Erstavik for Prime Minister

Elections Archive
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Fellow, Distinguished, and Honorable South Pacificans:

The South Pacific. This is the region that has brought me immense joy over the years—a place where I’ve always felt welcomed and included. It is a region of striking contrasts: serious in its dedication to governance and community, yet delightfully lighthearted in its camaraderie. It’s a place where I can cite Blackstone in briefings before the High Court while bantering with @The_Weirdo on the RMB.

The South Pacific is home—a home for those of us who have been here for years and a home for newcomers alike.

I have been part of this incredible region since 2021, when Erstavik was founded. While I’ve never before taken part in regional government, the confidence placed in me by @NewAtlanticStates and @Non-Believers through their nomination has inspired me to step forward. And as @Griffindor wisely said, “You won’t get the experience by sitting on the sideline.”

With that wisdom in mind, I am embarking on this campaign for Prime Minister: to protect all that is good in our region and to make it even better.

THE ERSTAVIK PLATFORM

MY VISION
My vision for the South Pacific is of a region that is large, welcoming, thriving, influential, and inclusive—a beacon of freedom and democracy. It is a place where everyone feels at home and where every voice matters.

I envision a region where participating in regional government is seamless and accessible, empowering individuals to make their voices heard. A region where experienced members take newcomers under their wing, providing mentorship and encouragement to help them grow and succeed.

At its core, my vision for the South Pacific is to see it rise as the largest and most influential region in NationStates, setting the standard for excellence, collaboration, and community.

THE ERSTAVIK AGENDA

A highly competent, transperent, and inclusive government
First and foremost, I will work closely with the Assembly, which serves as the voice of the people. In alignment with our democratic ideals, I will regularly engage with Assembly members and hold myself accountable to them. I pledge to refrain from enacting legislation by Executive Order unless it is absolutely and acutely necessary.

I will appoint a Cabinet comprised of the most experienced and competent ministers available. As Prime Minister, my role will be to provide oversight and strategic direction. However, I will trust my ministers to manage their day-to-day responsibilities in areas where their expertise shines. My leadership style will be one of balance: maintaining a hands-off approach while ensuring accountability and control.

To encourage broader participation in governance, I will actively promote and include rising nations in non-Cabinet positions. This will provide valuable experience to newer members and foster greater inclusion in regional government. By creating a cursus honorum, we can pave the way for less experienced nations to engage meaningfully and eventually rise through the ranks.

I will always remain accessible to our citizens and residents. Whether through telegrams, on the RMB, or here on the forum, I will actively engage with the community, ensuring that every voice is heard.

Transparency will be a cornerstone of my administration. I pledge to make regular Sunshine Act releases to promote open and accountable governance. Additionally, I will work with the Assembly to pass an amendment to the Sunshine Act, proposed by @Pronoun, enabling citizens to directly petition the government for Sunshine Act releases.

An even more influential TSP in the World Assembly
I am committed to making the South Pacific the most influential region in the World Assembly. To achieve this, I will encourage all our members to join the WA and endorse the Delegate, thereby increasing our voting power and, in turn, our influence.

Beyond endorsements, I will work to introduce and pass more TSP-backed resolutions in both the General Assembly and the Security Council. Currently, regions like The North Pacific and Europe are the most active in this space. To this end, I will establish a program where TSP members can collaborate on drafting, discussing, and promoting WA resolutions that align with our region’s values and objectives.

Additionally, I will advocate for greater transparency in OWL recommendations. Specifically, I will push for every recommendation to include a clear and detailed rationale. This will not only strengthen the OWL’s legitimacy but also encourage more nations to align their votes with its recommendations.

Support our troops. Defend freedom and democracy.
In accordance with the Charter, I will ensure that our troops are fully supported in their mission to defend innocent regions from attack and oppression, while promoting democratic and legitimate governments sitewide.

As I am not experienced in military affairs, I will prioritize appointing a highly qualified and experienced Minister of Defense to oversee our forces. Alongside them, I will select the most capable admirals to provide me with strategic advice and guidance. Additionally, I will appoint an experienced and competent Regional Security Advisor to further assist me in matters of regional defense and security.

Foreign Affairs
I will promote a dynamic and proactive foreign policy aimed at strengthening and deepening our relationships with longstanding allies while forging new alliances with regions that share our ideals and values. Additionally, I will prioritize the expansion and enhancement of our Ambassador Program.

Strengthening the rule of law
I will actively work to highlight and support the critical work of our High Court, encouraging more nations to engage with and participate in our legal system. To that end, I will appoint a Minister of Justice, ideally someone with much experience from the Assembly and a proven track record of arguing before the High Court. This Minister will help advance executive backed legislation in the Assembly and ensure that the executive branch can consistently present its views as an amicus curiae to the Court.

