It is an honour to be elected to serve as your thirty-third Internal Affairs Commissioner. After weeks of campaigning and debating, I am delighted that you have chosen me, Wirt Harland, as a part of the next commission. While no language I know is enough to express my gratitude, I will make up for it with my actions, moving forward like how I presented myself as a candidate: A man who wants to introduce systemic reform to the European Union for the good of its citizens.
Before February, I am planning to bring several amendments to our Constitution to the European Council, most of which will concern the political and electoral systems of the EU. During this time, I will collaborate with councillors from all sides of the political spectrum to ensure that the reforms I bring will last for decades.
In addition, I am also planning to take trips to various countries and meet with their leaders and listen to their concerns regarding the EU and their membership. In a political institution as immense as the European Union, it is expected for every member state to have differing opinions on how it should be run. I will take every concern seriously and make sure to not compensate for what I believe in.
Once again: Thank you. Thank you a thousand times, Europe. You gave me this opportunity for four months and I will try my best to make every month count.
Wirt Harland 33rd Internal Affairs Commissioner of the European Union
Elthize now meets requirements to join the EMUzone, says Minister of Finance
by Frances Irving - September 9, 2022
El Castillo de San Carlos in Finisterre, Spain, where the Treaty of Finisterre was signed in October 2020.(image credit)
Elthics received wonderful news this morning when Finance Minister Tobias Walters announced that Elthize has fulfilled all of the requirements to become a signatory to the Treaty of Finisterre, meaning that the country can now join the EMUzone. He further stated: "We are now confident that our nation will enter the EMUzone well before President Greenwich Grimwald's deadline of January 2024."
The EMU, an acronym for European Monetary Unit, is a currency that was established with the Treaty of Finisterre in October 2020. The signatories are Spain, Inquista, Vayinaod, Fremet, Montenbourg, the United Dominions of Icholasen and Leagio, which was previously an observer state that joined the treaty in April this year. The agreement focuses on the economic cooperation between European states and was a breakthrough moment in economic integration within the European Union.
The use of the EMU within Elthize has been a discussion topic since January 2021, when President Greenwich Grimwald said that Elthize would use a "special circulation status" with the EMU, accepting the currency alongside the florin. Grimwald claimed that this move would improve tourism in Elthize, which is a prominent sector in our economy. The move was approved by the parliament, despite some opposition regarding the move's reality.
Since then, the EMU has been considered a de facto legal tender in Elthize. While the EMU is not the currency of Elthize by law, many shops and stores accept the currency alongside the florin. It is observed that many Elthics are ready for an eventual transition to the EMU. The process is also approved by many: According to the Polling Institute of Elthize (PIE), a survey conducted on the EMU in April 2022 found that 56% of those interviewed agreed that the implementation of EMU would be beneficial to their lives. This number is expected to be higher today, as Elthize gets one step closer to adopting a common monetary unit.
It was expected that President Greenwich Grimwald would announce an exact date for the transition from the florin to the EMU in the coming days, though this is uncertain now, due to Grimwald's current recovery from a very recent assassination attempt. He still has not made a statement regarding that incident.
After much deliberation, the European Court of Justice has decided on the validity of the last European Commission elections.
It should be understood that while The Constitution of the European Union does not set a clear precedent for write-in candidates, it has set very clear boundaries on certain aspects of commission elections in Article III, Section II. I would like to quote Clause II from the aforementioned article:
The nomination period for each Office shall run for seven days, to be followed by a seven-day debate period, in turn, followed by a seven-day voting period.
Following the precedent established in previous court decisions, including one where an election was cancelled due to the debate period not being up to standards, The Court is concerned about the fact that both gentlemen, Kevin Cotilla and Jean-Claude Juncker, who were elected using write-in votes, could not participate in the seven-day debate period, as they did not nominate themselves in the seven-day nomination period.
Both of these periods are very clearly set by the Constitution, which is the paramount law of the European Union, and the European Court of Justice is responsible for ensuring that the political activities of the European Union are not conflicting with the Constitution, as mentioned in Article IV, Section II, Clause I:
The European Court of Justice is responsible for determining whether an Act or Amendment of the European Council is in line with the Constitution.
Therefore, The Court unanimously finds that:
A) Write-in notes can not be used in European elections, as they are incompatible with the precedents set by the Constitution,
B) The non-proper execution of the periods clearly set by the Constitution in the last elections is problematic.
Therefore, to ensure that these elections do not erode the validity of the succeeding elections made by the European Union as a whole, The European Court of Justice orders a new election under this legal understanding.
——
Dayo Faith Mwangi Chief Justice of the European Court of Justice
Elthize ([ɛlfiːz], EL-fees), officially The State of Elthize, is a country located in Northern Africa . It borders the Atlantic Ocean to the west, Yosai to the north and Leagio to the east and south. With a population of around 4,4 million, Elthize is one of the least populated countries in the European Union. Forecoaster is the capital city, while St. Lucas, located in the south of the country, is Elthize's most populous city. With a population of 1,2 million within its metropolitan area, St. Lucas is the centre of the Elthic economy, entertainment and contemporary culture of Elthize. The second populous city with a population of around 520 thousand, Montgomery, is considered to be the birthplace of modern-day Elthize and its culture and served as the country's capital until 1972. Around half of the population lives south of Forecoaster, and 70% of the population lives less than twenty-five kilometres away from the coast. The common and administrative language in Elthize is English, though it isn't the country's official language.
