Leagioan News Agencies

[Leagio]

Green Transition Act Signed With Juncker Present

Many days after it passed both the House and Senate, President Ran Mouri-Kudo signed the Green Transition Act into law within the Commonwealth. This act was one of the important centerpieces of the President’s campaign platform. The act was based on the guidelines of the European Green Deal that Former IAC Juncker developed before leaving office due to term limits. These guidelines that he left behind were to make Europe carbon-netural by 2050, but Mouri-Kudo’s legislation is considered by some to be more bolder than even the United Duchies plan for 2035 as the Leagio plan is for carbon neutrality by 2032. The President gave a rousing speech before signing the bill into law with Juncker standing right beside her. The Act would also implement measures to incentivize companies to greener methods of production within the Commonwealth and initiate the means of implementing better procedures in developing alternative energies that are not harmful or less harmful to the environment. The policies that will be implemented through the act is expected to possibly reduce pollution within the Commonwealth by at least 20% by 2030 and 25% by 2032.

When polling was done on the national opinion of the passage of the act, about 61% of Leagioans approve of the bill while a further 31% are against it. Members of different political parties have demonstrated support for the bill, while others have not and come outright against it. Councilor Julis Haller of the Civil Populist Party gave his support for the bill by saying that it was a step in the right direction for the Environment of the Commonwealth. However, Senator Dick Doconell of the Conservative Reform Party from the State of Huttson stated that he was against the bill for places too much burden on small businesses within the Commonwealth. This statement was one expressed by other members in the Conservative Reform Party and Christian Democratic-Republicans. However, members of Common Nationalists and LUTF expressed that the Act was a socialist-leftist act made by the Haanean Refugees to take over the Commonwealth. Some of the members of the two parties had even made more colorful language on their opinions about the passage and signage of the Green Transition Act.

However, there have been some questions remaining from members of the President’s own party, the Progressive Alliance Party, on whether or not if the plan is bold for the Commonwealth to meet within such a 11 year time frame. These questions come, even though during the Presidential Debate almost more than a month where the then candidate Mouri-Kudo said that if anything her plan was not bold enough and that the Commonwealth should take on challenges for they are not easy but because they are hard.

Former Internal Affairs Commissioner, Jean-Claude Juncker, has dedicated some time to the press after the signature of the Green Transition Act: “I’m very proud and it’s an honour to be here today along with President Ran Mouri-Koudo, who has been really nice with me. This is a very important achievement for Leagio, as they are becoming a reference on how to turn greener with effort and dedication. I’m also very happy to see how the Commonwealth is evolving so fast and using the loan’s money as they promised they would use it.” He has also been asked about running for the seat of Premier Commissioner and if he would run with the European Progressive Alliance again: “About the second question, I’ll be always loyal to the EPA. And about running for Premier Commissioner, the answer is yes, I’ll run because we need a better European Union, we need to get rid of the Sanctioning Powers Act and look for new ideas to make Europe more peaceful and to accomplish the objectives we have set in 2021. It’s possible to achieve this, and I’ll try my best.”

[Leagio]

Senate Foreign Affairs Committee Submits Treaty of Tullion De-Ratification Resolution to Senate Floor

This afternoon Senate Chairman Leon Booker of the Progressives announced that the Senate Committee of Foreign Relations has been debated and agreed upon the submission of a Senate Resolution Bill to de-ratify the Treaty of Tullion between the Commonwealth and Kingdom of Ritzmag. The Committee voted on the moving of the resolution to the floor of the entire Senate by a 10-4 vote with members of the conservative faction of the Civil Populists and some members of the Right believing that it is unconstitutional to de-ratify a treaty. However, some of the former Progressive delegates that attended last year's constitutional convention said that theoretically that it is possible for the Senate to have the power to De-Ratfy a treaty under appropriate guidelines that were used to establish it in the first place. This resolution will be sent to the floor of the Senate this Thursday for debate and then will most likely be voted on next Monday. In order for the de-ratification to occur the Senate Parliamentarian said that a two-thirds vote is required which means that even if all the progressive Senators voted for it, they would still need more votes for success. In this session, the Progressives hold 52 votes out of the 67 votes needed for the Deratification to pass the floor of the Senate. The Progressives would have to convince many sectors of the Senate to vote for the Deratification. The Socialist Unionists and Green Senators said that they are for the Deratification which ensure that the resolution would get 59 seats of the 67 votes required.

