Ineland.Info - RTI/IRT
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Minister-President Vandervelde delivers New Year's address
INELAND_INFO (Hautcour) | Tonight we conclude year 2021 and welcome 2022 with our arms wide open. Therefore, as it is tradition, Minister-President Frederick Vandervelde gave his New Year's address from his office at the head of government's retreat at the Hôtel de Vievy. Here are some excerpts of his message to the country:
Fellow Inelanders, fellow citizens, let me break into your homes and share with you the joy of this special evening for a few minutes.
Tonight we conclude a year that has been a turning point for our nation of nations. With our entry into the European Union a few weeks ago, Ineland culminated a centuries-long process of exchanges and cooperation between different peoples that has brought us here. Diversity is part of Ineland's DNA and has been so for too long to remember, that's why accession to the EU was of such importance for us.
However, accession to the EU is already behind us and now it's already time to start looking onward to our next objectives.
Ever since I was elected to office in 2014 I have commited myself to a deep improvement of our infrastructure with special attention being directed towards our telecommunications and public transportation. A turning point will be reached next month with the opening of the high-speed rail link along the Hautcour-Julianshaven-Zeevorde axis, which will soon be joined by another one connecting Zeevorde to Bühlsdorf via Augenheim due to open in early march. This is obviously not the end of our government's ambitious plans for Inelander rail, as the second phase of the High-speed rail development program will tackle the issues of our international connections with an aim at establishing regular high-speed links with other EU member states by mid-2023 both through our state rail operator but also through open competition by private and other state companies.[...]
As our society keeps advancing on several aspects, our institutions need to continue advancing as well to properly reflect the views and opinions of you all. It has already been a bit over three and a half years since our last general election, and our parliament is but a still image of the feelings and thoughts of 2018's society. At the gates of 2022, our country needs to renew its vows with democracy and update the parliamentary picture. That's why I can now announce that our next general election will be taking place on Friday, March 25th, concurrently with an election for Ineland's European councillor. However, in the spirit of what I just said and for the sake of renewal, I will not be leading my party into the upcoming election and therefore will not be the person delivering next year's New Year's Address.
It has been an immense honour to be your Minister-President, and even though my institutional commitment will soon be over I will continue working for our country as a regular citizen, as you all do every day through your hard work.Thank you very much for your time and may you have a Happy New Year.
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European Council debates recognition of UNSR
INELAND_INFO (Europolis) | This week, the European Council is debating on a motion to recognise the Union of Nicholeizian Socialist Republics as the sovereign government of Icholasen. The motion, tabled by Council speaker and councillor for Istkalen, Iras Tilkanas, calls for the UNSR to assume Icholasen's roles in institutions and organisations as well as its membership of the European Union.
The motion has sparked fierce debate in the chamber, as councillors have expressed concerns with regards to the status of the United Dominions of Icholasen, or Free Icholasen as its government in exile is known. James Mizrachi-Roscoe, councillor for the United Duchies, has expressed that the UNSR should only be recognised as a member if Free Icholasen is recognised as a member as well, while also casting his worry about recognising a government borne out of a coup d'état.
While the opinions of councillors opposing recognition of the UNSR are varied, the voices supporting the motion seem to clearly share the view that such a move to incorporate the UNSR into the EU comes out of an exercise of realpolitik and an attempt at normalising relations with the de facto government that is exercising its authority over the territory of a member state. Councillor for Ineland, Prince Charles of Linthaut, made it clear in his intervention in the Council chamber:
"For the sake of peaceful coexistence in our region and normalised diplomatic relations with the de facto government of Icholasen, Ineland welcomes this motion and expresses its support for it. Even though we may hold our ideological differences with the UNSR, we believe it is in everyone's interest to welcome them back into the European family."
This position is shared by the government of Ineland. Kasper Merckx, Minister of Foreign Affairs, has said in the past days that, should the opportunity arise, "the UNSR should be welcomed into the European Union" as a full member state. Sources from within the government also pointed out at the possiblities for cooperation should the UNSR be recognised by the EU, like the construction of a high-speed railway tunnel under the strait separating Icholasen and Ineland that would help place Ineland as a hub for railway transportation in the region.
