Tyrrhenian Broadcasting Corporation: TBC News

[Bulgislavia]

6th July 2013

RESIST
(Resist is a popular and influential news paper within provinces aligned with the Peoples Resistance Movement. Influential personalities from within the Resistance movement often contribute opinion pieces)

IN THE MIDST OF OUR REVOLUTIONARY WAR, THE PEOPLES REVOLUTION CELEBRATES NEW GAINS!

by Igor Rukesku, member of the Ormani Congress of Peoples Deputies

Well its been an eventful week with further manifestations of revolutionary political and social transformation within the Resistance Territory. This is all in spite of the unspeakable atrocities committed by the illegitimate State Defense Committee and their continued tyrannical grip on the heartland of our great nation.

The first political reform was the passage of the Empowered Polities Act (Commonly referred to as the City State Act or the City State Solution) with overwhelming support within the Ormani Congress of Peoples Deputies. The implementation of this act has already seen the Ormani Republic's four provinces further subdivided into 13 Polities with the Congress of Peoples Deputies transferring many of its powers down to each of the Polities newly established "Polis Assemblies"

Other provinces around the country are either debating the Empowered Polities concept or have already put in motion the move to implement new "Polity Boundaries". This political reform is in line with the theories of Revolutionary Peoples Democracy in the struggle for the further re-distribution of power by the dissolving of power down to the people to become a true State of the Masses.

The second big development of our great Peoples Revolution is the commencement of elections for the Supreme Peoples Economic Assembly which will determine the economic system of the country for the next five years
(Link to election thread is here viewtopic.php?f=23&t=250004&hilit=Bulgislavia_)

This just goes to show that our revolution and the ideology of Revolutionary Peoples Democracy can triumph even in the midst of civil war and now with belated news of the ACA dissolution only now reaching Bulgislavia, it will make the development of our own brand of indigenous socialism that much more easier!

Continue the great struggle, continue the good fight, continue to resist the forces of oppression!
Long live the Great Peoples Enlightenment Revolution. Long live Revolutionary Peoples Democracy. Long live the Popular Assemblies!

[Bulgislavia]

BULGISLAVIA BECOME FIRST REDBLOC NATION IN TYRRHENIA, APPEALS TO LEFT-WING GOVERNMENTS AND ORGANIZATIONS


(Thousands turn out in the streets of Craasi to support the decision of the Provisional Government to form a regional Red Block of leftist nations and organizations in the wake of the ACA dissolution)

Chairman of the Provisional Assembly, Igor Rukesku reaffirmed Bulgislavia's commitment to left-wing ideology by publicly supporting and promoting the formation of a Red Bloc of leftist nations and organizations in the region of Tyrrhenia. The Bulgislavian Chapter of the Tyrrhenian Revolutionary Committee which has links to the Bulgislavian Workers International offices and other leftist organizations kicked off the movement with an open letter to all leftist organizations and governments which Igor Rukesku's provisional government quickly responded too and supported making Bulgislavia the first Red Bloc nation of Tyrrhenia.

Igor Rukesku made the announcement yesterday on the 8th of July which the Tyrrhenian Revolutionary Committee are already pushing to be celebrated as "Bulgislavian Red Bloc Day" and be celebrated as an annual holiday.

Following the Bulgislavian announcement the largest leftist organization in West Ponente, the Alliance Gauche announced their support for the movement and a desire for and hope to raise awareness and activity of the left within the Tyrrhenian region. They went on to say that August 1st, 2014 will be celebrated as Ponentean Red Bloc Day. Multiple workplaces in the cities of Naradia and Craasi shut down for the day to stage a solidarity strike with the people of West Ponente to express their support for Alliance Gauche.....

[Bulgislavia]

12th July 2013

GROWING CONCERNS ABOUT GROSS HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES FOLLOWING TORTURE ALLEGATIONS


(The growing number of 'Security Centers' being set up in the Peoples Resistance Territory has alarmed rights groups)

Demonstrations were staged in the Resistance cities of Naradia and Craasi to complain at what they say are "Grave Violations in human rights" and the alarming growth of PRIA "Security Centers" being set up in resistance territory.

"I know that we are in the midst of a civil war against the State Defense Committee who are serial human rights abusers but that does not give us any excuse to sink to their level!" protested Violetta Gabinsku who is a member of an anti-torture working group that is attached to the Bulgislavian Committee on Human Rights

"In the last few months we have seen the establishment and growth of PRIA operated 'Security Centers' in all resistance cities and we have solid evidence that individuals are being detained at these facilities"

The PRIA have neither confirmed nor denied the existence of these Security Centers and when the question was put to Chairman of the Provisional Assembly, Igor Rukesku his response was

"We are in a war against the most insidious domestic enemy the people of Bulgislavia have ever known. We will use any and all means necessary to completely eliminate the existence of Shadow Org and those that wish to undermine the Great Peoples Enlightenment Revolution and our Revolutionary Peoples Democracy" When pressed further if that meant the use of torture was being employed, Chairman Rukesku ended the press conference and left

Some of the allegations of torture methods that the PRIA are employing in their fight to rid the country of Shadow Org include
Sleep deprivation
physical beatings
being permanently handcuffed throughout the duration of their detainment
electrocution
water boarding
as well as emotional and psychological torture

"This is completely unacceptable and the Resistance Media has been completely silent on the issue because they don't want the international community to question their self created myth that the Resistance is fighting for freedom against the tyrannical State Defense Committee" continued Violetta.

While this is certainly an unsettling development the Bulgislavian Committee on Human Rights still reaffirm their position that the atrocities occurring under the SDC territory (Which the committee is banned from operating in) are much worse.

Images too gruesome that we can not shot on this news update, but that we have access to thanks to resistance sources from cell phone photo's and camera footage show evidence of public executions and lynchings, with most Human Rights violations and atrocities being committed by the fanatical Mobilization Brigades who are guilty of almost every human rights violation from the employment of rape, the burning down of buildings with people still inside them and the beating to death and public executions and lynchings of people who are suspected of sympathizing with the Resistance

"The smell of decomposing dead bodies was sickening, they dumped them in road side ditches leading into my town, no one was safe, at any stage they could snatch you up, torture you until you die and then leave your managed body on the side of the road with a sign around your neck declaring you a resistance sympathizer. After I lost my two siblings, my father and my cousin in the space of two months I decided I had to flee to the Resistance, to get out of there" explained a defector who wishes to remain anonymous due to fears that his remaining family in SDC territory could become a target for Mobilization Brigade reprisals

"When our Revolutionary War is over I promise there will be a full inquiry of human rights abuses and crimes against humanity, on both sides of the war" proclaimed Igor Rukesku at a recent TV appearance

Various Justice syndicates from the Resistance Territory are already planning for the creation of a Supreme Peoples Justice Assembly and hold elections to determine the kind of justice Bulgislavia will have in the coming years, similar to what is occurring with the Supreme Peoples Economic Assembly, when this will occur, no one can say for sure.

[New Belhavia]

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THE PROVISA TIMES

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Settas, In Stirring Speech, Outlines Empire's New Foreign Policy To National, International Audience

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_{Pictured: Senate Majority Leader Ian Settas, a possible 2016 presidential contender, gesturing during his much-anticipated foreign policy speech at Imperial Provisa University.}

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Settas Lays Out Forceful, But Moderate, Vision For Belhavian Post-A.C.A. Foreign Policy
^{July 14th, 2013 | By Joseph T. Kollen (jtkollen@aij.org) (AIJ)}

PROVISA, New Belhavia — In an address that has been the talk of the Provisa establishment since it was announced, Senate Majority Leader Ian Settas (C-Provisa) gave a passionate speech titled "The Empire's Place in the Post-A.C.A. World Order" to a packed audience of students, professors, and journalists at the Harold R. Packman Press Room in the Imperial Provisa University's School of Government building. The son of former President Julian Settas, whose political revolution in 1980 reversed the course of New Belhavia's political climate irrevocably, is rumored to be extending the family's political dynasty by eying the open President's office in 2016. If this speech is any indication, Settas' genuine policy emphasis and flowery oratory may not only aid his ambitions, but alter the Imperial foreign policy establishment.

In a highly coherent and bifurcated speech, Settas denounced extreme theories tossed about in the public sphere in the weeks following the A.C.A.'s collapse, striking what he called a "sensible and reasonable path forward" that pundits immediately called a "middle ground" between the pro-A.C.A. reactionaries rallying around embattled Senator James Gulden (C-Raffen) and overtly humiliating and left-leaning solutions proposed by Liberal Democrat figures such as Senate Minority Leader John Fellan (LD-Merrina). In what has become the new consensus among the majority of the political establishment, Settas co-opted ideas from both hardline rhetorical camps. "The Empire [of New Belhavia] has established an alternate, non-A.C.A. geopolitical network of allies, influence, diplomatic ties, and treaties," he asserted, "The United Republic of Emmeria, the Itailian Empire, the Kingdom of Belfras, Gratislavia, the Empire of Afalia - these are the nations that New Belhavia can - and must - look to in continuing our long-term Anti-Communist Project as outlined in my father's 1980 'Settas Doctrine' and that has been codified in subsequent national security objectives, " adding passionately that "the Empire should build a course in a rightist, anti-communist community of global powers who are our friends and allies."

In what is interpreted as a shot at the pro-A.C.A. stalwart faction, he stated firmly and unequivocally that "the days of the Imperial Government alienating potential friends and trade partners who share our common values of free markets, participatory government, and orderly society with a foreign policy that sides with thinly-veiled fascists, autocratic regimes, and international bullies has come to an end," inducing thunderous applause from the audience. Cautioning the audience with an up-raised hand, though, Settas continued by replying, "However, while the reactionary fervor in the far right to somehow 'resurrect' the defunct A.C.A. into some new military league should be expected to be laughed out of the room, the cries for humiliating submission and apologies coming from the political and cultural left can not - and will not - be tolerated." He added for good measure: "The Empire should not and must not apologize for taking appropriate measures while in the A.C.A. to isolate, neutralize, and liberate the few remnants of Communist regimes that cling to our civilized world." This also inspired an enthusiastic ovation by the mostly-student audience.

He offered an olive branch to the Republic and Commonwealth of Akimonad, a key geopolitical sparring partner during the A.C.A.-inspired War of Words, remarking "I can say that on behalf of many Belhavians, I thank you President Jonathon Quigley and the Akimonadi leadership for lifting your economic embargo. Businesses across the Empire look forward to engaging in commerce with your private sector...I hope that as the memories of the War of Words fade, you will see that our two nations have similar cultures, similar traditions of participatory government and political climates, and that our societies' values are very much in line."

He concluded on a strong note, asserting "I feel confident about our nation's path in the Post-A.C.A. world order going forward."

Joseph T. Kollen reported from Provisa, N.B. Andrew Kominsky reported from Provisa, N.B. None of these organizations are associated with the AIJ, and all opinions and personal views in the article do not reflect the viewpoints of the AIJ or their employees.

MORE IN TOP STORIES

• Provisa Stock Exchange Gains 233 Points On Reports Of Lifting of Akimonadi Embargo [ 899 ]
• ProvisaInsider.com: Settas Speech "A Hit" With Pundits, Critics Alike [ 902 ]
• Raffen Senate '14 Poll: Gulden 46%, Merkal 37% [ 6794 ]
• "No Ongoing Talks," Foreign Ministry Agrees With Akimonadi Division of External Affairs [ 78 ]

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© Association of Imperial Journalists 2013

[New Belhavia]

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THE PROVISA TIMES

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Embattled Senator, Known For Controversy, Resigns After Levied With Ethics Charges

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_{Pictured: Senator Leon Feingold (C-South Dakos) speaking to reporters after his impromptu press conference announcing his resignation.}

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The Open Senate Seat in South Dakos Province Sparks Cascade Of Candidacies For Special Election
^{July 17th, 2013 | By Joseph T. Kollen (jtkollen@aij.org) (AIJ)}

PROVISA, New Belhavia — In an unsurprising move, polarizing Senator Leon Feingold (C-South Dakos) resigned Wednesday afternoon following yesterday's announcement of ten counts of ethics violations by the Senate Oversight Committee. The ethics charges were passed unanimously, across party lines, a sign that Feingold was in a tight holding pattern without party support. Towards the end of his second term, Senator Feingold had already received a primary challenge within the Conservative Party from provincial assemblyman William Quinn Osman as well as a general election rematch in 2014 with his 2010 Liberal Democratic Party challenger Lisa Madison.

Feingold has a gregarious personality and folksy attitude which made him popular among swing voters in this central, inland province, though his alignment as a Conservative "centrist" has infuriated the Conservative grassroots, which are more right-leaning and self-identify as part of the "traditionalist" wing of the party. Feingold had often joined the quartet of libertarian Conservatives in the Senate in criticizing a forceful foreign policy abroad and for the Empire's close ties to the now-defunct Anti-Communism Alliance (A.C.A.). On domestic policy, Feingold had an independent record of defecting to support the Lib Dems on populist calls for higher taxes and more government intervention in the economy, which is severely restricted in the Imperial Constitution. A trade protectionist, the ex-Senator had repeatedly called on the Senate and President Goldman to significantly raise tariffs to protect South Dakos' declining manufacturing base.

Before politics, Feingold was a manufacturing executive at Belhavian Export Technologies, which has substantial property interests and production facilities throughout South Dakos province. In 2003, he was fined $45,000 for failing to disclose $340,000 in international income held offshore. In 2006, he ran for the open Senate seat as a self-funder, using his wealth to propel his way to victory over the establishment choice, provincial Attorney-General Hank Richman, in the primary. He won in a tight three-way race with strong Lib Dem and Libertarian opponents, winning by just under 10,000 votes with 36% of the vote.

