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Elthic Affairs

Why the true population of Elthize is impossible to find

Freddie Bonnay - October 1, 2024

As of 2024, the population of The State of Elthize was estimated to be around 4,828 million, according to the Ministry of Interior. The number, however, came with a very important warning that the numbers were not "exactly accurate".

When asked how many people lived in Elthize in 2019, then-president Greenwich Grimwald replied: "I don't know. I assume it's about five million?" The estimates at the time were around 4,2 million people. When the same question was asked to Archie Franklin in 2010, who was president at the time, he outright refused to comment.

So, why is Elthize's true population impossible to find?

The estimates

We first need to look at how Elthize's population is estimated. According to the Population Bureau in the Ministry of Interior, the estimates are done "using data concerning population such as provincial censuses, various population clocks, as well as birth and death rates".

While the ministry has stated earlier that the numbers were not "exactly accurate", that doesn't mean it doesn't trust its estimates- far from it. Patrick Hill, who was the Minister of Interior Affairs at the time, stated in a 2018 interview that the numbers were "as accurate as they could get". When asked whether or not he trusted the estimates, then-president Grimwald said: "There is no reason not to."

While it is correct that our population estimates come from trustworthy sources, they are still estimates, not exact numbers. In addition, not all provinces do censuses, and population clocks have their own negatives. But also, why make it this difficult? Is it not possible to make this process simpler, or, heaven forbid, have a national census or a registry?

Attempted changes

Did you know that the last time Elthize ever had a national census was in 1947?

No, that is not an attempt at satire. Despite the Elthic government attempting to do another census since at least the 1970s, all attempts have been unsuccessful. The last time there was a serious attempt to take a census was in 2008, under the presidency of Archibald Franklin, who, ironically, blocked the president before him from taking one.

When former president Gloria Dietrich attempted to construct a census system in 2000, it was the Liberal Democrats that blocked it, citing high costs and privacy concerns, two of the most popular arguments against taking a census. Additional opposition came from the left of Labour (Dietrich's party), who had more concerns about how census data could be used to manipulate election outcomes.

Franklin was planning to finally get a census going for Elthize by 2010. Unfortunately, he shot himself in the foot in 2009 by defunding all parts of the government so much that he caused a whole economic crisis, and Elthics, notorious for being monolingual, finally learned a little bit of Latin, declaring the following years anni horribiles. And with that, no census ever took place.

"We tried nothing and we're all out of ideas!"

A couple months before Elthize joined the European Union, a forum post of a man from St. Lucas that went viral.

The man, who remained anonymous and kept as little personal information on his post as possible, claimed that there was no proof that he existed at all. In the post, he claimed that his parents refused to give him any proof of documentation, be it a birth certificate or an ID card, declaring them "unnecessary". In the comments, he cited his parents' hatred for the government, which he dubbed "irrational".

A couple days later, Joshua Bridges, the Provincial Minister of Social Affairs for St. Lucas, announced that they were aware of the situation and that the law enforcement had taken immediate action.

Bridges also gave further information about the case, stating that the man who made the post, pseudonymously referred to as Michael, had recently turned into an adult at the time of making the viral post. Bridges claimed that Michael had not been aware of his dire situation until he attempted to apply for a university.

Around the same time, former president Greenwich Grimwald gave an interview with NET, telling the journalists that changes to counting our population was unnecessary: "We have the most advanced technologies that help us count our population, with great accuracy. We need to stop pretending like the year is, like, 1997, we just do not need a hand-counting."

This would not be the first time Grimwald would announce that he had given up on improving the issue. In 2014, the year he was elected president, he announced that all discussion regarding an accurate population counting were "halted forever".

Michael's case, however, is not an outlier. Last year, Matthew François, former leader of the Greens, estimated that there were around 35,000 people who were born in Elthize that were "entirely undocumented". François did not shy from adding that this fact carried grave consequences:

"These people are invisible. They don't exist. They have trouble getting in schools, they cannot get jobs, they cannot register a business, they cannot even travel properly. Most of these people are stuck in cults, either motivated by religion or political ideology. The incompetence of the ruling coalition and President Grimwald is simply unacceptable. We need to save these people."

The last decade or so has seen all provincial governments in Elthize put up structures to deal with this problem. The national government stayed quiet, however, as usual, leaving it to the provinces to fix debilitating problems.

Is there hope?

During a press conference a week ago, President Melissa Chai stated that her government was preparing legislation to establish a national census agency. It's unknown how long will it take for it to pass in the Parliament.

For the last twenty-two years the right was in office, whether it be Franklin, Grimwald, or some other charlatan, they have practically broken all functioning parts of the Elthic government, except for the parts that managed their salaries.

