Gaulois News Agencies

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New European Councillor to Bring Spiritual Well-Being to Europe

AURELIS --- The Government had proposed that left-wing ally to the Parti Travailliste Jean-Luc Melenchon go to Europolis to shake things up, but the Prime Minister had some second thoughts. In a grand remaniement, the Government is sending spiritual guru and self-proclaimed left of centre politician Marion Rousselot will be joining the fray in Europolis with the likes of Edward Firoux, Poppy Carlton-Romanov and Hrayr Cruthin.

"I am so excited to bring a different kind of energy to Europolis. Too long have we seen our politicians focused on channeling and fueling negative energy in the European Council, blocking real change, progress and balance. I'm here to tell my fellow Gaulois that I am working to bring positive energy and balance to our European system," said Rousselot before she got onto her flight to Europolis from Aurelis.

Gallorum has often been critical of the European Union's internal machinations as disorderly and sans finesse. But, with Rousselot going to Europolis perhaps a change will come. She built her alternative healing and spirituality empire by appealing to the Gallic sense of community while appealing to those who don't find themselves gravitating towards one religion or the other. It is that balance and appeal to the heart that has made her a somewhat popular figure in Gallorum. That and, of course, a continual presence on the popular Friday night show Ce soir ou jamais!

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Government Announces Key Reforms on Crime

AURELIS --- The Chamber of Deputies met today to discuss the government's measures on crime and criminal justice. The Baschet Government has heralded the publication of numbers from the Institut d'études publiques et d'administration (IEPA) that showed that under the Baschet Government, the black market has come down from 5.5% of GDP to 3.1% of GDP and steadily falling.

"It's a sign that our approach to solving crime; an approach in line with the teaching's of Jesus Christ and agreed by most everyone across the country...an approach of compassion, an approach of understanding...that is working," the Interior Minister, Matthias Fekl, announced in Parliament earlier. The Government announced several more measures to tackle crime and reform criminal justice in the Kingdom.

The first measure would be to provide more funds for police training as well as rehabilitation training. According to the Government some £1.2 billion for the police outside of Aurelis, £800 million for le Département de police d'Aurelis, and £2 billion for better rehabilitation centres across the country.

"Without rehabilitation as a way to deal with minor crimes, we will only radicalise our population in the cells of Gaulois prisons, and we cannot in good ethics do that. Rehabilitation and help to achieve what their God-given potential is truly what this Government wants to deliver," said Minister Fekl to the Chamber of Deputies as he presented the initial Crimes and Criminal Justice Reform Bill to the floor.

Other details in the bill included changes in the criminal code to reduce sentencing for minor crimes while increasing the sentencing for violent crimes. While the Travaillistes are in power, they have chosen several issues to wedge the more conservative Parti Democratique, as their constituents would like to see violent crimes receive increased sentencing but rather than see people rehabilitated, they'd prefer those people stop participating in their society. They argue that the sins of these people outweigh the forgiveness that society and the Lord could give, as they would be sent to Hell for their misdeeds. This (rather unpopular) view is far more prevalent in rural Gallorum.

As the Travaillistes continue to govern, their ranging popularity between some rural workers, suburban coalitions of women and the professional classes, and the urban poor could deliver them great success in 2020.

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Politics: As Parlement nears resumption, the Opposition ramps up attacks

AURELIS --- The sounds of Parlement's Avenue Valois are gearing up as the Place de Constitution neighbourhood prepares for the resumption of business. The seat of government in the Kingdom has been relatively quiet as the MPs have gone on their holiday. The Opposition, le Parti Democratique, have come back early and renewed their attacks on Baschet which have had mixed results over the three years of government.

"It's embarrassing that we are going to be sitting for potentially only 130 days this session and the Government refuses to call Parlement back and get to work for the benefit for all the people of Gallorum. This is a Prime Minister, Elisabeth Baschet, who would tell workers to go to work for 45 hours without the possibility for overtime pay yet here we are, paid to do nothing!" said Francois Fillon outside of the Chamber of Deputies, locked when there is no sitting business. The press gathered in the lobby in anticipation.

