South America News [Closed: South America]

[Oronia]

deleted

[Amajana]

—The Times of Amajana—

"Dying With Dignity" Act Passed

Amajana has become the latest in South America is pass a law legalising assisted suicide. Nicknamed the "Dying With Dignity Bill" (but officially titled the End of Life Choice Act) it received presidential assent today from President of the Republic, Akash Vamshi Banerjee, formally enacting it.

The controversial bill formalises a previous Supreme Court ruling of not prosecuting caregivers who passively euthanise a patient by withholding treatment at the patient's explicit and repeated request. It passed its final hurdle when the upper chamber of Parliament, Vidhan Parishad (or Legislative Council), approved it by 56 votes to 18 on Monday. It previously cleared the lower chamber, the Vidhan Sabha (or Legislative Assembly), by a much closer margin of 125 to 119. The Act required cross-party support to pass.

Opposed by religious groups as well as elderly and disabled rights organisations and charities, the law will entitle anyone diagnosed by a doctor as terminally ill and with less than 6 months to live the legal right to an assisted suicide supervised by a medical practitioner. Moreover, it will legalise passive euthanasia whereby medical doctors will be permitted to withdraw life support from patients who are in a permanent vegetative state (or "braindead").

Opponents of the law say it will put unfair pressure on vulnerable persons to terminate their lives unnecessarily to spare loved ones economic or social hardships while religious leaders believe it violates the sanctity of life and will lead to hospitals essentially deciding who lives or dies. However, supporters of the law say it will allow people who are dying anyway to end their lives on their terms and spare them and their loved ones unnecessary pain, suffering and indignity.

The Constitutional Bench of the Supreme Court dismissed all legal challenges to the proposed law in January saying there were no constitutional grounds to prevent the government passing such a law.

[Araxa]

Araxa Researchers Develop New Defense System

Luxia, Mar 17th - Araxa's top scientists have developed a new defense system that could revolutionize military technology. The breakthrough comes after years of research and development and is expected to enhance the country's already strong defense capabilities. The new system, dubbed "Aegis," is a cutting-edge technology that uses a combination of radar and laser to detect and eliminate incoming threats. The system is designed to provide advanced protection against ballistic missiles, drones, and other airborne threats.

According to a statement released by the Ministry of Defense, Aegis is a game-changer in the world of military technology. The system's ability to detect and track multiple targets simultaneously, combined with its high accuracy, makes it an extremely effective tool in defending against potential attacks.



Artist's rendition of the event

Under President Aralux's leadership, Araxa has made tremendous progress in the field of science and technology, paving the way for significant advancements in various sectors. The government's focus on research and development has resulted in numerous breakthroughs, including cutting-edge medical technologies, renewable energy solutions, and advanced defense systems such as the Aegis. While Araxa continues to prioritize the peaceful use of technology, the development of advanced defense systems such as Aegis is a testament to the government's unwavering commitment to ensuring the safety and security of its citizens.

[New Catalonia]

.★..El Món.

Dimecres 22 de març de 2023

CENSUS: OVER 50% "NO RELIGION"

Results from last year's census released this week show that, for the first time, more than 50% of the population claims to have no religion. The census, which happens every 10 years, asked people if they were religious and, if so, what religion they followed. For the first time it showed that more than half of the nation (52%) described itself as irreligious. It marks a big increase from the last census in 2012 which showed around 45% of the population describing itself as irreligious. However, when removing those who consider themselves "spiritual" or agnostic, the irreligious number falls to approx. 40%.

Christianity remained easily the biggest religion with 46% of the population following it. Catholicism remains the biggest christian sect with over 4 in 5 christians being catholics.

Prime Minister Cesc Alenya who is himself atheist said, "It shows that New Catalonia is a secular nation where anyone can believe whatever they like and not be forced to believe what they don't. It is a sure sign of a welcome and diverse nation."

