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| Právo, Marslavan News | |
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| Topic Started: Aug 16 2012, 10:41 AM (583 Views) | |
| Alberto | Aug 16 2012, 10:41 AM Post #1 |
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This will be the first time in European history a dynastic state elects its sovereign: together with legislative elections, Marslava will be indeed electing its Grand Duke. Such an election would be ending the void of power that has been the cause of Marslava's past chaos. Here are the candidates and what they stand for: Lady Daria Slavnikova: sister of the Lord Slavnik who started Marslava's civil war, if elected she would follow a conservative policy at home, founded on an alliance with the aristocracy and the army. To such an internal situation would correspond a more aggressive Marslava. Of course the democratic movements don't like her and see her as a threat. Would be Marslava's first female Grand Duke. Lord Ottokar Přemysl: comes from one of the most ancient families of Marslava and currently serves as Foreign Affairs Minister. A former diplomat and a well educated poliglot, he would moderate policies and allow a greater freedom of action to the Parliament and Marslava's civil society. To the Marslavan democrats he is the safest choice as the only candidate who is actually committed to democracy. Lord General Frantisek Zdeněk: former military commander of the Ducal Guard and current prime minister, would probably try to reinforce the Marslavan state and its army. His election would make the military satisfied and reduce the risk of nasty golpes... for now A Guy: voices have spread that there is a fourth candidate, it may be a man, a woman, a child or a goat, we don't really know. |
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| Alberto | Aug 22 2012, 06:40 AM Post #2 |
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Právo, 22/08 Edition Election Results, New Grand Duke Elected Called to express their voice in the nomination of Marslava's new sovereign, the people rushed to the polls: more than 85% of those eligible to vote did go to the polls, a result that clearly show the importance that the Grand Duke has at the eyes of Marslava's people. What is however more interesting is the choices that were made by those who were at the polls. Firstly, the Lord General Zdeněk, the man who was expected to be dominant in the post-civil war Marslava, didn't manage to get even 5% of the votes: this can only mean that the military establishment has been definitely discredited at the eyes of Marslavans, who don't trust it anymore and believe that it has been responsible for all the hardships that fell on Marslava in the last years. The other surprise was that Lady Daria Slavnikova, who was believed to be the most impopular candidate, was voted by around 20% of those who went to vote, this meaning that the Slavniks are likely to retain an important political role in Marslava's new system. What was the greatest surprise was that a candidate who campaigned under the name of "a guy" has managed to obtain nearly 40% of the total vote, something that was completely unexpected and that had never happened before. Also this is very important: it means that around 40% of the Marslavans are deeply uncertain on how they feel about the throne, a fact that the next Grand Duke will have to deal with. Of course it is still to be known who was the "Guy", if there really was somebody behind him or if it was just a very successful prank. At the end of the day the winner of the election was Lord Ottokar Přemysl by 43%, a choice that is re-assuring in two senses: firstly because the one who has been chosen is a committed democrat and secondly because he belongs to old aristocracy. These two characteristics make of him very adapt to the transition that Marslava is living right now. Lord Přemysl, now Grand Duke Ottokar I of Marslava, will be crowned in few weeks and, in the meantime, has announced his intention to task Vaclav Clementis with the formation of the next government. |
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| Alberto | Aug 29 2012, 02:02 PM Post #3 |
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Právo, 22/09 Edition The National Assembly has reportedly approved a first draft of Marslava's Constitution and this draft has reached the redaction of our newspaper. This has allowed our specialists to read it and tell us what those sitting in the assembly have been up to. The new constitution, said our specialists, is quite simple and straight-forward in following the principle of a parliamentary democracy: the bicameral Parliament has indeed seen its power increased and now the government is responsible to it as well as it is responsible to the Grand Duke. The Parliament so sees its powers increased in what concerns law-making: it can adress questions to both the government and the Grand Duke, one of its votes is able to dismiss the government (if also the Grand Duke agrees) and it is now defined as the organism responsible for creating the law. For what concerns the government, this is responsible to both the parliament and the Grand Duke: this means that both of them can dismiss it if they both agree to do so. The government is headed by a Prime Minister who is responsible for the running on the country and is now the strongest figure in domestic politics at times of peace. The Prime Minister, once elected by universal suffrage, is responsible for forming a government with the approval of the Parliament. In all of this the figure of the Grand Duke remains strong: the Constitution, for example, would mention him as the garant of the current constitutional order and its defender in case of major disruptions, such as the elections of an undemocratic government. Indeed the Grand Duke can proclaim a state of exception in which the normal institutions cease to work and he assumes dictatorial powers for six months. The Grand Duke's signature and approval is of course necessary to pass laws and to make treaties effective. We can see that the figure of the Grand Duke will be redimensioned, but still there are what we think are unclear points, such as the state of exception: what if in the future an undemocratic crown uses it for its own ends ? Finally what will happen now to this draft ? After a last debate in which the assembly may decide to modify it or not, it will pass to the newly elected Parliament which will discuss it and eventually approve it. At that point the document will have to be signed and thus conceded by the Grand Duke in order to become effective. From Stockolm, where he is to negotiate an alliance with the Republic of Porcu, the Grand Duke has let known the parliament and the media that he will agree to sign such a constitution as long as the Marslavan people will approve of it. Once this will happen, Marslava's anormal political situation will end and leave place to a functioning democracy. Edited by Alberto, Aug 29 2012, 02:15 PM.
