Sanctarian National Times: International Edition

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VOL. XCIII .. Num. 33,968

MONDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2011

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DISABILITY WELFARE PROPOSAL ANNOUNCED
by KIM TOWERS, World Assembly Correspondent, and SARAH PLEDYS, Political Editor

World Assembly HQ – A proposed resolution tasked with ensuring that those who are disabled have access to benefits was today submitted to World Assembly Delegates to approve for vote by the Sanctarian Ambassador to the World Assembly, Dr. Christian Ferguson. This is the second time the proposal has been submitted to delegates, the first time having failed to achieve sufficient approvals. Ferguson, approaching his first anniversary as Sanctarian Ambassador to the World Assembly, is confident that the proposal will reach quorum within the next few days.

This is not the first proposal that Ferguson has submitted to the World Assembly; his previous submission, Repeal "Missing Minors Act", was successfully adopted by the World Assembly to become GA#133. When questioned on his hopes for this his second submission, Ferguson replied that he was "confident" it would not only reach quorum but would also "eventually be approved by the Assembly as a whole". The "Disability Welfare Act", previously called "Enabling the Disabled", is intended to ensure that World Assembly member nations provide "adequate benefits" to those who are disabled and cannot work.

Regarding the background of the introduction of this proposal, Dr. Ferguson also indicated that this is just one of many social justice proposals which would be appearing on the Assembly floor, though this may be the only one authored by himself. "There exists a group effort", Ferguson said, "in which many Ambassadors are working towards total social equality through a variety of proposals, including this one. Other proposals which may be coming up include parental leave and pensions, to mention just a few. But we're looking at about ten Social Justice proposals in all, perhaps a little fewer."

Speaking on the actual proposal, Ferguson stated that although such a system exists in many countries, there do exists countries where those who are disabled are "simply left to fend for themselves"; he continued to say that he believed there existed an "inherent tenet" in the World Assembly that "those who genuinely cannot help themselves due to a disability should be helped by their government." Ferguson also confirmed that he referenced the social welfare code of the Divine Republic when drafting but that the proposal is written in such a way that Sanctarian beliefs are not enforced on the World Assembly member nations as a whole.

Whatever the outcome of the approval process, and then the final vote, Secretary for Social Welfare and Family Affairs, Deputy Andrew Silk, has confirmed that all disabled Sanctarian residents have access to disability benefits in order to make their lives more comfortable and enjoyable.

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VOL. XCIII .. Num. 33,974

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2011

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CHURCH TO CONDEMN CHRISTMAS COMMERCIALISATION
by EDWARD ALLENS, Religion Correspondent

Sanctus – Thousands are expected to attend the traditional Christmas Day Mass held later today in the Basilica of St. George in Heaven where it is expected the Patriarch of the Sanctarian Catholic Church will be giving a sermon admonishing the increasing secularity and commercialisation of the Christian holiday that is Christmas.

According to sources the Church, and particularly the Patriarch, have been growing increasingly concerned over the years with dwindling numbers at church services at Christmas, the Church's most important time of year. He is also concerned that companies are using the spirit of Christmas, being with one's loved ones and the giving of gifts, to exploit the populace and increase their profits. We are told that he will use his homily in the Mass, held every year, to speak out against these companies and he will extol the importance of the true message of Christmas, as well as the importance of keeping to one's faith.

The current Patriarch, the head of the Sanctarian Catholic Church, is an outspoken critic of the secularisation of many Christian traditions in Sanctaria; as the Sanctarian Catholic Church is the national church of the nation, he feels that Sanctaria should contain retain its many Christian aspects. Earlier this year the Patriarch, Simon XVI, criticised Prime Minister Joshua Turner for abolishing the traditional prayer said at the start of each day that Parliament sat. He has also expressed concern at motions from the opposition party, the Democratic Left Party (DLP) to scrap having an official religion. It is expected he will mention this, albeit implicitly, in his homily later today.

Today's Mass is also the first to include new measures adopted by the Church earlier this year to entice members to return to services; hymns will be reintroduced, as well as changes to certain prayers. The traditional "sign of peace" has also been scrapped, officially for health concerns, but more privately because of concerns expressed by lay members of the Church.

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VOL. XCIV .. Num. 33,996

MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2012

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SANCTARIA TO SEND PEACEKEEPERS TO CONFLICT ZONES
by BRIAN DeNOBLE, Defence & Security Correspondent

Sanctus – Secretary for Defence Eric Doyle will today announce to the House of Deputies that Sanctaria is to join the United Defenders League. The move, which was expected, will end over a century of isolationism in the international defence policy sphere and will result in the Sanctarian Defence Forces being deployed to regions suffering from undue conflict and invasions.

The United Defenders League, or UDL, currently consists of ninety nations each with varying levels of commitment and responsibility, however, it is believed that due to the neutrality policy mandated by the Sanctarian Constitution the country will only be sending peacekeepers and will not be engaging in any conflict that may be ongoing in a particular region. Secretary Doyle is expected to confirm tomorrow that the Attorney General has upheld that participating in UDL Peacekeeping missions is not a breach of the thirty seven year old neutrality clause. It is not believed that other parties will appeal this decision by the Attorney General.

The Democratic Left Party tonight, however, while welcoming the announcement, expressed concern saying that the conditions of membership were "vague" and that it "is not yet clear how much of the SDF will be participating in the UDL at any one time". The SDF currently has close to 100,000 serving members spanning across four different branches. Sources within the government say that Secretary Doyle will announce that anywhere up to 20% of this number will be deployed at any one time, with the possibility for the legislature to increase that.

While it is unclear when exactly peacekeepers will be sent abroad, it will be the first time since the Battle of Whitewater in 1896 that members of the SDF have been deployed to foreign soil. The Battle of Whitewater took place in Munsteran over unresolved tariffs. The result was a significant Sanctarian win.

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VOL. XCIV .. Num. 34,017

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

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IMPEACHMENT PAPERS FOR CORPUS MAYOR
by JOSHUA ALEXANDER, Corpus Editor

Corpus – Politics in Sanctaria's second city took a turn for a worse earlier today when Mayor Stacy Devisers was served with impeachment papers by the city's council. Devisers, currently half-way through her second term, is charged with embezzlement of public funds and disgrace of high office in the articles of impeachment published by the chairman of the council's ethics committee.

