Sunalayan News (SUNALAYA ONLY)

[North Baggnagia]

Military government votes to disband the Consultative Assembly of North Baggnagia

SILCENDA, NORTH BAGGNAGIA – Consultative Assembly of North Baggnagia is no more. The legislative body of the military government of North Baggnagia has voted to disband the Consultative Assembly as a governmental body. After the vote the Consultative Assembly was also removed from the constitution. Days ago the Consultative Assembly voted together with the military government’s legislative body to disband Military Tribunals in North Baggnagia and restore or rather create a civilian court system in the nation. This included restoring the Constitutional Court. Another law that the Consultative Assembly voted on together with the military government’s legislative body was the Freedom of Religion law. It removed state-imposed atheism from North Baggnagia and abolished the cult of personality of past North Baggnagian dictators: Chief of State Fran Hapenic and Marshal Jan Tillich. By that logic the Consultative Assembly was still given legislative powers in North Baggnagia even if it was deemed to be a marionette parliament controlled by North Baggnagian dictators. The military government’s legislative body could have just voted on its own on the court law and religious freedom law. But probably to give more weight to these laws and to show who’s the authority the military government made the Consultative Assembly to vote submissively for these democratic changes. This might have created an illusion that the Consultative Assembly could’ve been kept around but having been remade into an actual legit parliament. It could have either become a lower house, an upper house or even given unicameral powers. But the military government has shown that the Consultative Assembly would be removed as the dictatorship’s creation and its leftover. Instead the military government’s legislative body would be the only one with parliamentary functions in North Baggnagia for now. Future laws in North Baggnagia and reforms would be led by the military government’s legislative body.

[Vesvai]

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Vesvai’s Prime Minister Jonathan Mollisal Hopes For No Politics In Sunalayavision

Vesvai’s Prime Minister Jonathan Mollisal gave his opinion in an interview on Sunalayavision and the tensions present at the song contest over relations between participating nations. The Head of Vesvai’s Government said he hopes that politics will be absent and that there will be no provocations, trolling or political themes involved. For the longest time Mollisal did not mention any names but he later clarified that he was undoubtedly talking about New Vesvai. His other target was also Sunrisia as New Vesvai’s sponsor and basically custodian.

“[L]ast year we had a situation where Vesvai’s representatives at Sunalayavision 2019 Frontline Marchers were unjustly painted as villains by supposedly trying to provoke a back-stage fight with New Vesvai’s representatives. New Vesvaian singer J.O. was a lady so they supposedly tried to provoke a fight with her male band members. At this anti-Vesvai propaganda aimed at discrediting our performers painted them out to be as gentlemen who would not assault a woman. Thank you for that at least. But they soon backtracked on that by saying that our performers were trying to provoke the Sunrisian performer (also female but without a band with her) into an altercation. That was a low move to paint our performers like that and it is unrealistic. I know Frontline Marchers personally and they are wonderful guys. I had the pleasure of meeting them when they performed at one of our party’s campaign rallies. They are patriotic, they are traditionalist (they would never assault a woman or threaten her), they are polite, charismatic and talented. This story about at the Sunalayavision backstage was nonsense to discredit the Dominion of Vesvai. Recently New Vesvai’s media released a story about how they were hoping that this year’s Sunalayavision would be without last year’s problems. And without much surprise they brought up the supposed aggression of Frontline Marchers backstage. Let me say that I too hope that this year’s Sunalayavision will go along without trouble and the only way it can is if the other side stops provoking and spreading lies. The other side should make sure to have their own representatives hand tied behind their back so that they don’t try to provoke our this year’s performers into a fight. I think that Frontline Marchers have the right and should sue for character assassination and for discrediting them. Just because the other side are foreign nationals should not make them feel like they are free from a lawsuit. There are mechanisms out there.”

Parliament members from VHU party suggested legally barring New Vesvai’s musician J.O. from entering the Dominion of Vesvai. Same was suggested for Aculeus (a singer originally from the Dominion of Vesvai but who has emigrated to New Vesvai and has since become a vocal critic of Vesvai’s government). Both these characters are at odds with Vesvai’s government even more since both supported and participated the Silver Revolution in New Vesvai by performing for protester crowds. After that revolution New Vesvai has been pushing closer in the direction of Corentia, MDAA and Sunrisia personally. It has also worsened New Vesvai’s and the Dominion of Vesvai relations even more because New Vesvai has become more nationalistic under the new revolutionary government and has been cutting itself off from the Dominion of Vesvai even more. Even as entertainers J.O. and Aculeus have both done enough political action that has been very anti-Dominion of Vesvai.

[North Baggnagia]

Baggnagian Reunification Commission planning first meeting in Jugac, South Baggnagia

SILCENDA, NORTH BAGGNAGIA; JUGAC, SOUTH BAGGNAGIA – The shared intergovernmental body of North and South Baggnagia: Baggnagian Reunification Commission is talking about its first future meeting in Jugac, South Baggnagia. That is where the Commission would being their first moves in the direction of some sort of an integration between both states could be discussed and maybe begun. The Commission made up of North and South Baggnagians could already start laying out roadmaps on reintegration between the North and South. Suggestions have been given that foreign ministry officials from North and South Baggnagia could attend that first Commission meeting in Jugac to discuss or maybe even sign an agreement that could create free travel and movement of people between North and South Baggnagia. This has been discussed between the military governments of both nations before. This would create a border-control free travel area. It has previously been discussed as possible in a form of a customs union or another simpler format. Both states would not only no longer need border-control between each other or visas to travel into each other’s nations. This potential free movement area or a customs union could mean that North and South Baggnagia would have to adopt a single visa policy for access to and security of their common free movement area. This are just plans and discussions but nothing is official yet. Representatives of foreign ministries may attend to observe the Commission’s first meeting and maybe discuss that possibility but it’s unclear if it would be signed yet. Commission’s own members from North and South Baggnagia said that creating a joint free movement area with no border control or a customs union would be a natural step in integration. It is something that the Commission would need to bring up eventually in their other meetings after this future meeting. But the Commission clarified that their function would not be to begin the process of integration itself. Instead the Commission is tasked with mapping out integration on all fronts before it is eventually launched in the future. But in order for that integration to be launched there will have to be a joint referendum held in North and South Baggnagia. And that is where the Joint Referendum Commission comes in. The outcome of the joint vote in the North and South will show if that integration process that the Baggnagian Reunification Commission maps out will be launched at all in case of a ‘no’ vote. But signing and putting into force a free movement of people without border control and a customs union between North and South Baggnagia would also mean a start of integration without voter pre-approval. That is why that possibility could only be discussed but not signed. The Commission could instead put it into one of their roadmaps that will make out integration to be a packaged deal.

[South Baggnagia]

Joint Democratic Referendum Commission plans future meeting in Silcenda, North Baggnagia

JUGAC, SOUTH BAGGNAGIA; SILCENDA, NORTH BAGGNAGIA – After the Baggnagian Reunification Commission holds their first meeting in Jugac another intergovernmental body of North and South Baggnagia: Joint Democratic Referendum Commission will meet in Silcenda, North Baggnagia. The joint intergovernmental body which compliments and works with the Baggnagian Reunification Commission will meet to discuss the strategy on polling North and South Baggnagians on key joint questions related to reunification. Joint Democratic Referendum Commission will too be made up of North and South Baggnagians. Commission members have already separately been doing some polling in North and South Baggnagia to paint a picture of public opinion if both Baggnagian states should unite or stay separate. But now the Commission would have to figure out how to coordinate actions and do joint polling in both Baggnagian states together. They also have to come up with a strategy and the whole planning for holding a double referendum in North and South Baggnagia. Commission members said the first referendum would be focused on approving or disapproving of the reunification or unification deal that the Baggnagian Reunification Commission comes up with. If that referendum does not go through then the Baggnagian Reunification Commission will probably be disbanded and both Baggnagian states will continue to live apart. Or the Baggnagian Reunification Commission might stay around and seek another reunification or unification deal that would be approved in another referendum. If the referendum, whether the first one or more attempts at it, go through and the deal is approved by North and South Baggnagians then the next phase comes in. That would be a referendum on approving the draft for a constitution of a united Baggnagian state. If the draft is rejected then it would have to go through changes before voters finally approve it because hypothetically they would have already approved unification of Baggnagia at this stage.

