Queen Mrjmai: the most desired bacheloretteMajatran monarch openly seeking future husband, admits difficulties.The now 27 year old Queen is searching for a suitable partner in order to honour her father's last wish to find love and marry.November 4426 - For more than five years Queen Mrjmai has now been the reigning monarch of the world's most powerful monarchy. Yet at age twenty-seven she still remains unmarried. This however is soon set to change if the wishes of Her Majesty are granted. The Queen, in a surprisingly open interview, stated that she did not see her father during the three years he was in Jelbania. The late Prince Juhn was at the radioactive blast site to help clean up the mess and assist survivors and other stragglers. The radioactivity however took its toll on the former monarch, last year Prince Juhn died of organ failure. Queen Mrjmai expressed severe sadness at the fact she was never able to truly say "goodbye" to her father. "When news came that he was terminally ill I immediately wanted to fly over to say goodbye, but he refused it, he wanted my memories of him to be untarnished. I spoke to him on the phone and while he sounded weak I will forever remember him as the strong man that raised me."
Upon the death of Prince Juhn a letter was presented to the Queen, written by him in preparation of his death. The letter ended, according to the Queen, with an express wish of the former King. "Find love and marry, that would bring me eternal joy, that is what he wrote" said a visibly emotional Queen on the evening program
In Depth with R. Hyeon, a popular talk show hosted by Rnárd Hyeon.
A year into her journey to find 'true love' the Queen has yet to succeed. "It's tougher than I imagined," she said "I have little time to actively meet people in an informal setting in my capacity as monarch, it makes it all rather difficult." The Queen expressed disdain for arranged marriages. "That would go inherently against what my father wrote, at least that is how I feel." The Queen also stated she has no express desire to marry into prestigious nobility. "It is about finding the right person, not the right dynasty." With the interview it is expected that many potential suitors will write to the Queen in an attempt to become Prince Consort. A few diplomats in the capital already aptly commented that any nation wishing to strengthen its ties with Vanuku should now bring out the proverbial 'show pony'.
Duke Zhtál, four generals and six bureaucrats to appear before Supreme CourtLord Justice Sagzi Merlékam ready to trial "all involved" in nuclear strike.The late Prince Juhn was set to appear as well for not using his Royal Veto, but he received an informal post mortem pardon from the Queen.November 4426 - Eight years after the deadly nuclear strike in Jelbania the courts of the Kingdom of Vanuku seem ready to bring justice to those responsible. Lord Justice Sagzi Merlékam, the head of the Supreme Court, has announced that all involved in the process around the nuclear strike would have to stand trial. "While the act of the nuclear strike was legal according to our constitution and binding laws the Supreme Court has still found the action, in the political climate of that period, as well as the humanitarian consequences and the manner in which it was decided to be inherently flawed. It is for this reason that those involved will stand trial, I do however wish to implore to the press here that a trial does not affirm guilt, none are guilty until they are proven guilty" said Lord Justice Merlékam.
The case, rumoured to be the largest in Vanukean history, took seven years to prepare according to a spokesperson of the Supreme Court. "No case was ever this complicated, in the end around a hundred people were directly and indirectly involved in the process that led to the strike, plus the Supreme Court also found it vital that international tensions decreased before this case was presented, with the political climate stable we can now proceed to show the world that justice reigns supreme in the Kingdom."
Duke Brnó Zhtal, the Prefect that greenlit the nuclear strike, is the prime suspect at the trial. The Duke has been under house arrest since 4422, when he attempted to flee the Kingdom. The Duke was also the first to appear at a preliminary hearing but witnesses described him as "gaunt, shaggy, a shell of his former self".
The other ten to stand trial are four generals, including former head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Commander-General Nubajrka, and six government officials, of which three are SSA agents. Current Prefect Nasir was investigated for a short time before being cleared of all charges for rejecting the nuclear strike proposal two times during his tenure as Prefect before Duke Zhtál.
One notable name on the list that was scrapped upon his death was the late Prince Juhn. The former King received an informal pardon after his death by Queen Mrjmai and the Supreme Court chose to abide to it, even though they have full legal authority to ignore it as the Queen's pardons are not binding. Lord Justice Merlékam stated that "the former King Juhn openly admitted his mistake and repented for it in a far severe way than the court system of Vanuku could ever have asked of him."
Prefect Nasir announces upcoming retirementTitanic struggle for party leadership has erupted.December 4426 - With winter fully set in and elections right around the corner Prefect Nasir has announced that the current term will be his last as Prefect. The Count took up this term after Duke Zhtál was removed from office with a Motion of No Confidence submitted by the then King Juhn X. Before that Nasir had also served two terms as Prefect.
"Three are quite enough," he said at a GNP conference, "peace has been restored, Vanuku is growing once more, several diplomatic ties have been re-established, to fully place Vanuku back into the sun will be the task for another capable man or woman." The Count expressed no preference for his successor, something not often done in the leadership of the GNP.
While many respect the wishes of Nasir to step down and announce that before the elections to not misguide voters critics have also expressed it to be tactless. "A leadership battle mere weeks before the elections, it's a campaigning nightmare." said one senior member of the Greater Nationalists. It is expected that the GNP will take a beating at the next elections though many senior members remain hopeful that the cooperation with the Zhtál party can continue. "We've seen what happened the last time the GNP and Zhtál seperated." said another senior member.
After the conference a fierce leadership struggle erupted, with no apparent leader stepping up to take the reigns. Instead the reigns have been taken by the board of the party leadership, with senior figures Ráhklarz and Kez'i taking the reigns of the campaign trail. Aldrkai Ráhklarz is the current chairman of the GNP, and at 66 has stated he does not wish to stand for any position but is "campaigning for the party and the people". Baroness Wrntumai Kez'i, the deputy chair, is only 40 and has dodged questions about taking positions. "Let us await the leadership and general elections" she said to prying reporters. It is expected that a new leader will emerge within a week.