There is nothing more embarrassing than a country that does not know how many people it has within its borders. There is nothing more shameful than knowing that in Elthize, thousands of people have their lives wasted away in cults that they cannot get out of. There is nothing more mortifying than the fact that there are thousands of people, like Michael, that have their agency stripped away from them because of government incompetence.

The question of why it is impossible to find the true population of Elthize can be answered with one word: Apathy. Our government did not care. I wish there was a better, more nuanced answer than this, but there isn't.

Apathy has ruined this country, neglecting it, leaving it to rot. Our current president Melissa Chai has an opportunity to take care of everything that has been neglected for the last two decades. I hope she does not waste it.

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Roscoes given to workers
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Roscoes has restructured to dilute shares and give shares to the Roscoes Welfare Association which will be renamed the Union for Roscoes Workers. The restructuring will see the business move to the following ownership:

Ownership Ownership Voting Shares Voting Share % Non Voting Shares % Non-voting Total Shares % Total Board members Roscoes Family Trust 59.72% 7,465 29.86% 75,000 3.80% 82,465 4.12% 6 Union for Roscoes Workers: 0.00% 12,500 50.00% 1,000,000 50.63% 1,012,500 50.63% 10 Roscoes Foundation 0.00% - 0.00% 199,856 10.12% 199,856 9.99% - Kligenberg Industries 21.92% 2,740 10.96% 345,616 17.50% 348,356 17.42% 2 Cadbury Trust 2.70% 338 1.35% 44,460 2.25% 44,798 2.24% 0 National Duchies Fund 15.66% 1,958 7.83% 310,068 15.70% 312,026 15.60% 2 Total: 100.00% 25,000 100.00% 1,975,000 100.00% 2,000,000 100.00% 20

Workers will own 50.63% of the business having 10 of the 20 members on the board to become semi-worker owned and controlled. The Roscoes will take the greatest hit in value with their shares being worth 102 billion Euros down from 1.478 Trillion Euros. Rachel Reubenstein-Roscoe Co-Ceo along with Co-Ceo Ruth Cadbury said in a joint statement "We believe it is time to give our business to the workers as a legacy of our families values. We have run the business in accordance with putting the worker first and benefiting future generations. The shares have been gifted under deed restriction that they cannot be sold by either the Union for Roscoes Workers or the Roscoes Foundation or any of their sucessors. We hope this will keep the businesses values and ethics safe in the long term . No more voting shares may be issued on the stock market by covenant in order to protect the business from outsider infiltration." It is rumoured businesses like TUI have been considering also moving to semi-worker owned model.

Republic

Censorate reform fails

Elizabeth Íkrat's gambit has failed: by an overwhelming majority, 57 to 43 percent, Istkaleners have voted to retain the Istkalenic Censorate in its present form.

Responsible for maintaining the "moral and political" integrity of the Republic, the Censorate - one of the main descendants of the medieval Lirisian monastic order, a secretive, para-statal institution whose internal workings remain generally opaque to the public - held, and now will continue to hold, broad authority to veto legislation, impeach officials, and establish restrictions on the conduct of state dignitaries with virtually no oversight or checks on power. Deeply reactionary in its political inclination, Íkrat and many others belonging to the democratic sector of Istkalenic politics had come to see it as the primary impediment to Westernization and the establishment of a stable, parliamentary democracy - an understanding that it was only too happy to confirm, pronouncing, in what was in effect its response, its wholesale rejection of "foreign politics," proposing a rigidly authoritarian system of government in which its highest dignitaries would hold ultimate, virtually total power over the affairs of state, and devising increasingly bizarre "moral regulations" for politicians - one went as far as to prohibit bathing and showering - meant to give it a legal pretext to remove democratically-aligned officials from office.

Íkrat and her allies, believing that the Censorate had, through these increasingly erratic actions, delegitimized itself in the eyes of the public, had sought to use the people to remove this threat most dire to their ideological project and continued power. But with prices rising, visible corruption mounting, and - perhaps most importantly of all - the Minister of Finance, Indras Irakemar having attempted to force through unpopular welfare cuts and a framework for incorporation - it became an impossibility. Democracy being so tied to their government, their government being so tied to this building social and political malaise - and the Censorate, the traditional defender of clean government and the traditional, welfarist, étatist, guild and corvée-based economy, so well placed to serve as foil - they simply could not defend their political project.

The Censorate has taken the vote as both a general rejection of Western democracy and a green light for its own plans for the Istkalenic state; its President, Ursula Orlich, made a statement shortly after the finalization of the vote count in which she made clear the body would begin to act more directly to "reform" Istkalenic government and place limits on the country's nascent democracy.