However, President Sofia Mas, a practicing catholic, described it as a shame, "I worry that this means people do not see themselves as part of a bigger society and a bigger picture. I worry that people are disregarding their heritage and culture. It is a real shame. Religion does not have to be only about praying and believing, but it can be about the bigger community and society."

[Rio Cana]

Rio Cana News

Rio Cana inauguration of Drone Factory

With an initial investment of $150 million US dollars, the government in cooperation with three foreign private partners has set up a factory to manufacture military drones. The private partners, which have experience in developing drones and which have come together to form one main company, will invest altogether $150 million and will have a 50% controlling interest in the company. The drones manufactured will be for internal use and for export. A research and development unit will also be developed in order to continue to stay ahead of new advancements in drone technology.

The factories location cannot be disclosed. Construction on this new factory is to take place quickly. It is expected that this will provide direct employment to 500 workers plus 8000 indirectly.

[Rio Cana]

Rio Cana News

The people of Rio Cana deserve justice

The people of Rio Cana deserve justice, justice which the so called "constitutional democratic" government of Aurea refuses to allow. Has we all know, the former monarch that illegally ruled Rio Cana fled to Aurea after his so called empire crumbled. Our government has repeatedly tried to get the Aurean government to send him back to no avail. So the Rio government has decided to go after the former monarchs wealth. Secretary of states of major nations of the world have been sent legal notices which call for businesses (banks and investment companies) to freeze the accounts of the former monarch. For any property he owns to be expropriated and sold. All proceeds of these sales plus all money and stocks/bonds and so on from all the accounts to be repatriated back to the people of Rio Cana.

The former monarch, who is wanted for trial for high crimes against the nation and its citizens, is to have illegally appropriated himself of at least $3 billion US dollars of the peoples money. Has we indicated before, the former monarch is in hiding in the empire of Aurea which refuses to hand him over. This has greatly strained relations between our two nations. Currently, because of this no diplomatic ties exist between both nations. The people of Rio Cana deserve justice but the Aurean government stands in the way of this justice. Hopefully, the justice seeking people of Aurea can force there so called leaders to change their minds.

[Neragua]

PM 'Steps Back' To Undergo Skin Cancer Treatment

---

Smith, Prime Minister since 2018, will "temporarily step
back" from duties for at last 2 weeks.

Prime Minister Dean Smith has announced he will "temporarily step back" from office to undergo treatment for skin cancer. The 54-year-old, who has served as Prime Minister since 2018, will be replaced in an acting capacity by Deputy Prime Minister Alex Sánchez until he can return to the role.

Making the announcement, the Prime Minister confirmed that he had been diagnosed earlier in the year when a small patch of basel-cell carcinoma was found by his right ear. Speaking to reporters, he added that the prognosis was optimistic, that treatment "should be straight forward", and that it would not involve any invasive surgery. Mr Smith confirmed he will step back effective today, 28 March, and went on to say he hoped to return to his full duties within two weeks, though insisted he would be following medical advice throughout his treatment.

The Governor-General, Dame Andrea Glavin, released a statement saying she had privately spoken with Mr Smith and wished the Prime Minister a "full and speedy recovery" and adding that "the entire country" would share her sentiment. The Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, Brian Cassler MP, also added his support, saying, "We may have our differences in the political arena but behind every politician – and every diagnosis – there is a person and concerned family and friends. We wish the Prime Minister well and share with him our hope for a quick and complete recovery."

Cancer charities in Neragua have praised the Prime Minister for the "openness and honesty" in his revelation and have said they hope it will keep awareness of skin cancer in the public eye, which is particularly prevalent among Neraguans of European descent such as Mr Smith. Each year, around 1,500 people die from skin cancer in Neragua with approximately 500,000 others diagnosed. However, those cancer charities also highlight that skin cancer is one of the most treatable cancers – especially when spotted early. Basel-cell carcinoma, which the Prime Minister has been diagnosed with, is considered the “easiest” of skin cancers to treat and the least likely to spread, occurring in the uppermost layers of the skin. There have been decades of skin cancer prevention campaigns in Neragua which Mr Smith credited in his announcement earlier today.

