Svobodna Dnevnik

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El Correo Internacional

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Svarnan Human Rights activists winner of the 1581 Azuolas Nasvytis Prize
By: Elena Manstein
Published: Septem 1, 1581


The ceremony award will be held in the Mordvanian Parliament

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Svarnan human rights activist Vijay Nibhanupudi and Yamuna Manekshaw have been awared the Azuolas Nasvytis Prize for Freedom of Thought by the Mordvanian parliament. The Azuolas Nasvytis Prize ceremony will be held in Slovograd on Vintyr 2. However, it is not clear if at least Nibhanupudi will be allowed to attend, as he remains under house arrest by Svarnan authorities, while Manekshaw has been in prison since 1579. Both are recognized as prisoner of conscience by many international human rights organizations.

By awarding the prize to Vijay Nibhanupudi and Yamuna Manekshaw "we are recognizing the fight for human rights and democracy in Svarna Surya and all Ostara, a struggle which should be eventually won", the Vice-Chairman of the Republican Assembly said.

Nibhanupudi and Manekshaw were nominated by Radical Social Republican Party and Republican Liberal Party MPs.

Florinthian Prime Minister Ben Blanckenship had been nominated for his contribution to peace during the Denil Accords, which ended the Kaljurand Civil War, and was considered a serious contender to receive the Azuolas Nasvytis Prize, which has been awarded for first time. However, Human Rights Committee of the Social and Economic Council rejected Blackenship nomination, as their members agree that it could be seen as a politization of the award.

Vijay Nibhanupudi is a lawyer and human rights activist which has campaigned for transparency and prison reform, while Yamuna Manekshaw is a writer and human rights activist who campaigned in the 1578 elections for the Chhoda Party. She wrote in support of President Amil Vyas' National-Communist Party-led government, although she distanced later, and was critical with the new government on rule of law reform and justice abuses. She, however, opposed the coup d'etat a year later and was arrested. Manekshaw was sentenced to 10 years of jail for corruption charges, in which most human rights associations believe a flawed case, while Nibhanupudi has been under house arrest since 1580.

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El Correo Internacional

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Mordvanian Parliament discusses Constitutional Reform
By: Elena Manstein
Published: Treizen 1581


The Constitutional Committee of the Assembly of Deputies discussing some of the ammends proposed.

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During months, negotiations for a constitutional reform were discussed in the Mordvanian parliament between the several parliamentary groups, but they seem to have stalled. However, the President of the Republican Council (head of government), Bogdan Privsek, is confident that the draft of the constitutional reform could be finished before the end of the present year.

The constitutional reform, demanded by the liberal opposition and many constitutional experts for years, was a vague promise of Bozidar Strnad during his reelection as Chairman of the Council of Defense in 1577. When he was elected two years later, Privsek proposed and announced a constitutional reform expanding the powers of the parliament and clarifying the role and competences of the voyvodeships (local government).

The Coalition of Constitutional Forces, a multi-ethnic centrist coalition aimed to reform the constitution toward a parliamentary republican model, while the Bunesgan People's Party aimed to turn the country toward a federal model. However, both proposals were rejected by the Republican parties such as ruling Mordvanian Republican Party and the Radical Social Republican Party. Unlike the Bunesgan People's Party, the Coalition of Constitutional Forces remain cooperative and it is likely to play an important role if the constitutional reform is aimed to have an even larger consensus that it needs legally, as Privsek initially promised.

The main controversial and divisive issue is the status of the Council of Defense, which has a large political power and huge influence over the Armed Forces and the Republican Guard. A proposal by a Mordvanian Republican Party lawmaker proposed to reduce the competences of the Council of Defense while reinforcing its symbolic role through creating legal obstacles to candidates without enough military and political experience. This proposal was criticized as "undemocratic" by the liberal media, and criticized by the Coalition of Constitutional Forces MPs, who aim to the abolition of the Council of Defense. It was also proposed to simply reforming it, making more like a advisory state body in the Armed Forces. In that case, the Chairman of the Council of Defense -the head of state in the Republic of Mordvania since 1566- would be replaced by a President of the Republic, but lawmakers are divided about if he should be elected by popular vote, by the parliament, and by which house in that case.