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Foreign Minister Kasper Merckx confirmed as Volkspartij candidate for Minister-President
Hugo METTERNICHT (Zeevorde) | VkP's director committee, convened today in Zeevorde, has unanimously decided to weight it's support behind Kasper Merckx as the party's candidate for Minister-President in the next general election scheduled for March 25th. He is also expected to be confirmed along this afternoon as candidate by the Parti Réformateur and Recht und Freiheit, the other members of VkP's broad centre-right alliance,
This nomination means an end to the complicated situation for the Volkspartij after its popular leader, Frederick Vandervelde, announced his intention to retire after 8 years at the helm of Ineland's government. Merckx has been a familiar figure to the country's public opinion during Vandervelde's 8 years in government. As Minister for Infrastructures first -being the mastermind behind Ineland's high-speed rail development plan-, and Minister for Foreign Affairs later, Merckx has been Vandervelde's closest ally and support in cabinet. Their relationship predated party politics, as they both attended university in Den Brugge and met as members of the university's debate union.
Merckx's nomination as candidate signals a will for continuity with Vandervelde's policies in government, as well as a reaffirmation of the moderating turn taken by the VkP in 2011 after the current Minister-President's election as party leader. Before Vandervelde's tenure as VkP leader, the VkP had for over 15 years remained a sort of pariah in mainstream politics due to its longstanding cooperation with nationalist organisations such as Mouvement Royaliste and Vaterland.
Besides confirming Merckx's role as candidate, the VkP board also adopted the guiding lines of its election platform, with main points including: further development of rail infrastructure, betting on nuclear power as the main driving force behind a green transition, normalisation of relations with the UNSR, cooperation with Spain on the international arena, and ECON membership in the short term.
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Parliamentary and European election 2022 - Polls open across the globe for Inelander overseas vote
INELAND_INFO (Europolis) | Polls have opened today all over the EU for Inelanders residing in other member states to vote in this year's general election. Along with the 165 seats of the Chamber of Commons distributed along the diverse linguistic electoral colleges (the 65-seat French-speaking, 69-seat Dutch-speaking, 27-seat German-speaking, and 4-seat Bascunian-speaking), 10 are reserved for this group made up of over 2 million Inelanders who have decided to settle abroad.
Though millions are already able to vote, the remaining voters -in fact, the vast majority of the voting roll- will have to wait a few more days until the official opening of polling stations on Friday at 9 am. This additional time gives parties a final chance to try and convince the remaining undecided voters. With this years' election comes the first ever use of the Sainte-Laguë method for seat apportionment, which is expected to facilitate a plural and balanced composition of the lower chamber of the Estates General. According to latest polling by CIOP, the Centre-right alliance is expected to come first with 57 seats, followed by the Progressive coalition with 43 seats, with the ecologists in 3rd place with 31 seats, the Democrats in 4th with 27 seats and the Patriotic coalition in 5th place with just 10 seats.
In addition to the Chamber of Commons, citizens are also called to vote on Ineland's next European Councillor. Estimates by CIOP point out to a close race between Reformist Dominic Ferry and Labourist Anton Raabe.
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Parliamentary and European election 2022 - Centre-right alliance stays largest grouping in Commons, AO leader Jacquinot resigns
INELAND_INFO (Hautcour) | Polls have closed and, as ballot counting nears finalisation, it seems more than certain that Kasper Merckx will be our next Minister-President. Despite losing 7 seats along the way, the Centre-right alliance has come out first with 56 seats even after PR's disastrous performance that has cost the French-speaking conservatives 11 seats.
The Progressive coalition, though still the second largest grouping, has itself lost 11 seats, with French-speaking Alliance Ouvrière's situation being specially dramatic. This has led Victor Jacquinot, AO's secretary general and leading candidate, to resign. Despite overall loses by the major parties in the coalition, Dutch-speaking Adp is expected to take a leading role in the coalition from now on under Madeleine Vries' leadership in the Chamber of Commons.
However, the surprise performances of the night have come from three sides. The Ecologist grouping's excellent level of supports has propelled them from 18 seats in the 2018 election to its current 31 seats. Besides the greens, the centrist Democrats have also experienced a boom of their own achieving 28 seats, 12 up from their 2018 results. Finally, the Republican Party has for the first time entered the Commons with two seats.
