Leagioan News Agencies
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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:
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to give Labor Unions the right to peacefully protest and strike
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prohibit certain anti-union actions by employers and retaliation toward workers who participate in organizing
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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
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Prevents companies from making sudden lock-outs on union workers when unable to negiotate a contract
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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:
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530 Total HOC seats starting 2022 = 270 Constituntency Seats and 270 List Seats
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4 percent electoral threshold required to attain a list seat with Alliances needing 6% to get a seat
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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
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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
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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 -
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."
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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.
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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.
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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.
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New Constitution Revision Submitted and Approved by National CongressThe National Convention that was called for by the National Congress with the support of the President and many governors of the states and territories announced the end of its negotiations with various members of Leagioan Political and Cultural society. The constitution was revised after strong debate on the effectiveness of Bicamaralism after strong political stalling within the National Congress in the recent months. Eventually, President Mouri-Kudo was able to get many governors to agree to the way of revising the 2020 Constitution to implement a system to make a government more workable within the Commonwealth. The conference that was held occurred took place over the spam of a month to develop a new revised Constitution of 2020 to where it will resolve the many issues that were felt within the previous version.
One of the many things that were changed within the Constitution was the powers of Senate in blocking legislation passed by the House of Councilor, who has the power to accept a person that the President will nominate as the Prime Minister of Leagio. The Commonwealth will at this point will then shift into become a semi-presidential parliamentary federal republic. The House of Councilors will have more powers than the Senate with the Governor-General serving in the Senate with the ability to vote. Furthermore, in a move that remove the HOC Reform Act passed by President Mouri-Kudo, the Constitution revision included different provisions of Dual System election of the House of Councilors keeping 210 Constituency Seats through First-Past-The-Post and 315 List Seats through a 2 percent requirement in the nation; although, there are certain exceptions that are allowed such as being a minority political party.
Although, the Senate would still be existent and elected by the people, its powers are now severely limited to where it would eventually be forced to make a decision on a bill forced by the House of Councilors through certain procedures that the revised Constitution of 2020 provides. However, one provisions of the Constitution that is revised is that it not only creates the State of Kyiv out of Huttson but grants automatic statehood to all the current territories of the Commonwealth with immediate full representation within the Senate of the 6 Senators that they each receive which drives the number of Senators in Congress to 123 with the Governor-General included as a voting member.
The provisions of the new Constitution are to take effect next week where President Mouri-Kudo announced that after negotiations with various members of the House of Councilors, she will appoint Councilor Marie-Laure Lahaye (Former 2020 EU Councilor Candidate that lost against Francis Plessis in the old Popular Electoral College Round) to be 1st Prime Minister of Leagio. Many members of the Socialist Union Party and Green Party announced that they were supportive of the idea and would vote her into the Position through a coalition government with the Progressive Alliance Party. If accepted then it would be enough for Mouri-Kudo to have a Government running that to her would be more functional and a coalition that to her might be willing to actually work with her. When asked about the circumstance, Councilor Marie-Laure Lahaye said that in a manner to have a honorable and working government of Leagio then she would be honored to take the reigns for this new type of Leagioan Democracy. Some political experts feel that this move might help improve the Progressive Alliance Party in maintaining their share of the Seats in the House of Councilors when the 2022 Midterms comes rolling in this December.
(Councilor Lahaye having a Press Conference after she was elected into the House of Councilors back in 2020)
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Marie-Laura Lahaye Inaugurated as Leagio's First Prime Minister through new Coalition Government with United People's Front
In a session that took place for no more than 2 hours, the House of Councilors through its powers provided through the Revised Constitution of 2020 accepted the nomination of Prime Minister by President Mouri-Kudo through a vote seen as odd by many political pundits of Leagio. The person nominated was Councilor, and former 2020 EU Councilor Candidate, Marie-Laura Lahaye, who is seen out of the entire party the most left-leaning Progressive. When nominated, the Progressive Alliance Party has only 223 out of the 541 seats in the House but in a move that surprised many people was that in the nomination Senator of Diamond Heart Mary Scott to be Deputy Prime Minister alongside Marie Lahaye. A nomination that was brought by none other than the President herself as by the powers provided by the revised constitution. In no doubt in a move that many pundits believed instantly a sign of a new coalition government that includes the Progressive Alliance Party, Socialist Union Party, and the Green Party. In total, the number of seats that form this government would be 282 out 541 which makes a 52% government control of the House of Councilors and an even larger one in the Senate.
After accepting the nomination and being given said nomination, Prime Minister Lahaye explained that her government would be one focusing on the growth of the Commonwealth's economy, expanding the postive reputation of Leagio with the EU, and beginning strong work programs to ensure the growth of the working class of Leagio. Immediately afterward, Prime Minister Lahaye formed a cabinet that include some that were part of Mouri-Kudo cabinet before the adoption of the revised constitution but also 3 members of the Socialist Union Party and 2 Members of the Green Party.
