an unprecedented number of regional and national parties contesting the elections following an unexpected surge in registrations outside the Federalist and Labor parties, predictions ranging from wild gains for the new parties and/or their collapse dominated the conversation, both proven wrong in light of the seemingly mixed results delivered by the electorate.

On the surface, the Labor Party is seen as having survived what might have been a very difficult set of elections in light of a limited - if somewhat effective when active - campaign and sustained attacks from rivals on the left, center and right. Indeed, Labor held onto six governorships and retained control or strong pluralities over several legislative chambers, although their total of almost 900 legislators is arguably inflated due to the unconventional size of the New Hampshire House (400). Although interventions such as the President's visit to Arizona or a memorable billboard deployed against the Democratic Alliance are credited with having helped, psephologists are quick to note most of the contest took place in states in which Labor held clear (at times overwhelming) registration advantages, a history of higher turnout, and previous electoral victories, thus offering their challengers steep hills to climb. This, in turn, has led volunteers on the ground to report concern over future performances in more vulnerable states.

Conversely, several challenger parties were credited as having significantly more active and efficient campaigns, which were let down by factors such as competition for similar types of voters, some of the electoral systems and thresholds in place, or an apparently high ceiling for Labor in some of their strongholds. Indeed, psephologists also note that given the difficulty associated in third parties and some of the disadvantages in the system, these results could easily lead to exponential gains in the August elections as these challengers gain visibility, recognition and experience. For the years the main alternative to the Labor Party, the Federalists experienced something of a bittersweet night as their efforts were rewarded with victories in the South and renewed gains in Lincoln - particularly spearheaded by rising star Joseph Cao, seen as an eloquent spokesman for Federalism -, including the New York City Mayoralty, but saw increasing signs of collapse in Fremont. In general, it was believed the Federalist campaign was able to mobilize their own electorate, and shows signs of clear promise for the future.

Chief amongst the challengers, of course, was the newly formed Democratic Alliance, which formed regional alliances and moved to contest the election in full force. Faced with an enormous challenge on account of their still limited base, the DA was nonetheless very successful in achieving a limited breakthrough, defeating Labor in Rhode Island and holding the legislative balance on power in several states. In general, many cited the DA's emphasis on domestic policies, their innovative use of online advertising and some of their negative campaigning as key to their success, although some of their anti-Labor approaches were seen as significantly less successful than others. Amidst terrible results for the virtually absent Peace Party - which only held a few seats on account of very successful results on previous elections -, the Green Party also emerged as a challenger with some potential on the left, though their campaigning efforts were limited.

Regional parties, on the other hand, were undercut by a lack of activity - outside of organizations like the Tricolor Party or the Atlasian Future Party - and at times hurt by some of the electoral systems as well, but experts believe there is potential for good performances in the future. The surprise of the night by far was the relative success of the Liberal Party, which was seen to have vastly exceeded its present disadvantages despite, perhaps, not living up to expectations set during the campaign. Despite being outgunned and outnumbered, Liberal Party leader Poirot proved a tireless and mostly effective campaigner, establishing a clear presence in Fremont, becoming the clear challenger in New Hampshire, and making a clear impact in New York City. Indeed, observers on the ground believed the Liberal Party came closer than it looks to storming the mayoralty, and were only prevented from doing so due to a strong Federalist performance and, perhaps more importantly, competing with the Democratic Alliance over similar voters.

Next month voters will go to the polls on California, Alaska, South Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Puerto Rico, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana and the District of Columbia, plus the city of Miami.
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Lumine
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« Reply #27 on: August 02, 2020, 05:42:22 PM »

On the sixteenth year since the founding of the REPUBLIC,
under the Presidency of Pericles and the Vice Presidency of Sestak

NEWS UPDATE / REGIONAL

Political vacuum in Lincoln
Chancellor S019 resigns after Speakership controversy,
Speculation arises over future Chancellor, present majority in Lincoln legislature,
Resentment over decision causes scuffle at the Illinois House of Representatives

CHICAGO, Illinois - In spite of the existence of a seemingly firm Labor majority in the Lincoln Council and the successful ratification of Councilor S019 - via Gubernatorial tie-breaker - as the region's new Chancellor, August 2nd has featured a rapid series of events which created a vacancy and a temporary power vacuum shortly after said ratification. The decision by the new Chancellor to nominate himself as Speaker resulted in sustained criticism by Democratic Alliance and Federalist councilors, including the argument that the self-nomination itself was unconstitutional. Shortly after, Chancellor S019 resigned his commission before Lincoln Governor R2D2, opening a vacancy merely hours after the new government had been formed.

Although the Governor has asserted before the Council that the next steps are to be reviewed, political observers wonder what this might mean for the Labor majority in the Council, undercut by the absence of one of their councilors, as well as the latest attempt by Councilor Ninja of offering himself as a "consensus chancellor". The whole sequence of events became a topic of debate in the Illinois legislature, in which a group of Tricolor Party representatives took the floor to harshly criticize S019's critics within the Council. Whilst joined on this by a number of Labor representatives - as both parties form a majority in the House -, the sizable DA and Federalist minority responded in kind by rejecting criticism towards their fellow party members, leading to a brief scuffle as two Tricolor and DA representatives briefly fought each other outside the main chamber.

NEWS UPDATE / INTERNATIONAL

Hong Kong crackdown approaches fourth week
Brutal police tactics erode ongoing resistance,
Countless dissidents deported to the mainland under new security law,
Chief Executive postpones legislative elections indefinitely

HONG KONG, China – The aftermath of the new security bill and the renewed efforts to restore order in Hong Kong continues to claim a high price, as the fourth week of renewed mass protests pushes the number of deaths over 20 and arrests number in the hundreds, if not thousands. Despite the best efforts of opposition leaders to maintain a spirit of resistance, the continued deployment of large numbers of police and riot control forces - which are accused of using brutal tactics - has resulted in a bitter war of attrition, which has led the protesters to show steady signs of weakness. Although attendance to daily marches and protests remains massive, turnout has steadily declined as growing numbers of residents view the struggle as hopeless, or are intimidated by the potential consequences.

The opposition leadership itself has been hit by the arrests and almost instant deportation of several of their more prominent members into the mainland, where they will have to stand trial on multiple charges of sedition and treason. Having hoped to hang on until September in order to score a victory at the legislative elections, the opposition has been further weakened by Chief Executive Carrie Lam's decision to postpone the elections indefinitely - and far beyond the allowed term -, citing the treat of COVID-19 as one making it "impossible" to hold a safe election. Diplomatic condemnation, while harsh - and including a large-scale citizenship program by the British government - has resulted in bitter recriminations from Chinese state media and even by Beijing itself, which continues to call on the West to stop meddling in an internal Chinese affair.