In 2010, he ran for re-election, but faced both serious challenges from within the Conservative Party and in the general election. In what was decried as ballot-stuffing by his vanquished opponent, Feingold beat Richman again in the primary by just 2,300 votes. He won by 1%, with 38% to Lib Dem nominee Lisa Madison's 37% and Libertarian George Faltrone's 24%.

Feingold Opponents Declare Candidacies For Special Election Without Delay

South Dakos's Conservative Governor Wellan Kothis released a statement calling the special election to be held on August 8th. Party primaries will be held on July 23rd, unusually early but due to "the incessant requests by all major party campaigns involved," the Governor said. Under provincial law, the Governor can set a special election as early as 21 days after a vacancy in the Imperial Senate seat appears.

Assemblyman Will Osman, a fiery pro-A.C.A. traditionalist who was running to Feingold's right in the upcoming primary, released a press statement saying "I will continue my candidacy for the Imperial Senate, this time in the upcoming special election. With foreign-appeaser and ally to Merrina liberals Leon Feingold resigning from shady ethics violations, I intend to win with the support of hard-working, middle-income South Dakos families. We need a leader to defend our allies in Germany and Elcric Kcalb in world affairs and stand up to our enemies in Akimonad, Austria-Hungary-Bohemia, and Emmeria." Liberal Democrat Lisa Madison, Feingold's 2010 opponent who is a moderate in the party's "rightist" wing, announced at a press conference this afternoon that "I am announcing my bid for the people's seat in the Imperial Senate. I will fight for every single South Dakos citizen. We need a government that is efficient, transparent, and limited, where the lobbyist-infested corruption that Senator Feingold represented has no place. I am running to give voters a brighter future."

Libertarian provincial senator Robert Gollen, a rising star in local politics who has been said to be inching towards a gubernatorial or Senatorial race in 2014, also threw his hat into the ring, announcing his candidacy this afternoon.

South Dakos Province is a perennial swing state, with registered voters of the province relatively tied at 29% Conservatives, 31.5% Liberal Democrats, and 26.2% Libertarians, respectively. The third, minor party Libertarians, often marginal in other areas, are unusually competitive in South Dakos. Two Libertarian governors have been elected statewide since 1994, and the bicameral provincial legislature usually has 15% - 25% of its officeholders as elected Libertarians. 2006 Libertarian Senatorial nominee Brennan Carren received 28.4%, just shy of 8% less than the Lib Dem nominee. Former Imperial Senator Nathaniel Frum, a Libertarian, narrowly won in an upset in 1998 and served a term before being ousted by a Liberal Democratic challenger in 2002.

An Adrian College/IBNN public poll released last week had Feingold with underwater numbers heading into the primary and general elections in 2014. The July 11th poll had Osman modestly ahead of Feingold in the primary 51% - 46%, while in a three-way general election, Lib Dem Lisa Madison led with 38%, to Feingold's 33%, with 29% for an unnamed, generic Libertarian candidate. In this same survey, if Osman had won the June 2014 primary and faced Madison and a generic Libertarian, he would have been narrowly trailing at 35% to her 37%, with 29% for the generic Libertarian. Robert Gollen was not tested in the poll.

Adam Westin, a professor of political science and a campaign scholar at Adrian College, a private liberals art school nestled in the Eastburg suburbs, opined that "[t]his race is a pure toss-up. You have Osman, with a fired-up Conservative grassroots. Madison, with a strong coalition of women, independents, energized Lib Dems, and urban voters, and Gollen, a charismatic Libertarian political star with firm support in the suburbs and with swing voters. This is a special election to watch. Voter turnout will decide this race."

Three operatives, from each of the three parties who agreed to give frank assessments under a cloak of anonymity, concurred. "Osman is a real fiery and bombastic reactionary," the Conservative operative remarked, "He polls well in the traditionalist grassroots and with low-income manufacturing sector workers. Madison has the perfect electoral coalition for a Lib Dem to win here: double-digit lead among women, a strong appeal to independents, and an excited party base that is delighting in the Conservative Party's national brand collapse from this A.C.A. business. Gollen targets the same folks as Madison does."

The Lib Dem operative agreed, but gave Madison an edge. "Lisa Madison came within 50,000 votes of unseating [former Senator Leon] Feingold. Osman's got a popular following, but he's too extreme. A big A.C.A. stalwart. My eye's on Madison and how [Libertarian candidate Robert] Gollen does. Either can win with the coalition they're trying to assemble." The Libertarian campaign hand talked up Madison and Osman. "I mean," he said, "Those two are golden. A moderate and an extremist. Contrasting profiles. South Dakos has elected people with similar profiles to both of them in the last twenty years. This is anyone's game."

Joseph T. Kollen reported from Provisa, N.B. Andrew Kominsky reported from Eastburg, N.B. None of these organizations are associated with the AIJ, and all opinions and personal views in the article do not reflect the viewpoints of the AIJ or their employees.

MORE IN POLITICS

• Jacen Gray, In Campaign-Style Event, Supports Akimonadi Outreach In Settas Speech [ 755 ]
• ProvisaInsider.com: Settas Speech "Majority View" Among Provisa Establishment [ 763 ]
• Freeport Senate '14 Poll: Gray 45%, Haller 47% [ 9420 ]
• President Goldman Endorses Settas Foreign Policy Shift Proposals In Exclusive Interview [ 66 ]

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© Association of Imperial Journalists 2013

[New Belhavia]

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THE PROVISA TIMES

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Old Feingold Foe, Hank Richman, Launches Bid For Special Senate Election

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_{Pictured: Former provincial Attorney-General Hank Richman speaking at his campaign kickoff rally Thursday morning in suburban Eastburg.}

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Richman's Candidacy Complicates Will Osman's Momentum Going Into Next Week's Conservative Primary
^{July 18th, 2013 | By Joseph T. Kollen (jtkollen@aij.org) (AIJ)}

PROVISA, New Belhavia — In a blow to the Conservatives' hope of an uncontested primary, longtime Feingold opponent Hank Richman announced his candidacy this morning at a widely-attended campaign kickoff in a swing suburb of the provincial capital and largest city, Eastburg. With the parties' primaries on July 23rd - next Tuesday - the campaigns for all candidates will be pressed for attention and support from voters. With little time to fundraise and court donors, GOTV ("Get-Out-The-Vote") efforts among likely voters and grassroots retail politicking is the most feasible way to win, multiple campaign analysts note.

Mr. Richman served two terms as the province's Attorney-General from 1998 to 2006, when he narrowly lost in the Conservative primary for Imperial Senate to first-time candidate and self-funding manufacturing executive Leon Feingold in 2006. A venture capitalist whose family's provincial roots go back centuries, the wealthy Richman returned to his family's private equity firm Black, Richman, and Weiss Global Fund, before being appointed to Governor Kothis' special commission on judicial reform in 2009. He ran against Feingold again in the 2010 Conservative primary but narrowly lost under 3,000 votes. He later sued, alleging ballot-stuffing by Feingold campaign staff. The case was ruled inconclusive.

Mr. Richman's entry into the race is seen as a sign that the Conservative establishment is uneasy with controversial grassroots traditionalist Assemblyman Will Osman, an outspoken pro-A.C.A. advocate and considered by some to be a social "reactionary." Both Richman and Osman are conservatives in the "traditionalist" wing of the party, but Richman is considered an establishment "insider" whose place in the provincial elite is more preferable among donors and Conservative leaders then Osman, a upper-middle-income political upstart who channels the downscale, more-populist-inclined party grassroots activists.

Although the primary is next week, Mr. Richman has assembled a shadow campaign-in-waiting which was activated with his formal announcement today. His exploratory committee raised $567,800 in the last month. Both Ms. Madison, the Liberal Democrat, and Mr. Osman, were already campaigning before Mr. Feingold's resignation and the subsequent call of a special election. Madison has $899,342 in her campaign coffers, while Osman has $231,075.

The Campaign Begins In Earnest

Lib Dem Lisa Madison, during a swing through Eastburg's poverty-stricken North End neighborhood, greeted Richman's entry with snark. "I'm glad the Conservatives now have a credible candidate whose not an A.C.A. reactionary radical," she said to laughter, referring to Osman repeatedly as a "far right extremist determined to bring back the national disgrace of siding with cryptofascists."

Meanwhile, Osman campaign spokesman John Ferras emailed us back in a press statement paralleling his fiery candidate's populist-intoned message: "Assemblyman [Will] Osman couldn't be happier. Hank Richman is a fat cat country club Conservative whose values are out-of-touch with struggling middle-income working families. Unlike Mr. Richman's wealthy pedigree, Will Osman grew up in a struggling family. He understands the concerns and values of South Dakos' manufacturing workers, farmers, and common place people. He's championing the common man."

Mr. Richman, for his part, prefaced his stump speech this morning with an appeal to decisive leadership and good character characteristics, calling on South Dakos voters to "elect the right leader, the right leadership! I will bring decisive, results-oriented action as your next Imperial Senator." In what is a shot at his primary opponent, Richman asserted that "I will, unlike others in this race, bring a sense of decorum, of civility, of level-headedness, of reasonableness to Provisa and to our national debate over how to properly govern our magnificent Empire."

An internal poll conducted by the Liberal Democratic Party National Committee, based in Provisa, was leaked to the press. In the first pulse of South Dakos likely voters, it had Lisa Madison up at 36%, edging out Libertarian Robert Gollen (34%) with Conservative firebrand Will Osman trailing with 29%. Among registered voters, Madison's lead sharpens to 40%, with Gollen at 35% and Osman at 23% with 3% preferring none or undecided. Campaign analysts caution that surveys of registered voters are frequently skewed and off-base, with a larger Lib Dem advantage. With the unusual primary and general election dates and specific issues being debated, those known as "likely voters" - that is, voters who vote at almost all (or all) elections - are the most likely to come out and vote, while large chunks of registered voters typically do not turn out. The poll had a high 6.1% margin of error, higher than the usual 4-5%. It surveyed 1,025 South Dakos voters between 12pm Wednesday and 12pm Thursday. Hank Richman was not included in the private poll.

Joseph T. Kollen reported from Provisa, N.B. Andrew Kominsky reported from Eastburg, N.B. None of these organizations are associated with the AIJ, and all opinions and personal views in the article do not reflect the viewpoints of the AIJ or their employees.

MORE IN SPECIAL SOUTH DAKOS ELECTION

• Madison, Osman Start TV, Radio Ad Buys Across South Dakos [ 89 ]
• ProvisaInsider.com: Provisa Establishment Excited By, Backs Richman Candidacy [ 345 ]
• Lib Dem Nat'l Cmte Internal Poll: Madison (LD) 36%, Gollen (LP) 34%, Osman (C) 29% [ 893 ]
• Candidates Pack In A-Dozen-Events-A-Day In Intense Barnstorming Around S. Dakos [ 903 ]
• Conservative Blogs Hype Pro-A.C.A. Rhetoric By Osman, Raffen's Gulden [ 65 ]

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© Association of Imperial Journalists 2013

[New Belhavia]

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THE PROVISA TIMES

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Conservative-Aligned Groups Endorse Richman In Blow To Osman's Frontrunner Status

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_{Pictured: Small Business Coalition C.E.O. John Patel (center) speaking as Conservative Senatorial candidate Hank Richman looks on (back left).}

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Conservative Establishment Organizations Rally Around Richman As Osman Struggles With "Extremist" Label
^{July 19th, 2013 | By Joseph T. Kollen (jtkollen@aij.org) (AIJ)}

PROVISA, New Belhavia — Will Osman, frontrunner? Think again. The firebrand hard-right Conservative frontrunner in the upcoming August special election is facing flak from provincial and national Conservative organizations and allied groups, spanning the business world, the defense industry, and religious advocacy. On Friday morning at a joint press conference, with Mr. Richman looking on, the Small Business Coalition, Jewish Federation of Value Voters, the defense contractor Pyrion Group Action P.A.C., and Roth Industries-linked super P.A.C. Restore Tyrrhenian Freedom (RTF) all endorsed Conservative candidate and former provincial Attorney-General Hank Richman.

John Patel, C.E.O. of the Small Business Coalition, the Empire's largest federation of businesses 50 employees or less, introduced Mr. Richman as "a decisive leader and even-handed individual who is capable, experienced, and ready to govern. We here at the S.B.C. whole-heartedly give him our full and complete endorsement for the August 8th special election." The C.E.O.s of the JFVV, PGAPAC, and RTF all added their statements of endorsement and support.

The Small Business Coalition is launching a $50,000 direct mail campaign to its extensive membership through South Dakos, introducing Mr. Richman and urging them to donate and vote for the Conservative candidate. The Jewish Federation of Value Voters, a powerful national network of politically active Orthodox Jews especially known for their firm social conservatism, will be conducting G.O.T.V. ("Get-Out-The-Vote") efforts among the Eastburg Orthodox Jewish community. The P.A.C. of the high-profile defense contractor the Pyrion Group will run $125,000 in targeted print, TV, and radio ads through next Tuesday slamming Will Osman as a "reckless far-right foreign policy radical," the P.A.C. executive director James Golden said after the joint press conference. The Roth Industries super-P.A.C. RTF, already involved in elections in the Allamunnic States, will run $80,000 worth of cable and network TV ads promoting Mr. Richman, primarily in the large Eastburg media market.

