Esquarium Today [Regional News, CLOSED]

[Luziyca]

The referendum campaign begins

Chief Executive River Tam

KENYEN, NANTAI - Earlier today, Chief Executive River Tam has signed the bill concerning the referendum for Nantai, thereby setting the election day to be 90 days of when the Chief Executive approves it. Thus, Nantainese will go to the polls on July 6th, in the expectation that they would determine their own future.

River Tam stated that "After having consulted with my cabinet and colleagues in the Legislature, it is clear that the only realistic solution is for me to sign it, and declare the beginning of the campaign period for the Nantainese status referendum. Thus, Nantainese shall go to the polls on July 6th."

The voting system will still be alternative vote, and the choices shall be as follows:

• Status quo - the arrangement declared by the October Consensus with regards to Nantai
• Independence - Nantai shall become a sovereign nation
• Reunification - Nantai becomes part of Namor

Chief Executive River Tam stated that "while it is a disappointment that this referendum is likely non-binding, our hope is that Nantainese shall turn out in large numbers so to show Namo and Bethlehem what we truly want," and added that "ideally, status quo would have been what it was originally suggested by Yi Cheng."

Thus, over the next few weeks, the campaigns shall begin, as all sides seek to win the hearts and minds of the Nantainese.

In other news

• Namor - Compatriot Ministry approves of change of status quo
• Pisdara - Queen Elis begins visit of Pisdara
• Unolia - AULP and Green Party form coalition government
• Opinion - Nantainese should have the right to decide their own future

[Nevamaa]

Map of the 302 new constituencies

OPINION: Our new electoral system and why it's a threat to Nevan democracy

Today, both chambers of the Diet approved necessary changes to the Nevan Constitution that were necessary to alter the electoral system under which the upcoming general election will be held. Formerly, each province elected a number of representatives to the Diet proportional to its population using D'Hondt quota. The new system is called mixed member majoritarian: Roughly half of the representatives, 302 to be exact, will be elected from single-member constituencies using first-past-the-post method, while the remaining 314 will be elected using the old system of proportional representation

This new system has several flaws and the changes themselves are alarming for several reasons,. I join dozens of professors, journalists, activists and citizens in demanding that the June election be held under the old electoral system. But why exactly is the new system bad? Keep reading, this article will explain why.

Serious lack of transparency
Civil society has had little, if any, participation in drafting the new system. It was proposed by the unelected Royal Council and has been drafted entirely behind close doors in shady committee meetings. While the Diet was given the chance to debate the bill, it was passed relatively quickly; only three hours of debate in the Chamber of People and none at all in the Chamber of the Estates.

It's not proportional either
As mentioned earlier, the new system combines proportional representation with winner-takes-all. This is not necessarily a bad thing. For example, Vyvlander election system is quite similar. However, the problem is that unlike the mixed member proportional system used by Vyvland, the mixed member majoritarian system does not produce proportional representation.

Imagine that there is a province that has 10 single-member constituencies and a single 10-member constituency covering the entire province. Party A gets 50% of the vote, Party B gets 30% and Party C gets 20%. In a MMP system as used by Vyvland, Party A would get all the single-member seats and the proportional seats would be distributed between Party B and Party C to ensure proportionality; Party A would get ten seats, Party B would get six seats and Party C would get four. However, in the MMM system that we've adopted, the two elections are completely separate. As Party A got majority in all single-member constituencies, it wins all 10 constituency seats. It then also gets 50% of proportional seats as it got 50% of the votes, with the remaining 5 seats being distributed between party B and party C. With half of the vote, Party A got 75% of the seats. Which brings us to another problem...

Two elections, one vote
The elections to constituency and proportional seats are completely separate. Once again, this is not necessarily a problem. Namor uses a system of parallel voting too, but in Namor, a voter gets two votes since he is effectively electing two different representatives: one vote for constituency representative and one for proportional representative. However, the new system used by Nevanmaa is different: the voter gets only one vote, which is the same for both representatives. Why is this a problem, you might ask? One person, one vote and all that?

The problem is that in a country like Nevanmaa with a single dominant and several smaller parties, the voter has to make a choice between voting a party that they support or voting against the dominant party; if they were to vote for a smaller party, they might give them more proportional seats but are effectively handing the constituency seat to the dominant party. If they want to vote for against the dominant party, they can give their vote to a larger, established opposition party, but this means that they are abandoning the smaller party that they truly support. Which brings us to..

It's all an illusion!
For the reasons mentioned above, the new system will effectively guarantee a comfortable majority for the dominant party for years to come. What's more dangerous is that it gives foreign nations an illusion of democracy: opposition parties will still be able to gain hundreds of seats, but they will never be truly able to threaten the position of the dominant party. The new system enables electoral fraud without making it necessary to stuff a single ballot box or intimidating a single voter. And let's not even go into the fact that the system still disenfranchizes the entire female population, as well as several tens of thousands of non-whites.

The new electoral system is a sham. Yes, it might give everyone their own local representative as opposed to faceless multi-member provincial constituencies and yes, it might provide more stable governments. But the new system is also a slap on the face of Nevan democracy. While it is unlikely that anyone with the exception of the King himself could prevent the new system from being enacted, there is still hope: Moderate Left and the Green Alliance have already started talks about merging into a single party to provide a new progressive alternative. Socialist Left Party, Nevan People's Democratic Front and the Labour Party are planning to do the same to provide a clear left-wing alternative. And we all know what we can do: not vote for the dominant party in June.

Mia Lindholm
Ms. Lindholm is a political scientist currently working for the Royal Nevan Red Cross.

[North Daecon]

Daecoense Government approaches Bethlehem to purchase former naval base in Dihlatora for Federal Navy use

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April 8, 2016

For Sale: Former Luziycan Naval Base Karlov, or Old Milutin Kondratiev Naval Base
in Karlov, Dihlatora in September 2015
(Image Credit: Dihlatora Leader Photographer Pardek Vihgjan)

WATERWITT, DAECON/ORLOVO, DIHLATORA - The Daeconese Government today has officially approached Bethlehem for the purchase and lease of Old Milutin Kondratiev Naval Base, also known as LNB Karlov, for use by the Daeconese Federal Navy as an refuelling point and naval base for Federal Navy ships in the Northern Sea. If the deal is approved by both the Daeconese Government and the Luziycan Government (who controls Dihlatora's foreign affairs since Dihlatora is a Associated Free State of Luziyca), the base; which has been abandoned since 2011 due to Luziycan military budget budget cuts and has been subjected to several failed sales to prospective governments looking to buy the facility (including Saibeiland's infamous Homeland Security Agency in September 2015 who intended to convert LNB Karlov into a 'detention facility'), the base would be handed over from the Luziycan Armed Forces to the Daeconese Federal Navy in a specific time-frame negotiated between Daecon and Luziyca, if the deal ever gets to that stage. Negotiation with Bethlehem is a key component of the deal, because although Dihlatora is self-governing, foreign affairs (which include defence and treaties with other countries) are under the auspices of the Luziycan government in Bethlehem.

According to sources in the Daeconese Federal Navy, they are reportedly offering a sum of £373 million Daeconese pounds for the base and it's facilities, which reportedly include a runway with a small airbase and support structures, port facilities with refuelling stations, and according to some unconfirmed sources, a small drydock that are large enough to accommodate a Shelton Douglas-class destroyer if they are in suitable condition, if the base has not deteriorated by 5 years of disuse since the removal of Luziycan Navy personnel and assets in 2011. Spokespeople from the Daeconese Federal Navy, and the Ministry of Defence has refused to confirm these reports either officially or unofficially, but the Federal Government has confirmed that the Daeconese Foreign Ministry have sent a offer of lease to the Luziycan government via the Daeconese Embassy in Bethlehem.

Security experts have said that the base presents a strategic goldmine for the Daeconese Federal Navy, saying that with the lease and hand-over of a strategically placed naval base to the entrance of the Northern Sea and the Central Sea will expand the Navy's capabilities beyond Artisia, allowing ships to refuel and make the trip over to Veklia without having to stop over in either Orvolo or the port of Nouvelle-Catalannes in the Francilian Pentecost and Ponant Islands. Experts have also added that it allows the Federal Air Force to station fighter squadrons at the base and allows the Army to refuel troop transports without stopping at Orvolo or going to Velkia by the Aucuria-Walminghaven route. However, some experts are concerned about the status of the base itself, saying that 5 years of deterioration has made the base nearly uninhabitable for normal troops, although the Federal Navy refused these claims. Also on the agenda was the concern about the status of Dihlatora becoming a republic during the lease itself, but these claims were rejected by numerous academics.

The negotiations on the base will start when the Luziycan government formally responds to the offer of lease in the next 7 days.

[The Jahistic Unified Republic]

Zheng Wins Second Term
Zheng Approved as Premier, 275-225

After a hotly contested debate, Zheng Zhuli was confirmed as the Premier of the Jahistic Union for his first full term. The vote, split completely along party lines, was 275 in favor, 225 against. As such, he will announce his list of Ministers that will serve on his cabinet in three days' times.

Zheng was derided by the Radical Jahistic Party as "Pro-Namo and Anti-Unolia" during the lively debates. Li Zhou, leader of the Social Democrats, derided the All-Union Party as taking "a step backwards for Unolian integration in the world" regarding his enacting of tariffs on nations which have incurred the wrath of the AULP. Despite these attacks, no minds were apparently changed at all.

Zheng, keeping true to his word, has announced that the building formerly housing the Namorese Embassy in Unolia City was to be reopened and announced plans to end sanctions on Namor in exchange for a "decent conversation on all sides regarding the Roubao issue."

Despite this, Zheng will "likely not" resume his role as Minister of Foreign Affairs, choosing to hone in on his new role as head of government.

In other news, Lewis Deng made his final appearance as Speaker today, giving his seat to 38-year-old Joseph Mills (AULP, Roosmore City). The AULP endorsed Mills and he was confirmed via voice acclamation.

This ends Deng's career as a politician for the time being, dating back to 2001 when he was one of the original members of the former Supreme Council. Before being appointed to the Assembly of the People, he served on the former National Committee for the Jahistic Party of Unolia and the Central Committee of the Jahistic Party of Unolia from 2005-2012. He was handpicked by the Great Leader to be the new Speaker of the body in 2012. He is 62.

IN OTHER NEWS:

• Sports: Unolia City Revolutionaries (5-1) and South Unolia Giants (5-1) to Face Off in First of Five "Capital Series" From Monday to Wednesday
• Namorese Baseball Leagues Join Esquarian Baseball Federation At Literal Last Second
• Opinion: Radical Jahistics and AULP Should've Put Aside Differences, Form Coalition

[Qianrong]

(OoC: This article is being posted on behalf of Saexland, with his permission; it is not a Qianrongese or Aucurian article. This was done entirely with Saexland's permission, cooperation, and approval. His characters, locations, companies, and institutions are not mine; while the formatting is mine, none of the text has been edited by me. If you have complaints or ideas or requests, raise them with Saex and not me. Thank you.)

Þéos Níwe Cynewíse
Nationalist Party Proposes Anti-Miscegenation Bill

APRIL 9, 2016- Fiscawic, Sæxland- Today in Parliament, the Nationalist Party has introduced its most disgustingly bigoted and racist bill since coming to power in 2012. We here at Þéos Níwe Cynewíse we have warned voters about the crypto-racist nature of the Nationalist Party- the same party that banned communism for almost 100 years in a clear violation of the right to free thought, and nearly embraced the dangerous and repressive ideology of fascism in the 1930s, but still has led more governments than any other in this country. But is seems the racism is no longer crypto-racism, or quasi-racism; all veils have been dropped in favor of full-fledged racial discrimination. Does anyone remember the “negro ban” that was in place until the 1980s? Of course not, because our school systems don’t teach that; teaching propaganda about impending Koy invasion to terrify schoolchildren is more pressing than actual history.

