Hutori

[RileyHP]

PM Slams NPU For Playing Political Games With Hutori-WDEA Agreement



The Prime Minister slammed the National Progressive Union today after the ratification of the Hutori-WDEA Trade agreement failed due to them abstaining from the vote. Treaty ratification requires two-thirds of all members to vote in favour of the bill, and while the government holds a strong majority, they are 4 seats short of the two-thirds super majority. This means that without the NPU votes, the bill has been defeated once again. The NPU and Royalists supported ratification 7 years ago while the two parties were in a coalition together, however the Prime Minister is now accusing the NPU of purposely blocking the ratification out of spite for not being included in the current coalition.

"It is absolutely shameful that this free trade agreement with our friends in the WDEA is being used as a pawn in the NPU's game of political chess. We worked together 8 years ago with the NPU to get this deal done with, and now that they are no longer in government, they are yanking their support of it. It is truly disgusting, and Hutorians will remember this when it comes time to cast their ballots once again."

Hutori Officially Withdraws From TMTA

With the passing of Bill C-66, Hutori has now officially withdrawn from the Terran Military and Trade Alliance. The Royalists have argued since its inception that is was a bad deal for Hutori, and have now gotten their wish with the passage of the withdrawal bill. HBC reached out to President Donnelly, who was the Foreign Affairs Minister in the last government, tasked with representing Hutori at the TMTA meeting. She issued a statement to us that is included below.

"Today is a great day for Hutori. The TMTA was always a bad deal for Hutori. There were very minimal economic benefits, with major military risks. Had we remained a member of the TMTA, our men and women in the Armed Forces could have found themselves fighting a war Hutori had no part in, and their sacrifices would have been for nothing. I am proud of the Royalist Party for sticking to their guns on this issue and finally getting Hutori out of that alliance."

[Rogue]

Global Cooling worsens, extreme conditions in northern terra

[colonelvesica]

Environment Minister in Sutton Amidst Worst Winter Recorded in Centuries


Federal Environment Minister Michelle Godin, speaking to reports in Sutton City

Federal Minister of the Environment and Tourism, Michelle Godin, has been in Sutton City, at the local Federal Climate Change Readiness Office, which has been coordinating all disaster relief in the far north for Sutton, the lonely near arctic island which is considered the frontline of the worst the arctic winter can throw at Hutori.

This is far and away the worst and most bitter winter Hutori has suffered since the 40th century. The Meteoriogical Observation Group, a joint Environment Department-Air Force, intiative started in 3880, has kept an arctic observation base which has allowed Hutori to gather excellent historical data and trends. While in Hutori we know that Global Cooling events happen about once a cenutry even we couldn't have predicted this would happen. I'll be staying in Sutton for as long as this crisis continues and we'll be seeking additional funds from Parliament to further fight the frightening effects of Climate Change and Global Cooling

The Hutorian Government quietly created the Climate Change Readiness Office almost a decade ago, in preparation for the coming Global Cooling cycle, but even it wasn't prepared for how harsh this particular winter was. The average temperature throughout the Hutorian north was -35 degrees, with the northern tip of the Isle of Sutton recording record plunging temperatures of almost -65 degrees, the coldest ever record since the MOG began observations of the Global Cooling Regimes. The past two winters have recorded record breaking blizzards which have consistently buried Sutton, Roccato and Falirstan in absurd amounts of snow; Minister Godin said if it wasn't for the MacDougall Tunnel, the underground tunnel that connects the Isle of Sutton and mainland Hutori, didn't exist and the Commonwealth Bridge was still the only land connection, Sutton would have been totally and entirely cut off from emergency relief and supplies and the death tolls may have been considerable larger.

Further action is expected to be taken by the federal government, as the Liberals are rumored to be seeking a doubling of the Environment budget, with much of it being funneled into the Climate Change Readiness Office, and for the creation of a new federal agency, dedicated to dealing with major emergencies in Hutori.

[RileyHP]

Finance Minister Won't Increase Health and Social Services Budget


Finance Minister Thomas Smith gives fiery response to USPH leader Ultrackius during debate on USPH Reform Bill 1.

Finance Minister Thomas Smith has warned that regardless of what legislation is passed, the Ministry of Health and Social Services will not receive additional funding in the upcoming budget. The government will not implement any of the USPH's "A Socialist Economy" bill until the beginning of next year, and by then the Liberals proposed bill to amend the Hutorian Healthcare Act could override the change in the USPH bill to implement a nationalised healthcare system.

