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by Winst » Mon Jul 30, 2018 3:55 pm
by Lykens » Mon Jul 30, 2018 9:18 pm
ARP sweeps into office in traditional PF stronghold07/31/2018
- Teodoro Vázquez
The incoming Chief Minister, Rosalia Domingo Esparanza of the ARP, leading the first ARP government in thirty years.The political establishment of the southern province of Aguadilla was shaken by a 9.7 magnitude earthquake after Saturday’s provincial election where voters rejected the longest government in the history of the province and quite possibly the entire Federal Republic. Recently beset by numerous charges of corruption and ethical lapses, the ruling Progressive Front government returned its worst showing in provincial history, sinking to a mere 10% of the vote, barely securing the threshold to hold seats in the Provincial Assembly.
The ethical woes began shortly after the incumbent Chief Minister, Rodrigo ‘Ruy’ Jiménez began his third term. Allegations of money laundering were leaked to the media by a campaign whistleblower and amid a firestorm, the Chief Minister ordered the appointment of an independent counsel via the Minister of Interior. Four years of a constant drip drip of leaks, numerous indictments, and one [url]LNN Expose[/url] later, Chief Minister Jiménez is entering political retirement early, having tarnished a twelve year legacy and three decades of party rule with 33 separate indictments ranging from money laundering, conspiracy to commit bribery, bribery, extortion, abuse of power, and falsification of records, among other charges.
Sweeping into office with an unprecedented 77 seats out of 150, the ARP is secured for the next four years with a majority government. Before this past weekend, such a government in the River Provinces would have been completely unheard of and even laughed about. Politics in this southern part of the nation are usually skewed towards the PF as these provinces are more inclined towards manufacturing and urban centers, but the ARP has shown that it can compete in these demographically less orthodox regions.
by Arideo » Thu Aug 02, 2018 4:58 pm
Crown Princess Amadelia II to join citizenry in celebrating Sunburn Day!
August 3, 2018 | Gvardio de Monteto | 10:54
In a surprise, Her Highess Crown Princess Amadelia II announced to La Gardisto that she would be attending the Sunburn festivities in the center of Gvardio de Monteto later this week personally. This announcement is the latest in a series of public appearances, but is the first time that a monarch has left Castrio for a public appearance since the FRA rebels murdered His Highness Wilbert X in 1955.
The schedule for Her Highness has not yet been released, and it is widely believed that she'll not spend much time in the open, but excitement runs high amongst the citizenry regardless!
"I think it's great that the royalty will be attending the Sunburn festival. It's gonna be the largest one yet, so royalty showing up will befinetly help," the Lord-Councilor of Gvardio de Monteto, Peroux Zanders said during a press conference. "I expect this year's festival will be one to remember for centuries to come!"
Outlander's Section
The Sunburn Festival is an annual event held in one of Arideo's cities (though mostly held in Gvardio de Monteto due to the city's image). The event celebrates the founding of Arideo; More specifically, the Battle of Sunburn Fields, where Aridite forces finally defeated its rebellious lands and unified the country into what it is today. The battle is most likely the deadliest in Aridite history; Over three weeks, of the 125 000 that took part in the battle at the outset, only 56 000 Aridites emerged; Not a single rebel survived of the 37 000 that took part.
by Arideo » Sun Aug 05, 2018 4:23 pm
BREAKING NEWS: Terrorist attack during the Sunburn celebration
August 5, 2018 | Gvardio de Monteto | 18:42
Though details are scarce at this time, reports say a bomb has gone off at the Highland Plaza in Gvardio de Monteto, where the annual Sunburn celebration was held. We will update as we find out more about what is going on.
Update, 19:04 - GdMPD officials have been seen speeding around the city, locking down various districts and urging citizens not to go outside whilst they sort out the situation. Rapid gunfire is reportedly being heard from Highland Plaza.
Update, 19:07 - The EKR has arrived at the Highland Plaza, and the entire city has been locked down as the GdMPD fears a third revolution might be under way.
Update, 19:13 - Gunfire has ceased at Highland Plaza. Even La Gardisto journalists have been denied access to the plaza by the EKR, citing "civilian presence in the area would threaten national security". Officials have refused to comment on the status of Crown Princess Amadelia II.
Update, 19:37 - La Gardisto have finally been granted access to the plaza. The remains of flag of the democratic rebels can be seen on the ground in front of the Lightbringer statue.
Final update, 22:30 - The lockdown on Gvardio has been lifted, and the GdMPD has confirmed many's suspicion: This was, indeed, a planned terrorist attack by the radical organization "Republicans of Arideo" targeted specifically at Amadelia II during her visit to the Highland Plaza. The five rebels on the site arrived via a black unmarked van which smashed through the fence surrounding the plaza. The five gunmen then jumped out of the van and started firing at Crown Princess Amadelia II's personal vehicle whilst planting their flag on the Lightbringer. GdMPD assets on the scene were able to contain the rebels long enough for Amadelia II's personal guard to evacuate her to safety.
