Elthic News Media
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Fringe candidates lead Elthic voters to write-in candidates
In a surprising twist, Greenwich Grimwald won the most votes in the Premier Commissioner race
December 7, 2022
The most recent European elections have been exhausting for all of us. After the premier race boiled down to two candidates, both extremists on different ends, with neither incumbent running for re-election, the next European Commission seemed rather apocalyptic. However, this doesn't seem to be the case, after various nations across the European Union decided to give the "write-in" option a chance, including Elthics.
"Yeah, I don't like any of the candidates," says Lianne, a middle-aged woman from Holloway who tells us this is her first time voting in a European election. "I'm really only here to ensure that the misogynist doesn't win."
Lianne here refers to Patrick Baitfemme of Blue Croatia, the infamous misogynist who had a mental breakdown during the Commission debates, held in a random Europolis street. Luckily, she has nothing to worry about, as he only received a little over five per cent of the Elthic vote. The winner, in a shocking twist, was President Greenwich Grimwald.
"My parents always talk about how great of a leader Mr Grimwald is," says Matthew, a teenage boy from Forecoaster who said this was the first election where he was old enough to vote. "I think he should consider governing the European Union as well. My dad says he lifts weight off the poor by lowering the taxes." When asked about his family's financial status, Matthew stated that his father was a "well-off" real estate agent.
Grimwald, who won over the other write-in option, the incumbent premier Jean-Claude Juncker of Spain, by only a thousand votes, said that he would be declining the position in the case that he won. "While I will not be assuming office even in the rare circumstance that I win, I am grateful for the Elthics for having confidence in me," he said in an address to the nation.
The real winner of the premier commissioner election was the "none of the above" option, which was included for the first time after Grimwald approved the Senate's decision to do so. The choice got 444 thousand votes, accounting for thirty-four per cent of all the votes.
In the Internal Affairs Commissioner election, incumbent Kevin Cotilla of Leagio, who did not seek a re-run, won by winning 31.6% of the vote. Foreign Minister Oscar Crofton, another write-in option, placed second, getting 19.6% of the vote. Meanwhile, Tarek Al-Wazir of the United Duchies, the only candidate for the position, got around a hundred thousand votes for him and five hundred thousand votes against him.
The abnormal disapproval ratings for Al-Wazir are assumed to come from the fact that the IAC ballot did not have a "none of the above" option, as Al-Wazir was the only candidate that was not a write-in, which was something that was protested, both in his home country, the United Duchies and by Al-Wazir himself, who called it a "sham election". Speaker of the Senate May Hobbes announced that this flaw of the new electoral reform would be discussed in the next Senate session.
While the election results were considered "official and binding", the legal ambiguity of the write-in ballots puts the validity of this election to question. The European Court of Justice, now led by Chief Justice Dayo Mwangi, is expected to resolve the dispute in the coming weeks.
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A conversation with Wirt Harland, Elthize's first commission candidate
- Wirt Harland, who was a member of the Senate from 2009 to 2022, has declared his candidacy for the next EU elections
- Harland, 52, was the opposition's presidential candidate in 2018 and one of the most outspoken supporters of Elthize's EU membership
- Known for his moderate politics in his party, Labour, Harland says he will focus on strengthening democracy and unity within the European Union
Freddie Bonnay - December 25, 2022
After the European Court of Justice nullified the out-of-the-ordinary commission elections that happened in November, another election race has immediately begun. While Elthize didn't have a candidate for the previous commission elections, it has a candidate today: Wirt Harland, former senator and presidential candidate.
Harland told me that he planned to run for elections in February after the four-month term of the commission elected in November would expire. However, things did not go to plan. The November elections were riddled with chaos: One of the candidates had several criminal charges and the other candidate was a downright misogynist. The latter would later have a mental breakdown during the debate, which was held on a random street in Europolis. The candidates barely got any votes, with countries opting to write in the incumbents: Jean-Claude Juncker, the Premier Commissioner who is running for a second term this time, and Kevin Cotilla, the Internal Affairs Commissioner that hasn't announced anything yet.
From accidental senator to famous politician
I strolled around Harper Park, an upper-class neighbourhood in southeastern St. Lucas, to find the house of the man himself: Wirt Harland.
For most of us Elthics, Wirt Harland is not an unfamiliar name. He rose to prominence in 2009 after being appointed as a senator. Yes, appointed, not elected: Harland was aiming to be a member of the National Assembly, which he succeeded to do so in the 2008 elections. However, the sudden death of Senator Wallace Michalski meant that the Labour Party had a vacant spot they were responsible to fill.
After passing around six or seven tree-lined streets, my phone finally cheered the words: "You have arrived!". Meanwhile, Mr Harland was waiting for me, the interviewer, on the third-floor balcony of what seemed to be a recently constructed condo. He left the balcony, presumably to unlock the outside door to let me in.
The year he was selected to fill the late Michalski's position was one of the most tumultuous times for Elthize in recent times. After then-president Archibald Franklin announced that the government would cut almost all social programs and leave their funding up to the provinces. He was gravely opposed to the decision, going as far as calling it "total annihilation of the state". In the next few years, he would be known as the loudest voice demanding the impeachment of Archie Franklin.
Conflicts of the past
I walked inside the building after pushing its outside door that loudly clicked a couple of times, indicating that someone was trying to open the door from the inside. The elevator appeared to be out of order, so I took the stairs to get to the third floor. Surprisingly, despite this being the first time I got to interview him, I was not nervous at all. He opened the door, we did the usual greetings and went inside his rather minimalist home. He told me that this is his second house, bought shortly after it was built a couple of years ago, confirming my thoughts.
"Excuse me if it looks like a mess... I'm packing some things up before going on the debate and the rallies and whatnot," Harland tells me. I, of course, tell him there's no issue.
Harland was one of the key figures in the vote of no confidence issued against Franklin on November 2011. While the vote itself failed, the constant press surrounding Harland was enough to make him one of the most prominent figures in the opposition at the time.
"It still surprises me that Franklin survived that vote," Harland remarked. By this time we had sat down for the interview, with our drinks, mine a glass of water and his a cup of plain black tea. "I mean, a lot of LibDems were dissatisfied with Franklin. I guess it's because a vote of no confidence would trigger an election, which could've destroyed the LibDems."
He paused for a while and continued: "But then, here's the thing: In the 2012 elections, they still held a majority in the parliament! Granted, it was a minority government, as everyone hated them enough to not come close to a coalition, but you'd think that they'd be decimated."
His last words reminded me of something he had stated in the past, causing me to interrupt him right after the end of his sentence: "Mr Harland, if I recall correctly, around three years ago you made a speech where you blamed that situation on your party's incompetence."
"Yes, I have," Harland immediately replied, before taking a sip of his tea. "It wasn't around three years ago, though, it was in 2013. I frankly considered leaving Labour at that time because of how appalled I was at Maria Franke's leadership. If Jenkins didn't take the leadership off her I would've left."
Harland spoke Franke's name like it was derogatory. As if it was shameful to be her, the one who was the leader of Labour from 2009 to 2014. Franke's leftist and socialist-adjacent ideals clashed directly with Harland and the rest of the moderate wing of the party, who sought to take the parliament off the Liberal Democrats' hands in 2012.
"Labour truly deserved better than that," Harland continued, now more annoyed than ever. "It upsets me. I'm still enraged about it even after a decade has passed. In an environment where people were seeking alternatives to vote, aside from Franklin's LibDems, Labour couldn't catch any of them because of Franke's sheer incompetence. And we still allowed her to lead us to the 2014 elections, where, after we got utterly defeated by Grimwald, we finally realized that we should've picked up someone new."
