1695 Parlerment elections

The second Parlerment elections will be held during the ninth month of 1695. It was originally scheduled for mid-1696, but the Senate, using an overlooked clause in the Constitution, voted to dissolve its legislative session (but remaining as collective head of state, Supreme Court and caretaker legislature until replaced by an elected Senate). This had the effect that the Assembly of Representatives, to massive protests among the Lake District parties there, too was dissolved.

Background

The political crisis began on 24.VII.1694 when the international 1694 Humanist Convention's leadership election was resolved by Senator Daniyal al-Osman, Prime Minister of Hurmu, leader of the Coalition for Democratic Humanism, killing the the Surenshah in a duel, thereby securing the election of Fridwald Peter from Ransenar as head of the international Nationalist and Humanist Party. Lakkvians and Hurmudans were appalled, and Daniyal al-Osman's cabinet saw the mass resignation of its Lake District coalition partners (Koos, Moderates). However, the Lontinian People's Party remained in the coalition. The display of honour of the Prime Minister was extremely well received in Lontinien, and demonstrations broke out the cities of Ghawlama and Khojinacinggha in support of the Prime Minister.

In the Senate, the Humanists were a minority, holding only 3 of 9 seats. The Ayreonists in the Senate called for the resignation of the Prime Minister, and, using the filibuster clauses in the Senate rules, hijacked the Senate agenda by blocking all other items on the agenda. The Traditionalists, while sympathetic and agreeing with the Ayreonist cause in this matter, disagreed with the method. The act of the Ayreonists, the Traditionalists held, was dishonouring the sanctity and unity of the Senate. The Traditionalists invoked clause 78 in the Constitution, whereby the Senate can unilaterally dissolve its legislative session by a vote of more than a two thirds' majority (i.e. 7 votes out of 9), triggering the dissolution of the Assembly of Representatives as well. However, the Senate could not agree, by simple majority, after this act when the new election should be held. It was then found that in clause 148 of the Constitution, that "when the Assembly has been dissolved, new elections must be held within a year". As such, the Traditionalists and Humanists passed an extraordinary election law which placed the new elections within the last month of the year following dissolution, that is at the very end of what the legal window for elections.

Procedure

Nine seats in the Senate, elected by the members of the Order of the Holy Lakes, and 99 seats in the Assembly, elected by persons with legal and permanent residence in Hurmu are up for election. All electors must be at least 16 years of age on the last day of the election. Thus not only citizens of Hurmu are allowed to vote, but legally resident foreigners too. Citizenship is a prerequisite, however, for being a candidate.

Residents in the Lake District will elect 56 members of the Assembly, while residents in Lontinien will elect 42 members. Residents of East Barrow Island will be represented by 1 member. Legal residency is not recognised in the Southern District, and as such, that district will remain outside the remit of the election. Hurmu citizens resident in Seivannavik may vote through their constituency of origin.

Senate election

There are 190 members of the Order of the Holy Lakes who, in 1695, are expected to be eligible to vote in the Senate election in 1696.

The electors will elect the 9 members of the Senate on lists who will be apportioned seats based on proportional representation.

Lists

Ayreonist list

The Ayreonist List is the list for members of the Order of the Holy Lakes with an Ayreonist persuasion. It generally supports:

• LGBTQIA+ rights
• Freer immigration policies
• Free market
• Equality between the different nations of Hurmu (Hurmudan, Lakkvian, Crandish, Lontinian, etc.)
• The Senate to be elected by the people of Hurmu, not by the Order of the Holy Lakes
• Strong relations with democratically sentient-rights-respecting countries around the world
  • Favours strong relations especially with the neighbouring countries, and with Natopia.
  • Deeply concerned with events in Elwynn

Candidates

1. Catarina de Todos los Santos u-Kart
2. Anskar Kairason Isamma
3. Eliza Aabooð
4. Samil u-Layn
5. Smilla Eenpaulu
6. Johannes Uusman
7. Else Kårestad
8. Pader Avon-El
9. Liina Mikelitütar

Conservative list

Having much in common with the Traditionalist list, the Conservative lists puts more attention on foreign affairs and infrastructure.

