Eternity RPC Board
10-07-2018, 08:51 PM
Background
The Keszarian political system entered in crisis only after a decade after the transition to democracy. This allowed libertarian businessman Nándor Dohnányi-Persbrandt to be elected president as an independent candidate in 1574. However, the 1576 financial crisis damaged considerably the popularity and stability of his government, with anti-establisment parties such as the far-right National People’s Party and the Communist Party gaining support in the next elections.
Álmos Vaszary, who was President of the Keszarian Republic from 1569 to 1574, was considered the forerunner in the 1579 presidential election, aiming to become the first democratic president to be elected twice in Keszarian history, as Keszarian constitution does not allow the president to serve two consecutive terms, but it does not establish a limitation of terms. However, Vaszary was surprisingly defeated by Géza Békésy, elected vice-president as a Civic Democratic Party candidate in 1574, and who had served as minister during Vaszary’s presidency. Álmos Vaszary was the most voted candidate in the first round, but Békésy was able to defeat his former party leader in a close campaign.
Békésy’s first term was successful but contradictory: he was a popular president, gaining support from both business circles and the main media groups; his economic policy was considered heterodox but his government was helped by a fast recovery from the financial crisis; on foreign policy, he was seen as openly populist and pragmatist at times, with a more strongly anti-Carpathian rhetoric while strengthening the alliances of Keszaria on the region. Békésy founded his own political party, the Keszarian Liberal Movement, which became the dominant political party while the opposition remained divided with the National People’s Party becoming the second most voted political party in the 1582 and 1586 parliamentary election.
Békésy’s attitude to their radical right political rivals could be either cynical or pragmatist: gaining their support in exchange of a few consessions (such as granting rights to ethnic Keszarians living in Carpathia), or presenting himself as the only alternative to the extremist National People’s Party. Békésy found an unlikely ally in Gyöngy Székély, who was elected vice-president as National People’s Party in 1579 (president and vicepresident are elected in simultaneous but separated vote). Several months before the 1584 election, Székély would leave the National People’s Party and founded her own political party, the National Democratic Party, causing a split in the far-right party.
She would be appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1584, and one year later, the National Democratic Party integrated into the Keszarian Liberal Movement.
In 1584, Béla Kertész, the candidate of the Keszarian Liberal Movement, was elected president. Kertész, a veteran politician, former member of the conservative Messanic Democratic Party who joined Békésy’s movement in early 1580. He was considered a more predictable politician although more conservative-leaning than Békésy, specially in social and religious issues. The government’s policies barely changed compared to Békésy’s presidency, except that the Sentric Church became more supportive to the government.
Géza Békezy, however, remained as president of the Keszarian Liberal Movement, although a honorary title, was considered to have a considerable influence on the national government. In 1587, Békézy was elected senator for Mágaszházý province, and his political role became more evident, often shadowing the president himself.
Géza Békésy won the 1589 presidential election in a landslide, becoming the second president -after Árpad Ormandy in 1559- to win the election without a need of a second round. During his second term, the Keszarian Liberal Movement’s dominance on all aspects of civil life became more obvious, with most all critical media either disappearing or being bought by businessmen close to the government, which gained more a more influence and power. In 1590, after the Keszarian Liberal Movement won the legislative election by a landslide, getting 204 of 299 Mps, the parliament enacted constitution changes, centralizing legislative and executive power, establishing the election president and vice-president in a single-ticket, and weakening the constitutional court and the judiciary system. Human rights organization alleged that his reforms curbed civil liberties and restricted freedom of speech, while his critics denounced him as “authoritarian leader”, who was even turning the country slowly into a “personal dictatorship”.
After 15 years of Keszarian Liberal Movement rule, the longest party rule since the end of communism in Keszaria, the 1594 presidential election was considered key for the survival of Keszarian democracy, which some people considered pretty much dead already. However, it was unlikely to be expected another result that a third presidential win for Géza Békésy, who did not seem to face a serious rival the months previous to the election.
The day of the election, on late Alvan, international observers found that although all competitors had access to the media, Békésy was given clear prominence. Strict candidate requirements, established only a few months before the election, also limited “genuine competition”, a Nylander NGO declared. Observers from the Hejdar Union concluded that voting on the day of the election was assessed positively overall, but the “process deteriorated during the vote count which was assessed negatively in almost two-fifth of polling stations observed due to procedural irregularities. Allegations were made as well that Békésy supporters had been driven around in coaches in order to vote for him in multiple constituencies. These practices wre documented by video monitoring systems installed on most voting stations.
Notwithstanding those claims, Géza Békésy was announced the winner of the election with a 56.1% percent of the vote, therefore not requiring a second round. Dorko Vörösz, the candidate of the Civic Democratic Party was second with 19.8%, while Árpád Meggyesfalvi, an independent candidate, was third at 14.2%, while Istzám Esterházy, the leader of the far-right National People’s Party obtained only 8.9%, the worst result in two decades.
