Melda
Wannabe Psephologist
((Please note: Senator the Honourable Magnive has named his character Ernest Barnard. This applies retrospectively and I have updated all the electoral results / Senate posts accordingly. I thought I'd better mention this otherwise it could be confusing for people. 
))
Today's edition of the Haven Herald contained the following front page article:
Exclusive: PAU-PPP Coalition Government Formation Imminent
by Harland Godwin
It here follows:
Today's edition of the Haven Herald also contained the following article:
Earnest Earns Extra Electors, Expected to Engineer Executive: an interview with Senator Barnard
by Harland Godwin
It here follows:
))Today's edition of the Haven Herald contained the following front page article:
Exclusive: PAU-PPP Coalition Government Formation Imminent
by Harland Godwin
It here follows:
Spoiler :
In my interview with the leader of the Pulian Advancement Union (page 2), Senator the Honourable Ernest Barnard revealed the explosive news that next government of Pulias would be led by the Pulian Advancement Union in coalition with the Pulias People’s Party. He confirmed to me that the Pulias People’s Party was “a coalition partner” and that “they have been offered ministries, as is only natural,” he said.
The capital had been abuzz with rumours that the PPP was the most likely coalition partner for the PAU, based on their histories and policy compatibility, and some commentators saw it as all but confirmed when the PPP leader Senator Melda publicly backed the PAU Senator Heerlo’s bid for re-election as Prime Minister. But up until this point it was only speculation because anyone potentially involved in negotiations had remained tight-lipped, including when I interviewed Senator Melda in Haven of Peace recently.
Senator Barnard would not reveal the allocation of ministerial portfolios but did stipulate that his proposed ministerial reforms would be going ahead in some form, adjusting the concentration of responsibilities from the traditional four ministerial portfolios to a set of ten portfolios to prevent any one ministerial post from holding undue power and influence. Also included in the reforms is the introduction of the position of Deputy Prime Minister. The only indications we have as to who will receive which portfolios is that Senator Barnard will be holding responsibilities similar to his former role as interior minister under the Pulian government led by Senator Gurra in the First Senate.
As for what promises he had made to his erstwhile coalition partners, the Pulian People’s Party, he said “that should be clear once the government is finalized” but that they would be offered a variety of ministries “including, but not limited to, new ministries as part of my envisioned reform”. When asked about misgivings in the community and Senate about working with Senator Melda, specifically the appropriateness of his temperament as a member of government the Senator replied “I have nothing but confidence in Senator Melda”.
Finally, he commented on the rumours of leadership tensions between himself as leader of the party and Senator the Honourable Heerlo, as Prime Minister-Designate, by asserting his confidence in Senator Heerlo’s ability to govern the nation as Prime Minister, but did not rule out considering the possibility of taking on the position at some point in the future.
Based on what is known about Senator Barnard’s ministerial reforms and what has been indicated publicly so far, some speculation for a possible Cabinet makeup in the Second Heerlo ministry of the Third Senate is as follows:
And finally Pulias could see its first official Leader of the Opposition, which would presumably be Senator the Honourable Augustus unless the Pulian Imperial Party uses a similar leadership structure to the PAU, which I would consider unlikely, in which case it would be Senator Bazil.
A full account of my interview with Senator Barnard can be found on page 2.
The capital had been abuzz with rumours that the PPP was the most likely coalition partner for the PAU, based on their histories and policy compatibility, and some commentators saw it as all but confirmed when the PPP leader Senator Melda publicly backed the PAU Senator Heerlo’s bid for re-election as Prime Minister. But up until this point it was only speculation because anyone potentially involved in negotiations had remained tight-lipped, including when I interviewed Senator Melda in Haven of Peace recently.