"The people," she said, "have rejected the fragmentation, the corruption, the decadence offered them by the compradors who usurp the government. Yet again, they have shunned the excess of the West and affirmed our national tradition: duty, not rights, order, not libertinianism, sobriety, not drunkenness. No longer can Elizabeth Íkrat and her friends, feasting off the hard work of the country they seek every day to defraud and to sell off to the highest bidder, point to them to justify their butcheries and depravities; they and the diseased ideologies they have imported in their desperate attempt to sicken this nation and its people most superior have been cast out to wither and die. And wither and die they will - we will make sure of that. There will be no talk of democracy once we are done. Parties, parliament, politics - there will be no more of any of that, after us The words of Liris shall prevail, and through our judicious reforms, clean and national government will prevail forever in this country."

Íkrat herself is due to address the nation tomorrow morning; what she intends to say is as of yet entirely unknown. Head of State Ilmaras Kalessed, for her part, although strongly supportive of the referendum effort, from beginning to end, has indicated not merely that she will not speak on the issue, but that she will make no public appearances, addresses, or even statements until she leaves office. No other politicians of the democratic sector have made any comment on whether or not they will comment on the issue.

BREAKING NEWS: Braethan ratify democratic procedure bill

4 July 2024

The Braetha have ratified the Democratic Procedure Act 2024 after approximately 20 hours of nonstop debate. Bits and pieces of the originally proposed bill still stand, but many others have been axed or revised.

The Braetha for Education, Mr Elmas Ratriach, has said the passage of the bill "represents a new democratic age of Sertian life", and Mr Edwin Blasinyth, the Braetha controlling foreign affairs, says the bill "is a success for everyone".

Here is an overview of the parts of the bill that were successful, edited, or removed.

Right to establish political parties: UNSUCCESSFUL

Political parties are, still, not allowed to exist in the Kingdom of Sertia after the passage of this bill. Additionally, any political parties permitted before the passage of this bill must be dissolved.

This is a big hit to take for the Aspernian Coalition, a political party organised to represent the interests of the now defunct Republic of Aspern, whose members regularly engaged in illegal activities.

ONLY VOTES FROM BRAETHA REGISTRANTS COUNT: Revised

In Sertia, while technically anyone can vote, only those registered with the correct Braetha will have their votes count fully, at a value of 1. If you're not registered with a Braetha, your vote counts as 0.

Now, however the DPA ensures that all citizens of Sertia have the right to vote without being part of a Braetha, with their votes counting for 0.5. Additionally, individuals in higher education may register with the Braetha for Education to have their votes count fully, at a value of 1.

Even better, citizens of Sertia can now vote in as many Braetha elections as they please, without registering.

Non-citizens of Sertia will be able to vote as long as they are registered with a Braetha, at a value of 0.5. If you have been in Sertia for longer than 10 years or show exceptional knowledge of Sertia, you may be able to have your vote counted at a value of 1.

VOTING AGE LIMIT ESTABLISHED

There has never been a codified age limit to vote in Sertia, however the earliest age at which you can register with a Braetha is 16. The DPA now says that you can vote at the age of 16 (regardless of your Braetha registration status) OR whenever you join further education, whichever is earlier.

ELECTION REFERENDA: SUCCESSFUL

Citizens of Sertia can now vote in referendums to call an election for certain Braetha positions. There will be three referenda each year: one in January, one in April, and one in August. If an election is called in any of those referenda, an election will be scheduled for the date at which the next election referendum would take place.

FORMER ASPERNIAN REBELS' VOTES DIMINISHED

Those who can be shown to have had a part in, or been sympathetic to, the Aspernian Republic will be permitted to vote, but their votes will count at a value of 0.25.

CAN BRAETHAN VOTE? NO

Those who currently hold office in the Braetha will not be permitted to vote in elections.

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Sonoma Wildfire Spreads Largely Unchecked

SONOMA---The County of Sonoma is experiencing an ever increasing wildfire. The San Fernando Valley fire and Sierra fire in conjunction with this is spreading CalFire thin. Prime Minister Kamala Harris has declared states of emergency in those areas. Several Spanish and Duchies have been sent to aid in the fires.

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2 September 2024

The Californian Government wishes to congratulate the governing coalition of the United Duchies on their electoral win. We hope it can deliver for Duchians and act on its democratic mandate.

Kamala Harris, Prime Minister of California

"That sounds like a wonderful plan, and a way to really show our cooperation as countries. I will ask our Brætha to mark 15 January as an official state holiday, and I'm sure they'll commission some extra festivals and celebrations.

"The Sertian astronauts we have chosen for this campaign are people who have shown an outstanding dedication to fostering international relationships, such as the one our two nations have."

