Ruthenish News Media

[Wimaland]

Current Major National News Mediums in Ruthund

Itquzdorn News (Right-wing cable news outlet)

The Kazmurbirha Warden (Left-wing newspaper)

The Observatory (Centrist newspaper)

The Mountain (Centre-right economic newspaper)

(OOC: Graphics currently in development)

[Wimaland]

Morning Program: The Seerstone w/ Luzrogaz Foromindzen
26 April, 2021
Good morning, Ruthund. You are watching the Seerstone and I am your host, Luzrogaz Foromindzen. We start off this morning with some news from the Southern Realms where the conclusion of a War between Reitzmag and Istkalen finally took shape in Istkalen’s Instrument of Surrender. It effectively surrendered itself to Reitzmic forces after the rogue wartime regime collapsed. As you may or may not have known, Ruthund and all other nations of Europe were said to be involved with the declaration of war, though of course Ruthund took no action-- and in fact, it seems that none of Europe took any meaningful action against Istkalen in this short war. But that hasn't stopped liberal councilors within the EU Council such as Councilor Granger from pretending that the European Union had any sort of stake in Istkalen prior to their surrender. EPA Chairwoman Council Granger introduced a bill this week that would put the EU in charge of establishing a new government, instead of what everyone assumed was the work of Reitzmag and Vayinoad. After all, their war, their problem. So instead of Reitzmag, Vayinoad, and Istkalenian people working out a trilateral agreement-- as it has been done since time immemorial, these group of Councilors are now trying to force a third party to establish a provisional government. And why? Its simple, because Reitzmag is really unpopular in Europe and Europolis does not want Reitzmag to have any meaningful sort of say in the matter of Istkalen’s future. It doesn’t matter if Reitzmag strained its economy because of a war in which they were attacked nor is this being asked of by nations that did not put a penny into the war, no, Reitzmag is not in the club and therefore we must intervene. But this shouldn’t surprise any of us, as we often say on this show, the EU doesn’t like nations that choose to be out of the Cool Kids Club and prefer conformity. If you do not conform, your life will be made harder. Same rule applies this morning.

Now let’s move on to Ruthund. Lekormeiluz was last week and everyone here hopes that you had a fantastic Lekormeiluz. It is a time to enjoy springtime with your family and to enjoy the fresh April weather-- it is a time for renewal as we leave behind the bad things of the past and use the good to kindle something new. Though if we left it at that, we would omit the elephant in the room. The Thuidon this year decided to host a foreign dignitaries to listen to his speech at the Grand Temple. Now his eminence is perfectly free to do this and we here at the show trust his judgement, but we should remind the viewers that the Thuidon has not been in the presence of foreigners for nearly 500 years, let alone to his own people in 30. This is a pretty big deal. And these sorts of meetings that these foreigners were invited to are closed and private and we don’t know most of what was said. Because these meetings are normally reserved for the clergy only. What did Thuidon say to them and why? We are not likely to ever know, as is usual for these speeches. On a side note, the Thuidon has hosted more foreign dignitaries than our current Steward, Lord Zgeirtan. Let that sink in on how much Zgeirtan has accomplished as a person that is supposedly pro-EU.

Speaking of accomplishments, the Thuidwethon today is once again debating the merits of establishing a Universal Healthcare system for Ruthund. Their proponents argue that since the Southerners have it, why can’t we? Ignorant are these people of the bloated bureaucracy involved with their systems, high taxes on hard-earned Mathoms, and let’s not forget the problem with any state-run welfare system, abuse. This is insisted instead of allowing for the improvement of our community-run charity systems for healthcare. Now as with most conversations had on Universal Healthcare, it doesn’t look like anything will come of it, to the New Republicans’ lament. It does bring up an interesting point to think about once in a while however. Even if we are supposed to believe the Universal Healthcare system would bring some benefits to certain people, would it be worth it? For a long time, our healthcare was provided to us by our families and our communities. Because we are responsible for them and they are responsible for us. Such is the Ruthenish way, in contrast the individualistic and atomized ways of the South. We have to think carefully on copy-pasting policies from the South because not only does it diminish the values we are supposed to have as a country, it hasn't always led to good outcomes in the past. But of course nobody’s mind is going to change in the Thuidwethon, and nothing new will come of the Universal Healthcare bill that the New Republicans keep proposing. But this show will keep their eyes peeled on the activities of the New Republicans as they are polling high and campaign season will come soon. But sum this whole healthcare thing up, think of the debate as just one interation of a simple question: do you want a Ruthenish Ruthund or a European Ruthund? And we can’t answer that for you, but we can provide you with the information.

