BalderBoard

Political position and key election policies

Social Democratic and Liberal Party (centre-left to left)

Foreign policy: supports further participation by Genovia-Karlsruhe in international organizations and increased regional cooperation; note that it is estimated that 34 of the party's MPs opposes membership of the World Assembly. The Social Democratic and Liberal Party supports increased international efforts on the part of Genovia-Karlsruhe in the areas of peace keeping and human rights and supports the maintenance of current levels of military spending and continued military training exercises with allies. Does not support military neutrality.
Economic policy: rejects policies of economic liberalization such as deregulation, lowering taxes for high-income citizens, and decreases in government spending on social insurance. It is estimated that 28 of the Social Democratic and Liberal Party MPs actually support raising the retirement age; however, the party has remains officially neutral. In addition, the Social Democratic and Liberal Party is a proponent of increasing welfare spending in some areas such as for a publicly financed maternity leave, universal health care and a flexible retirement age. In tax policy the Social Democratic and Liberal Party opposes the notion of lowering taxes for high-income citizens. The Social Democratic and Liberal Party is skeptical toward the privatization of state enterprises; but, nonetheless, promotes more competition in the areas of agriculture and parallel imports.
Social policy: committed to social equity and an open society, thus aims at making working conditions for women in families easier by promoting more external childcare centers and more opportunities for part-time jobs. It also aims at reinforcing sexual equality in terms of eliminating wage differences based on gender, supports civil union for homosexuals and takes an easier stance toward abortions. The Social Democratic and Liberal Party also rejects strengthening restrictions on asylum seekers and immigrants.
Key election promises: reversing the proposed full or partial privatization of state owned corporations and entities (Genovia-Karlsruhe Railways); increasing the highest band of income tax from 40% to 45% for those earning more than 350,000 pounds per annum; separation of the energy companies into distinct 'energy generation' and 'energy transmission' companies; supports notionally the creation of a state owned energy transmission company; introduce the two tiered board structure (the management board and the supervisory board) for public and private corporations employing more the 2000 employees; rejects the Rustamov Report, which recommended the introduction of a single-payer healthcare system in lieu of the current National Health Service model - though Braeden personally endorses it; supports the introduction of the Balder Freedom of Movement Agreement (allowing visa free access to Genovia-Karlsruhe); introduction of mandatory language and skills training for all secondary students and the expansion of the Further and Technical Education College network; supports the introduction of the baby box (package contains children's clothes and other necessary items for one year for all newborns); expansion of ecotax reforms and increased state support for energy saving measures and renewable energies; supports taking more refugees from regional conflicts; opposes the creation of a 'French Community'.

Conservative Party (centre-right to right)