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Prime Minister Lahaye Introduces Project Wayside
This afternoon the National Congress passed a bill presented by Prime Minister Lahaye and supported by many of her party and the United People's Front called the Project Wayside Act (with 62 Senators Vote in comparison to 39 Against including the Governor-General and while the House of Councilors had 291 Councilors voting FOR as 241 votes AGAINST and the rest abstained), which encompassed many new infrastructure projects that were debated within the National Congress after the negotiations between President Mouri-Kudo and Yosai recently over a rail-line connecting Tokyo to Tullion. In the Project Wayside Act, projects such as a construction of a new port city in the State of Arlick would be able to hold more shipping and industry than Port Hilson. This new port city would also include a rail-line that connects it and Port Hilson to Montgomery in Elthize, which a source close to the President confirmed that it was something that was discussed between President Grimwald of Elthize and Mouri-Kudo in the recent summit that the two leaders held. Project Wayside, according to Prime Minister Lahaye, would have this new Port City constructed not far from the Elthize border and within a time span of at least 5 months for the residential and commercial sectors under the right investment moves with construction companies in Leagio and possibly even Elthize, where Prime Minister Lahaye explained that the project would Elthic workers to help build the city with good pay of above the Arlick Minimum Wage of 19 Sulias an Hour or around 29 Euros per hour with benefits provided throughout the duration of the work program. Once the residential and commercial areas are finished, Mouri-Kudo explained in a press conference that the naval base part of the project will be the next focus. In addition, the President explained that the Arlick State Government will have the right to decide the name of the town once it is completed.
However, the project did not have unanimous support as obviously seen from the National Congress as some members of the President's and Prime Minister's Party voted against the Project Wayside Act. The reason for the opposition to the Act was a mixture with Conservatives saying that the Project should not be done with the work of people from Elthize as it is a Leagioan Project not a Elthize one. However, another piece of critism is that the project allowed for workers in the project to Unionize even as a Common Government Project. However, the Act passed with the help of not only the members of the United Workers Front alliance but the Social Democratic Party which surprisingly broke away from its long-term alignment with the Civil Populist Party as rumors of a possible alliance between the Social Democrats and Progressives began to circulate in the news for the coming National Congress Election this year in December.
Focusing more on the package that is included on the Project Wayside Act, the bill gives more governmental investment within the Shipbuilding industry in producing ships for a larger Leagioan Merchant MArine Fleet that is run by electric engines and complete in the new shipping regulations in Nofoaga. Although, many question this move, there are some members of the National Congress particularly of the Government Majority led by Prime Minister Lahaye that Leagio has a chance to have some power in this transition that will be enforced by 2025.
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Alliances Form-Up for EU Commission Elections and NC Primaries / Special Senate Elections to test PAP
As the elections for the European Union Commission come closer and closer each day, another type of election is on the way at the same time that is becoming very heated and competitive within the Commonwealth of Leagio. Under the current poles at the moment, for the race to become Premier Commissioner of the European Union EPA candidate Juncker is in the lead with a seven point difference against his current competitor Calvin Kühnert. The former Internal Affairs Commissioner has seemed to at the moment revive the potential of maybe having a huge majority for Leagioan vote with current poll showing him in the lead having 48% while his opponent has 41% of support within the Commonwealth. However, EPA candidate for Premier Commissioner is going to have to work hard to attain the boat as there is still 11% of the population who have not decided at the moment who to vote for and that 11% will be enough to swing the election for Premier Commissioner in either Juncker or Kühnert; however is still too soon to tell as there is still at least two weeks ago until the final vote comes in with early voting to begin on July 20th and plus there is still time for more candidates to register into the race for a position within the European Union Commission. In the last race for Premier Commissioner that Juncker took part in was where he was able to win the Leagioan vote but not by a huge majority against the other candidates lasts year. Many political pundits that are familiar with the voting attitude within the Commonwealth Leagio feel that it might be possible that former Commissioner Juncker might possibly get the votes needed but he's really going to have to work for it. In the race for the Foreign Affairs Commissioner position, there is only one candidate registered to participate in the election and that is Antoni Reynels from Inquista. It might be possible that he will be the only candidate running for the race and he will most definitely went but the question is how much of the Leagioan vote will he receive as that will be most likely a referendum to his position. In the race for Internal Affairs Commissioner, Kevin Cotilla is facing off against the incumbent Ilmaras Kalessed from Republic of Istkalen and at the moment it seems that he might win as the preferred candidate. Many polls show him in the lead with either either 5 to even 12 points in the lead against the incumbent. However, even though the incumbent Commissioner Ilmaras Kalessed is not doing well on the favorability polls for voters in the Commonwealth, there is still a huge percentage of the Leagioan voter base that is undecided and it could shift the election to either candidate.
At the same time that these elections were European Union Commission is taking place, the Commonwealth is also having its own sort of election that is being very significant and will be a predecessor to the election that will occur for the National Congress this December. House of Councilors in particular is of very importance to the President of the Commonwealth Ran Mouri-Kudo as that is the house and where she can be able have a working government under with a prime minister that she can be able to work with properly. This July is gimme the testing grounds for support to the President under the new revised vision to the Constitution of 2020, the National Congress with the Senate in particular will be having a election for the new seats that have opened up for the transition of all the territories within the Commonwealth to become states with full representation of six senators within the Senate. Before the revised Constitution came into effect, there were nine territories with each having four senators within the Senate of the National Congress. Now at the moment, those territories will be having two additional senators as by the provisions of the revised Constitution and the president is taking a hard campaign with members of her party, the Progressive Alliance Party. In addition, a new state was created out of one of the other states of the Commonwealth called the State of Kyiv which is based around all the rural and urban districts of the Kyiv sector of the state of Huttson. This means that an additional six senators will be added to the Senate of the Commonwealth with three being elected directly at the moment and the every three being elected through a list that the State Constituent Assembly of the new state has approved where the states voters will decide through a single transferable vote on which candidates to approve and will be directly afterwards approved by the State Constituent Assembly.