"Baschet continues to cater to the champagne socialists of Aurelis and the cities while the ordinary person in the suburbs and in the country pay for their wine and dine tours. Where is the media outrage about that? Where is the news about how Baschet's government ministers are meeting regularly with the elites and the celebrities of this country while we, les Democrats, come back early to Parlement to work hard for the people! It is no wonder that everything this government touches drips with fat and excess," Fillon continued.

Government spokesperson Audrey Azouley (MP, Sanzieux) replied to the comments later on Le Trois.

"It's very apparent that the stunt made by Les Democrats has no grounding in reality. This was the weekend of the Repost of the Holy Lady. No one should be working on a well respected, traditional and holy holiday. Moreso, we will be working 160 days this year, the most in a single year session of Parlement in the constitutional era. We reject the idea that the Opposition is saying that the Government is lazy. Now, if we want to ask about excess...what about the private donations to the Democrats by the big banks in L'Etoile de Romain. What about the dark money funding Mr. Fillon's leadership campaign. We've had a serious whistleblower come forward about Mr. Fillon using the mechanations of Opposition to line his own pockets. If we are supposed to be the ones dripping in fat, he must be a duck confit, swimming in its own fat and grease to the point it can't see out of its own corruption," Ms. Azouley said to Le Trois.

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Politics: Baschet, Government Prepares Speech from the Throne

AURELIS -- The Government is said to be planning an ambitious Speech from the Throne for 4 September. King's Day, traditionally the date that all legislative sessions begins, is the first Wednesday of September. This being the last Speech from the Throne before election next year, it is expected to lay out exactly what the Government plans to make its top manifesto pledges and highlights.

Elisabeth Baschet's achievement of cracking down on the out of control black market has seen her government take it down from 6% of GDP down to 0.8% of GDP. Economic growth and wage growth will also be on the agenda, with the Government expected to write that they wish to continue the economic opportunities they have fostered. Energetic, outward-looking foreign policy and full engagement with the European Union is another major point to look forward to in the speech, highlighted by the Prime Minister's recent trips to Spain and Inquista. Future visits from Icholasen, Angleter, and others will be in the speech as an example of what the Government says is the "intelligent use of goodwill that Gallorum has received among the European Union". It is rumoured that Marion Rousselot will be present for the speech as well, considering that she is a key component of government and representation of the Government at the European Council.

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Fete d'Escolives Brings in Largest Crowd in History of Festival

ESCOLIVES --- The Fete d'Escolives brought in a record 20,000 people over the course of Saturday and Sunday. The festival is one of the larger displays of maritime history in Europe and is a cornerstone of the calendar in Escolives. Locals described seeing the 20,000 from across Europe as "an amazing sight for a city not as important as Aurelis or Entrages or even Racines".

The festival, which takes place in the harbour of the seaside city, has taken place since 1953 as a celebration of the art of sailing. Traditionally it comes the week before Sovereign's Day and engages in a mock battle between Gallorum and Icholasen. The festival also serves as a means for the local branch of Les Verts to go on about climate change and the need to protect cities like Escolives from rising sea levels.

The festival, according to the local council, brings in nearly £200,000 in added tourism benefits to the local economy every year.

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Politics: Baschet Looks to Liberalise the PSDT as Parlement Resumes

AURELIS --- Les Travaillistes have always been a good party of protest. From their roots in their first elected deputy from Montrelais to the heartlands of Racines and around Entrages, change through civil disobedience has been at the core of the party. Elisabeth Baschet would know. Her father was a coal miner and union member who was courted by the Travaillistes to join the PSDT. While the Social Democratic wing of the party is considered to be young progressives and suburban socialists, the Travaillistes wing trends older, working class, more socially moderate than their counterparts. This is the salt of the earth kind of politics that the Prime Minister grew up in. Now, as she delivers her last Royal Address before the 2020 election, the Prime Minister is riding a wave of support as Gallorum turn sits gaze not just inward, but outward as well. With the St. Dominico Agreement coming back from Inquista, Baschet has demonstrated she can grow Gallorum's connections and economic prosperity.

"It is right that the Government seeks to grow the pot for Gallorum; Inquista is the top economy by GDP per capita and pure GDP numbers in Europe, and they have a rigorous economy. By trading with them, we are connecting our goods to the wider European markets. Tariff free access to this is exceedingly crucial. The Government believes in our partners in Inquista and we will do whatever it takes to get this deal through Parlement," said Government spokeswoman Audrey Azoulay. "We will continue to seek trade deals that honour the Government's commitment to economic growth in a responsible manner."

