With the Mercian General Election being the talk of the nation, the Burnham Micropress’ very own ‘Micropressure’ column has returned, this time with a bumper edition of interviews with the Political Party Leaders of the three parties engaged in the General Election; Baron Shane Cahill of the National Liberal Party, Baron Callum Newton of the Humanist People’s Alliance, and Count James Frisch of the Würtige Unionist Party. Without further adieu, let us cut to the chase, and get to the interviews….
Baron Ó Cathail (National Liberal)
1 – What is the basic ideology of the National Liberal Party?
The National Liberal Party believes that if voters gives a party their vote, then that party should in government keep their promises and act as their voice when formulating policy. A party in government should also serve only the people of Mercia, and no other interests. Our core values are that traditional Mercian values should be kept rather than discarded for the sake of over-reforming society, and that we should as a nation take pride in ourselves and our achievements, that patriotism is nothing to be ashamed of. Ideologically, we are socially conservative and civic nationalist party.
2 – What pledges have the NLP made to voters, should they form a government in Mercia?
We pledge as a party to Mercian interests first in every decision we make. Domestically, we will begin to build and economy from scratch, by following the examples of other micronations and starting small cottage industries, encouraging entrepeneurs and emphasising small-scale agriculture and light industry. We would promote our cultural identity of our nation, by commissioning works of art, poetry and music from our nation’s talented artists. We would encourage regional cultural development in both Loringia and Clyro. In government we would ensure activity and progress. This would mean formalising parliamentary procedure, establishing more powers and regular meeting times for parliament, making nobles and subjects more active, and disennoble those who are inactive. Finally, we would make Mercia an example to other micronations in regard to environmental protection, by planting trees, encouraging recycling and keeping our regions clean.
3 – During the Mercian Leaders’ Debate, you defended the Mercian Christian Church as an institution connected to the state. What are your party’s justification for this, when this defence could lead to the isolation of non-Christian voters?
The Mercian Church is not part of the government or state as such, rather it is a vital cultural and religious institution. We should remember that most Mercians are themselves Christian, so the NLP will ensure the voice of the Christian majority is not thoroughly silenced in the way other parties want to exclude religious voices. from our society. We encourage cultural diversity, and religious diversity is a key part of this. In government we wouldn’t prioritise any one voice, and as we seek to represent all Mercians, it would be detrimental to isolate any citizen, especially non-Christians. However, the NLP will ensure that the Church retains its important position. The current set-up has served us well, and as I say, “if it isn’t broken then don’t fix it”.
4 – Should the NLP or the Humanist People’s Alliance not have enough seats to form a majority in the Mercian Parliament House, would a ‘National Unity’ coalition with them be a possible option to ensure the nation’s stability, despite your major social differences?
Firstly, I want to make it clear that the NLP is aiming for a majority in parliament, and we are fielding more candidates than any other party. The NLP is a very organised party, and is I feel handling the campaign very well, so a majority is quite an achievable goal for us. There are a number of groups running in this election, and the Humanist People’s Alliance is the most active out of them (as we saw from the attendance at the leader’s debate), and thus our main competitor in the election. Yes, we do, as you say, have major differences with regard social outlook and policy. However, as we saw in the debate there is much common ground between our two parties, in the areas of economic and environmental policy, and we can certainly come to agreement on immigration and our position in the Wurtige Empire. So if we were short a seat or two of a majority, we won’t rule out a deal with the HPA, but let me again reiterate the fact that we are aiming for a majority, and it is more than likely that will be the outcome in a fortnight.
5 – What is your party’s position on the Wuertige Unionist Party and Paco Velazquez, the National Socialist Independent Candidate, in regards to forming a government with them?
Let me firstly rule out any deal with any National Socialist candidate, as the differenced between our two parties are simply too great. I can scarcely comprehend the damage a coalition government with such radical and absurd members would do. We would at the very least be isolated by the micronational community. Secondly, I am not aware of the Wuertige Unionist Party’s views, as they have not been particularly active in this campaign. I guess from their name that their main policy is Mercia’s continued membership in the Wuertige Empire, and that is something supported by the NLP, although we demand greater reform, more activity in the central government and devolution on matters like regional currency. I know little of their policies otherwise, but since we agree on that issue I can’t rule out working with them. Once again, I am confident in saying the most likely outcome of this election is an NLP majority. We have the strongest, most wide ranging and effective policies, ones which are realistic and implementable and offer the best deal for Mercia.