Breakdown House of Duchies:
%:

Duchy/Constituency The left IUAC PSD Liberal Party: Moderate Party: Union of Democrats: Unus AFD Total Cair Para 3.84% 0.00% 19.75% 11.02% 31.91% 0.38% 15.31% 17.79% 100.00% Supseaxe 4.56% 0.00% 24.15% 18.78% 34.63% 0.76% 12.92% 4.20% 100.00% Westseaxna 0.49% 0.00% 12.25% 6.01% 31.66% 4.73% 29.97% 14.89% 100.00% Baltica 0.57% 0.03% 27.55% 17.90% 39.66% 0.78% 5.12% 8.40% 100.00% Albion 1.21% 0.00% 6.88% 9.07% 23.84% 2.09% 33.88% 23.02% 100.00% Doornevale 0.83% 0.00% 6.82% 3.33% 19.41% 3.16% 47.83% 18.62% 100.00% Aranvale 1.13% 0.00% 13.54% 7.44% 15.83% 3.84% 33.60% 24.63% 100.00% Overseas 4.06% 0.00% 28.18% 9.00% 41.58% 12.90% 3.58% 0.70% 100.00% Total: 2.40% 0.01% 21.11% 13.64% 34.26% 2.84% 16.63% 9.12% 100.00%

Votes:

Duchy/Constituency The left IUAC PSD Liberal Party: Moderate Party: Union of Democrats: Unus AFD Total Cair Para 69726 0 358489 199912 579062 6910 277774 322838 1814712 Supseaxe 1258335 0 6670657 5187448 9566873 210212 3569306 1161557 27624387 Westseaxna 84346 0 2103887 1031679 5437117 812791 5147169 2557946 17174936 Baltica 96597 5047 4634217 3011720 6671254 131221 860625 1412525 16823207 Albion 25202 0 143110 188619 495580 43556 704382 478606 2079054 Doornevale 21159 0 174002 85041 495547 80680 1221230 475361 2553020 Aranvale 23730 0 283598 155857 331625 80500 703882 515988 2095180 Overseas 254257 0 1765930 563791 2605425 808155 224429 44072 6266059 Total 1833353 5047 16133889 10424066 26182484 2174026 12708797 6968893 76430555

Seats:

Duchy/Constituency The left IUAC PSD Liberal Party: Moderate Party: Union of Democrats: Unus AFD Total Cair Para 1 0 6 3 10 0 5 5 30 Supseaxe 1 0 7 6 11 0 4 1 30 Westseaxna 0 0 4 2 10 1 9 4 30 Baltica 0 0 9 5 13 0 1 2 30 Albion 0 0 2 3 7 0 11 7 30 Doornevale 0 0 2 1 6 1 15 5 30 Aranvale 0 0 4 2 5 1 10 8 30 Overseas 1 0 8 2 14 4 1 0 30 Total 3 0 42 24 76 7 56 32 240

Council Gridlock
I must state my absolute disappointment in the council gridlock caused by officials not moving acts through on time or on schedule. The people of Europe and governments of Europe voted for a council that works and actually proceeds with legislation. I have limited time in office and want to use this time to benefit the European people by continuing to harmonises standards through acts. This is being obstructed by obstructionists and inefficient council procedures and beaurocracy. I urge the council to vote on legislation in good time and work with my commission to pass acts that benefit the European people through harmonisation of policies on trade, quality standards and safety to ensure cheaper more affordable goods for all in the EU through simplifying of red tape.The commission cannot do its job if the council is not sticking to times set out in the constitution and efficiently moving legislation through the council.

Round Two General Election Results, as reported at 22:45 on 17 August

Union des Saints: 41.42%
Ligue Socialiste du Travail: 33.32%
Front Republicain National: 25.26%

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Civil Populist Party Gains Increased Support For National Election

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The Civil Populist Party has been on a rollercoaster journey in the world of politics, facing ups and downs in recent years. After a somewhat disappointing performance in the 2022 National Legislative elections followed by a loss in the 2023 local elections, the party seemed to be at a crossroads. However, under the leadership of Senator Maria Kerstin, a new dawn seems to be on the horizon as the party gains increased support and momentum.

Senator Maria Kerstin, who also ran as the EU Internal Affairs Commissioner (ICA) candidate in 2020, took the reins of the party as its President following the setbacks of the previous elections. Recognizing the need for a rejuvenation of the party's image as the 'Party of the People', Senator Kerstin embarked on a journey to reshape the Civil Populist Party by removing right-wing elements and re-establishing its connection with the common people in the Commonwealth of Leagio. One of the key strategies employed by Senator Kerstin was the implementation of a platform creation system that involved not only party members but also independent voters who desired a voice in the government. By opening up the platform creation process to a wider range of voices, the Civil Populist Party aimed to reflect the needs and aspirations of the broader population, thereby solidifying its position as a party that truly represents the interests of the people.