Modern-day Elthize was founded in 1828 by British trade companies, collaborating with various philosophers of the time that wanted to establish a liberal utopia. Settled on the shores of southern Elthize, the Montgomery Territory, established following an agreement with the indigenous Kingdom of Elfiz, is often considered to be the precursor to modern-day Elthize. While the relationship between the territory and the kingdom was initially positive, various factors, including an economic crisis in the kingdom due to poor governance and growing xenophobia in the territory, made relations sour. This tension continued for decades, peaking in 1870 when the king declared war on the territory, which it lost four years later, resulting in the kingdom's abolishment and total annexation.
The annexation made way for the formation of the Commonwealth of Elthize. The commonwealth often displaced indigenous people away from the coast, and slavery was prevalent. After Leagio, a neighbouring colony, gained its independence in 1896, most colonial politicians and the British elite in Leagio escaped to Elthize. In 1905, Elthize was annexed by the British government and granted dominion status. By the late 1920s, with the support of an independent Leagio, the Elthic independence movement grew in support, led by revolutionary William Lee Marchand, who would later become the first president of an independent Elthize in May 1937, when the country became independent from the United Kingdom. The independence of the First Republic was short-lived, however, when the Yosainese annexed Elthize in 1954, shortly after Marchand resigned. In 1968, Elthize became independent after various riots brought the fascist Yosainese regime down. This led to the formation of the Second Republic under President Theodore Ackerson.
Elthize is a liberal democratic country that enjoys high levels of personal and economic freedom, low tax rates, and a market economy, with the largest industries being resource extraction, service industry and tourism. It also has the highest economic inequality rate in the European Union, above-average crime rates and high levels of environmental pollution. It became a member of the European Union in April 2022.
I - Fact summary
Official country name: The State of Elthize Short name: Elthize Pronunciation: El-fees Demonym: Elthic (noun and adjective), Elthizian Country codes: EZ, ETZ Top level domain: .co.ez, .ez Drives on the: right Time zone: UTC Date format: DD-MM-YYYY, MM-DD-YYYY, YYYY-DD-MM Power plug type: Type C, Type F, Type E, Type G Calling code: +90 National motto:None National anthem:None National colours: Blue and yellow
Info
Due to Elthics' distrust towards their government, it is hard to get precise information on certain statistics. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Population: 4,408 million (2023 estimate) Life expectancy: 72,2 years Literacy rate (aged 14 and over): ~85% Official language:None(De jure. While no language is specified as the official language of Elthize, English is used by the national government for administrative reasons.) Languages spoken: English (~95%), Elfiz indigenous languages (~15%), Spanish (~8%), Elthic Sign Language (~5%), Japanese (~3%), French (~3%) Religion: Christianity (9.3%), Unaffiliated (9%), Elfiz indigenous religions (4.3%), Judaism (2.2%), Other (3%), 72.2% did not answer Ethnicity: Non-specific Elthic (8.5%), European Elthic (4.1%), African Elthic (3.5%), Indigenous Elthic (1.5%), Other non-Elthic (3.3%), 79.1% did not answer
Info
The term "Non-specific Elthic" is used for Elthic people of any race who identify as Elthic and refuse to elaborate on their ethnicity.
Info
Indigenous Elthic, also called the Elfiz, are Elthic people who descended from the Elfiz tribe, which ruled most of modern-day Elthize prior to British arrival. However, not all Black people in Elthize identify as Indigenous. These people are classified under the term "African Elthic" instead.
Capital city: Forecoaster Largest city: St. Lucas Government type: Unitary presidential republic Legislature branch: The Senate (upper house), The National Assembly (lower house) Executive branch: President and their cabinet Judicial branch: The High Court, Provincial courts, federal courts, family and civil courts, criminal courts, and administrative courts Head of State and Government: President Greenwich Grimwald (assumed office July 24, 2014) Ruling party: The Third Option, The Nationals & New Democracy [since July 24, 2014] European Councillor: Councillor Rebel Kofi (since July 1, 2023)
Location: Located in Northern Africa, west and north of the Commonwealth of Leagio and south of the Federal Republic of Yosai. Terrain and landscape: Mostly flatlands and hills, with more mountainous terrain in the south. Highest point: Mt. Wintercroft (1643 m), Southern Counties Lowest point: Sea level (0 m) Climate: Mediterranean hot summer climate. All four seasons are experienced. Average daily high: 36.6 °C Average daily low: 10.3 °C Record high: 48,4 °C, August 1938, near Bricksport, The Midlands Record low: -25,4 °C, February 1980, near Mananfra, Southern Counties Average annual precipitation: 646 mm per year
II - Administrative divisions of Elthize
Map of administrative divisions in Elthize
As of May 2023, Elthize is divided into eleven provinces: Ackerson, Brownell, Forecoaster, Liamville, Marchand, The Midlands, Montgomery, Northern Counties, Port Nelson, Southern Counties and St. Lucas.
