CAMPAIGN LAUNCH

Republic Square
Trondheim, Fremet

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Angela Merkel approached the podium before a large crowd in Republic Square at the base of the Fremetia Tower, with the Anthem of Europe playing in the background.

People of Europa:

This is an important inflection point in the history of our Union. Just as these past elections here in Fremet will surely have groundbreaking consequences for years to come, these Commission elections come at a great time of change for the European Union and its memberstates. We have observed the renewed rise of communism. We have observed coups, overt political instability, and a general ineffectiveness of our institutions to address the crises we face. In times of great change, many will call for reactionary policies, pushing us back into our sandboxed nationstates or towards some sort of federal union— neither of which is a solution to the immense challenges facing us all. We must maintain a steady course and not stray down the garden path. And with that, I formally announce my campaign for Premier Commissioner of the European Union.

As a long-standing politician, I know how to remain focused to achieve sensible goals. It is my firm belief that one of the EPA's strongest tenets is its ability to develop policies with broad appeal, palpable to even the most remote of memberstates. We must take this great asset and use it to further the cause of this Union and pursue policy agendas that serve not the personal interests of memberstates and their politicians— or those that fail to serve some memberstates at all. Our immense diversity must be transformed into a true resource, not some liability or obstacle to reform.

We stand here today before one of this country's greatest symbols. A beacon of liberty and freedom that calls the free people of Europe to these shores.

We have seen first hand the consequences of not extending the freedoms enjoyed by the citizens of Europe to all. As such, I will seek to expand the UDoHR to include non-EU citizens. Every human being deserves for their natural rights to be protected, and nationality should have no bearing on what protections are afforded to them.

I will seek to establish a standardised maritime law, including the codification and standardisation of transiting tariffs and tolls. By establishing a set framework for nations and other entities to follow, we can better enforce national laws and create a more clear permitting system allowing for low-friction trade between memberstates. A codified set of maritime law will increase the efficiency of the European bureaucracy and the organisational efficiency of individual memberstates as a standard set of practices would be much more steady waters to navigate than the current jumbled mess of overlapping (and often contradictory) national laws.

In lieu of a broad transportation and education plan, I will instead seek to establish a special development fund. By giving memberstates access to a stable source of low-interest loans, the European Central Bank will be able to shore up budgets in times of need without offering outright subsidies.

Though I may not have a degree in pedagogy, I can say with upmost certainty that it is not the place of the European Council to implement a standardised curriculum across the continent. Doing so would require the reformation of the education infrastructure of dozens of countries and likely lead to years of lost productivity and incalculable losses involved in the loss of a coherent and quality education. All Europeans have the right to an adequate education, but the Union is ill-equipped to handle such a massive— and unnecessary— undertaking. Concerns over education in individual memberstates should be addressed at that level. It is unreasonable to expect that a shared curriculum can be implemented in such a culturally and systematically diverse continent.

I will seek to streamline the operations of the European Union and avoid extraneous programmes that would detract from our central goal:

We, the sovereign nations of the European Union, in order to forge more cohesive bonds between our peoples, to safeguard peace and improve diplomatic relations, to advance achievements of humanity, to promote democracy and good governance, to flourish in economic prosperity, to guarantee liberty and equality, forever united in diversity

There is no mention of 5G, sweeping education reform, or an overly complicated transportation infrastructure that would only serve to divide us on the minutia. The European Union is a powerful tool that must be used not as a broad, blunt instrument, but as the vehicle by which nations come together in the name of cooperation. By establishing this climate of mutual understanding, general peace, and accountability for actions taken, we establish the means for like-minded nations to go beyond that cooperative framework established in the European Union. The viability of broad, pan-regional programmes is certainly a tough nut to crack, but agreements individually tailored for memberstates that compliment existing lines of cooperation in the broader Union serve to create prosperous ties between memberstates. Integration cannot be rushed, or we risk losing the immense progress that we have made thus far.

It was in this great square that the liberation of Fremet from communist occupation was declared. Our revolution was successful. The success of this great project is yet to be determined. Let us continue to carry the shining light of Europe into the future. Thank you.

Merkel steps down from the podium, the Anthem of Europe playing in reprise

Hello and welcome to the 42nd edition of EuroVoice! The EUBC and the Fremetianskallmennkringkastingskommisjonen are proud to welcome you to Trondheim, capital of Fremet and gateway to the Atlantic. As this Fremet's first hosting ever, we've decided to center it here, at Trondheim Hall. Don't let the ornate structure fool you, this venue stretches deep underground to accommodate patrons from all over Europe.

And now, allow me to introduce your hosts: BETTY WHITE and FRIEDRICH LIECHTENSTEIN!

BW: Hello my pretties and welcome to Trondheim! Sorry about the wait and all— it seems the Fremetianskallmennkringkastingskommisjoner (say that three times) had a minor (extreme) kerfuffle (mental breakdown). He's on vacation (in a mental hospital). Which is good because that means I can say FUCK on stage without getting fined.

Now, you may have noticed that remarkably undressed individual to my right. Freddy I swear to the gods introduce yourself and put some clothes on, or I'm sending you back to the hovel you came from.

FL: I went to a Roscoe's before coming here. I have to get the stench of late-stage capitalism off of me. Now, everyone: Betty and I are happy to be with you this evening. Now come, take a bath, have a glass of wine, put your comfy clothes on, and ride with us as we let the nations of Europe rock your world.

BW: Some of you may be wondering: Is there a theme? Honey, there's no theme. Do you really think that after a YEAR of dragging our heels there would be a theme? NO! Of course not! The theme is that this is happening at all. Now shut up and submit your entries so I can judge you in silence— and Europe can judge you on international television!

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**Full Nation Name:**
**Artist:**
**Song:**
**Link to YouTube:**
**Vote deliverer with their image linked:**

The entry deadline is 14 May 2022 at 23.59 GMT.

My fellow Europeans,

What is happening in Eastern Haane this very moment is completely unprecedented in this Union's history. Never before have we seen such a total collapse of a society that the very fabric of a population's reality is threatened. I call upon the great powers of Europe to act. A council resolution would only be idealistic in nature. It is time that the nations of Europe rise to challenge this complete and total breakdown of society. Millions of lives are at stake.

