Lodamun

[ReformedEndralon]

Lodamese Foreign Minister Declares Lodamun Open for Business

April 5218

The Lodamese Foreign Minister Gabriel Burret has taken a number of steps to try and improve the international reputation of Lodamun. While unveiling a bill committing Lodamun to increased expenditure on foreign aid, he has also met and discussed a proposed new Comprehensive Trade and Diplomatic Treaty for nations in northern Seleyah. The Foreign Minister and worked closely with his colleagues Leon Madison (Trade and Industry) and Baltazar Martin (Internal Affairs) to create an all encompassing Treaty proposal that looks at improving trade, tourism, work and immigration opportunities for inhabitants of northern Seleyah.

Faith Drives Foreign Policy

Mr Burrett commented to this newspaper that his “deep personal faith” is an important factor in his internationalist vision. A committed member of the Restorationist Church of Eliyahu and Latter Day Hosians, Mr Burretts parents were born in neighbouring Baltusia and migrated to Kregion in the 5170’s, shortly before Mr Burrett was born. Although Mr Burrett rarely makes much comment about his religion, it is known that he is an active member of his Church.

Operating across several borders in the region, the Restorationist Church has been criticized for advocating a pan-Seleyan Nationalism, which at times has also been linked to accusations of racism. Therefore, it is possible that policies on immigration, working and cross-border movement are designed to facilitate immigration from other Seleyan nations, particularly from Restorationist communities in neighbouring Baltusia and Kalistan.



Mr Burrett, current Foreign Minister, future Presidential candidate?

Potential Presidential Candidate?

With an increasing profile, it has been suggested that Mr Burrett may be considering a leadership challenge against President Anthea Bergmann. While the President was first elected in 5211, some within the party are suggesting it is time to consider a new candidate for President. While it is unlikely President Bergmann will be primaried for the 5219 election, it is possible that the party leadership will suggest if she wins in 5219 this will be her last term and she will open the field for a younger replacement. President Bergmann has historically represented the moderate wing of the Grand Republican Party and focused on the economy. Conservative and fundamentalist factions have pushed for a more right-wing approach to social policies, which may require a change in leadership.

[ReformedEndralon]

Foreign Minister Burrett will not primary President Bergmann

November 5218

The Foreign Minister Gabriel Burret has confirmed that he will not challenge the sitting President Bergmann for the Grand Republican Party nomination as the Presidential candidate for the 5219 Presidential elections. Despite raising several million LODs and setting up offices in all five states, Burret called off his proposed Presidential campaign, choosing instead to focus on a Gubernatorial campaign in his native Kregon. Over the last two years Mr Burret has focused on increasing his profile through proposing legislation to increase international aid and reaffirm Lodamuns credentials as a force for good in Terra.

Elections in April 5219 will see all state legislatures, state Governor’s mansions, the Commonwealth Presidium and the Presidential House all up for grabs. The Grand Republicans have dominated elections since April 5211, and it is a realistic possibility that they will retain control of the Presidency, Presidium and three of five state legislatures.

[ReformedEndralon]

5219 Lodamese Election Results Summary

April 5219

President Bergmann Re-elected

President Bergmann won reelection for the fourth time, taking 59% of the vote and beating Nestor Casel by over nine million vote. This will be the second four-year term of office the President has been elected to after serving two two-year terms between 5211 and 5215. When President Bergmann completes this four-year term she will have been the Head of State in the Commonwealth for 12 years, the longest serving Head of State since Jebediah Jackson who was President for 14 years between 5157 and 5171. While it is possible President Bergmann will want to serve a fifth term of office, it is known that other Republican politicians are posturing for a run in 5223



President Bergmann celebrates her fourth straight Presidential victory by a landslide 19%

Presidium Results

In the Presidium results were mixed. Although the Grand Republicans secured another majority term and overall made net gains of two seats, increasing their majority to 91 seats, they actually suffered a number of losses in historic strongholds of Andalay and Golavia (8 and 6 seats respectively). It was only the gain of 16 seats in Kregon that gave them an overall increase in seats. This will be the fifth legislative term in which the Republicans have held a majority



The Grand Republicans emerged as the largest party in four of the five states.

