2087 elections: meet the candidates!

Above: a citizen places a ballot for an election. Out of RP: kindly disregard the mask, I just used a random election picture on Canva and don't want to go search for another one that looks okay.

As the Republic of Luna prepares for its upcoming elections, which will be held in August of 2087, numerous people have announced their candidacy; this election is historic for having more parties in consideration than any other past Lunar election, including the incumbent Social Democratic Party but also the Libertarian Party, Conservative Party, Lunar Nationalist Party, Green Party, Communist Party and Christian Democratic Party.

Many of these parties only recently gained traction within the Lunar government, although some have very low popular support. At the moment, polls show that the most popular party remains the Social Democratic Party, in alignment with historical views, while the Christian Democratic Party sees the lowest support, likely due to Luna's secularism.

The candidates for each party are as follows.

Aurelia Aquila

Social Democratic Party 

As the incumbent president of Luna, Aurelia Aquila has seen quite a bit of popular support. Hailed by former president Ariane "Ari" Valoris as the "greatest president (Luna) has ever had", Aquila took the presidency after former president Cressida Arpina's death in 2084. Aquila has also been renowned for massively repairing the Lunar military forces, all the while advocating for the people of the nation. Currently, Aquila stands in support of maintaining modern Lunar social and economic policies, including the current social democratic system.

Joseph Blackwell

Libertarian Party

Joseph Blackwell, serving as the Lunar Secretary of State for the Aurelia Aquila administration, is a member of the Libertarian Party. He has firmly stood in support of both social and economic libertarian policies, and hopes to reduce any socialist influences on the Lunar economy, including some of the social democratic policies that Luna holds at the moment. As Secretary of State, Blackwell attended numerous diplomatic conventions and meetings, and worked to ensure safety for all Lunar citizens.

Sadie O'Keefe

Conservative Party

Although the party gained notoriety with controversial socially conservative politician Freya Archer, who currently faces trial for embezzlement and exploitation of Lunar Treasury resources, at its head, Conservative Party candidate and former Parliament member Sadie O'Keefe looks to "restore honor to (her) beliefs", according to an address during the Conservative primaries. O'Keefe stands in favor of individual freedom, lowered taxes and limited government.

Ciara Fleming

Lunar Nationalist Party

Heading the Lunar Nationalist Party, Ciara Fleming was a general in the Lunar Air Force before moving to Luna's Intelligence Department for ten years. Now running for president of the nation, Fleming supports civic nationalism and economic and political self-determination. She looks to grow Luna into a global military and economic superpower (although some sources have already classified the nation as one).

Finn Delane

Green Party

Running under the Green Party, Finn Delane immigrated into Luna at the age of 35, along with his wife, Emily Delane, and two children, Tessa (15) and Eric (9). With massive popularity among Luna's younger generations, and in particular Generation Delta, that of Lunar founder Lily Aquila and her sister, President Aurelia Aquila, Delane stands in support of maintaining strict environmental standards and encouraging the greater world to do the same, as well as socially left-wing policies and freedom from discrimination, upholding the Lunar constitution.

Rhys Byrne

Communist Party

"Even here in Luna, communism seems to be misunderstood," presidential candidate Rhys Byrne explained in a Lunar Post interview. "It's made out to be this almost impossible, theoretically good but practically failing ideology — but if our closest allies can be a thriving communist democracy, what's to say that we cannot manage it as well?" Standing under the principles of a peaceful transition to a communist system, Byrne supports political democracy and a communist economy — something that has resulted in some scrutiny from capitalist leaders and large business owners, although he has gained the support of some.

Kiran Moore

Christian Democratic Party

The CDP has gained attention in recent times as Green Party leader Finn Delane explained that "(it) could be considered unconstitutional to lead with religion, as the Lunar Constitution specifically defines free practice." However, the Lunar Supreme Court decided (6-3) in Delane v. Moore that the party was constitutional as long as any particular religion was not forced on Lunar citizens, as mandated presidential secularism would violate the free practice clause in and of itself. Despite its low support, candidate Kiran Moore has stood by the CDP and hopes to bring in more acceptance for religion in a nation that has generally favored atheism.

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Lunar elections will be held on August 15, 2087. More information to come, including polling data, campaign information and coverage closer to the date of the election! We'll see you next time on the Arcadia Times!