Vanuku

[Sisyphus]

Tens of Millions Set To Vote In Biggest Election for Half A Century
Latest Reforms Introduced As Vanuku Also Announces Package of Aid for Majatran Continent


Members of the Grand Council applaud as the government's latest democratic reforms are voted through.

Janaury 4519 - Vanuku is gearing up for the biggest general election in nearly 50 years after the right to vote was extended to tens of millions more people.

Under a second amendment to the Constitutional Reform Act, electoral suffrage was widened out to everyone in employment and paying taxes to the government. They will be able to take part alongside existing voters, who include members of the armed forces, the nobility and the extremely wealthy.

It is the first time the vast majority of the population has been able to vote in this way since the 4470s, when a dictatorship was introduced following a military coup led by the Salyzr brothers and backed by the monarch. The ruling Suadja Mrjogadé Shlajofitojafmorzi (New Conservative Front) government said the democratic reforms were absolutely necessary for Vanuku's future and would be followed by further wholesale changes if the party was re-elected.

Meanwhile, the Prefect has promised to allocate a substantial chunk of funding to a new economic stimulation programme aimed at boosting underdeveloped nations in Majatra.

Herlkai Vrhelmszo pledged his support to the stimulus programme following talks with the Kazulian Prime Minister Anne-Mette Daugaard. It will be modelled on the Bortnem-Pomerleau Initiative, which Kazulia used to great effect in Dovani.

The Kazulian Developmental Assistance Agency has already pledged to place around 15 to 25 per cent of the funds necessary to get the Majatran Development Programme up and running. The Vanukean Prefect has now said his nation will allocate a further 25 per cent of the funds and has called on nations such as Istalia, Selucia, Cildania, Zardugal and Cobura to stump up the remainder.

He also revealed that Vanuku's extensive nuclear energy and power programme which would be coming on line soon, would be used to provide a further economic boost. The 630 billion VAN network of reactors project launched in the 4490s, and due for completion in the 4520s, will be used to provide subsidised and affordable energy to any undeveloped nation on Majatra that wishes to tap into it.

The Prefect said: "Not only will the massive-scale nuclear energy programme answer our growing domestic energy needs but part of the energy produced will be channelled towards the energy needs of less-developed countries on Majatra to help with the economic stimulus of these nations.

"We call on other nations on the continent to join us in investing in this much-needed programme of revival and in helping provide the economic boost that will pave the way for more stability throughout Majatra."

[Rogue]

Deltarian Federal Army moves into southern jelbania, treaty with Vanuku announced

[Sisyphus]

Vanuku Distances Itself From Deltarian Troop Advancement Into Southern Jelbania
Government Confirms It Will Not Order Armed Forces Into Neighbouring Nation And Urges Deltaria To Withdraw


Staying put... mobilised Vanukean armed forces will not be crossing the border into Jelbania at this time.

July 4519 - Despite growing international concern over the situation in Jelbania, Deltaria has taken the provocative step of advancing troops into the south of the country ahead of what it calls the creation of an autonomous zone under its direct protection.

The move, has left many holding their breath, as they look to see how Vanuku will react. Similar moves in the past have been enough provocation to spark military conflict.

However, on this occasion, and despite having mobilised several divisions of it armed forces in readiness for such a pre-emptive move, the Kingdom has confirmed it is not considering entering Jelbania at this stage. Instead, the Vanukean government has said it will continue to invest in the political and economic stability of northern Jelbania without putting boots on the ground.

Prefect Herlkai Vrhelmszo confirmed that his government would continue to hold dialogue with Deltaria over a permanent solution regarding Jelbania but also encouraged President Igor Hošek to withdraw troops immediately or face the likelihood of international condemnation.

He also confirmed that both nations had been looking at a draft proposal to help jointly administer Jelbania and get the nation back on its feet following its abandonment by the Augustan Empire, but the chances of an official treaty being ratified had been "diminished" by this move.

Prefect Vrhelmszo said: "We have given the tribal warlords in northern Jelbania assurances that should it be required, we will move to protect them. But at this stage, despite what has happened in the south, we will not be advancing our armed forces across the border.

"Clearly, we want to come to an arrangement regarding the future of Jelbania as part of our pledge to the economic development of poorer nations on Majatra. A big part of this involves preventing conflict and we have held constructive talks over the last few months with Deltaria in regards to this.

"However,we do distance ourselves from the advancement of Deltarian troops into southern Jelbania and encourage them to withdraw as soon as possible. Given the level of international concern over this matter they will face condemnation from many sources making the opportunity for us to continue with constructive dialogue following our upcoming election a lot more difficult."

[Sisyphus]

Electoral Success Paves Way For Biggest Reform Yet
Prefect Receives Key Support For Constitutional Changes to the Monarchy and Right To Vote


Members of the Grand Council listen on as the Prefect outlines his plans for constitutional reform.

June 4520 - In the most anticipated general election for half a century, the Suadja Mrjogadé Shlajofitojafmorzi (New Conservative Front) has stormed to a resounding victory and pledged to reform the constitution to prevent a return to the political deadlock of the last six years.

With more than 50 million people entitled to vote following the extension of suffrage, the governing party was swept back into power with a huge majority. This was partly due to the collapse of the main opposition party (The Movement for Discontent) just weeks before the general election was held; however, the SMS's pledge to continue widening out the democratic process if it won the election also chimed with tens of millions of people who enthusiastically embraced their right to vote.

