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Mouri-Kudo Announces Second Term Bid, Faces Primary Challenge within Social-Progressives; Lahaye will not Run for Prime Minister for 2024

President Ran Mouri-Kudo electrified the political landscape today by officially declaring her candidacy for a second term. In a televised address from the presidential palace, she highlighted her administration's achievements on foreign policy, social justice, and environmental protection, while acknowledging the challenges that remain.
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(President Mouri-Kudo making her televised address to the Commonwealth on her plan to run for a second term)

"During my first term," President Mouri-Kudo stated, "we've secured historic trade deals, strengthened alliances, and championed human rights on the global stage. At home, we've expanded access to affordable healthcare, enacted landmark environmental legislation, and made significant strides towards gender equality."
President Mouri-Kudo's announcement comes amidst a flurry of primary elections across the Commonwealth of Leagio. Within her own Social-Progressive alliance, she faces a primary challenge from renowned environmental activist Racheal Brownson, who has garnered support for her call for more radical climate action. The Social-Progressive primary promises to be a lively contest, highlighting the internal debate within the alliance. President Mouri-Kudo represents a pragmatic approach, focusing on incremental progress within the existing political framework. At the same time that she announced her candidacy for the Social-Progressive Presidential Primary, Prime Minister Marie Lahaye announced that she will not seek another term for Prime Minister for 2024 and would run only as a Senator for the Progressive Alliance. In response, President Mouri-Kudo announced that she endorsed the idea of having Revy Robertsen as her candidate for Prime Minister. Revy Robertsen is currently a Councilor representing the List Sector of the State of Jullien who has a reputation of being hard on members of her own party that backtrack on agreements. In fact, it was through the shrewd and tough tactics of Revy Robertsen on pressing on members of her own Alliance to vote in favor of the Treaty of Tellum Ratification Resolution through the House. Although, she also managed to use a good amount of negotiation for the reform on electing members of the House of Councilors through a PR-District method.
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(Revy Robertsen before entering the chamber for the House of Councilors)

While the Social-Progressive primary captures much of the current attention, other parties and candidates are vying for the spotlight. Meanwhile, in the other parties and alliances, there are still debates and questions on the top candidates at the moment. James Moriarty, the President of the United Peoples Front, has confirmed that he will not run as the Alliance’s candidate for President nor Governor-General at the moment, which leaves the question that he might run for a National Congress seat to be Prime Minister if his alliance wins. As the primaries unfold, voters across Leagio are grappling with critical issues. The economy, healthcare, education, and the environment remain key concerns, with each party offering distinct positions. The upcoming months will be filled with passionate debates, rallies, and strategic maneuvers, as candidates strive to earn the trust and support of the electorate.

Meanwhile, the Republican Future Alliance are currently unable to back a main candidate for their alliance as it is divided between candidates that either want to align with the Alternative for Leagio party (formed out of merger with the Christian Democratic-Republicans and the National Patriot Party or work with the Federation of Democratic Centrists).

Meanwhile, the Federation of Democratic Centrists are stuck between two main candidates for President: Carlito Silvestre (a Senator for the FCD representing Tullion) and Jackson Ellis (a Councilor representing the FCD for the List Sector of Kiev). Senator Silvestre is running a strong deregulation policy on business, while Councilor Ellis has been running his primary campaign on a balanced approach on deregulation and government spending to support local governments.
President Mouri-Kudo's decision to seek re-election throws open a series of questions. Can she overcome the primary challenge within her own party? How will she address the concerns of young voters and those frustrated with the pace of change? What strategies will her opponents employ to capture the public's imagination? One thing is certain: the upcoming elections in Leagio promise to be exciting and consequential, shaping the nation's trajectory for years to come. All eyes are on the primaries, where the seeds of tomorrow's leadership are being sown.

Sertia prepares for tourism growth this summer

and, no doubt, tourism politics.
26 April 2024

The government and businesses are getting ready to accommodate high volumes of tourists this Summer season.

