[Forum Game] - Crisis in the Reichstag

[Frymonmon]

German Federal Elections of 1912

With the Kaiser calling the official end to the election season, the results from the German Federal Election finally came in with surprising results. Out of the 397 seats up for election, the Social Democratic Party was given the most seats, totaling 94 Reichstag Members, up 51 seats from the 1907 election. The Second largest party in the Reichstag was the Far-Right German Reich Party, with 90 Seats for a total of 66 gained since the 1907 election. The German Conservative party clocked in at the third largest with 54 seats, down 6 since the last election. The National Liberals also lost a significant amount of representatives, going from 54 seats to 47 seats in 1912. The biggest loser in the Reichstag, however, was the Centre Party. Totaling 105 seats from the 1907 election, the Centre Party was only awarded 26 seats, a net loss of 79 seats in Reichstag. The Progressive People's Party was only given 20 seats, down from 49 in the 1907 election. Other minority parties had gain 66 seats, stable since the last election.

This surprising result, mostly from the Centre Party, long the ruling party of the German Empire, was a shock to most Germans and political analysts. One could only guess, with Left and Right factions rising and the moderate centre going away, that the German public was becoming increasingly polarized and dissatisfied with the status quot. However, even with this general fact, the Kaiser decided to appoint Reinhart von und zu Birkenfeld, leader of the Centre Party as the Chancellor of the German Empire. He ordered him to gain the 199 Reichstag members needed to form a legislative majority, but with only 26 seats, the uphill climb seemed to give the new Chancellor a challenge to form a coalition Government.

With the new Reichstag sworn in, each of the five major parties went to elect their leaders. As of right now, only two parties were unanimous in their leadership choices, that was Reinhart von und zu Birkenfeld of the Centre Party, and Albert Rudolf Frahm of the Progressive Party. Each of the other three parties must now choose their leader to bring them through this next parliamentary session.

[Seek75]

I would like to put myself forward as head of the National Liberals.

Under my leadership, the National Liberals will continue to promote economic freedom for all Germans. This includes embracing free trade and allowing business to do as it wishes. I would also promote investment in our colonies, in order to develop them further and to make them an integral part of the Reich. I would also be willing to enter into a coalition with Zentrum in order to form a government.

[MastahCheef117]

"I, Friedrich von Weiss, place myself forward as leader of the Deutschekonservative Partei (German Conservative Party). With me as head of this grand party, we shall reach our place as largest party within the Reichstag. We shall uphold the traditional values of federalism, protectionism, and, over all else, traditional conservatism. The monarchy shall be upheld as the chief power in all of Germany. Under my leadership, we shall seek a coalition with the Centre Party, the National Liberal Party, and the German Reich Party, in order to form a majority within the Reichstag."

[Frymonmon]

I place my support to Friedrich von Weiss in the Deutschekonservative Partei elections.

[Shock3r]

I also place my support for Friedrich von Weiss in the Deutschekonservative Partei elections.

[Stuckenschmidt]

I hereby nominate Gebhard Lothar Freiherr von Richthofen as Party Leader of the Social Democratic Party.

[Thandros]

I will grudgingly support Gebhard Lothar Freiherr von Richthofen as leader of the Social Democratic party for now but only if he can protect the workers against the horrors of capitalism.

[Muskeato]

I, Hans, have no time to lead the SPD, as my acting career, combined with my writing, leaves no time for such trivial business. I therefore shall let the rest of the party decide.

~Purely out of interest, how easily can we change parties?

[tyriet]

In an effort to strengthen our Party and to get ourselves into the ruling Coalition,i announce my Candidacy for leader of the German Reich Party.
Under my leadership, we will support the old ideals of the Reich, try to maintain its strength and not let these damned Socialists aiming to destroy our great Reich and aiming to dishonor the great Kaiser into power.
Trust the old ideals that have served us so well, trust me, trust the German Reich Party. Gott erhalts.

