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[Montenbourg]

Classical Monarchists could expel Frank Underwood. They won't.

MONTAGUE-. Parliament House don't have to stand so close to former Minister of Commerce and PM candidate Frank Underwood, the South Montague CMP who spouts in favor of privatization and antisemitic sentiments with frequency and fervor. Now with two candidates of the Classical Monarchist Party contesting the post for Prime Minister, current Minister of Foreign Affairs Elizabeth McCord and former Minister of Commerce Frank Underwood, the scenario becomes unprecedented in Montenbourgian politics.

The chances of Underwood getting kicked out of the conference are "slim to none," Jack Westmoreland, CMP-Ga., said. "That’s as extreme as it gets. Some of the stunts other people have pulled over the years and they didn’t get expelled, I don’t see her getting expelled from the caucus. At the end the vote will decide; because our current laws don’t prohibit two candidates from the same party to run for Prime Minister.”

[Montenbourg]

Clarisse Bourgeon re-elected for European Court of Justice.

Portrait of Justice Clarissse Bourgeon

EUROPOLIS-. The Commission for the Summer 2021 European Court Elections has confirmed Judge Clarissa Bourgeon to the European Court of Justice a second victory for the veteran judge of Montenbourg.

Justice Bourgeon, a 2020 Summer Period ECOJ Judge, a leading advocate for women's rights in the 1970's and a member of the Royal Court in Montenbourg for the past 13 years, is on record as the first Montenbourgian to become part of the European Court of Justice.

Who is Justice Bourgeon?
•Favoured by conservatives and liberals due to record on issues like abortion and same-sex marriage.
• A monarchist staunchly supports the Montenbourgian Monarchy and defend the principles of a constitutional monarchy based on the primacy of the supreme judicial function, with hereditary succession, mediation by a tribunal is warranted if suitability is problematic. Famous for her article at the Montague Times about why Monarchy Is the Best Regime, for It More Easily Favors Peace
• An originalist, which means interpreting the European Constitution as authors intended, moving with the times only when Epiqueya happens.
• Spent years as member of the Royal Court of Montenbourg and the summer term as European Court Justice, following a long career as a law professor.
• A devout Catholic, as a distant aunt of Her Majesty The Queen, she’s also the brother Montague's Archbishop Joseph Ratzinger-Bourgeon.

[Montenbourg]

Developers break ground on $32M eco-housing project at Tuagavale in Nofoaga Islands

TUAGAVALE, NOFOAGA.- After the disastrous eruption in the Island Montenbourgian developers broke ground Thursday on a $32.3 million, 55-unit housing project as part of the Nofoaga Islands reconstruction plan.

Her Majesty's Ambassador to Nofoaga Islands Her Royal Highness The Princess Catherine said in a news release that the project "will provide critical affordable housing in Tuagavale, while also continuing Nogfoaga ongoing efforts of reconstruction, a formal sign of Montenbourgian help in Nofoagan soil. And a compromise with the Nofoagan people."

The Royal Foundation of Montenbourg selected The Bourgeon Group (TBG) to build the housing project on Tuagavale part of the Montenbourgian Government initiative of reconstruction in Nofoaga.

[Montenbourg]

Montenbourg Extradite Citizens in Gadalland and Aspern Over Charges

HM Charge d’ Affairs to Galland and Aspern Walker Bush on a Press Conference

Montague Times.- The Kingdom of Montenbourg under diplomatic talks with Gadalland and Aspern seeked successfully to extradite two Montenbourgian citizens so they can appear before a judge in Montague, facing charges of conspiring to illegal crossing and burglary; on a special mission the Her Majesty’s Charge d’ Affairs to Gadalland and Aspern Sir Walker Bush informed Saturday during a press conference with the Justice delegation of Gadalland and Aspern.

Walker Bush, it said, they were arrested in Gadalland on Friday at the department’s request. Now both citizens are on their way to Montenbourg capital where they will face charges submitted by the Gadalland authorities.

The Montague Times was not immediately able to identify the citizens lawyers for comment. Their identities will remain private.

[Montenbourg]

Ministerial Questions: Minister of Education

Tammy Baldwin, Minister of Education before Parliament

Parliament House.- Order, order! Minister's Questions are now in order!

The Honorable Minister, Tammy Baldwin will be taking questions from the House.

• CMP Deputy speaker, What action is the Minister of Education taking to ensure children with additional support needs receive adequate support?

