NBC News:

Janis Kennedy, Lead Anchor: Eilidh Whiteford is holding a press conference today to outline her policy agenda for her new Cabinet. It will be the first time that Whiteford has spoken out since some key members of her cabinet resigned. On the scene is Francis Butler, our head political correspondent.

Francis Butler: Here, Whiteford is due to stand in front of this orange set, with Party of June logos to detail what she and her core three cabinet colleagues intend to do now that they are almost starting a new government. Oh, and here Whiteford is coming to the stage, with her key ministers surrounding her - let's listen.

Eilidh Whiteford: Though my government may seem in a crisis, it is important to remember where we have come from. Under my administration we have made sensible budget cuts to reduce the national debt, and it has worked. We have reduced the budget by 1.4% since 2017 and are on track for relative equilibrium in 2022. Some of my colleagues want to go too fast, and push too brutally to reduce spending, but my new colleagues and I reject that stance. Austerity is not necessary for us, we just need to be more sensible. Now, I would like to outline our three main policy objectives for the rest of this parliament.

One, keep healthcare at the funding level it is now. Though our opponents say that it is a waste of money, dental care for the under 25s is an investment in our young people's teeth, and I stick to that. In addition, free prescriptions are a way to make our society more equal, and this government will not apologise for pursuing equal rights.

Two, continue pushing for a green future. This government has agreed on a new nuclear power station, this will allow us to close some gas fired and coal power plants. But, we do not want to keep going, when we could be building more wind-farms off the coast. Again, we want a moderated and careful move over to a carbon neutral future.

Three, make some sensible and managed cuts. We don't want to take a knife to the budget, but of course there are some unnecessary things that can go, for example certain industry subsidies that no longer make sense in our vision for a carbon neutral future, such a coal and oil subsidies. These will be coming to a gradual close and will be taken up by private companies.

Thank you for listening, me and my colleagues will be taking questions now.

Francis Butler: Ms. Whiteford, are you confident about the by-election in Saint Romain?

Eilidh Whiteford: I am very confident. We won last time with 9% more of the vote than the NAP, and I'm sure we will replicate that success and bring back more Senators and return the Nonet seat to the Party of June.

Other journalist: What do you think this move to the left will do to you electorally? In some places in Regina - where you are quite close to picking up a Nonet seat - are quite right wing and might react against this turn.

Eilidh Whiteford: I would say that we're successful electorally because we have a wide range of support across the country. The Nonet, though important, isn't necessarily the be all and end all for us. We want to get a wide range of support from across the country. If that's it, I'd like to thank you all for coming and just emphasise again that we're excited for the coming months, we're going to put up a fight in Saint Romain.

Government & Politics:

Political Parties:

The Party of June is the main Political Party in Icholasen currently, and controls the Senate, the Nonet and 5 different Dominion Assemblies. Here are all the Nicoleizian Political Parties and what they stand for.

National Assemblies' Makeup (Breakdown of the Nicoleizian vote and Seats)

Icholasen is made up of 9 Dominions, that some deem are extremely artificial creations. Only a few Dominions existed before the reforms in the 1990s to federalise the country. Each Dominions sends a number of Senators to the Senate proportional to their population and to the entire national population. However Dominions all send 1 Nonet Member no matter what their population. Elections to the Senate and the Nonet are all connected to the individual governments of the 9 Dominions. Instead of having separate local and national elections, the 9 Assemblies in each Nicoleizian Dominion has exactly the same seat makeup as the seats they send to the Senate, with Assembly Members (ideally) working with their counterparts in the Senate to best represent their local constituents. In addition, the party who holds the Nonet seat for the Dominion, also holds the Governorship, whether the Governor's party can hold the Assembly or not. The Governor of the Dominion holds powers in tiebreak situations but is not a part of the legislature. The Governor acts as the head of the Dominion's executive and proposes legislation.

Each Dominion of Icholasen has its own Assembly. Here, is the makeup of Each Dominion Assembly.

