It is an honour to be elected to serve as your thirty-third Internal Affairs Commissioner. After weeks of campaigning and debating, I am delighted that you have chosen me, Wirt Harland, as a part of the next commission. While no language I know is enough to express my gratitude, I will make up for it with my actions, moving forward like how I presented myself as a candidate: A man who wants to introduce systemic reform to the European Union for the good of its citizens.
Before February, I am planning to bring several amendments to our Constitution to the European Council, most of which will concern the political and electoral systems of the EU. During this time, I will collaborate with councillors from all sides of the political spectrum to ensure that the reforms I bring will last for decades.
In addition, I am also planning to take trips to various countries and meet with their leaders and listen to their concerns regarding the EU and their membership. In a political institution as immense as the European Union, it is expected for every member state to have differing opinions on how it should be run. I will take every concern seriously and make sure to not compensate for what I believe in.
Once again: Thank you. Thank you a thousand times, Europe. You gave me this opportunity for four months and I will try my best to make every month count.
Wirt Harland 33rd Internal Affairs Commissioner of the European Union
Elthize now meets requirements to join the EMUzone, says Minister of Finance
by Frances Irving - September 9, 2022
El Castillo de San Carlos in Finisterre, Spain, where the Treaty of Finisterre was signed in October 2020.(image credit)
Elthics received wonderful news this morning when Finance Minister Tobias Walters announced that Elthize has fulfilled all of the requirements to become a signatory to the Treaty of Finisterre, meaning that the country can now join the EMUzone. He further stated: "We are now confident that our nation will enter the EMUzone well before President Greenwich Grimwald's deadline of January 2024."
The EMU, an acronym for European Monetary Unit, is a currency that was established with the Treaty of Finisterre in October 2020. The signatories are Spain, Inquista, Vayinaod, Fremet, Montenbourg, the United Dominions of Icholasen and Leagio, which was previously an observer state that joined the treaty in April this year. The agreement focuses on the economic cooperation between European states and was a breakthrough moment in economic integration within the European Union.
The use of the EMU within Elthize has been a discussion topic since January 2021, when President Greenwich Grimwald said that Elthize would use a "special circulation status" with the EMU, accepting the currency alongside the florin. Grimwald claimed that this move would improve tourism in Elthize, which is a prominent sector in our economy. The move was approved by the parliament, despite some opposition regarding the move's reality.
Since then, the EMU has been considered a de facto legal tender in Elthize. While the EMU is not the currency of Elthize by law, many shops and stores accept the currency alongside the florin. It is observed that many Elthics are ready for an eventual transition to the EMU. The process is also approved by many: According to the Polling Institute of Elthize (PIE), a survey conducted on the EMU in April 2022 found that 56% of those interviewed agreed that the implementation of EMU would be beneficial to their lives. This number is expected to be higher today, as Elthize gets one step closer to adopting a common monetary unit.
It was expected that President Greenwich Grimwald would announce an exact date for the transition from the florin to the EMU in the coming days, though this is uncertain now, due to Grimwald's current recovery from a very recent assassination attempt. He still has not made a statement regarding that incident.
After much deliberation, the European Court of Justice has decided on the validity of the last European Commission elections.
It should be understood that while The Constitution of the European Union does not set a clear precedent for write-in candidates, it has set very clear boundaries on certain aspects of commission elections in Article III, Section II. I would like to quote Clause II from the aforementioned article:
The nomination period for each Office shall run for seven days, to be followed by a seven-day debate period, in turn, followed by a seven-day voting period.
Following the precedent established in previous court decisions, including one where an election was cancelled due to the debate period not being up to standards, The Court is concerned about the fact that both gentlemen, Kevin Cotilla and Jean-Claude Juncker, who were elected using write-in votes, could not participate in the seven-day debate period, as they did not nominate themselves in the seven-day nomination period.
Both of these periods are very clearly set by the Constitution, which is the paramount law of the European Union, and the European Court of Justice is responsible for ensuring that the political activities of the European Union are not conflicting with the Constitution, as mentioned in Article IV, Section II, Clause I:
The European Court of Justice is responsible for determining whether an Act or Amendment of the European Council is in line with the Constitution.