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| Alberto | Sep 15 2012, 11:39 AM Post #4 |
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Právo, 23/09 Edition Reconstruction begins Posted Image The government headed by Vaclav Clementis has pushed successfully through an ambitious program of state supported projects which will serve toward reconstructing the country after the last wars. "Our government is betting on infrastructures as the engine of our growth" has declared Vaclav Clementis, the new head of the government "our plan will involve an improvement of all Marslavans' level of life, make our country more efficient and will provide badly needed jobs to our people". The government plans indeed to spend the sizeable sum of 5 billions to finance the improvement of Marslava's existing infrastructure. This includes the country's roads, railways, urban envirinments, hospitals and schools. The fund will work according to few simple principles. Those who want to benefit from it must submit their project to the competent ministries. Then this project has to be approved by those same ministries after a period of study lasting few weeks; the same ministry will be also responsible for setting a works' schedule with those who requested the funding. Once this is done, the ent which has submitted the project can benefit of funding from the government provided that they respect the schedule which has been elaborated. An example of such a procedure is the one of the City of Prague, which has been awarded $250.000.000 to reconstruct its tramways and subway networks, or of the City of Plzen, which has been granted $25.000.000 to make its neighbourhoods more environment-friendly. Funding will also be going to workers' cooperatives and small businesses which want to improve their production: Slovakian farmers have been awarded complexively $200.000.000 to purchase new crops and animals or buy new mechanical equipment to increase their fields' yeld (the objective being the complete mechanization of Slovakian farming in five years from now). In some cases the government has taken the lead. This is the case of what is the single most important and ambitious project: a Central European high speed railway network, which is to cover the whole region bringing sizeable economic benefits such as increased regional trade. It is sure that the future network will unite the three cities of Prague, Bratislava and Budapest, while another extension to Warsaw is being planned and built in cooperation with the government of the Authority of the Grand Moff. Finally the project to link this whole network to Moscow is under discussion with the Russian Empire in talks that are being held between the Imperial and the Ducal representatives. What is sure is that, if all these projects and many others are successful, the life of the average Marslavan will improve significantly: its neighbourhoods will become cleaner, its healthcare better equipped, its table will have a bigger variety of food and he will be able to go to work quickly and cheaply. He will also be able to travel, for leisure or for business, to other European capitals in the briefest times. This of course if everything goes well and if Marslava's stability endures. |
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| Alberto | Oct 28 2012, 01:26 PM Post #5 |
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Právo, 28/10 Edition Posted Image Marslava goes to war After the last attack against Porcu's cities, Marslava has declared war to the Genesian armies which are aggressing Europe in the name of their cruel god. By declaring war Marslava has respected the treaty of alliance it had signed some time ago with the Republic of Porcu: for this the Parliament has voted in favour of the declaration in a majority which excluded, as usual, the communists. The popular feeling is that the right thing has been made, albeit this other military enterprise came at the wrong moment as Marslava has just come back to normality after years of wars and unrest. The Social-Democrats sposkesman Emil Ragobic voiced his party's approval the Grand Duke's decision and the vote of the Parliament:" This is something that we regret, but that had to be done to help our Porcuian allies - and friends". The communist spokeswoman Katarina Velikova had a slightly different vision:" Not only this decision is wrong and we should have stayed out of this" she declared "but the whole thing has been going on against our constitutional law: war was declared and only after was the parliament consulted; this is outrageous !". The most surprising reaction of all was however the one of the head of government, Vaclav Clementis, who didn't release any declaration, gave up his post of prime minister and signed up to serve in the Marslavan Army. On the ground things have been happening quickly: during the night Marslavans could hear many armoured columns driving in their streets, while many gunships and fighters flew above their houses to deploy in the north of the country. These are precautionary measures which are taken in case the Genesians managed to land in Europe and Marslava's borders were threatened. What is also sure is that an expeditionary corps will be formed to fight alongside Porcu in the Baltic theater, this army corps will be composed by rougly two divisions and two air squadrons. The ground forces it will deploy will include the 2nd Division of the Ducal Guard, the 12th Armoured Divisionsand two artillery regiments. While the air forces will contribute with the 3rd and the 7th mix air squadrons, equipped with roughly sixty fighters and bombers each. For now conscripts have been called for training, but have not been mobilized - yet. |
