Hobrazia

[jamescfm]

Early general election inbound as Chavchavadze abandons party
27 June 4810

Hobrazians will head to the polls next month in only the second general election since the fall of the previous socialist regime several years ago. The early election has been called in response to Goga Chavchavadze's decision to leave the National Party and form his own political movement. Earlier in the week the leader of the Rts’mena (Faith) faction announced that he would be abandoning the party after members of the rival Lhalkhistvis (For the People) faction killed his proposals to reorganise the country's constitutional structure at the legislative stage.

From his election several years ago there has been conflict between the firebrand conservative leader and moderate members of his party. Despite a shared opposition to the previous administration, the two major factions of the National Party have a variety of different views on key issues of religion, economics and civil rights. At the moment it is not clear what proportion of Chavchavadze's political allies will join him in his new political venture however several key names have already signalled their intent.

With the election due to be held in the middle of July there will be limited opportunity for a major campaign before voting begins. In recognition of this the incumbent leader has already started articulating his message to voters with a focus on ensuring high turnout among his core electoral base. Shortly after he announced to the general public that he would be forming a new party, Chavchavadze held a large rally in the city of Astoria where he repeatedly urged voters to vote for "unity and strength" next month.

Simartle is a Hobrazian online news source covering politics, business and culture across the country from a right-wing political perspective

[Pragma]

Razmadze and allies claim centre-ground after Chavchavadze's exit
30 June 4810

Finance Minister Tsisia Razmadze has asserted her authority over the remnants of the National Party after the exit of her long-time friend and colleague Goga Chavchavadze. In collaboration with other key moderate members of the party, such as Abram Donauri and Rostom Arziani, she has been agreed upon as the group's new leader- which is to be renamed 'Lhalkhistvis' (For the People) in imitation of the liberal faction of the party from which Razmadze comes. Razmadze draws support from across the moderate and soft-left parts of the party despite her historic connections to more conservative figures. Her status as a grandee of the socially liberal and environmentalist wings of the party was a prime driver in her selection as party leader, according to sources familiar with the internal politics of the group.

Razmadze's cautious and reserved personality clashes with the boisterous and charismatic Chavchavadze, who inspires significant support among conservative and religious voters. Razmadze has a more limited core constituency, made up partially of religious minorities and partially of progressive women. The Minister herself has yet to establish as strong a personal brand as her soon-to-be opponent, though she has gained some important endorsements from union bosses, minority community leaders and public intellectuals.

Khalkhis Khma is a Hobrazian online news source covering politics, ecology and sociology across the country from a centre-left political perspective

[jamescfm]

Coronation in Astoria marks return of the Hobrazian monarchy
4 March 4811

The formal coronation of the new King of Kings has taken place in the historic Hobrazian city of Astoria in the wake of a landslide election victory for Rts’mena ("Faith"), the conservative political party headed by Goga Chavchavadze. In addition to the coronation the new government has made a number of constitutional changes to reflect the new political position in the country and disavow the previous socialist administration. Hobrazian government will now operate within the framework of a constitutional monarchy with the P’remier Minist’ri ("Prime Minister") as head of government.

With the support of opposition politicians, Daniel Abashidze Nodar- the patriarch of the Zakareishvili dynasty- has been selected to serve as the formal head of state and source of national unity. Prior to his coronation the new King of Kings announced that he would take the regnal name Mikheil (or Michael) to honour Michael the Watcher. Alongside the decision to include the title "Sword of the Messiah" this has frustrated many Hobrazians who feel that the current administration is prioritising the interests of the Hosian population.

In formal terms the role of the monarch will be limited to ceremonial duties and his primary purpose will be to serve as a symbol of national unity for a divided Hobrazian nation, although critics argue that this is not possible while he so explicitly articulates his devout Hosian belief system. Unlike the official seat of government, the monarch's primary residence will be in the city of Astoria and not the national capital, Muzal K’alak’i.

Simartle is a Hobrazian online news source covering politics, business and culture across the country from a right-wing political perspective

[jamescfm]

Prime Minister proposes construction of sixty-foot statue of Eliyahu
29 May 4815

Hobrazian Prime Minister Goga Chavchavadze has brought legislation before the national Parliament to secure funding for a sixty-foot tall statue of the central figure of Hosianism, Eliyahu Hosios. Although construction is not expected to begin before the end of the year, the legislation has received criticism from the non-Hosian Hobrazian population as another example of the current government's failure to respect the separation of church and state.

The new statue will be built in the historic city of Astoria, the centre of the Hobrazian Orthodox Church and will be positioned such that it directly faces the city's largest cathedral and the centre of the Hobrazian faith. Initial design plans have been published that show that the statue will showcase Eliyahu with his arms outstretched to represent his willingness to accept all people, as well as the provisional title of the statue The Spirit of God.

