Beluzia

[Intruder Emerald]

---

Conservative leader Julius Rounds has said he is proud of the party's start to the new term, stating the Conservatives are the party of moderate reform and common sense. Rounds has also been critical of the decision by the LDP to enter into coalition with the Workers' Party.

Today, Julius Rounds has given an interview to the Beluzian Telegraph regarding his party's election results, the legislation the Conservatives have proposed in the Quaiyl, and his thoughts on the new government. The Conservatives won 9 seats in the election with 2% of the vote. Rounds accepted he hoped for better results in some areas but said "we are a new party and this is the first of many steps. I could not be prouder of the 9 Conservatives we have got elected to the Quaiyl and I hope to see many more in the future". Rounds acknowledged that overall it had been a difficult election for the Right and said he is surprised by the formation of the new government. "I expected to see a leftist coalition led by the Labour Party, so I am surprised to see the LDP back in government for another four years. I was particularly surprsed by that". Rounds said he thought it was a surprising decision by the LDP to go into a coalition with the Workers' Party and he believes that such a coalition will struggle to survive. "I'm not sure exactly how long this coalition government can last and I expect to see a fallout at some point between the LDP and the Workers' Party".

Rounds said he believes the government will struggle to survive four years and questioned what the legacy of such a government will be. He said there is no chance that the government could do anything meaningful with such differences in opinions. Rounds also made an appeal to LDP voters saying "the leadership of the Liberal Democrats has shown it is not representative of the cente-right vote. Only the Conservative Party can fully represent their views in the Quaiyl and I think you will find that in the next election an awful lot of their voters will probably come to us".

Rounds also took time to discuss his party's legislative agenda. Rounds championed the Professional Fire Service Act, stating he is proud that it is his party that has put forward proposals for the creation of a full-time, professional, modern fire service. He also took time to discuss Conservative proposals to privatise the national train operaitng company. Rounds said "regional and local rail companies and privately owned and have shown they can do the job well, delivering an excellent service at a lower cost. Of course, we support some government regulation to make sure that private rail companies are operating effectively, however it is time to open up the national railways to the market".

Many in the Conservatives believe Rounds is promoting the party as a competent, effective and moderate centre-right party that is one day destined for government. Nonetheless, some have been critical of Rounds for not being radical enough and believe they will not attract voters from the People's Party. Rounds said he was pleased that the leader of the Workers Party, Bart Corwyn, described the Conservatives as "pretty sane", although some members of the party think it shows Rounds is just not right wing enough.