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| Alberto | Dec 23 2012, 10:00 AM Post #6 |
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Právo, 23/12 Edition The Communist Party changes leadership and embraces democracy Posted Image Nadia Starikova is the new Secretary of the MCP The Marslavan Communict Party (MCP), the single biggest political party of the country and main opposition party in the parliament, has emerged from the last congress with a new leadership. Nadia Starikova is now the secretary of the MCP, which will be headed for the first time by a woman. Starikova is member of the moderate faction of the MCP, a faction which embraces democratic rule and positions itself closer to social-democracy. The platform on which Ms Starikova was elected was indeed one of moderation, the definitive abandonement of revolutionary violence and engagement with the government. She also stressed that from now on the COmmunist Party will bring forward important civic battles for new social rights, such as the right to free higher education, gay marriage, the right to employment. However the party has decided to remain silent on other issues, such as the relationship with the Throne in case of electoral victory. This is a clear sgnal for the coalition government headed by Boguslawski, who has taken the place of Clementis after the latter's dimissions at the start of the war. It means that the MCP is now willing to abandon its position of uncompromising opposition to the government and collaborate with it in the reconstruction of the country. It also means that the government will depend less on conservative elements for its political survival since the biggest opposition party has now accepted to "normalize". Experts we have interviewed, such as Professore Bonefeld from the Charles University of Prague, agree that this is a very important change which consolidate Marslavas newly acquired democracy, however Prof Bonefeld observes too that "during the civil war the MCP managed to gather a considerable fighting force to defend Prague and siege the Russian embassy there. If called into action, this force will respond." Human Rights Council Created The Grand Duke Ottokar Ist has signed law stressing the government's respect of human rights through the creation of Marslava's first Council of Human Rights. This Council, composed by six judges and political figures, is to have an illimited supervisionary power of the government's and state's activities in order to ensure that they respect the rights that the constitution and minimum standards of civilisation give to the country's residents. The Council can also receive petitions and claims done by individual citizens and other entities such as town halls, churches and other groups. Once elected by the parliament and approved by the Grand Duke, the Council is not bound to the government in its activity and its proceedings can be reviewed only by Marslava's Constitutional Court or, if authorised by the Parliament, by the Grand Duke himself. The Human Rights Council will be headed by Clemens Havel, a very reputed human rights advocate and political prisoner under the Dominion's rule. The Human Rights Council is also to produced, by the end of the year, a substantial report on the state of human rights in the country and the state's respect for the citizens' rights. Edited by Alberto, Dec 23 2012, 10:14 AM.
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| Alberto | Mar 5 2013, 05:07 AM Post #7 |
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Právo, 05/03 Edition The Communists win Elections The Grand Duke has already been nicknamed the "Ottokar the Red" or the "Duke of Communists" after he approved the formation of a government headed by the MCP, the Marslavan Communist Party. In the last elections, held the first of March, the communists managed to gather 35% of the vote, becoming the first party of the country, with a relative majority. The Liberals and the Social-Democrats came just behind, with respectively 20% and 15% of the vote. The Conservatives, by gathering 10% of the vote, made some gains and managed to elect some MPs. The head of the MCP, Nadia Starikova, is to become the Prime Minister of a coalition government based on a partnership between the Communists and the Social-Democrats, two parties which have actually a very similar political agenda. Indeed, the MCP comes from a years-long process of reform which saw it abandoning the original purpose of revolution and dictatorship of the proletariat, in favor of a vision of Socialist Democracy. At the same time, the more centrist Social-Democrats have been drifting to the left by making a stand on issues which have normally been the domain of the communists. The formation of a government headed by a communist is an unique event in the history of Marslava and something which was unimaginable just few years ago. When, in 1972, the Communists won the elections, the military moved under the orders of the then Grand Duke to seize the parliament and annul the elections in favor of a de facto absolute rule of the Grand Duke. This time, the army remained in its barracks and the Grand Duke accepted the result of the polls without questioning the freedom of choice of Marslava's citizens. Nadia Starikova has proceeded to form a government, in which few names are important: Von Koudenberg has remained as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Anton Markovic (MCP) has become Minister of the Interiors, Marc Dobromir (Social-Democrats) Minister of Defense and another Social-Democrat, Marta Cernik, is Minister of Economy and Development. Both the Parliament and the Grand Duke have approved the list of ministers provided by Starikova. Edited by Alberto, Nov 21 2013, 02:30 PM.