(composition of the Senate for the 2020-2022 session)

The Social Democrats who will most likely be a strong contender for Deratification has not given an opinion on the matter, but there have been talks that some of them from States and Territories that have been anti-bridges will vote for the resolution. However, this will remain to be seen. The Civil Populists have issued that they will not vote in favor of the resolution citing that they believed that it is unconstitutional with some members of the Conservative Reform Party issuing similar opinions. In addition, of the three Senators of the Leagioan Pact of Democracy, only one so far has said that they will vote for the resolution.

[Leagio]

Territory of Freedonia Drafts a New Constitution Accepted by Supreme Court / New Election For Freedonian Diet in April 21st

After the new Freedonian Diet was elected back on December 20th with a legislature working under a Provisional Constitution, the Socialist Union-Green lead legislature began to draft a new constitution that would be more permanent and better function. In a two-week convention that was held immediately after the December 20th election, through this convention a government was drafted similar to many of the other provincial governments in the Commonwealth. In it the government would be a regional Semi-Presidential system, but the Governor would not have the power to nominate a leader of the new Freedonian Government; Instead that is a power that the Freedonian Diet has where its members would be elected by the people by a system of Parallel Voting of First-Past-The-Post and Portional Representation through the D'Hondt method. This leader of the government of Freedonia is referred to as the Minister-Governor, who makes a cabinet that also runs the government. The actual of Governor of Freedonia does have actual powers which is to veto bills from the Diet and make state appointments in certain sectors of Freedonia. In addition, the Governor has the power to issue executive orders to which can be overturned by the Diet or declared unconstitutional by the new Supreme Court of Freedonia.

In this constitution where the garuntees of the provincial government of Freedonia to provide good quality healthcare and housing. Furthermore, the constitution has provision that contains ideas that some members of the Conservative Reform Party has argued is of Democratic Socialism. There has been talk by some members of the Conservative Counties of Freedonia on leaving the Territory and forming their own territorial government. However, such a move would require legislation from the National Congress which might not really be a possibility in the current session lead by a Social Democrat-Civil Populist-Progressive Congress. In addition, President Ran Mouri-Kudo stated that she was against any move to create another territory out of another territory like how Freedonia was formed.

After the new constitution was drafted, it was sent to the Supreme Court of Leagio for approval. The document went through a four day review by the Supreme Court and was eventually approved with a 8-5 vote.

Now that the Constitution has been approved and now ratified, it will be in effect with the vote of a new government through election for the Unicameral Freedonian Diet which will have 65 seats which is 30 more seats than it originally had. The new election for the Diet will be held on April 21st where a new government will be formed within a week after the election. Although, it is expect that the Socialist Union & Green Coalition will hold as the majority of the electorate are East Haanean Refugee Immigrants that have tended to vote for both Socialist Union Party and the Green Party.

[Leagio]

De-Ratification Resolution Being Debated Still in Senate Floor

The vote to de-ratify the Treaty of Tullion through the Senate has been still in debate for the past two days by members of various political parties, who believe the resolution to de-ratify the Treaty is unconstitutional. Senators from the Civil Populist, Conservative Reformists, and even Social Democrats have been holding the floor of the Senate day and night by debating as well as holding a filibuster that is limited to no more than 4 days after the supposed voting day. There is still questions on whether or not President Mouri-Kudo has the 67 votes needed if all 100 Senators vote on the floor. Various news outlets do confirm that at the moment that there are at least a garunteed 59 votes for the Resolution to De-Ratify the Treaty of Tullion.

House of Councilors Debating on New Election Law to Redisbut Constituency and List Seats to 50% with Voting Percentage Theshold

The House Committee of Reform and Congressional Affairs annnounced that they would be drafting a law that would revise the division of constituntency seats and list seats within the Commonwealth. This move is part of a call that was made by President Mouri-Kudo on revise the election system in the House of Councilors to have better protional representation by combing the list seats that Provinces use after making their constituency seats. During the National Congress election last year, the division percentage was 40% for constituency seats. However, the new law that is being drafted by the House Committee of Reform and Congressional Affairs would have it to 50 to 60% for the 2022 Election that will be coming. Although, an actually number has not been fully established yet as it is still being debating within the Committee. Another thing that is still being debated on is the need for a percentage theshold that a political party needs to attain within a region in order to recieve a seat at all. The president said that the percentage should not be higher than 3% but some members of the Committee have suggested 4 and even 5% for the theshold. What will be chosen will remain to be seen with people begining to wonder if the president would veto the bill if it had a theshold higher than what she suggested.

