The People's Deal
| L'Accord du Peuple | |
 Cover of the People's Deal ceremonial policy document; 1751 AN. | |
| Native names |
|
|---|---|
| Document details | |
| Author | Alliance for a Just Nouvelle Alexandrie |
| Date published | 20.XIII.1751 AN |
| Place | Cárdenas, FCD |
| Pages | 347 |
| Subject | Economic policy, taxation, government reform |
| Political affiliation | |
| Coalition | Alliance for a Just Nouvelle Alexandrie |
| Parties | |
| Leader | Leila Bensouda |
| Purpose | |
| Type | Opposition governing platform |
The People's Deal (Alexandrian: L'Accord du Peuple; Martino: El Pacto del Pueblo; Wechua: Runakunap Rimanakuynin; Wakara: Guaitiao Nabori) is a comprehensive economic and governance platform adopted by the Alliance for a Just Nouvelle Alexandrie (AJNA) in XIII.1751 AN. The 347-page document outlines proposals for progressive taxation, social investment, and government efficiency reforms, representing the coalition's first unified policy platform since its reconstitution in 1747 AN.
Unveiled by AJNA leader Leila Bensouda at the University of Cárdenas on 20.XIII.1751 AN, the platform received endorsements from several mainstream economists and prompted debate across the political spectrum. The Wakara People's Party and United for Alvelo, AJNA's coalition partners, formally endorsed the document at a joint press conference following its release.
Background
The People's Deal emerged from the political context of AJNA's reconstitution following the Pact of Shadows scandal. The Democratic Socialist Party (DSP), Wakara People's Party (WPP), and United for Alvelo (UfA) had reunited in III.1747 AN under the Parap Principles framework, which established a horizontal leadership structure emphasizing regional autonomy within federal coordination.
The coalition faced a credibility crisis following the X.1749 AN revelation that former DSP leader Martina Vásquez and Federal Consensus Party leader Ignacio Quispe had colluded to divide government contracts among family members. Vásquez fled to Aerla in I.1750 AN, and the coalition's polling declined from approximately 25% to 19% by late 1750 AN.
Leadership transition
Leila Bensouda assumed leadership of the DSP in IV.1751 AN after winning the party's leadership election, and subsequently became AJNA chair when interim leader Mayani Guacanagari stepped down. A human rights lawyer from Alduria who had served as Shadow Secretary for Justice, Bensouda emphasized the need for the coalition to move beyond criticism of the government toward a concrete governing vision.
"We are done being the party of complaints," Bensouda said at the document's launch. "This is what we will do. This is how we will pay for it. This is how we will make government work. Judge us on the specifics."
Development
Development of the People's Deal began in V.1751 AN, shortly after Bensouda assumed the coalition chairmanship. The drafting process involved policy working groups from all three coalition parties, with the AJNA Congress, chaired by Pablo Alvelo Nieves of United for Alvelo, coordinating the integration of regional priorities.
The coalition consulted with academic economists, former government officials, and civil society organizations during the drafting period. Bensouda's approach emphasized building relationships with mainstream policy experts, departing from her predecessor's more confrontational style.
Coalition negotiations
The Wakara People's Party secured provisions for rural infrastructure investment and protections for regional autonomy in social program administration. WPP leader Gueyacán Vázquez, who serves as AJNA Deputy Leader with special authority over regional affairs, negotiated commitments ensuring that efficiency reforms would not reduce services to Wakara communities in Boriquén.
United for Alvelo obtained specific commitments to Santander and Valencia development, including agricultural investment and rural connectivity programs. Party leader Pablo Alvelo Nieves described the platform as "the first federal program in a generation that takes rural communities seriously."
Policy proposals
Revenue measures
The People's Deal proposes two primary revenue mechanisms projected to generate NAX€60 billion annually.
Wealth tax
The platform proposes a progressive annual wealth tax on fortunes exceeding NAX€50 million:
| Wealth Threshold | Annual Rate |
|---|---|
| Above NAX€50 million | 1.0% |
| Above NAX€500 million | 2.0% |
| Above NAX€1 billion | 2.5% |
The coalition estimates the tax would affect approximately 12,400 households and generate NAX€38 billion annually. The document argues that wealth concentration has accelerated in recent decades, with the top 10% of earners controlling 45% of national wealth compared to 38% in 1744 AN.
Financial transactions tax
The platform proposes levies on securities trading:
| Instrument | Rate |
|---|---|
| Equity trades | 0.10% |
| Bond trades | 0.05% |
| Derivatives | 0.01% |
Projected revenue from the financial transactions tax is NAX€22 billion annually. The document cites similar taxes in other Micras nations as evidence of feasibility.
Investment priorities
The People's Deal commits NAX€78 billion to five priority areas:
| Priority | Investment | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Affordable housing construction | NAX€25 billion | Direct government construction and subsidies for affordable units |
| Universal childcare | NAX€18 billion | Federally subsidized childcare for all families with children under age five |
| Healthcare access expansion | NAX€15 billion | Expansion of primary care facilities in underserved areas |
| Worker transition programs | NAX€12 billion | Retraining and support for workers affected by economic transitions, including those in Alexandrium extraction communities |
| Rural infrastructure | NAX€8 billion | Roads, broadband, and utilities in rural Santander, Valencia, and Boriquén |
State capacity reforms
The platform's emphasis on government efficiency distinguishes it from traditional progressive proposals. The document argues that progressive taxation is politically sustainable only if citizens believe government spends money effectively.