TB Deputy Speaker, I am working with the chancellor to achieve an increase in funding for the DfE, part of which will go into increasing subsidies for students with special educational needs.

• GPDeputy speaker, What steps is the Minister’s department taking to ensure young people who need a tutor receive access to one?

TB Deputy Speaker, as the member might remember, I've written a bill that intended to implement the right to free tutoring for every student in the Kingdom. Whilst that bill failed by a margin of one vote, the Green Party in particular have made a move towards supporting our stance and the Liberal Party has managed to get every devolved government to support this policy. If the polls end up correct we will get a more left-wing parliament, I am confident that we can pass this bill and finally achieve this right for our students.

[Montenbourg]

Ministerial Questions: Minister of Foreign Affairs

Helle Thorning-Schmidt, Minister of Foreign Affairs before Parliament

Parliament House.- Order, order! Minister's Questions are now in order!

The Honorable Minister, Helle Thorning-Schmidt will be taking questions from the House.

• CMPDeputy Speaker, In the wake of the Caspian Triunvirate how does the Minister feel that we can move forward with Reitzmag given their hostilities in the past?

HTS Deputy Speaker, I believe that a strategy of cautious pragmatism will be ideal going forward, as one should be hopeful to see improved relations between the Kingdom of Reitzmag and Kingdom of Montenbourg, but be mindful as to what is at stake here. The situation is deplorable, and only talks about the delay in this progress. We join our friends and allies on their previous statements.

• GP Mr Deputy Speaker, How does the Government aim to address the growing hostilities against political dissenters in Copala City? Activists are jailed and students are jailed.

HTS Deputy Speaker, I understand that a previous government exerted some pressure on Reitzmag for its violent actions, under the economic blockade of the Bordeaux Decree however, we will continue to monitor the situation in Copala City and work on an optimal path forward.

• CMP Deputy Speaker, How is the Foreign Ministerresponding to the worrying news of the criminal charges against Montenbourgian nationals in Gadalland?

HTS This situation has been solved under the permanent dialogue and negotiation of our Charge d' Affairs, Walker Bush. The citizens are in Montenbourgian soil, they have been extradited.

• CMP Mr. Deputy Speaker, Does the government have any plans to support the expansion and creation of a Commonwealth - as there are several countries who have currently applied, and many more whom have expressed interest?

HTS Deputy Speaker, I have no real opinion on the expansion or creation of a Commonwealth.

• GP Mr. Deputy Speaker, Does the government have any plans, proposals, or ideas, to assist in the stabilisation of multiple countries or parts of countries, in Nofoaga which have become destabilised as of late volcano eruption?

HTS We have started a project under Foreign Aid for the creation of eco housing in Tuagavale, Nofoaga. This with the help of private montenbourgian sector. We remain committed to working with our regional partners in Nofoaga to assist their security and stability situation and that position hasn’t changed.

• CMPMr Speaker, To ask the Minister of Foreign Affairs, in light of The Bergen Climate Change Conference is the government on board?

HTS Deputy Speaker, I am incredibly proud of the work that has been accomplished by this department the previous term, this government has been incredibly proactive in matters of climate change and I think we've set a positive legacy for the future. Yes, is our answer to the Bergen accord.

• CMP Deputy Speaker, Our main adversaries, are rapidly expanding their military capabilities. We are not netral anymore. How can the Foreign Minister talk in light of this?

HTS Deputy Speaker, we are upholding the defence procurements of our allies such as the Empire of Inimicus, which I feel obliged to state was supported by the previous administration under the Classical Monarchist Party. I don't see what has to be justified here considering that, yes we are not neutral anymore that doesn't mean we are going to war, but I am proud of the efforts we've made this term to support our allies and confront authoritarianism. Also this government is looking forward for a defence treaty with the brother nations of Spain and Inquista.

[Montenbourg]

Ministerial Questions: Minister of Defense

Joni Ernst, Minister of Defense before Parliament

Parliament House.- Order, order! Minister's Questions are now in order!

The Honorable Minister, Joni Ernst will be taking questions from the House.

• GP Deputy Speaker, What steps are the Minister of Defense, and by extension the government at large, taking to reduce crime in our nation's most impoverished areas, without disrupting the majority-minority neighborhoods which too often bear the brunt of over-policing and invasive police tactics within the Kingdom?