The final death toll are all five rebels, who refused to surrender even when surrounded and out-numbered 5 to 1 by the EKR, 4 civilians killed and 15 injured in the crossfire and the chaos, and seven GdMPD officers shot to death by the rebels. Amadelia II has, according to an anonymous government official, heavily condemned the attack, calling it "little more than a show of intimidation in an attempt at making Arideo fit their twisted narrative".
by Gebeta » Tue Aug 07, 2018 12:10 pm
Fleet Status
Alert 5
Alert 4
Alert 3 (Current Peacetime deployments)
Alert 2
Alert 1
by Arideo » Fri Aug 10, 2018 7:31 am
Amadelia II to commence the largest counter-terrorism operation in Aridite history
August 10, 2018 | Gvardio de Monteto | 10:26
Five days ago, on Sunday, 5th of August, a terrorist attack targeted at Crown Princess Amadelia II herself occured at the Highland Plaza in Gvardio de Monteto, killing 4 civilians and wounding 15. It is the first terrorist attack on a major city since the terrorist attack on Castrio Castle in 1955, when King Wilbert X and most of the royal bloodline was killed, but minor terrorist attacks have been taking place all over the country, with more common occurences in the far west and the territories held by the rebels in the second civil war.
Amadelia II held a press conference earlier today about the aims of the operation (officially Operacio Serĉanto), of which there are three;
1. The forceful restoration of the monarchy in areas with high rebel influence in order to prevent another major terrorist attack in Aridite cities.
2. Locating and destroying rebel hideouts to prevent them from gathering in any significant number.
3. Establishment of province checkpoints to catch rebels trying to organize in a single province.
Serĉanto will according to the Minister of the Interior, Jack Aubery, be the largest counter-terrorism operation in Aridite history, dwarfing even the then massive Operacio Restarigo, active 1982 to 1984.
Many government officials have expressed approval over the move, which was launched without the express approval of King Wilbert XI, as His Highness' health continues declining and Amadelia II is expected to take the throne later this year. Serĉanto will officially come into effect on August 15, and the full effect is expected to hit a week later, on August 22.
by Produzir » Sat Aug 11, 2018 7:18 pm
by Valley Green » Tue Aug 14, 2018 12:12 pm
by Velkanika » Sat Aug 25, 2018 2:40 pm
The necessity of a navy, in the restricted sense of the word, springs, therefore, from the existence of a peaceful shipping, and disappears with it, except in the case of a nation which has aggressive tendencies, and keeps up a navy merely as a branch of the military establishment. 1
by Parthonopia » Sat Sep 08, 2018 9:13 pm
September 5, 2018
Military News
Article by
Pepi Panforte
Previously Approved Draft
Goes Into Effect
Ahead of Schedule
Forces Increased Near Coast
An M113 APC and crew from the 13th Cavaleggeri di San Marco Battalion, part of the III Corp,
on maneuvers outside of the village of Trieste in the Marcomer Republic.
by Produzir » Sat Oct 06, 2018 4:55 pm
by Lykens » Wed Nov 21, 2018 10:49 pm
A Sheep Shearer’s Story (Have fun saying that three times really fast)08/15/2018
- Juana Delgado
A sheep is shorn by a sheep shearer as its wool has reached the appropriate length for shearing.This is the first installation of a series on the powerhouse of the Lykensburgish economy, sheep husbandry.Dawn has barely broken across las Montañas Afeitadas and yet the day has already started for local shearer Teodoro Delgado. He rises at a the ungodly hour of 4:15 to prepare for the coming day, usually leaving his home at about five o’clock in the morning and arriving at his union’s sheep station at a quarter to six o’clock. He works from 7-9, takes an hour break, back to work until noon, another hour long break, and then four grueling hours of near constant shearing as the flocks of the next ranch are cycled through. A final hour of paid break time closes out the day and Teodoro makes the forty five minute drive home to spend time with his wife and kids before going to sleep promptly at 9:30.
This is a day in the life of one of Lykens’ most crucial workers in one of the most important sectors of our economy, the powerhouse that is sheep husbandry.
Teodoro is just one of approximately five million sheep shearers spread throughout the rural provinces. He’s been shearing since he was 14 years old and his father gave to him his first set of blade shears. He still owns the pair, he was happy to note, and they’re displayed in a glass case above the mantle in his living room. He hopes to buy a nice first set for his eldest son who has displayed an interest in carrying on the family legacy. In addition to shearing for the last thirty years, Teodoro’s father was a shearer for fifty years prior and his grandfather for fifty years before that going back generations, like many of the men he works with, their last names had been colleagues for decades prior.
Having a long line of sheep shearers come before you has its perks but also some downsides.
“The legacies, that’s what they call us who’ve been doing this shit for generations, do get special perks. We usually get pretty good spots in the stations with good lighting, air conditioner, you know the works. We do have some preferences when it comes to requesting time off, we’re more liable to make up the work when we come back and management knows we’re good for it. It’s better to let the guy who can clip a sheep at two-thirty have a day or couple off than the guy who can’t get below three-fifty, you know? The guy at two-thirty can make up what the other guy can do in a day.” He shrugged his shoulders at my puzzled expression before explaining some of the jargon of his industry.
‘Two-thirty’ refers to the amount of time it takes Teodoro to shear a single sheep, and the national average is about three-fifteen. He says he’s not even the fastest among his closest colleagues, and that a few of the men he’s been shearing with for years can get down to two-ten professionally, but have been known to hit two minutes flat in competitions.
As for downsides? Teodoro grumbled for a minute before answering.
“My family has been shearing sheep since my three times great grandfather, and two of my sons seem likely to follow my footsteps. And yet in all of that time, not a single one of us has been promoted to management.” He glared up at the mantle for a few minutes.
