The Times: Real Estate Baron to run for Prime Minister

**THE TIMES |** Addressing an entourage of journalists, Real Estate Baron and Industrialist Josip de Cröy surprised political pundits. In his address, he confirmed that he would be running for Prime Minister on an independent ticket. This came as a surprise, as no members of the De Cröy family had ever run for political office, despite it's history as and influential land-owning family under Steinard rule. When his father, Aleksander de Cröy passed away in 1150, Josip moved to Nydia to attend to his family's estate and fortune. During the Revolutionary War, Josip served as one of the main financial contributors to the revolutionary forces, and paved the infrastructure for Nesskan supplies to reach General Tesentan's army in the fight against the Steinards.

Almost two decades later, de Cröy has positioned himself as "the sensible and pragmatic alternative that can unify the country" after the unrest following the revolution. Although not a member of a party, de Cröy has often been described as a proponent of social democracy, in particular a social market economy that promotes democracy and civil liberties. When asked what his vision was for Nydia, he answered the following:

> It is after nearly two decades of conflict;
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> of despair, sorrow and struggle;
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> of brother fighting brother;
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> of families being torn apart by their loyalties;
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> that we must come together as an unified people.
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> Nydia must be a land of peace, one which is guided by the basic principles of solidarity, liberty and democracy. We must ensure that conditions are fostered by the state to allow business and innovation to thrive -- but never at the expense of the peasant, the worker or the craftsman. Nydia needs a Prime Minister which can conciliate the different branches of our society which deem their opposite as a threat to their existence, and make it clear that the prosperity of both means a prosperous country as a whole. It is in the infancy of our nation that we must come together and define fair parameters that allow for growth and an outward looking nation, while guaranteeing a humane standard of living to the backbone of our nation: regular working people
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> A fine balance must be struck between rights and obligations, between liberty and security, between the interest of the individual and the collective -- and as I look upon my opponents, I unfortunately can not find it. Reactionary and extremist voices attempt to muddy the waters, sowing hate, division and tribalism within our young nation. Knowing to well our past, we know these are the tactics of oppressors and tyrants. Much like the Steinards who pitched the various groups within our nation, whether divided by creed, race or culture, these neo-Steinard candidates seek to divide and conquer for the benefit of those that thrive during chaos and societal disonance. I can assure the people of Nydia that if elected to be our nation's first Prime Minister, I shall make sure that the government serves to protect the oppressed, the forgotten and the national interest. I pledge to lead a government which delivers a revolution that works for the many, not the few.
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