Elthic News Media
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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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Liam Zachary to endorse Rebel Kofi for the second round
by Janice Kyou - June 19, 2023
This afternoon, former Councillor Liam Zachary took to social media to share his thoughts on the results of the recent councillor elections. Despite finishing third and not making it to the second round, Zachary expressed gratitude towards his supporters and expressed his commitment to continue serving Elthize. He stated, "We will take a break for a little while and plan our path moving forward. Whatever the path may be... We will be back."
Zachary also confirmed that he would not be a candidate for future councillor elections. Reflecting on his tenure as Councillor, he remarked, "I would like to think that I've done a great job as Councillor. I have done what needed to be done for Elthize until my undemocratic recall. However, I would like for you to know that the next phase will happen somewhere else. Be assured that when we begin, we will inform you."
Zachary, about the second round of the councillor elections, expressed his endorsement of Rebel Kofi, affirming, "I believe that his ideas and principles will benefit our nation's future, and I consider him the best option Elthize currently has. Therefore, I endorse Rebel Kofi in the second round." It is normal that Zachary supports Kofi, as they both advocate for Elthize to be recognized as a neutral state by the European Union.
Kofi made a campaign promise to submit a neutrality motion to the European Council within his first thirty days of taking office. Additionally, last year, Zachary met with President Greenwich Grimwald to discuss the possibility of implementing a neutrality motion. However, these talks were largely a failure.
On June 30th, the upcoming round of councillor elections will feature Nolan Brunson and Rebel Kofi as the two candidates on the ballots. Although Kofi finished behind Brunson in the first round, it is expected that Zachary's endorsement will greatly boost his campaign.
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Leon den Hollander to endorse Kofi in the second round
Den Hollander stated that he believed Kofi is the best option
June 25, 2023
The last of the eliminated candidates of the councillor elections has made their endorsement, and it is rather unexpected- Leon den Hollander, the joint candidate of The Crimson and the Socialist Alliance, has endorsed Rebel Kofi for the second round of the councillor elections. Despite expectations for den Hollander to endorse Nolan Brunson, as Brunson is closer to him politically, den Hollander expressed his lack of trust in Brunson and highlighted his belief that Elthize deserves a better candidate who is dedicated to serving the people. In a statement made via The Crimson's official blog, den Hollander explained his decision.
"I do not trust Nolan Brunson," den Hollander stated. "I believe that Elthize deserves a better candidate than someone who was appointed to the National Assembly after failing to defeat Liam Zachary and has done almost nothing in the parliament. How can we expect him to do anything in the Council? These positions are not for your CV, they are for serving the people of Elthize."
"This is exactly why I believe that Rebel Kofi is the best option," den Hollander continued. "An independent candidate, free from the influence of any political party who are just seeking seats and comfortable positions. His staunch stance on neutrality is something to admire about. We all know that neutrality is what Elthize needs, what Elthics desire."
Den Hollander's participation in the councillor elections as the joint candidate of The Crimson and the Socialist Alliance yielded a notable result, as he secured 7.1% of the votes, doubling his vote share compared to the previous 2022 elections. His endorsement of Rebel Kofi aligns him with Liam Zachary, who also endorsed Kofi earlier this week. Meanwhile, May Hobbes refrained from endorsing either candidate.
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Rebel Kofi becomes the next councillor of Elthize
by Janice Kyou - June 30, 2023
It's official: Rebel Kofi has emerged victorious in the second round of the councillor elections, securing a decisive victory and claiming the esteemed position as the third councillor for The State of Elthize. Running as an independent candidate, Kofi's achievement is clear in his resounding win over opponent Nolan Brunson, capturing an impressive 59.3% of the vote. The councillor-elect took to social media to thank his supporters.
In a heartfelt video shared on his official account, Rebel Kofi expressed his profound gratitude to all those who supported him in the councillor elections. He stated, "I cannot thank you enough, with all my heart. For my voters, thank you. For those that didn't, thank you. I will serve each and every one of you anyway, so in the end, I assume it doesn't matter."