Legacies throughout the industry are routinely passed over for promotions for newcomers who have distinguished themselves early. While it’s true that there have been a few exceptions, those exceptions have been just that, very, very few. Of all management positions held by former sheep shearers going back fifty years, only fifty men out of the thousands had family members previously work as shearers. Union officials frequently argue that it is difficult to promote legacies due to their skill, and replacing it is difficult to do, whereas newcomers can often have the slack picked up by their promotion by legacies and those trained by them.
Many unions have scores of legacies throughout their leadership, and many positions come with stipends, so it has usually been glossed over. To Teodoro, it’s still a little hurtful.
“I won’t say it’s discrimination, it’s not. There are women and men who have it a whole lot harder than any of us because they’re women or whatever different, but it’s disheartening to know you’ll never be rewarded the same way as someone else just because of the success of your family, you know?” Teodoro sat quietly for a minute before continuing. “That sounds awfully ungrateful, I’m happy for all I have and I’m grateful for the opportunities I’ve been given, but it is a little disheartening, I’ll be in that station until I retire.” He put on a small smile and nodded.
“At least it’s doing what I love.”
Teodoro went on to describe the strength of his union and how strongly it fights for the shearers of his station, as well as the importance of it in the industry and country.
“It’s a closed-shop station, so we’re all in the union. Lykens Shearer’s Union Local 331 is mine, one of the best in the whole province, personally I’d say the nation.” He flashed another toothy grin.
“I’ve been Executive Vice President the last eight years, we do a lot of good work by our shearers. We fight back unlawful terminations pretty frequently, you’d think they’d [management] would get the hint already.” He stopped to laugh for a bit.
“We negotiate fairly for our guys but we do take into account economic conditions and the like, we’re not rabid communists like some people like to paint us. The shearers can only succeed as long as management is succeeding with us. We do our part to keep the balance.”
Indeed, Teodoro’s union recently secured a piece rate increase for entry-level shearers, to 2.5 up from 1.75, an increase of nearly 12,000 Lykens dollars before tax. Teodoro obfuscated and dodged when I inquired about his piece rate, saying it was due to years and years of work before relenting and informing me it was 3.5 as of the last two years. Upon my surprise at such a low number, Teodoro shrugged saying I couldn’t understand without context.
“See, every sheep I shear is three dollars fifty. I shear 200 sheep a day, five days a week. Four weeks a month, six months a year. It’s a hefty paycheck. For the new people, piece rate of 2.5, and they shear maybe 100 sheep? That’s a substantially less amount than I make. It’s usually why they’re excused from union dues for the first six months. They have to learn the trade well so that they can pay their bills and keep food on the table. Once you’re in the swing of this job, it pays.”
With such a high potential to earn, I had to ask why it is becoming harder and harder for newer shearers to break into the industry, if there is as much help provided as Teodoro seemed to imply.
“Lots of times, at least in my station and a few stations I have a few buddies in, what will happen is some young kid from the urban provinces will hike out east, decide to join our relatively well paying field, try to learn the trade and burnout in six months. It’s not an easy job. I’m awake almost 16 ½ hours a day, and for eight of those hours I’m working the whole time with three more hours at my place of work. My father had terrible back pain because of the constant positions he sat in at work and then being sedentary at home, it’s vigorous. Hats off to the rousies and shepards, because they’re out and about the whole time while I’m in the shed shearing. Our industry is laborious and it pays well to match that, I don’t think most people realize to make as much money as we do we have to put in the work.”
The unsung heroes of the sheep husbandry industry put hours and hours into greasing the wheels of the global and domestic economy, powering the textile industry that employs millions in the urban provinces, it truly is the lifeblood of our country. One of the oldest professions of this area of Mu-kal, it has provided the backbone of Lykens for hundreds of years and hopefully hundreds to come. Spending time learning and experiencing everything this job requires and offers has truly been eye opening.
I asked what things Teodoro did to alleviate the hard work and what he could change to close out our interview.
“Well. If I could shear sheep sitting down in a nice comfy chair, I’d be a lot happier. I do a lot of yoga when I get off work to help with my joints and whatnot, I haven’t been getting younger.” Another toothy grin flashed.
“I don’t think I’d change anything for the world. For all of its hardships, shearing has taught me a lot about myself as a person, about others, and how to live my life. Work hard and always use every work experience as a learning experience, you can never learn enough and always work to make yourself more efficient, harder working, and overall better. And that’s all the advice I can offer.”
A warm hug from Teodoro, a tearful goodbye from his wife, a basket of food, and my own pair of shearers’ moccasins, I departed their rural dwelling and was on my way, content with a new knowledge of how the economy worked and people made their living.
by Lykens » Thu Nov 22, 2018 4:12 am
Shearer’s Union Launches Massive Strike in Arecibo09/14/2018
- Hector Rivera
Members of the Lykensburgish Shearer’s Association form a picket line outside of their shearing station.The second largest shearer’s union has gone on strike in the nation’s largest province. Fresh off of successful negotiations with industry leaders achieving piece rate increases and implementation of penalty rates sought after by LSA leadership, the decision to strike was an unexpected development announced only a weekend before the start of the workweek. Catching labor experts and economists by surprise as the summer enters its final weeks and shearing ramps up before the close of the busiest parts of the year.