Dominion: Portland - Capital: Portland City.
Language: English
Percentage of the Total Population: 11%
Nationhood: Portlander

Dominion: Saint Pierre: Saint Regina City.
Language: English
Percentage of the Total Population: 9.4%
Nationhood: Portlander

Dominion: Saint Regina - Capital: Saint Regina City.
Language: English
Percentage of the Total Population: 13%
Nationhood: Reginais.e

Dominion: North Regina - Capital: Salem.
Language: English
Percentage of the Total Population: 12.4%
Nationhood: Reginais.e

Dominion: South Regina - Capital: Newhaven.
Language: English
Percentage of the Total Population: 13%
Nationhood: Reginais.e

Dominion: Saint Novella - Capital: Saint Novella City.
Language: English
Percentage of the Total Population: 12.2%
Nationhood: Reginais.e

Dominion: Romain - Capital: Saint Michel.
Language: French
Percentage of the Total Population: 9.6%
Nationhood: Romain.e

Dominion: Saint Romain - Capital: Saint Romain City.
Language: French
Percentage of the Total Population: 9%
Nationhood: Romain.e

Dominion: New-Nicoleizia (Nuwnociluosoaulaunk) - Capital: Lunonjrauk.
Language: Nicoleizian
Percentage of the Total Population: 9.6%
Nationhood: New-Nicoleizian

Stephanie DeVey: Welcome to this special reaction programme about Eilidh Whiteford's cabinet reshuffle. Eilidh Whiteford has been in power for 2 years and her cabinet has remained mostly the same. Other than some minor ministerial changes, Whiteford has kept the big three positions the same. These are: the Treasury Minister, the Interior Minister and the Foreign Affairs Minister.

However, Whiteford has decided to switch these out due to a cabinet disagreement about several Whitefordist policies. These include, but are not limited to: reducing the national budget, which Whiteford believes should be reduced slowly. On this the Chancellor Alexander Phillips profoundly disagrees with her, and feels the need to ramp up spending cuts.

In addition, Whiteford and the Interior Minister Georges Martin disagrees with Whiteford on the ratio of new nuclear power station construction versus renewables. Whiteford would rather wait out on new nuclear power stations, preferring to see if there are renewable alternatives to come in the near future. She also disagrees with the Interior Minister on spending cuts. Martin sees health spending as out of control, with free prescriptions for all and free dental until the age of 25 and also free dental for pensioners.

The Foreign Affairs Minister, Kate Germain believes defense spending should be raised. She is arguably the most right wing member of the former Whiteford inner circle. Though Whiteford raised defense spending in the first years she was in office, she has since declined to raise it further. Germain, angered by this is rumoured to be threatening to hold a by-election in her Nonet seat in the Dominion of Saint Romain.

Whiteford has managed to lead the country by appealing to a broad range of views. Her party consists of people from many parties, but the party is stuck in the middle of the former two parties of the two party system, the Liberal Democratic Socialists (LDS) and the National Awakening Party (NAP). This graphic indicates where the new Whiteford core stands. It is unclear as to which of the old Cabinet left, and which were fired.

Whiteford has chosen three new people to succeed them, and these are represented in the graphic below.

Here to offer comment are Paloma Faith, Minister for Eurovoice (Party of June), Karen Walters (National Awakening) and James Renault (Liberal Democratic Socialists). Welcome. Firstly, to Ms. Faith, how can you witness this insanity and still claim the Party of June is still one party?

Paloma Faith: Well Stephanie, it certainly isn't ideal circumstances, but as Nonet representative for Saint Regina, I recognise that we're a party with a broad set of ideals that don't always line up, and that's okay. What is not being reported is that these members of the cabinet have been very contrary and trying to block Whitefordist policy.

Stephanie DeVey: Would you say your party is split between Whitefordists and non-Whitefordists?

Paloma Faith: Absolutely not, Whiteford is just such a huge character within the party, and may I say Europe that she has the political gravity to create a movement around herself.

Stephanie DeVey: Right, moving onto Karen Walters, how do you think that this will affect the NAP's chances of forming a government at the next General Election?

Karen Walters: Well the next General Election won't be for another three years and I don't really want to speculate on that. However, I think the NAP has a unique selling point which is: the right. Though Icholasen is quite a centre-left country generally, there's no reason why the right can't make a comeback.

Stephanie DeVey: And finally James Renault, what are your thoughts on this?

