User:Premislyd/Reformation
The Reformation (Champanian: Ła Refôrmación; Gaullican: La Réformation), formally known as the Societal Reconstruction Campaign (Champanian: Ła campânha recônstrución de ła societâl; Gaullican: La campagne reconstruction sociétal) is an on-going societal and ideological rectification campaign initiated by the Champanois Socialist Workers' Party in 2022. The main goal of the campaign is to correct apparent ideological and societal drift as a result of the Champanois Thaw by purging liberal and capitalist elements in Champanian society, and to re-impose Equalist-Tretyakism as the dominant ideology in Champania.
In punitive terms, the campaign has involved a crackdown on an enormous amount of perceived societal ills, including but not limited to drug abuse, corruption, abortion, and other "unsavory lifestyles choices." The Reformation has also marked by a return of totalitarian practices, including the reimplementation of the police state and introduction of mass surveillance, and the rise of a cult of personality centered on Socialist Workers' Party General Secretary Merce Cruèsełes. To replace these, the PSOC has utilized ideological fervor, nationalism, and enforced societal norms through numerous mass campaigns, the methodology of which range from holding of mass rallies and denunciation rallies, to the promotion of self-criticism.
The Reformation was initiated at the 21st National Congress of the Champanois Socialist Workers' Party, where Cruèsełes delivered her opening day speech, later referred to as the April Declaration, crticizing numerous international socialist institutions, but also denouncing previous Champanois General Secretaries like Jeremeis Dior. Her speech laid the groundwork for the Reformation through 13 key points, the majority of which called for renewed focus on ideological education and further party control over the state. The weeks following saw Cruèsełes make further incendiary comments and eventually charged that "liberal-functionalism" had infiltrated the Champanois government and society-at-large. Taking the initiative, two of Cruèsełes's allies, General Secretary of the Orangais Socialist Workers' Party Frèdèric Blanxon and Brigancon Red Guards Secretary Josèp Peiruc accused Brigançon Mayor Esteve Abrielhe and the Brigançon city council of corruption and "anti-revolutionary activities." Abrielhe, a key member of the Left faction of the Socialist Workers' Party, was subsequently expelled from the PSOC and later arrested and eventually executed for treason. The other members of the city council were subjected to denunciation rallies and hard labor.
Foreign political analysts have described the Reformation as a purge of both the PSOC and of Champanois society as a whole. As of October 2022, over 2,500 people have been executed or harassed into suicide, while an estimated 50,000 people have been persecuted under the pretense of "combating liberal-functionalism." The Reformation has also seen Champania further distance itself from the Association for International Socialism and its ostensible allies in the Mutual Assistance Organisation, and while Champania has yet to attack Kirenia directly, has done veiled attacks towards its ally, East Miersa.
Background
The collapse and dissolution of the South Euclean People's Republic in 1986 saw a cataclysmic shift in Champanois society as broad sweeping reforms, known colloquially as the Champanois Thaw, saw a liberalization of society and Champania's economic climate. These broad liberalizations resulted in a bourgeoning middle-class consisting almost entirely of entrepreneurs and "petty bourgeoisie" who had sprung up in the wake of state-owned enterprises selling off portions of the market. Small-scale privates businesses had been legalized in 1990, and in 1993, Brigançon had been turned into a special economic zone. This had resulted in a notable increase in corruption, particularly as more Eastern Euclean businesses sought to expand into the Champanois market, and a gradual acceptance of individualistic self-interest typical of liberal capitalist polities.
The resultant rapid economic growth, which saw Champania's GDP increase by 16.88% alone in 1994, saw the decline of the "self-governing councilism" model that had been in place since the 1950s. In part thanks to the liberalization policies, rural population drastically declined as people, especially youth, flocked to Brigançon in the pursuit of the Eastern lifestyle. The reality saw Brigançon become overcrowded and sharp increase in drug usage and crime as a result. This was alleviated somewhat by government-run relocation programs ranging from incentivized relocation to forced movement under the guise of "labor and resource allocation." Further government programs, known as "Youth Work Initiatives," failed to curtail the rising drug usage and crime rates.
After Laurenç Bordes, a moderate, was elected premier in 2002, programs were initiated to combat the societal issues, including harsher punishments for drug and youth crime, anti-drug campaigns, and anti-corruption campaigns. While largely ineffective, the programs laid the groundwork for future premiers Marchion Fauré and Pau Oelhière, both hardliners, to better combat drug abuse, crime, and corruption. Fauré, elected in 2013, altered Brigançon's status as an special economic zone, and increased government oversight on corporations operating within Champania. Corruption still plagued Fauré's government, with a criminal case involving Lemovician Party Secretary Marco Vidaganha being exposed for accepting bribes from local business owners in return for overlooking unsavory business practices, acting as a watershed moment for how rampant the situation truly was. Although Vidaganha was expelled and sentenced to prison, Fauré was still ousted as premier, and replaced by Oelhière in 2015.
Under the direction of PSOC General Secretary Ponç Guinovaerd, who himself would be elected premier in 2018, Oelhière focused on restructuring and reorganizing the Red Guards of the Revolution and the other youth mass organizations, reinstituted conscription, and initiated a nationwide crackdown on corruption. Several party officials, regional councils, and local cadres were investigated and liquidated on the basis of corruption. In addition to this, the 1990 economic reforms were repealed in their entirety, and small-business owners were subjected to prison time for their "right-wing deviation." This sparked protests in retaliation, however Red Guards, now under the leadership of Adriane de Lostrade, and police successful quelled these protests through counter demonstrations and force. Despite the relative success of these policies, Oelhière would resign in 2018 due to health issues, and be replaced by Guinovaerd.