The articles, signed by 7 of the 13 members of the ethics committee, accuse the Sanctarian Conservative Party Mayor of defrauding the city's expenses system with the intention of financial gain and, in that endeavour, disgracing the mayoral office that she holds. In the debate preceding the vote, councillors claimed that inconsistencies in financial reports as well as failure to vouch for the minimum 60% of expenses were grounds for the articles of impeachment being served. Dissenting voters claimed that "petty partisan differences" were the real reason behind this unusual and controversial use of powers reserved to the city council.

Devisers, a popular Mayor, has recently been embroiled in battle with the city's council, led by the DLP, over her plans to privatise the city's rubbish collection services. The plans, which could save the city over S£67m annually, have caused a rift among council members in all parties who feel the city should remain in control of sanitation services; Devisers, who is directly elected, claims that the public are behind her, the privatisation plan having been a pivotal part of her recent re-election campaign.

The articles must now go to the full council, currently comprised of 45 members (24 of which are opposition DLP), to be voted upon. If Devisers is impeached then a special election will be called to either select a new Mayor of Corpus, or to overturn the impeachment and allow Devisers to remain in office. Many agree that if the council does indeed impeach Devisers, the public are unlikely to agree with them and demand that Devisers stay in office, such is her popularity; it is therefore expected that the council will vote to reject the articles of impeachment, with some DLP members opting to allow Devisers continue in office.

The vote goes to the full council at their next fortnightly meeting, due to take place this Thursday, February 9.

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VOL. XCIV .. Num. 34,019

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2012

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EDITORIAL - 08/02/12
by CLAIRE EYLES, Editor-in-Chief

Whatever happened with getting rid of the politics of old? Was it not just a year ago that the Government committed itself to changing the way the current political system works? A new junior ministry was created dedicated solely to political reform, all purchase orders over S£35,000 are now published online making it easier to keep an eye on what our public representatives spend. But the recent appointment of, now former, Government Press Secretary Greg Decker as an Ambassador will undermine all of that good, and needed, work; what happened to appointments based on merit, not on who you know.

Decker has spent the past fifteen years in the Civil Service, working his way up to the public, and somewhat prestigious, position of Government Press Secretary. The pay is good and his job is very clearly defined; act as Government official spokesperson. While many would argue that being a spokesperson for the Government is the role of an Ambassador, one must look past the superficial similarities. An Ambassador is the representative of the Government in another country, not just its spokesperson. An Ambassador is authorised to act on behalf of our Government. An Ambassador is charged with signing, and negotiating, treaties on behalf of our Government.

This paper does not doubt the ability of, the now, Ambassador Decker. Having spent the past five years working relatively closely with him, the editorial board is confident he'll be great in Noordeinde. What is concerning, however, is the possible conception that the Government will use the offices of Ambassadors to other countries as rewards to good services or deeds instead of giving it to those who actually merit them like middle-level diplomats or intellectuals who work in international relations; people who beyond a shadow of a doubt understand the role and have the ability to do it.

This paper will be ensuring that those nominated to be Ambassadors are not only able to actually able to do the job but they actually merit the important responsibility of being the representative of Sanctaria's government in another country. We're giving a heads-up to the Government – don't degenerate down the path that you've promised to abolish. This paper will be watching.

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VOL. XCIV .. Num. 34,020

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2012

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SMYTH DEFENDS DECKER APPOINTMENT
by SARAH PLEDYS, Political Editor

Sanctus - Deputy Prime Minister Robert Smyth yesterday defended the Government's appoint of Press Secretary, Greg Decker, to be the new Sanctarian Ambassador to Noordeinde, following concerns raised by Opposition MPs and public alike. The appointment, which came into effect yesterday, sees the end of Mr. Decker's fifteen years in the Sanctarian Civil Service, the past five as the public face of the Government.

Smyth, who serves as the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, told the House of Deputies yesterday that the now Ambassador Decker's experience as chief spokesperson for the Government made him “uniquely qualified” for the position, the main duties of which involve representing the Government in a foreign, sovereign nation. Responding to Opposition claims that the appointment was not merit based and made on a personal basis, Smyth also said that Decker's familiarity of Government administration and protocol would also aid him in his new position; he further stressed the Ambassadorships were not retirement grounds, and pointed to the example of current Sanctarian Ambassador to the World Assembly, Dr. Christian Ferguson, who is only 33.

Decker replaces the long-term Ambassador Régine Feytal, who retired earlier this week on medical grounds. Feytal spent over twenty years in the Sanctarian Foreign Service before her appointment as an Ambassador, a fact that prompted the Democratic Left Party's deputy leader Grace Winters to accuse the Government of favouritism and called for a commission to be set up to nominate Ambassadors from within the Foreign Service to fill positions that may arise. Smyth dismissed the calls stating that many Ambassadors currently serving were appointed from outside the Foreign Service, many of which were given the positions due to their academic or real life credentials. The Secretary also indicated that Foreign Service personnel staffed every diplomatic mission and embassies, even in situations where the Ambassador did not come from within the Service itself.

The Secretary also confirmed yesterday that Decker has yet to present his credentials to President Roosevelt of Noordeinde, but has arrived at the Sanctarian Embassy in the Grand Duchy. He did however state that such a meeting was due to take place today, after which Decker will officially take up his position as Sanctarian Ambassador to the Grand Duchy of Noordeinde.

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VOL. XCIV .. Num. 34,025

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2012

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CORPUS MAYOR AVOIDS IMPEACHMENT
by JOSHUA ALEXANDER, Corpus Editor

Corpus - Corpus Mayor Stacy Devisers yesterday avoided impeachment when the city council rejected, by a narrow one vote majority, the articles of impeachment presented last week. The vote, which was originally supposed to be held last Thursday, also saw two DLP city council members lose the party whip after they crossed the aisle and voted to reject the articles of impeachment which stopped a special mayoral election from taking place.

The articles, brought forward by the DLP controlled council's ethics committee, primarily cited embezzlement and fraud as grounds for impeaching the popular, twice elected SCP Mayor. During the heated council debate yesterday, SCP councillors angrily asserted that the grounds were "void of fact" and politically motivated. The leader of the Independent group on the council agreed and added that the "DLP [were] abusing the political process which they claim to uphold to further their own political aims".

The Democratic Left Party also suffered criticism from within their own ranks which peaked when two councillors broke party lines on the vote, giving the opposition the two votes needed to reject the articles and stop the impeachment process from continuing. In a joint statement to the council, Cllrs Wigley and Duff said that "proof of guilt was not evident" and that it "[appeared] to be a DLP ploy to have an election and to attempt to install a Mayor sympathetic to our aims"; they agreed with other comments made in the chamber that such a ploy resembled an abuse of the political process.