With the Summer tourist season due to officially start on 1 May, the government have expanded train, Sertia HorseRail and coach service timetables, as well as scheduling more ferries between Sertia and Nofoaga for ease of accessibility. Business owners are also finishing up winter renovations on their properties and are preparing to open in just four days.

The West Olves are also readying to welcome visitors by air, land, and sea. The provisional government of the West Olves have ordered expanded ferry timetables from Plariaras, Sertia to Icaserch, WO.

Tourism is the second largest industry in Sertia, next to textiles (the 3rd) and fishing (the 1st). To many, this Summer will determine how well they are able to get through Winter.

Arts and culture

Summer is a time for celebrations of fine art and culture in Sertia. Most notably is the Baelo Arts Festival held in the Erdais district of Osperfey, which attracts world-renowned writers, artists, and cultural icons. This year, a record number of people are due to attend, making Erdais the place to be in the Caribbean this summer for lovers of fine art.

Erdais Politics

While tourists are a necessary part of Sertia's economy, there was quite a bit of uproar last year when the Erdais District Braetha ordered an additional tourist tax to be included in accommodation fees. This came after local residents complained of disorderly behaviour from tourists, a group of whom had been arrested and charged for criminal damage to private property.

Local festivals

Major Sertian destinations are not the only place for this, however. Around the country, local arts festivals will also be showcasing their homegrown talent to passers by and locals alike. The village of Tyr'n Bever, about 20 miles north of Rowsperch, is proud to present an exhibition by local artist Benjamin Tyr. It is an art installation which concerns the fleeting state of Sertia's natural, pastoral landscape, much of which is part of the ancient marshland known for generations as Tremaras. While the majority of people now live in Sertia's major cities, many of them hail originally from the towns and villages of Tremaras, of which Tyr'n Bever is one. Tyr's project is one that he says "comes from the heart".

"My family, the Tyrs, have lived around this area for over 400 years. Tyr'n Bever has shaped me", Tyr says. Indeed, around 1597 the Tyrs purchased the land where Tyr'n Bever is now.

When asked about what tourists should look for in Sertia this summer, Tyr says "come out to Tremaras and see how the Sertians really live. We are very welcoming and kind and not like the city-dwellers. Here you will have it easy, you can take it slow and enjoy yourself".

Sertian tourism season runs from 1 May to 31 August 2024.

State and Territory Governments

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Nation

Mea Culpa

Irenet Isteresskemar

Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.

This is what and all I must say to those who have stood with me through the past few years. It is - yes - my fault, and my fault alone, my fault in the highest, that your long work has been for naught, that your hopes have suddenly been crushed, that our efforts to bring the voice of the countryside to Kirelesile have ended in failure.

I gave you, unnecessarily, to extremism. I pushed your cause to the fringe. And I staked out a position that could never find itself with real power and influence.

With these mistakes, I betrayed you, and I am now, in the aftermath, bound to make right what I have done wrong.

I am therefore retiring from electoral politics. I will not take part in the refoundation of the Agrarian Union, and will resign from all positions I hold in the apparatus thereof.

I will continue to hope for your victory, so that your work is protected against the advance of foreign industry, so that our independence is safeguarded, so that our democracy is maintained and strengthened. But I will limit myself to this and nothing else.

I will retain only my position as Minister of Foreign Affairs, as a nonpartisan. Only here, I feel, have I been able to do any productive work, and only here would my loss be more of a burden to the country and the movement than my continued presence. I will therefore remain to continue to chart a non-aligned, internationalist, and resolutely national course for our Istkalen in the world.

To the people of Istkalen, its real heroes, to whom I owe my life, to whom I address all my possible apologies and respect, then.
Irenet Isteresskemar.

