Elthic News Media

[Elthize]

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Elthics view ECON negatively after the Svarnan conflict, says PIE

A recent polling suggests that the alliance has gotten more unpopular
January 27, 2023

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The European Coalition of Nations, better known as ECON, has gotten more unpopular in Elthize, according to the Polling Institution of Elthize. A survey done by PIE on January 20th stated that thirty-seven percent of the polled remarked that they viewed ECON "somewhat negatively, negatively or very negatively", showing a twelve percent increase from the last survey done in November. Those that view ECON positively have also dropped from twenty-six percent to nineteen percent. In comparison, the Telum alliance's popularity has remained mostly the same.

The drop in popularity is attributed to the recent conflict between two of ECON's major members, the United Duchies and Reitzmag, and Svarna Surya, over two Reitzmic boats bound for the United Duchies being seized by the Svarnan navy, as well as a poisoning incident in Hampton University targeting a vocal Svarnan critic. President Greenwich Grimwald had opposed the escalation of the conflict, stating that the war was "not inevitable".

While the conflict has concluded, with the Internal Affairs Commissioner Wirt Harland leading an agreement between the three nations, the scepticism around ECON is likely to remain for years to come, not just in Elthize, but around the European Union as well, with Ineland reportedly planning to leave the alliance after the conflict.

Neutrality remains the most popular option among Elthics. In another survey done on the same day, sixty-two percent of the polled agreed that Elthize should remain neutral, a five-point increase from November. In addition, fifty-five percent of the polled stated that they would support an official neutrality motion for Elthize, a ten-point increase from November.

[Elthize]

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Constitutional Court says judiciary and legislative are equal, insists that The Unitees are not allowed in politics

The landmark decision came eleven days before the reform referendum
January 30, 2023

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The much-awaited verdict from the Constitutional Court of Elthize came this morning when the court determined whether the judiciary or the legislature was superior. According to the Court, the answer is clear: No branch of government has supremacy over the other.

"The Constitution of The State of Elthize sets an obvious precedent: That the three branches of government are equal, and responsible for coexistence and keeping the status quo," the decision stated, led by Chief Justice Mac Arthur. "Thus, The Parliament's blatant disregard for The Supreme Court's decision is outright unconstitutional."

The conflict between the Parliament and the Supreme Court came when the Supreme Court declared that the ban put on The Unitees was unlawful and they had the right to enter into the Elthic political process. The decision garnered significant controversy from politicians and the public, including President Greenwich Grimwald, who called the Parliament to dismiss the ruling entirely.

In the decision, the court also called out Grimwald's decision: "It is worrying for a President to send a call to dismiss any court ruling. The President does not hold this power."

However, the Constitutional Court opposed the Supreme Court's ruling on The Unitees, stating that the measures taken against The Unitees were "within the boundaries of the Constitution". Since The Constitutional Court is more powerful than The Supreme Court, this decision effectively overrules Gresham v. Elthize.

Most Elthics welcomed the decision, as the idea of unification with Leagio remains fringe and stigmatized. The decision was made eleven days before the referendum, where there is a possibility of a merger of the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court.

[Elthize]

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Constitutional Court and Supreme Court to be merged following reform referendum

Only three of ten proposals in the reform referendum have passed
February 13, 2023

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The long-awaited reform referendum finally ended this Friday after thousands of Elthics went to the polls to vote. The referendum, which was approved by President Greenwich Grimwald last August, included ten proposals that included various reforms to the country's political system. Out of ten proposals in the referendum, only three have passed. However, two of them will bring significant changes to the Elthic judiciary: The Constitutional Court and The Supreme Court will be merged into a singular court, with judges there being subject to term limits.

With the controversial decision made by the Supreme Court regarding the legality of The Unitees, as well as the Constitutional Court being perceived as going at a snail's pace on countering the decision, both courts have had their popularity ruined in recent months. Some political analysts argue that this was the catalyst which influenced the voter's decision.

"Me, and most of my colleagues that I talked to, all believe the same thing: The decisions made by either of these courts were popular, so when Elthic voters had the opportunity to abolish both, they took it," states Marion Edwards, an analyst at The Tribunal. Critics believe that these decisions will diminish the credibility of the judiciary. "Grimwald has failed the Elthic judiciary by not protecting it from populism and current politics," Chief Justice Dayo Mwangi claimed. "It is a setback. I am confident that it will recover, though."