Kofi had entered the councillor race and managed to be the only independent candidate to be approved. Shortly after, he launched an extensive campaign focused on advocating for Elthize's neutrality to be recognized by the European Union. His platform centred around the idea of positioning Elthize as a neutral state, outside of alliances such as Telum or ECON. Since that idea was vastly popular within Elthize, and no other candidate had explicitly promised neutrality for the country before, Kofi's campaign became an instant hit.
"It is clear what Elthics want. And it is also clear that I am the only one who can deliver what they want," Kofi claimed in the television debate at the LNN. In an interview he gave in St. Lucas, he said: "I put my candidacy forward because I felt that other choices were incompetent. 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."
Image: Electoral map of the second round 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.)
Candidate Political party Amount of votes Percentage (%) Rebel Kofi Independent 812,359 59,3% Nolan Brunson Labour Party of Elthize, Elthic Green Party 558,963 40,7%
It is very clear now that the elections are finished, the voters believed that Kofi was the best choice. With the exception of Marchand and Brownell, Kofi came in first in all provinces. Impressively, Kofi also flipped St. Lucas, a Labour stronghold. His rival, Nolan Brunson, congratulated Kofi on Twitter, wishing him good luck.
Kofi's upcoming visit to Forecoaster before flying to Europolis on July 1st is highly anticipated, especially considering his scheduled meeting with President Greenwich Grimwald. It is widely expected that the topic of discussion between them will revolve around the issue of neutrality, a key aspect of Kofi's campaign. This meeting holds significant importance as it could set the stage for future collaboration and efforts to establish Elthize as a recognized neutral state.
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Kofi has reached an agreement with Grimwald, sources say
President Grimwald and Councillor Kofi have agreed on a neutrality motion
July 1, 2023
Before his departure to Europolis to assume office as Councillor, Rebel Kofi appears to have reached an agreement with President Greenwich Grimwald about a neutrality motion, as reported by sources in Forecoaster. Following his recent victory in the councillor elections, Kofi had planned to meet with Grimwald to discuss the potential implementation of Elthize's neutrality, a key promise of his campaign.
Grimwald, who had previously shown scepticism towards the formal recognition of Elthize's neutrality by the European Union, had a contentious relationship with former Councillor Liam Zachary, who also wanted a neutrality motion. Allegations had surfaced earlier that this disagreement was a contributing factor to Zachary's recall earlier this year. Given these circumstances, it was expected that convincing Grimwald would be a challenging task for Kofi. However, it appears that the situation has taken a surprisingly positive turn.
Reports from the Presidential Palace indicate that the first interaction between Kofi and Grimwald following the former's election victory had a better atmosphere than anticipated and that the two men have reached a deal regarding neutrality, meaning that it is likely that Kofi will be able to submit a neutrality motion.
The immense support for Rebel Kofi in the second round of the councillor elections against Nolan Brunson is concrete evidence of the popularity of the neutrality stance in Elthize. Kofi's resounding victory, securing nearly 60% of the vote, reflects the strong desire among Elthics for the country to maintain a neutral position.
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Heatwave breaks new records, leaves 114 dead
by Janice Kyou - July 14, 2023
During a press conference yesterday evening, Health Minister Clayton Moore revealed that the recent heatwave has resulted in a minimum of 114 deaths directly attributable to extreme temperatures, including children. Moore, who had issued prior warnings to the public in anticipation of the heatwave, emphasized that the actual number of heat-related deaths is likely higher, explaining that some deaths may not have been identified as heat-related during the registration process.
The ongoing heatwave in Elthize, which began on Monday, has led to soaring temperatures reaching 40°C (104°F) across the country, with the southern region being particularly affected. Governor Hunter Vance of Montgomery has declared a state of emergency for the entire province, the first instance since 2008, when temperatures soared as high as 45°C (113°F) in certain areas. Similar warnings have been issued for Liamville, Port Nelson, St. Lucas, Southern Counties, and The Midlands.