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| Porcu | Mar 6 2013, 02:42 PM Post #8 |
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"Work is the curse of the drinking classes."
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Official Communiqué The Parliament and People of Porcu congratulate the People of Marslava, our friends and allies, in their free and fair exercise of a basic and fundamental right. Stockholm anticipates the continuation of strong ties. |
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| Alberto | Mar 24 2013, 01:58 PM Post #9 |
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Minimum Wage Introduced The government headed by Nadia Starikova had made of a national minimum wage one of its key promesses. Thanks to this promess the MCP had succeeded in becoming the country's first party, appreciated by the 35% of the electors. The introduction of a national minimum wage was also contained in the electoral programm of the social-democrats, the party which entered in a coalition with the communists of Starikova to form a new government. Hence, it was matter of time before the new government introduced this legislation which, by setting a minimum that employers must pay to their employees, tries to increase the standard of living of workers, reduce poverty and inequality, boost morale and force businesses to be more efficient. Marta Cernik, Minister of the Economy and Development announced the introduction of a Minimum Wage of 6 slovs per hour to which every single worker legally resident in Marslava is entitled. She has added "Among the indicators that we have used to establish an initial minimum wage rate are ones that minimize the loss of jobs while preserving international competitiveness: among these are general economic conditions as measured by real and nominal gross domestic product; inflation; labor supply and demand; wage levels, distribution and differentials; employment terms; productivity growth; labor costs; business operating costs; the number and trend of bankruptcies; economic freedom rankings; standards of living and the prevailing average wage rate." Thanks to the support of the Social-Democrats, the government has been able to pass this legislation in the National Assembly. The proposed law has, however, met the opposition of the Conservatives and the Liberals, who have mustered together 30% of the vote in the last elections. Those have argued that the minimum wage reduces employment, especially among younger and low-skill workers. Those MPs who support the government have costantly recalled that this measure will curb poverty and the abuses committed by those employers who establish sweat shops. Moreover, they add, the new minimum wage obliges businesses to develop their activity instead of relying on the continued decrease of production costs (e.g salaries paid to unskilled workers). They also remember of the positive effects of an expanded income in the poorest households. Despite this, the remarks of the opposition have some value and the government has disposed for measures to assist employers and employees, in order to avoid a decrease of employment: these measures include tax breaks for the next year, as well as a fund to assist smaller businesses to maintain and expand their activities. Human Rights Council Presents its Work Headed by the noted human rights activist Clement Havel, the Human Rights Council of the Grand Duchy of Marslava has presented the result of its works to the Grand Duke, the government and the parliament. The result of this work is a proposal for a bill of human rights which is to be proposed to the approval of the National Assembly. Clement Havel has commented the work of the committee of experts that he headed by saying;" this proposal is extremely important and covers wide areas of our domestic politics, as well as Marslava's relations with the international community". The proposed law is extremely important because it guarantees to individuals an extremely high degree of protection. The work of the Human Rights Council are extremely important, declared Havel, because they provide an extremely effective - and easy - guideline for the action of the Grand Duchy of Marslava toward its own citizens as well as the nationals of any other country. In its second article, it provides that: states such as Marslava have a duty to refrain from unlawful killing, a duty to investigate suspicious deaths and, in certain circumstances, a positive duty to prevent foreseeable loss of life. Article 3 prohibits torture, and "inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment" : there are no exceptions or limitations on this right. This provision usually applies, apart from torture, to cases of severe police violence and poor conditions in detention. Article 6 articulates the right to a fair trail and access to justice, as well as judicial review in any case. Article 8 guarantees one's right to a private life and the duty of a state to respect it. If it was to become law, this proposal would be the most complete human rights instrument in the world. The Liberal MP Frantisek Zevronnek has vowed to bring it to the approval of the National Assembly, in order to make the work of the Human Rights Council part of Marslava's most fundamental laws. |
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| Alberto | Nov 18 2013, 04:50 PM Post #10 |