At the same time that these elections will take place, an additional election is being held called a primary election; this is the type of election that will select the party candidates for each of the constituent districts that will be represented within the House of Councilors. The candidates that will win in these primaries will then face off against their opponents in the districts that they will run for. Another part of these primary elections is for the list sector of the House, where party voters will get to decide on the list-candidates that will run within each state and their place within the list. Number of candidates that will be on each list will be dependent on the following conditions:
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The number of list seats that state or territory will have in the house
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Whether or not that the party that the candidate will represent is currently under an alliance
Before this month there was only one electoral alliance that had formed after the adoption of the revised Constitution of 2020 and that alliance is the United People's Front lead by James Moriarty from the state of Freedonia. After the announcement of the primary races and the EU commission election, new political alliances have been announced by various political parties:
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Social-Progressive Alliance was the first alliance announced this month to be formed with it including the Social Democratic Party and the Progressive Alliance Party, where the president made the announcement in front of live television at a social gathering and charity last week. The president announced that the two parties would form a three-person collective committee to act as the executive leader of the alliance with each party nominating a leader and an additional one to act as a mediator.
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Hope for Leagio was the next alliance that would be formed led by former President Kenneth Lifejumper, who two months ago announced that he had switched his political affiliation from the Civil Populist party to the Free Democratic Party. This alliance not only includes the Free Democratic Party but also the Civil Populist Party's old ally the Eastern Leagio Party and also the relatively municipal level Leagioan Democratic Union. This alliance that formed last week as well announcing their platform that they focus on building a new political atmosphere that shifts away from the dramas that occurs within the European Union and intends to focus on a mainly isolationist and free-market platform. Although there has not been a president nominated for the alliance, former President Lifejumper endorsed the EU-Councilor for Leagio, Lionel Morel, as a potential candidate.
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The Conservative Reform Party, the Civil Populist Party, and the Christian Democratic-Republicans announced this afternoon that they had formed the Republican Future Alliance as more or less a alliance to combat against the ideas of the president, the prime minister, and their allies. Many Leagioan political pundits call this alliance a shaky one at best that seemed to be formed more or less as a catch-all alliance on one goal and that is to block the moves, legislation, and the abilities of President Mouri-Kudo. The current spokesman for the alliance announced that this week an election between the parties would be held in nominating a candidate for not only Prime Minister of Leagio but also president of the RFA.
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EU Commission and Senate By-Elections Results
After almost 18 million votes and around 80% of the voting population cast their votes, the election for the EU Commission and the Senate By-Elections came to a end. Many of the polls near the end of the election predicted a win for sure for Kevin Cotilla, but there was not as many hopes for Juncker. Leagioan political pundits seemed concerned that the EPA Premier Commissioner Candidate might not win with a strong mandate as he had in his first time, but it remains to be seen as the final votes were counted. This afternoon after the voting period had ended, the results for the EU Commission and Senate By-Elections have arrived. Under the revised Constitution of 2020, all the territories within the Commonwealth were granted immediate Statehood with full representation within the Senate. A provision within the Revised Constitution stated that on this EU Commission Election, the new seats for at least the 2024 class of the Senate will be elected through a large-scale by-election. Each senate seat is elected by Single-Transferable-Voting System within each state. Most of these new states have been speculated to be strong United Peoples Front states where the Socialist Union Party and the Green Party in particular of the political alliance will gain the seats. However, in order for Mori-Kudo to have a Progressive Senate, her party would need to have 62 Senate Seats. When asking members of the Party on their confidence of attaining the needed seats, they did not seem sure as if the party itself felt that they would not have the chance to keep its majority for long. When we talked to James Moriarity, President of the United Peoples Front alliance, he said that he seemed sure that in terms of percentage of seats, he felt confident in the alliance at least gaining a couple of points. He explained that the alliance did not put much effort into this election as a method to save political and popular energy for a strong push in the Full National Congress Election taking place this December where the Alliance wants to try and gain at least a plurality of the seats there. First results that was announced for viewing was the position of Internal Affairs Commissioner.
In this race, Kevin Cotilla is the winner by nearly 6.5 point lead against the incumbent by gaining an upper hand in this race by gainingg the support of the Urban and Surban vote of the Commonwealth, while the Incumbent managed to snag the Rural and more Eastern vote of the Commonwealth. Next the result for the Premier Commissioner election between Juncker and Kühnert, where by the end of the race the polls were showing a very close toss-up for either candidate when calculating a margin of error. Now the people of Leagio and the European Union will get to see the results as they are announced:
Surprisingly the race was closer than previously thought as the results showed that EPA candidate Juncker is the winner by less than a percentage point or 200,000 votes. It seemed that polling showed that the voters in the Commonwealth were seeing both candidates as similar and unable to decide on the best one with Juncker just barely having a majority. For sure this race for Juncker in Leagio is not mandate, but if he wins in general and runs again for the position then he might be able to gave a stronger lead by then where the December Elections will then take place. In the Foreign Affairs Commissione, since there was only one candidate running, we can safely say that Antoni Reynels won. Now we will shift to the Senate By-Elections, where there were 22 seats up for grabs in this race where the seats that were created for the Class of 2022 were also elected.
