Leagioan News Agencies

[Leagio]

National Congress Passes Leagioan Version of EU BANNING OF CONVERSION THERAPY ACT

This morning, it was announced that the National Congress passed a piece of legislation proposed by Councilor Johnathan Freeman of the Civil Populist Party. This legislation now called the Conversation Therapy Banning Act was proposed back after the EU Councils passage of the BANNING OF CONVERSION THERAPY ACT back on June 8th, which passed with a unanimous vote of 13 with EU Councilor Francis Plessis voting in favor. In this EU legislation that was approved in Europolis that day, the act required the following:

• (Section 3, Clause 1) "It is the duty of member states and their governments to protect people from conversion therapies and other practices based around conversion therapies. The member state and their government shall uphold this duty by ensuring that these practices are not performed."

In addition, the bill required that this type of legislation be initiated within 3 months of its passing. Once it was passed by the EU Council, Councilor Freeman presented his bill to the House of Councilors. After a few weeks of debating, the bill passed the House with a 123 FOR and 49 AGAINST the legislation. After it passing the House, the bill then went to the Senate where it faced attacks from Conservative Senators trying to delay the passage of the bill. however, the measure failed as the Senate vote this morning on the passage of the bill with 30 of the 38 in favor.

Within the Conversation Therapy Banning Act, it defines conversion therapy as what the EU act defines it "practices of changing a person's sexual orientation or gender identity by fraud, pressure or force." Furthermore, the bill states that institutions that offer conversion therapy are required to halt further offering such services. Any institution that continued to offer it will be issued a fine of up to 120,000 Sulias or receive jail time of up to 4 years for violating the act. In addition, the Commonwealth will ensure the protection of people from conversion therapies and other practices based around conversion therapies through the means of ensuring that this practice or practices are not performed anymore.

Although, the Act was passed through the National Congress, the bill still has to be signed by the President of the Commonwealth; who is still currently in Europolis talking with other European Union leaders. However, his office staff have confirmed that as soon as he arrivals back to the Commonwealth or if he recieves it in Europolis, he will sign it into law.

However, there have been opponents outside of the the National Congress who are in favor of the bill. Governor of Diamond Heart (George Wallace of the Consevative Reform Party) said that he will not enforce the Act as it violates the principles of the Leagioan States Rights. Luke Garnet (the Conservative Reformist candidate for this years EU Councilor election) stated that the BANNING OF CONVERSION THERAPY ACT will one fo the first things that he will repeal in the EU Council once he is elected.

Written by Kevin Witman, a political writer from the DLN.

[Leagio]

Governor-General Gorge Holds Commonwealth's First Session of the Council of Provinces

Today, the Governor-General of Leagio, Mark Gorge, has held the first session of the Constitution of 2020 mandated Council of Provinces. All the governors of all the states and territories including the new federal state of Tullion are currently in the meeting with the Governor-General. The Mayor of Tullion, Marquis Louis of the Social Democrats, as mandated by the Constitution was promoted to Governor of the state of Tullion. The Council of Provinces is composed of Governors of some of the top national parties within the Commonwealth. Only a few top Parties do not have an elected Governor, which the Socialist and the far-right LUFT. Although, a majority of them are Civil Populists.

The location of the Council of Provinces is said to be in Tullion within the National Capitol, where both houses of the National Congress is held. The Office of the Governor-General is said to announce what been has discussed the recommendations that were made for each state and territory after the meeting is concluded. However, many people through the Commonwealth wanted more jobs and economic opportunities to made through this meeting. In addition, there are many people from the Eastern territories (including Muale within the National Congress still debating its statehood at this moment) that want for the expansion of powerplants of various energies with one of the most popular ones being nuclear and solar wanting to be built.

Written by Killen Hoyd, a political writer from the Leagioan Broadcasting Company.

[Leagio]

Eastern Economic Development Act Shows Early Promising Results

After almost two months after its enactment with the Office of Eastern Economic Development and the project to expand the railroads within the Commonwealth, especially within the Eastern Territories, seems to have a positive effect on the economy of the Commonwealth with unemployment declining as the incase of new jobs comes through. The recent economic data from the EU showed that the Commonwealth has a Euro GDP that jumped from 91,512,115,200.00 to 538,146,812,000.00. Furthermore, the Minister of Trade and Industry, Julien Trudeau, has reported that the economy is likely to continue rising at this point. Although, some economic experts from various universities within the Commonwealth have announced some skepticism.

Minister Trudeau mentioned that a date has been announced for the railroad conversion of the west and the expansion of the Eastern railroads. They released to the press a picture produced by the Ministry of Labor showing the plans of the new railroads for the Commonwealth.