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Dangers at our Borders ? The Hungarian impasse has now been continuing for few weeks and the fighting in Pecs has now reached its culminating point. Marslava and its allies in Vienna have been involved in Hungary since years, but it is only with the possibility of Hungarian unification that the two countries have escalated their presence and support to the ally regime of Pecs. This has not been a very wise choice, as now the two countries are faced with two equally difficult outcomes: either intervene and bear the price of reconstruction or let the Admiral unify Hungary and create a new nationalist state. Nationalism is also at the centre of events happening in the north. From Berlin, the Margrave of Brandeburg has been calling for a reunion of German countries to create a new bloc to counter existing organizations such as C.E.D.O. The meeting follows the idea of German supremacy that developed during the proceeding of the "Ladedemonian League", a project launched by the Baltic Germans. If an alliance was to come from the meeting in Potsdam, Marslava would probably come out isolated and surrounded by a hostile neighbourhood. For centuries the Germans, the Czechs and the Slovaks have lived in peace with each other, but would this be the same if ethnicity was to be politicized. Tax on Big Capitals Announced The Parliament has just approved a tax on the country's aristocratic immobiliar patrimonies. These patrimonies, which were hithertho largely untaxed, are extremely conspicuous: for instance, around one fourth of the country is still possessed by around one hundred aristocratic families. The government headed by the communist Nadia Starikova has thus decided to institute a tax which will be paid by the country's greatest landlords. The new tax will take a small percentage of the income derived from the immobiliar and land possessions of the country's aristocracy. It will be likely to finance an ambitious programme of investment in the country's infrastructure, healthcare, education and assistance to smaller businesses. It is notable that the measure has met the approval of a majority of the Parliament, with the Communists, the Social-Democrats and the liberals Liberals voting together. Until now the aristocracy had continued to enjoy its hereditary lands undisturbed. Indeed, a non written rule of Marslavan politics was that the possessions of the aristocracy could not be touched. This has however changed for various important reasons: first of all the country has undergone an impressive democratization since the days of Vladislav II, political parties have gained a wider power and have succeeded in raising popular participation in politics, something which has weakened the militarised aristocracy. What, however, has been decisive is the behavior of the Grand Duke, who has distinguished himself by an attitude of non-interference in the country's political life. The MCP has attacked the great possession only because the government has had the nulla osta of the Grand Duke, in what is widely believed to be an exchange for the government' approval of a wider Marslavan involvement in the Hungarian war. The revenues of the tax, estimated to be around 10 billions slovs, will be invested in the sectors of education, health-care and the county's social services. Moreover, a fund of 2 billions slovs will be assisting small and medium businesses in starting and upgrading their activities, through government grants and loans to buy new equipment, formingbetter trained workers, purchasing needed materials. The benefits for the Marslavan economy may be substantial. Dynamo Brno wins the football cup Dynamo Brno has won its first premier league title in a hard match against the incumbent champions of Sparta Praha. The final, played in Bratislava, concluded with a 3-2 for the team from Brno. Until the last year, Brno had been a relatively strong mid team, obscured by the champions of Sparta Praha and Slovacka Bratislava. An oculated financial policy and the emergence of new champions from the junior team brought Dynamo Brno to the fore, as, last year, it made a very strong performance and ranked third. This year Brno finally won a deserved first trophy. Sparta Praha followed second, Banik Ostrava third. |
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| Alberto | Dec 13 2013, 04:58 PM Post #11 |
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Marslava occupies Costanta Early yesterday morning, the Marslavan forces have moved to occupy the port of Costanta. The action was not met by any resistance, as the inhabitants had not predicted an assault from the sea. The Marslavan forces proceeded to sequester all weapons, but the commanding officer announced that the local Elders' Council would continue to be the city's main governing organ. Following the Marslavan troops, the engineers of Marsoil descended in the city to initiate the studies and preliminary work for the extension of the Velikaya pipeline. Indeed, Costanta is bound to become both the terminal for the oil coming from the Middle East and the starting point for a new European pipeline. The taking of Costanta has however suscitated reactions in Marslava's political scene. The government of Ms Starikova has come under pressure from its base, which wants a more assertive government. The Social Democrats and the Liberals have also expressed concern. A spokesperson of the Social-Democrats has stated:" The Grand Duke is showing too much initiative in foreign policy without consulting the Parliament. While Marslava is living its most liberal and democratic period, our democracy will be imperfect as long as foreign policy will not be brought under the checks and balances of parliamentary democracy". Boleslav Mauritsky, one of the leaders of the Communists' left wing, has also expressed concern for "the fact that Marsoil, a corporation which has never been transparent, is apparently dictating our