To safeguard fundamental rights, I will work closely with the Assembly to protect Article III (Rights and Freedoms) in the Charter so that it will become more difficult to alter or amend its basic structure.

Furthermore, I will work with the Assembly to establish a new office: the Assembly Ombudsman. The Ombudsman’s role will be to ensure that all government institutions comply with the laws of the South Pacific. This office will have the authority to initiate investigations sua sponte or in response to complaints. Importantly, the Ombudsman will report solely to the Assembly, maintaining independence and impartiality.

The troubling lack of compliance with the Sunshine Act by various government institutions underscores the need for such an office. An Ombudsman will strengthen accountability and transparency, ensuring that our region’s governance remains just and fair.

TSP Culture
My government will prioritize fostering a vibrant and engaging TSP culture by actively organizing holiday events and other community activities that bring our region together. Additionally, I will explore the possibility of establishing a TSP newspaper. A regional publication would serve as a central hub for news, updates, and insights, making it easier for all members to stay informed about regional happenings and activities.

Focus on recruitment
As @Griffindor rightly mentioned in their campaign, the South Pacific has experienced a decline in member nations—and consequently, influence—due to the formation of frontier regions. To address this challenge, I will work closely with the Delegate to enhance and prioritize recruitment efforts, ensuring the South Pacific remains a thriving and influential region. My government will also build upon the excellent work initiated by @ProfessorHenn with the recruitment bot.

Mentorship program
I want new residents to feel welcomed and encouraged to get involved in regional affairs. To facilitate this, I will implement a mentorship program where experienced members can guide newcomers, helping them navigate our regional government and fostering a sense of belonging.

Reform the Citizenship Committee!
As is evident from Assembly discussions ([2502.AP] Inactive CitComm?, [2433.AP] The End of CitComm) and my case before the High Court ([2501.HR] Review of Erstavik’s Citizenship Application ), the Citizenship Committee is in dire need of reform. To address this, I will work with the Assembly to pass legislation that establishes time limits for processing applications, guarantees a right to request adjudication, and ensures better due process protections for all applicants.

Thank you for taking the time to read my campaign platform and for all your support. Don’t forget to vote Erstavik for Prime Minister! Together, we will build a government by the South Pacificans, for the South Pacificans.

With unwavering loyalty and admiration to all and everyone in the South Pacific,

Emperor Luke

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
I have two nations: my main nation, Erstavik, and a puppet nation, Erstavik Rhodesia. Both are located in the South Pacific. Erstavik has been located here since its founding in 2021, while Erstavik Rhodesia was established just a few weeks ago.

My nations have always been located in the South Pacific, with two brief exceptions. Erstavik was refounded in Lazarus in August, 2024, following a period of inactivity. Erstavik Rhodesia was founded in a frontier region (the exact name of which I, unfortunately, do not recall). In both instances, I relocated them to TSP within a day.

I have never held any position in the regional government of the South Pacific or in any other region. Furthermore, I have never been banned from any region, nor have I been condemned or commended by the World Assembly.

I have a pending case before the High Court ([2501.HR] Review of Erstavik’s Citizenship Application ). As I am now a citizen, I believe that the case is moot. Moreover, I do not consider the case to present any conflict of interest should I be elected Prime Minister.

I am also known as Emperor Luke. My Discord name is Luke (Erstavik).

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Would this be like the fortnightly meetings like how I brought this up in my delegate campaign or a dispatch or something else entirely like discord or forum based

This is a great idea though we need volenteers and what should we prioritize becuase I’m not sure their are many people that are active with forum and game side tbh so we would have to focus on forum most likely or perhaps two with a gameside one and forum one and what about roleplay will they get their own mentor to how to get into one or more of our rps

Over all I believe this is a great pm and I would love to have you at pm

Also you do not appear to have a section on why should we trust you with Prime Ministers power however I believe since you clearly have a thought out plan I choose to believe you won’t abuse the Prime Minsiter powers

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First of all, I want to applaud you for deciding to take a step in running for Prime Minister. As Delegate, many of my happiest moments are when people arrive on the forums and say, “Ebonhand’s telegram sent me here,” or when a newer person runs for office. So thank you!

I must say, your platform is very in-depth and ambitious. I’ve always been a proponent of “under deliver and over preform,” but if you manage to implement even half of your agenda in three months, that might just make you one of the more effective Prime Minister’s in our region’s history.

Some questions:

  1. What do you envision mentorship and “take[ing] newcomers under their wing” looking like? Will it be a formal program of the executive? Or an informal culture?

  2. Being a newcomer, how will you balance delegating work to your experienced ministers and doing it yourself? Will you take advice from them? If there is a disagreement and your minister cites their experience, will you override them as Prime Minister?