Foreign policy: supports further participation by Genovia-Karlsruhe in international organizations and increased regional cooperation but believe these institutions are in immediate need for democratic reform; note that 41 of the party's MPs oppose continued membership of the World Assembly. The Conservative Party supports increased international efforts on the part of Genovia-Karlsruhe in the areas of peace keeping and human rights and believes that increased military spending and continued military training exercises with allies will ultimately help in achieving those goals. The Conservative Party is vehemently opposed the policy of military neutrality, believing that it "sends the wrong message that we are unwilling to stand with our allies, and ultimately makes us less safe'.
Economic policy: supports supply-side economics; thus it is a proponent of lower taxes and is against deficit spending believing that both should result in higher economic growth. The Conservative Party advocates for policies of economic liberalization such as deregulation, lowering taxes for high-income citizens, and decreases in government spending on social insurance. The Conservative Party believes that that the state should not be a participant in the economy through the owning of companies; instead, the government should be a 'regulator and stimulator' where it provides non-excessive but ample regulation that fosters economy growth and protection for consumers and competition.
Social policy: works toward a society offering genuine opportunities with flexible choices in education, work and family support. It is also aiming at more and better jobs, a sustainable social welfare system which will result in strong national cohesion that counteracts see the divergence of society. The Conservative Party believes in the stabilising of premium costs in the healthcare sector, by creating a system where the state helps those who are in need of help but ultimately have those who can, to pay; and, combating the abuse of social welfare systems, believing strongly that state welfare to be 'temporary measure in restoring citizens to a position where they can help themselves' and not a lifelong solution. The Conservative Party is generally supportive a multicultural society believing that immigration does lead to great contributions in society, but contends that unfettered immigration can lead to social instability and pressure on public services. The party has committed to granting a free vote on the policy of religious education in schools; where at least 37 MPs have publicly expressed opposition.
Key election promises: the introduction of the Balder Freedom of Movement Agreement (allowing visa free access to Genovia-Karlsruhe); negotiation of multi-regional defence pact; implement the Rustamov Report, which recommended the introduction of a single-payer healthcare system in lieu of the current National Health Service model; supports additional devolution to the existing provinces but opposes the creation of a 'French Community'; continued membership of the World Assembly, though an estimated 50% of the elected representatives opposes membership; Maintain the highest band of income tax at 40% and reduce the corporate tax rate from 30% to 27.5%; legislate that companies must advertise job openings locally for 90 days before they may advertise said jobs regionally; supports full privatization of the state owned broadcaster and thus abolishing the licensing fee; strengthening restrictions on asylum seekers and immigrants namely language skills; supportive of same sex marriage and adoption by same sex couple, but believes the ban the blood donation by homosexuals should be reviewed.

Labour Party (left)

Foreign policy: supports participation by Genovia-Karlsruhe in international organizations and regional cooperation. The Labour Party supports increased international efforts on the part of Genovia-Karlsruhe in the areas of peace keeping and human rights and supports the maintenance of current levels of military spending but believe that military training exercises with allies should be scaled back. Does support military neutrality.
Economic policy: rejects policies of economic liberalization such as deregulation, lowering taxes for high-income citizens, and decreases in government spending on social insurance. The Labour Party opposes raising the retirement age and believes it should be lowered and equalised (same retirement age for men and women). In tax policy, the Labour Party opposes the notion of lowering taxes for high-income citizens. The Labour Party believes that the workers should have representatives sit on the supervisory/management boards of companies with 2000 employees or more; supports the the implementation of an energy transition plan towards a target of 100% renewable energy by the next thirty years.
Social policy: committed to social equity and an open society, thus aims at making working conditions for women in families easier by promoting more external childcare centers and more opportunities for part-time jobs. It also aims at reinforcing sexual equality in terms of eliminating wage differences based on gender, supports civil union for homosexuals and takes an easier stance toward abortions. The Labour Party is mildly supportive of Conservative policy to strengthening restrictions on asylum seekers and immigrants, believing that that unfettered immigration will only result in the decline of wages, working conditions and opportunities for local skilled workers.
Key election promises: Increased welfare spending, including the introduction of the 'baby box' (package contains children's clothes and other necessary items for one year for all newborns); introduction of mandatory language and skills training for all secondary students and the expansion of the Further and Technical Education College network; supports strengthening restrictions on asylum seekers and immigrants, especially skilled migrants; increasing the income tax rate from 40% to 45% for those earning more than 300,000 pounds and 50% for those earning more than 375,000 pounds; supports the gradual phasing out of nuclear energy from the national energy mix; opposes the creation of a 'French Community' but supports increased devolution to the existing provinces; legislate for the creation of a two board corporate management structure, with worker-representatives amounting for one-third of the supervisory boards; mandate that supervisory boards vote on executive pay; lift the ban on blood donations by homosexuals.