Blaz Stuchkek, philosopher and former Chairman of the Chamber of Deputies and diplomat, proposed even that the President could be elected by an electoral college formed by the voyvodeships or local governments, but such proposal found little support. Zvezdana Serebryak, the leader of the United Progressive Socialist Party, declared that her group was willing to consider some of the most ambitious proposals if state-funded education and healthcare were protected in the constitution.

Despite all the differences and lately slow process, Bogdan Privsek hopes that the constitutional reform is passed at least two months before the next legislative elections, to be held in Septem 1582. According to some sources, the Mordvanian Republican Party would be willing to separate the several ammends in different constitutional reforms, if that helps to advance the discussions, something it had rejected at first.

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El Correo Internacional

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Keszaria: President Békésy increases his support in the National Assembly, after legislative elections
By: Mauricio Kovács-Tomillo
Published: Alvan 24, 1582


Seventh elections to the National Assembly since 1558

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National legislative elections were held yesterday, in which Keszarian voters elected the 299 members of the National Assembly, the Lower House of the Keszarian Parliament.

The Keszarian Democratic Movement, the political coalition led by President Géza Békésy, was the most voted, obtaining 35.5% and 124 MPs. Békésy's government, who had been ruling in a minority government, will still need to pact with other forces, but in a more comfortably way. Previously, Békésy had only a dozen of loyal MPs.

The radical right-wing National People's Party remained the second most voted political party, with 19.9% of the vote and 67 MPs, although losing about about 9 points and 26 MPs. While the controversial political party has consolidated his position in the Keszarian political spectrum, it remains to be seem how influential it will be in the new national parliament.

The Civic Democratic Party, once the leader political party in Keszaria for more than a decade, obtained 12.6% and only 38 MPs, their worst electoral result. Nándor Vajda, mayor of Köszövár and leader of the Civic Democratic Party since late 1580, announced his resignation as soon as the bad results were confirmed.

The Freedom Party improved their polls expectations and ended fourth with 8.8% and 21 MPs, even if losing more than 17 representatives, while the Communist Party fell from a 13% in 1578 to 6.9% yesterday, obtaining only 18 MPs. The Lanlanian minority Centrist Democratic Party and the center-left Social Democratic Party were the last political parties to enter in the parliament, with 17 and 14 MPs respectively.

The historical Messanic Democratic Party improved their result four years ago, obtaining about 2.2% of the vote, but they failed to enter in the parliament again. They are expected to hold a national congress soon, which is likely to be the last after this disappointing results.

President Géza Békésy has declared that he will meet with representatives of all elected political parties and coalitions, although he has not confirmed if there will be a reshuffle in the national government.

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El Correo Internacional

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Last Arberian King murdered in Goldecia
By: Milena Brovina
Published: Fein 5, 1582


Kreshnik II, the last Arberian King.

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Kreshnik II, the Last King of Arberë -today Kyrzbekistan, has died at 65. He was murdered in Cair Para, Goldecia, by an unknown gunman.

Kreshnik was a member of the Mirditë Dinasty, which ruled Arberia -also known as Arberë and, between 1498 and 1555 as Qenderi Commonwealth- from the 12th century until 1568, when the Democratic Republic of Kyrzbekistan was proclaimed, ending a 9-year long civil war.

Kreshnik's reign was highly controversial. He came to the throne after the death of his father, late Gazhmend IV, who had reigned for more than 39 years, in late 1541.

