High Kingdoms of Alaxia: Difference between revisions

=== Kloresan Unity ===

{{Main|Kloresan unification movement}}

{{See also|Kloresa}}

Several key movements were vital to the creation of the High Kingdoms due to political manoeuvring throughout the 2430s and 2440s. Five members of the 20s generation: Chris Harcey, Oliver Mendes, Elle de Pink, Gene Stewart, and Stephen John; would establish the What Next Group in 2424 following the end of the Great War. This group would eventually grow and become more concerned with Ahitereira-Koresan politics after the death of Joana I. Many in the group were hard line libertarians and republicans, although some were content with being parliamentarians and wished to grow their influence to Kiavalar, where the possibility of a personal union grew. Other groups did exist, such as the 'Valar Into East' group, led by Finlay George, who pushed for Kiavalari integration with east Alaxia; the 'Joana's Legacy' group led by Alexander Burke which often discussed post-Joana interests. However, none of the groups would become relatively known until the 2430s.

The What Next Group gained notoriety in Ahitereira after famous journalist Arthur Barboza came out in support of them and their views on a hypothetical personal union. He claimed that the union provided great benefits to all Alaxians. Over the next decade, he would continue to release pro-unification works including several best-selling books such as 'The Eye of Alaxia' in 2433. In Kiavalar, Jake Russell and Valorie Ward co-authored several articles which pandered to the educated left and many liberals which saw integration with an Ahitereiran-led state as a quick way to introduce better forms of democracy into the country - as well as better economic equality. The What Next Group released a joint declaration on the positive interests of such a personal union in 2435.

However, their positions were controversial. Many believed that reforms promised by the side of the union were unfounded and impossible, or that they had vested interest in the benefits. Some criticised them for anti-nationalist sentiment, others believed that voters in the other countries were stupid and could sway elections negatively for them, while others thought it was an insult to Joana to predict her death.

In Empherias, prominent pro-Kloresans became more and more popular into the late 2430s. George Pierce, a journalist, would become famous after writing an article in 2438 highlighting the positives of such a union. The establishment of an official group in Empherias known as the 'Alaxian Through Kloresa Society' would see Pierce become a member alongside hundreds of aspiring politicians and activists. One of these members was Gregorik Marsh who quickly gained a rivalry with Pierce. Marsh was also a journalist and believed that while union was good, that they shouldn't give up their sovereignty too easily. Marsh and Pierce would have very public fights across 2439, but Pierce would eventually go missing and be declared dead in 2440. Many, including allies such as George Proweur, George Princeley, and Aleksander Treitschke, believed that this a plot by anti-unionists in Empherias to quiet the movement.

Lewes Haarig, an Empheri-Palakkine news reporter, would be the first news reporter of the public broadcasting company of Empherias to speak out as a pro-unionist in 2440. He was eventually fired in 2441 by the incoming Socialist government, and thus moved to join the ATKS later that year. Haarig would become a leading figure of the movement alongside Proweur in Empherias. The Campbell twins, Ellie and Wallace, were descendants of former prime minister Isaac Campbell, and were keen to use their credibility to advocate for the unionists. Ellie Campbell was elected as a Liberal MP in the 2441 general election.

While the ATKS was primarily liberal, an opposing group of Socialists formed a sector within the People's Socialist Party to advocate for unionism. This was named sALAX, although the sK sect opposed it heavily.

=== Kingdoms prior to joining ===

==== Ahitereira-Koresa ====

{{Main|Ahitereira-Koresa}}

==== Kiavalar ====

{{Main|Kiavalar}}

=== Pre-union Conferences ===

There were several conferences between future member states held before the death of the monarch that would formally tie the two nations together:

* '''Inysta Conference 2445''' - discussions on the personal union, foreign policy handling, and figuring out internal treaties.

* '''Esperiy Conference 2445''' - discussions on the capital city, the early constitution, and defence spending.

* '''Kayrin Conference 2446''' - discussions on the trade situation and economy.

* '''Vreimer Conference 2446''' - discussions on the inclusion of Empherias or other potential countries for inclusion such as Peryzium, Grensalbourg, and Palakkinen.

=== Death of Joana, and the Personal Union ===

{{Main|Joana I of Ahitereira-Koresa|Death and Funeral of Joana I, Queen of Ahitereira-Koresa}}

The number of seats per parliament would be at a minimum and maximum of 600 seats. Provisional parliaments in Ahitereira, Koresa, and Kiavalar were all formed. Ahitereira's largest party was the Liberal Party, at 243 seats, short 58 of a majority. Second place was the Popular Coalition, made up of several conservative parties, the King's Party, and the Bokanist Values Party, with 232 seats. Third place was the Pink Daphnes with 110 seats. In Koresa, the largest party was the Democratic Movement Coalition consisting of 386 seats, a majority of 172 seats, while the BVP received 106, and the Progressive Bloq just 63 seats. In Kiavalar, the Janvariye Jin party had 390 seats, a majority of 180, with Durbanar Jin, the second place party, at just 43 seats.

Richelieu became the President of the Provisional Government and the legislature would temporarily be on hold until elections could be held.

==== Creation of Esperiy ====

{{See also|Esperiy}}

The new capital city would be moved to Esperiy, a town in the Yutra region of Ahitereira. This region was classified as a federal territory and therefore independent from any kingdom to ensure no kingdom would be privileged more than others. Government contracts were handed out to various national real estate construction companies to expand the city, with Jonas Gonçal - a modern architect - made Special Adviser to the expansion project.