As a presidential candidate
Harland has some credibility when it comes to competence: Despite his decade-long service as a senator, he was the main presidential candidate of the opposition back in 2018, backed by Labour and Greens. While Harland was not endorsed by the Socialist Alliance or The Crimson like most candidates that preceded him or his successor this year, Matthew François, he was still closer than any other candidate to beating Greenwich Grimwald.
"There was like, what, less than one percent difference between me and Greenwich? Matthew couldn't manage that," Harland grinned. "And I did it at a time when [Grimwald] was more popular. People perceived him as a liberal reformer that would pick up where Archie messed up, and he won based on that. And, again, I managed to get only thirty thousand votes less than him four years later."
Harland continued after taking the last sip from his cup: "There are a lot of out-of-touch politicians I still have to advise in Labour because they have no clue what the people want. I'm serious."
"Could you give me an example?" I interjected after trying to drink the water in my glass, not realizing it was empty.
"I mean, Labour's position regarding EU membership would be a great example. Instead of asserting that we would join, we took this weird neutral stance where we wanted a referendum. Why? All the polls show the same thing: Around two-thirds of Elthics want Elthize to join the EU. Why did you need a referendum at that point? Oh, right, to please the clumsy left that gets less than five percent of the votes. When are we gonna understand that their ideas are not popular?"
"We could've structured our EU membership in a way where we could've promised to make sure it would benefit the middle and the lower class. We didn't do that. We still are stuck in our ways that don't even work anymore." After saying that, Harland got up to refresh our empty cups.
Harland's plans as a commissioner
After sitting down with another glass of water for me and another cup of black tea for himself, Harland continued without missing a mark: "With my candidacy to the commission, I'll have far less association with my party, which is mostly a positive thing."
This remark took me by slight surprise. "Could you elaborate on that, if you don't mind? Does that mean that your candidacy isn't supported by Labour?" I asked.
"Sure," Harland replied. "No, that's not what it means. My candidacy is financially backed by Labour, and Jenkins will talk to The Greens to see if they would be happy with endorsing me as well." He took a sip of his tea and continued: "That means that I'll have more freedom for my political agenda, without much compromise."
"And what would be that political agenda, Mr Harland? What are you planning to offer to the European voters as an Internal Affairs Commissioner?"
"First of all, I want to reform the election process that the EU has for its commission. The commission elections we had this November were an utter disaster, and, if we want people to take the European Union seriously, we need to have a more foolproof electoral system."
He continues: "My first reforms will concern the unopposed candidates. We will have an approval voting process for them, where, in other words, there will be a referendum on whether the member states want the lone candidate in the position or not."
"If the candidate gets enough votes, they get elected. If they don't, a special election is immediately held, with the failed candidate barred from entering. These special elections will not start until there are at least two candidates, and I wanna take that precaution to ensure that we don't have these special elections over and over again."
"Second, I want to make sure that people who are asking to be in the executive body of an institution as big and significant as the European Union are fit for the job. Can you believe that a woman as insane as Bauer managed to get into the elections?" I don't say anything and nod approvingly as Harland references Annelise Bauer, the Istkalener who ran to be Premier Commissioner in the previous elections and had several attacks on councillors under her belt.
"Exactly," he continues. "That is why you need to make sure that the candidates don't have criminal charges and are mentally fit for the job. And I want to make sure that is the case when I'm in the office."
"The other important thing is that I want to make changes to the way the European Council functions. More specifically, I want to add a three-fifths or sixty percent approval rule on the bills that affect a country's internal affairs."
"Could you elaborate on what you mean when you say internal affairs?"
"It's about laws that would affect how a country functions inside its borders. So that would be the country's civil law, government structure, and school system, just to name a few."
"Wouldn't this slow down or block the passage of needed reforms and laws that could benefit the average EU citizen?"
"I would argue that this benefits the average EU citizen as this way the bills passed would have more credibility and better longevity. It would encourage the councillors to be collaborative, to reach out and convince other councillors why they should vote for their bills. It would force them to be competent and compromising as they now have to listen to the opposing side if they want to see their bills pass instead of just relying on which ideology has more power in the council. Yes, fewer bills will pass, but the bills that pass will be of higher quality."
"And it's not like it's not possible to pass bills that would benefit Europeans greatly without much controversy: The Banning of Conversion Therapy Act of 2020 is a great example of this. It solidified the EU's support for its LGBTQ+ community by banning make-believe practices against them that did more harm than good. But what's relevant here is how competent the councillor behind it, Kent Evergreen, was. He managed to amend the bill in a way that made sure that there was nothing to be opposed to. He was such an expert at wording things, and that's what helped the bill not only pass but pass with no votes against it and thirteen votes for it. That is unheard of. It is a great example of what I'm talking about."
"I've mentioned something about being competent, compromising and collaborative... Well, I guess those three words would describe me, my political career and this commission campaign."
"But you said that you were aiming for less compromise in your commission campaign."
"Less compromising with my political party, yes. Not with the Europeans, not with the member states. I will listen to all of them, all of their opinions, regardless of whether they voted for me or not. I'm not here to push an ideologically-driven agenda, I'm here to accomplish what's best for the Union and what's best for its citizens. I won't do foolish outcries when I see the unfair, I will work on a solution, as I always have as a senator."
"Mr Harland, from what I'm assuming with your promises, you don't seem to be a fan of integration in the EU."
"I mean, there's actual integration, and then there is federalism sold as integration. I can't say I'm a fan of the latter. That's what I'm trying to prevent with my reforms. A good chunk of the European Council doesn't seem to be aware of the cultures and the circumstances some member states are in. The recent prison bill from the Czechs are a great example of this. They want a country whose entire prison system consists of private prisons to change within months, putting extra weight on the Elthic government. The Duxburian Union also has a similar issue [with the bill]."
"Mr Harland, I have one last question, and it is about how are you considering to handle the situation in Svarna Surya."
"Well, it seems like the war is gonna start anytime soon, hell, before I could take office, probably. The best outcome I could ask for is an swift end to the war, a definitive treaty and the start of the country's transfer to its citizens. If I take the office, I'm ready to help. Always."
After that, we both got up to say our goodbyes. I wished him good luck in his rallies, he said it was a pleasure to have me here. I left, and the first thing I realized was that the elevator had started working again. Huh.
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Grimwald disapproves of war on Svarna Surya, affirms humanitarian efforts on the way
President Grimwald stated that Elthize is ready to take in refugees from Svarna Surya.
After an emergency meeting with his cabinet, President Greenwich Grimwald stated that he disagreed with the war on Svarna Surya.
The President made a speech to the press after an emergency meeting with his cabinet, with disapproving words regarding recent events in the European Union, mainly the recent declaration of war on Svarna Surya by Reitzmag and the United Duchies.
"I share the same concern that many of us do regarding the current events in the EU," Grimwald started his speech. "I cannot in good conscience defend how things are handled right now."
The war, officially called Operation Yellow Ribbon, sparked after the Svarnan Navy seized two Reitzmic ships bound for the United Duchies. The authoritarian regime is also accused of initiating terror attacks on both countries, including one at Hampton University in Reitzmag that poisoned dozens of students, and killed at least five students, possibly targeting Rahul Singh-Bhatavadekar, the dissident son of the Svarnan president.
"I have to choose my words carefully here, so first, let me be very clear on something: I do not oppose the measures against Svarna Surya. I fully support sanctioning a tyrannical regime that is so blinded by its anger that it can poison innocent young people."
