Enfranchisement Movement
When the military seized control of the WFP in the mid 16th century the armed forces were a mish-mash of local militias and police forces. Though work continued apace on shaping these disparate groups into a viable fighting force, recruitment levels were worryingly low, particularly given the threat from the UMF to the east. The solution to the crisis was the Citizens Act, which limited full membership of the league to those who had served in the military for at least five cycles. The remainder would be known as residents, afforded full protection of the league but unable to influence public affairs.
Many of the population accepted this without question but a small and vocal minority protested the change in their circumstances and immediately staged a series of protests. Had these been part of a concerted effort then it seems likely Cristobal's proposals would have been amended, but the groups challenging the Act did so for a wide range of reasons, often contradictory. Some protested their disenfranchisement while others objected to the military's association with the electoral process. Eventually these groups realized that they would be better served by working together and began to cooperate on key issues, forming a loose federation known as the Enfranchisement movement.
Though remaining a minority group in Protectorate politics, the Movement has been able to claim several victories, notably reforms that allowed members of the administration and allied militaries to claim citizenship, albeit after a longer period of service. The overall lack of success has caused considerable resentment, particularly among the young and clanless, and has led to the formation of several radical groups who advocate a more militant stance against the Protectorate government. These groups have been particularly active in Fort James, manipulating the large number of immigrants, particularly as the economic effects of the war have strangled local commerce and caused spiraling unemployment. The violence that has marred several demonstrations has prompted the WIA to scrutinize the affairs of the once-harmless Movement. Furthermore, these actions have served to drive the members of the coalition further apart at just the time when strong leadership is required.
Their "unpatriotic" actions have prompted the major Western political groups to shun the movement since the outbreak of war. Several scandal sheets have reported meetings between Hayek William and Mitsukaki Helen, Proconsul Lang's chief of staff, though neither has issued any formal statement.
Structure
Though widely regarded as a single body, the Enfranchisement Movement is a collection of smaller organizations, each with similar but not identical goals in mind. The largest constituent group is the Western Democratic Alliance, headed by Hayek William, who sees universal suffrage without any preconditions. Hayek serves as nominal leader of the Movement though he wields little real power. The WDA are strongest in Fort James, particularly among the new clans and clanless. The Greater Concord is the second largest group, with members all across the WFP and associations with the Sandvale Commune of the Blue Crescent Order. They are staunchly opposed to militarism, and their principal objection to the citizen-resident divide is the role of the military in the process. These disagreements have prevented the establishment of a formal governing body for the Movement though Hayek frequently meets with Caruana Pila, the notional leader of the Sandvale Commune, and Reeves Allan of the Western Justice League, a civil rights movement sponsored by the NLC.
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