  3. Creation of a cursus honorum is interesting. How many such people would you have? One at a time? Do you envision that position as a stepping stone to becoming the next Prime Minister?

  4. The current Prime Minister tried implementing a fortnightly telegram on executive business to send to the RMB, but it did not take off. Do you intend to do something similar to keep the in-game region informed on the off-site goings-on? You mentioned such a publication, but do you have the ability to sustain it?

  5. You mention establishing a program to work on WA Resolutions. Will this program be separate from OWL? Your World Assembly initiatives, by and large, make me optimistic, and assuming I secure my election, I would love to be more active in OWL to strengthen our regional voice.

  6. You say you want to expand and enhance our ambassador program. What would this look like? Historically, our ambassador program has been rather inactive. A potentially new approach would certainly be interesting.

  7. A Minister of Justice. Interesting. Our Court doesn’t see very much action. Would this be part of a program to generate mock cases for the court to adjudicate? If so, I think I see Kringle salivating in the distance. :stuck_out_tongue:

  8. What reforms would you want to see with the Citizenship Committee? The instances you brought up could indeed be part of a larger inefficiency in the Citizenship Committee, but in both cases you mention, the issues were cleared up within a day of light being shown on it. Additionally, I would encourage you to look at Court cases on the Citizenship Committee (and the Legislator Committee before that) they are quite the read!

  9. Cake or Cake? A wrong answer results in my support being pulled :wink:

You’ll probably want to edit this to expand it a bit. You can use mine for inspiration if you’d like. For instance, you note “joy” over the years in the South Pacific, so your CoI may seem a bit lacking if you have been here for years! :stuck_out_tongue:

Overall, I must reiterate my sincere appreciation for this campaign and admit that I am truly impressed. Even if you don’t win your election to the Prime Minster position, I think you will have a bright future in the region.

Thank you in advance, and I look forward to your answers.

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Over all I believe this is a great pm and I would love to have you at pm

First of all thank you! :slight_smile:

Would this be like the fortnightly meetings like how I brought this up in my delegate campaign or a dispatch or something else entirely like discord or forum based

I envision the newspaper as distinct from the fortnightly briefings, offering more in-depth coverage and a deeper dive into regional topics. While the fortnightly updates serve an important role by providing concise summaries, the newspaper could explore subjects with greater detail and depth.

For instance, while the briefing might mention the upcoming Independence Day celebration, the newspaper could provide an in-depth look at its origins, the reasons behind its creation, and the cultural traditions surrounding it. It could also include interviews with different nations about their plans for celebrating Independence Day.

Additionally, the newspaper could play a vital role in increasing awareness of how our government functions. For example, it could feature interviews with @KrisKringle about the High Court or @Welly about the Assembly.

As for the format, I have no specific preference, but I strongly believe the newspaper should be accessible on the game side, rather than being limited to the forums or Discord, in order to maximize outreach and impact.

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@Griffindor @The_Weirdo Thank you for all the questions. I must catch some sleep now, but I’ll be back to answer the questions in detail tomorrow. I will also look into expanding the conflict of interest statement. :blush:

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Would the fortnightly meetings be done by the delegate or news team and if it is the delegate what role would the news team have with the fortnightly meetings
Oh and night sleep tight don’t let the disease that is sleep consume you

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Similar to resident-spotlight ? Or would they be more focused on the functions of the government and how a new citizen might engage?

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Hi–there’s certainly a lot to unpack with this platform, but I like the fresh ideas I’m seeing here. I don’t necessarily support all of them, but they bring up some good discussion.

What will this look like? What does “engaging with Assembly members” and “holding [yourself] accountable to them” mean?

What will this look like? What’s wrong with the current style for OWL recommendations? What needs strengthening?

This is certainly a new idea–touching on Griffindor’s point, judicial systems throughout NationStates are typically less active than other aspects of government. Do you think this Minister of Justice will be ‘used regularly?’ If not, why would need a Minister of Justice?

This is an interesting idea. I like it.

This feels like the duty of an everyday judicial system or a legislative watchdog. I believe all Legislators are watchdogs in their own nature, so why do we need this new Ombudsman office? Did any event influence your thinking as to why we needed this office? Do you think this new office will be used regularly?

You also mention that you’ll “work with the Assembly to establish [this] new office.” Correct me if I’m wrong, but you’re implying that we would amend a current law or pass a new law establishing this office? Or perhaps, would this similar to a deputy chair of the Assembly whose special focus in “ensuring all government institutions comply with [our] laws?”

Ok. This has been tried time after time. I think Griffindor’s tried it and I’ve tried it (this is a survey which was supposed to kickstart a mentorship scheme). And you can guess why you probably haven’t heard of those attempts: they weren’t too successful. It takes a lot of energy to hash out a mentorship program.

