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Public Inquiries Office

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[Image: ekklesia_logo.png]

Welcome to the Ekklesia!

It is my pleasure to welcome you to the Ekklesia. This institution, while often found at the centre of political controversy, is also the cornerstone of our democratic process, and the venue where both citizens and their duly elected and selected representatives gather to debate bills and discuss a variety of issues of public interest, to improve the lives of everyone in Selene.

The Ekklesia was first convened in 1432 by decree of Emperor Patricius VIII as a gathering of commoners and merchants, his way of balancing his precarious standing with the military. As described by renowned historian Nerisus Pileus in his masterful work, On the Founding, Independence and Growth of Selene, the country had been ripped apart by the exodus of famed military leader Kalos and his numerous followers, and Patricius VIII received nearly the entire blame for this. In his desperate attempts to remain on the throne, he involved the people in the governance of the country, to create an alternative base of support to counter the power of the military.

While he may not have had democratic inclinations, or the foresight to guess the role that democracy would play in future history, Patricius VIII had just established one of the most enduring institutions in the world, a bicameral legislature that gathered the peasants and merchants of Selene in a single venue, to discuss issues of importance and provide support for the government, when its actions were truly in the best interests of the people.

Today, though the world is much different from the one that saw the dawn of our democracy, our mission remains unchanged. We are elected or selected with the mission of representing the people and working solely to further their best interests, creating the circumstances so that Selene as a whole may continue to thrive and progress, and bringing to public attention those issues that should be address in such a way, so that the citizenry is informed and engaged in the democratic process.

As you browse through this informational site, please know that, on behalf of this Office, and definitely on behalf of the House of Commons and the House of Merchants, we remain ever your humble servants, and gladly continue to work to further your goals, and those of our fellow citizens.

Anna Polydoras
Speaker of the House of Commons

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[Image: ekklesia_logo.png]

Parties in the Ekklesia

There are two houses in the Ekklesia, one elected by the people through open elections every fifth year, the other selected by the government of each theme as vacancies occur. Each has a specific function, to represent the interests of the people and to argue for the interests of the local governments, to ensure that all voices are heard and that debate is always as robust and thorough as it possibly can.

Since the 2015 Parliamentary Election, there have been six parties with presence in the Ekklesia:

Environmentalist Party
Its platform calls for an environmentally sound policy, ensuring that businesses and economic development, while always encouraged, are not conducted at the expense of the environment. It also calls for the enhancement of civil and political freedoms, and for a diplomatic approach towards Kalos, seeking to maintain international peace and avoid unnecessary conflict.

Selenids United
Its platform calls for constant vigilance and the enhancement of civil and political freedoms, and places an emphasis on protecting the rights of workers and ensuring that their wellbeing is not sacrificed for the growth of business. It still advocates for the promotion of free trade and the exchange of information, and trusts in the Artemian Union as the main block to keep peace with Kalos.

Liberal Alliance
Its platform concurs with the basic propositions of the Selenid Unity Party, but argues that the market should be trusted to regulate the relationship between management and workers, with the government playing a lesser supervisory role. It proposed a more active, but still essentially peace-oriented, role for the Artemian Union with respect to Kalos.

Coalition for a Better Selene
Its platform proposes to enhance business opportunities, though it places a greater emphasis on the need for Selene to be more self-sufficient, and therefore advocates for the development of national technologies and abilities. It believes that the government should lessen its role on the regulation of civil liberties and proposes a strong approach towards Kalos, but insists that Selene should not rely on the Artemian Union for such purposes.

Traditionalists
Its platform advocates for the expansion of business opportunities and argues for an increased focus on the potential of Selene, suggesting that its increased emphasis on expanding civil liberties has come at the expense of its national strength. It proposes developing the economy and the military beyond their current states as a way of reducing dependence on the Artemian Union and facing Kalos, through military means if necessary.

Internet Freedom Party
Its platform advocates a diminished focus on civil liberties, though it does have a strong belief in the need for net neutrality and free access to the Internet. It believes in the expansion of business opportunities, though not at the expense of web access freedom. It proposes a diplomatic approach to Kalos, and warns against military conflict with it.

These six parties have formed into two broad coalitions, one sitting to the right of the Speaker as the Government and the other sitting to the left as the Opposition. What follows is a detailed breakdown of the party composition for each house in the Ekklesia:

Party
House of Commons
House of Merchants
Environmentalist Party
16
Selenids United
21
Liberal Alliance
16
Coalition for a Better Selene
6
Traditionalists
10
Internet Freedom Party
5
Speaker
1
1
Total
325
75

(Click each number in the second column of the above table for maps depicting party strength in the House of Commons.)

House of Commons

[Image: commons_composition.png]

House of Merchants

[Image: merchants_composition.png]

Environmentalist Party (Green) | Selenids United (Red) | Liberal Alliance (Cherry)
Coalition for a Better Selene (Blue) | Traditionalists (Light Blue) | Internet Freedom Party (Brown) | Speaker (Grey)




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