=== Union with Empherias ===

A pan-Kloresan movement sprung in Empherias in the 2440s which led to increased division within the [[People's Socialist Party of Empherias|People's Socialist Party]] over the issue of Alaxian unity. As plans for the upcoming High Kingdoms were being formulated, the Socialist [[Prime Minister of Empherias|Prime Minister]] [[Katelyn Roberts]] ruled out any involvement of Empherias in any Alaxian political union projects in a public address in June 2445. Despite this, pro-unification Minister of Foreign Affairs [[Luna Gallagher]] and several MPs such as [[Tom James Cook]] and the notorious [[Lukas Knight]], attended all of the conferences and made promises for Empherias' involvement. Officially, the Socialists won the 2445 general election but the support for the Prime Minister was dwindling amongst the Pro-Kloresan base.

In a public address to the Vreimer Conference 2446, which was held in Empherias, the aforementioned Tom James Cook made the following statement: "Although my government may disagree, the involvement of Empherias is vital in not only the expansion of our economy, but the economy of Alaxia - and to develop the cultural links between our great nations". This led to Cook's public expulsion from the party for disagreeing with the general view of the party. He and Knight would then leave the party all together and reform the [[People's Populist Party of Empherias|People's Populist Party]] in it's second iteration.

The new party alongside internal pressures from the Socialist party led to Roberts' resignation as Prime Minister on 21 December 2447 although she had delayed the process of union past the death of the monarch. Many in government had secretly negotiated with the now established High Kingdoms. Sofia Hopkins, the replacement PM, announced her intention to run an anti-union campaign in a snap election held in 2448. This election would finally settle whether the nation would join in union with the High Kingdoms or not by which Socialist party wins more seats - furthermore, both parties would agree to form a coalition government until the two parties unite to prevent opposing ideologies from gaining power in the event of a vote split. The 2448 general election saw the Populists win 252 seats to the Socialists' 104 and firmly set unification as a key point of the Socialist's agenda henceforth. However, the pro-Kloresan party still did not have a majority of seats on it's own to issue the mandate of unification.

Lukas Knight, the new Prime Minister, decided to hold a legally binding referendum on 1 July 2448 to decide whether Empherias would join the HKA or remain independent. The PM and ruling party used a lot more campaigning than usual and many more promotions. For the first time ever, there were major political television adverts for both sides. The Liberals, despite being officially anti-unification, didn't campaign for either side and the Socialists under Hopkins underutilised their campaigning skills resorting to more traditional methods. The results were that 54.04% of people voted in favour of unification and Knight now had two mandates for unification.

Immediately after, the process to officially join the High Kingdoms began in September 2448. The coalition government would pass many new laws to create identical systems of government to align with the High Kingdoms law code. Empherias officially joined the High Kingdoms of Alaxia on 1 December 2448. The coalition government previously formed in Empherias would then run the new constituent country under a caretaker government within the High Kingdoms of Alaxia until the first provisional election were then held on 1 September 2449.

=== Union with Peryzium ===

Peryzium would join on 15 December 2448.

=== 2449 Federal elections ===

{{Main|2449 High Kingdoms legislative election|2449 High Kingdoms presidential election}}

With all members now having joined the High Kingdoms, the first presidential and house of representative elections were scheduled for 2449. Presidential elections had five year terms, while legislative elections had three year terms.

==== 2449 Presidential election ====

Richelieu, the provisional president, wanted to run for re-election but would approve the usage of the proposed 2448 presidential election method. This required each party getting a number of nominations for a candidate based on the makeup of the devolved lower houses in each constituent country. The candidates with the least amount of nominations would be eliminated until just two candidates remain. The first round of nominations took place on 30 September 2449, and by 5 October 2449 the nominations had finished. The final two parties, the Liberal Party of Ahitereira and Koresa and Rael Carinye would put forward their candidate. Rael Carinye, a Kiavalari party selected Kiavalari politician Čžäräyin Tïsakhar as their presidential candidate, and selected Ahitereiran politician Valena Manel as the vice-presidential nominee to placate supporters of the King's Party which made up a large group of nominations. Richelieu met with the Liberals to discuss her candidateship, and they agreed that despite being an Ahitereiran party, they would nominate Kiavalari politician Richelieu to be their candidate to placate the Janvariye Jin and use her very popular appeal and current position as President to help their bid for election. The Liberals were sure to choose a native Ahitereiran as their vice-presidential nominee, choosing Maneli Veritara.

By 8 October 2449, the two candidates were chosen and campaigning began. All members of the future-Golden Coalition would endorse Richelieu, alongside the entire Red Bloq group, the Alliance party, and the Pink Daphnes. Tisakhar was supported by the King's Party, the Bokanist Values Party, and JCPK. The Nationalist party suggested boycotting the vote, or voting Liberal to prevent major federal restrictions.

Richelieu won the election, and secured her first elected term until 2454. Veritara became the first Vice-President of the High Kingdoms of Alaxia.

==== 2449 Legislative election ====

The legislative election was the first and was therefore very hard to predict for pollsters and political parties. Polling was difficult, and tactical voting was nearly impossible leading to a lot of the spoiler effect giving primarily the Liberals an advantage.