Commemorating one year after the retirement of Ludwig Mannstein from the chairmanship of the Rheinland Imperial Party, following the declaration of war between Rheinland and the Gas Miner's guild, the Imperial party has seen significant growth within the hearts and minds of the Rheinland body politic. In the face of continued economic growth, despite analysts projections due to the growth of recent infrastructure investment by the Bundestag, the Imperial Party seems to be one of the few minority parties within Rheinland that seem capable of matching words with deeds.
Shadow speaker of the outer chamber, Lorelei Cramer, stopped to speak to RI telejournalists on her party's considerable successes, outside the gates of the Bundestag yesterday, despite heavy rainfall. Asked if the party of Rheinland's past can truly lead the reforms of the future, Cramer gave the following response: "As we enter the twenty sixth year since Rheinland's darkest years under the Neimann administration, it is important for us to remember that a new generation populates our cities, industries, and uniforms. The old ballances no longer apply - Rheinland taxpayers have been told for centuries that we cannot have a wealthfare state and a strong economy, that we must make sacrifices for our own security; but here we are - growing in a time of war as our military holds strong against Kusarian and GMG aggression. "
"We've been told for centuries that Rheinland can't expand, or explore anymore. Our ancestors were the greatest explorers Sirius has ever known - from Von Rohe to Schulmann. Our forefathers built the ring, mined the omegas and the tanner belt, all without persecution. Yes, our leaders will tell you that this was a time of strength - but why can we not be strong now? Are we, as Rheinlanders, any less strong than we were three hundred years ago? We used to build the wonders that still fill our skies - from the Ring, to the Imperial palaces. Now, our government moves between fixing disasters. I, and the Imperial Party, believe that we must fund infrastructure, schools, hospitals, and job creation, not insurer's wallets or big multinationals like Synth or Agiera. It is for this reason that the Party grants our fellow coalition members within the Bundestag our full support on the gate development program in Frankfurt and the near Sigmas - so long as the jobs created by the site are staffed by Rheinlanders, under ethical employment conditions. We need to elect politicians who lead with a steady hand, who don't bend to big corruption, lobbyists, or free air time. Politicians who stick to their decisions and don't just sway with the polls. That's the strong, principled leadership, that, I've been hearing, Rheinlanders like yourselves have been searching for." - Lorelei Cramer, SSOC.
Skeptics and opposition figures have repeatedly raised the arguments that have challenged the party from reaching high office - that the pro-imperial sentiments of the Empire's Policies come from a time of largesse and corruption within Rheinland's history. However, the party itself asserts that such opinions are mostly the result of dated misinformation campaigns, often funded by pro-Liberty business sectors tied to the controversial Bonn Stock Exchange lobbyists, and reflect the interests of foreign corporations, not of taxpayers. The party has made significant gains within the working and middle classes, many of whom see the party as a lawful channel for classical liberal and even syndicalist beliefs without attracting police or corporate reprisal. This increasing groundswell of support has not just been reflected within the working classes; many of Rheinland's older imperial families have been known to harbour sympathies to the party. Members of the Koch, Depperschmitt and Albrecht clans could not be reached for comment.
Whatever the repercussions, growing support for the old ways is certainly making waves within the populations of Rheinland's historical core systems, with the Imperial Party's support figures up thirteen percent against the Hamburg Tory Party, down one point-three-percent against the New Federalists, and up two-point-seven percent against the Neo-Mercantilist Party.
We will keep you up to date as the story develops.
-The views within this article do not reflect the official stance of the Imperial Party of Rheinland but the viewpoint of a single reporter.-
THE SYNDIC LEAGUES
(A co-operative of Rheinland's Shipping Unions, retired from a life of piracy.)
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