2510 Republic Election

The 2510 Legislative and Presidential elections were the first major elections of the new Terran Republic

Overview
The new Terran Republic was founded with the promise of an elected lower chamber, the General Assembly and a partially elected upper chamber, the Senate. In addition, the General Assembly would then elect the new President, with the first President, Everann Sickles, set to step down.

The Republic had six member worlds at the start of 2510, each holding elections for its seats in the both chambers.

Parties
There were a large range of political parties standing the election, including several parties which were standing on just one world. The major political parties were:


 * People’s Emergent Party (PEP) -A Marxist party whose aims are to reduce the influence of the Hansa and to instil state ownership of the means of production
 * Gurava (GUR) -a left wing radical party with a strong pacifist and environmentalist message. Gurava preach that the Republic should be a place of learning and peace
 * Federalist Party (FED) -a very old party, they are a centre-left party that aim to build a strong centralized state from the Republic. They accept that would require amendments to the current constitution
 * Social Democratic Party (SD) -a centre-left party that proposes a “Big tent” left wing platform of state intervention and the construction of a welfare state. Less interested in centralizing the state than the Federalists
 * Centrist Coalition (CC) -a broad centrist coalition that supports capitalism, the rule of law and the creation of a military. Broadly pro Hansa
 * Destiny Party (DES) -A pro Hansa, pro AI rights and pro technology party associated with Leander Ashpool and Dahlia Avander-Slade.
 * Isolationist Party (ISP) -A newly formed conservative party that propose that the new Republic remain out of foreign policy entanglements. Favours the creation of a strong military.

The Justice and Peace Party, the Ravenheart Coalition and the Union of Libertarian Parties also intended to put candidates forward but none of these parties were expected to win any seats

Campaign Finance Rules
The Republic banned parties with no "vested interest" in the Republic from raising and donating money for political parties. The Emergency Delegates sent before the election set up a campaign finance board (RCFB) which was given broad oversight powers.

General Assembly
Each member world would be assigned seats in the General Assembly based around its population, with proportional representation then deciding how the seats would be allocated. A party required a minimum of 5% of the planet's vote to be considered for a seat, any votes to parties with fewer than 5% would then be discounted.

AS the General Assembly appeared the most powerful chamber and has the power to elect the President, most political pundits expected the General Assembly election to be the most competitive election.

Senate
Each member world was assigned two senate seats, with one democratically elected and the other to be assigned out by the planet as they see fit. Fort Pitcairn and Van Allan's World both stated their intention to put the second seat up for election too.

Most political pundits felt that with the majority of member worlds having a leftward political slant, that the Senate would likely be dominated by liberals.

President
The President of the Republic is elected by the General Assembly, with a candidate requiring a majority of the votes in the assembly to be confirmed. There were a great number of avowed candidates, with former Cabinet Secretary and Destiny Party figure Dahlia Avander-Slade seen by some as the front-runner for the Presidency. However, there were some pundits who backed either Alma van Saar or Kayce Moreshower from the more left-wing parties.

Candidates

 * Alma van Saar -Federalist -the 60-year-old former Whitworth attorney general has been a key figure in the early days of the Republic and played a part in the legal framework of the Republic. Did well in the 2500 election. Whilst she’s a liberal, she favors the construction of a strong navy and laws that will make the central state stronger
 * Dr Heidi Blondeau -People’s Emergent Party -a former lecturer and a rabble-rousing media personality who is a fierce opponent of the Hansa. Calls for state ownership of factories, starports and shipyards.
 * Kayce Moreshower -Social Democratic Party -A veteran politician and a former MP. Kayce wants the Republic to concentrate on fairness, justice and the rule of law but doesn’t oppose the concept of fleet expansion
 * Addison Morley -Centrist Coalition -veteran lawyer, prosecutor and legal adviser to Everann Sickles, Morley’s platform is based around cooperation with the Hansa, expansion of the Republic and expansion of the current navy.
 * Dahlia Avander-Slade -Destiny Party -former cabinet secretary and noted heiress of the Grumman fortune. Premiere of New Berlin and a major founding figure within the Destiny Party.
 * Thannis Pennington -Isolationist -media personality and political pundit, Thannis believes that the Republic should avoid foreign policy entanglements with other powers and should attempt to bring the Free World’s Pact into the Republic. Opposes new laws for the Republic.
 * Doxillar -Independent -An Indirian ship captain and a member of the Emergency Assembly who has been a loud voice on the need for the Republic to have a strong military. Doxillar opposes new laws for member worlds and believes that the central state needn’t b e more than a treaty and a common military
 * Mackenise Trafford -Independent -a lawyer, lecturer and media personality who has been a frequent opponent of President Sickles and his administration. She believes the Republic should resist the influence of the Hansa and proposes very strong laws on lobbying and election funding
 * General Olann Miles -Independent -former marine general and a military adviser to President Sickles. General Miles supports military expansion, reduction in the tax burden to the Hansa and opposes the introduction of new laws and entanglements for member worlds