[Leagio]

De-Ratification Vote in Senate Fails After Istkalen Declaration of War

Not long after the declaration of war issued by the Federation of Istkalen, the Senate of the Commonwealth was finally in the position to vote on the motion to de-ratify the Treaty of Tullion between the Commonwealth and the Kingdom of Ritzmag. However, once the news that of the Declaration of War was received within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and sent to the Senate. The way that the vote was going to swing within the chamber of the Senate suddenly changed. This news had especially taken a hit on the vote to de-ratify the treaty once it was known that Ritzmag was at risk of attack due to its position to the Federation. Many of the people that were assumed to vote for the De-ratification resolution went against it, especially two senators of President Mouri-Kudo's own party. Most of the members of the Social Democrats, who were thought to be for the vote, went against the resolution in the end.

Only one member of the Civil Populist Party vote for the vote but it was not enough as even though there were60 votes for the vote. There was not enough to meet pass the 2/3's majority of 67 required to meet the vote and de-ratify the treaty.

[Leagio]

Socialist Unionists and Green Coalition Win Freedonian Election

In an unsurprising result, the election for the new Freedonian Diet which is officially established in a new constitution approved by the Supreme Court has two clear winners that will make-up an official government of the Territory of Freedonia. With an electorate that makes-up of East Haanean Immigrant-Refugees, the Socialist Union Party and the Green Party have a clear majority to form a coalition government to appoint a Minister-Governor under them. Out of 65 seats in the unicameral legislature, the Socialists have the most seats with 29 with over half coming from the 27 constituency seats of the Diet. The Green Party holds with 8 seats, which when combined makes up a total of 37 seats; more than enough for them to the needed coalition government that will run until the next election which will be on December 20th of 2022 when the National Congress election takes place. The person that will most likely be selected to be Minister-Governor of Freedonia will be Terence Loyd of the Socialist Union Party and the leader of the party's territorial branch.

(Image of Terrence Loyd, who is also leader of the Socialist Union Party in Freedonia)

The opposition parties will include the Eastern Leagio Party with one List Seat, the Social Democrats with 5 seats from both list and constiency seats, the Civil Populists with also 5 seats, the Progressives with 4 seats, and the Conservative Reformists with a strong 13 seats in their hold. The new government that will be leading the territory will be sworn in next week.

[Leagio]

Plessis Announces No Intention For Re-Election in June 5th.

In a press gaggle within his office in Europolis after a debating inside the EU Council, EU Councilor Francis Plessis of the ELDR for Leagio announced that for the Special Election that would be coming under the newly ratified Article 18 of the 2020 Constitution that he will not seek re-election. When asked for the reason why he would not seek a second or technically third term in the Council, he stated that he was looking to retire and leave the politics to the next generation. When asked if he would endorse anyone for the 1st round in June 5th, he stated that he does not intend to endorse anyone in particular as he feels that his opinion would not matter much.

Although there are speculation on who would run especially for the main political parties of the Commonwealth, it is too soon to say but many speculate that the classical liberal Free Democratic Party would run a strong candidate to at least get themselves out in the field for the municipal election season this year on December 20th. When asked on whether or not if the ELDR would endorse a candidate to ensure they have at least two seats of represenation to stay qualified as a Eurogroup, the EU Councilor said the following words: "that is not for me to decide at the moment or even say. I will admit that within the Eurogroup there has been talk on the path that it should take in for next year."

[Leagio]

Mouri-Kudo Traveling to Kingdom of Mennrimiak For Trade Negotiations

During a press conference today, it was confirmed that President of the Commonwealth Ran Mouri-Kudo would be traveling to the Kingdom of Mennrimiak to negotiate a trade agreement involving the diamonds and nuclear material that the Commonwealth sells. By the time that the office of the President could be reached for comment, President Mouri-Kudo had already left for the summit. However, many members of Leagioan political society including Former President and now Governor of Muale Kenith Lifejumper stated concerns on how the trade of nuclear material will be handled. Many experts that have previously traveled to the Kingdom of Mennimiak guessed that the reason for the Mennimiak Government seeking the material would be for its commitment to renewable energy.