In addition to the proposals affecting the judicial system, voters approved another idea that will shorten the time between elections from four to three years. Other interesting outcomes include a proposal to raise the number of representatives in the National Assembly from 250 to 300 being defeated by a slim majority and the failure to reinstate the position of Prime Minister due to low voter turnout. Councillor Liam Zachary, who had expressed interest in running for the position, was disappointed but hopeful: "I will continue to serve Elthics as their councillor."

A proposal to give the legislature supremacy over the executive and judicial branches of the government also failed, both by a high margin and low voter turnout. Two proposals regarding increasing diversity in the parliament also failed.

The details on how to implement the passed proposals will be discussed further in the parliament in the coming months.

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Proposal no.	Proposal	Yes	No	Turnout	Status
1	Do you support expanding the National Assembly by fifty seats, from 250 (two-hundred and fifty) to 300 (three hundred)?	49.8%	50.2%	53.7%	FAILED
2	Do you support giving the Elthic legislature absolute supremacy over all institutions in Elthize, including executive and judiciary branches of the government?	22.7%	77.3%	42.5%	FAILED
3	Do you support term limits for Supreme Court and Constitutional Court judges?	68.4%	31.6%	58.3%	PASSED
4	Do you support a merger of the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court?	55.1%	44.9%	59.2%	PASSED
5	Do you support having general elections every three years instead of four?	52.2%	47.8%	55.9%	PASSED
6	Do you support the restoration of the position of Prime Minister, which was abolished in 2007?	45.4%	54.6%	50.4%	FAILED
7	Do you support some parliament seats being reserved for minor parties to ensure diverse representation in Elthic politics?	15.6%	84.4%	50.1%	FAILED
8	Do you support some parliament seats being reserved for specific demographics based on age, gender, ethnicity, or any other factors not mentioned?	9.9%	90.1%	49.8%	FAILED

Proposal no.	Proposal	The parliament	The president	Turnout	Status
9	Which of the following two should choose the European Councillor?	50.2%	49.8%	44.9%	FAILED

[Elthize]

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Inquista wins EuroVoice, Elthize gets top five

Hiatus Kaiyote & Arthur Verocai's "Get Sun" placed fifth at the contest in Zeevorde
February 22, 2023

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The thrilling forty-third edition of the EuroVoice Song Contest finally comes to a close with a record-breaking ninth victory for Inquista, who was represented by MorMor with his song "Outside". The contest, held in Ineland for the first time in the city of Zeevorde after the victory of Clara Luciani, was as competitive as its predecessors with the top five, this time including Elthize, fighting to get the victory.

The Elthic broadcaster NET announced on November 28th last year that the band Hiatus Kaiyote would represent Elthize with the song "Get Sun", featuring world-famous composer Arthur Verocai. The band performed second, succeeding opener Czech Slavia and preceding host country Ineland, who placed 7th.

The song had better reception than Elthize's debut and had a more upbeat tempo and vibrant staging, compared to the country's debut with Wolf Alice, who announced the votes from Elthize. In the end, Elthize came in fifth place with sixty-seven points, getting twelve points from the United Kingdom and Oregon, as well as eight points from Icholasen. In return, Elthize gave its twelve points to Czech Slavia with their song "Andel" by Tereza Kerndlová. Additionally, ten points went to the winner Inquista and eight points went to Halestorm of the United Duchies with their song "The Steeple".

After Inquista, second place went to Oregon and their Cherry Poppin' Daddies with the song "Zoot Suit Riot". They received five points from Elthize. One point behind was the famous girl group IVE with their viral song After Like, representing Icholasen. They received six points from Elthize. In response, the group's local fans took to Twitter to vent out their frustration, with the phrase "IVE WAS ROBBED" skyrocketing to the top of the trending tab.

And, as is tradition, the last place went to Vayinaod, represented by Smash Mouth with "All Star". They got a measly twenty-two points. The next EuroVoice is expected to be held around May or June in the Inquistan city of Saint Dominico, the only city in the small country.

[Elthize]

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Liam Zachary to be removed as Councillor, May Hobbes to serve as interim councillor

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May Hobbes (pictured) will assume office as interim councillor for Elthize before Monday

In an unexpected recall this morning, the Elthic government announced that Liam Zachary would no longer serve as the Elthic representative in the European Council.

Zachary, who had been elected to the office shortly after Elthize officially joined the European Union in April, will be replaced by May Hobbes, the current Speaker of the Senate. The reason for Zachary's recall was not specified in the statement, which President Greenwich Grimwald signed.