Most of the opposition did not acknowledge the results of the election, and protests followed. On Alvan 27, approximately 12,000-18,000 protesters demonstrated in Köszövár. There were again more protests on inauguration day one month later, with estimated 15,000-20,000 protesters taking part only in the capital city. 500 arrests were made that night and another 200 arrests the following day.
The protests were not successful, but they seemed to have created the roots for a change in society. The next months witnessed an increase in activism, with people joining political organizations and the creation of a small online media outside the control of the government. Leaks about corruption by the ruling party further plumbered the popularity of the government just a few months before the 1594 legislative elections to be held on Ochtyr.
The Civic Democratic Party held talks with other political parties, and they agreed to come to the election on a joint electoral list, which would be named as the Democratic Alliance for Keszaria. Only the National People’s Party, the Communist Party and, obviously, the ruling Keszarian Liberal Movement, of all the elected political party at both local and national level, did not join the new opposition coalition. The opposition seemed to gain momentum, reducing the gap with Békésy’s party from 49-14% to 42-31% in the last polls.
Day 1
Protests began on the eve of the parliamentary election, held on Ochtyr 24, as the official count differed markedly from exit polls result which gave the Keszarian Liberal Movement only a 3% lead, while official results gave the election win to the ruling party by 18%. Civic Democratic Party officials publicised evidence of many incidents of alleged electoral fraud of the Keszarian Liberal Movement, witnessed by local and foreign observers, which were reinforced by similar claims during the Alvan presidential election.
Szabina Kecskeméti, candidate and speaker of the Democratic Alliance, openly called for protest on the dawn of election day, when allegations of fraud began to spread in the form of leaflets printed and distributed by the Messanic Youth, a small opposition group, announcing that the Keszarian Liberal Movement had lost its majority in the parliament on the basic of its exit poll.
Day 2
Protests started started in cities across Keszaria, the largest, in Köszövár, attracted at least 50,000 participants, who peacefully marched in front of the headquarters of the Keszarian Liberal Movement, ending the demonstration in front of the National Assembly, the Keszarian parliament.
The local council of Vízdél, the only main city where the Keszarian Liberal Movement lacked a majority in the local assembly, passed a symbolical refusal to accept the legitimacy of the official election results. A demonstration was called that day by the Civic Democratic Party in Vízdél, which attracted at least 20,000 participants.
In a interview on national television, Vice-President Deszö Kerekes denounce such moves as a “political provocation” and “urged the opposition to accept the democratic results of the legislative elections”.
The Keszarian political system entered in crisis only after a decade after the transition to democracy. This allowed libertarian businessman Nándor Dohnányi-Persbrandt to be elected president as an independent candidate in 1574. However, the 1576 financial crisis damaged considerably the popularity and stability of his government, with anti-establisment parties such as the far-right National People’s Party and the Communist Party gaining support in the next elections.
Álmos Vaszary, who was President of the Keszarian Republic from 1569 to 1574, was considered the forerunner in the 1579 presidential election, aiming to become the first democratic president to be elected twice in Keszarian history, as Keszarian constitution does not allow the president to serve two consecutive terms, but it does not establish a limitation of terms. However, Vaszary was surprisingly defeated by Géza Békésy, elected vice-president as a Civic Democratic Party candidate in 1574, and who had served as minister during Vaszary’s presidency. Álmos Vaszary was the most voted candidate in the first round, but Békésy was able to defeat his former party leader in a close campaign.
Békésy’s first term was successful but contradictory: he was a popular president, gaining support from both business circles and the main media groups; his economic policy was considered heterodox but his government was helped by a fast recovery from the financial crisis; on foreign policy, he was seen as openly populist and pragmatist at times, with a more strongly anti-Carpathian rhetoric while strengthening the alliances of Keszaria on the region. Békésy founded his own political party, the Keszarian Liberal Movement, which became the dominant political party while the opposition remained divided with the National People’s Party becoming the second most voted political party in the 1582 and 1586 parliamentary election.
Békésy’s attitude to their radical right political rivals could be either cynical or pragmatist: gaining their support in exchange of a few consessions (such as granting rights to ethnic Keszarians living in Carpathia), or presenting himself as the only alternative to the extremist National People’s Party. Békésy found an unlikely ally in Gyöngy Székély, who was elected vice-president as National People’s Party in 1579 (president and vicepresident are elected in simultaneous but separated vote). Several months before the 1584 election, Székély would leave the National People’s Party and founded her own political party, the National Democratic Party, causing a split in the far-right party.
She would be appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs in 1584, and one year later, the National Democratic Party integrated into the Keszarian Liberal Movement.
In 1584, Béla Kertész, the candidate of the Keszarian Liberal Movement, was elected president. Kertész, a veteran politician, former member of the conservative Messanic Democratic Party who joined Békésy’s movement in early 1580. He was considered a more predictable politician although more conservative-leaning than Békésy, specially in social and religious issues. The government’s policies barely changed compared to Békésy’s presidency, except that the Sentric Church became more supportive to the government.