Whether or not any trade deal with arise for it will remain to be seen as it is imagined that the negotiations will take time as the President has to ensure that the Mennimiak government is going to use them for the purpose of renewable energy and not for a weapons program approved by the ENAA as stipulated by the Nuclear Trade Commission Act that was passed last year after the Romain Incident under the Lifejumper Administration. Although, when coming to the diamond trade, many politicians (particularly from the Free Democratic Party and Social Democratic Party) supported the President on the endeavor as they feel it will benefit the Leagioan Economy that is still prospering under the Eastern Economic Development Act that was passed last year and helped end the February 2020 Crash.

[Leagio]

National Congress and Mouri-Kudo Compromise on HOC Election Reform for 2022

This morning, the office of the President of the Commonwealth and members of the Reform Committees within both houses of the National Congress announced that an agreement was reached over reforming the division of seats in the parallel voting for the House of Councilors and the threshold percentage required to attain a provincial list seat. The past month and a half has been a debate between the two branches of the Common Government of Leagio as there were disagreements on a more standardized size and distribution of seats in both the constituency and list sectors of the House of Councilors. Furthermore, there was some disagreement on the theshold needed for a political party to receive a seat. Members in the Reform Committee's on both houses of Congress wanted different various numbers to be the theshold required with some in the President's own party wanting a percentage higher than the 3% that was recommended by the President. Although, there is no confirmation but a source within the Executive Mansion stated that the President would have in-line vetoed the threshold requirement if it was higher than her number.

Eventually the problem of coming to an agreement increased as members of the Progressive Alliance Party began to feel that they would be at risk of losing in 2022 race that will coming after members of the other parties began to link the PAP to the unpopularity of the EPA under EU Councilor Emma Granger according to various political polls being done by political favorablity. However, last week before leaving for her trip to Mennrimirak and the Bergen Conference, the President hosted a meeting with the leaders of the Civil Populists and Social Democrats in both houses of the National Congress to come to a compromise on the bill. The House of Councilors Reform Elections Bill will be amended in the Joint Conference Committee that the two house negotiate on over similar bills that they passed in the same session. In this amended bill, the following was agreed upon:

• 530 Total seats starting 2022 = 270 Constituntency Seats and 270 List Seats

• 4 percent electoral threshold required to attain a list seat

• Exceptions to the electoral threshold in the list sector if a political party has either of the following: recognized status by the Burea of Election Security as a minority political party or 3 Constituency Seats

• The seats for the two sectors will be redistributed every 6 years between the provinces.

In addition, there was an acknowledgment on the voting of an amendment to the constitution to change how the Senate is elected by 2022 from the manner of block voting to instead a single transferable voting method that has begun some support in certain parts of the country. In addition, there was agreement on having the position of Governor-General is one that is elected on the same ticket as the President instead of having it elected separately from the President.

[Leagio]

Constitutional Amendments For Referendum During Commssioner Election

This afternoon the National Congress voted to amend the Constitution again but through a method that was not tried before and will be decided by the voting populace of the Commonwealth. Not long after the ratification of the recent set of amendments to the Constitution, there was a debate in expanding and reforming other sectors of the Constitution again by members of all the political parties within Congress. These amendments instead focused on reforming how the Senate is elected, where it would be changed from Block Voting to a Single-Transferable Vote. This method was something that was supported by many members of the Political Parties outside of the Progressive Alliance Party as it has been debated to have shown that it strongly favored the Party of the President as it helped the Progressives received the majority that it holds in the Senate where it holds 52 out of the 100 seats at the moment. Another amendment that was purposed and passed through Congress was the combination of having the positions of President and Governor-General on the same ticket instead it being two separate elections. If passed through a Referendum and Adopted, the amendment would be trouble for Governor-General Magic Kaito as he would have to get a Presidential Candidate that will help him keep his position for the 2024 Presidential Election, where the President of the Commonwealth would be then elected at the same time as the National Congress and serving a four-year term. Said Governor-General has already expressed outrage in the amendment saying that it defeats the purpose for the position's creation.

One last amendment that was approved in the National Congress was the allowing for the formation of Electoral Alliances that can run in the Presidential, Gubernational, Municipal, and National Congress races. There would be some limitations on the Alliances, but it is speculated that it would allow for the recreation of the legislative alliances formed in last year's Congressional Elections like the Free Liberalists and Republicans. These amendments will go through a referendum that will take place at the end of the month at least with an official date to be made for the EU Commission Elections that will take place this season. However, in order for the amendments to pass the referendum and be adopted there would need to be no less a 50% voter turnout and more than a 50% approval in voting for the amendments.