NEWS UPDATE / INTERNATIONAL

Kim family trial begins on December 1st
China vetoes Security Council resolution to expand scope,
Kim family to be tried on Second Korean War and North Korean Civil War,
Debate over trial continues to dominate North Korean politics

THE HAGUE, Netherlands - Following extended speculation on the eventual fate of the "Kim dynasty" trial, new developments within the United Nations have finally broken the uncertainty, though in a direction many supporters of the international trial consider disappointing. Following the refusal of the Choe government to deny consent for the trial in terms of its scope, President Philippe and Prime Minister Smith both led an Anglo-French effort at the UN Security Council for a resolution that would bypass the refusal from Pyongyang, thus enabling the ICC to try Kim Jong-nam. Having gained support from Atlasia and with Russian representatives abstaining from the vote, the Allied effort was nonetheless defeated last Friday through Chinese permanent representative Zhang Jun, who issued a veto on the resolution.

Despite subsequent diplomatic protests from Paris and London towards Beijing, the failure of the resolution means the ICC trial itself will have to limit its scope to the events surrounding the Second Korean War and North Korean Civil War, particularly regarding damage inflicted on South Korea and Japan, with a scheduled start on December 1st, 2020. The trial itself promises to be long and contentious, though few doubt the deposed North Korean leader is very likely to receive a life imprisonment sentence. In North Korea itself the controversy and drama surrounding the trial continues to dominate headlines and political discussions even as reunification talks move ahead, rumours asserting the relationship between Prime Minister Thae and President Choe is at an all time low.
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Lumine
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« Reply #28 on: August 25, 2020, 03:09:32 AM »

On the sixteenth year since the founding of the REPUBLIC,
under the Presidency of Pericles and the Vice Presidency of Sestak

VISUAL REPORT / PANDEMIC

Coronavirus by State - August 2020

1. Overall trends
(Clean, Favorable, Contained and Negative)


2. Numbers
(Cases, deaths, % positive tests, % hospital beds with COVID patients)

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Lumine
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« Reply #29 on: August 27, 2020, 01:27:57 AM »

CLARIFICATION / NATIONAL

Hurricane Laura

For clarification, it is ruled that Hurricane Laura is taking place as in real life, affecting a similar area across the Southern region.

CLARIFICATION / REGIONAL

Jacob Blake

For clarification, having taken into account context, Game Engine mechanisms and, in particular, upon review of Lincoln and Federal legislation, it is ruled that Mr. Jacob Blake, NPC resident of Kenosha, Wisconsin, was shot twice during an arrest by KPD officers, . Mr. Blake is currently at Froedtert Hospital with injuries to his right arm and leg. Kenosha, WI is currently the site of a small march by local residents, a protest currently described by the local sheriff as "peaceful".
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Lumine
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« Reply #30 on: August 29, 2020, 10:00:56 PM »

On the sixteenth year since the founding of the REPUBLIC,
under the Presidency of Pericles and the Vice Presidency of Sestak

NEWS UPDATE / ELECTORAL

Atlasia Elects: August 2020
DA triumphs, achieves breakthrough in Lincoln,
Labor strong in Fremont, but experiences severe losses elsewhere,
Federalists prevent collapse with last minute offensive,
Turnout surge amidst hyperactive campaigning

Governors / Mayors:

Party   Executives
Labor Party6
Federalist Party3
Democratic Alliance1

State Legislators:

Party/Alliance   Seats
Labor Party/SF/B&B/Tricolor1584 (+701)
Democratic Alliance/AFP/CPL/FN841 (+553)
Federalist Party710 (+329)
Liberal Party148 (+75)
Green Party108 (+60)
Peace Party16 (=)
Dixieland Patriots Party2 (=)
Law and Justice Party1 (=)

NYMAN, Atlasia – With a record participation – easily surpassing July’s turnout – Atlasians from eleven different states voted today on their local Gubernatorial, Legislative and Mayoral races after a stunningly active and spirited campaign, which saw exponential growth in the number of campaign events whilst also featuring less dispersion of the vote, with all regional parties contesting the races up for grabs choosing to stand in an alliance with the national parties.

It is generally agreed by political commentators that the Democratic Alliance had easily the best night out of all parties, having finally achieved a long awaited breakthrough that took them to victory in four different states and – by the thinnest of margins – the Miami mayoral race. Strengthened by their July performance and supported by favorable midterm results, the DA campaign was agreed to have been the most consistently active one, and more importantly, the most efficient one in terms of selecting issues to run on. Whether it was infrastructure in Michigan or energy in Alaska, the DA amplified its positive momentum by skillfully exploiting popular local issues – though whether those stances will be well received in other states is a different question -, and was spared from most of the truly effective attacks. The DA also proved capable of ruthlessness, successfully landing several punches on Labor which culminated on a classroom ad that observers described as “brutal”.

Conversely, fears of underperformance within Labor proved more accurate than expected as the party’s vote share collapsed in several competitive states, costing the party potential victories in Wisconsin, Indiana, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia in spite of a strong night in Fremont and, of course, an actual victory in the number of elected legislators. This has come across as something of a paradox to psephologists, which note the Labor campaign was consistently strong, threw the strongest punches, and even featured some of the most effective ads of the campaign – a Monty Python themed ad being credited with having crippled the Federalist momentum before their final offensive -, in spite of blunders such as Governor MB’s visit to Puerto Rico (who nonetheless acquitted himself very well in Wisconsin). Commentators disagree as to the precise causes of Labor’s underperformance, which some attribute to fundamental factors such as the economy and midterm defeat, and others attribute to being “outgunned” on the ground when compared to the DA and Federalist campaigns (psephologists suggest it may have been both).

The Federalist Party was generally felt to face a similar paradox to Labor in campaigning terms, with high quality efforts being undercut both by superior DA momentum and sustained attacks from the Labor Party, many of which caused serious damage. This appeared to change due to a last minute offensive launched on the final days of the campaign, widely credited with preventing a collapse across the board and even helping the Federalists score victories in Oklahoma, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia, despite falling short against the DA (it is argued this strong finish almost secured Miami, only to fall short after recounts). Although performers such as Rep. Joseph Cao and Sen. Yankee made an effective case for federalism, the last minute dash was undercut by a number of unenforced mistakes or obscure references, with lines such as “Portland Values” generally puzzling voters. Nonetheless, it is believed that if the Federalist Party was able to fight in a more consistent basis and/or contain the damage caused by Labor attacks, its competitiveness would be greatly enhanced.

