Mebangy-Ityan Herald (Korongolese News)

[New Korongo]

A Korongolese special forces detachment, like the one seen above,
will be deployed to Sedaristan within the next forty-eight hours.

Korongolese Special Forces to Aid Government of Sedaristan

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Speaking at a press conference earlier today, prime minister Oste Jonang announced that a detachment of Korongolese special forces would be sent to the beleaguered nation of Sedaristan to train local forces currently fighting supporters of Colonel Zakhev Mikovich. Troops loyal to President Zavimir Sedar have been fighting Mikovich and his men since he staged a coup d'état yesterday. Jonang also said that a sizeable shipment of surplus military equipment, including thirty main battle tanks and a variety of infantry weapons, would also be arriving in Sedaristan soon. “New Korongo cannot stand back and watch as an aggressive and violent political leader uses fear and terror to overthrow a peaceful government. It is our responsibility as a leading nation to provide whatever assistance we can to the people of Sedaristan.” The prime minister explained to the press. Jonang later stated that the first Korongolese troops would arrive in the Sedaristan within forty-eight hours.

While the announcement has not surprised military analysts who have been carefully monitoring the situation in Sedaristan, it has generated a large amount of controversy in the Korongolese media. Supporters of the political right have argued that the promised Korongolese contribution is too small to be meaningful, while advocates of the political left have described the decision to deploy troops as unnecessary and morally unjustifiable. Human rights groups in particular have been quick to criticise the government’s decision, claiming that it seeks to perpetuate an authoritarian monarchy. “Sedaristan has been ruled by the Cedar family for generations. While its leader may claim to be a president, a title synonymous with a democratic government, he is nothing more than a monarch. While Colonel Mikovich may be responsible for war crimes, we cannot ignore the fact that Sedar is an equally undesirable leader. The Korongolese government should be pushing for democratic reform, not supporting the current president." Elizabeth Hamilton, the leader of the Makrinesian Human Rights Organisation, said during an online press announcement. The ‘war crimes’ Hamilton refers to in her announcement are, as of yet, unconfirmed reports that forces loyal to Colonel Mikovich have been executing prisoners of war and government negotiators.

While appearing on a television news show this afternoon, Fokab Arbiset of the Korongo First party echoed the views of right-leaning members of Korongolese society. “President Sedar’s forces are being overrun by Colonel Mikovich as we speak. Training a force large enough to confront his troops will take too long and only transform the conflict into a long, drawn out civil war. If Jonang was willing to mount a full scale military intervention, Mikovich would become a non-issue overnight. We cannot allow our foreign policy to stumble on the world stage as it has so many times in the past.” He said, reminding citizens of the prime minister’s record. Over the past five years Korongolese military interventions have ultimately been successful, but they have often escalated out of control and led to negotiated resolutions that negatively affect Korongolese interests.

Banag Jangri, the leader of the opposition party United Labour, has sternly opposed any form of military intervention in accordance with the policies of his party. “New Korongo cannot aid Sedaristan constructively while encouraging its government to wage war. Our intervention will only endanger civilian lives and deepen divisions in Sedaristani society. Furthermore, it places Korongolese citizens in the line of fire in a country thousands of kilometres away. Our armed forces and our military equipment have no place in Sedaristan. The government should be striving for a peace agreement created through diplomacy and understanding, not violence and bloodshed.” While United Labour is the largest member of the opposition, most political experts believe that Jonang will not back down now that has formally contributed forces to Sedaristan.

[New Korongo]

A column of completed infantry fighting vehicles waiting for a
customer at a Wolfhaven Defence Alliance Factory in Uras-Kal.

Wolfhaven Defence Alliance to Address Financial Woes in 2016

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The Wolfhaven Defence Alliance, a corporate group which represents more than forty Korongolese defence manufacturers on the international market, has announced that it plans to address its financial woes in 2016 by revising its international image and introducing new marketing methods. “Our performance this year showed us that our previous business model was not sustainable. While our investors had great hopes, we were unable to deliver." Arb Zamaturu, the current senior director of the Wolfhaven Defence Alliance, said during a press release yesterday evening. "We have been working around the clock to develop a new model which is designed to suit the special conditions of the international defence market. Our new financial strategies and marketing tactics will be implemented by the end of the year and 2016 will be a very promising time for the Wolfhaven Defence Alliance. Our investors, and the companies that we represent, will have nothing to fear other than excess profits." He went on to explain in an effort to reassure investors. A 'low' estimate released by the company indicated that their profits would exceed $100 billion next year. Zamaturu also indicated during the press release that the Wolfhaven Defence Alliance expected to generate at least $40 billion in revenue in 2016, four times the amount it has earned so far this year.

