Surprise Coalition Agenda as VAT AbolishedThe Coalition of the White Rose and SDP have surprised many by presenting, and passing, a comprehensive legislative agenda in their first year of Government. Most will remember the last Coalition between these 2 saw no joint legislation and broke up after 3 years when talks broke down between the Alliance and the SDP leadership.
The Coalition have lifted restrictions on citizenship and employment across the country, instigated an education programme for prisoners, lifted all restrictions on stem cell research and ended the invasive tests & checks for adoption, they also intend to end parental qualification tests before the end of the year.
The Diet unanimously withdrew from the Narikaton Expanded Economic Cooperation Zone in protest of their slavery practises and signalled they would be reviewing their Security Council votes in the face of inaction and absences on the influential body which currently hosts Luthori membership.
There have been some splits in the Coalition, with the SDP passing their own manifesto after an agreement to make it party legislation only, meaning the White Rose could oppose the bill. The Diet also chose to fund medical emergency abortions for the first time in decades, to nationalise all airports, to nationalise the national grid and to terminate private contracts in space-exploration, all opposed by the White Rose but supported by the SDP.
Tonight, the White Rose are celebrating as the Diet has officially abolished the 3% VAT on essential goods such as food and clothing, although Chancellor Stinson has condemned the newly reformed Labour Party of Luthori for opposing the abolition and pursuing a punitive tax on the poor and those in need, who have little to spend already . The abolition comes after a White Rose and SDP deal to make up the £3 billion without spending cuts, through income tax increases on the wealthy.
The Coalition also passed the Northern Council Action and Radar (Diet Approval) Bill which permits the Governor-General to participate in military action with the Northern Council related to Trigunian aggression against Egelion exclusively, as well as authorising the construction and sharing of a radar and listening station in Geharon with the Northern Council leadership and member states.