JE Deputy speaker, The predominant cause of crime is poverty. Alleviate that, and crime goes down. The upcoming budget makes unprecedented investments in areas that need it most, and I think that will have wide spread ramifications.

• CMP Deputy speaker, Can the Minister inform me of what provisions are in place to ensure people who need to immigrate to Montenbourg from countries affected by extreme situations, such as Nofoaga, Copala City and Icholasen can do so safely?

JE Speaker, this an issue that also concearns the Minister of Foreign Affairs but my answer is that Asylum is one of the most effective ways of letting in those from disadvantaged backgrounds. The upcoming budget sees notable increases in spending to process asylum claims faster.

• NZ Speaker, Has the Minister spoken with the new province governments in Newcastle, Monte-Carlo, and Duke in regards to how all four corners of the Kingdom can work to make their citizens safer?

JE Speaker, Not yet, I shall endeavor to keep in strong contact with them however, though I have a strong feeling that their respective local governments and governor-general are fellows and ones who agree with my approaches to safety.

• GP Speaker, Naturally, the Minister is only recently appointed, so I speak more broadly of himself and her predecessors. What is the one thing that his department has done this term that she is proud of?

JE Well, I'm no fan of my predecesor, Lieutenet Claire Hale, althought she was the first woman to hold this position before me. The proudest accomplishment of my department this term is something I can take credit for. The creation of a path to citizenship for undocumented migrants is an unprecedented leap forward on human rights. Similarly, I am happy we defeated backwards facing approaches to citizenship policy tabled by the CMP, eventhough Iam a member of the Liberal Party.

[Montenbourg]

Nyborg launches assault on monopolies

Lexington House, residence and office of Her Majesty's Government.

Montague Times.- Lexington House announced a sweeping executive order Friday to promote competition throughout the economy, in the most ambitious effort in generations to reduce the stranglehold of monopolies and concentrated markets in major industries. The order also includes elements designed to lower the price of prescription drugs, protect consumers' privacy and increase scrutiny of abusive business tactics in the tech industry.

The effort marks a major push by Prime Minister Nyborg’s administration to focus on competition. It also offers a response to progressives’ criticisms that the federal government has focused too much on supporting banks and other corporations without concern about the effect on consumers, who have watched their choices dwindle over the years. The Prime Minister described herself as a “proud capitalist” in her Friday remarks, clarifying that “capitalism without competition isn’t capitalism, it’s exploitation.”

Nyborg used the order to promote herself as a champion of the working class. She said the heart of Montenbourg's capitalism is open and fair competition, and she noted that the past few decades have threatened that competition. “Forty years ago, we chose the wrong path, following the misguided philosophy of enforcing laws to promote competition,”

Lexington House said order will include initiatives to require airlines to refund fees to passengers who receive shoddy Wi-Fi service or baggage handling; restricting businesses’ ability to foist noncompete agreements on employees; challenge occupational licensing requirements that limit competition in industries like health care; and guarantee farmers and motorists the right to repair their own vehicles without voiding warranty protections. Top Lexington House officials said the order seeks to ensure small businesses and consumers have access to fair markets.

“The overarching objective with the executive order is to make sure the Prime Minister is encouraging competition in industries around the country,” Lexington House chief of staff James Baker told reporters Thursday.

Taking aim at just one industry the order will cover, Baker added: “It doesn’t sound right to most people that there are three shipping companies that are dominating the market and upping and increasing costs for suppliers, small businesses, people across the country. That doesn’t sound right or fair, because it isn’t.”

[Montenbourg]

Visitors can picnic at Queen Victoria's summer home on Friday

MONTERINI— For the first time in her nearly 70-year reign, Queen Victoria is allowing the people to picnic on her front lawn. It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, the courtiers say. And the grass? It really is a little greener on the other side. “The boss,” as the staff openly call the monarch, thinks the people need this bit of fresh air after a wretched year: a scone with jam and cream, a cup of tea in an otherworldly oasis.

And so for the rest of the summer, starting on Friday, the paying public may sprawl upon the Main Lawn of Borgensborg. This kind of access is unprecedented in the modern era. A ticket holder who pays the 16.50 pounds, or about $23, can arrive with a bucket of chicken and a bedsheet, if they want, in ripped jeans and flip-flops, and recline on some of the most sublime, privileged, historic, protected acres on Earth.

Before? Do Not Walk On the Grass.