To those in Eastern Haane: If you are listening, this hell you are living is but a lie. The absolute horrors that you have seen are the creations of man, not by some supernatural being. And it is man that can right this wrong. You must fight against your animalistic instincts and see the destruction that you are bringing to yourselves.

It is our suffering that brings us together. It is not love. Love does not obey the mind, and turns to hate when forced. The bond that binds us is beyond choice. We are brothers, sisters, and common people in common stride. We are common in what we share. In pain, which each of us must suffer alone, and, in this, in hunger, in poverty, in hope, we know our humanity. We know it, because we have had to learn and live it. We know that there is no help for us but from one another, that no hand will save us if we do not reach out our hand. And the hand that you reach out is empty, as mine is. You have nothing. You possess nothing. You own nothing. You are free. All you have is what you are, and what you give. So I ask you— I implore you: Reach out to one another. End this senseless violence. End this bloodshed. See that you have the power to destroy the hell that has been wrought across your land.

You have no law but the single principle of mutual aid between individuals. You have no government but the single principle of free association. You have no states, no nations, no presidents, no premiers, no chiefs, no generals, no bosses, no bankers, no landlords, no wages, no charity, no police, no soldiers, no wars. Nor do you have much else. You are sharers, not owners. You are not prosperous. None of you are rich. None of you are powerful. If it is Anarres you want, if it is the future you seek, then I tell you that you must come to it with empty hands. You must come to it alone, and naked, as the child comes into the world, into his future, without any past, without any property, wholly dependent on other people for their life. You cannot take what you have not given, and you must give yourself. You cannot buy the Revolution. You cannot make the Revolution. You can only be the Revolution. It is in your spirit, or it is nowhere. Carry the spirit of your great revolution, overthrow the hold of the death cults, the doubts, the corruption, the violence that has so captured your being. You alone have created hell, and you alone can eradicate it from this Earth.

ANGELA MERKEL
Premier Commissioner of the European Union

Michel had been filling out a crossword puzzle while the meshuggener had her way with the Council. He was familiar with this kind of crazed behaviour, having spent many hours negotiating with the Nicoleizians after the fall of the Dairy Curtain. As Bauer pulled a kitchen knife on the Council, his mind jumped back to a time when a certain Nicoleizian trade minister stabbed him with a fork, leaving a quite noticeable scar on Charles' hand. He never did tell the press why he had the embassy switch to plastic cutlery. He put down the Der Trondheimmer Crossword and spoke:

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"Well, if that was any indication of the nature of Josephine Areai's regime, this Council must act decisively to preserve what little semblance of democracy is left in Eastern Haane. We may not be able to end countless instances of bloodshed, violence, and instability in one resolution, but we cannot be frozen in inaction as one of our memberstates quite literally tears itself apart.

I'd also like to take a moment to applaud the security services for their prompt action in protecting the members of this body, though I do have one suggestion: maybe not let obviously deranged persons into the chamber with metallic cutlery next time?"

Charles Michel
Councillor for the Kingdom of Fremet

Thank you Ms DeVey and all those tuning in to this important event this evening.

We find ourselves in a crucial moment for the European Union. Change and instability have rattled the region over the last year, and in response we have seen calls for both immense change and regression.

We must not fall victim to the grandiose claims of what a highly integrated union can do, and we must remain wary of those that would wish to reverse the progress that we have made thus far. The European Union is a great institution, but as with all things, it has flaws. I stand for a better union. Some may call it incremental progress, but I call it feasible progress. We must create a Europe that does not serve the personal interests of politicians or memberstates. We must create a Europe free from corruption. We must create a Europe that will stand the test of time and not fall victim to the tumultuous winds of the national politic.

We have at our disposal a powerful vehicle to serve all Europeans, and it is our duty to do just that.

Thank you.

Weekly Bulletin

Tuesday - 9 February 2021 - TRONDHEIM

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VDL Endorsed Cocx Over the Weekend

As Commission Elections Near, LeBerre's Softening Lead Bends over For Hardened Cocx in Three-Way

TRONDHEIM— With Fremetians set to vote this weekend and lend their voice to the future of the European Commission, pollsters have been scouring the country to capture the sway of the populace. Over the course of the campaign period, Syndical candidate Francois Le Berre had been the frontrunner for Premier in Fremet following his rally in Rutte am Mainz. As the only Premier candidate to make the trip to Fremet this cycle, he captured an early lead and was able to achieve record name-recognition for an independent candidate.

However, thanks in part due to a recent endorsement from former Statsminister Ursula von der Leyen and rumors of at least partial endorsement of Cocx from current Premier Angela Merkel, Cocx has managed to surge ahead in the polls. With rumours of Erna Solberg gearing up for an endorsement of LeBerre, vote for premiership in Fremet is a dead heat as Cocx and LeBarre continue to butt heads on— and off— the debate stage.

The dichotomy between the candidates mirrors a small part of a larger political transformation here in Fremet. As the Kingdom continues its march left, how much longer can centrist candidates out of the EPA and Inimicus count on Fremet's vote? Euroscepticism has already captured the political sphere once again, with Duchies hyper-integration candidate Peter Leeson struggling to get out of the single digits, unable to secure even a passing endorsement from one of the seven.

Fremetians polls were almost unanimously more concerned with the Federal Referendum Saturday on the continued existence of the Monarchy. With the attention of Fremet set on domestic issues, LeBerre, with his "you decide" attitude has an excellent opportunity to garner large swathes of support from burgeoning leftists and Fremetians discontent with unilateralism and EU integration politics in Europolis.

In the other Commission races, Duxburian candidate Jon Mitchell has managed to hold onto a healthy lead over Ronald Reagan for Foreign Affairs Commissioner. Reitzmic candidate Edmund Winston, thanks in part to the toxicity of his past campaigns and his firm support for EU integration, remains far behind Münevver Birdane for Internal Affairs, though a sizeable amount of those polled cited "no preference" in this category.

All in all, the whispers of Euroscepticism seen throughout 2020 seem to have surfaced in Fremetian politics. When asked to comment, Erna Solberg answered, "It should surprise no one that Fremet is seeking to set its own path, especially in this moment of great uncertainty. This is a revival of tangible, common-sense policy and decision making in Fremetian politics— and I, and many Fremetians, are tired of trying to conform to norms that simply do not apply to us— and of cutting through mountains of bullshit to find a hollow core."

