Esquarium Today [Regional News, CLOSED]

[Vajorr]

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VAJORR PREPARES FOR APRIL ELECTIONS.
EC Election widely seen as indicator for Federal Election two weeks later.

NEW HAUSTAD - The Electoral Commission gave the green light for the lifting of all campaigning restrictions on Friday, earlier than normal. Although the Federal Election for the National Council is still more than a month away, the election for Vajorr’s 33 seats in the legislature of the Esquarian Community will take place on April 8th. The special relaxation of the rules came with some delay and will definitely spark the start of a frantic two week campaign, one that will likely continue into the Federal Election on the 22nd. All parties will carefully watch the results of the EC Parliament election to gauge their potential results for the National Council elections.

EC Elections: ‘The Ultimate Litmus Test’
What makes this Esquarian parliamentary election so unique is that it occurs around the same time as the election for the National Council. Exactly fourteen days separate the two elections. This is the first time a double election has happened since Vajorr joined the Community in 2009. “This is arguably the greatest opportunity we’ve ever had” stated Eckehard Oberländer, the chairperson of the Liberal Party, in an interview with GM. “The EC election is the ultimate litmus test to determine our true standing in the polls and our eventually results in the Federal Elections.” All the other parties expressed the same sentiment that the EC election would predict their future results. Despite their hopes, it may not be the perfect indicator; some experts assert that the results of the EC elections and the Federal Election may differ because of the different electoral systems and shifts in campaigning after the EC election. However they all agree that this is a unique opportunity that none of the political parties would let pass.

Rise of the Underdogs: The Final End of the Two Party System
After the formation of the country in the late 19th century, the Vajorrian political climate has been dominated by the Social Democrats and the National Party. Both parties acted as big tent parties which attracted people with diverse viewpoints and thus appealed to more of the electorate. Combined with the first past the post electoral system, a rigid two-party system dominated the political environment. However those days are long gone, with the abolishment of the first past the post in favor of single transferable vote in 1976. Since then the size of the largest political parties have steadily shrunk since then. However this election appears to be the final blow according to a poll released by GMU. The incumbent centre-right Liberals leads the Social Democrats by a mere 1.4 points. Meanwhile, the New Democrats, National Alliance, and Greens are battling out for the third place. Experts compare the rise of these minor parties to the situation around the world, where they are making major grounds. At home, they attribute the rise of the smaller parties to economic uncertainty under the rule of the Liberals, who are often associated with economic stability. Another comment concern is the increasing centralisation of power under the Kopf government. This concern has been spearheaded by the New Democratic Party, lead by Jörg Meuthen. They are expected to win massive gains in the outer suburbs, most of Sønderland, and rural areas under their populist, federalist message.

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Other News

• Namor: Popular Front's Shohai Antelope, wins the country’s Presidential Election.
• Federal Elections 2016: First National Debate to take place on 26th March.
• Editorial: Why the radical right are rising across Esquarium

[West Cedarbrook]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJpSPvBmjwg

http://www.rwc.wc/overseas
10:00 AM Wrycova Central Time
Radio West Cedarbrook Overseas Service: 10:00 AM News
Vice President Slams Zeller, CA: "Effete Brigade"

This is Radio West Cedarbrook Overseas Service, 10 AM News.

Vice President Paula Davidoff ripped Civic Alliance leader Gerard Zeller in a speech this morning to the Chemical and Petroleum Industry Association conference at the Blumstein Hotel in Wrycova. Speaking at the morning session, she cited Zeller's inexperience in government, shallowness in foreign affairs, and attacked the slate of Civic Alliance Senate candidates as "retread and failed miscellaneous major party politicians". The Vice President was particularly aggressive in assailing Zeller's plans for a massive expansion of government services. She told the assembled executives and engineers "What we have in this upstart party is an effete brigade of arrogant snobs, along with the left over do-gooders that even the Libertarians have rejected since the end of the Liberal Party. These are a collection of retread and failed miscellaneous major party politicians, dropouts who have failed to gain credibility with either Conservatives or Libertarians. How sad is it that today's voters are too young to remember the disaster that was the Leibowitz administration, and how his ridiculous spending and tax policies led to the 2001 end of the Liberals. Back in the 90's, his rallying cry was that the Conservatives brought forth a rich man's plunder of the working people. Well, those policies made a lot less of the working people! The Cedarbrookese people chose wisely, and put the Liberals out of business in 2001. Zeller and his CA team represent a zombie Liberal Party. Let's keep the zombie Liberals where they belong, in the trash heap"

Vice President Davidoff

The Vice President commented on the Civic Alliance's approach to foreign affairs as a danger to the Kramden, telling the audience "Who even knows what Zeller really thinks about our neighbors, or the changing political landscape in Esquarium? His Senate leader, Mrs. Reunolds, barely has anything to say about the end of the Esquarian Union and a successor to the Greenwich Area. What roadblocks to sane foreign policy would a large Civic Alliance contingent in the Senate pose to Secretary Kansky, as he negotiates through to preserve the benefits of Greenwich in the upcoming year? Does Mr. Zeller have a clue as to how changes in the EC from it's upcoming election could impact security and anti-terrorism? Is Gerard even aware of the continuing threat the Communist dictatorship in West Cortoguay poses to the Federal Republic of Cortoguay, to all of Conitia? Has that gone away, or does West Cotorguay continue to be a cat's paw for every tyrant and menace with designos on our continent and generate mayhem for our neighbors? No, one lesson we've learned in the past year is that Conitia can be threatened from outside the region, and under President Feld, we have responded and will respond forcefully and effectively to those threats. I think you will agree with me that the careful, prudent use of our capabilities on the continent and in the South Central are highly important to the safety and well being of the average Cedarbrookese, and permit us to enjoy the high standard of living that you and our businesses and workers have so amply provided. This is too important to be exposed to rank amateur upstarts".

She also warned against a wide expansion of social programs, as advocated by Mr. Zeller. "Mr. Zeller presumes to know what's best for you, your family, and your community. Again, here we have very great differences with him. We believe that the individual knows what is best for himself or herself. And those decisions are reflected at the municipal, state, and local levels in the choices the people of West Cedarbrook have made. Where attention is needed to roads, public health, and education, the states and municipalities address them, not pencil necked geeks in Wrycova. Port Yehoshua needed a new rapid transit line, and they are building it. When South State identified a need for improved flood control and irrigation, it went ahead with those projects. It's not for the national government to tell them whether they can or can't go ahead with those decisions. I think that clear minded individuals, both Conservatives and Libertarians can agree to keep these decisions as close to home as possible."


Radio West Cedarbrook Overseas Service is owned and operated by The Kramden of West Cedarbrook Department of External Affairs

[The Jahistic Unified Republic]

Zheng Courts JYC
"We're a Dying Movement. I'll Bring it Back"

Inside of Hae Jae Bon Memorial Stadium yesterday, a rally for 53,000 members of the Jahistic Youth Corps was held on the premise of a campaign of the Jahistic Youth Corps. The rally was for Zheng Zhuli, and the controversial youth organization seemed to reaffirm their support to the AULP's leader, in spite of attacks from Jacob Connors.

"I come here to assure all of you young people, nine years after Grace Aliah-Thuman stood here and declared the first generation of Jahistic Youth were the 'sun of the world', that the sun has not set yet! The sun of the youth that will carry on the ideas of Voluntarism-Capitalism-Jarrod Thuman Thought has not set!"

The activities of the JYC had declined since the death of the Great Leader in 2014, and in 2015, the Connors administration led to the focus back on the Jahistic Liberation Forces rather than the Youth Based approached of the First Administration's latter half. Along with the resignation of Ryan Thuman from the command of the Corps in 2014, the organization has been subjected to budget cuts and declining morale. Some in the AULP have even called for the abandonment of the movement.

"Comrade Connors and some other politicians are actively going out of their way to stifle you and ruin your morale. Ignore them. The Great Leader said that you people were the inheritors of the Revolution and your children will carry it to the Final Goal. Please allow me to help guide you in that respect!"

The JYC's role in society has come under attack from Social Democratic Leader in recent times, saying that "children need to be in school, not at war." This led to a surge of support for Zheng and the AULP, as the Radical Jahistics have not openly supported the Jahistic Youth Corps.

RevPurMin: We Still Welcome Shohai
Wan: Namorese Reconciliation Will Be "Hard," Not "Impossible"

At a press conference, the Minister of Revolutionary Purity, Wan Lu, has commented on behalf of Zheng Zhuli on the election of Shohai Antelope to the office of President-General of Namor. Zheng Zhuli, also the Minister of Foreign Affairs, could not comment due to campaign obligations. His speech was given on the balcony of the Assembly of the People in Jarrod Thuman Square.

"We welcome the new government of Namor and hopes that President-General Shohai Antelope continues the rhetoric and actions of Fu Wen in his upcoming term. I speak on behalf of the Premier in saying that the road ahead is a bumpy one, but one we can traverse together. I also think I speak on behalf of most of the party leaders in welcoming any chance of an equal reconciliation."

Wan mentioned that some things were simply impossible to be reconciled on. Namely Roubao and Unolian pursuits of an independent nuclear weapons system.

"We will still press on for a unilateral withdrawal of the Namorese Liberation Army from Roubao and for an equal meeting between involved parties in the conflict over Roubao. We still ask for a meeting featuring the applicable leaders of Namor, the Jahistic Union, and the Roubaonese Authority. These aren't negotiable.

We cannot give up our nuclear program as no nation should have to. We want our self determination to be respected by the international community and the People's Republic is no exception.

[Greater Ziegenian Reich]

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Military drills conducted between Reich and Unolia forces

Thousands brave men and women will participate in the largest joint military exercises between two Triumvirate nations today. Troops and sailors of the proud Wehrmacht of the Reich and Jahistic Liberation Forces of Unolia will be conducting mock amphibious assault invasions against the fictional island-nation of "Brotland", an island under occupation by a tyrannical foreign power that refuses to let the native people the right to self determination and has repeatedly rigged referendums for independence in the past.

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Amphibious assault vehicles use the cover of smoke to conceal themselves as they
conduct an amphibious landing on the fictional island of "Brotland".