Osman Hits Back On Criticisms Of His Pro-A.C.A. Position; Slams Richman As "Wealthy Career Politician"

Assemblyman Osman, during a stop in a high-profile diner in Ryestag, a predominantly ethnic German community in the heavily-rural western edge of the province, called attacks on his favorable A.C.A. foreign policies by fellow Conservatives "the height of hypocrisy," noting how a month ago "nearly every Conservative politician outside of libertarian circles were fervent A.C.A. supporters." This line brought enthusiastic applause from most diners and restaurant staff, many of whom still have family and connections to Germany and follow their ancestral homeland closely.

He alleged later at a meet-and-greet in downtown Eastburg that "Hank Richman is the establishment choice - a malleable career politician whose insider credentials and wealth make him unable to understand average people's concerns. I will fight everyday to help every hard-working South Dakos family."

Meanwhile, Lib Dem Lisa Madison energized party faithful at three back-to-back rallies in the eastern province's rolling stretch of farmland running along Route-44. At the small hamlet of Westall, she charged to a galvanized crowd of Liberal Democratic activists that "both [Will] Osman or [Hank] Richman represent the failed policies of decline, greed, and arrogance," elaborating to say that "the Conservatives are country club careerists only interested in lining the corrupt pockets of their rich donor friends." Concluding, she asserted, "Only I care about struggling South Dakos families - hard-working factory workers, the poverty-stricken mothers struck in the North End, the laid-off unemployed workers in Farmington."

Mr. Richman, after his morning press conference to receive major endorsements, held a rally in Davenport, the second-largest city in the province. To an adorning crowd, he lit into all three of his opponents. "I will bring dignity and respect back to the tarnished reputation of South Dakos," he argued, alluding to Feingold's ethics violations and history of shady actions. "Lisa Madison is just another Merrina liberal who is trying to play the part of a good ol' South Dakos conservative," he charged, incurring laughter. "Don't be fooled - if Lisa Madison becomes our next Senator, she'll vote lockstep with far-left radical [Senate Minority Leader] John Ferran."

Pivoting, Richman targeted Osman: "Will Osman is a foot-in-his-mouth extremist...a radical reactionary whose populist appeals have been thoroughly discredited by the triumph of the free market system and whose bombastic demagogy will inflame opposition in our friends and potential friends like Akimonad and Emmeria." Lastly, he skewered Libertarian Robert Gollen, mocking his "make-believe naivete that simply receding from world events - instead of guiding them - will somehow insulate us from foreign conflicts. I've got a news flash for you: it won't," inspiring a standing minute-long ovation. "Neo-isolationism has never worked and will never work!"

A new Adrian College/Eastburg 36-News public survey out has the Conservative primary tightening. Frontrunner Will Osman is at 45%, with Hank Richman close behind at 40% of Conservative primary voters. Osman is ahead double-digits among Orthodox and ultra-Orthodox Jews, those above age 65, those with incomes below $50,000, ethnic Germans, and workers in the manufacturing sector. He narrowly leads among men. Richman leads decisively among women, urban voters - primarily in Eastburg and Davenport - as well as with suburban voters, those with incomes above $100,000, and those with college, graduate, and post-graduation degrees. He edges out Osman with farmers.

In a general election, both Conservatives compete fairly evenly against their Lib Dem and Libertarian rivals, though Richman is more competitive than Osman against general election frontrunner Madison. If Osman is the nominee, he receives 34% to Lisa Madison's 36% and Robert Gollen's 30%. If Richman wins the primary, he narrowly trails Madison at 35% - 34% with Gollen dipping a point to 29%.

Joseph T. Kollen reported from Eastburg, N.B, and Ryestag, N.B. Andrew Kominsky reported from Davenport, N.B. None of these organizations are associated with the AIJ, and all opinions and personal views in the article do not reflect the viewpoints of the AIJ or their employees.

MORE IN SPECIAL SOUTH DAKOS ELECTION

• Jacen Gray, Ian Settas Endorse Hank Richman In Special S. Dakos Election [ 664 ]
• Politicos Watch S. Dakos Campaign For Voter Sentiment Ahead Of 2014 Midterms [ 45 ]
• Conservative Primary Poll: Richman 40%, Osman 45% [ 2390 ]
• Robert Gollen, In Eastburg Rally, Calls For Policy Of "Restraint Abroad" [ 411 ]
• Analyst: Osman Boosted By Strong GOTV Effort, Radio Ad Buys [ 59 ]

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[New Belhavia]

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THE PROVISA TIMES

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Richman Wins Conservative Primary, Looks To Close General Election

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_{Pictured: Conservative Senate nominee Hank Richman gives a thumbs up to supporters after the results were reported.}

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Liberal Democrat Lisa Madison and Libertarian Robert Gollen Won Their Party Primaries Without Opposition
^{July 23rd, 2013 | By Joseph T. Kollen (jtkollen@aij.org) (AIJ)}

PROVISA, New Belhavia — In a hard-fought primary, bracketed by an intense TV, radio, and print ad war, joustling G.O.T.V. ("Get-Out-The-Vote") efforts and barnstorming retail politicking, South Dakos Conservative primary voters narrowly handed the party's nomination for the special August 8th Senate election to establishment favorite and former provincial Attorney-General Hank Richman, dealing a blow to the fiery and controversial pro-A.C.A. hardliner Assemblyman Will Osman. With 99% of precincts accounted for, the Association of Imperial Journalists called the race for Richman, who garnered 51.4% to Osman's 48.6%.

In an enthusiastic and energetic victory night speech, Richman trumpeted his win as "a sign that the voters of South Dakos choose the politics of civility over demagogy, of level-headedness over bombastic arrogance, of decisive leadership over inflexible purity." Still, he offered congratulations to Assemblyman Osman, remarking that "I want to thank Mr. Osman for a spirited, intense debate - this is what our country, our politics, our party demand of us."

Mr. Osman, for his part, bemoaned his razor-thin loss. "The voice of the people has been silenced by country club elitism...overwhelmed by an onslaught of slick campaign ads and paid canvassers. I will fight to win another day." He refused to say if he would endorse Mr. Richman over his Lib Dem and Libertarian Party general election opponents, coyly waving the question off with a "I'll consider the matter carefully."

Experts Say Financial Heft, Outside Spending Secured Richman's Victory

Analysts watching the tight race concluded that that powerful spending and donor base of provincial and national Conservative organizations and allied groups, spanning the business world, the defense industry, and religious advocacy, were "absolutely crucial to Mr. Richman's edge over Osman in tonight's outcome," M. Ari Levan, an editorialist for the Eastburg Daily Courier-Journal and noted provincial elections watcher, noted firmly. "The ad cover from the Small Business Coalition...JFVV [Jewish Federation of Value Voters] G.O.T.V. network and micro-targeted ads from Pyrion Action P.A.C. and [Roth Industries Super-P.A.C.] Restore Tyrrhenian Freedom definitely gave [Mr.] Richman a solid edge."

Dr. Alan Gerson, adjutant professor of political science at Eastburg Provincial College, concurred. "That outside help - SBC and RTF ads, JFVV GOTV organization - sealed the deal. Osman just couldn't keep up. It did him in, ultimately." Gerson added that "the voters [who] showed up helped Richman, too - 55% of the Conservative primary voters were from urban or suburban precincts, compared to rural areas, where Osman dominated. Richman won urban voters with over 80% and suburban voters with over 60%. There was no way [Mr. Osman] could win unless rural voters rallied and had come out."

Mr. Levan elaborated on voter turnout, suggesting that "Mr. Osman's pro-A.C.A. message actually hurt him with rural voters. Though more supportive of the Empire's A.C.A. foreign policy legacy than others, the fact they decreased their turnout is likely due to lingering unease among them about the A.C.A.'s influence on global affairs."

A pair of polls out Monday showed that Richman had overtaken Osman following the weekend barrage of negative campaign ads directed by Mr. Richman's allies at Mr. Osman as well as ads touting Mr. Richman. On Saturday, an Adrian College/Eastburg 36-News public survey showed Osman ahead 45% to Richman's 40%. A Hansen House Opinion poll on Monday showed the pair tied at 37% each, while another poll - an in-house Richman campaign survey - showed Richman ahead 49% - 46%.

The General Election Fight Officially Starts

The general election is just two weeks away on August 8. Election analysts are calling this "the final sprint to the finish line." Echoing Mr. Osman's preferred stump line almost verbatim, Lib Dem Lisa Madison, the race favorite, skewered Mr. Richman by asserting with heavy snark during her third rally at Eastburg's North End neighborhood that "Hank Richman is a country club establishment Conservative - a malleable career politician whose insider credentials and wealth make him unable to understand average people's concerns. I will fight everyday to help every hard-working South Dakos family."

She added for good effect: "Mr. Richman, welcome to the race. It's time to actually campaign among your prospective constituents and stop know-towing to your rich donor friends at your expensive social clubs," elaborating that "he's just another Goldman-Gray-Settas Conservative whose Robin Hood-in-reverse failed economic policies have bankrupted us at home and whose A.C.A. debacle has humiliated us abroad. It's time for a change."

A new Callas College Surveys, Ltd., public poll out has the general election tight, with Richman at 33%, Madison at 34%, and Gollen at 31%, with 2% undecided. It surveyed 5,304 South Dakos likely voters and had a margin of error of 4.6%. A Conservative National Committee poll had Richman ahead at 35%, with Madison and Gollen each tied at 32%. It polled 1,209 likely voters, with a margin of error of 4.1%. "This is anyone's election," Dr. Gerson summed up.

Joseph T. Kollen reported from Eastburg, N.B. None of these organizations are associated with the AIJ, and all opinions and personal views in the article do not reflect the viewpoints of the AIJ or their employees.

MORE IN SPECIAL SOUTH DAKOS ELECTION

• President Goldman Endorses Hank Richman After Primary Win In Special S. Dakos Election [ 1234 ]
• Politicos Watch S. Dakos Campaign For Voter Sentiment Ahead Of 2014 Midterms [ 747 ]
• CNC Poll: Richman 35%, Madison 32%, Gollen 32% [ 9090 ]
• Lib Dem Nat'l Cmte Books $500,000 In Ad Time For Madison [ 662 ]
• Analysts: Special Election "Too Close To Tell", Pure Tossup [ 859 ]

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[New Belhavia]

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THE PROVISA TIMES

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With New Battleships Commissioned, Navy Shows Off Future Fleet Envisioned In The Strategic Naval Initiative

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_{Pictured: The NBS Firestorm, the newly recommissioned Monarch-class battleship formerly of the Belfrasian Royal Navy, during trial runs in the South Tyrrhenian Sea in late June.}

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Trio Of Former Belfrasian Warships Showcase Cutting-Edge Naval Capability To Become The Imperial Navy's Norm Under The S.N.I.
^{July 25th, 2013 | By Andrew Kominsky (akominsky@aij.org) (AIJ)}

PROVISA, New Belhavia — With guns blazing in ceremonial salute, the Imperial Navy officially inaugurated the first of its Monarch-class battleships, the NBS Firestorm, along with its sister class of Perun-class aviation battleships, the NBS Glory and NBS Imperial Valor. Pursuit to the Strategic Naval Initiative, the April 2013 report by the Naval Command leadership sets a roadmap for the Imperial Belhavian Navy going forward over the next five-to-ten years.

In an naval arms deal, as part of a broader diplomatic treaty that included a non-aggression pact and closer political ties, the Belfrasian Royal Government transferred one Monarch-class and two Perun-class warships into the Imperial Navy. Following two months of modest refitting, mechanical inspections, navigation and weapon test runs known in naval lingo as "shake-downs," and recommissioning, the three modern battleships were rechristened and staffed.

The Monarch-class, led by the Firestorm, would gradually supplant the Iowa-class battleship as the Navy's command and fire support warship class. In May, the Navy released that they have placed purchase orders for a half-dozen new Monarch-class battleships from their producer, private Belfrasian shipyard company Triumvirate Enterprises in Pardes. The Perun-class is slighter larger, and built to hold a dozen combat fighter-craft from a limited launch platform in addition to gun and cruise missile armaments.

"The Firestorm and vessels of her class will be the new 'queens of the seas', the new majestic flagships of the Navy," retired Rear Admiral and adjutant professor of naval tactics at Freeport Military Academy, Edward Ewing, offered proudly, "Frankly, the Iowa[-class] is just getting to old and costly to maintain. The Monarchs are modern command and fire support warships more importantly as well, where the Iowas only have modified and limited-refitted cruise missile capabilities, the Monarchs have extensive missile armaments built right into the design." He continued, "The Perun[-class], however, will complement - not replace - the Monarch-class with added aviation capabilities the Monarchs lack. While a fleet commander will direct a battle from a warship like the Firestorm, the [Perun-class] Glory and Imperial Valor will more likely be in the thick of the battle: launching combat fighters, targeted cruise missile barrages, and other measures."

"The Monarch warship is the world's most modern, powerful command and fire support warship in today's navy," War Minister Jan Argan practically crowed from an afternoon press conference, "This will give New Belhavia a strategic naval advantage in the decades going forward." He continued on to say that "the world is in a new arms race between the top twenty or thirty first-rate global powers, and whoever wins will be at the apex of naval warfare. I intend to see the Empire win."

The deal with Triumvirate Entreprises also boosted relations with the Kingdom of Belfras, a prominent Pardesi superpower who has welcomed the closer ties to the Imperial government. In March, a non-aggression and free trade agreement was signed, and several premier Belhavian companies, including Roth Industries, Adrian Automotives, and Zalleran Pharmaceuticals & Drug Company, are eying locating facilities in the western Pardes nation.