Christian Democratic Party (right)

Foreign policy: opposes further participation by Genovia-Karlsruhe in international organizations and but endorses increased regional cooperation albeit that the region is in immediate need for democratic reform. The Christian Democratic Party supports increased international efforts on the part of Genovia-Karlsruhe in the areas of peace keeping and human rights and believes that increased military spending and continued military training exercises with allies will ultimately help in achieving those goals. The Christian Democratic Party is vehemently opposed the policy of military neutrality and, in fact, supports the reintroduction of conscription of all citizens aged 18 to 24 years.
Economic policy: advocates for policies of economic liberalization such as deregulation, lowering taxes for high-income citizens, and decreases in government spending on social insurance. Additionally, the Christian Democratic supports exporting industries, more spending on education, research and development. It also aims at combating the black market and tax evasion. In order to increase efficiency and incentives, the Christian Democratic Party calls for the reduction and streamlining of bureaucratic procedures and government agencies, low taxation for family enterprises and those who offer vocational education and internships. The party supports the raising taxes on demerit goods (e.g. tobacco taxes) to generate more revenues for the pension funds. The retirement age of 65 should also be upheld
Social policy: rejects further expansion of the welfare state, and stands for a conservative society. It opposes the legalisation of same sex marriage, blood donation by homosexuals; the party has however supported civil partnership and has indicated some support for adoption of children by homosexual couples. In its education policy, it opposes tendencies to shift the responsibility of the upbringing of children from families to public institutions. The party claims an excessive influence of atheist/secularist ideas which have resulted in the gradual diminishing of moral values with our schools and wider society. In general, the party supports strengthening crime prevention measures against social crimes and, especially in the areas of social welfare policy and education policy, a return to meritocracy. The party supports stronger rules on immigration and the introduction of workfare (policy where state welfare payments are usually awarded based on certain conditions, such as searching for work). Holds monarchist sentiments.
Key election promises: voted the legalisation of same sex marriage and opposes the lifting on the prohibition of the donation of blood by 'men who sleep with men'; the reintroduction of religious education at the secondary education level; supports in principle the the introduction of the 'baby box' (package contains children's clothes and other necessary items for one year for all newborns); opposes the introduction the two tiered board structure (the management board and the supervisory board) for public and private corporations employing more the 2,000 employees, with one-third of supervisory boards being employee or union representatives; supports continued use of nuclear energy in the current energy mix and opposes any changes to the energy market; legislate that companies must advertise job openings locally for 90 days before they may advertise said jobs regionally; opposes state ownership of industry but in favour of retaining state broadcaster; support the reintroduction of conscription; sympathetic to the creation of a 'French Community' (since the vast majority of the party's base is francophonic Genovians).

Socialist Party (far-left)

Foreign policy: opposes further regional cooperation and membership of the World Assembly; supports military neutrality, the scaling back of international military exercises and missions, the transition from a professional army to a militia based defence supported with the reintroduction of military conscription.
Economic policy: rejects policies of economic liberalization such as deregulation, lowering taxes for high-income citizens, and decreases in government spending on social insurance; supports the promotion of public transport and renewable energy initiatives, reduction of industrial cash crop agriculture; stimulating local food production by small and medium enterprises; the expansion of workers' cooperatives; the nationalisation of key industries and entities; and withdrawing from some free trade agreements. opposes attempts to raise the retirement age, introduce workfare believing it will unfairly undercut actual skilled workers, foreign ownership of key industries. The party opposes the phasing out of nuclear energy as current proposals have not factored in the number of jobs lost or provided a solution as what will happen to said employees.
Social policy: supports expansion of social welfare and investing in public education, public safety and health care; the use of referenda to enact constitutional and major changes (incl. trade agreements) for the country; the pursuit of liberty and equality of all human beings, including marriage equality; the imposition of stronger controls on immigration, believing that immigration threatens employment opportunities, standards and wages of local skilled workers. The party also holds secularist and anti-monarchist sentiments.
Key election promises: supports the lifting on the prohibition of the donation of blood by 'men who sleep with men' and abortion; supports in principle the introduction of the 'baby box', paternity leave and the broader expansion of welfare; introduction the two tiered board structure (the management board and the supervisory board) for public and private corporations employing more the 2,000 employees, with half of supervisory boards being employee or union representatives; support state ownership (51% shares in all companies) of other key industries; mandate that contractors must employ a 3:2 ratio of local staff to foreign labour on all publicly funded projects. Oppose any attempts to introduce workfare; the implementation of the Balder Freedom of Movement Agreement and any attempts to reintroduce religious education into secondary education.

