For a time, it was the official stance of the Inquistan Orthodox Church to vehemently deny even the faintest possible existence of the UNSR. While Archbishop Mikaela Kligenberg has no ideological qualms allying herself with communists or socialists, as seen with her personal and diplomatic closeness to the Czechoslavonic President, her undying loyalty to one of her best friends, Queen Anastasia, led her to accept Firoux's radical stance of only recognizing the Nicoleizian government in exile. Despite this, the Archbishop had also pushed for a reconciliation of the various Nicoleizian governments, even hoping to bring some sort of unity agreement between socialist and democratic forces with the help of President Reiserová.

However, things have drastically changed over the last while. The officially non-existent UNSR split, with the north remaining as an increasingly more authoritarian UNSR, while the south emerged as a newfound democratic republic. While the Nicoleizian government in exile never returned to power, the south became the official beacon of Nicoleizian democracy. While the country split, both sides have officially recognized each other, effectively bringing legitimacy to both the UNSR and the newfound republic in the south.

Inquista now recognizes both Icholasens, and the Archbishop even more enthusiastically supports a reunification of the two countries under one banner. In her first official visit to the UNSR, the Archbishop is looking to normalize relations between Inquista and the UNSR, and to build goodwill to support reunification efforts.

The Archbishop's plane was now enroute to the UNSR, where she was eager to attend the Christmas soirée. As Christmas was by far the most dominant social, cultural and religious celebration in Inquista, the Archbishop didn't even think twice of why a communist state would be celebrating the festive occasion.

"Everyone loves Christmas, right? I mean, it's lovely time of year with the best atmosphere. The movies are great... especially those Hallmark ones! They're are all so unique, with those unpredictable endings that always get me, like who would of thought the city girl would go back to her small town and get back with her high school fling!? So cute!" Mikaela sighed sweetly as she turned to Captain Jimin, who was sitting beside her in the co-pilot seat of the cockpit.

The Archbishop had gotten bored of always sitting as a passenger in her private jet, and had started learning how to fly herself under the supervision of her beloved private pilot. 627 hours logged into Flight Simulator on Steam had really begun to pay dividends for the Archbishop, whose Twitch livestreams of her Flight Simulator let's plays even led to Beyonce completely copying her entire gaming fit, including the pink headset THAT SHE WORE FIRST (as stated by Mikaela's cease and desist letter to Jay-Z).

"You know that Bina has been in a few films like that? I've watched all of her movies, they're SO good. Ugh, it's no wonder her people love her, she is T-A-L-E-N-T-E-D", the Archbishop emphasized enthusiastically. "And the music! So good! My entire Spotify Wrapped is all Christmas music, and that's because I can't help but to begin listening to it starting in July. I feel so embarrassed because I never share my Wrapped with anybody, they don't get it."

The Archbishop turned to Captain Jimin and let go of the plane's control to continue her point, but the captain quickly freaked out and signaled to her to pay attention to her mission at hand.

Mikaela tried her best to make the descent to the airport, and after a rocky and shaky landing, managed to complete her first complete voyage as the primary pilot of her private jet.

"Nailed it, right?" Mikaela asked calmly while Captain Jimin flinched at her suggestion. "What? I asked calmly?" Mikaela asked calmly.

The Archbishop then pulled out hand mirror from a nearby cubby and examined herself as she repositioned her pastel pink santa hat. "I hope I came dressed properly for the occasion. It's Christmas themed, I think, or something. I don't know. The instructions weren't clear at all. I came dressed in costume just in case."

The Archbishop then got up and walked to a mirror that had been installed the plane's small lounge and began to admire herself.

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"So cute!"

The Archbishop then departed from the plane and made her way to her her specially requested pink limousine. As she approached the pink limousine, a very large crowd of Nicoleizians had gathered to catch a glimpse of the Archbishop as she made her first visit to the UNSR. "Ich bin ein Icholasener!" Mikaela announced, with her hand raised, to the crowd before stepping into her limousine which took her to the soiree.

Upon arriving at the soiree, the Archbishop performed her usual ritual of beelining straight to getting some drinks. "I'll have a White Nicoleizian, please! As they say, once you go White, well... I don't know what they say actually. Two shots, though, please?"

Results - Indirect Elections to the National Assembly

Indirectly elected seats before election
63 - Agrarian Union
45 - National Republican Party
42 - Statebuilding Party
40 - Union
23 - Social Democratic Party
15 - Radical Democratic Party
10 - Farmer-Green Alliance
7 - Democratic Movement

Indirectly elected seats after election

49 - Agrarian Union
39 - Statebuilding Party
36 - Democratic Movement
31 - Communist Party
29 - Republican Labor Party
25 - Farmer-Green Alliance
17 - Social Democratic Party
12 - National Republican Party
7 - Radical Democratic Party

Composition of the new National Assembly

82 - National Republican Party
69 - Agrarian Union
64 - Social Democratic Party
63 - Statebuilding Party
59 - Democratic Movement
41 - Republican Labor Party
41 - Communist Party
35 - Farmer-Green Alliance
21 - Union Party
20 - Radical Democratic Party

Government: 300
Opposition: 195

"That sounds like a wonderful plan, and a way to really show our cooperation as countries. I will ask our Brætha to mark 15 January as an official state holiday, and I'm sure they'll commission some extra festivals and celebrations.