"Regardless, this war was not inevitable," Grimwald continued. "It is my personal belief that armed conflicts should be avoided as much as possible to prevent harm done to citizens, and it is a disappointment that it wasn't in this case. The best I can do is to call on Reitzmag and the United Duchies to ensure that they put particular work on preventing harm against Svarnan civilians."
President Grimwald also stated that his cabinet was preparing a humanitarian plan that would take Svarnan refugees to escape from the conflict. The plan, which is predicted to be debated and approved by the Parliament in the coming weeks, is expected to safeguard Svarnan nationals in Elthize against extradition requests and espionage.
"Our goal is to take, at most, seventy-five thousand people. We will ensure that the refugees will be safe from their homeland's wrath in Elthize," Grimwald stated.
Correction: A previous version of this article falsely claimed that Rahul Singh-Bhatavadekar had been killed. This has now been fixed. We apologize for the inconvenience.
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Elthize officially adopts EMU, florin to be accepted until the end of the year
Tobias Walters has announced how the country will transition from the florin to EMU
January 1, 2023
After months of debating, preparation and talks, the European Monetary Unit, or the EMU for short, is now the official currency of The State of Elthize.
Elthize joining the EMUzone has been a subject of discussion in Elthize since the Treaty of Finisterre was signed between five nations in October 2020. Since then, the EMUzone has expanded, with the latest member being Leagio, who became an official member in April 2022.
Since January 2021, the EMU was in a "special circulation status" alongside the Elthic florin, which was done to improve relations with Leagio. Since then, both currencies have been considered equal and the EMU has been one of two de facto currencies for Elthize.
The EMU was also one of the most contentious issues surrounding the 2022 elections, as the opposition questioned the legality of the special circulation status. Regardless, the currency being extremely popular among Elthics across the political spectrum diluted the opposition towards it, as all parties except those on the extremes moderated their stance on the EMU.
The first sign of a complete switch to EMU came in July 2022, when President Grimwald announced that Elthize would switch to EMU no later than January 31, 2024. However, this date would be pulled back by a year and thirty days in September, when Grimwald announced that Elthize would do the switch in January 1, 2023. That same month, Finance Minister Tobias Walters announced that Elthize met all the requirements to join the Treaty of Finisterre.
While Elthize may have switched to EMU, the old florin will be valid and available for conversion in all banks until December 31, 2023, according to a directive from the Ministry of Finance. The exchange rate is 1 EMU = 1.55 florins.
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Elthics view ECON negatively after the Svarnan conflict, says PIE
A recent polling suggests that the alliance has gotten more unpopular
January 27, 2023
The European Coalition of Nations, better known as ECON, has gotten more unpopular in Elthize, according to the Polling Institution of Elthize. A survey done by PIE on January 20th stated that thirty-seven percent of the polled remarked that they viewed ECON "somewhat negatively, negatively or very negatively", showing a twelve percent increase from the last survey done in November. Those that view ECON positively have also dropped from twenty-six percent to nineteen percent. In comparison, the Telum alliance's popularity has remained mostly the same.
The drop in popularity is attributed to the recent conflict between two of ECON's major members, the United Duchies and Reitzmag, and Svarna Surya, over two Reitzmic boats bound for the United Duchies being seized by the Svarnan navy, as well as a poisoning incident in Hampton University targeting a vocal Svarnan critic. President Greenwich Grimwald had opposed the escalation of the conflict, stating that the war was "not inevitable".
While the conflict has concluded, with the Internal Affairs Commissioner Wirt Harland leading an agreement between the three nations, the scepticism around ECON is likely to remain for years to come, not just in Elthize, but around the European Union as well, with Ineland reportedly planning to leave the alliance after the conflict.
Neutrality remains the most popular option among Elthics. In another survey done on the same day, sixty-two percent of the polled agreed that Elthize should remain neutral, a five-point increase from November. In addition, fifty-five percent of the polled stated that they would support an official neutrality motion for Elthize, a ten-point increase from November.
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Constitutional Court says judiciary and legislative are equal, insists that The Unitees are not allowed in politics
The landmark decision came eleven days before the reform referendum
January 30, 2023
The much-awaited verdict from the Constitutional Court of Elthize came this morning when the court determined whether the judiciary or the legislature was superior. According to the Court, the answer is clear: No branch of government has supremacy over the other.
"The Constitution of The State of Elthize sets an obvious precedent: That the three branches of government are equal, and responsible for coexistence and keeping the status quo," the decision stated, led by Chief Justice Mac Arthur. "Thus, The Parliament's blatant disregard for The Supreme Court's decision is outright unconstitutional."
The conflict between the Parliament and the Supreme Court came when the Supreme Court declared that the ban put on The Unitees was unlawful and they had the right to enter into the Elthic political process. The decision garnered significant controversy from politicians and the public, including President Greenwich Grimwald, who called the Parliament to dismiss the ruling entirely.
In the decision, the court also called out Grimwald's decision: "It is worrying for a President to send a call to dismiss any court ruling. The President does not hold this power."
However, the Constitutional Court opposed the Supreme Court's ruling on The Unitees, stating that the measures taken against The Unitees were "within the boundaries of the Constitution". Since The Constitutional Court is more powerful than The Supreme Court, this decision effectively overrules Gresham v. Elthize.
Most Elthics welcomed the decision, as the idea of unification with Leagio remains fringe and stigmatized. The decision was made eleven days before the referendum, where there is a possibility of a merger of the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court.
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Constitutional Court and Supreme Court to be merged following reform referendum
Only three of ten proposals in the reform referendum have passed
February 13, 2023
The long-awaited reform referendum finally ended this Friday after thousands of Elthics went to the polls to vote. The referendum, which was approved by President Greenwich Grimwald last August, included ten proposals that included various reforms to the country's political system. Out of ten proposals in the referendum, only three have passed. However, two of them will bring significant changes to the Elthic judiciary: The Constitutional Court and The Supreme Court will be merged into a singular court, with judges there being subject to term limits.
With the controversial decision made by the Supreme Court regarding the legality of The Unitees, as well as the Constitutional Court being perceived as going at a snail's pace on countering the decision, both courts have had their popularity ruined in recent months. Some political analysts argue that this was the catalyst which influenced the voter's decision.
"Me, and most of my colleagues that I talked to, all believe the same thing: The decisions made by either of these courts were popular, so when Elthic voters had the opportunity to abolish both, they took it," states Marion Edwards, an analyst at The Tribunal. Critics believe that these decisions will diminish the credibility of the judiciary. "Grimwald has failed the Elthic judiciary by not protecting it from populism and current politics," Chief Justice Dayo Mwangi claimed. "It is a setback. I am confident that it will recover, though."
In addition to the proposals affecting the judicial system, voters approved another idea that will shorten the time between elections from four to three years. Other interesting outcomes include a proposal to raise the number of representatives in the National Assembly from 250 to 300 being defeated by a slim majority and the failure to reinstate the position of Prime Minister due to low voter turnout. Councillor Liam Zachary, who had expressed interest in running for the position, was disappointed but hopeful: "I will continue to serve Elthics as their councillor."
A proposal to give the legislature supremacy over the executive and judicial branches of the government also failed, both by a high margin and low voter turnout. Two proposals regarding increasing diversity in the parliament also failed.
The details on how to implement the passed proposals will be discussed further in the parliament in the coming months.