After this election, government parties and their allies in the chamber have consolidated their overall position, just one seat short of parliamentary majority. However, the main parties in government have ended up in a more fragile situation which will likely lead to the Democrats joining cabinet.
Parliamentary and European election 2022 - Ferry and Raabe to face each other in run-off election for European Council seat
INELAND_INFO (Hautcour) | Alongside the Chamber of Commons election, the first round in the election for Ineland's next European Councillor was also held. The first round was won by Anton Raabe, labour candidate supported by the Progressive alliance and the Green groups, with Centre-right backed Dominic Ferry coming in second. They were followed by centrist Leonore Demeer and, in a distant fourth place, far-right Bjorn Schneider.
As no candidate achieved the minimum 45% of votes to avoid a run-off, next friday a second round vote will be held between Raabe and Ferry. Ferry is expected to easily defeat Raabe on a 55-45 result.
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Parliamentary and European election 2022 - Ferry defeats Raabe 58 to 42, surpassing expectations
INELAND_INFO (Hautcour) | After the first round's uphill battle, everything seemed like a simple walk for Dominic Ferry, centre-right candidate to become Ineland's next European Councillor. Initially predicted to win in a 55 to 45 result, in the end the moderate politician managed to beat his labour rival and former minister Anton Raabe 58 to 42.
The race was the tightest in the Dutch-speaking college, with the result there being a 51 to 49 for Ferry, and in the French-speaking college, with a 54 to 46 result. However, what helped seal victory for Ferry were the German and Basconian-speaking colleges, which both delivered a roughly 81 to 19 result in favour of Ferry.
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Merckx voted in as Minister-President
INELAND_INFO (Europolis) | A mere two weeks after the Parliamentary election, Kasper Merckx has just been voted in as Minister-President of Ineland. Despite his coalition losing 7 seats in the last election (56 seats from 63 in 2018), the astounding growth in support for the centrist Democraten and the continuing strength of Basconian Interest helped secure 87 seats for this front of centrists just shy of the 88 seat majority needed. Despite all republican, left and far-right groups vowing to vote against Merckx, negotiations with centre-left independent MPs secured their abstention, allowing for Volkspartij's leader to be elected with 87 votes for, 85 against and 3 abstentions.
This new coalition government will, for the first time ever, include members of the Democraten, with their leader Sebastian Böhnermann being in most bets as Merckx's successor at the helm of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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Merckx-Aguilar phone call helps ease tensions, MFA suspends measures
INELAND_INFO (Hautcour) | A day after the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced a series of measures after the address to the Spanish nation by Prime Minister Jesús Aguilar late saturday, Minister-President Merckx and Aguilar had a phone call earlier today to try and ease tensions.
In said call, Aguilar congratulated Merckx for his recent election as Ineland's new Minister-President and clarified that his remarks were not aimed at neither Ineland nor their European Council representative. It is worth mentioning that Councillor Prince Charles of Linthaut abandoned the plenary room of the Council last week after a viciously threatening intervention in the debate by Wesley Greene, Councillor for the Union of Duxburian Dominions.
After the call, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the suspension of the announced measures and the return of the ambassador to Madrid in a few days time, even though the Ministry and the whole Government will continue to work towards legislation that guarantees fair access for commercial shipping to the open seas.
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Ministry of Culture and University of Aigues Calmes to send a team of anthropologists to Underath
Adriane PETERHOF (Zeevorde) | After the surprising discovery of an isolated and technologically disadvantaged society in the terra nullius peninsula by the northern shores of the Gibraltar Strait, the Ministry of Culture has unveiled plans for a team of anthropologists to be sent on a fact-finding mission. The operation, under the management of the Department of Anthropology and Human Evolutive Studies of the Free University of Aigues Calmes, is expected to be done with permission from the Underathian authorities, with which the Inelander ministry expects to get in touch in the upcoming days.
This announcement comes after the craze by European governments to perform visits to Underath and its apparent leader and absolute monarch, King Zagreus. A series of leaders from all over the Union, spearheaded by the diplomatically-hyperactive Spanish Prime Minister Jesús Aguilar, have rushed to visit the Kingdom of Underath in the past few days. The Inelandic government, on the other hand, has opted for a more cautious, less disruptive way to carry out this "first-contact" in an attempt to learn more about their society so that more light might be shed on our country's past and society during the Middle Ages.