[Entre Rios]

TikTok banned on gov devices

Mar. 31, 2023

Effective tomorrow, April 1, social media app TikTok will be banned on government electronic devices, the President has announced.

The ban comes after President Carlos Vega ordered a security review. This looked at the potential vulnerability of government data from social media apps on devices and risks around how sensitive information could be accessed and used by some platforms.

TikTok requires users to give permission for the app to access data stored on the device, which is then collected and stored by the company. Allowing such permissions gives the company access to a range of data on the device, including contacts, user content, and geolocation data. There are growing concerns that such companies—especially those based in China—may be subject to state-sanctioned interference and manipulation.

"This decision is in line with similar restrictions brought in by key international partners, including the United States, Canada, and several European nations," said the President. "The security of sensitive government information must come first, so we are banning this app on government devices. The use of other data-extracting apps will be kept under review. Restricting the use of TikTok on government devices is a prudent and proportionate step following advice from our cyber security experts."

The President added, however, that the ban only extended to government devices and tech, "Today’s ban does not extend to personal devices for government employees, cabinet secretaries or the general public. Individuals should be aware of each social media platform's data policies when considering downloading and using them."

Vega wishes Smith quick recovery

President Vega concluded today's press briefing with a message of sympathy and support for Prime Minister Smith of Neragua.

The President said, "I and all Entrerrians wish our good friend and ally Dean Smith a full and quick recovery. The Prime Minister made clear that the outlook is hopeful and we wish him well."

[Aurea]

No asset freeze for Rio Canans in Aurea

The government has rejected requests from Rio Cana to freeze assets on the former monarch. who fled to Aurea after being overthrown it a military coup. A representative of the government said there will be no asset freezes on any Rio Canans living in Aurea.

Rio Cana accuses the former head of state of embezzling billions of dollars though the representative of the Aurean government said there was no evidence of this. She said "However, I will add that Aurean foreign aid to Rio Cana ended in part because of irregularities with how the military government of Rio Cana was handling funds."

The government of current prime minister Marco Basurto has repeatedly and resolutely refused to engage with Rio Cana over not only the former monarch but all political asylum seekers who have fled to the country. The border was closed in 2019 and has remained heavily guarded since. Foreign aid was suspended at the time of the coup and Rio Cana withdrew diplomatic relations shortly after.

The bitter relations between Aurea and Rio Cana are a feature of the current general election campaign. The leader of the opposition and possible prime minister Frederico Souza is focused on restoring better relations with the northern neighbor but said while he is happy to investigate the former monarch's sources of revenue, he is not comfortable returning any political refugee.

[Aurea]

Polls narrow 2 weeks from election

The Workers Party's lead in opinion polls has greatly narrowed ahead of the general election on May 21. The opposition party began the campaign period approx. 15 points ahead of the incumbent Social Democratic Party but have seen since poll leads shrink to just 5 points. Experts say it is a sign that, while the country appears to no longer want the Social Democratic Party in power, they do not appear ready to return the Workers Party to office either--at least not alone.

A poll of polls indicates the Workers Party is still on track to be the largest party but will fall short of a majority by a large margin and will require the support of at least 2 other parties, maybe more, to form a government. The same poll of polls indicates the Social Democratic Party might exceed initial expectations from the start of the campaign, but that they will still suffer a significant defeat.

The news comes as prime minister Marco Basurto began an aggressive fightback last week as the opposition campaign began to falter. As well as defending his government's record, Sr. Basurto has called out the opposition, and the Workers Party especially, for opposing policies he says his government got right, such the pandemic responses. The prime minister also announced more robust initiatives to tackle the cost of living crisis in Aurea and new spending plans for education and welfare.

The Workers Party have dismissed the prime minister's pledges, however, saying that he has had his chance to deliver those things but that he failed to do so. The Workers Party leader Frederico Souza said the prime minister was offering too little too late and pledged greater spending on social welfare, poverty reduction and environmental protection.