• Restoration of the Republic
• Neutrality between the Raspur Pact and USSO alliances
• Protection of arms rights
• Balanced budget, low taxes and free trade
• Establishment of a Constitutional Court consisting of the three oldest living members of the Order of the Holy Lakes
• Introduction of study visas for foreign students in Hurmu universities
• Building of infrastructural links with neighbouring countries, including the Apollonian Express

Nativists' list

The Nativist List is a radical nationalist list, supported by some members of the Order who are resident in Hurmu. It is a break-away group from the Traditionalist List, so it aligns its policies generally with the Traditionalist list, with the following exceptions:

• Eligibility to vote in Senate elections should be restricted to members of the Order who are permanently resident in Hurmu
• No further expansion of Hurmu
• Hurmu to leave East Barrow Island and Lontinien ("Hurmu for Hurmudans")
• Lakkvian and Hurmu to be co-equal languages in Hurmu
• Raspur Pact forces to leave Hurmu immediately
• End to the free-movement regime with the Xäiville Convention

Candidates

1. Eleonoora Luuk
2. Johannes Knuutsgaarð
3. Kristofer u-Malik
4. Lennart Aabooð-Kallas
5. Gunnar Aabooð-Kallas
6. Miinu Aabooð

Traditionalist list

The Traditionalist List is supported by a moderate-to-conservative collection of members of the Order. Its main policies are:

• Fiscally sensible government
• Senate and Order to act as checks and balances for the democratically elected government; they will act as the safeguard of democracy and sentients' rights in Hurmu
• More power to the Senate and Order
• Restricted immigration policies
• Pro-LGBTQIA+ rights
• Foreign affairs:
  • "Alliance-free": Hurmu to remain neutral between the big power blocks
  • More integration within and expansion of the Xäiville Convention
  • Good relations with all countries in the world, especially the neighbouring ones
• Defence:
  • Wants a plan for when Raspur troops to leave the country permanently
  • Wants more funding for defence
• Believes it is in the interest of Hurmu to annex more land

Candidates

1. Jan Spiik
2. Li Naomiai Avon-El
3. Patrik Djupvik
4. Smilla u-Gelp
5. Boris Alekseievich Karerin
6. Dooris Aamisepp
7. Janek Tryggve

Assembly of Representatives election

Parties

Lake District and East Barrow Island

• Coalition for Democratic Humanism, presently 23 seats. A humanist party with links to national humanism, but with a Hurmu characteristics, and with internationalism as a defining value.
• Edasi Hurmu, ("Forward Hurmu") a centre-right Hurmu party from the former Lakkvia, popular among ethnic Hurmudans. Informally affiliated with the Traditionalist List in the Senate.
• Moderate Party, an agrarian, socially liberal party from the former Lakkvia, popular among ethnic Lakkvians, urban as well as rural. Does not wish to make any major constitutional changes until Hurmu is stable enough.
• Koos ("Together"): a centrist cross-community party from Lakkvia. Lately having more of a social-democratic view. Support urban areas.
• Heartlanders' Interest League: a party for reformed Storish people resident in Hurmu.
• Liberals: a radical liberal and Ayreonist party that wishes to overhaul the entire Hurmu constitutional structure, privatise the Order of the Holy Lakes, abolish the Senate, and ensure more socially liberal, borderline socialist, policies across Hurmu. Mainly urban support.
• Hurmu for Hurmudans, a new Hurmu ethnic nationalist party that wishes for Hurmu to let go of Lontinien and other overseas territories.
• Crandish People's Party: a liberal Crandish interests party.

Lontinien

• Coalition for Democratic Humanism, which in Lontinien consists of:
  • Lontinian People's Party, Lontinian Conservative party active in the Ghawlama area. Headed by Khaghan Temüjin.
  • National Community, a Conservative party affiliated with the White Band of the Eastern Ulus of the Silver Yak Horde
  • Crandish People's Party: a liberal Crandish interests party
• Blue Skies, a Conservative party affiliated with the Blue Band of the Eastern Ulus of the Silver Yak Horde
• Heartlanders' Interest League: a party for reformed Storish people resident in Lontinien.
• Social Democratic Party of Lontinien: a democratically socialist party in Lontinien that wishes to do away with the feudal structures of the Ulus and khans.
• Society of Yeshua: a Krasnocorian interests organisation..