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Elthize narrowly misses a top five finish at EuroVoice 46

Red Croatia wins the Christmas themed contest in the city of Málaga
December 30, 2024

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After months of waiting, the forty-sixth edition of EuroVoice has finally came to a close, with Red Croatia adding another win thanks to Lepa Brena and her song "Boliš i ne prolaziš" ("You hurt me and you're not going away"). he results show was rather intense, with around five countries, including Elthize, coming close to victory, with the winner unknown until the last moment.

During the results, it became clear that what mattered was consistency. Despite not receiving twelve points from any country, Red Croatia took the victory by receiving eight points or more from five countries, those were Inquista, California, the Mishar Republic, Fremet, and Istkalen, as well as the guest region of Portugal. Lepa Brena received seventy-four points in total.

Other entries, meanwhile, were more polarizing. The Istkalenic entry, "Ever Burn", performed by the Choir of the Arian Apostolic Church, highly controversial due to the extreme views held by the church and the disapproval of the Istkalenic Broadcasters Union, placed second with sixty-seven points, receiving the highest score from three countries- Inquista, the Mishar Republic, and Icholasen (performing under the Nicoleizian Joint EuroVoice Team), as well as the region of Portugal. Outside of an additional ten points from Red Croatia, however, the entry was bombed by other countries, receiving two points or less from six countries, including Elthize, which gave it one point.

The top five was completed with the region of Portugal and Fremet, both receiving sixty-five points. While the latter, Fremet, and their performance "Når himmelen faller ned" ("When the sky is falling down"), performed by Anne Grete Preus, received ten points from Elthize, as well as Reitzmag and the guest region of Conch Kingdom, a surprise twelve points from California was enough to give Portugal the edge, thus placing them third, and Fremet fourth.

Spain, the country which stepped in with hosting after months of no response from Ineland, the country who had won the previous EuroVoice, received fifth place with their song "Todo Es Posible En Navidad" ("Everything Is Possible In Christmas"), performed by David Bisbal. It received eight points from Fremet and the region of Conch Kingdom, as well as ten points from the United Duchies.

Elthize, who finished in sixth place with their song "Merry Christmas, Please Don't Call", performed by the band Bleachers, struggled heavily in the results show at first, receiving no points from California and the Mishar Republic, as well as the region of Portugal. The band quickly picked up the pace, however, following eight points from Reitzmag, ten points from Spain and Istkalen, and twelve points from Fremet and the United Duchies.

However, the comeback was not meant to be. After receiving only three points from the region of the Conch Kingdom, all hopes and dreams were shattered after Elthize received no points from Icholasen, who instead gave its douze-points to Istkalen. Elthize received sixty-three points in total, and fell out of top five for the first time since the forty-second edition of EuroVoice, missing it by one point.

Elthize, meanwhile, gave its twelve points to Reitzmag, who sent boygenius and Ye Vagabonds, performing "The Parting Glass". While the song also received twelve points from the region of Conch Kingdom, it also received no points from four countries: Inquista, Red Croatia, the Mishar Republic, and Istkalen, resulting in a disappointing eleventh place finish with fifty points.

The next edition of EuroVoice will be held in Red Croatia, with Rechroatian representatives stating that the next edition of EuroVoice will be held sometime in February 2025.

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Controversy grows over Istkalen's EuroVoice entry

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Reszelport Jezebel-Swift, the leader of the Arian Church of Reszelport Jezebel-Swift. She will deliver Istkalen's votes for EuroVoice 46.

Istkalen's latest entry to EuroVoice, titled "Ever Burn", has garnered substantial controversy for its fiery and provocative lyrics.

The song, performed by the Choir of the Arian Apostolic Church, includes lyrics such as “Stop praying, stop praying, God will not hear you anymore […] Go devil spawn, you just keep pushin’ on to the hell where you will forever burn.”