The announcement also clarified that a special election to choose the Elthic councillor would be held on June 16th, three months after the announcement.

The decision to recall Zachary came as a shock to many, as he had been seen as a rising star in Elthic politics. Before his role as Councillor, he had served in the National Assembly for three terms, having been first elected in 2012 and winning re-elections in 2014 and 2018. He was also appointed as the third and last Minister of Membership to the European Union in Grimwald's cabinet in 2019.

In March 2022, Zachary was declared the candidate for European Councillor by the ruling coalition, which included The Third Option, New Democracy, and The Nationals. He won the election, defeating Nolan Brunson, who was the main opposition candidate.

Zachary's recall also raises questions about his future in Elthic politics. Shortly before the referendums this year, he had expressed interest in becoming Prime Minister if the position was restored by the popular vote. However, the proposal failed, which led to Zachary expressing disappointment. So far, Zachary has not made a statement regarding his recall.

In the meantime, May Hobbes will take over Zachary's responsibilities as the Elthic representative in the European Council. She is expected to resign from her position as Speaker and move to Europolis before Monday.

Hobbes, who has been serving as Speaker of the Senate, has been actively involved in Elthic politics since the late 90s. It is expected that she will be the candidate for the ruling coalition in the councillor elections this June.

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Image credit

[Elthize]

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Zachary to run as an independent candidate for the upcoming councillor elections

by Frances Irving - February 27, 2023

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Zachary speaking to the Europolis press following his election as Councillor, April 2022.
Image credit

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In his first public appearance after being recalled from his councillor position last Friday, Liam Zachary stated that he intended to run again as an independent candidate in the councillor elections this June, in an announcement made in Forecoaster the previous evening. "I have won an election with the will of the Elthic people, and I will do it again," Zachary said at the gathering.

Around four thousand people attended Zachary's rally, which was held at Carrewich Park, northeast of the capital city. During the rally, Zachary emphasized his commitment to the Elthic people: "I came here today to tell the people, those that believed in me, I came here to tell them that this is not the end, it's nothing but a speed bump. And like all speed bumps, this is nothing but a small inconvenience that we will overcome." Zachary was the first Councillor for Elthize, a job whose responsibility is to represent Elthize in the European Council, the legislative branch of the European Union. He was elected to this position in April last year, after serving in various government positions for a decade.

Zachary's approval ratings had been mostly positive, but they became slightly negative in recent months, particularly after he opposed Sofie Čikarová's anti-private prison bill. According to a NET poll conducted in January, 21% of respondents had a positive view of Zachary, while 24% had a negative outlook. The remaining 55% did not have an answer.

On the other hand, May Hobbes, currently serving as interim councillor, is expected to be the candidate for the ruling coalition in the councillor elections. However, political experts are worried that this will cause further division. "The chances of the ruling coalition winning these elections are very slim," says Janice Kyou, an established journalist at our newspaper. "We don't know why they pulled out Zachary yet, but whatever the reason may be, it cannot be more important than essentially shooting yourself in the foot and giving the opposition a chance to take the councillor seat."

So far, no other candidate has been announced. In the 2022 elections, the opposition had two candidates: Nolan Brunson, who was endorsed by Labour and The Greens, and Leon den Hollander, endorsed by the Socialist Alliance and The Crimson. A meeting between these four parties regarding the councillor elections is expected to happen next week.

Meanwhile, Janice Kyou believes that, if these four parties manage to unite under one candidate, it will be a disaster for the ruling coalition: "If they manage to unite somehow, they will have the seat. I'm not saying they might have it or they may have it, no. They will have their councillor. Zachary still has the power to divide the ruling coalition's voters. If the opposition rallies around one candidate and Hobbes fails to weaken Zachary, which is likely, Grimwald will struggle."

[Elthize]

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Nolan Brunson to be the councillor candidate for Labour & Greens

Meetings done with FT-SA and Crimson have failed to bring one candidate
March 7, 2023

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This morning, Michael Jenkins and Matthew François, leaders of Labour and The Greens, announced that Nolan Brunson would be their candidate for the upcoming councillor elections for the second time. The announcement comes after several meetings and conferences done by the opposition leaders as well as the leaders of The Crimson and the Socialist Alliance, in hopes of uniting the four parties behind one candidate. However, these talks seem to have been unsuccessful.