Therefore, The Court unanimously finds that:
A) Write-in notes can not be used in European elections, as they are incompatible with the precedents set by the Constitution,
B) The non-proper execution of the periods clearly set by the Constitution in the last elections is problematic.
Therefore, to ensure that these elections do not erode the validity of the succeeding elections made by the European Union as a whole, The European Court of Justice orders a new election under this legal understanding.
——
Dayo Faith Mwangi Chief Justice of the European Court of Justice
Elthize ([ɛlfiːz], EL-fees), officially The State of Elthize, is a country located in Northern Africa . It borders the Atlantic Ocean to the west, Yosai to the north and Leagio to the east and south. With a population of around 4,4 million, Elthize is one of the least populated countries in the European Union. Forecoaster is the capital city, while St. Lucas, located in the south of the country, is Elthize's most populous city. With a population of 1,2 million within its metropolitan area, St. Lucas is the centre of the Elthic economy, entertainment and contemporary culture of Elthize. The second populous city with a population of around 520 thousand, Montgomery, is considered to be the birthplace of modern-day Elthize and its culture and served as the country's capital until 1972. Around half of the population lives south of Forecoaster, and 70% of the population lives less than twenty-five kilometres away from the coast. The common and administrative language in Elthize is English, though it isn't the country's official language.
Modern-day Elthize was founded in 1828 by British trade companies, collaborating with various philosophers of the time that wanted to establish a liberal utopia. Settled on the shores of southern Elthize, the Montgomery Territory, established following an agreement with the indigenous Kingdom of Elfiz, is often considered to be the precursor to modern-day Elthize. While the relationship between the territory and the kingdom was initially positive, various factors, including an economic crisis in the kingdom due to poor governance and growing xenophobia in the territory, made relations sour. This tension continued for decades, peaking in 1870 when the king declared war on the territory, which it lost four years later, resulting in the kingdom's abolishment and total annexation.
The annexation made way for the formation of the Commonwealth of Elthize. The commonwealth often displaced indigenous people away from the coast, and slavery was prevalent. After Leagio, a neighbouring colony, gained its independence in 1896, most colonial politicians and the British elite in Leagio escaped to Elthize. In 1905, Elthize was annexed by the British government and granted dominion status. By the late 1920s, with the support of an independent Leagio, the Elthic independence movement grew in support, led by revolutionary William Lee Marchand, who would later become the first president of an independent Elthize in May 1937, when the country became independent from the United Kingdom. The independence of the First Republic was short-lived, however, when the Yosainese annexed Elthize in 1954, shortly after Marchand resigned. In 1968, Elthize became independent after various riots brought the fascist Yosainese regime down. This led to the formation of the Second Republic under President Theodore Ackerson.
Elthize is a liberal democratic country that enjoys high levels of personal and economic freedom, low tax rates, and a market economy, with the largest industries being resource extraction, service industry and tourism. It also has the highest economic inequality rate in the European Union, above-average crime rates and high levels of environmental pollution. It became a member of the European Union in April 2022.
I - Fact summary
Official country name: The State of Elthize Short name: Elthize Pronunciation: El-fees Demonym: Elthic (noun and adjective), Elthizian Country codes: EZ, ETZ Top level domain: .co.ez, .ez Drives on the: right Time zone: UTC Date format: DD-MM-YYYY, MM-DD-YYYY, YYYY-DD-MM Power plug type: Type C, Type F, Type E, Type G Calling code: +90 National motto:None National anthem:None National colours: Blue and yellow
Info
Due to Elthics' distrust towards their government, it is hard to get precise information on certain statistics. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Population: 4,408 million (2023 estimate) Life expectancy: 72,2 years Literacy rate (aged 14 and over): ~85% Official language:None(De jure. While no language is specified as the official language of Elthize, English is used by the national government for administrative reasons.) Languages spoken: English (~95%), Elfiz indigenous languages (~15%), Spanish (~8%), Elthic Sign Language (~5%), Japanese (~3%), French (~3%) Religion: Christianity (9.3%), Unaffiliated (9%), Elfiz indigenous religions (4.3%), Judaism (2.2%), Other (3%), 72.2% did not answer Ethnicity: Non-specific Elthic (8.5%), European Elthic (4.1%), African Elthic (3.5%), Indigenous Elthic (1.5%), Other non-Elthic (3.3%), 79.1% did not answer
Info
The term "Non-specific Elthic" is used for Elthic people of any race who identify as Elthic and refuse to elaborate on their ethnicity.