Devisers herself, who continued her work despite the council meeting, thanked all the councillors who voted to reject the impeachment articles. The Mayor, who was opening a school at the time, said she was "happy and thankful" that the council "saw sense" and that she intended to continue with her plans to privatise the sanitation services, the move which many have said originally led the DLP to initiate the impeachment process.

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VOL. XCIV .. Num. 34,030

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2012

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WINTERS CALLS FOR SENATE REFORM
by JOEY SESSIONS, Political Correspondent

Cristi - A constitutional referendum on the relationship between the Senate and the House of Deputies is needed to ensure that both Houses of Parliament provide effective checks and balances. That's the view of the Democratic Left Party's deputy leader, Deputy Grace Winters, who was speaking yesterday, Saturday, at the annual Cristi Spring School, a view that is widely expected to be shared and endorsed by party leader, Charlene Hendry, in the House of Deputies during the week.

The Senate, reviled by its critics as an “expensive talking shop”, is heavily limited by the Sanctarian Constitution in its powers. Among its most infamous limitations include its inability to deny approval to a money bill; the Senate is also given a maximum of 21 days to debate it, any longer and the bill is deemed approved. Bills rejected by the Senate can also be overridden by the House of Deputies. The only important and exclusive power the Senate does have is the ability to refer a bill to the President to send to the people for a referendum, but even that relies on a certain number of votes in the other, more powerful House.

In her speech at the event, Winters said that a “powerful and equal” second house was necessary for full political transparency in Sanctaria, as well as ensuring that the Government was more properly held to account for its actions. The DLP deputy also proposed that the membership of the Senate should be reformed so that members were directly elected by the Sanctarian people, rather than having certain members elected by certain groups; 25 members are elected by graduates of Universities, 15 are elected by trade union groups. The other 60 are appointed; 10 by the outgoing Prime Minister, and the final 50 are the mayors of the 50 most populated cities/towns. Winters has said that the current system of appointing members to the Senate is “antiquated” and has outlined a system where each county, and city-county, elects 2 members to the upper chamber, each member being directly elected by the voting public of that county.

Winters, who has previously sat in the Senate, has also suggested that if the Government refuses to co-operate with the DLP on such a measure, she will try and use the exclusive Senate power asking the President to send a referendum to the people; the bill requires a majority vote in the Senate and one-third of the members of the House; it has been stipulated that the Green Party deputies would side with the DLP in the House to give them the numbers, while some members of the Sanctarian Conservative Party, who wish to remain anonymous, have motioned that crossing the aisle to force a referendum wouldn't be a difficult thing to do.

The SCP Government have previously indicated that Senate reform was on the cards, but whether or not it was to the same extent as advocated by Deputy Winters is not yet known. It is believed that Prime Minister Joshua Turner will answer questions to that effect this Wednesday in the House during Leaders' Questions.

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The Cristi Spring School is a political seminar held every year in the city of Cristi. Talks are given by politicians and political scientists and motions calling on the Government to act on a topic are passed.

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VOL. XCIV .. Num. 34,039

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2012

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JUSTICE YOUNG ARRESTED IN CORRUPTION PROBE
by DAVID FLETCHER, Special Correspondent

Sanctus - The Sanctarian legal world was left in shock today when it was announced that Supreme Court Justice, The Hon. Julian Young, was arrested last night on suspicion of corruption by the Sanctarian Police Force. The arrest, which took place at Young's private residence at 20.41 last night, comes after a year-long probe by the Force's Elite Corruption Division, headed by Chief Superintendent Alice Jeffreys.

C/Supt Jeffreys, who announced the arrest shortly after 10pm last night, confirmed that Justice Young was suspected of participating in a "cash-for-verdicts" style operation in which interested parties gave their presiding judges monetary sums in return for favourable verdicts; Jeffreys further indicated that while there are other judges who are suspected of participation, none of the eight other Supreme Court Justices would be sought for questioning on the matter. It was also confirmed that, aside from Justice Young's arrest last night, a further four people were arrested across the country; one of whom is a district court judge.

The "cash-for-verdicts" scandal, which was broke by this paper a year and a half ago, first surfaced when retired Appellate Court Justice Simon Parks admitted to taking cash bribes in return for ruling in favour of certain parties numerous times over his twelve years on the appeals bench. The admission, which was made to our Crime & Justice Correspondent, led to the creation of the investigation under the purview of the Elite Corruption Division, which saw the former Justice Parks arrested and, more recently, sentenced to 25 years in prison for his conduct while on the bench. Sources within the SPF confirm that Parks has been cooperating with the investigation and that it was this cooperation that led to the arrest of the Supreme Court Justice last night.

Justice Young, who was appointed to the Supreme Court six years ago, has previously served at all levels of the court system - from district court, to circuit court, to appellate court, and so on. He was previously a senior partner at prestigious Corpus firm Meyers, Taylor & Silk before being first appointed to the bench by the Eli Taylor Government in the late 80s.

Current Prime Minister, Joshua Turner, has expressed "deep concern" at the arrest of the Supreme Court Justice and has confirmed he has sought the advice of the Attorney General on how to proceed. However, regardless of Young's guilt, it is believed that Turner will be initiating impeachment proceedings against the Justice for bringing both his position and the Supreme Court into disrepute. Leader of the Opposition, Deputy Charlene Hendry, has demanded Young's resignation saying that an impeachment process would be "long, messy, and would bring even more shame on the situation". Young, who remains in custody, has yet to comment on the situation.

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VOL. XCIV .. Num. 34,041

THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

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TURNER ANNOUNCES IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS
by SARAH PLEDYS, Political Editor

Sanctus - Prime Minister Joshua Turner today moved to begin the impeachment process of disgraced Supreme Court Justice Julian Young. The articles of impeachment, published by the Department of the Prime Minister today, announce that Young is to be impeached for the "high misdemeanour" of bribery, corruption, and abuse of high office. Turner also announced that an Impeachment Commission would be announced by the weekend and that the impeachment itself would begin next Tuesday; the Prime Minister also stated that should Justice Young resign before then, the process would be suspended.

However it's unlikely that Young will resign before then, according to the embattled Justice's chambers. The jurist, who was arrested on Monday evening for suspected participation in the "cash-for-verdicts" scandal, has been arguing since his release on bail Tuesday afternoon that he is innocent of the charges levied against him. His press spokeperson said yesterday that the Justice would not resign because a "resignation sends all the wrong signals" and that doing so would "signify that [Young] was guilty and did not deserve to remain on the bench of the Supreme Court"; the spokesperson stressed that this was not the case and that those who demanded the Justice's resignation should remember one of the central tenants of Sanctarian law - that one is innocent until proven guilty.