How will your mentorship system come to fruition? How will it be different from previous attempts?

In general, I like the fresh energy and the new ideas I’m seeing here. Past attempts at bringing in or back new ministerships, offices, and programs haven’t worked too well recently. In the time I’ve been active in the South Pacific, I’ve witnessed a substantial shrinkage of political roles in order to make our government more efficient. Your platform will expand the government. In your opinion, why do we need these new offices? Why should the government be expanded? Will this increase efficiency?

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I pledge my unwavering loyalty to the South Pacific. As I outlined in my campaign, I have been a proud resident of this region continuously since 2021 and I have never engaged in any nefarious activities or actions that could compromise regional security.

As Prime Minister, my decisions and actions will always be guided by what is in the best interests of the South Pacific and its citizens and residents.

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I appreciate your thoughtful and detailed platform. It’s great to see new folks get involved in our regional government. Some of my questions for you might seem a bit basic compared to those that I put to your opponents. That’s not intended as a slight; it’s simply a reflection of the fact that I’ve heard many of their views on these issues in the past and am curious to learn yours.

What would be such a situation, in your opinion?

Would you support the Assembly establishing a fixed set of executive ministries with defined responsibilities (and, hence, a fixed set of Cabinet ministers that the PM would appoint), or do you prefer the status quo in which the PM is empowered to create and dissolve ministries at will?

Do you believe that the PM should have ultimate authority to command the SPSF, or should it be shared with the Admiralty?

What functions the position of Regional Security Advisor perform that are not currently performed by the MoD, MoFA, or CRS?

I’m not aware that we have an ambassador program at present. What do you envision being the role of ambassadors and how will you ensure that this new program will not suffer from the same challenges that (as I understand) plagued its predecessors, namely that ambassadors end up doing nothing more than posting updates on foreign regions’ forums and have no substantive involvement in FA?

Interesting. It really sounds like you are talking about two different positions here. One is someone to argue cases before the Court on behalf of the government, i.e., a Solicitor General. The other is someone who will advance the government’s legislative agenda, i.e., a whip. I guess this is more of a comment than a question, so I guess my question is—why do you see these two function as logically fitting within the same position?

This has nothing to do with your platform, but I just wanted to state that I entirely take responsibility for the current administration’s lack of Sunshine Act releases. I was—and am—committed to the values of transparency reflected in the Act, but unfortunately RL just got away from me this term. I would be interested in continuing the effort under the next administration, but I certainly understand if the incoming PM would prefer someone who hadn’t proven themselves too busy to meaningfully advance the ball in four months.

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First of all, I want to applaud you for deciding to take a step in running for Prime Minister. As Delegate, many of my happiest moments are when people arrive on the forums and say, “Ebonhand’s telegram sent me here,” or when a newer person runs for office. So thank you!

Thank you! :blush: As I mentioned in both my declaration and campaign post, it was your encouraging message on the RMB that very much inspired me to take this step. Regardless of the outcome of this election, I believe that this has been an important step in becoming more active in TSP government, especially now that I’m also a legislator.

  1. What do you envision mentorship and “take[ing] newcomers under their wing” looking like? Will it be a formal program of the executive? Or an informal culture?

I envision this as an institutional program with an informal approach. By that, I mean the program would be formally established under the executive branch, but without micromanagement from the executive.

From what I’ve seen, Europe has something similar with their Education, Europe. While I’m not familiar with how that operates in practice, I imagine a program with a similar structure: experienced nations volunteering to guide newer members. These mentors would help newcomers navigate TSP, learn about our regional culture, engage with the forum, and understand how the government works.

I believe such a program would have been invaluable to me when I first joined. It would have lowered the barriers of entry into regional politics and made getting involved feel more accessible.

  1. Being a newcomer, how will you balance delegating work to your experienced ministers and doing it yourself? Will you take advice from them? If there is a disagreement and your minister cites their experience, will you override them as Prime Minister?

I will, to the greatest extent possible, defer to the expertise of my more experienced ministers. I would only override their decisions as a last resort if I believed their actions would be seriously detrimental to regional security or the interests of the South Pacific. However, I consider the likelihood of such situations to be minimal.

The only other circumstance in which I might overrule a minister would be if they opposed an initiative that I view as vital to my agenda, such as my commitment to increasing our influence in the WA. However, if our disagreement were so fundamental that it centered on priorities I had already outlined before their appointment, I believe the appropriate course of action would be to relieve them of their Cabinet position in accordance with the Charter.

  1. Creation of a cursus honorum is interesting. How many such people would you have? One at a time? Do you envision that position as a stepping stone to becoming the next Prime Minister?