Lt. General Radoslav Meier said he has been speaking with his North Baggnagian colleague Divisional General Zbynek Fiala on this issue. Both have suggested that North and South Baggnagia may have to reach a deal on appointing a third joint intergovernmental body. That would be a Joint Constituent Assembly which would be in charge of drafting a new constitution for a unified Baggnagian state in advance in case the citizens approve unification in the first referendum. This body would also be responsible for adding changes to the constitution if the draft is not approved by the citizens in the first joint constitutional referendum. But they have also talked about the possibility of ‘dusting off’ the Baggnagian constitution that was in place before Baggnagia broke up. If that option is picked the original united Baggnagia constitution could be put up for a vote as it is or some modernized changes could be made to it prior before it is put UP for a vote. That is a question to be discussed not only on the level of North and South Baggnagian military governments but also within the Baggnagian Reunification Commission and Joint Democratic Referendum Commission in their meetings. Maybe even the diplomats of both nations could take a larger charge in leading the process but looks like both military governments, the Baggnagian Reunification Commission and Joint Democratic Referendum Commission intend to lead the whole process.

[North Baggnagia]

Public polls show North Baggnagians want their state to join South Baggnagia

SILCENDA, NORTH BAGGNAGIA – In the early polls already conducted by the Joint Referendum Commission it has been shown that North Baggnagians support their nation joining South Baggnagia as the most preferable option of unification. This position is supported by the fact that Baggnagian separation came about when North Baggnagia declared independence from Baggnagia. Obviously that declaration was made by the dictatorship that took over the territory that later became sovereign North Baggnagia. There was not consent asked of the people living there. As a result the remainder of Baggnagia rather than keep living under the old constitution decided to draft a new one. It was approved in a referendum. That remainder of Baggnagia had also renamed itself into South Baggnagia under the new constitution. There was also a third independent Baggnagian state that resulted from Baggnagian collapse. That was Baggnagia-Neodvisni. But it was soon occupied and annexed by North Baggnagia without much resistance. Only the city of Neodvisni was left and it soon requested to become part of South Baggnagia instead of being annexed by North Baggnagia. Neodvisni was accepted into South Baggnagia and that is how it became an exclave of South Baggnagia today surrounded by North Baggnagia. It was also the point that started this historic and decisive war that led us to today’s outcome with liberating results for North Baggnagian people from a dictatorship. But the Joint Referendum Commission says it can’t just be a vote held in North Baggnagia on whether to join the South and make greater Baggnagia again. There must also be a vote held in South Baggnagia asking if they would be willing to accept North Baggnagia. That is why the referendums planned will still be held in both nations at the same time although they might be phrased in other ways. As for other news in North Baggnagia today Divisional General Zbynek Fiala is meeting with commanding military officers of South Baggnagian and Sunrisian occupational forces in North Baggnagia to discuss everything from rebuilding to the political processes in North Baggnagia.

[Vonein]

Voneinian State Media

Voneinian Government lowers corporate taxes to ten-year lows

The Voneinian corporate tax is thought to be the lowest among any nation. A ten percent flat tax on corporations and businesses has made Vonein a haven for the corporate tycoon or the merchant. With the lowest taxes, the government has basically been restricted to basic services and the military required of a small government. The National Parliament passed the taxes with overwhelming support, with Prime Minister Jenna Rhodes announcing the passage of the law on the morning news on Tuesday. The small conservative and even smaller liberal parties have declared this new tax law a devastating loss for the individual, as it further lessens an already small revenue for the government. The small revenue base of the government has restricted the purchasing power of the government for its military. It is like taking a time machine back to the twentieth century in terms of soldiers' equipment and armaments. It is not known whether the largest private military firm in the country, as well as arms manufacturers, will provide security for the nation, as an agreement between the government and the corporations has not been reached. Further hits have been taken to healthcare, infrastructure, and social welfare, all of which have been cut, or, in the case of social welfare, completely eliminated. It is not known whether or not the new tax law will further hamper the government, as trade import and export taxes have been steadily flowing in following the establishment of new port facilities at the nation's largest port. Only time will tell.

[South Baggnagia]

Military government to appoint the Constituent Assembly of Baggnagia to draft a new constitution

JUGAC, SOUTH BAGGNAGIA – After North Baggnagians revealed in Joint Democratic Referendum Commission’s early polls that they wished for North Baggnagia to join South Baggnagia, the military government of South Baggnagia took the lead in the constitutional process. Lt. General Radoslav Meier, Chairman of the Military Council of South Baggnagia, said that South Baggnagia is planning to appoint the Constituent Assembly of Baggnagia. This body will be responsible for drafting a new constitution not just for South Baggnagia but also a future united Baggnagian state if North and South Baggnagians vote in favor of unification. Lt. General Radoslav Meier supported the Joint Democratic Referendum Commission’s previous statement. The Commission members said that North Baggnagia can’t be left to have a vote on its own on whether it would like to join South Baggnagia as the most popular form of Baggnagian unification right now. South Baggnagians would also have to consent on whether they will want to accept North Baggnagia even if North Baggnagians want to join. Chairman of the Military Council called it the most proper way of resolving this issue to make sure that the wishes of all Baggnagians are considered.

Military Council of South Baggnagia made the decision to have a new constitution drafted instead of ‘dusting off’ the old one as it was previously discussed with the North Baggnagian military government. The old constitution is seen as dated and also with many flaws that had vague definitions on the powers of the president, the parliament and other government branches. It allowed the last president of united Baggnagia and first dictator of North Baggnagia Fran Hapenic to manipulate the constitution to his benefit and push for power grabs. The issues with that constitution basically led to Baggnagian collapse in the first place according to Lt. General Radoslav Meier. Rather than make changes to the old one the Military Council proposes to go with something new. Some in the Military Council said that for the old constitution to be ‘fixed’ to suit Baggnagia of today it would have to be rewritten entirely.

Attention is given to the trivial detail that the Constituent Assembly will be named not the Constituent Assembly of South Baggnagia but the Constituent Assembly of Baggnagia. That name alone shows that the constitution they will be creating is meant for a united Baggnagian state. But we will still have to wait and see if North and South Baggnagians will approve the unification deal reached by the Baggnagian Reunification Commission in a future referendum organized by the Joint Democratic Referendum Commission. To compliment the early polls that revealed North Baggnagians wish for their state to join South Baggnagia the Joint Democratic Referendum Commission will be polling South Baggnagians to try and predict if they are willing to take back North Baggnagians and create a reunified Baggnagian nation again.

[North Baggnagia]

North Baggnagia suggests to work together with South Baggnagia on dismantling militarized parts of the shared border

SILCENDA, NORTH BAGGNAGIA – Military government of North Baggnagia has put forward a proposal to South Baggnagian colleagues. It concerns the militarized parts of the border between the nations which have become obsolete now that both nations are no longer enemies and at war. After North Baggnagia surrendered and the Baggnagian conflict was ended North and South Baggnagian citizens themselves started meeting each other at the border and interacting. This was a symbolic moment of reconciliation and a symbolic reunification of the divided Baggnagian people. But apart from meet-ups they went a step further. Activists from the North and South have been dismantling militarized parts of the inter-Baggnagian border. It wasn’t hard for them to do since many of them were damaged during the war. They were basically picking rubble apart and removing it. But even then they did have to put some work in. They even were picking apart the Joint Security Areas which were the only spots where both Baggnagias came to talk to each other. Technically they could’ve been considered as the only symbols of unity and reconciliation on the tense dividing border. But people on both sides still saw them as symbols of division of the Baggnagian nation. North and South Baggnagian militaries and authorities in both nations did not intervene with the activists actions. It was only when they also tried to damage customs and remove border demarcation that border patrol of both nations had to get involved and stop it. The activists were persistent and it seemed they would dismantle as much as they could until the very end. But they have partially abandoned that half-way through or at least exhaustion caused them to slow down with this task. This also includes the lack of appropriate tools. That is where the North Baggnagian military government came in with its initiative.

Divisional General Zbynek Fiala proposed to the Military Council of South Baggnagia that their nations join forces with each other and their activists to remove the last remainders of the common border’s militarization. That would include removing watch-towers and demining among others which is something that amateurs can’t handle. This requires the state institutions intervention. The Divisional General said that only proper customs and border demarcation should be left between North and South Baggnagia as nations that are no longer at war and have cross-border relations with each other again. From what is known to North Baggnagian press and what South Baggnagian colleagues have been reporting South Baggnagian Lt. General Radoslav Meier said that the South Baggnagian Military Council is interested in the offer. The physical symbols of the past war and hostility may soon fully be removed by joint effort of two halves of a divided Baggnagian nation.