Info
Indigenous Elthic, also called the Elfiz, are Elthic people who descended from the Elfiz tribe, which ruled most of modern-day Elthize prior to British arrival. However, not all Black people in Elthize identify as Indigenous. These people are classified under the term "African Elthic" instead.
Capital city: Forecoaster Largest city: St. Lucas Government type: Unitary presidential republic Legislature branch: The Senate (upper house), The National Assembly (lower house) Executive branch: President and their cabinet Judicial branch: The High Court, Provincial courts, federal courts, family and civil courts, criminal courts, and administrative courts Head of State and Government: President Greenwich Grimwald (assumed office July 24, 2014) Ruling party: The Third Option, The Nationals & New Democracy [since July 24, 2014] European Councillor: Councillor Rebel Kofi (since July 1, 2023)
Location: Located in Northern Africa, west and north of the Commonwealth of Leagio and south of the Federal Republic of Yosai. Terrain and landscape: Mostly flatlands and hills, with more mountainous terrain in the south. Highest point: Mt. Wintercroft (1643 m), Southern Counties Lowest point: Sea level (0 m) Climate: Mediterranean hot summer climate. All four seasons are experienced. Average daily high: 36.6 °C Average daily low: 10.3 °C Record high: 48,4 °C, August 1938, near Bricksport, The Midlands Record low: -25,4 °C, February 1980, near Mananfra, Southern Counties Average annual precipitation: 646 mm per year
II - Administrative divisions of Elthize
Map of administrative divisions in Elthize
As of May 2023, Elthize is divided into eleven provinces: Ackerson, Brownell, Forecoaster, Liamville, Marchand, The Midlands, Montgomery, Northern Counties, Port Nelson, Southern Counties and St. Lucas.
While the country is recognized as a unitary state, it is considered a "devolved government", meaning that the administration in Forecoaster has transferred substantial power to the provinces, to varying degrees. Provinces are also further divided into counties for administrative purposes.
Most provinces have a devolved government except three: Forecoaster, The Midlands and Northern Counties. These provinces are directly legislated by the national parliament, with their governor appointed by the president.
Administrative divisions
Province
Largest city
Population
Governor
Parties in provincial government
Ackerson
Theodorburg
205,000
Franklin Parker
Labour
Brownell
Brownell
360,000
Rowan Holmwood
Labour
Forecoaster
Forecoaster
645,000
Jess Udo
No devolved government
Liamville
Liamville
116,000
Robin Platuck
The Nationals
Marchand
Marchand City
175,000
Bell Marsh
Labour
The Midlands
Petersfeld
78,000
Oliver York
No devolved government
Montgomery
Montgomery
740,000
Hunter Vance
The Third Option, The Nationals
Northern Counties
Augusta
93,000
Kamau Williams
No devolved government
Port Nelson
Port Nelson
356,000
Nick Thorburn
The Third Option
Southern Counties
Mananfra
210,000
Pat Mwangi
New Democracy, Elfiz Party
St. Lucas
St. Lucas
1,430,000
Martha Krystoff
Labour, The Greens, FT-SA, Crimson
III - President of Elthize
The President of Elthize is the head of state, government and executive branch in The State of Elthize.
According to the Constitution of Elthize, the president holds supremacy over all other government institutions in Elthize and is responsible for enforcing laws passed by the parliament.
The president can issue executive orders, which are directives and guidelines that are given to the Elthic government and the president's cabinet. The president can withdraw an executive order at any time. Still, it can also be revoked by the Senate of Elthize or be declared unlawful or unconstitutional by a high court in the country.
The president and their cabinet can also issue provisional laws, temporary laws that only last for six months. A provisional law can be extended with parliament's approval a maximum of four times, after which the provisional law needs to become actual law.