Immediately following the election success, the Prefect met with armed forces leaders, police chiefs, top judges and senior members of many of the influential noble families in the country to spell out his vision for a new, more democratically accountable Vanuku, where the last vestiges of autocracy and dictatorship would be swept away.

And, after receiving their full endorsement for the move, the Prefect returned to the Grand Council Chamber to outline his vision for constitutional change.

The Constitutional Monarchy and Royal Succession Act 4520 will effectively remove the monarch's unilateral veto over legislation and, instead tasks the Supreme Court with being the ultimate arbiter over whether primary and secondary legislation is constitutional.

Successive monarchs will now be chosen by the order of absolute primogeniture, to prevent the factionalising behind one preferred candidate or the other that has occurred over the last few years. Finally, the new law makes it clear that the monarch reigns over Vanuku by "the will of the people" and sets out a procedure which would compel him or her to abdicate if there was an overstepping of powers.

Prefect Herlkai Vrhelmszo appeared on the steps of the Grand Council Chamber to speak to the press, flanked by senior figures including members of his government cabinet, Chief of Staff for the Armed Forces Admiral Grzkai Anzlék, the Chief Advisor to the Monarch Duke Jebr Zhtál and other members of the National Security Council.

He said: "No one can doubt that the last few years have been intolerable. Democratic processes being ignored as factions vied to out do one another. And at the centre of this our beloved King being pulled this way and that, wielding a Veto that harks back to an autocratic age.

"So we have put forward a new model that democratises the process of government even more, removes the burden of Veto from the monarch and places the right to scrutinise legislation in the hands of the supreme court justices.

"Once this has passed and we can be sure that the democratic process will not be stalled again, then we will take the next and final step of our journey by re-introducing universal suffrage - allowing each and every member of society to have their say.

"Both this new constitutional framework and the further liberalising of democracy have the backing of those people who stand with me today: the vast majority of the noble houses, the armed forces who helped us pioneer the return to greater voting rights and the politicians of the Grand Council.

"They all realise that this modernising approach is needed to ensure Vanuku remains as one of Terra's great powers."

[Doc]

From IZQUIERDA- The Voice of the Kalistani Left

Defense CEO to visit Vanuku to discuss cooperation. Read it Here.

[Sisyphus]

Multi-Billion VAN Nuclear Power Station Network Completed
Energy Needs of Nations Safeguarded - But Plans for Similar Infrastructure Investment In Jelbania Put On Ice


The latest nuclear reactor - one of 70 stations built as part of the nationwide network.

December 4520 - The final nuclear reactor built as part of a 630 Billion Van 30-year project to meet the nation's growing energy needs as officially been opened. A total of 70 super-stations ranging from 1450MWe to 1650MWe type reactors have been constructed in what is one of the biggest infrastructure undertakings in the kingdom's history.

The project was initiated in 4492 amid fears of rising global fossil fuel prices as supply continued to dwindle. It is estimated the nuclear reactors will supply around 75 per cent of the country's energy requirements.

Vanuku had planned to build two more reactors in northern Jelbania during the 4320s to meet its neighbouring nation's energy crisis and as part of is development programme for under-developed Majatran countries; however, as the new ' Anti-Foreign' Government seems set on ploughing its own furrow, the plans have been shelved whilst clarification over a future relationship is sought.

[Sisyphus]

Extra Defence Budget Assigned to Develop Rapid Response Brigades
Army Chief of Staff Ready to Test New Formations Based On Experiences of the Kamphonese War Campaign


A series of rapid deployment troop formations are to be rolled out adding further flexibility to Vanuku's armed forces.

January 4521 - Armed Forces Chief Grand Admiral Grzkai Anzlék has announced a series of reforms across the services to enhance Vanuku's "combat readiness" in all situations. The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that a substantial chunk of the annual budget freed up following the completion of the nuclear power station project would be allocated to defence.

As a result, Grand Admiral Anzlék welcomed the enhanced funding and said it would be used to boost overall operational effectiveness. He said: "Our aim is to reorganise the structure of some of our infantry, armoured, naval and airborne units to create all-in-one rapid response combined-arms brigades, under a single chain of command, which are ideally suited for compact theatre deployment.

"So at time of conflict, these units will be able to mobilise, move and engage an enemy with greater speed and efficiency and be more independent from the higher chain of command. This adds great flexibility to our ability to respond and react. We also envisage these smaller, versatile formations will work well as part of international peacekeeping forces as part of our commitment to the World Congress."

The Admiral said that Vanuku had learned from its recent campaign as part of the 'Group of 20' involved in the Kamphonese War in developing the rapid response brigades. He said newly-constructed vehicles and craft would be assigned to the brigades including the latest Cheetah Mark IV battle tanks, the Salient IFV, close air support aircraft and transport and escort ships.

He added: "We will be looking to test out the first of these new formations in both domestic drills and through collaborative exercises with international partners very soon."

[Yolo04]

Keymon and Vanukuean Militaries Announce Joint Military Exercise

[Doc]

Read in The Kalistani Republic

Kalistani National Defense Consortium CEO visits Wiel, attends lecture, meets locals

[Maxington]

KRK Nyheter: "Kazulia invites Vanukean space agency to Arcadia Programme" - November 4521.