Now? Please Do.

In a normal year the queen would move to the summer residence in July and August.

[Montenbourg]

Frank Underwood questions whether a Peacekeeping Mission could lead to war over Istkalen.

Former Minister of Commerce and member of the Conservative Party.

MONTAGUE NEWS-. Birgitte Nyborg has been challenged by a former cabinet predecessor and contedant , Frank Underwood, as to whether the newly discussions on a deployment of a Peacekeeping Mission in Istkalen could lead to Montenbourg being dragged into a war with Reitzmag and Vayinaod over Istkalen.

The intervention came during an exclusive interview with Montague News. The former Minister of Commerce asked Nyborg: “What are the implications of this mission for the stance that would be taken by the Kingdom of Montenbourg in its response should Reitzmag and Vayinaod attempt to invade Istkalen under the J-TAI? We should leave them alone; under the previous administration I often said that Istkalen wasn't worth it. They lost a war, they cannot receive anything. They are losers. We cannot revive this subject on and on and on. It's nonesense, let Reitzmag absorb another shithole country.”

In reply to this interview Lexington House offer some declarations under the Chief of Staff which was careful not to rule anything out. “The Kingdom of Montenbourg remains determined to defend international law and that is the strong advice we would give to our friends across the world, and the advice that we would give to the government in Istkalen,” he said.

[Montenbourg]

Demonstrators in Europolis join 'Helathcare Reform for All March'

EUROPOLIS. — Dozens of people took to the streets of Europolis and marched demanding better access to universal healthcare across the Union. After the Montenbourg Councillor, Emma Granger, presented a reform to the European Health Insurance Card to unite it under the budget of the European Health Organization, marking a path for universal healthcare.

"The current EHIC program is bureocratic, it has it's own budget for god sake, and does not gurantee access unless you have the money to pay it. This eliminates that privilege for those who can't afford it, putting it under the umbrella of the EHO, and in a way makes a truthful path to universal healthcare across our union." said Emma Granger, Councillor for Montenbourg, at the European Council.

Kay Tillow helped organize Tuesday’s rally and said she felt very passionately about the cause.

“All of us know that we are one serious illness away from bankruptcy because we have a system where people pay too much and are not covered and people go without care because at the end is not universal, is just a card that says you are entitled to the healthcare of your country,” said Tillow, the chair for Istkalens for Healthcare.

Bob Brown from Inquista said he felt the need to attend the march because he recently turned 65 and understands the benefits a single payer pan can provide.

“The single payer plan has been wonderful. I have been lucky and have had insurance all my life through my occupations. This plan, as a retired man, is as good or better than any insurance I’ve ever had, this is good," he said.

Dr. Sheperd, head of the European Health Organizatio, said there are many Europeans who are just a year or two away from hitting the key age of 65, who have limited finances and often put off seeking care until they qualify.

“People that are 63, or 63 and a half, or 64 can’t wait because they are working on hurt knees that they can’t do anything about. They can’t afford their medicine. They need advanced treatment for their congestive heart failure and they can’t wait for their 65th birthday so they can go on a healthcare that sometimes their own countries do not cover. ,” Dr. Sheperd said.

[Montenbourg]

ECJ Justice Bourgeon on the comments by Deputy Speaker Donald Tusk

ECJ Justice Clarisse Bourgeon at Good Morning Montague

Good Morning Montague.- Clarisse Bourgeon, Justice of the European Court and aunt of The Queen of Montenbourg, said on Wednsday that "We need dramatic change in culture in our European Council, accountability, and no tolerance for individuals who cross the line."The ECJ Judge bristled at a follow-up question from Good Morning Montague, who asked if she could really say that Tusk has done a "excellent job" if he's been accused of mysoginistic comments.

"Look there are procedures, the truth will come out in time, of that I am confident. The investigation should be overseen by the European Court. You know when you have a Union where we have so much happening...there are locker room talk and colloquial expressions that are part of every culture. We need a space where the Deputy Speaker has a space to explain his declarations, and the Councillors to defend their position. As far as I know this can turn out into a political war, we should be careful."

[Montenbourg]

Emma Granger's Full Interview With MBC Rachel Banks

MBC Monrning Edition.- Three months after losing the 2021 Internal Comissioner election, Emma Granger is out with a memoir, It Happened. Morning Edition host Rachel Banks talked to Granger about her book, the election's outcome and how she's carried on. Here's the full transcript of their conversation. The audio on this page is an edited version of the interview that was broadcast on Morning Edition.