The presidency was suspended between 1954 and 1968 by the Yosainese military, which occupied the country at the time.
List of presidents in The State of Elthize
Name
In office
Affiliated party
Government and elections
William Lee Marchand (1906 - 1952)
May 20, 1937 - November 8, 1950
Unaffiliated
Marchand I (1938), Marchand II (1942), Marchand III (1946)
Florence Maitland (1923 - 1999)
November 8, 1950 - June 20, 1954
Unaffiliated
Maitland I (1950)
Theodore Ackerson (1939 - 2018)
December 1, 1968 - December 7, 1978
Labour - On coalition with New Democracy from 1973-1978
Ackerson I (1968), Ackerson II (1973)
Alika Mbanefo (1950 -)
December 7, 1978 - November 29, 1983
New Democracy - On coalition with Labour
Mbanefo I (1978)
Benjamin "Benny" Kalzer (1955 -)
November 29, 1983 - December 1, 1992
Liberal Democrats - On coalition with New Democracy from 1988 - 1992
Kalzer I (1983), Kalzer II (1988)
Roy Harper (1940 -)
December 1, 1992 - November 4, 1999
Labour - On coalition with New Democracy
Harper I (1992), Harper II (1996)
Gloria Dietrich (1957 - 2002)
November 4, 1999- February 8, 2002
Labour - On coalition with The Greens
Dietrich I, Dietrich II (2000)
Archie Franklin (1952 - 2016)
February 8, 2002 - July 24, 2014
Liberal Democrats - On coalition with New Democracy (2002 - June 2013), Unaffiliated (June 2013 - July 2014)
Franklin I (2002), Franklin II (2004), Franklin III (2008), Franklin IV (2012)
Greenwich Grimwald (1944 -)
July 24, 2014 - present
The Third Option - On coalition with New Democracy & The Nationals
Grimwald I (2014), Grimwald II (2018), Grimwald III (2022)
IV - Parliament of Elthize
Work in progress.
V - Judiciary of Elthize
The judicial system of The State of Elthize consists of various courts, ranging in focus.
The High Court, officially The High Court of The State of Elthize, is the highest in Elthize, established on May 1, 2023, following the merge of the Constitutional Court and Supreme Court following a referendum in February 2023. The High Court is responsible for overseeing laws, decrees, and other decisions; made either by the government, private institutions, or individuals in The State of Elthize and analysing whether they violate the Constitution of Elthize or Elthic law.
The High Court can also oversee the verdicts of other courts and revoke, amend, or affirm them at their will. As the highest court in Elthize, only the High Court itself can challenge its previous decisions, as well as other international courts above it, such as the European Court of Justice. The High Court consists of eleven judges, one from each province. The judges are elected by the bar associations of each province, without approval from the legislature. Judges in The High Court may serve for ten years, starting from the moment they assume office.
The Chief Justice of The State of Elthize oversees and administers the High Court and decides on which cases to give a verdict on. This position is elected by the judges in the High Court.
In addition, there are provincial high courts in all provinces except The Midlands and Northern Counties, as well as various civil courts, criminal courts and administrative courts.
List of current justices in The High Court of The State of Elthize
Work in progress.
Judge
Province
Assumed office
Term expiration date
Mae Lynwood
Ackerson
May 1, 2023
May 1, 2033
Julian Fairchild
Brownell
May 1, 2023
May 1, 2033
William Huddleston
Forecoaster
May 1, 2023
May 1, 2033
Naomi Cobb
Liamville
May 1, 2023
May 1, 2033
Lazlo Pelletier
Marchand
May 1, 2023
May 1, 2033
Florence Reid
The Midlands
May 1, 2023
May 1, 2033
Isabelle Ramsey
Montgomery
May 1, 2023
May 1, 2033
Erik Hamilton
Northern Counties
May 1, 2023
May 1, 2033
Ashanti Asamanta
Port Nelson
May 1, 2023
May 1, 2033
J. L. Masso
Southern Counties
May 1, 2023
May 1, 2033
Mason Garland
St. Lucas
May 1, 2023
May 1, 2033
VI - Councillor for Elthize
Work in progress.