With regional parties contained within the major alliances – and profiting from it -, and with the gradual disappearance or collapse of the Peace Party and LJP, the final challenger spots were reserved by the Green and Liberal Parties, with varying results. Generally, it was felt the Green campaign had been unable to make much ground, in spite of their concentration in Fremont helping them to make a few dozen legislative gains. Crucially, a coordinated push in Alaska was undercut through negative campaigning from rivals. Conversely, the Liberal Party made further gains in Lincoln and was able to expand in Fremont and the South, though its unconventional style of campaigning may be reaching a ceiling of sorts, partly due to fierce competition with the DA over similar voters.

Next month voters will go to the polls on North Dakota, Idaho, Iowa, Mississippi, Kansas, West Virginia, North Carolina, New York, Massachusetts, the Virgin Islands, and the city of Los Angeles.

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The world will shine with light in our nightmare
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« Reply #31 on: August 29, 2020, 10:31:16 PM »

Next month's map, for quick reference:



(plus Virgin Islands and Los Angeles)
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« Reply #32 on: August 29, 2020, 10:40:27 PM »

Alaska:
Standard Fremont System
Party/Alliance Polling (%)Votes (%)Change (%)
Labor Party/SF/B&B41%33%8%
Democratic Alliance/FN10%26%16%
Green Party18%21%3%
Federalist Party22%12%10%
Liberal Party3%6%3%
Peace Party5%2%3%
Law and Justice Party1%0%1%

California:
Standard Fremont System
Party/Alliance Polling (%)Votes (%)Change (%)
Labor Party/SF/B&B55%50%5%
Democratic Alliance/FN18%25%7%
Federalist Party14%10%4%
Green Party7%9%2%
Liberal Party2%5%3%
Peace Party3%1%2%
Law and Justice Party1%0%1%

South Dakota:
Standard Fremont System
Party/Alliance Polling (%)Votes (%)Change (%)
Labor Party/SF/B&B55%51%4%
Democratic Alliance/FN8%22%14%
Green Party17%12%5%
Liberal Party1%7%6%
Federalist Party13%6%7%
Peace Party5%2%3%
Law and Justice Party1%0%1%

Oklahoma:
Standard South System
Party/Alliance Polling (%)Votes (%)Change (%)
Federalist Party45%40%5%
Labor Party38%35%3%
Democratic Alliance/AFP10%19%9%
Liberal Party1%3%2%
Peace Party3%3%=
Green Party2%1%1%
Law and Justice Party1%0%1%

South Carolina:
Standard South System
Party/Alliance Polling (%)Votes (%)Change (%)
Democratic Alliance/AFP42%62%20%
Federalist Party26%21%5%
Labor Party22%11%11%
Peace Party4%2%2%
Liberal Party1%2%1%
Green Party2%1%1%
Law and Justice Party3%1%2%

Puerto Rico:
Standard South System
Party/Alliance Polling (%)Votes (%)Change (%)
Federalist Party32%34%2%
Labor Party46%28%18%
Democratic Alliance/AFP11%23%12%
Liberal Party2%10%8%
Green Party3%3%=
Peace Party3%2%1%
Law and Justice Party3%0%3%

District of Columbia:
Standard South System
Party/Alliance Polling (%)Votes (%)Change (%)
Federalist Party33%36%3%
Labor Party35%29%6%
Democratic Alliance/AFP18%24%6%
Liberal Party4%8%4%
Green Party3%2%1%
Peace Party5%1%4%
Law and Justice Party2%0%2%

Wisconsin:
House of Representatives elected via STV (multi-member district)
Party/Alliance Polling (%)Votes (%)Change (%)
Democratic Alliance/LPL18%29%11%
Federalist Party30%26%4%
Labor Party/Tricolor35%26%9%
Liberal Party12%16%4%
Green Party2%2%=
Peace Party3%1%2%
Law and Justice Party1%0%1%

Michigan:
House of Representatives elected via PR Party List
Party/Alliance Polling (%)Votes (%)Change (%)
Democratic Alliance/LPL24%44%20%
Federalist Party39%33%6%
Liberal Party11%13%2%
Labor Party/Tricolor19%7%12%
Green Party2%1%1%
Peace Party4%0%4%
Law and Justice Party1%0%1%

Indiana:
House of Representatives elected via STV (multi-member district)
Party/Alliance Polling (%)Votes (%)Change (%)
Democratic Alliance/LPL16%31%15%
Federalist Party30%28%2%
Labor Party/Tricolor34%22%12%
Liberal Party14%16%2%
Peace Party3%2%1%
Green Party2%1%1%
Law and Justice Party1%0%1%

Miami Mayoral:
FPTP System
Party/Alliance   Polling (%)Votes (%)Change (%)
Democratic Alliance/AFP18%34%16%
Federalist Party37%34%3%
Labor Party30%19%11%
Liberal Party5%9%4%
Green Party3%3%=
Peace Party5%1%4%
Law and Justice Party1%0%1%

Cross-posting, here's a table of the change in vote from the first polling to the final results, to help paint a picture of which campaigns were the most effective and least effective.
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Lumine
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« Reply #33 on: September 03, 2020, 11:43:54 PM »

On the sixteenth year since the founding of the REPUBLIC,
under the Presidency of Pericles and the Vice Presidency of MB

NEWS UPDATE / INTERNATIONAL

Mass protests in Paflagonia
European nation in a critical state of tension,
Field Marshal von Kummerspeck attempts to tighten his grip with the pandemic out of control,
Opposition leaders organize, request urgent international support

WÜRSTBURG, Paflagonia - Re-elected President in March 2018 with 92% of the votes (amidst serious allegations of widespread electoral fraud) and enjoying the support of a strong parliamentary supermajority, Field Marshal Adolf Von Kummerspeck had been able to continue his rule in almost unmolested fashion, the deep internal divisions of the opposition and his own harsh methods helping cement his rule. Now, having entered his fifth year in power last August, Von Kummerspeck appears to be facing a critical situation, signaling the weakest moment for his regime thus far. Having chosen to downplay the risk of COVID-19 in order to bolster the declining Paflagonian economy, the current government was blindsided as cases began to grow at an exponential rate, soon leading to hospitals being overwhelmed.

