Good morning gentlemen, and welcome to the Reichstag. Things have been quite hectic the last days due to the intensive campaigning going on, and with the elections starting today we can’t blame anyone for being excited. Still, important events are going on outside of our borders, and it is still my job to report them.
Sternberg. A German count that fled the Fatherland in order to go fight the good fight in Mongolia. Dispised by some, praised by some, feared by others. One can say many things about the man’s mental health, but still, it is truth that he has managed to get an iron grip over the Mongolian nation, and is a force to be reckoned with in Central-Asia. Only recently, Sternberg has made a public speech to the Mongolian population that he aims to restore Genghis Khan’s great empire and put an end to, and I quote ‘The decadent Chinese warlords that deny the people their true Mongolian legacy!’. Bold words, but it is still to be seen what he can accomplish in the future.
Our embassy in Moscow is worried, and with reason. After the assasination of Kerensky it appears the Mensheviks have taken control of the country. This, however, was not approved by the Communist fractions in the Duma, who left the Kremlin earlier today vowing to take down their Imperialist government in a communist revolution. Reports have been streaming in from all over the former Tsarist republic that the Bolsheviks are arming for total war, and the Russian army is on the move. Our Mitteleuropean allies have sent all their forces to the border with Russia. Let us just hope this madness does not spill over into Europe.
Which brings me back to our internal politics. Many of you have been campaigning actively the past few months, and our speculants have been so kind as to offer us a short overview.
The campaigning started off halfway through January, with the formation of the radical Iron Fist under party leader Alexus, allied to the Haxist NCRP. Both are among the strongest parties in the country, and their rise to power kicked up a lot of dust in the Reichstag
In response, the more moderate parties formed a Grand Coalition and began to actively campaign against the unstoppable growth of the Radicals. They were sucessfull by launching a smear campaign linking Radicalism to Syndicalist and other far-left policies, despised by many Germans.
What nobody saw coming, happened: The Reichsfront, Germany’s oldest and largest party, was completely crushed by the rise of the Prussian Conservative Party. After losing 95% of it’s members to the PCP, party leader Vesimir gave up hope and disbanded the party, making the PCP a dominant force and favourite for the March elections. Now, Admiral Yamatamoto has rallied his party to the Prussian flag and formed a powerfull coalition, aiming to seize the chair of Chancellor for himself and no other. Will he succeed?
In response to the rise of the right-wing PCP, the left itself began a rallying movement, carried forth by the radical German Socialist Alliance and the Communist ABNB. In the power struggle between left and right, the center saw itself forced to reorganise and soon, some of Germany’s strongest parties merged into the Liberal Center Party, a second all-time favourite for the elections.
And that is the situation right now. The Reichstag has become a frontline in the parties’ debate over the role of the military, our claim on Austria, social reforms and many more. For now, many speculants believe the election will turn out favourable for Admiral Yamatamoto, the German Nationalists and the Liberal Central Party, but all is still possible. Whoever assumes the seat of Chancellor awaits no easy task: Many troubles lie ahead in the future.
Three days ago the Berlin Stock Market crashed completely, leaving economic havoc in it’s wake. As we speak, hundreds of factories are shutting down, workers are being fired and our economic system is collapsing. It is not yet clear what the depth of this crisis is, but it will undoubtedly be a mayor challenge for the next government.
The world stage is moving. In Asia, the Ottoman Empire has begun a remilitarisation campaign of unseen proportions. The Arab states are baffled as the country known as ‘The terminally ill man of Europe’ jumps out of economic recession in the blink of an eye, and begins to rearm it’s militaries, reclaiming the lost Ottoman lands. In Asia, the German-friendly Qing Empire has also begun their Great Reformation. Both states could be possible allies, or mortal enemies to the German Empire, and the parties are divided. Who knows what the future will bring?
In Asia, the Chinese protests continue to grow in size, and oure local embassies fear the situation is on the verge of escalating. Still, the corporate government of the AoA claims the situation is under control, but after the burning of their head-office by local rebels, less and less believe this claim.
The Syndicalist state of France will organise the Third International soon, a prestiguous meeting of leftists and Syndicalists from all over the world. This is an event that has upset many of our businessmen, as France and it’s Syndicalist allies aim for a worldwide revolution, and are known to have been secretly funding the German Socialist Alliance and the ABNB.
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I have nothing more to share, gentlemen. In a few hours, the election offices open for duty, and millions of Germans have been called to vote for the future of Germany. To all party leaders present today: Good luck, god speed, and I hope to welcome one of you as Chancellor soon.
By the power vested in me by the German Empire and the Kaiser, I hereby declare the 1936 Reichstag elections OPENED!