The efforts of Senator Kerstin and the party members seem to be paying off, as recent polling data indicates a significant surge in support for the Civil Populist Party. Compared to the bleak scenario of 2022 and 2023, where the party struggled to make its mark, the Civil Populists are now positioned at near fourth place with approximately 10% of voter support. This increase in popularity showcases the effectiveness of the new strategies and approaches adopted by the party leadership in engaging with the electorate and addressing their concerns.The rise of the Civil Populist Party can be attributed to a combination of factors. The emphasis on inclusivity and grassroots participation in the platform creation process has garnered widespread appreciation from both party members and independent voters. By fostering a sense of ownership and involvement among the people, the party has successfully tapped into the pulse of the nation and resonated with the aspirations of the populace.

Additionally, the progressive stance taken by the Civil Populist Party under Senator Maria Kerstin's leadership has also struck a chord with a significant section of the electorate. By championing progressive values, social justice, and equality, the party has distinguished itself as a beacon of hope for those seeking positive change and reform in the political landscape. As the Civil Populist Party continues to gain ground and expand its support base, it stands poised to emerge as a formidable force in the upcoming political landscape of the Commonwealth of Leagio. With Senator Maria Kerstin at the helm, steering the party towards a future defined by inclusivity, progress, and people-centric policies, the Civil Populists are well-positioned to reclaim their title as the true 'Party of the People' and make a lasting impact on the political arena.

According to sources within the United People’s Front (UPF) alliance headquarters in Moraben, Jullien, this increase has been concerning for the Left-wing alliance as they fear that it cause them to lose the support that they enjoyed from the 2022 election voters that shifted from the Civil Populist Part and steal 56 seats from them. Currently, the UPF is trying to find a way to spin this around where they can make the Civil Populists seem as an unfunctional party and reliable on its platform by referencing its failures in previous years. On the other hand, the Social-Progressives (run by President Mouri-Kudo) have remained silent. Although, some members within the party’s representation in the National Congress have voiced concerns that the shift might force them to coliation with the Civil Populists again. A feeling that they are uneasy about as memories of the CPP’s betrayal is still strong from 2021/2022 and some sources close to the President say that she is willing to work with Maria Kerstin (who is also running as the party’s candidate for Prime Minister) but with a laundry list of conditions to ensure the Civil Populists don’t screw with her again.

When referencing back to the new platform that was created by the creation system that Senator Kerstin developed for the Civil Populist Party called UR-Platform, this is what was established:
• Create an Agency of Rent Management that would manage rent prices for apartment housing throughout the Commonwealth
• A new election formation of the EU-Councilor where the National Congress and President appoint a representative but follow a council system similar to what Ritzmag uses with at least 20 representatives elected every local election cycle through a STV system.
• An amendment to the Constitution where the President is free to appoint a Prime Minister without Congressional Approval to ensure a true presidential system
• Increased investment plans on energy and infrastructure, with a special interest in constructing nuclear plants in the Commonwealth and the expansion of the National Highway system
• Reduced military spending down to 3.5% from 5% where the extra funds can be diverted to Energy and Infrastructure to expand mentioned projects
• Maintain membership with Telum and support military endeavors that threaten the security/interests of the Commonwealth
• Expand educational opportunities abroad opportunities for all children regardless of race, socio-economic status, etc.
• Maintain a neutral balance in foreign policy with all nations, including Telum
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The Political Parties of Leagio

Social Workers Party (SWP): Carved from the SUP's radical wing, the Socialist Workers Party (SWP) burns with revolutionary fervor. They denounce the SUP's "betrayal" of true socialism, rejecting both moderate reforms and the perceived failures of the UNSR. Their unwavering goal: a complete Leagioan overhaul through worker control and overthrow of existing systems. This uncompromising stance attracts ardent supporters yearning for radical change but isolates moderates wary of upheaval. While the SUP navigates the political system, the SWP remains an outsider, a fiery voice for total transformation.