During the early 1550s, the Near East monarchy was affected by a number of scandals and social unrest. In 1554, the Arberian Armed Forces intervened in Principality of Murë, then an autonomous territory on northwestern Arberë, in order to crush violent riots. A year later, the Royal Decrees of 1555 were passed, which was considered for many as a covert coup d'etat. As consequence, the Qenderi Commonwealth was abolished, the authority of the Kingdom of Arberë imposed in all the country, and the semi-federal constitution was disbanded, which in practice restored the absolute powers of the monarch. A year later, the Social Democratic Party, main opposition party for more than a decade, was banned. In late 1558, social unrest in the eastern provinces led to Akhadic insurgents taking over several towns. Martial law was declared, and a few weeks later a civil war started.

In 1568, as a political revolution spread around many Arberian cities, Kreshnik II was forced to abdicate in favour of his sister Princess Mimoza, although she was never crowned as monarch. Then, Kreshnik II fled to exile, along most of the members of the royal family. After a short residence in the Angirisian Empire, he moved to Mestra and later to New Galasia. After the Near East country entered in turmoil, he was offered assylum in Goldecia, where he had lived for the last three years.

It is not the first time that tragedy has hit the Arberial royal family in recent years. In 1579, Kreshnik's brother Prince Gazhmend was murdered in a terrorist attack which killed as well Viceroy Arcturus Neretus, the heir to the New Galasian throne. The only two direct remaining alive members of the Mirditë Dinastry are Prince Mimoza, 39, and his younger sister, Princess Gezimë.

The news of Kreshnik II murder were received coldly in Kyrzbekistan. The Kyrzbekistani government had demanded the extradition of the Arberian monarch for years, but without much success.

The Goldecian authorities have declared that they have started an investigation. So far, they do not rule out any hypothesis.

Kreshnik II had stated in recent years that he wished to be buried in the ancient crypt of the Dodbiba Palace, in the city of Lebrazhd, southern Kyrzbekistan, where Kreshnik lived during his childhood. However, this seem unlikely, as after 1568 the palace was turned into a government building, and since 1578 became the official residence of the Governor of Kombash-Kenlyukya.

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El Correo Internacional

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Calandrian government deposed in unexpected coup d'etat
By: Nina Cartarescu
Published: Fein 20, 1582


Calandrian soldiers around the Chamber of Deputies

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Prime Minister Florica Donceanu was ousted by rebel forces combined army, police, and paramilitary forces, three months before parliamentary elections.

In the first military coup in the Mandavines in decades, policemen stormed the parliament building in the capital, Histria, early in the morning, and minutes later the resident of the Prime Minister was seized, disarming the presidential guard, and detaining Prime Minister Florica Donceanu. She is currently under house arrest, the new authorities have declared.

Florica Donceanu had only been Prime Minister for a year, although her party had been in power in Caladria since 1570. She was formely Minister of Justice.

President Marian Puscas, who was Prime Minister from 1570 until 1581, was on an official travel in Magentina, along Foreign Minister Bartolomeu Kjellberg. Puscas angrily denounced the coup as illegal and attack to democracy and Mandavines stability. While the Magentinian President Clemente Aguafuertes offered Puscas political assylum, Puscas declares that he is grateful for the support of the Magentinian government, he is confident that the democratic government will be restored in Caladria, and asked the new authorities to step down and that the constitutional institutions were restored.

Lieutenant-Colonel Savel Paunescu, who acted as spokesperson of the conspirators, has declared that the coup d'etat was motivated by a "decade long of incompetence and corruption" by Puscas administration, which violation of the constitution has made "unable to assure free and fair elections in the coming months", in reference to the recent appointment of two judges of the Constitutional Court, which was considered controversial by media critical to Prime Minister Donceanu. Under such circumstances, the Caladrian military officer claimed, the salvation of the nation could not "be guaranteed by conventional methods".

Paunescu, however, claimed that he is not willing to build a dictatorship, and that the constitution will be restored and new democratic elections, once order is restored and that the situation is calmed enough. He declared that the international community should be able to understand this and cooperate so there is a "smooth transition of power in the country". Meanwhile, Paunescu announced that the martial law and the state of emergency was declared in the archipelago.