List of councillors from Elthize
Name
Assumed office
Left office
Length of tenure
Affiliated party
Elections
Liam Zachary (1994 -)
April 15, 2022
February 24, 2023 (removed from office)
10 months, 10 days
The Third Option - On coalition with New Democracy & The Nationals
2022
May Hobbes (1962 -)
February 24, 2023 (interim)
July 1, 2023
4 months, 7 days
New Democracy - On coalition with The Third Option & The Nationals
2022 Elections: A fine day for Grimwald and his friends. For others? Not so much.
by Janice Kyou - April 14, 2022
Image: Greenwich Grimwald speaking to the public in his election campaign, February 24th, Hunnicutt. (original source)
The election season commenced in Elthize, with millions going to the polls to vote for candidates and parties. Held between April 1st to April 8th, the elections saw nonsignificant, but not unnotable changes for President Greenwich Grimwald, incumbent since July 2014, and the ruling coalition. One would probably think there would be more grand changes across the board, as this election season was easily the most heated and controversial in a very long time, with intense debates about the country's ascension to the European Union, its internal affairs, and its adoption of the EMU, short for European Monetary Unit, a common currency for various nations across the European Union.
The incumbent president Greenwich Grimwald, his party The Third Option and the other two parties of the ruling coalition, New Democracy and The Nationals, the latter of which changed their name from Liberal Democrats in September 2019, fully supported the Elthic ascension to the European Union. President Grimwald claimed that the country "has nothing to lose and everything to gain with joining the EU". He also created the temporary position of Ministry of Membership to the European Union, which is expected to be abolished by the end of June at the latest.
The Labour Party and The Greens remained neutral, instead proposing a nationwide referendum to decide on EU membership, while For The People, Future Together / Socialist Alliance and the communist party Crimson opposed membership. The isolationist far-right party For The People stated that the European Union would destroy the Elthic economy and "put Elthic society into unstoppable decay", while FT-SA and Crimson opposed the EU as a principle for their anti-neoliberal stance.
Regardless, Elthize’s membership in the European Union was confirmed on April 14th. Following the European Accountable Council Act, the first-ever councillor elections were done on April 18th, with Liam Zachary, candidate of The Third Option and New Democracy and the third Minister of Membership to the European Union, winning the election with 35,9% of the vote. Nolan Brunson of the Labour Party and The Greens came second with 30,1% of the vote. Independent candidates Tara Dianne and Alexander Clarke came third and fourth, getting 10,3% and 9,4% of the vote respectively. National candidate Devon Albert came fifth with 8,5% of the vote, while Leon den Hollander, the joint candidate of FT-SA and Crimson came sixth with 3,3% of the vote.
Taxation was another heated topic this election season. The Labour Party, The Greens, FT-SA and Crimson rallied for a progressive tax rate, something which Grimwald heavily opposed. However, the coalition didn't completely back Grimwald this time, with The Nationals supporting the idea and New Democracy opposing it. This is possibly the reason why inside the coalition there was a shuffle in seat count between the two parties: The Nationals won ten seats at the National Assembly and four seats in the Senate, while New Democracy lost ten seats at the National Assembly. While New Democracy didn't lose any seats in the Senate, The Third Option lost three seats there, possibly also connected to this issue. The People also opposed progressive tax rates and asked to join the ruling coalition, something Grimwald didn't accept.
The adoption of the EMU was a large issue, too. On January 1, 2021, President Grimwald announced that he would make EMU legal tender alongside the florin, obtaining a “shared circulation status” by the Treaty of Finisterre. Grimwald stated that this move was made to improve relations and trade with Leagio, however, its legality has been questioned by the opposition. Recent polls show that around a quarter of Elthize opposes the adoption of EMU, about a third, supports its adoption, while the rest either did not know or refused to answer. Regardless, many businesses in Elthize accept the EMU today.
Overall, in legislature elections, the ruling coalition successfully kept their majority, winning a seat in both Senate and the National Assembly.
The Third Option got 29,2% of the vote in the National Assembly elections and 29,9% of the vote in the Senate elections, getting 73 seats in the Assembly and 30 seats in the Senate respectively.