The announcement of impeachment hearings has drawn support from across the political spectrum. Leader of Opposition, Democratic Left Party leader Charlene Hendry, welcomed the Prime Minister's intention to impeach the Supreme Court Associate Justice. Speaking in the House of Deputies, Hendry said that while a resignation would be "preferable", she was confident that the impeachment process would be "expedited in order to keep the dignity, respect, and authority" of the nation's highest court. The Christian Union Party leader, Dermot Halligan, echoed Hendry, adding that in refusing to resign, Young was showing "great disrespect for the office that he holds".

The Impeachment Commission, a body of lawmakers created to impeach senior public officials excluding the President (which has its own impeachment system), is expected to be announced tomorrow evening and will include, by law, the Speaker of the House of Deputies, Eamonn Forbes, and the Moderator of the Senate, Reilly Jacobs; eleven more politicians from each party will be chosen from both houses to complete the Commission, one of whom will be elected by the body as its nominal chairperson. It is expected that each party, and non, will be allocated positions on the Commission based on the amount of seats they hold in both Houses of Parliament.

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VOL. XCIV .. Num. 34,053

TUESDAY, MARCH 13, 2012

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WOODSTROM ACCUSES ROBINSON OF "DISCRIMINATION"
by JENNIFER McSHANE, Foreign Affairs Correspondent

Corkora - "President Robinson should be ashamed of herself for her blatant discrimination against her Munsterani citizens" was the view of Governor Marian Woodstrom yesterday as she spoke at annual opening of Munsteran's parliament. Robinson, who is also the Head of State of Munsteran, as it is a Sanctarian Protectorate, is officially represented by Woodstrom in the vastly liberal state. The Governor also accused Robinson of "neglect[ing]" her Munsterani citizens and pointed to the lack of an official visit to the state by President Robinson in the past twelve years of her presidency.

The attack, though not unexpected, came after Robinson announced that due to a personal, family matter, any future plans to visit the medium-sized country in the Balder region would have to be put on hold. This is the third such time that the President has had to cancel a trip to the state, though it is not unusual for planned visits abroad to be cancelled. However Woodstrom, who favours retaining the Sanctarian President as its Head of State, has viewed these cancellations as a deliberate snub against the Munsterani people, in what she calls a "display of neglect and discrimination". When questioned on this, Governor Woodstrom explained that Robinson has deliberately avoided any dealings with both politicians and ordinary citizens of Munsteran since she came to power in 2000.

This is not the first time Woodstrom has painted Robinson in a poor light. Shortly after her appointment as Governor, and thus the de facto Head of State of Munsteran in Robinson's absence, Woodstrom expressed her "disappointment" that Robinson couldn't present the Governor's Seal of Office in person; it was instead delegated to the Sanctarian Prime Minister, Joshua Turner, with the explanation that Robinson was ill with the flu. The Corkora native also claims that since her appointment as Munsteran Governor three years ago, President Robinson has yet to meet with her.

It is widely believed that Woodstrom, who is 56, intends to run for the Presidency herself when Robinson's second term expires, anticipated to be in 2020. Robinson herself has previously confirmed that she will not run again; indeed, she has already suggested that she may not see out the term she was elected to just under two years ago. Though only Sanctarian citizens can become President (the Constitutions of the three Protectorates merely state "Whomever shall occupy the Presidency of the Divine Republic shall be our Head of State"), Woodstrom has dual-citizenship due to her father being Sanctarian, thereby allowing her to run once an election has been called. The President's Office has also refused to comment on Woodstrom's accusations saying that Robinson "represents all her citizens equally" and that Woodstrom was "entitled to her opinion". The Turner Administration also refused to comment saying it was a matter for Munsteran and its peoples.

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VOL. XCIV .. Num. 34,055

THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 2012

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ROBINSON ANNOUNCES RESIGNATION CITING CANCER
by SARAH PLEDYS, Political Editor

Sanctus - Just days after a scathing attack on her ability to do her job by Munsteran Governor Marian Woodstrom, President Helena Robinson yesterday announced her impending resignation from the highest political office in Sanctaria due to a recent diagnosis of breast cancer. The illness, which Robinson said she has been aware of for some time, is not reported to be terminal. Robinson also said yesterday that she needed to "focus all [her] energy and strength on [her] recovery" and would be unable to commit herself fully to the duties of her office.

The shock announcement, and revelation about her health, comes almost two years after Robinson was re-elected to her second term as President of Sanctaria. Admitting that she has known about her diagnosis for some time, President Robinson stressed that she was not aware of it at the time of the last election; candidates are required to release any pertinent health information which may impede their duties. It is believed that Robinson was told of her condition a little more than three months ago.

Robinson, who is 54, has spent the past twelve years as Sanctarian Head of State, announced that she would resign from her office next Monday, March 19; the reason for the delay is said to be a number of bills which need to be signed as well as a pre-arranged dinner with the Ossitanian Ambassador to Sanctaria. According to the Constitution, the vacancy must be filled within 60 days. Robinson will be the first President to ever resign from office. She is not, however, the first person to vacate the office prematurely, as President McKinley died of a heart attack during his tenure.

Prime Minister Turner has thanked Robinson for her exemplary service to the country and has praised her for her good work in furthering the rights of women and children during her terms of officer, something which Robinson has stated was one of her main objectives while in office. Turner also announced yesterday that nominations for election to the Office of President must be received by April 2nd of this year; the election will be preliminary set for April 26th. Leader of the DLP, Deputy Charlene Hendry, whose party supported Robinson during the last election, has also thanked the outgoing President for her service and has called her a "heavyweight" in women's politics who, over the past twelve years, has "paved the way for the advancement of women in politics". Robinson, who is the first Independent President, is the first woman to ever hold the position.

President Robinson, who has been continuously popular throughout her tenure, will be missed by the Sanctarian people, though it is unlikely she will shy away from public office forever. Discussions will soon turn to her successor and already rumours are circulating that the DLP will ask Governor Marian Woodstrom of Munsteran, who holds Sanctarian citizenship (a pre-requisite to becoming President), to be their official candidate. Woodstrom, who is a member of the Liberal Party of Munsteran, has previously said that she would like to be Sanctarian President.

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VOL. XCIV .. Num. 34,060

TUESDAY, MARCH 20, 2012

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DLP ANNOUNCE WOODSTROM NOMINATION
by JOEY SESSIONS, Political Correspondent

Sanctus - The race to Eagleton Manor officially began yesterday when the Democratic Left Party announced that they would be backing the Governor of Munsteran, Marian Woodstrom, as their nominee for the office of President of Sanctaria. Woodstrom, who holds dual-nationality and is a Sanctarian citizen, announced last week that she would seek the nomination.