Rumors have it that these amendments only went through the National Congress with the 2/3's majority vote needed was because this was a compromise made with President Mouri-Kudo in order to ensure the passage of the coming HOC Reform Act that the President had threatened to Veto, at least with In-Line, when it was going to have a 5% percent electoral threshold in order to attain a list seat for the 2022 Congressional Elections; where the threshold was reduced to 4% with certain exemptions that would be applied for certain political parties like minorities or parties that get three Constitutency Seats.

[Leagio]

Lionel Morel Wins EU Councilor Election with 51% of Vote

(Morel Celebrating by Giving a Speech Celebrating his Victory)

Today, the votes for the EU Councilor Race was counted in Leagio. Normally, this election would be a two round race, but it seems that will not be the case at all as Free Democratic candidate for Special Election in Leagio. After all the votes were counted very quickly through the new methods of online voting and mail-in ballots, Lionel Morel won the race with over 51% of the 15 million votes that were cast in this race. The over candidates at the end of the counting like Jeanne Souchon of the Conservative Reformists had around 18% of the tally and Henry Gale had around 14% of the vote. Meanwhile, the Socialist Union candidate Ange Cuvier had around 15% of the vote which the new chairman of the SUP Kelly Idiotus celebrated the result as the start of the rise of a new wave of socialism coming to the Commonwealth for the 2022 Congressional Race that will be coming.

After all the other candidates of the race conceded defeat, the now EU Councilor-Elect celebrated by giving a speech to his supporters by saying that this is a victory for Leagio and congratulated his opponents for an exciting campaign. He announced he will be having talks with many members of the EU Council in discussing the formation of a new Eurogroup to challenge the hegemony that the EPA holds in the Council. It is expected that he will be sworn in on June 7th as the current EU Councilor Francis Plessis recently announced that he will be retiring early for the swearing of Morel.

[Leagio]

Common Nationalists & LUTF in Talks for a Party Merger

Amid concerns for their standing over what will be most likely adopted when the Mouri-Kudo get's the National Congress to pass the reform on the elections of the House of Councilors for 2022, the chairmans of the Common Nationalists and Leagioan United Together Front announced that they were in the middle of possible talks to merge their political parties into one in order to have a more unified Far-Right Front that is strong in the comming 2022 elections. Although no name for such a new party has not been given, the parties will be negoitating an equal standing for the two sides that will eventually become two factions of different ideas within the Far-Right party. In the recent National Congress election last year in December, the two Parties had hardly recieved much seats in the House of Councilors with LUTF having only 11 seats in the House and 2 Seats in the Senate. The Common Nationalists had only recieved 8 seats in the House with no seats in the Senate.

President Mouri-Kudo Wins National Karate Tournatment

During a finalist round of a Karate National Torunament in Tullion, President Mouri-Kudo was particpating and had a tough fight against her opponent. In the fight, she managed win the fight and through this final round, the whole entire Leagioan National Karate Tournament. The Torunamanent had been going on for the past month and a half with contestants from alover the Commonwealth. The President went through mulitple rounds throughout that time, but eventually she managed to defeat each of her opponents and won the whole tournament.

[Leagio]

CRP Congressmen Suggests Mouri-Kudo to Reconsider Anti-Nuclear Power stance for Energy Crisis

As the Bergen Conference Continues with various world leaders joining like Spanish President Aguilar and United Duchies Prime Minister John Peter Key, the issues with the Energy crisis that started during the Lifejumper Administration are still on going with it worsening within some territories of the Commonwealth. Before the Summit that Former President Lifejumper had with the then Internal Affairs Commissioner Juncker in negotiation of the loan, the number of Leagioans that were without sufficient power was around 2.5 million with around 1.5 Million in the Eastern Territories. After the Summit and the issuance of the loan to the Commonwealth, the number went down to around 1.1 million for the Eastern Territories and the the rest of the country was down to 500,000 at maximum. Various politicians of the Eastern Territories like Karptniz and Caroline have accused the Lifejumper Administration after it left of using the money to focus on the southern territories in the East like Fiowa and Vernach. However, the now Governor of Muale Kenith Lifejumper denied those claims as he stated that the money was used as equally as possible on each and every territory in the East by using it to install new wind turbines in Diamond Heart and Solar Plants in Jullien and Vernach mainly as it would provide better output for the Eastern Territories.