Andrew Kominsky reported from Provisa, N.B. None of these organizations are associated with the AIJ, and all opinions and personal views in the article do not reflect the viewpoints of the AIJ or their employees.

MORE IN TOP STORIES

• Sources: Gray To Announce Freeport Senate Bid This Fall [ 675 ]
• Senator Gulden Calls Ian Settas "Akimonadi Sellout," Denounces Foreign Policy Speech [ 90 ]
• Raffen Senate '14 Poll: Gulden 44%, Merkal 39% [ 553 ]
• Politicos Watch S. Dakos Campaign For Voter Sentiment Ahead Of 2014 Midterms [ 747 ]

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[The Fanboyists]

Pro-Business Rule-Makers Relax Private Security Regulations
Restrictions on security forces on Allamunnic soil relaxed.

In a move which pro-business regulator Gaars Fredriksunn praised as "a step towards protecting industry from those who would try to destroy the economic fabric of this nation." Of course, those outside the coalition that has pushed the change in federal regulation through were considerably less-than-thrilled, saying that the bill essentially allows companies to build private armies.

The controversial change in regulation broadens the amount and range of weaponry and munitions that private corporations are permitted to maintain for security purposes, something which, following a major strike in Thomasburg which turned violent, companies have been pushing for. Pro-labor and others have strongly opposed the changes, calling them another way for companies to repress workers and control a disproportionate share of public policy.

Already, the growth of the security forces maintained by Slaagtrsunn Heavy Engineering (based in Thomasburg) has drawn a lot of concern, with their nation-wide security forces swelling in recent months from 11,000 personnel to approximately 28,000, with plans to further expand on the drawing board.

Strikes recently ended after corporate security forces dispersed strikers, allowing strike-breaking workers to enter factories. The government's failure to mediate a proper end to the strike has led many to question the strength of the current administration.

[The Fanboyists]

Pro-secession groups gain momentum in eastern states.
Secessionist groups utilize legal apparatus to campaign for separation from Allamunnic States

Thanks to a rather glaring oversight in the drafting of the 2012 Constitution and Provisions of Union, secessionist factions in several eastern states, primarily Ostlund, Naakstbaen, and Northport, have managed to give momentum to campaigns to split from the rest of the country. Similar groups in other eastern states have reportedly been following suit.

The loophole? A failure to place any restriction in that constitution preventing referendums carrying questions of secession from the union. Another component to the recent surge in support for such groups is tied both to the federal government's apparent inability to peacefully resolve a crisis resulting from a major strike, and increased support for such movements (both in speeches and monetary resources) from major noble families and politicians. Especially notable has been the support for such groups from Haus Haldstadt, one of the nation's most powerful families and rulers in all-but-name of Ostlund.

Of course, it remains to be seen if these movements will be successful; we will have to wait until September, when the referendums will be on the ballot.

[New Belhavia]

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THE PROVISA TIMES

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With Military Coup D'etat, Government In Mediciano Transitions To Military Rule

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_{Pictured: Supreme Commander of the Medician Imperial Armed Forces General Peter Suvorov, center, inspecting an honor guard as he enters the Imperial Palace in Castelmare, Mediciano, late Friday afternoon.}

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In Surprise Turn, Military Chief Supplants Imperial Congress As Governing Authority In the Northwest Sub-Arctic Tyrrhenian Nation
^{August 3rd, 2013 | By Andrew Kominsky (akominsky@aij.org) (AIJ)}

PROVISA, New Belhavia — By the stroke of midnight on Friday morning, the military had instituted a top-down imposition of its own authority over Mediciano. Witnesses in Castelmare, the capital of this northerly taiga-and-ice covered small archipelago nation northeast of Ascelonia, recount how Imperial troops and militia seized key government buildings between 11pm and 12am late Thursday evening. One witness saw a company of regular line soldiers from the city garrison take up defensive positions around the central government square. Another, an employee in the Imperial Palace, saw armed Camicie Rossa, or "Red-shirts" - a paramilitary wing of the far-right Destra party - as well as agents of the Inquisition, the Medician internal security force, secure the Emperor into their custody.

Reports from civil society groups and members of the opposition Liberal Party allege that not even three hours after firmly securing control of the government, Red-shirt militiamen and Inquisition operatives conducted early morning raids and mass arrests of suspected 'enemies of the state' - many of whom were military officers, government employees, or political actors. In a statement released when asked about the accusations, the new regime denied them as "fabricated" and "complete fiction."

In what was caught on live film, the Majority Party had actually stood up in applause when the Red-shirts stormed in during a televised session of the Medician national legislature. The Congress, analysts noted, had accepted the military's transition into power without any semblance of a fight or objection.

In a national broadcast in the late afternoon on Friday, Medician Emperor Lucius, head of state and the teenage monarch with General Suvorov by his side, described the military coup d'etat as "securing ourselves against the [coming] gales," giving his blessing to the coerced change into a new military-run government. The Medician monarch gave a passionate address saluting "[the Medician] military [as it] readies itself, preparing to repel the foreign waves that assail our shores. Communists, immigrants, refugees seeking to leech off of our society...it is time for this travesty to end." He elaborates to reveal that "last night, as the sun set over our island, the military assumed control over the government," adding sharply for decisive effect that, " [that was] backed by the church and by the Imperial Office." He bemoaned the old regime as "beleaguered by indecision and weakness," calling the new authorities headed by General Suvorov a necessary bulwark "against the foreign onslaught, against the Red Horde that beats against Mediciano's gates."

Experts Agree: Suvorov's Neo-A.C.A. Fanaticism "Will Spark Regional Instability"; Possible Extra-regional Intervention

Sam Waterson, a a regional security consultant at the Sam Rohr International Relations Policy Center and former Deputy Foreign Minister for Tyrrhenian affairs, opined that "what's known about General Suvorov is this: he is a hardline A.C.A. stalwart a la [Senator] James Gulden," referencing the outspoken pro-A.C.A. Imperial Senator from the Raffen province, "whose blunt and incendiary rhetoric could spark a regional war. [His]fanaticism will spark regional instability."

Joshua Green, a left-leaning scholar on Western Tyrrhenian geopolitics, was even more direct: "This [new] regime will start a war by month's end," warning darkly that "General [Peter] Suvorov has been saying for months that he wants a 'restoration of Mediciano's [historical] colonial empire,' and remarking how the Chausey Islands and Ascelonian sub-Arctic colony of Censory 'seemed to be long-lost Medician lands'. This man is hellbent on violence, war, and expansion."

Mr. Waterson concurred, contributing that "if you think that Oured or Kent won't be all over this, then you're a fool," hastily continuing to argue that "the Kaiser and his court in Berlin must be celebrating - they've got an ally as hard right as them and perfectly aligned [with them] on the A.C.A. legacy. Meanwhile, Suvorov's ties to the radical terrorist organization 'P74' will surely enflame tensions as Akimonad and Emmeria may step in to remove what they probably consider a 'state sponsor of terror' and a 'terrorist regime'."

However, noted realist think and neoconservative think tank scholar Jeffrey Goldberg tempered cynical expectations of the new Medician military regime. He asserted that "all General Suvorov wants is a nostalgic return to Mediciano's formerly high place in the regional and world order. They're a massive coal exporter - and the second-largest fur producer in the world. It's not unreasonable that an ineffectual government will now be straightened out and allowed to be more efficient." He added, "I think Provisa will find that he's a more effective partner and ally than Emmeria or Akimonad could ever be." However, Mr. Goldburg has drawn controversy in recent weeks for deviating from academic neutrality to be publicly, as he calls it, "pro-A.C.A." and an advocate of a neo-A.C.A. league, something General Suvorov has called for as well since the A.C.A.'s dissolution in late June.

The consensus among analysts can be summed up by this statement: by anyone's measure, the new days and weeks ahead will see turbulence in Tyrrhenia as a necessary fallout of this abrupt military coup d'etat.

Andrew Kominsky reported from Provisa, N.B. Michael Jacobson reported from Castelmare, the Empire of Mediciano. None of these organizations are associated with the AIJ, and all opinions and personal views in the article do not reflect the viewpoints of the AIJ or their employees.

MORE IN TOP STORIES

• Imperial Foreign Ministry on Mediciano Coup: "No Comment" Until Facts On the Ground "Are Examined" [ 576 ]
• Senator Gulden Praises New Suvorov Regime, Warns Akimonad and Emmeria "Not To Interfere" [ 109 ]
• Raffen Senate '14 Poll: Gulden 44%, Merkal 40% [ 974 ]
• Politicos Watch S. Dakos Campaign For Voter Sentiment Ahead Of 2014 Midterms [ 7890 ]

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[New Belhavia]

PROVISAINSIDER.com

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All Politics. All the Time.

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HOT TOPICS -- The Mediciano Coup -- Special S. Dakos Election -- Ian Settas -- Post-A.C.A. Foreign Policy -- James Gulden

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Capitol News
News, Analysis, and Opinion From Inside The Imperial Senate

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Gulden: Goldman Administration "Must Recognize" Suvorov Regime "As An Ally"

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_{Pictured: Embattled Senator James Gulden (C-Raffen) during a press conference Sunday afternoon.}

August 5th, 2013 | By Ross Silverman (rsilverman@provisainsider.com) | 9:32 AM EDT |

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PROVISA, New Belhavia — Interspersed with bombastic rhetoric, numerous hand gestures, and a passionate plea, pro-A.C.A. stalwart Imperial Senator James Gulden, a part of an increasingly small bipartisan caucus of lawmakers promoting a positive A.C.A. foreign policy legacy for the Empire, put pressure on the Goldman administration to formally recognize the new military-led government in Mediciano, something the President and Cabinet has declined to do since Friday.

Mr. Gulden urged that President Eli Goldman, a fellow Conservative, immediately give unequivocal diplomatic recognition to the Castelmare regime, going as far as to declare that the Empire of New Belhavia "should clarify [our] strengthened bonds as military allies," adding that "this will [lower] the regional geopolitical temperature a bit and give everyone some relief."

Michael Inheld, deputy press secretary for the Presidential Palace, replied to my inquiry with an almost-verbatim answer that he gave on Friday in response to the military overthrow of the Medician civilian government: "I want to reiterate [that] the Imperial Foreign Ministry of New Belhavia has taken note of recent political developments in the Empire of Mediciano, including a change in government leadership. Until all of the facts on the ground have been examined and analyzed by our own investigators and diplomats, we cannot comment at this time on this ongoing issue."

Gulden's statement on the topic is considered by most Imperial politics watchers as a direct rebuttal to Liberal Democrat Minority Leader Senator John Fellan's fiery speech denouncing the new Suvorov government on Saturday at a rally to boost Lib Dem nominee Lisa Madison in the nail-bitingly close special Imperial Senate election in South Dakos.

The controversial senior Senator from Raffen province, up for re-election next year in the 2014 midterms, has seen his 30-point lead over previously-unknown Lib Dem provincial senator Karen Merkal drop precipitously to low single digits in a matter of ten weeks following the collapse of the A.C.A. Following a deep and intense debate in the public sphere - in politics, the media, social networks, popular culture, and elsewhere - that has seen the positive image of the A.C.A. and its foreign policy legacy become increasingly unpopular, Merkal has skyrocketed in the polls in this deeply-conservative, heavily-agrarian border province with Germany, tacking to the moderate right in what well-regarded analysts are noting is her attempt to go for Gulden's vulnerabilities. Since late July, Merkal has been hovering in the polls around 40%, with Gulden averaging 44%-45%. James Wellon's early July piece in the GLOBAL TELEGRAPH is an excellent read on the closely-fought 2014 Imperial Senate race in Raffen.

Most people in the know that I have contacted are categorically in unison: Gulden's requests are falling on deaf ears, they say, and is only a prop for Gulden to improve his favorability among the still modestly pro-A.C.A. Conservative grassroots. One Senate staffer remarked that "it'll be a cold day in hell when [President] Goldman endorses a terrorist-linked warlord as 'legitimate'." An Imperial Senator who is close to the administration snorted derisively. "Recognize that neo-A.C.A. hardliner?" he admonished, "You'd have a better chance of electing John Fellan as president."

The Imperial government is equivating, highly-placed sources note, because they can't afford to openly irritate Suvorov "considering the damage he could do," one Deputy Foreign Minister noted drily. A foreign policy staffer to the president opined that "we predict Berlin will side with Suvorov, and with already-frosty relations between the Germans and [us], its not healthy to aggravate them further."

And so, the usual equivocating that the Imperial government is internationally-known for is running like a well-oiled machine.

Ross Silverman reported from Provisa, N.B. None of these organizations are associated with the Kalian Median Group, and all opinions and personal views in the article do not reflect the viewpoints of the KMG or their employees.

MORE IN CAPITOL NEWS

• Sources: Adrian Kalian To Head ICSC [ 659 ]
• Ian Settas Denounces Suvorov Regime As "Illegal, Unlawful" [ 1344 ]
• Raffen Senate '14 Poll: Gulden 47%, Merkal 37% [ 1276 ]
• Freeport Senate '14 Poll: Gray 48%, Haller 44% [ 998 ]

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© PROVISAINSIDER.com 2013

[New Belhavia]

PROVISAINSIDER.com

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All Politics. All the Time.

