LIBERTARIAN VICTORY IN NEUSTERN ELECTION

(Above) NEUSTERN POLL DATA(2011)

General elections have taken place in the autonomous coastal city state of Neustern. After 27 years dominating the political scene, The National Comrades Party (NCP) have lost their majority in parliment and will not form the next government. The NCP won just 38% of the popular vote, their worst result since the foundation of the state in 1983. Due to the expanding population: the total number of seats in Neustern's parliment was increased for this election from 117 to 200. The NCP's 38% translates into 72 of these seats. Massive gains for the Libertarian Party of Neustern (LPN). The newly formed LPN polled 58%, giving them 116 seats and a stunning overall majority. The LPN fought the election on a four principal platform: personal freedom, property rights, small government and a defencive foreign policy. Other parties fared as follows: Workers Party (WP) 2%/4 seats. Conservative Party (CP) 1%/2 seats. Liberal Party of Neustern incorperating the Gay, Lesbian, Feminist and Liberal Alliance (NPNGLFLA) >1%/2 seats. The Libertarian Party are expected to form a government within the next 24 hours.

Aswell as the election, Neusterners voted on in a very important referendum today. Citizens were asked if the Supreme Controller should remain head of state and guardian of the peace indefinately. The role of Supreme Controller was created as a position for life in 1983. The office marginally exceeds the authority of the elected government when it comes to the dispensation of power. The current Supreme Controller, (who's name before assuming the title has passed out of national memory) is the founder and leader of the National Comrades Party. The referendum was passed by a 99.8% majority.

Gary Farrelly, Neustern.

AUTOCRACY VS. LIBERTARIANISM IN NEUSTERN

(Above) PROGRESS OF THE PARTIES, Gary Farrelly, Neustern.


An opinion poll commissioned by this publication indicates that a new opposition party has 30% popular support in the autonomous coastal city state of Neustern. The Libertarian Party of Neustern (NLP) was formed in May of this year and has steadily grown in popularity over the summer. 30% popularity is the highest recorded level of support for an opposition party in Neustern history and will be  seen a a direct challenge to the authority of the autocratic National Compades Party (NCP) who have ruled the state for almost three decades. The NCP has seen it's support slip by 9% to a historical low of 57%. The traditional token opposition parties have also shed support to the NLP: the conservatives, greens and workers have slipped a combined 19% and now stand at 3%, 3% and 5% respectively. Neustern has been governed by the NCP since the state was founded in 1983. NCP rule has been characterized by significant state intervention in the economic and social life of the state and comparatively high standards of living. The NLP propose a smaller government, personal freedoms, reinforced property rights and private sector innovation. The NLP have already obtained 61,000 of the 100,000 signatures necessary to force a general election. Sources at the NCP say that they take these developments very seriously and are formulating a plan of action to reinvigorate their support. 

(Above) OPINION POLLS, Gary Farrelly, Neustern.

NEUSTERN ELECTION SPELLS END FOR OPPOSITION

(Above)Gary Farrelly, NEUSTERN ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS/ VOTING PATTERNS(2011)

The first ever democratic elections to be held in the Autonomous Coastal City-state of Neustern have taken place. 603 candidates from four political parties contested the 117 seats across 17 constituencies. Several minor political groupings as well as independent candidates also presented themselves on the ballot paper. The previously undisputed ruler of Neustern, known as The Supreme Controller called for elections after several foreign observers noted that the country was “without doubt the least free and most despotic political arrangement to be found anywhere on earth” International observers were not permitted to enter Neustern to monitor election proceedings. The Supreme Controller’s own National Comrades Party (NCP) won 74 seats in the ballot. Independent and officially unaligned candidates (sworn loyal to The Supreme Controller ) took an additional six seats in the Supreme Assembly (parliament). This gives the Supreme Controller a 68% majority which guarantees that his legal and constitutional whims will be facilitated without opposition. Other parties made the following seat gains: Conservative Party (CP): 16 seats - 14%. Workers Party(WP): 14 seats - 12%. Liberal Green Party/ incorporating gays, feminists and ecologists (LGP): 7 seats - 6%. The National Comrades Party contested the election with a manifesto pledging to maintain the robust sovereignty, prosperity and law and order that Neustern has built its reputation upon. Also pledges was the disbanding of all opposition parties, a promise that NCP headquarters says is at the top of their priority list going in to government.

Gary Farrelly, Neustern.