When focusing on the United Peoples Front, the SUP and Greens got the five seats that UPF President Moriarty predicted which gives them a larger percentage of the seats in the Senate. Mouri-Kudo's party, the Progressive Alliance Party recieved more seats than predicted by pundits with having a total of 56 seats but that is not a majority and means that PAP does not have control of the Senate that it had enjoyed. However, with the coalition of SUP, PAP, and GP, there is a control with the Government of Lahaye at the moment by 6 seats in majority. However, the questions that people have been asking is will that hold for December as well or can Mouri-Kudo fix this issue by then. Many pundits believe that it will not be possible for any party to have a majority at the moment and whether we will see legislative deadlock again will be unknown for sure. If it does, then talks of removing the Senate might prop up again within the Commonwealth but it will need to be seen for sure. The members of the Republican Future Alliance did gain some seats but considering that in terms of seat numbers, this was a election to gain not lose in numbers only in percentage, then the RFA might be forced to rethink its strategy as considers of party switching within the Civil Populist Party have been heard within the media and if turn then the Civil Populist Party might find itself in a losing position this December, where the Free Democratic party might end replacing it as it gained a seat in the Senate with the CPP's old ally, the Eastern Leagio Party, gaining 4 seats as a strong regionalist party in an alliance with the Free Democrats that might see them rising against the CPP as the new party of the people possibly as it is now led temporarily by former President of the Commonwealth Kenith Lifejumper; who trashed his former party for switching to right-wing rhetoric against Mouri-Kudo over simple foreign policy.
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National Congress Passes new minimum wage of 11 Sulias an hour
The two houses of the National Congress passed new legislation that will start to take effect in October. Through a series of reforms presented by Prime Minister Lahaye, the National Congress in both houses passed legislation that gave Leagio its first commonly instituted minimum wage act where no matter the position that a person works, their compensation must not be lower than the standard that has now been established. Previously, within the Commonwealth, the idea of a minimum wage was placed on the authority of the states and terrorities of the Commonwealth with it ranging considerably. For example, in the most populous state of the Commonwealth, 17 Sulias was seen as the minimum wage in Huttson with Arlick having the highest at 19 Sulias an hour. Although, there is a deeper contrast in the lower populated states of Leagio with Elsweyr, Sule, and Karpitniz having 9 Sulias an hour. States that have less than a million residents living in them tend to have the lowest minimum wage standards as a way to entice more jobs into their spheres and lower the unemployment rate within them. Beforehand, it seemed unlikely that a Common Law Minimum Wage Act would be adapted as many presidents stated that it was an issue that they felt should be left to the governments of the states and territories. However, this attitude changed after the election of President Mouri-Kudo back in 2021 that ran under the banner of passing a 15 Sulia per hour minium pledge but when elected was unable to from the hold-out of the Civil Populists and some conservative factions of the Progressive Alliance Party that did not support it. Eventually, after getting a government with the United Peoples Front Alliance. Mouri-Kudo and Prime Minister Lahaye were able to get a set-out minimum wage from the conservative faction of the Progressive Alliance Party and got the UPF to agree to the set wage. When asked by reporters on the new focus of her government, Prime Minister Lahaye explained that there is discussion on reforming the tax system of Leagio before the coming elections.
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Mouri-Kudo Announces Coming Expiration of Treaty of Tullion
As August is in its beginning this year, President Mouri-Kudo announced this evening that in agreement with Prime Minister Lahaye, there will not be any attempts to be made to ensure a renewal of the Treaty of Tullion between the Commonwealth of Leagio and the Kingdom of Ritzmag. An agreement that was formed between Prime Minister Bridges and President of Leagio at the time Kenith Lifejumper, where the two leaders agreed to form a trade of free trade between the two nations with other provisions that were strongly negotiated with the two parties. The agreement also covered provisions that included an education exchange program between the two nations with a discount on Leagioan weapons up to 15%. However, ever since the Copalan City Affair, President Mouri-Kudo reduced the discount by executive order down to 5%. This move in particular was one that was constantly debated on whether or not the president has the authority to make such a move or whether or not the move falls in the boundaries of the powers of the National Congress as the legislative branch of the Commonwealth. Many setters of the parties in opposition to Mouri-Kudo strongly urge that the Commonwealth has a duty to continue provisions of the treaty and meet with the Prime Minister of Ritzmag in updating its provisions.
However, Mouri-Kudo announced that she will not be interested in renewing the Treaty of Tullion for a variety of reasons. One of the many reasons that she stated was the fact that tensions between Leagio and Ritzmag in terms of their governments have changed within the past two years since 2020. She continued to explain that the two countries had strong disagreements that made the idea of continuing the treaty nonenforceable. Many critics of Mouri-Kudo stated that such tensions was started by her in the first place when she tried to convince her party members in the Senate under the old Constitution to deratify the treaty but the move failed due to the rising tensions with members of her own party crossing lines on the votes. Another reason that the president explained the need to continue and let the treaty expire was due to the recent events that were shifting within Ritzmag as at the moment they were planning to leave the European Union. Boyko explained that if it comes to fruit that Ritzmag leaves the EU, then the provisions of the treaty will make it very difficult to even more with the current situation ongoing over the Mediterranean Straits issue between Spain and Yosia.
The treaty is set to expire next month, September, where it will bring in a new set of problems for the incumbent President. Under the current terms of the treaty, Ritzmag is allowed to station troops in Leagio within the state of Huttson. In addition, the Kingdom of Ritzmag is allowed to station no more into vessels within the harbor of Port Hilson. At the moment, there are no Ritzmag naval vessels within the harbor with the issue of the base in the state of Huttson raises concerns about a potential crisis between two governments. When asked about the concern raised by the press, Mouri-Kudo explained that she would be willing to give the troops than time to leave that is acceptable to the Prime Minister of Leagio. However, critics of Mouri-Kudo still issue concerns that this become a potential crisis between the two nations that could've been avoided.