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HOT TOPICS -- The Mediciano Coup -- Special S. Dakos Election -- Karen Merkal -- Post-A.C.A. Foreign Policy -- James Gulden

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Elections
News, Analysis, Candidates and Polls

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Raffen 2014 Election: Polls Show Merkal Closing In On Gulden

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_{Pictured: Lib Dem challenger and provincial senator Karen Merkal giving a foreign policy speech in Raffenburg last week.}

August 8th, 2013 | By Jaden Adler (jadler@provisainsider.com) | 11:47 AM EDT |

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PROVISA, New Belhavia — With a folksy attitude, careful political tight-rope walking, and astute recognition of the changing feelings of the voting electorate, the sole Lib Democratic Party Senate candidate challenging the outspoken, fiery, and increasingly-embattled Conservative incumbent Imperial Senator James Gulden in next year's 2014 midterm election has gone from a nobody token opposition to a serious candidate who has a credible chance at ousting a two-term hard right political icon. Karen Merkal, 42 years old, is currently an one-term provincial senator from Raffenburg's swing-voting suburbs. If there ever was such a thing as a "conservative Democrat" in the Liberal Democratic Party, she would be it.

"I answer to the concerns of my constituents," Merkal noted outside a venue where she would later give a stirring foreign policy speech eviscerating Senator Gulden, "I will work with Conservatives and Liberal Democrats to do right by the people of Raffen." Using policy preference surveys that Mrs. Merkal has filled out with various ideological and special interest groups, plus her rhetoric from the stump, would make her the most right-leaning Lib Dem in the Imperial Senate, non-partisan Empire-wide political statistician Nathan Filnan remarked confidently. "She's practically a Conservative without the party label," he added. "The only areas where she seems to be in line with most of her fellow Lib Dems is in opposing the former A.C.A.-guided foreign policy under [President] Goldman and trying to enact constitutional reforms strengthening the power of the Imperial Senate. Otherwise, on tax cuts and reform, military spending, social conservatism, and the like, she's going to be defecting to vote with the Conservatives."

Perhaps this is why Mrs. Merkal is having so much success: she's fairly in-step with the policy and cultural values of the voters she's campaigning for, and has made a campaign theme focusing on 'effective results' and 'reasonable, cool-headed leadership', both character trait-related messages that are in close contrast to Senator Gulden, who is known to frequently butt heads with his own party's leadership - not to mention the President - and to make outlandish, incendiary comments against foreigners, the poor, and the Lib Dem-voting urbanized East of New Belhavia proper, once declaring infamously on a late-night comedy show that "the Merrina [province] liberals are God-damn traitors, and ought to be their own f***ing country."

Luck, it seems, is a bountiful political patron. When Mrs. Merkal declared her long-shot candidacy in January, she had less than $50,000 in campaign funds, was unknown by 80% of provincial voters, and could not break 20% in general election trial heats opposite Mr. Gulden. She found a break when the A.C.A. formally dissolved itself in late June. Since then, her numbers have taken off rapidly as she used the increasingly-unpopularity of the A.C.A.-era foreign policy as a bludgeon to slam Senator Gulden as reckless, dangerous, and unhinged. Capitalizing on the success she has receiving from her public outcry at Mr. Gulden's behavior and far-right policy stands, her tack to the moderate right opened up voters who, in some cases, have never voted for a Lib Dem in their life, to consider her as a credible alternative they could support over the flustered and angry persona of the incumbent.

The polls, both public and private, have tracked the change in the Raffen likely voter electorate:

General Election Match-up: Karen Merkal (LD) v. James Gulden (C)

Pollster - Date	Karen Merkal (LD)	James Gulden (C) | Spread
Werz-Oplis Strategies - May 16th	20%	56% | Gulden +36
Adrian College Poll - June 1st	21%	54% | Gulden +33
Merkal For Senate Internal* - July 3rd	33%	45% | Gulden +12
Hansen House Research - July 4th	36%	50% | Gulden +14
Callas College Surveys Ltd. - July 8th	34%	49% | Gulden +15
Werz-Oplis Strategies - July 10th	33%	43% | Gulden +10
Liberal Democratic Nat'l Cmte* - July 14th	37%	46% | Gulden +9
Provisa Times/IBNN - July 20th	38%	45% | Gulden +7
Raffenburg Courier/News-8 - July 21st	37%	44% | Gulden +7
Adrian College Poll - July 25th	39%	43% | Gulden +4
Hansen House Research - July 28th	36%	41% | Gulden +5
Provisa Herald/CRMG - August 1st	41%	41% Tie
Werz-Oplis Strategies - August 3rd	42%	45% | Gulden +3
Callas College Surveys Ltd. - August 4th	40%	44% | Gulden +4
Hansen House Research - August 6th	43%	42% | Merkal +1
Adrian College Poll - August 8th	37%	47% | Gulden +10

^{* These polls were internal, in-house polling done by pollsters who employ their partisan bias in how they use their polling methodology.}

The aggregate polling from this morning's released Adrian College Poll to surveys dating back to mid-May peg Mrs. Merkal at 35.4%, with Mr. Gulden's May-to-August aggregate polling at 45.9%, with the aggregate spread being Gulden +10.5%. But let's just include polls since the A.C.A.'s collapse (June 24th), starting with the July 3rd Merkal For Senate internal poll: the aggregates increase for Mrs. Merkal to 37.6% and Mr. Gulden drops to 44.6%, with Gulden now only +7% in the aggregate.

Even worse for the embattled Raffen Imperial Senator, if we aggregate the polls only in August (where the race is at this point), Mrs. Merkal clocks in at 40.6%, with Mr. Gulden at 43.8%, a spread of only +3.2%. A race this far out (15 months from Election Day on November 2nd, 2014) being so close is a major danger sign for Senator Gulden.

The Raffen province hasn't elected a Lib Dem to the Imperial Senate since Garret Holleran in the 1980s. Yet, a perfect storm of a major foreign policy debacle, an outspoken, unpopular incumbent, and a strong, astute challenger, may see the Liberal Democrats elect one of their own in a Conservative stronghold province. In fifteen months, we will see whether Mrs. Merkal is the new Imperial Senator from Raffen.

Jaden Adler reported from Provisa, N.B. None of these organizations are associated with the Kalian Median Group, and all opinions and personal views in the article do not reflect the viewpoints of the KMG or their employees.

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• Haller Meets With Liberal Democratic Nat'l Cmte In Provisa [ 99 ]
• S. Dakos Poll: Lisa Madison (LD) 36%, Richman (C) 35%, Gollen (LP) 28% [ 10844 ]
• Pro-Gray Super-PAC 'Freeport Taxpayers First' Raises $2.3 Million In Last Filing Quarter [ 1566 ]
• Conservatives In the Capitol Tip-Toe Around Mediciano Coup [ 764 ]

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© PROVISAINSIDER.com 2013

[New Belhavia]

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THE PROVISA TIMES

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In An Upset, Conservative Richman Decisively Wins Special South Dakos Election

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_{Pictured: Imperial Senator-elect Hank Richman (C-South Dakos) celebrating after the AIJ called the election for him.}

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Lower Base Turnout As Well As Libertarian Robert Gollen's Energized G.O.T.V. Efforts Undercut Liberal Democrat Lisa Madison's Chances On Election Day
^{August 8th, 2013 | By Michael Jacobson (mjacobson@aij.org) (AIJ) | 11:55pm EDT}

PROVISA, New Belhavia — In what election watchers and political analysts had predicted to be a "nail-bitingly close" election turned into a rout for Conservative nominee Hank Richman. With 99% of precincts counted, the A.I.J. called the election for Richman at 10:35pm this evening. Richman garnered 40.2% of the vote, with his Lib Dem rival Lisa Madison receiving 31.7% and Libertarian Robert Gollen trailing behind her with 27.9%. The biggest surprise among political watchers was not that Richman won - the race was considered a tossup between him and Madison anyways - but the margin of his victory: nearly 9%. Turnout was higher, too; usually, this favors the Liberal Democrat because more left-leaning constituencies - the working poor, the apathetic, the youth - tend to come out, but in this rare case, it was the Conservative who benefited from a higher base turnout.

Most pundits and voters credited Mrs. Madison with winning the special election's only debate between the three candidates on August 3rd. However, Mr. Richman outspent Mrs. Madison nearly 2-to-1 in both advertising and G.O.T.V. costs. In the first couple of hours as results filtered in after the polls closed, Mrs. Madison clung to a narrow lead among early results. Then, however, Mr. Richman gained the edge and it steadily increased as the results came in.

The Exit Polls Showed Madison's Troubles As Polls Closed

A warning sign that Mrs. Madison was in trouble was in the exit polls taken throughout the day. To win in a serious three-way statewide election, the Liberal Democratic Party candidate needs to win north of 60% of the urban vote, at least 34% of the rural vote, and at minimum 48% of the suburb vote. As the exit surveys came in, Mrs. Madison was only garnering 54% of urban support, less than 20% among rural voters, and barely 40% in the swing suburbs around Eastburg and Davenport.

The demographics in the exit polls gave Mr. Richman an edge, too: ethnic Germans usually are 15% of the South Dakos electorate, but consisted over 19% on election night, and they went overwhelming for Mr. Richman 73% - 17% (Madison) - 10% (Gollen). Mr. Richman won a high 38% among urban voters, a rare level for Conservative candidates in the three major "Trio Cities" - Eastburg, Davenport, and Landsville - while Gollen garnered 8% of the city vote, mostly in precincts in or next to college campuses where Libertarians have a strong and loyal following among college students. The Conservative Senate nominee had a blowout in the suburbs, capturing 51% to Madison's 39.6% and Gollen's 9.4%.

The Libertarians Stay Unified As A Voter Block, Exit Polls Showed

Libertarian Party Senate nominee and provincial senator Robert Gollen benefited from a particularly-cohesive turnout among libertarian-leaning constituencies - college students, farmers, and western provincial voters - with little crossover to either of the major party nominees. An astounding 95% of Libertarian voters who cast ballots backed their party nominee; less than 1% went for Mrs. Madison, and nearly 4% crossed over to vote for Mr. Richman. Typically in most elections, a party candidate only garners 90% of their party faithful.

In contrast, Mr. Richman won 91% of Conservative voters but his Lib Dem rival won a measly (and ultimately fatal) 81% of Liberal Democratic voters. Mr. Richman won a strong 14% of crossover Lib Dem voters, while Mr. Gollen won 5% of Lib Dem voters. One exit poll in Eastburg showed about nearly 1/3 of Lib Dem voters who earned more than $80,000, had four-year college degrees or post-graduation degrees, and were white-collar professionals backed Mr. Richman.

Mr. Gollen only trailed Mrs. Madison by nearly 4%, an impressive feat for a Libertarian candidate when two serious, credible major party nominees are competing statewide. Libertarians have been elected statewide, analysts note, but are usually only able to build the necessary plurality "majority" when either the Conservative or Liberal Democrat nominee is weak, and the Libertarian can garner a higher crossover vote from the voters who lean towards the party with the weak candidate on the ticket. To illustrate this, former Libertarian Governor Jason Abramowitz won in 1994 with 39.5% of the vote against Conservative Ronald Herman at 35.3% and the Liberal Democrat Caleb Hallon at 25.2%. Mr. Hallon's weak candidacy boosted Mr. Abramowitz, enabling him to triangulate and to earn the support of a good chunk of crossover Lib Dem voters to seal his win over Mr. Herman.

The Far-Right's Silence Aided Richman

Provincial assemblyman Will Osman, the failed Conservative Senate candidate who lost narrowly to Mr. Richman in late July's primary, had purposefully kept a low-profile, neither endorsing or denouncing Mr. Richman. Analysts argue this aided the Imperial Senator-elect. Professor Adam Westin, a campaign scholar at Adrian College, a private liberals art school nestled in the Eastburg suburbs, opined that "with [Mr.] Osman's very public silence, the more fervent and pro-A.C.A. grassroots felt it had the 'OK' to turn out and support [Mr.] Richman, even if he was the so-called 'establishment choice'." He added, "The fact that ethnic German voters turned out at unusually high numbers today suggests [Mr.] Richman had done a deft job of repairing relations with that fiercely hard-right community."

The Provisa Establishment: Conservatives Elated, Lib Dems Disappointed

The Conservative Party elite in Provisa greeted the news of Mr. Richman's win with much fanfare and jubilance. "We're finally out of the doldrums," one Conservative Imperial Senator relayed joyously, "This is a major morale boost!" A Senate staffer in the office of Senate Majority Leader Sen. Ian Settas (C-Provisa) crowed that "the fact [Mr.] Richman won in a blowout is a test of the voters' pulse in a swing province - and [Conservatives] won decisively. We have a blueprint to maintain our majority in [the] 2014 [midterms]."

Sen. Adrian Kalian (C-West Dakos), who was tapped this week to head the Imperial Conservative Senatorial Committee (I.C.S.C.) - the Conservative Party's official campaign committee to elect and re-elect Conservatives to the Senate - released a statement praising "Senator-elect Richman as a tremendous candidate whose strong message reverberated throughout South Dakos. His impeccable character and articulate, well-spoken policy agenda earned him the votes of a plurality majority of voters - which is truly impressive in a swing province evenly divided between the three parties. The new Senator has our profound support. We look forward to seeing him in Provisa."

Michael Jacobson reported from Eastburg, N.B. None of these organizations are associated with the AIJ, and all opinions and personal views in the article do not reflect the viewpoints of the AIJ or their employees.

