1733 Senyan protests

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The 1733 Senyan protests are a series of significant public demonstrations that erupted across Senya in 1733 AN. Known for its social democracy, peace, and high standards of living, Senya had historically been a beacon of stability and democratic governance. As a founding member of the Xäiville Convention, Senya's commitment to democratic principles has been a cornerstone of its national identity.

However, in 1733, this image was severely tarnished when widespread protests broke out, driven by a complex interplay of political, economic, and social issues. The catalyst for the unrest was a massive corruption scandal involving dozens of members of the National Democratic Forum, Senya's national legislature. Executives from Senyan Energy, the state energy company, were found to have bribed legislators from the centre-left Senyan National Party and the Centrist Party, the two largest parties in the NDF, to support the construction of two controversial wind farms in the protected Mɏelveka National Park.

The scandal exposed deep-seated frustrations within various segments of Senyan society. Citizens from Lamantia and Tiana expressed their anger over the lack of devolution to their territorial legislatures, feeling that the central government in Svorgas was encroaching on their legislative autonomy and ignoring the rights of the Lamantian and Tianan people, whilst citizens of other regions of Senya were frustrated by the concentration of power within Senya proper. Additionally, economic grievances fueled the protests, as stagnant wages and rising living costs left many Senyans struggling to make ends meet amidst a period of economic stagnation.

Background

The controversy centers around the proposed construction of two wind farms in Mɏelveka National Park, a region celebrated for its ancient, largely untouched forests and the famous geological formation known as the "Scar of Mɏelveka." The plan for the wind farms required clearing two areas, each encompassing 25km² of forest in the flatter northern expanses of the park. These wind farms were projected to generate a substantial 4,500 MW annually. Alongside the wind farms, the project included the construction of control centres, power lines, and several hundred miles of new roads.

Local residents, particularly those from Senyan Arboria, the region where the wind farms were to be located, exercised their right under Senyan planning law to petition their regional council to reject the planning application. Responding to their constituents, the Senyan Arborian council overturned the planning application. However, Senyan Energy, determined to push the project forward, petitioned the High Court for a ruling.

In a controversial move, the NDF invoked a provision in Senyan law that allows the national legislature to overrule local councils on matters deemed to concern national security. Typically, infrastructure projects of this magnitude would be adjudicated on by the Senyan High Court. However, in this instance, the NDF bypassed the usual judicial process and took an extraordinary vote on the matter. By a margin of 278 votes to 173, with 49 abstentions, the NDF approved the wind farms.

The public was taken aback by the NDF's decision to circumvent the High Court, prompting suspicions and scrutiny. Investigative journalists and concerned citizens delved into the voting patterns and motivations behind the decision. On 20.VII.1733, it was revealed on Senyan TV that executives from Senyan Energy had bribed several members of the Senyan National Party and the Centrist Party, the two largest parties in the NDF, to secure their votes in favor of the wind farm project. Undercover footage from a Senyan Energy corporate event in Zvarëen showed Senyan Energy CEO, Thomas Miller, and two other executives, Ryan Marsh and Colin Spencer, boasting about getting the NDF to vote in their favour on the matter. In the video, 5 members of the NDF, from both parties, were named as having helped them, whilst Spencer noted that he was happy to have "many numbers of friends" across both parties that had "helped us out".

This revelation of corruption struck at the core of Senya's democratic values and legal integrity. The scandal not only highlighted the susceptibility of public officials to corporate influence but also underscored the lengths to which powerful interests were willing to go to achieve their objectives, even at the expense of cherished natural heritage and public trust. The fallout from the scandal was immense, fueling public anger and contributing significantly to the broader wave of protests that year, as citizens demanded accountability, transparency, and a recommitment to democratic principles. The following day, on 21.VII.1733, major protests erupted across Senya.

The scandal particularly felt a smack in the face for many Senyans, who were struggling in a climate of a stagnant economy. With the government widely seen as failing to respond to stagnant wages and rising living costs.

Additionally, residents of Upper Senya and the Northwards Ho! regions felt neglected by the government, which had failed to deliver on promises of infrastructure development and job creation following their annexation by Senya. There was also a pervasive sentiment that the government was overly focused on Senyan proper, the densely populated heartland that houses many of the nation's largest industrial cities, including the capital, Svorgas, at the expense of peripheral regions.

Compounding these issues were criticisms of the government's environmental policies, which many Senyans felt were insufficient, and a perceived lack of respect for minority groups within the National Democratic Forum. These interconnected grievances coalesced into a powerful movement that saw thousands of Senyans take to the streets, demanding sweeping reforms and greater accountability from their leaders.

Initial protests

On 20.VII.1733, undercover footage from a Senyan Energy corporate event in Zvarëen showed Senyan Energy CEO, Thomas Miller, and two other executives, Ryan Marsh and Colin Spencer, boasting about getting the NDF to vote in their favour on the matter. In the video, 5 members of the NDF, from both parties, were named as having helped them, whilst Spencer noted that he was happy to have "many numbers of friends" across both parties that had "helped us out". This footage is broadcast on Senya TV during a primetime political news programme. The following day, protests erupted in several cities around Senya, with the largest being in Svorgas, Colgrad, Sanyanska, North Ellum and Vancona, with allegations against Prime Minister Linda Angelton are made, saying that she took a V350,000,000 bribe in exchange for the vote. Despite denying this, protests continued to grow. In addition, the territorial councils of Lamantia and Tiana call for increased devolution in the midst of the protests.

On 24.VII.1733, protesters in Svorgas forced themselves into the NDF building, preventing it from sitting. The Speaker of the Forum adjourned the NDF temporarily, citing security fears. The following day, police arrested five members of the NDF featured in the video. However, Linda Angelton once again refused to resign.

On 3.VIII.1733, members of the NDF, including Angelton, are questioned by police about the corruption scandal. Senyan Energy CEO Thomas Miller resigns from his role, whilst protests continue across Senya and grow louder. Riot police have to hold back crowds in Svorgas as protesters attempted to get into the police station where Angelton is being interviewed. Two days later, the Lamantian territorial legislature in Lamantien is broken into by protestors, who refuse to leave. Subsequently, it is announced that the legislature will be on recess until the security situation allows.

Angleton's refusal to step down only increased the resentment of the protestors, with protests growing in number and spreading across more regions of the country.