James Renault: Well Stephanie I've been advocating a merger with the Party of June in my own party in order to strengthen our hand in future elections and with the way the Party of June is going I'm very keen to continue negotiations. If there is a by-election like Madam Germain is threatening, then I would implore my party to withdraw from them in order to ensure that the Party of June takes the Nonet seat that Madam Germain vacates.

Stephanie DeVey: We're just hearing news that Kate Germain is holding a press conference in Saint Romain city, and we'll be zooming over when she takes to the podium. Until then, Ms. Faith what are your thoughts on the Nonet arithmetic now that Madam Germain has virtually left the party?

Paloma Faith: Well, the Nonet is a purely advisory body that can only amend legislation in the way that we as NMs feel is best for the regions that we represent. The Nonet is inessential for the running of Icholasen, and to the Senators that are thinking of leaving, we have a majority of 10, which though not that much is enough, I believe to stave off this pathetic rebellion.

Stephanie DeVey: Let's take a look at how the Senate and the Nonet looked after the 2017 election then.

Paloma Faith: I think the showing in 2017 was amazing for us, and I think that the Senators and Nonet Members who are leaving are leaving a ship that is afloat and steaming ahead, and it's a shame that they have chosen to board a smaller and less significant boat.

Stephanie DeVey: We now turn to Kate Germain at her press conference.

Kate Germain: Ladies and Gentlemen. I am here on a rather sad day in my political career. I have left the Party of June and resigned from the Cabinet. This is unfortunate, but I feel it had to be done. I have since joined the National Awakening Party, and as this is such a large reversal, I feel it is only right that the people of the Dominion of Saint Romain have an opportunity to vote again. I know that election law stipulates that the Senators elected from this region also have to be recalled to be voted on again, and this is not a decision I have taken lightly as the representative of this Dominion in Saint Regina. However, it must be done for the sake of our country. A NAP government is the only way we can stop our sleepwalking government from going any further. Thank you for listening, but I'd like to have some time to discuss my decision with my staff and my family so I will not be taking any questions at this time, however, there is a campaign to launch and I will take as many questions as possible at the official launch of the Saint Romain by-election.

Stephanie DeVey: Well that will certainly be the political event everyone is watching out for, the by-election will take place on the 20th of June, and campaigning will continue up until that date. Here is the results of the 2017 election in Saint Romain, where we can see the seats and the makeup of the popular vote.

Stephanie DeVey: Though it does seem like an uphill battle for the NAP, it certainly will be much closer than it has been before as opinion polling in Saint Romain indicates that the Dominion has become more conservative in the two years since the 2017 election. But, that concludes our special show for the cabinet reshuffle and by-election announcement. Tune into NBC for the best Nicoleizian political coverage.

Anastasia was clearly irritated by the papa papa paparazzi, and she could tell Irene was too. She smiled graciously and posed for the cameras, yet remained quiet. Anastasia had a habit of just ignoring questions. She thought, "if it's not in the constitution that I have to do it, I won't". However the press kept on asking questions.

"ANASTASIA, ARE YOU PREGNANT OR HAVE YOU HAD A FEW TOO MANY COMMUNION WAFERS?"
"ANASTASIA, WHO'S YOUR FAVOURITE EUROVOICE WINNER?"
"ANASTASIA WILL YOU REMARRY?"

All these questions weren't too much for Anastasia to handle, but she was very close to losing it, as she so often was. She turned to Irene (and to Tommy but... to a lesser extent) and asked "Would you like to go somewhere more private? I want to talk to you."