While the country is recognized as a unitary state, it is considered a "devolved government", meaning that the administration in Forecoaster has transferred substantial power to the provinces, to varying degrees. Provinces are also further divided into counties for administrative purposes.
Most provinces have a devolved government except three: Forecoaster, The Midlands and Northern Counties. These provinces are directly legislated by the national parliament, with their governor appointed by the president.
Administrative divisions
Province
Largest city
Population
Governor
Parties in provincial government
Ackerson
Theodorburg
205,000
Franklin Parker
Labour
Brownell
Brownell
360,000
Rowan Holmwood
Labour
Forecoaster
Forecoaster
645,000
Jess Udo
No devolved government
Liamville
Liamville
116,000
Robin Platuck
The Nationals
Marchand
Marchand City
175,000
Bell Marsh
Labour
The Midlands
Petersfeld
78,000
Oliver York
No devolved government
Montgomery
Montgomery
740,000
Hunter Vance
The Third Option, The Nationals
Northern Counties
Augusta
93,000
Kamau Williams
No devolved government
Port Nelson
Port Nelson
356,000
Nick Thorburn
The Third Option
Southern Counties
Mananfra
210,000
Pat Mwangi
New Democracy, Elfiz Party
St. Lucas
St. Lucas
1,430,000
Martha Krystoff
Labour, The Greens, FT-SA, Crimson
III - President of Elthize
The President of Elthize is the head of state, government and executive branch in The State of Elthize.
According to the Constitution of Elthize, the president holds supremacy over all other government institutions in Elthize and is responsible for enforcing laws passed by the parliament.
The president can issue executive orders, which are directives and guidelines that are given to the Elthic government and the president's cabinet. The president can withdraw an executive order at any time. Still, it can also be revoked by the Senate of Elthize or be declared unlawful or unconstitutional by a high court in the country.
The president and their cabinet can also issue provisional laws, temporary laws that only last for six months. A provisional law can be extended with parliament's approval a maximum of four times, after which the provisional law needs to become actual law.
The presidency was suspended between 1954 and 1968 by the Yosainese military, which occupied the country at the time.
List of presidents in The State of Elthize
Name
In office
Affiliated party
Government and elections
William Lee Marchand (1906 - 1952)
May 20, 1937 - November 8, 1950
Unaffiliated
Marchand I (1938), Marchand II (1942), Marchand III (1946)
Florence Maitland (1923 - 1999)
November 8, 1950 - June 20, 1954
Unaffiliated
Maitland I (1950)
Theodore Ackerson (1939 - 2018)
December 1, 1968 - December 7, 1978
Labour - On coalition with New Democracy from 1973-1978
Ackerson I (1968), Ackerson II (1973)
Alika Mbanefo (1950 -)
December 7, 1978 - November 29, 1983
New Democracy - On coalition with Labour
Mbanefo I (1978)
Benjamin "Benny" Kalzer (1955 -)
November 29, 1983 - December 1, 1992
Liberal Democrats - On coalition with New Democracy from 1988 - 1992
Kalzer I (1983), Kalzer II (1988)
Roy Harper (1940 -)
December 1, 1992 - November 4, 1999
Labour - On coalition with New Democracy
Harper I (1992), Harper II (1996)
Gloria Dietrich (1957 - 2002)
November 4, 1999- February 8, 2002
Labour - On coalition with The Greens
Dietrich I, Dietrich II (2000)
Archie Franklin (1952 - 2016)
February 8, 2002 - July 24, 2014
Liberal Democrats - On coalition with New Democracy (2002 - June 2013), Unaffiliated (June 2013 - July 2014)
Franklin I (2002), Franklin II (2004), Franklin III (2008), Franklin IV (2012)
Greenwich Grimwald (1944 -)
July 24, 2014 - present
The Third Option - On coalition with New Democracy & The Nationals
Grimwald I (2014), Grimwald II (2018), Grimwald III (2022)
IV - Parliament of Elthize
Work in progress.
V - Judiciary of Elthize
The judicial system of The State of Elthize consists of various courts, ranging in focus.
The High Court, officially The High Court of The State of Elthize, is the highest in Elthize, established on May 1, 2023, following the merge of the Constitutional Court and Supreme Court following a referendum in February 2023. The High Court is responsible for overseeing laws, decrees, and other decisions; made either by the government, private institutions, or individuals in The State of Elthize and analysing whether they violate the Constitution of Elthize or Elthic law.
The High Court can also oversee the verdicts of other courts and revoke, amend, or affirm them at their will. As the highest court in Elthize, only the High Court itself can challenge its previous decisions, as well as other international courts above it, such as the European Court of Justice. The High Court consists of eleven judges, one from each province. The judges are elected by the bar associations of each province, without approval from the legislature. Judges in The High Court may serve for ten years, starting from the moment they assume office.
The Chief Justice of The State of Elthize oversees and administers the High Court and decides on which cases to give a verdict on. This position is elected by the judges in the High Court.
In addition, there are provincial high courts in all provinces except The Midlands and Northern Counties, as well as various civil courts, criminal courts and administrative courts.