country's foreign policy". Prime Minister Starikova defeated in party congress The militants of the communist party have not taken well the moderate line of Ms Starikova. They have refaced her the lack of reform and real concern for the workers, as well as a great weakness vis à vis the Grand Duke in foreign policy. The left wing of the party, opposed to any coalition government as well as any compromise with what they call "the regime", has been asking for a general assembly of the party since longtime. However, in a surprising move, the centrists in the party council stopped to support the government and allowed, through the changement of their position, the holding of a party congress where Ms Starikova would have to defend her line and be subject to a vote of confidence. A tired Prime Minister argued her point in a passionate speech in favour of democratic cooperation and reformism, but this fell on deaf ears, as the militants voted in favour of her removal as head of the party. At her place was elected Hermann Slansky, an old communist leader and former dissident who comes from the party's centrist wing. This change will have huge consequences for the political balance in the country and may lead to new elections. |
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| Alberto | Feb 5 2014, 07:27 PM Post #12 |
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Caretaker Government Approved by Parliament The Communist Party has lost its premiership amid internal struggles between its moderate and its hardline wings. The moderate premier Nadia Starikova had been defeated in a vote of no confidence within her party and had presented her dimissions to the Gran Duke. The Grand Duke has rejected them once, but had to accept them once they were presented a second time. Subsequently, the decisions has been taken to not have elections at the moment, and effect a new parliamentary majority to back a new government. This has been realized through a temporary alliance between the Liberals, the Social-Democrats and the Conservatives have formed a care-taker government, with the purpose of overseing the war against Hungary to then go to the polls as soon as the Hungarian quagmire was to be over. The parties have chosen a non-partisan figure, the Prince Von Koudenberg, as head of this caretaker government, while the foreign affairs and the defence ministries have gone respectively to Marc Dobromir and Frantisek Herlitzka of the Liberal Party. The government is expected to last only few months, and take care of the war conduct and the day-to-day activities of the state without taking substantive decisions on foreign policy or the economy. According to Professor Palacky of the Masaryk University in Brno "is not unconstitutional, but, politically speaking, is surely not a move in the right direction for our democracy. We have here a government which has no mandate from the Marslavan people". On their side, the MCP has made this point and has expressed discontentment on the fact that the Grand Duke has exerted his influence to not have a vote in this phase. What is sure is that, during the next months, the needs and the political discussion in thi scountry will be subordinated to the needs of the war in Hungary, which has now been dragging for too long. Autonomy Given to Sinop The last law proposed by the past Starikova government has been voted and passed by the Parliament. This law grants to the Marslavan possession in Anatolia the status of autonomous province and entrenches the Turkish language as the official language of the new entity, together with Czech. According to the new law Sinop will now be entitled to its own elected assembly and its own autonomous administration, which will have competences on the fields of healthcare, education and welfare. New elections will be held in the next week to elect the first local assembly of Sinop. Also the Czechs and Slovaks who have migrated to Sinop will be able to participate to the vote and elect their own representatives. On their side, Marslava's main political parties are planning to extend their activity in Sinop, alongside the local Ilerleme party. The Marslavan Communist Party has warned against tensions between Sinop's different ethnic groups and has pledged to compete with candidates capable of representing all the instances of Sinop's workers - independently from their ethnic identity. |
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| Alberto | Mar 10 2014, 04:55 PM Post #13 |
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Reform of the Marslavan Army Posted Image Until recently, Marslava has been able to count on a relatively stable neighbourhood. In such a scenario, the country could afford to maintain a medium-sized army, way smaller than the one which it could possibly support. Indeed, Marslava has always been and is one of Europe's foremost industrial powers, and its war industries are capable to equip a numerous army in a relatively short notice. Now, the Central European neighbourhood has changed radically: Austria is not anymore an ally, and the German nationalism brought forward by Brandeburg (normally, a small country) may become a danger. Moreover, the events of last days in Vienna show that tensions in Europe are far from having been defused. In such a context, Marslava must seek to equip an army worthy of one of Europe's great powers, and proportionate to its population as well as its industrial might. For this purpose, the government has annnounced a programme of investments of an unprecedented scale: 35 billions slov, that will go toward improving the country's army. This has two objectives: increasing the army's effectives from around 