Although, the date for the railroad project's completion seems promising to the Commonwealth, several people within the railroad industry in the Commonwealth have expressed that the chances for meeting that date maybe difficult to accomplish. In addition, they mentioned that it that if the Common Government in Tullion hire foreign workers to meet the challenge ahead. It is expected that within the currently on-going Council of Provinces happening in Tullion right now with the Governor-General and all of the governor's of the states as well as territories of the Commonwealth, this issue of completing the deadline will be discussed.

Written by Killen Hoyd, a political writer from the Leagioan Broadcasting Company, and Judy Little, an economist of the Leagioan Broadcasting Company.

[Leagio]

Muale Becomes a State But Not As A Whole

The National Congress agreed to accepting the call for the full statehood of Muale, a region of the Commonwealth that recently experienced a spike in population in the past couple of months. Just last month, the Governor of Muale (Edd Harris of the Social Democratic Party) submitted to the Congress a petition passed in the Muale Assemly with just a one vote majority calling for the Common Government to grant the area statehood. However, the petition meet heavy debate within both houses of the National Congress. A good number of the members within both house felt that due to the political diversity within Muale said that it was not ready. But an agreement made by Senator Dick Doconell resulted in a odd resolution be passed within both houses of the National Congress. Muale would still become a state of the Commonwealth with full representation within the National Congress, but there is a catch to it.

The former territory would lose its northern counties reaching from its capital district all the way north to the territory of Sule. These northern counties that Muale would lose would become the Territory of Muale with a new Governor that would be appointed by the President of the Commonwealth to temporarily administer the new territory (called Wilson, named after the 8th President of the Commonwealth) until the up-coming Gubernational elections that will be coming up in the 2021 Executive Elections. The Territory of Wilson would have the chance to elect its own legislative branch after its drafts its own constitution that would be approved by the Supreme Court of Leagio in Tullion.

The resulution comes at mixed results by the general public (when news of the proposal came to light) within the Commonwealth with 42% approving the resultion wth 38% against it and the rest are undecided.

Written by Kevin Witman, A political writer from the DLN.

[Leagio]

Hugo Walthelet of the SDP Found Murdered in His Party Office

This morning Hugo Walthelet, the Social Democratic candidate for EU Councilor, was found murdered within his party headquarters office in Vese, Gopen. A cleaning lady of the office building found his body in his office sitting in his office with multiple stab wounds in his abdomen. Another interesting thing about the case was that there were traces of flour on Wathelet's face and bodied suit. Police are currently determining if the loss of the first round of the election last night had anything to do with the murder. Vese City police said that so far there are no suspects to the murder but they will investigate it to the fullest extent of the law. They illustrated that the murder most likely took place not long after the results of the first round of the Commonwealth election was first announced.

The murder could not have come at a worst time as it seems that many of the party's own politicans are announcing that they are going to switch their party loyalty after seeing how unpopular Hugo Wathelet was and many political experts believe that the reason for this switch might because Hugo was not even liked by his own party. At the start of the race, he had 11% favorability in the polls but afterwards he went on a steady decline with Kelly Idiotus of the Socialist Union Party doing better than expect in the first round. Many people within the political world of the Commonwealth believe that the death of Wathelet could mean the total end of the Social Democratic Party; a party that has been Commonwealth political history since the founding of the Commonwealth itself. In fact, it was the second main party that dominated the nation's politics after presidency of Huttson (the Commonwealth's Founding President).

Written by Astrid Leloup, a political writer of the Palico News.

[Leagio]

Murder of Walthelet Solved But SDP Still Crumbles

After days of investigation, the Gopen State Police was able to find a possible suspect to the murder of Social Democratic Candidate for EU Councilor, Huge Wathelet. Hugo Walhelet was found murdered in his party headquarters in Vese, Gopen after the results of the First Round of the EU Councilor election was announced. When the Romain Incident was brought to news, the Common Agency of Crime and Terrorism at first thought that the murder and the Romain were somehow linked, but after talking to the crew of the ship there was no connection that could be found. Gopen State Police looked into the monetary accounts of Walthelet and discovered that two weeks before his candidacy for the position, he recieved an unusal transfer of 200,000 Sulias (SA) or 308,000 Euros. Police found that the Social Democratic Party was having problems fiancing Hugo campaign and was intially going to say no a run for the position until Mr. Wathelet said 'he had it covered.'

Vese State Police found that the money was connected to a notorious loan shark and gangster, Shinny Malone, who apparently had a huge list of people that owned him money. According to the police, when they talk to people who previous owed the gangerster money, if the debts were not paid in how was said in a certain timeframe then the debter might as one victim in witness protection said 'find themselves with either a knife or a gun pointing at them.' Video footage not far for the Social Democratic Party headquarters showed that Shinny Malone was indeed in the area at the time of the murder.