Following the example provided by his neighbor Hungary, Von Kummerspeck made a conscious choice to try and turn the pandemic into an opportunity to further centralize his rule, passing several constitutional amendments that drastically increased the powers of the Presidency and which, as of last week, led to the dismissal of Prime Minister Werner Schmidt following the dissolution of his office. With a permanent state of emergency in place, Von Kummerspeck rapidly had a number of opposition leaders arrested, including his most famed rival from the 2016 elections, human rights activist Conchita Schicklgruber (subsequently barred from running in 2018 by the government). However, far from crushing the opposition, the limited crackdown has allowed it to refocus as thousands of Paflagonians take to the streets in protest.

Denouncing Von Kummerspeck as a "bloodthirsty dictator" and his 2018 election as the result of fraud, a group of ideologically diverse politicians, activists and/or personal rivals of the President have gathered in some sort of coalition, which presents itself as "Paflagonian Unity" (PU). Unofficially led by former Minister for Justice Gerta Baer (SPP), and seconded by a triumvirate comprised of former Minister for the Environment Heide Gruber (SPP), businessman Norbert Weltschmerz (CDP), and retired Colonel Wolfgang Zeller (IND), the PU has demanded Von Kummerspeck's resignation, a transitional government and "free and fair elections". Thus far, forces loyal to Von Kummerspeck have been unable or unwilling to put down the protests, and the PU has openly requested assistance and support from the EU and other Western nations.

NEWS UPDATE / REGIONAL

Tension in Kansas
Local elections approaching for divided state,
Pro-South and Pro-Frémont "Unionists" organize in rival camps,
Citizens fear potential sectarian violence across Kansas

TOPEKA, Kansas - Almost three and a half months after the "Liberal Riots" resulted in one death and over forty injured, the state of Kansas is set to vote on the most tense local elections in living memory, set against the backdrop of increasing political tension, regional polarization and even mounting threats of violence. With the incumbent (non-partisan) state government widely perceived as having been too soft - a perception shared by both sides - and the incumbent governor retiring, observers expect voters will flock to the national parties, which will face the difficult issue of choosing a side on the increasingly bitter debate about the future status of Kansas and its membership either on the South or the Commonwealth of Frémont.

Although the "Pro-South" and "Pro-Frémont" camps (both describing themselves as "Unionists") have started to organize and develop in rival organizations, it is believed neither side will attempt an electoral foray, relying instead on the regional and national parties to represent them or offer solutions to the present situation. The Kansas Southerner side appears to be represented by the Unionist Coalition, led by Ms. Jane Hunter, a Wichita lawyer and political activist, whereas the Kansas Frémonter side appears to be organized in the "Commonwealth Movement", led by Mr. Henry "Hank" Secord, a Topeka doctor and political activist. Ms. Hunter and Mr. Secord have become something of a local media and online sensation on account of their fiery defense either for the present status of Kansas or its inclusion on the Commonwealth, often to the point of hyperbolic attacks on each group.

Polls have proven unreliable in terms of measuring the relative popularity of both camps, leading to conflicting analysis from political observers ranging from suggestions that the state could be evenly split, to those that argue either the Coalition or the Movement have a strong silent majority. With open campaigning by national and regional politicians set to start soon, many residents are fearful the campaign could further increase the already high levels of tension, and or lead to a repeat of the "Liberal Riots". Already there are rumours of Pro-South and Pro-Frémont militias starting to form within certain isolated communities, though many dismiss them as alarmist tales, or, more succinctly put, as "fake news."

NEWS UPDATE / STATE

New York faces electoral confusion
Citizens notice mistake in regional electoral law,
State set to elect almost three times more Senators than Representatives,
Local candidates petition regional government to address issue

ALBANY, New York - Having already successfully chosen a new Mayor of New York City, residents of New York City expected to join the rest of the voters across the state to choose a new Governor and State Legislature at the end of this month, only for an unexpected event to cast doubt on current electoral law. The mistake was first noticed by legislative staff, then rapidly brought to social media and eventually becoming a viral story after being shared by the new Federalist mayor of NYC: for unexplained reasons, the Lincoln Downballot Elections Act determined the state was to elect only 63 Representatives, against a total of 150 Senators.

This apparent error, if left standing by the time New Yorkers go to the polls, would result in the state having three times as many Senators than Representatives, a first for the nation. Although on by itself this situation does not place the election in any jeopardy, local candidates from several national parties - including two gubernatorial candidates - have petitioned Lincoln legislators to address this issue as fast as possible, in order to hold the election with a more sensible number of seats for each legislative chamber.
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« Reply #34 on: September 03, 2020, 11:46:42 PM »

Don't want to derail this thread, but all Lincoln legislative chamber numbers were copied exactly from IRL, so this shouldn't be causing mass chaos
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« Reply #35 on: September 04, 2020, 12:45:55 AM »

Don't want to derail this thread, but all Lincoln legislative chamber numbers were copied exactly from IRL, so this shouldn't be causing mass chaos

I can assure you, these are not the RL numbers.
viii. New York: 150 members of the State Senate and 63 members of the State House of Representatives
           

These are the RL numbers
viii. New York: 63 members of the State Senate and 150 members of the State House of Representatives
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« Reply #36 on: September 04, 2020, 12:47:25 AM »

Don't want to derail this thread, but all Lincoln legislative chamber numbers were copied exactly from IRL, so this shouldn't be causing mass chaos

I can assure you, these are not the RL numbers.
viii. New York: 150 members of the State Senate and 63 members of the State House of Representatives
           

These are the RL numbers
viii. New York: 63 members of the State Senate and 150 members of the State House of Representatives

Yeah I became aware that they were switched afterwards, and have an amendment to fix that (and some other minor fixes) on the floor, right now
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« Reply #37 on: September 04, 2020, 12:49:11 AM »

Don't want to derail this thread, but all Lincoln legislative chamber numbers were copied exactly from IRL, so this shouldn't be causing mass chaos

I can assure you, these are not the RL numbers.
viii. New York: 150 members of the State Senate and 63 members of the State House of Representatives
           

These are the RL numbers
viii. New York: 63 members of the State Senate and 150 members of the State House of Representatives

Yeah I became aware that they were switched afterwards, and have an amendment to fix that (and some other minor fixes) on the floor, right now

Yet you are shocked that having your legislative sizes reversed would cause mass chaos.
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« Reply #38 on: September 04, 2020, 12:51:44 AM »

Don't want to derail this thread, but all Lincoln legislative chamber numbers were copied exactly from IRL, so this shouldn't be causing mass chaos

I can assure you, these are not the RL numbers.
viii. New York: 150 members of the State Senate and 63 members of the State House of Representatives
           

These are the RL numbers
viii. New York: 63 members of the State Senate and 150 members of the State House of Representatives

Yeah I became aware that they were switched afterwards, and have an amendment to fix that (and some other minor fixes) on the floor, right now

Yet you are shocked that having your legislative sizes reversed would cause mass chaos.