Vic Tenson, the president of the National Elthic Television (NET), expressed outrage on social media, stating, “I’m not sure what that song is about, but that’s not true Christianity. That’s a cult masquerading as such. The sensible action would be to disqualify them and their provocative performance immediately.”

When asked if Elthize would withdraw in protest, Tenson rejected the idea, stating that "EuroVoice is an important contest. We cannot let a single country ruin our participation."

Declared a terrorist organization by the United Duchies and Istkalen in February 2022, the Arian Church has a long and controversial history within the country of Istkalen.

"The Istkalenic Broadcasters' Union disavows the Istkalenic act in EV46," says a representative of the Istkalenic Broadcasters Union, upon request for comment by BBC Elthize.

"We would not have willingly chosen to make such a group and such a song, so antithetical to the republican values of our country, our representatives on the international stage; our hand was forced by deteriorating political conditions which have given extraordinary power over the organs of state to Reszelport Jezebel-Swift and the fundamentalist cult that has formed around her figure."

When asked for comment from EUBC (European Union Broadcasters Committee) a representative from EUBC stated that the song did not break any rules: "The EUBC would like to say that EuroVoice is a contest open to everyone and that it is not new to the contest to have lyrics speaking as explicitely about sex as the song from Istkalen does".

The representative further added that certain tweaks would be done to the Istkalenic performance to ensure it breaks no rules: "The EUBC has seen and listened to all entries and the maximum propaganda that they have found is a message saying “Jesus is Lord” at the beginning of the submitted performance. However, that part cannot be displayed during the show."

RTVE (Radiotelevisión Española), the organizers of the 46th edition of EuroVoice, declined to comment, stating that they had no involvement in the matter.

Elthize is set to participate in the fourty-sixth version of EuroVoice, which will be held in the Spanish city of Málaga, with the song "Merry Christmas, Please Don't Call" by the band Bleachers.

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December 11, 2024 - 7:00 PM

Christmas and New Years Eve holidays to be merged to a week-long holiday in nine provinces

The holidays will last continuously from December 25 to January 1

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Welcome back to Evening News at LNN! I am William Berwick, and we are returning from our break. As the holiday season approaches, provincial governments across Elthize have agreed on something, for once. They have decided to merge Christmas and New Year’s into a singular, week-long public holiday, commencing on December 25th and concluding on January 1st.

With the exception of Liamville and Montgomery, all provinces will observe this week-long holiday. However, there may be variations in the specific arrangements made by each province. For instance, St. Lucas will implement extensive store closures during the holiday period, while essential services such as supermarkets and pharmacies will remain operational, albeit with reduced hours.

Martha Krystoff, Governor of St. Lucas, has also announced an extension of the holiday to January 2nd this year, thereby accommodating the final day of Hanukkah and welcoming the significant Jewish population within the province.

Forecoaster has adopted a more flexible approach, granting businesses the decision to determine their own operating hours during the holiday week. Port Nelson has also implemented a similar model, as well. Ackerson, meanwhile, has implemented the strictest policies, with all establishments remaining closed for the initial three days of the holiday. So if you live there, we advise you to exercise caution and avoid engaging in potentially hazardous activities during this period.

Now, let us discuss the school closures. In St. Lucas, Port Nelson, Brownell, Marchand, and Ackerson, all schools will be closed for the entire week. In Forecoaster and Southern Counties, they will close only on Christmas, New Year's Eve, and New Year's Day. For the rest of the provinces, the schools will remain open. Sorry, kiddos!

Oh, and also, the week-long break coincides with the 46th edition of the EuroVoice Song Contest this year. Finally! We have been eagerly awaiting the return of the EuroVoice Song Contest after a nine-month hiatus. Spain has graciously agreed to host the contest in the sunny city of Málaga, following the withdrawal of the previous host, Ineland.

Our friends at NET have selected Bleachers to represent our nation with their song, “Merry Christmas, Please Don’t Call". It's rather... melancholic for a Christmas song, but I guess that's what makes it special. Definitely an unique twist on how Christmas songs usually sound like. We'll see if it gives us our first win!