Mugshot of Skinny Malone after he was arrested and charged with the murder of Hugo Walthelet

Police have arrested Skinny Malone for the murder (in the 1st degree) of the Social Democratic candidate last night after they were also able to find a knife in his own home through a warrant a knife that had Walthelet's blood. Although the arrest made a lot of people that were in Vese sigh in relief that Skinny might be now residing in a cell, this does not change the stability issue within the Social Democratic Party as all its members within the House of Councilors changed party loyalty and went to the other parties within the House inside the National Congress. Many people say that this does indeed mean the possible end of the Social Democratic Party.

Written by Eddy Fulson, a crime writer within the Leagioan Broadcasting Company

[Leagio]

National Congress Passes Nuclear Material Regulation Act

This afternoon, after numerous debates within its own chambers, the National Congress passed the Nuclear Material Regulation Act. The drafting and passing of this reaction were in response to the events that took place from the Romain Incident, which was attempting to illegally smuggle out Leagioan nuclear material to the illegitimate government in Icholasen, who call themselves the UNSR.

This act passed in the House of Councilors with 122 FOR and 53 Against, while the Senate had 28 FOR and 10 Against. The President of the Commonwealth signed the bill about 4 hours after its passage.

The Act had the following provisions:

• An Office called the Nuclear Trade Commission (NTC) would be established run by a Director appointed by the President for a 3-year term

• the NTC shall have the power to ensure that nuclear material is correctly sent to countries that are allowed

• The President has the power to command the NTC to halt the trade of nuclear material to nations

• The NTC shall establish regulations and rules to ensure that the nuclear material is going to the nation that is supposed to go.

The act is expected to take effect by August 13th, 2:00 PM (Leagioan Standard Time)

Written by Kevin Witman, A political writer from the DLN.

[Leagio]

Merkel and Kerstin Competing in Leagio for PC

For the past week, the campaign for Primier Commissioner of the European Union has been tense in Leagio. In this unqiue race, there are five candidates with three from Eurogroups and the rest being essentially independents. However, the top two competitors for the job that Leagioans are deciding between are Angela Merkel and Senator Maria Kerstin. The two a history of politics and appeal that interest many Leagioans. The rest of the candidates in this race have not been able to convince the people of the Commonwealth that Leagio should vote for them. The name of Trympov seems to bring distaste to the common Leagioan; even though he seems to be gaining some traction but there is no pundit that thinks that he will win in Leagio. Cikarova has some appeal to voters with Kelly Idiotus (The Former Socialist Union Party EU Councilor Candidate back in July) endorsing the PEL candidate for the position. Cocx, while Leagioans think that the Senator of Gopen was harsh on him, has some appeal as well but many Leagioan say in a survey that he does not bring them much to the table. A timeline showing the favorability of the candidates show that Kerstin and Merkel will be the most likely ones to be strongly contending for Leagio's vote.

The results of the race will be collected at the same time as Leagioans are counting the vote in the Electoral College Round for the EU Councilor Election between incumbent Francis Plessis and Marie Lahaye. Although the voting for EU Councilor will end on August 30, the voting for PC will continue until September 2nd with the results being announced on September 3rd. The dates will be the same for the Internal Affairs Commissioner, which many pundits in Leagio saying that Juncker is pretty much guaranteed to get Leagioan vote. Turnout for this race is expected to be high

Written by Killen Hoyd, a political writer from the Leagioan Broadcasting Company.

[Leagio]

Governor-General Gorge Presents The First Series of Amendments To The New Constitution
With the election of the EU Councilor passing and the race of the National Congress elections coming up, Governor-General Mark Gorge present to the floor of the Senate a series of amendments to the new Constitution of the Commonwealth that was passed and ratified a few months ago. These amendments have the entire floor of the Senate into a huge debate over whether or not, the Constitution should be amended at all. Most of the Conservatives within the Senate floor state that they are against some of the amendments, while the support of the rest. In these amendments that the Governor-General presented were actually five additional articles that would be added to the Constitution. In these articles that would be added if passed were as follows:

Article 13: Emergency Appointment of Senators

• In the case that a senator of a state/territory is incapacitated, dead, or removed from office, which would result in a vancy of representation for a province within the senate. The Governor of the state/territory of said province may appoint a replacement, with approval of said state's/territories's legislative branch to fill the vacancy within the Senate of the National Congress. The appointee of the vacancy shall represent that state/territory until the nearest election cycle.

Article 14: National Congress Salary

• Any change to the salary of elected members of the National Congress shall only take place upon next elected session of the legislative branch of the Commonwealth.

Article 15: Representation for Leagioans Abroad

• Leagioans that were born within the Commonwealth of Leagio or come from parents that were born Leagio, but live outside of the Commonwealth of Leagio shall be given representation within the National Congress. The Representation of Leagioans aboard within the Senate shall be no more than 4 senators representing certain sectors of Europe, while number seats within the House of Councilors shall be no more than the least populated state/territory of the Commonwealth. These seats shall not be included within the Popular Electoral College in the EU Councilor Election or the Governor-General Election cycles.