The economy and cost of living are the most important factors in the election according to opinion polls with 60% of people saying it should be the priority of the next government. Experts say this is perhaps why the Workers Party's lead has narrowed so much with many voters unsure they will deliver on that.

The election will take place on May 21 when all 518 members of the Chamber of Deputies and one third -- 33 of 99 -- members of the Senate will be elected.

[Rio Cana]

Rio Cana News

Military exercises underway

Long planned military exercises are underway in the autonomous province of Marina,15 km. north of the Rio Cana - Aurea border and about 3 km. from the ocean. These exercises which were delayed for months was finally given the green light by the military. Foreign weapon experts were invited to watch the drills. These exercises will fine tune Rio Cana troops in the use of the weapons the republic currently has in stock.

In the following clip you can see our troops in action during nightime. The trucks are facing south.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/vTZsnE9pZWs

[Castroreale]

The Amazon region is home to many nations in South America, one of them being Castroreale, which has long struggled with limited access to the sea. This has had a significant impact on our economies, making it difficult to engage in international trade and commerce. However, in recent years, Castoreale has taken a new foreign policy and we have seen some positive developments in this area.
Ever since 2022, Castroreale, due to its isolated position in South America, has declared itself a neutral nation in the continent. The government has recognized that its lack of access to the sea is a significant barrier to its economic development and has therefore made a concerted effort to improve its relations with neighboring countries of Santa Thereza, Aurea (which Castroreale has a REALLY tiny border) and Amazonas. It has worked to develop stronger trade relationships and to promote regional cooperation in areas such as infrastructure development and environmental protection.

These efforts have borne fruit, with Castroreale now enjoying closer ties with its neighbors and increased access to international markets. This has led to a significant boost in our economy, with increased investment and trade contributing to higher levels of employment and economic growth. This has led to our nation becoming the second most developed in South America, and with less investment into our military, we could focus around Education and Healthcare for our people. Of course, there are still challenges to be faced. We must continue to work to improve its infrastructure and to address environmental concerns, while also navigating the complexities of international trade and diplomacy. However, by recognizing the importance of building strong relationships with its neighbors, it has taken an important step forward in securing a brighter future for our people.

However,with tensions rising in South America, The People of Castroreale begin to wonder, will the nation continue to be neutral, or will war reach our isolated lands, and we will have to fight alone? Only time will tell

[Rio Cana]

Rio Cana News

Military Week starts today

Pres. and commanding General Rodriguez today declared the start of military forces week. A week in which all our military forces will exhibit themselves before all the patriotic citizens of our great republic. Has our leader said "All will see the strength of our well equipped military forces. A military force ready to crush any external threat (Pres. raises his right arm and points to the south which we all know is a reference to the Aurean empire.) Large crowd can be heard cheering."

Short clip of the televised event - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiJi8Emck1w

[Aurea]

Souza claims victory, Basurto to concede

Frederico Souza has claimed victory in the 2023 general election as his center-left Workers Party becomes the largest party in the Chamber of Deputies. Not all votes are counted but the party is projected to win around 240 of 518 seats—an increase of around 60 seats—in the lower house of the Imperial Parliament. His party also won increased numbers in the Senate.

The center-right Social Democratic Party of incumbent prime minister Marco Basurto did better than predicted—losing approx. 30 seats to finish on around 210—but its coalition partners lost large numbers of seats, making it is unlikely Basurto will be able remain in power. Although the prime minister has not yet conceded defeat, he is expected to do so when the official results are announced in the coming days.

Speaking to supporters at an election rally last night, Sr. Souza said Aurea has "chosen a new future" and promised to deliver on election pledges which include tax rises on the rich and bigger spending on social welfare, healthcare and education. "We have done the easy part: we have made our promises. Now comes the hard part: delivering our promises."

Later in the night Prime Minister Basurto thanked a sombre crowd for their support over the last eight years and said "things are not as bad as they seem" referring to the party's results being better than predicted. He ended saying "Whatever happens, we are proud of our achievements, we are proud of making this country greater than when we first came to office."