The financial difficulties facing the Wolfhaven Defence Alliance began at the start of this year when international interest in the Korongolese arms manufacturing industry disappeared. The cause of this is unknown but many economic analysts have indicated that an oversaturation of the global market may be responsible. The corporate group has been unable to find an international customer for its military hardware since February and the value of its share prices have been falling constantly since June. A failed bid to produce a Hayanbanese light tank earlier this month was seen by many as the final nail in the coffin. Sixteen member companies have threatened to separate from the Wolfhaven Defence Alliance and three actually have. Given the extent of the Wolfhaven Defence Alliance’s financial troubles, some experts doubt whether Zamaturu will be able to transform his promises into reality. “Those who have invested in the Wolfhaven Defence Alliance will be looking for a way out. They will not be ready to accept promises from a corporate group which has already admitted to its own failure and they are well aware that the international arms manufacturing market is in a chaotic state. The issues that have led to the current financial difficulty are beyond the control of the Wolfhaven Defence Alliance, or any single company for that matter. By this time next year, I strongly believe that the Wolfhaven Defence Alliance will have either scaled down its operations to reflect reality or filed for bankruptcy." John Goodwin of the University of Mount Hagen's School of Economics said to one of our reporters. If his prediction is accurate, the Wolfhaven Defence Alliance could very well be on its last legs.

Like most major announcements concerning national defence and the arms manufacturing industry, the Wolfhaven Defence Alliance’s press release has generated a great deal of controversy among pacifist groups. A crowd protestors gathered outside their Mebangy-Ityan headquarters to protest the arms industry. ”The Wolfhaven Defence Alliance is a purveyor of death and each dollar the company earns is paid in blood. Their products promote needless suffering. Murderers like Zamaturu need to realise that the world is no longer willing to pay for their tools of pain and end their operations once and for all.” A spokesperson for the protestors said.

[New Korongo]

The Hagin Arlayaor, the frigate being dispatched to Calmore.

Government Delivers Ultimatum to the Republic Party of Calmore

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In a surprising turn of events, prime minister Oste Jonang has delivered a twelve hour ultimatum to the Republic Party of Calmore (RPC) threatening military intervention. This news comes less than an a week after the prime minister authorised the deployment of Korongolese special forces to aid the beleaguered government of Sedaristan and has shocked the opposition, who have been pushing for a reduction in Korongolese military commitments overseas. The RPC is a political party turned insurgent group which initiated open hostilities yesterday against the constitutional monarchy which rules Calmore, a small island nation which sits on the border between the North Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. The ultimatum orders the RPC to seek a ceasefire agreement with the Calmorese government within the next twelve hours or face Korongolese military action. The forces shortlisted for involvement in a Korongolese military intervention in Calmore include a guided missile frigate, the Hagin Arlayaor, which has been patrolling the Atlantic Ocean for the past two months; and a mechanised infantry company which will be flown into the region by the Royal Air Corps.

The ultimatum was issued less than an hour ago by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and it is difficult to gauge the public response at this time. However, the leader of the United Labour Party, Banang Jangri, has already issued a public statement regarding the prime minister’s decision to threaten military intervention. “This is the exact opposite of what the United Labour Party and its allies have been striving to achieve. For the past five years we have called for Jonang to end his jingoistic foreign policy, but instead he has elected to burn another small nation on the other side of the world with no connection to the interests of the Korongolese people. This form of aggressive diplomacy has to end now. It is financially unsustainable, morally questionable, and an insult to those who serve to defend our country. If at any point over the next two months the United Labour Party arrives in parliament to discover that Korongolese forces have been dispatched to fight another government’s war again, we will walk out along with the rest of the opposition. If Jonang is unwilling to compromise, then our democratic system is a fallacy and we will have no part of it." These warring words will likely echo the response of the political left as a whole towards the ultimatum once public opinion has been gauged, and also indicates that the United Labour Party has the full support of the other members of the opposition. If the opposition does walk out of parliament in the next two months, it could spell doom for Oste Jonang and his National Party in the next election. The popularity of the National Party has been in decline for at least two years and an act of defiance as significant as a walkout could propel the opposition into a position where it can gain a majority.

[New Korongo]

Balin Atriri Garen, the new leader of the Korongo Party.