Senator Barnard would not reveal the allocation of ministerial portfolios but did stipulate that his proposed ministerial reforms would be going ahead in some form, adjusting the concentration of responsibilities from the traditional four ministerial portfolios to a set of ten portfolios to prevent any one ministerial post from holding undue power and influence. Also included in the reforms is the introduction of the position of Deputy Prime Minister. The only indications we have as to who will receive which portfolios is that Senator Barnard will be holding responsibilities similar to his former role as interior minister under the Pulian government led by Senator Gurra in the First Senate.
As for what promises he had made to his erstwhile coalition partners, the Pulian People’s Party, he said “that should be clear once the government is finalized” but that they would be offered a variety of ministries “including, but not limited to, new ministries as part of my envisioned reform”. When asked about misgivings in the community and Senate about working with Senator Melda, specifically the appropriateness of his temperament as a member of government the Senator replied “I have nothing but confidence in Senator Melda”.
Finally, he commented on the rumours of leadership tensions between himself as leader of the party and Senator the Honourable Heerlo, as Prime Minister-Designate, by asserting his confidence in Senator Heerlo’s ability to govern the nation as Prime Minister, but did not rule out considering the possibility of taking on the position at some point in the future.
Based on what is known about Senator Barnard’s ministerial reforms and what has been indicated publicly so far, some speculation for a possible Cabinet makeup in the Second Heerlo ministry of the Third Senate is as follows:
- Prime Minister: Senator Heerlo, PAU
- Deputy Prime Minister: Presumably Senator Melda as leader of the PPP, unless this government follows the PAU’s established convention of the party leader leading the party not the nation in which case it would be Senator Gurra
- Minister of Foreign Relations: Could go either way, although the PPP campaigned hard on international relations
- Minister of Intelligence: Given that the PPP are considered by some to be more naïve about international conflict this could be a PAU Senator
- Minister of Infrastructure: Could be Senator Barnard, PAU given his comments
- Minister of Construction: Could be Senator Barnard, PAU given his comments
- Minister of Economy: As both parties made budgetary promises this could go either way
- Minister of Defence: As the PPP are avowed pacifists it would make the most sense for this to be a PAU Senator
- Minister of Culture: Presumably a PPP Senator as per Senator Barnard’s comments on the PPP possessing an emphasis on cultural outcomes
- Minister of Science: Both parties made scientific promises so it could go either way
And finally Pulias could see its first official Leader of the Opposition, which would presumably be Senator the Honourable Augustus unless the Pulian Imperial Party uses a similar leadership structure to the PAU, which I would consider unlikely, in which case it would be Senator Bazil.
A full account of my interview with Senator Barnard can be found on page 2.
Today's edition of the Haven Herald also contained the following article:
Earnest Earns Extra Electors, Expected to Engineer Executive: an interview with Senator Barnard
by Harland Godwin
It here follows:
Spoiler :
I was greatly honoured to receive an invitation to interview the venerable leader of the Pulian Advancement Union, Senator the Honourable Ernest Barnard. So I hurried back to the capital from Coventry as quickly as is possible, filled with anticipation.
We met in the Senator's medium-size house, fortuitously located directly across the road from the party officers of the Pulian Advancement Union. The house had a definite lived in feel. The interview took place in Senator Barnard's study, a very busy room with portraits and images depicting speeches, inaugurations, staff members and more. His bookcases were filled with books on statecraft and economics, where a number of folders and loose documents also made their home.
H. Godwin: Thank you for inviting me here today, Senator.
E. Barnard: Thank you for making the trip. I know from experience that the trip from Coventry is not an exceedingly pleasant one.
H.G.: That is so very true. I did not stay long in Coventry so the trip felt even longer on the return. I must say I've become a railway convert now. I truly hope it is as good as its proponents have been promising.
E.B.: As do I. While I have not been one of the loudest proponents, I too am looking forward to seeing it completed.
H.G.: May I say: congratulations on your reelection to the Senate.
E.B.: Thank you. I'm pleased that the people of Pulias once again trusted me to govern our country.
H.G.: As it looks like you will have a majority of votes for your party's Prime Ministerial nomination, congratulations on your ability to form your third consecutive government.