List of current justices in The High Court of The State of Elthize
Work in progress.
Judge
Province
Assumed office
Term expiration date
Daniel Marchwill
Ackerson
March 1, 2024
March 1, 2034
Julian Fairchild
Brownell
May 1, 2023
May 1, 2033
William Huddleston
Forecoaster
May 1, 2023
May 1, 2033
Naomi Cobb
Liamville
May 1, 2023
May 1, 2033
Lazlo Pelletier
Marchand
May 1, 2023
May 1, 2033
Florence Reid
The Midlands
May 1, 2023
May 1, 2033
Isabelle Ramsey
Montgomery
May 1, 2023
May 1, 2033
Erik Hamilton
Northern Counties
May 1, 2023
May 1, 2033
Ashanti Asamanta
Port Nelson
May 1, 2023
May 1, 2033
J. L. Masso
Southern Counties
May 1, 2023
May 1, 2033
Mason Garland
St. Lucas
May 1, 2023
May 1, 2033
VI - Councillor for Elthize
Work in progress.
List of councillors from Elthize
Name
Assumed office
Left office
Length of tenure
Affiliated party
Elections
Liam Zachary (1994 -)
April 15, 2022
February 24, 2023 (removed from office)
10 months, 10 days
The Third Option - On coalition with New Democracy & The Nationals
2022
May Hobbes (1962 -)
February 24, 2023 (interim)
July 1, 2023
4 months, 7 days
New Democracy - On coalition with The Third Option & The Nationals
2022 Elections: A fine day for Grimwald and his friends. For others? Not so much.
by Janice Kyou - April 14, 2022
Image: Greenwich Grimwald speaking to the public in his election campaign, February 24th, Hunnicutt. (original source)
The election season commenced in Elthize, with millions going to the polls to vote for candidates and parties. Held between April 1st to April 8th, the elections saw nonsignificant, but not unnotable changes for President Greenwich Grimwald, incumbent since July 2014, and the ruling coalition. One would probably think there would be more grand changes across the board, as this election season was easily the most heated and controversial in a very long time, with intense debates about the country's ascension to the European Union, its internal affairs, and its adoption of the EMU, short for European Monetary Unit, a common currency for various nations across the European Union.
The incumbent president Greenwich Grimwald, his party The Third Option and the other two parties of the ruling coalition, New Democracy and The Nationals, the latter of which changed their name from Liberal Democrats in September 2019, fully supported the Elthic ascension to the European Union. President Grimwald claimed that the country "has nothing to lose and everything to gain with joining the EU". He also created the temporary position of Ministry of Membership to the European Union, which is expected to be abolished by the end of June at the latest.
The Labour Party and The Greens remained neutral, instead proposing a nationwide referendum to decide on EU membership, while For The People, Future Together / Socialist Alliance and the communist party Crimson opposed membership. The isolationist far-right party For The People stated that the European Union would destroy the Elthic economy and "put Elthic society into unstoppable decay", while FT-SA and Crimson opposed the EU as a principle for their anti-neoliberal stance.
Regardless, Elthize’s membership in the European Union was confirmed on April 14th. Following the European Accountable Council Act, the first-ever councillor elections were done on April 18th, with Liam Zachary, candidate of The Third Option and New Democracy and the third Minister of Membership to the European Union, winning the election with 35,9% of the vote. Nolan Brunson of the Labour Party and The Greens came second with 30,1% of the vote. Independent candidates Tara Dianne and Alexander Clarke came third and fourth, getting 10,3% and 9,4% of the vote respectively. National candidate Devon Albert came fifth with 8,5% of the vote, while Leon den Hollander, the joint candidate of FT-SA and Crimson came sixth with 3,3% of the vote.
Taxation was another heated topic this election season. The Labour Party, The Greens, FT-SA and Crimson rallied for a progressive tax rate, something which Grimwald heavily opposed. However, the coalition didn't completely back Grimwald this time, with The Nationals supporting the idea and New Democracy opposing it. This is possibly the reason why inside the coalition there was a shuffle in seat count between the two parties: The Nationals won ten seats at the National Assembly and four seats in the Senate, while New Democracy lost ten seats at the National Assembly. While New Democracy didn't lose any seats in the Senate, The Third Option lost three seats there, possibly also connected to this issue. The People also opposed progressive tax rates and asked to join the ruling coalition, something Grimwald didn't accept.
The adoption of the EMU was a large issue, too. On January 1, 2021, President Grimwald announced that he would make EMU legal tender alongside the florin, obtaining a “shared circulation status” by the Treaty of Finisterre. Grimwald stated that this move was made to improve relations and trade with Leagio, however, its legality has been questioned by the opposition. Recent polls show that around a quarter of Elthize opposes the adoption of EMU, about a third, supports its adoption, while the rest either did not know or refused to answer. Regardless, many businesses in Elthize accept the EMU today.
Overall, in legislature elections, the ruling coalition successfully kept their majority, winning a seat in both Senate and the National Assembly.
The Third Option got 29,2% of the vote in the National Assembly elections and 29,9% of the vote in the Senate elections, getting 73 seats in the Assembly and 30 seats in the Senate respectively.