Confident and steadfast, Elisabeth Baschet has taken the PSDT out of the wilderness and into Matignon with a slim majority. Her increase in popularity has perhaps earned her a large majority and second term.

This is the same party that in the late 80's and early 90's embraced extreme statism, borderline Nicolezian communism and while it worked for a while, crashed the economy in 1992. Not surprising that the Democrats were in power then from 1995 to 2016 then. So what has changed? Elisabeth Baschet. That's what has changed. The cross between her heritage and her politics of triangulation, she has co-opted many ideas of the centre-right economically while championing social justice and equality known as The Third Way. The country now has given her an unprecedented 42% support in the country, giving her 224 seats in the Deputies. A clear, strong majority of 50 seats over the opposing parties.

Perhaps this is the era of Baschet, and even Francois Fillon mut live in it.

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Breaking: Prime Minister Baschet announces HM The Queen has issued writs of election, calling for Nov. 7 Poll

"I have just seen Her Majesty the Queen and chaired a meeting of the Cabinet earlier this morning where we agreed to call a general election. We believe that the choice is clear between a Travailliste government that will continue to work for the interests of all Gaulois or a Fillon-led Democratic government that will be on the side of big business and the wealthy. Our record is something we can be proud of, a record of getting more than 300,000 of our citizens back into work, a record of receiving the highest amount of tax receipts without having to raise taxes on the middle class, and a record of delivering high quality healthcare, public services, transportation and others as we move towards record numbers in GDP and GDP per capita.

"Gallorum has expanded her reach of friendship into the heart of the European Union, securing deals with Icholasen and Inquista with more coming. We know what we have done but call on the people to return us if they are satisfied with the progress we have made."

This was the statement made by Elisabeth Baschet outside of the Hotel de Matignon in Aurelis, signalling that the anticipated general election would be held on November 7th, several months ahead of the scheduled May election,

"Now we will be able to secure a mandate to continue to govern and share big, bold ideas with every one of our citizens."

It is expected that Baschet and the Parti Travailliste will defeat Fillon and the Christian Democratic Party. At present, the lead is at 38% to 30% with key marginals paving the way for a majority Travailliste government for the first time since the fall of Nicolezian communism should the election be held today.

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Gallorum Wins Eurovoice Competition in its First Entry, Dion Reacts

AURELIS -- Celine Dion was chosen by the Chante Gallons contest and while the diva knew she would represent Gallorum, her reception by the European public has been nothing short of amazing across her career. The Power of Love singer entered one of her latest singles "Flying on My Own" into the EuroVoice contest and the rest of Europe took off with her as she placed first with consistent votes among the other nations, narrowly beating out neighbouring Icholasen and perennial favourite and Gallourm favourite Red Croatia, who submitted Plastic Love which has shot to Number One on the Billboard Gaulois Hot 100 charts.

"I am so honoured to have won Eurovoice for Gallorum," Celine said to adoring reporters at the Aurelis-Charles de Gaulle Airport upon her return from Aqualin, Malborya. "This is a victory that I will cherish for the rest of my life and it is a huge win for Gallorum overall. This was such a tough competition with amazing entries. I hope to see Lola and Caitlyn in concert soon. They are so talented. Again, thank you to all of Europe who voted for me."

Dion, who had lost her husband and manager Rene in 2016, visibly broke down to tears when mentioning the honour of winning the Eurovoice competition and dedicated the win to him.

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Election 2019: Fillon Vows Greater Focus on Business and Jobs, Traditional Values

TURIN --- In the southern city of Turin, Les Gallons (otherwise known as the Christian Democrats) were holding a rally to kick off their campaign to try and unseat the popular PSDT government led by Elisabeth Baschet. Turin, one of the most Roman settlements in the Kingdom, is a bastion of traditional values and typically votes for the Christian Democrats. Starting here, Fillon vowed to visit the whole country.