Chief Minister Christian Rodríguez had earlier this month pushed through the creation of the first in the nation penalty rates. These penalty rates will add an extra point to piece rates that occur during holidays or overtime outside of the workweek. Previously resisted by industry leaders who for generations worked fastidiously to freeze out any work on holidays or during the weekends, even going to lengths such as losing clients and money, simply to avoid working shearers on their days off.
But as the flocks of sheep throughout the rural provinces of Lykens continue to grow year after year, the back flow resulting from adhering to a strict 40 hour work week has crumbled the resolve of industry leaders. Repeatedly working the lower rung shearers of their stations on the weekends and holidays to cope, Station Chiefs have begun to incur the wrath of the more senior shearers and their union when it came to light that the lower paid shearers were being paid the same rate as senior shearers. Strikes were immediately threatened, slowdowns across the province of Arecibo began, and the two shearer unions began to demand the opening of mid-contract negotiations to right the injustice they believe was occurring.
Chief Minister Christian Rodriguez offered to mediate between the two sides, and Lykens Shearers’ Association and the Lykensburgish Shearers’ Union sent top negotiating officials to the sleepy capital city of Arecibo, Santa Clarita. Industry representatives sent to the negotiations include the Sheep Station Business Association, representing 500 or so independently owned and operated stations, the Lykensburgish Textile Manufacturing Corporation, which operates 67 stations, Empresa de Zapato Amarillo, which operates 46 stations, La Diosa Verde Diseñador Empresa, which operates 30 stations, Mu-kal Textile Shipping Co. operating 19 stations, and Blanco Family Holding, which operates 5 of their own stations.
Having campaigned on penalty rates nearly eight years ago while in opposition, the legislative timetables never favored a return to the debate regarding the penalty rates for Chief Minister Rodriguez. While shearers, their unions, wool classers and rouseabouts made up a huge portion of the ARP base, there was always another policy goal more achievable, an infrastructure project more important, or subsidy audits that demanded attention. The start of negotiations jump started legislative action, and Rodriguez immediately went about pushing a bill to require penalty rates for shearers, classers, and rouseabouts. As negotiations drew on due to penalty rate disagreements, Rodriguez came to understand that the imposition of penalty rates in Provincial Law would be the only way to break the logjam.
After passing the bill through the provincial assembly, negotiators zeroed in on a point increase for penalty rates on top of the point and a half piece rate raises that they had previously secured in the negotiations. Unions traded away a longer work week, now raised to 45 hours, less secure positions for shearers who have been at a station for less than 120 days, up from 90 days, and the loss of ⅔ seniority when shearers move to a new station.
The deal was signed just last week, and now a strike has been called. Sources say that the reason has nothing to do with the negotiations or employer abuse, but one reason many across the political spectrum and the nation have come to condemn voraciously, the sexuality of the Chief Minister of Arecibo, Christian Rodriguez, and his husband of ten years, State Counselor of Lykens, Kenneth Diaz. Union sources say that many union members may even go to work on Monday or even worse for the union, switch entire locals to the rival union, the LSU. The call to strike allegedly came down from the socially conservative executive council of the Arecibo Provincial Branch of the LSA.
Chief Minister Rodriguez’s office offered a one sentence statement upon requests for comment, saying that,”The Chief Minister’s Office will not stoop to engaging with alleged homophobic drabble who seek to advance their own selfish, pointedly discriminatory agenda over the livelihodd of the hard working men and women they are alleged to represent.”
Neither the National or Provincial Branch LSA Executive Councils has not yet responded to repeated requests for comment at the time of publishing.
by Lykens » Thu Nov 22, 2018 5:37 am
Union Strikes raises concerns of Raiding by Rival Union09/22/2018
- Julío Montoya
Counter-protesters wave picket signs at striking shearersAs the Lykensburgish Shearers’ Association strike hits the official one week mark, the Lykens Shearers’ Union has sat on a perch of moral superiority, blasting out releases kissing the ring of the the ARP party establishment, offering support and solidarity with the focus of the strikes, State Counselor Kenneth Diaz and Chief Minister Christian Rodríguez. They’ve blasted the Arecibo Provincial Branch LSA Executive Council for their silence regarding the strike, while boosting the condemnations from on higher at the National LSA Executive Council.
Dutifully abiding by agreements forged between the two labor behemoths that are frequently renewed, sources say that the LSU might just renege on one of the most important factors in the long-term success of an LSA that has been badly hemorrhaging shearers for years at a slow clip.
“The LSU has maintained these agreements for so long out of comity, it’s better for labor to be united when put up against the employers, and it helps negotiations go smoother. I don’t want to say LSU is ‘afraid’ of the LSA, but they’ve definitely been more apprehensive in past interactions due to the more militant and strike-happy nature of LSA-Arecibo branch members. Even with a larger member pool and with more cash in its coffers, the LSU was always happy to keep everyone happy and labor united,” is what a high-ranking LSU official had to say regarding the past agreements.
As several locals across the province grumbled about being forced to strike after getting pay raises, there were rumors that some locals might completely disaffiliate with the LSA and switch to the LSU, which if done on their own volition is completely acceptable under the past agreements. Many of these locals simply engaged in temporary slow downs before resuming work during the back half of the work day. The whispering abounded today though, as a week marks a likely long term strike.