Queen Anastasia looked around the room at all the dignitaries from all around Europe.
"Honestly, Tommy, I didn't imagine this many people would come. I mean with such a provocative and ill-thought out theme, I thought most of Europe would boycott."
"Yeah. I'm sure we would've if not for the reformation." Tommy replied.
"Oh that's such a good song."
"REFormation, not Formation, Anastasia."
"Yes I knew that." A long pause erupted between the two. "So, what are we going to do now?"
"We could start to mingle. I suppose that's the proper thing to do." Tommy said, looking around the ballroom.
"Oh look, there's the exhibition curator, Françoise Hardy, let's talk to her."
The two royal siblings walked up to the aged curator as she sipped her red wine while talking to some interns. Françoise was from the Nicoleizian region of Romain which spoke French and was Catholic. She was highbrow, intellectual and unashamed to look down her nose at people if they didn't conform to her standards of intellectualism.
"Hello." Said Anastasia sheepishly. "It's a pleasure to meet you Madam Hardy."
"Your Highness." Françoise said, curtseying. "How did you find the exhibit?"
"Oh it was wonderful." Tommy butted in, in a highly sarcastic manner. Françoise raised her eyebrow.
"It really was." Said Anastasia, clearly annoyed at Tommy. "Why did you decide on this theme by the way?"
"Well, I had been choosing all conventional themes and rather boring ones. But what gets you attention is scandal. And here I am, an elderly curator embroiled in a scandal. More Archbishops have called me out this week than have Prince Tommy. I think that's an achievement in itself... No offense, Tommy."
"Oh none taken, I've had a dry patch."
"Now, if you'll excuse me." Françoise said, "I must get back to curating."

The royal siblings then looked over to Queen Irene. Anastasia thought how much good press she could get by being friends with such a popular and famous Queen.
"Tommy."
"Yes?"
"Do you see Queen Irene over there?"
"How could I miss her, she's dressed like a drag queen at a Mardi Gras parade."
"Well, I say we go and schmooze with her! I want some good magazine covers for once. No more single Anastasia is a single party-pooper."
"Okay, as long as I can have two free insults."
"One."
"Fine."
The two walked over to Irene, Anastasia with her head up shoulders back approached her, Tommy was rather the opposite, with folded arms he arrived on the scene slightly behind Anastasia and looking anywhere but straight ahead. In truth, Tommy was intimidated by Queen Irene.
"Good evening." Anastasia said.

Prince Tommy
Queen Anastasia

Queen Anastasia and Prince Tommy were getting ready for the Met Gala in Anastasia’s huge room in the Royal Palace in Saint Regina. Both of them had no men in their lives, and they had become like aging Babushkas, gossiping, single and catty. The legacy of Anastasia’s 2 dead husbands didn’t exactly entice men, and with Tommy’s flaws being broadcast on dedicated 24 hour news networks, both of them were lacking in interested men.
“What have we become Tommy?”
“What do you mean Anya?”
“I don’t have a date for this Gala, and neither do you.”
“I’m actually fine with that, Anya.” Tommy lied.
“I’m not. But the Church wouldn't let me get a third husband anyway.”
“But sweetie, you’re the head of the Church of Icholasen. You can choose.”
“Oh yeah you’re right, wow, all this talk of Catholicism had me confused."
Anastasia looked in the mirror, attempted to fix her makeup, fiddled with her hair and sighed. “I’m not sure I like the theme though, Tommy. Why did they have to choose Catholicism, it’s too… extra. I like simplicity. It’s why I’m a protestant... Thanks for reminding me by the way.”
Tommy laughed. "No matter what religion they chose as the theme, you’d still look busted.”
Anastasia smirked. “Ha, very funny. How does your costume even fit the theme anyway?”
“Suits are very Catholic. At least all the Catholics I met in my gap year in Red Croatia wore them. And hey, it's harder making male clothes present anything at all. I would’ve gone in full drag but I didn't want to tuck.”
The two returned to the silence as before, looking at themselves in the huge desk-mounted mirrors in the suite. It would be an understatement to say these royal siblings were vain. Tommy perched himself on a pink Ottoman and looked at himself in the mirror, and looked at his newly forming laughter lines.
“Maybe I am bothered that I don’t have a date. Maybe I’m coming to the end of my wild days.” Tommy said, snorting a line of coke wistfully.
“Tommy don’t say such a thing!" Anastasia exclaimed, genuinely offended.
"Maybe I want babies, a small family with a loving man."
"Do you know what Mikaela Klingenburg is doing right now?"
"No, I don't have dumbass alerts on my phone."
"Mikaela Klingenburg is at home babysitting. Babysitting! Do you really want to be doing the same thing with your surrogate babies while the rest of Europe parties?”
Tommy sighed and continued styling his hair.
The two then readied themselves and made their way downstairs out of the palace. They got in the car, and made their way to the Museum. The scenery passed them. The two of them wondered who would be there, and what kind of outfits they'd be wearing. They arrived in front of reporters as a pair.
“TOMMY, WHO ARE YOU DATING?” Asked one reporter.
“ANASTASIA, WHY DO YOUR HUSBANDS KEEP DYING?”
“TOMMY, HOW’S YOUR CAT?"
“ANASTASIA, WHO ARE YOU WEARING?” Asked another.
“I’m wearing Michel Arnaque.” Responded Anastasia, finally giving the paparazzi the attention they craved.
The two then perused the exhibition. Tommy was bored by it, if he wanted to see outdated clothes, he’d just check out Mikaela Klingenburg’s Instagram. But Anastasia actually loved looking at the exhibit and all the clothes on display, it reminded her of a simpler time when it wasn't suspicious that two of your husbands had died within only a couple of years of each other. The two then continued into the dining and ballroom. Anastasia and Tommy were both secretly looking for a man (after midnight), but they hoped no one would call their bluff. They looked out into the crowd of dignitaries, looked each other in the eyes, then both said simultaneously: "I need a drink."