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Soldiers of the Wehrmacht and JLF disembark from an amphibious assault vehicle
as they assault the beachhead of "Brotland"

The exercise itself is part of the ongoing military cooperation between the eternal brotherhood of Triumvirate nations to foster a better understanding between militaries of the Triumvirate. Operation Nord Sturm (North Storm), this years exercise, will last for 16 days and address a wide array of situations and scenarios to be encountered such as disaster relief, logistical capabilities, and military operations.

The exercise is one of the largest in recent Triumvirate history, with over 20,000 service members of the Reich's Wehrmacht and the Unolian Jahistic Liberation Forces participating in the large scale air-land-sea scenario. Senior officials of the Wehrmacht have stated that the large-scale nature of the exercise helps to give a greater idea of the logistics and complexities of such a large-scale assault, as well as to see the full capabilities of a combined arms assault and address any issues or concerns.

The amphibious assault of the exercise gives an opportunity for commanders on both sides to see the capabilities a quick, small-scale expeditionary force has in securing a beachhead and establishing a staging point for further assaults inland against enemy forces.

"We conduct these exercises so that we can see how ourselves and the Unolias operate. It gives us a greater insight into the tactical and strategic differences between our militaries and lets us build upon those, while also strengthening our similarities. We can impart our knowledge to the Jahistic forces and we can also take away knowledge from them as well and this will help immensely with cooperation between our two great nations so that we are to fight together when the time comes." Generalmajor Albert Voss, speaking of the intent of the exercise.

Senior Jahistic leadership declined to comment about the exercise due to the ongoing Jahistic elections.

However, Operation Nord Sturm has not gone unnoticed or without criticism by the Social Imperialist powers, who were quick to denounce the assault as an example of "Triumvirate aggression." Foreign commentators have equated Brotland to the military occupied island of Roubao, which was stolen from Unolia about Namor.

"It is ridiculous to equate our exercise to a planned invasion of Roubao and it is only Namorese propaganda to prevent any meaningful cooperation to be had between Unolia and Namor. These exercises are no different than when liberal democracies do it, but we are the ones who are demonized for conducting our own training." An official spokesman in response to criticisms of the exercise.

"The Reich is fully committed to the peaceful cooperation between Unolia and Namor on the subject of Roubao and wish for a peaceful resolution on this matter."

[Ainin]

Home » News » Politics
▍ On the Road to "Sin Day"
▍ AININIANS PREPARE FOR LOCAL, ESQPARL ELECTIONS ON APRIL 3

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HUIMONT - On Sunday 3 April, millions of Aininians will head to the polls and cast their votes in three simultaneous elections. Up for grabs are Ainin's 62 proportionately-allocated Esquarian Parliament seats, the largest delegation in the Esquarian Community legislature, in addition to control of Ainin's 166 prefectures and 1,562 cantons.

What is Sin Day?

According to the 25th Amendment to the Constitution of Ainin, local elections nationwide occur at fixed four-year intervals, on the same date as elections for the Esquarian Community, and all fixed-date elections must occur on Sundays. This day, which occurs every four years, is popularly and sarcastically known as "Sin Day" (jour des péchés) due to the Lutheran Catholic Church's strong opposition. Sunday is a holy day of rest in Christianity, known as the Sabbath. It is rumoured that former president Alphonse Desjardins had local elections set on that day of the week because of his strong dislike of then-Archbishop of Huimont Thomas D'Arcy, who was the subject of controversy for his right-wing political activism.

Since 1990, Sin Day has served as a test of public support for the government of the day. Poor performance often foreshadows government change in general elections. For example, in 2012, the ruling Social Democrats did badly on Sin Day, which saw the SDP lose control of several long-held prefectural councils, including Marlane-la-Prairie, Fort-Françilien and Lièsverval, with the Progressive Conservatives making major gains throughout northern Ainin, the rise of the National Alliance in the south, and the election of the first right-wing mayor in the national capital of Huimont since 1972. The Social Democrats went on to lose almost a hundred seats in the 2014 general election, which saw a landslide victory for Stéphane Mann and his Progressive Conservatives.

Why does it matter?

This election will be the first public test of the government's approval. If the Social Democrats and Citizens' Alliance do well, it shows that their political honeymoon continues and that their policies have the approval of the electorate. Conversely, if the right-wing Progressive Conservatives or far-right National Alliance make major gains, it will herald a worrisome loss of trust in the new coalition government, less than a year into its mandate. The government is currently widely considered to still be in its political honeymoon phase, in which voter euphoria from the recent general election keeps the government's approval ratings high. However, an upset by the opposition in these elections would be a brisk shock to the political establishment and force the government on the defensive for the remainder of its term.

Another thing to watch for is control of the national capital. From 1972 until 2012, the Social Democratic Party had an absolute majority on the prefectural council of Huimont. For most of those years, the Green Party served as the official opposition. In 2014, a series of nationwide victories in local elections propelled the Progressive Conservatives to win 14 of the city's 25 cantons and canton-level boroughs, allowing it to form government for the first time in 42 years. If they manage to hold their narrow majority or otherwise concede little losses, it will be a major coup for the embattled party, which in 2015 has seen its support in the north collapse and its support in the south being siphoned by the National Alliance. However, if they lose control, the council will be hard-fought between the Social Democrats and Citizens' Alliance, who both boast strong support in the national capital region.

Polling

Voting Intentions

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29.5% - Social Democratic
26.3% - Citizens' Alliance
16.0% - Progressive Conservative
15.1% - National Alliance
5.5% - Socialist Freedom
3.9% - Green
3.0% - Conservative Forces
0.7% - WAIM

Recent polling paints a positive outlook for both Prime Minister Marianne de Lotbinière's Social Democrats and Deputy Prime Minister Maxime Bélanger's Citizens' Alliance. A 20 March poll by the République Media Group (RMG S.A.) showed the SDP leading with 29.5% and the CA not far behind with 26.3%. The Progressive Conservatives lag behind at 16% and are in a tight fight for third place with the far-right National Alliance, which polls at 15.1% and has seen a surge in support over past weeks. The Socialist Freedom Party polls at a respectable 5.5%, while the Green Party, which polled around 13% of votes in 2012, has been decimated and only enjoys the support of around 3.9% of respondents. The Federation of Conservative Forces, which performed poorly in the 2015 election and did not win a single seat in the National Assembly, polls at 3% and hopes to gain a seat in the district of Jaspère-Centre, where it placed second in several constituencies last year.

A separate poll by the Journal de Valstom, West Ainin's largest French-language newspaper, showed that the West Aininian Independence Movement polled at 42.7% support in the restive province, and will almost certainly win the single-member Esquarian Parliament district of West Ainin.

The polls, however, belie one fact. Ainin sees very high turnout for Esquarian Parliament elections due to the fact that local elections occur on the same day. High turnout generally favours the moderate centre, which consists of the Social Democrats and Citizens' Alliance. It is likely that a lot of the polled support for the National Alliance and smaller parties will evaporate when election day comes. Historically, this has been the case. 2012 polling averages predicted a National Alliance surge in Jaspère province that failed to materialize.

The stakes

The stakes are huge for all parties going into the election.

For Prime Minister Marianne de Lotbinière and the Social Democrats, this election is the first test of the party's ability to attract voters after the collapse of the two-party system last year. The 2015 election, which was seen by political analysts as the Social Democrats' for the taking, instead returned a hung parliament and only saw minor gains by the SDP. If the SDP disappoints once again, her political capital in Huimont will be significantly degraded, and the Social Democrats' ability to influence government policy at the local level will be diminished.

For Deputy Prime Minister Maxime Bélanger and the Citizens' Alliance, this election will show whether his party's surge will cement into a lasting political movement or was just a one-off event. In the 2015 general election, the liberal-democratic, centrist CA picked up over a hundred seats and unseated dozens of long-serving Progressive Conservative and Social Democratic deputies, in a phenomenon that shocked the political establishment and heralded the "end of the two-party state," as University of Talon political science professor André Ménard called it. As the party only came into existence in 2014, it is currently not represented on the local or Esquarian Community level. If it fails to make significant gains in this election, the CA's political dynasty will have proved to be very short-lived.

For the Progressive Conservative Party, this election will be painful. For Interim Opposition Leader and former Defence Minister Anna Barési, the stakes couldn't be higher. Ms. Barési handed in her resignation after the disastrous 2015 election that saw the super-majority PC caucus elected in the 2014 election reduced to a third-place rump in 2015, in the aftermath of the West Aininian crisis that saw the party's liberal wing break off to form the Citizens' Alliance. However, the resignation was rejected by her caucus, and she was kept on as acting leader until the party convention in October of this year. Reports indicate that she is eyeing a definitive nomination at the convention as leader of the party, but if she fails to perform in this election and defend the party's 2012 gains, her political career will die a quiet death. This will prove either to be an opportunity for the party to rebound from its annus horribilis and keep control of its local governments and Esqparl seats, or it could be another disastrous blow to the once-mighty political juggernaut of Aininian politics.

For the National Alliance and its flamboyant leader Maxime Cornell, it's now or never. Islamic terrorism has struck home. Nationalism is on the rise throughout Esquarium. An ever-larger percentage of Aininians have begun to reject the multicultural, progressive society built during the second half of the 20th century. For the NA, this is their time to shine. They hope for breakthrough gains throughout southern Ainin, the region heaviest struck by the "migrant boats" arriving from Nautarya, and for Mr. Cornell, disappointment may lead to a rebellion by party grassroots to depose him. In a year where the far-right is expected to make unprecedented gains throughout the Esquarian Community, the National Alliance of Ainin instead appears to be heading for a lackluster showing.

Lastly, there's the Green Party, which is stuck down a hole with no way out. The party is set to be wiped out on both Esqparl and local levels, and longtime leader Christophe Marchant will likely not remain leader by the end of 2016.

[Pisdara]

24 March, 2016

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PSD leader found dead in car, possible homicide
It was confirmed earlier today by Ashuragar police that Social Democratic Party leader Gaston Albert was found dead in his car yesterday night in the parking lot of the Territorial Council. Albert, branch leader for the struggling party since 2004, was found murdered with his throat slashed and hidden in his back seat.

With the chaos currently on the island, police suspect the murderer may have had the motive of retaliating against the Council opposition trying to block the far-right PRPN from continuing its government and force an early election. Blame on the murder has been placed on multiple culprits, from supporters of the PRPN, to, according to the Pisdari National Army, angered Pisdaris wishing to “make [Governor] Lèche and his government seem evil and destructive.”