Socialist Union Party (SUP): stands as a beacon for many on the left, advocating for transformative change within Leagio and beyond. At its core, the SUP champions economic equality and the empowerment of the working class. They believe in democratic control of the means of production, arguing that Leagio's resources should serve the people, not private interests. Though historically advocating for internationalism and workers' revolution, the SUP under James Moriarty's leadership has undergone a strategic shift. They now emphasize pragmatic social democracy, focusing on achievable reforms within Leagio. This includes prioritizing cooperative endeavors, encouraging citizen participation in decision-making, and strengthening social safety nets. The party aims to decentralize power by establishing a confederal system of republics within Leagio, granting greater autonomy to local communities. Their vision is one of shared prosperity and collective ownership, where Leagio's progress is driven by the collaborative efforts of its citizens. However, the SUP's past association with radical leftist ideals continues to draw scrutiny. Critics highlight potential economic challenges of nationalizing industries and question the practicality of their proposed confederation. Others find their toned-down approach overly cautious, advocating for bolder action.

Green Party (GP): A minor party that began in 1990's as a movement to protect the environment in Leagio, but began to shift into a left-wing movement that became strongly anti-capitalist. It blames Capitalism for the fact that the Eastern territories have a huge burdon of development in order to become economically sufficient at levels at that might as well be impossible. The small party believes that with the implementation of Green Politics for the environment, Communalism, and Eco-Socialism then Leagio would become a strong green nation in Europe.

Civil Populist Party (CPP): A centre-left party that historically has represented the will of the people. It is a party that tends to hear the cries of demands of the people and work to resolve it in any way that they can. The party represents the interests of the common man. The party believes that the nation should respond to the needs of its constituents and lend them a helping hand. People that have long supported the party tend to refer it to the 'Party of the Common Man.' Although, the party has met criticism of not being effective in enacting the will of the people that it represents. In addition, the Party advocates for equal rights and naturalization of peoples coming to the Commonwealth.

Social Democratic Party (SDP):A party that was as one of the original five parties established in the Commonwealth following its founding, embodying a rich tradition of political engagement. Positioned firmly within the centre-left spectrum, the SDP adheres to a social democratic philosophy that seeks to address societal inequalities and promote social justice. The party envisions a Commonwealth where democracy and a mixed economy form the pillars of a progressive and inclusive society. At the heart of the SDP's ideology lies a commitment to reducing inequality through a carefully regulated yet capitalist economic framework. The party believes in the importance of industry regulation to ensure fairness and sustainability, while concurrently endorsing the continuation of a capitalist system that encourages innovation and economic growth. Furthermore, the SDP champions the idea that access to social services should be recognized as an inherent right for all Leagioans. This commitment aligns with the party's broader vision of creating a society where the benefits of economic prosperity are shared equitably, and essential services, such as healthcare and education, are accessible to every citizen.

Progressive Alliance Party (PAP): A left-center to right-center party that wants to protect social welfare, promoting moral improvement, creating economic reform and fostering industrial efficiency within the Commonwealth. The Party has a neutral stance toward the European Union, because they see the European Union as a chance to economically expand the Commonwealth but feel that the EU needs to have some changes within its laws. Historically, the Progressive Alliance tends to align with the Conservative Reform Party in a coalition to form a government whenever possible but that has not been done in over 35 years as the party began to shift away from conservative politics to a more centered but progressive platform of their own.

Federal Constitutional Conservative Party (FCCP): A political party that was formed in 2015 that is in the Centre-right and supports the ideas of paternalistic conservativism, direct democracy, economic liberalism, pirate politics, and anti-corruption. Federal Constitutional Conservative Party was founded by Henry Fontaine, who was once part of the Progressive Alliance Party as a member in the House of Councilors in 2018, who left his party in 2020 and founded the FCCP to provide more transparency and openness of the Leagioan government to its citizens. The party is Pro-European Union that wants more transparency and oversight on member-states.

Federation of Centrist Democrats (FCD): A merger of the Eastern Leagio Party, Leagioan Pact of Democracy, and the Free Democratic Party that occurred in 2023, where the merged party sits in the Centre-Right that supports Localism, Fiscal Federalism, and Classical Liberalism. The FCD is against the Leagioan Model of a Social Market Economy and prefers a free market economy system with minimal interference from the government on the economy. In addition, the party thinks that states and local leaders should be allowed to have more power in their own issues to resolve instead of the government solving everything. Furthermore, members of the Federation believe that spending within the Commonwealth’s government budget should be limited and should only input certain policies by offering grants to provincial as well as municipal governments.

Christian Farmers Union (CFU): A Centre-right political party that follows Christian Democracy, Liberalism Conservativism, and Agrarianism. The Party was founded in 2007 as an attempt to be an alternative to the former Eastern Leagio Party to provide support to farmers and rural communities through the approach of Christian democracy. The Party supports a free market mixed with economic liberalism, environmental development for farmers, and supports the construction of a national river development project that runs through the Commonwealth to support rural communities and farms while also providing hydro electric power. They especially support the idea of tax cuts that benefit farmers and small business, while favoring the Leagioan Model of the economic system that was developed by the Mouri-Kudo Administration. Although, Conservative economically, the party is socially liberal somewhat as they support same-sex marriage and contraption but are against abortions.

