The Reveille Times Brings You An Interview With Senator Juno Andrist of the WPR.
Jorinton: First of all, the Senate is a longer-term commitment than the House, also a longer mandate allowing for less election campaigning. Considering this and your increased distance from the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Redmont, is the Senate a way to kill two birds with one stones? Getting into a new relationship of sorts, considering your involvement in Alexandrian politics?
“My run for the Senate was nothing more than a representation of the people’s will to pass more progressive and pragmatic legislation. The Senate has historically been quite conservative, and I wanted to run to increase popular representation. My family life or Alexandrian involvement has nothing to do with it.”
Jorinton: In terms of the mandate itself; how do you view the fragmentation of the Senate? Established House parties lack significant senatorial support; how is the WPR, apparently isolated by other political parties in the House, considering the election of Omega of the LfR as Speaker when planning to pass their agenda through the Senate?
“We are disappointed by the election of Omegabiebel to the Speakership, as we feel Kaiserin_ was the correct choice for the job. However, we do not see ourselves as “isolated”. We are able to collaborate with different interest groups, from the LfR to the RRP to TP, to further the interests of the people. This isn’t about passing a WPR agenda, per se. This is about doing what is in the best interest of the people. “
Jorinton: Does the WPR have the ambition to increase its share of seats in the Senate? There have been murmurs of a WPR-LfR Senate coalition, without substantial claims.
“We’d like to increase our presence in the Senate, but we also understand the risks of such an endeavor with the current way the Senate is structured and how they are elected. Thus we will consider the viability in the Senate on an election-by-election basis. As for any coalition, we are not engaged in, nor plan to engage in, any formal coalition with any other party. Nevertheless, we are determined to continue working with all parties to pass pragmatic legislation for the workers of Redmont.
Jorinton: In the WPR, there have been some calls for a unicameral legislative body. If an amendment, which would abolish the Senate, passed the House, would you vote aye on it?
“I’m not sure how viable it would be right now. I think it is better to make Senate elected by STV, and the House elected by party list. Then we can see how that works.”
Jorinton: You mentioned the House election system changing to party list. Is it something the WPR will pursue and how would you imagine it works?
“It’s not on our May Platform but it has been floated internally”
Jorinton: How would you, personally, imagine it working? Would there be say an Electoral Authority, where you would submit the party list? Would it be open-list or closed-list?
“I can’t give any specifics.”
Jorinton: Finally, do you plan to re-enter the frey of inter-party politics? You have stepped down as Chairwoman of the WPR Central Committee, are you ever planning to come back?
“I have many pressing matters at this time, I have not left WPR politics, I am simply participating at a more basic level and feel that Kaiserin is a more active leader than I can be right now.”
We thank the Senator for giving us an interview! Next up is Senator lcn!