MORE IN POLITICS

• Settas: Gulden's Suvorov Recognition Request "Outrageous", Slams New Medician Regime As "Illegal" [ 234 ]
• Conservatives Buoyant In Successful Retention Of South Dakos Senate Seat, Improved 2014 Chances [ 8976 ]
• ProvisaInsider.com: Gulden In Trouble As Merkal Chips Away At Poll Advantage [ 973 ]
• Lib Dem Nat'l Cmte Raises $4.5 Million This Filing Quarter, Beating Conservatives' $3.9 M [ 43 ]
• Poll: So-Called Bipartisan Senate "A.C.A. Caucus" In Trouble For Re-Election In 2014 [ 965 ]

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© Association of Imperial Journalists 2013

[New Belhavia]

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THE PROVISA TIMES

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Robust 5.1% Belhavian Economic Growth Projected To Boost Middling Regional Economy

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_{Pictured: Michael Roth, of Roth Industries and Claire Bennett, of Tyrrhenian Transport Co., shaking hands at an opening of a $1.2 billion joint venture.}

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Imperial Economy On Track To Surpass 5% Led By Manufacturing, Commodities, Pharmaceuticals, And Export Sectors
^{August 19th, 2013 | By Jack Hathaway (jhath@aij.org) (AIJ) | 1:44 pm EDT}

PROVISA, New Belhavia — Three years out of the worst global recession in nearly three decades, the New Belhavian powerhouse economy is predicted to surpass 5% growth by next New Year's Day. The consistent, steady climb in healthy economic fundamentals - increasing housing start-ups, high corporate earnings, low inflation, above-inflation average median income and wage growth, among others - has fueled a three-week rally in the Provisa Stock Exchange (P.S.E.). With overall regional economic growth plotting along at a modest pace, the Empire's better-than-expected numbers and indicators could give the Tyrrhenian economy a boost at a time when few economies in the region have grown at any significant rate, with economic stagnancy mostly driven by the political and socioeconomic fallout of the Ascelonian Succession Crisis, Waldenburger War of Succession, the collapse of the global Anti-Communism Alliance (A.C.A.), and other sources of anxiety and uncertainty for investors and consumers.

Manufacturing, Exports Lead Healthy Economic Indicators

Manufacturing, especially high-tech variants in the automotive and capital goods sectors, showed an impressive 7.8% growth over last year, the best annual increase since 2005. Trade volume with Germany and Mediciano increased two-fold since early 2012, led in part by increased political and economic ties fostered by shared membership in the now-defunct A.C.A. Leading Belhavian car-makers Adrian Automotives, Fox Motor Company, and Goldman Truck Corporation saw increased mechanical inputs exported to the Medician luxury car industry, one of the world's leaders in high-end automobiles. Exports into the German Empire increased 23% in the second economic quarter ending in July, due in large part to reduced tariffs and new trade liberalization policies enacted by Germany in May.

Exports also increased to Western Tyrrhenia, mostly to the Ascelonian and Medician economies. Ascelonia has quietly increased as a trade partner to New Belhavia in the last decade, with the Imperial Economic Statistics Bureau (IESB)'s ranking list of regional trade partners noting that the Grand Republic moved from 33rd place in 2003 to 21st this year.

Extra-regional exports increased 36% last quarter, driven in large part to increased trade volume to the southern region of Pardes. Belhavian goods and services were imported in nations such as the United Republic of Emmeria, Kingdom of Belfras, Itailian Empire, and Gratislavia at a steady growth rate of 9%-to-10%.

Other nations, such as the Empire of Afalia and Republic and Commonwealth of Akimonadi, whose recent dissolution of an economic embargo saw Belhavian exports appear in Akimonadi markets for the first time in over a year, saw marked increases of imports of Belhavian goods and services. Jeff Denham, an analyst of market trends at Goldman Financial Group, remarked that "Akimonad is almost like...an emerging market for us. When they cut off all economic ties during the A.C.A. era, it hurt growth potential. Now, major firms like Roth Industries and Zalleran Pharma[ceuticals] is setting up local distribution networks to re-enter the Akimonadi economy. The earnings potential for this going forward is astronomical."

Afalia, meanwhile, is continuing to rebuild in the aftermath of the Titanician War, and has proved an eager market for Belhavian capital good exports in particular, especially construction equipment, vehicles, and telecommunications goods. A recently-concluded trade agreement announced this spring eased tariffs and shipping restrictions, contributing to double-digit growth in trade volume and consumption of Belhavian goods.

War And Political Crisis Harms Export Potential Elsewhere

However, not all extraregional export balances were positive. Exports to Greater Dienstad, a nearby region, fell precipitously by 18.7%, a result of an oversaturated market in the Castillan Empire that has become closed off during the Castillan-Akimonadi War. Firms with ties to Castille de Italia, including the Balian Shipping Consortium and Werz Electronics, saw their stock prices dip in a five-day decline on the PSE.

Domestically in Tyrrhenia, however, exports slipped to Levantia. They fell 3.1% over last year to the Allamunnic States and other Central Levantian economies, which analysts credit with rising political and social strife. Elcric Kcalb, in northern Levantia, saw Belhavia exports increase by an anemic 1.2%.

Commodities, Big Pharma Follow Behind Exports Growth Closely

Last week's announcement of Zalleran Pharmaceuticals & Drug Company's newest anti-cold medication hitting the market caused Zalleran's stock to skyrocket, going from $51 a share to $174 a share in a week in a display of investor confidence that the new drug, Presitil, which incorporates enzymes that strengthen cell resistance to the common cold from a 2006 breakthrough discovery, will sell well and effectively compete against rival drug-maker Levy Medicine Company's Yunget anti-cold formula.

The Belhavian pharmaceuticals sector has seen rapid growth since 2005, utilizing new technology and genome discoveries from biotechnology firms. Collectively, the Pharma sector had a second quarter earnings of $987 billion, a record high.

Commodities had been on a whirlwind tour the last three years, sparked by concerns about the exhaustion of mining sites, accuracy of mineral reserves, and global conflict that has limited market access to plentiful amounts of rare-metal commodities. Since the discovery of a massive deposit of rare metals in West Dakos in December of 2012, plus a new discovery of gold in Belhavian Africa in February of this year, the commodities market - led by precious metals - has soared.

It appears the Tyrrhenian economy, in a mild slump from recent political crisis's and showing anemic growth, may receive a strong jolt as the Belhavian juggernaut economy fires up.

Jack Hathaway reported from Provisa, N.B. None of these organizations are associated with the AIJ, and all opinions and personal views in the article do not reflect the viewpoints of the AIJ or their employees.

MORE IN FINANCE & BUSINESS

• PSE Shrugs Off Mediciano Coup Crisis Amid 3-Week Rally In Commodities, Tech Companies [ 421 ]
• Investor Confidence Poll: Optimism Up 14% Since Spring Over Rising Economic Data [ 76 ]
• Late Summer Sees Yield Average Peak At 9.8% On High-Yield Corporate Bonds [ 973 ]
• Analyst: Roth Industries-Tyrrhenian Transport Co. Joint Venture Shakes Up Shipping Industry [ 111 ]
• PSE Rises 77 Points On News Of Improved 2014 Midterm Chances For Pro-Business Conservatives [ 539 ]

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© Association of Imperial Journalists 2013

[Prussia-Steinbach]

UPDATE TO PRUSSCORP NEWS COVERAGE UPCOMING

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WE APOLOGISE FOR THE DELAY

[Prussia-Steinbach]

PRUSSCORP.
International News Service

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GERMAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCES SUPPORT FOR MEDICIANO

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Peter Suvorov, de facto leader of the Medician Empire, is an avid outdoorsman; here, he demonstrates to a Belhavian visitor the proper method for leading a moving target

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By ULRICH HUENGER and HERWARD VON REMBERG
Published: August 21, 2013

BERLIN, German Empire — With the recent transition of governance in the Empire of Mediciano, a former member of the Anti-Communism Alliance, there has been much speculation as to the reaction of the German Empire. His Imperial Majesty, Kaiser B.E. Steinbach, has put these speculations to rest: GermanY will stand with its ally.

"We will not bow to fanciful and sensationalist assertions that Mediciano is leading the region to war," HM said, delivering a speech at the Reichstag this morning. "The Medicians are friends of Germany, and what they seek is not Tyrrhenian destablisation; it is a restoration of their historical territories. This is a quest we have no reason — or ability — to deny them. The Medician Empire will be firmly supported by the German Empire."

This declaration has been taken as a full endorsement of what some have called a "military coup," executed by conservative hardline generals — most notably, Peter Suvorov, an advocate of a neo-anti-communist league to replace the void left by the dissolved ACA. Suvorov, who was seen standing by the teenage Medician monarch, Lucius I, as he notified the nation of its new leadership — namely, the military, Church, and Imperial Office of Mediciano — is identified as the true source of power in the new government. Though the sub-arctic nation remains an imperial monarchy, as always, its Congress has been dissolved and other inefficient bureaucracies eliminated.

While the support of former ACA nations such as New Belhavia is still in doubt, Germany has postured itself as an anti-communist world power still bent on eliminating the global threat of Communism. The Medician Empire has put itself in line with this philosophy as well — the emperor regaled the crowd with affirmations that "Communists, immigrants, refugees," and others that seek to "leech" off of Medician society, would no longer be tolerated.

Coming as no surprise to most political analysts, the worldwide reaction has not been so much astonished as it is somber. "I fear for the future of Tyrrhenia," says Tobin van Fleeskaam, a lobbyist affiliated with the Free Democratic Party. "Our region can only be destabilised more. Our government deludes itself if its thinks that Mediciano can go on a sprint of neo-imperialism without international backlash."

Others, such as conservative political pundit Maximilian Pflanz, are overjoyed at the news. "Thank you, Your Majesty for showing an ounce of German pride!" he said on his popular talk show, viewed by over five million Germans every day. "Thank you so much, for standing with our allies! Thank you for keeping our great nation on the path of righteousness! Thank you!"

It can only wait to be seen whether the dire predictions or optimistic foreshadowings will come true.

Ulrich Huenger reported from Berlin. Herward von Remberg reported from Castelmare.

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Otto H. Berlin, Brandenburg
I don't give a damn if it's a 'military coup.' They are still our allies, and they are firmly pro-ACA, and even pro-Germany. It is demonstrably within our interests to support them. Long Live the Kings of Mediciano and Germany.

5.908 likes

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August 21, 2013 at 12:45 a.m.

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crimesvonwin Laze, Mecklenburg
ah, fuck. i know what war smells like.

3.777 likes

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August 21, 2013 at 12:46 a.m.

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Rebeka T. Humme, Westphalia
their a DITATORSHIP SHIP NOW Y WULD WE SUPORT THEM???!!!!!!!!!113

290 likes

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August 21, 2013 at 12:46 a.m.

TOP STORIES RIGHT NOW:

• Wealthy Germans donated millions to Belhavian Conservative candidates [ 5.269 ]
• Homosexual Belhavian clothing designer denied asylum [ 3.937 ]
• German nuclear arsenal being vastly increased [ 3.920 ]

[Prussia-Steinbach]

PRUSSCORP.
International News Service

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WEALTHY GERMANS DONATE MILLIONS TO BELHAVIAN CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATES

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Conservative Hank Richman recently won a seat in the Belhavian Senate representing South Dakos, apparently due in no small part to the generous contributions of German donors

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By JOHANN AMMERBACHER
Published: August 23, 2013

PROVISA, New Belhavia — According to a recent exposé by the volunteer-based fact-checking organisation Die Unverfälschtes Fakten, donations numbering in the hundreds of millions of marks were given secretly to Conservative candidates running for seats in the New Belhavian Senate over the past decade, all by wealthy Germans trying to influence their neighbours' political climate.

With important names such as Robert Schwarz II and Roger von Blakk topping the list, it is now known that over twenty Senate candidates — most successful — received substantial donations from the upper echelons of German society. With lax or nonexistent laws regarding corporate and personal donations to political candidates in New Belhavia, DUF has stated that it is "shamefully easy" for major corporations and wealthy persons to covertly assist allies in gaining or retaining their places in the government.

The following is a short transcript of the three major donors and their careers, as well as known donation sizes, dates, and recipients:

Donor	Occupation	Total Donations	Dates	Recipients
Robert Schwarz II	Co-Owner, PrussCorp.	ℳ509,809,000	2004 - Present	Bruce Loran Matthew Perry Anne Marnstein Adrian Kalian Leon Feingold Will Osman James Gulden
Roger von Blakk	President and CEO, Deutsch Kaiserlich Tabak	ℳ405,055,020	2003 - Present	Ian Settas Robert Jzenski David Horwitz James Gulden Hank Richman
Erwin von Politzburg	Founder, East Prussia Agriculture and Produce	ℳ100,900,302	2006 - Present	Adrian Kalian Bern van Kappenstein Hank Richman

"Why should I be ashamed of giving help to my associates, my friends?" asks Robert Schwarz II, co-owner of PrussCorp. Schwarz was enthusiastic when notified of this recent development in the political relationship between Belhavia and Germany, and encouraged reporters follow up on their lead and publish as soon as possible. "I have no problem with this information being out in the open," he says, in a matter-of-fact tone. "I have nothing to hide. I simply did not display this distribution of my personal finances to certain causes which are important to me."

Even though Mr. Schwarz emphasises the fact that the finances he "distributed" were "personal," and were given to causes "important" to him, it is notable that most of the CEO's contributions were transported through a Conservative super-PAC, BelhaviaInGold, which was a pillar of former Senator Leon Feingold's senatorial campaign.