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Council opposition may lean towards interim government as temporary solution
Speaking to the Territorial Council, opposition leader Babum Ishhi-Addu (KU) informed the deputies that he believed it would be advantageous to form an interim government once the PRPN’s minority government resigned, instead of calling direct elections. “To be honest, we are not in a position currently where I feel we can hold an orderly and safe election. Therefore, forming an interim government, on the Citizen-Protector’s request, may work as a temporary solution.”

The concept of interim government emerged after the 1975 Pisdari Rebellion and the political crisis that bred it. Meant to provide stability, the Citizen-Protector is able to call a new government and appoint or kick out deputies according to the political situation. Ishhi-Addu also stated that an interim government could “debate and possibly draft a document establishing and clearing up issues regarding our position with Ainin and our autonomy as a protectorate.”

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[Francilie]

Thursday, 24th March 2016
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE FIRST DEBATE

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Cédric Liet and Claire Journay, yesterday at the debate.

GRAND-OCEAN, L'AUBE CAPITALE FIENOISE - After the first debate took place in Grand-Océan, hosted by FFK1, a private Fiennish television, it is time to highlight the important moments of the debate between Left Ecology's Alain Laval, Social Nathalie Wamers-Hanbeek, Union Claire Journay, independant Elise Monfort-Valderbre Republican Sabine Fuchsersbergers and Patriot Cédric Liet.

State of the Union : "will be good" for NWM, "pathetic" for Liet.

The debate started with an opening statement on the state of the Union currently. As the Autian people now fear the start of a new wave of terror, the candidates have different views. After a draw, Fuchsersbergers was designed to start. She attacked NWM, Journay and Liet saying that "one supports independantists (the Armorican and Autian democratic independantist parties support NWM) as she promised to order referenda on independance in these republics during her mandate, one tries to be unionist but does nothing to prevent secession (Journay), and one will make tensions grow by his excessive centralism. (Liet)"

Liet said to Fuchsersbergers that "I'll respect the rights of the constituent republics to rule, but some powers should go to Pontnouveau. It would be stupid to totally unite a Francilo-Osonic people, a people descended from Cortoguayans, a Celtic people and a North Germanic people close to the Geads under the power of one city. No one wants that. Except those damned monarchists."

Then, NWM said "I want these peoples to decide of their destiny by themselves." but was criticized by independant Elise Monfort-Valderbre : "You want the destruction of the Union, Ms. Wamers-Hanbeek and Mr. Laval".

Laval gave then his two cents about all this : "The Union should be disbanded. We illegally conquered Armorica, Aut and Fiennia."

"It proves I'm right, Mr. Laval: you want the destruction of the Union" EMV told back.

"If we give the peoples what they want, the state of the Union will be good, no ?" said NWM. Liet answered : "No, it is pathetic and will stay pathetic, unless someone fixes it."

Security, safety and immigration : Laval calls Liet's policies fascist.

Then, the debate continued with the somehow hot theme of security, safety and immigration. Journay asked to speak first. "Under my term, we stopped several planned terrorist attacks, may it be by independantist or jihadist forces."

"If you know so many attacks are planned, why don't you increase the number of policemen and firemen?" said Fuchsersbergers.

"Oooh you can talk, Ms. Fuchsersbergers, you, wanting the long and painful death of our social security and free healthcare services, not only by wanting to decrease the number of health specialists (doctors, nurses, surgeons) to "economize"... You can talk." said Liet.

Journay: "Excuse me, but you don't know how to rule a nation, Ms. Fuchsersbergers, we don't have an unlimited amount of money, I could wish so but that's impossible. If I increase the number of policemen and firemen, I must decrease the number of teachers and doctors."

"That's what I want" said Fuchsersbergers, but was corrected by both NWM and Laval : "And what you want is terrible."

"And, because we're also talking of safety and immigration, we should introduce the refugees that came to our Union to learn our moral and cultural values, that means, the French language and the Republics' languages." said EMV.

Laval: "They don't know that ! We should let them live like if it's their home. We must only tell them to obey our laws, not other things. These are not republican ideals."

"Good, good, Mr. Laval, and why not turning the Pontnouveau Cathedral into a mosque ? Why not recognizing jihadist groups such as Al-Fransiliyah or Sharia Francilie as political parties able to run in elections ? Don't tell them just to obey your laws, they'll make THEIR law on US later ! We're talking about taking thousands of refugees here, and some Caliphate jihadis are hiding among them ! Tell them that we're full and that we can only take some of them, and we will teach them our values, such as being secular and NOT molesting women like they do in their countries." said Liet.

"You are a fascist. Your policies are fascist." Laval said then.

"You don't have better names to call me ? This does not reflect the reality, Mr. Laval. I want to say, in young language, "lol"." Liet said back to Laval.

Liet on Esquarian Community: "Let's leave now, it's killing us."

The third theme was the Esquarian Community. EMV said since the start "I'm not gonna wank on EU, it's not here anymore..." "A good thing it is" said Fuchsersbergers : "The Luziycans created this organization to rule, if we joined, we would already be the puppets of Luziyca."

Journay said: "The EC is something good for our country, working with friendly nations is something we love. I want my country to stay in the EC."

Laval: "The EC would be better under true Socialist rule, out of the bourgeois one, that NWM and the others represent. Wealth for all nations and people, and fighting extremists such as Normanson, Connell, St.Adam or you, Mr. Liet."

"Normanson, Connell, St.Adam and others are men of decent vision, Mr. Laval, and while I disagree with them on some issues such as same-sex marriage, that I think should be legalized. Let's leave now, the EC is killing Francilie, it's killing us by imposing laws that we don't want, and it is ruled by an undemocratically-elected hierarchy. If I'm elected, I'll negotiate with the EC. I'll try to convince them to get the right to recover our sovereignty. If they accept, I'll organize a referendum and I'll call to vote for staying in the EC. If they don't accept, i'll call to vote for leaving the EC. We could, then, get our country back."

Foreign policy : Viktoria Ülrich, "a bitch"; the King of Nevanmaa "a dictator": Liet bites everyone.

Journay: "I'll happily work with Antelope. He is a man wanting the good of his people, and he wants to keep peace, but staying independant from Luziyca."

EMV: "Boo, I think Namor should be an AFS of Luziyca already. They've caused so many wars, we can't trust them."

Fuchsersbergers: "I would have preferred Huan An, but Antelope is a good person. But nobody wants that, EMV !"

Laval: "An is a douche and Zhang too. They are not democratic and want the doom of the Namorese people. Antelope will keep Namor safe from any imperialist desires, like Tao James would have done if he was elected."

NWM: "I agree on what Mrs. Journay, Ms. Fuchsersbergers and Mr. Laval said."

Liet: "Are you frigging mad ? Antelope, I think you heard what I said about him. No one was good in this election. Nobody is capable on waking up Namor, and certainly not the Luzzies, EMV ! Your excessively pro-Luzzie stance is making me sick, I want blue-white-gold, not white-blue-green ! This is not the solution. Undesirable leaders are ruling the world today, the South Qianrongese one, I can't remember his name, the so-called Führerin, quite a bitch, really. Excuse my language, but that's the truth."

Laval: "Like Durrough."

Liet: "You don't have any legitimacy, Mr. Laval, you, Mayor of Risoul, your terms are catastrophic, Risoul is one of the Francilian cities with the most debts ! So, I will also protect Francilie and the Republics against the vicious and dictatorial octopus that's monarchism. Blerg, this ideology is as undesirable as jihadism and communism. It is now led by the dictator Juhani III, ambassador of fanatism in the whole Esquarium. If I'm elected, I'll write a Republic Act, like the one who was in effect in Michillies."

[Livancia]

OPINION PIECE: ISLAMOPHOBIA WILL NOT STAND

Omar iben Sayeed

BELT TAL-LVANT, SEBH GOVERNORATE - In recent months, the far right has began to rise: right now, Cédric Liet in Francilie, Ralph Normansson in Arkiasis, Charlotte Durrough of Daecon, Alfred Leche of Pisdara, and Maxime Cornell of Ainin have all capitalized on Islamophobic policies, and all share some common elements: they want to ensure assimilation into the body politic, and to curb the flow of immigration into their countries.

In theory, these promises may sound quite good, until you notice a common theme among all of them: that they paint all of us Muslims with the same brush, as ticking time-bombs waiting to blow up and kill people in the name of God. They want to bar people from Kraq and Irvadistan from reaching safety, and instead doom them to stay in an eternal war until they somehow kill each other off. And for what? To prevent terrorists from coming into their countries?

We have all seen the damage caused by the bombings in Talonée nearly a year ago. 572 people died in the blasts, and 1,790 people were injured in this horrific and barbaric attack done by the Caliphate. All across the world, we were with Ainin. But since then, there has been a rise in Islamophobia, as people seek a solution to the problem of Islamic terrorism. Many rightists have gone to the obvious solution: ban all Muslims from immigrating into the country, or at least severely curtail this program.

We need to take a look at two places where the far-right may be strongest: the Aininian colony of Pisdara, and the country of Francilie, located on our continent.

Pisdara - hell on a shoestring budget

Since Pisdara had held its most recent territorial elections on 18 Rabi al-Thani, AH 1437 (January 28, 2016), which saw the lowest turnout in the colony's history, the ethnic Pisdari have been forced to undergo a policy to try and make the nomadic Pisdari settle under ethnic Aininian Governor Alfred Leche.

Among the legislation that discriminated against nomadic Pisdari, they include such gems like:

• Resettlement Act compels nomadic Pisdari to be concentrated in concentration camps
• An amendment, the Eviction Clause states that ethnic Pisdari landowners can have their land confiscated
• The same amendment gives the "Militia," a paramilitary branch of the governing Radical National People's Party increased law-enforcement powers in regards to Pisdari

However, this is not bad enough: on 11 Jumada , AH 1437 (March 20, 2016), the Territorial Council voted on a motion of no confidence. Governor Leche has refused to grant the dissolution, claiming that the vote was held "under suspicious circumstances."

The opposition has called upon the Citizen-Protector, Alain Bergeron to call an election. So far, Bergeron has ignored their pleas, resulting in violence breaking out, resulting in the death of Social Democratic Party leader Gaston Albert earlier today.

It is therefore clear that if we examine the hadiths, one that springs to mind is this: "The best Jihad is the word of Justice in front of the oppressive sultan."