The wording of the bill and the remarks of the Nationalist Party only make it clear how racist this disgraceful piece of legislation is. The Nationalist Party has officially stated that the legislation “only applies to negroes and Arabs, but not to Monics or Aryans”. “Aryans” is being used here to refer to groups like Pisdari and Shudri- really, it’s a wonder they didn’t use the Ziegenian pseudoscience blond-hair-blue-eyes definition of the term, given that the entirety of this bill seems to be established in shocking and disgusting ignorance. The remainder of the bill isn’t any better- the sections targeting “negroes” seem more like they belong in Nevanmaa, one of Esquarium’s most universally despised and backwards regimes, than here in Sæxland, and the sections targeting Arabs are a sickening symptom of a general turn towards Islamophobia and anti-Islamic bigotry across Esquarium. Ironically, the law also prevents Sæxlanders from marrying Nevans- Nevanmaa being the only country, perhaps aside from Triumvirate nations like Ziegenhain and rogue states like Arnborg, to so unashamedly and disgustingly embrace the bigotry of the past.

If this bill is passed, the consequences could be catastrophic. A turn towards racism would make Sæxland an international disgrace. The other democratic nations of Esquarium- Ainin, Vjaarland, Vyvland, Luziyca, and so on- would no doubt turn away from us in disgust. We’d be left with the Triumvirate dictatorships- psychotic murder regimes run through slavery and bloodlust- and rogue states like Arnborg and Nevanmaa. This sort of international isolation would cripple Sæxland.

This discrimination also runs contrary to our very national fiber. Did our ancestors not once rise up and proclaim “with liberty and justice for all”? Did they not once rise up and call for “liberty, equality, and fraternity”? This legislation is a disgusting and immoral assault on the equality our ancestors fought and died for. If it passes, the one thing we can safely say is that this nation has abandoned its moral codes and set itself along a dark, depressing, discriminatory path. The Nationalist Party, to win the votes of the worst sectors of Sæxish society, is willing to shamelessly abandon our national values and leave our nation with Esquarium’s most reviled dictatorships. This is a move to put Sæxland in the dustbin of history.

[Francilie]

(snip)

[Namor]

19th Central Council convenes
Txo Hengzang elected President, Yao Shenkang stays Commissioner

April 10, NMR 2378

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9 DAYS

UNTIL INAUGURATION DAY

Tzo Hengzang, newly-elected President of the 19th
CenCo

NAMO, CAPTIAL DISTRICT - The 19th Central Council of the People's Republic of Namor convened for the first time today, replacing the outgoing CenCo and electing new deputies to leadership positions.

The new Central Council is controlled by the Popular Front, which won the general election in March. Among the governing parties, the Liberationists hold the most number of seats, but since it doesn't control a majority, it will have to compromise with both the Democratic Socialists and Socialists.

Being the largest party, the Liberationists elected Deputy Txo Hengzang as President of the Central Council and Deputy Ke Tzanjin as Vice President.

The entire Central Council then held a vote on Commissioner and Vice Commissioner. Deputy Yao Shenkang of the Democratic Socialists was reelected Commissioner and Deputy Vang Bomen of the Socialists was elected Vice Commissioner.

In his inaugural address, Txo Hengzang welcomed all newcomers in the Central Council before calling on the leftist CenCo to do its part in enacting progressively-minded reforms.

"The 19th Central Council will not turn its back against the very people that got it into power," he said.

Outgoing President-General Fu Wen delivered a brief response to the opening of the new CenCo: "I sincerely hope the new Central Council serves the people well."

President-elect Shohai Antelope congratulated the 19th CenCo for its successful opening.

"The [19th] Central Council will be our legislature for the next five years. As we approach inauguration day, let us make the next five years a great five years," he said.

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Other News

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• Incumbent Francilie consular "still has chances," reports media - A recent poll ahead of Francilie's consular election showed incumbent consular Claire Journay outpacing ultranationalist contender Cedric Liet.
• Zheng Zhuli approved as Premier of the Jahistic Union, announces plans to open up to Namor - Zheng Zhuli, who was elected Premier of the Jahistic Union, said he plans on rebuilding ties with Namor in turn for a "decent conversation on all sides regarding the Roubao issue." Namorese Foreign Minister Shen Wuhong called Zheng's announcement "near positive," though he declined to comment on whether Namor will send diplomatic personnel to Unolia City.
• Katranjiev's Elis begins tour to Pisdara - Katranjiev's Queen Elis began her two-week state visit to Pisdara. The visit comes following the overthrow of the island protectorate's radical far-right leader.
• Namo rebukes occupied Nantai administrative figure's interpretation of status quo - The Ministry of Overseas and Nantai Compatriot Affairs criticized occupied Nantai administrative figure Tam River's interpretation of the status quo as "ideally" remaining a "constituent republic of Luziyca." Minister Jimmy Txo Vaidang said "the writing is on the wall: occupied Nantai is Namorese territory under Luziycan administration, and everyone - including Miss Tam, should respect that."
• Roubao welcomes talks but insists on sovereignty - A spokesperson for the Prime Minister of Roubao said that Roubao is "cautiously optimistic" about the election of Zheng Zhuli, adding that while Roubao supports talks with the Jahistic Union, it will not do so at the expense of its security.
• Esquarian Parliament election results out - Election across the Esquarian Community countries are coming to a close.

[Namor]

OPINION President-General Antelope, it's time to work with Qianrong
They pledged to denuclearize, respected our sovereignty and is democratic. Where's the handshake?
Наморайин | English

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Qianrongese line up to elect their legislative representatives

When Shohai Antelope takes office in less than ten days, his immediate focus will not be foreign policy; rather, it is domestic policy, mainly getting the economy back on track after the recession, which was partially exacerbated by Fu Wen's unsuccessful attempts at revitalizing it. Sooner or later, though, the President-General of the People's Republic of Namor will have to deal with our neighbors, and it's essential that he develops a policy of some sort the moment he enters the Executive House for his five (or ten)-year tenure. Hopefully, developing cordial ties with one country will be among the top priorities of his agenda.

For decades, we have ignored the Qianrongese archipelago, and for good reason - up until recently, Qianrong had been ruled by a right-wing authoritarian regime that aligned itself with (East) Luziyca, supported the regime on Peitoa and Txotai separatists. Even after the Winter Rebellion, Qianrong continued to show hostility to Namor. Qianrong put Namor on the "discriminator list" without providing actual evidence that Namor refused aid to certain Qianrongese because of their ethnicity. In turn, Namor suspended aid to Qianrong. There hasn't been much coming and going between the two countries since then.

But this is beginning to change. About a month ago, Long Jiao-Dan, chairman of the Qianrongese Soviet Republic, announced that Namor did not discriminate while distributing aid to Qianrong. He also said Qianrong would never seek to construct nuclear weapons and destroy all nuclear arsenal held by the regime in Yucheng, if his forces ever get their hands onto them. Most of all, he acknowledged Namor's territorial integrity - something past Qianrongese leaders have refused to do for some reason or another.

This change in policy is not just surprising, it's historic. And it can be taken to another level if President-General Shohai Antelope, upon taking office, responds to Long by committing himself to rebuilding ties with Qianrong.

Some are not keen about doing that, and their reasons vary from the instability of Qianrong's political climate to uncertainty of Qianrong's future. Pao Venzong, Shohai Antelope's to-be Foreign Minister, is among those who are cautious about approaching the Qianrongese; he believes Namor should keep its distance from Qianrong because anything can happen to the archipelago, tomorrow or a year from now. Why, he asks, should we invest in building ties with a country that constantly changes?

But people who think that way are unaware of the fact that the Qianrong we are dealing with now is not the Qianrong that we had been dealing with prior to the Winter Rebellion. This is not a xenophobic far-right, pro-Bethlehem dictatorship anymore, but a moderate democracy that responds to the will of the people who make it possible. We see this in the latest Qianrongese elections - a wide variety of parties, including the Equalitarianist Party, United Worker's Party, Liberationist Party and People's Radical Party, gained seats in the Presidium, the national legislature.

Elections are fair enough, but the Qianrongese took it further: they mandated that money cannot have any role in their politics. Chairman Long said he is open to allowing other parties share power with his own party, the Equalitarianists, which gained the most number of seats because it won the highest percentage of votes. From the results, it seems undeniable that Chairman Long has a high degree of support among his own people. Media based in territory controlled by the Yucheng regime may deny this, but that is unsurprising as the Yucheng regime is vying for legitimacy by disseminating information intended to discredit the Republic.

It is clear, then, that if President-General Antelope shakes hands with the Qianrongese leadership, he will be shaking hands with a leadership that has a popular mandate and will remain in power for years to come. He will be shaking hands with a leadership that, by promising to destroy all nuclear arsenal on the archipelago, is committing itself to peace and stability in the East Namor Sea. And, most important of all, he will consign a decades-long relationship of mutual hate to the annals of history.

So, President-General Antelope, where's the handshake?

LI JUNG is a student and currently serves as Chairman of the NUSSA (Namo University Socialist Students' Alliance). He identifies himself as a "deep leftist" and is a avid reader of Yunglang Antelope's works, particularly On People's Revolution and On Imperialism. He has a blog, Voice of the Young Masses, which can be viewed here. His views do not represent those of the Liberator or its affiliates.

Trending

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19th Central Council opens, Txo Hengzang elected President | Journay makes gains in consular elections

[Victoriala]

Kyōjinmun
MN 2877
肆和平
4th of Prosperity

Lion's Hall dissolves court early
Sudden dissolution recommended by Chancellor Kyūga
______________________

SOKAN/KOIZODEN — The morning in the Imperial Court has been surprised by the abrupt absence of the Glorious Council of State and the sudden adjournment of the daily session right after its supposed commencement. Minutes later, an Imperial Announcement from the Lion's Hall officially declared the current Imperial Court to be dissolved, thus rendering the Hall of Banners empty for the next three months for an election and reshuffle.

The dissolution was planned ever since last year in the month of Animality, according to Akari Myōten, the official speaker to the Glorious Council of State. The decision, which proposal was spearheaded by the Chancellor to Her Glorious Majesty, Her Excellency Kyūga. It was proposed after the Glorious Council along with Their Glorious Majesties deemed the current state of the court to be "very unyielding" and out of legal complications that are yet to be disclosed.

Scholars and analysts determine the move as an exercise of Their Glorious Majesties' de jure absolute powers, and their intervention over the commonly-unhandled government as part of their new intentions on domestic policy. Earlier last month the Imperial House has relieved about two ministers from the Council of State from their posts, namely the Ministers of Rites and of Law and Order. In the same month, has increased their supports over the Four-Stone Society and the Golden Buddha Order after lady Myōrei's controversial speech on the court that month.

With the dissolution of the current Imperial Court, the coming one is going to be up for grabs as the old factions and new factions begin their preparation for the anticipated Domain elections that are expected to happen two weeks from now. Major factions such as the Society for a Prosperous and Luminous Empire, the Society of Harmonic Justice and the Four-Stone Society have readied their preparations. Some of the Syangki rulers intend as well to change factions or become non-partisan altogether.

The Council of State has yet to tell if there shall be a reshuffle and elections to come.

Other Content featured in this Periodical

• Ministry of the Center slams Saexlander Miscegenation Bill - The High Minister of the Center, Ran Byakkukyo repeatedly denounced the proposed Anti-Miscegenation Bill in Saexland. The Minister has called the proposed law to be "unsalvageably abhorrent" and an act of "total hostility against the whole world".
• Dragon Goddess Festivals in the north - The Festival of the Dragon Empress, a northerner holiday, has begun in some cities such as Araku and Nikoi. Known for their lightshows and extravagant fireworks in honor of Ryongkei, the Dragon Empress, it is one of the most awaited regional festivities in the Empire. Kyōjinmun reports on the current happenings in this event, live on Ryūngkan.
• Man arrested after trashing art gallery - A local from Ahori domain was reportedly apprehended for causing trouble over a modern art gallery in Konriten. The man, according to witnesses, was violently damaging the artworks in the gallery while ranting about how the pieces are "not art" until security and authorities come to apprehend him. The man later known as Araki Anduri, claimed that it was all an act and called for bail, but was refused. Anduri shall be put up for trial next week.