Charlene Hendry MP, leader of the DLP, unveiled Woodstrom as the party's nominee following a weekend of consulation with the parliamentary party; it is understood that Woodstrom's liberal record, as well as her membership of the Liberal Party of Munsteran, was the key selling point in accepting her as the nominee. Hendry also said that Woodstrum's citizenship of, and prior residence in, a separate sovereign country should not motivate Sanctarian to vote against her candidacy, stressing that Woodstrum, through her mother, has Sanctarian citizenship as well having studied in university here.

Woodstrum is the first official candidate to be announced to fill the vacancy in office left by the now former President Helena Robinson who announced her resignation last week; she officially left office at 23:59 on 18 March. While no other candidates have been announced, it is expected that the governing Sanctarian Conservative Party will be endorsing a candidate of its own, as well as the Christian Union Party and the Green Party. While it is still early in the nomination process, no independent "celebrity" candidates have been touted by pundits, though it is expected that the ultra-nationalist Sanctarian People's Party will attempt to field a candidate in protest to Woodstrom's inclusion on the ballot.

Speaking on her nomination, Woodstrom stressed her Sanctarian citizenship telling reporters that she has "always been proud of [her] Sanctarian citizenship, heritage, and ancestry" and that she would be "honoured to be the chief representative of the Sanctarian people" if elected. While her non-residence in Sanctaria will undoubtedly play a part in this years campaign, it's not expected to be a big impediment for the veteran Munsterani politician. The deadline for nominations to be included on the ballot is April 2nd, a little less than a fortnight away.

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VOL. XCIV .. Num. 34,081

TUESDAY, APRIL 10, 2012

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SCP REFUSES TO SUPPORT EITHER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE
by SARAH PLEDYS, Political Editor

Sanctus - Continuing with their new-found neutral stance in the Presidential Election, the Sanctarian Conservative Party yesterday announced that they would not be formally backing either of the two candidates. The governing SCP confirmed a fortnight ago that they would not be fielding a candidate to succeed Helena Robinson as Sanctarian President. It will be the first time in the history of the presidency that the SCP will neither be competing for the position nor supporting a candidate officially.

The announcement is unlike to help the Christian Union Party's nominee for the office, party leader Dermot Halligan MP, who has been seeing very little support in recent polls. According to a campaign source, Halligan was counting on the SCP to throw their weight behind a fellow conservative, right-wing candidate to help boost his campaign. This is the second hit his campaign has taken in the same amount of weeks after the radical ultra-nationalist group, Sanctarian People's Party, announced last week they would be supporting his presidential bid; the group have been under investigation for racially charged crimes and their support among Sanctarians remains in the low single digits.

The SCP have also confirmed that since it will not be backing either candidate, members of the party (excluding members elected to public office) are permitted to help campaign for either candidate, though it is unlikely that the majority of its members will do so.

DLP candidate, Marian Woodstrom, has seen successive poll gains over recent weeks, with her support now standing at 62% in a recent poll carried out by S:TV1; the polling also suggests that the public are not concerned that Woodstrom is currently Governor of Munsteran, the de facto Head of State of a foreign country. Woodstrom, who holds Sanctarian citizenship through her mother, has been calling upon her experience in Munsterani politics during her campaign with many political commentators reporting that it was a wise PR move to do so.

The election takes place on April 26th, with the President-elect being announced on Saturday, April 28th. The inauguration will take place on May 2nd, a Wednesday.

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VOL. XCIV .. Num. 34,084

FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2012

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FERGUSON BECOMES LEADER OF IDU REGIONAL DELEGATION
by KIM TOWERS, World Assembly Correspondent

World Assembly HQ - Sanctarian Ambassador to the World Assembly, Dr. Christian Ferguson, yesterday assumed his additional duties as World Assembly Delegate of the International Democratic Union, seeing off opposition from the Karinzistan delegation. The IDU, the region in which Sanctaria is located, is considered a region with a high amount of influence in the World Assembly sphere; Ferguson and his colleagues replace the well-respected, and renowned, Bears Armed delegation as the WA Delegate.

While individual member nations are free to vote as they wish, the delegation who holds the position of WA Delegate in any region also votes with the weight of the number of WA member nations in that region officially endorsing it, i.e. instead of the usual one vote that Ferguson usually had when placing his vote, as WA Delegate with, at time of print, 12 other nations officially endorsing him, his vote now counts as thirteen votes; individual nations endorsing a WA Delegate continue to have their own individual vote.

However, it's not all green pastures, according to Christian Union Party deputy leader, John McHugh MP, who says that Sanctaria's say in World Assembly matters has actually been weakened due to the new position; due to IDU rules, even if Ferguson, and as an extension Sanctaria, disagrees with a current resolution at vote, if a majority of nations in the IDU do agree with it, he is required to vote FOR. "Sanctaria would no longer be able to lodge even a symbolic vote in protest", McHugh said last night.

Ferguson has said that he expects his term will be "relatively uncontroversial" and that he intends to following the rules concerning holding the IDU Delegacy "to the letter". He also confirmed that he would be using his position to spearhead reform in IDU institutions and would be working with other prominent, regional officials to do this.

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VOL. XCIV .. Num. 34,097

THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2012

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WOODSTROM LEADS AS POLLS OPEN
by JOEY SESSIONS, Political Correspondent

Sanctus - Sanctarians go to the polls today to elect a new President of the Divine Republic following President Robinson's shock resignation last month. While there are only two candidates in the race, opinion polls have already predicted who will be elected the nation's First Citizen, with the veteran Munsteran politician, Governor Marian Woodstrom, leading over Sanctarian lawmaker, Deputy John Halligan in the last poll of the election, the results of which were released on Monday last.

If Woodstrom is elected she will be the first ever person elected to a high political office in Sanctaria who was neither born nor resident in Sanctaria -- Woodstrom has Sanctarian citizenship through her mother, thereby making her eligible for the Presidency. Her election would also mark the first time that the President's representative in one of the Sanctarian Protectorates has ever ascended to the Presidency itself.

However, should John Halligan be elected, against the tide of the opinion polls, it would make him the first man in twelve years to hold the Presidency, and the second Christian Union candidate to hold the position. It would also mark the first time that the incumbent leader of a major political party would be elected to the office.