New Democracy got 15,8% and 15,6% of the votes in the legislature elections, which translated to 40 seats in the Assembly and 16 in the Senate. The Nationals, the biggest winners of this election, got 5,9% and 6,1% of the votes, getting 15 assembly seats and 6 senate seats.
The Labour Party lead the opposition front by gaining 25,7% and 20,1% of the votes, getting 63 assembly seats, and losing one, and 21 senate seats. The Greens followed them, getting 9,1% and 7% of the votes, which translated to 23 assembly seats, gaining three, and 7 senate seats.
FT-SA got 4,4% and 3,4% of the votes, they got 11 assemblies and 3 senate seats, losing a senate seat on the way. For the first time in history, Crimson joined the Senate race, stopping their two-decades-long boycott of the institution. They got 1,4% of the vote and one senate seat. In addition, they got 2% of the vote in assembly elections, gaining five seats, two less than in the last election.
The presidency remained in Greenwich Grimwald’s hands, though it was a closer race than he would usually be comfortable with. He got 43,3% of the vote. The main opposition candidate, Matthew François, supported by Labour, The Greens and FT-SA, got 40,3% of the vote. Bernard Lee of For The People got a surprising 7,6% of the vote. Independent candidate Latifah Marques followed with 5,5% of the vote, and the Crimson candidate Alfred Phillips got only 1,3% of the vote.
In general, these elections were an utter disappointment for the opposition, expecting to boot Grimwald out this year, whose popularity had been steadily declining for a few years. Instead, the status quo remained. It is unclear what kind of path the opposition will take next, as it doesn't seem to be united as the ruling coalition.
President Grimwald promises that Elthize will enter the EMUzone before 2024
by Janice Kyou - July 29, 2022
President Greenwich Grimwald and The Spanish Minister Of Social Affairs Barack Obama visiting the El Prado Museum in Madrid, November 2019. (image credit)
In his address to the nation last Tuesday, President Greenwich Grimwald announced that Elthize will switch to EMU no later than January 2024. The EMU, short for European Monetary Unit, is the common currency of six countries: Spain, Inquista, Vayinaod, Fremet, Montenbourg and Leagio. It was introduced in October 2020 after the Treaty of Finisterre, whose talks started three months earlier in July that year. In addition to all countries listed, the exiled free government of Icholasen also signed the treaty. However, the illegitimate communist government currently occupying the country doesn't recognize the said treaty, so no one in Icholasen uses the currency. Regardless, the treaty focuses on economic cooperation between the European nations and was a landmark moment in economical integration within the European Union.
One of the most asked questions leading up to the general election this year was whether or not Elthize would ditch the florin and use EMU as its currency going forward. In January 2021, Grimwald stated that Elthize would use a "special circulation status" with the EMU, accepting the currency alongside the florin. He explained that this move would improve relations with neighbouring Leagio, which is a member of the EMUzone. Grimwald also claimed that the move would improve tourism, a large sector of the Elthic economy. The move was approved by both houses of the parliament, the National Assembly and the Senate, and was approved by Grimwald himself in February of that year. While some MPs in the opposition questioned the action's legality, not much came of it, and while it is not technically the official currency of Elthize, many stores in Elthize accept the EMU today.
And it doesn't seem like President Grimwald is going to back down from embracing the EMU any time soon. In fact, in his latest address to the nation on July 26th, he made a promise: "I will make sure that Elthize meets the requirements and becomes a signatory of the Treaty of Finisterre before January 2024."
He also said: "We have been rejected from joining the treaty because we didn't meet the standards. I disagree. I believe that Elthize is a perfect country. However, my job is not to bicker and whine about it, it is to ensure that Elthic people have more convenient lives. It is also to keep my promises, as I have done in the past eight years as your president. So once again, I promise to put Elthize to EMUzone no later than January 31st, 2024. Mark that date."
This statement comes after the summit with Spain last month, in which Grimwald participated, alongside Minister of Foreign Affairs Oscar Crofton. Crofton stated that the EMU was one of the main discussion topics with the Spanish delegation. He also assured that Spanish President Jesús Aguilar and the rest of the Spanish government looked forward to Elthize joining the EMUzone in the future: "So far, we do not see any blocks in the way of Elthize completely switching to the EMU."
The country being a signatory to the Treaty of Finisterre is supported heavily across the political spectrum. The polls right before the 2022 election showed that only one-third of the country saw Elthize switching from the florin to EMU as a positive change. Today, that number has grown substantially, with 52% of the polled Elthics saying that Elthize switching to the EMU would be beneficial to their lives. 39% of the polled said they didn't mind a currency change, and only 7% of the polled said that the change would be negative for them.
Oscar Crofton says expanding of parliament "inevitable"
Minister of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed his support of expanding both houses for the first time since 2000 August 9, 2022
On his way to a regular cabinet meeting this afternoon, Minister of Foreign Affairs Oscar Crofton spoke with journalists. During the conversation, one of the cameramen mentioned his support for expanding the parliament, and he took advantage of the opportunity to reiterate his support: "It's inevitable. I mean, increasing the size of the parliament is a natural progression of Elthic democracy. As the country grows, so does its legislature. This is a bipartisan idea, I've never seen any opposition to it."