When the Mouri-Kudo Administration was inaugurated, President Mouri-Kudo reaffirmed her stance that she said during the recent campaign that she was against the installation of nuclear power plants which was a stance that the Lifejumper Administration. However, this is a stance that not every member in both Houses of the National Congress supports as members of the President's own party, the Progressive Alliance Party, and Conservative Reform Party. There were attempts to include the option of installing nuclear power within the Commonwealth through the 2021 Fiscal Budget but it was known that Lifejumper would then In-Line Veto the statue in the budget if it was included. However, there has been a recent push by some members of the National Congress to go through reconciliation now and press Mouri-Kudo to reconsider her position. One of those members is Councilor Arnold Vinick of the Conservative Reformist Party representing the 8th District of Arlick, who explained in a Energy Committee debate that Nuclear Power was safe, efficient, and much more renewable for the Commonwealth's needs. He stated that with the rainy day fund that is always established in the Commonwealth's Budget, there could be at least two nuclear power plants that would provide enough power to the Commonwealth to help alleviate the energy crisis at a faster rate than with the standard production of just Solar and Wind Power.

(CRP Councilor Arnold Vinick Participating in the House Energy Committee)

However, there is doubt that President Mouri-Kudo will reconsider her position on Nuclear Power; even though she is willing to negotiate with the Kingdom of Mennrimiak on the sale of Nuclear Material in order to allow said nation be able to build said power.

[Leagio]

Referendum & Election Results Recieved
After the past few weeks, the ballots for the election results for the two amendments to the Constitution were counted and tailed.. The first amendment on allowing electoral alliances passed with a 9-point majority. However, the second one on putting the Governor-General on the same ticket as the President failed with a huge majority. Afterwards, the ballots for the European Commission Elections occurred and were eventually counted where they showed surprising results even for a Juncker-Safe state.

The results show that Juncker and Biden will get the first place votes that will be submitted to the European Union. With Juncker not doing as well as he did in his first election within the Commonwealth and Biden seeing a victory against Daggot who had visited the Commonwealth through a hologram.

[Leagio]

Labor Union Civil Rights Act & HOC Reform Act Passed/Signed

This afternoon, it seems that they were some progress in President Mouri-Kudo's Agenda as two pieces of critical legislation was passed that were deemed essential to the President during her campaign. The first piece of significant to the MK administration was the Labor Union Civil Rights Act, which passed the National Congress without any hard debate from the Civil Populists and Social Democrats in the House and mainly the Senate. The Act passed the House with 327 FOR and 214 AGAINST, while in the Senate was 58 FOR and 42 AGAINST. The Labor Union Civil Rights Act also called the Labor Rights Act helps:

• to give Labor Unions the right to peacefully protest and strike

• prohibit certain anti-union actions by employers and retaliation toward workers who participate in organizing

• creates a National Labor Relations Board with the ability to fine and penalize companies that do not comply with fair labor practices, including using retaliation methods on workers that vote for move of unionizing a workforce

• Prevents companies from making sudden lock-outs on union workers when unable to negiotate a contract

• Allows States and Territories to have a modified form of Right to Work Laws that give more benefits to workers that want to become union workers

This act was praised by many labor unions around the Commonwealth as a way to ensure economic equality within the nation, while those in the Big Business side like the Conservative Reform Party calling it a socialist work that harms those that do not wish to be in a union. With some Councilors of the CRP making violent tweets that resulted in Twitter having to take action against them. The bill was quickly sent to President Mouri-Kudo and signed into law.

The second important piece of legislation that was passed and enacted was the House of Councilors Elections Reform Act of 2021, which changed the manner of the sectors for the Constituency and List Seats. In addition, the Bill was amended in the House after the passing of the Article of Amendment that allows Legislative Electoral Committees/Alliances where it provides specific guidelines how these Alliances must work within Leagioan elections, especially federal/common level elections. This act was a piece of legislation that had been heavy political debating within the House of Councilors for the past 2 months where the Civil Populists and Social Democrats wanted a higher theshold for representation within the List Sector of the House starting the coming 2022 elections. However, the President wanted a thshold of no more than 3% with the List seats combined into regions for easier representation. But it seemeded that the terms that the President had was no negiotable with the Civil Populists and Social Democrats who seem more willing to negiotate with the Progressive Executive Leader of the Commonwealth. With many threats of an in-line veto that might have side effects on getting the rest of her agenda through, Mouri-Kudo invited the House leaders of the Civil Populists and Social Democrats to a meeting in the Executive Mansion to negotiate a compromise with them about a month ago. Many agreements were made within said compromise.