[West Zilveren Berg]

West Zilveren Berg Will Finally Adopt Its’ Own Currency – West Zilveren Guilder

The State of West Zilveren Berg has finally achieved its’ goal that the current government had set up in its’ election campaign and after coming to power. Chief Secretary Faas Van Hoebeek, Department of Finance, Department of Economic Affairs, the central bank and other banks in the country, have announced that West Zilveren Berg will finally have its’ own national currency. That currency will be the West Zilveren Guilder. It is planned to go into circulation soon, but until then West Zilveren Berg will continue to use the Provisional Suni as Sunrisia permitted. The government does not exclude the possibility that the Provisional Suni or just the Sunrisian Suni might continue to be used as one of the official currencies in West Zilveren Berg, even after the West Zilveren Guilder is adopted. However, for that to happen, further negotiations would have to be held with the Sunrisian government.

Meanwhile, while commemorating the foundation of the West Zilveren Guilder, Chief Secretary Faas Van Hoebeek chaired a government meeting, where he pointed out that there used to be digital currency in the Dictatorship of Zilvernberg. The head of government said that this might be one positive thing from the dark ages of Zilveren history that West Zilveren Berg may try to return, but it will also depend on whether there would be popular support for it. To achieve that goal anyway, West Zilveren economy would have to undergo “digitalization”, “technologization” and other modernization. While on that topic, he also encouraged separate sections of the government to pursue the previously-established goal of launching manufacturing industries in West Zilveren Berg.

At the moment, West Zilveren Berg can only extract and export natural resources, which Sunrisia is one of the primary partners in that area, while in exchange also having its’ companies hold a monopoly on building modernized and futuristic-like West Zilveren infrastructure for public use and economic activity. The Chief Secretary says that West Zilveren Berg needs alternative manufacturing and exports, other than just natural and energy resources, in order not to become a “gas station country” or a “banana republic.” Therefore, the head of government has not only been encouraging the West Zilveren government, but also the West Zilveren public to put forward their initiatives. Chief Secretary Faas Van Hoebeek plans to speak on this at the States General of West Zilveren Berg – lower house House of Representatives and upper house Senate.

[Sunrisia]

Nationalists And Neo-Isolationists Hold Another “Anti-Empire” March In Sunrisian Cities

Nationalists, Neo-Isolationists and other groups linked to similar ideologies have once again overtaken Sunrisian cities. Orentan, Lucera, Aestin, Ucinda and other major and non-major cities are once again having the “Anti-Empire” marches held in them. The participants are marching forward with a sea of flags of the Nationalist Republic of Sunrisia with them, while simultaneously desecrating flags of Sunalayan empires. These include flags of former empires and current countries in the world that either openly identify as empires of any kind or are perceived to be empires. Those flags are being burned, torn apart, trampled on, boots being wiped on them like a doormat, spray-painted and destroyed in other ways. There have also been “parodies” or replicas of flags of these empires being spotted, some with inappropriate imagery or inappropriate words written on them. The participants were not above carrying unflattering portraits or puppets of leaders of these past or present empires. Obviously because of some inappropriate imagery, our broadcast cannot show everything that has been happening in these marches without blurring some things out, when it comes to the symbols used. As for the slogans of the marches, the participants chanted in support of nationalism, isolationism, anti-imperialism, anti-colonialism, anti-globalism, but also made sure to proclaim support for the rights of minorities of any kind, including ethnic minorities, gender identification and equality, sexual orientation, religious liberty, human rights, animals rights, environmentalism and other causes.

While there was a lot of aggression and destruction in their slogans, the participants have simultaneously carried positive messages. A lot of attention has also been given to what has been referred to as – “civic nationalism.” It refers to an ideology that anybody living in Sunrisia, no matter where they come from, has the right to become and be accepted as a Sunrisian. This is a principal included in the current Constitution of the Nationalist Republic of Sunrisia adopted on August 22, 2019, and it is even the name of one of the parties within the current governing coalition with the parliamentary majority at the Convet – the Civic Nationalist Sovereignty Bloc (CNSB). In fact, it is the party of Convet Speaker Flórên Infána. The participants of these marches have made sure to devote attention to these principles of inclusiveness, in order to avoid generating fear or intimidation in Sunrisia.

In other news:

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• Early presidential election campaign updates.
  
  
• Superior Court of the Nationalist Republic of Sunrisia in session with a brand new composition of new judges and new chief justices, following the exit of the previous Superior Court.
  
  
• Svésâs Ârmiá (Army of Light) preparing for Sunalayavision Song Contest 2020 with the song Cústârgī” (Guardians), as representatives of the Nationalist Republic of Sunrisia.
  
  
• Statistics: Marriage in Sunrisia on further decline, as legality of polygamy and polygamous culture limit monogamy and correlate with the rise of more so-called “open relationships.”
  
  
• Top Releases on the Sunrisian Musical Charts (In No Particular Order):
  
  
  • Rego – “OK.”
    
    
  • C++ – “Metro” (Full Album)
    
    
  • Aglomera – “Vîltí” (Remix) (Sunalayavision Song Contest 2019).
    
    
  • Foreign Releases: “Music Sounds Better With You”, “Lady”, “Don't Say Goodbye.”

[Vonein]

Voneinian Border Patrol to get new equipment, modernization of uniforms.

The Voneinian Border Patrol, responsible for the protection of the nation's borders and small customs work alongside the Voneinian Customs Service, has long been neglected from an equipment and uniforms standpoint. The last time the service got any sort of an upgrade was back in the mid-twentieth century when the weaponry was first upgraded and vehicles were upgraded. This has been the only upgrade since the patrol's establishment in the 1930's as the Voneinian Border Police Regiment. With the coming of a new decade, the Patrol, which employs about five thousand people at border stations, airports, and ports across Vonein have requested modernization in the national budget for the last eight years. They were, however, pushed aside as other pressing matters such as the military needed a massive upgrade.

That, however, has changed with the preliminary passage of a law that would direct the government to further begin modernizing all departments to bring them up to standards that reflect the modern-day. Those same standards that the law specifies are also being debated on in parliament.

The publishing of those standards will be posted for the public to submit suggestions for them, as well as corporations who would see their sales to the government affected.

[Rhodevus]

Rhodevus Reaffirms Promise to End Use of Non-Renewable Energy Sources

This leap year has been a tense one, due to the ongoing struggle between Western ltd., The Brevin Energy Group and the Federal Rhodeve government. The two oil and gas giants sued the Rhodeve government over their anti-oil and coal initiatives, claiming that these rulings are meant to weaken longstanding leaders of the industry in order to promote companies run by friends of the administration. The case, which began in Tundosian Supreme Court has progressed up the chain to the the Rhodevus's Imperial Court, the highest court of law in the nation.

Western ltd. and The Brevin Energy Group (B.E.G.) are the two largest oil and gas companies headquartered in Rhodevus, though they do having mining and drilling rights all over the world. The titans of industry have long since spoken out against the federal government's moves to end coal and oil use for energy generation purposes by 2030 and 2050 respectively. This battle between private industry and the government came to a head in November of 2019, when Queen Diana threw Senator Micheal Gudatious from the conservative party out of the House of Commons for sitting on the Board of Energy Management without disclosing his ties to Western ltd. Ties that would have kept him from sitting on the board in the first place. Senator Gudatious had been an opponent of the queen's coal reduction initiatives since 2014.

The Imperial Court will be making a ruling regarding the oil giants' two claims. The first being that the federal government, by which to say the monarch, has ties to members of the renewable energy sector and is using her power in the federal government to enrich her friends and their companies. If the court rules in favour, then the Queen can face harsh penalties including forced abdication as well as jail time. The second claim is that the federal government is going against Rhodevus's Fair Labour Laws. If this is true, then multiple recent laws may be repealed, including 2020's first passed motion to increase carbon emission penalties on plants which don't comply with Rhodevus's carbon reduction practices.

In wake of all this turmoil, a spokesperson for the federal government has reaffirmed Rhodevus's desire to end the use of coal by this decade, as well as oil by 2050. When asked if this Imperial Court case will result in further non-renewables being abandoned, the spokesperson stated, "the deadlines for these two resources are hard deadlines. It means that the federal government isn't trying to slowly replace coal and oil with other sources of energy, and if the date approaches, it can be pushed back in order to meet energy demand. No, the hard deadline will have the plants be shut down, by force if necessary. By 2030, Rhodevus will not be running on coal energy, whether it has the means to sustain itself or not. As of now, Rhodevus isn't working to switch over demand from one source to another. It's working to meet demand."

Strong words by the spokesperson have been met with criticism by the oil and gas companies, who both have coal mining operations in the country and abroad. A spokesperson fro B.E.G. stated,"the federal government is playing a game of chicken with its own people. When the nation doesn't reach it's energy demand by the shutdown dates, thousands will be left without power. Of course the people in those areas will be in favour of whatever energy production methods the government supports. They know that they are in the greatest risk of ending up with no way to heat their houses or turn on their lights."

