Aldegar

[jamescfm]

Busiest ever year reported for the Aldegar Canal
     15 January 4894

     4893 was the busiest year in the two-thousand year history of the Aldegar Canal, as measured by the number of commercial vessels traversing the waterway. The figures were released yesterday as part of the governing authority's annual report to the Aldegarian government. For the past decade there have been growing calls for major improvement works to the canal and it has been operating at near peak capacity consistently for the past two years with only minor reductions in traffic.

     Long and short term trends combined last year to result in the record-breaking number. For centuries the world has becoming more globally connected and international trade has become an increasingly important part of the national economies of many countries, which has resulted in more cargo ships passing through the canal. Aldegar's recent political stability, meanwhile, has decreased the incidence of ships avoiding the canal for security reasons and improved economic cooperation between Seleyan countries has driven traffic too.

     In the coming months, a major report on the future of the canal is expected to be published by the government. Commissioned by President Shahram Jafarnejad, the report will outline the necessary future provisions to ensure the canal remains fully functioning and is able to accommodate the increased demand it has been receiving. Data from analysts at the University of Southern Kemoku have suggested that without some expansion work, the canal may be unable to cope with demand by as early as next year.

     For centuries the canal has been a key source of revenue for the Aldegarian government as well as important to the trade relations of countries as far away as Deltaria and Lourenne. At various points in modern history, the canal has been the centre of particular focus, such as when the Ananto Strait has become difficult to navigate for commercial shipping. In his annual "economic report" speech last year, the President said that the canal was "central to our strategy for moderate growth and ultimate prosperity".


Khelban (Pilot) is a broadsheet newspaper covering a variety of topics including politics, economics, culture and sports throughout Aldegar and Seleya

[jamescfm]

     Binav Şêrvan to represent Aldegar in next FOMAT
          16 January 4895

Following some relatively poor performances in recent editions of the competition, Aldegar's selection committee for the Festival of Musical Arts in Terra has selected a remarkably different participant for the upcoming edition of the competition set to be held in Lourenne. In an attempt to capitalise on the event's focus on the rich musical traditions of participating countries, Aldegar will send the traditional folk singer Binav Şêrvan to the competition in Valois.

Binav Şêrvan is set to perform "Strana Me", a six-minute composition in the Bihezi language. The song falls within the long musical tradition of dengbêj in the Bihezi community, which has had a disproportionate impact on wider Aldegarian culture. Dengbêjs utilised the medium of music in order to communicate the history and traditions of their families and communities, earning the common nickname of "singing storytellers".

Şêrvan's performance may be jarring to dominant Artania-centric taste but the artist himself relishes this. "Music is not supposed to be comforting and familiar all the time," he said, "sometimes it has to challenge us and make us think about the wider world, or about ourselves." The latest edition of the FOMAT competition features a new rule that restricts participants to performing in a recognised language from their country. Despite some objection, the rule has been well-received among many of the contest's most passionate fans and successful performers.

[jamescfm]

Jafarnejad strengthens position in Shewra through reform
     30 June 4905

     In the wake of an election which once again saw his allies win a firm majority in the national parliament, long-serving Aldegarian President Shahram Jafarnejad has moved to strengthen his position within the nation's collective decision-making body and official head of state the Shewra. Despite being a key architect of the constitutional arrangement that brought the body into existence, Jafarnejad has faced opposition within the body for most of the past two decades due to his preference for centralising policy decisions.

     Yesterday it was announced that the government would bring legislation before the Aldegarian Parliament that would significantly expand and restructure the composition of the Shewra. In addition to the currently serving members would be added five additional city mayors, the legislative speaker, an additional randomly selected member of the public and- crucially- the President.

     In simple terms the changes do not appear particularly beneficial to the President and five more local leaders would seem to provide a significant boost to his rivals in the body. In comparison to the typically conservative provincial leaders though, all of the five mayors are from highly urbanised and conventionally liberal cities. Despite politics in Aldegar being officially conducted on a non-partisan and non-ideological basis, the reality is that Jafarnejad has almost exclusively faced opposition from rural traditionalists during his long presidency.

     Prior to the last election there was some speculation that Jafarnejad might publicly declare that it would be the last he intended to contest. Within the cabinet some have sought to place pressure on him to set a fixed departure date in the past few years but his immense public popularity has prevented any real opposition from among his political allies.