Duchies government pass ban on destruction of heritage buildings
The law to ban the demolition of buildings built before 1950 has officially passed today. The Heritage Preservation Act essentially lists all buildings built before 1950 as protected buildings. The act requires that all alternative uses for housing, commercial use and community use must be exhausted before the building can be demolished with developers having to prove that any sensitive development or alternative use is impractical. The acts passing comes after years of campaigning from heritage preservation organisations in the United Duchies. The act is expected to protect entire neighbourhoods and also requires that should such a building burn down buildings built before 1950 must be rebuilt in the same location and with the same design lest the developer face jail and imprisonment. The act will also allow heritage organisations to object to redevelopment plans and propose alternative uses being able to buy the building from site owners if they can pay the market rate for the building and have funds to redevelop the site in a sensitive manner themselves.

The small circle forming near the bonfire around of which Reiserová, Saková and Imberová danced just a couple of minutes later certainly attracted attention as the government ministers, Rodnovery preachers and members of security and police forces quickly edged sooner to listen to what was being said. "Of course Comrade President understands the values of your company and naturally, "as a great humanitarian", she detests them." Slavomír nodded with a slight smile upon his face before he turned back to face to the two members of the Llunas-Roberts family, "Yes, that is most wise. During the times in which the slight mistakes of state atheism prevailed I have always urged unity with people of differing creeds, including the Christian Churches and even the Federation of Jewish Communities,... ehm, just in case you hear about my earlier writings from anybody, mistakes of the youth, you know,... in our common struggle for the ending of all religious persecutions. But of course"

"I am sure the kids will learn a lot! At least the adult ones!" Minister Imberová responded quickly to few chuckles from number of the other Czechs and to a nod from the President which seemed to make the Minister quite happy with herself.

Reiserová turned her head back to face the patriarch of the Roscoes' family and she smiled at him yet again, "James, you and your family are on Czechoslavonic soil. The Czech people hold all power here, not your corporation, so I think deciding what is and isn't necessary is up to me." The President for Life turned away to pay attention to her other guests as well, and signalled three policemen to come over to Yohanna, Danya and Mathias each., seizing them by their right arms.

Second later Minister Dohnal approached the three as well, "Ladies, young gentleman, I have been instructed that you are to enjoy sausages before being taken to questioning, please follow me!" he declared jovially and started leading the way the three Duchians brought forth by the policemen, "I apologize, but torture of animals is banned in the Democratic Republic, so Kosher meat is not available, but we did prepare vegan sausages for you Mrs Mizrachi-Roscoe. I hope they will satisfy."

Slavomír turned his attention to Iketemar and smiled wide at her, "You underestimate our President dear Iketemar, to suggest that the suspects could escape the watchful eye of the Champion of Mokosh."

Reiserová listened to the Spaniards and her face went slightly pink in shame, "I... I knew that, you know." she lied as Sémper infromed her that Juncker was no longer the head of government of Spain, "Send Mr..... Mr President my thanks and my warm regards as well. Oh and to the King and his family. You know, I have yet to meet His Majesty. Please sit down, sit down." she instructed all her guests, that were not taken to eat sausages, to sit down on the ground.

"Now please, all of you, let's talk about the lates happenings in our countries! I feel like we have not had a chance to hear what is goin on for such a long time. For, you know, our part things have been fairly steadfast after the decision to return the forces of production into the hands of the people. And we are considering the democratization of the system of public ownership as well! We are expecting to launch first attempts later this year, maybe in a month or so! But what about you? Istkalen seems particularly dynamic. Especially with the, apologies, crazy woman Íkrat. What urges her to throw a wrench into one of the most brotherly relation in the European Union?" Reiserová sat down herself and crossed her legs, smiling at the guests.

Statement of the Censorate

We have voted to suspend the government of Elizabeth Íkrat due to concerns over stability both domestic and in foreign affairs. We point particularly to Íkrat's calls for unacceptably radical change to the economic and political consensus that has formed in Istkalen, to her illogical and fervent opposition to this country's closest ally, and her deep unpopularity among the public, which has already, in a matter of days, put into question the continued existence of the Republic.

Ursula Orlich has again been appointed Prime Minister, and will have full responsibility and power to constitute a government of her own to return Istkalen to full stability.

