Rachael Halpburg
| Rachael Halpburg | |
|---|---|
| |
| 6th Vice President of Floria | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 1744 AN | |
| President | Ronald Trueman Jr. |
| Preceded by | Ronald Trueman Jr. |
| Born | Rachael Hope Halpburg Eastham, Southern Ontario |
| Political party | United Party of the Republic |
| Alma mater | University of Oldhaven |
| Occupation | politician · Businesswoman · activist |
| Military service | |
| Awards |  : First class of the Order of Çakar (1747 AN)
|
Rachael Elise Halpburg is a Florian politician and member of the UPR, currently serving as Vice President of Floria. A staunch conservative with a technocratic and a previous economically liberal approach, she became best known for her leadership of the Eastern Recovery Commission after the Second Florian Civil War, spearheading a controversial yet transformative reconstruction effort grounded in her unique economic principles. These principles changed after the relaunch of Floria First! in 1747. A powerful politician she is considered the heiress of the Floria First! movement and is the most significant member not from the Trueman family.
Early life and career
Rachael Halpburg was born in the industrial town of Eastham, Southern Ontario. Her childhood was shaped by a culture of discipline and loyalty, deeply influenced by her father, a decorated army officer, and her mother, a devout supporter of conservative community traditions. From an early age, Halpburg developed a strong sense of national pride and an instinctive distrust of foreign influence and progressive reform and was a supporter of Chopinite and Trumanist ideals.
She excelled academically, particularly in history, political science, and debate, earning recognition for her sharp intellect and unwavering viewpoints. Halpburg went on to study political administration at the University of Oldhaven, where she became actively involved in student politics and nationalist youth organisations.
Upon graduating, she commenced her career as a civil service administrator, swiftly earning a reputation for efficiency and uncompromising standards. Her political trajectory accelerated when she joined the UPR as a youth organiser, where she impressed party leadership with her ability to mobilise supporters and maintain strict discipline within the ranks. Halpburg’s ascent through the UPR was rapid. She served as a party spokesperson, a policy advisor on national security, and subsequently as Deputy Minister for Internal Affairs. In these roles, she championed legislation to enhance border security, expand police authority, and augment state oversight over media and online platforms. By the time she was selected as the UPR’s vice-presidential nominee, Halpburg had established herself as one of the party’s most loyal and hardline figures becoming a politician unafraid to enforce the nationalist vision with unwavering determination gaining her the nickname the "Iron Lady".
Political positions
Economy
Rachael Halpburg’s economic vision is predicated on protectionism, state intervention, and the prioritisation of Florian self-reliance. She rejects the notion that global free trade is advantageous to the nation, contending instead that it renders Floria susceptible to foreign exploitation and economic dependence. Halpburg posits that domestic industries, particularly those in the defence, heavy manufacturing, and energy sectors, must be shielded from international competition through tariffs, subsidies, and preferential state contracts. She perceives the economy as a means to national strength rather than a solely market-driven system. Under her influence, government policy favours companies that are predominantly owned by Florians, with foreign investment in strategic sectors subject to stringent regulation or outright prohibitions. She advocates for targeted tax breaks and incentives for businesses that commit to employing local workers, producing domestically, and contributing to national infrastructure. Furthermore, Halpburg has advocated for enhanced control over financial institutions, arguing that foreign banks and international lenders can undermine national stability. She supports redirecting public funds towards large-scale state-led infrastructure projects, which she perceives as a means to both stimulate the economy and reinforce national unity. While critics contend that her economic approach risks isolation and diminished competitiveness, Halpburg frames it as a necessary safeguard against “economic colonisation.” For her, prosperity is not measured by global trade volume or foreign investment, but rather by the strength, independence, and resilience of Floria’s own economy.