"While Baschet and the champagne socialists try to treat this election as a coronation, we view the move as arrogant and opportunistic. We are ready to get our voters out there and fight for traditional values and focus on business and jobs. The Government now is busy scoring progressive points to be viewed favourably by Edward Firoux, Poppy Carlton-Romanov and the gaggle of big government, high tax Europhiles in Europolis."

So the battle lines are drawn. Baschet and the metropolitan areas and traditional working class areas in eastern Gallorum vs. Fillon and the suburbs, rural areas, and conservatives in Gallorum. Baschet has managed to broaden the brand of the PSDT but if Fillon is going to win, he's going to have to court those who view themselves as more moderate and voted for Baschet in the last election.

Possible coalitions include the Gallons and the Liberals, Gallons and the Nationals. The PSDT have already stated that they could work with the Liberals on a case by case basis as well should the parliament result in a minority government.

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Councillor Rousselot Goes on Election Trail For PSDT, Baschet As New Polling Emerges

MONTRELAIS --- The capital of the Normandie region has been touted as the bellwether section of the country in this snap general election. A cross section of traditional French speaking Gaulois, Anglophones and Germanophones live in the city which make it culturally a melting pot of the nation. It also has the urban/suburban/rural divide as portrayed by census data in 2010 and is one of the most politically active cities in the Kingdom. However, it is also an important stop in the 2019 snap general election because this will be the place that the ruling Travailliste Government led by Elisabeth Baschet will begin their campaign for re-election.

"I am here from Europolis to campaign wholeheartedly for the government. Premier Ministre Baschet has given us credibility on the world stage by reaching out beyond our borders and expanding our trade into Inquista. She's been willing to form coalitions in Europolis to work for the benefit of the Kingdom as well as the whole of Europe and she's seen as a rising, leading figure in Europe. Our nation has a clear choice: to go backwards, shirk responsibility with a return to the Christian Democrats or you can continue to move forward into Europe together with the PSDT," said Rousselot at the rally in Montrelais.

The Normandie region has swung with the winning party the last five elections and regionally, Baschet is polling around 45% in Normandie, meaning if she does nothing but hold her current seats, she could gain 10 more FPTP seats. This would put her over the edge the exact minority government of 200 she has now to 210, a rare single party majority government. That has not happened since the government of Jacques Chirac in 1996.

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Breaking: Election Exit Poll

With polling due to closing in the general election of the Kingdom of Gallorum, a brief La Croix/Gallorum Trois exit poll has indicated the following result:

• Parti Social Democratie et Travailliste - 40%
• Parti démocrate-chrétien - 33%
• Parti Liberal - 14%
• Parti Nationaliste - 7%
• Parti Vert - 6%

On those numbers, we are predicting the following seat totals:

• PSDT - 210
• PDC -- 153
• PL------ 022
• PN----- 007
• PV ----- 007

The Parti Social Democratie et Travailliste would be able to form a majority government.

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PSDT, Baschet Score Majority Government; First Since 1994

AURELIS --- The Gaulois government has been returned with a solid 210 seats in the Chamber of Deputies. The election result which had fallen right on the margins of where polling had been for the entirety of the election brings Elisabeth Baschet to a second four year term in government. The previous Travailliste Government in 1990 lasted until 1994 when they were upset by the Chirac and Sarkozy Governments before a brief stint in from 2012-2016 with the Hollande minority government and the First Baschet government.

Here is a map of the Chamber of Deputies and the new seats:

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The Annual Le marché de Noël à Seignaux Sees Record Visitors

SEIGNAUX --- What has been a tradition since Christendom in this nation is Le marché de Noël à Seignaux, the Christmas Market at Seignaux. Centuries have gone by since the very first Christmas Market in Roman Gallia, but since then it has been a staple of culture across the Kingdom. The largest and most attended being the one at Seignaux notable for its being open most of the day Christmas Eve before inviting the shoppers to mass and then an all night shopping time to head into Christmas Day. This year, the market has seen from December 21st to Christmas Eve nearly 120,000 visitors, a new record.

Upon first glance, it seems like a creeping amount of medieval commercialisation into the Christmas festivities but the Gallic Orthodox Church seems to allow these chalets to be placed on church property and for money to be passed. It seems as though the tradition was in fact started by the Church as a way of inviting the community into the church for a mass and a good meal. Many of the serfs and peasants surrounding churches in those days would be struggling around the holidays as many of the landed gentry were celebrating with Christmas goose and massive feasts for their families and extended families. So the Church in a building of community and instilling piety into the population decided to get in on the action and invite the poor to come to the shops where things would be sold at a much lower price and then come in for a Christmas dinner and mass as a community.