     For almost thirty five years, Jafarnejad has dominated Aldegarian politics and has become deeply intertwined with the country's recent political and economic stability. Fears remain that his eventual departure will lead to a contemporary succession crisis. Whether Aldegar's relatively young political institutions can meet this challenge is a cause for concern among many, particularly if the President does not indicate who his successor should be. In many ways, Jafarnejad has compounded this problem by deliberately avoiding designating any clear "deputy" and rotating his cabinet relatively frequently.


Khelban (Pilot) is a broadsheet newspaper covering a variety of topics including politics, economics, culture and sports throughout Aldegar and Seleya

[jamescfm]

Faramarz group: attention focused on the President's "inner circle"
     3 May 4907

     Political commentators and journalists in Aldegar have turned their attention to the Faramarz group as speculation continues to grow that President Shahram Jafarnejad will retire before the next elections. Due to the constitutional ban on political parties in Aldegar, the political structures that characterise many democracies around the world take alternative forms in the country and identifying power relations within the government has developed into something of an art form.

     For most observers, the Faramarz group is the President's "inner circle" of close advisors and allies in all areas of Aldegarian society. The name derives from the Faramarz Hall, an entertainment venue and business function centre in the capital where members of the group meet each month. The group originally developed over thirty years ago in an attempt to bring together major figures in both politics and wider society. Jafarnejad initially established it to operate as an advisory group to him in his role as President but it has evolved significantly since then.

     At the centre of the group is Jafarnejad and a handful of senior politicians from both the cabinet and Parliament. While this typically includes high-ranking ministers, there are notable omissions in the group such as Defence Minister Khara Gulug Jeder, who has never been a close ally of the President and was appointed primarily for his military experience. Prior to a cabinet reshuffle it is common for a politician to cease being invited to meetings of the group, as happened in the infamous case of the sacking of Leyli Kianian as External Affairs Minister. For this reason members of the press pay close attention to who arrives at monthly meetings to pre-empt political manoeuvrings.

     In addition to politicians, the Faramarz group includes both union officials and business leaders. Characterisations of Jafarnejad's governments as "corporatist" have often highlighted this aspect of his leadership style as bringing together elite figures in the labour movement and business to shape legislation. Nonetheless it is not clear to what extent these meetings actually dictate public policy. Several figures from both spheres have joined the government or taken seats in Parliament from within the group though, such as former construction union leader Omid Afshani who was appointed Minister of Industry in the current government.

     As a result it is widely perceived that the Faramarz group will be influential in the post-Jafarnejad period and that his successor will likely come from among their ranks. The current parliamentary speaker Payam Zarqan is currently perceived to be best-placed to take over from the President due to his network of connections in the legislature. Sources close to both men have reported that they are even in the process of coordinating a transition before the next election in three years time.


Khelban (Pilot) is a broadsheet newspaper covering a variety of topics including politics, economics, culture and sports throughout Aldegar and Seleya

[jamescfm]

Seleyan leaders sign declaration of neutrality in Timārestān
     14 July 4909

     On the thirtieth anniversary of the founding of the Seleyan Intergovernmental Council, heads of state from four Seleyan countries have met in the northern Aldegarian city of Timārestān to sign a joint declaration that they will not pursue policies of alignment with global military and political alliances. The decision was made amid a period of transition in the international order following the creation of the Confederate Economic Security Union, a spiritual successor to the Northeast-Artanian Covenant and the restructuring of the Northern Council.

     In attendance were Presidents of four countries: Aldegar's Shahram Jafarnejad, Gaduridos' Andres Reyes, Kalistan's Mark Small and Lodamun's Justin Baar. The official policy statement has been termed the Timārestān declaration by the international press and represents the culmination of a long period of political cooperation between the governments of the region. Kalistan and Aldegar in particular have long desired to formalise a policy of non-alignment and the involvement of Gaduridos and Lodamun is a significant diplomatic victory.

     Nonetheless, Yingdala's decision to break with their historic Seleyan allies in favour of Endralon presents a problem for those who desire a united Seleya. In the Aldegarian context, Endralon's perceived meddling in regional matters has reportedly provoked a furious response from the government. Last month the Aldegarian oil and gas company AldeGas announced that they would be ceasing sales to the Boros Oil Primary Association citing "impracticalities in the supply chain" however some have suggested the decision was politically motivated.

     Nonetheless the cause of Seleyan cooperation has not been stronger in the last century than it is in the thirtieth year of the Seleyan Intergovernmental Council. Aldegarians might perceive the project as the political legacy of Jafarnejad but the truth is that it is much broader than him. The admission of Alduria as a member state last year means that the organisation now includes every country on the continent with the sole exception of Tukarali.