Well I was shocked, because I didn't realize they were reversed at first, I thought instead the issue that the NY Senate was too small, so I spent like 20 minutes crunching numbers to figure out if there was a geographic bias and then someone alerted me, that that wasn't the issue, but the issue was that the numbers were switched.
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« Reply #39 on: September 04, 2020, 04:44:45 AM »

Don't want to derail this thread, but all Lincoln legislative chamber numbers were copied exactly from IRL, so this shouldn't be causing mass chaos

I can assure you, these are not the RL numbers.
viii. New York: 150 members of the State Senate and 63 members of the State House of Representatives
           

These are the RL numbers
viii. New York: 63 members of the State Senate and 150 members of the State House of Representatives

Yeah I became aware that they were switched afterwards, and have an amendment to fix that (and some other minor fixes) on the floor, right now

Yet you are shocked that having your legislative sizes reversed would cause mass chaos.

In fairness reversed legislature sizes, while rare, are not unheard of.

The UK is a decent example, where the House of Lords is larger than the House of Commons. Although it is a very different political system
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« Reply #40 on: September 04, 2020, 05:07:20 AM »

Don't want to derail this thread, but all Lincoln legislative chamber numbers were copied exactly from IRL, so this shouldn't be causing mass chaos

I can assure you, these are not the RL numbers.
viii. New York: 150 members of the State Senate and 63 members of the State House of Representatives
            

These are the RL numbers
viii. New York: 63 members of the State Senate and 150 members of the State House of Representatives

Yeah I became aware that they were switched afterwards, and have an amendment to fix that (and some other minor fixes) on the floor, right now

Yet you are shocked that having your legislative sizes reversed would cause mass chaos.

In fairness reversed legislature sizes, while rare, are not unheard of.

The UK is a decent example, where the House of Lords is larger than the House of Commons. Although it is a very different political system

No. I am fairly sure the UK House of Lords is the only example in the world (among national parliaments).

And of course the UK House of Lords is not fixedly larger than the House of Commons. It just so happens that right now there are enough life peers to bring the total over the size of the Commons.
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« Reply #41 on: September 27, 2020, 06:34:30 PM »

On the sixteenth year since the founding of the REPUBLIC,
under the Presidency of Pericles and the Vice Presidency of MB

NEWS UPDATE / ELECTORAL

Atlasia Elects: September 2020
Federalists launch successful offensive, capture several states,
Labor triumphs in Fremont amidst employment gains, but continues to be outgunned,
DA recedes from August success, but still performs strongly,
Liberals gain further strength, are only narrowly prevented from a surge,
Green Party officeholders defect to Labor, Liberals and DA

Executives:

Party   Governors
Labor Party12 (+3)
Federalist Party10 (+5)
Democratic Alliance7 (+2)

Party   Mayors
Federalist Party1
Democratic Alliance1
Labor Party1 (+1)

State Legislators:

Party/Alliance   Seats
Labor Party/Allies2071 (+491)
Federalist Party1263 (+553)
Democratic Alliance/Allies1111 (+272)
Liberal Party272 (+124)
Dixieland Patriots Party22 (+20)
Green Party20 (-88)
Peace Party16 (=)
Law and Justice Party1 (=)

NYMAN, Atlasia – Featuring high turnout and participation – though particularly focused on a handful of states -, this month’s local and state elections saw Atlasians from eleven different states voting after a particularly contentious month, which featured new records in terms of campaigning and sustained partisan momentum, coupled with the virtual collapse of one of the nation’s largest parties and the defection of almost its entire officeholder corps.

Coming from disappointing results in July and a last minute push in August, the Federalist Party experienced a triumph last night which arguably matched – some say surpassed - the DA breakthrough of August. Perhaps the most decisive factors in the Federalist surge were the combination of sustained efforts across the campaigning period combined with an unprecedented diversity of campaigners, featuring members from different backgrounds and wings of the party. Avoiding for the most part major gaffes – despite specific missteps in areas like Los Angeles or Massachusetts -, the Federalists combined a strong economic and domestic push with a skillful display of ideological diversity (involving different pitches in different states, some more successful than others) and launched particularly successful assaults in places like Iowa, West Virginia and New York. A special mention goes to an unprecedented team effort in North Carolina which saw the state flooded with events, turning a competitive state into a Federalist stronghold.

The Labor Party had an arguably disappointing night in that competitive states slipped from their grasp and some areas saw pronounced losses, but at the same time it both successfully absorbed most of the Green Party base and scored triumphant landslides in Idaho and North Dakota thanks to the active effort of the Fremont Laborites. Despite being strengthened due to a substantial drop in the unemployment rate and the avoidance of campaign missteps, most political scientists agree Labor was once again outgunned in the battlegrounds, the combination of enemy momentum and wounds from previous attacks maximizing their losses. Having chosen to execute a mostly last minute offensive, Labor also made a skillful use of ideological diversity and was able to harm the Democratic Alliance, though attacks on the Federalists were buried under their momentum avalanche. All in all, some experts see future signs of hope in the relative effectiveness of Labor efforts when they were able to sustain an equally active effort.

In comparison, the Democratic Alliance also had a mixed night in that they were unable to repeat their August performance, but still achieved significant success by capturing the Kansas state government on a pro-South platform (the state featuring a surprising absence of pro-Fremont pitches), securing the Virgin Islands and coming close to taking the Los Angeles mayoralty through RCV. Observers agreed that, despite Labor – and particularly First Minister Truman – drawing blood, the DA’s use of advertising continued to be effective and the decision to field their presidential candidate on the campaign trail proved helpful, but other strategic decisions – such as heavy investment in North Carolina – ultimately fell short against the Federalist onslaught. Despite being unable to win a state, the Liberal Party was generally agreed to be the most improved challenger alongside the Federalist Party. A shift towards the use of more specific and somewhat traditional issues was believed to have paid off for party leader Poirot and the new Liberal members, who achieved limited success in appealing to former Green voters, made a particularly successful push in New York – observers on the ground believe they could have won the state were it not for the sheer amount of Federalist campaigning -, and generally ensured both Federalist and particularly DA gains were limited in a number of states due to their own substantial momentum.