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Fremesker Bell Building, Trondheim

With Implementation of FUCC 2020 Act, F-Corps Among Largest Companies in Fremet— and Europe

TRONDHEIM— As restructuring of public utilities continues on schedule for the January 2022 deadline, a number of F-Corps have already rocketed to lofty heights on the lists of Europe's largest companies.

FG&E, Fremet's new electric utility, has announced plans to channel an additional ₣ 850 million from a combination of excess equipment sales and provincial grants into speeding modernisation and renewable energy projects initiated by the Merkel Administration in 2017.

Fremesker Bell, Fremet's newly-formed telecommunications utility, surpassed industrial titans FKEM and VW in December of 2020 to become the largest F-Corp in Fremet and became the largest corporate entity in the Kingdom after Trondheim-based FremetiaBank. FB's consumer division, FremetiaTelkom, reached a key milestone in January of 2021: total multi-gigabit fibre penetration throughout the island of Fremetia.

The 5-year program, established by the Oleman government in 2015 (and costing a hefty ₣ 8.2 billion a year) set out to build a highly resilient, low-latency fibre-to-the-home network throughout the entire country. Constriction in 2020, as part of the final phase of deployment, focused on proactively building out infrastructure in new developments and establishing a trust for the continued maintenance and expansion of the system. The program, largely criticised for its immense cost and 'excessive' redundancies, was one of the largest public works projects undertaken by the Fremetian government in the 21st century.

With continued transformation of the Fremetian economy, the Solberg administration faces a number of challenges as the Socialist Party seeks to hammer out a new future for Fremetians. In the private sector that remains, little regulation exists beyond environmental and safety guidelines, drawing criticism from centrists and leftists alike. And, in the fast-growing public sector, many systems (new and old) have yet to be proven as effective engines in the long term.

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A JetBlue A320 Undergoes Routing Deicing at Trondheim International Airport

JetBlue, Air Fremet Report 7% Uptick in Passenger Numbers in 2020

RHODENHEIM— The long-plateaued airline industry in Fremet reported its first significant passenger growth in 4 years as new travel allowances and visa wavers went into effect with popular tourist destinations. Longstanding travel restrictions with Gallorum and Vayinaod were suspended at the opening of Q2 2020, allowing for massive passenger increases to Fremet's largest trading partners.

Air Fremet, which prioritises more medium and long-haul routes, reported significant passenger growth on its routes to Inquista, Spain, and Mennrimiak as reductions in travel barriers began to pay off for the airline industry in Q3 of 2020.

Ferry use saw a sharp decline as ferry services to neighboring Icholasen were suspended. With Fremetians long preferring flying to the continent, many ferry operators turned to bulk or specialty shipping to and from the mainland. Tourists, instead of going to Icholasen, instead sought to take advantage of new travel allowances to Inquista, Gallorum, and Vayinaod.

With restrictions on the UNSR set to remain for the forseeable future, a noted uptick in domestic air travel (specifically between Trondheim and Rhodenheim), and increased economic activity with Southern Europe and states across the Atlantic, airlines are expecting to see another year of growth in 2021.

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Above, Left: The Staatsrat passed the Articles of Federalisation last January
Above, Right: King Gustaf III at his winter residence in Èze earlier this week

Article IV Referendum Set to begin Saturday, 13 February; Polls Inconclusive

TRONDHEIM— With the passage of the Articles of Federalisation on the 15th of January (last month), the Fremetian Statsrat designated the referendum date on the continued existence of the Fremetian monarchy as the same period Fremetians will go to the polls to vote for commission candidates. As national election days in Fremet are a 2 day process, the referendum will run from the 13th of February to the 14th of February 2021 (Gregorian Calendar).

As per usual, we have included the standard explainer for our international readers (with some adjustments):

The term Plukkedag (litterally "Picking Day") is used to describe both voting days. Both are national holidays, with countless shops and businesses closed or on limited hours. Plukkedag, for federal elections is always the first Monday and Tuesday of August every four years from 1936. However, certain allowances are made for cases such as these.

The Statsrat, as provisioned in Article IV of the Fremetian Constitution, the referendum for monarch must occur on a Saturday and Sunday within 30 days of passage of the Articles of Federalisation.

As always, while businesses may be open both days, it is illegal for anyone to work both days, unless they are in the armed services (they vote by mail). Starting at 09h00 FST, the Samlere (the "collectors") will begin making their rounds accross the country, up and down each and every residential street in Fremet, collecting ballots from every home where Fremetian citizens may live. At noon Fremetian Standard Time, the Samlere will have finished their routes, and the voter lists will be turned over to polling stations, the Valgurnene, to allow them to open at 12h30 FST.

Those persons who were either unable or unwilling to vote in the initial collection will then be able to vote at their local polling location, which is mandated to be no more than 1,5 km from their place of residence (exceptions are granted on a case by case basis, and the MoT must then provide adequate transportation on demand to the assigned polling location). The Valgurnene will remain open until 12h30 FST the following day. From 09h00 FST to 12h00 FST on Sunday , no non-essential business or service is permitted to be open. At the conclusion of the voting process, votes are counted and certified at each precinct. Votes have until Friday to be certified or the election risks being declared disrupted, necessitating a recount and possible redo of votes.

Early polling indicates strong support across the Kingdom for the abolition of the monarchy, which would trigger a new National Conclave and the appointment of an interim Chancellor. The High Council (the body that represents the ten provinces of Fremet) would be responsible for appointing the new interim head of state.

This referendum, held just four years into the reign of Gustaf III— and four years after the referendum that saw him accede the throne in 2016— is the third such referendum held in Fremetian history. With support across the spectrum in the Staatsrat— the Articles passed 290 - 97 —the dawn of a new republic may be imminent.

Upon the passage of the Articles of Federalisation, Erna Solberg issued a statement to the Staatsrat:
"The National Conclave of 1935 set out with the distinct idea of using the monarchy to unify a broken and battered nation with little institutions. Over the last century, we have rebuilt our island with concrete, ennumerated powers and institutions that have survived one crises after the next. The time of monarchy is over. We are not calling for revolution, but a peaceful end to an institution that has contributed so much to our island. Let us end this on a high note, with broad support, and the consent of His Majesty, so that we may truly live up to the egalitarian ideals upon which this nation was established and to which we ascribe."