Federal Performance Agency
The People's Deal proposes establishing a Federal Performance Agency as an independent auditor reporting directly to the Cortes Federales rather than the executive branch. The agency would conduct mandatory efficiency audits of all federal programs and publish annual reports on government performance.
Mandatory cost-benefit analysis
All government initiatives exceeding NAX€100 million would require independent cost-benefit analysis before approval, with projections and outcomes disclosed publicly.
Sunset clauses
All federal programs would require reauthorization every ten years, with performance reviews determining whether continuation is warranted. Programs unable to demonstrate results would face elimination or restructuring.
Additional reforms
Other efficiency proposals include:
- Digital Government Transformation: Consolidated systems across agencies and a single citizen portal for government services
- Competitive Procurement Reform: Mandatory competitive bidding for contracts exceeding NAX€10 million, ending no-bid contract practices
- Evidence-Based Policy Unit: Required pilot programs and independent evaluation before national rollout of new initiatives
Fiscal responsibility
The document commits to fiscal discipline measures including:
- Balanced budgets over the economic cycle, though not necessarily annually
- Debt-to-GDP cap of 30%
- Preservation of Sovereign Wealth Fund principal, with no drawdowns for operating expenses
- Establishment of an independent fiscal council to verify revenue projections
Political positioning
Differentiation from other parties
The People's Deal explicitly distinguishes AJNA from other opposition parties. On the Civic Governance Alliance, the document states: "Clean government is necessary but not sufficient. Process reforms without substantive investment leave inequality untouched." On the Federal Consensus Party: "Deputy Gabaza's housing proposals are welcome. But housing is one symptom of systemic failures. We address the system."
The platform positions AJNA between what it characterizes as the Federal Humanist Party's market fundamentalism and the CGA's proceduralism, arguing that effective governance requires both progressive policy substance and administrative competence.
Target constituencies
Political analysts identified several voter groups the platform appears designed to attract:
- Working-class voters concerned about inequality and stagnant wages
- Public sector workers and union members
- Urban professionals frustrated by government inefficiency
- Rural voters in Santander, Valencia, and Boriquén seeking infrastructure investment
- Young voters entering an expensive housing market
Reception
Expert endorsements
Several economists endorsed the platform's fiscal architecture. Former Treasury Undersecretary Alejandro Vidal, who served under Premier Marissa Santini, stated: "The revenue projections are conservative. The spending commitments are specific. The efficiency mechanisms are serious. I have disagreements with elements of this plan, but I cannot call it irresponsible."
Dr. Carmen Velásquez, chair of economics at the Royal University of Parap, called the platform "a genuinely novel synthesis," noting: "They are saying government should do more AND work better. Those have traditionally been opposing camps."
Business reaction
Business responses were mixed. Chambers of Guilds and Corporations President Maria Santiago called the wealth tax "concerning" but acknowledged the efficiency reforms were "long overdue." Several technology sector executives privately expressed support, citing frustration with government procurement processes.
Government response
The Federal Humanist Party dismissed the platform. Government spokesperson Marian Mehdi-Coulier called it "a familiar wish list with a technocratic veneer. Tax increases on job creators. Government expansion dressed as reform. New Alexandrians have rejected this approach repeatedly."
Opposition party responses
Federal Consensus Party leader Francisco Gabaza offered measured praise: "The People's Deal contains serious ideas that deserve serious debate. I would note that AJNA has discovered housing policy exists. We have been there for some time."
Civic Governance Alliance coordinator Elena Svensson called the efficiency proposals "genuinely interesting" while declining to endorse the revenue measures pending independent verification of projections.
Coalition partner statements
Wakara People's Party leader Gueyacán Vázquez endorsed the platform, emphasizing its rural investment provisions: "For too long, federal policy has treated Boriquén and rural communities as afterthoughts. This platform puts our needs at the center."
United for Alvelo leader Pablo Alvelo Nieves stated: "The People's Deal proves that progressive economics and regional development are not contradictions. Santander and Valencia have waited decades for this kind of serious investment commitment."
Public opinion
Polling conducted after the announcement showed 52% of respondents viewed the platform favorably, with 28% unfavorable and 20% undecided. Notably, 34% of respondents who voted for the Federal Humanist Party in 1749 AN expressed openness to the efficiency reforms.
Analysis
Political scientists characterized the People's Deal as an attempt to establish AJNA as a credible governing alternative ahead of the 1754 AN general election. Dr. Santiago Morales of the University of Cárdenas observed: "They have moved from protest to program. That is the essential transition for any opposition that wants to become a government."
The platform's emphasis on efficiency alongside redistribution reflects lessons from the Pact of Shadows scandal, which damaged progressive credibility on governance questions. By proposing independent oversight mechanisms and performance requirements, AJNA seeks to preempt criticism that progressive governments waste public resources.
Whether the platform can reshape electoral dynamics remains uncertain. The coalition controls approximately 255 seats in the Cortes, compared to 376 for the governing Federal Humanist Party and its Civic Governance Alliance partners. The next general election is not required until 1754 AN.
See also
- Alliance for a Just Nouvelle Alexandrie
- Parap Principles
- DSP leadership election, 1751
- Leila Bensouda
- Pact of Shadows scandal