Garen Ascends to Leadership Position and Lashes Out at Prime Minister in Parliament

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The parliament of New Korongo and the ruling political coalition was rocked this morning by allegations that the prime minister, Oste Jonang, has been concealing evidence which proves that the government of Madabique was behind the nuclear weapons theft that occurred earlier this year. It was also claimed that Jonang forced Korongolese troops deployed in Calmore into a position where they could not actively support government forces so that he could negotiate with the opposing rebel faction in secret. These assertions were made by Balin Atriri Garen, a war veteran and software engineer turned politician who announced that he had replaced Jeni Bortumonun as the leader of the ultra-conservative Korongo Party during the same session of parliament. This change in leadership is almost as surprising as the contentious statements made by Garen as the Korongo Party previously indicated that Bortumonun would continue to lead the caucus from prison. She was arrested in connection with the nuclear weapons theft in April.

“All individuals, at some point in their lives, make a mistake. Jeni Bortumonun chose to support a terrorist organisation openly hostile to the people and government of this great nation, and now she is justly serving time in prison for her actions. She recognises her error and has made it clear that she is no longer capable of leading the Korongo Party or honestly representing her constituents. Respecting her wishes, I was selected as her replacement by other members of the Korongo Party over the weekend. To represent millions of Korongolese citizens from all corners of the nation is an honour beyond my wildest dreams, and I have graciously accepted the opportunity to lead." Garen said to parliament this morning as he announced his ascension to the Korongo Party’s leadership position. It is unclear whether Garen will continue to serve as the foreign policy spokesperson of the Korongo Party, his previous position. “While on trial, Jeni freely admitted her crimes so that justice and liberty could prevail. It is time our prime minister, Oste Jonang, did the same.” He then said before he began to lash out at the prime minister. “As the head of this government, Jonang has deliberately hidden evidence from the public which confirms beyond all reasonable doubt that the organisation responsible for the nuclear weapons theft earlier this year was founded and funded by the government of Madabique. He has allowed those responsible for the attempted theft of our nation’s most potent weapons to escape reprimand and has promoted a non-existent domestic terror threat. As the leader of our armed forces, Jonang has endangered Korongolese men and women serving abroad by placing them in dangerous tactical situations so that he can negotiate with our enemies in secret. There are diplomatic messages which confirm that he was communicating with the Republic Party of Calmore and military orders which show that he forced Korongolese troops in Calmore to endanger themselves so that he could do so. The Korongo Party will release all the information it has on Jonang's activities tomorrow. If the prime minister has any sense, he will resign." Garen concluded creating an uproar in parliament between the supporters and opponents of Jonang.

It is difficult to tell how the Korongolese public has reacted to these revelations. Though no evidence confirming the allegations has been released yet, the news has spread across social media like wildfire and millions of people are taking to the internet to defend or berate the prime minister. Jonang’s approval ratings have climbed and plummeted throughout the day with no sign of settling. If the Korongo Party can produce evidence tomorrow, the outcome of the next election may force National into the opposition.

[New Korongo]

Provincial Guardsmen search the remains of Gunawan Kinad’s home in
April during the crisis that followed the theft of three nuclear weapons.

Evidence Suggests Allegations Against Prime Minister Are True

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At noon today Balin Atriri Garen, the leader of the Korongo Party, released a three hundred page report filled with evidence and information which suggests that the assertions he made yesterday about the prime minister’s actions were indeed based on fact. The most shocking revelation is that Oste Jonang may have deliberately hidden evidence from the public which strongly indicated that the government of Madabique was responsible for the attempted theft of three Korongolese nuclear weapons earlier this year. The report also suggests that the prime minister overruled the Board of Military Exports to sell arms to Corumm, sabotaged several Korongolese military operations to maintain diplomatic contact with opposing factions in secret, and fast-tracked Organized States base agreements without appropriate legal authority. Though the validity of the evidence provided in the report is still being investigated by experts and amateurs alike, there have already been calls for Jonang’s impeachment and members of the leading coalition have indicated that they may end their alliance with the ruling National Party. A small group of demonstrators calling for the imprisonment of the prime minister also appeared outside parliament today. Jonang has not appeared for comment and is likely avoiding the media for the time being.