Election Night Special: Part Three

Bundesnachrichtensender
Trondheim, Trøndelag
23h48 FST 4 August 2020

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KS: Good evening and welcome back to Decision 2020 here on SR1.

SR ELECTION THEME PLAYS

KS: The last precinct has finished reporting its count, and we have received official permission from the Federal Election Commission to release the official results of the count:

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KS: ERNA SOLBERG of the Sosialistpartiet will be Fremet’s next Statsminister in a landslide election victory. This is the first time since the 1940 Federal Elections that a party has secured a sole majority in the Staatsrat. As such, Ms Solberg will be unfettered by a coalition government, and Fremet will not be lead by a coalition for the first time in 70 years. This is truly a massive victory in this historic election.

Madeleine Hoffstad, here with us tonight, has followed the Socialist Party campaign closely. Ms Hoffstad, what’s behind this historic moment?

MH: Karl, this was a truly perfect coalescence of events that propelled Ms Solberg and the Socialist Party to victory.

Just look at the turnout— 92.36% of listed voters —Fremetian election turnout is always high, generally hovering in the mid 80s (85.6% in 2016), but a 92.36% turnout is record-breaking. We last saw a voter turnout break the 90% mark in the 1994 General Election, the first full cycle following the fall of the UNSR.

It wasn’t just turnout— the Socialists picked up an additional 17 constituency seats, taking them to a total of 34 constituency seats. In 14 of these constituencies, the Socialists secured the seat within the first preference of voting. The rest were all secured within the second and third preference. Compare that to the Liberal Democrats, wherein only 7 of their 32 constituency seats were secured within the first preference. This share remains a key indicator in the likely outcome of an election.

A number of external factors also contributed to the Socialist win. The ongoing crisis in Icholasen likely fueled turnout, as the nation literally almost went to nuclear war last week. Combine that with general instability on the continent and nations from elsewhere in the region deeply vesting themselves in the continually unfolding Icholasen Crisis, and Fremetians sought out a strong leader that would not only fight tirelessly for reform here at home, but one that would stand up for Fremet abroad. Many still feel that the Von der Leyen administration’s response to the crisis in Icholasen was delayed and a bit stunted. As Nicoleizian diplomats travelled the world garnering support for their illegitimate government, our diplomatic corps sat at home and did very little.

Perhaps Ms Von der Leyen’s biggest mistake was a push for the continuation of the “status quo”, which introduces quite an interesting phenomenon: Fremetians have become so accustomed to continued, steady reform that any suggestion of halting the seemingly-unstoppable train of progress seems ludicrous to many.

Both Ms Von der Leyen and Ms Oleman had strong foreign policy positions with broad appeal across Fremet, but Ms Solberg was the only candidate that managed to merge a tough foreign policy stance with a similarly strong domestic policy position. Ms Solberg was able to shape the Socialist Party platform to not only rally the left to her side, but also to capture the valuable (and numerous) centrist bloc in Fremet, contributing to major losses from the Liberal Democrats and the Venstre.

KS: Thank you for your insight Ms Hoffstad. We now go to Johannes Riis for a look into Høyre’s performance this cycle.

JR: Thank you Karl. Høyre remains in a very difficult position, and it comes as no surprise that they took some significant losses in this election cycle. We are seeing the real effects of Fremet’s shift to the left in Høyre’s continued shrinkage over the last four years. Voters continue to move from Høyre to the Liberal Democrats and from the Liberal Democrats to the Socialist Party at an ever-increasing rate.

While the Liberal Democrats did see a noticeable loss in seats, this pales in comparison to the continued fall of Høyre and the Venstre, both of which still paying the price for their 2012-2016 coalition. Despite all of this, Nikki Oleman ran a campaign that impressed many and mitigated a lot of the damage done to her party. Ms Oleman’s strong stance against Icholasen at the debate also served to bring in the scraps of the almost-dead Fortschrittspartei and many Fremetians who felt that those in power had not acted decisively to the coup there. It is extremely likely that, should Ms Oleman not have been at the helm of Høyre this cycle, Høyre’s losses could have been much more devastating.

Speaking of the Fortschrittspartei, they barely managed to hold on to their seat in Gårdsmark, winning in the third preference with a margin of only 324 votes over the 50% mark. The party’s base, mostly octogenarians, nonagenarians, and centenarian that never quite forgave Icholasen (and Europe) for the first occupation, continues to shrink as it struggles to find new members with policies that 78% of Fremetians labelled as ‘outdated’ in a 2019 poll taken by Der Trondheimer.

Both the and the Rødt failed to reach the 0.3% proportional vote margin to gain additional seats in the Staatsrat.

KS: Thank you Mr Riis. We go now to Trondheim, where Ms Solberg is about to deliver her victory address to the nation…

Camera Cuts to Erna Standing at a Podium

The Nordstrand
Trondheim, Trøndelag
23h58 FST 4 August 2020

Erna stepped inside from giving her victory speech outside. She looked around the room: her friends, family, and colleagues had all gathered in her home to watch tonight’s results.

“Thank you all— I couldn’t have done this without the help of each and every one of you. There is still work to be done, but first: who’s thirsty?

Erna pulled out an absolutely ridiculously massive 8 litre bottle of Gallois champagne, and after some minor difficulty, opened it and overfilled everyone’s glasses.

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The Nordstrand
Trondheim, Trøndelag
07h35 FST 10 August 2020

Erna was absolutely floored. She had spent the rest of the weekend pouring over the countless binders that filled the shelves of her home. Today was the first day of the rest of her life. She was to be the Statsminister of the Kingdom of Fremet. Even saying it out loud filled her with an unsettling mix of fear and excitement. Today’s agenda was long, but Erna was ready for it. She gave her beloved feline, Sir Cuddles, a snuggle before walking out the door.

As Erna got into her car, she realised that this may be the last time she actually drives herself somewhere for the next 4 years. As she weaved her way through Trondheim’s morning bustle, she jammed to some of her favourite tunes, including the Inimican EuroVoice hit “xn--Its Raining Men-5w9h.” As Erna neared the Staatsrat building, she noticed the crowds of people already packing into Republic Square to watch the inauguration.

