GawkyBike7

## Summary

GawkyBike7, titled President Emeritus Realm Supreme GawkyBike7, Grand Master Templar, has been a member of Espaeria since December 2020. On the day he entered the Realm, he won election under Taite and became Vice President. Having formed Stephengrad (now North Stephengrad, a region of St James), and St James, he has formed the largest state by membership in modern Espaeria. He was President from April to June 2022 and established the Espaerian Sporting Commission shortly beforehand in March 2022. Another achievement was the formation of the Espaerian Military in March 2021 whilst in the role of Minister of Defence. However this drastically backfired and inadvertently led to the Balo Crisis.

GawkbyBike7 is the most recent President of Espaeria to have been found guilty of a crime (arson, which led to his removal from the post of Vice President), but was pardoned instantly by Judge Matthew. He became a good friend of Matthew and would become the Minister of Defence after Matthew was elected president in March 2021.

After Matthew left office, GawkyBike7 remained a loyal advisor, even during the North/South divide and GawkyBike7's immigration to the East.

## Key events in GawkyBike7's membership of Espaeria

### First political term - Vice President under President Taite

Within his first week on Espaeria, GawkyBike7 attempted to establish himself as a future political powerhouse, but fell short quickly after the Arson Scandal. GawkyBike7 was initially charged with terrorism after destroying a block of flats which had replaced his former home, but the charges were dropped down to arson during the trial. Judge Matthew allowed GawkyBike7 to plead guilty to arson and was pardoned instantly.

### Member of Matthew's Cabinet - Minister of Defence

After Matthew was re-elected president, GawkyBike7 was appointed Minister of Defence. Forming both the Espaerian Military and Espaerian Special Forces, he accidentally created a new era of Espaerian geopolitics. The Espaerian Military was deployed after the Balo Crisis (which was a result of State Militaries being allowed to form), and led to the Cold War between North and South Espaeria.

### Member of Gofra's Cabinet - Minister of Defence and Removal from Office

After President Matthew's term expired and Premier Gofra of Pradanja was elected, the incoming president decided to allow Gawkybike7 to remain as Defence Minister, although he removed him from command of the Air Force and curtailed most of his direct involvement with the military. By this point Espaeria was entering into the Cold War between the Northern and Southern Factions and after 3 weeks President Gofra decided to remove Gawkybike7 from his cabinet, due to his alignment with the North and his loyalty to the old president. GawkyBike7 kept only his role as Head of the Espaerian Special Forces and was demoted to Brigadier from Brigadier-General.

### Advisor to Matthew

Upon his dismissal, Gawkybike7 retired to his Mattograda residence where he became an advisor to the President Emeritus, who had set up court at Arenaria Palace to help coordinate the Northern resistance to the Pradanjans. While Gawkybike7 resided in the North he effectively functioned as Shadow Defence Minister, leading Northern Resistance to the Pradanjan Expansionism. Using the Espaerian Special Forces, he founded Matanamo Bay Prison Centre and rallied Northern support from Palmania, where his military allies stood. However after the North moved towards rapprochement with the South Gawkybike7 migrated to the East of the Espaeria, founding his own 3rd Continent, known as Stephengrad, which ultimately became the subject of numerous invasion attempts by Pradanja. Despite this move he continued to faithfully and loyally advise the former president until the Great Collapse in August 2021.

### Deputy Chairman of the Three Tailed Dog Party

After the rapprochement between North and South and the joint election of Tom and Joe to the Presidency, Gawkybike7 played a key role in the founding of the Three Tailed Dog Party (TTDP), the indirect successor of the Nationalist Party, becoming Deputy Chairman of the party and significantly influencing the policy and campaigning thereof, in both Sezir Martin and Pope Ben's respective bids for the Presidency. After Joe's term finally expired Gawkybike7 was a vital player in the highly contentious August Election, in which the TTDP nominated Pope Ben (the preferred candidate of the President Emeritus Matthew and Gawkybike7) while the People's Party nominated their long time candidate Richard (indirectly backed by Co-President Tom), and the disputed results brought to a head the longstanding conflict between the ex-president (supported by Gawkybike7) and his former chancellor. The resulting narrow victory for Richard marked the definite end of Matthew's rule in Espaeria and the beginning of Tom's tenure as Supreme Ruler, however his victory was short-lived as only days after the realm collapsed as a result of the infighting unleashed by the election.