In the most recent USPH bill, USPH Reform Bill 1, the USPH is proposing the implementation of a national child benefit and a minimum income supplement program. However they have not defined exactly what those benefits will be, and how much the program will cost. The Finance Minister says he will not direct any more funding to the Department of Health and Social Services, so when it comes time for the Department to define those things should the bill pass, the USPH may not like the result.

"Furthermore, should the USPH not define the amounts payable to beneficiaries of this program, the Ministry of Health and Social Services will define it for them. And they may not like the result."
~ Finance Minister Thomas Smith during parliamentary debate on USPH Reform Bill 1

[colonelvesica]

Hutorian PM to Visit Trigunia


Newly Elected Hutorian Prime Minister Patrick Wayne

For the first time in centuries a Hutorian Prime Minister is visiting their ancestral rival and neighbour Trigunia.

Newly elected Prime Minister Patrick Wayne will be the first Hutorian leader to visit Trigunia in several centuries, and the first since the end of the Cold War.

Following a period of self imposed isolation brought on by constant political upheaval and deadlock in Hutori, this is apart of Wayne's new "Northern Approach" to politics, where he seeks to widely rebuild relations with the old Northern Council bloc of nations, chiefly Dorvik, Lourenne, Kazullia and Luthori, long seen as Hutori's closest allies and trading partners, and expanding Hutorian reach throughout the northern hemisphere. This process has started with the creation of the Hutorian Sovereign Wealth Fund which was designed to for foreign investment in other nations to both aid the Hutorian economy, cement it's influence and create a more cohesive north. The trip to Trigunia is expected to touch upon climate change, arctic sovereignty and defence, and mutual investment.

Some of the Northern Approach had already been implemented when Wayne was Foreign Affairs under former Hutorian Prime Minister Gerald Pettipas and a senior foreign policy advisor in the PMO and Foreign Affairs prior to going into politics himself. The arms sale and massive mining investment in Likatonia are known to be his ideas, as he had a help in crafting both Phases of the Armed Forces Modernization Act.

Hutori is also building a closer relationship with it's immediate neighbour, Davostan, which have jointly begun research and preparation in the fight against Climate Change, which the cycles of Global Cooling have been becoming increasingly worse with time, with the last major cycle plummeting average winter time temperatures in Terra's northern nations to an average of -35 degrees throughout. The Meteorological Observation Group, a Hutorian Air Force-Department of the Environment initiative, who holds a base in the arctic circle at Fort Sentinel, recorded temperatures as low as -65 during the so called "Long Night" the month of perpetual night. The increasing volatility has prompted Hutori for the creation of a dedicated Climate Change Readiness Agency, and the Critical Emergency Management Agency to coordinate major disasters relief efforts.

[RileyHP]

Royalist Reign Comes To An End

For the first time in 34 years, the Royalist Party are likely to find themselves on opposition benches in the new parliament. After a third consecutive gain in seats, the Royalists found themselves fall short to the Liberal Party, their coalition partners of the last two terms, who secured a majority in parliament.

However not all is bleak for the Royalist Party, this term will give them a chance to refresh, and likely bring in a new leadership group to take the party into the future. This election result also gave the Royalists and Liberals a combined supermajority, which means that the parties can go ahead with their goal of abolishing the presidency. President MacKenzie Donnelly was re-elected to a fifth term with the backing of the Liberals, but has vowed that she will be the last President of the Commonwealth, and that this is her last term.

[colonelvesica]

Liberals Celebrate Sweeping Election Win


Re-elected Prime Minister Patrick Wayne Celebrating in His Campaign HQ in Tremaine

Hutori has spoken and for only the fourth time in the previous 1,000 years, Hutori has a majority government, and the first in a multi-party election scenario as the Liberals have secured a comfortable majority in the House of Commons, which joins provincial victories across the nation as Liberals now hold the Premier's chair in four of Hutori's provinces.

The snap August election came as the Ultrackian Socialist Party was dissolved, and most of the leftist of the Party coming home to roost in the Liberals, who are seen as the only left leaning Party now in Hutori. Prime Minister Patrick Wayne has confirmed rumors he will be taking a single Party Cabinet in this mandate, though he has promised that all Opposition Parties will always have access him and his government.