More than half of the report is devoted to the claim that Oste Jonang concealed evidence from the public relating to the nuclear weapons theft in April. Korongolese police were apparently investigating Gunawan Kinad, a Madabican national living in New Korongo with ties to Madabique's governing regime, at the time of the incident. However, before any definitive conclusions could be reached by police, Jonang ordered the Provincial Guard to take over the investigation and shut out civilian law enforcement. Kinad set his house on fire and fled to the Madabican embassy at the same time Jeni Bortumonun, the former leader of the Korongo Party, was arrested in relation to the theft. According to documents allegedly found by provincial guardsmen at Kinad’s home, the weapons theft was organised and funded by the government of Madabique with the intention of reverse engineering their own nuclear bombs. The report also contains a series of diplomatic messages sent between Madabique and the Madabican embassy discussing the nuclear weapons theft in intricate detail and bank statements showing that the government of Madabique transferred more than $10,000,000 to individuals arrested in relation the theft. According to three anonymous testimonies, two from provincial guardsmen and one from a member of the Unified Intelligence Service, Jonang personally ordered all evidence relating to Madabique’s involvement to be classified or destroyed. While the prime minister is not obligated to share the findings of a military investigation to the public, this revelation is a serious blow to his character and our legal experts have suggested that he may be charged with perverting the course of justice if he is impeached.

“Less than twenty four hours ago the Korongo Party admitted its wrongdoings and called for the prime minister to reveal his own. As a nation, we have not heard a single word from Oste Jonang. It is clear to us that he has abandoned the pursuit of truth and justice, so we have elected to release the evidence we promised yesterday. If the prime minister is unwilling to hold himself accountable for his actions, the vigilant legal system of New Korongo must do so." Garen said as he raised a copy of the report into the air while speaking to reporters at noon. Recent polls indicate that public support for the Korongo Party has skyrocketed since Garen made his first allegations against the prime minister yesterday, surpassing the Royal Party to become the third most popular party behind National and United Labour. This is a significant achievement for a party which, only a few months ago, was considered described as ‘extremist’ and ‘racist’. Political commentators have suggested that the Korongo Party may be using the public outcry against Jonang to increase support without compromising its far right policies, though others have argued that Garen may be pushing the party into a radically different direction.

The response of other political parties to the allegations made against the prime minister have been mixed. Korongo First and Jonang’s own National Party have called for a formal government inquiry into the allegations, claiming that the report released by the Korongo Party contains little evidence that can be substantiated and no action should be taken against the prime minister until it is properly verified by an independent source. “Oste Jonang has abused the legal powers granted to his office by the people of New Korongo and he has betrayed the values of our nation. He is no longer fit to serve as prime minister.” Banag Jangri, the leader of the opposition, said in parliament as he called for Jonang's immediate impeachment. United Labour, Advance, and the Green Party are all in favour of impeachment. The Royal Party, a member of the ruling coalition, has announced that it would severe ties with the National Party if Jonang was found guilty in any impeachment proceedings. If this does occur, the National Party will no longer have the support it needs to maintain a majority in parliament and could be opening itself up to a vote of no confidence which will most likely lead to early elections.

The public response to Jonang’s alleged actions is overwhelmingly negative. The prime minister’s approval ratings have fallen to 20% and opinion polls indicate that more than half the nation believes that he should face trial. This could very well be the downfall of the Jonang administration.

[New Korongo]

Firefighters extinguish the burning car used in the attack.

Madabican Embassy Attacked

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The Madabican Embassy in the Korongolese capital was attacked this afternoon by three unidentified individuals armed with improvised petrol bombs and at least one firearm. According to statements made by witnesses, the group rammed through the front gate in a silver four-door sedan and began throwing incendiary devices through the embassy’s windows. After Madabican security personnel responded with small arms fire, the attackers set fire to their vehicle and fled on foot. One member of the group, believed to be a women, was shot and killed as she covered the retreat with a handgun. “It was terrifying. You could see the smoke rising above the embassy walls. There was shouting and screaming, and then the shooting started. It was so loud. I didn't know what was happening.” One individual who was walking past the embassy when the attack occurred later recounted to one of our reporters. The two attackers who escaped were quickly apprehended by police and the fires caused by the group were eventually extinguished by Korongolese firefighters. No other deaths occurred as a result of the attack, though several workers at the embassy have reported minor burns and smoke inhalation related injuries.