Proposal no. Proposal Yes No Turnout Status 1 Do you support expanding the National Assembly by fifty seats, from 250 (two-hundred and fifty) to 300 (three hundred)? 49.8% 50.2% 53.7% FAILED 2 Do you support giving the Elthic legislature absolute supremacy over all institutions in Elthize, including executive and judiciary branches of the government? 22.7% 77.3% 42.5% FAILED 3 Do you support term limits for Supreme Court and Constitutional Court judges? 68.4% 31.6% 58.3% PASSED 4 Do you support a merger of the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court? 55.1% 44.9% 59.2% PASSED 5 Do you support having general elections every three years instead of four? 52.2% 47.8% 55.9% PASSED 6 Do you support the restoration of the position of Prime Minister, which was abolished in 2007? 45.4% 54.6% 50.4% FAILED 7 Do you support some parliament seats being reserved for minor parties to ensure diverse representation in Elthic politics? 15.6% 84.4% 50.1% FAILED 8 Do you support some parliament seats being reserved for specific demographics based on age, gender, ethnicity, or any other factors not mentioned? 9.9% 90.1% 49.8% FAILED Proposal no. Proposal The parliament The president Turnout Status 9 Which of the following two should choose the European Councillor? 50.2% 49.8% 44.9% FAILED -
Inquista wins EuroVoice, Elthize gets top five
Hiatus Kaiyote & Arthur Verocai's "Get Sun" placed fifth at the contest in Zeevorde
February 22, 2023
The thrilling forty-third edition of the EuroVoice Song Contest finally comes to a close with a record-breaking ninth victory for Inquista, who was represented by MorMor with his song "Outside". The contest, held in Ineland for the first time in the city of Zeevorde after the victory of Clara Luciani, was as competitive as its predecessors with the top five, this time including Elthize, fighting to get the victory.
The Elthic broadcaster NET announced on November 28th last year that the band Hiatus Kaiyote would represent Elthize with the song "Get Sun", featuring world-famous composer Arthur Verocai. The band performed second, succeeding opener Czech Slavia and preceding host country Ineland, who placed 7th.
The song had better reception than Elthize's debut and had a more upbeat tempo and vibrant staging, compared to the country's debut with Wolf Alice, who announced the votes from Elthize. In the end, Elthize came in fifth place with sixty-seven points, getting twelve points from the United Kingdom and Oregon, as well as eight points from Icholasen. In return, Elthize gave its twelve points to Czech Slavia with their song "Andel" by Tereza Kerndlová. Additionally, ten points went to the winner Inquista and eight points went to Halestorm of the United Duchies with their song "The Steeple".
After Inquista, second place went to Oregon and their Cherry Poppin' Daddies with the song "Zoot Suit Riot". They received five points from Elthize. One point behind was the famous girl group IVE with their viral song After Like, representing Icholasen. They received six points from Elthize. In response, the group's local fans took to Twitter to vent out their frustration, with the phrase "IVE WAS ROBBED" skyrocketing to the top of the trending tab.
And, as is tradition, the last place went to Vayinaod, represented by Smash Mouth with "All Star". They got a measly twenty-two points. The next EuroVoice is expected to be held around May or June in the Inquistan city of Saint Dominico, the only city in the small country.
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Liam Zachary to be removed as Councillor, May Hobbes to serve as interim councillor
May Hobbes (pictured) will assume office as interim councillor for Elthize before Monday
In an unexpected recall this morning, the Elthic government announced that Liam Zachary would no longer serve as the Elthic representative in the European Council.
Zachary, who had been elected to the office shortly after Elthize officially joined the European Union in April, will be replaced by May Hobbes, the current Speaker of the Senate. The reason for Zachary's recall was not specified in the statement, which President Greenwich Grimwald signed.
The announcement also clarified that a special election to choose the Elthic councillor would be held on June 16th, three months after the announcement.
The decision to recall Zachary came as a shock to many, as he had been seen as a rising star in Elthic politics. Before his role as Councillor, he had served in the National Assembly for three terms, having been first elected in 2012 and winning re-elections in 2014 and 2018. He was also appointed as the third and last Minister of Membership to the European Union in Grimwald's cabinet in 2019.
In March 2022, Zachary was declared the candidate for European Councillor by the ruling coalition, which included The Third Option, New Democracy, and The Nationals. He won the election, defeating Nolan Brunson, who was the main opposition candidate.
Zachary's recall also raises questions about his future in Elthic politics. Shortly before the referendums this year, he had expressed interest in becoming Prime Minister if the position was restored by the popular vote. However, the proposal failed, which led to Zachary expressing disappointment. So far, Zachary has not made a statement regarding his recall.
In the meantime, May Hobbes will take over Zachary's responsibilities as the Elthic representative in the European Council. She is expected to resign from her position as Speaker and move to Europolis before Monday.
Hobbes, who has been serving as Speaker of the Senate, has been actively involved in Elthic politics since the late 90s. It is expected that she will be the candidate for the ruling coalition in the councillor elections this June.
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Zachary to run as an independent candidate for the upcoming councillor elections
by Frances Irving - February 27, 2023
Zachary speaking to the Europolis press following his election as Councillor, April 2022.
Image credit
In his first public appearance after being recalled from his councillor position last Friday, Liam Zachary stated that he intended to run again as an independent candidate in the councillor elections this June, in an announcement made in Forecoaster the previous evening. "I have won an election with the will of the Elthic people, and I will do it again," Zachary said at the gathering.
Around four thousand people attended Zachary's rally, which was held at Carrewich Park, northeast of the capital city. During the rally, Zachary emphasized his commitment to the Elthic people: "I came here today to tell the people, those that believed in me, I came here to tell them that this is not the end, it's nothing but a speed bump. And like all speed bumps, this is nothing but a small inconvenience that we will overcome." Zachary was the first Councillor for Elthize, a job whose responsibility is to represent Elthize in the European Council, the legislative branch of the European Union. He was elected to this position in April last year, after serving in various government positions for a decade.
Zachary's approval ratings had been mostly positive, but they became slightly negative in recent months, particularly after he opposed Sofie Čikarová's anti-private prison bill. According to a NET poll conducted in January, 21% of respondents had a positive view of Zachary, while 24% had a negative outlook. The remaining 55% did not have an answer.
On the other hand, May Hobbes, currently serving as interim councillor, is expected to be the candidate for the ruling coalition in the councillor elections. However, political experts are worried that this will cause further division. "The chances of the ruling coalition winning these elections are very slim," says Janice Kyou, an established journalist at our newspaper. "We don't know why they pulled out Zachary yet, but whatever the reason may be, it cannot be more important than essentially shooting yourself in the foot and giving the opposition a chance to take the councillor seat."
So far, no other candidate has been announced. In the 2022 elections, the opposition had two candidates: Nolan Brunson, who was endorsed by Labour and The Greens, and Leon den Hollander, endorsed by the Socialist Alliance and The Crimson. A meeting between these four parties regarding the councillor elections is expected to happen next week.
Meanwhile, Janice Kyou believes that, if these four parties manage to unite under one candidate, it will be a disaster for the ruling coalition: "If they manage to unite somehow, they will have the seat. I'm not saying they might have it or they may have it, no. They will have their councillor. Zachary still has the power to divide the ruling coalition's voters. If the opposition rallies around one candidate and Hobbes fails to weaken Zachary, which is likely, Grimwald will struggle."
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Nolan Brunson to be the councillor candidate for Labour & Greens
Meetings done with FT-SA and Crimson have failed to bring one candidate
March 7, 2023
This morning, Michael Jenkins and Matthew François, leaders of Labour and The Greens, announced that Nolan Brunson would be their candidate for the upcoming councillor elections for the second time. The announcement comes after several meetings and conferences done by the opposition leaders as well as the leaders of The Crimson and the Socialist Alliance, in hopes of uniting the four parties behind one candidate. However, these talks seem to have been unsuccessful.