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Mouri-Kudo Against Elthize & Leagio Unification in Response Elthizic Supreme Court Ruling
In Elthize, the recent news about the case of Gresham v. Elthize in the Elthizic Supreme Court had been a wake call for Leagioan voters as the ruling in the Commonwealth's neighbor travel in that the political party known as The Unitees in Ethlize was declared to be a legal political party that should not be suppressed by the Elthize government. The reason for the suppression was the fact that the party, The Unitees, support the idea that Leagio and Elthizic should be united as one nation. In Elthize, the idea of merging is not strongly supported and in the Commonwealth, the same opinion can be said the same thing. In recent polling done weeks previously, only 4 % of Leagioans support the idea of admitting Elthize into the Commonwealth, while 38% are against it and the rest are not sure on their own stance to the matter. Few political parties actually take an active stance in support of the idea and some have stuck to it, especially after the release of the ruling of Gresham v. Elthize. The only party in support of the idea has been the far-right National Patriot Party, while the United Peoples Front and Social-Progressives (President Mouri-Kudo alliance) have strong come out against the idea. President Mouri-Kudo when asked on her opinion on the ruling, she stated this to the press:
"While it is indeed surprising on the specializations of the ruling within Elthize. However, this ruling does not change my stance on the matter that I am against and will never willingly support the idea of Leagio and Elthize merging into one nation or admitting Elthize as a state into the Commonwealth. Elthize has had its independence and sovereignty for many years, which I think should continue. Furthermore, the idea of it would be unconstitutional to the EU Constitution that the Commonwealth ratified as we joined the European Union a couple of years ago. Any party in Leagio that either supports the merging or defends the idea is willing to test the limits of democracy in exchange for the creation of tyranny on a people, which is against the principles of founding President Hudson when he wrote the first constitution of the Commonwealth."
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Lahaye Cabinet Tackles Teacher Shortage in Leagio
Education in Leagio has been constantly shifting as days went by through many administrations. The Lifejumper Administration instituted more forms of testing like LEYE (Leagioan End of Year Exam) on various subjects such as math, science, and Leagioan History. The Ariza Administration before hand instituted stronger requirements on certification on teachers like taking the National Teacher Ethics Test and Strategy Implementation Test. The Sardou Administration back in 2007 implemented the adoption of the Specialized Education Fairness Act in order to provide better resources to students with disabilities within the classroom. However, the one thing that all of these government administrations failed to focus on was the number of teachers that needed to be hired after each move that they made. Many of these measures required teachers to have more duties to their jobs but did not receive in their eyes good job compensation or pay. The average pay for teachers in Leagio is about 35,400 Sulias or around 54,000 Euros but many teachers have issued complaints that the pay is too low when considering that the school requires them to purchase materials for the students in order to continue employment.
In response to these complaints, the Lehaye Government submitted a bill to the House of Councilors called the Teacher Appreciation and Reform Act immediately into its intiation as a parliamentary government. The Act changed the following:
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Required that Leagioan School Districts and Systems (both public as well as private that receive any Federal grants) to redistribute the workload on teachers among all staff equally or create new positions for a positive educational environment for all persons in the school system.
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Creates a national pension system that shall be combined with any state or territorial pension system
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Creates an Evaluation system for teachers that shall not focus on the LEYE standardized test scores that schools receive
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Protects any Teacher unions that are formed within school districts and systems
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Requires that states and territories raise the minimum salary wages of teachers that are new to be 40,000 Sulias, while current teachers receive 45,000 sulias. These new wages will start next school year to allow for districts and systems to begin budgeting.
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If a teacher's students receive a high average on the LEYE on their tested subject, then they will receive a larger increase on their tax returns.
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Provides districts and systems with grants for funding, if they are able to show high retention of teacher staff members.
The Act passed the National Congress with strong support with 338 Councilors of 541 in favor and 62 Senators supporting the motion, which was signed by President Mouri-Kudo recently into law. The Civil Populists were strongly divided on the issue as many are from states and constituencies that have high teacher shortages. Although the act does not fix the issue of teachers buying supplies, the act is expected to convince teachers to stay in the classroom and actually feel recognized by the government of the Commonwealth for all of the hard work that they have to do each school day in order to build-up a future for their students.
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Major Alliances Announce PM Candidates and Begins Campaigning
Starting this week, the hardcore campaigning for the National Congress begins as the month of December recently started meaning that the election for the National Congress is up for voting in December 20 this year. In this race, the entire House of Councilors with 533 seats will be up with half of the 123 Senate seats. At the same time, all of the legislature branches of the states of the Commonwealth will be up for election. In the old constitution, the entire National Congress would be up but under the revised 2022 edition, the method had changed where the House will be up for another 2 years and after 2024 will be up at most every 4 years unless when dissolved. The system for the Commonwealth has especially been changed as the House of Councilors has more power as the house needed for a government to be formed and a Prime Minister to be selected.
The main alliances have announced that they plan to hopefully have a majority within the House of Councilors for their own governments, but polls at the moment show that there are only three realistic possibilities that will be coming in December 20th. By now all the alliances have released their platforms for potential voters to read and see, while the campaigning throughout the Commonwealth is being done.In addition, all the alliances hav announced their candidates for a potential Prime Minister of Leagio:
Prime Minister Lahaye during a session of questioning held in the House of Councilors
For the Social-Progressive, Councilor of the Progressive Alliance Party and current Prime Minister Marie Lahaye announced that she was selected to be their candidate with the support of the Social Democratic Party. Prime Minister Lahaye has already positive polling in how she has runned her government in a coalition with the United Peoples Front. She created Project Wayside which was to provide another Deepwater port and harbor on the Commonwealth, which at the moment has turned out to be very successful and coming along well with said project nearly completion in the housing and residential and the harbor is already started with it expected to completed by March next year.