With that said, we will see you again after a break.

[Wimaland]

THE KAZMURBIRHAZ WARDEN

Breaking: New Republicans and Mutualists agree on a Party Merger

Chairwoman Brynelduz outside the New Republican Party HQ

News
14 June, 2021

After weeks of rumblings of a new party merger between the two medium sized Mutual Workers’ Party and the New Republican Party, Chairwoman Brynelduz of the New Republican Party announced at the New Republican Party headquarters that an agreement between the Mutualists and the New Republicans had been made. “Today, we have come to the agreement that due to the challenges that Ruthund faces today in Europe, the Left needs a new United Party to stand strong in the next election in August.” said Brynelduz outside the party headquarters.

Later on Monday, the Mutual Workers’ Party and the New Republican Party issued a joint statement agreeing to the formation of a new party called the ‘Social Progressive Party’, which is described in the statement as “democratic socialist” and for a “republican Ruthund”.

A call for a merger between the Mutual Workers’ Party and the New Republican Party has been subject to much discussion since 2019, when neither party failed to garner enough seats to form a government. However the New Republican Party under Chairman Halkrymn avoided discussion of a party merger, believing that a big tent approach was needed to gain support of key reforms on the issues of secularisation and the limiting the involvement of the Grand Temple within Ruthenish politics. Under more left-leaning leadership, renewed efforts for a party merger within the New Republican leadership resulted in a summit within Mutual Workers’ Party Leader Luzrogaz Moneldrinzen, who has supported the idea of a party merger since late 2019.

The formation of this party will dramatically shift the dynamics of the election season that is expected to start in the summer of 2021. The new party will boast 23 seats making the new party second largest in the Thuidwethon, only behind the current governing party Gilthoro. With the upset victory of EU Councilor Tony last year and with the polling showing greater support for local left-leaning candidates, especially in the South of Ruthund, many political observers are warning that Gilthoro’s position as the governing party is seriously threatened.

“I think Zgeirtan’s party should pay more attention to this merger”, said Boldreigaz Holgremzen, a political analyst for the Gilthoro party. “Zgeitan’s approval ratings are dropping right now because he has been making u-turn after u-turn on his campaign promises within the last month and people are starting to notice. Now you have a party entering the stage offering an actual alternative, which is a good sign that the playing field is starting to shift in the Thuidwethon.”

The Social Progressive Party does not have an official platform released presently, with this election’s platform expected to be released sometime in early July, when the campaign season will kick off. The Social Progressive party, when asked to comment, confirmed to the Kazmurbirhaz Warden that a party platform was currently being drafted.

With the merging of the Mutual Workers’ Party, the junior partner of the Gilthoro-led government, Gilthoro and the Social Progressives are expected to reach an agreement to form a caretaker government. It will be for the final legislative session before the election, scheduled to take place July 19th-30th. Zgeirtan’s office declined to comment on the talks of the coalition agreement at this time.

[Wimaland]

THE KAZMURBIRHAZ WARDEN

Is Ruthund ready for a Catholic Steward?