She passed through the barricades that had been set up by the Statspoliti and went to park in one of the Staatsrat’s subterranean parking garages. As she pulled in, she noticed Jermias Corbychov in stepping out of his camper van. He was supposed to be getting a co-op flat in the south of the city, but maybe he enjoyed the camper life? He had always had a screw or two loose anyways, Erna thought to herself. She pulled into her assigned parking space and was greeted by 4 members of the Statspoliti, who promptly guided her to upstairs to the great hall of the Staatsrat, where countless aides, party officials, and civil servants rushed about, preparing for the upcoming session of the Staatsrat.

As she was making the final touches to her speech, Erik approached her. “Erna, we are all so very proud of you. You have managed to do what too many thought was impossible. You have proven that Fremet has a future, and you’ve given renewed hope to millions.”

“Thank you Erik. You and I both know it wasn’t just me. You, Michel, mother, Hans, Skei— even the interns —we did this together.”

“You are right. Is your speech ready?”

“As ready as it is going to be.” Erna said as she closed her coloured binder.

An aide approached them “Ms Solberg, it is time.”

Erik turned to her as Erna walked towards the door to the podium, “Seize the time, Erna. Live now. Make now always the most precious time. Now will never come again.”

CLOSURE OF JOINT BASE INQUISTA

In light of recent changes to Fremetian military operations and interests on the continent, the Forsvarsdepartement (at the direction of the High Council) has elected to close the Fremetian tri-service base in Inquista.

As Fremet's largest single overseas installation supporting thousands of servicemembers and their families in Fremet's air, army, and naval forces, the closure will be phased in over the course of the year.

The Fremetian Mediterranean Fleet, currently based out of JBI, will be merged with the 4th Fleet, based out of Rhodenheim. Fremetian naval activity in the Black Sea will be dialed back progressively as the base closure moves forward. The transfer of task force and fleet operations to the 4th Fleet will be effective 31 March 2022.

Air Force squadrons stationed at JBI will be transferred to operations facilities in Vayinaod. Transfer of operations will be completed on 30 April 2022.

Army operations at JBI will be phased out progressively, with Army Southern Command being transferred to Fort Eze by 15 April 2022. Army personnel will remain to assist the Fremetiansk Statssikkerhet in the evacuation of all Fremetian property and materiel out of the facility.

Operations at the base will cease entirely on 30 May 2022, at which time the FSS and FD will conduct land clearance and obstacle removal at the site to prepare it for real estate development.

At noon local time on 25 December 2022, JBI will be transferred back to the control of the government of Inquista.

We thank the Inquistan people for supporting and hosting us in our endeavors in our time at JBI and hope to continue our productive working relationship moving forward. JBI has been an invaluable asset to the Republic, and the generosity of the Inquistan people in allowing us to construct a facility in their homeland will not be forgotten.

The time has come for Fremet to end the chapter of entangling itself in the workings of the Black Sea.

Whoopi Gaarder
Staatsoberhaupt of the Republic of Fremet
Jurgen Stark
Fremesker Forsvarsdepartement

FROM THE EUROPEAN COURT OF JUSTICE
EUROPOLIS
2020-09-16

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JULIAN MELGAR ex rel KINGDOM OF SPAIN v. GEORGE MONTREAL ex rel KINGDOM OF REITZMAG

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On the Case of Original Jurisdiction filed by the CLAIMANT, the Kingdom of Spain.

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CONCURRING:
Andreas EKKA
Anne GRUWEZ

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DISSENTING:
NONE

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RECUSED:
Luis López GUERRA

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Chief Justice Ekka delivering the opinion of the court.

The Kingdom of Reitzmag, represented by the individual George Montreal, entered an agreement with the UNSR for recognition of said government in exchange for provisions to replace a naval asset lost in conflict pursuant to the Nyetthem Accords, an international treaty. The CLAIMANT presented that the actions of the individual George Montreal taken on behalf of the Kingdom of Reitzmag

The Court has concluded that, though the signing of the Nyetthem Accords preceded the Condemnation of the Coup in Icholasen Act, the Reitzmic Government and its associated entities knowingly and willingly disobeyed European Law for political, economic, and personal gain.

The Court draws attention to Section 2, Paragraph 1 of the Condemnation of the Coup in Icholasen act, stating,

“Effectively immediately, any and all military trade agreements between EU member states and Icholasen are hereby suspended and banned until such time as the legitimate government as Icholasen is restored.”

This act SUSPENDS and BANS any and all military trade agreements with the UNSR, and thus the bilateral military trade agreement between the Kingdom of Reitzmag and the UNSR as provisioned in the Nyetthem Accords was thus suspended. Therefore, any effort to fulfill the named provisions taken by the Kingdom of Reitzmag or individuals acting on behalf of entities named would be in violation of European Law.

Thus, the actions taken by the Reitzmic government in accepting funds for the loss of naval hardware in lieu of replacements for said hardware pursuant to the Nyetthem Accords following the passage of the Condemnation of the Coup in Icholasen Act were in direct violation of European Law.

However, this court will not rule that the actions taken by the Reitzmic government in returning said funds were in violation of European Law. The return of funds was demanded by the UNSR after the Reitzmic government failed to uphold provisions in the treaty requiring them to recognise the UNSR. Thus, the return of funds was an action taken as restitution for the violation of a bilateral diplomatic agreement with a sufficient degree of separation from the initial agreement and thus not effecting or operating in lieu of the exchange of military hardware.

Regarding the kidnapping of Mr Bernie Sanders, the Reitzmic Prime Minister and Reitzmic Foreign Minister at the time were both operating in their positions within the Reitzmic government and were thus representing and acting on behalf of the entity the government of the Kingdom of Reitzmag. Both parties share liability in their actions. The open negotiations for military hardware from the UNSR, while not a violation of the law, establishes a pattern of behaviour in the Kingdom of Reitzmag that ignores the spirit of European Legislation in favour of opportunistic exchanges.

AS SUCH, this court rules in favour of the CLAIMANT. The actions taken by the Reitzmic government following the passage of the Condemnation of the Coup in Icholasen act ignoring the suspension of military trade agreements was a violation of European Law. This Court recognises that the Reitzmic Government was required to return the monies transferred that that the members of government have since been removed.

