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The election Edition of the URA Tribune has been released please give it a read!

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THE URA TRIBUNE
AN EVERLASTING UNION



Taking off from the trail blazed by the URA Harbinger, the Tribune is the official publication of the United Regions Alliance.

Most Contested Race Yet Sees Presidentiables Argue for URA Future and Fight against Fascism


The January 2021 Elections of the URA is in full swing as polls open from the 25th to the 31st, and interest in the hotly contested race has raised expectations for record voter turnout. A four-way race between incumbent URA President Suvmia, URA Armed Forces Marshal Allangoria, New Eastern Europe WA Delegate Maricoen, and Conch Kingdom's The pir featured the biggest field of Alliance President candidates since the founding of the alliance in November 2019. Among the paramount issues of the month, the future of the alliance and the treatment of fascism has taken the spotlight in the presidential debates.

While the candidates in general agreed on a number of issues, such as increasing engagement, as well as expansion of membership to include large regions and game created regions (GCRs), there are also points where they differed. Banking on its firsthand experience in the alliance government, Suvmia envisions the URA to be a "formidable force" administered by a proportionally sized government structure with clearly defined roles, a position in contrast with other candidates who proposed reorganization and streamlining. Suvmia further stresses that no new councils were created during its term. In comparison, Allangoria has pledged a 35 percent reduction in government size in hopes of curbing red tape, transforming the councils into ministries in the process. Maricoen has proposed a major overhaul of the current structure with 15 to 20 members dedicated to recruitment alone.

Meanwhile, all candidates have expressed their opposition to fascism and related right-wing extremism, emphasizing the stance of the alliance as a bastion of democracy and the ongoing election as evidence of this fact. Both Maricoen and Suvmia has vouched for the efficacy of background checks to keep extremists out of the alliance, while Allangoria intends for the URA to join Antifa, a military organization in NationStates dedicated to combat fascism. The Pir stresses freedom of speech, but believes fascism must be placed in the sidelines. As context, early in the campaign, former presidential candidate United hindu rashtra strongly called out the "massive intolerance" of the alliance for right-wing ideologies, pointing out how its use of the swastika was misinterpreted as support for Nazism. The word "swastika" comes from the Sanskrit for "all is well," but has since taken an extreme political meaning despite its religious origins due to Nazi symbolism. United Hindu Rashtra would later exit the alliance even before the debates began.

In related developments, a pre-election survey independently conducted by Vermont and montpelier was released January 15. For President, Maricoen was leading the survey at 37 percent, followed by Suvmia at 33 percent, Allangoria 20 percent, and The Pir 0 (zero) percent. The rest were write-in votes for unofficial candidates. A total of 27 member nations participated in the said survey, with a margin of error of 15 percent.

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Heated Campaign for Alliance Vice Presidency Too Close for Comfort


For Alliance Vice President, a similarly sized field of candidates sets up another hotly contested race. Veteran vice presidential contender The xii legion fulminata of Ridgefield has been an early campaigner in its attempt to shed past controversies. Last minute declarations characterize the pace of the VP election with URA Head of Public Affairs Lanaograd, former Head of Recruitment New reiji, and Trekinstan of The Democratic Commonwealth joining the fray near to the close of candidacy filing. In an unexpected development, the VP race featured unique endorsements which was not largely seen for other positions. Lanaograd in particular has been publicly endorsed by incumbent Vice President Honeydewistania, presidential candidate Maricoen, India WA Delegate Indusse, and Philippines WA Delegate Ariusgrad, among others. Despite the endorsements, however, XII Legion has expressed how its strength and passion can be a game-changer in the race, while both New Reiji and Trekinstan assume the role of the "underdog" in hopes of attracting more votes.

Available data may lay credence to XII Legion's claims of a closer race than expected. The pre-election survey independently conducted by Vermont and montpelier has not shown a confident lead for Lanaograd, who is leading the survey at 52 percent. It is followed by XII Legion at 30 percent, New Reiji 8 percent, and Trekinstan 4 percent. The rest were write-in votes for unofficial candidates. A total of 27 member nations participated in the said survey, with a margin of error of 15 percent.

