Local election results in

The results of yesterday’s local elections are now in. Elections for the office of Representative took place in the towns of Thanasia, Palasia, New Richmond and Harenfall. In Palasia and New Richmond, the incumbents – Lord John Gordon and Lord Admiral Joseph Kennedy, respectively – were re-elected. In Thanasia, Countess Eritoshi – who had served as the town’s Representative since its foundation in May 2013 – was replaced by her sister, Lady Imogen, who has chosen to assume the pseudonym of Lady Strawberry. In Harenfall, every voter voted to abstain. The incumbent, Lord Sivert MacLean, has remained as Acting Representative, and he will soon take part in discussions with the Emperor and Prime Minister in regards to the future of the town.

Countess Eritoshi not to run for local election as candidates confirmed

The candidates have been confirmed for the local elections being held on 28 May. Local elections for Representatives will take place in the towns of Thanasia, Palasia, New Richmond, and Harenfall. In Palasia, New Richmond, and Harenfall, the incumbents – Lord John Gordon, Lord Admiral Joseph Kennedy, and Lord Sivert MacLean, respectively – are standing unopposed for re-election. In Thanasia, however, the incumbent Representative, former Prime Minister HIH Countess Eritoshi, is not running for re-election. Her younger sister, Lady Imogen, is running instead. This decision marks a continuation of the Augusta’s decision to gradually withdraw from politics, having resigned as Chief Ambassador in March.

Incumbents stand for local elections

Yesterday saw the end of the week-long period during which those wishing to stand for election as Representative at the end of the month could announce that they would be doing so. In each of the ten Towns of Austenasia, the incumbent Representative or Acting Representative was the only person who announced that they would be standing. This scenario was not unexpected. On Twitter, Emperor Jonathan I wrote that the nation-wide lack of competition for the office of Representative showed “local elections every five years makes far more sense than every two years”, referring to one of the constitutional amendments that will also be voted on at the end of the month. As only a single candidate is standing in each Town, voters will have the option to cast an Abstain vote under the terms of an Imperial Edict passed in 2013. Should there be more votes to abstain than for the candidate in any Town, a new vote will be called for that Town in which more people will be encouraged to stand. The candidates for each Town are as follows: Wrythe: HIM Emperor Jonathan I Zephyria: Lord Marshal William K., Baron of Zephyria Thanasia: HIH Eritoshi, Countess of Memphis Palasia: Lord John Gordon, Baron of Zephyria Lichtenstein: Lord Charles Clarke, Duke of Grantabridge Porthbokon: Lady Evren Filgert, Duchess of Dumnonia New Richmond: HIH Lord Admiral Joseph Kennedy, Count of Greater Richmond Shineshore: Lord Rear Admiral Alastair Cranston, Duke of New Virginia Terentia: Lord Vice Admiral Eren (formerly Jacob) Lewis, Baron of Terentia Harenfall: Lord Sivert MacLean, Duke of Redcaster

Lord John Gordon visits Carshalton

Lord John Gordon, Baron of Palasia, today visited Wrythe after being given a guided tour of the surrounding British town of Carshalton. Lord John arrived at Morden tube station, where he was welcomed by Emperor Jonathan I and Countess Eritoshi Augusta. They got a bus to Carshalton High Street, from where Lord John was given a guided tour of the nearby nation of Orly. From there, the tour continued, going past the former site of Rushymia and the Midget Empire before arriving at Wrythe. Lord John there met Emperor Father Terry and imperial pet bullmastiff Edd. The Emperor, Emperor Father, Augusta, and Baron of Palasia then went out for lunch before driving back to Morden for Lord John to depart. As well as being Baron of Palasia, Lord John Gordon is also its Representative, having been elected in the November 2013 elections. He served as Home Secretary between November 2013 and May 2014.

Green Party founded by Countess Eritoshi

HIH Countess Eritoshi of Memphis, incumbent Prime Minister, has announced her foundation of an Austenasian Green Party as a platform for her policies as she runs to be re-elected next month. The Austenasian Green Party was founded yesterday, mere days after another new political party – Palasian Left Unity – was created by Lord John Gordon. Policies of the Austenasian Green Party include decreasing the Empire’s usage of fossil fuels in favour of renewable sources of energy, protecting biodiversity and natural resources, maintaining the ability of residents to participate in decision-making on local matters through Town Councils, and seeking greater international recognition of Austenasian sovereignty.