Despite the criticism the construction of the Eliyahu statue is only the latest in a series of moves by the current government to promote a Hobrazian national identity that is built around faith and language. Over the past few years there have been a variety of smaller projects along these lines with significant funding allocated to museums and galleries that centre on the history of the Hobrazian people and nation. In his recent speeches Chavchavadze has emphasised the "importance of national unity in the face of a polarised and hostile international order."

Simartle is a Hobrazian online news source covering politics, business and culture across the country from a right-wing political perspective

[jamescfm]

Alcohol production nationalised as government targets "strategic industry"
1 September 4815

Following legislation passed last year that provided the Hobrazian government with a monopoly on the production of alcohol, the government has outlined new plans to utilise the sector as a strategic export that will improve the the nation's international trade position and wider economy. Focusing particularly on Hobrazian wine, the new system requires that any alcoholic beverage produced within the country meet specific criteria of quality and process in order to "preserve the Hobrazian international reputation."

Despite the new legislation some private companies will continue to be allowed to produce alcohol but they will be required to do so within the constraint of the new "Hobrazian Standard" restrictions and will be closely monitored and regulated by the national government. Moreover, imported alcoholic drinks will continue to be permitted though they are still subject to tariffs imposed on a variety of goods deemed to be either "luxury" or "strategic competitors" to Hobrazian produced alternatives.

In a press conference explaining the new regulations, the trade minister Irakli Gedevanishvili said that their purpose was to "preserve the international prestige associated with Hobrazian fine wine and compete with the export power of the southern hemisphere." The latter remarks likely refer to the major wine-producing regions of Istalia, Kanjor, Rildanor and Kalopia.

Simartle is a Hobrazian online news source covering politics, business and culture across the country from a right-wing political perspective

[jamescfm]

Prime Minister attracts controversy by marrying second wife
4 December 4815

Goga Chavchavadze, the Hobrazian Prime Minister and leader of the conservative Rts’mena ("Faith") political party has received criticism following the revelation that he has married for a second time. National newspapers reported yesterday evening that the Prime Minister had invited a small number of friends and family to a private ceremony in Astoria where he was married to Istalian model and actress Annunziata D'Alessandro.

For the past eight years Chavchavadze has been married to Tinatini Amilakhvari, a former journalist and fellow politician who is also his second cousin once removed. Despite some confusion over whether the two had separated, the Prime Minister's office issued a statement clarifying that the couple remained happily married and that he was "taking a second wife according to traditional Hobrazian custom."

The development has perplexed the political commentariat and the general public given Chavchavadze's incredibly vocal support for the Hobrazian Orthodox Church, which explicitly forbids the practice of polygamy. From a legal perspective the practice is governed by local authorities and the municipal government of Astoria sanctions multiple marriages under certain conditions. In most cases these are reserved for ethnic and religious minority groups who have a tradition of polygamy.

In strict terms D'Alessandro is not the Prime Minister's second wife because he had been married and divorced twice before wedding Amilakhvari in 4807. Aside from the unusual decision to engage in multiple marriages, the wedding is notable for other reasons too. Until yesterday it was not public knowledge that the pair even knew each other, let alone were engaged in a romantic relationship. In addition some attention has been paid to the sizeable age gap between the pair, Chavchavadze is fifty-eight while she is only twenty-one.

Since the news broke the Prime Minister has received explicit criticism from some members of his own party who think his actions undermine the party's claims to support traditional Hobrazian family values. Backbench parliamentarian Maia Vakhvakhishvili told journalists the development "made a mockery of our party and the offices of our government." At the same time some have pointed out that is has not been uncommon for Hobrazian monarchs to have multiple wives in the past and it is common in some heterodox Hobaist sects.

Simartle is a Hobrazian online news source covering politics, business and culture across the country from a right-wing political perspective

[Pragma]

Lhalkhistvis wins surprise majority after Chavchavadze controversies
28 April 4816

Tsisia Razmadze's green-liberal party has achieved a significant majority of 60 seats in the 300-seat parliament, despite trailing in polling data released at the start of the campaign. Starting with barely a quarter of the seats in parliament, Lhalkhistvis' inclusive yet somewhat negative campaign lead to a dramatic 31.7% swing in their favour largely thanks to overwhelming victories among minority communities and students. Though turnout declined significantly in the election, the centre-left party won more votes than ever before and will be able to form a clear majority with Razmadze highly likely to be the next Prime Minister, displacing the controversial incumbent Chavchavadze.

Despite their long-standing personal friendship, Razmadze's campaign focused on the perceived flaws of an opponent who had alienated his Hosian base by announcing that he was pursuing a second marriage with a young Istalian model. Razmadze, known for her reserved personality and a distinct lack of evident baggage, ran a series of negative ads on the subject of bigamy in an attempt to dislodge the PM's overwhelming advantage with Hosians. Both party leaders are themselves Hosian (at least by their own accounts) and have to some degree both supported the erection of large Hosian landmarks in the nation. This is despite Lhalkhistvis' official support for separation of church of state, a line which Razmadze tread on carefully during the campaign period.

