Barmenistan

[Kubrick]

Heijiestisrlji! Brméstan and Wrnuke restore diplomatic relations

[Reddy]

Kaxezên Yekbûyî
May 1, 5269
Kathuristan Devolution Act Passed

Sékhmet, Sisle Grand Vizier Tahir Gido Jr has scored his first major political victory in persuading the Assembly of the People to pass the Kathuristan Devolution Act The Assembly voted unanimously in favour of the legislation which will create devolved provincial government for the isle of Kathuristan, a very culturally and religiously distinct part of the State of Barmenistan. Devolution is an idea which has been discussed in the country for nearly half a century now with Shophet Sinan Bidlis apparently undecided on the matter, promising several times to enact it but never really pushing it through. The Act will introduce a provincial executive and legislature funded by the central government. More cynical observers have accused the ruling party of seeking to create patronage positions with some criticising the hundreds of elected positions and expected thousands of provincial civil service and associated posts which are to created and staffed - one estimate has up to 10,000 new posts.

The working relationship between Gido Jr and his "uncle" the Shophet has surprised quite a few observers in the country. The Shophet maintains his "sacred preserve" of matters relating to foreign and defence policy while Gido Jr has focused on handling domestic affairs and has been allowed great leeway by the Shophet. The Shophet like many regional leaders has had his eyes focused firmly on the Vanukean- Beiteynuese rivalry and the fast lining circles of alliances behind the two. Barmenistan has so far refused to declare for one side or the other, hoping perhaps to maintain balanced relations with both its historic rivals. There remains however the pressing issues of the succession. The Shophet at 84 and in poor health is viewed as unlikely to pursue a fourth term in office or perhaps to not complete his present third one.

[Reddy]

Kaxezên Yekbûyî
October 11, 5374
Gido Jr Takes The Helm As Bidlis Ends Eighteen Year Shophetal Tenure

Sékhmet, Sisle Newly elected Shophet Tahir Gido Jr has presented an ambitious economic reform program to the Assembly of the People. The new Shophet, 61 addressed the leguslature advocating "restoration if control over public finances and strategic review of the tax burden " The Council of Viziers has already approved an austerity budget plan which will see the budget deficit reduced to less than 3% of GDP while a considerable downward revision of company tax is also expected. A widespread privatisation program has also been introduced with the target of reducing state ownership to less than 50% of all "non-strategic industries. The aim is to achieve an average economic growth of 4.5% per annum with the Shophet noting that it had been at an average of 2.8% over the past three decades. The Confederation of Barmenistani Industries gave warm praise of the proposed program urging the Government to "go deeper and faster." Shirin Bawde a prominent legislator and a leading member of the ruling party 's economic dirigiste faction slammed the proposed program as "surrender to nihilism and dead men's economic fantasies." The Vizierate for Trade and Industry announced that the Government would hold an investor conference "very soon" and promised further "targeted measures aimed at relieving the burden facing wealth creators."

[Reddy]

Kaxezên Yekbûyî
September 17, 5378
Shophet Gido Loses Control of Party

Sékhmet, Sisle Shophet Tahir Gido Jr and his allies have been dealt a surprising and devastating blow by a rival alliance led by Shireen Bidlis the ruling party's Second Secretary. At the Barmenistani National Congress' quinquennial Congress, Gido Jr stood for a second term as the party's First Secretary having served in the position since September 5373. There was no sign of serious dissension within the party even as many groaned under the austerity program which was entering its fifth year. The only sign was in retrospect, an interview given by Second Secretary Bidlis, the niece of the former Shophet Sinan Bidlis to th Barmenistani Progressive Journal on September 2, 5374. Bidlis called for "a shift in focus towards growth", a statement which apparently irritated the Shophet's staff but did not raise undue alarm.