While the cursus honorum could serve as a stepping stone to becoming Prime Minister, that position is ultimately elected. Therefore, I believe the cursus honorum should primarily function as a pathway to Cabinet positions, though it would certainly be a valuable credential for anyone running for Prime Minister.

I envision the cursus honorum as both an educational program and a system of progressively increasing responsibility under the guidance of the relevant minister. Participants would have the opportunity to shadow their minister and assist with their duties, which would not only provide valuable experience but also help alleviate the minister’s workload.

To begin, I propose establishing two positions for each minister: one junior and one senior. Junior members would advance to senior roles within a single Prime Ministerial term, provided their work is satisfactory. Senior members, in turn, would become eligible for appointment to Cabinet positions.

  1. The current Prime Minister tried implementing a fortnightly telegram on executive business to send to the RMB, but it did not take off. Do you intend to do something similar to keep the in-game region informed on the off-site goings-on? You mentioned such a publication, but do you have the ability to sustain it?

A cornerstone of my administration would be fostering greater engagement between the game side and the regional government, as well as other off-site activities. This effort wouldn’t be limited to communication via telegrams, I would also prioritize active participation on the RMB to connect directly with nations and encourage their involvement. I’ve also been pondering the idea of appointing executive liaisons in the form of highly active RMB users that could help increase engagement between the government and the game side.

While I see significant value in telegrams, especially for conveying important information such as government updates, opportunities to get involved, and other essential news, I do not plan to commit to a fortnightly telegram. I believe this could create unnecessary overlap with the Delegate’s Fortnightly Briefing. Instead, I would focus on delivering meaningful updates when necessary.

The TSP newspaper would differ from telegrams and fortnightly briefings. It would focus on in depth stories and coverage. It would not be a creature of the executive but an independent publication. However, I do see the executive playing a crucial role in supporting its establishment and initial development.

  1. You mention establishing a program to work on WA Resolutions. Will this program be separate from OWL? Your World Assembly initiatives, by and large, make me optimistic, and assuming I secure my election, I would love to be more active in OWL to strengthen our regional voice.

I don’t believe it’s necessary for this initiative to be entirely separate from OWL; in fact, I could see it being incorporated into the existing OWL framework. The primary goal is for the South Pacific to become more visible and influential in the WA—both on the forums and in drafting resolutions.

I’ve considered the idea of appointing a dedicated Minister of WA Affairs as a separate position from the OWL Director. This minister’s role would focus on increasing WA engagement and representing the South Pacific’s voice on the GA and SC forums. That said, I’m very flexible with this approach and open to discussion. I believe it’s important to consult with experienced members like yourself to determine the best course of action.

  1. You say you want to expand and enhance our ambassador program. What would this look like? Historically, our ambassador program has been rather inactive. A potentially new approach would certainly be interesting.

I envision an active ambassador program, ideally with an ambassador assigned to every region where we maintain an embassy. These ambassadors would be responsible for maintaining regular contact with the Minister of Foreign Affairs (or their equivalent) in their respective regions and reporting back to the Cabinet. This would help ensure that our government remains informed about developments in other regions, including the state of their governments.

In addition to fostering diplomatic ties, I would encourage our ambassadors to be active participants on the RMBs of their assigned regions. They would share information about TSP, such as updates on regional happenings, and serve as a point of contact to answer questions about our region.

I also see the ambassador program as a potential cursus honorum for the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs.

  1. A Minister of Justice. Interesting. Our Court doesn’t see very much action. Would this be part of a program to generate mock cases for the court to adjudicate? If so, I think I see Kringle salivating in the distance. :stuck_out_tongue:

If the Charter’s provision on Legal Questions permits it, I believe this could serve a useful purpose. However, I would be cautious not to inundate the Court with excessive work. Most importantly, I believe it’s essential for the government to ensure its voice is heard in cases before the Court.

I also see this position playing a key role in drafting and advancing government backed legislation in the Assembly. Just as we have a Minister of Defense and a Minister of Foreign Affairs, I think it’s valuable to have a dedicated Minister of Justice to focus on legal questions.

  1. What reforms would you want to see with the Citizenship Committee? The instances you brought up could indeed be part of a larger inefficiency in the Citizenship Committee, but in both cases you mention, the issues were cleared up within a day of light being shown on it. Additionally, I would encourage you to look at Court cases on the Citizenship Committee (and the Legislator Committee before that) they are quite the read!

I believe introducing statutory provisions in the Citizenship Act with clear time limits would be an important reform. While I don’t believe there is any ill intent behind the Citizenship Committee’s recent backlog, I feel that legislation—particularly constitutional legislation—should always account for worst case scenarios.

As it stands, the Citizenship Committee has the potential to delay a citizenship application indefinitely simply by refusing to adjudicate it. I also find some of the current provisions in the Citizenship Act, such as section 2(1)(a) “the Citizenship Committee does not opine that they are seeking citizenship in bad faith”, to be overly subjective. This could lead to arbitrary or inconsistent application.