Brunson, who was also the candidate for the two parties in the previous councillor elections, also appeared during the announcement. "I am grateful that I have the opportunity to represent Elthize in the European Union once again," he stated.

In the first councillor elections last year, Brunson had lost to former councillor Liam Zachary by six percent. However, since Zachary is seeking re-election as an independent candidate against the ruling coalition's candidate, experts predict that Brunson may have it easier this time around, thanks to these circumstances.

"People that voted for Brunson in 2022 will vote for him in 2023... The question here is, can we say the same for Zachary?" remarks Mel Jacobsen, a political analyst. "I mean, I do not doubt that Brunson will use this uncertainty to his advantage, marketing himself as a more stable candidate."

Brunson's career in politics began as a community organizer in northern Montgomery. In 2014, his tweet about the general elections that year went viral, paving the way for him to become a popular blogger. In 2017, he became the social media manager for the Labour Party, working on Wirt Harland's presidential campaign in 2018. Brunson was elected as a member of the National Assembly in 2022, a position which he still holds. However, it remains to be seen if he will keep this job or move to Europolis as the next and third councillor.

[Elthize]

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"Instant neutrality is a must" - Meet Rebel Kofi, the rising independent

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An unexpected candidate has entered the councillor race. (Image credit)

Kofi promises to submit a neutrality motion for Elthize on his first day in office.

While the councillor elections, set to take place on June 16th (with a second round scheduled for June 30th), were unexpected, it was predicted that there wouldn't be surprises.

However, alongside the expected candidates, Nolan Brunson, Liam Zachary and May Hobbes, a fourth challenger have come forward, and, according to the polls, he could be a strong contender to face Nolan Brunson in the second round.

"I'm here to give the Elthic folk what they want when it comes to foreign policy: The recognition of Elthize as a neutral state by the European Union," Rebel Kofi claims at the Holloway Theatre in Forecoaster, where he is holding a rally.

The old theatre, which holds a thousand people, was overflowing, including a couple of dozen people filling the sidewalk in front, trying to hear what he was saying.

"I underestimated how many people would come," Kofi writes on Twitter. "Thank you to all my supporters, I'll try to get a bigger space next time."

"I put my candidacy forward because I felt that other choices were incompetent," Kofi states in an interview with a local journalist in St. Lucas. "Instant neutrality. That's what people want. A reliable neutrality motion where Elthize is recognized as a neutral state by the European Union. Anything else is irrelevant."

According to the polls, Kofi's ideas are popular among the public. In a survey by PIE, Kofi ranked 3rd with around 18% of the votes after Brunson and Zachary.

Kofi had an early start in politics, entering the local stage in the small town of Marshee in Hunnicutt at sixteen with the help of his uncle. There, he became a member of the town council. He left this position at 19 to study psychology and political science, as well as to work on the town's local newspaper.

Kofi began working as a psychologist at St. Lucas Central Hospital in 2007. Still engaged in politics, he started a blog as a pastime in 2008, where he commented on Elthic politics. The blog was active until 2013 when he was employed as a journalist by The Tribunal, which replaced his previous job at the hospital, which he kept until 2016 when he quit. He made an unsuccessful bid for the National Assembly in 2018.

When asking Kofi, he says that he didn't expect his candidacy to be this popular among Elthic voters: "I mean, I am the only person that directly and clearly promises neutrality for Elthize, and I guess that plays a part."

In a poll done by PIE in January, over fifty-five percent of Elthics support a neutrality motion for their country.

[Elthize]

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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

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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?

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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.

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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...

[Elthize]

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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

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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.

[Elthize]

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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

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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.

[Elthize]

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The High Court refuses to hear the case regarding Zachary's recall

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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.

[Elthize]

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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

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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.

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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.

Spoiler

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."

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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.

[Elthize]

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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

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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.

[Elthize]

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President Grimwald to give parliament reform the greenlight

by Alfred Ingram - June 14, 2023

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Image credit

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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.

[Elthize]

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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

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Freddie Bonnay - June 18, 2023

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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.

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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).

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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.

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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

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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.)

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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%.

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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.

[Elthize]

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Liam Zachary to endorse Rebel Kofi for the second round

by Janice Kyou - June 19, 2023

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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.

[Elthize]

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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

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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.

[Elthize]

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Rebel Kofi becomes the next councillor of Elthize

by Janice Kyou - June 30, 2023

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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."

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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.)

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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%

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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.

[Elthize]

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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

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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.