Rhodevus's hard deadlines have been in place since 2010. The two coal power plants remaining in Rhodevus are scheduled to be shut down in 2022 and 2025 respectively. Rhodevus's many oil power plants are being upgraded to hybrid plants to run on natural gas or being shut down. The largest plant shutdown is scheduled for 2028.

Small Nuclear is the Path to the Future

Micro-Reactors are nuclear reactors which product between 3 and 300 MWe compared to the average nuclear reactor producing 1 GW of power. The idea for using Micro-Reactors has been in the works for years, but Wyle province is the first to move forward in this regard. The province's government has, with the permission of the federal Ministry of Nuclear Safety, to begin pre-licensing reviews for fifteen Micro-Reactor locations in the province, all using one of three licensed Micro-Reactor designs.

"Wyle's population is much more spread out than most other provinces. As such, we need to be able to meet the base-power loads of many cities and towns across and much greater distance. It's not feasible to do it with power-lines running for many hundreds of kilometers across barren arctic desert. Micro-Reactors will allow cities to meet their growing base load requirements without the need for a tens of billion of NSD worth of expenses for a full-scale nuclear reactor."

In Other News:
- Housing prices continue to rise: Why Quiniac City is no longer affordable to those working there
- Rhodeve Air Force to decommission 23 planes. No moves to purchase new models in the future
- Band: Birds of a Feather to be Rhodeve contestant in Sunalayavision Song Contest this year

[Sunrisia]

Day 33 Of The Official Campaign Season: Voting In Early Presidential Election To Already Begin This Friday

It is formally Day 33 of the official campaign period in the early presidential election in the Nationalist Republic of Sunrisia, going onto Day 34. The official campaign period formally began on the next day after President and PID Director Fórî Apstérâ signed a decree authorizing the early presidential election in Sunrisia. Nevertheless, the campaign for the presidential race unofficially began much earlier than it was announced 34 days ago, because it was clear for society that Sunrisians would soon need to have a new elected President, just like it now has an elected Convet. President and PID Director Fórî Apstérâ did not announce his own candidacy for President on the day when he signed the early presidential decree and neither has he announced his candidacy since, whereas the country is just days away from the actual voting. President Apstérâ has made it clear that he views himself as a provisional/acting head of state, who took over during a crisis, which involved not only government and social turmoil, but also an uprising by militant groups. Once an actual President is elected, Apstérâ intends to return to being solely just the Director of the Prime Intelligence Division (PID), whereas is now he is holding 2 offices simultaneously – that of PID Director and the head of state.

This Friday, Sunrisians will finally be casting their first ballots in the early presidential election. If no candidate wins a majority, the top 2 candidates will move onto the second round, which would take place sometime later. Until the voting day, the campaign still continues today and will continue in the following days. Even on Thursday, candidates will not be prohibited from campaigning, as there is no law keeping them from seizing campaigning until the last minute, however, there have been some calls within the current Convet to introduce a law that would ban campaigning or “agitation” on the day prior to the voting. In other words, this proposal calls for a so-called “Day of Silence” to be introduced prior to the ballot casting.

The last presidential election that happened in Sunrisia, where Válîd Sâlúbĕr was elected President back then and which took place under the previous constitution, tested out an “upgraded” method of voting. Rather than cast paper ballots, citizens would vote with finger prints at the scanner machine. However, this method would not be applied this time around and the voting would return to classical paper ballots. The same method was used in the early legislative election for the Convet and Sunrisia will stick to that method with the early presidential election.

In other news:

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• Minister of Finance and Economic Development Fácîla Cónmodên: “We think there will be no trouble with satisfying West Zilveren Berg’s interest to keep Sunrisian Suni as its’ second currency.”
  
  
• Secretary of Sunrisia in MDAA Cáldăs Flórêna: “Sunrisian position is that Daredland should be accepted into MDAA, with the collective defense covering all of its’ territory, except for the break-away or occupied ones, like the ones in the regions of Haspera and Wenigberg. Daredland has nothing left to prove to the alliance.”
  
  
• Top Releases on the Sunrisian Musical Charts (In No Particular Order):
  
  
  • Iter – “No Problem(s).”
    
    
  • Crástâ Lórdî (The Edge Lords) – “Enjoy the Silence” (English-language Song).
    
    
  • Pulvis – “MJ&C.”
    
    
  • Glacies – “Progress.”
    
    
  • Foreign Releases: “Blinding Lights”, “Physical”, “Stupid Love”, “Fading”, “Wonderwall”, “Elle Me Dit.”

[Vesvai]

VNNHD

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Tear Gas And A Water Cannon Used On Violent Demonstrators In Aurisi

Riot Police in Vesvai’s capital Aurisi took on surprising anti-government protests. Between 100 and 200 demonstrators appeared on the streets on Aurisi in their anti-government rant. This is definitely a significant drop from Vesvai’s past protests in Aurisi and other cities at the same time. Many more people would gather in those. This time all action took place in Aurisi. Vesvai which has been quiet and free of public disruptions like this once again had to endure street unrest. Even if it was just between 100 and 200 people they were still enough to cause trouble. Their demonstrations appeared out of nowhere and neither the authorities nor the public were prepared. They were in violation of the anti-protest law which has helped bring the Dominion of Vesvai a lasting period of peace and stability. They had also violated the protocol of organizing a public gathering like this. Vesvai’s law requires a permit from the city authorities before you are allowed to organize a gathering like this. On top of all the demonstrators were aggressive and violent. So proper action needed to be taken.

Since regular patrolling police officers were unable to ask the demonstrators to end their gathering and these officers encountered abuse riot police was called in. And it seemed like it was something that they were expecting because the demonstrators were preparing for an attack on the police. They were throwing rocks, bricks, trash and also picked apart the pieces of paving stones and throwing them at the riot police. Some demonstrators were preparing to throw Molotov cocktails at the officers. The riot police could not handle 100-200 people this time. It was either because they were not prepared for what was to come and underestimated the opponent. Also because the Dominion of Vesvai has not seen street unrest in a while it could have been weaning on how to deal with them. Eventually the National Guard was sent to help the riot police. Tear gas and a water cannon was used. The confrontation ended and order was restored.

Those who did not manage to flee were detained. They are now kept under arrest at police precincts. They will probably be tried on the number of crimes they have committed that were mentioned earlier. But also Vesvai’s Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Legal Affairs said that many of these or all detainees could be let go on bail if they were first time offenders. This sounds like hints at clemency or amnesty from Vesvai’s government.

[South Baggnagia]

Sylva Čérny, Karel Čérny and the Socialist Bloc express a wish to return to South Baggnagia after self-exile abroad

JUGAC, SOUTH BAGGNAGIA – It can’t be denied that North and South Baggnagia are transforming. The situation is changing since the war ended and the previous regime in North Baggnagia fell by South Baggnagian and Sunrisian hand primarily. Of course credit can’t be taken away from defector forces led by Divisional General Zbynek Fiala in North Baggnagia. They had thankfully stabbed the regime in the back and now hold power in North Baggnagia. The situation has been changing so much since then so that even the leader of South Baggnagian Socialist Bloc (SB) party Sylva Čérny, her father Karel Čérny (previous leader of SB, now a regular member) and other SB members are now talking about wanting to return to South Baggnagia. They had communicated this message through the same channels they have been using to contact their supporters still in South Baggnagia.

Sylva Čérny, Karel Čérny and pretty much the entire SB party had gone into self-exile in an undisclosed foreign nation. They fled after the current military government led by Lt. General Radoslav Meier took over power in the nation. Prior to that Sylva Čérny personally became the leader of the pro-democracy movement in South Baggnagia opposing the unelected and unconstitutional power of the previous leadership: Congress of National Sovereignty of South Baggnagia. She also positioned her far-left SB party as the sole pro-democracy political force in South Baggnagia. When the Military Council of South Baggnagia took over the Čérny family and the SB party did not risk leading a pro-democracy movement against it. Instead they went into self-exile somewhere abroad. SB party remained active and did not announce that it would be disbanding. It’s just that it was no longer active on the territory of South Baggnagia. Sometime later after disappearing they resurfaced online and through other channels to reach out to their supporters. They said that they would resume fighting for their cause from a safe distance. But it now no longer seems like Sylva Čérny, Karel Čérny and the SB party are that afraid of the South Baggnagian Military Council anymore and of Lt. General Radoslav Meier personally.