E.B.: Thank you once again. It was a team effort, so I will be sure to relay your congratulations to the rest of the Union.
H.G.: You have a wealth of ministerial experience: interior minister in the Gurra ministry, science minister in the First Heerlo ministry. Can you tell me what ministerial portfolios you'd like to try your hand at this time around?
E.B.: Given that the government has not yet been finalized, I will refrain from answering this question. I will, however, say that my new assignments will not be far from my role as minister of the Interior under the Gurra administration.
H.G.: Quite some time has passed since the declaration of the polls and the returning of the writs. Why is it that the new government hasn't yet been constituted? Are there ructions behind the scenes? Is this evidence of problems within your potential coalition partners before the government has even commenced?
E.B.: If there are problems with our coalition partners, I have yet to be made aware of them. What is making things take time is a combination of a few wrongful assumptions, as well as the details of some reforms we are planning.
H.G.: That sounds interesting. Would you care to elaborate on any of that?
E.B.: I do not believe that I have made a secret of the fact that I wish to change what ministries control what. As part of the coalition negotiations I requested that this be changed, and while response has been positive, a few kinks still needs to be worked out, to ensure that we don't see some ministries being far too powerful.
H.G.: I see. The Pulias People's Party have publicly declared their intent to support your party's nomination for the Prime Ministership. Is this because of backroom dealings?
E.B.: Backroom dealing? I wouldn’t call them that, but as a coalition partner, they have been offered ministries, as is only natural.
H.G.: What ministries have you offered to them?
E.B.: A variety, including, but not limited to, new ministries as part of my envisioned reform.
H.G.: What have you promised the Pulias People's Party in exchange for their support for your Prime Ministerial candidate?
E.B.: That should be clear once the government is finalized.
H.G.: In the recent election campaign Senator the Honourable Augustus of the Pulian Imperial Party claimed that the pacifist policies of the Pulias People's Party and your party, the Pulian Advancement Union, are "out of place in our time". How do you respond to this statement?
E.B.: I must admit that I suspect that Senator the Honourable Augustus is living in a different time than I do, as I believe that the road forward is peaceful coexistence with the rest of the world. That does not mean that we should neglect the military, but I believe that our first response to any foreign threat should be diplomacy. If that fails, then Pulias will show the world that it can stand firm against any threat.
H.G.: Some observers see your party and the Pulias People's Party as merely different brands of the same party. These observers wonder why your two parties don't recognise the reality of the situation and merge. What do you say to this?
E.B.: I believe that part of the issue is that we have been coalition partners since The Dawn, which means that we have been focusing on our similarities, rather than our differences. In the long-term, we do have different goals, though. While the Pulias People’s Party wishes to invest heavily in Culture, the Pulian Advancement Union has more focus on Production and Wealth.
H.G.: That's a very interesting explanation, thank you.
E.B.: You're welcome.
H.G.: You have led the Pulian Advancement Union since its inception twenty-two years ago. As the leader of the party which has participated in every government since the Dawn of modern Pulias many people were surprised you did not assume the Prime Ministership last term. And now, once again, Senator the Honourable Heerlo has been put forward as your party's candidate for the Prime Ministership. Some observers say there are power struggles within the party that prevent you from wresting power away from Senator the Honourable Heerlo. What do you say to these claims?
E.B.: Those claims are entirely untrue. Heerlo and I have a very good relationship, and while I am the leader of the party, I prefer to think of myself as a first among equals, of sort. We debate issues internally and reach a conclusion, which I then present to the world or whoever we are negotiating with. After the Gurra Administration, Heerlo and I had a discussion as to who of us should be Prime Minister if the opportunity arose, and I decided that it would be better for him to take the seat, while I focus on furthering our party.
H.G.: An interesting approach, to be sure. Do you have any plans of taking on the leadership of the nation yourself at some point in the future?
E.B.: I have no plans for it, but should circumstances arise in which I judge that Pulias would be best served with me as a Prime Minister, I would attempt to gain the post. As it is, I have nothing but confidence in Heerlo's ability to govern our country.