"Yes, it was Archpriest Antoine of Seignaux who began this tradition in the 12th Century when it was known to all of the dioceses across Gallorum that many of the very poor that Christ's word says we must help would be going Christmas Eve and Christmas Day unattended." says historian Amelie Decougis. "This is also the beginning of the Gallic Orthodox Church deciding it would make a compromise with its Catholic neighbours to hold Christmas on the 25th of December on the Julian Calendar. It was previously held in early January."

The smell of candied nuts and spiced wine and duck lingers all night and spreads throughout the high street of Seignaux but this is for certain: it has never lost its connection with the Church through 900 years of tradition. So when you are attending the Christmas Eve mass after the chalets close in your local Christmas market, think of Seignaux and its Christmas celebration.

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Parliament Resumes Next Week; What the New Year Will Bring Politically

COLLINE DU PARLEMENT, AURELIS --- Parliament resumes next week with Baschet's increased majority and a Speech from the Sovereign to be delivered and voted on in the first sittings of the session to test her majority. She will pass with flying colours and the first majority government since the Sarkozy Christian Democrat government in 2005. What does that mean for Gallorum?

It means quite a lot. The very first thing is that Baschet's government will now have more freedom to be a bit more socially progressive. Baschet, despite being in the middle between the farther left Social Democrat wing of the party and the more traditionalist Travaillistes, is more prone to pursue issues of social justice and equality of opportunity. She argues that Gallorum's values are wrapped in progressivism.

"Baschetism is at its core a socially progressive, economically moderate movement," said Jean-Luc Martin, professor at the Gallic Orthodox University of Escolives. "She is a devout Gallic Orthodox Christian and she strongly believes that the values of social progressivism can be found in the Bible and its teachings. The belief that it is easier to put a camel through the eye of a needle than the rich to get into the Kingdom of Heaven. Christ who has repeatedly spoke out against excesses of wealth. Baschet and by extension the Parti Social Democratic et Travailliste have embraced that Christian progressivist stance. It has worked for them electorally now, so be prepared to see more of it."

The second hallmark of Baschet as Prime Minister has been her stewardship of the economy. She's presided over a steady, meaningful increase in GDP. Inflation has been under control and on the whole, wages have gone up. Baschet's Finance Minister Gerald Darmanin has had a key influence at the cabinet table. As it continues, Darmanin will continue to have a big role to play in the success of the Baschet government as it enters its second term. No longer able to call itself completely a pack of underdogs, now it will firmly have had its hand on the levers of government until 2023.

First on the agenda: a middle class tax cut and some changes to the tax code to be able to collect more efficient and better tax revenue through the MACP (Ministère de l'Action et des Comptes publics). Second: increased spending on energy infrastructure to get Gallorum on track to be at zero carbon emission energy by 2030. Nuclear power is playing a particularly large role in the transition to cleaner energy in the Baschet government. Third: beginning a scholarship fund for students at secondary and tertiary education to be able to achieve their degrees and get the careers they want based on merit, not ability to pay.

Big goals for Baschet are coming up but the Government is confident it can achieve those goals.

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Breaking: Marion Rousselot Will Seek Election to European Council

EUROPOLIS --- Current European Councillor for Gallorum and Deputy Speaker Marion Rousselot will seek election to the European Union after legislation at the European level has stated that all Councillors be elected to their positions.

"I am excited to bring my campaign to continue the progressive work that the Baschet Government has championed to the European levels. As a Councillor, I have had the blessed opportunity to work with my EPA colleagues like Edward Firoux as well as work cooperatively with our Angleteric centrist and Duxburien colleagues. I hope to continue to bring policies that we can be proud of to Europe," Deputy Speaker Rousselot said in Europolis.

She is expected to win a landslide re-election and will only be opposed by the Nationalists, who may decide to withdraw from the race. If so, she would run unopposed with write-in candidates accepted.