Brunson, who was also the candidate for the two parties in the previous councillor elections, also appeared during the announcement. "I am grateful that I have the opportunity to represent Elthize in the European Union once again," he stated.
In the first councillor elections last year, Brunson had lost to former councillor Liam Zachary by six percent. However, since Zachary is seeking re-election as an independent candidate against the ruling coalition's candidate, experts predict that Brunson may have it easier this time around, thanks to these circumstances.
"People that voted for Brunson in 2022 will vote for him in 2023... The question here is, can we say the same for Zachary?" remarks Mel Jacobsen, a political analyst. "I mean, I do not doubt that Brunson will use this uncertainty to his advantage, marketing himself as a more stable candidate."
Brunson's career in politics began as a community organizer in northern Montgomery. In 2014, his tweet about the general elections that year went viral, paving the way for him to become a popular blogger. In 2017, he became the social media manager for the Labour Party, working on Wirt Harland's presidential campaign in 2018. Brunson was elected as a member of the National Assembly in 2022, a position which he still holds. However, it remains to be seen if he will keep this job or move to Europolis as the next and third councillor.
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"Instant neutrality is a must" - Meet Rebel Kofi, the rising independent
An unexpected candidate has entered the councillor race. (Image credit)
Kofi promises to submit a neutrality motion for Elthize on his first day in office.
While the councillor elections, set to take place on June 16th (with a second round scheduled for June 30th), were unexpected, it was predicted that there wouldn't be surprises.
However, alongside the expected candidates, Nolan Brunson, Liam Zachary and May Hobbes, a fourth challenger have come forward, and, according to the polls, he could be a strong contender to face Nolan Brunson in the second round.
"I'm here to give the Elthic folk what they want when it comes to foreign policy: The recognition of Elthize as a neutral state by the European Union," Rebel Kofi claims at the Holloway Theatre in Forecoaster, where he is holding a rally.
The old theatre, which holds a thousand people, was overflowing, including a couple of dozen people filling the sidewalk in front, trying to hear what he was saying.
"I underestimated how many people would come," Kofi writes on Twitter. "Thank you to all my supporters, I'll try to get a bigger space next time."
"I put my candidacy forward because I felt that other choices were incompetent," Kofi states in an interview with a local journalist in St. Lucas. "Instant neutrality. That's what people want. A reliable neutrality motion where Elthize is recognized as a neutral state by the European Union. Anything else is irrelevant."
According to the polls, Kofi's ideas are popular among the public. In a survey by PIE, Kofi ranked 3rd with around 18% of the votes after Brunson and Zachary.
Kofi had an early start in politics, entering the local stage in the small town of Marshee in Hunnicutt at sixteen with the help of his uncle. There, he became a member of the town council. He left this position at 19 to study psychology and political science, as well as to work on the town's local newspaper.
Kofi began working as a psychologist at St. Lucas Central Hospital in 2007. Still engaged in politics, he started a blog as a pastime in 2008, where he commented on Elthic politics. The blog was active until 2013 when he was employed as a journalist by The Tribunal, which replaced his previous job at the hospital, which he kept until 2016 when he quit. He made an unsuccessful bid for the National Assembly in 2018.
When asking Kofi, he says that he didn't expect his candidacy to be this popular among Elthic voters: "I mean, I am the only person that directly and clearly promises neutrality for Elthize, and I guess that plays a part."
In a poll done by PIE in January, over fifty-five percent of Elthics support a neutrality motion for their country.
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April 11, 2023 - 12:15 PM
New administrative division law to be enacted on May 1st
The new system includes eleven provinces
Good afternoon. I'm your host Elodie Giulietta, and you're watching Twelve News, live from Forecoaster. On the first day of May, Elthics will wake up in their newly drawn provinces, as decided by the Elthic parliament. What are these new provinces, and how will this change affect our lives?
Last afternoon, Senate approved a bill that would replace the current system of administrative divisions with a new one. The bill, which passed the National Assembly in late March, will reduce the number of provinces from fourteen to eleven. The new province system will not make a distinction between provinces, and they will be divided into counties instead of districts. There are ninety-two counties in the new system. The bill is set to become law very shortly in the coming days following the approval of President Greenwich Grimwald.
The bill will divide Elthize into eleven new provinces. In alphabetic order, they are Ackerson, Brownell, Forecoaster, Liamville, Marchand, The Midlands, Montgomery, Northern Counties, Port Nelson, Southern Counties, and St. Lucas. Some provinces remain as they are, like Forecoaster or Montgomery, but there are new names, too, such as Ackerson, the northernmost province under the new system, named after Theodore Ackerson, the third President of Elthize who died in 2018. William Lee Marchand, the first president, also gets a province named after him.
The bill will also establish eight provincial governments, which will have their powers transferred from the national government. The two smallest provinces, The Midlands and Northern Counties, and Forecoaster, will not have a devolved government. These provinces will be directly legislated by the national parliament, with their governor appointed by the president. Governments of provinces that did not see changes with this bill will function as they did before.
Citizens that live in provinces which collect address information from their citizens are expected to update their addresses under the new system if their province doesn't do so automatically. For others, no change is needed.
Some have criticized this change, as they think it is too sudden and Elthics should've been given more time. What do you think of this change? As always, feel free to share your thoughts on Twitter under the hashtag #TwelveNewsLNN and I will read out some of them. Now, we have our next story...
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President Grimwald to miss upcoming EU summit
Foreign Minister Oscar Crofton will represent Elthize in Europolis on May 1st
April 17, 2023
This morning, an unexpected press release issued by the Presidential Palace stated that President Greenwich Grimwald would not attend the next European leaders' summit, scheduled to begin on May 1st. The press release did not specify why Grimwald would be absent. The President did not issue any statement for Elthize's first anniversary of joining the European Union either, which was three days ago.
Both of these incidents have led to grave concern for Grimwald's well-being for some. However, others believe Grimwald is not visiting out of protest, as Wirt Harland, currently Internal Affairs Commissioner, will initiate and organize the summit. Michael Jenkins, head of the Labour Party, claimed on Twitter that the absence was "Nothing but a mere revenge fantasy. It's immature and it ridicules Elthize on the global stage."
Harland was also the presidential candidate for the main opposition in the 2018 elections. While he had lost the race, it was close, with incumbent Grimwald winning only by one point. Even after his loss, he is considered to be a potential candidate for the 2026 elections.
Harland was elected to the commission in January this year after the elections in November were annulled by the European Court of Justice. As a Commissioner, Harland has resolved and written an agreement between Reitzmag, the United Duchies and Svarna Surya, ending the conflict through diplomatic means. He also submitted a constitutional amendment to the European Council to have an electoral process for unopposed candidates in the elections, though this was rejected by the Council.
It is rumoured that Foreign Minister Oscar Crofton will attend the summit on behalf of the nation. Crofton had also participated in the previous leaders' summit, alongside Grimwald, organized by former Commissioner Kevin Cotilla.
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Kofi ahead in the polls, likely to win in first round
The independent candidate garnered significant support from Elthics
May 29, 2023
Councillor elections will be held in two weeks, and polls show that only one contender has a chance of winning in the first round: Rebel Kofi, the independent politician and underdog who promised Elthize a neutrality motion in his first week in office.
According to PIE's recent polls, which asked: "Who will you vote for in the upcoming councillor elections in Elthize?" 38.8% of those that gave an answer selected Rebel Kofi. Nolan Brunson, the joint Labour-Green candidate, finished in second with 31.6%. Liam Zachary, a former councillor endorsed by The Nationals, received 22.2% of the vote. May Hobbes, the current acting councillor backed by The Third Option and New Democracy, came in fourth place with only 5,1% of the vote. Finally, the FTSA-C candidate, Leon den Hollander, received just 2.3% of the vote. Only 38.2% of those surveyed named a candidate.