In this instance, the Pisdari people, who are being oppressed by the oppressive Sultan, Governor Alfred Leche, have an obligation to God, to seize the opportunity to get rid of Leche at once, but at the same time also demonstrate to the Aininian officials that the Pisdara are not rebelling against the government in Huimont, but rather the Governor who treats the island as his personal property and seeks to elevate Aininians as the "master race," while treating the Pisdari as subhuman.

Francilie - a country on the brink

You may be asking me right now "why are we choosing Francilie, and not go for Arkiasis?"

My response would be that Francilie is the closest Christian Conitian nation that plays a significant role in global affairs. Therefore, its actions determine what happens to us: if Cédric Liet were to become the Prime Consul of Francilie, he may very well try and hinder Livancia from reaching its full potential as a middleman between Conitia and Nautasia.

Yesterday, at the first Francilian debate for the coming election, Cédric Liet contributed this statement:

"Good, good, Mr. Laval, and why not turning the Pontnouveau Cathedral into a mosque? Why not recognizing [sic] jihadist groups such as Al-Fransiliyah or Sharia Francilie as political parties able to run in elections? Don't tell them just to obey your laws, they'll make THEIR law on US later! We're talking about taking thousands of refugees here, and some Caliphate jihadis are hiding among them! Tell them that we're full and that we can only take some of them, and we will teach them our values, such as being secular and NOT molesting women like they do in their countries."

Ignoring the fact that since 1995, the minimum age to get married is 16 with parental consent for both genders, and 18 without for both genders, or the ridiculous notion that the Pontnoveau Cathedral would be converted into a mosque, this seems to indicate that Liet's platform is based on directing the votes of racist nationalists. While Francilie is majority Christian, it is not hard to imagine that if he did take power, Liet may implement similar policies towards the Muslim community like how Leche is doing to the ethnic Pisdari.

For the Francillians, when election day comes, vote anyone but Liet. That is my only advice that I can give to them.

Omar iben Sayeed is a mufti and a professor at the University of Belt tal-Lvant since 1977. He was born in 1947 in Moghuz, but has lived in the city of Belt tal-Lvant since 1964.

[FreYhill]

▍ Lundgren heads Uh Young in Liberal Primary debate
▍ 1st Primary debate for both of the major parties of National Diet.

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After the deadline for Liberal leadership nominations for the Primaries stage of the Federal Election, The Liberal Party of Freyhill has held their first debate in the Primaries stage. The two candidates for the leadership, Minister Mats Lundgren and Minister Uh Young Min fought neck against neck throughout the debate, discussing their approach on issues such as Taxation, same-sex marriage and the Esquarian Community (EC). Multiple pollsters have since placed Minister Lundgren as the party frontrunner after the debate, showing a clear debate win.

Below is a transcript of the debate:

Annyeonghaseyo! Welcome to the 1st Liberal Party of Freyhill primary debate of the 2016 Commonwealth Elections. Brought to you by The Freyhillian Broadcasting Commission, Namgung Yoo Ri has been appointed as debate chairperson. Tonight, Liberal nomination candidates Mats Lundgren and Uh Young Min will have started their campaign for their party’s nomination officially. It is the best interests of the Freyhillian people to hear from the candidates of the order of Minister Mats Lundgren and then Minister Uh Young Min. I now ask for Minister Lundgren for his opening statement for tonight’s debate.

Lundgren: Thank you Miss Namgung. Tonight, I am honoured to call myself not just a representative of my people, but one of them. Coming from Pohae Province, I have strived for the better of the Commonwealth. Being part of the Commonwealth Diet House of Representatives’ since 2000, I have been part of the increasingly large change of Freyhillian prospects. Since the 2000 Federal Elections, The Commonwealth has experienced high amounts of economic growth, securing the prosperity of the Commonwealth in all aspects. Although that the Liberal Party has had their falls during 2016 with the arrest of former Prime Minister Dae Jong-Ji, I have full faith with the people of the Commonwealth that they will make the right decision on the day of the election.

Moderator: Thank you Minister Lundgren. I now call for Minister Uh Young for his opening statement before we move onto tonight’s topics.

Uh Young: Thank you Chairperson. Just as Minister Lundgren has just said, I am proud to be Freyhillian. Although that the Liberal party has had their ups and downs this year, I am sure that the Freyhillian people will make the right decision and caucus for their preferred canidate for our party convention during April. Tonight, I am honoured to be standing her asking for the nomination of the Liberal Party along with Minister Lundgren, for us both believe that we must maintain the pride our country upholds.

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Moderator: Thank you to the candidates for their opening statements. Moving onto tonight’s topics, I ask for the candidates to lay out their plan for the future of the Freyhillian Taxation Office as we move to the dawn of the Commonwealth’s first surplus in 20 years.

Lundgren: Under a Lundgren administration, Taxation will be lowered significantly after the Commonwealth hits surplus. It’s now time that the people of the commonwealth be rewarded for the last ten years of hard work. The Freyhillian Taxation Office structure will mostly remain the same, although that funding for unneeded areas should be scaled back.

Uh Young: Anybody with any decent mind around government economics would know that would be an unwise decision Minister Lundgren. I find it disgusting that you plan to repel former Prime Minister Jong-Ji’s work.

Lundgren: Wake up Minister Uh Young! We all know that our former Prime Minister was barely even close to Liberal Party principles and I’m afraid of having another Prime Minister after Jong-Ji that is much closer to the Labor Party than any other member of the Liberal Party factions…

Crowd Applauds

Moderator: Sorry Minister Lundgren, Minister Uh Young now has to explain how he will handle Taxation after Commonwealth surplus. After his statement, we will move onto the next topic of tonight’s debate.

Uh Young: Under Uh Young Liberal administration, I’ll continue the work Prime Minister Jong-Ji has conducted for the last 16 years. I believe that there is no work to be done to change the taxation system.

Moderator: Moving onto our next topic, recent polls have shown that more than half of the Commonwealth’s population supports Same-Sex marriage. What approach would your administration take on this topic?

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Lundgren: We all know it’s obvious that my administration would support same sax marriage within the Commonwealth. Although it doesn’t necessarily mean the people of the commonwealth does. Under Lundgren administration, a plebiscite would undergo soon after the election for the Freyhillian people to vote whether they agree or disagree with this topic.

Uh Young: I agree with Lundgren with the aspect that change must occur, though I question if it’s really that necessary for a plebiscite whether the Freyhillian Marriage Act should be changed. Under my administration, Same-Sex marriage shall be legalised in the first 100 days of parliament.

Lundgren: I find it stupid that you wouldn’t ask the Freyhillian people on their opinion on this major topic in Freyhillian politics, Minister Uh Young.

Uh Young: Change must occur, and I’m starting to feel the vibe that you don’t want same-sex marriage to be legalised.

Lundgren: Once again, Minister Uh Young has fallen asleep. Haven’t you read any recent newspapers? This topic affects me directly along with my partner, Laurent. Although that I’m all for it doesn’t mean the Freyhillian population is, and that’s why I believe a plebiscite is the answer for addressing this issue.

Crowd Applauds

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Moderator: Sorry candidates but we have to move onto our third and final topic for tonight. With Esquarian Parliament elections coming to a dawn on April 2nd, how active would either a Lundgren or Uh Young administration be within this organisation?

Lundgren: Being the Minister of Industry, Innovation and Science, I can see how important the Esquarian Community is to the Commonwealth along with the rest of the organisation. The Equarian Community has allowed us to trade easier with a large percentage of the world, and I believe that has enabled us to expand much easier economically.

Uh Young: I agree with Minister Lundgren on all aspects of this take on the Esquarian Community and its organs. With Esquarian Parliament elections approaching fast, the Freyhillian people finally have a say at an international scale.

Moderator: I’m sorry candidates, we have ran out of time for any more debate on this topic. I now call for Minister Lundgren then Minister Uh Young to give their closing statement.

Lundgren: Wholeheartedly, I’d like to thank the Liberal Party of Freyhill for allowing me to serve as a member of your party for the last sixteen years. I’d like to thank the Freyhill for your continuing support personal and politically and I’d like to thank Minister Uh Young for the civil debate we’ve had tonight.

Uh Young: The Freyhillian people must remember the good Former Prime Minister Dae Jong-Ji brought, and not the evil he committed. Under Uh Young administration, I pledge to protect his hard work. Thank you Freyhill, and God bless the Commonwealth.

Moderator: Thank you for tuning into the debate tonight. The team at The Freyhillian Broadcasting Commission wishes you a peaceful future. Until next time, annyeonghaseyo!

[Ainin]

Home » News » Politics
▍ Bergeron Orders Pisdari Military Stood Down, Responds to Albert Murder
▍ "AS COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, I ORDER ALL SOLDIERS TO STAND DOWN"

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In his first act since taking officer earlier this week, Citizen-Protector of Pisdara Dr. Alain Bergeron has used his executive powers as head of state of Pisdara to order the autonomous Pisdari National Army paramilitary force to stand down.

"As commander-in-chief of the armed forces of Pisdara, I order all personnel to stand down and return to their barracks," he declared in a statement. "Any unit disobeying this order will be considered in insurrection against the lawful authority of the government of Pisdara. I call upon all military officers to obey the law of the land and follow this lawful directive."

The Pisdari National Army is a paramilitary force founded by the ruling nationalist PRPN party, and has been implicated by independent observers in several incidents of targeted attacks against the island's indigenous Pisdari ethnic majority and Arab minority. The brunt of their attacks have been against the island's nomadic population, who have been evicted off their traditional lands and subject to inhumane treatment under the "Settlement Act" passed by the PRPN. The nomads displaced by the law have been detained in "settlement camps," which Dr. Bergeron has called "nothing short of concentration camps unseen since the horrors of the Second Great War."

A report carried by the Aininian newspaper République claims that Aininian Army personnel in Pisdara have been placed on high alert as the Aininian Ministry of Defence expects potential violence to break out in reaction to the Citizen-Protector's announcement.

He also responded to the suspicious death of Social Democratic leader Gaston Albert yesterday, found dead in the car park of the Territorial Council of Pisdara in what was suspected to be a political assassination. Dr. Bergeron issued orders to Brigadier-General Marie-Pierre Daoust, commander of the National Gendarmerie's Pisdara garrison, to take over the investigation into the suspected murder. He stated that "public confidence in the integrity and independence of the local police is too low to ensure that the rule of law is properly enforced," and instead directed the Aininian military police to lead the investigation "with the participation of local police in an assisting role." The Gendarmerie Nationale has a 600-man garrison in Pisdara.