Left-wing parties increased support across the country in Sunday's election as voters expressed frustration with the cost of living crisis and growing economic inequality, as well as concerns over the impact of climate change in Aurea. Despite big promises of help from Basurto in the campaign, it seems voters were unconvinced and thought it "too little, too late".

Souza will need the support of one or more parties to have a majority in the Chamber of Deputies. It is expected that negotiations will begin as soon as this weekend but the talks could take weeks or months to finalize an agreement.

[Rio Cana]

Rio Cana News

Aurean elections

While our government is wary of leftish governments in neighboring nations, it is hoped that the new Aurean leadership unlike the former hard line right leaning government is much more sensible when it comes to establishing friendly relations between neighbors. We in Rio Cana are ready to give our hand in friendship to the new Aurean leadership. But we will still seek negotiations that will lead to the return of the former monarchy who threw our nation into civil war.

Diplomatic ties will be restored and the border opened once the new leadership in Aurea takes power and accepts to restore diplomatic ties.

[Amazonas]

President congratulates Souza

President Luis Echeverría Guzmán has sent his congratulations to the incoming prime minister of Aurea, Frederico Souza. The president of Amazonas and the new prime minister are said to be ideologically very close and it is hoped by both sides that this will lead to closer ties between the two nations. Aurea is the primary trading partner of Amazonas.


Sec. of State optimistic on Aurea—Rio Cana tensions

Secretary of State Paulina Rosario Velásquez says she is optimistic that the tensions between Aurea and Rio Cana can be calmed after a statement from the Rio Cana government over the weekend. She said Amazonas would be willing to host any talks between the two nations should it be needed.

[New Catalonia]

.★..El Món.

Divendres 2 de juny de 2023

ALENYA WELCOMES AUREA RESULT

Prime Minister of New Catalonia Cesc Alenya has welcomed the result of the election in Aurea. Speaking in his weekly press conference the PM said, "It shows a turn to the left across South America. Since the Great Recession we have seen the rich get richer, the poor get poorer, and the environment suffer more and more. Now the people across this continent are saying 'enough is enough' and they are throwing out governments that only serve themselves."

Alenya said he has already spoken to the incoming Prime Minister of Aurea and that both of them look forward to working together. Although New Catalonia is more economically integrated with Entre Rios to the south, Aurea to the north is the country's largest trading partner by volume and value and Alenya is hoping to build on that.

[Aurea]

Parliament convenes but no breakthrough in gov formation talks

The Imperial Parliament convened Monday for the first time since the general election last month. Raul Constantino of the Workers Party was elected the President ("Speaker") of the Chamber of Deputies replacing Gustavo Fernandes of the Social Democratic Party.

But elsewhere there has been little progress as government formation talks continue into a fourth week. "There are sticking points," said Seiko Nakagawa, the chief negotiator for the Workers Party, "but there is a path through and a deal can be made." The Workers Party became the largest block in the Chamber of Deputies at May's election but will need to work with at least two other blocks to secure enough seats to govern. The party has been negotiating with liberal parties and green parties, with sources saying economic and environmental policies are causing the biggest headaches.

Frederico Souza -- who is expected to become prime minister when a deal is done -- said he remains hopeful that negotiations will conclude soon so that "we can get on with delivering our campaign promises".

With no agreement in place, incumbent Marco Basurto continues to serve as acting prime minister. By convention no new laws or policies are enacted by interim governments so although the Imperial Parliament has opened its first session, it will not undertake any business until it votes on the new government. The President of the Chamber of Deputies will set that date in the coming weeks, helping to focus negations toward an end date. The government officially takes office when the Emperor swears it in.

[Entre Rios]

New laws, funding to help fight drought

Jul. 7, 2023

President Carlos Vega will today sign into law a series of emergency bills passed by the General Court earlier this week to help tackle the ongoing drought in Entre Rios. The drought—the worst in almost a century—has seen chronic water shortages across the south of the country and has led to considerable economic and environmental impact, as well as widespread protests over climate change and inequality.