National Democratic Party (far-right)

Foreign policy: vehemently opposes further regional cooperation and membership of the World Assembly, supports cutting the international development budget believing that there is limited accountability as to where the money is being spent and that the money could be better spent locally; historically supported an assertive military policy but has since begun leaning towards military neutrality. Continues to support, however, maintained military spending and continued military training exercises with our allies.
Economic policy: supports supply-side economics; thus it is a proponent of lower taxes and is against deficit spending believing that both should result in higher economic growth. The National Democrats believes that free trade and the removal of tariffs on goods imported from Balder and globally has resulted in the decline in local industries; that the government has a duty to protect strategic industries and should block the sale and occasionally nationalise said key industries to prevent foreign takeovers; has called for deregulation, tax cuts, and the phasing-out of the welfare state; does not endorse renewable energy and lower carbon emissions believing them to be a threat to local industry. Additionally, the party favors a free-market health care system, without government oversight, approval, regulation, or licensing,
Social policy: endorse a law-and-order platform of zero tolerance, harsher sentencing, increased prison capacity, and the re-introducing the death penalty; traditionally supports Judeo-Christian policies which tackle attempts to shift the responsibility of the upbringing of children from families to public institutions. The party believes that multiculturalism is contributing to the decline of Genovian society and culture, and that future immigrants should not only comply with national values but also have sufficient language skills before being allowed to enter the country. Additionally, the National Democrats support unrestricted freedom of speech, the use of direct democracy through the referendum and recall processes, repealing all laws that control or prohibit homosexuality,
Key election promises: implement a cap of annual regional immigration and oppose the Balder Freedom of Movement Agreement, namely the policy of 'unfettered visa free access to Genovia-Karlsruhe'; supports referendums on the reintroduction of capital punishment, on continued World Assembly membership and other major social and economic change; supports active repatriation of criminals of foreign citizenship, withdrawal from the World Assembly, the reduction of the corporate tax rate from 30% to 25%, legislation mandating companies to advertise job openings locally for 90 days before they may advertise said jobs regionally, legislation mandating the employment a 3:2 ratio of local staff to foreign labour on all publicly funded projects; supports continued usage of nuclear energy, an assertive defence policy, the maintenance of current levels of military spending and continued military training exercises with allies; imtroduction of legislation that mandate radio and television broadcasters (including cable and satellite specialty channels) to air a certain percentage of content that was at least partly written, produced, presented, or otherwise contributed to by persons from Genovia-Karlsruhe.

Moderate Party (centre)

Foreign policy: Supports further regional cooperation; supports the maintenance of current levels of military spending but opposes continued military training exercises with allies and embraces the policy of neutrality; supports membership of the World Assembly.
Economic policy: believes that that private markets are the most effective allocation mechanism for resources, but that output would maximized through sound state macroeconomic management of the economy. The Moderate opposes raising the retirement age. The Moderate Party opposes the policy of lowering taxes for high-income citizens and does not support the nationalisation of private enterprises. Also, the party supports a clean and healthy environment and sensible use of natural resources, believing that private landowners and conservation groups have a vested interest in maintaining such natural resources and that free markets and property rights (implicitly, without government intervention) will stimulate the technological innovations and behavioral changes required to protect the environment and ecosystem.
Social policy: believes in the creation of a 'equal society' and that the government should actively work to resolve the social ills of the nation. The Moderate Party holds an official policy of secularism, believing that the state and the church must remain separate in order to reduce religious persecution as was fraught during the last century. The party however recognises the value and role of faith in the lives of many Genovians (willing to find compromise to the reintroduction of compulsory religious education in secondary schools). The Moderates hold a pro-immigration stance and believes the government must do more to integrate these new arrivals to the country. The party opposes the creation of a 'French Community' believing the devolution of power on the basis of identity will ultimately prove divisive and destructive to the country's future.
Key election promises: supports the introduction of the Balder Freedom of Movement Agreement (allowing visa free access to Genovia-Karlsruhe); commission further review of the Rustamov Report, which recommended the introduction of a single-payer healthcare system in lieu of the current National Health Service model; supports additional devolution to the existing provinces but opposes the creation of a 'French Community'; supports continued membership of the World Assembly, legislation which will allow for the adoption of children by same sex couples and lifting the ban on blood donations by homosexuals; maintain the highest band of income tax at 40% but oppose plans to reduce the corporate tax rate from 30% to 27.5%; oppose the reintroduction of religious education in state funded secondary schools and the reintroduction of conscription.