However, Dr. Bergeron has remained unusually quiet on the recent political developments in Pisdara. He has yet to act after a motion of no confidence was passed against the PRPN-led government, which recently lost its parliamentary majority in a coalition splat. Commentators expect that he is taking a wait-and-see approach, as he has little hope that the PRPN will peacefully hand over power.

[Geadland]

The Liberal reports
COVER STORY: THE POPULIST FRONT
Mainstream politicians in multiple countries ought to be doing more to keep the radical right at bay

L-R: Kuo Zhang of Namor, Charlotte Durrough of Daecon, Cédric Liet of Francilie, Markus Matjassen of Geadland.

26 March 2016 Last updated 12:47 Geadish Standard Time
BONDHAVEN – Right-wing populists, for want of a better word, come in many forms. If you sat their leaders all down together in a single room, you would find they would struggle to agree on many issues, especially social ones. The leader of Geadland’s “Progressive” Party is openly homosexual; other parties have leaders that are openly homophobic. Their views on general economic policy are also diverse; some exaggerate the market liberal philosophies of traditional centre-right parties, while others are quite centrist, or even left-leaning. Many have economic policies that demand both lower taxes and higher spending, and thus are too contradictory to be classified along a left/right spectrum.

In Namor, where immigrants are only a tiny percentage of the population, the People’s First Coalition (PFC) and their leader Kuo Zhang have rarely made immigration an issue. In their case, their main populist plank is their posturing on foreign policy issues. In general though, nativism is one of the hallmarks of a right-wing populist party. There is a split, or rather a spectrum, between those that do so out of overt racism and those who are ostensibly only worried about the economic consequences. On issues such as economic, morality and foreign policy questions they have many differing views. Yet their narrative is the same: Your nation is losing everything that once made it great. It is going downhill. Its national identity is being destroyed. The economy is suffering too. And only they can stop it.

Sharp right turn ahead
Support for these parties can often rise dramatically. Pollsters often underestimate them, as voters are often reluctant to disclose that they plan to vote for a politically incorrect party. Their support can sometimes collapse just as quickly, as seen with the National Luziycan Party’s recent misfortunes. At other times it may ebb and flow. Yet the general worldwide trend is that support for these parties is on the rise in most democratic nations. Last weekend, Mr Zhang took 17% of the vote in the Namorese presidential election – more than triple what he took in the previous one. Right-wing populists are coalition partners in Arkiasis, Britanno and Geadland. In Lydland and semi-democratic Nevanmaa, the governing parties have many characteristics of right-wing populists.

Starting from next weekend, elections will be held for the Esquarian Parliament (EP). “Like 'em or not,” writes Lyonsland’s broadcaster RTL, “The far-right will have an Esquarian field-day.” Voters that have an antipathy towards the Esquarian Community (EC), another common target for right-wing populists, have a greater incentive to vote. Left-wing voters who are just as fed up with the status quo tend not to channel it towards the EC and will be more likely stay at home. Polls predict that populists will top the poll in Francilie and place them within striking distance in Arkiasis and Osonia. Some will lose ground; in Geadland and Ainin, the EP elections are being held alongside local elections and this may bring extra voters to the polls. But the general trend is in their favour.

Can’t we all just get along?
For this newspaper, this is a worry. We have long favoured fluid immigration. This is not just due to our support for individual freedom. Most advanced capitalist countries do not have a birth rate high enough to protect its population from decline. This results in population ageing, which is increasingly straining their healthcare and pensions systems even with current levels of immigration. Immigrants also provide businesses with cheap labour, which native workers are becoming less willing to do, as well as bright minds. The same voters who dislike seeing foreigners arrive in their country would have plenty else to be fed up with if their country did not accept them. Examples include: high food prices because of labour costs, a shortage of doctors because they cannot be recruited from abroad, and increased rationing of healthcare amongst an ageing population.

Although racists inevitably oppose immigration, racism is not a prerequisite for opposing immigration. Some of its opponents have economic fears of immigrants taking away jobs, bringing social unrest or abusing the welfare system. Though this may happen in some cases, and certain media coverage may highlight instances when this happens, these fears can ultimately be dispelled (see Bloody Useful Foreigners, May 2013). On many other issues, whether it is the EC, climate change or free trade, right-wing populists will find themselves offering policies that are at odds with what the world needs. Many also present unrealistic policy platforms, perhaps because they know they will not being burdened with running a government. The Progressives in Geadland want to cut taxes, increase spending and balance the budget, all while opposing immigration.

That is not to say that these parties are universally bad influences. Some of them will partner with more liberal-minded parties and help pass positive economic reforms. And it is beneficial for a democracy that these voters are given an electoral voice. It is important that voters’ worries and concerns are heard, for better or for worse. In the long run, however, these parties are placed to disappoint their voters and thus damage the democratic culture. Either they will promise an agenda that cannot be delivered, or they will push through policies that harm the economy. Their supports would inevitably be disappointed. Pro-establishment parties – conservatives, liberals and social democrats – have every reason to fight back.

If there is hope, it is with the Escrovians
For starters, established parties must try to manage their countries’ economies to the best of their abilities. Frustratingly, they will probably find that this will not be enough. Dissatisfaction with the government tends to increase even when a country’s economy is in good shape. It is still worth doing, because even if these parties could still grow in happier times, they are almost certain to grow under an economy that shrinks or stagnates.

We are not sure if it is a good idea to completely shut these parties out of government, unless they are obviously racist. If the establishment parties always band together to keep out the fringe parties, it will in the long run encourage voters to gravitate towards the fringe parties. Allowing them to participate in government can sometimes dent their anti-elitist appeal, though this is not guaranteed. Contempt and mockery can be used to give them a bad image, but such attacks also can miss the mark or even backfire. Many anti-immigration voters would be offended if they were accused of racism, so politicians trying to divert them away from this avenue must avoid this directly, or at least point out why parties they assumed to be non-racist have in fact veered into this trap Perhaps most importantly of all, they must convince the sceptics that immigration and globalisation are not just politically correct, but also highly beneficial for the economy too.

Reducing immigration is unlikely to placate its opponents. As noted above, it would have many negative side effects. It is also the norm in most countries for non-native ethnic groups to have a higher birth rate than the native population, so their numbers would continue to increase (to the chagrin of the anti-immigration brigade) even if the borders were completely sealed. The experience in Geadland suggests that opposition to immigration is not concentrated in the regions that get very few immigrants (e.g. the mountains and the Archipelago) but nor is it in the places that get the most (e.g. cosmopolitan Bondhaven). It is those uncomfortable places in the middle. Support for the Progressives is growing in the southwest, which has a rapidly growing Luziycan population. It is receding in Eskrau, which has an above-average foreign-born population that continues to rise.

It would have been a realistic prediction to assume that the most recent recession – one of the worst crises of capitalism in living memory – would encourage a revival in support for the far-left after nearly two decades of being mostly dormant. Although this has happened in places, it seems that fringe parties on the right have benefited more. Some mainstream politicians have tried to exploit these politicians. Others have attacked them in the wrong way. They need to rethink their strategies, and the Esquarian Parliament elections will likely make this even clearer.

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MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS: 10 TO WATCH
Johan-Peter Blumendal highlights 10 municipalities worth watching in next week's local elections

25 March 2016 Last updated 13:57 Geadish Standard Time
DA HEGNER - As Geadland prepares to elect 358 municipal councils next Saturday, political analyst Johan-Peter Blumendal suggests which 10 municipal councils could be particularly interesting. Some look set to buck the national trend, others will follow it even more dramatically and a some are valuable because they might be close to representative of the national results. Without further ado, here is his list:

Bondevik
Bondevik municipality solely covers the town of Bondevik, which is part of the Bondhaven-Harlo-Grunfeld urban area. It is the capital and largest city of Audholm. The city and its corresponding parliamentary district have reputations for being a bellwether. I predict on that note that the city mayorship will be won by the SDLP. Although they won the 2014 Bondevik by-election, the Conservatives have endured worse-than-average losses in Audholm in the 2015 county elections, and that the Progressives gained support despite their losses nationwide. The city is also fertile ground for the New Alliance.
Garskadden
Garskadden municipality covers the town of Garskadden and the surrounding rural areas. The municipality is located in the Esserdal region of Eskraulund and borders on Stanhorst to the northwest. The municipality has long been a stronghold for the SDLP. However, its executive mayor was forced to resign in September 2015 due to a bribery scandal involving the contraction of bridge repair works. His successor, who was also found to have contributed, has pledged to step down within a year. So the SDLP could lose support to the right or more likely to alternative left-wing movements, but it is possible that the scandal could be ignored and voters may only vote based on national preferences. Either way, it is a good way of gauging whether local elections are being decided by national or local issues.
Grott
Grott municipality covers the city of Grott, which is part of the Ghe Stade (three cities) urban area in Lower Sorbia. Due to its affluence, the city has long favoured the right-wing parties. It has never had a social democratic mayor and has had a Conservative mayor continuously since 1914. However, the city's electoral demographics have moved towards the left in the past decade; notably they moved towards the SDLP in 2013 even as the nation as a whole moved away. In particular, the city has a high student population which may be mobilised by opposition to the government's plans to introduce tuition fees. I reckon that the SDLP could gain the mayorship for the first time in the party's history.
Ismus
Ismus covers much of the villages and small towns surrounding Elhaas and is named for the Isthmus of Elhaas. I'd say that pretty much everything that could go wrong for the Conservatives here is present. You've got substantial populations of Kannei Namorese, retirees and students at the Ismus University. Whether they're annoyed about Luziyca, immigrants, pension reform or tuition fees, they'll all have incentives to vote against them. If the left take over, as I predict they will, it would be for the first time since 1972. Also expect the Greens to gain support due to their support from students and protests against the continued expansion of Elhaas.
Lindenborg
Lindenborg municipality covers the town of Lindenborg (Geadish: Lindenburgh), the smaller town of Österås and several surrounding villages in southeast Leghel. Lindenborg is a historical small town which was the original capital of Leghel. In 2012 it became the first municipality in Leghel to have a Conservative mayor since 1976. This won't last. The Conservatives would lose the mayorship even if they were to gain seats, given that the Swedish People's Party would be unlikely to continue the coalition with them. However, he says that "this result in particular may help us gauge whether the Conservatives' recent revival in Leghel is going to last.
Old Bondhaven
Old Bondhaven municipality covers central part of Bondhaven. The area has long been treated as a bellwether in Geadish politics. It is Geadland's largest municipality and has an economically and culturally diverse population, ranging from wealthy bankers to penniless immigrants. It is electorally volatile; expect an above average swing towards the SDLP. However, the right-wing parties have made inroads in the red light districts, which are traditionally some of the most left-wing wards in the country.
Osling
Osling municipality covers the city of Osling and a few surrounding villages. The city was historically famed for pottery and is the capital of Venden. It is one of the largest urban areas in Geadland where the Liberals have ever been the most popular party, as the party is normally favoured in rural areas. The party's current Liberal mayor Larisa Björnarsen is actually quite popular, but her party is struggling nationally due to its unpopular involvement in the current government. Expect their losses to be below average, but still rather bad. If the party loses the mayorship, as polls forecast they will, I would consider this to be the biggest blow of the weekend to the Liberals in what is already set to be a bad set of results.
Skröd
Skröd municipality covers the city of Skröd and some surrounding villages. It is the original home town for Prime Minister Efa Nordland. The city is right-leaning, although the SDLP have usually been the most popular party. It is one of the largest cities in Geadland without a university and also has a high retired population. Expect SDLP to take the mayorship in the end. It is also curious that there has been a rise in support for the Progressives here even though this corner of Geadland gets far less immigration than the national average.
Südport
Südport municipality covers the city of Südport and a few surrounding villages. It is a stronghold for left-wing politics, having had a left-wing mayor continuously since 1928 and above-average support for not just the SDLP, but also for alternative left-wing movements such as the historical Communists and the present-day Socialists. Although this trend will continue, the right-wing parties will make inroads or at the very least have below average losses. In particular, the city is faring better economically than most cities and it has a growing Luziycan population. It will be interesting to see if the Greens make inroads here, as they have not been active locally but very active nationally.
Tempel
Tempel muncipality covers the eastern central part of Da Hegner, which includes the Westergard Palace and numerous other key government buildings. The district is economically diverse and has a high student and civil servant population. It is practically inevitable that the mayorship will be turned over from the Conservatives to the SDLP, as students and civil servants are particularly dissatisfied with the government and their losses in Da Hegner were above average in last year's county council election. Of all the councils that swing from right to left, this may be one of the most dramatic.

[FreYhill]

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Lundgren and Myo win Congcheon Primaries
Mats Lundgren and Myo Sung win their party's respective contest
프레이언덕이안 | English

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Editor Oh Jin Ho | March 27, 2016 Freyhillian Primaries frontrunners Mats Lundgren and Myo Sung have sucessfully begun their winning streak with a win in the Province of Congcheon, the province with the highest amount of availble delegates. The current issues of Taxation and same-sex marriage have loomed large in the southern provinces of the Commonwealth, with Congcheon displaying it on the ballot. Announced by Chaeneol Yeonbang around Eight o'clock, the Freyhillian Electoral Commission has since confirmed the channel's projection, causing celebration within the Lundgren and Myo political camps. Minister and nomination canidate Mats Lundgren has since tweeted out thanking the Province of Congcheon for his clear win of 20 delegates out of the 23 available. Labor candidate Myo Sung earlier thanked the province on national television, reminding the supporters of the party to tune into FBC tomorrow evening.

Mats Lundgren @MatsLundgrenMP Thank you Congcheon! #Primaries #LibPol RETWEETSFAVORITES 644582

Minister Mats Lundgren's tweet thanking the people of Congcheon.

The win of Congcheon is extremely important for candidates momentum, primarily due to the sheer population of the province. However, even though that Lundgren and Myo have won Congcheon, anything may happen in the coming days with Super Thursday approaching fast on the 31st. Super Thursday, being the day with the largest amount of provinces conducting contests for both Liberal and Labor parties. Multiple debates are booked in for the coming days up to the 31st, with a debate for Labor being held tomorrow and a debate on the 30th, with more policy expected to be announced in the coming days to grab the attention of voters in the seven remaining provinces and the three territories yet to vote. Tipped to win five out of the next seven provinces to vote, Minister Lundgren is most likely going to be named Liberal leader coming into the election at their party convention at Hyeyong, with the Labor party nomination still considered to be a wildcard in its early stages.

[West Cedarbrook]

-- Retconned --

[Pisdara]

27 March, 2016

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Citizen-Protector's speech sparks violence, ANP marches on Ashuragar

Two ANP soldiers march down the main street of Kurur Nheshtinka'a earlier
today. The town was occupied by the paramilitary group after news of
Citizen-Protector Alain Bergeron's order to stand down.

After Citizen-Protector Dr. Alain Bergeron’s order for the paramilitary Pisdari National Army (ANP) to stand down on the 24th of March, the leadership of the organization has called Dr. Bergeron’s order a ‘backstabbing of the highest order, a order that will see the Aininian race enslaved by the barbarians and heathens. Since Mr. Bergeron has essentially declared war on us and those we serve to protect, we find it justifiable to do like-wise with him and his leftist puppet-masters’.

The ANP has reportedly taken control of the town of Kurur Nheshtinka’a, blockimng road access and, according to some, attacking and killing ethnic Pisdaris and what they consider ‘race-traitoring Aininians’. Other reports state that the western branch of the paramilitary militia has begun a march towards Ashuragar, calling for the continued support of Governor Alfred Lèche’s administration and the resignation of the Citizen-Protector.

The Pisdari National Guard (a government militia, not to be confused with the ANP), as well as Aininian-led forces on the island, have been put on high alert as the ANP spreads across Pisdara. More as the situation develops.

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[Pisdara]

28 March, 2016

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ANP surround Territorial Council, face push back from government forces

A group of soldiers in the loyalist National Guard patrol a street in downtown
Ashuragar.

The Pisdari National Army has, according to sources in Ashuragrar, entered the capital and surrounded the Territorial Council earlier this morning, throwing grenades and other explosives into the building. Although they penetrated government barricades in order to enter Ashuragar, the ANP was pushed back from the Council around mid-day, with heavy fighting occurring in the west side of town.

ANP forces marching towards the Council were stopped momentarily by an older woman who had blocked the road. 62-year old Kristina Popova, who served as mayor of the settlement of Zigara prior to its abandonment in 2000, blocked the Samashu throughway, with bystanders reporting that the Katranjian woman yelled “some rather hard-to-hear words” before being shot, with the ANP moving forward.

Forces loyal to the government, or at least the Pisdari state, have driven the ANP forces away from central Ashuragar, but fighting is still serious. Inhabitants living in Ashuragar and other nearby villages are informed to stay inside and stay away from windows or other openings, especially those facing streets.

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[FreYhill]

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"Sæxland: An Example to the World?"
Sæxlandish President Ecgwulf Ōswinessunu attends National Front rally during Arkiasis visit
프레이언덕이안 | English

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Editor Oh Jin Ho | March 29, 2016 With the dawn of Esquarian Elections fast approaching, The President of Sæxland, Ecgwulf Ōswinessunu has once again denounced the policys of the Esquarian Community. Notable for actions under his leadership, Sæxland has defied Ziegenhain and the Triumvirate, pursued closer relations with Vjaarland, dodged the economic recession, aided the SISQ and whilst denouncing Nevan imperialism. The statements from President Ōswinessunu has ignited the momentum of the Freyhillian One Nation Party, with polls suggesting that it would pick up a total of five seats out of the Thirty-Five seat delegation of the Esquarian Parliament. Below is a speech from Sæxlandish President Ecgwulf Ōswinessunu during the National Front rally:

Just a few weeks ago I was invited to speak at a National Front rally in Arkiasis. Despite talk of them being “fringe”, “extremist” or a “threat to democracy”, I found good people sincerely concerned about the future of their country. Many of them look to Sæxland as a model of the sort of good governance they hope to bring to Arkaisis. As the democratically elected leader of Sæxland, I feel that I should explain why it is that the National Front and other parties like it look up to us. I also hope to dispel some of the fear-mongering about these parties and their policies, many of which have been implemented successfully in Sæxland.

In my speech to the National Front I outlined many of Sæxland’s policies that could benefit Arkaisis and other EC nations. The first I will talk about is Sæxland’s immigration policy, which I believe is the strictest of any free nation in Esquarium. The only way to gain Sæxish citizenship is to be born to an ethnic Sæxlander, or marry a Sæxlander and then meet the residency requirements. Under Sæxish law anyone with at least one Sæxish parent is counted as an ethnic Sæxlander and is eligible for citizenship, as are their children. Furthermore, although Sæxish citizens may convert to and follow or not follow any religion of their choosing, we forbid Moslem and Scientologist foreigners to enter our borders. Some foreigners (and our own far-left Green-Left Movement) seem to think this policy racist. It is not. All people who marry Sæxlanders are eligible for citizenship regardless of whether they are black or white, and their children are counted as ethnic Sæxlanders regardless of the race of the non-Sæxish parent.

The other main Sæxish policy which the National Front hopes to initiate in Arkaisis is economic protectionism. In Sæxland we do trade with other nations, and we do so happily. We understand that in the modern world self-reliance is a pipe dream, and that aiming for it is idiotic, but so is outsourcing jobs for no reason. This is why Sæxland has a protectionist economic policy. We DO import things, but tariffs ensure that our own industries can compete fairly. Under my government Sæxland was one of the only Nordanian nations to shelter the storm of the recession, Atlantica (which has similar trade practices) being the other.

Yet despite all this one constantly hears comparisons between the Esquarisceptics and the Pisdari government. Why dishonest fear-mongerers would make this comparison is understandable; given the quasi-genocidal stance taken by the Pisdari state people would have good reason to fear those who would imitate such policies in their own countries. But on one is advocating for the kinds of things they do in Pisdara. Then comes the accusation that Esquarisceptics are stealth fascists, who conceal their true intentions so they can get power and then implement fascist policies. This is ridiculous; Alfred Lèche never lied about his intentions for Pisdara. He stated that Pisdara “belongs to the Aininian race” and supported ethnic cleansing before coming to power. There is no better example of this fear mongering than a recent op-ed published in the Livancian newspaper AlWatan. Apart for its blatant fear-mongering the article is hypocritical. Livancia only allowed non-Moslems to become citizens in 2005. Livanica still has almost no democracy because, as the King of Livancia said “democracy is completely incapable with Islamic principles”.