On Wednesday the General Court, the legislature of Entre Rios, approved additional funding for several government departments to, among other things, supply bottled drinking water to the poorest households, finance new reservoirs in the country's interior, upgrade existing and build new water infrastructure projects, and assist farmers with livestock and crop loss.

The package—the largest since the pandemic stimulus three years ago—was hailed as a "game changer" by the President. Speaking on Thursday, President Vega—who has drawn criticism from some quarters for not declaring a nationwide state of emergency—blamed the drought on a number of "unfortunate and unpredictable" factors, including months of below-average rainfall.

Environmental campaigners have refuted the President's claims, however, saying that they have been predicting just such a scenario for years. Social campaigners have also called for more to be done to address inequality in access to services, which they claim the drought has highlighted.

The drought and its impact has sparked intense debate and protests within Entre Rios around climate change, the economy, and equality. One a month since the start of 2023, there have been slow "green marches" through the national capital led by environmental groups hoping the drought finally puts enough pressure on the government to begin "radical and immediate" efforts to tackle climate change.

Meanwhile the start of this month saw a large protest by farmers who blocked highways and city streets in the capital with their tractors to protest the government's current climate change commitments which they claim "unfairly scapegoats" farmers for climate change.

The situation—and the associated societal split—shows no sign of immediate improvement, something the President acknowledged in the the closing remarks on Thursday night: "Times like these are when we ought to come together, not fall apart; we should set aside our difference, not double down on them."

[Aurea]

Breakthrough in gov formation

Frederico Teixeira Souza will take office as the new prime minister this week after a breakthrough in government formation talks over the weekend. Souza's center-left Workers Party has secured the support of the green and liberal blocks in the Chamber of Deputies, and also negotiated the far-left to abstain when the Chamber votes to form the next government tomorrow. The breakthrough means Souza has cleared his path to the premiership and will be formally appointed by the Emperor once the Chamber has elected the new government.

Making the announcement late last night, a spokesperson for Sr. Souza and the Workers Party reiterated their election promises to focus on social justice, the environment and the economy. It is believed that the price of a deal was the two blocks getting ministerial positions in their respective fields: the green block will lead the ministry for the environment while the liberal block will lead the minister for the economy.

The three blocks of center-left, liberal and green working together still did not quite pass the threshold for a majority so a deal has been made that will see the far-left block abstain on government confidence votes. The exact particulars of the deal have not yet been released but it is rumoured it will involve labor union laws being relaxed or a new employment tribunal being created.

The government formation vote is set to take place no later than July 14 with the Emperor formally appointing Sr. Souza within days after that.

[Aurea]

Souza appointed Prime Minister

The Emperor has formally appointed Frederico Teixeira Souza as President of the Council of Ministers, the official title of the Prime Minister of Aurea. The short ceremony -- called the investiture -- took place in the Throne Room of the Imperial Palace in Rio de Janeiro where Sr. Souza swore loyalty to the Emperor and promised to uphold the constitution and laws. Although the constitution requires the ceremony take place, it is a formality only as Souza's position was guaranteed on July 14 when the Chamber of Deputies "has confidence in His Imperial Majesty's nomination for President of the Council of Ministers;" that is, the nomination of Souza for prime minister passed a vote of confidence. As is tradition, after the investiture there was an official banquet hosted by the Emperor which was attended by the new Council of Ministers.

[New Catalonia]

.★..El Món.

Dimarts 15 d'agost de 2023

ELECTION 2023: ALENYA SETS ELECTION DAY TO 29 OF OCTOBER

Prime Minister Cesc Alenya i Tarradelles has called a general election for 29 of October. The move was widely anticipated as the previous general election took place on 24 November 2019.

For the last 4 years, Alenya has governed with a left-wing coalition composed of his Socialist Party and the pro-environment party, Eco. In that time, he has had to deal with the fallout of the pandemic and the cost of living crisis. While voters still hold the government in high regard over the response to COVID, the same voters are angry over the cost of living crisis. The government has spent billions of pessetes in relief for both the pandemic and the economic crisis that followed, something the right-wing opposition has questioned.