### Opposition Leader and Chairman of the Espaerian Prosperity Party

After the new realm formed, GawkyBike7 established St James, his second state. Old allies joined the state, including Emperor Matthew, who retired to a Mansion on the outskirts, and Sezir Martin, who would become a key political aide to GawkyBike7. Renaming the Three Tailed Dog Party to the Espaerian Prosperity Party, GawkyBike7 became party Chairman and leader. Although he did not stand for election, with candidate Percy withdrawing and Joe winning his second term, GawkyBike7 was unanimously elected to Espaerian Parliament by St James's members, leading to him becoming the Leader of the Opposition in the Espaerian Parliament. This title was more of a figurehead title, with little political role. However, GawkyBike7 started to write for the Jamesian Times, the Jamesian Economist, the Espaerian Times, and the Espaerian Sun, gaining political influence through journalism. By the time that the next election rolled around, the Espaerian Prosperity Party had cemented itself as Espaeria's largest party, backed by key figures such as Matthew.

### The Espaerian Sporting Commission and its formation

Due to the lack of political power and a want for a greater community aspect to Espaeria, GawkyBike7 formed the Espaerian Sporting Commission, an independent body that would construct sporting facilities, most notably St James Park. The Espaerian Sporting Commission was somewhat of a failure due to a lack of community participation, the very thing that GawkyBike7 wanted to reverse.

### Successful Presidential Bid

On the 25th April 2022, the Espaerian Prosperity Party announced GawkyBike7 as their political candidate for the presidential election, with Sezir Martin as his Vice. They promised the following in their original manifesto: A federal bill of rights, establishment of an elected Supreme Court, interstate connections (flight and sea) and subsequent investment and a sports initiative.

Also on the 25th, Schming42 of Darkkeep pulled out of the election and offered his support to GawkyBike7, leading to the Prosperity Party editing their manifesto by adding the following: the first 1000 ESD earned by businesses will be doubled by the treasury, increased community events, including PvP competitions, building competitions, and more sporting competitions and, a governmental district around the teleportation hub, including the new Supreme Court, the Espaerian Parliament, and state embassies.

On the 27th April, GawkyBike7 won the election 11 votes to 4 (5 abstentions).

#### Election controversy

On the 27th April 2022, Y-O (losing candidate) accused GawkyBike7 of corruption and bribery, following his electoral win. An investigation began the same day, with a trial by jury taking into account all evidence found. On the 30th, Joe reiterated his accusation in Supreme Court stating:

> To clear everything up, I am believe (GawkyBike7) has bribed certain people, offering roles in exchange for votes. There is evidence to support this
>
>

Matos101 represented GawkyBike's defence, and on the 2nd May, GawkyBike7 was found not guilty by a unanimous jury, on the basis that no law existed preventing voter bribery with positions.

#### Continuation

GawkyBike continued his term as President. Reforms include the Espaerian Sporting Centralisation Act and Constitutional Reform to both improve the electoral system and reduce government corruption. GawkyBike7 also continued to run the Espaerian Sporting Commission during his tenure.

It is important to note that the period after GawkyBike7 was cleared of all charges and through his entire Presidency, as well as under the Tom / Ben autocracy, Matthew was far less present, due to his little interest in the then state of Espaeria, something that has changed considerably.

### The Second Espaerian Sporting Commission

The Second Espaerian Sporting Commission was formed under the Tom / Ben autocracy but failed as the realm collapsed, with a lack of community participation. The Second Espaerian Sporting Commission was independent from government but there were disagrees over funding.

### Realm Supreme, the Third Espaerian Sporting Commission, and the Second Presidential Bid

GawkyBike7 created the newest realm, and became Realm Supreme. Alongside this, he has rebuilt St James Park and seen a more effective Espaerian Sporting Commission founded and run. There are plans in place to host an inter-state rugby tournament which he developed a way of playing on the realm alongside Percy. Matthew has become more active and is a heavily influential figure around GawkyBike7's Second Presidential Bid, standing in the upcoming election. St James has also returned and has multiple loyal members. GawkyBike7 reintroduced the Espaerian Times and the Espaerian Sun and has had a key role in revitalising the community.