The epilogue of the campaign was provided by the demise of the Green Party, which while still technically existing essentially ceased to function as a campaign unit. With the controversial means of its demise becoming a relevant campaign theme for some parties – attacks on Labor being less successful than some opposition activists expected -, efforts were deployed to seduce the 108 elected representatives of the party to defect. In the end 88 of them did so during the course of the month, with Labor capturing the lion’s share of defectors with 61. The Liberals secured 18 of them, and the Democratic Alliance closed the list with 9 defections. The remainder 20 Green Party representatives – all Fremonters - have chosen to remain in the party for the time being, in the unlikely hope that their previously relevant party will be able to survive. When pressed for comment, 28-year old Arianne Wyzgowski – Green MP for California and one of the few members of her caucus not to defect – puzzled reporters by briefly singing:

“It all returns to nothing,
It all comes
Tumbling down,
Tumbling down
Tumbling down…”

Next month voters will go to the polls on Utah, Montana, Wyoming, Kentucky, Missouri, Texas, Vermont, New Jersey, Guam, and the city of San Francisco.

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« Reply #42 on: September 28, 2020, 02:42:44 PM »

October's map:



(plus Guam and San Francisco)
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« Reply #43 on: October 05, 2020, 10:57:23 PM »

On the sixteenth year since the founding of the REPUBLIC,
under the Presidency of Pericles and the Vice Presidency of MB

REPORT / POLICY

INFOWARS.COM PRISON PLANET.COM Act
A report on current legislative effects of the bill (2020)
Directed to the House of Representatives

EFFECTS OF THE BILL:

Originally passed in 2018, the INFOWARS.COM PRISON PLANET.COM Act is currently the subject of debate in the House of Representatives on account of its repeal - partial or full - being proposed. It is projected by the Pontifex Maximus that the current effects of the bill are as follows:

FLAG RESTRICTIONS: Current restrictions on displaying Atlasian flags if they have decorative fringes in a court of law - among other spaces - have been bitterly resented by supporters of the so-called tax protester conspiracy, who have long maintain the existence of a loophole due to the presence of such flags (which would restrict court jurisdiction by turning them into an "Admiralty Court"). A number of law officers have described the current restriction as frivolous, and further attempts to deploy the "Admiralty Court" argument have not been attempted since the law came into effect.

BLACK HELICOPTERS: Restrictions on the use of aircraft with cell-site simulators through the usage of federal funds has been bitterly resented by a number of law enforcement agencies within the Republic of Atlasia, which contend the restriction deprives from a "vital tool" to gather key intelligence. Although protests have been muted due to the need of secrecy, the measure is reported to be the source of frustration within parts of the FBI and NSA.

THIOMERSAL: Current prohibitions on the use of Thiomersal as a vaccine preservative continue to be heavily criticized by a large number of medical organizations, which contend current criticism of Thiomersal to be "fear mongering". Conversely, a number of organizations - some of which belong to the anti vax movement - celebrate the current restrictions as a triumph against a preservative they consider to cause autism. Although the Atlasian medical system has been able to cope with the elimination of Thiomersal, medical professionals argue current restrictions are harmful to vaccine development, and hit
undeveloped nations particularly hard.

FLUORIDE: Current restrictions on the use of fluoride in drinking water - in the order of 1.5mg/L (1.5 ppm) - have somewhat decreased its use in certain isolated areas, whereas most of Atlasia was already abiding by somewhat smaller proportions of fluoride use, in the order of 0,7 to 1,2mg/L. There have been complaints from members of the water industry that the specific restriction is held as a symbol of conspiracy theories surrounding fluoride, counter by arguments from medical professionals that argue the limit is both sensible and in light with recommendations.

EXTRATERRESTRIAL AUTOPSIES: Current regulations surrounding a prohibition to conduct autopsies on extraterrestrial lifeforms have been acknowledged and noted by government agencies, which nonetheless contend no such autopsies have been conducted in the past. This is currently the subject of jokes within NASA and other agencies dealing with space-related matters, though a number of papers have been written within the federal government suggesting such a regulation would prove counterproductive in the event of an extraterrestrial eventuality.

KENNEDY ASSASSINATION: The order to release current files surrounding the assassination of John F. Kennedy led to a scramble within the National Archives and Record Administration, which was forced to work overtime within limited time to try and release thousands of outstanding files. It was stated by NARA that all records had in all likelihood been released in spite of the enormous difficulty involved in their massive release, but it left the door open to mistakes in their release on account of the "unreasonable schedule" imposed by Congress. This, in turn, has led conspiracy theorists to argue that some files may yet be unreleased. The release of the files - thought to be against strident opposition from the CIA and FBI - was followed by a long period of review from interested people, and has been the source of persistent embarrassment for both government agencies despite many of the documents being heavily edited to protect the names of current living individuals.

Among other things, documents have shed light on extensive CIA operations in Mexico, Guatemala and Cuba; as well as a number of violent or dark Cold War operations conducted by the Eisenhower, Kennedy and Johnson Administrations; a lack of coordination between government agencies regarding investigations and follow-ups on Lee Harvey Oswald before the President's assassination (suggesting he slipped through bureaucratic cracks); withholding of evidence to the Warren Commission and the United States House Select Committee on Assassinations from the CIA to protect covert operations, and from the FBI to cover-up a number of bureaucratic mistakes regarding Oswald and the immediate aftermath of the assassination; regarding the network of anti-communist Cuban exiles in Cuba and their own networks within the island; and regarding the links between organized crime and the US intelligence apparatus in terms of failed assassination attempts on Fidel Castro.

This, in turn, has divided Kennedy assassination experts in two camps: those described more on board with "conspiracy theories" continue to allege a large-scale joint FBI and CIA cover-up regarding the involvement of intelligence officers in a conspiracy to assassinate Kennedy; whereas those critical of said conspiracies assert the documents prove Oswald acted alone, but that intelligence and government agencies were both incompetent and attempted to cover-up said incompetence.

ANNEX - ORIGINAL TEXT:

Quote
Act of Congress

To stop martial law and the new world order.

Be it enacted by the Congress of the Republic of Atlasia assembled
Quote

SECTION I: TITLE

1. This law shall be referred to as the INFOWARS.COM_PRISONPLANET.COM Act.

II: CRUSHING THE NEW WORLD ORDER

1. It shall be expressly prohibited for Atlasian Flag to be displayed in any federal court, or during any federal administrative hearing, tribunal, or arbitration, if that Atlasian Flag has been adorned by decorative fringe.

2. No federal monies shall be appropriated or expended for the purpose of flying black helicopters or other aircraft with a cell-site simulator for the purposes of collecting private data. Any unspent federal monies appropriated for the above purpose is hereby rescinded.

III: PROTECTING HEALTH

1. The addition of Thimerosal as a preservative in any vaccine subject to federal regulation is hereby prohibited. 21 C.F.R. 610.15(a) shall be amended accordingly.