A leaked memo sent from LSA-Arecibo President Jorge Castillo to his fellow executive council members denounces the marriage between Chief Minister Rodríguez and State Counselor Diaz as an ‘abomination of God’, and an affront to society. He derides the recent penalty rate requirements as pandering ‘to bring true believers of the faith into their complicity regarding the homosexual agenda.’
Since the reporting of the memo, the provincial branch’s executive council has been complete radio silence. Many LSA members expressed incredulity at the memo, as many have long known the executive council to harbor more staunchly socially conservative views that are not shared among the union they represent or even the general populace of the province.
Many believe Castillo harbors ambitions for political office, and is using the strike to gain leverage over Rodríguez or even oust him. The ARP party machinery is totally controlled by Rodríguez and his husband State Counselor Diaz, with the pair behind the orchestration of the current majority government during the election of 2010. Some have speculated Castillo may even run in the Fatherland Union list and use the strike as evidence of his socially conservative chops.
In any event, LSU officials are watching keenly, not actively encouraging locals to begin switching affiliations but offering harsh and cryptic warnings of ‘unintended consequences’ for the ‘despicable actions of the LSA leadership’.
by Riscelnia » Fri Nov 23, 2018 12:51 pm
Major mine collapse; Sabotage or accident?
October 5, 2018 | Vintergard, Slizae | 18:07
Three hours ago, the Vallvärd titanium mine, located east of the city of Vintergard reportedly collapsed; Seventeen mine workers were injured in the collapse as various equipment failed, but no one was killed. It is currently unknown exactly how the mine collapsed, as the Labour Accidents Investigative Office (LAIO) has refused to comment on any potential causes this early into the investigation, but theories circling online have pointed out the sketchy record of the company that owns most of the local mines, Vintergard Gruvindustrier AB, which was caught in 2014 attempting to engineer an accident in an attempt at shutting down an unprofitable mine; By coincidence, said mine was the one that collapsed today. This coincidence has drawn the ire both of the LAIO and the Federal Tax Agency (FTA), and a full inspection of all of VGAB's mines has officially been scheduled for October 27th.
VGAB have denied the allegations, claiming that they were either sabotaged by a rival company or a foreign nation and that they will challenge the inspections in the courts as excessive government intervention, should they go through. Both LAIO or the FTA have refused to comment on whether or not they suspect VGAB of foul play, and are instead saying that they will 'wait until the investigation is finished' before they give a comment.
Popular opinion seems to be generally against VGAB; Supposedly most of the locals have long suspected VGAB of foul play, but due to the isolated location of Vintergard, VGAB is essentially the only thing keeping the town on the map, and nearly everyone who works in the town works either for VGAB or one of the local stores which supply the local miners with food and other goods.
The CEO of VGAB, Hugo Sommardal, has said that the mine will stay closed until cleared up and that all workers in the mine will be moved to one of the other mines near the town.
by Bjallard » Wed Jan 16, 2019 9:51 pm
by Agrurg » Thu Apr 25, 2019 8:53 am
by Lykens » Thu Apr 25, 2019 9:57 pm
Association of Ranchers and Planters sweeps province en route to 3rd consecutive term12/01/2018
- Claudia Bustillo Prieto
A triumphant Chief Minister Christian Rodríguez appears before supportersIncumbent Chief Minister Christian Rodríguez has declared victory in this year's provincial elections. The incumbent led his party to a crushing 64% victory in the largest and most populous province in the country. Tonight's results were expected, although the margin of victory was unexpectedly large as most pundits and analysts predicted the total vote percentage to not exceed more thanp 56%, down from the 57% Rodríguez pulled in the 2014 elections four years ago. The huge jump has mostly been attributed to the two month long strike by the Lykensburgish Shearer's Association and the implementation of penalty rates. The first action drove many social conservatives from the Progressive Front who would otherwise favor the left wing party into the arms of the socially conservative right wing Fatherland Union. This led to the utter collapse of the PF voter base, with the party sinking below the 10% threshold to 9.8%, narrowly missing out on representation in the provincial assembly for this term.
With 161 seats out of 225, the Association of Ranchers and Planters is locked into a very secure majority government, free to continue implementing the agenda of Rodríguez who was elected eight years ago riding a backlash against the incumbent FU government which had sought to undermine and transform the politics and economy of Arecibo during their single four year term. Rodríguez has spent much of the last eight year reversing all of the reforms and changes made by the FU government, namely restarting or beginning infrastructure projects that the FU government had hoped to privatize by reinstating state funding, bringing back agricultural subsidies, and abolishing strict anti-union regulations that had severely curtailed the rights and powers of unions. Rewarded with a majority government in his reelection in 2014, Rodríguez was forced to contend with not only the FU opposition, but the election of a couple dozen Progressive Front members as the party cracked the 10% ceiling for that election. Hounded on his right and left for the first time in his premiership many didn't expect any major policy initiatives from Rodríguez for the entirety of his term. The Chief Minister earlier this year set about another major infrastructure project to expand the existing rural broadband network with an additional $1.5 billion dollar investment.