3.500.000 to 6.000.000 soldiers, and to equip the branches of the Marslavan army with new and improved weapons. Firstly, all branches of the army will be expanded with new effectives over the next five years, with the recruitment and training of new effectives. Accordingly, the number of soldiers for each division will be brought from 6000 to 10.000 effectives. Moreover, the special forces will be expanded: the effectives of the mountain troops and of the paratropers will be brought to 100.000, and a new Chasseurs division will be created. Posted Image Prototypes of the new Fatamorgána multirole fighter are already being tested Secondly, the Marslavan state will commission the country's war industries to produce in mass the latest designs of aircraft, helicopters, tanks, armoured vehicles, artillery. The plan is to replace the current equipment of the entire army during the next ten years, with a particular stress on the expansion of the country's airforce. Indeed, as the Hungarian war has shown, the Marslavan air force needs a rehauling: the Albatros fighter which is the standard aircraft is not up to par with the modern fighters fielded by the Russian Empire, Porcu and other European powers. The need is to replace these old fighters with a more modern aircraft, better equipped and capable of carrying more daring tasks. However, other plans include to produce upgraded AFVs and tanks (with projects for a Venceslas II MBT being ultimated). |
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| Alberto | Mar 20 2014, 03:34 PM Post #14 |
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Conservatives form the Panslavist Union Held in Brno, the last reunion of the Conservatives and the Slavnik faction has given life to a new political creature: the pan-Slavist Union. This formation, whose components together have a weight of 15% in the polls, is going to be led by Zvetomir Slavnik. The programme of the formation is in its name: the political union, if possible, with the Grand Duchy of Marslava with the Slavic populations of all Europe. This foreign policy goal goes toegether with the objective of a democratic government within. However, the adherents of the new party emphasize that the Marslavans must be ready to assume the position of European power that it deserves, also through military means if necessary. Theerefore, the political programme of this formation is potentially very destabilizing for the region, and may attract the ires of Marslava's neighbours if this formation was to gain more importance. Within Marslava, there have been accusations that this new formation is merely a facade for the power ambitions of the Slavnik clan, and that the espousal of panslavism is only a way to attract consensus for that end. With the last events across the borders, and with the effective end of the old balance in Central Europe, Marslavans are feeling threatened by German nationalism. For now, this sentiment has not degenerated into open hostility to the country's non slavic neighbours, but this new political formation may intercept the discontentment of those who would have expected from Marslava a stronger stance against those who threaten it. For us in Pravo, these developments may be worrying, and may be signaling that Marslava is, after decades of moderate and center-left governments, taking a turn to the conservative, militaristic, right which had been ruling the country under the reign of Vladislav II, and which has never renounced to regaining power. Slavomir Slavnik attempted to do so through military means, his siblings will be doing so through the ballot. |
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| Alberto | Mar 23 2014, 03:22 PM Post #15 |
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Resident Italian
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Posted Image Grand Duke Visits Belgrade A Marslavan delegation headed by the Grand Duke in person has visited Belgrade, welcomed by the Prince Lazar Karageorgevic. The Serbs are everywhere divided, but the Karageorgevic are Serbia's most reputable lineage and control the country's cultural and spiritual capital. The Karageorgevic rule Belgrade and its hinterland with what is an extremely conservative and backward political constitution: the Prince and his council of elders take all the decisions. The reasons for which the Grand Duke has visited Belgrade are many. First of all, there are strong economic reasons: Serbia can provide an important and new market for Marslava's industrial products, while Marslava can be an excellent market for the Serbian agricultural exports. Moreover, many Marslavan businessmen have expressed interest into investing in Serbia. There are also geopolitical reasons: it cannot be denied that Marslava has felt more and more embattled and that, faced with a threatening Austrian and Brandeburg union, Marslava is seeking to find new influence and new allies in the Balkans. It is seeking to cultivate its relationship with the region's Slavs, who have interests not far from Marslava's. However there is a final reason, which may more than anything else explain the Grand Duke's visit to Belgrade. The Karageorgevic and the Premysl have cultivated a good relationship overyears - a very good relationship, considered that the voices on a liaison between the Princess Maria Karageorgevic and the Grand Duke have become more insisting. What this visit may be about, perhaps, is the Grand Duke asking the Prince the hand of his daughter. Elections Announced These weeks will see the end of the caretaker government put in place to lead the country during its war with Hungary. The caretaker government, now, has no more reason to exist and has announced the continuation of the country's political life. In three months, the country will thus be called to vote again. The choice will be between the communists, the social-democrats, the liberals, and the pan-slavist alliance. The results here are highly unpredictable, since, while Marslava itself is quite stable and its economy successful, the developments which have been taking place outside of the country have had a deep impact on the public opinion - which will be likely to reward the country's right wing and more nationalist parties. |