Khelban (Pilot) is a broadsheet newspaper covering a variety of topics including politics, economics, culture and sports throughout Aldegar and Seleya

[jamescfm]

     President Jafarnejad announces he will not contest the next election
          31 January 4911

Less than a year since he was re-elected for a tenth time as President, long-serving Aldegarian leader Shahram Jafarnejad has told the public that he will not seek re-election as member of parliament at the next general election in 4815. In explaining his decision Jafarnejad emphasised that he wanted to ensure an orderly transition of power over the coming four years and that he would step down as President sometime before the end of the current parliamentary session. In a prepared statement to members of the press, he said it had been his "unrivalled privilege and honour to lead the nation".

At no point during his speech did Jafarnejad indicate who would replace him but the early announcement of this decision has some commentators suggesting he intends to tap a successor. For most of the past few years it has been widely believed that the parliamentary speaker Payam Zarqan will succeed Jafarnejad as President based on a combination of factors. Through his close association with Jafarnejad, Zarqan has risen to become among the most influential figures in national politics.

Despite not formally being part of the government he is a key figure in the Faramarz group and has worked closely with Jafarnejad on passing legislation in a number of areas. Furthermore the speaker position was elevated to membership of Aldegar's collective head of state the Shewra in reforms in 4906 and Zarqan has often deputised for the President to chair meetings in his absence.

The formal announcement that Jafarnejad intends to retire has focused attention on his political legacy. Among the general public, he remains widely popular for the perception that he has single-handedly brought a decades-long period of regular elections and stable government. Political analysts tend to be more sceptical of this narrative. Jafarnejad has utilised a variety of methods to keep the Republic together and is well-known for his pragmatic and Hajarian attempts to maintain power.

Conventional wisdom holds that the President is most popular with liberal, urban populations but this doesn't reflect his deep ties to rural communities and the religious elite. Traditionally, historians of Aldegarian politics have noted that almost every regime or political system rises and falls based on the support of the Ahadi clergy and Jafarnejad is not an exception. Though his relationship to religious leaders has been muted, he has consistently made concessions in a number of key policy areas of concerns.

The coming decade will be a test for the political institutions and systems that Jafarnejad have fostered and developed. Although support for the "non-partisan republic" remains relatively high at the moment, Aldegarian public opinion is notoriously fickle. In more pressing ways, there will emerge new divisions and factional rivalries. Due to his public popularity, Jafarnejad was consistently able to dissuade any potential challengers but it is unclear whether his successor will command the same respect.

[jamescfm]

Payam Zarqan elected as President of Aldegar by Parliament
     27 March 4913

     Former parliamentary speaker Payam Zarqan has been elected as Aldegar's second President since the implementation of the current constitution in 4871. The election of Zarqan follows the retirement of Shahram Jafarnejad. Having been a central figure in the founding of the "non-partisan republic", Jafarnejad had served as the nation's political leader for forty-two years and had been in the position for most of his adult life. Initially saying that he would step down before the next general election, Jafarnejad is reported to have moved his decision forward due to health concerns.

     The election process was little more than a formality in the end due to the outgoing President's decision to publicly endorse Payam Zarqan and his relative popularity within Parliament. Under the Aldegarian system, the President is the head of government and elected by Parliament in a manner similar to the position of "Prime Minister" in many other parliamentary systems. Unlike other countries though the President is not associated with a political party because parties are banned in the country.

     Zarqan has been a close ally of Jafarnejad for several years and was widely tipped to be his successor for some time. Later tonight he is expected to name his first cabinet. While many key figures are expected to remain in their positions, some have already announced they are stepping down at the same time as the outgoing President. Zarqan may wish to bring "fresh blood" into the cabinet too in order to begin the process of establishing his own political legacy.

     Due to the support offered by Jafarnejad, Zarqan's election has been met broadly positively but he will face challenges before long. Like his predecessor, he is likely to face opposition from rural conservatives who resent the centralising policy approach of the past half a century. Without the personal popularity that insulated Jafarnejad from these concerns he may be in for a difficult early term in office though.


Khelban (Pilot) is a broadsheet newspaper covering a variety of topics including politics, economics, culture and sports throughout Aldegar and Seleya

[jamescfm]

     Aldegarian President Zarqan prepares for first major electoral test

          14 April 4914 | Ramsāhreza, Aldegar | Fariborz Shajarian

After twelve months in the role, the President of Aldegar Payam Zarqan has begun preparations for next year's general election by issuing provisional endorsements of a host of incumbent members of parliament. Despite the elections being over a year away, Zarqan has reportedly moved quickly in order to secure support within the legislature as he looks to preserve the broad confidence that he currently enjoys in Parliament.