As an unusual military government (not rightfully elected by voters but also not acting like a military dictatorship) the Military Council has been rebuilding democratic institutes in South Baggnagia and even building new ones. It has even been helping North Baggnagia do the same. So this suggests that the Čérny family and the SB party might take the gamble of returning to South Baggnagia after all. Even if the Military Council is still here. Lt. General Radoslav Meier commented that they are free to do so and that they would not be detained or terrorized for anything because that’s not the Military Council’s agenda. SB leadership and the whole party have not committed any crimes. Lt. General mentioned that South Baggnagia is moving towards a stage where it’s going to need diverse political parties again very soon. Was this a hint at elections?

[Sunrisia]

Sunrisians Vote In The Early Presidential Election

Today is the day of the early presidential election in the Nationalist Republic of Sunrisia. This is the day when Sunrisian voters go to the polls to cast the ballot for their candidate. While Sunrisians have been voting this whole day and continue to vote, the candidates have not been formally restricted from campaigning until the last minute. That is because, as mentioned on this network’s previous report regarding the topic, the currently is no formal law requiring a “Day of Silence” before the voting. So much so that the candidates have been free to campaign the last day before voting and are also free to campaign even today. Of course, even with that, there are still some limitations in place. The candidates are not allowed to continue campaigning personally or having their campaign members do it on the territory of polling stations, as they are required to be quiet for a calm voting process. The campaigning can only continue on other available platforms, which there are not many, due to the drop of social media in Sunrisia. Different campaigns have still used the last minute opportunities to place posters and pamphlets outside of polling stations early in the morning, before they were finally opened for voting.

According to the current order of things, if no candidate gathers a clear majority of votes, the top 2 candidates, frontrunner and runner-up, will transition into the second round just between the 2 of them. The runoff election would take place sometime at a later declared date. The winner of the second round or the runoff election, would be declared President-elect. However, in case a candidate does gather a clear majority after today’s voting, formally the first round of voting, then that person would be declared President-elect and no runoff election would be needed. Looking at the results of January’s early legislative election for reference and how it basically ended with a tie between multiple parties, electoral blocs and other competing political forces, the early presidential election could likewise move in any direction. It could be a decisive vote that will take place today or it might just be a half-way point reached before the nation moves towards the finish line sometime later.

[West Zilveren Berg]

Chief Secretary Faas Van Hoebeek Discusses Ecology With Citizens At A “Town Hall” Format In New Kengara

Head of Government, Chief Secretary Faas Van Hoebeek, held a “Town Hall” format meeting in one of the buildings in New Kengara, which is being reshaped to become a university in the future. This meeting has been organized shortly after the Chief Secretary chaired a cabinet meeting with heads of the Department of Finance and the Department of Economic Affairs, regarding the adoption of the West Zilveren Guilder as the national currency, while also cooperating with Sunrisia on receiving permission to keep the Provisional Suni as the second currency. However, the agenda of the meeting with citizens has been the topic of ecology. The citizens were invited to ask questions, give proposal and provide criticism on the government plan for dealing with the questions of ecology in West Zilveren Berg. As a country that came out of war, as well as a nation that does not have much manufacturing happening at the moment, West Zilveren Berg has to consider natural resources as its’ main source of income from export. But, focusing just on the extraction of natural resources and also considering the damage West Zilveren land took from the war, it does not leave much hope for the future of ecology in the country. Chief Secretary Faas Van Hoebeek basically had to defend himself and the government led by him before citizens and explain to them what plan officials have, while also hearing out possible concerns or proposal.

During the meeting, Chief Secretary Faas Van Hoebeek did hear a lot of praise and constructive proposal. However, the head of government was also harshly verbally attacked by many participating. There were representatives of different protest movements, some of which presented themselves as being for a “green economy”, while others were against the extraction of natural resources and exploitation of West Zilveren land. Others criticized Chief Secretary Faas Van Hoebeek to his face for the government’s unconstructive plan on how to boost West Zilveren manufacturing and production of something else for export, in order to help the country transition from an economy dependent on natural resources. The point that the critics at the meeting made, was that the failure to achieve this plan would keep West Zilveren Berg a “banana republic” and decrease chances to achieve a more environmentally-friendly economy overall. Another attack made was that the government appeared to be too dependent on foreign help, Sunrisian first and foremost, and presented the argument that West Zilveren Berg could only achieve anything with foreign aid. The critics believed that the government used this strategy to avoid doing anything on its’ own and blaming all the shortages of progress or lack of a government strategy, on lack of enough foreign support, while taking credit for achievements that foreign support has helped bring. With this, those attacking Chief Secretary Faas Van Hoebeek said that the government was also failing to uphold West Zilveren ambition to be a non-bloc, mostly neutral state.

Opposition parties in the Senate and the House of Representatives did not hold back their harsh attacks on Chief Secretary Faas Van Hoebeek and the government after this meeting with citizens. The “Town Hall” was mocked by the opposition as a desperate attempt for the government to excuse itself for mistakes, while also making it seem like it has not lost direct contact with voters. The opposition called it a PR move in the facing of a dipping government approval rating, while some suggested it could also be part of an early attempt at a re-election campaign. Despite all this criticism from the opposition and many voters, the governing coalition has declared itself as remaining strong and united. Meanwhile, while ecology was the primary topic at the “Town Hall”, Chief Secretary Faas Van Hoebeek faced questions, proposals and criticism regarding press reform, guaranteeing progress in freedom of media in West Zilveren Berg, as well as the court reform, guaranteeing the independence and fairness of courts in West Zilveren Berg.

[Sunrisia]

BREAKING NEWS

Addél Dîlectên Elected President Of The Nationalist Republic of Sunrisia

LIVE BROADCAST

The results have been counted and Independent candidate Addél Dîlectên has been declared the official winner of the early presidential election in the Nationalist Republic of Sunrisia. This was a historic election, because it had made Addél Dîlectên the first President elected since the adoption of the Constitution of the Nationalist Republic of Sunrisia on August 22, 2019. It was also the first presidential election under the current Constitution in general. Independent Addél Dîlectên won with 51,25% of the vote, which was enough for the candidate to be declared winner and President-elect, without a requirement for a second round/runoff election. President-elect Addél Dîlectên just barely escaped a runoff election, as his opponents were “breathing right down Dîlectên’s neck”, figuratively speaking. The runner-up to President-elect Addél Dîlectên was the candidate from the Egress Alliance (EA) electoral bloc, which was a political alliance of parties that gathered the largest percentage of the vote in January’s early legislative election, more than any other competing political force in that election. Of course, that largest percentage that EA gathered was still only 27%, which did not give it a clear parliamentary majority and it had to form a coalition with other forces that it was “splitting victory with” and thus they are now in a governing coalition at the Convet together. But this was a demonstrative moment that the popularity of the strongly isolationist EA political alliance is in a good condition and gives it hope for better results at other elections, including local ones and municipal ones around Sunrisia.

However, it seems that while having a very diverse legislature in a form of the current composition of the Convet, Sunrisians opted to go for an independent and nonpartisan candidate, who would be able to help unite the parliament and work together with the legislative branch of government in its’ highly-diverse form, without sympathizing towards any specific political force. Optimists believe that President-elect Addél Dîlectên will hopefully be able to find common ground with the governing coalition at the Convet and also with the opposition parties. As an Independent, the President-elect essentially has no strong allies neither within the governing forces, nor within the opposition, so the President-elect will have to face both of them alone. In fact, on the flip side, the Convet might become more united within itself, as the governing forces and the opposition could join forces in trying to counter-balance the future Dîlectên administration as much as possible, to the point where the parliament way try to decrease the presidential system in Sunrisia even more than the current Constitution already has in comparison to past constitutions and incarnations of the Sunrisian sovereign state, instead trying to elevate the legislative branch over the executive branch. Or, as mentioned before, President-elect Dîlectên might just become that effective nonpartisan force that will help unite the diverse parliament and cooperate more effectively with it, than a partisan President would. Probably the same effectiveness could be expected in cooperating with other branches of the government.

Opponents of President-elect Addél Dîlectên in the presidential race have sent their congratulations to the President-elect on victory. Meanwhile, President and PID Director Fórî Apstérâ, who currently holds the position of acting head of state, has also congratulated President-elect Dîlectên on victory and invited his future successor to the Presidential Palace to discuss the transition of power. President-elect Dîlectên also made some statements since victory. Apart from thanking supporters and sharing this victory with them, while also thanking the opponents for good sportsmanship and a good competition as a healthy democracy needs, the President-elect said that the current plan is to keep the cabinet and other officials from the Apstérâ administration as the cabinet of the incoming Dîlectên administration, at least for now. This refers to all currently-serving Ministers and even other administration officials that were appointed by President and PID Director Fórî Apstérâ. President-elect Addél Dîlectên also declared that the Nationalist Republic of Sunrisia now once again has a citizen-controlled and citizen-elected “civilian government”, with a freshly-elected Convet, a freshly-elected President and a freshly-appointed Superior Court. The future head of state committed to reduce the role and influence of Sunrisian intelligence services and the military over the Sunrisian government, in accordance with the constitutional order of what each state institution in the country should do, what are its’ specific functions and how much power it must have in anything.