The second major policy initiative came in late July as the Chief Minister embarked on several dozen listening tours at shearing stations and several round tables with owners who form the Sheep Station Business Association to gauge support and feelings for instituting a mandate for penalty rates paid to workers in sheep husbandry. By mid August legislative proposals were being debated on the floor of the provincial assembly and after several weeks of debate the penalty rate mandate was passed by the provincial assembly and signed by the Governor, Imelda Oquendo. Rodríguez then mediated negotiations between the Shearers' Unions and management groups, before facing a strike by the LSA. Led by the socially conservative Jorge Castillo, the strike lasted until the entire executive council of the LSA-Arecibo branch was forced out by several votes of no confidence from rank and file members. Castillo promptly launched a bid for leadership of the Fatherland Union, as was expected by many pundits and ARP officials, and led the party into this election.
While the FU fell very far short of anywhere near a majority, and with no independents who could possibly prop up their minority government due to voting rules changes that the party themselves engineered after their last stint in power, they managed to snag many of the seats former members of the Progressive Front occupied by snatching away socially conservative old left voters who prioritized social issues. This was seen to be a major factor in Castillo's decision to strike after successful negotiations, and Castillo has come under fire from his former union, both the newly seated provincial branch's executive council and the national branch, for prioritizing his political career over that of hard working men and women who lost wages because of his strike. The LSA-Arecibo branch also lost almost 70 locals during the strike, all of which affiliated with the LSU-Arecibo branch, causing the union to lose out on prized union dues that fill its coffers. It'll be at least a year to see if the branch can recover from the losses it has faced.
Genoveva Montero, leader of the Arecibo Progressive Front, is now faced with a daunting task, rebuilding her collapsed party. Swept out of all 23 seats, the PF has been relegated to outsider status, not even able to register official opposition to legislation offered by either of the other two parties. The PF is no stranger to this position, but the challenge is all the more greater when sixteen and fifty-five points separate their opponents. It'll be a test of her leadership as to whether or not she can break through in the next four years and lead her party to victory. Losing socially conservative voters to the FU over the homophobic strike of the LSA and bleeding even more union members than in previous cycles due to the implementation of penalty rates to the ARP, the PF has a very narrow pathway back to the Provincial Assembly and it's yet to be seen if they can perform.ARP - Votes: 2754651/64.3% Seats: 161/225
FU - Votes: 1104651/25.8% Seats:67/225
PF - Votes: 423920/9.9% Seats: 0/225
by Lykens » Tue Apr 30, 2019 2:14 pm
Factional Infighting Threatens State Counselor's Re-Election Bid04/30/2019
- Solfornio Salcedo
The factional chasms of the ARP Assembly Caucus have broken out into the openA faction leadership meeting ended in yelling and harsh words as the right leaning factions stormed out of the State Counselor’s Suite late this afternoon. Attending this weekly meeting of the various faction leaders of the Association of Ranchers and Planters Caucus were Maximiliano Artemio de Santiago of the Old Guard, Abel Guadarrama of the Labor Forum, Yolanda Enieda Campana of the Industrial League, Delia Iglesias of the Pink Group, and Gabriel Vega of the Alliance of Moderates and Liberals.
Each of these five factions collectively make up nearly 90% of the ARP caucus, as all leadership positions excluding the cabinet are required to be independent of factions for the duration of their terms and those Assembly Members that are unaffiliated with any of the powerful blocs. The factions range in all sizes, from the smallest being the Pink Group.
The Pink Group is composed of 20 women, which is ideologically varied and owes most of its influence from its leader, ‘Dulce Delia’ Iglesias, and their ability to maintain cohesiveness during negotiations or tough votes. Iglesias has been leading a group of women for the last ten years of her 19 years overall in the Grand Assembly, and has spent much of that time cutting her teeth in a male dominated political sphere. Ostensibly, the group is bound together to advance the cause of womens’ and childrens’ rights as well as education and healthcare funding. Many have come to view the Pink Group as an arm of the leadership hower, as Iglesias has been a strong ally of State Counselor Kenneth Diaz since his early days as Chairman of the Arecibo branch ARP. They maintain a strong friendship and often disavow any critiques of favoritism, as party leadership is required to remain about the factional fray. As State Counselor Diaz entered parliamentary leadership very early in his career, he never established a strong factional base of support, and most attribute the closest thing to it in the form of the Pink Group.
The Old Guard is 27 rock ribbed social conservatives and protectionists who have been dwindling in numbers and influence for years as the Fatherland Union began picking off right-wing and socially conservative voters in earnest from the ARP. Once upon a time comprising near half of the total ARP caucus in opposition to more liberal members, this faction has become almost informal as all members derive their list placements from their leader, Maximiliano Artemio de Santiago, who has served in the Grand Assembly for 39 years.. One of the wealthiest agrarian magnates in the entire country, de Santiago has been bankrolling social conservative and protectionist leaning candidates throughout the country, ensuring that the loyalty of this bloc is to him alone by ensuring hefty contributions to state branches that place his candidates in good list positions. de Santiago was, however, one of the earliest backers of Kenneth Diaz prior to his ascension as permanent leader of the ARP, and swung his faction behind the first openly gay State Counselor in the history of Lykens. The comity ended there however, as de Santiago frequently holds out til the last minute for tough votes and negotiations.
The Industrial League is comprised of 74 AMs who are generally pro-business and support free trade. Yolanda Eneida Campana was elected Chairwoman of the group after the 2015 elections and has been a hard charging advocate for her bloc. Its members typically hail from the River Provinces, where industry is heavier, although there are a scattered few from the rural provinces as well. Generally ranging from center right to center left, the group is a major player within the ARP Caucus. As one of the top three factions, the Industrial League is very well positioned to have its sway over major legislation that has its interests involved. Often times pushing more employer and manufacturer friendly policies, the caucus often finds its mostly free trade supporting agenda supplanted by the rest of the caucus, as even the freest traders are a minority group within this faction. Infrastructure is always a top priority of the Industrial League.
