Wilcsland to be dissolved at New Year
The Austenasian Parliament earlier today passed an Act withdrawing recognition from the Kingdom of Wilcsland and announcing its dissolution effective as of midnight on 31 December. Wilcsland was ruled by King Declan I from its foundation as South Bank in 2002 until 2014. Declan I also reigned as Austenasia’s third Emperor from December 2010 until January 2013. Declan’s abdication from Austenasia set in motion a chain of events which resulted in his abandoning of Wilcsland, and he was overthrown and replaced as King there by his brother, Ptolemy II, in December 2014. However, in the past five years Ptolemy II has done nothing as King of Wilcsland other than appoint Lord Admiral Kennedy – the current Austenasian Prime Minister – as co-King in 2015. With Wilcsland having fallen into complete inactivity and no leader willing to take up the reins, Lord Admiral Kennedy as King decreed the dissolution of the country and the abdication of both himself and his co-King by assenting to the Act of Parliament passed earlier today. The Act mandates that all rights to hold or bestow the throne of Wilcsland shall now be held by the Austenasian Throne, which already held suzerain status over the country due to Ptolemy II having declared Wilcsland a protected state of Austenasia on the first day of his reign. During the rule of Declan I over Austenasia, he was often considered to have seen the Empire as simply one – albeit the grandest – of his several foreign possessions, and sometimes implied it to be a colonial holding of Wilcsland. The dissolution of Wilcsland by an Austenasian law demonstrates how far the geopolitical situation has changed in the years since his reign.
Diplomatic relations restored between Austenasia and Sandus
A treaty was yesterday signed between Austenasia and the State of Sandus, restoring diplomatic ties between the two nations almost exactly three years after they had been cut by the Austenasian government. Diplomatic relations with Sandus were suspended by Prime Minister Lord Admiral Kennedy on 27 July 2016, after the Sandum head of state Sogmo Soergel published accusations that Emperor Jonathan I and Shane Cahill (the latter being the then Chair of the GUM) had masterminded a “conspiracy” to exclude Sandus from the organisation. The accusations were denied, but influenced Cahill’s decision to eventually leave the diplomatic community. This incident took place in the wake of two years of building tension between Austenasia and Sandus, primarily caused by a combination of international controversy surrounding Sandum policies regarding privacy and a growing friendship between Austenasia and Sandus’ long-time rival Wyvern. An attempt was made by the government of Überstadt – which has remained a close friend of both nations throughout this period – in October 2016 to mediate between Austenasia and Sandus, but to no avail. Yesterday’s treaty marks the culmination of discussions which began in November last year, aiming to finally lay to rest the tensions between Austenasia and Sandus. The treaty includes mutual pledges of non-aggression (both militarily and politically), as well as mutual apologies and grants of forgiveness for any wrongdoings in the past. Sandus was a close friend of Austenasia over the first half of the decade, with both nations co-operating in the Grand Unified Micronational and in other initiatives. Sogmo Soergel was one of the heads of state hosted by Austenasia in the first state visit to the country, which took place on 15 July 2012. Although it seems unlikely that Austenasia and Sandus will share such a strong friendship again, this treaty has gone a long way to restoring goodwill by putting the hostility between the two nations in the past.
Imperial Party announces second Annual Conference
The Prime Minister, Lord Admiral Joseph Kennedy, has announced the date of the second Imperial Party Annual Conference as Party Leader. The conference will occur on 31 July at 4 PM EST via the Imperial Party discord server. The Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, Lady Vice Admiral Eryn Lewis, are expected to deliver addresses. The Deputy Prime Minister currently serves as Party Chairwoman, and will preside over the conferences proceedings. In attendance will be all Imperial Party cabinet ministers and representatives, New Richmond Mayor Alex Francis MAO, and various private members. The Prime Minister is expected to announce cabinet reforms as part of his address.
Territorial reforms enacted by Parliament
The Empire sees various territorial reforms with the passage of the Amerdansk, Augusta and New Richmond Act 2019. The Act, proposed to the House of Representatives by Prime Minister Lord Admiral Joseph Kennedy, has separated the former New Richmond borough of North New Saint Josephsburg from that City, becoming the Town of Augusta. The now Lord Riley Kennedy, Baron of Augusta – the younger brother of Lord Admiral Joseph – has been appointed Acting Representative of Augusta pending a local election. Lord Riley has joined the Imperial Party, and as a Representative has become a member of the Imperial Party Board (the governing body of the party). The legislation has also re-annexed portions of the New Richmond borough of Saint Josephsburg which were previously ceded to the United States by the New Richmond Act 2014. The newly re-annexed land consists of the house where Lord Admiral Joseph resided at the time of New Richmond’s transition from a Crown Dependency to a Town, and is currently resided in by his aunt and her three children. The Town of Amerdansk, formerly represented in Parliament by Lord Anthony Clark, has been transitioned to a Crown Dependency, which the now The Rt. Hon. Anthony Clark has been appointed Governing Commissioner of. This is in response to Clark’s withdrawal from active politics, including within Parliament.
Local elections see new Mayor for New Richmond
Tuesday 21st May saw local elections take place in New Richmond, Theodosiopolis, and Dragovina. These were the first elections to take place in Theodosiopolis and Dragovina since their foundation in March and April respectively. Both saw their Acting Representatives elected as Representatives proper. New Richmond saw its Representative, the Prime Minister Lord Admiral Kennedy, re-elected for the sixth time in a row. As New Richmond is a City, its subjects were also voting for a Mayor. The previous Mayor of New Richmond, Captain William Kennedy, had resigned on 24 April, with his nephew Alex Francis being appointed Acting Mayor by the city council. Tuesday’s election saw Mr Francis elected as Mayor of New Richmond with 100% of the vote with a 75% turnout of twelve people. Mr Francis is a member of the Imperial Party, which currently holds a plurality of seats in Parliament.