The proposal, which is part of a series of political reforms that will be put to a referendum no later than 2025, would increase the number of seats in the National Assembly from 250 to 300. The number of senate seats, currently 100, would remain unchanged. The amount of the increase was debated in parliament for months until today when President Greenwich Grimwald approved the proposals. If the referendum is successful, this will be the first time that both houses will expand since Former President Gloria Dietrich approved an expansion in 2000, which doubled the size of both houses.
"These reforms' fate will be decided by the Elthic people. They will have a voice in changes like these, as they always have," Grimwald spoke about the upcoming referendum. As stated in the Elthize Constitution and affirmed by the Constitutional Court four times (in 1951, 1971, 1983, and 2006), any changes to the Elthic political system require a referendum.
Other political reforms that Elthics will vote for in this referendum include restoring the position of Prime Minister, which Former President Archie Franklin abolished in 2007, giving the legislature absolute supremacy over all government institutions (also known as parliamentary sovereignty), combining the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court, and limiting the terms of the judges who serve on these courts.
These reforms were first submitted to the National Assembly by New Democracy MA Ronald Lorenzen in November last year. He stated that he had been writing the motion since April 2019, and over time had tweaked the bill thanks to help from other New Democracy MAs.
"I believe that all of these changes are beneficial for the Elthic people," Lorenzen told NET. "We have many cracks and flaws in the system, and while this referendum will not fix all of them, it will be a remedy for a large portion of them. President Grimwald's approval of the motion is appreciated greatly and I am glad he sees my vision of improving Elthize."
Most of these reforms have been viewed positively by the Elthic public and are expected to pass with ease. According to the PIE, more than half of the eligible Elthic voters intend to vote yes on all of the reforms, and more than 70% intend to vote yes on a majority of the reforms. If approved, the reforms will go into effect after the next election, which will happen no later than April 2026.
Elthize's EV debut disappoints Elthic fans, gets eighth place
Wolf Alice's "The Last Man on Earth" gets fifty-nine points at the Trondheim contest August 17, 2022
Elthize took part in the EuroVoice Song Contest for the first time, an event in the European Union in which countries send a musical entry to represent themselves since it first commenced in 2010. The debut entry, The Last Man on Earth by Wolf Alice, described as a rock ballad about "the arrogance of humans", was announced on May 9th. While the entry had a positive reception in Elthize, it didn't get the result many expected. In the contest, the band performed 9th, preceding Istkalen and succeeding the United Duchies.
The country struggled to stay in the top ten throughout the voting process. Some attribute this to the fact that the song was too serious for the event.
"I mean, we were robbed, but also it's like... We showed up with a three-thousand florin suit on a party where everyone has their pyjamas on, know what I mean?" says Jake, a high schooler from Port Nelson who came to a bar to enjoy the show with his friends. "You kind of have to turn your brain off, like, you need to send songs that don't need brain function. Am I making sense? I'm kind of drunk, sorry," he continued.
"It was way too slow," claimed Enitan, another person at the bar. "I felt like sleeping, honestly. No offence to Wolf Alice but we need to send dance bops, not sad anthems."
Elthize did not get any points from three countries: Nofoaga, Brickston and Czech Slavia, though it did get twelve points from Fremet, the host country, at the last minute. Betty White, the Fremetian spokesperson and one of two hosts of the contest, along with Friedrich Liechtenstein, trended on Elthic Twitter and was showered with praises, with many wishing her a long and happy life.
The Elthic entry also got seven points from Ineland, Spain and the United Kingdom, six points from Reitzmag, five points from Istkalen and Inquista, three points from Yosai and one point from Icholasen.
With "Le reste" by Clara Luciani, Ineland won for the first time, earning 96 points, including twelve from Elthize. Second place went to Istkalen's "Lent" from Autoheart, which got six points from Elthize. Icholasen took third place with "Coffee" by Supersister. To their 76-point total, Elthize contributed seven points. One point behind, Yosai finished fourth and Nofoaga rounded out the top five. Fremet, the host country, ended ninth, tied with Brickston, while Reitzmag finished last, receiving points from only four countries.
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.
Candidate Name: Mae Lynwood Home Nation: The State of Elthize Incumbent: No
Biography
Mae Lynwood has been a prominent figure in the Elthic judiciary, as well as in Elthize in general, for over a decade. She has left a lasting impact on Elthic politics and the country as a whole, becoming one of the most recognizable faces in the Elthic judiciary. Before her role as a justice in the High Court of Elthize, Lynwood served in both the now-defunct Supreme Court of Elthize and the Constitutional Court of Elthize. Before that, however, she was known as a humble lawyer, fighting against corporate malpractice, where her 2007 case against Eee, a budget airline in Elthize, caught significant attention.
Wirt Harland announces Progressive Conservative Party
The party, defined as a centrist one, will run for parliamentary elections in July February 14, 2024
Returning from Europolis to St. Lucas yesterday, Wirt Harland acted quickly to reveal his plans for the upcoming months. Having previously announced his candidacy and resignation from the Congress for Social Democracy (CSD, formerly Labour) weeks ago, Harland revealed his new party, which would compete in the next parliamentary elections this July: the Progressive Conservative Party.