  1. Cake or Cake? A wrong answer results in my support being pulled :wink:

I love cake :cake:, cake on cake :cake:, cake with cake :cake:, ice-cream cake :cake:, and pie cake :cake:.

Overall, I must reiterate my sincere appreciation for this campaign and admit that I am truly impressed. Even if you don’t win your election to the Prime Minster position, I think you will have a bright future in the region.

Thank you so much for your kind words! :blush: Regardless of I win the election or not, I plan to be more active in the region. I will certainly try to advance some of my ideas in the Assembly in any case.

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Would the fortnightly meetings be done by the delegate or news team and if it is the delegate what role would the news team have with the fortnightly meetings
Oh and night sleep tight don’t let the disease that is sleep consume you

I would like to see the delegate continue with the fortnightly briefings. The newspaper would be separate from the fortnightly briefings or government updates and instead focus on in depth stories and coverage.

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What will this look like? What does “engaging with Assembly members” and “holding [yourself] accountable to them” mean?

To me, this means that I will provide regular updates to the Assembly on the work of my government and actively seek their valuable input. It also means that if the Assembly expresses strong opposition to a policy or action taken by my government, I will listen to their concerns and refrain from implementing that policy.

What will this look like? What’s wrong with the current style for OWL recommendations? What needs strengthening?

As I recall, OWL recommendations used to include a rationale explaining why a certain vote was being recommended. However, currently, the OWL recommendations simply state “For” or “Against” without offering any supporting argument. As a result, I, along with many other nations in TSP, often vote differently from the OWL recommendation.

If the OWL recommendations were more detailed and included a clear rationale, I believe more nations would be inclined to align their votes with the recommendations. This would not only improve the effectiveness of the OWL but also strengthen our collective voice in the World Assembly.

This is certainly a new idea–touching on Griffindor’s point, judicial systems throughout NationStates are typically less active than other aspects of government. Do you think this Minister of Justice will be ‘used regularly?’ If not, why would need a Minister of Justice?

I think it would be great to have a more active judiciary (though, admittedly, that’s partly because I’m a legal nerd :upside_down_face:)! I believe the Minister for Justice would be a regularly used position. They would be responsible for overseeing all government activities in the legal sphere, including advising the government on legal matters, submitting amicus curiae briefs to the High Court, and assisting in the drafting of government backed legislation in the Assembly. Being appointed Minister of Justice could also serve as a stepping stone toward becoming a justice on the High Court,

This is an interesting idea. I like it.

The concept of a “basic structure doctrine” is an AFK constitutional principle that is used in some former British colonies, most notably in India, where the term was first coined in the Supreme Court case Kesavananda Bharati v. State of Kerala. The doctrine asserts that some rights are so fundamental to the constitution that they cannot be repealed, altered, or amended in a way that would change their core substance.

In other words, while the rights enumerated in Article III of our Charter could be edited or modified in a technical sense, they could not be repealed, altered, or amended in a way that would fundamentally undermine their core principles. This principle is also present in other legal systems, often referred to as an “entrenched clause” or “eternity clause.”

This feels like the duty of an everyday judicial system or a legislative watchdog. I believe all Legislators are watchdogs in their own nature, so why do we need this new Ombudsman office? Did any event influence your thinking as to why we needed this office? Do you think this new office will be used regularly?

You also mention that you’ll “work with the Assembly to establish [this] new office.” Correct me if I’m wrong, but you’re implying that we would amend a current law or pass a new law establishing this office? Or perhaps, would this similar to a deputy chair of the Assembly whose special focus in “ensuring all government institutions comply with [our] laws?”

The Assembly Ombudsman, while reporting to the Assembly, would be an independent office tasked with ensuring the protection of fundamental rights and ensuring that government institutions comply with the law. This position is modeled after the Parliamentary Ombudsman found in the Nordic countries. Ideally, the Ombudsman should have subpoena powers and some form of sanctioning power.

If an individual feels their rights have been violated, they should be able to file a complaint with the Ombudsman, who would then launch an independent investigation. The Ombudsman should also have the authority to initiate investigations sua sponte.

The value of this office is that it would provide residents and citizens in TSP with a mechanism to seek redress if they feel they’ve been treated unfairly by government institutions. The Ombudsman would also help enforce compliance with existing laws, such as the Sunshine Act, and exert pressure on government institutions to abide by them. I believe this office would be used regularly.

Although there was no specific event that led me to the conclusion that an Ombudsman is needed, the regular non-compliance with the Sunshine Act and the Citizenship Committee’s application backlog, I believe highlights the need for an independent body to ensure accountability.