[Francilie]

Election Day : Sunday, April 10th
CONSULAR ELECTIONS : LIVE FEED

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AMELIE POUGIN
L'Aube.fc Webmaster
22:59

Okay, okay, now, that's the decisive moment, the results of Artois-Wettinghoek will decide this year's winner. No matter who wins in Artois-Wettinghoek. This moment can be a psychological torture. But it'll be done in 15...14...13...12...11...10...9...8...7...6...5...4...3...2...1...

MARIE SANNEY
L'Aube.fc communication manager
22:39

I don't know where are we going, but we are going to this "where".

YANNICK BENNEG
L'Aube journalist in Darionnes
22:34

And Artois-Wettinghoek is a really surprising region. In 2002, 2006 and 2010, it prevented Coline Leroy to get elected, when she was leading in the polls in this region these years. Now Artois-Wettinghoek would go to NWH, as it's her home region, but again, when you're the leader of the polls in Artois-Wettinghoek, don't be so sure to win.

PIERRE PINGER
Chief of the Political Bureau of L'Aube
22:30

It's the stupefaction here, in Pontnouveau, as Nathalie Wamers-Hanbeek COULD have won against Claire Journay, with 28,9% against 27% of the votes...all depends now on Artois-Wettinghoek.

PIERRE PINGER
Chief of the Political Bureau of L'Aube
22:30

Oh my...

AMELIE POUGIN
L'Aube.fc Webmaster
22:29

This is a very important moment : if Journay or Liet wins Pontnouveau, they win the election. In 3...2...1...Now

SJAAK LEWEN
Reporter of Dafn
20:05

However, if NWH, Fuchsersbergers, Laval or EMV wins Pontnouveau, the victorious candidate in this city will be the kingmaker of the election, as all will depend on the way Artois-Wettinghoek willl vote. But that seems unlikely. Journay is now sure to get reelected if nothing important happens.

PIERRE PINGER
Chief of the Political Bureau of L'Aube
22:00

Claire Journay wins Annetiers with 45,8%, Arpitania with 37,3% and the Center Region with 35,7%, Sabine Fuchsersbergers wins Châtillon with 52,7% but there's another region for Cédric Liet, the winner in Bigorre with 34,1% of the votes. That means that if Claire Journay or Cédric Liet wins Pontnouveau at 22:30, their victory would be secured. As Claire Journay is the leader of the latest polls, released on Friday, in Pontnouveau, it's clear that Claire Journay can get reelected at 22:30.

AMELIE POUGIN
L'Aube.fc Webmaster
21:59

In a few seconds, we'll know the results of these 5 regions.

PIERRE PINGER
Chief of the Political Bureau of L'Aube
21:51

Claire Journay should win in Annetiers and Arpitania tonight, and Sabine Fuchsersbergers should win Châtillon and the Center Region. However, Bigorre is unclear: nearly everyone can get it.

PIERRE PINGER
Chief of the Political Bureau of L'Aube
21:47

Next up, 5 regions : Annetiers, Arpitania, Bigorre, Châtillon and the Center Region.

PIERRE PINGER
Chief of the Political Bureau of L'Aube
21:30

No surprise: 75,4% in Champresia, his home region, 41,7% in Bascardy, 31,3% in Aupernia, another all-in for Liet who dangerously approaches the Prime Consulate.

AMELIE POUGIN
L'Aube.fc Webmaster
21:29

New results now from Aupernia, Bascardy and Champresia.

PIERRE PINGER
Chief of the Political Bureau of L'Aube
21:24

New results to come very shortly, in Champresia and Bascardy, which should be going to Liet, while in Aupernia, it should be a battle between Liet and Journay, with NWH as an eventual kingmaker.

PIERRE PINGER
Chief of the Political Bureau of L'Aube
21:01

61,8% in Loringia, 43,2% in Maritiania and 39,5% in Bourgondia-Canthay: it's a surprise all-in for Liet. Now the polls that indicated him as the next Prime Consul seem not so crazy.

ROGER DANTIN
L'Aube Aut political journalist
21:00

No surprise in Autebourg as Sabine Fuchsersbergers won it in a tight race with 29,5% of the votes.

AMELIE POUGIN
L'Aube.fc Webmaster
20:59

We'll know that in some seconds.

PIERRE PINGER
Chief of the Political Bureau of L'Aube
20:27

Liet should win Loringie, but a far-right win in Maritiania is unclear against Nathalie Wamers-Hanbeek. Journay should win Bourgundia-Canthay.

ROGER DANTIN
L'Aube Aut political journalist
20:24

Next up: Autebourg. Claire Journay, Elise Monfort-Valderbre or Sabine Fuchsersbergers should win it.

MARIE SANNEY
L'Aube.fc communication manager
20:21

(Image)

Cédric Liet "The beginning of the awakening"

MARIE SANNEY
L'Aube.fc communication manager
20:17

(Image)

Alain Laval "The night is still young"

SJAAK LEWEN
Reporter of Dafn
20:05

Surprise in the Pentecost and Ponant Isles too as Cédric Liet won an autonomous territory promised to Elise Monfort-Valderbre with 41,7% of the votes.

ROGER DANTIN
L'Aube Aut political journalist
20:04

Enormous surprise here, Cédric Liet COULD have won the Montchauvois Country with 45,7% of the votes, while Nathalie Wamers-Hanbeek won the Mount-Aut and Outer-Mount regions with percentages going from 48% to 50%. These results are unclear at this time.

ROGER DANTIN
L'Aube Aut political journalist
20:03

They're coming ! They're coming.

PIERRE PINGER
Chief of the Political Bureau of L'Aube
20:01

Girande goes to Fuchsersbergers, without surprise, as she wins with an overwhelming majority: 58,4%. However, the surprise is that Liet wins Marches with 51,9% and the Charinte Countries with 48,3% of the votes. Alain Laval is rock bottom in all the provinces. Now, Roger, the Autian votes ?

YANNICK BENNEG
L'Aube journalist in Darionnes
20:00

Results in Darionnes are not surprising: Claire Journay wins by a landslide with 52,5% of the votes.

AMELIE POUGIN
L'Aube.fc Webmaster
19:57

Coming closer to the super-hour, 20:00, where the results of 7 regions and of 1 autonomous territory will be unveiled.

SJAAK LEWEN
Reporter of Dafn
19:51

The results of the Pentecost and Ponant Isles shall also be revealed at 20:00, an autonomous territory that EMV could win tonight, as the latest polls, released on Friday, show.

ROGER DANTIN
L'Aube Aut political journalist
19:48

Aut is a swing republic. It voted for the Social Leroy in 2002, but then it voted for the Republican Page in 2006, then Leroy in 2010, the Republican Lunet in 2014 and Journay last year. The latest polls, released on Friday, show that NWH should emerge victorious tonight, except in Autebourg and the French-speaking Montchauvois Country, where Journay or Fuchsersbergers would win.

PIERRE PINGER
Chief of the Political Bureau of L'Aube
19:42

While Girande is historically Republican, the Marches and the Charinte Countries are traditionally leftist, but the centrists and the far-right does great scores here too. That means that Cédric Liet could win its first region at 20:00.

PIERRE PINGER
Chief of the Political Bureau of L'Aube
19:39

As is the Francilian regions of Girande, Marches and the Charinte Countries. 20:00 is the hour where the most results will be revealed.

ROGER DANTIN
L'Aube Aut political journalist
19:37

All the Autian regions but Autebourg are also revealing their results at 20:00.

YANNICK BENNEG
L'Aube journalist in Darionnes
19:33

Results in Darionnes will wait 20:00, but Claire Journay would win the capital of Armorica without doubts as she was 12 points ahead NWH in the last poll which was released on Friday.

YANNICK BENNEG
L'Aube journalist in Darionnes
19:30

However, surprisingly, Claire Journay wins the remaining regions, and giving nothing to Alain Laval, 41,8% in Armorican-Delta, and 48,5% in Darionnais-Trigor.

YANNICK BENNEG
L'Aube journalist in Darionnes
19:30

And now, the first results are falling, Hauts-d'Armorique and Monts-des-Plous voted en masse for NWM as she wins with 50% to 60% majorities in both regions. The results are a bit unclear for the moment.

YANNICK BENNEG
L'Aube journalist in Darionnes
19:27

Thanks Amélie, this certainly won't be an exciting night in Armorica as every poll indicates that Alain Laval, NWH and Claire Journay will all at least win a region. Whatever, I'll be ready to announce the results at 19:30.

AMELIE POUGIN
L'Aube.fc Webmaster
19:25

Thanks Pierre, we'll join Yannick now, in Darionnes, he will give us the results in some...5, 5 minutes.

PIERRE PINGER
Chief of the Political Bureau of L'Aube
19:24

Not really, Amélie, candidates like Cédric Liet, Sabine Fuchsersbergers or Elise Monfort-Valderbre don't have a chance in Armorica: the last time an Armorican region voted for a right-wing candidate was in none other than in 1974. That's 42 years ago. And the polls don't give any hope for the Republicans or the Patriots to win an Armorican region tonight: Either Alain Laval, Nathalie Wamers-Hanbeek or Claire Journay will triumph tonight in the only Celtic area of Conitia.

AMELIE POUGIN
L'Aube.fc Webmaster
19:21

Pierre, has the right a chance to surge in Armorica tonight ?

SJAAK LEWEN
Reporter of Dafn
19:18

The Chancellor of Fiennia, Peter Möjassen (Republican) reacts to the Fiennish results: "I have confidence on Sabine and I know she'll make a great Prime Consul if she's elected tonight."

YANNICK BENNEG
L'Aube journalist in Darionnes
19:12

Armorica is next now. Last year, Alain Laval, Coline Leroy and Claire Journay shared the victory.

MARIE SANNEY
L'Aube.fc communication manager
19:05

Reactions on Twitter are already here: Alain Laval "thanks everyone who voted for the best choice, and every North Fiennian, as Fiennia is a country I really love.". Sabine Fuchsersbergers "thanks the Grötozeaner for this magical adventure in politics.". Claire Journay prefers to "stay prudent, this is only 1 in 4 republics, but thanks to all the Fiennians who voted for me". Elise Monfort-Valderbre: "I jubilate on my victory in Southern Fiennia, thanks to everyone."

SJAAK LEWEN
Reporter of Dafn
19:03

And finally, like the polls said, Sabine Fuchsersbergers won in her electoral stronghold with an overwhelming majority of 68,5%.

SJAAK LEWEN
Reporter of Dafn
19:02

Without any surprise, the votes of Fiennish-Ocean and Central Fiennia did go to Claire Journay, with lower results compared to those of 2015: 29,4% in Central Fiennia and 32,9% in Fiennish-Ocean.

SJAAK LEWEN
Reporter of Dafn
19:01

Southern Fiennia voted for Elise Monfort-Valderbre, the former Second Consul, with a plurality of 36,8%, just before Sabine Fuchsersbergers.

SJAAK LEWEN
Reporter of Dafn
19:00

The first results come from Northern Fiennia, where Alain Laval won by a landslide with 49,5% of the popular vote, an increase of 12,3% since last year.

AMELIE POUGIN
L'Aube.fc Webmaster
18:59

Don't forget to look at our partners on the RTF network, who'll bring other details to this election night.

SJAAK LEWEN
Reporter of Dafn
18:58

In some minutes, the Fiennish results will be unveiled, will Claire Journay retain the South, or will it go to other unionists like Fuchsersbergers or Elise Monfort-Valderbre, the former Second Consul ?

ROGER DANTIN
L'Aube Aut political journalist
18:55

In Fiennia, last year, Claire Journay really slayed. She won every region but Northern Fiennia, which was won by Alain Laval.

ROGER DANTIN
L'Aube Aut political journalist
18:55

In Fiennia, last year, Claire Journay really slayed. She won every region but Northern Fiennia, which was won by Alain Laval.

PIERRE PINGER
Chief of the Political Bureau of L'Aube
18:51

Sjaak Lewen works at Dafn, the Fiennish version of "L'Aube". He is ready to comment the results of the across-the-Serean results.

PIERRE PINGER
Chief of the Political Bureau of L'Aube
18:49

Remember that revealing the results before the settled time is illegal and can be punishable with a fine of 5000 écus and 1 year in jail if the case is important.