My final message for the people of Mercia is to vote NLP this May, for a clear path to prosperity which won’t be damaged by ideological squabbling amongst the other fringe parties running in this election.
Baron Newton (Humanist Peoples’ Alliance)
1 – What is the basic ideology of the Humanist People’s Alliance?
We are a Social-Humanist party, but can be classified as Humanist or Socialist.
2 – What has the HPA pledged to voters, should they form a government in Mercia?
The HPA will pledge to secure the rights and freedoms for the people of Mercia from the oppression of religious and noble classes in Mercia by outlawing nobility and decreasing the authority and powers the Christian Church has on Mercian Government while not outlawing religion entirely. We respect everyone’s view, but want to keep democracy fair and equal for all.
3 – In the Mercian Leaders’ Debate, you presented your party as a secular, reformist party set on abolishing the Nobility, the Lordships and separating the Mercian Christian Church from the Mercian state? How do you justify your party’s stance on these matters?
Our party feels that the intertwine of Religion and Politics and skeptical and feel that, for the sake of fair democracy, that this should be split. The same goes for the nobility, in a sense, as they automatically get greater powers by way to jumping into parliament without hesitation while the, shall we say, “working class” do not have such rights. We feel our party represents democracy more than any one collective.
4 – The Diarchy of Lords in Mercia has ultimate legal supremacy in all parts of the Mercian state. How would your party going about challenging the Lords’ authorities should they form a government?
Our Party would pass legislation which attaches all powers to an elected government and show that democracy would overcome that of the Lord’s given power. It would show the people of Mercia of the corruption if this legislation was be to rejected by the Lords as just, and more or less rally more to our cause. I say again, we represent democracy.
5 – Would you form a ‘National Unity’ government with the National Liberal Party, in spite of your quite serious political differences on the position of the Nobility and the Church?
Our party would consider unity with any party willing to conform to a certain criteria, which would definitely include an act to take away an automatic Synod Representative to the cabinet as well as noble reforms to reduce the power of the nobility. This would be our basic requirement for any coalitions or alliances, and from there it’s really a case by case matter. Our party does have a lot in common with the National Liberal party and I feel we could work together well if that is what this election comes to.
Count Frisch (Würtige Unionist)
n.b: The official name of the party is the Würtige Unionist Party in Mercia. Note how on some occasions, ‘in Mercia’ is not stated – in these cases, we’re referring to the ideology of the Empire-wide group of parties.
1 – What is the basic ideology of the Wuertige Unionist Party?
The Würtige Unionist Party has two main aims: increasing activity within the Würtige Empire, achieved by the creation of a stronger and more active Würtige Parliament (and other associated bodies), and the encouragement of culture within the individual states in the Empire. This means that the Würtige Unionist Party in Mercia will work to develop and protect key parts of Mercian culture, including the Mercian Christian Church and Clyro’s Celtic influences.
2 – Your party does not have enough candidates to form a government alone in Mercia. What can the Unionists promise the Mercian electorate should they go into government with another political party?
The Würtige Unionist Party in Mercia will ensure that the following are put before the Cabinet in the creation of government policy. The rights of the Lords and Nobility will be protected by the party, as will the status of the Mercian Christian Church as a cultural and governmental institution. The party will also work to create items of Mercian culture, including a revisitation of the ideas of a national language, as a spiritual successor to the Prospekhi project from the days of the Confederate States of Prosperity, and a national currency. Above all, the Würtige Unionist Party in Mercia will work to promote activity within the state.
3 – Your party was not able to send a candidate to the Mercian Leaders’ Debate for technical reasons. Can you explain the Unionist stance on the Mercian Nobility and Church, which was a point of contention for the National Liberal Party and Humanist Peoples’ Alliance candidates?