In St. Lucas, where temperatures reached around 40.7°C (105.3°F) in the city centre, Governor Martha Krystoff announced that all government workers would be granted paid leave until July 19th, urging private businesses to do the same.
In the midst of the heatwave, the political climate became heated as well. Matthew François, leader of The Greens, took to Twitter to criticize Greenwich Grimwald, directly linking the severity of the heatwave to climate change and expressing his frustration with the president's perceived inaction. Previously, in a conference held in Saint Romain, François claimed that "Grimwald has no concern for the environment. He, just like his predecessor (Archie Franklin), keeps relaxing and repealing what's left of our already weak environmental protection laws."
When asked about recommendations for Elthics enduring the heat, Moore advised, "If possible, try to avoid the heat, especially between noon and 5 PM. If unavoidable, remember to wear sunscreen, carry water with you, and seek shade whenever possible. These are classic measures that I assume Elthics are already familiar with."
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Explaining Grimwald's plans for a renewed parliament: Is it any good for Elthize?
Kelly Meghan - July 25, 2023
Since 2019, President Greenwich Grimwald has expressed a desire to reform the Elthic legislature, which, by many Elthics, is perceived as bloated, too big and practically useless. While politicians across the political spectrum have shared Grimwald's wishes for reform, none have managed to take action, constantly being blocked by the legislature and lobbying. Now that Grimwald may have a shot at getting his reforms through the parliament with a complex agreement consisting of the main opposition parties Labour and The Greens, there is only one question: Do these changes address the main concerns Elthics have with their parliament?
How is the current parliament like?
The legislature of Elthize has changed over the years. Today, the Elthic Parliament is a bicameral system, consisting of an upper house, the Senate and a lower house, the National Assembly, which have 100 and 250 members respectively. With one parliament member for around 12,500 people, the country has never had trouble with representation. For context, there is one member of legislature per around 80,000 people in the United Duchies and one per around 590,000 people in Inquista. However, a lot of Elthics believe that this is too much.
Matthew François, leader of The Greens and a prominent advocate for downsizing the parliament, is credited for popularizing the term "bloated" when describing the Elthic parliament: "It is bloated. It is inefficient. Our legislature was inflated for no reason other than to accommodate cronies and make them more money. It's absurd, we do not need this many members." President Grimwald, while not as harsh on his criticism as François, seemed to echo his opinions, jokingly calling the National Assembly "three sizes too big for Elthize" while giving his first address to the lower house after the 2018 elections.
The electoral process of the legislature is subject to criticism, too. All members of the legislature, both in the Senate and National Assembly, are elected through a nationwide list, resulting in the total number of seats a party receives proportional to the percentage of votes it obtains. However, parties cannot directly nominate candidates on the ballot, even though parties can (and often do) reserve seats for their desired candidates, and there are no restrictions when it comes to campaigning, nothing is recognized by the parliamentary law until the parties officially assign members to the seats they have won after the election.
Some people have criticized this system for not supporting local representation enough and leaving it to the parties' grace. While most parties do show an effort to represent all provinces, some do not, such as For The People, where the chairman, in this case, Bernard Lee, directly appoints people to the seats the party has won. Grimwald faced similar criticism when he directly appointed half the seats in the Senate his party had won in 2014.
The quirks of the political system have also resulted in the Independent Parliament Commission (IPC), which manages independent candidates for the legislature, organizing nationwide caucuses for the people to decide on who they want to vote as an independent. The IPC is often referred to as "the hidden party" as it effectively operates as a political party. While it is explicitly illegal for the IPC to express support or bias towards any political belief, its neutrality has always been questioned, resulting in several lawsuits.
How will Grimwald change it?