Guinovaerd largely continued the domestic policies initiated by his predecessor. Foreign policy under Guinovaerd took a drastic shift as he sought to integrate Champania more into the Mutual Assistance Organization and global economy. He rolled back some of limitations on private enterprises, and the restrictions on Brigançon's status as a special economic zone. Guinovaerd was ousted in December following nation-wide protests that resulted from Guinovaerd entering talks about the stationing of foreign troops in Champania, where he was ultimately replaced by Merce Cruèsełes, who previously served as the chairwoman of the Aubaret-lo-Comtal city council and was the General Secretary of the Orangeois Socialist Workers' Party.
Following nation-wide anti-government protests in Etruria during the entire month of February, the Champanois government feared that anti-government protests could arise again in Champania, particularly as rhetoric and policies were adopted that became increasingly anti-establishment and anti-international councilism. A small scale purge was conducted of the Red Guards, primarily aimed at the older cadres, and Red Guards members and administrators who had either lived briefly abroad or had been educated abroad. This purge was concluded by the start of the 21st National Congress of the Champanois Socialist Workers' Party in late-March. With the Red Guards completely loyal to the PSOC, the stage had been set for Cruèselles and the hardliner faction to begin purging officials of questionable loyalty in the military and party itself.
April Declaration
As acting premier, Cruèsełes was given the opportunity to give the opening day speech for the 21st National Congress of the Champanois Socialist Workers' Party. The speech, titled "Proposed Measures for the Improvement, Development, and Maintenance of Ideological-Political Activity in Relation to Councilism with Champanois Characteristics," provided 13 proposals to be undertaken by the PSOC to achieve ideological and political independence from both the Association for International Socialism and the Mutual Assistance Organization, economic self-reliance, and military self-reliance. Most of the proposals echo Equalist and Tretyakist talking points, such continuous growth of the leading role of the PSOC in the everyday functioning and running of the nation, increased political education in schools and universities, and increased youth participation in working duties. In the speech, Cruèselles also made clear her position as a hardliner by denouncing the Association for International Socialism, the liberalization policies of the Champanois Thaw, and indirectly Dezevau and Kirenia by attacking their ideological ally, Lavana, which had just underwent a coup d'etat.
The speech received overwhelming support from the delegation, resulting in her being elected general secretary at the 1st Plenum of the PSOC Central Committee. Despite the opening day speech being made on March 27, it was publicized in its entirety on April 1.
Precursor
By mid-April, Cruèselles' speech had been disseminated in its entirety to the PSOC, National People's Army, and other national political organizations. The speech quickly became the subject of intense study and debate within the PSOC, and an important ideological piece to review and study in the Red Guards. Red Guards meetings had a newfound revolutionary fervor to them as the speech had become one of the most intensely studied and reviewed ideological pieces. Cruèsełes's chirps became added to the studied material throughout the rest of the April, particularly following state visits to Etruria and Paretia.
In internal party communication, Cruèsełes praised both the Tribune Movement and Patron League for their ability of mass action and mobilization, stating the benefits of adopting a similar model for the PSOC. During the final week of April, Cruèselles visited Etruria and Paretia, becoming the first Champanois government official to visit either country. While officially there to expand relations between Champania and Etruria and Paretia respectively, it was later leaked in June by Il Popolo that Cruèsełes and Etrurian President Francesco Carcaterra had discussed the organization of the Tribunes, and Cruèsełes's desire to replicate that model in Champania.
While abroad, Cruèsełes's allies made moves against rivals at home. In late April, Orangais Socialist Workers' Party Secretary Frèdèric Blanxon and Brigançon Red Guards District Secretary Josèp Peiruc accused Brigançon city chairman Esteve Abrielhe and the Brigançon city council as a whole of perceived "anti-revolutionary" behavior, corruption, and right-wing deviation. Following Guinovaerd's ousting, Abrielhe had risen up as the new leader of the reformist Left clique. Abrielhe and the city council were seen as curtailing revolutionary fervor during the previous December protests through their attempts at dispersing the protests through force by deploying riot police. A quick investigation saw Abrielhe and the city council expelled from the PSOC, and later arrested. Abrielhe was found guilty of corruption and anti-revolutionary behavior and sentenced to death, which was carried out on May 18th; while the other city councilmembers were found guilty of only corruption after most confessed, usually under torture, to having been coerced by Abrielhe.
With Abrielhe removed and Brigançon firmly loyal, attention moved towards securing the military's loyalty. In May, Defence Secretary Pierrounet Fauch accused Chief of the Main Staff Abriel Romieu of anti-revolutionary behavior, sedition, and organizing a coup. Forged letters were leaked to various media outlets indicting Romieu and other high-ranking members of the military and reformist faction of conspiracy. There was some skepticism over the letters, however pressure from Cruèselles and other members of the Politburo Standing Committee resulted in an investigation being launched, which led to Romieu being denounced, expelled, and arrested. With Romieu's dismissal and arrest, there was enough evidence, no matter how shaky, for a general purge of the National People's Army to be justified. Beginning in June, several divisional commanders and members of the Main Staff were dismissed and investigated.
Implementation
Party ideology
The Socialist Workers' Party has been a big-tent party with several factions occupying various positions. Although traditionally moderates have dominated intraparty politics since the 1980s, beginning in the 2010s, more hardliner positions entered the mainstream before ultimately becoming the dominant position following the 21st National Congress of the Champanois Socialist Workers' Party.