Rune Holway
The Right Honourable Rune Holway | |
|---|---|
 | |
| First Reeve of Norwall | |
| Assumed office 22 April, 2008 | |
| Monarch | Arthur VI |
| Preceded by | Heidi Altby |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Rune Tollack Holway 8 September 1951 Heregate, Norwall, Esthursia |
| Nationality | Esthursian (Norwaller) |
| Political party | Social Democrats (1969-1999, 2007-) |
| Other political affiliations | Progressive Group (1999-2007) |
| Spouse | Torunn Welby (m. 1985) |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | University of Fjármagn (Economics), 1972 |
| Occupation | Politician, economist |
| Profession | Politician, statesman |
Rune Holway (Rune Tollack Holway; born 8 September, 1951) has served as the First Reeve of Norwall since 2008. He also served as a thane for Heregate between 1990 and 2002, defecting from the Social Democrats in protest in 1999 for eight years, until his return ahead of the 2008 Norwall national election.
Holway has been praised by supporters as being forthright, coming from a working-class background and being reliable in his politics, but criticised by some for his "tone-deaf nature", populist tendencies and radicality, having drawn controversy over the ban on private health and education in Norwall in 2009 (the latter of which was expanded to the entire country in 2023) and his anti-immigration policies in recent years, citing a potential clash between "Norwaller values" and those of migrants. He has been accused of racism, xenophobia and inciteful remarks against Mehrabists due to his public comments against religious views and immigration, having warned of a "threat to Esthursian democratic accepting values" such as same-sex marriage and abortion. He is well-known for his open rivalry with Tharbjorn Einarsson in his first term and tensions with John Largan in his second term.
Holway identifies as a "red-green left-winger", and has accepted the moniker as a progressive. His tenure has overseen the renationalisation of Norwall's public transportation, fierce environmentalist policies and his widescale infrastructure reform, particularly the post-2008 housing construction policy.
Early life and career
Holway was born into a working-class family in Heregate, on the Aughtsey coast of Norwall.
Holway worked in civic banking for 12 years, between 1969 and 1981. He then moved to sit on the board of the Crown Bancke of Esthursia (CBE) between 1982 and 1986, fiercely opposing the majority opinion on monetary reform numerous times, earning him the nickname "Red Rune".
Political career
Houses of Berworth (1990-2002)
Outside mainstream politics
First Reeve of Norwall (2008-present)
Political positions
Holway identifies as a red-green left-winger, and has been variously described as a working-class socialist, hardline leftist, populist-left, conservative socialist, nativist, progressive and "Norwall socialist".
Social issues
Holway has spoken out against "mass immigration" and "globalism", speaking of a "global wonk towards neoliberalism" and fears of encroachment of "plutocratic liberalism." During the 2022-3 Aurorean War, Holway spoke of "fears that a swathe of the religious would arrive at Esthursia's doorstep expecting the Union to simply accept their intolerance as a way of life," and said that refugees should pass an ethics test to receive housing.
As a staunch secularist, Holway opposes the "tolerance of intolerant religion", and has commonly compared religions to cults during his speeches as First Reeve. Holway spoke out strongly in favour of the 2020s Osborne administration's "concerted effort to clamp down on religious infringements into public life," praising its attempt to ban infant baptisms, and spoke out against the court judgment ruling it unconstitutional.
Holway identifies as a feminist, supports LGBTQ+ rights "to the hilt" and has claimed that those against "basic universal human dignities" should "be relegated to Iolantan politics for a year or two, to grasp just where religious-moralist conservatism gets you."
Economic issues
Speaking out against capitalism numerous times, Holway spoke out as a "collectivist anti-capitalist" in 1999 as part of his speech against the new leader, Mark Willesden. Holway has previously called for the government to "outlaw billionaireship", seize all industrial production from private companies to redistribute amongst co-operatives, and make social care free for all.
Holway's tenure as First Reeve has seen public services be fully renationalised, and private contracts be seldom renewed, including in education, health and transportation.
Personal life
Holway lives in Heregate with his wife of 39 years. He has 3 children and 5 grandchildren. He identifies as an atheist, comparing the prospect of believing in a religion as "believing two and two is five because an old book told me it was."