Presumptive Stewardess Brenelduz speaking at the dabate

14 December, 2021

At the time of writing this article, Brenelduz Libonutukur’s Social Progressive Party is currently leading the national polling and her party is expected to form government as voting continues to be counted, thereby making her the next presumptive Stewardess. She would not only be the first female nominal Head of State since 1739, the last year of Queen Thazdaluz’s reign, but she also would be the first Stewardess of Ruthund ever. The title of Steward has never been bestowed on a woman ever since the foundation of the office under King Hazdulaz in 987 CE, making this an unprecedented moment in the history of Ruthund.

However the discourse surrounding Brenelduz isn't really concerning her gender in this election cycle-- but her Catholic background.

Brenelduz was born in Francoist Spain in 1960. She was the daughter of a Spanish Bleithonuz mother, or Ruthenish Christian exiles that resided in Europe but chose to keep their cultural identity and spanish diplomat. Spain has been one of the major centers of the Bleithoniz community since the 17th century and found relative safety in Spain for most of its history. However under Francoist Spain, Brenelduz and the rest of the Bleithon community was expected to conform to Castilian customs and abandon her Bleithoniz identity in accordance with the cultural assimilation policies of Franco. Albeit, her mother secretly taught her Ruthenish and Brenelduz became an active member of the Bleithon community, which was underground at that time.

However during her young adulthood, Spain began to transition to a democracy and relaxed its laws on cultural assimilation that forced the Bleithoniz community underground. At University, she studied Law while continuing her studies in theology and Classical Ruthenish amongst the Blethoniz Community in Spain. During this time Brenelduz joined the Oimlond (Homeland) Society, a group of Ruthenish Catholics that sought to campaign to return to Ruthund and revive the Christian community within Ruthund. However during this time, Christianity was still banned in Ruthund with the Old Regime still in power. An opportunity presented itself after 1994, when Ruthund had its first free elections with the Republican faction leading a coalition government. They pledged to liberalize Ruthund and to ensure basic civil liberties, including the right to freedom of religion, was ensured.

In 2003, Brenelduz arrived in Ruthund. Under the Bleithon Return Act of 2001, Brenelduz and other Ruthenish Christians were granted a path towards citizenship-- at the time, the only ones that could be granted citizenship through a normal process. However, Brenelduz still faced issues being seen as a foreigner, an issue that has never really gone away. Brenelduz, still known for her Spanish accent, still has her loyalties questioned by her opposition parties such as the right-wing Njothlenaz.

Brenelduz still is a Catholic, a faith that was until only 25 years ago, banned in Ruthund. And this has caused, even among her political allies, concern that the bestowal of the Stewardship would cause problems with the office. One of the important duties of the Steward is to accompany the King on several important religious rituals, including the lighting of the First Flame on Ruthenish New Years. Brenelduz has historically refused to take part in Zdardrin festivals for religious reasons, preferring to celebrate Catholic holidays privately. Though this to some may seem like a superficial issue, which may well be, this could have big spiritual ramifications for the State.

Indeed some conservative religious scholars argue that only a Zdardrin can ever become Steward when caretaking the throne, since the legitimacy of the State comes from the spiritual authority of Ruthak and his successors. Though the debate is not a hot button issue in mainstream Ruthenish society, there is some doubt whether the clergy will recognize the new found authority of the Stewardess, which could open up discourse once more for a restoration of the Monarchy, which could plunge Ruthund into a constitutional crisis.

However most political commentators are not worried about this prospect, as the new Thuidwethon is expected to be the most secular and left-wing session since its inception and any constitutional crisis can be mitigated by amending the Basic Law-- which seems to be on the WJF’s agenda either way.

In her closing statements in the debate last week, Brenelduz concluded by saying, “As Stewardess, it is my belief that God wants me to serve the Ruthenish people as a leader of a nation, and not as just Brenelduz. And because of that, I say to all of you and my opponents up here-- my faith or my past shall be divorced from what I do as Stewardess of Ruthund. I will only do as to serve our people, our nation, and to fulfill the agenda I laid out tonight.”