National Liberal Alliance established, forms coalition with Imperial Party
As partisan politics sees a resurgence in Austenasian political culture, the National Liberal Alliance has been established by Lord John Gordon, Viscount of Thetford and HG Duke Bradley of Dullahan. The National Liberal Alliance, or NLA, describes itself as a classical liberal and monarchist party. The NLA registered with the Secretary-General’s Office earlier today following weeks of deliberation between its founders. Lord Gordon, who currently serves as Representative of Palasia and has previously served as Deputy Prime Minister, was selected as the party’s first chairman. Duke Bradley, who currently serves as Minister of Defence, Princeps Senatus and Commissioner of the Border Enforcement Agency, has been named party secretary. In the hours following the establishment of the NLA, talks were held between the party’s leadership and the Prime Minister Lord Admiral Joseph Kennedy – Leader of the Imperial Party – in regards to the creation of a coalition between the two parties. A decision was reached, and the newly formed coalition now holds five out of eight Cabinet positions and three out of seven seats in the House of Representatives. The establishment of the NLA follows the establishment of the Fatherland Party, a socially conservative organization, last month by Lord Dionisiy Tedzhan-Smahin, Count of West Frisia – the Representative of Theodosiopolis – and Lord Edward Gundersen, Count of New Grémmia – the Representative of Dragovina. The Fatherland Party currently holds two seats in the House of Representatives.
Prime Minister responds to Adammic PM Lord Saunders’s statement
Lord Admiral Kennedy, Prime Minister of the Empire, has released a statement in response to a statement released by Adammic Prime Minister Lord Saunders. Lord Saunders’s statement, which was publicised by an Adammic Express article released earlier today, condemned the Austenasian government for the third part of the Second Amendment to the Austenasian Constitution of 2011. The section in question of the Second Amendment defines marriage as between one man and one woman. Lord Kennedy has condemned the Adammic Prime Minister’s statement as “indicative of one who acts with naïveté in regards to the accepted practices of diplomacy within the community of small nations,” and described Lord Saunders’s behaviour as “immature and disrespectful to the democratic processes of the Empire.” In his statement, the Prime Minister applauded the Adammic Monarch Adam I’s response to Lord Saunders’s statement and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to maintaining productive and amicable relations with the government of Adammia. The Prime Minister’s statement can be read in full here.
Kennedy re-elected in landslide as Clark drops out of election
HIH Lord Admiral Joseph Kennedy, Duke of Bohemia has been re-elected as Prime Minister with 86.84% of the vote after his sole opponent, Lord Anthony Clark, announced the day before the election that he no longer wished to run. Despite the announcement, Clark – the Representative of Amerdansk – still received 5.26% of the vote; the option to abstain (which, if it gained a majority, would have forced fresh elections) gained 7.89% of the vote. The election saw a total turnout of 73.08%, with thirty eight of the fifty two subjects eligible to vote doing so. Every Town of the Empire saw a 100% turnout, with the exception of Clark’s town, Amerdansk, from which no votes were reported. Just under half – 47.6% – of the Empire’s twenty one non-residential subjects voted. Kennedy’s victory of 86.84% is the most decisive in any general election since that of January 2009, when the then Crown Prince Jonathan was unanimously elected Prime Minister by all four subjects of the new Empire. A victory speech from the re-elected Prime Minister is expected to be published shortly.
Lord Admiral Kennedy and Lord Clark selected as general election candidates
Emperor Jonathan I has chosen the candidates for next month’s general election. HIH Lord Admiral Joseph Kennedy, the incumbent Prime Minister, will be running for re-election against Lord Anthony Clark, Baron of Amerdansk. The general election will take place on 28 February, with campaigning now starting to get underway. Lord Admiral Kennedy is leader of the Imperial Party, the sole political party currently registered in Austenasia. Lord Anthony announced his intention to stand for election back in December 2018, and has already published a campaign website. Lord Admiral Kennedy has served as Prime Minister since the previous general election in 2015, and also holds the rank of Caesar. As Representative of New Richmond – the most populous Austenasian land claim – he holds a large advantage in terms of predicted votes. Lord Anthony Clark joined Austenasia in 2016 as the Governor of Amerdansk, which in August last year transitioned into a Town. Since 14 January, Lord Clark has served as Minister of Defence. Under the Austenasian Constitution of 2011, the Monarch selects applicant Representatives to run for Prime Minister three weeks after a general election is called, four weeks before voting takes place (general elections taking place seven weeks after being called).
General Election called for 28 February
His Imperial Majesty the Emperor has called a general election for 28 February 2019. Under the Constitution, the election would have had to have taken place on or before 3 March, which will be four years since the previous general election in 2015. Until 31 January, Representatives will be able to apply to the Monarch to be appointed Candidates for the election. The Monarch is obliged to appoint at least two Candidates from those who apply, with any others being appointed at his discretion. The month of February will be spent by the Candidates campaigning for election, with votes being cast on the 28th and the victorious candidate taking office on 1 March. The incumbent Prime Minister, HIH Lord Admiral Joseph Kennedy, is expected to run for a second term, and Lord Anthony Clark of Amerdansk announced on 31 December an intention to also stand for election. No other Representatives have so far publicly announced an intention to run, although Lady Vice Admiral Eryn Lewis of Terentia has indicated a desire to stand if Lord Admiral Kennedy decides not to do so.