A week ago, Grimwald released a video where he explained the changes that would be made to the parliament. He summarized them into three points:
- Replace the bicameral system with a unicameral parliament called the House of Commons (often shortened to "The Commons" by Grimwald)
- Reduce the number of seats from 350 to 52
- Distribute these 52 seats to Elthize's 11 provinces based on their population
Based on our calculations, the distribution Grimwald mentions in his third point would give:
- 18 seats to St. Lucas
- 9 seats to Montgomery
- 8 seats to Forecoaster
- 4 seats to Brownell and Port Nelson
- 2 seats to Southern Counties, Ackerson and Marchand
- 1 seat to Liamville, Northern Counties and The Midlands
During his announcement, Grimwald clarified that the number of seats was carefully chosen to ensure each province receives at least one seat. He went on to announce that these changes will take effect in the upcoming election, scheduled for 2025.
How will Grimwald turn these changes into reality? As mentioned earlier, Grimwald and his party The Third Option have been in talks with all parties, including those outside the ruling coalition, concerning the possible parliamentary reforms for some time now. It is clear that most parties want to reform the Elthic legislature for various reasons.
One of the most prominent reasons is that having fewer members in the legislature would mean reduced government spending, as paying 350 people is more costly than paying 52. The Nationals, led by fiscally conservative Francis Elvin, have made it very clear that this is the reason why they support Grimwald's reforms: "There are simply too many people in these halls, and they do not do anything, and Elthics do not know they elected them, and all of it, it's frankly ridiculous."
The change from a bicameral system to a unicameral one is supported mostly by left-wing circles, especially those who see the Senate as "elitist". The Crimson had boycotted the Senate until the last year, not participating in any elections for the upper house. Leon den Hollander, leader of The Crimson, seemed positive about this change in a social media post: "A clear remnant of the British colonialism in this country, we are glad to say the Senate is gone... Good riddance!"
What is the public's reaction?
In 2019, when Grimwald first put the idea of reforming the legislature, we conducted a poll with our readers, and the results showed that more than 80% of the respondents wished for a reformed Elthic legislature. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that Grimwald's proposals garnered generally favourable responses from the public. Meanwhile, another commenter called it "one of Grimwald's greatest accomplishments", while another praised the proposal as an exceptional plan.
Despite the recent reforms, some people are still sceptical about the changes. Criticism has been voiced that the reforms should have been implemented earlier. Others have expressed concern that the new system may be "less representative". For example, one commenter from Liamville expressed worry that the new system would "drown them out".
Another point of contention is the number of seats. Some believe that the current number of fifty-two seats is insufficient. "For me, it should be double that amount," one commenter suggested. (Under the new system, there will be one member of parliament per 84,000 people.)
Although there has been some criticism from the public, most people who are aware of the reforms seem to be accepting of them. One commenter from St. Lucas expressed excitement about the upcoming election, stating "Finally! I can't wait to vote for THIS parliament." Notably, Grimwald liked this comment, though it is unknown if it was him or a random social media manager.
Overall, it can easily be said that the reforms are popular among Elthize, and we are closer than ever to a complete overhaul of our parliament. Thank goodness.
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FTP and CCM to unite under new party Harmony
The leadership race for the new hard-right party will take place in September
August 18, 2023
During an inter-party conference held yesterday morning, the Christian Cultural Movement and For The People (FTP) officially announced their merger under a new party named Harmony.
The inception of the Christian Cultural Movement (CCM), known as the Christian People's Movement at the time, took place last year after a faction within FTP, dissatisfied with Bernard Lee's policies and secularization reforms, led to the split. The separation was marked by aggressive verbal exchanges, with Kennedy Botha, a member of CCM, denouncing Lee as "a traitor that goes against Jesus Christ and God's principles".
On Twitter, Lee addressed the reactions in response: “Our party cannot survive on a philosophy that is outdated and fails to get any new voters. It is foolish to think that this party could continue without significant reforms. My vision has succeeded and it will continue to succeed in the future, compared to fossils like you imbeciles that still dwell on a non-existent past. Long live the Elthic nation.”
This unification comes at a convenient time, coinciding with ongoing investigations of hate speech charges against Shad Wilfrid and Kennedy Botha, assembly members for CCM, in the province of St. Lucas, where the party held a small rally in June. However, it is unclear whether the national government will cooperate with the province on the charges.
The party's new logo was unveiled at yesterday's conference.