The Labor Forum is led by Abel Guadarrama, a 29 year veteran of the Grand Assembly who leads the 77 AMs whose politics align on the left wing of the ARP caucus. Extremely close with organized labor, the Labor Forum is the premier ally of the unions that make up the base of ARP support. Supporting initiatives such a labor protection laws in trade deals, penalty rates, and further workplace regulations. Environmental and other pocketbook issues from the left leaning end of the political spectrum are also focused on.
The Alliance of Moderates and Liberals is the largest faction of the ARP caucus, with 96 declared members. Gabriel Vega has been Chairman of the group for the last 9 years and has led it down the steady path it has occupied for the last 20-30 years, as the stabilizing group of moderate minded members who temper their more ideological colleagues. As the largest faction, making up almost a third of the entire caucus, the Alliance is nominally inclined to pursue policies that can garner the most support from all factions to minimize division and continue good governance.
These groups make up the governing party of Lykens and their unity is needed for the implementation of any ARP agenda. Upon becoming State Counselor in 2017, Kenneth Diaz immediate set about bringing the disparate groups together to continue implementing the agenda his predecessor had been reelected on. A weekly meeting with the faction chiefs to smooth out any differences and prevent surprise hiccups from causing problems that could cause problems on the floor of the Grand Assembly and any potential embarrassments.
This delicate balancing act has worked for the last two years, but today the Old Guard and Industrial League stormed out of the State Counselor’s Suite over disputes involving an environmental protection bill being pushed by the Pink Group and Labor Forum. State Counselor Diaz offered his support for the bill several weeks ago, and had convened the factional warlords together to negotiate on the specifics. Sources say that issues arose over natural gas extraction and regulations regarding how close extraction sites could be to residential areas as well as other environmental protections that the Industrial League took issue with.
Old Guard members were said to be highly dissatisfied with the lack of protection for natural gas extractors and wanted the bill to add tariffs to natural gas imports. Members of the Industrial League took immediate issue with any inclusion of tariff language, which prompted a vicious back and forth with Labor Forum negotiators about adding labor protections to the bill to counter protections for extraction companies.
When the State Counselor intervened to restart the course of the discussion, Yolanda Eneida Campana of the Industrial League demanded the shelving of the bill due to the contentious nature of it, prompting Abel Guadarrama to declare the bill would not pass with business protections but not labor protections. Maximiliano Atremio de Santiago interjected that his faction would not support a final bill that didn’t include at least modest tariffs and ended his participation in the meeting by leaving, followed by Campana.
With two of the factions having stormed out of the meeting, Diaz announced that it had concluded and he would be in touch with the remaining faction leaders regarding the bill in the near future. Sources say that Diaz immediately phoned the two leaders and worked to soothe their concerns before chastising the pair for exiting in such an unprofessional manner. Representatives for the three have refused to comment regarding the meeting and subsequent phone calls.
It remains to be seen whether or not this is a rift over a single bill, or spells danger for the 9 year old ARP government, as elections are only a few months away and Diaz has managed to keep infighting to a minimum both publicly and privately.
by Agrurg » Thu May 02, 2019 7:06 pm
by Vienna Eliot » Tue Jun 25, 2019 5:15 pm
by Larsaka » Wed Jun 26, 2019 11:13 pm
Michael Li Leads Progressive Party to Large Majority in Senate
By Edward Jerome 9:21PM
The Progressive Party under Michael Li secured a large majority in senate elections today, where they won 136 seats in precincts across the country. The Progressive’s large majority has shocked pollsters and pundits alike, who all predicted a surge in support for the Progressives yet also predicted they would likely have to govern in a coalition with the Environment Party. Liberal Party stronghold ErJiang flipped decisively to the Progressives, with returns there ensuring the win became a landslide. This historic result likely marks a new era in Larsakan Politics.
President Elect Li first started as an underdog candidate in the Progressive Party primary, a relatively unknown Senator from a precinct in a suburb of Larsaka City known mainly as the origin of the Lemon Fish Sandwich. Previously a member of a Progressive think tank and the Larsakan Institute for Democracy, candidate Li was able to distinguish himself with his sweeping rhetoric, positions on social justice, and radical new foreign policy vision. He and Liberal Party Candidate Owen Insfield, the two clear front runners at the end of the primaries, clashed heavily on foreign policy, where Insfield insisted the “Strategic Isolation” doctrine of previous Liberal Party Presidents was still the best path for Larsakan foreign Policy. He argued that Strategic Isolation had brought Larsaka the benefits of international trade without the quagmires of international politics, and that it was vital to continue this policy in order to maintain economic stability. In contrast, Candidate Li advocated for a “New Direction” that was based on Larsakan participation in world affairs for both moral and economic reasons. His platform included support for free trade, multilateral organizations, and advocating for human rights.