[South Baggnagia]

Jugac Meeting: Baggnagian Reunification Commission discusses common border

JUGAC, SOUTH BAGGNAGIA – Baggnagian Reunification Commission is holding its first meeting in Jugac today. This is the first of many to come as the Commission prepares condition for Baggnagian reunification while the people on both sides will give the final say. The Commission is obviously trying to discuss the maximum number of questions they can with the time given. Its function is to ultimately create a road map for inter-Baggnagian integration and reunification if people approve. North and South Baggnagian members of the Commission talked about the issue that was raised by North Baggnagian leader Divisional General Zbynek Fiala. He proposed cooperation in officially dismantling militarized parts of North and South Baggnagian border. The Divisional General’s proposal has been to do it on the level of both states although volunteers from North and South Baggnagia have already been picking the border apart on their own. They started doing that after the war ended and without approval of either state. The authorities did not intervene until the question came about the regular border patrol and legality of border-crossing and migration between two nations that are still separate today. North Baggnagia proposed removing all militarized parts and Joint Security Areas with joint effort. Military Council of South Baggnagia has been concerned about this too and the question was on agenda. It’s unclear if Lt. General Radoslav Meier reciprocated but that might be possible since both North and South Baggnagian military government leaders are at regular contact with each other. This has been one of the issues that Baggnagian Reunification Commission tackled today at Jugac.

The communiqué suggests that the Commission concluded not to do much about liberalization of border-crossing. That already makes it clear that the question about dismantling inter-Baggnagian border on a legal level is out of the question now. Sadly it seems that the same goes for the question of abolishing visa requirements to travel between both Baggnagias. The Commission said that these sort of questions must be decided by elected politicians which they and military governments in North and South are not. The future of North and South Baggnagian border (whether it will exist) and travel across that border (situation with visas if the border does persist) will all depend on the outcome of the reunification referendum in North and South that the Joint Democratic Referendum Commission will set up. Of course the dismantling of the inter-Baggnagian border will be included in the reunification or unification document or roadmap that the Commission will create. If North and South Baggnagians will approve unification in the vote then this condition will be about the dismantling of the border between two nations reuniting. But that clause would only apply if the entire packaged unification deal is approved at the referendum. Since so much depends on the future referendum right now the Commission can only talk about cooperation in dismantling the militarized parts of the shared border. But there were those members of the Commission who said it would be more a dialogue between both military government of North and South and not of the Commission. The Commission is only set up to form a road map for possible unification whereas dismantling militarized parts of the border is something that the two leaderships can agree on through direct dialogue. That is what was said in the communiqué too.

Other Headlines

• Abroad – North and South Baggnagia already being shown as a single, reunified Baggnagia on some maps around the world. Attempt to influence future referendum results or innocent wishful thinking by Baggnagian expats or well-meaning foreigners?

[North Baggnagia]

Silcenda will host the first meeting of Joint Democratic Referendum Commission next Monday

SILCENDA, NORTH BAGGNAGIA – Baggnagian Reunification Commission is meeting in Jugac, South Baggnagia on a first meeting today. The agenda includes many issues to tackle. One of the issues widely discussed in South Baggnagian press today is the fate of the common border. The media refers to the complete dismantling of the border or removal of its militarized parts by both Baggnagian states in cooperation. It’s a proposal that Divisional General Zbynek Fiala put forth to Lt. General Radoslav Meier and Military Council of South Baggnagia earlier. Several members of the Commission noted that the fate of the North and South border will depend on the result of the reunification referendum: for or against? But the fate of the border will obviously be included in the Commission’s road map which will also be put forward in the referendum. It would also affect the future rules of travel across the border if North and South stay separate. Commission members informatively said that the dismantling of militarized border parts is something that the military governments of North and South can handle on their own direct dialogue. This can be a cooperative effort between North and South unrelated to the reunification question. It is not entirely part of what the Commission’s duties are but the Commission can also be informed or consulted with on that question. That is exactly what both military governments will pursue on their own. Divisional General Zbynek Fiala said he’s been in contact about it with Lt. General Radoslav Meier, Chairman of Military Council of South Baggnagia. Looks like work on that will begin soon enough even if volunteers from North and South had done a lot on their own without either state’s involvement.

But just like the Baggnagian Reunification Commission is meeting today in Jugac, South Baggnagia for the first time there’s also an important meeting coming up in Silcenda. North Baggnagian capital will host the first meeting of the Joint Democratic Referendum Commission in exactly a week. It will happen next Monday. The Commission can start mapping out and advancing the process of holding a single referendum in North and South Baggnagia at the same time. It is intended to be the double referendum which will ask the questions if North and South Baggnagians approve of the reunification agreement that the Baggnagian Reunification Commission will draft and if they approve of the constitution that the Consultative Assembly of Baggnagia is presently drafting. The first half of the double referendum holds more weight than the second one. If North and South Baggnagians say yes to the reunification then the second half of the referendum on the constitution can either be supported or rejected. From that point they will still have already supported a reunified Baggnagian state and the only question will be if they will be happy with the constitution they see before themselves that day or not. But if reunification gets rejected then the vote on the constitution automatically becomes irrelevant because the Constituent Assembly is presently working on a constitution for a single Baggnagian nation. So there are a lot of nuances but members of the Commission say that their focus is now to set up those two votes and that’s it. Once they are done and depending on their results that’s when both Baggnagian states will figure how to move forward depending on what they voted on. The Constituent Assembly is also not looking as far and is now only focused on their task of drafting that constitution. For fairness the Constituent Assembly has North and South Baggnagians in it though it was appointed by the order of South Baggnagian Military Council.

After these first meetings for the Baggnagian Reunification Commission in Jugac, South Baggnagia today and the Joint Democratic Referendum Commission next Monday in Silcenda, both Commissions will meet regularly in either of the capitals or cities in North and South Baggnagia. The Constituent Assembly of Baggnagia is based in Jugac, South Baggnagia but it could also hold some sessions in Silcenda in the near future, said its representatives and the South Baggnagian Military Council. Polls still show that most North Baggnagians prefer for their state to be merged into South Baggnagia because the South is the actual successor of the Democratic Republic that was divided. There’s also a considerable difference in development between both because the North is more impoverished and South is more developed. North Baggnagians are actively trying to move to the South and this influx that the South should be expecting is also part of dialogue between North and South military governments.

[Reutoa]

The Bremenburg Reporter
Chancellor Rottmanner wins Conservative Party Ballot!


Chancellor Rottmanner shown above celebrating with his wife after the results were released showing he had won the second ballot.

As the results came in from the second ballot, nobody knew what they would entail. Would Chancellor Rottmanner get the 55% necessary to remain on as the Conservative Parties Leader for the 2020 election, or would a third ballot have to be called because no one had reached the magic 55%. When former Minister of Energy Dietrich Emmerich (2010-2013) declared he was running to become the Conservative Parties Leader, nobody expected much from him but over the coming months polls continued to show him growing in popularity as voters got to know him more. He wanted to radically transform the Conservative Party and also fight the Establishment of the Country, which he claimed was “destroying the moral fabric that we hold.” Chancellor Rottmanner was quick to dismiss his claims, saying that Emmerich was a “communist in sheep’s clothes” and that “he trusts conservative voters will back him as he fights to remain as the parties leader.”

Chancellor Rottmanner became the Conservative Parties Leader in 2018 after a snap election took place. This occurred because the previous Chancellor had resigned in disgrace after leaks revealed that his Administration had funneled money into the Conservative War-chest. Mr. Rottmanner was just Vice Chancellor at the time and quickly won over the Party Bosses and eventually control in the first ballot, since then he has tightened his control over the party and government by firing almost every minister who disagreed with him without the approval of the Assembly and replaced them with his own pickings. Many have criticized this action, including Mr. Emmerich. Who called the actions “that of a tyrant.” However to the vast majority of Reutoans Chancellor Rottmanner turned out to be somewhat popular, winning some polls with 52% of the vote.

But the real test came today as two sides fought it out to survive, one side being the establishment and the other being a political outsider. During the first ballot it was announced that Rottmanner had secured 52% while Mr. Emmerich had gotten 53% of the vote, by now many thought Chancellor Rottmanner would be overthrown but once the second ballot Commenced point after point started going to Rottmanner with some voting irregularities bring vastly ignored by the Media (under possible demand from the Rottmanner Campaign). By the end of the second ballot Chancellor Rottmanner could claim victory after receiving 62% of the vote, Mr. Emmerich later called to congratulate Chancellor Rottmanner.