"Here, we are turning a new page in Elthic politics," Harland addressed the crowd in the first rally for the party, organized in St. Lucas. "Here, we are planting the seeds of a movement committed to protecting the welfare and prosperity of the people of our country."
In the same press conference where he stepped down as Internal Affairs Commissioner, Harland also revealed that he was leaving the Congress for Social Democracy party, which he'd been a part of since 2006, serving as one of its members for the National Assembly from 2008 to 2009, and as one of its senators from 2009 to 2018. He was the joint presidential candidate for the Labour Party and the Elthic Green Party in 2018, where he lost to the incumbent Greenwich Grimwald by a small margin.
"There's something beautiful about today being Valentine's Day, as we announce a party, a movement that loves you, the Elthic people!" Harland continued, his words followed by loud cheers.
Pictured: the logo of the Progressive Conservative Party, unveiled at the first rally in St. Lucas.
During his tenure in the Labour Party, Harland positioned himself as a moderate politician, putting a clear barrier between himself and the more left-leaning members of his party. The Progressive Conservative Party, where he was elected as the leader, is expected to follow this principle, scooping up centrist voters.
In the rally, Harland stressed the importance of security, adopting a tough-on-crime stance: "I have said this in 2018, and I will say it once more: Grimwald has failed to keep Elthics safe. Crime keeps on rising, we keep losing our people, our kids to preventable murders... In certain areas, our people can't keep property, and the government has remained silent. Luckily, we still have a chance to fix this, to make things right, and I have never stopped believing the Elthic people."
Despite his seemingly poor performance as Internal Affairs Commissioner, Harland remains popular in Elthize. A recent NET poll found that 52% of respondents agreed that a Harland presidency would be beneficial for the country.
Weyes Blood achieves top 3 EuroVoice finish for Elthize
It is the best result of the country since its debut in EuroVoice 42 February 12, 2024
The long-awaited results of the 45th edition of the EuroVoice Song Contest are finally here, following repeated delays which were almost enough to break even the least patient Duchian. Held in the city of Saint Dominico in Inquista for the second time in a row following the victories of Nancy Ajram and MorMor, the trophy went to Ineland for the second time. Chérine, with her song "Ça m'ennuie pas" (French for "I don't mind"), received 95 points from other countries, including 12 points from Portugal and 10 points from Elthize, California, Reitzmag and Yosai.
Meanwhile, Elthize managed to achieve its best result once again, with Weyes Blood finishing in third place with her song "Everyday". It received 84 points, including 12 points from the United Duchies and Yosai, as well as 10 points from Istkalen and 8 points from Mishar Republic and Icholasen.
Three points behind Chérine, Icholasen (competing under the Nicoleizian Joint Eurovoice Team) finished second, with Maria and Margot Helling performing "Servus, Gruezi, und Hallo!". They received the most 12 points out of any entry, getting three: from Inquista, Istkalen and Red Croatia. They also received 10 points from the Conch Kingdom, 8 points from Portugal, as well as 7 points from Elthize.
Narrowly missing a top 3 finish, TTRRUUCES of Istkalen with their song "Tainted Blue" received 12 points from Elthize, getting 80 points in total. They received another 12 points from the Mishar Republic as well. Spain awarded them 10 points, while Yosai and Ineland gave them 8 points.
The unexpected delays which occurred during this edition of the contest meant that various changes had to be made to the presentation of the results. Instead of the usual presentation of spokespersons from all participating countries announcing their points and adding to the final result, the results were announced directly by the hosts, starting from the last place. This meant that chosen spokespersons of the participant countries and regions could not show up to announce their points, including Ichiko Aoba, who was supposed to announce Elthize's votes. This broke the tradition of the previous contestant (or contestants) being the spokesperson for the next EuroVoice. When asked by NET, Ichiko Aoba announced that she would not attempt to be the spokesperson in the next edition of the EuroVoice Song Contest.
Drama ensued in the song selection in Elthize as well. On August 30, 2023, a day before the official date for the song reveal, it was leaked by journalist Alfred Ingram that the song supposed to be sent to Inquista was scrapped at the last minute, following "unexpected problematic behaviour" from one of the artists chosen to represent the country. While no identities were revealed, an anonymous source reported to NET that, at the time, the artist in question had recently been in controversy following their questionable comments regarding transgender people. The source also reported that this controversy occurred right after the song was chosen.
The next edition of EuroVoice is expected to be held sometime in the summer of this year in Ineland.
Wirt Harland resigns from Commission, launches presidential bid
Harland had the largest share of votes against Grimwald in the 2018 presidential election January 24, 2024
In a press conference in Europolis, Wirt Harland announced that he would resign from his position of Internal Affairs Commissioner, revealing that he will run as a presidential candidate in the upcoming election scheduled for this July. The announcement was made today during a press conference held in Europolis, where Harland expressed his desire to continue his political career domestically: "It is evident that I am a more efficient politician domestically than internationally," Harland claimed.