Curator of the Costume Institute at the Saint Regina Metropolitan Museum of Art, Françoise Hardy stood up at the podium in front of all the guests she had welcomed into the Museum, in a grand briefing room with marble columns, gold leaf, and renaissance paintings decorating the room. Françoise stood up and read her notes, adjusted her glasses and started speaking.

"Welcome to the first Annual Met Gala. This event is a fundraising ball and dinner for the costume exhibit at the Saint Regina Metropolitan Museum of Art. In this exhibit is housed some of the greatest works of fashion in the entire European Union, here we host many travelling items from other countries on our museum exchange programme, and we also host many permanent fixtures from Icholasen also. By attending this gala, we hope to raise money for the museum and for the fashion exhibit, which continues to strive for excellence on the European stage.

The theme for this year's gala is: Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination. This theme hopes to celebrate Europe's unique religious heritage, focusing on the Catholic religion. Icholasen's significant Catholic minority will be presenting itself magnificently here tonight, in beautiful garments specially made for this evening.

The evening will start with the catwalk into the exhibit. Once the celebrities and famous individuals have made their way past the cameras and the journalists, they will then have the opportunity to view the exhibit.

The exhibit consists of three rooms: firstly, the Historical Religious Costume exhibit. In this, exhibit there are historical garments of Bishops, Nuns and other clergy costumery. The second exhibit is our Historical Artefacts exhibit, with pieces relating to the Catholic Church. We have some items on loan from the Museum of Saint Romain, with some relics relating to the Saints, with the intricate displays that these relics were put in. And finally, the last exhibit is that of religious art. Beautiful depictions of Jesus, Mary, and the Last Supper show how dedicated people in the renaissance and beyond were to their religion, with massive paintings of the people they veneered.

After having seen the exhibit, guests may make their way into the dining area, they will be then guided to their seats. Thank you for your attention and I hope you enjoy this evening of art and fashion."

Françoise then left the stage, and the doors were open for the press walk.

(OOC: there is no need to apply, just start posting and RPing. The theme is based off of: this Met Gala theme.)

Kacey Musgraves came up onto the stage, draped in the flag of Icholasen, on the verge of tears.

“Wow.” Kacey declared out to the audience. She was so proud of the tiny glimmers of orange Nicoleizian flags glimmering in the audience. “I’m going to keep this short, but thank you so much Europe! I’d like to thank my backing vocalists, the writers and composers who helped me craft this wonderful song and Angleter for hosting this fantastic show. It really has been a wonderful night, and it truly is a credit to how great a nation Angleter is, with amazing presenting talent, vocal talent, and talent for crafting an amazing show. I’d like to dedicate my win to all the horses out there, yeehaw! I really did not expect this overwhelming endorsement for my song, and it is amazing to even have been selected to represent my country. I cannot wait for the 35th Eurovoice in Saint Regina, or wherever! Remember, there’s always been a rainbow hanging over your head. Yeehaw!”