2. The maximum allowable level of fluoride allowed in drinking water subject to federal regulation shall be reduced to 1.5mg/L (1.5 ppm). 40 C.F.R. 141 shall be amended accordingly.

IV: PROMOTING SCIENCE AND UNCOVERING THE TRUTH

1. No federal monies shall be appropriated or expended for the purpose of conducting autopsies or vivisections of extraterrestrial lifeforms. Any unspent federal monies appropriated for the above purpose is hereby rescinded.

2. By December 31, 2018, the National Archives and Record Administration shall certify that all files and records pertaining to the investigation of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy have been publicly released.  

SECTION V: EFFECTIVE DATE

1. This act shall take effect immediately. No lawsuit to enforce the provisions of the law shall be justiciable in any federal or Regional court until 90 days after this law takes effect.
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« Reply #44 on: October 12, 2020, 09:21:55 PM »

On the sixteenth year since the founding of the REPUBLIC,
under the Presidency of Pericles and the Vice Presidency of MB

NEWS UPDATE / INTERNATIONAL

War in the Caucasus!
Azerbaijan invades Artsakh and Armenia, restarts Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,
Death toll believed to be in the thousands, propaganda war obscures actual developments,
Turkey threatens NATO withdrawal, is seen to be supporting Azerbaijan

BAKU, Azerbaijan - Four years after the most recent - and short lived - war, armed conflict has once again returned to the Caucasus as of early October, the long term rivalry between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the Armenian-majority and self-proclaimed Republic of Artaskh (also known as Nagorno-Karabakh, currently not recognized by most of the world) one again becoming hot as the Azerbaijani military crossed the Artaskh border on October 10th and started shelling and bombing Stepanakert, the enemy capital. This has been followed by substantial mountain clashes between the Azerbaijani military and the forces of Armenia and Artsakh, the former's advance being allegedly facilitated through the indiscriminate use of high-tech drone attacks.

Both sides have been quick to spin the current situation in terms of its origins and present events, making it difficult for international observers to accurately judge the state of the conflict. Whereas Azerbaijan asserts that the blame rests on an Armenian attack and further acts of provocation, as well as a major success from its military on "liberating" increasingly large parts of the region, Armenia and Artaskh insist the enemy offensive was both calculated and unprovoked, and that it has been contained after crippling enemy casualties. The conflict is already being considered to be a "proxy war" of sorts in light of the rapidly changing situation in the Middle East, with reports of increasing Russian interest on supporting Armenia, and more decisively, reports of massive aid given to Azerbaijan from the Republic of Turkey.

Indeed, the Turkish government has been significantly active since the start of the crisis, condemning "Armenian aggression" calling for their evacuation of the contested territories and accusing them of harboring "Kurdish terrorists". Additionally, President Erdogan has taken advantage of his latest speech on Armenia to touch the subject of Turkish-Atlasian relations, already heavily strained due to past diplomatic crisis and Turkish accusations of Atlasian support for a failed 2016 coup. Citing the latest resolution by the Atlasian Senate to recognize the Armenian genocide an "outrageous and worthless act of hostility", President Erdogan has doubled down on his past criticisms of Atlasian foreign policy, and has once again threatened to follow the example once set by General de Gaulle's France and unilaterally withdraw from NATO.

NEWS UPDATE / INTERNATIONAL

Paflagonian crisis deepens
Paflagonian Unity consolidates, vows to form alternate government,
PU-led general strike paralyzes the nation,
Despite fiery rhetoric, Von Kummerspeck perceived as being on the ropes

WÜRSTBURG, Paflagonia - Six weeks after the start of mass protests against the continued rule of President Adolf Von Kummerspeck - citing, among other reasons, electoral fraud, mismanagement of the pandemic and authoritarian rule -, harsh repression tactics have thus far proved unsuccessful in crushing the large opposition movement, thus leading to significant uncertainty and speculation concerning the future of the small European country. The formation of the opposition coalition "Paflagonian Unity" (PU) in early September was widely perceived to have provided the protests with an increasingly organized political structure behind them, enabling the daily marches to be replaced with a full blown general strike supported by a majority of Paflagonia's largest unions.

Although the uneasy combination of ideologically and socially diverse individuals within the PU has caused problems of its own, its leading figures have been strengthen by the apparent unwillingness of the government to attempt their arrest, which many observers read as a clear sign of weakness from the Kummerspeck government. For his own part, the Field Marshal has given almost daily speeches - televised and with pro-government crowds - denouncing the opposition and lobbying various charges of treason, criminal behavior and even immorality against its leaders. Despite his constant warnings that the general strike can only end in tragedy, von Kummerspeck has only been able to rely on police and security forces, the Paflagonian military seemingly reluctant to intervene up to this point. However, repeated efforts by retired Colonel Wolfgang Zeller, one of the leading UP members, don't appear to have secured actual military support for the opposition.

The most significant development of the last couple of weeks took place during the weekend - in the aftermath of harsh sanctions from the EU against Paflagonia -, as the PU leadership has stepped up its rhetoric to argue their demanded transitional government must be formed regardless of what von Kummerspeck does. Indeed, European newspapers report that opposition leaders are engaging both in domestic talks to select an Acting President - as opposition symbol Conchita Schicklgruber remains imprisoned - and in foreign talks to sound out the willingness of European neighbors to recognize such a transitional government, in the hopes foreign recognition might finally bring the military on board. In the meantime, chants concerning foreign nations can be heard at almost every protest, with interviewed protesters urging other nations "not to allow another Hong Kong".

NEWS UPDATE / NATIONAL

TikTok app under fire
As popular Chinese social network app reaches 50 million Atlasian users,
Law enforcement and security experts warn of credible threat to national security,
App already banned in India, Japan and both Koreas, sparking debate over its future

NYMAN, Atlasia - Originally launched by ByteDance Ltd. into the Chinese market on 2016 and across most of the world in 2017 - on the eve of the Korean conflicts -, social network app TikTok rapidly gained popularity among younger users on account of its flexibility and direct connection to countless viral moments and trends, leading to increasing numbers of popular creators and attracting several well-known celebrities. Although its introduction of Atlasia was greatly delayed due to the North Korean Civil War, the signing of the armistice allowed for its entry and exponential expansion into the country on early 2019, to the point in which after a year and a half, and despite being a source of derision in certain corners, a record 50 million Atlasians are currently believed to be using the app on a monthly basis to check or upload short videos.