We have also made the decision to permanently dissolve the Social Democratic Party, which, though existing in opposition, has played a key role in influencing the extremism of the Íkrat cabinet and pushing against the moderate forces of our Republic. Opposed to popular rule, opposed to the rule of law, opposed to peace and stability, the Social Democratic Party has bedeviled Istkalen since the end of the war and the beginning of the opposition. In hopes of maintaining something of a political consensus, in averting civil war, we have tolerated its existence - we have even worked with it in misguided attempts to bring it, at last, into the fold of the acceptable.

But its actions have proven to us that tolerance is untenable. Ms. Meier's agitation against all the freedoms and traditions Istkaleners hold dear has already done severe damage to our Republic; if she is allowed to go on with her provocations, we will see its end. To ensure the continued integrity of our country, it is necessary that a full and final end be put to her political force, her organization, her power - and that is what we have done and intend, with all possible force, be carried out.

Ursula Orlich
President of the Censorate and Prime Minister of the Republic of Istkalen

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Government Approval Is Essentially Neutral

SYMONE SANDERS-TOWNSEND---The Albanese government has now sits at 46% approval versus 47% disapprove and 7% don't know or neutral. This is slightly lower than a month ago but reflects that Californians generally aren't feeling the positives. But it's still better than the CDP, who have 75% against them. With almost 28% going with smaller parties, it's clear the mixed member system of voting (adopted in 1996) has resulted in people feeling comfortable with generalized coalitions. The CLP-Green coalition is just as popular as the majoritarian governments before 1996.

Country: United Duchies
Broadcaster: RTD
Broadcaster Director: Mary Beck
Proposal / Request Title: Proposal on two date ranges for Eurovoice
Proposal / Request Description: Proposal for a fixed date range standard Eurovoice with no theme and a themed Eurovoice that can be held at any time of year the winner of each would get to host the next Eurovoice of its type. I.e the standard Eurovoice winner would get to host next standard Eurovoice while the themed Eurovoice winner would get to set the theme and host the next themed Eurovoice within parameters agreed by the EUBC for the next themed Eurovoice. This proposal would ensure two Eurovoices per year with mutliple ways of participation.We propose that the themed Eurovoice should stick to the parameters of a secular theme for any Eurovoice so as to avoid divisive themes. Though this should be up to the EUBC.
Other Information:

The Great Swale Path, Chapter 3 (part one)

I will here preclude a detailed testimony of the Plariaran culture, owing to one of my (many) personal weaknesses--namely, a love for poetic ends.

Fancying myself a modern-day Sarpara Manniach, from News from Droinstea, upon leaving the ferry terminal at Plariaras, I quickly headed for the train station. There was a 14:56 departure for Rowsperch, with a stop in Droinstea. It was 14:01.

I was able to figure out how to call a rail-horse carriage--known as Sertia HorseRail--with some difficulty. To indicate that you'd like the horse to stop and pick you up, you are urged by the signs on the HorseRail platform to step on a button. A mechanical system goes, and a barrier rises up in the middle of the railway, forcing the horse to stop for you. Luckily, when my coach stopped in front of me, the conductor seemed to catch the barrier before the horse did, else the horse buck and turn everyone out of the carriage.

I directed the conductor to take me to Hemberdale Ghoia station, south of the river. The conductor got out of the carriage to push down the horse barrier, boarded again, and immediately we were off to a flying start.

What little I saw of Hemberdale was in no massive way enlightening, but the mazes of colourful (albeit terrifyingly narrow!) alleys graced on all sides by rudmercaeta and business people created a brilliant audio-visual cityscape. At one point, I looked out the carriage window to my left to see a Peregrine Falcon flying next to us, holding an envelope in its talons. Before it ascended again, I swear it saw me through the carriage window.

Arriving at Ghoia station, I was as promptly kicked out of the carriage as I was invited on outside the ferry terminal. Just as well, because I had approximately 10 minutes to catch my train to Droinstea.