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Rachel: Emma Granger joins us now from her home in Montague, Province of Strasbourg (Montenbourg). Councillor Granger, thanks so much for being here.

Emma: Thank you so much, Rachel.

Rachel: How's being home?

Emma: It's actually great. It is wonderful being home having time to putter around clean closets spend, you know, long days at the European Council back in Europolis, now with the European Budget we are wanting to put together the health of europeans, surely taking friends out to dinner;

Rachel: I'd like to start our conversation about your new memoir by asking you to recount a particular event. This is a campaign event that you did in Prague, Czech Slavia under a zoom call. This is communist country, and you had met many voters there weren't happy with you. So you knew this was going to be a tough appearance and you wrote in the book the following quote: "All I knew for certain was they were angry, they were loud and they hated my guts." Can you just describe what that day felt like to you and what it signified as you moved forward in your campaign?

Emma: Well, it was a particularly difficult, even painful day because I had made clear for years, starting back in my 2019 campaign for Foreign Comissioner, that I understood what was happening in the changing fortunes of ideologies, that were largely global market forces, but also a growing recognition of the challenges that climate change posed. And I had given a number of speeches. Now my campaign said, really, there's no point going to Czech Slavia because European Progressives haven't won it in years. It didn't matter whether you said something or not, a EPA candidate was not going to win it. But I felt a personal responsibility to the people in that country, look being bold means asking for big changes in a country ruled by communism; and the Czech National Social Party and the Civic Forum did an enormous bold move hosting us.

Rachel: Your campaign advisers told you time and again that a significant portion of the European electorate didn't trust you. Why didn't you tackle the trust issue head on?

Emma: Well, we did. The thing is that there were a huge amount of candidates and the rounds didn't round up for us; because of the hateful rhetoric charge up against me and the party. And I certainly tried to stop that, but candidates like Joe Biden did nothing but to feed the sentiment against us. It was somewhat disorienting, I will say, because I'am on the record one of the highest approval ratings in the European Council, along with Edward Firoux and Jean Claude Juncker in european public life. I think 76 percent approval. When we started the campaign we had every reason to believe that we had a path forward that relied on how people felt about me and how they thought about my work over many years. But it's absolutely true that between the consistent pounding on me, first by Joe Biden, but more consistently by his supporters, and the theme that Lesson and Daggott stuck with, it really was hard to break out from under that. But as I say in the book, Rachel, despite all of that, I was on the path to winning and I felt great about the debates and our rallies. I thought we were on the right to, you know, move toward the end of the campaign.

Rachel: Could another Progressive, have beaten Piane Daggott as Internal Commissioner?

Emma: I don't think it's useful to speculate, because I was the nominee. I mean, we have the best team in the Union.

Rachel: Are you saying Piane Daggott in some ways was unbeatable? Because it is so difficult to undercut the momentum, people seeking change, want to change parties. People didn't see you as the change candidate, they would have likely not seen any Progressive as the change candidate, and she had the upper hand.

Emma: Well, when the Party of the European Left started their campaign with a vile attack on Progressives. Time and time again she was rewarded, Rachel, by the press, which saw this reality TV show going on. It was just irresistible, and candidates like Biden follow along. You know, show the empty podium, let's really build it up. They called it "not being politically correct" but in fact it was rude, it was, you know, discriminatory, it was bigoted, it was prejudiced, and yet it fed into part of the electorate that just wanted to have a primal scream. They didn't like what was going on. They wanted something different. They weren't interested in what you could actually do, because we are clearly seeing that this administration is doing nothing, just sitting by and waiting for the upcoming elections, its sad but the people are watching.

Rachel: Although you say you still want a role in shaping the European Progressive Alliance of the future, you're still going to talk about the issues you find to be important, but there are some Progressives out there saying they don't want you to do that. That writing this book is opening old wounds, re-litigating a past and it doesn't help move the party forward. Have you reconciled that, that people might not want you around as the party steps forward?

Emma: Well, they don't have to buy my book, and they can turn off the radio when they hear me talking. I'm not going anywhere. I have the experience, I have the insight, I have the scars that I think give me not only the right, but the responsibility to speak out. And who knows keep going Forward Together for a Better Europe!

