December 2019 Brillian legislative election

December 2019 Brillian legislative election

14 December 2019
All 200 seats in the National Assembly of Brilliania 101 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party Third party   Leader Sabin-Heren Incsaurpe Kemen Ercila Amaia Ziganda Party Marist Union Nation Without Arrogance Communist Leader since 21 August 1999 7 September 2019 January 2019 Last election 47 seats, 22,5% Did not exist 47 seats, 22.8% Seat change New Swing New   Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party   Leader Ancsorics Orosz Hiru Szamendi Party Pirate OROSz Movement United Hicak Marism Leader since June 2018 2014 Last election 3 seats 10 seats, 4.7% 19 seats, 9.3% Seat change New Swing New   Seventh party Eighth party   Leader Haran Eleszalde Party Our Homeland Voice Leader since 2014 2014 Last election 0 seats, 0.4% (as End to Arrogance Movement) Seat change Swing

A snap legislative election was held in Brilliania on 14 December 2019 to elect all 200 members to the National Assembly.

The election was called by First Citizen Endrike Karagori after the collapse of Garaipenerancs on 4 November 2019, caused by Karagori switching allegiance from the Communist Party to the Marist Union.

The incumbent government, led by Dorina Szilágyi, consisted of the member parties of Garaipenerancs, was defeated in a motion of no confidence after coalition members AKB and OROSz voted in favour of withholding confidence in the government.

Overview

Electoral method

The 200 seats of the unicameral National Assembly are apportioned using semi-open list party-list proportional representation in a single 200-seat constituency with a threshold of 3%. As the sole chamber, the National Assembly co-operates with the First Citizen and the governing cabinet to draft and agree on law proposals. Voting is on the basis of universal suffrage, with any Brillian citizen above the age of 16 being able to vote. Brillian citizens in foreign countries, as well as incarcerated citizens and those unable to reach a voting booth are allowed to apply for a postal ballot. Since the intduction of an amended Electoral Law, electoral law provides that a party may apply for ballot access if it gathers at least 5.000 valid signatures and a deposit of 40.000 Fl.

Terms

The term of the National Assembly generally lasts for four years, unles it is dissolved or extended by presidential decree. The election decree must be issued in the Brillian State Informant at least a month prior to the elections. Elections are generally held on Saturdays.

The First Citizen may dissolve the National Assembly prior to the end of its term, thereby calling a snap election. A snap election may not be called if a motion of no confidence or a state of emergency is in progress. They are also allowed to lengthen the term of the National Assembly during periods of national distress or mourning periods.

Voting

Legislative ballots in Brilliania provide voters with two ways to vote. A voter may either select the party, or vote for a candidate representing a party. In an amendment to the electoral law, the design of the ballot was changed and the possibility to vote directly for the party was introduced. It is a common practice to put the party leader at the top of the list as the list leader.

Amended Electoral Law

In May, the National Assembly voted in favour of four amendments to the Electoral Law. This is the first election in which the amended Electoral Law is in effect. Parties now have to recieve at least 5.000 valid signatures and pay 40.000 Florrin as a deposit. The age of voting has been lowered to 16 years, giving 500.000 16- and 17-year olds the right to vote for the first time in Brillian history. Another change regarded the ballot design: a voter is now allowed to vote for the party without selecting a preferred candidate, instead of having to vote for the list leader.

Campaign

Subjects

Vikuna-Orosz Proposal

The Vikuna-Orosz Proposal is a proposed amendment to the Fourth Constitution of the Republic, which provides for the addition of 60 seats to the National Assembly intended for the increased representation of provincially recognised minorities. The proposal was made by Second Citizen Alcsai Vikuna and Minister for Iparinan Affairs Ancsorics Orosz on 2 August 2019, recieving assent by the National Assembly with 165 members in favour on 23 August 2019. A referendum on the proposal will be held in 2020.

Other subjects

The debate during the election mostly focused on domestic security and social affairs.

Controversy

United Hicak Marism was sued by LGBT rights organisation United Rainbow in October for releasing a campaign advertisements criticising the LGBT community for "intoctrinating the Brillian youth". The Szaranegertu Court of Appeal sentenced United Hicak Marism to a fine of 22.000 Florrin for inciting hate and a decreasal of its alloted time on TV political advertising blocks.

Debates

Due to the short campaigning period, just three major debates were held. The Irrapub organised two debates, on 11 and 18 November 2019, and Hegoak invited their opponents for a husthing-style debate on 21 November.