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Government introduces bill in Commons to launch ECON membership bid
Hugo METTERNICHT (Zeevorde) | Jeanine Servet, spokeswoman for the federal government, anounced today that the cabinet has introduced a bill to the Commons to get permission to oficially apply for ECON membership. The European Coalition of Nations, or as it is known by its acronym ECON, is a defensive and economic partnership made up of 4 nations: the United Duchies, Reitzmag, Yosai and Brickston. According to sources within the government, admission to ECON was one of the topics discussed last march in the bilateral summit held in Aigues Calmes between former Minister-President Vandervelde and Reitzmic PM Bridges.
This bill will be discussed and decided upon under an express legislative procedure, with a decision possibly coming as soon as monday or tuesday. The advance in the process to join ECON has been harshly criticised by the Adp, which considers this a "risky move" by the government at a moment when tensions seem to be escalating in the Gibraltarian Strait due to developing events around Underath.
The government has been quick to dismiss those comments as simplistic, giving the public assurances that ECON membership will not compromise Ineland's position in the region or undermine its relations with regional actors such as Spain. This application to join ECON will only mean further opportunities for Inelandic businesses and a more stable defence arrangement for our county, said Minister of Defence Cyril Gagnot.
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Commons passes resolution (122-51) to grant government permission to seek ECON membership
Hugo METTERNICHT (Hautcour) | After a lengthy debate in the Commons floor, the Chamber passed the resolution introduced last weekend by the government allowing for the cabinet to negotiate admission into the European Coalition of Nations grouping. The resolution gathered the support of more than two thirds (117) of the chamber with the whole government plus the Alliance Ouvrière, the Arbeiterpartei, the far-right and the republican party supporting it, the Greens, Arbeiderpartij and the far-left rejecting it, and 2 leftist independent members of the chamber abstaining.
After this legislative success, foreign minister Böhnermann will get in touch with the Reitzmic government in its role of depositary of the Cair Para treaty in order to kickstart the admission procedure which is expected to be quick.
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King Jean announces his intent on abdicating the crown
Hugo METTERNICHT (Hautcour) | During a televised speech yesterday, king Jean IV announced his intention to abdicate the throne of Ineland by the end of the summer after a 37 year reign. During his speech, his majesty alluded to his age as an essential factor in his decision.
Jean Marie Charles de Mérignac-Ponton, who was prince of Sousair prior to his election to the throne in 1985 after the death of Martin II, has been the king of the Inelanders for well over three and a half decades. During this period, the United Principalities have undergone a series of deep social changes, as well as the further development of the federal system introduced under the 1969 amendment to the constitution. Jean has been the third French-speaking monarch of the country after his great-grandfather, Jean III (1921-1925), and Guillaume VI (1925-1939).
His majesty is turning 70 years next September 27, which is the presumed date of his effective abdication. Once the act is made official, the Seneschal of the House of Electors will summon the leaders of the 31 states of Ineland to meet for an urgent electoral session of the upper chamber. This abdication is legally possible due to a 1983 amendment to the constitution that introduced this possibility to allow for Martin II to leave the throne due to his declining health. However, Martin died before he could abdicate himself, which will thus make Jean the first monarch in modern Inelandic history to abdicate.
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Ineland wins EuroVoice 42
Hugo METTERNICHT (Trondheim) | After what surely was a long yet exciting night for Clara Luciani, the Inelandic singer won EuroVoice 42 which took place tonight at the city of Trondheim in Fremet.
Ineland struggled to keep the 4th position in the initial result announcement, but soon went into a three-way competition with Nofoaga and Icholasen (the Free one) for first place. However, our entry slowly increased its lead while the next 5 entries started switching positions in the leaderboard until mathematical victory was achieved when the penultimate result came in. In the end, Ineland finished first with 96 points, followed by Istkalen as second with 82 points and Icholasen as third with 76. Host Fremet came in tenth with 54 points.
With tonights win, Ineland is expected to host the 43rd edition of the European Union's song contest and contacts between the EUBC and state broadcaster RTI-IRT are already underway in order to start planning. Sandrine Meckelmans, an RTI-IRT spokesperson, has already said that a bidding process will be taking place with a host city being announced later this month.