However, after the results that were seen from the recent European Union Commission Election, the Civil Populists and Social Democrats wanted to make some additional changes to the bill than what were agreed. At first there was confusion as some members of the two parties wanted to go to the region list idea when thinking it was not what Mouri-Kudo wanted, but instead was quietly reminded by fellow Councilors that it was something that the President would support. However, very quickly the Civil Populists and Social Democrats went back to the orginal proposal after they meet with the President and introduced a few changes that kept the by province division on the list sector of the House of Councilors. Eventually the act passed the House of Councilors with 375 FOR and 166 AGAINST, while in the Senate it was 67 FOR and 33 AGAINST. The provisions of the act contain the following that will be active for coming 2022 midterm elections:

• 530 Total HOC seats starting 2022 = 270 Constituntency Seats and 270 List Seats

• 4 percent electoral threshold required to attain a list seat with Alliances needing 6% to get a seat

• Exceptions to the electoral threshold in the list sector if a political party has either of the following: recognized status by the Burea of Election Security as a minority political party or 3 Constituency Seats; However, Alliances are excluded from the exceptions

• The seats for the two sectors will be redistributed every 6 years between the provinces as according to a new census timeline that will be starting this year for census taking and apportionment to the House

[Leagio]

Socialist Union, Socialist Workers, and Green Party form the United Peoples Front

In only a few days before the municpal elections that will be taking place this year on December 20th, the Socialist Union party leadership announced that they would form a political alliance with the Green Party and the Socialist Workers Party. Many political experts had stated that the Alliance between the SUP and Greens was a matter of time as they worked well in the 2020 National Congress Election in attaining their results in that election. However, the unexpected turn of events is that SUP and the Greens announced that they would be including the Socialist Workers Party into the Alliance with equal faction power. This event had been surprising as the Social Workers Party was a faction that broke away from the Socialist Union Party over the SUP's Anti-UNSR position. However, Kelly Idioutus credited William James Moriarty, a Math Professor at the new University of Freedonia and a SUP Diet Member, in negotiating the Alliance with outstanding results. Moriarty is also the owner of the Leagioan Uplift Foundation, a non-profit organization that helps poor families out of poverty, and Moriarty Jewelry Corporation (which was founded about a couple of months ago and has been in the rise lately).

After the announcement of the creation of the United Peoples Front, which is the name of the new alliance, the three parties announced that Professor and Dietmember William Moriarty will be the Interim Chairman of the Alliance until an official Alliance election would be held on February 21st. The Exective Mansion and the Office of the President was asked for comment on the ordeal, but no reply was sent. However, rumors are circulating to the press that the other main parties of the National Congress are concerned on how this will effect the comming 2022 National Congress Elections.

A photograph of Professor Moriarty at a Charity Dinner for the Uplift Foundation happened last week in Tullion

[Leagio]

Left-Leaning Parties Gain Municipal Seats By Largest Lead!

After the ballots were finally counted, the results of the biennial Municipal Elections took place. The election showed that there is a very strong appeal for the Socialist leaning parties of the Commonwealth. This appeal is mainly of the Socialist Parties of the newly formed United Peoples Front, which includes the Socialist Workers Party, Socialist Union Party, and the Green Party. Out of the 27648 municipal seats that are up for election every two years, the new alliance has a total of 5,934 seats in their grip. Compared to the 2019 Municipal Election, this is an increase not easy to attain and shows that there is a desire for a new political shift in the Commonwealth within the city level at least. As the Eastern Leagio Party, Social Democrats, and Civil Populists lost a lot of seats with some experts believing that those that voted the three parties last year had switched to the more far-left leaning spectrum at the moment.

Even the Progressive Alliance Party, the party of President Mori-Kudo, lost seats but not as much when compared to their Civil Populist and Social Democratic rivals. Experts state that this might be indicating that the President is not strongly disliked but some might be disappointed as people wanted more reform within the government, especially some of the more Anti-Ritz elements wanting to repeal the Treaty of Tullion within the Senate, which failed this year.