Green Party (centre-left)

Foreign policy: supports further regional cooperation and membership of international organisations like the World Assembly; supports military neutrality and current levels of military spending and international development; opposes continued military training exercises and the reintroduction of conscription.
Economic policy: rejects policies of economic liberalization such as deregulation, lowering taxes for high-income citizens, and decreases in government spending on social insurance. The Green Party opposes raising the retirement age and believes it should be lowered and equalised (same retirement age for men and women). In tax policy, the Green Party opposes the notion of lowering taxes for high-income citizens, continued subsidisation of extraction industries and the introduction of carbon taxes or a carbon trading scheme, which will be used to introduce renewable energy. The party is opposed to continued usage of nuclear energy.
Social policy: committed to social equity and an open society, thus aims at making working conditions for women in families easier by promoting more external childcare centers and more opportunities for part-time jobs. It also aims at reinforcing sexual equality in terms of eliminating wage differences based on gender, fully supports gay marriage, abortion and the lifting of the ban on blood donations by homosexuals. Holds secularist and anti-monarchist sentiments.
Key election promises: legislation introducing a carbon trading scheme; the phasing out of nuclear energy by the end of the next decade; increase the highest rate of income tax from 40% to 45% for those earning over 325,000 pounds per annum; the expansion of the welfare system with the introduction of the baby box, paid paternal leave and the introduction of flexible work; support legislation that will allow for flexible working contracts for young mothers, immigrants and persons with disabilities; and provide tax cuts for companies supporting such flexible working contracts;

Option Réformateur (Reform Option) (radical centre)

Foreign policy: No official policy.
Economic policy: supports the simplification of taxation and geared generally to the reduction of taxes for the lower and middle classes, increase income taxes on the top end of the economic spectrum, a commitment to provide jobs for everyone willing to work, by subsidizing jobs in the private sector and a commitment to fiscal responsibility. The party opposes the introduction of 'vice taxes' because they believe the taxes will disproportionate target the poor, oppose further expansion of the welfare system, abolition of affirmative action policies replacing such with solely meritocratic policies in terms of education and employment.
Social policy: supports direct democracy, with the use of referenda and recall elections; the expansion of state welfare including paid paternal leave with the implementation of the workfare policy - believing that "while there is a community good to state welfare, it is unfair that families that are actually working and contributing to the economy through their creations and their taxes are not also getting the same helping hand"; marriage equality and the lifting on the ban on blood donations by homosexuals and adoption by gay couples; and, some changes to the immigration controls. The party believes in the establishment of the 'French Community' concomitant within the existing federal/provincial framework; with the 'Community Assembly' having competences over culture, language use, education, social services and local government in the francophonic areas of Genovia-Karlsruhe and its overseas territories. The policy stems from its origins as a French nationalist movement who believed that "francophones were treated like 'second class citizens' with their culture being degraded and bastardized by the unrelenting tides of Anglophonic supremacy and multicultralism". With the devolution of language policy to the provinces and the later enactment of the 'Official Languages Act' granting official status to French and German alongside English, the party's nationalist stance has softened though some party members still support the independence.
Key election promises: As a testimonial party, the party "rigorously endorses and defends its principles and policies; and refuses to adapt them to suit the politicking that is coalition building. Instead, we will support legislation on a case by case basis so long as these espouses the principles and policies that we so defend."

Independents