In an LNN debate where all candidates (except den Hollander) were present, Kofi stated: "It is clear what Elthics want. And it is also clear that I am the only one who can deliver what they want."
"You know, if we lived in a proper democracy, I wouldn't even need to be on this debate," Zachary remarked. "I've already been chosen, and I'll be chosen again." Throughout the debate, Zachary repeatedly questioned Hobbes' legitimacy.
"I reject this slander." "Zachary's recall from the councillor position was entirely legal," Hobbes stated. "Our president has the right to remove someone who they think is not properly representing our country."
Brunson, meanwhile, ensured that he would work together with the government. "I will always provide the best I can for the Elthics, as I have in the past. I will make sure that this country stays out of conflict, and I will work with the government to make this happen," Brunson said. On a similar note, Kofi claimed that he would visit President Grimwald before going to Europolis to assume office.
Leon den Hollander, who was not present at the debate, claimed LNN of silencing him on Twitter, professing that he was called an "unwelcomed extremist" by an unnamed LNN official. LNN has denied den Hollander's claims.
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The High Court refuses to hear the case regarding Zachary's recall
Liam Zachary was removed from his councillor position back in February. Image credit
Unexpectedly, the High Court has refused to hear the case of Devon Albert regarding the removal of Liam Zachary from his position.
This afternoon, Chief Justice Mae Lynwood of Ackerson announced that the High Court would not hear Devon Albert's case.
Devon Albert, who was The Nationals' candidate for the 2022 councillor elections, was one of the most prominent political figures questioning the legality of the recall of former councillor Liam Zachary from Europolis.
While Albert was planning to take the case to the Elthic judiciary, the reform process of the courts prevented this from happening. He instead took the case to the European Court of Justice, where he also received no response.
"I could not be more disappointed in our courts," Albert announced on his social media. "What else could this decision mean other than the fact that the judiciary in Elthize has no respect for the people's choice?"
Liam Zachary was elected as the Councillor for Elthize in the European Union in April 2022, after serving as Minister of Membership to the European Union for three years.
On February 24, 2023, President Greenwich Grimwald made a surprising decision where he removed Zachary from this position. The reason for the recall is still unknown.
However, not everyone agrees with Albert's position.
May Hobbes, the current councillor who came after Zachary, states that Zachary's removal was entirely legal.
"I have said this many times, our President has the power to remove a councillor and call an election," Hobbes stated in an LNN interview. "This is very clearly defined in Elthic law."
Zachary is running as an independent candidate for the upcoming councillor elections on June 16th (with a second round on June 30th if necessary). He is supported by The Nationals, a member party of the current ruling coalition.
Meanwhile, The Third Option and New Democracy, the other two members of the ruling coalition, stand behind May Hobbes, which suggests a rift between the members of the coalition.
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June 6, 2023 - 7:20 PM
LGBTQ+ people and allies celebrate Pride as June rolls around
Major parades in St. Lucas expected to start this Saturday
We're back from our ad break. I'm William Berwick, and you're watching Evening News at LNN. The month of June has begun and with it, Pride Month. Elthics who are LGBTQ+ and their allies are preparing to celebrate this special occasion with parades, with the ones at St. Lucas expected to start on the second Saturday of this month, which lands on June 10th this year.
June means a celebration for Elthics who are LGBTQ, and this June is no different. In St. Lucas, the celebrations have already begun. In the iconic Maitland Avenue, located downtown, you can see shops of all sizes hanging the recognizable rainbow flag, with some of them having a chevron of colours, representing transgender people, queer people of colour and those that passed away from AIDS.
OOC: In a news article from the European Health Organization from September 2020, Reitzmag is mentioned to have a charity for AIDS prevention, therefore I am assuming that HIV/AIDS does exist in this world.We got varying answers when asking various people in St. Lucas what Pride Month meant to them.
"C'est une belle fête, vous savez. Je ne pense pas vraiment à être fier de ce que je suis, mais je respecte ceux qui le sont.... J'ai décidé de visiter St Lucas cette année parce qu'il y a des bars gays uniques. J'ai parcouru certaines rues et il y a vraiment des endroits que je ne trouve nulle part ailleurs," says Bianca, a tourist from Ineland.
(Subtitles: It's a nice celebration, you know. I don't think much about being proud of who I am but I respect those that do... I decided to visit St. Lucas this year because it has gay bars unique to it. I've been walking some streets and there really are places that I can not find anywhere else.)
Homosexuality became legal in Elthize following the country's independence in 1937, as the British laws were discarded and replaced with an Elthic constitution. The new constitution did not explicitly mention homosexuality, effectively lifting the previous ban. The city of St. Lucas is renowned for hosting the first-ever gay men's march in 1938, aptly named "The Homophilic March." This event serves as one of the many forerunners to the vibrant pride parades that are now celebrated throughout Elthize today.
"It means a lot to me!" tells Ethan, an excited teenager answering our question. "I mean, it is a great reminder of the community we have and we built over decades! I am proud to be gay." A friend of Ethan's is also present, but he declines to answer our question.
While the gay community was slowly building up in Elthize, with St. Lucas leading the movement, everything came to a halt when the Yosainese invaded the country in 1954. Most gay activists across the occupied Elthize were arrested, as many of them took part in the resistance movement against the Yosainese regime. Many of them were either executed, sent to exile or never seen again.
"I mean, it's hard being gay in an environment where everyone is trying to kill you. We were shoved back into the closet until 1968, and when we finally had liberty, there was almost no one to guide the young queers," says Emerson McCormick, a queer historian. "We were back to square one."
Regardless of the setback, the community was rebuilt, with strong discourse around how diverse should it be. "The Elthic queer community has always had this interesting discussion throughout its history, about who are the leaders, who should be included, what boundaries should there be, among other things. And, more often than not, those with radical viewpoints, and when I say radical I mean more welcoming, I mean those that opposed the hierarchy within our community entirely. They were the loudest voices in the room, in the streets. We owe them a lot." McCormick also noted that these loud voices were often of racial minorities.
In the eighties, the province was hit with the HIV/AIDS epidemic, disproportionately affecting gay men. In response, former President Alika Mbanefo launched special programs to curb the spread of the disease, as well as subsidizing healthcare and research programs to ensure further treatment. Her successor, Benny Kalzer, continued these programs, against people's expectations.
In 1980, St. Lucas became the first province in Elthize to recognize same-sex unions. Seven years later, it became the first province to recognize same-sex marriage. No province would follow suit until 1997 when Florence (modern-day Ackerson) and Port Nelson legalized the practice.
Here's how McCormick closes their statement: "St. Lucas has always been the leader when it comes to the queer movement in Elthize. Today, in every Elthic city, almost all towns in Elthize have a group of openly queer people no matter how small it may be. And we owe it to those people that sought their community's liberty, our liberty, in the city of St. Lucas. As a Forecoaster resident myself, I am forever grateful."
Well, you don't see a Forecoaster person express gratitude to a Lucatian every day. We must capture this moment or something... Haha, anyway, happy Pride Month, everyone! Next up: How does the European Monetary Unit affect the way we shop in Elthize? Our correspondent Mikaela Brown is on Forecoaster for answers.