The newly formed political party, Harmony, is scheduled to hold its leadership elections in September. Both Lee and Wheatley have mutually agreed not to contend for leadership. During the conference, Lee emphasized, "We welcome fresh faces in our journey towards a more robust and harmonious Elthize." Lee will serve as the caretaker leader until the election is complete.
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Senator Kooben to leave TTO following disapproval of Elthic neutrality
by Alfred Ingram - August 24, 2023
Kooben pictured during a visit to Europolis in 2020. Image credit
In an address to the Senate this morning, Senator Merrill Kooben declared his intention to resign from The Third Option, which would make him an independent senator. The decision comes after Councillor Rebel Kofi submitted a neutrality motion for Elthize, which is expected to pass in the European Council. In a statement given to the Elthic Senate, Kooben expressed regret in his decision, yet called it "nevertheless, a step in the right direction".
"In the last five years, the ideological differences between my former political party and me have become irreconcilable," Kooben stated in his address. "While I have tried all solutions to find common ground, it has become obvious that trying any further will result in a betrayal of what I believe in and a betrayal against the people who have elected me. Therefore, I am no longer associated with The Third Option."
Kooben had openly criticized President Greenwich Grimwald for not combatting crime and "contributing to Elthic lawlessness". He also stated that Kofi's submitted neutrality motion was "intolerable". The senator instead advocated for Elthize to join the Telum Treaty, which he argued would improve relations with Spain.
After Kooben's resignation, the current ruling coalition (The Third Option, New Democracy and The Nationals) still holds the majority with 51 seats in the Senate. However, there are rumours that Kooben will start his own political party. When asked about this, Kooben said, "We have good plans in store and you will hear of them soon."
Kooben was elected as a senator in 2004 under New Democracy, where he was reelected in 2008 and 2012. However, following the rise of The Third Option and Grimwald, he left the party to join TTO in 2014. Kooben was reelected again in 2018 and 2022. Before his time as a senator, Kooben had graduated from the University of the Commonwealth in Tullion, Leagio, achieving a master's degree in economics.
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Senator Kooben assembles new political party: Democrats for Elthize
The party comes a week after Kooben left TTO due to disagreements on foreign policy
August 30, 2023
Yesterday, Senator Merrill Kooben held a political rally in Montgomery to announce his new political party, Democrats for Elthize. Around one thousand people were estimated to be in attendance. Senator Kooben left his former party due to disagreements on foreign policy and stated that the new party marks a new chapter in his political career. The party plans to participate in the next general elections, scheduled for April 2026.
Amidst loud applause, Kooben said, "This is where it all begins, and this is where it all begins now. The heart you see represents all of us - you, me, and everyone else without exception. Together, we will build a better Elthize!" The applause continued.
The party logo, which includes a heart shape, was also shown at the rally.
Kooben was a member of The Third Option party for 9 years but decided to leave due to discrepancies in foreign policy. Kooben believed that, instead of neutrality, Elthize should join the Telum Treaty. In a TV interview, he claimed that neutrality would isolate Elthize from potential allies.
Kooben also clashed on how to handle crime in Elthize with his old party, once criticizing President Grimwald for "contributing to Elthic lawlessness". During the Montgomery rally, this was one of the points he had focused on. "I am the only politician in Elthize who guarantees, and wants to guarantee, that you will safely walk in all Elthic streets again," Kooben claimed. "All of them! One by one!"
It is expected that Kooben will be the chairman of the party, with no leadership elections in sight.
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Breaking: Grimwald resigns, with snap elections in July
by Alfred Ingram - January 12, 2024
Grimwald will act as a caretaker president until the elections are held. Image credit
In a speech given to the country this morning, President Greenwich Grimwald announced that he would resign as President, and snap general elections would be held in July. In his speech, Grimwald stated that he intended to retire from politics entirely and focus on his family, as well as his other hobbies.