[Suirantes]

I, Gebhard Lothar Freiherr von Richthofen would like to nominate myself as the leader of the Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands (Social Democratic Party). With me as the head of the party, we shall uphold the ideas that social reforms are necessary to create a more egalitarian society, women are equal, the chancellor must be elected by popular vote and not appointed by the Kaiser and end the rampant militarism present in the German Empire.

[KeldoniaSkylar]

OOC: I need the parties to finish their internal elections before I can form a coalition, so please do so.

[Frymonmon]

OOC: Party Elections are officially over.

[Spectre17]

I, Wilhelm II, request that all parties loyal to their nation assist the Chancellor, Reinhart von und zu Birkenfeld, in getting a majority in the Reichstag.

[Stuckenschmidt]

I, Wilhelm II, request that all parties loyal to their nation assist the Chancellor, Reinhart von und zu Birkenfeld, in getting a majority in the house.

OOC: Everybody in the house tonight let me hear you say YOOOO-OOO.

[Dyranum]

OOC: Yoink!

Name: Kavehe Kalemburer (actually just pseudonym, real name: "Otto von Mann")
Born: 1870 (aged 42)
Party: SPD
Occupation: Writer, Politician
Background: A leftist writer, known for his slightly more radical and mixed ideology than what is normal for the left.

[Mr. Santiago]

OOC: Since there's a Gov't in the making, figured I might just post the RL cabinet positions there were, in case anyone wonders:
Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, Foreign, Interior, Justice, Marine, Post, Treasure, Colonies

Source: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kabinett_Bethmann_Hollweg

[Duke of Britain]

Name: Artur Friedrich von Essen
Age: 32
Political affiliation: Centre Party
Biography: Eh (will create later)

[KeldoniaSkylar]

It is with great pleasure that I, Rheinhart von und zu Birkenfeld, appointed chancellor by our Kaiser, Wilhelm II, and tasked to form a government, announce the formation of a minority coalition. *The coalition government will be composed of Zentrum, the German Conservative Party, the National Liberal Party, the Progressive People's Party, the Economic Union, *the German Reform Party, the Independents, and the Bavarian Peasants' League, with a total of 167 seats (ooc: might add a few more soon).

Our coalition will seek to improve economic growth, pass some political reform, and, according to the Kaiser's wishes, increase the size of the imperial navy.

I would also like to announce the governments composition:
Chancellor and Treasury Minister: Reinhart von und zu Birkenfeld (Keldoniaskylar)
Vice Chacellor and Justice Minister: Friedrich von Weiss (MastahCheef117)
Colonial Minister: Eric Thauman (Seek75)
Post Master General: Albert Rudolf Frahm (Mr. Santiago)
Naval Minister: Artur Friedrich von Essen (Duke of Britain
Interior Minister: *Otto von Reinhart (Frymonmon)
Foreign Minister: Siegfried von Wolf (Shock3r)

[Seek75]

I am honored to serve alongside my fellow Germans, and am honored to be the Colonial Minister.

As Colonial Minister, I will promote greater investment and development of our colonies, so that they are no longer meaningless trophies, but are rather profitable, strategic centers of German might in other areas of the world.

Heil der Kaiser! Heil der Vaterland! Heil Deutschland!

[Stuckenschmidt]

Gentlemen,

I hereby congratulate Mr. von und zu Birkenfeld and welcome him as the new Chancellor of our country. Nevertheless I must express my worries about the course of our new Government. Although I appreciate the general willingness for political reforms despite the fact, that this announcement was rather vague, and although I welcome any economic growth as long as it also benefits the common worker, the focus on our Navy and colonies will only have the effect to alienate ourselves from our western neighbors, especially the United Kingdom.

This is even more true, since the motive for such a policy is not the benefit of our country and its people, but rather unreflecting nationalism and increase in petty prestige. The most obvious evidence for this is the adress of our new Colonial Minister, Mr. Thauman, who already seems to have declared war on the german language.

I hereby urge the new government to focus on domestic investments and curtail our foreign policy to those measures, that are apt to improve our relations with our fellow nations, otherwise the german nation ship is destined to run aground.