That’s all for now. From all of us here at LNN, I’m William Berwick wishing you a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and a joyous New Year. Stay safe, and have a wonderful holiday season!

Nation name & flag: Elthize
Artist: Bleachers
Song: Merry Christmas, Please Don't Call
Vote deliverer with their image linked: Elodie Giulietta

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Elthize introduces border controls with Leagio

Regular border checks are introduced for the first time since 1982
November 27, 2024

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In a press conference, Joanne Bird, Minister of Foreign Affairs, announced that further security and regular border checks would commence at the Elthize-Leagio border, making it the most strict it has been since at least 1982, when border controls were substantially relaxed following a summit between Elthic President Alika Mbanefo and Leagioan President Atticus Frank.

Bird, who insisted the decision was not made lightly, stated the measures were implemented to reduce crime and catch criminals more easily. “Criminals often escape to Leagio and our area of jurisdiction,” Bird claimed. “These measures will end this situation.” Bird emphasized that no single event prompted the change but pointed to “concerning trends” the government had been monitoring. She did not elaborate further, drawing some skepticism from observers.

Bird, who is also a member of the Congress for Social Democracy, also ensured that these new measures will not affect trade between Elthize and Leagio, nor will it stop travelling between the two nations. "Note that the border measures we are applying are seen in force all around the European Union, and are nothing extraordinary."

The free border agreement between Elthize and Leagio were a byproduct of the November 1982 summit between the two countries, at the city of Tullion. The agreement effectively eliminated all border controls and allowed free travel between the two countries. However, public criticism of the agreement has grown over the years, with some arguing it contributes to unregulated movement and criminal activity. These concerns have been amplified by political and social groups calling for stricter border policies.

The government’s recent push for stricter borders surprised some, given President Melissa Chai’s historically left-leaning, progressive stance. In a 2018 interview with Radio St. Lucas, as a mayor, she advocated for “free borders” and unrestricted travel, trade, and immigration.

Bird defended the move as legal, citing provisions in the 1982 agreement that allow either party to unilaterally suspend or modify the terms under various concerns such as national security. However, the duration of these measures, as well as the potential strain that they will put on the relations between the two nations, remains unclear.

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President Chai calls for United Duchies inclusion in EMUzone

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The United Duchies had submitted their bid to join the Finisterre Treaty in August 2021.

President Melissa Chai has called for the Bank of Europe to approve the United Duchies’ bid to join the Treaty of Finisterre, which would expand the EMUzone to include one of EU’s largest economies.

During an interview with Radio and Television of the City of Forecoaster (RTCF), Chai emphasized the economic and political benefits of expanding the use of the European Monetary Unit (EMU), urging the Bank of Europe to move forward with the application from the United Duchies.

When asked about Elthize's transition from the florin to the European Monetary Unit (EMU), Chai admitted that she was initially opposed to the change, but now considers the issue "settled." She said, “I support us having our own independent monetary policy... However, there’s no reason to switch currencies over and over again. We use the EMU now, and it seems to be working great for a lot of Elthics.”

Chai went on to express her support for further expansion of the EMUzone: “I think we should take every opportunity to expand the availability of EMU. It is meant to be a common currency, after all. The United Duchies, for example, applied to join years ago, but the Bank of Europe hasn’t responded yet. I think it’s a missed opportunity. They are one of the largest economies in the European Union, and their inclusion would bring more legitimacy. I don’t know what’s taking [the Bank of Europe] so long, honestly.”

Currently, the EMUzone includes Spain, Inquista, Icholasen, Vayinaod, Fremet, Leagio, Montenbourg, and Elthize. Elthize is the only country that joined after the treaty was signed in 2020, becoming a member in January 2024.

United Duchies had applied to join the treaty in August 2021.