Conservative Reformist Party (CRP): Standing tall on the center-right at first but has shifted to be more Right-Wing in recent years, the Conservative Reform Party (CRP) champions fiscal responsibility and limited government intervention. They advocate for slashing the sprawling welfare programs implemented by the Civil Populist Party and Progressive Alliance Party, viewing them as unsustainable drains on the national purse. Their ultimate goal is to reshape Leagio's government, seeking a return to stability through a new constitution that surpasses the often-criticized 1904 document. Fiercely independent, the CRP champions Leagio's autonomy, advocating for a clean break from European Union regulations it deems restrictive and meddling. They believe Leagio's economic and political destiny lies in its own hands, not dictated from Europolis. Yet, the world remains a dangerous place, and the CRP sees strength as critical. They push for robust military spending, advocating for cutting-edge weapons and equipment to bolster the Commonwealth Armed Forces. A well-armed and prepared military, they argue, is the cornerstone of national security and freedom.

African-Leagioan Unity Party (ALUP):A political party that was established in 1948, stands as a progressive force dedicated to championing the rights and interests of African-Leagioans. With a distinctly left-wing orientation, ALUP places a strong emphasis on minority rights and envisions a more egalitarian society within the Commonwealth. Committed to rectifying historical injustices, the party advocates for enhanced representation of African-Leagioans in political institutions and society at large. ALUP's left-leaning agenda reflects its dedication to fostering social equality, justice, and a more inclusive future for a marginalized society for African-Leagioans within the Commonwealth.

Karpitiz Solidarity Party (KSP): A political party that was founded in 1931 to represent the interests of Desert Karpitizes in Leagio that were once one of the many native groups that settled in what is today the Commonwealth of Leagio. The party runs typically as a Centre-Left social democratic party wanting to provide additional development to the state of Karpitniz and the surrounding states that have a strong population of Karpitniz descent individuals. In 2023, the party was officially recognized as a minority party that would be given additional subsidies to boost its cause.

Alternative for Leagio (AfL): The Alternative for Leagio (AfL) is a right-wing populist political party that champions national sovereignty, cultural preservation, and economic reform. The AfL advocates for strict immigration control, reduced influence of the European Union, and prioritization of welfare benefits for native Leagians. The party emphasizes conservative values, including law and order, family values, and national pride, while expressing concerns about the influence of foreign cultures in Leagio. The AfL aims to provide a distinct political alternative for voters who feel that traditional parties do not adequately represent their views on national identity and cultural preservation. Orginally before hand, the party had been under different names such as the National Patriot Party, the Common Nationalists, and the Leagio United Together Front.

The Daily Dominion

All the News You Need to Hear

Next Generation Network Alliance Officially Releases DAGK Protocol to the Public

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VERINTENO - The NGNA, a joint committee of the Duxburian Central Bank and Federal Blockchain Alliance, has now launched their highly advanced DAGK 1.0 consensus protocol. Programmed by world-renowned computer science experts Grandmaster Brandeus Devoy, Grandmaster Andres Marian, and Master Kade Nelson, DAGK utilizes much higher mathematical algorithms than previous partially-synchronus, directed acrylic graph of blocks protocols such as LINK X and Ripple X.

The permissionless, paramaterless protocol's transaction ordering logic is agnostic to its network latency, enabling it to scale to the size of the hardware that runs it, rendering its transactions-per-second cap theoretically infinite. DAGK's capabilities are limited only by the speed, size, and power of the internet itself. The protocol can finalize some closer transactions at speeds under 50 milliseconds vs the 2-5 second window of the older Ripple X network.

DAGK is published as an open source specification that anyone may use free for any purpose. The Duxburian government and financial sector plan on implementing a closed-source version of the protocol for payments processing by the end of the year, while some smaller credit alliances may be up and running with it far sooner.

The FBA will now deprecate the LINK X network, although as a decentralized specification, any entity running it may continue to run it indefinitely.

I thank the right honourable councillor of the Duxburian Union and welcome his amendments. I do believe the new technology clause is flexible enough as it reads "such as" so wouldn't limit new technologies only to blockchain or crypto but just cites them as examples .

I do not believe that retail banking is obsolete or close to being so since many want the stability of an institution and protection of security features and financial protection offered by the industry. The chargeback and EuroPay Guard I believe is necessary to provide confidence in the network that would encourage people to use the system and its much better to have it organised at the Euro Pay level than through the banks or financial institutions without such a protection the system will be far too open to fraud and by setting aside a fund of 0.5% of transactions on the network we can cover transactions where money cannot be recovered from an account.