While Paunescu was giving his speech on television, there was a pro-government demonstration in Histria, which was followed by riots. Only two hours later police units loyal to the new authorities were able to put down the protest, arresting hundred of protestors. Twenty-five minutes later, the last military barrack loyal to the deposed government finally decided to surrender, after hours of siege by rebel forces, including unidentified paramilitary units.

Meanwhile, the situation in Capidia, the second largest island, remains unstable, with reports of shooting nearby the center of the city. The other smaller islands remain calm, under control to forces loyal to Lieutenant-Colonel Paunescu.

Paunescu promised that a new Prime Minister will be appointed as soon as possible, who would lead a provisional government in charge until new elections.

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El Correo Internacional

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Mordvania passes Constitutional Reform
By: Polina Lamparska
Published: Fein 28, 1582


Mordvanian voters passed an important constitutional reform

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Mordvanian voted in a wide-ranging referendum, approving three of the four constitutional changes which had previously being discussed and passed by both houses of the Mordvanian Parliament. The main reforms were backed by President of Republican Council Bogdan Privsek and the main opposition political parties, although several of those political forces were divided in some minors questions.

Mordvanian voters were asked four questions which, if the four had been passed, had changed 29 constitutional articles, changing significantly the country's political system. The first question asked about the competences of both the Republican Council (national government) and the Assembly Representatives (Lower House of the Mordvanian parliament) enlarging the powers of the Assembly and effectively giving the parliament the power to choose the national government (currently that power belonged to the Council of Defense, although the constitution established that the Chairman (head of state) should take into account the composition of the parliament). The second question reformed the competences of both the national government and the local councils (voyvodeships) in a more balanced and lesser ambiguous way, and expanded some social rights.

The third question -considered the most important reform in the Constitution- deeply reformed the role of the Council of Defense. Established at the beginning of the Republican Revolution of 1565-1566, the military-led Council of Defense serves as guardian of the constitution, which large powers on foreign policy and national security. Althoug the Chairman of the Council of Defense (head of state of the Republic of Mordvania) was elected by universal suffrage, several constitutional articles de facto limited the candidates to those with a military background. Since 1566, the Chairman of the Council of Defense was Bozidar Strnad, who was reelected in the 1570 and 1577 elections. The electoral reform replaces the Chairman of the Council of Defense with a President of the Republic of Mordvania, who will have a relatively ceremonial role (at least compared with the original constitutional text), and elected democratically with less demanding constitutional requisites.

Although some opposition forces such as the Coalition of Constitutional Forces proposed the abolition of the Council of Defense, the final constitutional reform will keep its existence as a mostly advisory council to the Ministry of Defense, losing all its executive power although retaining some informal political influence.

The fourth question asked Mordvanian voters to remove some constitutional restrictions to the electoral law, allowing the Mordvanian Parliament to change the electoral laws without the need of a constitutional reform. The President of the Republican Council Bogdan Privsek had hinted that he would favour a mixed electoral system, which would reward the most voted political parties while establishing a large number of uninominal electoral district, which was expected to increase the influence of minority and multi-ethnic parties such as the Coalition of Constitutional Forces. The reform would have also reduce the influence and power of the Upper House, the Chamber of Deputies, which members are drawn from representatives of the local government. However, the Republican Social Radical Party, and at a lesser extent the far-left United Progressive Socialist Party opposed such reforms.

The turnout was relatively low, about 58.9%, and Mordvanian voters approved the first, second and third constitutional reforms (by a 81%; 88%; and 58%, respectively) while they rejected the fourth question, voting 48.9% for and 51.1% against.

The reforms will enter into force through different phases, which would be revised and overseen by the Constitutional Court. The articles reformed by the second question will enter into force immediately, while those affecting mostly the first question will be on Septem 20, a day before the planned national elections. The reform of the Council of Defense will be done more gradually, with the Council of Defense transfering several powers and competences to the Republican Council (mostly to the ministries of Defense, Republican Affairs and National Security) between Septem 20 and the end of the current year. The Council of Defense will keep some minor competences and the Chairman of the Council of Defense will retain the official position of head of state until 1 Ochtyr 1584, when Presidential elections will be held for first time, and a President of the Republic elected by universal suffrage.