Article 16: Qualifications for the President of the Commonwealth

• In order for an individual of Leagio to be qualified to run for the title of President of the Commonwealth, they must be 25 years old and have been residing in Leagio for a total of 14 years.

Article 17: Redistricting of House of Councillors Seats

• States and Territories may divide their seats within the House of Councilors into districts for any of the methods mentioned within the Constitution of Leagio. However, the dividing of the seats must be done through a non-partisan commision that shall give every candidate or party has a reasonable chance in each election for the House of Councilors.

Some of the Senators that represent the Socialist Union Party state that they are against the amendments as it gives more power to the capitalists. However, the statement that was made by the Socialist Party may just convince the Conservative Senators to approve the amendments to the Constitution as a way to stick it to the Socialists sh*tbags. Oh well, people of the Commonwealth, socialists will be socialists. In this method of amending the Constitution, the Governor-General must not only get the Senator on board but he must get the House of Councilors and at least two-third's of the Commonwealth's stae/territorial legislatures to make it into the Constitution.

Written by Astrid Leloup, a political writer of the Palico News.

[Leagio]

New Amendments to Constitution Go Through National Congress Without a Strong Mandate

After many days and nights of debating, the National Congress came to a vote on the five amendments to the recently adopted constitution. Many members of the Conservative Reform Party debated for changes to the Amendments or even the withdraw of them. However, the fact that the Civil Populists had control of both the House and the Senate meant that it would pass. There changes made through that was hoped by the Governor-General, who introduced the amendments to the floor of the Senate a few days ago, would get almost everyone in the National Congress on board with them. However, the thing about the vote was that not all of the members of the Civil Populists were in favor of the articles for amendment. Although, in the House, there were hard heavy issues on passing the articles but the Senate was where there were issues mainly; even though, there are 38 members in the Senate with the Civil Populists having a 21 seat majority. Most of the articles went through the Senate with hardly even 55% percent of the vote from the Civil Populists.

The Senators of the Social Democratic Party, which is still trying to survive as a living political party after the failure in the first round of the EU Councilor election, all voted in favor of the changes to the new constitution. However, in what would be Article 15 of the Constitution, there was a tie in the Senate of 19 to 19. According to the rules of this new constitution, the Governor-General can only cast a vote to break ties, even if it is a tie on a bill or amendment to the constitution that he introduced. The Governor-General Mark Gorge would indeed break this tie, which now results in all five amendments going to the state and territorial legislatures for approval. If the Governor-General plans to see that these go through and be ratified, then he needs to convinces those legislatures to vote for them. However, some pundits suspect that Mark Gorge has done exactly that in order to get through by holding the Council of Provinces with the various Governors of the Commonwealth as a way get his own agenda through. The Following amendments that is currently being sent to the state and territorial legislatures are as follows:

Article 13: Emergency Appointment of Senators

• In the case that a senator of a state/territory is dead or removed from office, which would result in a vacancy of representation for a province within the senate. The Governor of the state/territory of said province may appoint a replacement, with approval of said state's/territories's legislative branch to fill the vacancy within the Senate of the National Congress. The appointee of the vacancy shall represent that state/territory until the nearest election cycle, whether it is of the EU Councilor, Any House of the National Congress, Governor-General, or Presidential election.

Article 14: National Congress Salary

• Any change to the salary of elected members of the National Congress shall only take place upon next elected session of the legislative branch of the Commonwealth. However, the selected salary must be approved or vetoed by the President of the Commonwealth before next elected session.

Article 15: Representation for Leagioans Abroad

• Leagioans that were born within the Commonwealth of Leagio or come from parents that were born in Leagio, but live outside of the Commonwealth of Leagio shall be given representation within the National Congress. Foreigners born outside of the Commonwealth but granted citizenship to the Commonwealth of Leagio shall be represented in the overseas constituencies. The Representation of Leagioans aboard within the Senate shall be no more than 4 senators representing certain sectors of Europe, while the number of seats within the House of Councilors shall be no more than the least populated stateof the Commonwealth. These seats shall not be included within the Popular Electoral College in the EU Councilor Election or the Governor-General Election cycles. However, if a seat become vacant, a special election for that seat will be held in order to fill it with the President temporalily appointing someone to the seat

• Leagioan Citizens that immigrate outside of the Commonwealth shall be represented in the overseas seats but not vote in the Governor-General, EU Councilor, or Presidential Elections until they return residing within the Commonwealth. These restrictions do not apply to staff and members of the Leagioan Armed Forces as well as the Leagioan Foreign Service.

Article 16: Qualifications for the President and Governor-General of the Commonwealth

• In order for an individual of Leagio to be qualified to run for the title of President of the Commonwealth and Governor-General, they must be at least 25 years old and have been residing in Leagio for a total of 14 years.

Article 17: Redistricting of the House of Councillors Seats

• States and Territories may divide their seats within the House of Councilors into districts for any of the methods mentioned within the Constitution of Leagio. However, the dividing of the seats must be done through a non-partisan commission that shall give every candidate or party a reasonable chance in each election for the House of Councilors.