As he announced the election, the Prime Minister laid out his party's plans for the future if they win a second term which includes raising the minimum wage, more homes for the poor and greater spending on healthcare. He is supported in this outlook by current partners Eco who also said they want to see greater efforts on climate change mitigation. The main opposition party, the Democratic Union, has said it will fight the election based on economic issues such as lowering taxes, promoting economic growth and tackling government debt. They are supported in this by the far-right National Voice which has said it wants to tackle illegal migration from other South American countries.

[Rio Cana]

Rio Cana News

Purchase of military equipment

The military of Rio Cana will be purchasing 50 FK-3 Chinese made surface to air launchers. The purchase of these launchers are part of a military modernization program. These new launchers will replace much older surface to air launchers which were becoming costly to maintain. Along with these launchers, parts to maintain them have also been included at a deep discount.

[New Catalonia]

.★..El Món.

Dimarts 14 de novembre de 2023

ELECTION 2023: ALENYA SECURES SECOND TERM

Cesc Alenya i Tarradelles will be reelected as prime minister on 28 November after his left-wing coalition struck an agreement this week. The leader of the leftist Socialist Party (PSNC) secured more than the 68 votes to guarantee his investiture when parliament convenes for that vote in 2 weeks.

The left-wing coalition of Alenya's PSNC and the environmentalist Eco retained exactly the 68 seats it had before the election, though Eco lost 2 seats that the PSNC gained. Despite having enough votes to secure Alenya's reelection, the prime minister kept a preelection promise to work with the centrist Progress party. The three parties of Socialist, Eco and Progress struck an accord on 13 November which guarantees Alenya 73 of 135 votes.

The election saw the incumbents perform better than opinion polls predicted. Alenya is popular with voters and his party gained as a result. Obversely, the right-wing opposition parties under performed. While the Democratic Union made gains, they came at the expense of their centrist and right-wing partners the Liberals and People's Party who both lost seats.

After being reelected prime minister by Parliament, Cesc Alenya i Tarradelles will be officially sworn in by the President on 29 or 30 November.

[Pomeron]

Government greenlights oil drilling

The Minister of Finance, Koenraad de Klerk, has announced the government has approved twelve licences for oil drilling in Pomeron's territorial waters. Operations, which will be handled by a consortium of international and local extraction companies, are expected to begin from next year. The Minister also announced a new refinery will be built and said he expects thousands of high paying jobs to be generated.

While businesses have broadly welcomed the news, environmental and opposition groups have strongly criticized it. In Parliament, the opposition Green Party, which quit government formation talks last year over the decision to pursue new oil drilling, said that the government is "turning its back" on Pomeron's environmental commitments. The National Democratic Party, meanwhile, which Itself considered new oil licences while in power, said the decision was "short-sighted".

De Klerk acknowledged the criticism but said, "It does not have to be one or the other: we can pursue economic growth and use the boost in revenue to address climate change." He also reassured that there would be strict environmental protection rules in place and that the law would be enforced so no company would escape oversight or regulation.

The Prime Minister, Lijsbeth Vroomen, was more combative, posting on X, "Those who failed to deliver when they had the chance are angry we are delivering now. Where they failed, we will succeed." New oil exploration and extraction was a central part of her campaign during last year's election, saying at the time that "uncounted billions [of dollars] lies beneath our feet".

Environmental campaigners have announced they will organize protests and marches against the drilling and the companies involved. Yatzil Gelens, leader of klimaatactie.nu ("Climate Action Now") said, "We will grind the country to a halt until this reckless drilling stops." She went onto add, "The Earth is dying and this government just committed to one more blow. This drilling won't enrich a single citizen; only the oil companies will gain."

In response to the calls to gridlock major cities with protests, a spokesperson for the police said, "While the right to freedom of speech and protest is valuable and important and to be commended, there are laws in place to ensure civility and prevent chaos and intimidation. Those laws will be enforced."