Chairman of the Council of Defense Bozidar Strnad congratulated the Mordvanian people and the civil society for months of "constructive and civic debate...and the elected representatives" for a "smoothly constitutional reform" which will strengthen the republicans institutions and values...of the "Mordvanian Constitution", in an official statement. The Council of Defense surprisingly remained away for the constitutional reform and political discussions, although it played a secondary role through some state-owned media and, some observers claim, informal discussions behind the shadows with several political forces. Strnad, 52, who promised in 1577 that he would not attempt to be reelected Chairman of the Council of Defense for a third time, has remained silent about if he could be considering running for President of the Republic of Mordvania in 1584.

Mordvanian to called to vote again in two months for the National Elections, which will elect candidates for the Assembly of Representatives, the Lower House of the Parliament. The electoral campaign will officially start in three weeks, and Bogdan Privsek's Mordvanian Republican Party remains the favourite.

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El Correo Internacional

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Akhadist candidate wins state elections in eastern Kyrzbekistan
By: Milena Brovina
Published: Zechyr 26, 1582


Domika Kongoli was reelected as Governor of the state of Kombash-Kenlyukya

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The second round of Kyrzbekistan elections was held yesterday, which decided the Governors of the states of Kombash-Kenlyukya, Uzekyak, and Yartushia.

The first round had been held on late Alvan, and resulted in a nationwide victory of the ruling Socialist People's Party, which received 42.9% of the vote, mostly the same percent that it received in the national elections six month before. However, the Socialist People's Party only obtained a large enough majority in the state of Uzekyak (central Kyrzbekistan), where candidate Zophar Toktamishur, former Commissar of Cultural Affairs, obtained 52,8% and therefore avoided the need of a runoff.

The center-left Kyrzbek Labour Party, currently member of the coalition in the federal government, was the second most voted political party again, despite obtaining their worst result in their history. The Akhadist Kyrzbek National Party had as well a disappointing result outside the eastern state, while the Democratic Social Forum -a coalition of Arberian center-left political parties- improved the last year result in almost three points, even displacing the Kyrzbek National Party as the third most voted force nationwide (although the Arberian coalition obtained more than 77% of their votes in the state of Kombash-Kenlyukya).

The Socialist People's Party proved to be only nationwide competitive political force once again, with their candidates facing in the runoff candidates of the Arberian Democratic Social Forum, the Kyrzbek Labour Party, and the Kyrzbek National Party, respectively, in the other three federal states.

The Conservative Reform Coalition, a moderate Akhadist coalition, although obtained a similar result than six months ago, failed to pass the 5% threshold in the states of Kombash-Kenlyukya and Uzekyak, while the Communist Party improved more than two points nationwide although failed to enter in the eastern Kyrzbekistani state assembly - which in the 1578 elections had been their main stronghold of the recently created Perovist-inspired party.

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In the western state of Kombash-Kenlyukya, former Minister of Education and incumbent Governor Dominka Kongoli obtained a narrow victory in the runoff, being reelected by 51.1% of the vote, while her rival Gjon Siliqi, of the Arberian Democratic Social Forum, who obtained 48.9%. In the first round, Siliqi defeated Kongoli 40.8% vs. 39.2%, but the support of the Communist Party voters (which obtained on Alvan 9.7% of the vote and 10 of 101 seats in the state assembly).

It was a bitter result for the Arberian coalition, which however seems to start winning over most of the ethnic Arberian voters of the western state, despite a more moderate platform on self-government compared to the Arberian National Movement, which saw their activities suspended after the 1575 constitutional crisis, and which leadership had called to boycott the federal elections of 1578 and 1582.  On the other hand, the result is likely to strengthen the position of Governor Kongoli, probably the most influencial female politician in the country after President Aygöl Zamambekuz.