Harland continued, being apologetic about his inactivity in the Commission: "I also would like to apologize to all Europeans for being complicit in contributing to the current stagnancy of the European Union. There were several reasons as to why I couldn't do what I wanted to do in the office, but I will not use them as an excuse and instead will offer my apologies."
Wirt Harland entered national politics in 2008 when he was elected as a member of the National Assembly. Following the unexpected death of Senator Wallace Michalski in 2009, however, he received the Labour Party's appointment to fill the vacancy. Making a name for himself as a trustworthy moderate politician for a decade, in 2018, he was chosen to be the joint presidential candidate of the Labour Party of Elthize (now Congress for Social Democracy) and the Elthic Green Party. He narrowly lost this race to the incumbent Greenwich Grimwald. Harland ran for the European Commission in December 2022, his election as Internal Affairs Commissioner was followed by a successful re-election in June 2023.
Harland retained his Commission position longer than initially expected, considering the delayed elections for the European Commission. "The fact that it has been around four months since my second term has ended with no action against me is quite concerning. It shows that the European Union is in another interregnum period, similar to the one which happened in 2018. This, ultimately, will erode the trust people have in European institutions, not just for Elthics like myself, but for every citizen around the Union," he continued at the press conference.
Regarding his presidential run, Harland also announced that he would not be a part of the new Congress for Social Democracy, formerly Labour, claiming that he had left the party in December last year. Instead, he announced that he would establish a new party to run in parliamentary elections, stating that more details about this party would come sometime in February.
Breaking: Grimwald resigns, with snap elections in July
by Alfred Ingram - January 12, 2024
Grimwald will act as a caretaker president until the elections are held.Image credit
In a speech given to the country this morning, President Greenwich Grimwald announced that he would resign as President, and snap general elections would be held in July. In his speech, Grimwald stated that he intended to retire from politics entirely and focus on his family, as well as his other hobbies.
Reflecting on his decades-long dedication to public service, Grimwald stated, “Elthize, I have dedicated my years, my decades for you. I have always attempted to be my best self, both as a politician and as a person, to be the best role model I can be. Looking back, I can safely say that I have succeeded in that regard.”
Grimwald continued by acknowledging the inevitable passage of time, saying, “There is no other way of putting this: I am old. I believe that I am too old to hold this office. Things have changed significantly since I first took office at the National Assembly almost 40 years ago, when I entered the Senate 20 years ago, and when I became your president almost a decade ago. And here, I would like to retire. Give my place to someone else, hopefully, someone younger, a fresh face. A new representative, who can represent our young people better than I can.”
Born on June 10th, 1944 in the small coastal town of Wearing in Montgomery, to a middle-class family, Grimwald graduated from his local high school in 1962. The young Grimwald didn’t have politics in mind, instead working as a banker. He pursued further education in the 70s- moving to Forecoaster and receiving an undergraduate and a master’s degree in 1974 and 1977 respectively, both in economics at Carrewich University.
Grimwald developed an interest in a career in politics during the presidency of Benjamin "Benny" Kalzer. He joined the Liberal Democrats in 1980 and made an unsuccessful attempt to run for the National Assembly in 1982. However, in 1987, his party granted him a seat after that year's elections, which marked the beginning of his political career. He served in the National Assembly until 1996, going back to Carrewich to work as a professor.
In 2001, Grimwald announced that he would run for a seat in the Senate in the 2002 elections, which was successful. Following then-president Archie Franklin’s corruption scandals in 2012, Grimwald became the loudest voice against him in Liberal Democrats, becoming an alternative for Elthics who wanted an alternative to Franklin, which was less corrupt, but still a moderate. When his demands fell on deaf ears, he left the Liberal Democrats, creating his own party in 2013, called The Third Option, a liberal, anti-corruption party, standing against both the Liberal Democrats and the Labour Party. In 2014, he would win in a landslide, repeating this victory in 2018 and 2022.
Seeking to establish more connections and strengthen the ones the nation already had, Grimwald made significant reforms: He accelerated the European Union membership process around 2016, resulting in the country joining the European Union in 2022. He also oversaw the process of Elthize becoming a member of the Treaty of Finisterre, and the subsequent adoption of the European Monetary Unit (EMU).
Grimwald played an important role in political reforms as well, which included a major overhaul of the legislature. The existing bicameral system consisting of 300 members was replaced with a new unicameral parliament that has only 52 members. In addition to this, a referendum was held last year which resulted in the merging of the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court into one High Court. The administrative divisions, also known as provinces, were also redrawn and renamed.
After resigning from his position as President, Grimwald also announced his resignation as honorary president of his party, The Third Option. He was awarded this position after stepping down from the presidency of the party in 2017.
Grimwald's sudden retirement may be due to his declining health, as well. In 2023, the president made fewer public appearances, particularly around the end of the year. According to Freddie Bonnay of Elthic Affairs, anonymous sources close to Grimwald revealed that he spent half of the autumn in the hospital for various reasons, including intensive back surgery. However, Grimwald himself refrained from citing his health as a reason for his resignation in the speech.
Grimwald and his cabinet will be in a caretaker position until the elections are held on July 7th of this year. The upcoming election will put the presidency, all 52 seats of the new parliament, as well as various provincial governments on the ballot.