In their application, Prime Minister John Peter Key stated: "As major trade partners of both Spain and Inquista, we feel this is in the interests of both the Finisterre Treaty and the United Duchies by reducing barriers and increasing market stability by removing conversion issues."

However, there has not been a response to this application since. When asked by the BBC, the Bank of Europe declined to comment.

It is assumed that the United Duchies are kept out of the treaty largely due to their strained diplomatic relationship with Spain, the treaty’s architect and host of the 2020 summit where the treaty was signed. These circumstances has fueled speculation that the Duchies have effectively been blacklisted from the treaty.

"Spain sees the United Duchies as its main rival, alongside Reitzmag, of course," claims Greg Hensley, an economist based in Brownell. "Both countries have varying political agendas and views on how the EU should function and has clashed numerous times in the past. It is not hard to see why Spain would use the EMU as a leverage in foreign affairs."

Victor Langford, another economist from the University of Montgomery, meanwhile, disagrees, believing that there are serious concerns about whether the Duchies would follow the principles of the Treaty of Finisterre.

"Implying that Spain acts maliciously with the EMU is downright a conspiracy theory. The United Duchies doesn’t have the same stability as countries like Spain, Inquista, or even Elthize," Langford explains. "The EMUzone is more than just about economic ties; it's also about trust and working together. If a country is constantly in conflict with other members, it could weaken the entire system."

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Lee eats dust as Moreland receives more than 80% of the vote

A red sweep commenced in the second round of the councillor election
November 8, 2024

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Wilko Moreland has earned a decisive victory against Bernard Lee in the second round of councillor elections, securing a resounding 80.16% of the vote, while Lee trailed behind with just 19.84%. Moreland won in every single province, including the Harmony stronghold of Montgomery.

The results follow an unexpected outcome in the first round of the elections, where Lee, who was the candidate of the Harmony party, outperformed expectations, narrowly placing second. He surpassed Michelle Cavalier, who was endorsed by three different centre-right parties, including the Progressive Conservative Party, and gained a spot on the second round of the election, which commenced today as neither him or Moreland received more than 40% of the vote.

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Candidate	Political party	Amount of votes	Percentage (%)
Wilko Moreland	Congress for Social Democracy, Green Party of Elthize	847,564	80.16%
Bernard Lee	Harmony	209,776	19.84%

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In response to Lee's shock success, Moreland called on all political parties and politicians to rally against Lee and endorse him instead, which was well-received as major parties and alliances, including the Progressive Congressive Party, Moderates and the UnitedLeft alliance, all either endorsed or supported Moreland. In an even more unexpected move, President Melissa Chai commented on councillor elections, which marked the first time a president ever commented on such elections. While Chai stopped short of directly endorsing Moreland, she told Elthics to "vote carefully".

Turnout increased significantly from the 22.7% seen in the first round to 30.42% in the second, but it still fell short of the 52.2% turnout recorded in the 2023 councillor election. Many analysts believe that the relative inactivity in Europolis and disillusionment with EU institutions contributed to the lower turnout. Local political analyst Juno Harriman commented, “Elthics still do not know how much influence Europolis has on their day-to-day lives, and many question the need for involvement in European politics at all. Lee’s campaign likely mobilized anti-Harmony voters, but interest in Europolis overall has taken a hit.”

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Map of the 2024 councillor elections (second round). Red = Moreland, Purple = Lee.

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Following his victory, Moreland thanked his supporters in Forecoaster, saying, “Tonight, Elthize has chosen a path of unity and progress. I’m honoured to have your trust and look forward to representing this country in Europolis.” While conceding defeat, Lee declared that "the fight is not over": "They are scared of us. You can see it in their faces. You can see it in how they backed up the socialist candidate immediately after we succeeded. Rest assured we will be breathing down on their necks!"

Moreland is expected to travel to Europolis and assume his office within the coming days.