Written by Edward Warren, A political writer from the DLN.

[Leagio]

President Lifejumper Announces Willingness To Support Republic of Eastern Haane Militarily

As news of the events that were occuring within the Eastern Haane reaches Europe and the Commonwealth, Leagioan nationals (especially those that mentioned that they were of the Socialist Union Party) that managed to escape from the chaos occuring managed to give tales of stunning and horrific gravity. The people of the Commonwealth began demanding that the President of the Commonwealth intervene to stop what many experts are calling a genocide from happening in Eastern Haane. The President of the Commonwealth announced that he is willing to provide support to the Republic of Eastern Haane by aid them militarily. This announcement was meet with support from members not only in the National Congress and the public, but also the Socialist Union Party with Kelly Idiotus stating that she supports the President's willingness to so. Although, she also mentioned that she wished he would also support the Soviet Republic of Eastern Haane. However, she mentioned that she would lobby the President for that as he works how he can provide a hand to taking down the rouge and genocidal government of Areai (who many Leagioans call her the Eastern Haane's version of the Antiparasite, which references the same type of colonial government that oppressed Leagio during its colonial times and resulted in its war of independence). Many Leagioans in the Street have mentioned that they are thinking about flying over to Eastern Haane and fighting on the side of the Republic of Eastern Haane or the Soviet Republic of Eastern Haane.

When asked about when if the President of the Commonwealth would begin moving troops to support the freedom fighters, Governor-General Mark Gorge had this to say:

"The President has the full confidence of the people, the Congress, and i am sure soon the oppressed people of Eastern Haane."

Written by Killen Hoyd, a political writer from the Leagioan Broadcasting Company.

[Leagio]

New Political Alliances Formed in The Commonwealth

Over the past week, as the National Congress Elections are just about months away, several political parties announced the formation of three political Alliances. These alliances have ranged in idealogy from Communism to Conservatism that were formed to ensure that a certain idealogy would have control in the National Congress, particularly in the House of Councilors where the current polls are showing that there is not a clear wining for the majority from either of the major or minor political parties of the Commonwealth. These Alliances are being formed especially as many states and territories have announced that they are reworking on how they plan to the elections of their seats in the House of Councilors; the seats for the Senate that all the states and territories have are being done through the method of Instant Runoff. These new alliances would mean that there is possibly a new tide of politics that will be coming to the Commonwealth of Leagio. These Alliances are as follows: The Republicans (lead by the Conservative Reform Party), The Revolutionary Front (Lead by the Socialist Union Party), and the Free Liberalists (lead by the Civil Populist Party, which the Social Democrat Party joined).

The Progressive Alliance was offered by the Civil Populist Party chairman the chance to join the Free Liberalist Alliance but they declined the offer, while the fascist right-wing Leagio United Together Front (LUFT) was sent the same type of offer from the Conservative Reform Party but also declined in a more verbal fashion. Although these two parties did not join any of the alliances that have been formed, they have continued to campaign throughout the Commonwealth for the coming election for both houses in the National Congress.

Written by Taylor Linden, a political writer from the Leagioan Broadcasting Company

[Leagio]

New Amendments Pass-Through Needed State/ Territorial Legislatures For Implementation to Constitution and Increase in House of Councilor Seats

Over the past 9 days, the new amendments for Constitution were sent to the State and Territorial legislative branches of the Commonwealth. In the Constitution, any new amendments that are not related to the size of representation to the Senate of the Commonwealth require a two-thirds approval for ratification. These amendments were a series of five amendments that deal with the following topics: Redistricting of House of Councillors Seats, Qualifications for the President of the Commonwealth, Representation for Leagioans Abroad, National Congress Salary, and Emergency Appointment of Senators. However, even though the amendments received the two-thirds approval needed for ratification, not all the legislatures approved the amendments. For example, both the Senate and House of Representatives of the Diamond Heart State Congress voted against ratification of will become Article 15 while the unicameral Loors Territorial Assembly voted against Article 17. Article 15 was barely able to be ratified by the fact that it had the need magic number of 10 state/territorial legislatures in order to be ratified into th Constitution. These amendments were met with mixed reactions depending on what amendment was referred to. Many members of the Leagioan public state that they understood the need for what is now Article 16 of the Constitution, while Article 13 was seen as a possible means of causing a huge wave of patronage upon the Commonwealth.

The Governor-General, who had introduced these amendments to the Constitution to the Senate, was met with waves of approval for his political victory with many individuals in the field of political science saying that it most likely guarantee the Governor-General's chances of victory in being nominated as the Civil Populist candidate for President in the Primaries that are coming this december at the same time as the coming National Congress elections.