Reflecting on his decades-long dedication to public service, Grimwald stated, “Elthize, I have dedicated my years, my decades for you. I have always attempted to be my best self, both as a politician and as a person, to be the best role model I can be. Looking back, I can safely say that I have succeeded in that regard.”
Grimwald continued by acknowledging the inevitable passage of time, saying, “There is no other way of putting this: I am old. I believe that I am too old to hold this office. Things have changed significantly since I first took office at the National Assembly almost 40 years ago, when I entered the Senate 20 years ago, and when I became your president almost a decade ago. And here, I would like to retire. Give my place to someone else, hopefully, someone younger, a fresh face. A new representative, who can represent our young people better than I can.”
Born on June 10th, 1944 in the small coastal town of Wearing in Montgomery, to a middle-class family, Grimwald graduated from his local high school in 1962. The young Grimwald didn’t have politics in mind, instead working as a banker. He pursued further education in the 70s- moving to Forecoaster and receiving an undergraduate and a master’s degree in 1974 and 1977 respectively, both in economics at Carrewich University.
Grimwald developed an interest in a career in politics during the presidency of Benjamin "Benny" Kalzer. He joined the Liberal Democrats in 1980 and made an unsuccessful attempt to run for the National Assembly in 1982. However, in 1987, his party granted him a seat after that year's elections, which marked the beginning of his political career. He served in the National Assembly until 1996, going back to Carrewich to work as a professor.
In 2001, Grimwald announced that he would run for a seat in the Senate in the 2002 elections, which was successful. Following then-president Archie Franklin’s corruption scandals in 2012, Grimwald became the loudest voice against him in Liberal Democrats, becoming an alternative for Elthics who wanted an alternative to Franklin, which was less corrupt, but still a moderate. When his demands fell on deaf ears, he left the Liberal Democrats, creating his own party in 2013, called The Third Option, a liberal, anti-corruption party, standing against both the Liberal Democrats and the Labour Party. In 2014, he would win in a landslide, repeating this victory in 2018 and 2022.
Seeking to establish more connections and strengthen the ones the nation already had, Grimwald made significant reforms: He accelerated the European Union membership process around 2016, resulting in the country joining the European Union in 2022. He also oversaw the process of Elthize becoming a member of the Treaty of Finisterre, and the subsequent adoption of the European Monetary Unit (EMU).
Grimwald played an important role in political reforms as well, which included a major overhaul of the legislature. The existing bicameral system consisting of 300 members was replaced with a new unicameral parliament that has only 52 members. In addition to this, a referendum was held last year which resulted in the merging of the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court into one High Court. The administrative divisions, also known as provinces, were also redrawn and renamed.
After resigning from his position as President, Grimwald also announced his resignation as honorary president of his party, The Third Option. He was awarded this position after stepping down from the presidency of the party in 2017.
Grimwald's sudden retirement may be due to his declining health, as well. In 2023, the president made fewer public appearances, particularly around the end of the year. According to Freddie Bonnay of Elthic Affairs, anonymous sources close to Grimwald revealed that he spent half of the autumn in the hospital for various reasons, including intensive back surgery. However, Grimwald himself refrained from citing his health as a reason for his resignation in the speech.
Grimwald and his cabinet will be in a caretaker position until the elections are held on July 7th of this year. The upcoming election will put the presidency, all 52 seats of the new parliament, as well as various provincial governments on the ballot.
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Wirt Harland resigns from Commission, launches presidential bid
Harland had the largest share of votes against Grimwald in the 2018 presidential election
January 24, 2024
In a press conference in Europolis, Wirt Harland announced that he would resign from his position of Internal Affairs Commissioner, revealing that he will run as a presidential candidate in the upcoming election scheduled for this July. The announcement was made today during a press conference held in Europolis, where Harland expressed his desire to continue his political career domestically: "It is evident that I am a more efficient politician domestically than internationally," Harland claimed.
Harland continued, being apologetic about his inactivity in the Commission: "I also would like to apologize to all Europeans for being complicit in contributing to the current stagnancy of the European Union. There were several reasons as to why I couldn't do what I wanted to do in the office, but I will not use them as an excuse and instead will offer my apologies."