In some ways, the Ombudsman’s role could be seen as similar to that of the Deputy Chair, but the Ombudsman would have a fundamentally different responsibility in investigating complaints and ensuring government actions follow the law. The Ombudsman would not only play a role in investigating issues but also make legislative recommendations based on their findings.

To establish the Ombudsman’s office, we would need to pass new legislation. While I hope the office will one day be constitutionally protected, I believe it would be best to begin by establishing it in regular law and see how it works out.

Ok. This has been tried time after time. I think Griffindor’s tried it and I’ve tried it (this is a survey which was supposed to kickstart a mentorship scheme). And you can guess why you probably haven’t heard of those attempts: they weren’t too successful. It takes a lot of energy to hash out a mentorship program.

How will your mentorship system come to fruition? How will it be different from previous attempts?

I will copy a bit of my response to @Griffindor here since the question is similar:
I envision this as an institutional program with an informal approach. By that, I mean the program would be formally established under the executive branch, but without micromanagement from the executive.

From what I’ve seen, Europe has something similar with their Education, Europe. While I’m not familiar with how that operates in practice, I imagine a program with a similar structure: experienced nations volunteering to guide newer members. These mentors would help newcomers navigate TSP, learn about our regional culture, engage with the forum, and understand how the government works.

In addition to what I wrote in that comment, I found your survey to be very interesting. I hadn’t come across it before. I’m not entirely sure how my mentorship program would differ from previous attempts as I’m not too familiar with them, and I don’t want to discredit the efforts of others. Before launching the program, I think it would be beneficial for my administration to discuss our ideas with more experienced users like yourself to better understand what hasn’t worked in the past. One thing I might do differently is appoint a minister dedicated to bridging the gap between the game side and off-site TSP.

In general, I like the fresh energy and the new ideas I’m seeing here. Past attempts at bringing in or back new ministerships, offices, and programs haven’t worked too well recently. In the time I’ve been active in the South Pacific, I’ve witnessed a substantial shrinkage of political roles in order to make our government more efficient. Your platform will expand the government. In your opinion, why do we need these new offices? Why should the government be expanded? Will this increase efficiency?

I believe expanding the government would be beneficial for the region. A small government is not always in the best interest of the South Pacific. For instance, not having a Minister of Foreign Affairs undermines our influence. By increasing the number of ministers, we would reduce the workload on each individual, leading to greater efficiency. Additionally, a larger government could make participation in regional affairs less burdensome and more appealing. More offices would also create opportunities for less experienced members to get involved, which would lower the barriers to entry. This approach would align with my envisioned cursus honorum, making it easier for new nations to rise through the ranks.

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Similar to resident-spotlight ? Or would they be more focused on the functions of the government and how a new citizen might engage?

The interview section would be similar to the resident-spotlight or @Penguin’s interviews, but it would only be one aspect of the newspaper. I envision the newspaper featuring a variety of sections, including TSP culture, regional events, government work, and TSP history. I would also like the newspaper to be published game side in order maximize outreach.

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First of all, thank you for your kind words! :blush:

What would be such a situation, in your opinion?

As you know the Charter states in pertinent part that: “The Prime Minister may issue Executive Orders to address an immediate and pressing issue created by ambiguity or holes in a particular law, which will immediately have the effect of law.”

I would only exercise this power if an ambiguity or hole in the law posed an immediate threat to regional security or stability. It is my belief that it is not the executive’s role to fill gaps in inadequately written laws; that responsibility should lie with the legislature. Accordingly, I view this provision as a reserve power to be used with the utmost restraint. If a situation arises where I must legislate by Executive Order, I would first give the Assembly the opportunity to pass the necessary legislation through the ordinary process before resorting to using that power.

Would you support the Assembly establishing a fixed set of executive ministries with defined responsibilities (and, hence, a fixed set of Cabinet ministers that the PM would appoint), or do you prefer the status quo in which the PM is empowered to create and dissolve ministries at will?

No, I believe it is a fundamental principle of the separation of powers that the Prime Minister should have the authority to create and dissolve ministries at will. Cabinet ministers and ministries derive their mandate from the Prime Minister, and thus, the Prime Minister should have broad discretion to establish ministries and appoint or dismiss ministers as needed. This flexibility is essential for the Prime Minister to effectively implement their agenda, which reflects the democratic will of the citizenry. If voters feel that a Prime Minister has abolished valuable ministries or created unnecessary ones, they can express their dissatisfaction through the electoral process.

Do you believe that the PM should have ultimate authority to command the SPSF, or should it be shared with the Admiralty?

Given the critical importance of regional security, I believe it would be prudent to establish a legal framework granting the Prime Minister shared ultimate authority over the command of the SPSF alongside the Admiralty. However, this framework should include a provision allowing the Prime Minister to unilaterally command the SPSF in situations of such urgency that consultation with the Admiralty is not reasonably feasible.