Protriat of Alfred Stone during his time as Loors Minister of Development
Hope for Leagio, which comprises of the Free Democratic Party and the Eastern Leagio party, announced that their candidate for Prime Minister will be Alfred Stone, who was Minister of Development for the now State of Loors under a Civil Populists and Progressive Alliance Coalition government about 15 years ago.
Senator Russel at the top and Councilor Phila at the bottom
The Future Republican Alliance, which compromises of the Civil Populist Party, Conservative Reform Party, and Christian Democratic-Republicans, announced that they will have two candidates as a possible Prime Minister. The Party with the most that the Candidate representatives will be Prime Minister and the other will be Deputy Prime Minister. The Civil Populists announced that they candidate will be Councilor Liz Phila, while the Conservative Reform party announced that they choose Senator Sam Russel to be their candidate.
Councilor Wilhelm Duran sitting down during a debate about the energy crisis
The United Peoples Front alliance had made the decision long before the other alliances in where they selected Councilor and leader of the alliance in the House of Councilors Wilhelm Duran as their candidate. Councilor Duran of Socialist Union Party is a popular candidate for the left wing base of the alliance and voters, where he had been a stronger advocate for daring measures to fight climate change.Recent polling shows that the Leagioan Voter base, in the lower voting age bracket especially, have started to shift from the more conventionally elected parties like the Civil Populists and Conservative Reformists like seen back in 2020 but in higher numbers. As polls have shown that voters might be considering on voting Parties in either the Social-Progressives or United Peoples Front. Although, much deadlock had occurred in the first two years of the Mouri-Kudo administration, President Ran Mouri-Kudo is still a popular president among the young voters but a lot of voters in terms of voting for Congress have shown thought that there needs to be more reform through a socialist practice that had been seen through the coalition government that Lahaye had first formed with the United Peoples Front alliance that included the Socialist Union Party. The question on which of the two alliances will have a majority in the House of Councilors at least is still up in the air for debate as some pundits speculate that there is the possibility that there will be hung House in terms of alliances.
The main issues that have been at the top of many voters according to polling recent is in the top three, which is constant job opportunities available, Health Care Reform, EU Stability, and Energy. Voters list these as the their top issues that many of the alliances and parties have worked to focus on this election season. The Mouri-Kudo Administration with the Lahaye Government had worked tirelessly on these main issues, but voters still feel that more can be done on these problems.
These are the pltform ideas that all the alliances have been campaigning on so far to voters:Social-Progressives
- Stronger investment in public infrastructure and energy, particularly wind and solar.
- Leagioan membership into the Treaty of Telum by 2024
- Creation of a Independent Anti-Corruption Agency
- Establish a more consistent VAT to fund various economic programs
- Institute a nationalized mail system for the commonwealth.
- Tax Breaks for Companies that pay past the minimum wage
Hope For Leagio
- Legalization of Cannabis in leagio
- Support Right to Disconnect through critical legislation
- Introduce a points-based system for immigration into the Commonwealth
- Increase the investment of infrastructure and jobs in the eastern states
- Privatize all business that the Common Government has stakes and control
- Keep the EU-Councilor for Leagio as a elected position
Republican Future Alliance
- Cut down the flow of immigrant refugee’s
- Membership in ECON by 2024
- 1 for 2 regulation system
- Increasing investment in all forms of energy to help the Leagioan Household
- Limit the involvement of the Common Government in the personal affairs of all its states and territories
- Mandate Port Hilson as a Vice Capital via a referendum
United Peoples Front
- Increase Government Spending in welfare as well as public transportation and ban job cuts in profitable firms
- Redevelop the Health Care System to be free for all through increase in taxes for the rich
- Join the Telum Treaty
- Decriminalize Cannabis within the Commonwealth
- Remove all coal and gas power plants and replace them with nuclear plants
- Abolish the Senate
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Hung National Congress for 2022-2024 / Social Progressives and United Peoples Front agree to coalition government Continuation
After much counting by the Common Election Commission, the results of the National Congress were released and had surprised many bundit on the division that was noticed. When focusing on the results of the House of Concilors, the winner by a plurality was President Mouri-Kudo's Progressive Alliance Party but only by 5 seats. In the election, the Progressives had lost 98 seats from the 223 that it had from 2020. Although, the lost was made up by the alliance with the Social Democrats which got 62 seats this year from the 36 that it in 2020. However, even with the alliance Mouri-Kudo formed early this year, the President would still need additional 80 seats for a mainly Social Democrat-Progressive government with a Prime Minister that does not have be concerned deeply about many partners in a coalition government running the country. However, this type of situation would have to happen if President Mouri-Kudo wants to continue getting her program done and be re-elected in 2024 with hopefully a rebuilt and refocused Progressive Alliance Party. As the issue that many pundits are suggestion as to why Mouri-Kudo lost so many seats was the fact in that this year the number of registered voters increased and the United Peoples Front alliance, which contains the Socialist Union Party, the Green Party, and the Social Workers Party. The UPF worked teniously since its foundation to be more appealing to voters and moving away from its radical voice that it had early in Leagio's entrance into the European Union. This work certainly bore fruit as the UPF gain 174 seats altogether. Mouri-Kudo currently already has a coalition government with said alliance and there were some members of the Progressive Alliance Party hopping to be able to gain enough seats to get out the coalition with the Socialist Union Party in particular. However, said a dream will not be possible at all. Mouri-Kudo could try with the Civil Populists and Conservative Reformists but it is strongly doubted due to the memories from the previous coalition government (with the Civil Populists) that she had with them where it was unworkable and that situation had took its toll on the Civil Populists this year as they lost even more seats where they had 88 seats and went down by 56 to 32 and if the trend continues then they might fall into the category of being below the 2% national theshold needed to gain a seat in the House of Councilors and the Conservative Reformists lost some seats but mainly to the new Free Democratic Party that gain traction with a alliance with the Eastern Leagio Party.