In short, the “far-right” doesn't want to to imitate Pisdara, they want to imitate Sæxland; and I dare say that’s not a bad thing.

[Namor]

President-elect Antelope promises to hold nationwide referendum on EC membership

March 29, NMR 2378

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Shohai Antelope said he is open to Namorese membership in the Esquarian
Community (EC)

NAMO, CAPTIAL DISTRICT - Over a week after his election, president-elect Shohai Antelope said he plans to hold a referendum in which voters will decide whether Namor should become a member of the Esquarian Community (EC).

Antelope made the announcement during a press conference that was held to inform the public of updates regarding the transition from the New Democratic to Popular Front administration.

"Since NMR 2353, Namor has been an observer state in the Esquarian Community. It's about time we stepped up in our involvement in the organization by applying to become a member of the Community. Namor will have a voice in the Esquarian Parliament. Cooperation between Namor and EC member states will reach a more comprehensive level. But I understand that this is not something a government can decide all by itself. As much as I want Namor to acquire membership, I do not want Namor to become a member without the consent of its people. That is why I plan on introducing legislation to the Central Council that will allow nationwide referenda to be held," he said.

The president-elect's call for a EC membership referendum has received a variety of responses.

Yao Shenkang, legislative leader of the Democratic Socialists, a party within the Popular Front, said he "appreciates Deputy Antelope's decision to let the people vote on the matter."

Socialist Party leader Gongchan Zhushi said he disagrees with Antelope's pro-EC stance. "We must remember what Esquarian Community membership will entail for Namor. It's way different than merely being an observer, and it might have a negative impact for Namorese workers. Nevertheless, I am glad that he [Antelope] is willing to consult his constituents before making a decisive move. We Socialists will do our best to cooperate with him."

The People's First Coalition (PFC) condemned Antelope's promise to hold a referendum.

"If Namor joins the Esquarian Community, various foreign institutions will supersede our constitution and we will lose our political, economic and cultural sovereignty. No matter which aspect of the EC we're talking about, it isn't good for the people of Namor and we will oppose it with all our might," said chairman Kuo Zhang.

In the meantime, the referendum proposal has received an unlikely ally from the New Democrats - Deputy Huan An, who had run against Antelope during the presidential election and lost.

"Almost everyone in the democratic world is signing up. Katranjiev is already a member of the EC. It's only a matter of time before other countries that had formerly belonged to the Esquarian Union, such as Luziyca and Pavonistade, join the fray. That being said, I find it interesting that president-elect Antelope supports a referendum on EC membership but not a referendum on the status of occupied Nantai."

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Other News

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• Tensions between Ainin and Pisdara mount as Huimont orders local militias to stand down - Forces belonging to the Pisdari National Army (ANP) paramilitary organization entered the capital of Ashuagar as a standoff between Ainin and the Pisdari government continues without a resolution.
• Lundgren wins Freyhill Congcheon Liberal Primaries - Liberal presidential contender Mats Lundgren took 20 out of 23 delegates available in the Congcheon primaries, which mark the kickoff of Freyhill's federal election.
• Countries across Esquarian Community hold elections for Esquarian Parliament - Far-right populist parties are doing well in the polls of many EC member states.

[Pisdara]

29 March, 2016

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Opposition pleas for Aininian military intervention
The parliamentary opposition has collectively signed a letter to Aininian President Cao Nima pleading for the commander-in-chief to militarily intervene in the Pisdari crisis. “It is now, when the ANP is in its strongest position, that we must strike”, also stating that “it has been clear for days, Ainin is now at war.” The letter, supported by Independence leader Babum Ishhi-Addu, Enmerkar Ibnatum of the Liberal Party, and the collective leadership of the Revolutionary Democracy grouping, asks President Nima to send “roughly 500 soldiers to end this mess and place Pisdara under temporary provisional government, so that we can rebuild in peace.” When asked about the current situation, Ishhi-Addu stated “I am deeply saddened by the death of my countrymen, both Pisdari and Aininian. However, there is no way the National Army can survive, and I am certain good will win in this crisis.”

Currently, the ANP are holed up in the western side of the town, unable to break a Aininian Forces-led barricade near the Territorial Council. AIninian military accounts for roughly half of the military force on the island, with the remainder being from the local Pisdari National Guard.

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[Vajorr]

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WHERE VJAARLAND’S UNWANTED GO.
The country’s ban on abortion leads thousands of women to Vajorr.
SØNDERBORG - The day that Maria S. [her name has been changed] got accepted to college, she had a positive pregnancy test. Making Σ27,000 a year, just above the poverty line, she and her boyfriend (now her newlywed husband) could not afford an extra person. In Vjaarland women with unwanted pregnancies are encouraged to give birth and give the newborn up for adoption. However that would mean that Maria would have to take unpaid maternal leave, dealing a serious blow to their income.

Eventually her boyfriend brought up the idea of abortion arose. Conflict inevitably followed; besides the fact that the procedure was illegal in Vjaarland, it posed a major moral dilemma. Both were Catholics but they faced the problem of losing most of their income or performing an illegal procedure that was morally in the grey zone. Eventually after 13 weeks into the pregnancy, they decided to abort the child. They borrowed her mother’s car, and on the pretense a road trip they traveled to the Vajorrian border. Several hours later, they were in Sønderland, checking in at a Geplante Familie center. A few hours after that, she was no longer pregnant.

Her story is similar to tens thousands of pregnant Vjaarlandic women traveling to Vajorr to receive abortions, primarily from the Planned Family Organization (GFO). Originally under the Abortion Act of 1963, women could access abortions provided she had proper documentation and a doctor's approval. However during the 1970s a special program was created for the homeless or poor who could not afford or acquire documentation loosening the specific requirements for the signature. This was the start of the “Quiet End” program. As a result a qualifying woman could get a signature from a doctor at the clinic itself. The loosened restrictions at first benefitted only Vajorrian women.

However in several months, Vjaarlandic women started to appear. Using the program, between ten and twenty thousand women travel from Vjaarland to the Vajorrian border. In the guise of a trip, they are allowed it and they head to Sønderland. There they head to GFO clinics to receive abortions and other services. Most if not all the women are granted access to the procedure. In an interview with GM, a source close to the matter revealed that they was well aware of “abortions by foreign mothers” for several years. As a matter of fact, under the administration of President Ursula Alder, they encouraged it. “She considered it as an act of compassion and one of morality. Since Vjaarlandic women do not have the right to choose, she is willing to give them that right.” The organization declined our request for a comment.

GM reached the Ministry of Health for a comment on the situation. In a phone call, the spokesperson stated, “The Ministry is aware of cases where Vjaarlandic women are attempting to use Vajorrian clinics to receive abortions. The Silent End program was created for Vajorrian women only who are unable to receive treatment otherwise. The allegations that Mrs. Alder is encouraging women from other countries is not acceptable. The Ministry will continue to investigate these activities at the non-profit organisation.” The Vjaarlandic government wasn't available for comment, but a spokesperson stated that the ruling National Party, “continues to believe that life begins at conception and will continue act as so.”

[Luziyca]

Sera Svensson makes first public appearance

Sera Svensson at campaign stop

YERMAL, SPRESI - President Sera Svensson made her first public appearance since her assassination attempt in Frontiersburg, appearing at the official dedication of the Fu Wen Primary School, built near the site of the Veran Hus Primary School, which suffered a tragic school shooting last year, resulting in the deaths of 19 people.

President Svensson said that "despite the actions of the madman who took nineteen souls last year, we will remain strong. We shall remain firm and steadfast. We will never forget the death of these innocent angels who left us too soon, but we must make sure that Yermal returns to normalcy. Thus, I open the school in honor of a man who brought detente to new heights, and whose response to the tragedy last year was enough for the community to name the school after him. I hereby open the Fu Wen Primary School."

Sera Svensson said at an interview that she hopes that "by the first Monday of April, I hope that I will be able to come back to Bethlehem, to serve my nation, and ensure that we get back to making this country great again." She then added that "We can't exactly mourn my attempted murder now, can't we? That'd be a bit tacky."

Vice President Colin Hardage has said that "the news that Svensson has been making public appearances is quite wonderful to hear, and I cannot wait to see her inside the Presidential Palace on April 4th."

Doctors have however advised Svensson that she should "take it easy" for the first while as she gets back into the swing of things, so Colin Hardage may maintain some of his role for the next little while.

In other news

• Pisdara - Kristina Popova run down by rebels after stating that "this island is protected."
• Vajorr - Expose on Vjaarlandic women coming to Vajorr to obtain abortions brings controversy
• Namor - Could Namor potentially join the EC?
• Nantai - 20,000 people converge on Kenyen to demand referendum regarding Nantai's status

[North Daecon]

'We are ready to fight and defend for Daeconese democracy' - Constitutional Peace Keepers gearing up as DNU supporters violently clash with Federal Militia and counter-protesters in Deshton

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March 30, 2016

Defence and Doctrine: Constitutional Peace Keeper members guarding a anti-DNU rally in Deshton on March 29, 2016
(Image Credit: DFRT World News Photographer Sean Fowler)

DESHTON, CHANCLOTON - An anti-Daeconese Nationalist Union rally, which was lead by various groups opposed to the right-wing rhetoric of Charlotte Durrough and her supporters, clashed with pro-DNU rally members in the city of Deshton, Chancloton who are against certain policies such as cutting Daecon off from international trade, limiting Islamic immigration and promoting a 'traditional Catholic society' by removing protections for LGBT and Muslim couples on Tuesday. DNU supporters, according to witnesses both from the anti-DNU protesters and the Deshton Police Department, reportedly shouted and spat at police officers and anti-racism protesters and a group of 30 people, suspected to be men and women part of the 'Students for a Better Daecon' student wing of the DNU, attacked a Muslim couple who were going to a halal style restaurant for dinner, where witnesses at the scene described the beating as 'brutal punching and kicking session, while they were shouting abuse about 'traditionalism' and 'how Muslims are terrorists' and the couple'.