19h00 Fiennia
19h30 Armorica (except Darionnes)
20h00 Darionnes, Pays de Charinte, Marches, Girande, Aut (except Autebourg)
21h00 Autebourg, Maritiania, Loringia, Bourgondia-Canthay
21h30 Champresia, Aupernia, Bascardy
22h00 Arpitania, Annetiers, Bigorre, Région Centre, Châtillon
22h30 Pontnouveau
23h00 Artois

AMELIE POUGIN
L'Aube.fc Webmaster
18:47

We will be with Pierre Pinger, Marie Sanney, Roger Dantin, Sjaak Lewen and Yannick Benneg tonight.

AMELIE POUGIN
L'Aube.fc Webmaster
18:45

Welcome to L'Aube's live coverage of election night. Our team will unveil you the breaking news and the results, region by region, every 30 minutes. Stay tuned as the Fiennish results come soon !

[Geadland]

GRK reports
LIVE: ESQUARIAN PARLIAMENT ELECTIONS IN GEADLAND

Sort: Oldest first / Most recent first

---

FREJA DEN HOLM
GRK reporter in Bondhaven
15:37

Yesterday evening exit poll gave us: SDLP 27%, Progressives 21%, Conservatives 16%, Geadland Says No (Socialists) 8%, Greens 6%, Liberals, NA, ChrisDems all on 5%, Swedish Democrats 1%, Independents 1%, Others 5%. Turnout was reported to be at 58.1%. This is a significant increase from 2011, although it probably only happened because the EP elections have this time been held alongside the municipal elections.

JOHAN-PETER BLUMENDAL
GRK analyst in Elhaas
15:39

The Swedish Region will be the first to release preference results. This will probably be the least surprising result of the night. The Swedish People's Party are forecast to retain the region's single seat with an increased vote share. You can be sure that the Swedes, SDLP and Conservatives will be the last three standing. All the Swedes need to do is avoid falling into third place behind them. If they avoided this pitfall in 2011 (and they almost didn't) then they can avoid it much more easily this time. Once either the SDLP or Conservatives are eliminated, the seat will be handed to Magdalena Karlsson, the incumbent MEP.

FILIPPA PERSSON
GRK reporter in Arje
15:55

Primary vote shares in the Swedish Region: Swedish Democrats 30.4%, SDLP 24.2%, Conservatives 18.0%, Progressives 8.3%, Greens 4.8%, Geadland Says No 3.9%, New Alliance 2.2%, Christian Democrats 1.9%, Minor & Local Parties: 6.1%, Independents 0.2%. GRK projects 1 seat for the Swedish Democrats (no change).

ALEK BLOOM
GRK analyst in Da Hegner
15:55

Why is it that Da Hegner is lumped into the "Eastern Region" with Lower Sorbia from the other side of the Slochtersee, while cities to the east like Hessel to the east is part of the "Central Region"? It comes from the government's policy of avoiding splitting the counties (except for Swedish Horgalund) while fitting the right quotas for representation. The Nordland cabinet promised to review whether the contortion could be removed when they took office two years ago, but nothing appears to have come of it.

JOHAN-PETER BLUMENDAL
GRK analyst in Elhaas
16:07

The SDLP's strongest chance of gaining a seat is in the South-Western Region. This is the only multi-member seat where they hold 1 seat instead of 2, having lost their second seat in the region back in 2011. Their primary vote share now is predicted to rise from 1.10 quotas to ~1.5. The Greens and Socialists overwhelmingly gave preferences to the SDLP, which increased their share to 1.64 quotas last time round - which was still not enough to let them keep their second seat, especially as the Liberals won a seat in their own right and therefore didn't send any preference votes. This time the exit poll projects the SDLP will win ~1.5 quotas and the three parties are projected to win ~2.1 quotas between them. Assuming preferences flow as planned, the SDLP are on course to regain the seat they lost.

FREJA DEN HOLM
GRK reporter in Bondhaven
16:11

Let us take some time to look at what's going on in other EC states. In Ainin the results were similar to last year's dramatic election, with the Social Democrats and Citizen's Alliance winning roughly the same amount of seats, the Progressives Conservatives slumping badly and the National Alliance surging. The first series of results are coming through in Arkiasis, where a secessionist party has won big in Vesperia, and in Britanno, which has shifted to the left. So far, parties from the Esquarasceptic Freedom and Sovereignty Union have topped the poll in Lydland (where they govern) and Osonia. In other countries such as Lyonsland, FSU parties are making gains at the establishments' expense. Meanwhile, four parties are vying for top place in Pavonistade.

JOHAN-PETER BLUMENDAL
GRK analyst in Elhaas
16:23

The Progressives could very well get a higher vote share than last time. The exit poll gave them 21% but pollsters often underestimate them; in 2011 they gave them 19% but instead they got 22%. Left-wing Esquarasceptics are also making gains and Geads are more likely to say that they feel that Geadland has no influence in the EC than they did five years ago. Possible counter-trends are that the EP election was held on the same day as the municipal elections, which may dilute the electorate, and that the Progressives have lost support in domestic politics ever since they joined the Nordland cabinet. The Progressives' most vulnerable seat is their second seat in the Eastern Region, though their second seat in the South-Eastern Region is a similar case. If they are to gain a seat, their only real chance would be that they could gain a second seat in the Central Region.

MARK UPPING
GRK reporter in Da Hegner
16:37

Primary vote shares in the Eastern Region: SDLP 29.6%, Progressives 24.8%, Conservatives 15.6%, New Alliance 6.6%, Geadland Says No (Socialists/Red) 5.6%, Greens 5.2%, Liberals 3.3%, Christian Democrats 2.2%, Minor & Local Parties 5.4%, Independents 1.7%. Confirmed so far: 1 SDLP, 1 Progressive.

JOHAN-PETER BLUMENDAL
GRK analyst in Elhaas
16:47

GRK projects: SDLP 2, Progressives 2, Conservatives 1 (no change). The SDLP vote share is up four points; if they managed to get two seats last time they will manage it again. The Conservatives have missed the quota but only narrowly. The New Alliance have ranked the Progressives above the SDLP, so that should ensure they once again win two seats and prevent the left from making any gains.

GEORGUS SMID
GRK reporter in Osling
16:52

Primary vote shares in the South-Western Region: Progressives 22.6%, SDLP 22.5%, Conservatives 13.8%, Christian People's Party 9.5%, Geadland Says No (Socialists) 8.2%, Liberals 7.6%, New Alliance 5.8%, Greens 4.7%, Minor & Local Parties 3.9%, Independents 1.4%. Confirmed so far: 1 Progressive, 1 SDLP.

ALEK BLOOM
GRK analyst in Da Hegner
16:53

So far the Progressives' vote share has actually been in line with exit polling (for once!). The south-west has seen above-average immigration lately, so that might be why the Progressives are gaining here even as they are expected to fall everywhere else.

JOHAN-PETER BLUMENDAL
GRK analyst in Elhaas
16:59

GRK projects: 1 SDLP, 1 Progressive, 1 Conservative, 2 toss-up. Two incumbent seats are in doubt - the ones held by the Liberals and the Christian Democrats. This is going to be a hard one to project, as once the first three seats are claimed you'll still have five parties vying for the final two. It looks like the Liberals will lose their seat, so the last two seats will split between the left and right. The former is a toss-up between the SDLP and Socialists, the latter is a toss-up between the Christian Democrats and New Alliance. And it is also possible that the Liberals could win either seat.

MARK UPPING
GRK reporter in Da Hegner
17:04

All in all, it's not turning into a good weekend for the three governing parties. Between them they've lost 10.3% of the vote, with the Liberals likely to lose both of their MEPs. The three left-wing parties have gained 8.6% between them. It's interesting to note that although holding the EC election alongside the local elections drove up turnout, it doesn't seem to have affected the results. It certainly hasn't "diluted" the Progressive Party; their vote share has even gone up in at least one district.

JOHAN-PETER BLUMENDAL
GRK analyst in Elhaas
17:13

The exit polls have been pretty accurate this time, maybe perhaps overestimating the left-wing parties. This means we can hopefully start projecting the results in the remaining two districts (South-East and Central) before the primary votes are announced. It looks likely that the Liberals will lose their seat in the Central Region, while the Conservatives' second seat there is also vulnerable. Whether this means the SDLP will win 3 seats or the Greens will win their first ever seat remains to be seen. The left could also gain a seat from the Progressives in the South-East.

GUNNHILD TIMSEN
GRK reporter in Eskrau
17:16

Primary vote shares in the South-Eastern Region: SDLP 26.8%, Progressives 20.1%, Conservatives 17.4%, Geadland Says No (Socialists/Red) 12.9%, Greens 4.8%, Christian Democrats 4.6%, New Alliance 4.0%, Liberals 3.5%, Minor & Local Parties 4.7%, Independents 1.2%. Confirmed so far: 1 SDLP, 1 Progressive, 1 Conservative. GRK projects: 2 SDLP, 2 Progressive, 1 Conservative, 1 Socialist.

ALEK BLOOM
GRK analyst in Da Hegner
17:17

It's hard to believe that just over ten years ago the Liberals actually had a seat in this district, as well as the Eastern Region. Now they can't even cross the 5% threshold needed to survive the first count. Many left-leaning voters in Eskraulund have - especially the Esserdal region - have been alienated by their support for right-wing government. Also interesting that the New Alliance and Greens haven't made much of a splash here. In the Greens case they were overshadowed by Geadland Says No.

FREJA DEN HOLM
GRK reporter in Bondhaven
17:22

Primary vote shares in the Central Region: SDLP 30.3%, Conservatives 18.9%, Progressives 18.5%, Greens 7.4%, New Alliance 6.4%, Liberals 5.2%, Geadland Says No (Socialists) 4.9%, Christian Democrats 2.5%, Minor & Local Parties 4.9%, Independents 1.0%. Confirmed so far: 2 SDLP, 1 Conservative, 1 Progressive. GRK projects: 2 SDLP, 1 Conservative, 1 Progressive, 1 Green, 1 toss-up (between the New Alliance and Liberals, possibly the Conservatives).

MARK UPPING
GRK reporter in Da Hegner
17:23

The districts have declared their results in exactly the same order as before. I remember how in 2011 it looked like the Progressives had won the most votes, and it wasn't until the results from the Central Region came through that it became apparent that the SDLP was still on top. 53% of that region's population is in Bondhaven, so don't be surprised.

JOHAN-PETER BLUMENDAL
GRK analyst in Elhaas
17:29

So here's what we know so far. Of Geadland's 23 seats, we have confirmation of 11 so far: 5 SDLP, 4 Progressive, 2 Conservative. We also have projections for 20: 7 SDLP, 6 Progressive, 4 Conservative, 1 Green, 1 Socialist, 1 Swedish Democrat. Of the remaining three we have one toss-up between the SDLP and Socialists, one between Christian Democrats and New Alliance and another between the New Alliance, Liberals and Conservatives. The previous results were 7 SDLP, 6 Progressive, 5 Conservative, 2 Liberal, 1 Socialist, 1 Christian Democrat, 1 Swedish Democrat.

FREJA DEN HOLM
GRK reporter in Bondhaven
17:33

So the SDLP win the most votes at 27.2%, up from 22.8%. The Progressives came in second place with 20.9%, down from 22.0%, and the Conservatives came in third with 16.6%, down from 20.6%. The most popular party by district was: the Swedish People's Party in the Swedish Region, the Progressives in the South-Western Regions and the SDLP in the Central, Eastern and South-Eastern regions. The vote counting centres are now wrapping up the counts for the day, so we will be back at 9am tomorrow as the process continues.

[Qianrong]

敏柬語 | Mǐnjiǎn Yǔ
言語字濠 | Ngôn ngữ Tự hào
વિકંગ મહુસય્નેસ | Wikang Mahusaynes
Lingua Otekiy
शुदरी भाषा | Śudarī Bhāṣā

---

The return of Song Li-Chao to prominence is one sign of democracy's impending death in Qianrong.

