Preamble

The Alexandrian Pride Party is always on the recieving end of unjust criticism. We are deemed 'republicans' and 'radicals'. If we are radical, it is because we speak out on the issues that have floated around for far too long. It is now time for us to address those issues. This party has a deep loyalty to the people of Alexandria. We want them to have democracy - a true democracy. There are those who have branded us 'communists' for wanting this. But democracy is a fundamental human right. There can be nothing that is more precious than being able to speak one's mind and enjoy every freedom that a person should be able to take for granted.

Parliament

The Imperial Parliament is a joke. It has no foundation, no standing orders, no rules - it is a forum for debate and very little else. The last time a good bill came out of it was when the Emergency Act was passed - and it was the Alexandrian Pride Party who are responsible for that Act - an act providing the protection you need in times of crisis. The Parliament seems to be made up of inactive MPs who only turn up to register their vote. Members of the Clergy and foreigners are welcome to just waltz into your Parliament and make statements against your representatives. Is that right? No it isn't. The Alexandrian Pride Party will bring a new Parliament to Alexandria. Each province will have an elected representative who will sit in a Parliament and will be required to submit at least 3 pieces of legislation a week. The Speaker will be a neutral referee and not an MP who may swing the vote to suit his own needs. The Emperor will be required to give his assent but no longer will he be allowed to submit legislation. You didn't elect him to do that and his role in national politics must be assessed. This new Parliament will ensure activity and democracy. There will be a public chamber where you may come and raise your concerns. The clergy will be forbidden from entering our Parliament as will foreigners who believe themselves to be above the law. It is time to take severe action.

Local Councils

Local Councils are good things - when they work with national government. Therefore, all local councils will be required to submit all passed documents to the national government for it's approval. There will be no local constitutions - we will all live and work under one constitution that binds everyone from a Prince to a gravedigger. In Ascuncion, a foreigner with a bogus title came riding in and declared a council formed - a vote was held and the council was created. But what good has it done? Augusto Benavides, as head of the council, claims that he is Head of State of Ascuncion and is above the authority of Parliament. He claims to be a Governor of the province. He claims that he has more power than your representative in Parliament. All from a man so incompetent that he couldn't run his own country and had to rely on Alexandria for support and hand-outs. What right has he to set up councils with his own rules? It should be you who make the rules. And you will. Local councils will be encouraged but unlike in Ascuncion, they won't create seperate states of our provinces. Unity is the key.

The Imperial Family

We are willing to work with them. Blind loyalty is never a good thing. Blind loyalty was given to Hitler and we live with the reminder of his actions every day. In the same way, we find people in high ranking positions giving their loyalty without question. The balance has to be re-addressed. The Emperor should be a figurehead. A neutral figure in politics, above the workings of Parliament but not above his people. The people will support him if he supports them. We want a constitutional monarchy - that is a monarchy bound to the same constitution as his people. A constitution that is fair and gives the people freedom. Furthur to this, members of the Imperial Family should not be allowed to serve in political parties. If the Crown Prince were to be elected Prime Minister, would that not centralise power giving us very little freedom or a chance to speak out against his actions?

Activity

Where has your Prime Minister been? The Conservative Party has done nothing for Alexandria. Matthew Poitiers has been absent from Parliament, he has been absent from Alexandria and he has failed to consult the people on the issue of war to name but one. He has failed you in every way. He has hardly introduced any legislation, he has no cabinet and his answer to criticism is to shout 'God Save Alexandria'. If this country continues under his leadership then we will will only have God to count on to save us. The Prime Minister and his party have had the chance to make changes. And they have done nothing. The Alexandrian Pride Party has been more active since our formation than the Prime Minister in his entire term of office. It is time to say no to this insult. We need an active Prime Minister and active MPs or Alexandria can never progress.

Conclusion

To sum up, we want not only democracy for Alexandria - we want truth and dedication. We want to build a country free of oppression. Let us look at two figures who have been fiercely against the Alexandrian Pride Party. 1) Augusto Benavides. This man claims to be a Head of State, when the Emperor himself says he has never given him that title. He claims that his title gives him a power over Ascuncion that is higher than the authority of the people. He seems to believe he has the right to silence us to 'protect public order'. In truth, he doesn't want us to be heard because he knows people will realise the truth. This man is an asylum seeker. His own country was floundering and he turned to us, the Alexandrian people for help which our Emperor gave him. It seems that he still thinks he is in charge. He has 'ordered' me to remain silent and has tried to remove me from parliament and a local council that in truth, he had no authority to set up. 2) We have Cardinal de Beaufort who, given his position as a representative of the Catholic Church, should remain firmly out of politics. But yet he has made threats, he has used foul language and has even claimed he will stand as an MP even if it breaks the laws of the church he represents. Like his friend Benavides, he seems to make laws to suit himself. Can you trust your country in the hands of these jokers? Of Course not.

Our first priority is Alexandria. We will not sit idle and shout acclamations. We will not cry 'God Save the Emperor' and hope it will turn out right in the end. We will take action and we promise to take any action needed to bring democracy to this country of ours. You know that we are the only party with true beliefs and true goals. We must work as one. We must be one. We must triumph and take Alexandria into a golden age where you the people prosper whilst the fat-cats with their meaningless titles are left to starve as you have been for so long. It is time to stand up and make your vote. Give it to us.

I don't know about you, but I'm a born and bred Grandian. I serve in the Confederation before we even consider joining the Empire. I've always had the Grandian's interest at heart.

Miss Douay here is whining about a foreign came to her province. What is she here? She ain't no Grandian. She didn't like things were ran in her home so she came running to us to convince you that she is all high minded. She wants to impose her opinion on us. Well, Rio Grande has always been free. We decided fairly to join the Empire. We decided our fate. Now don't let her take that away from us.

Admiral, you are right, you are the right person to represent Rio Grande before the Imperial Parliament.

Mrs. Douay was not good enough to represent the interests of the people of Asunción, and the only thing she is looking is to keep her income as a seat-warmer at the Parliament, she doesn't care about the people she says she repsresents, she only cares about her political party and her so-called fight for democracy.

Rio Grande, I am still a regular visitor to this great lands, specially my home in Zapata, and for sure I wouldn't want this kind of person representing you before the Parliament.

The Rio Grande is now a part of Alexandria. It is Alexandrian territory. Therefore, only an Alexandrian - a true Alexandrian, should represent the Rio Grande at the elections. If you served the Rio Grande so well, why didn't it stay as an independant nation?

Ok, let me get this straight...

Define a "true Alexandrian", if by this you mean a non-Grandian Alexandrian, then why would you want to represent "non-true alexandrians" or "false alexandrians" before the Parliament...ohh I think I got one idea, to keep your political and social status!!!!

While you thought you would offend me, you have offended the whole population of the Rio Grande, and still you want them to vote for you; and for what??? You ain't gonna respect their choices, you are not going to defend their interests, the only thing you care about is to remain at the Parliament no matter what it takes, shame on you lady!!!.

She has offended me as well. I'm not a true Alexandrian? I have served the Empire. I'm kinda insulted here.

Oh my God! I cannot believe what I've just read. Grandians please don't be insulted by Miss Douay, she is totally wrong, you are true Alexandrians like any of us! So don't you mind Miss Douay's comments, you are true Grandians and true Alexandrians, everybody knows this!!

Hail the Grandians! Hail the Alexandrians!

Sincerely,

In my view and the view of the APP, all citizens of Rio Grande are Alexandrians.

You have as much right to have your voice heard as anyone else.

Now I can sleep at night...