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Moreland and Lee advance to the second round of councillor elections

The results come as a shock victory for the far-right Harmony party
November 1, 2024

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In a shocking twist, Bernard Lee, the councillor candidate for the far-right Harmony Party, has placed second in the councillor election. Lee, who has run on a campaign of abolishing the 2017 Capital and Unusual Punishment Act, received 21.92% of the vote, surpassing centre-right candidate Michelle Cavalier by just 770 votes. He won in Montgomery, claimed Northern Counties and the Midlands, and made unexpected gains in Forecoaster and Port Nelson.

In first place was Wilko Moreland, the candidate for the Congress for Social Democracy and the Green Party of Elthize, with 22.03% of the votes, just 855 votes ahead of Lee. After the results were announced, Moreland addressed supporters, urging all parties in Elthize to “stand against the threat of far-right politics.” Moreland dominated in the left-wing strongholds of St. Lucas, Marchand, and Brownell, as well as succeeding in Ackerson, Elthize’s northernmost province.

With no candidate reaching the 40% needed to secure a victory, Elthize will hold a second round of voting, with Moreland and Lee on the ballot.

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Candidate	Political party	Amount of votes	Percentage (%)	Status
Wilko Moreland	Congress for Social Democracy, Green Party of Elthize	173,814	22.03%	Advanced to second round
Bernard Lee	Harmony	172,959	21.92%	Advanced to second round
Michelle Cavalier	Progressive Conservative Party, Democrats for Elthize, Business Party	172,189	21.82%	Eliminated
Damon Albert	Moderates	145,762	18.46%	Eliminated
Pamela Akamatsu	Democratic Socialists for Elthize, Communist Party of Elthize	114,521	14.52%	Eliminated
Aminata Ejiro-Tolbree	Elfiz Party	88,653	11.22%	Eliminated
Love Nygaard	Independent	53,019	6.71%	Eliminated

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Michelle Cavalier, supported by the Progressive Conservative Party, Business Party, and Democrats for Elthize, expressed her disappointment on LNN, saying she found the result “heartbreaking.” She added, “Well, it’s hard not to get emotional when it's this close.” as she learned she’d miss the chance to represent Elthize in Europolis. Regardless, she received the most votes in Forecoaster.

With three of the seven approved candidates endorsed by UnitedLeft parties, rumors sparked about divisions within the alliance. Pamela Akamatsu, candidate for the Democratic Socialists of Elthize and the Communist Party of Elthize, took fifth place with 14.52%. She explained that UnitedLeft parties “peacefully agreed” to field separate candidates.

On social media, Akamatsu, who is of partial Yosainese descent, claimed that bigotry has affected her campaign. “It’s a knife when a good chunk of the country you’ve lived your whole life doesn’t consider you ‘Elthic enough’ to be its European councillor,” she posted on social media. Despite her fifth-place finish, the combined support for DSE and CPE came close to UnitedLeft’s share from the general election earlier this year (14.52% vs 16.31% respectively). The last candidate of an UnitedLeft party, Aminata Ejiro-Tolbree, who represented the Elfiz Party, won 11.22% of the vote and carried the Southern Counties.

Damon Albert, the interim councillor and candidate for the Moderates, placed fourth with 18.46% of the vote, winning Liamville and Port Nelson. Following the results announcement, he immediately endorsed Moreland. Meanwhile, Love Nygaard, a popular TV personality and the only independent candidate to gather enough support to be on the ballot, finished last with 6.71%.

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Map of the 2024 councillor elections (first round). Red = Moreland, Purple = Lee, Blue = Cavalier, Orange = Albert, Dark Red = Akamatsu, Gray = Ejiro-Tolbree. Nygaard did not win any province or district.

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There was a significant drop in turnout compared to 2023 councillor elections, with only 22.7% of the available voters voting in this election, compared to 52.2% last year. The drop in turnout is attributed to the relative inactivity in the city of Europolis and the European Council. "There is no point in electing someone to an institution that has effectively stood still in the past twelve months. Congratulations to our future paycheck stealer," said Frances Irving, a former journalist for The Tribunal.