OPINION - QIANRONGESE DEMOCRACY IS DOOMED
Zhang Jiu-Ping | April 10th, 2015 | Yucheng, Qianrong - When the Free Democratic Republic of Qianrong fell, millions of Qianrongese heralded it as a historic moment. For the sixty-four million or so inhabitants of the Qianrongese archipelago, it appeared as though democracy had finally triumphed in Qianrong after decades of suppression by the Free Democratic Republic. The people's voices, united, had triumphed over autocracy. Li Jian-Zheng dissolved the longstanding authoritarian institutions of the FDRQ and established a new government, the Second Independent State, whose leadership would be determined by popular will and whose institutions would be restricted by an intricate web of checks and balances. Exile institutions like Radio Free Qianrong came home, political satirists like the writers of Trang Vai spoke candidly, and millions of Qianrongese came out to mark the first democratic elections since the 1920s. It seemed like the dawning of a new era- but was it?

Unfortunately, the honeymoon period is over and It seems more and more likely that this period of democracy is little more than a hiatus between two dictatorships. That's, admittedly, a very bold claim to make, but it is not a claim without evidence.

Firstly, people crave strong leadership in times of crisis. Polling shows many Qianrongese voters- as high as 53% in some surveys- would vote for leaders they strongly disagree with if they thought those individuals would take sweeping action to fix issues facing Qianrong. As many as 47% list "strength, boldness, or leadership" as the top quality they look for in political candidates- ahead of "similar political beliefs", "good moral character", and "qualifications for the position". A Renmin Husheng poll from earlier this year found that as many as 41% of voters would support or tolerate temporary restrictions on certain rights and privileges if these restrictions helped the government protect the security or prosperity of the Qianrongese people during desperate times. These "temporary restrictions" could easily be extended indefinitely, and used to abolish the rights that we won in the Winter Rebellion.

And Qianrong, to put it bluntly, is presently in a state of catastrophe, and has been for about two years now. The civil war known as the Second Domestic Terror War, first fought against psychotic terrorists actively targeting civilians and later against ruthless communist insurgents, has left Qianrongese infrastructure and cities in ruins. The Winter Rebellion threw Qianrong into chaos, and the institution of an entirely new set of government institutions has not gone as smoothly as some might have hoped. Then, just to top everything else off, region-wide economic troubles and assaults of Qianrongese financial institutions by the INTERPROS hacking group have left Qianrong's economy in shambles. Unemployment presently sits at roughly 29 to 31 percent- down from 35 percent immediately after the crash. Mass unemployment, terrorism, and political instability have left Qianrong reeling and the Qianrongese people desperate. The environment is perfect for the rise of a charismatic democrat, or a demagogic autocrat.

So Qianrongese voters are turning to strong leaders. Sometimes these leaders are people like former Acting Chancellor Li Jian-Zheng and sitting Prime Minister Qi Chien-Xuan- politicians willing to move heaven and earth to protect the Qianrongese people, who take their commitment to the people seriously and are determined to preserve not just their prosperity and security, but also their liberty. Sometimes, though, these leaders are autocratic, terroristic people like self-declared Chairman Long Jiao-Dan. While some of Long's apparent popularity in QSR-occupied territories is the result of falsified election results and intimidation by soldiers and secret police, a frighteningly large amount of it appears to be legitimate- even in cities like Xiangmen and Danh Dap, which were hot spots of the anti-authoritarian Winter Rebellion. This is because Long has created public works projects and encouraged militarization and fortification, creating jobs and guaranteeing security for desperate Qianrongese citizens. After the intense turmoil of the Second Domestic Terror War, many have decided they would be willing to give up liberty in exchange for security and some limited prosperity. This has allowed Long to cement himself as the ruler of the southern portions of the Qianrongese archipelago, and has allowed him to rely on love before fear- at least for the time being.

This turn towards autocracy is not only present in the South; it can also be found in the North. It was not too long ago that a jury acquitted Guo Tse-Zu and Mataas Pangahatang, who had been charged with crimes against humanity for their attempted suppression of the Winter Rebellion; the tactics utilized by Guo and Pangahatang involved firing live rounds on crowds of peaceful protesters, the implementation of martial law and a harsh curfew, and of razing a Ministry of Information bureau that covertly sent out a pro-Winter Rebellion message. Both men walked away free, facing no consequences whatsoever for their actions. Even more worrying, however, is the rise of Song Li-Chao in the democratic politics of the Second Independent State. The final chancellor of the authoritarian FDRQ is one of the least likely members of any hypothetical SISQ government, or so one would think- but he's already worked his way back up to the vice presidency, displaced Zhong Fang-Ye as the leader of the AQNS, and could potentially seize the presidency if the AQNS does well in the 2017 elections. And as Song skillfully exploits Qianrongese vulnerability and xenophobia, getting into Twitter wars with domestic and foreign rivals- including the universally despised Breuvi Shjoraski of Luziyca- he boosts his reputation as a bold, confident, brazen leader who would stop at nothing to protect Qianrong, which is exactly what many voters want. While the presidency is not an especially powerful position, his ability to rise to prominence means that other individuals with ideological ties to the defunct FDRQ regime could imitate his success and seize control of the title of Prime Minister. In short, it is entirely feasible that autocratic or quasi-autocratic individuals could use democratic institutions to reclaim power and return Qianrong to autocracy.

But surely there must be other factors. After all, every nation deals with crisis- and yet many nations across Esquarium are democratic. How are those nations able to survive the crises that will bring Qianrong to its knees?

The answer is that they have each other. These democratic foreign powers- Namor, Ainin, the United Republics, Francilie, Odissia, Vjaarland, Crolacia, Vyvland, Britanno, Osonia, so on and so forth- they have each other. Interconnected webs of trade agreements, political treaties, military alliances, and diplomatic compromises allow these nations to work hand-in-hand to face down common issues and support each other in times of crisis. Qianrong, however, has no such web. Geopolitically, the only nations Qianrong could truly be described as close to are monarchic Tuthina, autocratic Salbeiland, and democratic Scotia and Saexland. Only two of those four, Scotia and Saexland, could be said to have any democratic credentials whatsoever- and only one of those, Scotia, could be described as a well-liked member of the international community. Without any real diplomatic web, Qianrong faces many of its problems near-totally on its own, and this exacerbates the stress of the crises.

Qianrong's diplomatic isolation is an unintended, if frighteningly effective, consequence of decades of FDRQ propaganda. For decades, the Free Democratic Republic tapped into Qianrong's innate desire for independence from foreign domination, claiming that the democratic governments of Esquarium were working to subjugate and exploit the Qianrongese people- and though evidence was never provided, the propaganda campaigns were nevertheless insidious and effective. While the FDRQ is gone, the effect of their propaganda is not- as evidenced by Namor's presence on the "Discriminator List" in spite of any evidence, the costly maintenance of an utterly pointless nuclear weaponry program, the recent razing of Luziyca's embassy during the Coupe d'Esquarium, and countless other examples. To the outside world, the Qianrongese nation appears fickle, violent, and irrational- a diplomatic hassle at best, and an outright threat at worst.

And the Second Independent State cannot afford to simply ignore these baseless prejudices in favor of rational, beneficial policy-making. Former Prime Minister Le Gia Dinh and his foreign minister Siemyscza Vlasninov learned this the hard way when it was revealed they had said they would not enforce Namor's status on the "Discriminator List". This decision was entirely rational- the decision to put Namor on the "Discriminator List" was based less in evidence and more in fear, and had no real benefits for Qianrong- and yet they paid dearly for it. Their successors, Qi Chien-Xuan and Nguyen Cong Chua respectively, will no doubt have taken note of what happened to Le and Vlasinov. Unfortunately, Qi and Nguyen are now in a wholly untenable position- they can either make the politically astute and more beneficial choice, and destroy their governing coalition and political careers, or they can remain in power domestically but keep Qianrong isolated from foreign countries. Qi and Nguyen, perhaps believing more good could be done by focusing on domestic issues and remaining diplomatically isolated, seem to have gone for the latter option. No doubt the hope is that they can rebuild Qianrong without foreign assistance, and- once the effects of decades of propaganda have begun to wear off- rebuild the ties between Qianrong and the rest of the world. But the damage that foreign isolation inflicts on their efforts to stave off the litany of issues facing Qianrong is far greater than either seems to realize.

Unfortunately, this means that the democratic nations Qianrong should be emulating and aligning itself with don't want to touch Qianrong with a fifty-foot-long pole. Qianrong recently applied to join the Esquarian Community, one of the strongest democratic alliances in Esquarium. Membership in the EC would have protected Qianrongese democracy, begun the reconnection of Qianrong to the world, and possibly even allowed for the trial of ex-FDRQ officials for human rights violations under international law. But every single member nation of the EC either voted nay or abstained on Qianrong's membership application. Unnervingly, the rejection of Qianrong's application technically had more nay votes than the rejection of the application submitted by the rebel regime in Xiangmen- a result that does not reflect the fact that the SISQ is a democratic government, whereas the QSR is a self-proclaimed and unrecognized dictatorship.

Even worse, this is an area where the autocratic regime of Long Jiao-Dan has the advantage. As the authoritarian ruler of the "Qianrongese Soviet Republic", he answers to no one- not to the Politburo, not to the Presidium, and certainly not to the people. When Qianrongese civilians peacefully protested against his decision to proclaim Oteki a part of Namor, he ordered the Revolutionary People's Army for Equalitarianism to gun them down. Footage smuggled out of the occupied territories by covert groups shows the RPAE gunning down men, women, and children with live fire, razing entire neighborhoods to silence dissent. In the territories still controlled by Yucheng, however, the will of the people is something that must be acknowledged. As a result, Long can act with impunity and silence any opposition to his plans with fire and blood. As he is not beholden to the Qianrongese people in any way, he can afford to be cooperative and malleable in a way that Qi Chien-Xuan cannot- and any nation playing realpolitik will likely shake hands with Long and look the other way when he murders civilians and represses dissent.

As a result of all these factors, the future of Qianrongese democracy will probably look something like this:

Initially, democracy in the North will continue to limp along under leaders like Li Jian-Zheng, Qi Chien-Xuan, and Nguyen Cong Chua, who will no doubt work tirelessly to preserve it however they can and get the country back on its feet. But the continued insistence for political isolation by Qianrongese voters will stifle recovery efforts and, ultimately, doom all efforts at recovery. With democratic leaders failing to enact change, voters will then turn to demagogues and authoritarians like Song Li-Chao, Jing Hui-Zong, and Guo Tse-Zu; these rulers will undo the progress of the Winter Rebellion and end the brief democratic experiment known as the Second Independent State. A second Free Democratic Republic of Qianrong will be established. The leaders of the Rebellion will be prosecuted and groups like Radio Free Qianrong and the National Rights and Liberties Index will either be seized by the government and turned into puppets, or will once again head into exile. Autocracy will come back, and- perhaps most frighteningly- be hailed with thunderous applause.

In the South, Long Jiao-Dan will attempt to keep his regime one that reigns through love, not fear- but his rule will never, in any sense of the term, be democratic. Eventually, though, the hammer will have to fall- this will likely come when he attempts to start enacting Equalitarianist policies in earnest, as these policies are explicitly stated to involve the total reshaping of society and are generally interpreted as requiring the destruction of everything from the wealth gap to the rural-urban divide. Anyone who resists these changes will no doubt face repression from a ruthless military and an omnipresent secret police force. Long will soak his hands in the blood of his own people, and then smile and shake hands with democratically elected leaders like Marianne de Lotbiniere and Shohai Antelope. The world will ignore the bloodstains and the screams of terror, all in the name of cold and cynical realpolitik.

In South Qianrong, democracy is already dead. In North Qianrong, it is set to die, and soon. Unless something radical changes in the status of foreign geopolitics or the Qianrongese psyche, democracy in Qianrong is doomed.

Zhang Jiu-Ping is a Professor of International Relations at Kastilpakha City University, where he has worked for twenty-seven years. He majored in Velkio-Lahudic History at Xiangmen State University, and later earned qualification to become a teacher at Danh Dap State University and then to become a professor at Zheng Hye-Jeou University in Yucheng.

All opinions expressed in this article are opinions of the article, and are not necessarily representative of the opinions of the National Defender or its employees.