This Court thus ORDERS that the Kingdom of Reitzmag pay a fine of 500 000 000 € to the European Union and an additional 150 000 000 € to the Global Alliance Against Human Trafficking. This court also ORDERS that any remaining ‘suspended’ military or trade agreements, as defined in the Condemnation of the Coup in Icholasen Act, between the UNSR and Reitzmag be cancelled.

IN ADDITION, this court finds that the individual GEORGE MONTREAL was an accomplice in his actions taken pursuant to the Reitzmic provisions in the Nyetthem Accords to facilitate the exchange of military assets or a large sum in lieu thereof. As such, GEORGE MONTREAL is thus fined 5 000 000 € for contempt of European Law pursuant to the facilitation of violation of European Law by an entity directly devolved and named above.

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REFERENCES:

CONDEMNATION OF THE COUP OF THE LEGITIMATE GOVERNMENT OF ICHOLASEN

PREAMBLE
The European Union has committed to the Principles of Democracy, Rule of Law, and Human Rights. The recent actions taken by a cabal of communist sympathizing officers in the Nicoleizian Armed Forces are an affront to those principles. The European Union will attempt to support peaceful and diplomatic solutions to this crisis to the best of its ability

SECTION 1: DECLARATIONS

The European Union shall only recognize the democratically elected government of the United Dominions of Icholasen under Queen Anastasia II and Prime Minister Eilidh Whiteford as the legitimate government of Icholasen.
The European Union officially condemns the actions by the cabal of military officers, and will not support their illegitimate government known as the United Nicoleizian Socialist Republics in any capacity.
Only the United Dominions of Icholasen shall be recognized in the European Council for the purposes of representation.
SECTION 2: SANCTIONS IMPOSED ON THE ILLEGITIMATE GOVERNMENT

Effectively immediately, any and all military trade agreements between EU member states and Icholasen are hereby suspended and banned until such time as the legitimate government as Icholasen is restored.
The ENAA license for limited nuclear warheads is hereby revoked until such time as the legitimate government of Icholasen holds proper authority and stability over its nation. There will be a one month period to turn over the nuclear weapons and shut down of all nuclear weapons production.
All luxury goods traded between the Icholasen and European Union member states are hereby embargoed until further notice.

Alright my lovely cherubs, the submissions are in! We have a delightful buffet of participants spread forth for your consumption! Voting begins now and ends 25 May 2022 at 2359 GMT.

May the best win.

Nation	Song	Artist
Inquista	Treat Me	Chlöe
Nofoaga	Don't	Patrick Starrr
Spain	Run	Becky Hill ft. Galantis
Reitzmag	热爱105°C的你 (Super Idol)	Tian Yiming (田一名)
Yosai	As you like it	Eve
United Kingdom	Levitating	Dua Lipa
Ineland	Le reste	Clara Luciani
United Duchies	Banging in the Nails	The Tiger Lilies
Elthize	The Last Man on Earth	Wolf Alice
Istkalen	Lent	Autoheart
Brickston	Lieblingsmensch	Namika
Icholasen (Joint)	Coffee	Supersister
Czech Slavia	Marioneta	Tichá Dohoda
Fremet	You're My Home	Billy Joel

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The official playlist can be found here.

Full Nation Name: Republic of Fremet
Artist: Billy Joel
Song: You're My Home
Link to YouTube: Click meee
Vote deliverer with their image linked: Betty White

Hello and welcome to the 42nd edition of EuroVoice! The EUBC and the Fremetianskallmennkringkastingskommisjonen are proud to welcome you to Trondheim, capital of Fremet and gateway to the Atlantic. As this Fremet's first hosting ever, we've decided to center it here, at Trondheim Hall. Don't let the ornate structure fool you, this venue stretches deep underground to accommodate patrons from all over Europe.

And now, allow me to introduce your hosts: BETTY WHITE and FRIEDRICH LIECHTENSTEIN!

BW: Hello my pretties and welcome to Trondheim! Sorry about the wait and all— it seems the Fremetianskallmennkringkastingskommisjoner (say that three times) had a minor (extreme) kerfuffle (mental breakdown). He's on vacation (in a mental hospital). Which is good because that means I can say FUCK on stage without getting fined.

Now, you may have noticed that remarkably undressed individual to my right. Freddy I swear to the gods introduce yourself and put some clothes on, or I'm sending you back to the hovel you came from.

FL: I went to a Roscoe's before coming here. I have to get the stench of late-stage capitalism off of me. Now, everyone: Betty and I are happy to be with you this evening. Now come, take a bath, have a glass of wine, put your comfy clothes on, and ride with us as we let the nations of Europe rock your world.

BW: Some of you may be wondering: Is there a theme? Honey, there's no theme. Do you really think that after a YEAR of dragging our heels there would be a theme? NO! Of course not! The theme is that this is happening at all. Now shut up and submit your entries so I can judge you in silence— and Europe can judge you on international television!

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**Full Nation Name:**
**Artist:**
**Song:**
**Link to YouTube:**
**Vote deliverer with their image linked:**

The entry deadline is 14 May 2022 at 23.59 GMT.

Nation name: Republic of Fremet

Number of Staff: 31

Number of Security: 19

Weaponry present: Standard side arms, body armor, and nonlethal deterrents (tasers, pepper spray) issued to FSS officers on the premises

Transportation: 1x CH-53 Helicopter, 2x Armored VW sedans, 1x armored sprinter van, 40 Honda Super Cub bikes

Requests: Helipad capable of accommodating designated craft, permission to install surveillance systems on the exterior of the premises, and a well (the ambassador is a tap water connoisseur)

The High Council of the Republic of Fremet submits its votes as follows:

For the Office of Premier Commissioner:

1. Corinna LARSEN (Spain)
2. Joseph BIDEN (Reitzmag)

For the Office of Internal Affairs Commissioner:

1. Ilmaras KALESSED (Istkalen)

Fremetian Wood

Fremet—Yosai Summit

Trondheim, Tronderlag Province, Republic of Fremet

It was still bitterly cold in Trondheim. The ice had yet to fully clear from Trondheimfjord and patches of snow still covered the ground of the Fremetian capital. Whoopi loved it. She— like many Fremetians— thrived in the cold. Some signs of spring were coming around. The days were getting longer. The birds had returned to the trees of the capital. With one last look out towards one of the many parks dotting the city, her car entered one of the countless tunnels that crisscrossed beneath the city carrying trains, cars, and people of all kinds. As her car whisked her away towards the airport on the far western reaches of the city, her mind moved to fixate on Yosai.