Trusted sources in the Eastern Leagio Party talk about having the party join in the Alliance in order to ensure their political success for 2022. However, at the moment, there are some dobut about it. When asked about the success of the United Peoples Front in the Muncipal Election, Interim Chairman James Moriarty had this to say "This is the start of the people of Leagio willing to have a small taste of a new version of Socialism that the Alliance is willing to call Leagioan Socialism that is more refined and different than any hardcore socialism to where it can work as well as respect the systems of democracy. The Alliance will take to the people's wish of working with the Constitution and system while experimenting with other political idealogical systems for the better of the living of the people."

[Leagio]

Leagioan-Spanish Naval Exercises in Mediterranean Sea

(Photo of the LNS Huttson steaming towards Spanish Waters for the Naval Exercises)

The Leagioan Ministry of Defense announced that in coordination with its Spanish counterpart will conduct naval training exercises and review over the Spanish Coastline in the Mediterranean Sea. These exercises will be conducted throughout the month with various surface and submarine units of the Leagioan Navy training with the Spanish Navy on various missions. According to the Leagioan Naval Press Secretary, the objectives of the Leagioan exercises are to measure the capabilities of the Leagioan Submarine Force in defending Commonwealth shores from a sea base invasion and even deal substantial damage to an enemy that depends on trade by mainly sea routes. The Naval Exercises done by both the Spanish and Leagioan Navies are expected to also do research for potentially new Leagioan Submarine units such as the new Defender Class Submarines that are expected to be launched by the end of this month with them being fully commissioned into the Leagioan Navy not long afterward.

The Leagioan Surface unit that are expected to participate in these exercises is the 1st Surface Squadron, which contains three Holland Class Corvette’s and 2 Huttson Class Frigates (out of the 5 ships, the LNS Huttson being the flagship of the Combined Fleet of Leagio and the Squadron). The Submarine Units of the Leagioan Navy is announced to be the 2nd Submarine Division of the Submarine Engagement Fleet with four Revolution Class Submarines part of said unit. In support,the Mutin Class Navy Tanker LNS Mutin is expected to join the previously mentioned Leagioan fleet units for resupply in the training exercises.

[Leagio]

People in the City of Kyiv, Huttson Demand Their Own Statehood

---

Early this week, after the revealing evidence showed that Governor Tom Pitman of the Conservative Reform Party had intentionally let the condition of the city of Kyiv degrade past the years due to its Socialist Unionist alignment, people in the Kyiv, Huttson have been on a strong protest recently to where they have been demanding that the Common Government allow them to have their own autonomy as a state in the Commonwealth. This city of just over 385,000 Leagioans of various background have been demanding that they be able to receive their own government and representation within the Commonwealth. Yesterday, the Mayor of Kyiv Taras Lebid announced that he and the city council have signed and filled out a petition to be sent to the National Congress of Leagio demanding that Kyiv receives it own statehood. The question of whether or not the National Congress will accept the petition. However, the only thing that the protesters are missing is a constitution that has been deemed acceptable by the Supreme Court of the Commonwealth of Leagio. The President has yet to comment on the issue yet.

[Leagio]

Mouri-Kudo Announces Intiative To Revise the Constitution of 2020

Early this morning, President Mouri-Kudo announced that she had a talk with the governors of various states and territories of the Commonwealth. in this talk, they talked about the many weaknesses of the Constitution of 2020. One of the many examples listed is that even though that the Constitution reflects a constantly changing government, the Constitution makes the Government unworkable with a bicameral system installed and a Senate that has too much powers in foreign affairs with strong gridlock that has become unbearable. Although, there are numerous supporters for Bicameralism, many Leagioans feel that it is unnnecessary. However, Mouri-Kudo announced to the Commonwealth that the revision to the Constitution will not fully replace but make needed changes that will make it work. These changes will be made through the Council of provinces with Governor-General Magic Kaito running it to suggest the needed changes that should be made before the coming 2022 election, including the establishment of any addition states or territories to the Commonwealth.

When asked on use of the Senate through a revision, Governor-General Kaito suggested that he thinks that instead of the people that Senators be elected by the State and Territorial Legislatures through Single-Transferable Vote for a four year term still on stagger elections every two years with around the same time as the House of Councilors. Furthermore, a source close to the president explained that the president offered the suggestion to various governors for a House of Councilors to have more power in selecting a government through a Prime Minister that coordinates with the President of the Commonwealth. In addition, the President mentioned that it would allow the City of kyiv in Huttson to have its own automony as a state in the future.