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[The Jahistic Unified Republic]

Rave Life in Unolia At All-Time High
35% More Registered Metropolitan Nightclubs Since 2010

A Ravegoer At The "Blank Canvas" Rave. She's Covered in Paint,
A Gimmick of That Tour

Before the Unolian Civil War and the spread of both modern rock-and-roll, hip-hop, and electronic dance music (EDM) throughout Unolia, nightlife was reserved for the upper-class of Unolian society and consisted of comparatively mild activities, such as theater and tame social gatherings of the rich and members of the Unolian nobility. This, however, is being phased out in favor of more raucous and sometimes controversial activities that have politicians and society split.

Our story starts in Unolia City, just outside of Unolia City University. In College Town, there is a strip on the East Side District of Unolia City called, somewhat sarcastically, "Death Row". There lies seven nightclubs or concert venues on this street, three of them side by side to another. We were able to secure an interview with club owner Danny Halmond, 28, of Vertical NightLife:

"Our clientele mainly consists of college aged people due to the University and Military Academy being so nearby. The median age is usually 21 or 22."

Vertical's specialty is the rave: loud parties consisting of mainly rap and EDM that appeals to younger people for the purposes of dancing. Almost by default, these parties are drug fueled, with Reggan (or, as it is known outside of Unolia, Ecstasy) tablets being the primary drug of choice.

Halmond proudly displays his Recreational Drug Dispensary License (RDDL) above the bar in his club. He says what he does is "100% inside of the confines of every city and Union-wide regulation on drugs and alcohol" and says he has "never served a minor (16 for alcohol and 18 for hallucinogenic and psychoactive drugs in Unolia City) in my lifetime". Psychoactive drugs were legalized in the Jahistic Republic of Unolia in 2003, but have recently seen a spike in usage starting in 2014.

"People come here to have a good time and listen to music. If they get too high, trippy, or drunk to the point where we think they can't successfully get home, we call and pay for a taxi for them. We're a responsible business."

In spite of this, the new counterculture consisting of neo-flower children, glowsticks, and deafening music, has drawn much controversy from parents and concerned politicians. David Yian, Chairman of the Jahistic Party of Unolia City (associated with the AULP) and City Council Member, has been called a spearhead of the charge against what he calls "reckless nightlife":

"We all want to have a good time, but we cannot afford the risks associated from this neoculture to the young people."

He points out that deaths via heatstroke and dehydration have risen since 2014, apparently paralleling the upsurge in use of ecstasy and other party drugs at these parties. However, pro-MDMA and rave supporters point out that education about the drug and consuming plenty of non-alcoholic fluids can help offset these side-effects. Currently, the position of the AULP is one of continued of legalization as is.

"A rave to us is just, in a word, freedom. Freedom to make your own choices and, for a fleeting period, be in a community that relates with you on that level," says Fu Xicau, 29, founder of the Blank Canvas Tour. Founded in 2012, the tour group has capitalized on the bright colors associated with the rave lifestyle by spraying washable, non toxic paint onto crowds (wearing white, usually) as part of the festivities.

The organization, which, in lieu of small clubs and venues, rents out small stadiums for their shows that draw thousands, are currently on a thirteen city tour of Unolia and plan on going international in Q3 2016. They're considered at the forefront of the emerging "party industry" catering to young adults. They were even hired to serve a ball for the Swegal Jahistic Youth Corps in 2013. In 2015, Fu was named the "Greatest Entrepreneur Under 40" by Unolian Economy and Man Magazine. He says he just wants Unolia to "loosen up" in the post-Thuman era.

"When the Great Leader died, and I'm saying this with all due respect to him and his administration, but we hit a rock bottom as a country. Depression and suicide were both up and I think the emerging party lifestyle is filled with youths looking for a place to fit in. I'm just here to help."

In Other News:

• Zheng says "Three possible options" for end to Roubao Conflict, yet to name those options.
• Unolia Revolutionaries (7-1) take game one of Capital Series and the lead of the UTL South from the South Unolia Giants (6-2)
• Brookopolis Grove Roos (0-7) put up for sale by owning group.

[Luziyca]

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The campaign trail for the referendum

October protests in Namor's consulate in Kenyen

KENYEN, NANTAI - As the campaign begins to warm up for the Nantai status referendum that will take place on the sixth of July, the three campaigns have began to organize themselves. The three campaigns are: "Status Quo is God," advocating the status quo, the "Alliance for a Sovereign Nantai," advocating a sovereign nation, and "Nantainese Reunification" advocating reunification with Namor.

So far, not a lot of attention has been going towards the referendum, due to how distant it is from today. That being said, the referendum campaign is expected to start gaining traction over the next several weeks, as the groups advocating the choices begin promoting their choice over the rest of the choices. Without further ado, here is a summary of the main organizations promoting the choices in the referendum:

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Status Quo is God
This name was chosen by former Chief Executive Kung Alicia, who stated that "status quo is realistically the only peaceful solution that benefits all sides." Despite this, Anna Avramov is the actual head of the organization.

Anna Avramov has stated that "Status Quo is God advocates for the status quo: it is realistically the only solution we have to the dispute between Namor and Luziyca. If we go for sovereignty, Namor will inevitably take us over, and if we go for reunification, Nantainese will make sure that the process of reunification will be more difficult than in Peitoa."

Status Quo is God advocates for preservation of the status quo, as defined by the October Consensus.

Alliance for a Sovereign Nantai
Ivan Wu, a prominent advocate for Nantainese independence has established the Alliance for a Sovereign Nantai. It advocates the creation of an independent nation comprising of the constituent republic of Nantai.

Ivan stated, "I have created the organization because for too long, we have been loyal to Luziyca. And what have we gotten in return for our loyalty? Crass ignorance from Bethlehem, as Bethlehem strives to maintain good relations with Namo. It is clear that us Nantainese have to take matters into our own hands."

The Alliance advocates for independence of Nantai, and also states that it can be economically self-sufficient.

Nantainese Reunification
In Po'ai, to the west of the Namo-Luziycan barrier, Liu Ming has established "Nantainese Reunification," which advocates for reunification of Nantai with Namor.

Liu explained that "I think in the long run, reunification is the only way to go. So why can't we do it now, and get it out of the way before it is too late to do so?"

It advocates for immediate reunification with Namor as the Nantai Prefecture under the jurisdiction of West Namor district, unless if Namor seeks a different status for Nantai.

[Francilie]

Monday, 11th April 2016
AFTER HIS INAUGURATION: LIET'S AGENDA

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Cédric Liet's inauguration will take place tonight at 18:30.

GRAND-OCEAN, L'AUBE CAPITALE FIENOISE - After the most sweating election in decades, Cédric Liet won the Prime Consulate with ~30% of the votes. This Liet win will force Claire Journay to resign. Though the reaction in Francilie was either very good or very bad, the reaction abroad has been either neutral, like the Luziycan President Sera Svensson's, Qianrong's Qi Chien-Xuan's or the Freyhillian PM hopeful Mats Lundgren's, but other far-right leaders such as Daecon's Charlotte Durrough, Qianrong's Song Li-Chao, Freyhill's Karolina Crusenstolpe or the Saexish president Ecgwulf Oswinessunu, congratulated Liet for his victory.

But after Liet's inauguration, what will happen ?

Cédric Liet revealed his agenda for his first week as Prime Consul on his campaign website.

Monday After his inauguration, he won't stay in the Sainte-Catherine Palace. He will quit the famous residence to the Pontnouveau-Dommartin-Albert-Millerand International Airport to take a plane to Ainin, where he will do a "seduction operation", and also to reassure the Aininians about his platform.

Tuesday On his arrival in Huimont, Liet will visit Marianne Thiébault de Lotbinière, the Prime Minister of Ainin, Rémy Micheaux, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Maxime Bélanger, the Deputy Prime Minister, in the morning. He will then go to the Council of Esquarium, meeting the President, Rémi de Wampley.

Wednesday Liet will stay in Ainin and will meet the leader of the opposition, the Progressive-Conservative Anna Barési, in the morning.
He'll fly back to Francilie in the evening.

Thursday Liet should announce the composition of the provisional government until the next legislative elections, that he will certainly call. Robarta Inarèda, his running mate, will surely be the provisional Second Consul.

Friday And finally, on Friday, he'll visit Saexland to talk with his Saexish counterpart, Ecgwulf Oswinessunu, very close to Liet on the political spectrum.

[Namor]

First bill introduced in 19th CenCo: Sanctions on Luziyca
PFC's Chia Bovang proposes amendment to Defense Against Imperialism Act, calls for ban on Luziycan capital investments above P1000
Restrictions will prolong recession, warns opposition

April 11, NMR 2378

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8 DAYS

UNTIL INAUGURATION DAY

Chia Bovang, legislative leader of the People's Firsts, proposed an amendment
that would ban all Luziycan capital investments worth over P1000 (approximately
$143)

NAMO, CAPTIAL DISTRICT - The day after the 19th Central Council convened for the first time, the first bill was submitted by People's First Coalition (PFC) legislative leader Chia Bovang (#1) who called for a ban on Luziycan capital investments in Namor worth over P1000.

Titled the "Defense Against Imperialism Amendment Act," the bill proposed a ban on all Luziycan capital investments worth over P1000 - equivalent to $143 or L₤71. In addition, it proposed that the width of the Frontier Security Zone - a border zone situated along the Namo-Luziycan border - be expanded to pre-normalization levels, or 150 kilometers.

Chia sponsored the bill along with 30 co-sponsors from the PFC, Liberationists and Socialists.

"This amendment will thoroughly protect Namor's industries and workers from foreign monopolization. As a legislature that answers to the Namorese people, everyone has a duty to end Luziyca's campaign of long-term economic enslavement, which has only been exacerbated by a decade of Fu rule," he told a press junket.

Deputy Hu Bangxo (#39), who is among the Liberationist sponsors of the amendment, hopes his party will throw formal support behind the bill.

"Luziyca has not been acting like a good neighbor to us. Namor has tried to compromise, but all we got in return were repeated acts of provocation from the other side, especially on the question of occupied Nantai. Not to mention all of our money flowing across the border. It's got to stop. It's about time we stand for ourselves and send a clear message to Bethlehem that we will no longer put up with their insanity," he said.

The New Democrats, who are now the minority in the CenCo, voiced their opposition to the bill, with Deputy Jiang Hua (#13) warning that its "excessively restrictive nature" will force trade with Luziyca to come to a halt.

"I don't care whether you're for détente or against it, but this is beyond ridiculous. It's the most restrictive ban on investments anybody's ever seen. Deputy Chia might as well propose an embargo," Jiang said. "If this passes, many Luziycan businesses will be expelled from the country. People will buy less. This has devastating implications for the Namorese and global economy."

Deputy Huan An (#14) said Chia's bill forebodes "darker days to come in the CenCo."

"Here you are, on the first day of actually working in the Central Council, and you already submitted this draconian bill that will extend the recession for Heaven knows how long. I will not be surprised if the CenCo passes a declaration of war in less than two weeks."

President of the CenCo Txo Hengzang declined to comment on whether he will support the bill if it passes the CenCo Economic Cadre and lands in the CenCo floor.

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Other News

---

• Ultranationalist politician wins Francilie consular vote - Cedric Liet of the Patriots won the consular election in Francilie, in a last-minute upset for moderate candidates.
• Qianrongese democracy "doomed," says professor - Professor Zhang Jiu-Ping predicts that Qianrong's political future will see an increased reliance on demagogic figures and a return to autocracy.
• Occupied Nantai vote campaign begins - The Nantainese Reunification Movement, headed by Liu Ming, was established in Po'ai.

[Luziyca]

Federal government requests injunction on the referendum

Sera Svensson in Kenyen

BETHLEHEM, F.C. - Nearly a week into the referendum campaign, the federal government has requested a motion to file an injunction against the constituent republic of Nantai, to bar it from holding the referendum on July 6th and to force its cancellation, due to "national security" concerns.

Sera Svensson stated to the press that "with the Namorese planning to pass legislation that would destroy all of our trade with Namor and prolong the recession, we have to do everything we can to make sure that relations with Namor remain strong and healthy, no matter what. Namor is a very important trading partner, so we cannot afford to destroy all the progress that was made over the past several years."