Fremet had always had limited contact with its continental counterparts and as a result was left with a society and culture that always seemed to be a little left field to many in Europe. Whoopi adored the imagery and cultural notes that had been coming back from Yosai— a welcome change to the monotony of many of the memberstates of the EU.

As she gathered herself to meet the delegation from Yosai, the sun made a grand appearance over the tarmac providing some respite from the cold. A warm welcome Whoopi thought to herself.

She stood ready to greet the delegation in classic Fremetian fashion: a simple bouquet in her hand with flowers from her own greenhouse, her standard robes (with her own sword safely in its concealed sheath), two swordsman from the Høyrådsvakt standing at attention, and a steady smile on her face.

Whoopi stifled a small giggle over Artie's comment on the Pope. Silly continentals, she thought to herself.

Whoopi was grateful for the warm response she had received from Artie. "Thank the gods. I loathe titles," she answered, her voice settling in her usual low, soothing tone.

"It saddened me to hear of what happened to Gustaf— though to be frank my sadness is not for him but for the perception of Fremet that he has tarnished through his selfish acts. I'm also far from surprised." She continued speaking as they entered through a set of impressive bronze doors into the satisfyingly well-appointed palace, "Royals and politicians alike far too often allow the trimmings of power to get to their heads— hence why its best to remove them." Whoopi said with a wink.

"I must say Artabanos, you have alot to be proud of here. My own country took over 30 years to rebuild itself from the utter nothingness that remained after the occupation, and you appear to have achieved the same in a fraction of the time. You have built a mostly peaceful realm, and I can only hope that the same peace your people experience can be someday reflected in you."

"Onto your question, yes. Democratic processes have existed in some form in Fremet since the tribal era. Chieftains were always vested with the powers of tribal councils to lead. The councils included all members of the community of age in smaller tribes, and of borough council heads in larger ones. That same practice has endured for over 2000 years to the current High Council, which has vested its powers with me. This system is mirrored across provincial and local government across Fremet.

Gustaf was crowned through a provision within the 1935 Constitution allowed for an individual to be vested with limited powers and privileges and serve for life. The Third and Fourth Republics were both instances where the vesting process failed to find a monarchial candidate under the 1935 provisions. Last year's referendum used a mechanism included in the 1935 constitution that amended Article IV to remove that limited, lifetime position. As a council of 101 people cannot run the executive of Fremet, a head of state must be appointed. The Article IV provisions only allow vesting executive privledge in the Staatsminister when there is a lifetime head of state, hence the existence of my office and my presence here.

The position of Staatsoberhaupt has existed since the formation of the Confederation of Fremetia by the Ten Kingdoms in 654 AD."

Whoopi suddenly became aware of how long she had been talking— and knew very well her tendency to ramble.

She laughed and said, "Sorry Artie— I quite enjoy history and can get very passionate when speaking about it. Have you any questions or shall we examine those fine specimens waiting for us?"

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Helmsdorf — 3 March 2022 — LATE EDITION

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Above: Police Stand Outside the Royal's Home in Helmsdorf After the Nighttime Raid

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Former King Gustaf, Queen Sylvia Renounce Fremetian Citizenship, Arrested for Fraud

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After nearly a year out of the public eye, former King Gustaf and Queen Sylvia officially renounced their Fremetian citizenship. According to the Vestlandet Provincial Bulletin, the two renounced their Fremetian citizenship on Monday. No reason was cited in the record.

Tonight, the Fremesker Statspoliti arrested the ex-royals at a raid of their home in Helmsdorf.

A kunngjører was present to announce the charges:

"OYEZ OYEZ OYEZ! In the name of the people of the Commonwealth of Vestlandet and of the Republic of Fremet, the two individuals, Gustaf III der Helms and Sylvia von Syd are hereby under arrest. The warrant, issued by the Federal Court for the Central District of Vestlandet, charges the accused with the following: felonious tax evasion, attempted evasion of prosecution, unethical enrichment, exploitation of community, money laundering, criminal conspiracy to defraud the Commonwealth of Vestlandet, criminal conspiracy to defraud the government of the Republic of Fremet, and criminal conspiracy to defraud the people of the Republic of Fremet.

The accused have been informed of their charges and of their rights. The accused are to be transported to and held at Helmsdorf Central Prison. Arraignment is set for 4 March 2022 at 09h00 FST.

DISPERSE!"

The Statspoliti have a press conference scheduled tomorrow to cover the details of the arrest and of the evidence prosecutors intend to present against the former royals.

The king has not made a public appearance since he incurred a significant head injury last winter. Rumors abounded over his resentment at the changes that had been made to Fremetian governance. With approval ratings of the royals barely making it out of the single digits even during the heyday of their reign, these events do not come as a surprise to the many who have been mistrustful of the royals since accession.

Preliminary reports from the public bulletin show that as much as 23 million francs in various currencies and precious metals were seized in the home of the former royals.

As this is an ongoing story, some of the details may be subject to change. We will note any corrections made to our reporting here.

Weekly Bulletin

Tuesday 1 March 2022
TRONDHEIM

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Above: Erna speaking at a session of the Staatsrat on Monday.

Labour Reform in the Spotlight

TRONDHEIM— The Solberg Administration and CUBI agreed on a compromise today that settles the labour reform debate (for now). Both have agreed to allow the independent National Labour Commission to conduct a series of major studies over the coming months into the merits of various programs. The NLC, one of the Fremetian government's anonymous think-tanks, developed major portions of the existing program in the 1990s and early 2000s to great success.

Nikki Oleman reiterated in the Staatsrat on Friday: "We must collect more data. We must consider the broader consequences of these programmes and implement them to the best of our ability, unadulterated. Evidence-based policy making has always been the Fremetian way and we must ensure that it always remains as such. Charging forward with untested, unproven social programmes is reckless and puts the existing social safety net at risk."

The NLC will present its findings to a joint session of the Staatsrat and High Council on 1 August 2022.