In Sertian cities, only those with tickets can enter the train station. Such it was that this created a real barrier for me to actually get into the station, as there was a congregation of people looking at the analogue departure and arrival boards. I found my train to Droinstea, departing on platform 6. Having purchased my tickets at the ferry terminal, I weaved my way through the dense crowd and went through the barriers and into the train station.

Immediately, I was struck by how empty, modern, clean, and so much unlike the outside of the station, that the interior was. Well-kempt people ambled through the station, in presumably no rush to reach their train or wherever it was they were going. Kind voices gave soothing messages through the loudspeakers, followed by equally soothing dings and clicks. I could hear the ambient whirring of the train engines.

3 minutes.

Good lord, I needed to get to my train.

I must say that I was expecting either an elegant, wholly old-fashioned train service, OR a brisk, cosmopolitan, modern one. But I can't say that Sertian trains, or at least this one, fit either of those categories.

Whilst the outside of the train looked familiar, the inside felt like a really odd social experiment. The seats in Standard Class were laid out in cushioned benches, embroidered with something reminiscent of my gran's jumper.

The windows were all sorts of really odd shapes like an art-nouveau exhibition. It certainly gave off an effect, but what effect it was I couldn't quite square. Looking up, there were benches nailed to the ceiling of the carriage, mirroring the ground. There was a sign on the wall, pointing up, that said:

"In case this train rolls off a cliff, no matter how you are oriented you ought to have a seat".

signed, Legalist Anarchicals

What an interesting normative statement. Not knowing how to react, I just sort of sat down and accepted that Sertia is freaking weird (I later learned that this was an art instalment, courtesy of Tourism Sertia. Normal carriages are not like this).

The train was surprisingly smooth-moving, and after a few stops we arrived promptly in Droinstea.

Signed,
Robert M. Callaghan
Minister of External Affairs, Brickland

On the Upcoming European (Councillor) Elections

The Kingdom of Spain will be heading to the polls within 6 June and 9 June to elect its new European Councillor, who will be in charge of representing the nation in the European Council for the next five years. For these elections, the Kingdom of Spain has opted for the alternative voting day system, which will make the nation attend the polls in different dates, in order to provide the least disruption as possible. The voting days are established as follows:

6 June: Clerbonne (Germanium) 7 June: Londres 8 June: Commonwealth Territories and Puerto Rico 9 June: Rest of the Nation

D. Elías Bendodo Benasayag
Minister for Home Affairs

The Tribunal

Four left-wing parties form electoral alliance

by Janice Kyou - March 31, 2024

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The logo of the alliance, titled UnitedLeft, was revealed at the announcement.

The Green Party of Elthize, the Elfiz Party, the Democratic Socialists of Elthize, and the Communist Party of Elthize have announced their electoral alliance for the July general elections in a joint conference held this morning at Forecoaster. The alliance, called UnitedLeft, aims to run on a common leftist political agenda and bring a leftist government to Elthize for the first time since 2002.

The alliance comes after a series of negotiations which lasted for weeks. All four party leaders were present at the conference. Matthew François, leader of the Green Party, unveiled the logo and name of the electoral alliance alongside Meti Adebayo (formerly Kendall Hudson), leader of the Elfiz Party, Melissa Chai, leader of the Democratic Socialists of Elthize, and Leon den Hollander, chairman of the Communist Party of Elthize.

The upcoming election will be the first time the Elfiz Party participates in national elections. Previously, the party only operated in the province of Southern Counties, formerly known as Hunnicutt. When asked about the change, Adebayo stated that the party's previous decision to only run in the Southern Counties was a "grave mistake". "Every Elfiz from Ackerson to Montgomery needs to be represented," Adebayo continued.

The real star of the show, however, was Melissa Chai, the presidential candidate of the alliance. "Our country is in dire times," is how Chai started her speech. She continued, "For three decades, we have endured ultra-capitalist, inhumane, and exploitative liberal regimes that have drained the life out of our fellow Elthic working class. Today is the day we set aside our ideological differences and say 'Enough!'"