"We are going to do everything we can to prevent the Fourth Namo-Luziycan War from breaking out," Svensson declared, "we will do everything we can to prevent further damage, and therefore, we will file the injunction against the Nantainese government to make sure the referendum will never be held." She also added that "if the motion fails, we will refuse to recognize the results of this referendum. That's all."

When asked by a reporter from LRT why she is betraying the promise to support Nantainese self-determination, Svensson replied that "Either you support the way things are now, or you want a Fourth Namo-Luziycan War. This is something that we cannot afford to have, especially with politicians like Chia Bovang who want to institute such strict tariffs and seek to destroy the progress we have made over the past few years."

"We cannot let Nantai be a thorn in our side when it comes to relations between Namo and Bethlehem," she said. "Kenyen has no role, and it should not expect to have any say whatsoever in what goes on between Shohai Antelope and myself."

The proposal for an injunction has been met with criticism: organizers of the protests said that 200,000 people (Kenyen police claim it is just 75,000) have took to the streets in Kenyen, protesting over two issues: the lack of an option for becoming "just" a constituent republic, and the proposed injunction against the Nantainese government that would force them to stop the referendum.

Nantainese flags were flown, with banners reading "WE WILL DECIDE!" and "NO TO AN INJUNCTION, YES TO A CONSTITUENT REPUBLIC" were shown. Slogans such as "We will decide!", "Our future, our choice," and "We have a say!" were chanted by the demonstrators. Among the attendees was former President Breuvi Shjoraski.

When interviewed, Shjoraski said, "I am a firm believer in self-determination. I don't think Bethlehem or Namo should interfere with Kenyen's own future," and added that "Svensson is getting too far."

More as the story develops.

In other news

• Namor - Chia Bovang proposes maximum cap of ₤71.43 for Luziycan investments to Namor
• Francilie - C. Liet becomes First Consul
• Unolia - Rave use at an all time high
• Mingwok - Modern art gallery trashed in Konriten by Araki Anduri while ranting how pieces are not art

[West Cedarbrook]

-- retconned --

[Ainin]

Home » News » Politics
▍ Diplomatic Row Erupts Day Before Historic State Visit
▍ CONTROVERSY AFTER QUEEN ELIS OF KATRANJIEV PROCLAIMS SUPPORT FOR PISDARI INDEPENDENCE

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The Aininian government has been left howling with fury after Queen Elis of Katranjiev, currently on a state visit in the Aininian protectorate of Pisdara, yelled out the phrase "Long live an independent Pisdara!" during a speech to islanders. In her speech, she apologised for "abandoning" Katranjiev's old colonies on Pisdara and vowed to "fight to ensure that human rights on Pisdara are respected" because "Ainin [has left] Pisdara in the dust once again".

This scandal comes at a very bad time, as a historical state visit is set to begin tomorrow. Francesian consul-elect Cédric Liet, the first head of state in the EC to belong to an ultranationalist party, will land in Huimont to alleviate Aininian fears about Francilie's future in the Esquarian Community.

Remy Micheaux, Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Esquarian Community, reacted with indignity to the proclamation in an address to the National Assembly.

"We cannot and we will not tolerate this severe breach of diplomatic protocol and the insulting implication that Ainin has left Pisdara in abandon. The appointment of Dr. Bergeron was a key step in ending the standoff with Governor Leche, and it was under the Citizen-Protector's authority that the Pisdari National Guard dispersed the nationalist insurrectionists."

"Aininians can rest assured that Queen Elis' statements were patently untrue," he added. "This department is fully committed to investing in the island's reconstruction. The reason that we have not yet pledged a set amount of funding is that we await the formation of an elected government which can advise us on the quantity and types of assistance required. Simply showering money on projects that we think would be beneficial is a type of top-down administration that is colonialist and socially irresponsible in nature, and not one that we condone. Consequently, we reject the government of Katranjiev's misguided monetary offers and condemn Queen Elis' dangerous insinuation that Katranjiev intends to reimpose its influence upon the sovereign state of Pisdara."

"The government has furthermore lodged a diplomatic protest with the Katranjian government and we have recalled [ambassador to Katranjiev] Julie Vaugrenard for consultations," he concluded.

During the debate following Minister Micheaux's speech, all major party leaders spoke negatively about the remarks.

On the government side, SDP leader and prime minister Marianne de Lotbinière blasted them as "reckless and irresponsible" and "unbecoming of a ceremonial head of state on an official visit." Deputy Prime Minister and Citizens' Alliance leader Maxime Bélanger concurred, calling them "slanderous". Minister of Agriculture and leader of the Bloc for Rural Development David Proulx said they were "deplorable."

Opposition Leader Anna Barési of the Progressive Conservative Party stated that "while we agree that development aid should be distributed faster, we strongly condemn the remarks, whose overtones are patronising and, quite frankly, racist. Acting as if decolonisation is a grave mistake puts Queen Elis amongst the ranks of Misters Zhang and La Via in their ability to pander to the lowest common denominator."

Leader of the Secondary Opposition Max Cornell, divisive leader of the far-right National Alliance, declared that "[these] the words of a narcissistic personality who craves the spotlight much like a cancerous tumour craves healthy cells to prey upon."

A spokesman for Pisdari head of state Dr. Alain Bergeron declined comment.

[Pisdara]

12 April, 2016

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Demonstrations break out after Katranjian queen’s controversial speech
Marching down the main street of Ashuragar, a group of pro-independence marchers yelled cries of “Referendum! Referendum!” after Queen Elis of Katrnjiev’s speech calling for an ‘independent Pisdara’ earlier today during a meeting with the Territorial Council. Flying blue-orange-and-green tricolours, a number of the marchers, when asked about their procession, told our reporters that they wish to see a referendum on the issue of sovereignty and self-determination. “We are not involved in that decision currently”, stated Ahum Akula’umnhal, walking alongside the crowd. “The draft of the new Constitution goes to the National Assembly in Ainin and they get to choose if it passes or not. How ridiculous is that?” Another protester, who wishes to stay anonymous, states the reason she joined the march was due to multiple issues, primarily the perceived Aininian disinterest during the three month rule of former Governor Alfred Leche. “They knew what was happening, yet they did nothing to stop it. Only when people started dying did they start to listen. Ainin doesn’t care for us, we’re a colony to them.”

Despite Queen Elis’s speech being considered the catalyst to the march, few have good words to say about her as well. “She’s no better than the imperialists in Ainin. Here she is, dotting about Chervega and the ‘good old days’. Let me tell her something, my grandfather was a nomad living there, and he has no ‘good old days’ stories to tell.” Our anonymous interviewee said. The march lasted well into the afternoon, with a possible 2,000 appearing on the street. The protest ended after a left-leaning protester was attacked by two fellow marchers, possible supporters of the right-wing Movement for an Islamic Pisdara, with the police getting involved. The Pisdara Territorial Council released a joint statement after the march began, calling for moderation and patience while the Constitution is still being drafted.

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[Britanno 2]

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Browning hangs on in dramatic EC election
Conservatives defy polls to hold on to 2 seats as top three parties tie for first.

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SDP leader Leanne Jensen

The three largest parties have virtually tied in elections to the Esquarian Parliament, final results show. The governing Conservatives, crossbench Freedom Party and opposition Social Democrats all won 19% of the vote, with only a few thousand votes between each of the parties. This guarantees all three parties two of Britanno's eight seats in the Esquarian Parliament each, with the remaining two going to the Social Liberals and Greens.

While the results will be disappointing to Prime Minister Marcus Browning, whose party is down six points since the 2011 election, they are better than opinion polling suggested. Prior to the election, it was seen as likely that the Conservatives would be pushed down to one seat as the Freedom Party stormed ahead to win three seats. However, Herman Ilbert's party performed poorly in comparison with forecasts that estimated it to win more than 30% of the vote, and it is possible his promise to take Britanno out of the Esquarian Community put swing voters off.

Meanwhile, the Social Democrats recovered from their disastrous 2011 election with the most votes, albeit only by a few thousand. The SDP won back the seat they lost at the last election with a swing towards them of 6%, a good result for Leanne Jensen who has not even finished her first year as party leader yet. Despite this, some Social Democrats took to social media to express their worry at the lack of a convincing win less than a year away from a general election Jensen's party hopes will take them back to power.

[Katranjiev]

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Queen's support for independence of Pisdara draws backlash

Queen Elis in Pisdara

KRASIMIR, KRASIMIR - Earlier today, the Queen gave a speech that promised aid to Pisdara, and apologized for having betrayed the islanders when Huankun Chen took power in 1951, before uttering "Long live an independent Pisdara!" This was met with a firestorm: a peaceful demonstration took place in Ashuragar demanding a referendum on independence from Ainin, before clashes between a leftist protester and Islamist protesters resulted in the protest being forced to come to a close. In Huimont, the government of Ainin has criticized Elis' remarks, with Aininian Foreign Minister Remy Micheaux saying that her statements were "patently untrue."

Her statements drew universal condemnation among all major Aininian political parties, with the Aininian Prime Minister, Marianne de Lotbinière condemning the remarks as "reckless and irresponsible" and "unbecoming of a ceremonial head of state on an official visit."
Opposition Leader Anna Barési of the Progressive Conservative Party stated to the STA that "while we agree that development aid should be distributed faster, we strongly condemn the remarks, whose overtones are patronising and, quite frankly, racist. Acting as if decolonisation is a grave mistake puts Queen Elis amongst the ranks of Misters Zhang and La Via in their ability to pander to the lowest common denominator."
Finally, Leader of the Secondary Opposition Max Cornell, the leader of the far-right National Alliance in Ainin, declared to the STA that "[these] the words of a narcissistic personality who craves the spotlight much like a cancerous tumour craves healthy cells to prey upon."

So far, Queen Elis has neither confirmed nor denied that she participated in the march in Ashuragar.

What the Queen has to say
Following the backlash of the speech, Elis said later that day to the press that "if there is one thing I will apologize for, it is that I implied that decolonization was a mistake. I did not mean to imply that decolonization was a mistake: after all, we restricted the movement of nomads into a specific area of our colony, and we exploited the resources for our benefit. Decolonization was also was beneficial in the long run considering how we managed to transform Chervega into a full-fledged desert in nearly a century."

She stated that "the restitution that I sought to provide would have been for our negative impacts on our colonial rule on the people of the island, especially in the area that we controlled."

When asked about her remarks regarding Pisdari independence, she stated that "Pisdari people have a right to self-determination. I will completely support their decision unconditionally, provided that it is done in a peaceful and democratic referendum. That is one area I will not back down on, but I may have made some mistakes in communicating those sentiments earlier today."

Back home, however...
Back home in Krasimir, the National Assembly had convened, with a significant topic of discussion being Elis' speech, and how the government should respond to it.

Conservative leader Elena Magdarov condemned Elis' remarks, saying that "Her Majesty's remarks was a breach of international protocol. What Her Majesty ought to do is immediately apologize to the government of Ainin, and then leave the Pisdari archipelago to prevent further embarrassment upon our country."

On the other end of the spectrum, Liberationist Party leader Rikard Daskalov said that "not only were the remarks a breach of international protocol, it carries unfortunate implications that indicate that Katranjian colonialism was beneficial to Pisdara. It wasn't beneficial at all," and reiterated Elena Magdarov's request for an immediate apology and to cut her visit to Pisdara short.

Prime Minister Magarit Ogynan also condemned the remarks, concurring with Elena Magdarov and Rikard Daskalov's statements, but proposed that "the Katranjian government should provide aid to the Pisdari people. Not the royal family, obviously, but the nation as a whole."

However, there is another critic of the statements: the Queen's predecessor and her father, Apostol XV.

The King Father stated to reporters that "I'm disappointed with the behavior that my daughter has gotten up into in Pisdara. She is supposed to be a head of state, not some teenage girl off to a beach party for spring break. When she gets home, we need to talk about her behavior."