If Mouri-Kudo wants to have Lahaye continue as Prime Minister and be able to achieve some of her campaign promises instead of none, then Mouri-Kudo would have to continue the Coalition government with the UPF but now with the Social Workers Party and the PAP's alliance partner the Social Democractic Party in order to have even a functioning government, but more cabinet positions would have to been given between all member parties in the government (although, the Social Workers Party would not be able to get any as they have only 8 seats which not be enough to gaining a important seat in government).
Not long especially after the release of the results, the Social-Progressives and United Peoples Front announced that they planned to meet for negotiation of a continuing the current coalition government but with modifications that reflect the composition of those supportive to the government. In addition, the two sides announced that they would give out guidelines of a written aggreement of what the focus of the government will be until 2024. This coalition government would theotrically be more sounder than the previous as the government in the house would have 361 out of 533 seat control, which makes up about 68% of the seats meaning that the government could be able to pass key legislation without serious issues from the senate if it were to block said government. Even though, it is doubted as the Progressive and Social Democratic Senators that vote to de-ratify the expired Treaty of Tullion had lost reelection. In the senate, the government would still have a majority where altogether, they would have 77 out of 123 seats which would equal to about 63% control.
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Social-Progressives & UPF Complete Coalition Renewal Agreement in Elmane Estate
After the results were announced in the recent election with both the Social Progressives (that includes the Progressive Alliance Party and the Social Democratic Party) and the United Peoples Front (which includes the Socialist Union Party, the Green Party, and the Social Workers Party) concluded their negotiations on renewal the current coalition government for the new session of the National Congres that will begin on January 1st, 2023, till 2025 of the same day at least. The two alliances meet in a conference held in the Elmena Estate, the Presidential Retreat in Arlick, where they discuss the various issues that they want to focus and what special agreements that they wish to implement. The two alliances agreed on Marie Lahaye continuing as Prime Minister, but the Deputy Prime Minister would instead of having the current Deputy Prime Minister Mary Scott replaced with Councilor Wilhelm Duran. In addition, the alliances agreed to divide the positions in the Council of Ministers proportional to their numbers in the House of Councilors with PAP having 5 ministers, SUP having 5, SDP having 2 and the Greens having 2. In addition, in terms of the policies of the coming second Lahaye Ministry, the following policies and measures that would be focused were agreed upon.
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Creation of an Anti-Corruption Agency
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Introduction of a progressive tax code system
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Reformation of healthcare through nationalization with a multiple-payer system
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Additional Spending Packages as well as schemes that focus on housing, infrastructure, energy (through solar and wind), and modernizing the armed forces (including the investment in drone technology)
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Stronger (no exceptions practice) regulations on big businesses that tackle workers' rights & conditions, consumer satisfaction, and employment
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Executive Orders regarding the UNSR will remain in place at the moment
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Joint Agreement on two replacement candidates for the Supreme Court in 2024
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Ensure Leagioan Membership into the Treaty of Telum by 2024
After they had agreed to the provisions that the new coalition government will focus on, the two released what the new Council of Ministers will be like for each party with a ministry. Beside each Minister is the name of the person assigned and whether or not they are a member of the National Congress with a C = Councilor and S = Senator. For names that are italicized then it means that they are new to the position.
Progressive Alliance Party
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Minister of Foreign Affairs: Federica Mogherini
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Minister of Economy and Treasury: Tom Kelly (C)
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Minister of Digital Technology: Ramerra Moody (C)
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Minister of Public Works and Transportation: Shinji Ikari
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Minister of Research: Dr. Ritsuko Akagi
Social Democratic Party
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Minister of Agriculture: Kathleen Wood (C)
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Attorney General: Ethel Hearson (C)
Socialist Union Party
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Minister of Education: Leo Goodheart (C)
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Minister of Defence: Mary Scott (S)
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Minister of the Environment: Harper Dawson (S)
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Minister of Cultural Affairs: William Vazquez (C)
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Minister of Social Services: Souma Kayuza (C)
Green Party
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Minister of the Interior: William Develder (C)
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Minister of Health: Mark Dime (S)
When asked about her opinion, President Ran Mouri-Kudo mentioned that as the person that appoints persons to three of the Council of Ministers positions with needed approval from the House (mainly referencing the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, and Attorney General), she felt confident in the stability of the coalition government that will be renewed officially on January 1st, 2023 where its first order of business will be the development of a new national budget by February of the same year. She mentioned that she has no doubt that this coalition will continue to be workable as it has in the past, where the Leagioan voters had shown it by going to the polls this month.
Afterward, news media interviewed the President of the United Peoples Front alliance, Freedonian Diet member James Moriarty, and asked him for his opinion on the agreements and formation of the renewed coalition as he was noticed to be present at the conference in Elmane Estate. He explained that although the alliance he leads did not get a plurality of the vote and seats, they did rise up to a higher standing in Leagioan politics when all the main left-wing parties were divided against each other and show that the alliance does work as intended in Leagioan Elections. "The only thing that we need to do differently when 2024 comes around is be prepared to campaign in a civilized by determined approach" was what Moriarty was quoted in saying to a member of the press.