Grand Republicans gain Kregon Governorship

Former Foreign Minister Gabriel Burret secured election in Kregon. After opting out of a primary challenge against President Bergmann last year, the former Foreign Minister opted to run for the Governors mansion in Kregon. Kregon has proven difficult terrain for the Grand Republicans who have repeatedly failed to secure 40% of the vote through the last three legislative and state elections. Mr Burret energised the local Republican Party and despite the forecasts of political experts narrowly defeated his Democratic Progressive opponent by 51% to 49%. The Republicans also secured control of the state legislature, and for the first time since the 5211 elections, won the most seats from Kregon on the national legislature. In fact the Republican gains in Kregons compensated for losses in the northern states of Andalay and Golavia. The Governorship of Kregon offers Gabriel Burret a platform to consider a Presidential campaign in the future, as it is well known he has his eye on the Presidency.



Gabriel Burret, newly elected Governor of Kregon

Drop in Turnout

Political experts have been quick to point out that there was a significant drop off in turnout in these elections. Overall turnout dropped from 70% on 5217 to 64% in 5219. Perhaps more worryingly in Kregon the total number of votes dropped from 8.7 million cast in 5217 to just under 6.6 million in 5219. To what extent this is because of satisfaction or dissatisfaction with the current political system is difficult to answer. It could be that Lodamun is crying out for a third party.

[ReformedEndralon]

New Trading Block for Northern Seleya

October 5220

Background

Four countries have come together in northern Seleya to further develop regional ties through signing up to the Comprehensive North Seleyan Trade and Diplomatic Agreement (CoNSTraDA). The Treaty has nine clauses that commit signatory members to removing barriers to trade, investment, immigration and tourism. Provisions also include diplomatic protocols and commitment to regional security.



A map of current member states (in red)

The initial signatory member states are listed below, all ratifying the agreement in 5219;
• The Empire of Ananto and Kalistan
• The Republic of Likatonia
• The Commonwealth of Lodamun
• The Republic of Tukarali

The four members states all have key roles in the global economy, with Kalistan having strong investment, agriculture, information technology and petroleum sectors, Likatonia providing financial services, Lodamun shipping, forestry and agriculture and Terra’s strongest currency and Tukarali with its manufacturing and agriculture.



Foreign and Trade Minister meeting at the first conference of CoNSTraDA members, held in Lodamun

Inaugural Meeting

The inaugural meeting took place in the capital of Lodamun, the Golavian Metropolitan District. Lodamun has been one of the key driving forces behind the new agreement. The intent is for the signatory members to meet at a conference annually to discuss policies beneficial to member states and to the region more broadly.

Future Expansion?

The United States of Baltusia is likely to join the agreement in the near future with a proposal being debated in the House of Representatives. It is known that Valruzia and Gaduridos are potential future candidates, but are currently excluded by domestic legislation. Gaduridos currently forbids foreign investment and Valruzia does not grant diplomatic immunity to diplomats. Additionally the non-Seleyan Kingdom of Dolgava has been invited as the nearest neighbour of the northern Seleyan nations, however at this time no steps have been taken in the Kingdom to join the agreement.

[ReformedEndralon]

Republicans hold on with a reduced majority

Apr 5221

In the 5221 mid-terms (Lodamun has offset its legislative election to every two years and the Presidential elections to every four years), the Republicans took losses in all five states and saw their majority in the Presidium fall to 63, the lowest since the 5213-5215 Presidium session. Continued voter fatigue, and a rise in turnout, likely contributed to the losses for the Republicans although overall the party retained a majority and support of 55.6% of the electorate.



The Democratic Progressives regained control of the key swing-state Kregon

At the state level the Democratic Progressives narrowly regained their majority in the key swing state of Kregon on a 0.9% swing that also saw Governor Burret of the GRP lose the Gubernatorial house. All other states remained under the control of the same party, although it is notable that Andalay is fast becoming a swing-state with the Republican share of the vote having dropped from 66.7% in 5217 to 55% in 5221. The GRP stronghold will likely be a key battleground if the Democratic Progressives are to retake control of the Presidium.