While there have been commonalities among the candidates in the issues, particularly in promoting activity and fostering closer relations between members, differences can also be noted. XII Legion has expressed its support for the creation of a judicial system and the reduction of government size to "give positions meaning." It has also taken up a dissenting opinion on how alliance policy should treat fascism and related right-wing ideologies, emphasizing diversity should mean recognizing that "not all fascists are evil people." In relation to this, XII Legion argues that communists should also be banned if fascists would have the same fate. The rest of the VP candidates have expressed opposition to extremism in general. Meanwhile, Lanaograd stresses its threefold vision, and the principle of maximizing benefits and minimizing compliance if the alliance seeks to create an inclusive and sustainable environment for growth. As for New Reiji and Trekinstan, they harp on their policies to make the URA "friendlier" and "important" to the average member.

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Head of Recruitment Debate Boils Down to Question of Expansion


Serving as the alliance's foreign relations arm, the Recruitment Council sees a two-way contest between Augustin Alliance Joint Task Force Director Gibraltarica and Fylkirvegr Founder Freedomanica. Their campaigns have boiled down as to who has better policies to improve URA standing relative to the world.

While Gibraltarica has supported the recruitment of large regions to the alliance and a transition phase to support new regions, Freedomanica has taken up an unconventional position of focusing on internal growth of member regions, relegating active recruitment of new members as secondary. Gibraltarica stresses on Freedomanica's pledge by arguing on knowledge of the Recruitment Council mandate. Asked for a forecast on membership by the end of their term, Gibraltarica estimates 30 to 35 regions, while Freedomanica 35 to 40 regions. Although the alliance has seen new entries such as Blackstar, The Freedom Isles, and The DankLeft Commune, it has also endured departures in the past weeks leading up to the election, among them being Lisseum and Krasnaya.

In terms of their proposed recruitment criteria, Gibraltarica summarizes them to four major points: an active community, a proactive government, the existence of a World Assembly (WA) Delegate, and unconnected to unwelcome communities and ideologies. Freedomanica has been more specific, rejecting fascist, anti-WA, and embassy collector regions. Besides having a WA Delegate, it has also placed a floor membership size of 25, and an age floor of six weeks.

In related developments, a pre-election survey independently conducted by Vermont and montpelier was released January 15. For Head of Recruitment, Gibraltarica leads with 48 percent, closely followed by Freedomanica at 44 percent. The rest were write-in votes for unofficial candidates. A total of 27 member nations participated in the said survey, with a margin of error of 15 percent.

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Participation Issues Arise in Head of Public Affairs Debate


The newest of the URA councils, the vice presidential bid of its first elected head Lanaograd has opened the Head of Public Affairs race to two contenders. The Flyin2 of The United Federations has been Lanaograd's rival in the previous Public Affairs election. Vermont and montpelier of The Labyrinth, who declared early its candidacy in hopes of campaigning against Lanaograd, faces off with The Flyin2 instead in this two-way election. Another prospective contender, Peshwas of The Great Experiment, has not formalized its candidacy despite publicly expressing desire to seek the position.

While both have agreed in the competency of the Public Affairs Council they will be taking over and in the commitment to boosting activity, the two candidates differ on policies in bringing about more participation among member nations. Aggressive strategies early in the electoral campaign has received negative feedback from a number of member regions, making the technical details on how to help them participate in and experience better alliance events the highlight of their debates. One event taken as example for argument is the planned URA Global Showcase, scheduled for March 2021. The Flyin2 does not see the necessity for such an event, although it proposes to focus more on URA functions if the showcase does materialize. Meanwhile, Vermont and Montpelier seeks to have all regions on board and model the event as a collection of accomplishments.

In related developments, a pre-election survey independently conducted by Vermont and montpelier was released January 15. For Head of Public Affairs, Vermont and Montpelier leads with 52 percent, followed by The Flyin2 at 33 percent. The rest were write-in votes for unofficial candidates. A total of 27 member nations participated in the said survey, with a margin of error of 15 percent.

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Uncontested Head of Roleplay Candidate Aims to Attract More Activity After Elections


The elections for Head of Interregional Roleplay will be uncontested for the first time since January 2020 with Adachi being the only official candidate for the position. Promising smooth RP operations, Adachi believes that simplifying and advertising the RP facility of the alliance will be beneficial in driving more members to join as active players.

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Contact Information


Feel free to telegram or Discord message the following if you have any questions or comments!

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Authored by Lanaograd and the Public Affairs Council. Banner design by Maricoen. All rights reserved.
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