New Democracy got 15,8% and 15,6% of the votes in the legislature elections, which translated to 40 seats in the Assembly and 16 in the Senate. The Nationals, the biggest winners of this election, got 5,9% and 6,1% of the votes, getting 15 assembly seats and 6 senate seats.
The Labour Party lead the opposition front by gaining 25,7% and 20,1% of the votes, getting 63 assembly seats, and losing one, and 21 senate seats. The Greens followed them, getting 9,1% and 7% of the votes, which translated to 23 assembly seats, gaining three, and 7 senate seats.
FT-SA got 4,4% and 3,4% of the votes, they got 11 assemblies and 3 senate seats, losing a senate seat on the way. For the first time in history, Crimson joined the Senate race, stopping their two-decades-long boycott of the institution. They got 1,4% of the vote and one senate seat. In addition, they got 2% of the vote in assembly elections, gaining five seats, two less than in the last election.
The presidency remained in Greenwich Grimwald’s hands, though it was a closer race than he would usually be comfortable with. He got 43,3% of the vote. The main opposition candidate, Matthew François, supported by Labour, The Greens and FT-SA, got 40,3% of the vote. Bernard Lee of For The People got a surprising 7,6% of the vote. Independent candidate Latifah Marques followed with 5,5% of the vote, and the Crimson candidate Alfred Phillips got only 1,3% of the vote.
In general, these elections were an utter disappointment for the opposition, expecting to boot Grimwald out this year, whose popularity had been steadily declining for a few years. Instead, the status quo remained. It is unclear what kind of path the opposition will take next, as it doesn't seem to be united as the ruling coalition.
President Grimwald promises that Elthize will enter the EMUzone before 2024
by Janice Kyou - July 29, 2022
President Greenwich Grimwald and The Spanish Minister Of Social Affairs Barack Obama visiting the El Prado Museum in Madrid, November 2019. (image credit)
In his address to the nation last Tuesday, President Greenwich Grimwald announced that Elthize will switch to EMU no later than January 2024. The EMU, short for European Monetary Unit, is the common currency of six countries: Spain, Inquista, Vayinaod, Fremet, Montenbourg and Leagio. It was introduced in October 2020 after the Treaty of Finisterre, whose talks started three months earlier in July that year. In addition to all countries listed, the exiled free government of Icholasen also signed the treaty. However, the illegitimate communist government currently occupying the country doesn't recognize the said treaty, so no one in Icholasen uses the currency. Regardless, the treaty focuses on economic cooperation between the European nations and was a landmark moment in economical integration within the European Union.
One of the most asked questions leading up to the general election this year was whether or not Elthize would ditch the florin and use EMU as its currency going forward. In January 2021, Grimwald stated that Elthize would use a "special circulation status" with the EMU, accepting the currency alongside the florin. He explained that this move would improve relations with neighbouring Leagio, which is a member of the EMUzone. Grimwald also claimed that the move would improve tourism, a large sector of the Elthic economy. The move was approved by both houses of the parliament, the National Assembly and the Senate, and was approved by Grimwald himself in February of that year. While some MPs in the opposition questioned the action's legality, not much came of it, and while it is not technically the official currency of Elthize, many stores in Elthize accept the EMU today.
And it doesn't seem like President Grimwald is going to back down from embracing the EMU any time soon. In fact, in his latest address to the nation on July 26th, he made a promise: "I will make sure that Elthize meets the requirements and becomes a signatory of the Treaty of Finisterre before January 2024."
He also said: "We have been rejected from joining the treaty because we didn't meet the standards. I disagree. I believe that Elthize is a perfect country. However, my job is not to bicker and whine about it, it is to ensure that Elthic people have more convenient lives. It is also to keep my promises, as I have done in the past eight years as your president. So once again, I promise to put Elthize to EMUzone no later than January 31st, 2024. Mark that date."
This statement comes after the summit with Spain last month, in which Grimwald participated, alongside Minister of Foreign Affairs Oscar Crofton. Crofton stated that the EMU was one of the main discussion topics with the Spanish delegation. He also assured that Spanish President Jesús Aguilar and the rest of the Spanish government looked forward to Elthize joining the EMUzone in the future: "So far, we do not see any blocks in the way of Elthize completely switching to the EMU."