Khalkhis Khma is a Hobrazian online news source covering politics, ecology and sociology across the country from a centre-left political perspective

[jamescfm]

Chavchavadze sacked by party following embarrassing election defeat
14 June 4816

The outgoing Hobrazian Prime Minister Goga Chavchavadze has been removed as the leader of Rts’mena, the political party that he founded, following a sizeable election defeat. Despite a comfortable victory in the previous national election, Chavchavadze was blamed for the party's collapse in April's parliamentary election due to a series of incidents that undermined his party's claim to stand for traditional values of family and faith.

Although the most frequently repeated incident has been the former Prime Minister's decision to enter into a bigamous marriage with a much younger Istalian model, reports of his suspect behaviour have been circulating for many years. Even within his party some had raised concerns that stories of his heavy drinking and frequent womanising would drive moderate voters away from the party in the long run.

Although he remained relatively popular with many conservative voters in Hobrazia, a larger than expected turnout from minorities and young people helped Lhalkhistvis win a significant parliamentary majority earlier in the year. Yesterday afternoon the party's executive body announced that Chavchavadze was no longer the party's national leader and that he had been replaced by former lawyer Hemashe Xaşmit.

Rts’mena's new leader is a stark contrast to his predecessor. With a reserved character and Deltarian background, party insiders hope that he can repair their public image in the eyes of the Hobrazian voters. Speaking to journalists he assured the public that his party "would do everything possible to fight for the values of faith, justice and order in Hobrazian society."

Simartle is a Hobrazian online news source covering politics, business and culture across the country from a right-wing political perspective

[jamescfm]

Xaşmit blasts "liberal capitalism" in keynote conference speech
3 March 4818

Opposition leader Hemashe Xaşmit has used a key speech at Faith's annual conference to criticise the "corrosive and malicious forces of liberal capitalism" in the global economic system and the effect that they have on working families. Throughout the speech the opposition leader emphasised his party's conservative credentials and hit the key talking points on the role of faith, the importance of the traditional nuclear family and the centrality of the rule of law. In the final section though he made clear that he did not consider himself a capitalist, surprising many in the audience.

In the time since he became party leader following the disastrous election performance in 4816, Xaşmit has sought to reshape the party's identity in a process that some have jokingly referred to as "de-Chavchavadzisation". In principal this has meant keeping out of the tabloid headlines but it has also included adopting a more traditional conservative platform in comparison to the populist demagoguery that characterised the rule of his predecessor.

Aside from policy and ideology, Xaşmit has attempted to democratise the structure of the party too. In addition to creating a number of local party organisations through which members can make their opinions heard, he has also scrapped compulsory subscription fees and reformed the procedure for electing a new leader. In the run-up to the conference he decided voluntarily to submit to the new procedure, which allows members to vote between two candidates selected by the party executive, but received no challengers.

Despite the changes it remains to be seen whether Faith can close the gap on their political rivals over the coming two years. Both parties have fluctuated in the opinion polls over the past decade without any clear trends. In the past two elections they have relied on heterogenous coalitions of various groups and relatively low turnout (especially among the country's rural pagan population).

Simartle is a Hobrazian online news source covering politics, business and culture across the country from a right-wing political perspective

[jamescfm]

Xaşmit's Faith win landslide majority in Hobrazian general election
30 April 4820

Hemashe Xaşmit will become the next Prime Minister of Hobrazia when he meets the King to formally take office this afternoon. Last week's general election saw a remarkable reversal of fortune for Xaşmit's Faith party who won almost three-quarters of the seats in Parliament after losing the last election to their moderate rivals For the People. After the previous election defeat many commentators blamed Faith leader Goga Chavchavadze for the party's failure and the new leader attempted to reform the party's image with great success.

Through a series of structural and political reforms Xaşmit attempted to democratise Faith and appeal to moderate voters across the country. As an ethnic Deltarian the party executive were aiming to improve their performance among minority groups and dispel the notion that the party was rooted in Hobrazian nationalism. Early data doesn't seem to suggest that this was particularly effective however Faith did much better with female voters in this election.

Over the past four years the government led by Tsisia Razmadze has failed to deliver on many of the key promises that won voters to their cause in 4816. Liberals and progressive in particular have cited their disappointment at the Prime Minister's failure to repeal some of the most extreme Hosian legislation passed by the Chavchavadze administration. In the election campaign Faith repeatedly spoke of the need to remove the "do nothing" government. Over the coming months Xaşmit has promised economic and political reform with a special focus on combatting income inequality, which he described as "contradicting our nation's core values".

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Eko is an independent Hobrazian newspaper based in Astoria that covers business and current affairs with a liberal editorial stance