The candidates have spent the past two days reflecting on the past few weeks as no campaigning is allowed on the final two days before election day. It is believed both candidates will be voting early today -- Woodstrom is registered in Sanctus South Central Ward, while Halligan is registered in the constituency he represents in the House of Deputies , Greenvalley. Election results will be announced this Saturday, April 28th.

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VOL. XCIV .. Num. 34,100

SUNDAY, APRIL 29, 2012

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WOODSTROM ELECTED WITH 68% OF VOTE
by SARAH PLEDYS, Political Editor

Sanctus - With a whopping 68% of the poll, Munsterani Governor Marian Woodstrom was yesterday declared elected to the highest office in Sanctaria. The newly-minted President-elect, whose inauguration will take place on Wednesday May 2nd, was announced as the nation's next President by the Chief Declaring Officer at 17.54 yesterday evening. She defeats Christian Union Party leader, Deputy John Halligan, who received a respectable, and unexpected, 32% of votes cast.

Her win, which was not a surprise, marks a number of firsts. Woodstrom becomes the first DLP candidate to be elected to the office of President, she becomes the first woman to succeed another woman in that office's history, she also becomes the first non-Sanctarian born person in the history of Sanctaria to hold the office of Head of State, and her ascension to the Presidency is the first time a Governor of a Sanctarian Protectorate has done so.

Woodstrom was visibly emotional during her victory speech and thanked her loyal supporters and friends. It was joked that Woodstrom, who is single and has no family, is now the most eligible woman in Sanctaria, something that the President-elect laughed off. Halligan paid tribute to the woman who defeated him and thanked her for a "clean, fair campaign", a sentiment which Woodstrom shared. The President-elect also announced in her speech that she would be presenting her letters of resignation from her post of Governor of Munsteran to the Presidential Commission before her inauguration on Wednesday -- it's likely that one of her first acts will be to appoint a successor to represent the Presidency of Sanctaria in the otherwise sovereign protectorate of Munsteran.

The President-elect takes office upon her recitation of the oath of office this Wednesday, scheduled to be around noon. The event will be televised live.

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VOL. XCIV .. Num. 34,216

THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2012

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CHANGE OF HOUSE FOR POLITICIANS
by JOEY SESSIONS, Political Correspondent

Sanctus - National politicians will today move into their new state of the art home almost three years after first voting on the measure. The brand new Parliament House will replace St. George's Palace as the seat of parliament after concerns that the Palace was becoming too small to house both the chambers of parliament and the offices of the elected officials who sat in them. St. George's Palace will remain under the control of the Sanctarian National Trust which cares for all government, national, and public buildings and parks; it is believed that the palace with either be renovated and turned into a museum or will be opened to bids for lease by private companies or individuals.

Parliament House was officially opened on Monday by President Marian Woodstrom however MPs and Senators were restricted from moving into the building until today due to electrical concerns. These concerns have now been resolved and the building is operating as normal. Both chambers are located on the bottom floor with the House of Deputies naturally being the larger of the two; offices for those occupying the chambers are located on the floors above the chambers and are allocated by party membership or, indeed, lack thereof.

Located in Temple Park, a large national park in Sanctus city centre, Parliament House can accommodate up to 1000 offices as well as the two chambers on the ground floor. It has an underground car park and access to the facility, located in the north east section of the park facing McKinley Drive, is accessible only by key-card or prior notification.

The cost of Parliament House was originally fixed at S£4m but final costs are said to be in the realm of S£7.5m. Although there were fierce debates in the chamber in St. George's Palace about the facility, with some opposition MPs refusing to move, it has been confirmed at the time of writing that all 650 elected officials, including those in cabinet, have moved into their offices today. Cabinet ministers will continue to carry out their duties in their own Departmental offices scattered across the city however it has been indicated that their offices will be occupied by parliamentary staff and assistants.

It has also been confirmed that the Office of the Prime Minister will not be moved from Government Manor in the south of Sanctus city. Cabinet meetings will also continue to be held at this location. Government Manor has been used by Prime Ministers as their official offices and for Cabinet meetings since 1974.

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VOL. XCIV .. Num. 34,233

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 09, 2012

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SENATE REFORM ON THE AGENDA
by SARAH PLEDYS, Political Editor

Sanctus - It has been confirmed by the Government today that Senate reform is on the agenda for the coming legislative term. The reform, which has long been called for, is expected to see vast amounts of power granted to the Senate that it previously did not hold. It's also believed that Senate elections will be opened to the public as opposed to the limited electoral college that currently operates.

Minister for Political Reform Joyce Robinson will take to the House of Deputies tomorrow afternoon and, in a speech, outline the changes to the Senate and, possibly, to the House of Deputies. As any change to either chamber will require a constitutional amendment, she is then expected to introduce a Constitutional Amendment Bill to the House of Deputies, which will contain the changes to be made to the Constitution. Based on prior Constitutional Amendment Bills brought before the House of Deputies, it is likely that debate on the bill will not begin for another few weeks.

Although the Government have confirmed that the bill will be introduced tomorrow, sources are remaining tight-lipped as to what proposed changes will be made to the Constitution - and what powers the Senate may have. Robinson has been critical of how the Senate is elected in the past and so, since this has been her pet project in Government, it is likely that this will be one change. It's also likely that the power of the Senate to only delay a bill will be upgraded to being able to reject a bill outright. Government majorities in the Senate are usually quite slim so this change should be seen as a nod to the democratic process, though may be potentially harmful to future governments.

The Democratic Left Party today welcomed the confirmation but sources have said that substantial changes will need to be proposed and not just lip-service. The DLP have in the past proposed that the Senate alone should vet and vote on Government judicial appointments, which is markedly different from the current situation where Government appointees are subject to a straight vote in both houses. DLP spokespeople have also previously demanded that the ability for the outgoing Prime Minister to appoint members of the Senate be stripped, and it is believed that Minister Robinson will tomorrow confirm that this will be the case.

The bill will go through various debates and amendments in both chambers but should it pass both the House and the Senate, and should the Government stick to its timetable, it's likely that a referendum will be put before the people just prior to the Christmas break.

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VOL. XCIV .. Num. 34,253

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2012

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FERGUSON - "NO COMMENT" ON RIFT WITH SILK
by KIM TOWERS, World Assembly Correspondent

World Assembly HQ - The Sanctarian Ambassador to the World Assembly, Dr. Christian Ferguson, yesterday refused to comment on rumours that he and the new Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Andrew Silk, have had a series of arguments over policy in the international body. Ferguson, who is Sanctaria's most prolific and able Ambassador to date, told reporters "no comment" when asked whether or not he and Silk have a fractious relationship.