The country being a signatory to the Treaty of Finisterre is supported heavily across the political spectrum. The polls right before the 2022 election showed that only one-third of the country saw Elthize switching from the florin to EMU as a positive change. Today, that number has grown substantially, with 52% of the polled Elthics saying that Elthize switching to the EMU would be beneficial to their lives. 39% of the polled said they didn't mind a currency change, and only 7% of the polled said that the change would be negative for them.
Oscar Crofton says expanding of parliament "inevitable"
Minister of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed his support of expanding both houses for the first time since 2000 August 9, 2022
On his way to a regular cabinet meeting this afternoon, Minister of Foreign Affairs Oscar Crofton spoke with journalists. During the conversation, one of the cameramen mentioned his support for expanding the parliament, and he took advantage of the opportunity to reiterate his support: "It's inevitable. I mean, increasing the size of the parliament is a natural progression of Elthic democracy. As the country grows, so does its legislature. This is a bipartisan idea, I've never seen any opposition to it."
The proposal, which is part of a series of political reforms that will be put to a referendum no later than 2025, would increase the number of seats in the National Assembly from 250 to 300. The number of senate seats, currently 100, would remain unchanged. The amount of the increase was debated in parliament for months until today when President Greenwich Grimwald approved the proposals. If the referendum is successful, this will be the first time that both houses will expand since Former President Gloria Dietrich approved an expansion in 2000, which doubled the size of both houses.
"These reforms' fate will be decided by the Elthic people. They will have a voice in changes like these, as they always have," Grimwald spoke about the upcoming referendum. As stated in the Elthize Constitution and affirmed by the Constitutional Court four times (in 1951, 1971, 1983, and 2006), any changes to the Elthic political system require a referendum.
Other political reforms that Elthics will vote for in this referendum include restoring the position of Prime Minister, which Former President Archie Franklin abolished in 2007, giving the legislature absolute supremacy over all government institutions (also known as parliamentary sovereignty), combining the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court, and limiting the terms of the judges who serve on these courts.
These reforms were first submitted to the National Assembly by New Democracy MA Ronald Lorenzen in November last year. He stated that he had been writing the motion since April 2019, and over time had tweaked the bill thanks to help from other New Democracy MAs.
"I believe that all of these changes are beneficial for the Elthic people," Lorenzen told NET. "We have many cracks and flaws in the system, and while this referendum will not fix all of them, it will be a remedy for a large portion of them. President Grimwald's approval of the motion is appreciated greatly and I am glad he sees my vision of improving Elthize."
Most of these reforms have been viewed positively by the Elthic public and are expected to pass with ease. According to the PIE, more than half of the eligible Elthic voters intend to vote yes on all of the reforms, and more than 70% intend to vote yes on a majority of the reforms. If approved, the reforms will go into effect after the next election, which will happen no later than April 2026.
Elthize's EV debut disappoints Elthic fans, gets eighth place
Wolf Alice's "The Last Man on Earth" gets fifty-nine points at the Trondheim contest August 17, 2022
Elthize took part in the EuroVoice Song Contest for the first time, an event in the European Union in which countries send a musical entry to represent themselves since it first commenced in 2010. The debut entry, The Last Man on Earth by Wolf Alice, described as a rock ballad about "the arrogance of humans", was announced on May 9th. While the entry had a positive reception in Elthize, it didn't get the result many expected. In the contest, the band performed 9th, preceding Istkalen and succeeding the United Duchies.
The country struggled to stay in the top ten throughout the voting process. Some attribute this to the fact that the song was too serious for the event.
"I mean, we were robbed, but also it's like... We showed up with a three-thousand florin suit on a party where everyone has their pyjamas on, know what I mean?" says Jake, a high schooler from Port Nelson who came to a bar to enjoy the show with his friends. "You kind of have to turn your brain off, like, you need to send songs that don't need brain function. Am I making sense? I'm kind of drunk, sorry," he continued.
"It was way too slow," claimed Enitan, another person at the bar. "I felt like sleeping, honestly. No offence to Wolf Alice but we need to send dance bops, not sad anthems."