The second round of the councillor elections will take place on November 8th. The elected councillor is expected to hold his position until July 4, 2027, the latest date when the next general election can be held.

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"BRING BACK ORDER": BERNARD LEE LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN, PROMISES TO BRING BACK DEATH PENALTY

by Janice Kyou - October 18, 2024

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As the councillor candidate for Harmony, Lee promises to bring a repeal motion for the 2017 Capital and Unusual Punishment Act. Image credit

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Lorraine Devi, leader of the Harmony Party, has announced Bernard Lee as their candidate for Elthize’s upcoming election for its seat on the European Council. Lee, a former leader of the For The People (FTP) party, launched his campaign with a bold promise: to repeal the Capital and Unusual Punishment Act and making way for Elthize to reinstate the death penalty, which was abolished in 1972.

“Our streets have become warzones while the leftist government does nothing,” Lee declared at a rally in Forecoaster, where his candidacy was announced. “Our justice system has been weakened. We need to take control back, repeal the misguided Capital Punishment Act, and bring back real punishments, including the death penalty.”

The Capital and Unusual Punishment Act, passed by the European Council in 2017, mandates the abolition of capital punishment and prohibits member states from imposing death sentences or engaging in "unusual punishment," defined as degrading or intentionally painful treatment. This act overrides national laws, meaning that any country joining the European Union, as Elthize did in 2022, must comply with its content.

Lee also took aim at Europolis, the capital of the European Union where the European Council is located. “Europolis is dead,” he said bluntly. “They don’t understand the reality we face here in Elthize. Our people are paying the price for their decisions. If Europolis won’t act, then Elthize must. Progressive judges won't save us.”

In response, Wilko Moreland, the joint councillor candidate for the Congress for Social Democracy and the Green Party of Elthize, criticized Lee's remarks on social media: “This is ridiculous fearmongering. Crime in Elthize has been on a downward trend since we joined the European Union. Additionally, the CSD-UNL government has made significant investments in crime prevention programs since it took office, more than twenty years of right-wing governance since Archie Franklin. Bernard Lee should be ashamed of himself—if he has any dignity left, which I doubt.”

Moreland also commented on Lee’s push for the death penalty: “The death penalty doesn’t work. It’s a relic of the past. Our ancestors, after witnessing the horrors of occupation, rightly abolished this murderous practice. We need a justice system that’s fair and humane, not a return to genocidal punishments.”

Wirt Harland, leader of the Progressive Conservative Party, warned about the potential consequences of reinstating the death penalty during a community meeting in Montgomery. “It is clear that capital punishment is unacceptable in the European Union. If Elthize tries to bring it back, we’ll face serious consequences and international stigma. This plan would isolate us from our neighbors and allies. It's not acceptable.”

It is unknown how the reintroduction of the death penalty would proceed, assuming the unlikely repeal of the Capital and Unusual Punishment Act. Currently, only Harmony supports the idea of bringing back death penalty, with all other political parties in Elthize with parliamentary presence rejecting the proposal. Additionally, bringing back the death penalty appears to have limited support among the public: according to a June 2024 poll by the Technical University of Forecoaster, only 28% of respondents agreed with the statement, “The death penalty would be an effective solution to Elthize’s crime problem.” In contrast, 41% disagreed, while the rest were undecided or did not answer.

A second round will be held on November 8th, if necessary.

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Why the true population of Elthize is impossible to find

Freddie Bonnay - October 1, 2024

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

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

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

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The estimates

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

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

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

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Attempted changes

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Is there hope?

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

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

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

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

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

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"WE ARE ON THE BRINK OF ANOTHER TRAGEDY", PRESIDENT CHAI CLAIMS

by Alfred Ingham - August 19, 2024

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President Chai did not mince her words during the parliamentary discussion on gun control. Image credit

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President Melissa Chai's opponents did not hesitate to question her proposed gun control plans at this morning's meeting in the Parliament. The plans include a "buy-back program", meaning the government will compensate its citizens for destroying or delivering their firearms back to the government, as well as stronger checks while buying firearms, and banning certain weapons from civilian use.