This unprecedented global success, however, has not come without serious controversy. Already a number of human rights activists had charged the app was intentionally censoring content critical of Beijing and the Chinese Communist Party, including current repressive efforts in Xinjiang, Hong Kong an Shanghai. This concern, however, has been overshadowed though the second half of 2020 on account of several experts in law enforcement, security and intelligence in most of the developed world accusing the TikTok app of being an actual "threat to national and international security". Citing the dependence of Chinese companies on Beijing on a number of matters, different experts have accused ByteDance both of censorship as well as sharing private user data with the Chinese government, as well as potential espionage.

ByteDance, in turn, has actively criticized these accusations and defended its record as an independent entity, but only with limited success. In a heavy blow to the company, the Indian government banned TikTok several weeks ago citing its potential security risks, a move which was followed only last week by South Korea, North Korea and Japan, all of which are reported to be extremely wary of Chinese espionage following the aftermath of the North Korean Civil War. This, in turn, has led commentators within Atlasia to wonder what route should be taken concerning the app. Amidst discussions on whether the Justice Department could or should investigate and/or ban the app, detractors of TikTok have doubled down on the security and censorship charges, whereas its defenders - including a disproportionate number of young Atlasians - condemn the idea of a ban as an attack on freedom of speech.
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« Reply #45 on: October 17, 2020, 02:08:59 PM »

There will be a foreign elections special tomorrow, concerning elections in Bolivia (President + Congress), Venezuela (President + Congress) and New Zealand (General Election). Reminder that New Zealand and Bolivia are taking place as scheduled in OTL - although results may or may not be different - and Venezuela is taking place on a significantly different context (see earlier updates). If anyone is interested in a specific result or aspect to be covered tomorrow, do let me know!
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« Reply #46 on: November 07, 2020, 07:54:17 PM »

CLARIFICATION / REGIONAL

Flag of Georgia

For clarification and having taken into account context, it is ruled the current flag of the state of Georgia is the one established in 2003.
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« Reply #47 on: November 11, 2020, 12:26:02 AM »

On the sixteenth year since the founding of the REPUBLIC,
under the Presidency of MB and the Vice Presidency of Ted Bessell

NEWS UPDATE / ELECTORAL

Atlasia Elects: October 2020
Labor stages comeback, benefits from presidential coattails,
Federalists narrowly lose ground in the South, but remain main opposition,
Liberals continue to overperform, gain their first governorship,
Peace surprises with strong campaign, also benefits from Labor pact,
DA behind due to limited efforts, aided by RCV in Lincoln

Executives:

Party   Governors
Labor Party16 (+4)
Federalist Party12 (+2)
Democratic Alliance8 (+1)
Liberal Party1 (+1)
Peace Party1 (+1)

Party   Mayors
Labor Party2 (+1)
Federalist Party1
Democratic Alliance1

State Legislators:

Party/Alliance   Seats
Labor Party/Allies2454 (+383)
Federalist Party1620 (+357)
Democratic Alliance/Allies1256 (+145)
Liberal Party400 (+128)
Peace Party93 (+77)
Dixieland Patriots Party22 (=)
Green Party20 (=)
Law and Justice Party1 (=)

NYMAN, Atlasia – Featuring somewhat decreased turnout - while still higher than in July or August -, this month’s local and state elections saw Atlasians from ten different states voting after a particularly intense month of campaigning, voters going to the polls one week after the October 2020 Presidential Election and the victory of the Labor ticket against the joint DA/Federalist opposition effort.

This month observers agreed Labor had finally managed to win the cycle after delivering increasingly strong performances over the past couple of months, maintaining their near impenetrable hold over Fremont and, crucially, capturing the battleground of Texas following an exhaustive effort in which party officials "threw the kitchen sink" at the crucial state. It is believed Labor's efforts were significantly aided both due to momentum gained after the presidential victory and due to pacts with the rising Peace Party, amplifying the effect of their campaigning against a consistently divided opposition. Choosing the controversy over the High Speed Rail as their key weapon to bludgeon the opposition and multiplying the number of events held by their officerholders, Labor was able to inflict significant damage on the Federalists and the Democratic Alliance, another important factor in their overall victory. However, there were signs of trouble for the future, exemplified by a surprise defeat in New Jersey (credited to the introduction of regional RCV), the backfiring of a couple of ads, and particularly an excessive concentration of campaigning on the last day, which was left by many to be something of a waste.

Conversely, it was now time for the Federalist Party to be outgunned on a number of battlegrounds, only managing to defend Kentucky and narrowly seize Vermont - due to RCV - against the Liberals in another surprise result. It was generally argued that the Federalist campaign itself was for the most part competent in terms of its overall pitch - including a relatively clever focus on specific grpup of voters -, in spite of a number of gaffes which may have muddled their economic message up to a point. However, they both sustained consistent fire from the Labor-Peace effort and were overwhelmed in both battlegrounds of Missouri and Texas, which were only lost by very narrow margins. For their own part, the Democratic Alliance was bolstered by Ninja's performance in the presidential election, but their very limited campaigning - smartly focused on local issues - and sustained enemy attacks ensured further loss of electoral ground in a number of states. However, the introduction of RCV proved to be a blessing, as a consolidation of the anti-Labor vote (and a number of missteps by Labor) helped the DA secure the NJ Governorship.

This, in turn, left the Liberals and particularly the Peace Party as the more successful challengers, the first repeating and expanding on previously strong performances and the second matching, in a way, the quality of effort shown by the Democratic Alliance in their previous August breakthough. Although there was a perception of controversial choices in the Liberal campaign - their San Francisco pitch won the ire of NIMBY voters despite gaining others, and the repeat of a Labor-made anti-Federalist ad in order to criticize it actually expanded its negative effect -, observers were impressed by the Liberal success in choosing smart state issues in which to run, which had a clear impact on their success in Fremont and the capture of the Guam governorship. For their part, the Peace Party ended months of absence on the campaign trail with a vengeance, displaying a clear talent in terms of positive and negative advertising as well as an ability to stay on message to persuade both left-wing and infrequent voters. The combination of a strong campaign - which managed to overcome effective Federalist attacks - with electoral arrangements with Labor narrowly won them the Missouri governorship on the first try, an accomplishment they could well repeat.

Next month voters will go to the polls on New Mexico, Hawaii, Nebraska, Louisiana, Florida, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Maine, the Northern Marianas, and the city of Chicago.

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« Reply #48 on: November 11, 2020, 09:32:55 AM »
« Edited: November 11, 2020, 01:16:12 PM by Scott🍁 »

November's map:



+Northern Marianas and Chicago
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« Reply #49 on: November 11, 2020, 10:06:36 AM »

(ftr guam should be colored in liberal blue)
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