Elthize did not get any points from three countries: Nofoaga, Brickston and Czech Slavia, though it did get twelve points from Fremet, the host country, at the last minute. Betty White, the Fremetian spokesperson and one of two hosts of the contest, along with Friedrich Liechtenstein, trended on Elthic Twitter and was showered with praises, with many wishing her a long and happy life.
The Elthic entry also got seven points from Ineland, Spain and the United Kingdom, six points from Reitzmag, five points from Istkalen and Inquista, three points from Yosai and one point from Icholasen.
With "Le reste" by Clara Luciani, Ineland won for the first time, earning 96 points, including twelve from Elthize. Second place went to Istkalen's "Lent" from Autoheart, which got six points from Elthize. Icholasen took third place with "Coffee" by Supersister. To their 76-point total, Elthize contributed seven points. One point behind, Yosai finished fourth and Nofoaga rounded out the top five. Fremet, the host country, ended ninth, tied with Brickston, while Reitzmag finished last, receiving points from only four countries.
Senator Kooben assembles new political party: Democrats for Elthize
The party comes a week after Kooben left TTO due to disagreements on foreign policy August 30, 2023
Yesterday, Senator Merrill Kooben held a political rally in Montgomery to announce his new political party, Democrats for Elthize. Around one thousand people were estimated to be in attendance. Senator Kooben left his former party due to disagreements on foreign policy and stated that the new party marks a new chapter in his political career. The party plans to participate in the next general elections, scheduled for April 2026.
Amidst loud applause, Kooben said, "This is where it all begins, and this is where it all begins now. The heart you see represents all of us - you, me, and everyone else without exception. Together, we will build a better Elthize!" The applause continued.
The party logo, which includes a heart shape, was also shown at the rally.
Kooben was a member of The Third Option party for 9 years but decided to leave due to discrepancies in foreign policy. Kooben believed that, instead of neutrality, Elthize should join the Telum Treaty. In a TV interview, he claimed that neutrality would isolate Elthize from potential allies.
Kooben also clashed on how to handle crime in Elthize with his old party, once criticizing President Grimwald for "contributing to Elthic lawlessness". During the Montgomery rally, this was one of the points he had focused on. "I am the only politician in Elthize who guarantees, and wants to guarantee, that you will safely walk in all Elthic streets again," Kooben claimed. "All of them! One by one!"
It is expected that Kooben will be the chairman of the party, with no leadership elections in sight.
Senator Kooben to leave TTO following disapproval of Elthic neutrality
by Alfred Ingram - August 24, 2023
Kooben pictured during a visit to Europolis in 2020.Image credit
In an address to the Senate this morning, Senator Merrill Kooben declared his intention to resign from The Third Option, which would make him an independent senator. The decision comes after Councillor Rebel Kofi submitted a neutrality motion for Elthize, which is expected to pass in the European Council. In a statement given to the Elthic Senate, Kooben expressed regret in his decision, yet called it "nevertheless, a step in the right direction".
"In the last five years, the ideological differences between my former political party and me have become irreconcilable," Kooben stated in his address. "While I have tried all solutions to find common ground, it has become obvious that trying any further will result in a betrayal of what I believe in and a betrayal against the people who have elected me. Therefore, I am no longer associated with The Third Option."
Kooben had openly criticized President Greenwich Grimwald for not combatting crime and "contributing to Elthic lawlessness". He also stated that Kofi's submitted neutrality motion was "intolerable". The senator instead advocated for Elthize to join the Telum Treaty, which he argued would improve relations with Spain.
After Kooben's resignation, the current ruling coalition (The Third Option, New Democracy and The Nationals) still holds the majority with 51 seats in the Senate. However, there are rumours that Kooben will start his own political party. When asked about this, Kooben said, "We have good plans in store and you will hear of them soon."
Kooben was elected as a senator in 2004 under New Democracy, where he was reelected in 2008 and 2012. However, following the rise of The Third Option and Grimwald, he left the party to join TTO in 2014. Kooben was reelected again in 2018 and 2022. Before his time as a senator, Kooben had graduated from the University of the Commonwealth in Tullion, Leagio, achieving a master's degree in economics.