Palasian Left Unity founded

Lord John Gordon has founded Palasian Left Unity as a political party. The party supports an absolute monarchy, the legalisation of marijuana, national service, and a halt on expansion. Palasian Left Unity currently has two members, who have been appointed constables by Palasia’s Police Inspector Airan Bloomfield after strong arguments taking place in the town between supporters of the two candidates for next month’s general election. Palasian Left Unity is the second Austenasian political party, joining the Conservative Party, which was founded in October last year by Lord Charles (then known as Hengest) Crannis.

Administrative changes coincide with more territorial expansion

The Empire expanded yet again yesterday evening with the annexation of a house in Bury St Edmunds and a patch of land in South America. Meanwhile, the Crown Dependency of Terentia (situated in North America) has been transitioned into a Town, with the now Lord Legate Jacob Lewis as its Acting Representative. A house in Bury St Edmunds has been annexed as a March, a new form of administrative division. Marches have been created as inhabited territories associated with a Town for electoral but not administrative purposes; effectively autonomous parts of a Town, voting for and represented in Parliament by the Representative of the associated Town, but not officially part of it and administered independently by a Margrave and/or Margravine living in the March. The house, annexed as the March of Caldari, has been associated with Palasia. It is inhabited and administered by John and Maria Alexis, the grandparents of Lord John of Palasia, who have been appointed its Margrave and Margravine. This has raised the Austenasia population to 61. Furthermore, a 35,000 square foot area of land in South America has joined the Empire as the Crown Dependency of Achem. Bordered by the Venezuelan city of Mérida, Achem is administered by Tarek Kârjasary, who has been appointed its Governing Commissioner. In other news, the Emperor announced the start of Winter 2014/15 in the Austenasian calendar on 1 December.

Local Election candidates confirmed

Those standing for Representative in next month’s local election have been confirmed. All incumbents are standing for election, with some at present only being Acting Representatives due to their Towns having joined the Empire after the most recent local elections in November last year. In no Town is there an opposing candidate standing for election, but this does not mean that there will be only one choice on the ballot paper. All subjects will have an option to abstain – should the option to abstain gain more votes than the candidate, the respective Town Council may take power for itself or appoint a new Acting Representative. Those standing for election to the office of Representative are: In Wrythe: HIM Emperor Jonathan I In Zephyria: Lord Marshal William, Baron of Zephyria In Thanasia: HIH Eritoshi, Countess of Memphis In Palasia: Lord John Gordon, Baron of Palasia In Lichtenstein: Lord Hengest Crannis, Duke of Grantabridge In Porthbokon: Lady Evren Filgert, Duchess of Dumnonia In New Richmond: HIH Joseph Nobilissimus Caesar In Shineshore: Lord Alastair Cranston, Duke of New Virginia

Palasia gains new resident

Austenasia’s population has increased by one, with a friend of Lord John Gordon taking up permanent residence in Palasia. Airan Bloomfield, who has been appointed head of Palasia Police Force, moved to Palasia late last month. This has brought the total population of the Empire up to 42, and also made Palasia the most populated Town in Austenasia, with five residents.

Annexations continue amidst warnings of over-expansion

Parliament yesterday evening passed an Act annexing a new Crown Dependency in North America and authorising the annexation of another in the Canary Islands in two weeks. Oregonia, an area of wooded parkland measuring roughly 650 square feet which borders the Kingdom of Überstadt, has joined the Empire as a new Crown Dependency, with King Adam I of Überstadt appointed its Governing Commissioner. The growth of various plants in the area, some of which can be used for dyeing textiles, has opened up an opportunity for Austenasian-Überstadti trade. The Act of Parliament also authorised Lord Hengest Crannis to annex a holiday home owned by his family in the Canary Islands when he visits there later in the month. This will make Africa the fifth continent to have an Austenasian presence, and the new Crown Dependency there – which will be known as Heischierland – will be somewhat of a tourism hub, with friends and family of Lord Hengest frequently staying there. However, concerns were raised in Parliament as to the rate at which the Empire is expanding. Lord John Gordon voiced his opinion that the Empire needs “to slow down”. Emperor Jonathan I replied agreeing that “some consolidation is indeed necessary”, and that Austenasia does not “need a new piece of land every month”. It is therefore thought that the Empire’s rate of expansion will significantly slow down, if not stop, for the next several months.