Senior aides to the new Secretary have disclosed that Silk is unhappy with Ferguson's lack of participation in the Security Council wing of the World Assembly, and that efforts to encourage the Ambassador to attend debates in that chamber have been met with cold, and sometimes hostile, resistance. One aide is quoted as saying that "he [Ferguson] refuses to take calls from the Secretary's office" while it is also said that the Ambassador sends office clerks in his place to meetings with Silk. The aides refused to comment on what exactly caused this serious rift between the two men.

Ferguson has rarely attended meetings in the Security Council and has been quoted as saying the younger chamber is nothing other than an "expensive talking-shop". This view is consistent with Ferguson's predecessors in the, now defunct, role of Minister for the World Assembly. One previous occupant, now Secretary for Home Affairs, Justice & Equality Dr. George Merlinson, refused point blank to even acknowledge the Security Council and it is widely believed that he was instrumental in convincing the former Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Robert Smyth, to follow a policy of non-attendance.

Although Ferguson, as an Ambassador, is junior to Secretary Silk in the Department, he is already an influential figure and foreign policy expert whereas Silk has only been in the role for a number of months. Ferguson has also previously worked closely with Prime Minister Turner and, as a result, it is unlikely that he will be punished should he continue to refuse to participate in the Security Council.

Sources close to the Ambassador say that while there have been serious discussions over their divergent views on the Security Council, it's likely that Ferguson, who is notoriously stubborn, will prevail and his favoured policy of non-attendance will continue.

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VOL. XCIV .. Num. 34,256

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 02, 2012

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YOUNG DECLARED GUILTY BY IMPEACHMENT COMMISSION
by DAVID FLETCHER, Special Correspondent

Sanctus - After months of delays, injunctions, and questions of the legitimacy of the process, Justice Julian Young of the Supreme Court was declared guilty of "the high misdemeanour of bribery, corruption, and abuse of high office" by the Impeachment Commission created to investigate the on-going allegations that he received money in return for issuing certain rulings. The Commission, which was created in March of this year, now sends their report to the House of Deputies and the Senate, where both chambers are required to pass the motion to remove Young from his office.

In response to the Commission's verdict, a spokesperson for the Justice has described the impeachment as "highly prejudicial" as the criminal case against Young has not yet been brought to a conclusion. "Justice Young has not been found guilty of any offence by the courts of this land", his spokesperson Matthew Pearson said today. "Being found 'guilty' by this Impeachment Commission is highly prejudicial in the context of the criminal trial against Justice Young which is currently on-going. We will be asking the High Court for an injunction to prevent the articles being voted on by Parliament. The possibility of requesting a mistrial has not yet been ruled out".

Legal analysts have also questioned the impeachment process, with many saying that it was premature and that Young could be granted a mistrial in the wake of being found guilty. Craig Daniels, senior parter at prestigious lawfirm Brosnan, Connery & Moore, has said that because Young has already been found guilty by a quasi-judicial body of the office also levied against him before the courts, the issue of double jeopardy is a very real one. "If the Impeachment Commission was asked to find him guilty or not guilty of the offence of bringing his office into disrepute, that would have be fine", Daniels said. "But because they, in effect, tried him of the crime he was facing in the courts, and then found him guilty, that's basically sending of the message of, look, here's a quasi-judicial body saying this guy is guilty of doing this. Now he's going to go to the courts and have to fight to same charge again, although a 'verdict', if you can call it that, has already been issued. Young is a Supreme Court Justice, he sits on the highest court in the land and has a brilliant legal mind; in fact, it's probably better than the lawyers he has representing him. If he can find a way out of the criminal charge, he'll do it".

Politicians, however, have welcomed the verdict from the Impeachment Commission. Secretary for Home Affairs, Justice & Equality, Dr. George Merlinson, today said that the Government intended to vote to remove the Justice from his position on the bench. When questioned about whether or not the impeachment was prejudicial, Merlinson rejected the accusations saying that Young was being tried in the courts on criminal charges and that the Impeachment Commission tried him on his suitability for office. "The two are very distinct", he added.

However, a memo leaked from the Attorney General's office earlier today showed that the lawyer's office had concerns over the Impeachment Commission's mandate. "It would be more suitable if the Commission investigated whether or not the position of Associate Justice of the Supreme Court has been brought into disrepute due to the allegations brought against the Justice, and his response to them, and not whether or not he is actually guilty of those allegations. Any other option could render a criminal case against the Justice being found null and void." Calls to the Attorney General's office remain unreturned at print.

Although both chambers are scheduled to vote on the impeachment later this week, this could be delayed or halted entirely should an injunction against the vote going ahead be granted.

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VOL. XCIV .. Num. 34,257

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 03, 2012

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INJUNCTION REFUSED; YOUNG APPLIES FOR MISTRIAL
by ADAM KING, Crime & Justice Correspondent

Sanctus - The corruption trial of Supreme Court Justice Julian Young took another strange turn today when a High Court judge refused to grant an injunction stopping Parliament from holding a vote on whether or not to remove Young from his office. Shortly after the verdict, solicitors for the senior jurist announced that they would be applying for Young's criminal case, which is ongoing in the courts, to be declared a mistrial due to the case being "irrevocably prejudiced". Young's case will be postponed for the rest of the week while the trial judge hears arguments for against declaring a mistrial.

An injunction was originally sought by Justice Young to postpone the voting on his removal of office until after the criminal court reached a verdict on his guilt. Refusing the injunction High Court Judge The Hon. Sylvia Churcher said it was Parliament's "privilege" to set their own schedule and that for the Courts to intrude on this privilege would be highly suspect. Both the House of Deputies and the Senate are to vote on Young's impeachment this Friday, 5th of October.

Although their request for an injunction was denied, Young's lawyers confirmed that an application for a mistrial was being prepared and would be served to the trial judge in Young's criminal case before close of chambers today. Both the defence and prosecution counsel have indicated that the trial judge, The Hon. Michael Davenport, will most likely accept the application and hear the mistrial arguments tomorrow afternoon. Should a mistrial be granted, the criminal case against Justice Young will be thrown out of the courts; under the double jeopardy rule, the State would also be unable to continue to pursue the guilt of Justice Young through the criminal courts. It is likely, however, that regardless of the outcome of the mistrial hearings, Justice Young will be impeached by both the House and the Senate and will be removed from the bench.

Legal analysts are divided over whether or not a mistrial will be granted, but many are agreed that the Justice has a very strong case for it being declared due to the Impeachment Commission, constitutionally a quasi-judicial body, finding him guilty of the exact same charge facing him in the courts.