Domestically, Candidate Li campaigned on economic development through environmental technology, a lane that had traditionally been dominated by the Environment Party. Insfield accused Li’s plan of being dangerous for the federal budget and an undue burden on Larsaka’s already over regulated private sector. It was an attempt by Insfield to pivot to the right of traditional Liberal Politics, which has often involved passing Progressive Policies in order to maintain a broader coalition. However, despite the fierce debate surrounding the economy, foreign policy seemed to matter most to voters in several precincts that won President Elect Li his majority: exit polls had over 56% of voters in Erjiang state that Foreign Policy was their main consideration when choosing a candidate in the election.
Now, with a strong mandate from the electorate, it remains to be seen how Michael Li will implement his campaign promises. Already, there are grumblings from his campaign and rapidly forming transition team about his cabinet members and policies, as well as opposition strategies from popular Liberal Party Senators. One fact remains true, however; countries around the world should be prepared for a Larsaka more active on the global stage.
by Vienna Eliot » Fri Jun 28, 2019 10:08 pm
3 takeaways from the President's emergency press conference
www.onn.com
By Eric Bradner, ONN
Updated 7:01 PM EMK, Fri June 28, 2019SCHLOE — President Eliot held an emergency press conference earlier today, telling reporters that "The State of Kiteahu now poses a global threat to democracy." In the wake of rising nationalist tensions in the dictatorship, Kiteahu's nuclear positions have become increasingly projecting. But the urgency of the situation did not prevent the President from making some clear points today when addressing the press.
President Eliot took questions on rising threats, disagreements with Members of the National Council, and how Oceania and other democracies were planning to combat the rogue state. Here are three takeaways.
1. Kiteahu is a threat to democracy
It's clear what the President and his Administration sees as the greatest threat Kiteahu poses today — what will the world's democracies look like tomorrow? With the President constantly returning to the risk posed to democracy by Kiteahu's nuclear ambitions, the Administration made its main priority clear.
When Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alison Ricardo spoke, her campaign-ish mention of "democracy's three E's" may have garnered some eye-rolls, but she triggered a long strain of questions from the press when she stressed that "The way forward is not a choice between strength and diplomacy. It isn't our choice, anyway — the corporations behind Kiteahu's dictatorship will be forced to make that decision between their image and their people's interests."
The President held no punches when calling on neighboring democracies to fight against the dictatorship alongside him. "To our Mu-Kal and Kanchaka neighbors — this is your fight too. Kiteahu is not going to be satisfied with terrorizing and massacring its own people. The democracies of the world, and the citizens of those democracies, will be next."
2. Nothing is off the table
The President announced early on in the emergency press conference that he has authorized a naval blockade against Kiteahu. Reserves from the Republican Navy and the Republican Air Force are expected to be fully mobilized within one week, after which it will take two more weeks to deploy off the coast of Kiteahu.
"But we're not fencing ourselves in," President Eliot said. "Nothing is off the table." That could mean the use of military force, Defense Secretary Fawza Hussain said: the RNS Ulysses will be carrying a fleet capable of asserting air superiority and bombing suspected nuclear sites, of which more had been discovered, Ricardo said, by Oceanian intelligence.
Nothing happens without diplomacy, though, President Eliot insisted, and "If Kiteahu is willing to listen to what our diplomats have to say," crisis can be averted. Don't let that catch you off guard, though, Ricardo reminded the press corps: "This is a state that has never listened to reason."
3. Oceania is business as usual
"We aren't going to let a dictatorship without missiles powerful enough to reach us ruin the progress we've been making domestically," said the President, mentioning among other things that the Olympian Multilateral Trade Facilitation Conference — a the first round of major trade talks happening in Schloe — had gathered dozens of diplomats from across the world to make progress on a universal comprehensive trade agreement.
President Eliot will be addressing the conference tomorrow. There is no word yet on whether Kiteahu will be represented in the talks.
Vienna Eliot is shitting us into war
Elise Marlowe :: @e_marl
Fri June 28, 2019Vienna Eliot, hot on the heels of a landslide and unfortunately unsurprising election, is trying to lead us into war. So, you might reasonably ask, what the fuck?
The self-proclaimed Leader of the Democratic Sphere held an "emergency" press conference this afternoon, plucking journalists out of meetings, workrooms, and interviews to give what was essentially a steaming pile of rhetorical bullshit.
And yes, he had Foreign Secretary Alison Ricardo there, confirming once again that he has no problem surrounding himself with war criminals. The real kicker, though, was Defense Secretary Fawza Hussain's (probably reluctant) appearance. The fact that she was there shows this was no impromptu, off the cuff press conference. It means he's probably been lobbying his own cabinet for weeks.
And he’s certainly been lobbying members of his own party in the National Council. Council committees can authorize certain executive actions, and they often do. Typically they’ll just delegate it straight to an executive, but for controversial issues, they’ll send it to the whole Council. Well, the Defense and Intelligence committees have been holding an awful lot of secret meetings lately, yet they’ve sent nothing over to the Council for consideration. Either the “emergency” pretenses of this meeting are bullshit, or the President is lying about something even worse.
Not that being honest has ever stopped Vienna Eliot. After all, a week to mobilize? It doesn’t take a week to mobilize a naval blockade: it can take months. That means they’ve been planning this. For a while.
Labor was elected with a mandate. It’s a bad sign for our democracy, but don’t count on them to do anything about their own manipulative campaign tactics. In the meantime, it’s on the press to keep this president in check. We can start by not letting him booty call us for a propaganda conference whenever he sees fit.
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