January 2840
A selections of news cuttings from the most northerly nation in Terra.
Dranian Government On The Verge of Collapse
Dranland continues it slide towards chaos as the governing National Party fail to get a grip on a series of crises gripping the nation. Statsminister Katelijn Christiansen and her cabinet are ill equipped to face the severe challenges that have confronted the government. Their lack of experience is beginning to tell, and it is thought that the Statsminister may announce her resignation within the month, possibly leading to the creation of a new government, or early elections.
The look of stress on the Statsministers face is clear for all to see
The Dranian National Party unexpectedly stormed to victory at the last national elections, however most of its members had never sat in the Riksdag before, let alone held real power. Thus they have struggled to deal with the problems of moving the nation from an anarchy lacking any form of central government to a nation with some form of governing infrastructure.
Allegations of Corruption Within the National Party
The National Party has been further hit today with the revelations that the Minister for Internal Affairs Karolina Heinrichsdag accepted bribes in order to push for lucrative government contracts to be awarded to foreign companies. If she is forced to resign that will bring to three the number of government ministers who have had to resign in the last six months due to corruption. The electorate are rapidly losing trust and confidence in the ability of the National Party to govern effectively.
Trade Union Congress Declares National Strike
The Trade Union Congress has called on all member unions to participate in a series of rolling strikes aimed to hit the government hard and bring about economic and social reforms to “help the working men of Dranland”. The strikes follow the government’s rejection of calls to implement the creation of a welfare state in Dranland. For many years Dranland has lacked any form of government role in education and health, and although the Nationals have begun to increase the role of the government in these areas, the Trade Union have pushed for more investment. Although the strikes are not expected to last for long, if every union in the TUC follows the call for action, then the country will be brought to a terrifying standstill.
Twelve Policemen Killed In Attack by Elbian Seperatists
Members of the Elbian Liberation Army
Elbian separatists have attacked a police barracks in the Canton, killing at least twelve policemen, and wounding many more. Members of the Elbian Liberation Army have increased their attacks on the police in recent months, leading to the deployment of the Special Police in the Canton. The ELA consists of an alliance between various Catholic, ethnic Kazulian and leftist groups intent on detaching the province from the rest of Dranland. Elbian has always stood out a sbeing slightly different from the rest of the country, due to its majority Catholic population, and its substantial number of ethnic Kazulians and Welsh. Backbench MP’s have called for the army to be deployed in an attempt to quell the growing instability in the province, as it is feared that all out conflict could break out between the authorities and ethnic Dranish on one hand, and the ELA on the other.
Middle Class Protests Against Tax Rises
The implementation of the governments spending and tax raising plans has caused widespread discontent amongst Dranlands middle classes who for years have been used to not having to pay income tax. Protests, and refusals to pay tax have significantly hampered the government in many wealthier areas. Such open hostility towards the government from the middle classes is unusual and can only increase the sense of desperation amongst members of the National Party who do not see how their government can survive until the next election.
Oil Prices Drop, Hitting Dranish Exports
The Dranian economy experienced another blow as the price of oil dropped globally. Although good for consumers across the world, oil is an ever-increasing export commodity in this nation, pumping billions of Drans into the government exchequer. The loss of this revenue and the possible loss of jobs in the drilling fields along the northern coast adds further pressure to the Statsminster. The governments increasing reliance upon natural resources
Could we see more derelict oil sites of production drops?
Religious Extremists Form Opposition Party
The collapse of the ‘Sons of Liberty’ who had governed Dranland for the last four decades left the Dranian National Party without any opposition within the Riksdag. However the newly formed ‘Party of the Light’ will attempt to challenge this at the next legislative and Head of State elections, due to be held in 2842. The PoL however is hard to place on the political spectrum as their core ideology consists of a desire to establish the ‘Universal Church of Terra’ as the principle authority of power within the nation, with legislation set according to its holy documents, know collectively as the ‘Book of Light’. Their fanaticism adds to the fear mongering of many Christian groups within Dranland who are predicting the end of times, given all of the problems currently facing the Dranish people.
Discontent Amongst the Officer Corps
General Jakov Wolfseye, head of the army, has openly stated his dismay at the government, and the Statsminister in particular. The army has been reformed and is undergoing expansion under the nex National Party budget, but it appears that the army, or at least its officers aren’t entirely happy with the direction the country is going in.