The Würtige Unionist Party believes that monarchy is the lynchpin of activity within a micronation. Most other citizens have other primary preoccupations in either their own micronations or other parts of their life, and while they may or may not be able to contribute to Mercia, only the Lords will have one-hundred percent investment in the nation. Therefore, the Würtige Unionist Party in Mercia believes that the Lords’ powers must be protected. Following from that, we believe that Mercian citizens should be rewarded for how they do contribute to the Empire. Anyone willing to commit themselves to the project has earned the minimum of the right to vote and discuss how the nation develops, but those willing to be active legislators and work fully for the benefit of Mercia deserve a sort of ‘promotion’, and can be rewarded with a noble position. Mercia’s nobility are not a minority that can oppress the majority of citizens – Mercia is one of the few states in the world in which the nobility are a majority of citizens. The nobility pose no threat to Mercia, and work as a way to encourage and reward activity.
The Mercian Christian Church is a key cultural institution in Mercia. Mercia is fundamentally a Christian state, founded and driven by Christian values, and to remove Christian influences from the nation would invalidate Mercia’s culture. The Mercian Christian Church, and their representatives in Cabinet and Parliament is necessary to maintain these influences. The Würtige Unionist Party in Mercia will of course protect the right to freedom of religion, but to weaken the Church would be to weaken Mercia.
4 – In the Mercian Leaders’ Debate, the Humanist People’s Alliance candidate expressed a desire from his party to move away from the Wuertige Empire, with an independent currency and economy. What is your party’s position on distancing Mercia from the Imperial whole?
The Würtige Unionist Party’s stance on the Würtige Empire may not be immediately apparent, but we are strong supporters of the centralisation of the Würtige Empire. We believe that due to the low numbers of inactive people in each state, it would be best to relocate the point where activity is necessary to a single Empire-wide bicameral Parliament. Mercia’s interests would be represented in Parliament by one of the Lords acting as its a representative in the Reichsrat (one for each state), and seats in the Volkstag (apportioned based on population). In addition, no Imperial law may be passed that contradicts Mercian law may be passed without support of every member of the Reichsrat – including the Mercian delegate. Powers would be centralised to this new Parliament, but it would have the power to make exceptions on decisions where necessary – allowing Mercia to regain some of its powers in certain events.
The Würtige Unionist Party in Mercia does intend to revisit the idea of Clyran Sterling, a previous currency idea in Mercia, as a variation of the Würtige Mark. It is currently illegal for Mercia to use a currency not pegged to the Mark, and we do intend for the Mark and its variants to remain the primary currency of Mercia, though due to two Würtige states being located primarily in the United Kingdom, it may be worth considering reforming the Mark into a currency linked to Pound Sterling rather than the Brazilian Real; that, however, is a matter for the Imperial Council, or (we hope) the Würtige Parliament. No matter which currency Mercia uses, we also support the creation of an economy in the nation, however that may develop.
5 – Which of the two major parties would the Unionists prefer to go into government with, the National Liberal Party or the Humanist People’s Alliance?
The Würtige Unionist Party in Mercia does of course have certain differences of ideology with both parties, being the only party supporting centralisation. We also share similiarities of ideas for change, such as the development of currency and economy. Of the two major parties, though, I would suggest that the Würtige Unionist Party in Mercia govern alongside the National Liberal Party, as we share similar opinions concerning the role of the Church and the Nobility.
And there you have it folks, interviews with all the major Political Party Leaders of the Mercian General Election. Paco Velazquez, the National Socialist Independent Candidate (who we’ve interviewed before when he stood as the Party Leader of the Nollandish Fascist Front in the Tsardom of Nolland), could not be contacted in time before this column went to print. However, with the General Election hype reaching fever pitch, attracting both national and international news media attention, be sure to hear more about the election closer to voting week!
THE NOMINATION PERIOD FOR THE MERCIAN GENERAL ELECTION STARTS AT 00:00 GMT ON THE 18TH MAY, AND ENDS AT 00:00 ON THE 25TH MAY. AT THAT TIME, THE VOTING PERIOD FOR THE MERCIAN GENERAL ELECTION BEGINS, WITH POLLS CLOSING AT 00:00 ON THE 1ST JUNE.