Other News:

• Reutoan Lower Court to open case against Chancellor Rottmanner over possible Illegal Actions
• Polls show Generic Liberal Party Leader beating Chancellor Rottmanner in 2:1 cases
• What to know about the 2020 elections and how they will effect you

[Port-aux-Perdrix]

Acutalités
Fish Stocks Down for 3rd Year in a Row, Allowance Decreases

March 10, 2020
Jean Factoire

According to the Rhodeve Ministry of Fisheries and Oceans, fish stocks in Partridge Bay and the surrounding waters have fallen for a third year in a row, from an estimated 322.3 tonnes down to 312.1 tonnes. This marks the first time since 1993 that reserves have fallen for a third consecutive year, sparking fears that they may continue to spiral as they did more than twenty years ago. The government, for now, has remained silent, though there are rumours of discussions whether to impose a moratorium on fishing in the area to avoid a similar situation. The moratorium imposed in 1998 came almost two years too late to stop the fish populations from crashing and making fishing nonviable in the area.

The moratorium of 1998 affected large parts of the Rhodeve coast, and hit Iylan province especially hard. In Hauteterre County alone, more than 13,000 jobs were lost overnight, 81 here in Port-au-Perdrix. It came into effect at 4:00 AM on August 3rd, and is largely still in place today in the form of strict allowances that keep the fish population supposedly sustainable, but make it very hard to live off fishing alone. Last year, the government decreased the allowance once again, to 0.3 tonnes of fish per vessel per day.

"I just can't believe it," one resident says, "first they say we can fish again, but we can barely live off what we can fish!"

The loss in economic output across the region caused many businesses to close, and people to move away. Port-aux-Perdrix's population has fallen nearly 7 percent, from 741 in 1995 to 639 in 2015, according to the statistics bureau. The previous fisheries minister expressed his sympathy for those who lost their jobs but also pointed out the possibility that if fish reserves were not allowed to recover, there may be no possibility of fishing in the future, a hypothesis backed by many leading biologists.

Many people turned to shellfish and crustaceans to fill the gap that the fish moratorium left, but now those stocks are in trouble too. Kikitamouk, fifty kilometres north of Port-aux-Perdrix, opened a shrimping plant in 2000, and at first it was going well. The opportunities gave the community a new lease on life, and all seemed to be well. And then the shrimp stocks crashed too, starting in 2010, because of over-consumption and new environmental threats. The plant closed in 2012, leaving nearly 300 unemployed.

"It's devastating," says Brigitte Mason, who worked at the plant for 9 years, "I staked my whole life on that plant. Now it just reminds us of what we used to have."

Georges Royer, a marine biologist from Acadia, had this to say:
"It's not just about preserving fish. It's about preserving viability in this area of the country. If the fish die out, then so will their predators, and eventually their prey. The food chain will be broken. If the fish can't live there, neither can people. It is important to save the fish, to save the communities that need them."

The Warden of the County municipality, Rhéal Caron, has vowed to fight for the livelihoods of the people who elected him but also pleaded the communities he serves to understand how important it is to act quickly, to keep their towns alive.

"We got it wrong once. It caused the worst downturn this area has seen since the Depression. The people of Hauteterre County must recognize that [...] we can't get it wrong twice."

Warden Visits Local Science Fair

March 10, 2020
François Lemaître

The 8th grade elementary class of École Primaire J.-B. Chiasson hosted the 37th annual Kid's Science Fair last Wednesday, although a special visit made this one for the history books. The eight students of the hosting class brought together the rest of the school, ranging in age from 6 to 13, in a wonderful student driven science initiative. To open the fair this year, the class managed to book the Warden of the county, Mr. Rhéal Caron, to come and kick things off with a bang.

In the opening speech, the Warden had this to say:
"I hope each and every one of you knows how special you are. You are the future of your community, your county, and the whole world. It is so important to learn how the world around us works, and even more impressive that students could organize it themselves. I am so proud, and honoured, to announce the opening of the 37th annual J.-B. Chiasson Science Fair!"

Among the themes this year were climate change, reforestation, volcanoes and, of course, fishing ecosystems. Each student could work alone or create a team of 2 or 3 members, choose a subject about the world around them, and create a five minute long presentation for the judges, the 8th grade class.

"It's quite a lot of fun," said 13 year old Thomas Lefebvre. "In my mind, everyone's a winner, just for participating and learning something. The winners are those who just went that much further."

Winners were announced in three categories based on age. The kiddie's prize goes to those between 6 and 8 years old, the junior prize to those between 9 and 10, and the senior prize to the students more than 10. This year, more than 30 students signed up, a record showing since 2015, which the organizing committee is surely proud of.

7 year old Guillaume Blanchette won the kiddie's prize of 2020 with his project on the meteor that wiped out the dinosaurs, and the collapse of the food chain that came afterwards. 9 year old Chantal Lavallée won the junior prize this year, with her project about the importance of reforestation in the jungle in other areas of the world, and how important it is for our lives so far away. This year's senior prize went to 12 year old Dominic Leblanc, who presented his eco-friendly solution to the fishing crisis in the area, and his support for an eventual moratorium on unsustainable fishing.

"The facts are there. If we don't do something about this problem, there will be no science fair in 5, 10, 15 years. There just won't be."

Congratulations to all those who competed this year, and congratulations once again for the 8th grade graduating class for putting it all together.

Opinions
Baie St.-Paul, a Town of Thieves

March 10, 2020
Henri Lavasseur

Everyone knows that the cannery opened recently in Baie St.-Paul can only be detrimental to our own community. We saw it once, and we're seeing it now. When fishing stopped in 1998, people left for wherever they could find a job. It was our second Great Depression. And now, they're leaving again, and for one place in particular.

Baie St.-Paul has always had the upper hand compared to us. More people, right from the start. They took over our municipal affairs when we were unincorporated. They have the radio station, and the TV station. What more do we have to give? I'm sure they feel the same about their neighbours to the north, Kikitamouk, but they are the seat of the county, they have more say than all of us smaller communities.

Some might say it is important for us, as residents of smaller communities, to remain united for our common interests. The policies and people of Baie St.-Paul are trying their hardest to make cooperation impossible. They have recently won the construction of a new cannery, completed last year, and it seems to have gone straight to their collective head.

The more power they can gain from this new advantage, the more they will. The more people immigrate from our community to another, the less likely we are to survive in the long-term. Baie St.-Paul and its cannery are a vampire, sucking blood out of our community and our livelihood. We are, as it stands, bleeding dry. We have no money, we have no fish. And we have nothing left to give.

Of course, the more far-gone we are, the more Baie St.-Paul will claim for itself everything we once had. This attitude is what makes it impossible to unite together with them to fight for ourselves. They do not share a common interest, so neither will we.

To the residents of Baie St.-Paul, and the residents of Port-aux-Perdrix who now call Baie St.-Paul home, I hope you're happy. Because I'm not, and we shouldn't be.

A Call for Unity Amidst Our Divisions

March 10, 2020
Julie Laronde

So, here we are again. People are angry and rightfully so, but at the wrong people. Time and time again, we in small communities fight each other instead of the higher powers at work to receive what we need. We deserve economic support, we deserve representation, and we deserve to keep the way of life we've had for centuries.

It is not okay to simply put the blame on each other. Sure, the new plant in Baie St.-Paul is stealing our people, and our jobs, but we should not be working against the cannery and the people it employs. We should be working towards attracting a company to set up a plant here, and government funds to do so. It is simply not right to allow the politics of division played by our provincial and federal governments to work this easily.

I'll keep it short and sweet. We could work together, and solve this, the problem of a lifetime, together, constructively. Or, we could fight each other, be petty, and focus on the little things. Notice how that doesn't solve the problem. Because it won't, and it never will. We MUST work together if we want to see the next generation grow up on the pier of Baie-du-Perdrix.

Sports
Local Soccer Star Victorious in Away Game

March 10, 2020
Marcel Laurent

The village's most successful youth soccer star, 14 year old Clothilde Rocher, has won another championship with her team, the Baie St.-Paul Tornadoes, on which she is the star striker. They returned from an away game yesterday, beating out the favourites, the Kikitamouk Tigers on their home pitch. Clothilde scored two of the four goals for her team, leaving the final score of the game at 4-3. This means that the Tornadoes go on to defend their title in the junior league soccer tournament.

"It was a close game! My team and I came together and overall I think we were the strongest," Clothilde told news reporters, reflecting on the game.