Other major donors actually used company money to finance foreign politicos, such as Roger von Blakk. Blakk, who has declined to be interviewed, used the immensely profitable international corporation Deustch Kaiserlich Tabak as a base for recruiting voters and donating to campaigns, sometimes even putting Conservative literature inside cigarette packs. This form of aggressive advertising, though not illegal, has gained him criticism by many disparagers of supposed corporate influence in elections.

"International business conglomerates, corporate law firms, venture capitalist groups, and major domestic corporations all have unprecedented control over democratic elections in most developed regions," states the DUF website on its page titled 'Corporations and Their Affect on You.' "A profound lack of regulation and enforced transparency by governments has allowed the wealthiest and most powerful in society to gain a foothold in supposedly free and fair contests."

Reichstag member Kathrin Vogler, of the Progressive People's Party, spoke to various reporters about her strong feelings on the subject: "These men should all be convicted of treason. They bring shame to our nation. They try to skew information, affect opinions, and swing votes, through the use of money and brutal manipulation. I do not know why we still stand for this."

The exposé that first revealed these donations to the world also noted the immense success of these foreign-funded campaigns: "These donations seem to have had a maximum effect when directed onto advertising to their respective demographics. All of the major donors being successful businessmen, it is also possible that they may have hired professional ad agencies to work on campaigns anonymously, in order to further push the balance into their favour.

"The election of Hank Richman to the South Dakos seat was undoubtedly orchestrated by certain influential German men. Though it is believed Will Osman may have been the favoured candidate in the beginning, it was quickly seen that he was unelectable, and funds were soon diverted to Richman, which caused his sudden surge in popularity."

This story is still developing. PrussCorp will be covering it fully as more details emerge. Please sign up for notifications so that you are constantly on top of global news.

Johann Ammerbacher reported from Provisa.

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MurlWilHurl Bonn, Rhine-Westphalia
Both New Belhavia and Germany need to institute more fucking regulations on corporate donations. The influence of the 1% over supposedly democratic elections is enormous, and grows as their wealth does. There needs to be more transparency in donations of any size, and businesses need to be banned from attempting to influence voter opinion in any way at all. Only when we do all of this and more will we have truly representative government.

4.130 likes

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August 23, 2013 at 2:01 a.m.

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Eva B. Heldekrug, East Prussia
i swar to god, do germany n belhevia even have different places nymor?

2.911 likes

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August 23, 2013 at 2:02 a.m.

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DaarnDaarnhulmer Apenrade, Schleswig
Silly Southern Jews. Silly rich Prussians. Calm down and stay in your own nations. (At least Daarnhulm is relatively unaffected, the States would fuck both of 'em up if they messed with us. )

579 likes

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August 23, 2013 at 2:02 a.m.

TOP STORIES RIGHT NOW:

• Schwarz: "I am very close to certain persons in Belhavia..." [ 4.005 ]
• German arms industry booms as exports increase [ 3.087 ]
• AllamunicPlastics CEO: "I did not have sex with that woman" [ 2.994 ]

[New Belhavia]

PROVISAINSIDER.com

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All Politics. All the Time.

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HOT TOPICS -- Wealthy German Donors -- Budget Negotiations -- Kaiser Reichstag Speech -- Post-A.C.A. Foreign Policy -- Jacen Gray

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Elections
News, Analysis, Candidates and Polls

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Fact-checker: Wealthy Germans Donated Hundreds Of Millions To Conservative Candidates Through Super P.A.C.s Since 2003

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_{Pictured: Senate Majority Leader Ian Settas (C-Provisa), a recipient of millions in indirect German political contributions.}

August 24th, 2013 | By Jaden Adler (jadler@provisainsider.com) | 10:53 AM EDT |

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PROVISA, New Belhavia — News broke yesterday by the PrussCorp international news service that select wealthy German nationals have been funneling millions in what has been described by some as shady but legal political donations to dozens of Conservative Party candidates for over the last decade or more.

Imperial election law is fairly lax on political donations since the 1976 landmark Imperial Supreme Court decision of Free Speech Now v. Vako, where the Court found unanimously that the contribution and expenditure limits in the 1972 Fair Elections Act violated the right to freedom of speech in the Imperial Constitution, ruling it unconstitutional. Since then, there has been no caps on political contributions and expenditures. This has dovetailed with individuals, companies, and other associations being free to donate unlimited amounts of money to political campaigns and causes.

Although some provinces defy this trend, such as Merrina, where individuals and companies are capped at contributing up to $4,500 per local and provincial candidate and party election committees, most provinces do not have such regulations.

Foreign nationals are legally restricted from contributing directly to candidates and election committees. However, with the rise of SuperPACs - independent-only expenditure committees - foreign nationals are legally allowed to contribute unlimited funds as long as their political alignment isn't on the Imperial Election Commission's table of illegal ideologies under the 1834 National Unity Act and 1887 Subversive and Dangerous Ideologies Act. Communists, socialists, social democrats, and fascists are included the table.

According to the German volunteer-based fact-checking organization Die Unverfälschtes Fakten (DUF), donations exceeding $300 million were donated to various Conservative candidates and campaign committees indirectly through SuperPACs, such as the Conservative Party-linked A Better Belhavian Future (ABBF) and Progress N.B., since 2003.

The DUF's investigative journalism was matched by OpenDoors, a Provisa-based government watchdog organization. Mary Bellian, a spokeswoman for OpenDoors, said at a press conference this morning that "[t]his trend of foreign nationals secretly donating hundreds of millions to one of the Empire's major political parties is outright disturbing," adding, "I fear that powerful corporate and foreign interests will run roughshod over the will of Belhavian voters."

Senate Minority Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Sen. John Fellan (LD-Merrina), blasted the news as "indicative of how we got into the far right-wing Conservative's A.C.A. foreign policy debacle. Now it seems [President Eli] Goldman, [Senator] Ian Settas, and others are beholden to the whims of big business German fat cats who started this whole crypto-fascist mess. I'm confident the voters of this great land will recognize how out-of-touch and corrupt the Goldman Administration and Conservative Senate majority really is."

Senator Adrian Kalian (C-West Dakos), chairman of the Imperial Conservative Senatorial Committee (I.C.S.C.), retorted in a press release countering Mr. Fellan's statement, arguing that "no one broke any laws. These Germans are contributing to like-minded candidates who share their ideological and political sentiments. Being ethnic cousins and allies, it's not hard to understand why they [would] want to help shape the Belhavian political process."

Who Are the Recipients Of All Of These Donations?

The work done by the DUF and OpenDoors reveals that the selective contingent of wealthy German donors - mostly business magnates - contributed to candidates across the rightist political spectrum, though all were Conservatives:

Ian Settas: The current Senate Majority Leader received just shy of $60 million in total contributions through a pro-Settas Super PAC 'Liberty & Prosperity Now' during his 2004, 2008, and 2012 elections from wealthy tobacco mogul Roger von Blakk, the President and CEO of Deutsch Kaiserlich Tabak, a premium German tobacco supplier.

Hank Richman: Surprisingly, the so-called "establishment insider" who opposed the fiery pro-A.C.A. and effectively "pro-Germany" Senate candidate Will Osman in the most recent special election in South Dakos received $2 million from Mr. von Blakk, as well as a $1 million check through the Roth Industries-linked Super PAC 'Restore Tyrrhenian Freedom' from Erwin von Politzburg, the founder of East Prussia Agriculture and Produce.

Will Osman: Unsurprisingly, however, the far-right pro-A.C.A. failed Senate candidate and South Dakos provincial assemblyman received $500,000 from Robert Schwarz II, co-owner of PrussCorp., through the Super PAC 'Stronger Tyrrhenia', an committee linked to pro-A.C.A. Senator James Gulden (C-Raffen).

Leon Feingold: The disgraced and former Imperial Senator from South Dakos received over $40 million in contributions from Mr. Schwartz during his 2006 and 2010 election effort from 'Protecting Our Workers' Super PAC, linked to protectionist think tank, the Belhavian Manufacturing Council.

Former Senator Bruce Loran, now the Imperial ambassador to Germany, received $120 million in his 2004 and 2008 re-election efforts, as well as his hand-picked protege and successor as Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Adrian Kalian (C-West Dakos), who received $75 million in his 2006 and 2010 campaign efforts.

It seems this investigation is just heating up.

Jaden Adler reported from Provisa, N.B. None of these organizations are associated with the Kalian Median Group, and all opinions and personal views in the article do not reflect the viewpoints of the KMG or their employees.

MORE IN ELECTIONS

• Jacen Gray, During Event In Freeport, Coyly Suggests That "I've Been Asked To Run For Senate By Many Voters" [ 1534 ]
• Presidential Approval: Goldman Drops To 47%, Down From 49% Last Week [ 3390 ]
• Gulden Heralds Berlin's Public Support For Suvorov-Led Medician Regime, Encourages Goldman Administration To Follow Suit [ 964 ]
• Libertarian Bill To Slash Defense Spending Defeated In Senate Budget Committee On 11-2 Vote [ 5211 ]

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© PROVISAINSIDER.com 2013

[Bulgislavia]

27th August 2013

* TRAVEL ADVISORY WARNING!


(The Bulgislavian Conflict has led to a virtual sociatal collapse while the Resistance territory have seen their own share of crime and humanitarian concerns)

The Bulgislavian Tourism and Travel Authority (Who has been impartial in the civil war so far) has finally broken its neutrality by formerly aligning with the Resistance. It has also issued a Travel Advisory Warning to the Tyrrhenian Region and the rest of the world. That any citizen who is considering traveling to Bulgislavia should reconsider. At the very least we ask that you travel with security at all times.

A new report that was released today reveal that Bulgislavia has one of the highest murder and violent crime rates, mixed in with refugee's with an estimated 8 to 10 million internally displaced refugee's and the total collapse of any social order in the central area of the country. This comes in the wake of a stunning blow to the State Defense Committee who in recent time have seen their numbers decrease rapidly due to fleeing the country or committing suicide.

The Workers International are assisting Bulgislavian authorities in restoring law and order and establishing proper civilian government. The Provisional Government in Craasi have been recognized as the leader of the Resistance movement and have allied with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Bulgislavia and the PRIA (Peoples Resistance Intelligence Agency) to establishing a post crisis, civilian led, democratically elected government when the conditions are right to do so. While there is a strong military presence in the central area's it is still a war zone and tourists and civilians are like are being advised to stay away from trouble spots.

The BTTA also released some grim statistics ranking it highly for murder and violent crime, especially for tourists and outsiders. In more positive news the General Serescu of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Bulgislavia stated that the SDC is close to defeat and the war should be over within months. he went on to say that this will not mean the end of their war with Shadow Org who they view as the main perpetrator of starting the civil war.

[New Belhavia]

PROVISAINSIDER.com

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All Politics. All the Time.

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HOT TOPICS -- Wealthy German Donors -- Jacen Gray -- Budget Negotiations -- Levantia -- Presidential Approval

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On Foreign Policy: Tyrrhenia To Pardes
Foreign Affairs Blog By Wesley Cutler With News, Analysis, and Opinion

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Levalon: Levantian Communist Dictatorships "On Verge of Collapse"

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_{Pictured: Deputy Foreign Minister for Tyrrhenian Affairs Michael Levalon speaking to reporters at an impromptu press conference this afternoon.}

August 27th, 2013 | By Wesley Cutler (wcutler@provisainsider.com) | 9:12 PM EDT |

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PROVISA, New Belhavia — The deputy Foreign Minister for Tyrrhenian Affairs, Michael Levalon, used the issuance of the travel advisory released this morning by the so-called Buglislavian "Tourism and Travel Authority" as "verifiable evidence in a long trail of data and events that Tyrrhenia's last two bastions of far left tyranny are teetering on the verge of collapse." Mr. Levalon continued, asserting forcefully that "the incessant civil war in north-central Levantia has, I hoped, opened the eyes of people in Buglislavia and Strolingrad to the undeniable reality of their homelands: the evil, discredited, rotting corpse of state socialism and political enslavement under Communist ideology has led to nothing but death, destruction, and misery," concluding, "One hopes the people - long oppressed under the autocratic yoke of these failed, oppressive, and illegal Communist regimes - will soon act to change their lives for the better by overthrowing such barbaric and illegitimate regimes."

The Goldman administration is shoring up its hawkish credentials this week, inside sources leaked under the cloak of anonymity, because of pressure brought to bare by Senator James Gulden's three-week barnstorming tour around the Empire proper and the public backlash against the ruling Conservatives from both the A.C.A. foreign policy legacy and the newest investigations by German and Belhavian government watchdog organizations alike that have revealed hundreds of millions have been sent through legal back-channels by a handful of wealthy German nationals to major Conservative candidates.

One source, a senior aide close to President Goldman, said that "the President has seen his approval drop since the end of the A.C.A. He's eager to bump up his approval numbers to stay politically relevant. He dispatched [Mr.] Levalon today in a classic rally-around-the-flag tactic." Another source, an party insider within the Conservative Party's highest echelons, concurred and was more blunt: "Our party's taken a beaten in the public sphere since June. Between the A.C.A. and this new German Super PAC sh**, we need a winning issue. Bringing a big f***ing microscope over the crumbling communist dystopias and their civil war in Levantia is a sure way to win the public back to our side."

I think this move may be a winner for the President and Conservatives, too. A few trends stand out that help them on this foreign policy issue:

Firstly, the public isn't very knowledgeable on foreign policy. A poll out last month by Callas College Surveys showed only 23% of the public followed foreign affairs "very closely" or "somewhat closely." That poll also found that only 6% of Belhavians could find Buglislavia or Strolingrad on a map, which increased slightly to 11% when told they were on the Levantian continent. So it's entirely feasible that the Goldman administration and Conservatives can highlight the troubles in Levantia without anyone coming to the illegal Communist regimes' support.