Including several members of the influential Faramarz group, the endorsements cover over three hundred sitting members of parliament who are perceived to be prominent supporters of former President Shahram Jafarnejad. In a press conference after the endorsements were announced, Zarqan made repeated reference to Jafarnejad and one journalist coined the phrase "the Jafarnejad faction" to refer to the group of officials.

At the moment, Zarqan relies heavily on his position as the designated political heir to Jafarnejad for his political capital however this is unlikely to last for long in the tumultuous context of Aldegarian politics. As part of attempts to foster his own base of support, Zarqan has already sought to reach out to the nation's Ahadi clergy by proposing new legislation that would strengthen the relationship between Yazdism and the Aldegarian state.

For centuries the Ahadi clergy have been key powerbrokers within the Aldegarian political system, led by the Mobedān Mobed. In the past they were closely associated with the monarchy and aristocracy but repeated failure to establish stable monarchical government in Aldegar increasingly led them to support authoritarian and dictatorial rulers. Like his predecessor, Zarqan will be keenly aware of the risks of angering or disappointing them.


     Dunjo is an international news outlet based in Aldegar and with offices across the globe

[jamescfm]

Inaugral Seleyan Basketball League season concluded
     16 May 4914

     The first season of the newly founded Seleyan Basketball League (SBL) has concluded in a victory for the Tian'an Tigers. The competition involved eighteen teams from twelve countries and culminated in the championship match yesterday between the Tigers and Ellington Hawks of Lodamun. Basketball fans and players have hailed the first season as a success and remain optimistic that it will provide an opportunity for the region to be placed at the centre of the sporting world.

     Basketball teams and organisational leadership have been calling for a regional competition in Seleya for some time but the foundation of the Seleyan Basketball League was ultimately facilitated by the cultural branch of the Seleyan Intergovernmental Council (SIC). Leaders from various countries selected basketball as an ideal sport to represent Seleyan unity due to its relative popularity in numerous countries.

     From the original proposal of a one-off exhibition tournament, several high-profile sides indicated they would support the creation of an annual regional league separate from existing national competitions and designed to include elite teams. In the end there were too many interested teams and a process of qualification was devised to narrow the league down to eighteen club teams. Even in the event's first season, attendance at SBL games has averaged several thousand due to the immense popular interest in the tournament.

     Last year Tukarali became the fifteenth SIC member state, meaning that the organisation now includes every country in continental Seleya as well as Keymon and Yingdala. Regional leaders welcomed the decision of the new Tukarese government to join and hailed the country's membership as a sign of regional unity in the face of international conflicts currently creating tension elsewhere on the globe.


Khelban (Pilot) is a broadsheet newspaper covering a variety of topics including politics, economics, culture and sports throughout Aldegar and Seleya

[jamescfm]

     Prince Bardiya elected as provincial governor of Polran
          19 June 4915

Yesterday's general election proved a relatively unsurprising affair in most respects, with incumbent President Payam Zarqan and his supporters winning almost all of the seats in Parliament. In addition to national legislative elections though, there were a number of regional and local elections held across the country which presented some more interesting results. Notable among these was the gubernatorial election in the southern province of Polran, where the winning candidate was the heir to the Pesuna dynasty Bardiya.

Despite the country having been a republic for centuries, several notable noble families have retained their wealth and influence due to a combination of astute business deals, wealthy supporters and political corruption. While the previous government attempted to crack down on dynasties using former imperial titles in official settings, many continue to style themselves as royalty in informal contexts. Among these families the Pesunas are the best-known domestically and internationally, having previously ruled the country over three separate periods.

Bardiya nominally claims to be the heir to the Aldegarian throne however his campaign was clear that he "supported the principles of the non-partisan republic" to avoid any legal complications. In comparison to the rest of the country, Polran has been noted as a traditional conservative stronghold as well as having the highest proportion of individuals identifying as "Yazdean" of any of the country's five provinces. As a result of his election, Bardiya will take a position on the Shewra which means he will be part of the country's head of state.

Top stories on Sonraki
     --Timārestān Soaring Falcons celebrate victory in second SBL season
     --Canal "operating beyond maximum capacity" due to privateering pressure
     --Gazane: the traditional nettle soup spreading beyond Aldegarian borders