Burret Announces Presidential Run

May 5221

Having narrowly lost in his bid for re-election as Governor of Kregon, Gabriel Burret has announced that he is launching a campaign to be the Grand Republican Party Presidential nomination in the 5223 Presidential elections. The former Foreign Minister detailed that he believed President Bergmann had not taken sufficient advantage of the repeated Republicans majorities and that it was time for a new generation to take charge of the party and Lodamun.

[TRA]

Beiteynu:
Individual from Luthori Apprehended in Malivia as the Prime Suspect

[ReformedEndralon]

Billionaire Lodamun Businessman Proposes New Football League For Northern Seleya

October 5221

Billionaire businessman Tyrone Seekaku has proposed a new North Seleyan Football League to encompass teams from Likatonia, Lodamun, Kalistan and Baltusia. The aim would be to standardise the different Football codes in the four countries and to create two new international competitions, one composed of the four national teams, and the second a sub-national league with twenty members, one from each of the five states in each country. Mr Seekaku has offered to invest heavily in supporting the development of the project, although he hopes that the existing infrastructure will be able to support the development of a new regional league.



Tyrone Seekaku is a former Lodamese Football League player.

Seleyan Football?

Football is played across the four northern Seleyan states, and differs markedly from what would be described as “Football” in Artania and other nations. However each of the four countries in northern Seleya operates a slightly different domestic code, although there are many similarities. All have in common that the Football codes are played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular field with goalposts at each end. The offense, the team with possession of the oval-shaped football, attempts to advance down the field by running with the ball or passing it, while the defense, the team without possession of the ball, aims to stop the offense's advance and to take control of the ball for themselves.



Kalistani, Likatonian and Lodamese Football all have overlapping rules. Pictured is a match from the domestic Lodamese Football League

Experts from each of the four countries likely plan to come together to develop a standard set of rules.

[ReformedEndralon]

President Bergmann will not serve another term

November 5221

President Bergmann has today announced that she will not run for an extra and will leave the Presidential House after the April 5223 Presidential elections. By the time she leaves office she will have served for 12 consecutive years. With several candidates emerging as potential Presidential candidates for the Grand Republican Party it was clear that there would be primaries within the party through 5222, and with rumours of health problems (the President recently turned 66) it was unlikely that President Bergmann would want to face an extended primary campaign as well as the general election.



President Bergmann announces she will not run for office again

President Bergmann has overseen over ten years of Grand Republican Party dominance, balancing the interests of moderate and conservative factions within her party to produce an increasing liberalisation of the economy, combined with increasing conservativism in domestic life. The President has also driven forward increasing ties with Lodamun’s neighbours with the formation of a new trading block.

Four Candidates Emerge for Primaries

Four candidates are likely to run in the primaries which are scheduled to take place between April and August 5222 in order to allow a candidate a clear period to campaign for the Presidential election in 5223. Likely candidates are as follows;

Gabriel Burret – Age 41 – Former Foreign Minister (5211-5219) and Governor of Kregon (5219-5221) – Representing the Conservative faction – Home state Kregon.

The young Foreign Minister drove improving relations with Lodamuns neighbours and largely wrote the Comprehensive North Seleyan Trade and Diplomatic Agreement. However he fell out with the party leadership after threatening a primary challenge in 5219, eventually successfully running to be Governor of Kregon. While remaining a committed internationalist, during his time as Governor has began to associate with the more conservative and fundemanetalist factions within the party.

Vice President Albrecht Peters – Age 62 – Vice-President (5211-current) – Representing the Moderate faction – Home state Golavia

Vice-President Peters represents the party establishment. He has been a key figure within the party since its foundation in 5211 and a key ally of President Bergmann throughout the time. Straddling the conservative and moderate factions and hailing from the Republican heartland in Golavia, he is likely the anointed successor to the President and a safe pair of hands. However, unlike Gabirel Burret he lacks in charisma.

