Old Hope wrote: Onder Kelkia is a long-time member of the LKE, and was, for a long time, the head of LKE. They are the head of your own government.
And that the Bugle is a propaganda mouthpiece, well... it's obvious.
Just read it!
I always find it interesting, relative to the present situation with Balder where I am the Emperor Emeritus of the LKE, that for the period of over three years when I was the ruling Emperor of the LKE and Crown Prince of TNI, there was no significant line of attack that this meant that the LKE controlled TNI. In fact, it was more often suggested that the LKE was but a TNI satellite state. As Crown Prince of TNI, I was far more unaccountable and unrestrained than I am today as Statsminister of Balder. In Balder, I have to obtain the agreement to my decisions and policies of other ministers, the Storting and ultimately the voting public. In TNI, the Monarchy was above the government and the only person who could overrule me on any matter falling within my purview was Gryfynn (who was herself affiliated to the LKE as a former Prime Minister and a member of the royalty). There is nothing new to my holding senior roles in regions other than the LKE; it is just that Balder is a GCR. I see that as immaterial to the questions of regional loyalty. Players in GCRs and UCRs alike - all regions - alike should be loyal to the interests, ideology and perspectives of their regions when performing roles or duties on behalf of that region.
When I was in LKE and TNI, I served each region loyally when acting for that region. I do the same with the LKE and Balder today. There is no distinction in my approach to my duties to reflect the fact that Balder is a GCR, because that doesn't matter in this context. Duty is duty. Balder and the LKE are obviously close allies, perhaps not as close as TNI and the LKE were, but there is nothing untoward in the relationship. In fact, whereas I was actively involved in running the LKE's day-to-day affairs during my time in TNI, I expend far greater effort on a day-to-day basis on government matters in Balder than the LKE, where I abdicated as Emperor precisely to allow others to take on powers that they had earned through their service to the region. In Balder, there are 7 other cabinet members who work with me, only 1 with any LKE affiliation, whereas other TN had greater overlap with the LKE.
The idea that "Userites" should be blanket banned from holding positions in GCRs or even intrinsically viewed with suspicion is Francoist nonsense. Balder does not ban dual citizenship or restrict the democratic or governmental opportunities of dual citizens in our region. It is almost inherent in being a sinker that a large proportion of the population will also have citizenship in other regions. What we instead insist upon is that all persons consider the interests of Balder exclusively when making decisions in and for Balder. That is our citizenship oath and I have always upheld the commitment to serve Balder.
The Bugle is an official Balder publication with news about Balder told from the Government of Balder's perspective. Call that propaganda if you want. We think we have a very strong and enthusiastic cabinet who are indeed destined for success. We make no apology for boasting about them.