"The Sertian astronauts we have chosen for this campaign are people who have shown an outstanding dedication to fostering international relationships, such as the one our two nations have."

Breakdown House of Duchies:
%:

Duchy/Constituency The left IUAC PSD Liberal Party: Moderate Party: Union of Democrats: Unus AFD Total Cair Para 3.84% 0.00% 19.75% 11.02% 31.91% 0.38% 15.31% 17.79% 100.00% Supseaxe 4.56% 0.00% 24.15% 18.78% 34.63% 0.76% 12.92% 4.20% 100.00% Westseaxna 0.49% 0.00% 12.25% 6.01% 31.66% 4.73% 29.97% 14.89% 100.00% Baltica 0.57% 0.03% 27.55% 17.90% 39.66% 0.78% 5.12% 8.40% 100.00% Albion 1.21% 0.00% 6.88% 9.07% 23.84% 2.09% 33.88% 23.02% 100.00% Doornevale 0.83% 0.00% 6.82% 3.33% 19.41% 3.16% 47.83% 18.62% 100.00% Aranvale 1.13% 0.00% 13.54% 7.44% 15.83% 3.84% 33.60% 24.63% 100.00% Overseas 4.06% 0.00% 28.18% 9.00% 41.58% 12.90% 3.58% 0.70% 100.00% Total: 2.40% 0.01% 21.11% 13.64% 34.26% 2.84% 16.63% 9.12% 100.00%

Votes:

Duchy/Constituency The left IUAC PSD Liberal Party: Moderate Party: Union of Democrats: Unus AFD Total Cair Para 69726 0 358489 199912 579062 6910 277774 322838 1814712 Supseaxe 1258335 0 6670657 5187448 9566873 210212 3569306 1161557 27624387 Westseaxna 84346 0 2103887 1031679 5437117 812791 5147169 2557946 17174936 Baltica 96597 5047 4634217 3011720 6671254 131221 860625 1412525 16823207 Albion 25202 0 143110 188619 495580 43556 704382 478606 2079054 Doornevale 21159 0 174002 85041 495547 80680 1221230 475361 2553020 Aranvale 23730 0 283598 155857 331625 80500 703882 515988 2095180 Overseas 254257 0 1765930 563791 2605425 808155 224429 44072 6266059 Total 1833353 5047 16133889 10424066 26182484 2174026 12708797 6968893 76430555

Seats:

Duchy/Constituency The left IUAC PSD Liberal Party: Moderate Party: Union of Democrats: Unus AFD Total Cair Para 1 0 6 3 10 0 5 5 30 Supseaxe 1 0 7 6 11 0 4 1 30 Westseaxna 0 0 4 2 10 1 9 4 30 Baltica 0 0 9 5 13 0 1 2 30 Albion 0 0 2 3 7 0 11 7 30 Doornevale 0 0 2 1 6 1 15 5 30 Aranvale 0 0 4 2 5 1 10 8 30 Overseas 1 0 8 2 14 4 1 0 30 Total 3 0 42 24 76 7 56 32 240

Round Two General Election Results, as reported at 22:45 on 17 August

Union des Saints: 41.42%
Ligue Socialiste du Travail: 33.32%
Front Republicain National: 25.26%

"We much appreciate that Spain is so willing to be a strong partner in these increasingly trying times. The shipping arrangement you've mentioned would be perfect for us, as well."

"With regards to Telum: Istkalenic foreign policy remains non-aligned. Our focus, for the time being, is on obtaining security guarantees from our independent partners and neighbors: Czech Slavia, and perhaps even Vayinaod. While we are interested in reinforced cooperation, economic and military, with the Telum bloc, we do not think that membership would be ideal or realistic for us."

"The agreement on trade remains in place - I would actually like the broach the question of whether an expansion, ideally to full, free trade for all but the agricultural sector, is possible."

"As for rare-earth metals, while we are willing to provide an additional supply to Spain, we will not do so without discussing the issue with the other signatories of the Treaty of Yokohama.:"

Mouri-Kudo smiled in response as she shook hands with President Feijóo.

"It is an honor to finally have the chance to meet you as well, President Feijóo and I have been looking forward to this summit as well. Please do forgive me for having this summit here in Elmena Estate in Arlick, normally it would be held in my nation's capital of Tullion. But I felt that the need for a change of scenery in this time of the year. Is there anything that I can get you? Like some tea for example?"