In the northern state of Tembyak, traditionally one of the Socialist People's Party strongholds, incumbent Governor Almas Sangur defeated the Kyrzbek Labour Party candidate Timer Ilgezur. The elections in the northern state had a very low turnout, as both the Socialist People's Party and the Kyrzbek Labour Party are under a joint coalition in the federal government. However, many political commentators had predicted that these state elections may have a negative effect on the relations of both secular parties, as the Socialist People's Party defeated the Kyrzbek Labour Party candidates in both the states of Uzekyak and Tembyak.

In the eastern state of Yartushia, the Akhadist Kyrzbek National Party Elbrus Almasur defeated Socialist People's Party candidate Lenar Anvarur who had been Governor since 1577. Elbrus Almasur obtained 53.9% of the vote, while Anvarur could only obtain 46.1%. In the first round, Anvarur had been the most voted candidate with 30.8%, while Almasur obtained 30.7% and less than 10,000 votes behid. The support of the Conservative Reform Coalition, which officially endorse Almasur against the left-wing Governor proved decisive, and Almasur became the biggest electoral victory of an Akhadist politician since the proclamation of the Democratic Repubic of Kyrzbekistan in 1568.

Almasur run in an ultra-conservative platform "inspired by Setgvek and Zokuk law", but he declared yesterday that he is confident that his victory will "be remembered as the beginning of an Akhadic awakening in Kyrzbekistan". He had to rely in the support of the Conservative Reform Coalition, a more moderate Akhadic coalition, as after the Alvan state elections both the Kyrzbek National Party and the Socialist People's Party had the same number of seats in the state assembly. Both Akhadic political parties combined have 61% of the seats in the state assembly, while the Arberian Democratic Social Forum has a minor and rather symbolic number of deputies. Despite that large conservative majority, it is unclear if Almasur would be pragmatic enough to avoid direct confrontation with both the federal government and the Constitutional Court, which members as either secular or left-wing.

Almasur victory may be a challenge for his own Kyrzbek National Party as well, as his success could cast a shadow over the leadership of the party leader, Ilgus Irekur.  On Alvan, Almasur and the KNP party-list obtained the triple than the party nationwide average, and yesterday he obtained just in his state more voted that his party obtained on Alvan in all states combined. However, experts agree that intraparty rivalry is rare in the Kyrzbek National Party, which has experienced few changes in leadership since its creation in 1572. The Akhadic Kyrzbek National Party is openly supported by the Akhadic Society, the largest non-governmental Akhadist organization in the world.

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El Correo Internacional

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Mordvanian Republican Party obstain 'disappointing victory' in National Elections
By: Polina Lamparska
Published: Septem 20, 1582


Bogdan Privsek, 61, is the longest serving head of government since the proclamation of the Republic of Mordvania.

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Bogdan Privsek is expected to form a new government in the coming days, as Dragomir Pengek, Vice-President of the Republican Council and leader of the Republican Liberal Party, has confirmed that they will remain in Privsek-led government. Negotiations between the Mordvanian Republican Party and the center-left Republican Democratic Party are advanced, although it is seems unlikely that the center-left republican party will join Privsek's government, it will at least support Privsek. Still, Privsek is required to need either the support or abstention of the Coalition of Constitutional Forces, but that the multi-ethnic coalition is not likely to offer a big obstacle to Privsek's government, as they are expected to have a bigger influence in the new parliament.

Bogdan Privsek, who has been President of the Republican Council (head of government) since 1579, and who was previously from 1568 to 1574, will lead an even weaker minority government, as the Mordvanian Republican Party obtained a result much worse than expected, with 27% of the vote and 172 seats (79 seats less than in 1579). A too confident electoral campaign and a decline in legislative activity durint the last year as consequence of the discussions toward constitutional reform (which was passed three months ago, and which may influence a lower turnout) are believed to be the main cause of the disappointing result for the Mordvanian Republican Party, which was either way the most voted political party.