H.G.: Your coalition partner, the leader of the Pulias People's Party, Senator William Melda put quite a few noses out of joint due to this combative debating style during the election campaign. Do you think this will cause issues for you when you enter a political union with him and the party under his control?
E.B.: It is a possibility, but not one I am overly concerned about. The people still had faith enough in him to get him elected, so that is good enough for me.
H.G.: Are you worried his abrasive mannerisms could harm your government through association? His actions would represent you and your government, after all.
E.B.: I have nothing but confidence in Senator Melda.
H.G.: Duly noted. After twenty-two years of government, looking at the prospect of another ten years at least here at the start of the Third Senate: how has your family coped with you having such a high profile in Pulian society?
E.B.: I will not deny that it has caused strains, but when I married my wife a few years into my political career, she knew that politics was always going to be a big part of my life. Too big, at times such as elections, but she has never been anything but supportive.
H.G.: Any plans to retire at this stage?
E.B.: At the moment, no. There is still much work to be done.
H.G.: I look forward to watching the next Senate with interest, so I suppose I will see what work you have to be done. Thank you again for the invitation for me to meet you here in your lovely home.
E.B.: Thank you for coming.
Thus concluded the interview. I was scheduled to attend one more interview here in the capital but first I needed to get to a courier: I had a major scoop to report.
We met in the Senator's medium-size house, fortuitously located directly across the road from the party officers of the Pulian Advancement Union. The house had a definite lived in feel. The interview took place in Senator Barnard's study, a very busy room with portraits and images depicting speeches, inaugurations, staff members and more. His bookcases were filled with books on statecraft and economics, where a number of folders and loose documents also made their home.
H. Godwin: Thank you for inviting me here today, Senator.
E. Barnard: Thank you for making the trip. I know from experience that the trip from Coventry is not an exceedingly pleasant one.
H.G.: That is so very true. I did not stay long in Coventry so the trip felt even longer on the return. I must say I've become a railway convert now. I truly hope it is as good as its proponents have been promising.
E.B.: As do I. While I have not been one of the loudest proponents, I too am looking forward to seeing it completed.
H.G.: May I say: congratulations on your reelection to the Senate.
E.B.: Thank you. I'm pleased that the people of Pulias once again trusted me to govern our country.
H.G.: As it looks like you will have a majority of votes for your party's Prime Ministerial nomination, congratulations on your ability to form your third consecutive government.
E.B.: Thank you once again. It was a team effort, so I will be sure to relay your congratulations to the rest of the Union.
H.G.: You have a wealth of ministerial experience: interior minister in the Gurra ministry, science minister in the First Heerlo ministry. Can you tell me what ministerial portfolios you'd like to try your hand at this time around?
E.B.: Given that the government has not yet been finalized, I will refrain from answering this question. I will, however, say that my new assignments will not be far from my role as minister of the Interior under the Gurra administration.
H.G.: Quite some time has passed since the declaration of the polls and the returning of the writs. Why is it that the new government hasn't yet been constituted? Are there ructions behind the scenes? Is this evidence of problems within your potential coalition partners before the government has even commenced?
E.B.: If there are problems with our coalition partners, I have yet to be made aware of them. What is making things take time is a combination of a few wrongful assumptions, as well as the details of some reforms we are planning.
H.G.: That sounds interesting. Would you care to elaborate on any of that?
E.B.: I do not believe that I have made a secret of the fact that I wish to change what ministries control what. As part of the coalition negotiations I requested that this be changed, and while response has been positive, a few kinks still needs to be worked out, to ensure that we don't see some ministries being far too powerful.
H.G.: I see. The Pulias People's Party have publicly declared their intent to support your party's nomination for the Prime Ministership. Is this because of backroom dealings?
E.B.: Backroom dealing? I wouldn’t call them that, but as a coalition partner, they have been offered ministries, as is only natural.