The Following amendments that is now ratified and part of the Constitution are as follows:

Article 13: Emergency Appointment of Senators

• In the case that a senator of a state/territory is dead or removed from office, which would result in a vacancy of representation for a province within the senate. The Governor of the state/territory of said province may appoint a replacement, with approval of said state's/territories's legislative branch to fill the vacancy within the Senate of the National Congress. The appointee of the vacancy shall represent that state/territory until the nearest election cycle, whether it is of the EU Councilor, Any House of the National Congress, Governor-General, or Presidential election.

Article 14: National Congress Salary

• Any change to the salary of elected members of the National Congress shall only take place upon next elected session of the legislative branch of the Commonwealth. However, the selected salary must be approved or vetoed by the President of the Commonwealth before next elected session.

Article 15: Representation for Leagioans Abroad

• Leagioans that were born within the Commonwealth of Leagio or come from parents that were born in Leagio, but live outside of the Commonwealth of Leagio shall be given representation within the National Congress. Foreigners born outside of the Commonwealth but granted citizenship to the Commonwealth of Leagio shall be represented in the overseas constituencies. The Representation of Leagioans aboard within the Senate shall be no more than 4 senators representing certain sectors of Europe, while the number of seats within the House of Councilors shall be no more than the least populated state of the Commonwealth. These seats shall not be included within the Popular Electoral College in the EU Councilor Election or the Governor-General Election cycles. However, if a seat become vacant, a special election for that seat will be held in order to fill it with the President temporalily appointing someone to the seat

• Leagioan Citizens that immigrate outside of the Commonwealth shall be represented in the overseas seats but not vote in the Governor-General, EU Councilor, or Presidential Elections until they return residing within the Commonwealth. These restrictions do not apply to staff and members of the Leagioan Armed Forces as well as the Leagioan Foreign Service.

Article 16: Qualifications for the President and Governor-General of the Commonwealth

• In order for an individual of Leagio to be qualified to run for the title of President of the Commonwealth and Governor-General, they must be at least 25 years old and have been residing in Leagio for a total of 14 years.

Article 17: Redistricting of the House of Councillors Seats

• States and Territories may divide their seats within the House of Councilors into districts for any of the methods mentioned within the Constitution of Leagio. However, the dividing of the seats must be done through a non-partisan commission that shall give every candidate or party a reasonable chance in each election for the House of Councilors.

In other news, the National Congress after receiving the current statistics of the population of the Commonwealth and the possible population numbers that the Commonwealth will recieve in the next two year from the Ministry of the Interior. The House of Councilor seats will increase from 285 to 525 as the standard number, which most likely go up to 541 with the Implementation of the recently ratified Article 15 which involves the Representation of Leagioans Abroad.

Written by Astrid Leloup, a political writer of the Palico News.

[Leagio]

Internet Equality and Democracy Act Passes Through National Congress With Strong Opposition

Throughout the past month and a half, the National Congress was in a strong and serious debate in implementing a form of legislatuion to the meet the requirements sent out by the Net Neutrality Law set out and passed by EU Council about two to three months ago. In this act that the Commonwealth has to adapt to within 6 months of its passage through the EU Council. However, the deabte for this legislation not meet without strong resistance with many senators and Councilors from the Conservative Reformists and the more conservative wing of the Civil Populist Party. This act of legislation went through various committees and various changes that sparked huge as well as heated debates in both the House and Senate Floor. In these debates, there were some Senators and Councilors saying that Leagio should not adhere to the regulations of the EU Council. Eventually, one bill was able to be put to a vote and it passed with a weak mandate to its backing. This bill which has now become an official act of the National Congress is called the Internet Equality and Democracy Act, this act not only meets the requirements of the EU Council Net Neutrality Act but had additions to it that were able to satisfy the Conservative Reformists and the Conservative wing of the Civil Populist but only barely in both the House and the Senate.

The Internet Equality and Democracy Act not only ensures that the people of the Commonwealth have equal access to the Internet without restrictions but also the creation of a new ministry that would ensure this as well as implement policies of internet security for the Commonwealth, where methods and regulations will be instituted to find websites that contain quacks, scams, and other harmful elements that endanger the well-being of the people of the Commonwealth. The new ministry that will be part of the Presidential Cabinet will be called the Ministry of Digital Technology, which will have a minister that would be appointed by the President. In addition, the act prohibits any state or territory from implementing any tax on the Internet. This act that was passed had in the House with 95 Councilors in Favor with 80 Against it while the Senate was more closer as 25 Senators vote For while 13 voted against the act. The Act is expected to go to the President once he returns from the welcome back party of the Emperor Artabanos's, where many people believe that he will sign the act into law.

Written by Killen Hoyd, a political writer from the Leagioan Broadcasting Company.