Though concerns from more minor politicians in Fremet abounded over what is effectively kicking a can down the road, Erna Solberg silenced criticism of inaction in a statement to the press today: "By allowing the NLC time to problem solve, free from the scrutiny of the press and political ambition, we can find a proactive, effective, and holistic long-term solution that isn't gutted by partisan politics, implemented with the goal of failure, or a target for future opposition politicians to attack. The decision to call upon the NLC was unanimous in the Staatsrat, and we will all consider the findings of the Commission. Through, as my colleague calls it, 'evidence-based policymaking' we can develop programs that will deliver for Fremet and Fremetians well into the future. We all want what is best for Fremet— we all want our people to thrive. No person should suffer homelessness or hunger due to loss of employment, and it is our duty as a society to do all we can to prevent the mental illness and socioeconomic conditions that lead to these forms of suffering.

Our community— our country— prospers together or it does not prosper at all."

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Above, a TD Inquista Trust branch in Saint Dominico

Financial Sector Makes Selective Retreat from Continental Markets

RHODENHEIM— Citing significant exposure to unstable markets, Fremetian megabanks Nordbank and Trondheim-Dominion are pulling operations in Spain, the United Duchies, and Reitzmag. FremetiaBank (and its Bank of Copala City subsidiary) exited institutional banking operations in Spain and Inimicus.

Trondheim-Dominion's Inquistan operations, TD Inquista Trust, increased its provisions for loan losses to ₣5 bn, citing a massive ₣35 bn exposure to trade through the so-called Spanish straights, a potential flash point for economic and physical combat.

TD-D (TD Duxburia) wrote off a ₣362 million loss in trading on Duxburian exchanges as markets tumbled amidst protests over EU legislation. Nordbank and RBF's investment divisions increased their exposure to Duxburian markets, buying the dip.

Compensating for decreasing domestic deposits and losses from failed BCC expansions, FremetiaBank doubled down on recent investments into operations in Angleter and is rumoured to be gearing up for a major push into the Australian financial sector. FremetiaBank has increased its cash reserves considerably since Q4-2021 and has yet to announce what it intends to do with them.

RBF sold 600 branches including deposits in Fremet to Handelsbank for ₣70 billion. RBF used its cash injection to increase exposure to Duxburian markets and to expand its wealth management and private banking divisions.

RBF purchased 7 Duchies Bank from FremetiaBank, in a stock swap valued at ₣200 bn, plus an additional ₣90 bn in cash. RBF will return its large ownership stake in FremetiaBank in exchange for full control over 7 Duchies Bank.

Of the 5 major Fremetian banks, 4 will cease to have branch, investment, and institutional banking operations in Spain, the UD, Reitzmag, Inimicus, and Strathae by Q3 of 2022. RBF has maintained its operations in all named countries.

Nordbank announced a ₣19 bn investment in expanding its operations in Vayinaod, extending its branch footprint and institutional banking services to a significant portion of the population.

Fremetian banks have struggled to expand beyond core markets such as the DU, Fremet, Angleter, Vayinaod, and Inquista. Though this can be attributed to the risk aversion of these institutions, it also embodies the instability of European economics and politics. Fremetian banks have relied on domestic deposits at times to bolster their operations overseas— however, the 2013 and 1998 recessions taught these institutions and Fremetian regulators that international operations are critical for a country suffering from the after effects of decades of economic isolation and capital starvation.

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Above: Port of Flachesfeld, Fremet's gateway to Icholasen

Return of Limited Travel Between Icholasen and Fremet

TRONDHEIM-- In conjunction with the ongoing summit between Whoopi Gaarder and Bernie Sanders, the AA and FSS have both announced a resumption of travel between the Republic and the UNSR. Limited visas will be issued for press, special events, education, and the transit industry issued on a case-by-case basis.

While met with generally widespread support in both the Staatsrat and the general public, Ursula von der Leyen, long a champion of travel restrictions with the UNSR, warned of national security risks inherent in easing travel. "We are reversing policy that took over a year to build and spread throughout Europe, and this reversal only serves to normalize the UNSR in the eyes of Europe."

Erna Solberg, when questioned in the Staatsrat, responded, "Madam Von der Leyen, if the intelligence services of the UNSR or any other foreign power wish to violate our borders, they will do so. That is why it is so very critical for our intelligence services in Fremet to be ever vigilent. Invalidating the passports and travel privileges of a single country and its people will do nothing to prevent Nicoleizian security services from gaining entry to Fremet. Preventing travel only serves to hurt those law-abiding citizens that could actually benefit from travelling between our two countries.

The UNSR has long been normalized. The Nine Dominions are not coming back. We must accept that. We must respect that the UNSR has made more overtures towards peace and reconciliation with this Republic in two years than the Nine Dominions did in nearly thirty.

We are moving into a new era of detente, and to do so we must balance vigilance with respect."

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Above & Right: Anita Poehler, AA Commissioner, announcing the move on National Public Radio yesterday.

Trade & Travel Restrictions With Istkalen Lifted

TRONDHEIM— The High Council of the Republic rescinded travel and trade restrictions with Istkalen on Monday. Travel to the country has been moved into Risk Category C (Advised Against) with the likes of the United Duchies, Spain, Europolis, etc. Travel visas will still be required, but visa requirements will return to the base restrictions applied to Category C countries.

Trade restrictions have ended and policies have returned to standard protocols set out in Fremetian law and by the Bureau of Trade.

AA Commissioner Anita Poehler framed the move as a part of Fremet's cautious acknowledgement of recent improvements to stability in Istkalen and the continent as a whole.
She commented:

"We seek to work from a place of trust— but such trust must be earned. For now, the High Council has directed the AA to move ahead with a cautious optimism. Fremet may have closed many doors this past year, but we can open them as well— and this is an excellent opportunity to open the door to a country that we see immense potential in. These measures were put in place to protect Fremet and Fremetians from harm and to prevent rogue states from benefiting from our contact.

The Istkalener respect for collective ownership, the individual responsibility to society, and a broad rejection of western religious doctrine are commonalities we share— commonalities that are exceedingly rare in continental Europe. Any suggestion that the people of Istkalen or any people should be denied entry to Fremet on grounds of nationality is unacceptable.

The AA still advises against travel to Istkalen for the preservation of personal safety— but we have extended such advice to half of the European Union. Fremetians have proven themselves to be vigilant and adaptable at home, and this must be extended abroad— both at the individual and policy levels."

On behalf of the Republic of Fremet, I vote FOR this motion.

Charles Michel
Councilor for Fremet