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| Alberto | Aug 8 2014, 01:25 PM Post #16 |
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Resident Italian
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Dusan Premysl-Karageorgevich: Birth of a Heir Posted Image The Grand-Duchess These are important news. The first child of the ducal couple, and heir to both the Marslavan and the Serbian crowns, was born in these hours. The sources consulted by this newspaper have told us that he is a male and that he has been given the name of Dusan. All the churches of Prague have greeted the new heir with their bells, and the Arch-Bishop of Prague is currently holding a te deum mass to celebrate the happy event. There seems to be a genuine popular joy for this event, which seems to crown this last decade of stability and increasing prosperity for Marslava. Much in spite of the affirmation of Marslava's communist party, the popular reaction shows that the Ducal family enjoys a genuine popularity among the common Marslavan, and that - for now - the Ducal throne is solid. Environmentalist Protests against Controversial Plant Plzen is Marslava's industrial heartland, as it is where Skoda's production takes place. However, Skoda's cars and weapons are not the only production of Plzen. The Rosenthal steelworks have also occupied an important place in the region, and it is one of the largest steelworks of Europe. The Rosenthal group has decided to expand the steelworks of Plzen, building a new plant at the outskirts of the city. The problem is that the construction of the Plant would damage one of the last forests around Plzen, and may pollute seriously the surroundings. The environmentalist alliance Udar! has thus promoted actions of protest that have become more and more intrusive. This morning the police has found hundreds of activists chained to the equipment in the construction site of the future plant. While the protest was not violent, the police did have to use some force...to break the chains that the protesters had used to tie themselves to the building site. The local government has promessed that it would consider the concerns raised by the environmentalist protesters. Edited by Alberto, Aug 8 2014, 01:25 PM.
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| NRE | Aug 8 2014, 07:20 PM Post #17 |
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Map Tsar and Southern Gentleman
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| Alberto | Sep 5 2014, 06:00 PM Post #18 |
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Resident Italian
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Marslava and Serbia to form Common Economic Area Posted Image The logo of Europe's newest common market The governments of Marslava and Serbia have signed today an agreement creating a common economic area. The agreement, which is of extreme importance, provides for the removal of all tariff barriers and the alignment of Serbian technical and sanitary regulations on Marslava's. Moreover, the Voivodavate of Serbia will adopt the Marslavan slov as its currency. The two countries will delegate legislation on the area of trade to a joint commission sitting in Prague. This agreement is expected to bring great benefits to the primitive Serbian economy, as the country's farmers can now export their products to a very consistent European market. The agreement signals Marslava's intent to root itself in the Balkans, particularly seen the belligerant posture of Austria. De facto, it amounts to the economic anneation of Serbia, a country which has little economic weight. Clearly, the senior partner and provider of resources is Marslava, and it is the Marslavan rules and regulations that Serbia is now adopting in order to join this common economic area. In other words, through this agreement, the government of Belgrade has accepted to integrate its economy into Marslava's. According to officials interviewed by this newspaper, this is a further step toward the total reunion of the Marslavan and Serbian crowns. The objective, stated a foreign affairs official, "is to unite the two states in a system which respects both's autonomy". According to Professor Kautzky of the University Masaryk of Brno, the signing of this treaty indicates something more, that "Marslava and Translava, the very well organized panslavist guerrilla, have found an agreement and are now operating in a tacit, de facto, alliance". Overall, the consensus is that this is a message toward both the Roman Empire and Austria that the area around Belgrade is under Prague's firm influence. Some opposition has been expressed by certain Marslavan farmers, particularly swine herders, who will now have to compete against cheaper Serbian producers. Indeed, as the common economic area institutes a centralised system of subsidies and anti-dumping which applies equally to Serbian and Marslavan products, Marslavan farmers will not be able to count on better treatment than their Serbian colleagues. Edited by Alberto, Sep 5 2014, 06:04 PM.
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11:36 AM Jul 13