Imperial Congress election, 1650

Roman Imperial Party: Julius Valleros
Foreign Policy: Supporter of territorial expansionism and hard-line against Celestial Empire and Saint Atlantis.

Defense Policy: Supporter of modern, compatible and well equiped army, in favour of quality over quantity. Critic of mass armies, but accepting their necessity in war with Celestial Empire.

Economic Policy: Support trade regulation, economic nationalism and protectionism as tool against Celestial Empire, Saint Atlantis and their supporters. Supporting increase social spending and social welfare state.

Social Policy: Conservative critic of social liberal politics and supporter of centralization of imperial power and curtailing provincial rights. Critic of liberal immigration policy and wanted to press policy based on "brain-drain" from other countries, rather than inviting cheap workforce.

Conservative Union: Boris Nikolaevich Artapov
Russian-province born politician from Minsk, long-term mayor of Minsk (1627-1645) and prefect of Belarus prefecture. Under his leadership Belarus prefecture flourished in agricultural and industrial production and became trade hub between Poland, Scandinavia and Empire. He became compromise candidate between radical expansionists and anti-expansionists within Conservative Union.

Foreign Policy: Moderate supporter of territorial expansionism. Empire should territorially expand only to safe areas without any strong enemy resistance and with support from local population. Want to use trade to weak Saint Atlantis and Celestial Empire, as they will be dependent on Imperial Economy.

Defense Policy: Critic of massive military spending, supporter of small-professional and elite army with cutting edge technologies instead of massive and expensive armies. Critic of social benefits for war veterans.

Economic Policy: In his "Manifesto for Next Century", he declared necessity to deregulate trade, decrease customs and fees, decrease direct and indirect taxation and continue in privatization processes within Empire, decrease bureaucracy and regulations. Supporter of "Trade Union Law No. 33" that curtailed some rights and position of trade unions and supporter of policy of austerity.

Social Policy: Compromise candidate, critics of social-liberalism, supporter of devolution and provincial rights.

Citizen Party: Pierre Marie
French-emigrant from Saint Atlantis, his parents were active in Interregnum on side of Imperial Congress. He criticized them for that, but he was active supporter of constitutionalism. From his adulthood, he participated in numerous meetings and discussions advocating decentralization and liberalism. He was also among so-called "Green Liberals" who were active in defending of nature.

Foreign Policy: Anti-expansionist supporting "developmentalism" of controlled imperial territories. Supported re-establishing connections with Saint Atlantis and peace talks with Celestial Empire.

Defense Policy: Strong critic of Imperial Army and supporter of only-defense policy. Declared intention to change Imperial Constitution to curtail rights and position of Imperial Armed Forces and prevent another "terrible catastrophes", as he called war with Celestial Empire and First Pan-European War.

Economic Policy: Supporter of social state, progressive taxation, especially in case of Imperial Trade Corporation and higher classes, moderate supporter of agricultural and industrial collectivization and co-operative economics. As member of Congress, he supported regulation acts against banking sector and insurance companies.

Social Policy: Declared support for full suffrage and asylum-seeker rights, for strenghtening provincial rights and decrease position of Constantinople in Empire.

Imperial Democratic Party: Constantina Parrys
Greek-born nationalist congresswomen and active politician. From 1620 to 1642 governor of Thessaloniky and Greek province, ambitious, popular and charismatic, but also extreme in her opinions and goals. As governor, she restored former glory and prosperity of Thessaloniky and Greece and was able to build and secure second largest shipyard after Constantinople. Studied on Imperial Academy. She was also member and commanding officer of paramilitary Iron Legion.

Foreign Policy: "Phasical expansionism" - in first phase, conquer and secure all weak border regions, in second phase, initiated military conflicts with Saint Atlantis and other strong foreign powers.

Defense Policy: Supporter of massive military, armoured forces and modern technologies, supported "Military Education Act" that obliged elementary school to secure full military training for students.

Economic Policy: Supporter of slavery, social state, welfare for war veterans and economic protectionism. Openly supported "Act on Mining of 1644" that nationalized uranium, lithium and wolfram minining sector. Supporter of Imperial Trade Corporation and nationalization of shipyards and restoration of foreign trade monopoly.

Social Policy: Critic of general suffrage, social liberal policy, abortion rights, supporter of prosecution of various minorities (especially Catholics) and supporter of Imperial Cult, protection of rainforests and critic of Constitutionalism.

Aftermath
Elections ended with victory of Roman Imperial Party and while they also had support from Imperial Democratic Party, they were defeated, as independent Colonial representatives supported opposition candidate. On other hand, for Citizen Party elections were strong defeat, as they expected they will reach support of at least 15 colonial representatives, but they gained support of only 1 representative. Second humiliation came when at least 3 Citizen Party representatives supported Roman Imperial Party in second round. While in various policies, Boris Artapov and Empress Irene clashed, Artapov proved as very capable administrator and economist. He achieved increase of provinces and prefectures support for Empire, as he reinitiated voting of nearly forgotten Constantine Chadenos Law No. 9/51 that devolved many rights to provinces. He was also able to decrease war veteran benefits, which is generally considered as main reason of Conservative Union tragical defeat in 1650 elections.