[Montenbourg]

Walmont opens new store in Port Beauharnais, Nofoaga

New store in Nofoaga capital.

Port Beauharnais, Nofoaga.- Walmont is expanding its grocery deliveries into Nofoaga. This week, the retail giant announced its opening as part of the Royal Tour of Her Majesty The Queen in Nofoaga.

The move comes as more people depend on the convenience stores after the disastrous eruption that hitted Nofoaga.

The Montenbourg-based company has tried to break into the market for years. The company has received strong favored from labor unions and elected officials who argued that Walmont's presence would push smaller merchants in of business and create jobs.

[Montenbourg]

EHO and The Royal Foundation launches campaign on suicide prevention.

The Baroness of Downton Lady Diane Crawley at the Gala ceremony along with Dr. Derek Sheperd

MBC News.- After the EHO Report on suicide rates in the Union, The Royal Foundation, the main charity of the Royal Family, hosted along with the European Health Organization the Lifesaver’s Gala, to honor those who bring hope in the fight against suicide.

From scientists, to public policy advocates, to loss and attempt survivors and others, Gala honorees have gone above and beyond in drawing attention to the cause of suicide prevention, elevating public discourse around mental health and suicide, and successfully creating real change within our society as a means to ending this leading cause of death.

In addition to raising much-needed funds for The Royal Foundation leading initiatives in the areas of research, education, advocacy and support for those affected by suicide, the Gala is an opportunity for our supporters to come together and recognize the past year’s accomplishments. The distinguished guests share inspiring and informative stories about how suicide has affected them, and their valiant and passionate efforts to fight it.

The key speakers of this event where Aliyah Didica, Secretary of Health of @Inquista; members of the Roman Curia from @The-Holy-See and members of the Thuidwethon of @Ruthund.

The Research Award this year goes to Dr. Edwin Buildin, Ph.D. from the United Duchies. He specializes in the successful implementation and sustainability of Integrated Behavioral Health through continuous quality improvement methods and enabling technologies. He is an Scientific Advisor, has been awarded grants from Bosco University, the National Institute on Drug Abuse and other funding groups.

The Survivors of Loss Lifesaver Award went Raymond & Mary Anne Burke from @Brickston_Rep whom lost their son, Raymond Matthew Burke, to suicide in 2020. Soon afterwards, they decided to participate in what was the very first Out of the Darkness Overnight Walk, held in Montague last September. Connecting with so many others who had a connection to the cause was emotionally powerful and rewarding. The Overnight is only one of the ways the Burkes have been involved. Mary Anne Burke currently sits on Loss and Bereavement Council. Through these efforts and others, they pay tribute to their son, and all those connected to our cause.

The Public Education Lifesaver Award went to Lorenzo P. Lewis from @Gadalland-and-Aspern on his The Confess Project; a social entrepreneur, professional speaker, and founder of The Confess Project, an initiative that centers on mental health and wellness for young men of color.

[Montenbourg]

Granger announces she will not run for Commissioner in 2021

Emma Granger alongside the Eurorail

EUROPOLIS.- The Councillor for Montenbourg, Emma Granger ended months of intense speculation about her political future during this Commission Elections on Friday with a sudden announcement that she wouldn't seek the either the Internal Affairs Commissioner or Premier Commissioner positions, abandoning a dream she's harbored for decades and putting Jean Claude Juncker from @Spain, Joe Biden from the @Kingdom-of-Reitzmag and other candidates in a stronger position to capture the nomination.

Granger cast the decision in personal terms, “As a woman and councillor, I have worked through the process of seeking a better Union for all of us; this time I will continue my work in the European Council,” she said.

Still, Granger, who a spokesman said made her decision Thursday night, positioned herself as a defender of the legacy in Women's rights, LGBT+ rights, on her famously acts such as the Reproductive Act and Child Marriage Act, also remembering her works on the Refugee Protection Act.

The Councillor for Montenbourg sent a pointed warning to the front-runners in her remarks, apparently rebuking her for comments that Progressives were enemies.

"I believe that we have to end the divisive partisan politics that is ripping this Union apart, and I think we can; I'm choosing to believe in a better Europe." said Granger, who, though a crafty partisan, often worked across the aisle during nearly three years in the European Council.

The announcement marked a major shift in the Commission Elections race, removing a potential threat to the Premier and Internal Affairs Commissioner frontrunners, who had been polling behind of a hypothetical Granger candidacy.