Secondly, I found this interesting tidbit from the Hansen House's Center for Public Life poll that I profiled earlier this month: a full 78% of the public support military interventions to liberate, and active diplomatic efforts to oppose, Communist and socialist regimes abroad, despite falling support for the A.C.A.'s foreign policy legacy.

Thirdly, this is bound to stir Berlin's interest. It's no secret that Provisa and Berlin have had slightly cooler relations since the A.C.A.'s dissolution, on everything from their respective public's views on the A.C.A. foreign policy legacy, to the Medician coup, to diplomatic ententes towards Emmeria and Akimonad by Provisa, among other things. Conservatives in general - and President Goldman in particular - have walked a perilous and exceedingly-hard political and diplomatic tightrope between keeping a good relationship with the Germans while triangulating towards the center on the A.C.A. foreign policy legacy to keep the public's support at home.

Take these three together, and I see political hay for the Conservative right to use this as a bludgeon to reinvigorate the average Belhavian's fervent patriotism, nationalism, and anti-communism by presenting the failing Communist states in Levantia as a natural foil to everything Belhavian.

Expect to see Michael Levalon in the public sphere and media alot more often.

Wesley Cutler reported from Provisa, N.B. None of these organizations are associated with the Kalian Median Group, and all opinions and personal views in the article do not reflect the viewpoints of the KMG or their employees.

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• Newly Sworn-In Senator Hank Richman On German Donors: "I Had No Idea" [ 122 ]
• Gulden Calls Levalon Statement on Levantia "Encouraging", "A Good Start" [ 1930 ]
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© PROVISAINSIDER.com 2013

[Bulgislavia]

28th August 2013

THE END OF THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR IS IN SIGHT


(The Provisional Assembly led by Chairman Igor Rukesku in Craasi is the most viable option for a post crisis government)

With the Workers International Coalition steam rolling through central Bulgislavia, the complete end of the State Defense Committee and the RPA is in sight. Following a Strolingradi missile attack much of the RPA's capabilities have been knocked out, coupled with a wave of State Defense Committee suicides, lynchings, defections and disappearances, the RAFB have stated that the Bulgislavian heartland will be "Liberated very shortly"

"The countries problems mount ever higher with every day this conflict drags on" stated Chairman of the Provisional Government Igor Rukesku. Reconstruction of the damaged cities, an emphasis on housing construction and a focus on economic and social recovery have been identified by the Provisional Assembly as priorities for any post crisis government.

Bulgislavian's go to the poll's on 1st of September to elect Economic Delegates for the Supreme Peoples Economic Assembly which will determine what kind of economic system Bulgislavia will have for the next 5 years. So far Socialist, Communist and Environmentalist delegates have the most favor with voters so it is highly likely that the post crisis economic system in Bulgislavia will be highly socialistic and left leaning.

Here is an extract from a recent press conference

Journalist - "Mr Chairman, what do you have to say to the international skeptics in the region who believe that our Revolutionary War represents the failure of left wing ideology in Bulgislavia"

Chairman Rukesku - "Our current crisis represents multiple failings and its too complex to pin on one particular sphere. However I can assure my friends in the international community that Bulgislavian's have no intention of ditching its left wing tradition, as evidenced by the popular polling of left wing economic candidates in the upcoming SPEA elections in a few days time" (viewtopic.php?f=23&t=250004&hilit=Bulgislavia)

Journalist - "Does this mean any post crisis system in Bulgislavia will target the rich? Will it be a system that will increase taxes for the wealthy?"

Chairman Rukesku - "You bet" [a few laughs from other journalists in the room]

(A group of RAFB soldiers pose for a photograph in central Craasi)

While Bulgislavia's elite class are certainly seeing a new life over seas as a preferred option, many are still choosing to remain in Bulgislavia, albeit with private security, avoiding public places and residing in gated communities. Bulgislavia's elite comprise a very tiny minotiry of the population, not even 1% and are mainly families that were once connected to the Provoce Dictatorship (1963-2008). Many of these individuals profited after the 2010 Revolution which ousted the Hardliners and saw them sweep up a large number of state enterprises and infrastructure in Bulgislavia's experiment with capitalism which yielded the disastrous effect of creating a plutocratic crony capitalist system.

The Left wing factions of the SPEA are increasingly calling for greater accountability and transparency regarding where Bulgislavia's oligarchs got their money from and how much they have. One of the more radical proposed economic policies calls for an "Individual income cap" at 5 Million Urmi's per year, with any excess wealth generated to be diverted into a "Communal resource pool" where it will then be diverted to where people see it is most needed.

There is no doubt in anyone's mind that the post crisis economic system of Bulgislavia will need to pull out all the stops if it is to recover quickly from the crisis. A law is already being drafted that will allow RPA and SDC Prisoners and POW's to be treated as virtual slave labour for a period of 5 years. The Law which is being called the "Social Compensation Act" will allow the government to utilize the number of POW's and prisoners for reconstruction projects to "Pay back to society to make up for the destruction they inflicted on the Bulgislavian people"

Some POW internment camps have already seen their prisoners be put to work in constructing some new housing blocks in Craasi as well as clearing rubble in Priesti and constructing a new gem mine north of Naradia. Some have already criticized this law as modern day slavery while others claim it is necessary and is a more preferable option then allowing the prisoners to fall victim to a population of Bulgislavian's that are in a "Lynching mood"

[New Belhavia]

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THE PROVISA TIMES

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Settas, Echoing Levalon, Calls Levantian Autocracies "Unstable", "Near Defeat"

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_{Pictured: Senate Majority Leader Ian Settas (C-Provisa) listening at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee meeting.}

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The Likely Presidential Contender And High-Profile Conservative Shores Up His Right Flank After Shift To The Center on A.C.A. Legacy
^{August 28th, 2013 | By Michael Jacobson (mjacobson@aij.org) (AIJ) | 4:57pm EDT}

PROVISA, New Belhavia — During a question-and-answer session at a town hall meeting in the exclusive home of the elite, Kings Hill, in Provisa the Senate Majority Leader and junior representative from the capital weighed in on the troubles in Levantia, echoing Deputy Foreign Minister Michael Levalon's remarks yesterday on the destabilization of the pair of illegal Communist regimes in north-central Levantia. One local businessman asked if the last pair of Communist dystopias in Tyrrhenia would exist within the decade, to which Mr. Settas said flatly "no." Elaborating, the youthful son of former president Julian Settas went on to reply that "Strolingrad and Buglislavia are deeply unstable, racked with war, economic collapse, and outright lawlessness characteristic of imposing such leftist politics," pausing to add, "the civil war in Buglislavia, in particular, is clear and irrefutable evidence that they are near defeat. I am tremendously optimistic that a free, modern, civilized government and society will arise in those troubled regions."

Crumbling Levantian Leftist States Are A Natural Political Foil, Analysts Say

Foreign policy analysts are noting that these remarks are after a sustained public tour by Senator James Gulden (C-Raffen), an outspoken and avid pro-A.C.A. stalwart and deeply hard-right traditionalist in the Conservative rightist wing. The Goldman Administration and its allies, including Senator Settas, have begun to protect their foreign policy credentials by utilizing Tyrrhernia's last duo of dystopian, illegitimate Communist regimes - Buglislavia and Strolingrad - as a foil for which they can campaign against, energizing the fiercely anti-communist Belhavian public.

Adjustant Professor Alan Simpson, a scholar on Contemporary Levantian Geopolitics at Adrian College, pegged this as a "quite obvious attempt to curry popular favor and distract from the ongoing scandals involving these wealthy Germans and Super PACs. However, these tyrannical Levantian regimes are easy targets as political straw-men, and the allure for the political right to use them to rally the public at home is rather strong."

Sources: Military Intervention A Possibility

Insider sources within the War Ministry leaked that War Minister Jan Argan has ordered elements of the Home Fleet, including the Gerald R. Ford-class super-aircraft carrier Christopher Augustus Adrian and the De Ruyter-class battlecruiser Iron Fist, to the eastern Adrian Sea off of western Levantia, arriving within the day to just 200 miles off Stavropol.

Another source asserted that this move was "simply so President Goldman has the options he needs if he pursues it." A retired Navy admiral, who is still plugged into senior military circles, remarked candidly that "from what I've heard, a major military offensive is being planned in case [President] Goldman gives the OK. Strike fighters, the newest destroyers, Tomahawks [cruise missiles], the whole nine yards." An inquiry over the move was refused by both to the Office of the President and War Ministry, who answered with a "no comment."

Senator Adrian Kalian (C-West Dakos), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was overheard by reporters yesterday saying "[New Belhavia] should go right in with airstrikes and naval bombing, and Marines and special forces on the ground. One of our Army Corps and [a] mechanized division could plow right over the WI commie troops over there easily enough." The senator's office declined to respond to questions over these comments.

Michael Jacobson reported from Provisa, N.B. None of these organizations are associated with the AIJ, and all opinions and personal views in the article do not reflect the viewpoints of the AIJ or their employees.

MORE IN POLITICS

• Source: Jacen Gray Close To Announcing Freeport Senate Candidacy [ 917 ]
• OpenDoors: Ten German Donors Gave Over $300M To 15 Conservative Candidates [ 9088 ]
• Tax Increase Shelved By Provisa City Council After Councilman Tom Roth's Antitax Rally [ 67 ]
• Levantia Is "A Hotbed For Radicalism," Academic Report Asserts [ 773 ]
• Merkal: Gulden 'Too Extreme' For Raffen On Foreign, Social Policies [ 6331 ]

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© Association of Imperial Journalists 2013

[Bulgislavia]

29th August 2013

PROVISIONAL ASSEMBLY WARN FURTHER INTERVENTION WILL LEAD TO FURTHER DESTABILIZATION


(Typical state of a central Bulgislavian city)

The Provisional Assembly held an emergency meeting to discuss an increase in anti-Bulgislavian and WI rhetoric and propaganda coming out of New Belhavia and also to address concerns about possible outside intervention which will further complicate matters.

"The complete collapse of the State Defense Committee is in sight, we are close to ending this war and entering a post crisis, reconstruction and recovery phase. The Provisional Assembly has unanimously agreed that any further foreign involvement would escalate the conflict and further destabilize Bulgislavia. Long story short, the longer the civil war goes on the more our nation will be destroyed" spoke an impassioned Igor Rukesku, Chairman of the Provisional Assembly. he went on to add that "Bulgislavia is in need to medical supplies, humanitarian aide workers, famine relief and funds for reconstruction, what this country doesn't need are for imperialistic powers to throw more missiles, guns and soldiers into the mix"

A member of the Provisional Assemblies foreign policy working group issued a statement that they would prefer to

"See our Tyrrhenian partners play a more productive role in ending the conflict and stabilizing Bulgislavia to prevent further misery and human suffering. We appeal to our Tyrrhenian partners to collaborate peacefully" The foreign policy working group statement also stated that "We would be happy to host any regional observers and government representatives to discuss any pressing issues and would be open to dialogue and an open forum on crisis talks to take place on a neutral nation"


(A propaganda picture that has gone viral on the Bulgislavian Interlink which condemns "ACA hangovers" as "Thuggish war mongers" who would "Kick a man while he's down")

In other news the RAFB and WI Coalition reached the outskirts of Temyenko and have pushed even deeper into the crumbling State Defense Committee. The RPA largely retreating and there is the fear that they may intentionally cause Crimson Fever outbreaks as they retreat, as that was the policy they used when they were forced to evacuate Dushov and other area's close to Caramacesti where clashes with Strolingradi forces took place.

At this time the Resistance Government can state that it is currently unknown where the fugitives Christopher Alarenko and SDC leader Vadim Ilaku are. Based on recently disclosed intelligence reports a number of State Defense Committee officials fled Bulgislavia and are dispersed somewhere in the Levantian continent.

Fleeing criminals are not the only Bulgislavian leaving the country. The civil war has caused a massive brain drain with trained doctors, teachers and professionals leaving the country for their much more prosperous and stable ally, Strolingrad. Violence against the nations upper classes have also seen the nations handful of elite class, oligarch families to also consider fleeing the country.

Ontop of that the Siroberu, Bulgislavia's mafia have taken advantage of the many vulnerable displaced refugee's in the country and are establishing a human trafficking ring in central Levantia.

"It is quite likely that a Bulgislavian could end up anywhere around the world in a state of indentured servitude, either in a sweat shop factory, in a brothel or other form of demeaning slavery" stated Athena Rianu, a member of the Craasi Polity Justice Assembly and Chairwomen on the Committee on Vulnerable Peoples "The Committee on Vulnerable Peoples is working with the Bulgislavian Human Rights Commission in combating the rise in human trafficking by getting the word out there and for all internally displaced people in the country not to fall for Siroberu promises of a better life in another country"


(A stream of refugee's are now beginning to pour out of the country, most make their way to neighboring Strolingrad)

While a few fall for the Siroberu scam and end up vanishing in one of their armed convoys across the border, many attempt to flee on their own.

It is believed that close to 1.3 million people have left the country since the beginning of the year and the number is rising sharply.
The refugee crisis has created a humanitarian disaster which will start to impact on neighboring nations shortly. The only borders that are being patrolled tightly by both sides are the Bulgislavia/Mykola border zone and the Bulgislavia/Strolingradi border zone. This means that the northern border area's are largely porous, very easy for people to slip through, human traffickers, the mafia, refugee's, arms and drug trades etc.