Similar attacks erupted between the two groups of protesters, which included large scale brawls and attacks on people and properties, which included attacks on shops and police cars. Police were forced to call in riot police and Federal Militiamen from nearby to stop both rallies from fighting each other, and riot police arrested 22 people for property damage and rioting. One of the most notable groups that appeared on the anti-DNU side of protests was the Constitutional Peace Keepers, a group of various retired or serving first responders, law enforcement officers and soldiers that had revealed its existence and pledged to defend 'the Daeconese people, from threats foreign or domestic'. The group, seen carrying semi-automatic rifles and pistols, were seen defending protesters from DNU attacks as well as pushing back against the DNU rally with sticks, shields and batons, before Federal Militiamen and Police could intervene and attempt to break up the ever increasing brawls.

A Deshton Police spokesperson refused to comment on the presence of the CPK at the rallies, saying it could not be verified at this time, but Federal Militiamen who were interviewed at the scene by DFRT and CBS reporters said that they were confused by the presence of the CPK. One militiaman, who's name is being withheld for security reasons, said that "These men, with rifles and pistols, were in the anti-racism rally and actually leading the charge, with slogans and loudspeakers; I don't know what is going on but this is just escalating things, the DNU guys over there are getting pissed and will trash more property if they (CPK) do not stop.".

The Provincial Governor of Chancloton, Rodney Martinsen, has threatened jail time to any person or group that has incited violence during the days clashes, and also has stated his intention to send in the Chancloton Federal Guard into Deshton if the clashes turn into a full-scale riot.

Brandon Lamarche, the leader of the CPK, could not be reached for comment at this time.

[Namor]

THE PICKLE - Почаи Симмун
Breaking the news
until it's broken

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DEVELOPED NEWS Esquarian Community legislator proposes holding perpetual elections just to stay relevant

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Jean Grande-Estomac, an Aininian member of the Esquarian Parliament,
warned the EC that unless the organization holds perpetual organizations,
people will forget about it "in a matter of days"

Huimont, Ainin - As members of the Esquarian Community hold elections for Esquarian Parliament, a legislator from Ainin is warning that unless the supranational organization holds perpetual elections, it will quickly lose its relevance in the eyes of the international community.

The legislator who made the statement is Jean Grande-Estomac, a legislator from the Citizens' Alliance representing the Aininian capital of Huimont. Appearing on a major television show, he said the Esquarian Parliament and Esquarian Community as a whole are at risk of "falling back into obscurity."

"Has there even been a time when the EC received attention from the mass media when there weren't elections? Non!," said Grande-Estomac. "Suddenly, our eyes are glued to the Esquarian Parliament because there are elections. I guess that's a good thing, but what will happen to the Parliament after the month of April, when all the countries will have held their elections? Will it fall back into obscurity in a matter of days? God forbid that happens, hon hon hon!"

To solve the problem, Grande-Estomac proposed holding Esquarian Parliament elections every month.

"Order that there be elections every month, and countries that fail to do so are expelled [from the EC]. Think about it - the media will be covering the elections all day and all year long, people will know what the Esquarian Community is about, and who knows, the far-right populist parties might eventually lose their seats, allowing moderate forces to prevail. Most importantly, by holding perpetual, continuous elections we show the world the advantages that democracy brings. Perhaps we can even convince authoritarian countries like Ziegenhain or Tuthina to democratize and become just like us!"

Grande-Estomac's proposal has reverberated across the EC. President of the Esquarian Parliament Angèlino Rossina (SDLP-UR) called perpetual elections "a great idea."

"It keeps the EC alive. And me as well. I mean, all this sitting here and doing absolutely nothing is reducing my life span."

But in an editorial titled "Shut up, Big Tummy," the right-wing Geadish news magazine The Liberal said perpetual elections as proposed by Grande-Estomac would spur continuous electoral victories for the far-right.

"Elections are good. We like elections. But we cannot let far-right populists take everything all the time," the editorial read. "Not to mention the countless number of endorsements we'll have to make on a daily basis."

[Victoriala]

聲 音 豆 人
Voice of the Beanman
Your news with more memes

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I don't even know anymore 2877 | it's gonna be April fools 2015 | Suck our dick, pickledick

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Old Monk says global stagnancy is due to writer's block
"No one knows what to do at this point, we're just doing elections"

SOKAN, SOJU - Unbelievable. Fucking, unbelievable. Jesus Christ, it's fucking with unbelievable. Did I say it's really, fucking, unbelievable? How about now? Unbelievable. U N B E L I E V A B L E .

So apparently there's this kooky monk that just walked over our office with a stick and a beef bowl in hand. We were like, "wtf is this hobo doing here" because he looks like a fucking hobo, but we let him in anyway. You know, fucking monks doing their thing around and he already has food so why the fuck not. Then he asked where am I because he's got a scoop for me. Like dude you're a bald guy from the middle of fucking nowhere who throws wood into bonfires ffs smh jfc

So yeah we were just chilling down there, ripping the sickest clouds of vape and eating dumplings and shit, but when the bald motherfucker just came into our office, we were like, what the fuck and everyone was like Jesus who the fuck let the hobo in so we're all like get this nigga off here please we're having a good time here rude ass punk bitch

But he did nothing.

Like, nothing.

He just stood there for a straight three hours.

Also he said everyone has writer's block at this point and nobody knows what to do next because everyone forgot what made Aquarium great apparently we're going to die

Cheerio faggots we're going to fucking die all shall crumble and we're going to move to eternity where we run da sky

More News Down Below

• "IT'S TIME TO STOP" - Random faggot with shades sits on green screen and thinks you're a kid taking in DMT alone on a street
• Queen's boob size expands to .23% this year - Our lese majeste laws are so fucking lax look at it hahaha fucking jokes
• God of Mingwok enters Aquarium twitter - Kid with glasses who hates going outside joins esquarian Twitter, only to be ignored

[Luziyca]

A Nantainese referendum is on the horizon

Chief Executive River Tam

KENYEN, NANTAI - At the Nantainese legislature, legislator Yi Cheng of the People's Action Party has tabled a proposal for a referendum on Nantai's status "within ninety days of approval by the Chief Executive, regardless of whether Namo or Bethlehem approve of the referendum or not," with the choices of status quo, independence, or joining Namor.

As Yi Cheng tabled the bill for first reading, he said that "for a long time, both Luziycans and Namorese have sought to negotiate the final status of Nantai. The October Consensus seems good in theory, but the Nantainese were not involved in any of this. Nowhere did they even consider what we wanted to say: while we have agreed with the status quo, it is now clear that we must send a message to the rest of the world that our opinions matter. The choice is up to the Nantainese on whether it should join Namor, or not at all."

His speech drew applause from the entire chamber, and after a voice vote, only 24 legislators have voted against: 2 were absent, resulting in 126 ayes, 24 nays, and 2 absentees for the first reading. It now is referred to committee, although it is practically guaranteed to pass through committee.

The bill stipulates that the referendum concerning the future status of Nantai must have three options:

• Status quo - as the constituent republic of Nantai within the Christian Republic
• Unification - becoming Nantai Prefecture in the People's Republic of Namor
• Sovereignty - becoming an independent country

To ensure fairness, the bill mandates that the governments of Namor and Luziyca send observers, as well as inviting other countries such as Geadland, Katranjiev, and Ainin to observe the elections for any irregularities made on election day.

The voting system will not be first past the post, but instead would be instant-runoff voting: in particular, optional preferential voting, meaning that if the referendum takes place, people can just place an "X" next to their first choice, or they can number their selections on the ballot from 1 to 3, with 1 being the most preferred option, and 3 being least preferred option.

With news of this referendum passing its first reading, Chief Executive River Tam has expressed her approval. Tam stated that "I am glad that Nantainese will get a say. I know it may be controversial, but I think it is about time for us Nantainese to express whether we want to join Namor, or to stay with Luziyca. When even the Namorese government refuses to even allow people in the constituent republic of Nantai to have a say in their elections, but yet still claim it, it is nuts."

President Sera Svensson however was critical of the bill for a referendum on Nantai's status. In Jasper, she told reporters that "this bill for a referendum in Nantai is unilateral and will inevitably damage detente. We cannot afford to damage detente at a time when Shohai Antelope prepares to take office as the first Liberationist President-General since detente began. We will do everything we can to discourage the Nantainese legislature from holding the referendum," but said in a disappointed tone that "[r]egardless, we will recognize the results of the referendum, since all constituent republics do have a right to secede from us."

In other news

• EC - The EU and the EC are becoming one
• April Fools - What pranks do we have in store?
• Daecon - Daeconese Constitutional Peacekeepers clash with Deshton police
• Opinion - Alternate voting may violate constitution with giving people more than one vote

[Pisdara]

31 March, 2016

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Military pushes ANP out of Ashuragar, Lèche arrested on charges of conspiracy and human rights violations

Governor Alfred Lèche has recently
been arrested under charges of conspiracy and
violation of human rights. With the ANP now on
the run and Ashuragar secured, can the
Territorial Council now find a solution to the
crisis?

Members of the Pisdari National Guard confirmed today that they were able to push back ANP fighters outside the town limits of Ashuragar, and have begun spreading out into occupied territory in the east. “By Saturday, we should be able to secure Kurur Nheshtinka’a and end the Pisdari National Army once and for all.” With news of the ANP’s crushing urban defeat also came that of Governor Alfred Lèche and his arrest by local police early in the morning.

The Ashuragar police department stated that they have been following Lèche for months on accusations of conspiracy and human rights violations, accusations that were confirmed true when the governor, who went into hiding when hostilities begun, was found in a private home in a former ANP-held area of Ashuragar. With him were documents informing the police of his connection with the ANP (the mid-March ethnic attacks were deliberately coordinated with Lèche’s knowledge) and his support for a hypothetical ANP-led military government. Even more damning evidence emerged when the National Guard opened the re-settlement facility in-between Ashuragar and Zalalal, with a witness stating “it looked awful. There were people there that looked as if they hadn’t eaten in weeks.”

WIth Lèche under police custody, fellow Radical National People’s Party deputy and former Governor Mathias Blanc has been given the position of acting governor until the island is secured and new elections can be called. However, the opposition has asked the Citizen-Protector, Dr. Alain Bergeron, to form a provisional government headed by himself, with opposition leader Babum Ishhi-Addu stating “The afster we get the PRPN away from the Territorial Council, the quicker we can return to normalcy”.

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