Clothilde has been a prized member of soccer teams all across the region ever since her potential was recognized when she was 7 or 8 years old, back in 2013. After touring the county for two weeks, Clothilde has said that she is glad for some rest, and while the competition does take a toll on her, there is nothing that she'd rather be doing. Inside and out, Clothilde breathes the sport, and hopes to be picked up by a major women's league when she is done with high school.

The Kikitamouk Tigers, on the other hand, come in second for the third year in a row, behind the Tornadoes both times. Although many were disappointed in Kikitamouk, there is one highlight. The expectation of finally winning the tournament brought nearly 200 spectators to the game, and pushed the team over the goal for fundraising in the season, meaning they can go on and try to win the title again next year. In third place were the St.-Louis-du-Lac Gorillas, making their first medal appearance since 2009 in this tournament.

"I am very happy. You know, it's a really great result for us, and maybe we can go even higher next season." Gilles Frontenac, coach of the Gorillas explained.

Chroniques
Horoscopes

March 10, 2020
Mme Clairvoyante

Aries: Good Luck! You're going to need it. Today will be tough.
Taurus: Today might be the day you fall in love, only if you recognize the beauty in this world.
Gemini: Reward yourself this week, you deserve it.
Cancer: Try eating healthy for a change. The diet may stick this week, after all.
Leo: Spend more time outside, you'd appreciate it.
Virgo: Choose one day to set aside and finally do the small things you need to keep moving on. House maintenance!
Libra: Maybe giving books a try this week would help with your concentration.
Scorpio: Don't let anyone run you over this week. You're more than a doormat.
Sagittarius: Eat in this week, your wallet will thank you later.
Capricorn: I believe in you. You are my favourite, because you need it this week.
Aquarius: Go with the flow for a while. No need to push back so hard.
Pisces: Sometimes, fish need to flow upstream, too.

Word Riddle

Who can travel the world while staying in a corner?
Answers next week.

[South Baggnagia]

Military Council legally approves of the Joint Double-Referendum in North and South Baggnagia

JUGAC, SOUTH BAGGNAGIA – Military Council of South Baggnagia has passed a bill approving of the Joint Double-Referendum that will be held simultaneously on the territory of South Baggnagia and also North Baggnagia. The military government of North Baggnagia is expected to approve the same bill today for this Joint Double-Referendum to happen because the South Baggnagian Military Council can only approve of the referendum on the South’s territory. North Baggnagia is expected to compliment the South’s vote with an identical bill so that this Joint Double-Referendum could happen on both territories.

The Joint Double-Referendum will ask North and South Baggnagian citizens two questions. The first question will ask if the voters approve of the unification agreement that will be reached by the Baggnagian Reunification Commission (a joint intergovernmental body currently working towards hypothetical reunification). The second question will ask if the voters approve of the draft of the constitution that the Constituent Assembly of Baggnagia is presently working on. If reunification is rejected by voters then the second question will automatically become obsolete because the Constituent Assembly is working on a constitution for a joint and reunified Baggnagian state. But if the voters support reunification then the vote on the constitution will also be important. If the voters hypothetically support reunification but will reject the constitution then both North and South leaderships will have to work towards a new constitution that both citizens will like. But even if they reject the constitution the two nations could still unify under a temporary basic law or some other measure.

Today’s vote at the South Baggnagian Military Council creates legal basis for the Joint Double-Referendum to happen on the South’s territory. South Baggnagia now awaits for the North to compliment this vote so that the joint referendum could happen. This Monday Jugac hosted the very first meeting of Baggnagian Reunification Commission. Next Monday the Joint Democratic Referendum Commission will meet for the first time in Silcenda, North Baggnagia. The vote or votes to allow the referendum has been passed in the South earlier than the Commission could directly meet for the first time but it will have no impact on their decision-making. The Commission’s function is still to organize a referendum in North and South no matter what so this vote in the South’s Military Council is simply keeping the eventual process moving. Everybody is doing their part to finally settle the historic issue.

[North Baggnagia]

Military government passes law allowing the Joint Double-Referendum in North and South Baggnagia

SILCENDA, NORTH BAGGNAGIA – North Baggnagian military government has reciprocated the law passed by the South Baggnagian Military Council. A day ago the South Baggnagians passed a law that would legally permit the holding of the planned Joint Double-Referendum on South Baggnagian territory. From that point the North Baggnagian military government was expected to reciprocate with an identical law. The military government needed to legally approve of the referendum on North Baggnagian territory and also to approve that the referendum can happen in both Baggnagias. The last word was now behind the North. Today the military government has reciprocated. It passed a bill creating a legal basis for the Joint Double-Referendum to happen on the North’s territory too. North and South have now both legally allowed for this joint referendum to happen on both territories. Both states can move forward with the procedure with a new legal basis for it. Both nations have passed the referendum law before the very first meeting of the Joint Democratic Referendum Commission in Silcenda this Monday. At first it was debated if both governments should wait for the Commission to meet first and then pass the referendum law. But passing the referendum law earlier than the Commission meets is seen as giving more progress to the Commission’s work because they will now have a legal basis they can move on from. No time will need to be wasted to discuss it. Last Monday the Baggnagian Reunification Commission met for the first time in Jugac, South Baggnagia for the first time to much success. They are expected to meet more in the future in both Jugac, Silcenda and other cities in North and South. The same will go for the Joint Democratic Referendum Commission after their first meeting in Silcenda this upcoming Monday. They will be setting up the organizational process for the Joint Double-Referendum in North and South Baggnagia. Voters in both nations will be voting together on two questions: Whether they approve or not of a unification agreement that North and South will reach through the Baggnagian Reunification Commission? Do they approve of the draft of the constitution for a reunified Baggnagian state? The second question will depend directly on the outcome of the first one because a disapproval of the first one will either freeze or render null and void the result of the second question on the constitution. In case of reunification’s disapproval both nations will either have to come up with a new unification agreement or just stay apart. In case the unification agreement is approved but the constitution’s isn’t there will need to be a new constitution drafted until it is approved and both states can merge under it. If both questions are approved then the whole process will obviously will progress with voter approval. Baggnagian Reunification Commission and the Joint Democratic Referendum Commission will also have to meet together in one large inter-Commission meeting or several to coordinate on organizing the referendum campaign. But that is something that North and South leaderships can directly organize through dialogue too.

[Sunrisia]

President-Elect Addél Dîlectên To Be Inaugurated Tomorrow

Exactly 1 week and 1 day after the early presidential election in the Nationalist Republic of Sunrisia, the country is preparing to complete its’ power transition from one government to the other. With a restored and elected legislature in a form of the Convet of the Nationalist Republic of Sunrisia led by a coalition of 4 political parties and 1 electoral bloc/political alliance of several parties, Sunrisia had recently elected its’ new President as well. Moreover, earlier, the new Convet had enabled the appointment of a brand new Superior Court of the Nationalist Republic of Sunrisia consisting of new judges and chief justices. Therefore, all of the Sunrisian government’s key branches have been renewed with new faces. The last piece of a puzzle to complete this power transition as a new chapter after the last political crisis in the country, the newly-elected President will finally take power tomorrow. President-elect Addél Dîlectên will be inaugurated tomorrow, March 14, Saturday.

The incoming head of state supported the trend of a full renewal of people in all branches of the government, but for now, President-elect Addél Dîlectên said he will keep the Ministers and other appointed officials of the acting Apstérâ administration, before the President-elect appoints new ones. Given that they are already in office, it is unlikely the current officials will have to go over the procedure of being reappointed into the offices they already are in as standard protocol through Convet hearings. In fact, there have been calls in many parties to alter this protocol procedure of approving new cabinet nominations. As for the transfer of power from one President to the other, the inauguration and the whole power transition process will be a little different this time, as President and PID Director Fórî Apstérâ does not consider himself a formal predecessor and a status equal to President-elect Addél Dîlectên, seeing to how President Apstérâ still sees himself more as an acting head of state and first and foremost the Director of the Prime Intelligence Division (PID), rather than a commander-in-chief. Therefore, the transition will happen in a quicker pace than past power transfers from one head of state to the other throughout Sunrisian history and the history of the modern Nationalist Republic of Sunrisia.

Sometimes, the inauguration processes have happened inside the Presidential Palace and sometimes outside, in front of a large audience. This time, given the nice Spring weather and the anticipation of this particular inauguration, power transfer and the overall elections for a new government that came before, the ceremony will take place outside. Sunrisians have been waiting for this moment, therefore, in order for a large audience to be possible, President-elect Addél Dîlectên will be inaugurated outside. The inauguration will be broadcast.