James Mizrachi-Roscoe, IAC commissioner

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Nik Asgard amte primo mani, Master-General of Land

Nik Asgard finally arrived in Europolis after sailing across the strait and then taking various public transit to reach the city. It took forever and made him arrive later than other dignitaries, but gotta practice what you preach, right? Of course, he had help from random people who recognized him not as a government official, but as a rare descendant of the first men of Azrekko. There was no hiding his visual heritage - the skin complexion of the greatest of all men who built the ancient Azrekkian world with nothing but their hands. Nik's heritage had already helped him become a huge hit among the rural Duxburians he needed to connect with as the new Master-General of Land, the Duxburian equivalent of a Ministry of Interior. Rural Duxburians, so hard for most government officials to reach and understand, practically revered the first men as the ultimate "masculine tough guys" of the desert, and thus they embraced Nik as one of their own despite being young and pretty ordinary all things considered. He alone could persuade them to do various things that liberal nanny men couldn't make them do, and that is why the government had decided to send him to the environmental conference over other, more well-known Duxburians.

However, Nik was far from any kind of tough guy in Europolis, shivering in the temperate air. Gawd, this place was soooooooooo fucking cold. Nik hailed from one of the hottest places on earth, the Valley of the Sun, which sat well below sea level in far southeastern Azrekko. According to legend, the Sun Kings of Azrekko built a forbidden city in the inhospitable valley for safely storing the gold reserve of their kingdom. While the forbidden city did indeed exist, and continues to exist due to an oasis (the invention of air conditioning helped too), the treasury was lost and never found, remaining one of the great mysteries of the country. Nik's Asgard bloodline never managed to leave this place, thus he was born to tolerate its scorching weather.

Layers, layers! Nik put on another jacket. One of the reasons he was here was concern that the climate was warming too rapidly, but now he wasn't so sure! He also didn't expect much from the conference. He was unlikely to see eye-to-eye with the rest of Europe on things like ICE vehicles (when gasoline still cost less than water), or preventing the spread of agriculture (with some of the largest food-producing regions of anywhere), and especially the continued lack of any real transition plan for workers and skills. However, the modern Duxburian Union wasn't all that far away from the European nanny libs in many categories like energy generation and recycling, so signing a deal was a very real possibility. Either way, it was worth his time. If nobody acted, his home of thousands of years would become uninhabitably hot, the desert could expand, and the food supply could be threatened.

Nik briefed his translator on what he planned to talk about. He could technically speak 4 languages fluently on his own, but his 2 best were ancient ones and his English came with an accent some thousands of years older than English itself that probably made it almost unintelligible to native speakers. Ah, the joys of coming from such an isolated time capsule of a place.

It would soon be time to meet the nanny libs and hear what wild ideas they have this go-around...

On behalf of United Duchies I vote FOR this budget
Skye Hook , Deputy Councillour for United Duchies

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The President of the Commonwealth of Leagio hereby announces that by the authority granted to them by the Constitution of the Commonwealth and varies laws of the commonwealth that the following executive orders have been issued. These executive orders shall take effect tomorrow July 25th, 2024:

Executive Order 2024-01

Authorizing the Ministry of Research & Development and Ministry of Defense to advance progress on the Leagioan Drone Defense Program for the Airforce

Executive Order 2024-02

Authorizing the Ministry of Digital Technology to develop a third public non-partisan news channel that covers the politics occurring within all provinces within the Commonwealth

Executive Order 2024-03

Directing with the advice of the Prime Minister that the Ministry of Cultural Affairs to determine a list of historical sites that need additional funding within the Commonwealth

Executive Order 2024-04

Directing with the advice of the Prime Minister that the Ministry of Agriculture to establish a welfare program that focuses on low-income minority farmers

Executive Order 2024-05

Authorize the Ministry of Public Works and Transportation to develop plans to expand the Common Highway System in the Eastern States of the Commonwealth in a safe and effective way.

Executive Order 2024-06

Authorize the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to develop within itself an Office of European Affairs.

Executive Order 2024-07

Directing the Minister of Public Works and Transportation to develop a plan and design for a new capitol building within Tullion that shall appropriately house the new sizes of the National Congress with office space for each member of the National Congress. This plan shall be done in coordination with the appropriate committees within the National Congress.

Executive Order 2024-08

Authorize the Minister of Defense to cordinate with the Minister of Public Works & Transportation on increasing the size and capacity of the upcoming new shipyard in Oko City under the Project Wayside Act.

Signed:
President Ran Mouri-Kudo
President of the Commonwealth of Leagio

With the Approval of the following:
Prime Minister: Marie Lahaye