Oral arguments are likely to begin tomorrow afternoon, with written submissions due tomorrow evening. Sources close to the Young camp anticipate an judgement before both Houses are due to vote on the impeachment - something that could prove critical.

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VOL. XCIV .. Num. 34,259

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 05, 2012

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YOUNG CASE: MISTRIAL DECLARED; PARLIAMENT POSTPONES VOTE
by ADAM KING, Crime & Justice Correspondent, and JOEY SESSIONS, Political Correspondent

Sanctus - There were scenes of jubilation and outright disgust today in the Central Criminal Courts when The Hon. Michael Davenport declared a mistrial in the case against Supreme Court Justice Julian Young. The trial, which was concerned with whether or not the Justice had accepted monetary payments for certain outcomes in trials, was thrown out by the trial judge due to a "serious undermining of the independence of the legal system" by Parliament as well as a "flagrant abuse of the principle of being innocent until proven otherwise". The mistrial comes after the Impeachment Commission, a quasi-judicial body, declared Young to be guilty on the same charges he was facing in the court.

Most importantly, Judge Davenport declared that the Impeachment Commission's verdict had "irreversibly prejudiced" the case against the Supreme Court Justice, a claim which Young's counsel made on Wednesday afternoon. Agreeing with the defence, Judge Davenport said that he had no choice but to declare a mistrial, before officially informing Justice Julian Young that he was free to go. Under the double jeopardy rules, Justice Young cannot face the same charge again.

Responding the declaration, Justice Young announced that he felt "vindicated and relieved" and that he intended to get back to work in the Supreme Court shortly, also saying that he was confident he had the "support of [his] colleagues"; to date, none of his colleagues on the bench in the Supreme Court have spoken publicly about Young or the case. When asked about the impeachment, Young said he was "saddened by the actions of the Government" but he hoped that "in the light of the verdict, they will see sense".

The Government's response, on the other hand, was much more muted. In a press release from the Attorney General's office, Attorney General Tara Gregory said that she would now "consider the trial and its result" before reporting back to Government. Secretary for Home Affairs, Justice & Equality, Dr. George Merlinson, said that "naturally, the Government is disappointed with the outcome" but they intended to push ahead with the impeachment vote. It was later clarified by the Chief Whip's Office that, in the light of the verdict, they would be postponing the vote until Tuesday next.

DLP Leader Charlene Hendry called for an immediate "review" into the law regarding prejudicial information and claimed that what is said in Parliament should never be used in a judicial case. In a rare move, the Opposition leader also defended the Government insisting that "the fault lies with all of us; we all agreed on the wording of the articles, to blame the Government now is to score political points". She also confirmed that her party still intended to remove Justice Young from office saying that, at the least, he "disgraced his office with his conduct and response to the allegations".

Justice Young said that he will take this weekend to spend time with his family, but will concentrate on the impeachment votes next week. He said that "to maintain judicial independence", he would not engage in any lobbying. It is believed that both Houses will indeed vote to removed Young from the Supreme Court's bench.

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VOL. XCIV .. Num. 34,263

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 09, 2012

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YOUNG SACKED FROM BENCH
by DAVID FLETCHER, Special Correspondent, and JOEY SESSIONS, Political Correspondent

Sanctus - Just days after a court through out the criminal case against him, Parliament today voted to remove Justice Julian Young from the bench of the Supreme Court. Young was charged with being guilty of "the high misdemeanour of bribery, corruption, and abuse of high office"; a charge which has garnered much criticism since the mistrial was declared last Friday, citing the wording as prejudicial to the case.

548 MPs in the House of Deputies voted to remove Young from his office, with only 2 abstaining. Independent MPs Millie Durcan and Joseph Wiggins both said they could not vote to remove a man on a charge which he was not found guilty of. The same motion in the Senate yielded all 100 votes in favour. The removal from office took place immediately after the two votes, and was confirmed by Dr. George Merlinson, Secretary for Home Affairs, Justice & Equality, who made a statement to the House of Deputies informing them that a "vacancy has arisen on the bench of the Supreme Court". Secretary Merlinson also confirmed in his statement that the Government would announce their nominee for the position on the Supreme Court sometime next week.

Julian Young announced his disappointment after the vote which stripped him from judicial office but noted that since it did not disbar him, he would seek to return to his former practice to continue his career in law. Disbarment was raised in the Impeachment Commission, but MPs on the Commission voted against including it on the motion. Young also said that should he not return to practicing law, he would retire. The Attorney General's office confirmed that since Young was impeached and removed from office, statute outlines that he will not get his generous judicial pension packet.

This is the first time a Justice has been removed from the Supreme Court. Prime Minister Joshua Turned today thanked MPs for ensuring that the office of Justice of the Supreme Court did not receive any more damage than that already done to it by Young. Turner also confirmed that the Elite Corruption Division of the SPF would continue their work investigating the "cash-for-verdicts" scandal.

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VOL. XCIV .. Num. 34,276

MONDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2012

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SILK LOOKS TO FORM REGIONAL COUNCIL
by SARAH PLEDYS, Political Editor

Sanctus - Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Andrew Silk, today announced plans to liaise with other nations in the International Democratic Union with the aim of forming a new regional body. Silk cited continued disorganisation in the region, as well as ample potential for economic growth, as reasons behind this move. Proposing the Council of IDU States (CIDUS), Silk explained that he believed it to be the natural successor to the previous body, the IDU Council - a body that eventually failed to gather any momentum.

In a memorandum sent to nations in the IDU region, Silk outlined a number of areas in which a regional council such as CIDUS would be effective; highlighting regional security and increased economic benefits as two of the more important reasons for establishing the body, Silk also indicated that CIDUS could be instrumental in fostering free movement of capital and people in the region. Stressing that this would be "no World Assembly", the Secretary for Foreign Affairs also said that it was his intention that the sovereignty of those who join the body would be respected.

Also outlined in the memorandum was some basic logistical functions of the body, including leadership and how CIDUS would operate; currently proposed is a continuous assembly-like meeting, the venue of which should change every few months. Sources close to the Secretary have, however, indicated that this mode of operation is open to change should other nations feel it unviable.

The Minister for Regional Affairs, Deputy Craig Williams, endorsing his superior's plans added that Sanctarian involvement in the regional body would fall under his Ministry's portfolio. When questioned whether or not the continuous assembly would merit its own unique and dedicated diplomatic mission - not unlike the current Mission to the World Assembly - Williams said that such a decision would be made in consultation with other nations once a final decision on the format had been decided.