The names of those responsible for the attack have not been released by the police and their motives are unknown. However, it is highly likely that the attack was a response to the recent revelation that the government of Madabique may have instigated the attempted nuclear weapons theft earlier this year. A wave of anti-Madabican sentiment has been felt across Korongolese social media since the Korongo Party released evidence confirming the allegation. There have been calls for a boycott of Madabican goods and a severance of diplomatic relations with the state of Madabique, which has maintained a strained relationship with New Korongo ever since General Wiranto Murdani took power in 2005. Doctor John Adams from the University of Port Victoria, an expert on internal security and civil wars, has said that several similar attacks against Madabican property could occur over the next few days. “There are more than eight hundred million people in New Korongo. Even if zero point zero zero zero one percent of the population was willing to turn to violence, that would still be more than eight hundred people. Extremist groups are out there, and those that embrace nationalism and militancy are no doubt planning their own actions against Madabique in one form or another. I fear that this attack may be the first in a series of similar incidents we can expect in the immediate future."

Prime Minister Oste Jonang has refused to speak to the press about the embassy attack, continuing his campaign to avoid interaction with the public. In his place, the deputy leader of the National Party did speak to reporters. “The idea that Madabique was responsible for the nuclear weapons theft is a deeply emotional one, especially for those who lived during the Cold War when that nation was our greatest enemy. However, we cannot respond with isolated acts of terrorism. We must pursue the government of Madabique united as a people at an international legal forum. We are no better than those involved in the theft if we do otherwise.“ Ben Scil said before he refused to comment on the prime minister. Though his words are not a grand statement, it is the first time the National Party has spoken to the press since the allegations against Jonang began and it could be a sign that the party has lost faith.

[New Korongo]

Jonang leaves parliament this morning
after announcing his resignation.

Prime Minister Announces Resignation

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Oste Jonang, the prime minister of New Korongo, announced his resignation earlier today while speaking to parliament. His duties as the head of government of the Korongolese nation will come to an end at midnight at which point he will be succeeded by Ben Scil, the deputy leader of the National Party. This news comes two weeks after Jonang was accused of concealing Madabican involvement in the failed nuclear weapons theft that occurred last year and negotiating with New Korongo's enemies in secret. In parliament, Jonang defended his actions but admitted that he was in error. “While I do not regret any of the actions I have been criticised for, it has become apparent that they do not reflect the wants and needs of the nation. The prime minister is a representative of the people, and I can no longer fulfill such a role. It is for this reason that I have chosen to resign." Jonang explained while the other members of parliament silently listened. Public reactions to the prime minister’s resignation have been overwhelmingly positive.

“The prime minister has recognised the error of his ways and has made a just decision that will benefit the nation. For that he should be praised.” Balin Garen, the leader of the Korongo Party and the man responsible for the allegations against the Jonang, said to reporters this afternoon. Though this response may appear humble, political commentators expect that the Korongo Party will use the resignation of the prime minister to fracture the leading coalition and trigger early elections. The fracture itself would come from the Royal Party which announced some time ago that it would sever ties with the National Party if Jonang was found guilty of any wrongdoing, and his resignation may be seen as an admittance of guilt. The Korongo Party has made impressive gains in the public consciousness since Garen replaced Jeni Bortumonun as leader last month and early elections could allow the party to secure a large portion of parliament, though it is unlikely the party could achieve a majority on its own.

Banang Jangri, the leader of the United Labour Party and the opposition, expressed his approval of the prime minister’s decision to resign but also called for a government inquiry while speaking at a press conference. “A criminal does not escape punishment because he has agreed to rescind his title, and there is a strong possibility that Jonang’s actions were indeed criminal. He has made the right decision by resigning, but he must be held accountable for his actions. The United Labour Party will push for a full government investigation into the activities of our soon-to-be former prime minister. Such an inquiry may reveal more facts which have been concealed by Jonang.” If United Labour does choose to strive for an investigation, it could face opposition within the Ministry of Justice. The Ministry, which would be responsible for the inquiry, has historically avoided pursuing legal action against prime ministers who have resigned for controversial acts.

Ben Scil, the next Korongolese prime minister, has not responded to the resignation of Oste Jonang yet and will probably make an announcement tomorrow after he has become the head of the Korongolese government. Scil is an investment broker who graduated from the Unversity of Mebangy-Ityan with a degree in economics. His political career began in 1998 after aggressive environmental policy forced an automotive factory in his home town to close. He has been the deputy leader of the National Party since 2012 and runs the Local Business Fund, a charity organisation that supports small businesses.

[New Korongo]

The unfinished Sumulira Dam seen from the west.