[Leagio]

Territories of Loors and Wilson Petition for Statehood

Just only a few months before the National Congress Election begins, the Governors of the Territories of Loors and Wilson submitted with the approval of their legislative branches a petition for statehood within the Commonwealth of Leagio. These petitions come as the census of the two territories shows that they have indeed the population and constitutions to become actual states within the Commonwealth. The Territory of Loors has a population of a million citizens within its boundaries, while Wilson has about 800,000 people. Not many people are issuing complaints about the Petition from Loors, but there have been complaints about Wilson's. For many people that remember, the Territory of Wilson was established by taking away Muale's northern counties as the entire area at the time was felt not to be ready for statehood. To resolve that issue, the National Congress gave the souther sector of what was the Territory of Muale statehood and formed the northern counties into what is now the Territory of Wilson. After its formation, the President of the Commonwealth appointed Dorotea Caraveo of the Progressive Aliance Party to be the Interim Governor of the Territory until the actual election of the Governor which will happen at the same time of the Presidential Election coming next year. The legislative body of the Territory called the Wilson Legislative Assembly was elected offical on the election of Francis Plessis as the EU Councilor for Leagio last month.

The Current make of the Wilson Legislative Assembly by the end of its election during the EU Councilor Election

When Governor Caraveo was appointed by the President, she immediately went to work in meeting with the people of the Territory and drafted a Constitution that was suitable to their needs but at same time was suited to where it would be accepted by the Supreme Court of Leagio before the EU Councilor Election, where the Wilson Legislative Assembly would be elected. Fortantely for the Governor, the Supreme Court accepted the now Constitution of Wilson and allowed the Governor the chance to ask the newly elected Wilson Legislative Assembly to submit the petition for Statehood with full regional automony within the Commonwealth. The first reaction within the Conservative wing of the National Congress was that the reason for the existence for the Territory of Wilson was because it's inhabitants were not ready for statehood. In addition, Senators from the Conservative Reform Party called out on Governor Caraveo saying that she was trying to play politics before the coming National Congress Election this December. However, the complaint from the Conservatives appear to not be sticking to the Conservative faction within the centre-left Civil Populist Party as they mentioned that they would support the Statehood of both territories that have submitted their petitions to them.

After signing the recently passed Internet Equality and Democracy Act into law, the President of the Commonwealth said that he welcomes the statehood of both of Loors and Wilson into the Commonwealth.

Written by Edward Warren, A political writer from the DLN.

[Leagio]

National Congress Creates The Territory of Freedonia For Refugees

In a overnight, joint debate within the National Congress that began not long after the President's Address to the Commonwealth which he made mulitiple requests to them, a vote was made to create a new territory within the Commonwealth that would house new refugees that were fleeing from areas like Eastern Haane. Yesterday in the morning, the President issued an executive order that created a refugee immigration program similar to Inquista's, where people that were fleeing to the Commonwealth would be granted instant citzenship within the Commonwealth. The territory that is not created was drawn out of land from the territories of Sule and Vernach. In the act that established this new territory, the president was still allowed to appoint a governor for it but over provisions were added. Until official government of the new Territory of Freedonia is establish with a consitution approved by the Supreme Court of Leagio, the Supreme Court of Sule will act as the judicial body for the Territory of Freedonia. Furthermore, the Territory of Sule will provide the monetary support for the establishment of the Freedonian Territorial Government. The legislation that created Freedonia stated that Provinical Captial of Freedonia will be the small city of Zewad, which is not far from the Leagioan-Kelgrad border. In addition, the person that will take up the role of Governor of Freedonia is required to begin prepartions of recieve a influx of Eastern Haanen refugee's that is expecte dto start coming two days from now to the Commonwealth. Furthermore, as a measure to ensure that a legislative branch is established quickly, the Fredonian Creation Act states that the leaders of the counties within the new Territory of Freedonia will appoint a representative each to act as a temporary legislative body of the Territory until the National Congress election in December. Once the legislation was passed by both houses of the National Congress, the President immiediately recieved the bill and signed it into law.

Written by Killen Hoyd, a political writer from the Leagioan Broadcasting Company.

[Leagio]

Loors and Wilson Gain Statehood Within The Commonwealth

Not long after the creation of the new Territory of Freedonia, the National Congress voted on the petitions for statehood sent by the Governors of Wilson and Loors. The vote on the approval of these petitions was not really tight as it seemed that popular pressure in Tullion had pressed the National Congress to vote in favor of the statehood of Loors and Wilson. When asked about his opinion on the matter, the Governor-General expressed high praise for the outcome of the votes.

A quick new post by Astrid Leloup, a political writer of the Palico News.