Prime Minister Wayne has stated that nothing has changed in his foreign policy objectives for the next four years, as he will be continuing his Northern Approach Initiative, including an immediate state visit with her counterparts in other notable Northern nations, and a state visit by Foreign Minister Bradley Leggat to Davostan, Likatonia and Telamon to continue increasing the dialogue.

The Prime Minister has been more mum on his domestic agenda, though he has indicated he will be introducing a new budget, with new budgetary measures that the Liberals have been angling for some time and several new government programs, most to deal with the ever growing issue of Climate Change, and the Third Phase of the Armed Forces Modernization Program.

[RileyHP]

Smith Named New Royalist Leader


Former finance minister Thomas Smith speaks to the Royalist Caucus after being selected as the new leader by his peers.

Former finance minister Thomas Smith has been selected as the new leader of the Royalist Party. Smith served as finance minister for 19 years from 4694 until this spring when his Royalists were unseated from the government benches for the first time in 34 years. Smith was selected by a vote of Royalist MPs, who elected him on the first round of ballots.

The new leader says that while the Royalists did gain seats, the last election was a failure, and he plans to order an independent review of the campaign to find out what exactly went wrong, and how they can better equip themselves for the next election. In the meantime, Smith says he is open to working with the Liberals on legislation that both sides can agree on, and that he looks forward to working specifically with the incoming finance minister Rebecca Dawson to ensure Hutori maintains a balanced budget and competitive tax rates.

"I completely understand that this past election was a failure, and we must ensure we learn from our mistakes this year and earn the trust of Hutorians so that we can get back to government in four years. For right now though, we are focused on holding this Liberal government to account and we are always open to working across party lines to ensure the best for our country."

[colonelvesica]

The King is Dead, Long Live the Queen

His Imperial Majesty King William IX has passed away, leaving the throne to his daughter Crown Princess Amelia, who has taken the throne as Queen Alexandra, the first time this regal name has been selected.


Her Imperial Majesty, Queen Alexandra

The coronation of Her Imperial Majesty was a relatively subdued affair, at the request of the Royal Family, following the very sudden passing King William IX, who passed away from a stroke.

Queen Alexandra's Corornation, which was confirmed by Parliament, came as a surprise as the Liberals and the former Royalists, and now Conservatives, spearheaded a rider to the Coronation Bill which attached a Constitutional Amendment to Abolish the Presidency of the Commonwealth, a long sought after goal of the Monarchists. With the Presidency now abolished full control of political matters has been concentrated in Parliament, and, as Monarchist have pointed out "Cut out the rather useless middleman of the President, and restored the Majesty of the Crown as should have been custom."

Queen Alexandra served as a Colonel within the Royal Hutorian Air Force, commanding the 4th Fighter Wing, and was an accomplished Fighter Pilot prior to her Coronation. It is now also notable that for the first time, all of the Monarch's children are women, the Queen and Prince Stephen having had no a single boy, though the Queen does have two younger brothers, both serving Officers with the Commonwealth Armed Forces.

[colonelvesica]

Prime Minister Wayne Concludes Likatonia Visit


Prime Minister Patrick Wayne

Prime Minister Patrick Wayne has concluded a three day state visit to the Federal Republic Likatonia has he continues his "Northern Approach" Tour to Hutori's various allies in the Liberal Government's bid to rebuild Hutorian influence throughout the Northern Hemisphere.

The three day set of talks included Minister of National Defence Eric Ross and Minister of International Trade & Industry Montgomery Lord on increased investment and cooperation with the northwestern Seleyan nation. While most of the talks were behind closed doors, PMO insiders state that Prime Minister Wayne spoke at length at the huge investments Hutori has already made in Likatonia, through the East Bolton Mining Initiative, and the recent opening of domestic factories by Jetstream Aerospace and Horizon Technology Corporation within Likatonia as proving of Hutori and Likatonia's economies coming closer together. On the talks, from the side of Defence Minister Ross, was the possibility of Hutori opening an Air Base in West Bolton and the Hutorian Royal Navy opening a naval base on the island of Pirland, and beginning joint armed forces exercises between the two nations.

Prime Minister Wayne is set to depart for Haldor and the Kingdom of Dorvik next to meet with the Dorvische Government, before a whirlwind stop in Lourenne and Kazullia, completing the multi nation tour.