"These laws are an essential part of solving the crime and safety problem in this country," President Chai declared. "Every month, every week, we wake up to the news that more lives have been taken away by people with heavy rifles that they have no business holding. Every day, we are on the brink of another tragedy. And it is cruel that we are desensitised to this. Murders should not be a common part of Elthic life."

While there are no official statistics, Elthize is predicted to be one of the countries with the highest gun ownership in the European Union, with civilian gun ownership having a history dating back to the start of The State of Elthize and accelerating following the Yosainese occupation. In the last decade, guns have become one of the most controversial topics in Elthize, with an increasing amount of people calling for regulations to be put in place.

Currently, there is no restriction on firearms coming from the national government in Forecoaster, leaving the responsibility to the provinces, which are quite divided on the issue. Provinces such as St. Lucas and Forecoaster have already placed strict restrictions on firearms, while others, notably Montgomery and Southern Counties, have not.

Because of the divided laws, weapon smuggling between provinces has become commonplace. Three years ago, Martha Krystoff, Governor of St. Lucas, had directly blamed Montgomery's relaxed laws for the gun violence in St. Lucas. "Somehow, we are not on the same page together when it comes to preventing gun violence. We can do our best whenever we can, but when the neighbour next door ships the guns used to kill your people, there's not much you can do," she said during an interview with local media.

Freddie Abbey, leader of the Moderates and an MP for St. Lucas, said that she would support the measures, but demanded clarification on whether the right to self-defence would be protected. This statement was endorsed by Wirt Harland, leader of the Progressive Conservative Party, as well as Merrill Kooben and Liam Zachary, leaders of Democrats for Elthize and Business Party respectively.

Zachary, who is also an MP for Forecoaster, also opposed the buy-back program, instead demanding a general amnesty for all gun owners and not seizing the weapons unless they are involved in crime.

Elfiz Party, which was a part of the UnitedLeft coalition, expressed caution about the new laws. Meti Adebayo, the leader of the party, warned that the policies could be used to disproportionately police the Elfiz, bringing further clashes between the indigenous populace and law enforcement. Meanwhile, in a joint statement with Hunter Vance, Governor of Montgomery, Lorraine Devi, leader of the Harmony party, opposed the plans, claiming that Chai is "incapable of reducing crime without intervening in personal freedoms".

The bills are still being debated in the parliament, with various amendments on the way. Due to the heavy discussion around the issue, they are not expected to become law this year.

On behalf of The State of Elthize, I vote as follows:

For the nuclear seat of the ENAA

• President Alberto Núñez Feijóo of the Kingdom of Spain

For the non-nuclear seat of the ENAA

• Prime Minister Elizabeth Íkrat of the Republic of Istkalen

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Devon Albert
Interim Councillor for The State of Elthize

I vote AGAINST this act.

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Devon Albert
Interim Councillor for The State of Elthize

I vote AGAINST this act.

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Devon Albert
Interim Councillor for The State of Elthize

I do not support this amendment, not because I am against the intent behind it, but because I don't think this is the act we should be amending regarding this issue, particularly when we have the European Neurodivergent and Disability Rights Act of 2020, as mentioned by Councillor Roscoe himself, strangely enough.

The term "conversion therapy" refers to a specific type of therapy which specifically focuses on changing one's sexual orientation or gender identity, not neurodivergence. If there is a loophole of any sort that allows any harmful practices for neurodivergent children under the guise of therapy, it is that act which should be examined and amended as such, not this one.

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Devon Albert
Interim Councillor for The State of Elthize

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Image credit

I vote AGAINST all amendments.

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Devon Albert
Interim Councillor for The State of Elthize