Leon Madison – Age 52 – Minister of Trade and Industry (5211-current) – Representing the Radical faction – Home state Andalay

Leon Madison is a marginal figure within the Grand Republican Party leadership. Despite being a cabinet minister for ten years, and regarded as an intellectual figure within the party given his advocacy of free trade, he represents the radical faction within the party which is the smallest grouping within the membership. However he likely has strong support within Andalay and might hope to win his home state in order to tip the balance in the final leadership vote.

Thomas Thompson – Age 46 – Member of the Presidium from Norstaven – Representing the Nationalist faction – Home state Norstaven

Despite Norstaven being a very progressive region, the local Republican Party is relatively right-wing and support a more anti-immigrant stance than that taken by the party establishment. Thompson is keen to take the party in a more nationalist direction and was a key driver behind plans to withdraw Lodamun from several Treaties.

[ReformedEndralon]

Establishment Candidate Wins Republican Nomination

May 5222

Vice-President Peters controversially wins the nomination

The Vice-President Albrecht Peters has secured the nomination as the Grand Republican Presidential candidate for next years Presidential election. At the Party Convention in Daro Kregon there were controversial scenes as the Vice-President defeated former Governor of Kregon Gabriel Burret, despite finishing second in terms of number of votes in the primaries.

Results of the Delegate Vote

After primaries in the five states the delegate votes were as follows;

1st Round
• Vice-President Albrecht-Peters – 409 votes
• Governor Gabriel Burret – 408 votes
• Leon Madison – 60 votes
• Thomas Thompson – 54 votes
2nd Round
• Vice-President Albrecht-Peters – 475 votes
• Governor Gabriel Burret – 456 votes

So the Vice-President narrowly defeated the former Governor of Kregon, however these led to a demonstration from Gabriel Burrets supporters.

Controversy

In designing the primary system the GRP elites established a number of delegates for each state (based on the size of the Republican support base in each state), to be divided proportionally between all candidates and a 50 delegate bonus for the candidate who won the most votes in each state. Because Vice-President Peters won the plurality of the vote in three state against two for Gabriel Burret he secured the largest number of bonus delegates, despite losing the overall popular vote by 7%. Once Leon Madison’s delegates moved behind the Vice-President his election as the preferred candidate was a formality. The results are listed below and highlight the discrepancy in the final share of votes against number of delegates;

Kregon;
• Gabriel Burret – 70.7% - 135 delegates
• Albrecht Peters – 23.5% - 28 delegates
• Leon Madison – 3.8% - 5 delegates
• Thomas Thompson – 2.0% - 2 delegates
Golavia;
• Gabriel Burret – 41.7% - 75 delegates
• Albrecht Peters – 49.2% - 138 delegates
• Leon Madison – 4.1% - 7 delegates
• Thomas Thompson – 5.0% - 9 delegates

Norstaven;
• Gabriel Burret – 30.5% - 27 delegates
• Albrecht Peters – 32.6% - 78 delegates
• Leon Madison – 8.5% - 7 delegates
• Thomas Thompson – 28.4% - 25 delegates

Rapula;
• Gabriel Burret – 46.3% - 120 delegates
• Albrecht Peters – 42.0% - 64 delegates
• Leon Madison – 4.2% - 6 delegates
• Thomas Thompson – 7.5% - 11 delegates

Andalay;
• Gabriel Burret – 36.9% - 51 delegates
• Albrecht Peters – 37.3% - 101 delegates
• Leon Madison – 25.5% - 35 delegates
• Thomas Thompson – 9.6% - 7 delegates

Total;
• Gabriel Burret – 45.5% - 408 delegates
• Albrecht Peters – 38.5% - 409 delegates
• Leon Madison – 9.0% - 60 delegates
• Thomas Thompson – 8.1% - 54 delegates

[Aethan]

Kalopian ministers of Foreign Affairs and Science and Technology begin an international tour to attract the last remaining nations to sign the Gene and Seed Vault Treaty (http://classic.particracy.net/viewtreat ... atyid=4798)