H.G.: What ministries have you offered to them?
E.B.: A variety, including, but not limited to, new ministries as part of my envisioned reform.
H.G.: What have you promised the Pulias People's Party in exchange for their support for your Prime Ministerial candidate?
E.B.: That should be clear once the government is finalized.
H.G.: In the recent election campaign Senator the Honourable Augustus of the Pulian Imperial Party claimed that the pacifist policies of the Pulias People's Party and your party, the Pulian Advancement Union, are "out of place in our time". How do you respond to this statement?
E.B.: I must admit that I suspect that Senator the Honourable Augustus is living in a different time than I do, as I believe that the road forward is peaceful coexistence with the rest of the world. That does not mean that we should neglect the military, but I believe that our first response to any foreign threat should be diplomacy. If that fails, then Pulias will show the world that it can stand firm against any threat.
H.G.: Some observers see your party and the Pulias People's Party as merely different brands of the same party. These observers wonder why your two parties don't recognise the reality of the situation and merge. What do you say to this?
E.B.: I believe that part of the issue is that we have been coalition partners since The Dawn, which means that we have been focusing on our similarities, rather than our differences. In the long-term, we do have different goals, though. While the Pulias People’s Party wishes to invest heavily in Culture, the Pulian Advancement Union has more focus on Production and Wealth.
H.G.: That's a very interesting explanation, thank you.
E.B.: You're welcome.
H.G.: You have led the Pulian Advancement Union since its inception twenty-two years ago. As the leader of the party which has participated in every government since the Dawn of modern Pulias many people were surprised you did not assume the Prime Ministership last term. And now, once again, Senator the Honourable Heerlo has been put forward as your party's candidate for the Prime Ministership. Some observers say there are power struggles within the party that prevent you from wresting power away from Senator the Honourable Heerlo. What do you say to these claims?
E.B.: Those claims are entirely untrue. Heerlo and I have a very good relationship, and while I am the leader of the party, I prefer to think of myself as a first among equals, of sort. We debate issues internally and reach a conclusion, which I then present to the world or whoever we are negotiating with. After the Gurra Administration, Heerlo and I had a discussion as to who of us should be Prime Minister if the opportunity arose, and I decided that it would be better for him to take the seat, while I focus on furthering our party.
H.G.: An interesting approach, to be sure. Do you have any plans of taking on the leadership of the nation yourself at some point in the future?
E.B.: I have no plans for it, but should circumstances arise in which I judge that Pulias would be best served with me as a Prime Minister, I would attempt to gain the post. As it is, I have nothing but confidence in Heerlo's ability to govern our country.
H.G.: Your coalition partner, the leader of the Pulias People's Party, Senator William Melda put quite a few noses out of joint due to this combative debating style during the election campaign. Do you think this will cause issues for you when you enter a political union with him and the party under his control?
E.B.: It is a possibility, but not one I am overly concerned about. The people still had faith enough in him to get him elected, so that is good enough for me.
H.G.: Are you worried his abrasive mannerisms could harm your government through association? His actions would represent you and your government, after all.
E.B.: I have nothing but confidence in Senator Melda.
H.G.: Duly noted. After twenty-two years of government, looking at the prospect of another ten years at least here at the start of the Third Senate: how has your family coped with you having such a high profile in Pulian society?
E.B.: I will not deny that it has caused strains, but when I married my wife a few years into my political career, she knew that politics was always going to be a big part of my life. Too big, at times such as elections, but she has never been anything but supportive.
H.G.: Any plans to retire at this stage?
E.B.: At the moment, no. There is still much work to be done.
H.G.: I look forward to watching the next Senate with interest, so I suppose I will see what work you have to be done. Thank you again for the invitation for me to meet you here in your lovely home.
E.B.: Thank you for coming.
Thus concluded the interview. I was scheduled to attend one more interview here in the capital but first I needed to get to a courier: I had a major scoop to report.
))
, grey for independents and white for 'vacant seat'.