It was at the Congress in Varishehr, Murdhe where a backbench Assemblyman Sasan Salih objected to a motion for unanimous renomination of Shophet Gido for the position of First Secretary. He nominated Bidlis instead and this was quickly seconded by another delegate. From then on it was a massacre and in the subsequent vote Bidlis won 486 votes to Gido Jr's 219. Upon Bidlis' victory, she rushed to attempt to call the pandemonium which arose in the nominating hall as many expected her to immediately begin removing Gido Jr and his appointees from office - something which she denied although she did push through the election of a friendly Central Committee with at least three quarters of its 31 strong membership thought to be Bidlisites.

[Reddy]

Kaxezên Yekbûyî
October 17, 5378
Report: "Major Reshuffle" Expected

Sékhmet, Sisle Sources within the ruing party's Central Committee have claimed that the Shophet will soon carry out a "large scale reshuffle of the Council of Viziers." The Shophet who lost control over the Barmenistani National Congress last month finds himself at the mercy of the country's most powerful woman the new First Secretary Shireen Bidlis. Since her election as party leader Bidlis has moved to install allies in party positions and where she can, government ones as well. The Shophet whose office's authority had expanded in recent decades will likely find it restrained to matters relating to national defence and foreign policy, a position hardly of weakness but one lacking much say over domestic policy a key interest of Shophet Gido Jr.

[GreekIdiot]

Beiteynu
Navy to donate warships to Barmenistan - June 5380

[GreekIdiot]

Beiteynu
Securing Majatran stability - December 5380

[TRA]

Beiteynu
Majatra: 4 more states to ascend to the MSCO - October 5393

[Reddy]

Kaxezên Yekbûyî
December 6, 5397
Salih Succeeds Bidlis As Ruling Party Leader and Grand Vizier

Sékhmet, Sisle Longtime Grand Vizier Ms. Shireen Bidlis has died after suffering stroke at her official residence in south eastern Sekhmet. Bidlis, 74 has served as Grand Vizier for 18 years and in her tenure, social spending had been increased sharply. Another sharp increase had been the country's average annual inflation rate which rose from 16.5% in 5380 to 41.7% in 5396.( the unofficial rate is thought to be somewhere between 55 and 60%

Bidlis' long time Second Secretary of the ruling Barmenistani National Congress, Sasan Salih was elected First Secretary in a special Party Congress. Quiet, loyal and somewhat self-effacing, he had been called "the party's loyal servant" by Ms Bidlis. Since assuming supreme power, he has made a statement about a "dire necessity for mastering the economic quagmire we are slipping into." and appointed himself Vizier for Finance. The ruling party faces a potentially tricky election expected to be held in October of next year.

Barmenistanis have been gravely tortured by the ongoing inflation crisis and the value of savings has halved in the past eighteen months while many have been forced to drastically revise their standards of living downwards. Though there exists no clear or formal challenger to the party, many within are greatly nervous at the potential rise of one.

[Reddy]

Kaxezên Yekbûyî
July 11, 5402
Salih Strengthens Grip As Intra-Party Rivals Crushed In Election Battle

Sékhmet, Sisle Grand Vizier Sasan Salih has navigated a near-catastrophic party split tand has triumphed in an election gamble against his rivals. Salih's stringent austerity program and market oriented reforms had outraged several left leaning rivals such as Shamil Khawe the Vizier for External Affairs and a former Grand Vizier himself. Khawe and several Bidlis loyalists announced in February 5402 that they would seek to form a new "political movement", harshly denouncing Salih's program.

Salih did not react but instead pounced on a report showing that inflation had tumbled from it's estimated 45-50% in 5297 to 6.8% this year - a historical low rate for the country. While unemployment remains very high and many have lost considerable state support, the populace remained optimistic. Salih decided to call an early election basing his campaign on his reputation as the "Price Slayer". He cast out moat rebels from the party's candidate list while managing to reconcile with a few such as Khawe.

The rebels claimed the Congress label as well in the election but were beaten outright failing to win a single seat. Salih has vowed to carry on with his program promising to turn the country into the top investment hub in the region pointing to his 19% flat tax policy and planned full tax exemptions for investors.