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Ichiko Aoba gets the best result for Elthize at EuroVoice
Aoba finished in fourth place with her song Dawn in the Adan
June 12, 2023
Another edition of the EuroVoice Song Contest has ended in the bustling metropolis of Saint Dominico, with Ichiko Aoba giving Elthize its best result since our debut. With her song Dawn in the Adan, she finished in fourth place with seventy-three points. Meanwhile, Inquista has acquired a back-to-back victory on their soil: Nancy Ahram with her song Ah W Noss received ninety-three points, securing the country a tenth win.
Getting six points from Elthize, Ahram won a close race against Rocío Dural with her song La Gata Bajo La Lluvia. Dural represented Icholasen, getting twelve points from Elthize. It was not enough for Dural, unfortunately, as she was four points short of victory in the end, with the last country to reveal their votes, the United Duchies, giving her only four points. The points were represented by our previous entrant, Nai Palm, frontwoman of the band Hiatus Kaiyote. Teaming up with the composer Arthur Verocai, the band had received fifth place in the contest earlier.
Going back to our entrant, Ichiko Aoba, she initially had a rough start when the points started coming in, getting only one point from California, two from the Conch Kingdom, and none from Czech Slavia. However, things quickly turned around in her favour as she received eight points from Istkalen and Mishar Republic, ten from Icholasen and Portugal and douze points from Reitzmag.
Two territories outside the European Union got to participate in the contest. Conch Kingdom, whose entrant was Otava Yo with the song Sumetskaya, came in third with eighty points, ten from Elthize. This became their best result. Portugal, meanwhile, made its debut in this contest with the song Crazy Paxaxa, coming in seventh place and receiving twelve points from Inquista and Red Croatia. Additionally, Elthize gave its eight points to United Duchies, represented by In Extremo with Kompass zur Sonne. They placed ninth.
The theme of the contest this time around was to send songs in languages other than English. Ten different languages were represented in the contest. Three songs were in Spanish and two songs were in Czech. Ichiko Aoba performed in Japanese, while Nancy Ahram, the winner, performed in Arabic.
The next EuroVoice contest is expected to be held in Saint Dominico around October.
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President Grimwald to give parliament reform the greenlight
by Alfred Ingram - June 14, 2023
President Greenwich Grimwald made an announcement this morning, expressing support for specific reforms to the Elthic legislature. These reforms have been under discussion since at least 2019 and are currently in the finalization process, as revealed by sources close to Forecoaster. The Parliament Reform Committee, established in 2021, is leading the efforts, aiming to have the reformed parliament ready before the upcoming general elections in 2025.
The upcoming reformed parliament in Elthic is expected to function under a unicameral system. This change is very likely to be supported by President Greenwich Grimwald, given his previously expressed negative views on bicameralism. In a remarkable example dating back to 2014, Grimwald openly criticized the Senate, boldly referring to it as "a waste of time."
Additionally, the reformed parliament is expected to have fewer members. Currently, the Elthic Parliament consists of 300 seats, with 100 seats allocated to the Senate and 200 seats to the National Assembly. There has been a long-standing debate as to whether this is excessive for a country with a population of around four and a half million people. Former President Archie Franklin, which supported the shrinking of parliament, once called it "a bloated mess", though he wasn't able to reform the institution in his time. While it is unknown how many seats the new parliament will have, many predict that the number of MPs will drop by two-thirds.
In addition to the anticipated changes to the legislative structure, the method of electing MPs is likely to undergo reforms as well. Currently, there are two national lists for each branch of the parliament, in which seats are allocated directly based on the percentage of votes each party receives. However, it is expected that a majority of MPs will be elected through a proportional representation system in the reformed parliament, with these seats allocated based on the population of each province.
While the details of the new electoral system are yet to be determined, likely, a national list will still be maintained. This is intended to address concerns related to tactical voting and ensure that parties which receive popular support have proper representation in the parliament. The reformed electoral system seeks to provide a fair and balanced representation of the people's preferences and signify a commitment to modernizing the Elthic legislature.
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2023 councillor elections: Brunson and Kofi advance to the second round
- Following the unexpected recall of former councillor Liam Zachary, snap councillor elections were held
- Nolan Brunson, the joint candidate of Labour and The Greens, received 37,9% of the vote, followed by independent Rebel Kofi with 34,2%
- Brunson and Kofi will advance to the second round, scheduled for June 30th
Freddie Bonnay - June 18, 2023
In an astonishing turn of events, Councillor Liam Zachary was recalled from his position in Europolis back in February. This recall came as a result of a government decree signed by President Grimwald. However, no specific reason was provided for the recall. Following this recall, elections were held tonight, June 16th to fill the position.
Five candidates were eligible to participate in the race, including Zachary, who ran as an independent candidate. Another independent candidate, Rebel Kofi, gained significant popularity after an article in BBC Elthize and his appearance in the LNN television debate. Kofi's campaign highlighted a neutrality motion for Elthize, which resonated with the public. At Elthic Affairs, we are committed to providing detailed coverage of the councillor elections.
What caused the elections?
On February 24, 2023, Liam Zachary, who had been serving as the Councillor for Elthize since April 2022, was recalled by the Elthic government. President Grimwald signed the recall without providing any reason for the decision.
In April 2022, when Elthize joined the European Union, the Elected and Accountable Council Act (EACA) mandated that the position of Councillor should be subject to an election. Consequently, elections for the councillor position were held in Elthize concurrently with the presidential and parliamentary elections.
Although the EACA was repealed in August of the same year, the Elthic law remained based on the EACA and was not amended after the repeal. As a result, the Elthic law specified that elections should be held within the same year in which a councillor was recalled. Accordingly, elections for the councillor position were scheduled for June 16th, and it was announced that May Hobbes would temporarily replace Zachary until the elections took place.
Furthermore, on March 8, 2023, the Elthic Senate successfully overrode Grimwald's veto on certain reforms concerning councillor elections. Specifically, the reform introduced a two-round system for the councillor elections: If no candidate received over 40% of the vote, a runoff election would be held with the two candidates that gathered the most votes. This election would take place two weeks after the first one (For these elections, the second round is planned to be held on June 30th).
Who are the candidates?
The finalized list of candidates included five people: Nolan Brunson, Liam Zachary, May Hobbes, Rebel Kofi and Leon den Hollander.
Nolan Brunson
Nolan Brunson, the joint Labour-Greens candidate for the councillor elections, began his political career as a community organizer in Montgomery. He gained significant attention in 2014 when one of his tweets about that year's general elections went viral, helping him establish himself as a popular blogger. This increased visibility led to his appointment as the social media manager for the Labour Party in 2017, where he played a role in Wirt Harland's successful presidential campaign in 2018.
Brunson ran as the Labour-Greens candidate in the 2022 councillor elections and was defeated by Zachary by six points. He was later appointed to the National Assembly in the same year.
As a councillor, Brunson promises to prioritize the middle and working classes of Elthize, believing that both Zachary and Hobbes focus only on corporate interests. He strongly criticized Zachary's opposition to the Elected and Accountable Council Act (EACA) and Sofia Cikarova's anti-private prison bill. Brunson's platform claims to centre around advocating for policies that address the concerns and needs of the majority of Elthize's population, aiming to foster a more inclusive and equitable society.
Liam Zachary
The former councillor, Zachary, has decided to run as an independent candidate in the upcoming election.
Zachary had an extensive political career before his tenure as a councillor. He served three terms in the National Assembly, initially being elected in 2012 and successfully re-elected in 2014 and 2018. In 2019, he assumed the role of Minister of Membership to the European Union.
During the councillor candidate selection process in March 2022, Zachary was chosen as the candidate representing the ruling coalition comprising The Third Option, New Democracy, and The Nationals. He emerged as the victor, defeating his primary opponent, Nolan Brunson.
