President Rory calls for use of national elections as way to encourage activity

Rory, the president of Jonasland, made his first major address on the announcements channel in Jonasland's Discord server yesterday evening. In the address, he made calls for Jonasland, one of the few remaining active democracies on Realmplex, to use its democratic system as a way to promote itself and drum up activity and interest on the server.

"I have believed for a long time now that the ultimate benefit of holding elections on Realmplex is not in policy or lawmaking, and certainly not in constructing projects (losing an election doesn't stop you from building something)," Rory wrote. "Instead, I think that elections are a superb tool for promoting activity on the server. Campaign videos, high-effort election advertisements, and physical party signs all drum up excitement within a nation, and encourage people from outside the nation to join."

The president also spoke about the possibility of having more parties in the country. "The history of this nation has largely been spent as a puppet state that has been passed around like a hot potato - URA, then Potato, then BBC, then URA again, and so on. JEFF [Rory's party] was not founded with this in mind - it focused on a single issue within Jonasland, and I think that is the key: fewer big parties, future elections should have more small parties, focused issues, with more emphasis on coalitions and inter-party interactions."

The speech is his first since becoming president on 13 August, after the Jonasland Economic Funds Federation defeated the New Democratic Party at the general election. The party was elected on a platform mainly focused on the economy, including plans to replace the dollar with the carp, either temporarily or permanently.

The New Democratic Party leader, JVTA, who has been recovering from influenza in recent days, has not publicly responded to the speech.

Full text of Rory's speech

The following has been transcribed from the Jonasland Discord, word for word.

So... I'm the new President of Jonasland. This was unexpected.

When I founded JEFF just before the start of this last election, I intended it to simply be a small, largely single issue-focused party concerned primarily with improving Jonasland's economy.

Although busy with study and other Realmplex projects, I do indeed plan to tackle the issue of Jonasland's economy. I plan to introduce and invest in Carp as the national currency, convert the Intamin Skyscraper into a new shopping centre, and establish Netherite-Carp converstion stations.

However, JEFF's victory highlights an issue - and an opportunity - within Jonasland that has been present for well over a year now. With the Potato Empire's electoral system currently stagnant, Jonasland is left as one of the only nations holding democratic elections.

I have believed for a long time now that the ultimate benefit of holding elections on Realmplex is not in policy or lawmaking, and certainly not in constructing projects (losing an election doesn't stop you from building something).

Instead, I think that elections are a superb tool for promoting activity on the server. Campaign videos, high-effort election advertisements, and physical party signs all drum up excitement within a nation, and encourage people from outside the nation to join.

I think that Jonasland can a perfect opportunity to take advantage of this and run with it. More parties and more interest in elections would benefit Jonasland massively, and this is where JEFF points the way to the future of Jonasland politics.

The history of this nation has largely been spent as a puppet state that has been passed around like a hot potato - URA, then Potato, then BBC, then URA again, and so on.

JEFF was not founded with this in mind - it focused on a single issue within Jonasland, and I think that is the key: fewer big parties, future elections should have more small parties, focused issues, with more emphasis on coalitions and inter-party interactions.

I wish Jonasland a bright future, and I hope I can help bring that vision into reality!