Melissa Chai, the current mayor of the city of St. Lucas, first assumed office in 2013. She is highly regarded by the people of St. Lucas for her generous social programs, which have also gained attention across Elthize following the economic crisis that affected the country from 2008 to 2011. Her campaign comes after eleven years of speculation about her possibly seeking a position in the national government.

Martha Krystoff, the governor of St. Lucas, endorsed Chai and UnitedLeft for the 2024 elections. She stated that the alliance is "what our nation needs right now."

"Elthize, you have seen the work I have done for St. Lucas. Now it's your turn. It's time to vote for a government that cherishes and prioritizes life above all else." The room roared with applause the moment Chai ended her sentence.

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Scottish Elections: Labour-SNP likely

EDINBURGH---The Scottish Parliament is currently dissolved ahead of the May election. As of now, Labour is on 26%, the SNP have 24%. Scottish Tories have 18%, Scottish Lib Dems have 12%, Greens also on 12%, and various parties and independents collectively make 8%. Politics on this side of Hadrian's Wall seems to reflect an electorate that is moderately progressive; the SNP hasn't successfully linked progressivism with Scottish identity, like Nicola Sturgeon did. Labour, on the other hand, seems to be enjoying a slight Westminster bump but plainly has work to do.

Česká tisková kancelář

The cities of Liberec and Ústí nad Labem and the towns of Aš, Český Těšín, Znojmo, Břeclav, Hodonín, Děčín and the surrounding areas granted a Special Economic Zone status

President Albína Reiserová has signed a law granting Special Economic Zone (SEZ) status to the city of Liberec and Ústí nad Labem and the towns of Aš, Český Těšín, Znojmo, Břeclav, Hodonín, Děčín and the surrounding areas of these municipalities. This comes together with the adoption of the nationalization plan of the entities based in Bricston, Inquista and Yosai. According to the plan these entities will be the last to be nationalized by 31 December 2025 and will be entitled to compensation for 100% of value of their property at the value at the time or nationalization, determined by the Czechoslavonic Statistical Office, the same renumeration that Czech private entities were and are entitled to. All concerned entities will be entitled to the compensation as long as they do not commit the crime of complicating or frustrating the process of nationalization.

However the new Special Economic Zones offer private Czech, Breikish, Inquistan, Yosainese and potentially Istkalenic entities the opportunity to still directly operate in Czech Slavia as long as the direct operations are restricted to the SEZs. The SEZ status has been granted to the municipalities until the year 2050. All private entities operating withing the SEZs will have to be consulted by the end of the year 2045 at the latest, if the SEZ status will not be prolonged to a given municipality.

The Ministries of Regional Development, Industry and Trade and Agriculture, as well as the Revolutionary Trade Union Movement and the regional, city and town councils of the concerned municipalities have issued a common statement, which recalls that 'every single individual in our insitutions could not stop themselves from crying happily upon laying their eyes on the ingenious proposal by the Bright Sun of the Nation, beloved comrade Reiserová, who has worked many days and nights without rest on the textm writing it in her own hand.' The statement expresses strong belief that the granting of the SEZ status is a correct step in building a prosperous socialist economy and will allow the Democratic Republic to overcome all issues caused by foreign industrial sabotage.

Preachers of the Rodnovery religious movement shall no longer reject any person with significant Slavic genes based on genealogical requirements

The Rodnovery religious movement has adopted its first rule restricting its preachers ability to reject potential members. According to this rule no person with significant Slavic genes may be denied to become a member of the Rodnovery religious movement based on genealogical requirements. Accepting new members however still remains to the preachers, including the determination of what 'significant' means. The only definition provided centrally is that significant means less then a half or more. Accepting people with no Slavic ancestry depends on the decision of the particular preacher.

Some of the former preachers have expressed belief that one of the members of the movement is now forcing their ideological views upon the religious movement, restricting the preachers abilities to refuse those who are not fully or mostly Slavic. The leadership of the Rodnovery movement has denied that the change is driven by ideology or a result of push of a singular member of the movement, but by a more correct understanding of the gods' will.