Meanwhile, other political parties and alliances when they were asked about this renewed coalition government were not so ecstatic. For example, Senator Sam Russel of the Conservative Reform Party (in the Republican Future Alliance) decried the coalition as a communist wave about to stumble upon the Commonwealth by bringing in a wave of tyranny comparable to the UNSR. However, members of the Eastern Leagio Party for example think that it might provide a better opportunity for developing their represented states and might be grateful for the coalition. Others are skeptical and want to see where the renewed coalition goes like members of the Free Democratic Party.
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Civil Populists in Trouble and leave Republican Future Alliance
Not long after the start of the first session of the newly elected National Congress, Chairman and Councilor (Former Governor-General) Mark Gorge stepped down as leader of the Civil Populist Party after its poor performance in the recent National Congress election in December, where said party lost 56 of the 88 seats that it gained back in 2020. The Party had performed so poorly in this election that in a election with a much larger electorate than in 2020, the Civil Populists actually lost about 600,000 which made its defeat more certain and was the cause for the scale of its embarrassing defeat. When polls were conducted as to why the Civil Populists lost so badly this election, many respondents said that it was because of the parties shift to more rightward positions and it being the cause of Mouri-Kudo being unable to govern efficiently.Inside sources said that many members of the Party feel that the future of said party is at risk of collapse and irrelevant due to its positions as well as its recent history. In addition, many members of the Civil Populists in the National Congress suspect that most of the seats and votes that they lost were of the former Left-Wing factions of the party that either went to the Social Democrats and the United Peoples Front Alliance in opposition to the party’s alliance with the Conservative Reformists and Christian Democratic-Republicans. On January 2nd, the Civil Populists temporary leadership committee with its members voted to the leave the Republican Future Alliance by 84% majority. On the same day, the leadership committee also held an election to elect a new chairman for the party itself through the method of instant runoff. Eventually, by the third round, the Party membership choose the famous Senator representing Gopen and Former Internal Affairs Commissioner Candidate Maria Kerstin to lead the party through its uncertain times.
Maria Kerstin was recently re-elected to be Senator for the party in Gopen within a safe margin as the Party did not suffer as much in the Senate side of the election by losing only 1 Senate seat. During her speech for the chairman election, Senator Kerstin said that if elected “she would rebuild the trust and relationship that the party once had with the people by going back to the party’s founding roots back in 1907 where it shifted its stances based on the needs of the people through petitions and sit-ins with the citizens of the commonwealth where it once had the name of the ‘Party of the People.’”
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National Congress Complete New Budget for 2023
After much deliberation with the Lahaye Government and suggestions by President Mouri-Kudo, re-elected Speaker of the House Shinichi Mouri-Kudo (First Gentleman and husband to the President of the Commonwealth) announced that a budget for the Commonwealth had been agreed upon and passed through the House of Councilors through the needed means provided within the Constitution. In the budget, there was many changes that were put through focusing on areas that the Lahaye coalition government wished to be a priority of the Common Government this year at least. The industry sector of the Commonwealth received a huge cut in funding in this budget from 126 billion Sulias to now 57 billion Sulias. The reasons for this substainal cut was back by the Lahaye government and Minister of the Economy and Treasury Tom Kelly in that the industry of Commonwealth has already shown tremendous growth, but now the people need help not big business. Meanwhile, the percentages of other sectors might have been reduced but their budgets compared to last year have not by much at all.
However, the areas that received an outstanding increase in budgets were Healthcare, Housing & Development, and Welfare. For example, in last years budget, the healthcare sector had a budget of just 84 billion Sulias but now it has been dramatically increased to have a budget of at least 223 billion Sulias or 337 billion Euros. Prime Minister Lahaye, during a round of question by the leading opposition party, the Conservative Reform Party, explained that the need of the large increase in healthcare was a means of not only modernizing the healthcare system of the Commonwealth but also to improve the living of Leagioans in the medical support that they received. Many experts agreed that the large increase in healthcare is Lahaye’s steppingstone to nationalizing the health system of Leagio.After debate, a vote was held on the budget with all the government majority of 361 voting in favor of the budget with 172 Councilors in the Opposition voted against the budget, while the opposition from mainly the Conservative Reformists and Christian Democratic-Republicans of 83 voting against and many of the Civil Populists voting against the budget due to disagreements on the need to provide much large spending to energy.
In addition, the budget included the following provisions that were made law for various ministries this year:
• The Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Research shall invest in research as well as develop on drone technology and hypersonic missiles.
• Ministry of Agriculture shall provide agricultural investment on additional subsidies to small farms and farms that are environmentally friendly.
• Ministry of Public Works shall provide additional funding to the rail-line from Tullion to Tokyo and classify it as a top priority project
• Ministry of Social Services shall provide monthly subsides of about 150 Sulia’s to families at or below extreme poverty for living needs
• Ministry of Social Services in coordination with the Ministry of Education shall provide a free school-lunch program to needy schools in the states in Eastern sector of the Commonwealth.
• Ministry of the Environment shall spend at least 5% of its budget for environmental rebuilding programs.
• The Ministry of Education shall provide grants to the construction to 5 schools and a university in Project Wayside
• The Ministry of Education shall spend 3% of its budget on student loan forgiveness.
• The Ministry of Cultural Affairs will introduce a job employment program and training program for minorities that are unemployed for longer than 3 years
• The Ministry of Housing and Development shall spend at least 5% of its budget for the construction of new housing projects in the states of Loors, Kyiv, and Fiowa for the year.
• The Ministry of Research and the Ministry of the Economy & Treasury shall coordinate investment on a program that shall make multi-currency use in stores simple.
• The Ministry of Public Works shall develop a blueprint plan for renovating the capitol sector for residence of the Prime Minister and the new Ministries of the Commonwealth by the end of the year.