Géza Békezy, however, remained as president of the Keszarian Liberal Movement, although a honorary title, was considered to have a considerable influence on the national government. In 1587, Békézy was elected senator for Mágaszházý province, and his political role became more evident, often shadowing the president himself.
Géza Békésy won the 1589 presidential election in a landslide, becoming the second president -after Árpad Ormandy in 1559- to win the election without a need of a second round. During his second term, the Keszarian Liberal Movement’s dominance on all aspects of civil life became more obvious, with most all critical media either disappearing or being bought by businessmen close to the government, which gained more a more influence and power. In 1590, after the Keszarian Liberal Movement won the legislative election by a landslide, getting 204 of 299 Mps, the parliament enacted constitution changes, centralizing legislative and executive power, establishing the election president and vice-president in a single-ticket, and weakening the constitutional court and the judiciary system. Human rights organization alleged that his reforms curbed civil liberties and restricted freedom of speech, while his critics denounced him as “authoritarian leader”, who was even turning the country slowly into a “personal dictatorship”.
After 15 years of Keszarian Liberal Movement rule, the longest party rule since the end of communism in Keszaria, the 1594 presidential election was considered key for the survival of Keszarian democracy, which some people considered pretty much dead already. However, it was unlikely to be expected another result that a third presidential win for Géza Békésy, who did not seem to face a serious rival the months previous to the election.
The day of the election, on late Alvan, international observers found that although all competitors had access to the media, Békésy was given clear prominence. Strict candidate requirements, established only a few months before the election, also limited “genuine competition”, a Nylander NGO declared. Observers from the Hejdar Union concluded that voting on the day of the election was assessed positively overall, but the “process deteriorated during the vote count which was assessed negatively in almost two-fifth of polling stations observed due to procedural irregularities. Allegations were made as well that Békésy supporters had been driven around in coaches in order to vote for him in multiple constituencies. These practices wre documented by video monitoring systems installed on most voting stations.
Notwithstanding those claims, Géza Békésy was announced the winner of the election with a 56.1% percent of the vote, therefore not requiring a second round. Dorko Vörösz, the candidate of the Civic Democratic Party was second with 19.8%, while Árpád Meggyesfalvi, an independent candidate, was third at 14.2%, while Istzám Esterházy, the leader of the far-right National People’s Party obtained only 8.9%, the worst result in two decades.
Most of the opposition did not acknowledge the results of the election, and protests followed. On Alvan 27, approximately 12,000-18,000 protesters demonstrated in Köszövár. There were again more protests on inauguration day one month later, with estimated 15,000-20,000 protesters taking part only in the capital city. 500 arrests were made that night and another 200 arrests the following day.
The protests were not successful, but they seemed to have created the roots for a change in society. The next months witnessed an increase in activism, with people joining political organizations and the creation of a small online media outside the control of the government. Leaks about corruption by the ruling party further plumbered the popularity of the government just a few months before the 1594 legislative elections to be held on Ochtyr.
The Civic Democratic Party held talks with other political parties, and they agreed to come to the election on a joint electoral list, which would be named as the Democratic Alliance for Keszaria. Only the National People’s Party, the Communist Party and, obviously, the ruling Keszarian Liberal Movement, of all the elected political party at both local and national level, did not join the new opposition coalition. The opposition seemed to gain momentum, reducing the gap with Békésy’s party from 49-14% to 42-31% in the last polls.
Day 1
Protests began on the eve of the parliamentary election, held on Ochtyr 24, as the official count differed markedly from exit polls result which gave the Keszarian Liberal Movement only a 3% lead, while official results gave the election win to the ruling party by 18%. Civic Democratic Party officials publicised evidence of many incidents of alleged electoral fraud of the Keszarian Liberal Movement, witnessed by local and foreign observers, which were reinforced by similar claims during the Alvan presidential election.
Szabina Kecskeméti, candidate and speaker of the Democratic Alliance, openly called for protest on the dawn of election day, when allegations of fraud began to spread in the form of leaflets printed and distributed by the Messanic Youth, a small opposition group, announcing that the Keszarian Liberal Movement had lost its majority in the parliament on the basic of its exit poll.
Day 2
Protests started started in cities across Keszaria, the largest, in Köszövár, attracted at least 50,000 participants, who peacefully marched in front of the headquarters of the Keszarian Liberal Movement, ending the demonstration in front of the National Assembly, the Keszarian parliament.
The local council of Vízdél, the only main city where the Keszarian Liberal Movement lacked a majority in the local assembly, passed a symbolical refusal to accept the legitimacy of the official election results. A demonstration was called that day by the Civic Democratic Party in Vízdél, which attracted at least 20,000 participants.
In a interview on national television, Vice-President Deszö Kerekes denounce such moves as a “political provocation” and “urged the opposition to accept the democratic results of the legislative elections”.