Shaking Things Up

[ReuKinChe]

Following the President's selection of the candidates chosen by the Merit Board, reforms were passed at a rapid pace. They had been discussed in the previous months, but there hadn't been enough political momentum to get a vote on them. But now that an election had just occurred, the ruling coalition could pass such reforms, confident that they wouldn't be ousted because of it. Those bills included:

• An immediate investigation into the likely effects of the legalisation of human genetic engineering. Passed 348 to 26, with 15 abstentions.
• An increase in military spending from 1.5% to 4%, in response to world tensions. Passed 203 to 134, with 52 abstentions.
• Holding a plebiscite on the recognition of civil polygamous marriages within a month, with a break of 5 years if unsuccessful. Passed 206 to 105, with 56 abstentions.
• Legalising and taxing recreational marijuana for those over 18, effective immediately. Passed 288 to 68, with 33 abstentions.
• Legalising, regulating and taxing sex work, effective immediately. Passed 234 to 153, with 2 abstentions.
• A goods and services tax, to be gradually implemented in the coming 6 months. Passed 302 to 63, with 24 abstentions.
• The eventual creation of a nuclear second-strike capability, requiring both public and parliamentary approval. Passed 188 to 149, with 52 abstentions. To be voted on in a referendum the following month. 

Edited December 11, 2018 by Reuben Cheuk

[ReuKinChe]

The public vote on civil polygamy resulted in a close victory for the 'Yes' side, with 54% of the vote. The parliament considered other bills which had been discussed previously.

• Accepting the result of the plebiscite and recognising civil polygamy, effective by the start of the following month. Passed 226 to 24, with 139 abstentions.
• Gradually opening public roads to self-driving cars, over the course of the year. Passed 325 to 57, with 7 abstentions.
• A $16 billion investment in renewable and nuclear energy research and development. Passed 334 to 53, with 2 abstentions.
• Partially nationalising the electricity sector. Passed 193 to 187, with 9 abstentions.
• Independence of ethnic Russian territories. Failed to pass 386 to 3, with 0 abstentions.

[ReuKinChe]

After a mass political advertising campaign, the referendum to build a second strike nuclear capability resulted in a 'Yes', with 64% of the vote. Some of the advertisements involved featured footage of the genocides undertaken by Rokkenjima, with a message about the ability for nuclear weapons to deter potential attackers.

The investigation into human genetic engineering published its findings, to both the Parliament and the public. It mentioned the issue of genetic engineering being available to only the wealthy, eventually causing insurmountable class differences. A long discussion would begin, on how to avoid such a fate.

[ReuKinChe]

Genetic engineering of humans was legalised, under extremely tight government supervision, and entered the research phase. Treatments would come later.

[ReuKinChe]

The following bills were voted on:

• Reduced benefits for parents who do not vaccinate their children for ideological reasons. Passed 192 to 137, with 60 abstentions.
• Outlawing the preaching and construction of churches of Scientology and other cults with a criminal history. Passed 264 to 106, with 19 abstentions. Challenges to this bill were dismissed by the Supreme Court.
• Mass spending on infrastructural development in the north of the country, while observing environmental regulations. Passed 256 to 98, with 35 abstentions.
• The construction of a high-speed rail connecting the nation's major urban centres. Passed 199 to 126, with 64 abstentions.
• A $1 billion investment into quantum computing. Passed 200 to 166, with 23 abstentions.