There were discussions for an unprecedented (at least since 1567) Mordvanian Republican Party-Republican Social Radical Party unity government, which would have allowed a comfortable government, but deep differences between both political parties made the alliance impossible. The radical-republican party obtained their worst result, barely keeping the fourth position by a few thousands votes. Vitomir Jama, leader of the party since 1580, has announced that he will resign as party leader in the next political conference of the Republican Social Radical Party, expected to be called as soon as Privsek is confirmed as President of the Republican Council by the Assembly of Representatives.

The far-left United Progressive Socialist Party was the second most political party, with 21% and 138 representatives, despite polls had predicted a worse result for the last two years. The result will allow the far-left party to continue as leader of the opposition, although the leadership of Zvezdana Serebryak -previous Minister of Foreign Affairs and President of the Republican Council in 1573-1576 and 1576-1579, respectively, and leader of the United Progressive Socialist Party since 1572- is likely to be questioned after two electoral defeats in a row. She has previously declared that no further decesion will be made before the new party congress, which is expected to be announced in the coming months. The United Progressive Socialist Party was probably harmed by the campaign of the Communist Party, which was allowed to be registered again in a contested and controversial decision, and which carried out a similar electoral platform while highly aggressive toward Zvezdana Serebryak's political party. Despite this, the Communists barely obtained 1% of the vote.

It was a better result for the Republican Liberal Party, which is expected to increase its share of ministries and influence in the new governemnt, after obtaining more than 10% of the vote and 66 representatives  (an increase of more than 100%). The Republican Democratic Party was the great winners of the electoral day, as they surprisingly entered in the parliament for first time. The Republican Democratic Party, although founded in 1575 and being relatively popular in some provinces as Seznica and Visnja, always failed to obtain more than 2% of the vote in national elections. With a younger leadership and a campaign more focused in social media, the Republican Democratic Party -with centrist but left-republican platform- obtained 6% of the vote.

The last party to enter in the parliament was the separatist Bunesgan People's Party, which barely acheived the 3% threshold by a few thousands votes. Meanwhile, the other ethnic-Bunesgan political party, the center-left Bunesgan Republican Party, failed to enter in the parliament, as failed again as wel the Mordvanian far-right and ultra-nationalists, divided in several small political parties.

Bogdan Privsek will lead the most powerful Republican Council (national government) since the proclamation of the Republic of Mordvania in 1567, as the Council of Defense will transfer many of its competences and powers to the national government as consequence of the constitutional reform, although the Republican Council will be checked by a more powerful lower house at the same time. During the next term, it will also be elected the first President of the Republic of Mordvania, who will replace the Chairman of the Supreme Council (headed by Bozidar Strnad since 1567) as head of state of the Mordvanian state.

There have been many rumours about if Bogdan Privsek's  government will be shorter, as he may run for the 1584 presidential elections. He, however, has denied such claims, declaring that if "I am President of the Republican Council in 1584...I can not see a reason why I shouldn't continue until the next elections [in Septem 1585]".

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El Correo Internacional

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New Galasian government pardons member of the Goldecian royal family
By: Asia Galianus
Published: Ochtyr 18, 1582


Lord Eustace Jones and Princess Elaina during a travel in Goldecia, 1576

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Lord Eustace Jones, a member of the Goldecian royal family, has been pardoned and deported back to the Kvaennan country, after a decree announced by the Council of National Unity. Jones, 36, is married with Princess Elaina, the second daughter of late King Neberen, King of New Galasia from 1565 to his death, in 1579.

Jones, along his wife, another three minor members of the New Galasian royal family, and sixteen New Galasian politicians and army officials had been sentenced to jail for the charges of high treason, conspiration against the government, organized crime, and collusion with foreign intelligence, in a highly controversial trial which lasted more than two years. Jones, who unlike most of the other suspects had admitted guilty to the military court, was sentenced to 20 years of jail, while his wife Princess Elaina was sentenced to 12 years. They were accused of being involved in a conspiracy which would have led to the murder of Regent Ambrosius on Elva 1580, the same day that a group of military officers took power in the Near East country and proclaimed the military-led Council of National Unity as the highest authority in the country, suspending the constitution and the Alsace parliament. However, many New Galasian political parties and human rights organization denounced many flaws in the court process, including allegations of torture and legal restrictions to lawyers.