[Leagio]

President appoints Kelly Idiotus as Governor of the Territory of Freedonia and Felix Keliburg as Minister of Digital Technology

In what some people on the right consider as a shocking turn of events, President Lifejumper announced that he will be appointing Kelly Idiotus as the Governor of the new Territory of Freedonia. For those that do not remember, Kelly Idiotus was the Socialist Union Party Candidate for the EU Councilor election of this year. Although, she did not win in the first round, she did do better than expected when one was following the polls. Kelly Idiotus is considered a stable and strong leader within the membership of the Socialist Union Party. In addition, she had been running a race for the primary election for the party's Governor-General candidate through the National Congress election coming on December 20th. During the past months, she had been campaign throughout the Commonwealth for people to vote for Socialist Unionist Candidates in the election systems that the states and territories will soon be announcing as it was changed after the National Congress decided recently to incase the number of seats in the House of Councilors from 285 to 355 for better representation throughout the Commonwealth. When news of the President's appointment of Idiotus to be Governor of the new territory many members of the Conservative Reform Party accused the President of being a communist in Leagioan clothing.

When asked for the reason of appointing the member of the Socialist Unionist, the President responded by saying "Kelly Idiotus maybe someone on other political spectrum but she is the perfect candidate for the coming people from Eastern Haane through the Immigration Refugee program that was established through the President's recent Executive Order. Many pundits expect that the point will barely go through the Senate; however, there has been word that members of the Conservative Reform Party within the Senate will make a proposal to create another territory out of fear of four new Socialist Senators to be on the floor in the coming election on December 20th.

In addition, another appointment that the President will be making is the position of the newly created Minister of Digital Technology. The person with that title will run the Ministry of Digital Technology created through the recently passed Internet Equality and Democracy Act. Many pundits expect that no matter who the President chooses from his own party for the position that it will be a standoff as the bill was barely able to get passed the National Congress, especially the Senate. However, in a surprising move, the President did not appoint another person from his own party to be part of the cabinet; Instead, he appointed a person that was from the Leagioan Pact of Democracy (which is a party that helps to support candidates that want to run as independents). The individual that he chose from the Leagioan Pact of Democracy was Felix Keliburg, who runs his own youtube channel and was one of his opponents in the 2018 Presidential Election. Felix Keliburg is an individual that has been considered to be well-liked by the Conservatives and the more conservative wing of the Civil Populist Party. The reason for Keliburg's appointment might be seen as an appraisal from the President to the Consevatives in exchange for the appointment of Kelly Idiotus as Governor of Freedonia.

An image that was taken of Keliburg during his 2018 Presidential Campaign

Written by Mary Sue, a political news writer of The Commonwealth Post.

[Leagio]

Refugee Ships Coming Into the Commonwealth Packed!

About a week ago, the Archbishop of Inqusita made an announcement allowing the Commonwealth to ferry Eastern Haanean refugees from her country. Not long after troops that from the 2nd Motorized Division landed in Eastern Haane after inspection from the Spanish Officials there in accordance to the NFZ guidelines established over Eastern Haane, the President ordered the requisition of two cruise ships, The Astoria and the Ruby Saga, to sail to Inquista and pick up the first batch of refugee's.

The ships would indeed pick the refugees at large numbers, but that was anticipated as the two vessels were loaded with extra lifeboats and liferafts in case tragedy occurred on the voyage. When the ships arrived to Port Hilson yesterday, they were meet with applause and cheering from the people of the port city. Many of the refugee's waved as well as they most likely felt that they were finally away from the anarchy that is occurring within Eastern Haane. Once the ships docked, the passengers were inspected to ensure that they did not have any contagious diseases that would be a issue to the Commonwealth.

Afterwards, the 5,500 people that were on the two ships will be transported by train to the Territory of Freedonia under the management of the appointed Governor Kelly Idiotus, who announced that as part of a method to ensure the stable life of the Eastern Haanean refugee's that she will begin a program to provide housing and jobs that will be done through the methods of socialism for them. After unloading their passenagers and begin restocked on fuel as well as supplies, the two ships went back out to sea to ferry more refugee's.

(Photos token of the Astoria and Ruby Saga respectively as they were leaving for Inquista to pick more refugee's)

An article by Astrid Leloup, a political writer of the Palico News.

[Leagio]

New Senate Seats Filed Through New Constitutional Amendment

Starting tomorrow, the new Senate seats established through the Constitution and the creation of new territories as well states made recently. Through a new amendment that was added to the Constitution about less than a month ago, the Governors of all the Provinces in the Commonwealth appointed with the approval of their legislative branches to appoint individuals to fill the vacant seats in the Seate. These individuals would hold these seats until the General legislative election coming in this December. With these new seats, the Civil Populists and Conservative Reformists both gained 13 seats. The Leagioan Pact of Democracy received 5 seats, while the Progressives gained 6 seats. The Individuals that will fill these seats shall be starting to serve them this Friday, where it was announced that the Senate will vote for the Treaty of Tullion. A foreign treaty that was discussed between the President of the Commonwealth and Prime Minister Bridges of the Kingdom of Reitzmag. The Details of the treaty involves free trade, military sales and research, education, and Extradition. In order for it to pass, 2/3's of the Senate need to approve for its ratification.

Written by Edward Warren, A political writer from the DLN.