Wirt Harland entered national politics in 2008 when he was elected as a member of the National Assembly. Following the unexpected death of Senator Wallace Michalski in 2009, however, he received the Labour Party's appointment to fill the vacancy. Making a name for himself as a trustworthy moderate politician for a decade, in 2018, he was chosen to be the joint presidential candidate of the Labour Party of Elthize (now Congress for Social Democracy) and the Elthic Green Party. He narrowly lost this race to the incumbent Greenwich Grimwald. Harland ran for the European Commission in December 2022, his election as Internal Affairs Commissioner was followed by a successful re-election in June 2023.
Harland retained his Commission position longer than initially expected, considering the delayed elections for the European Commission. "The fact that it has been around four months since my second term has ended with no action against me is quite concerning. It shows that the European Union is in another interregnum period, similar to the one which happened in 2018. This, ultimately, will erode the trust people have in European institutions, not just for Elthics like myself, but for every citizen around the Union," he continued at the press conference.
Regarding his presidential run, Harland also announced that he would not be a part of the new Congress for Social Democracy, formerly Labour, claiming that he had left the party in December last year. Instead, he announced that he would establish a new party to run in parliamentary elections, stating that more details about this party would come sometime in February.
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Weyes Blood achieves top 3 EuroVoice finish for Elthize
It is the best result of the country since its debut in EuroVoice 42
February 12, 2024
The long-awaited results of the 45th edition of the EuroVoice Song Contest are finally here, following repeated delays which were almost enough to break even the least patient Duchian. Held in the city of Saint Dominico in Inquista for the second time in a row following the victories of Nancy Ajram and MorMor, the trophy went to Ineland for the second time. Chérine, with her song "Ça m'ennuie pas" (French for "I don't mind"), received 95 points from other countries, including 12 points from Portugal and 10 points from Elthize, California, Reitzmag and Yosai.
Meanwhile, Elthize managed to achieve its best result once again, with Weyes Blood finishing in third place with her song "Everyday". It received 84 points, including 12 points from the United Duchies and Yosai, as well as 10 points from Istkalen and 8 points from Mishar Republic and Icholasen.
Three points behind Chérine, Icholasen (competing under the Nicoleizian Joint Eurovoice Team) finished second, with Maria and Margot Helling performing "Servus, Gruezi, und Hallo!". They received the most 12 points out of any entry, getting three: from Inquista, Istkalen and Red Croatia. They also received 10 points from the Conch Kingdom, 8 points from Portugal, as well as 7 points from Elthize.
Narrowly missing a top 3 finish, TTRRUUCES of Istkalen with their song "Tainted Blue" received 12 points from Elthize, getting 80 points in total. They received another 12 points from the Mishar Republic as well. Spain awarded them 10 points, while Yosai and Ineland gave them 8 points.
The unexpected delays which occurred during this edition of the contest meant that various changes had to be made to the presentation of the results. Instead of the usual presentation of spokespersons from all participating countries announcing their points and adding to the final result, the results were announced directly by the hosts, starting from the last place. This meant that chosen spokespersons of the participant countries and regions could not show up to announce their points, including Ichiko Aoba, who was supposed to announce Elthize's votes. This broke the tradition of the previous contestant (or contestants) being the spokesperson for the next EuroVoice. When asked by NET, Ichiko Aoba announced that she would not attempt to be the spokesperson in the next edition of the EuroVoice Song Contest.
Drama ensued in the song selection in Elthize as well. On August 30, 2023, a day before the official date for the song reveal, it was leaked by journalist Alfred Ingram that the song supposed to be sent to Inquista was scrapped at the last minute, following "unexpected problematic behaviour" from one of the artists chosen to represent the country. While no identities were revealed, an anonymous source reported to NET that, at the time, the artist in question had recently been in controversy following their questionable comments regarding transgender people. The source also reported that this controversy occurred right after the song was chosen.
The next edition of EuroVoice is expected to be held sometime in the summer of this year in Ineland.
