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HEAD GOTHI "SHOWCASE" TAKE PLACELast night national TV aired a pair of interviews with the leading candidates for the position of Head Gothi. As people are just two weeks away from the polls opening it was a chance to see how each stood up to scrutiny from the media and assembled audience. Dr.Olivia Robertsson and current Head Gothi Stein Ulfsson were both interview by Krista Rosendahl and asked the same questions before random questions taken from a box provided by the audience were addressed.
If elected what would be your top priority? SU - The Theocracy needs to begin establishing a wider network of friendship. There are several nations such as Marseille and East Moreland that we consider close friends, to some extent Achkaerin too. Our problem has been a the way some of the former CSTO have sought to make us outcasts. If I am re-elected my first foreign policy move would be to seek membership of the Sovereign Union of Nations, a group that have tried to stand against those imposing an agenda on the world. Once we've forged membership of S.U.N we'll seek to become active in growing their science section and becoming a valued member of an interesting organisation.
DOR - Its simple I want to show people of our faith they've been tricked. Nya Åland became independent because it viewed itself as a strong nation free from control by others. No sooner had it gained that than it began to show fear of the wider world. Odin is a God that wants us couragous, self reliant and disciplined, he is not a God that fears religions I would consider false. You want to be a Christian, fine be a Christain, but when you meet the All-Father that becomes a you problem. If elected the idea of us hiding away behind the Gods will end. We will send missionaries across the world to promote our faith and while Odinist teaching will be at the centre of everything we do it won't be because of fear.
How would you grow the economy?SU Assuming we're members of S.U.N that will bring with it closer trading links. If we are not then I'll be looking to move our nation towards better utilising our access to the Alucard. There is a thriving market there and I want us to grab as large a slice of that as possible. I want us to be one of the largest economies in terms of size of population on Mundus and we'll need to begin exporting and that requires networks.
DOR There would be a two prong approach. Stage one takes care of itself. We'd relax the religious laws and thus, I hope, end the sanctions against us. This will in itself help create new growth. Then secondly we'd look to promote what Nords do best, we innovate. We've a thriving science sector of our economic landscape and by investing in that I believe strongly we can become world leaders. If we improve the way we monetise our science know how that boosts everything else too.
If you had to pick one nation to sign a treaty with in the next twelve months who would it be?SU That is relatively easy. Holmvik. They share around 90% of our faith and I believe we at heart are kindred spirits. We are natural partners and as such I think we have a lot to offer each other. I would love to conclude some arrangement with them as our culture, history and faith is so closely enshrined.
DOR First of all I wouldn't be silly enough to limit ourselves to just one. I would be interested though in making arrangements with local Alucard nations. I've got experience of working with Lodjians through various agencies I've been part of and so perhaps that might be a logical first step but if elected my plane will be getting in the air miles and my door will be open.
What do you think is the biggest weakness of your opponent?SU - Let me begin by saying Dr. Robertsson is someone I'm proud to say is an Ålander. Under my time as Head Gothi we introduced a system of new Jarls and Thanes and she was one of the first names put forward. She is though very young and as a result has very little experience as a Gothi. She is not equipped to lead a nation dedicated to the Gods and as such I fear that she is incapable of leading in such a way as the All-Father would desire. A vote for the good doctor is a vote to turn away from the tradition and values that have held our communities strong through all manner of disasters.
DOR - He's weak. There is no kind way of putting it. I believe he is a nice guy but he is blind to the world outside our homeland. He has made very few overseas visits and we can't live in a village. Our ancestors raided the coasts of Mundus and while I am not advocating we return to Viking ways I do think we need to stop looking inwards. Another term in office by Ulfsson will see us become even more stagnated and out of touch with the world.
What makes you the best candidate?SU - Out of the two of us it is clear I have the best theological knowledge and the most experience in government. I am capable of ensuring our nation runs smoothly and continues to be the Holy Land of our faith. No one else in this race is capable of doing this. I know the people of our country better than any candidate and I believe that none of them love the Gods as much as me. I have wisdom the other candidates don't and I have the backing of the Odinic Rite.
DOR - I don't quit. Throughout my life I've faced challenges beyond any of the others. When the disaster hit the UNP I was in the midst of it and hiked out. When Uppsala became chaos I was a trainee doctor who manned medical centres. Then when the gas disaster happened I, like so many other medics, refused to leave the contaminated zone. Like them I have the scars of refusing to quit (she shows camera scars on her hands from chemical burns). I've ran medical centres out the back of flatbed trucks, I've brought medical care to places in Zimalia that hadn't seen doctors for years. I've been in J.E.T operations on several continents. I don't have political experience but if you need a Nord to get a job done in hard circumstances I'm your girl.
Following the shared questions it was revealed that Stein Ulfsson wants to make reforms to the nations environmental policies. "I believe we have the capability to over produce energy. If thats the case then we could easily export our surplus to places like Vynlandia or even the Lodjain islands." He also stated that he would increase the amount of whaling that the nation takes part in.
Meanwhile Dr.Robertsson explained that she intends to reform education to make it ensure that all students gain neither 100% academic nor vocational qualifications. "We'd bring in a new diploma, students will be expected to learn at least one practical skill such as carpentry if their academic or if they're more practical they'd be required to study at least one academic subject." She also explained that schools would be free to set their own policy on religious education and whether to teach faiths other than Odinism.
The election is 14 days away however Monday marks the final chance to register to vote. To vote a person must be registered with their local Odinic Order
[1] and forms can be found both online or at your local office.