What functions the position of Regional Security Advisor perform that are not currently performed by the MoD, MoFA, or CRS?

The Regional Security Advisor would not be a Cabinet member but rather a personal advisor to me as Prime Minister. This role is particularly important given my limited experience in regional security matters, as it would provide me with a knowledgeable individual to consult. Additionally, the Regional Security Advisor could offer a broader perspective on regional security matters, something that might be overlooked if the MoD, MoFA, and CRS are too narrowly focused on their specific areas of responsibility.

I’m not aware that we have an ambassador program at present. What do you envision being the role of ambassadors and how will you ensure that this new program will not suffer from the same challenges that (as I understand) plagued its predecessors, namely that ambassadors end up doing nothing more than posting updates on foreign regions’ forums and have no substantive involvement in FA?

I will copy a part of my reply to @Griffindor, since the first part of your question addresses the same subject matter:

I envision an active ambassador program, ideally with an ambassador assigned to every region where we maintain an embassy. These ambassadors would be responsible for maintaining regular contact with the Minister of Foreign Affairs (or their equivalent) in their respective regions and reporting back to the Cabinet. This would help ensure that our government remains informed about developments in other regions, including the state of their governments.

In addition to fostering diplomatic ties, I would encourage our ambassadors to be active participants on the RMBs of their assigned regions. They would share information about TSP, such as updates on regional happenings, and serve as a point of contact to answer questions about our region.

Regarding the second part of your question, if an ambassador fails to fulfill their duties, I will dismiss them. That said, I believe there is significant value in posting updates on foreign regions’ forums and RMBs, as sharing news from our region and cultural exchanges are important aspects of an ambassador’s role. Ideally, however, I want my ambassadors to actively engage with the respective region’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and provide regular reports back to me. However, this also hinges somewhat on the political landscape of each region, which would be beyond the scope of my control.

Interesting. It really sounds like you are talking about two different positions here. One is someone to argue cases before the Court on behalf of the government, i.e., a Solicitor General. The other is someone who will advance the government’s legislative agenda, i.e., a whip. I guess this is more of a comment than a question, so I guess my question is—why do you see these two function as logically fitting within the same position?

I agree that these responsibilities could be divided into two separate positions, but given the workload, I believe the Minister of Justice could handle both. To assist with this, the Minister of Justice could appoint a Solicitor General, which I think is an excellent idea. The Solicitor General would serve under the Minister of Justice and could be an ideal position within the cursus honorum that I discussed in my response to @Griffindor I don’t envision the Minister of Justice functioning as a whip. Rather, their role in relation to the Assembly would involve assisting with drafting and advocating for government backed legislation on behalf of my administration.

This has nothing to do with your platform, but I just wanted to state that I entirely take responsibility for the current administration’s lack of Sunshine Act releases. I was—and am—committed to the values of transparency reflected in the Act, but unfortunately RL just got away from me this term. I would be interested in continuing the effort under the next administration, but I certainly understand if the incoming PM would prefer someone who hadn’t proven themselves too busy to meaningfully advance the ball in four months.

From what I’ve seen, you’ve been doing outstanding work in the Assembly, and I was particularly impressed by your briefs in the cases concerning the Resolution to Restore Regional Accountability before the High Court. If I am elected Prime Minister, it would be an honor to collaborate with you on addressing our shared concerns, including matters related to the Sunshine Act.

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Thank you @The_Weirdo, @Griffindor, @Of_the_Ages, @maluhia, and @Welly, for your insightful and through questions! :hugs:

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This campaign is quite interesting, I like the idea of new people here. Definitely exceeded my expectations.

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Thank you for your comprehensive to my (and others’) questions. All I will add is that I look forward to a vigorous debate in the Assembly over the below position.

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Wouldn’t this usurp the role of the High Court?

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Wouldn’t this usurp the role of the High Court?

No, the role of the Ombudsman would be fundamentally distinct from that of the High Court, as the Ombudsman would not function as a court but rather as an investigative body. It would operate as a hybrid between a prosecutor and a legislative committee with subpoena powers, but its mandate would be strictly limited to investigating government bodies and officials in the performance of their official duties.

While there might be some overlap with the High Court during the investigative stage of a criminal case, this overlap would be limited. If the Ombudsman’s investigation revealed that an individual had violated a provision of the Criminal Code, the Ombudsman would still be required to refer the case to the High Court, in accordance with Article VII. Section 7. of the Charter. In other words, the Ombudsman would not usurp the role of the High Court; such a result is entirely outside the scope of how I envision its role.

Additionally, the Ombudsman would sort under the legislative branch rather than the judicial branch of government.