Construction of Sumulira Dam Halted Amid Safety Concerns

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The Department of Energy has ordered all work on the Sumulira hydroelectric power station to be halted. According to the Secretary of the Department of Energy, Danmerat Taran, the decision was made after a secretive internal investigation revealed that contractors working on the dam were using substandard materials that did not comply with national regulations. Apparently the investigation also alleged that the main contractor responsible for the construction of the power station, FSG Engineering, knowingly used the materials in question in an effort to reduce costs. The Sumulira dam, being constructed on the Tygar River in western New Korongo, is part of a controversial hydroelectric plan which aims to replace the nation’s remaining coal and oil fuelled power stations by 2040 and will most likely bring the entire program into question.

“An internal investigation completed by the Department of Energy’s leading engineers concluded that the materials currently being used in the construction of the Sumulira hydroelectric scheme are substandard and unfit for purpose.” Taran said to reporters at a press conference this morning. “Regular cement with a compressive strength well below the threshold of safety has been used as a substitute for the high-strength concrete demanded by the design of the structure. It is believed that the primary contractor responsible for the construction of the dam, FSG Engineering, used this unsuitable cement in a desperate and dangerous attempt to increase their profit margin. The corporation falsified the results of sixteen tests which aimed to affirm the structural integrity of the concrete being used." Taran did not reveal whether construction of the dam would be abandoned, or if the existing structure would be demolished so that a new one could be built on the same site. The latter is more likely as the relocation of the power station to a new site would face severe backlash from environmentalists who already oppose the current hydroelectric scheme.

Reban Hoden, the chief operating officer of FSG Engineering, made a public announcement regarding the Sumulira dam soon after the Department of Energy revealed their decision. “FSG Engineering is, first and foremost, a business. We have a responsibility to the thousands of employees and investors that make our construction projects a reality. To the public it may seem probable that we will seize any opportunity to increase our revenue, even if that means violating the laws of this nation and endangering the lives of others. However, this is not the case. We cannot operate without customers, and it is for this reason that we strive maintain a discipline of perfection in our contracts. If the concrete used in the construction of the Sumulira dam does not conform to national safety standards, a claim which we will verify independently, then it was without our knowledge." The Department of Energy has revealed little evidence that FSG Engineering, at a corporate level, knowingly used substandard concrete but legal experts speculate that this evidence could be withheld for use in future legal action against the corporation.

[New Korongo]

Atingiak announces the Royal Party’s withdrawal from the leading coalition.

Leading Coalition Fractured, Early Elections Likely

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It has been exactly one month since Oste Jonang resigned from office and the Royal Party has finally decided to withdraw from the leading coalition. The Royal Party promised to withdraw last year if Jonang was impeached but he resigned before any impeachment proceedings could take place. The decision leaves the National Party and its remaining allies without majority in parliament and early elections have been called for as a solution.

Zimjawi Atingiak, the leader of the Royal Party, made the announcement in parliament this morning while citing dishonesty and a lack of representation as the main reasons behind the decision. “The actions of the National Party over these past few months has revealed a level of secrecy and scheming which the Royal Party cannot associate itself with. We also feel that the policies presented by the National Party no longer align with our own. While it is regrettable, we can no longer represent those that elected us while also retaining our membership in the leading coalition." Atingiak said as she spoke to parliament. The departure of the Royal Party from the ruling coalition is yet another devastating blow for the National Party and leaves it with few remaining allies. As it stands, the coalition no longer maintains a majority in parliament and will face severe difficulty when attempting to pass controversial legislation in the near future. In response to the creation of a hung parliament, Atingiak also called for early elections. "This parliament has been shaken by a series of incidents outside the control of the Korongolese people. Perhaps it is time to for them to retake control in the form of early elections."

Ben Scil, the prime minister and leader of the National Party since the resignation of Jonang, declared his respect for the Royal Party's decision after Atingiak's announcement but argued that early elections were not necessary. “New Korongo is a democratic society and I have no choice but to respect the decision of the Royal Party as they must represent those that vote for them in the most appropriate way possible. However, it is clear to me that early elections are entirely unnecessary. While there is no longer a clear majority, we must only wait until November for elections. There is no point in holding early when they are already so close.”

If elections are held early, the Royal Party could have a major influence over who becomes the next prime minister of New Korongo. Recent polls indicate that the Royal Party is the fourth most popular in parliament, which means that it cannot stand alone. If it did then the United Labour Party, the historical enemy of the National Party, would most likely achieve a majority with its allies in the Green Party. However, if the Royal Party sides with the increasingly popular Korongo Party, the two parties could potentially gather enough votes to seize power. The two parties have been described by political commentators as natural allies since Balin Garen took over the latter, so this is quite likely.