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Christian Democrats Begin Task to Select New Leader

AURELIS --- As the Baschet PSDT government continues on strong in the polls (holding a comofrtable 44%-35% lead in the first opinion poll since the election), the Christian Democrats who are Gallorum's centre-right party, Les Gallons, look to elect a new leader. Someone positioning themselves in the Chamber of Deputies has been Francois Baroin, a sort of Francois Fillon clone of sorts. He has championed a lot of the same policies and would be a safe choice. Against Prime Minister Baschet, however, a real problem of fighting over the centre ground arises and as the election proved, she has won the case by appealing to a long standing belief of Les Gallons. She has used her faith and identity as a devout Gallic Orthodox member as justification for progressive ideas. Add in the Esteemed Speech to the Estates-General by Edward Firoux and Baschet has made an effective case that the European moderate progressive cause is well and truly solidified in the majority of Gaulois. Baroin is up against it, and tepid response from the party membership has opened the door. A door that has been blasted open by one of the few new Christian Democrats in the chamber: Jean-Michel Kligenberg.

The husband of makeup mogul Theodora Kligenberg, he is a giant in financial institutions, founding the international trading company BNA Pays-Est, worth nearly £200 billion in equity. The billionaire won his lush seat of Aurelis-Saint-Therese in the last election and he is looking like a threat to take on Elisabeth Baschet.

"We need to clean up Gallorum. There are far too many people who do not believe in our country, do not share our values, and would in essence tear up what it means to be Gaulois. They are coming from Dromund Kaas, swamping our systems. Everywhere I turn, there is a Kaasian taking up spots in queues at our médecin généraliste. They are in our homes and enough is enough. If we are truly to be an exceptional nation, we must learn that being Gaulois is exclusive. It is a right, not a privilege," said Kligenberg at his rally. "They must learn how to integrate with society or leave."

Two paths emerge for the Christian Democrats. Polling has shown increased support for Marine Le Pen and Les Nationalists. Could this signal a turn towards Kligenberg? Only time will tell. The first round of the leadership ballot will happen on February 18th, with a potential second round ballot happening on the 25th should there be a tie.

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Kligenberg Wins Leadership Spill 65-41

AURELIS --- Jean-Michel Kligenberg has won the leadership spill within the Christian Democratic Party by an internal caucus of 65 to 41 over moderate Francois Baroin.

"I'm so happy to see that our party has decided to be a credible and clear opposition to Elisabeth Baschet and the damage that her socialist PSDT government has done to our country," Kligenberg said to the press after the vote was announced by outgoing leader Francois Fillon. "We have someone who is going to tank our industry, destroy our economy and sell out what we as Gaulois have held precious to us for centuries. Baschet is a radical who would sooner rather than later sell out our nation to be a second-rate republic than the glorious monarchy that we are. Baschet would rather give immigrants full access to our healthcare, our schools, and our jobs than help out the people who voted her into office! Our Queen deserves better, our country deserves better, and you deserve better."

More to come at Le Cinq à cinq...

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Baschet, Government Wary of Free Movement Zone

AURELIS --- This Sunday, the Prime Minister announced her opposition to the free movement of peoples being mandated across the whole of the European Union via the establishment of a free movement zone. The proposal put forward by Reitzmag and Spain was met with tepid response from Aurelis.

"I do not think that Europe needs mandatory agreements like this," Prime Minister Elisabeth Baschet (PSDT) said to the press outside of the official residence. "Gallorum has made it clear what its standards are when it comes to being economic partners. Reitzmag is a wonderful addition to the European Union, but we need to see more data to support what will ultimately be opening our country to mass proxy immigration."

The stance comes as the Prime Minister has to triangulate the stance she and her party have on immigration and free movement of people at a time when the Christian Democrats have elected a more populist leader to take her on.

"Should we be able to retain national abilities to control who enters our nation to work via visas and long term immigration controls, then I believe whomever will be our European Councillor will be able to support that legislation in Europolis."

The Prime Minister is referring to the current race for European Councillor, in which the PSDT candidate Marion Rousselot is running against the Nationalist candidate Marine Le Pen, who is also the leader of the Nationalist Party. Polls suggest that Rousselot has only a seven point lead over her rival, 49-42 with about 9% of the nation either dissatisfied with either or unsure about who they would support.