[FreYhill]

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Lundgren surges in Federal Debate
Minister Lundgren Joins Several Other Party Leaders in a Multiparty Debate for 2016 Federal Elections.
Pae Yong Chol, The Freyhillian | Posted: 13 April 2016 5:37 PM FST|

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TOP STORIES

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Queen Elis of Katrnjiev
causes Aininian outrage

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Cédric Liet is sworn in
as Prime Consul of Francilie

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Browning's Conservatives
hold on in Britanno's Esquarian
Community Elections

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Chia Bovang suggests
sanctions on Luziyca within
Namorese Central Council

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Luziycan Government files
injunction on Nantainese
referendum

Freyhillian Prime Minister Hopeful speaks at Liberal Party fundraising campaign hours before debate.

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- (Hyeyong, Kuyong) With the Primaries stage of the 2016 Freyhillian Federal Elections officially declared closed by the Federal Electoral Commission, the home stretch for the next Prime Minister of The Commonwealth of Freyhill is within walking distance. Mats Lundgren, Myo Sung and Karolina Crusenstolpe have all been trying to secure wins for their political parties, and effectively the top job of the country. However, the race isn't over yet, with the leaders of the current top three political parties of the country (Liberal/National Coalition, Labor and One Nation) continuing to try and convince their constituents during tonight's multiparty debate.

Government Spending
Although Taxation has been under the limelight during the Primaries stage, candidates were tonight asked to outline their schemes on Government Spending during their four years of office. Current Minister for Innovation Industry and Science and Leader of the Liberal/National Coalition Mats Lundgren had the most interesting policy during the debate, pledging to reinstate Commonwealth Government efficiency the Minister believed that the best way to tackle with country's spending problem is to restructure departments that are highly inefficient such as Social Services. Lundgren has been promising efficiency within the Government since day one of his campaign within the Primaries stage, with polls suggesting that his strong economic plan for the future of the nation would cause the minister to be sworn in as the 12th Prime Minister of The Commonwealth of Freyhill after the federal elections.

With The Commonwealth traditionally supporting Liberal economic policy, Myo Sung's policy to make Social Services such as welfare more available wont go down so well with the voter. Introducing new campaign policy during the debate, Myo has pledged to increase welfare by 15% to address the extremely low welfare payments compared to the much higher prices of daily items. Although that Myo has little chance on getting the Prime Ministership compared to Lundgren or Crusenstolpe, Myo has been working hard to maintain the influence of opposition within the Diet after losing multiple seats in the Esquarian Community Parliament Elections.

Foreign Affairs
With Foreign Affairs being a major part of Esquarium, candidates were also asked what their foreign policy would look like and how it would most likely benefit the Commonwealth. Across his campaign, Current Minister for Innovation Industry and Science and Leader of the Liberal/National Coalition Mats Lundgren has pledged to extend the Commonwealth's foreign relations with liberal minded nations such as Ainin and Francilie whilst continuing strong relations with Monic Nations such as Mingwok and Tuthina. Although that Lundgren has promised to strengthen relations with countries that the Commonwealth currently has diplomatic dialogue with, Lundgren administration would most likely see the historic event of Namor establishing relations with the Commonwealth - a move seen vital for the economic growth of the Commonwealth.

Although that the Commonwealth is extensively strengthening relations with liberally minded nations across Esquarium, Karolina Crusenstolpe strongly believes that the Commonwealth should move back to the neutral foreign policy the Commonwealth adapted during the early and mid stages of the 20th Century. Crusenstolpe believes that her foreign policy will protect the Commonwealths economy and public security - two highly debated topics within Commonwealth politics.

[Pavonistade]

INTERPROS RELEASES INFORMATION OF ALLEGED PCG MEMBERS
Hacktivist group strikes at PCG amid controversy involving the latter

Date: April 14, 2016

A hooded protester in an anti-racist demonstration
in Pavonistadeck. The rise of the far-right in several
countries fuelled the PCG as well as opponents such
as the INTERPROS.

The Purity Congress faced off against what many spectators called an archenemy after making discriminating assertions on Twitter and other social media. Though the cyber war-of-words lasted for less than six hours, it marked the latest widely-publicized controversy in which the PCG and the hacktivist group INTERPROS were involved.

The PCG, a white supremacist organization with its roots traced back to Pavonistade, attempted to take advantage of a substantial rise of Islamophobia, ultranationalism, and the far-right. Online racist comments made by official PCG members, such as Pure Guardian (leader) Valdis Kortchens, and sympathizers are not unknown. There is a recent large increase in PCG activities, such as demonstrations and violence thought to be perpetrated by PCG members.

Their presence was recognized in the Ocelot Isles, where overturned speech laws allowed the return of PCG and white pride demonstrations they led. Despite PCG support for prominent leaders, the white supremacists were disavowed. Current Francilian Prime Counsul Cédric Liet tweeted that he doesn't "need [the PCG's] support" after the PCG described him as a "truly-promising [leader]". Kuo Zhang, the leader of the Namorese People's First Coalition, tweeted that he is "unaffiliated with anyone who propagates hatred and intolerance" after learning the PCG also labelled him as "promising".

On the other hand was INTERPROS, a hacktivist organization known for its cyberattacks and involvement in other events such as the Qianrongese Winter Rebellion. INTERPROS stated on Twitter that "[the PCG] will be paid a visit soon" four hours after the PCG praised Liet and Kuo. The PCG continued its remarks for days, one of the most recent being criticizing and attacking Katranjian Queen Elis after her speech in Pisdara, and seemingly ignored the statement from INTERPROS.

The PROS made the first strike by releasing a pastebin implicating 1000 people as members of the white supremacist organization. Several websites affiliated with the implicated people temporarily came under DDoS attacks. Representatives of the hacktivist network went to Twitter to state, "So long as the PCG and other extremists press with their bigoted agenda, we shall respond with equal force."

This is not the first time that INTERPROS targeted the PCG. On May 14 last year, the former launched Operation PCG which led to the takeover of the original PCG accounts on social media websites. PCG members were able to re-establish new accounts but it is widely considered that Operation PCG was a symbolic show of opposition and victory over the white supremacist organization. INTERPROS also released a previous list of 1000 people alleged to be part of the PCG.

It is understood however that such lists - or much of INTERPROS' accusations - was not entirely accurate. PAN Analyst Artemis Dallas said, "At times, INTERPROS publicized the information of people who were later confirmed to not belong to the Purity Congress. [...] Based on past erratic and Internet trolling behaviours, there is reason to suspect that INTERPROS may be intentionally falsely implicating people, particularly people such as racists and sexists that the PROS deem to be deserving of consequences."

Though the Purity Congress originated in Pavonistade, the last Pavonistadian province outlawed the organization in September of 2015. The Pavonistadian branch had since relocated to Lombardia. INTERPROS claimed it will keep the PCG at bay but will also watch for extremists such as religious fundamentalists.

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[Aucuria]

NEWS OF THE REPUBLIC
ŽIŅIA RESPUBLIKOS
CUMHURİYET XABER
Open to All Parties, Influenced by None

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Staugaitis resigns from legislative and party leadership positions
Longtime politician to be replaced by Labor's Petraitytė as Minority Leader and Alduris as Social Democratic leader


Staugaitis helped reunify Aucuria and served both as Speaker and Minority Leader.

KALNASPILS, AUCURIA | April 14, 2016- Longtime Aucurian politician Karolis Staugaitis has formally resigned from his positions as Minority Leader of the Saeimas and as leader of the Social Democrats after nearly three decades on the Aucurian political scene, telling a crowd of reporters that it was "time for a new generation of Aucurian leaders to take the reigns". "I have worked every day of my life for the sake of the Aucurian people," Staugaitis said, "but after twenty-seven years, it is time for someone else to take over these positions." He had reportedly decided to resign from both positions shortly following his defeat in the 2016 recall elections, but had kept it secret until other leftist leaders and members of the Saeimas had decided on who would succeed him in both positions.

Karolis Staugaitis was born in Naujoji Katniava, in what was then part of communist North Aucuria, on July 11, 1954 to Markus Staugaitis and his wife Livija Staugaitė. After his father died in 1957, Karolis was largely raised by his mother. He was trained as a mechanical engineer at the Naujoji Katniava Polytechnic Institute, and after serving five years of obligatory military service and obtaining the rank of corporal, began to work at an aircraft factory in his home city. He became a labor leader in 1970, encouraging fellow workers to strike over rising prices for food and gas; this placed him under constant government surveillance. He led further strikes in 1976 and 1981; he was arrested in 1981 as part of a crackdown on strikers and jailed until 1984, when he was released as part of a general amnesty.

Returning to his old job, Staugaitis led another series of strikes in 1988 that turned into the series of protests across North Aucuria known now as the Singing Revolution. These protests forced the resignation of North Aucurian premiers Emilijus Daukantas and Gintarė Mielkytė, and free elections for the People's Soviet. Staugaitis founded the Reform Movement of Aucuria, which ran in opposition to the Communist Worker's Party of Aucuria and won a majority of the seats. Staugaitis was named Premier of North Aucuria and, alongside South Aucurian President Saulė Valantiejutė, oversaw the reunification of North and South Aucuria in 1989 and the dismantling of the north's authoritarian institutions. In 1990, he oversaw the merger of the Reform Movement into the Social Democrats, and both became a Member of the Saeimas and succeeded Silvestras Valantinas as Speaker. He replaced Baltramiejus Sakalauskas as leader of the Social Democrats in 1997; after the Social Democrats and their leftist allies lost control of the Saeimas in 1998, he became Minority Leader. He retained both positions up until today. Staugaitis will retain his position as a Member of the Saeimas, but will not seek reelection in May.

As Minority Leader, Petraitytė will have to deal with brinkmanship from Speaker Gruduškas.

President Pantaleimonas Uspelevičius spoke in praise of Staugaitis- who he had faced and defeated in the recall election earlier this year- today, describing him as "one of the most influential figures in Aucurian history and an inspiration for thousands of people". "The role that Minority Leader Staugaitis played in guaranteeing that our country would be one country again, in guaranteeing that all Aucurians recieved the irrevocable and inherent rights to which we are all entitled, and in fighting for the Aucurian people cannot be understated... we will not forget his service to his country, in any of the many forms that it took."

Both the Social Democrats and the leftist caucus within the Saeimas have selected new leaders, to replace Staugaitis. Staugaitis's successor as leader of the Social Democrats will be Judė Alduris, a Member of the Saeimas who serves in President Uspelevičius's cabinet as Minister of Defense and a member of the Jewish Aukurish community. Alduris was selected by a collection of prominent party leaders within the Social Democrats and was endorsed by Staugaitis to serve as his successor. A spokesman for Alduris has said that he is "immensely honored to be succeeding Minority Leader Staugaitis as leader of the Social Democrats" and that he hoped to "fulfill the expectations of the hundreds of thousands of Aucurians who identify as supporters of the Social Democrats." At 38 years old, Alduris is far closer age-wise to President Uspelevičius (who is 44) and Member of the Saeimas Kazimieras Ilgauskas (who is 36); no doubt the naming of a younger leader is an attempt to prevent the exodus of younger left-wing voters to Uspelevičius's Labor Party and Ilgauskas's Liberal Movement.

Meanwhile, Staugaitis will be replaced as Minority Leader of the Aucurian Saeimas by Member of the Saeimas and Minister of the Economy Sulislova Petraitytė, a member of the Labor Party. Petraitytė was the preferred candidate of President Pantaleimonas Uspelevičius selected by the Members of the Saeimas representing the Social Democrats, Labor Party, Liberal Movement, New Republic, and Aucurian Greens. Judė Alduris and Minister for Foreign Affairs Bendiktas Artemaitis, both of the Social Democrats, were also considered for the position. At a press conference, Petraitytė said she was "deeply honored" to become Minority Leader, vowing to "work from sunrise to sunset to get legislation benefiting the Aucurian people passed by their legislature." However, Speaker Endrijūs Gruduškas and his rightist coalition of the National Alliance, Christian Democrats, and Law and Justice- which oppose President Uspelevičius and hold a few more Saeimas seats than their left-leaning counterparts- have vowed to stonewall any attempt by Uspelevičius and Petraitytė to pass leftist legislation, and have generally succeeded, with an attempt to block a return to a progressive tax bracket being their only significant failure. Speaker Gruduškas confirmed that this policy had not changed, saying "the program espoused by the Presidency and the Minority remains just as harmful to the Aucurian people's liberty and prosperity." As a result, Petraitytė will face an uphill battle.

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