Royal Plane
Somewhere over the Caspian Sea

After years of national trips, King Felipe VI and Queen Leticia were off for an international State Visit. This time, the country awarded with the presence of the best dressed royals of Europe -according to some tailoring experts- was the Kingdom of Reitzmag, a peculiar choice taking into account the relationship with the Caspian country and Spain were not the best in the past, and have remained to be unstable for the coming years. Nevertheless, nothing that the King does is casual, mostly because it is the Government's job to plan these State Visits, as the King does not hold any political power in Spain.

The State Visit arose from an attempt from the growing interest within the new Spanish Government to fix the tense relationship with the Kingdom of Reitzmag. Yet, the Government would not be that fast to affirm that a new era had begun, and wanted some assurance of the alleged change Reitzmag had gone through. That is why the King and the Queen, alongside the Foreign Affairs Minister, had embarked themselves on a trip with a single purpose: rebuilding the relationship. And a single mission: checking if everything was alright for the beginning of a new era. Our main characters woke up to the call of the Head of the Royal Household, who warned them of the entry into Reitzmic Airspace. Soon, they found themselves landing at RAF Hampton.

RAF Hampton
18th July 2024

Once the plane landed and headed to the stand, the crew opened the door. King Felipe and Queen Leticia then exited the plane, waved at the press and went downstairs, with the guards awaiting at the tarmac. On the other hand, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, Esteban González Pons; would wait a little bit longer to go downstairs, as the protocol said so.

10 Downing Street, Westminster, London

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Keir had recently came back from a short vacation to Palm Springs, California. The Leagioan visit was the first order of business on the not busy British political diary. He read up on the prepared dossier on Leagio sipping earl grey tea.

"Sir, the delegation just landed at Heathrow," his political advisor said. Keir looked up from his reading.

"Cheers, Ben," Keir replied. "Are they M4/A4?"

"Yes, they are."

"I have forty minutes then."

The three were surprised to be arrested given their lack of links to core functions of the company so agreed to the questioning as they would have nothing to give. Roscoes would surely do someting once they heard about the arrest. James and Amaziah would continue to attend the festival with the Llunas-Roberts their good friends.

My Plan for Europe
1:Harmonise business and trade regulations by putting forward a European Copyright Act for a unified European Copyright system , a unified minimum quality standards with its own testing mark to show products comply with minimum standards and other trade harmonisation policies such as possible development of a European free trade area for nations who want to join.
2. Reform the bureaucracy of the EU to bring it closer to the nations and the people in all aspects. Have all agencies budgets allocated by population and economic need to panels in member states that make the decisions on how to give grants based on local knowledge within a framework of rules set out by a comissioner. I will have a central pot for bigger projects totalling over 2 billion Euros a year (or possibly lower) that will voted for in the current way though would seek to have national panels have input into this and being on hand to provide advice.
3. Use some of the funds of the EDA to develop a proposal for a European Electric Super Connector grid made up of several regional supergrids. I will develop this concept further based on detailed input by nation states and experts. This super gride will strengthen the grid for renewables in Europe providing greater stability in the grids combined with a scheme to help roll out home batteries , battery storage facilities and vehicle to grid storage continent wide. This will reduce the cost of electricity continent wide and allow a stable zero carbon energy grid. I will look at options to fully develop the grid by 2035, 2040 or 2050 with detailed proposals outlining costs and benefits of each proposal .
nseu supergrid xs.png
4. I will hold a meeting with all European nations and call a convention on constitutional reform of the EU to get input from the nations and reform the EU to make sure it actually works reforming the current broken system that has led to paralysis and a feeling of anger and feeling ignored from the people of Europe towards the EU. I will work with nations to fix this system in a way that most European nations can agree on. My premiership will be a premiership of cooperation and progress.

I recognise my premiership will essentially be a crowning rather than a truly democratic will of the people and nations of Europe. This must guide how I interact with the nations and people of the EU, I will not win by fair democratic means but a crowning of being the only choice on the ballot. Therefore it is only fair I consult the nations on the direction they want me to take moving forward.

«No need to change anything at all, we might be a different Government, but all in all, we are all members of the same political party», clarified the Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation Minister. «Well, I think that is everything we had in the agenda today!», Esteban added, now that he knew what California wanted to discuss. «It has been a pleasure, Penny -Esteban decided to call the Minister by her first name, as they had got to know themselves way better throughout the summit- to have a nice chat with you. Anything California needs, just give me or any Government member a call. We are here to help our neighbour, and our relationship with California is considered prioritary», he said.