In his current campaign, Zachary is not relying on promises but rather highlighting what he perceives as an injustice against him. He claims that his recall was unlawful and an "obstruction of Elthic people's will." During the LNN debate, Zachary stated, "You know, if we lived in a proper democracy, I wouldn't even need to be on this debate. I've already been chosen, and I'll be chosen again."
Interestingly, Zachary is also endorsed by The Nationals, with Devon Albert, the former councillor candidate of the party, suing the Elthic government in the European Court of Justice for supposedly violating the EU constitution.
May Hobbes
The former Speaker of the Senate, May Hobbes, is seeking to extend her term as Councillor.
Hobbes had an academic background before entering politics, earning her doctorate in political science from the University of St. Lucas in April 1999. In 2002, she joined the New Democracy party and was elected as a senator. She went on to serve as the Speaker of the Senate in both 2018 and 2022.
After Zachary's recall, Hobbes was initially appointed as the "interim councillor" by the Elthic government. However, in April of this year, this designation was quietly removed, and she is now regarded as a regular councillor under the law. Regardless, Hobbes is no common councillor. She stands out from other candidates due to her appointment, and her legitimacy is questioned by many in Elthize, particularly among the supporters of Liam Zachary, whose campaign overshadowed hers throughout the election period.
Rebel Kofi
Rebel Kofi, a former local politician, psychologist, and journalist, is seeking neutrality for Elthize.
Kofi's political journey began at a young age when he entered the local political scene in Marshee in Southern Counties. Supported by his uncle, he joined the town council at the age of sixteen. However, he decided to leave this position at nineteen to pursue his studies in psychology and political science while also working for the local newspaper.
In 2007, Kofi started working as a psychologist at St. Lucas Central Hospital while maintaining his engagement in politics. He began a blog in 2008, providing commentary on Elthic politics, which he continued until 2013. In that same year, he transitioned to a career in journalism when he joined The Tribunal, where he worked until 2016. In 2018, Kofi made an unsuccessful bid for a seat in the National Assembly.
During his campaign, Kofi prioritized the idea of neutrality for Elthize. He pledges to submit a neutrality motion within his first thirty days in office. While he doesn't seem to have other significant policies, his message has resonated with a lot of Elthics, who, in Kofi's terms, "do not want to be a pawn of ECON or Telum".
Leon den Hollander
Leon den Hollander, the leader of The Crimson, Elthize's communist party, is running as a joint councillor candidate alongside the Socialist Alliance.
Den Hollander has been the leader of The Crimson since 2008. Throughout his political career, he has made several attempts to run for various offices, though many of these attempts were unsuccessful. However, in 2022, he made a significant breakthrough by breaking his party's decade-long Senate boycott, becoming the first-ever senator from The Crimson.
As the joint candidate of The Crimson and the Socialist Alliance, den Hollander aims to bring forth a socialist agenda and, in his words, "champion what the people want." His candidacy represents a collaborative effort between the two left-wing parties to advance their shared goals and ideals.
Den Hollander's exclusion from the LNN debate has sparked controversy. On Twitter, den Hollander claimed that LNN was silencing him and accused an unidentified LNN official of calling him an "unwelcomed extremist." LNN, however, denied these claims but did not provide a specific reason for excluding den Hollander from the debate.
Results
Candidate Political party Amount of votes Percentage (%) Status Nolan Brunson Labour Party of Elthize, Elthic Green Party 548,529 37,9% Advanced to second round Rebel Kofi Independent 495,250 34,2% Advanced to second round Liam Zachary Independent (endorsed by The Nationals) 190,108 13,1% Eliminated May Hobbes New Democracy, The Third Option 109,859 7,5% Eliminated Leon den Hollander The Crimson, Future Together - Socialist Alliance 102,758 7,1% Eliminated
Image: Electoral map of the 2023 councillor elections by province (left) and by district (right). Each different colour indicates a candidate that has won in the province or district (Red: Brunson, Green: Kofi, Blue: Zachary, Yellow: Hobbes.)
After the completion of the vote count, two candidates emerged as the front-runners: Nolan Brunson, securing 37.9% of the vote, and Rebel Kofi, receiving 34.2% of the vote. As neither candidate reached the required threshold of 40%, a second round of voting will be conducted with Brunson and Kofi as the remaining contenders.
On the other hand, Liam Zachary, despite initial expectations, did not perform as well as anticipated. He garnered only 13.1% of the vote, placing him in a distant third position. However, it is worth noting that Zachary's vote share exceeded that of May Hobbes, who received 7.5% of the votes. These results suggest that the recall of Zachary was met with significant disapproval, and his replacement did not fare any better in terms of public support.
Meanwhile, Leon den Hollander, who got around three percent of the vote in the previous councillor elections, has doubled his vote share. Besides the LNN debate exclusion factor, it is unknown what has caused this sudden rise. However, this did not save him from getting fifth (last) place.
From a geographic perspective, the results seem predictable. Brunson has won Marchand and Brownell, both Labour strongholds. In Ackerson, it was a close-knit race which Brunson won thanks to getting more support from the province's largest city, Theodorburg.
In St. Lucas, predictably, Brunson won, though it was not a landslide as many would have expected. Kofi managed to gain substantial support in districts located outside of the metropolitan area, as well as in central districts. Meanwhile, Zachary was the victor in the northeast part of the province.
Speaking of Zachary, he achieved a resounding victory in Montgomery, indicating that voters in the province strongly identified with his narrative of perceived injustice. Montgomery stands out as the province with the highest level of variance, with four out of the five candidates securing victories in at least one district.
Port Nelson was won by Rebel Kofi, suggesting a significant level of support for his candidacy in that district. Conversely, May Hobbes emerged as the unexpected winner in Liamville, the only province where she claimed victory. In Forecoaster, the competition was intense among Kofi, Zachary, and Brunson, with Zachary ultimately falling short of victory there, in the final moments of the race. The turnout of the election was 52,2%.
Who will win?
It is clear that the electorate of Brunson and Kofi are largely set and will vote for them again in the second round. The real question is who the voters of other candidates will vote for. Unfortunately, Brunson is at a big disadvantage here, as he is a candidate on the left. It appears that there are limited potential sources of additional votes for him, apart from the supporters of Leon den Hollander.
Rebel Kofi, on the other hand, as a centrist candidate with a single-issue focus on Elthize's neutrality, is more likely to receive the endorsement of Liam Zachary. Both candidates share the aspiration for Elthize to be recognized as a neutral state by the European Union. The failed talks between Zachary and President Grimwald regarding a neutrality motion, as reported by The Tribunal in November 2022, have raised speculation and allegations that Zachary's recall was motivated by his determination to submit a neutrality motion against Grimwald's opposition. If these allegations hold, Kofi's efforts to advance Elthize's neutrality could face significant challenges. However, could Grimwald get away with doing the same political move two times?
Meanwhile, if Brunson won, he would be at odds with Grimwald and the right-wing ruling coalition, and he would have to compromise a lot from the principles of the Labour Party. As far as Michael Jenkins is concerned, though, he will likely have the liberty to do so.
Regardless of who wins the second round, the biggest loser of these elections is Greenwich Grimwald. May Hobbes, endorsed by his party The Third Option, absolutely flopped in the elections, barely passing den Hollander, who she would likely see as "a filthy communist". Hobbes was not even favoured within her party, New Democracy, with many party officials disputing her candidacy. Grimwald now has to deal with either Kofi, who will insist on neutrality, something he doesn't approve of, or Brunson, a member of the Labour Party, a party Grimwald and his friends have always looked down upon. Either way, it will be pathetic... For him.
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