Jones was pardoned and, merely an hour after his release from a military prison in southwestern New Galasia, immediately deported back to Goldecia, arrieving to Rutterdam airport at 2 a.m. As the pardon was only partial, that means that the two children of the couple, Princes Brutus Arcturus and Cynrus Benedict (5 and 2 years old, respectively) will remain under state custody, as consequence of a law passed on Septem 1581, in which citizens condemned for treason and similar changes would have the custody of their children retired permanently.

Princess Elaina, 34, remains in prison, but the New Galasian media has published rumours that she could be pardoned and released in the coming weeks as well, and at least serve part of her sentence in house arrest.

A speaker of the Council of National Unity justified the decision to pardon Lord Jones, "not in terms of interference with a judiciary decision...but in order to safeguard the interests of the nation in the most proportional and pragmatical way". It is not clear how much this would improve the diplomatic standing of the Near East nations, as many foreign government rejected to recognize the government established by the Council of National Unity.

Prime Minister Perceval Oberonus defined the pardon as "maybe not an act of justice, but one of mercifulness and diplomacy".

Since late 1579, New Galasia is immersed in a bloodthirsty civil war, affecting the eastern side of the country.

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El Correo Internacional

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Mordvania: Slavika Mandszek appointed as Minister of Justice
By: Polina Lamparska
Published: Septem 28, 1582


Mandszek posing for an interview with the Alvan number of Jaz magazine.

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Bogdan Privsek, which was reelected as President of the Republican Council for another three years, confirmed the name of his ministers. Although a slightly less continuist cabinet than the former one -which many of the ministers had already served in the 1567-1573 Privsek's government as either ministers or deputy ministers-, there weren't many changes and surpises in the new cabinet, besides that the Republican Liberal Party (the minor member of the coalition government) will control two more ministries than the previous term. Except one, the announcement of Slavika Mandsek as Minister of Justice.

Slavika Mandsek became judge in 1570. Since then, she has been mostly involved with cases of corruption, financial fraud, and organized crime. She was judged cases involved corruption of Mordvanian officers, and the Nentsian, Lomarren, and Kubanizan organized crime, for which she received several death threats during her career. She is more well-known abroad for her involvement in the Konopczowsky and Nentsian Fund case, which ended with Ksenia Vynnychuk and several other Nensian officers to be sentenced for corruption and embezzlement charges.

She has also written several academic articles and books about judiciary reform and anti-corruption legislation. She is also known for being the only openly gay judge in Mordvania, as she declared in an interview for Jaz, the most popular LGBT magazine in the country. Although same-sex marriage is legal in the Republic of Mordvania since 1575, Mandsek remains single and not much is known about her private life.

Mandsek has declared that the acceptance of Privsek's proposal "was a tough decision" but that she hopes that "sustantive and constructive reforms could be achieved...in order to improve the efficiency and independence of our judiciary system". Mandsek, which will not return to her judiciary career as consequence, said that she feels that she is convinced that she will be able to "offer a different perspective, knowledge, and experience" which should work toward lasting reforms for the well-being of the nation. "There are many competent and brave judges in our nation, so my decision wasn't that difficult", she declared.

She has declared that she will not join any existing political party, and that she will remain as an independent minister in the national cabinet. "I will have enough freedom to work for the reforms necessary...if not, I wouldn't have accepted", she declared, asked about the fact that some members of Privsek's government during 1567 and 1573 were involved in several cases of corruption, although Privsek's Mordvanian Republican Party was never directly affected. "If our agreement is not respected, I won't have a problem with resigning immediately".

Mandsek will replace Bojana Svet, who will become Minister of Republican Affairs.