Esteban then shook hands with the Minister, and after both said goodbye at the entrance of the building, the Californian Minister left. González Pons then shew up at the press conference programmed after the meeting, and gave the details and the outlines of the summit. Another summit completed, and Esteban was finally on holidays.

a production of Lohengrin, starring the Shoe - Act I in Seville on 8 March, Act II in Niko on 9 March, Act III in St. Lucas on 10 March

"We certainly are so I know you have to run. We'll meet again in Istkalen," Prime Minister Albanese smiled. "Oh and if you run into PM Starmer of the UK...just know he's more serious."

My Proposals for a better Europe 1. RECOGNISING THE RIGHT TO DIVORCE AND PLASTIC SURGERY

In 2024, many (specially women) are badly-regarded when they tell their families they are divorcing from their husbands or spouses. Some people within Europe still believe divorce is a right no women has, even if they believe the flame of love is no longer alive with their current couple, or they have found out a new lover with whom the flame is more powerful and intense. That is why I will amend the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to include the right to divorce, and therefore protect this essential right for men and women of our Union.

Furthermore, my Premiership would also introduce a "Public Plastic Surgery Act", to provide citizens the opportunity to undergo plastic surgeons for free through their nation's healthcare system. This would not include all plastic surgeries, but some of the most popular. With this proposal, I also intend to help trans people of the European Union, providing them the support and love they need and that are denied sometimes.

2. ESTABLISHING A CLEAR LIMIT ON HOW FAR THE EU CAN GO

Many around the European Union believe we have gone to far on regulation that, some say, are there to favour the interest of only certain nations. While I do not want to give veracity to these claims, I will review the current Acquis Communautaire of our Union and propose the repeal or ammending of how many acts I believe have gone too far. The Union needs to be useful, and needs to provide help to those in the need of it, but should never interfere with basic sovereignty of our member states. We cannot pretend to use the European Union as a tool to force politics that other nations deem as unnecesary or damaging.

3. AN ACTIVE PREMIERSHIP

The European Union has been inactive for some time, even if the outgoing commissioners have done a great work in reverting this situation. However, in my opinion, more needs to be done. I will be a Premier that delivers actively, just like I have always done during my entire life: delivering with passion and actively. We cannot let our precious Union to become an used toy (some disgusting individuals called me this during my life, and look where I am now. Who's the broken toy, huh?) but make it become a new toy that pleases us all and makes us scream about how good it feels to be European. If you trust me, I will fix this and many other issues.

4. EUROPEAN AGENCIES

Many European Agencies need to have their directors appointed, and some others need to undergo a reappointment if their job is deemed to be good. The current circumstances have not allowed Commissioner to care about many agencies, with some still not in full functionment, like the European Agricultural Fund. Therefore, it is my duty if elected to make the Agencies and dependent organizations work efficiently and sticking to the principles of good administration. Speaking of such principles, I intend to begin the work for regulating some behaviours that will ease the relationship between the public administration and the citizens of Europe.

5. DIALOGUE, DIALOGUE, DIALOGUE. AND FIXING WHAT DOES NOT WORK

The European Union was built on dialogue, and that is something we need to remember. My legislative actions will always be refrended by dialogue and consensus, aiming to pass them with no votes against and gathering support from all ideologies and nations of Europe. I will also open a fluent communication canal with the European Council Speaker, the Chief Justice, the Central Bank President as well as the top positions of other relevant European institutions to fix what does not work or reform what they deem necesary, and provide them with the legislative and executive support they require.

European Union's members will also find my Premiership as open-minded and cooperative, never finding a no on meeting to discuss sensible issues. I am a strong, independent woman, with no ties to any organization and no vindictiveness, that loves every European nation the same. Overall, I am, and will always be, European.

"And we to you. We will draw up a draft treaty and send it to your government. Now, if we have nothing more to discuss, that will be all."

Alberto Núñez Feijóo and his team also exchanged warm greetings with the Misharian delegation, and extended heartfelt wishes for a Happy New Year to Chairman Helmfried as well. After some photographs were taken by the press, picturing this relevant diplomatic summit, both leaders were left in the absolute silence and privacy of the Pazo. Glasses of water had been served, and Alberto took a sip of his before starting to speak:

"Mr. Helmfried, once again, welcome to Spain! It is awesome to me, and also to the Spanish Government, to have you here today. I hope you did not find the huge amount of Christmas lights in Vigo too distressful. In any case, would you like anything else to drink or to eat? You can ask for whatever you want, believe me, Galicians cook very well. And I am not saying this because I was born here, in Galicia", Feijóo said before laughing slightly.

The Spanish President then took one of the papers he had over his table, that contained the many topics that would be discussed in Vigo: "As you know, the agenda for today is huge, so I think it is wise to begin now: first off, we have a free movement and trade agreement over the table, that would include visa-free travel and the many things that this kind of international agreements contain. Spain is willing to sign both agreements, and also to support an Eurorail expansion to Mishar in order to propel public transportation - specially pan-European rail transportation - in Mishar. What is your stance on the matter?", he asked.