New Verham

[thefalloutfan101]

     Ms. Maral Taivannuga, recently appointed after a notable vacancy, has approached her duties with gusto - starting with a bold plan for regional integration in Central Dovani.
     She also makes history as the first female New Verhamese foreign minister, which has been remarked with praise on social media.

     President, foreign minister to meet with Statrican and Utemban leaders in dual conference in Zuiderfoort
     12th April 5447

After initial discussions between the foreign ministry and their counterparts in Statrica and Utembo, foreign minister Maral Taivannuga confirmed that a visit was to take place in Zuiderfoort, the capital of the Verhamelen Republic in a dual conference on regional affairs. Chief among the FM's agenda was discussions regarding laying the groundwork for a regional organization, with the three nations being founding members. No direct plans have been discussed at the current moment, but initial prior negotiations were positive, with a spokesperson for the Utemban People's Commissariat of Foreign Affairs remarking that the discussions "served a vital purpose for deepening relations and fostering new trade between our two great nations". Conversations from Statrica were also warm, and served as a continuation of diplomatic strengthening between New Verham and its southern neighbor following a recent restoration of democracy after a successful pro-reformist coup attempt.

The president had already departed for the south early this morning, taking Ms. Taivannuga with him. Speaking earnestly, the president championed the drive made by his foreign minister and remarked that he was "eager" to oversee key discussions across a host of topics. Initially the pair are set to discuss easing trade barriers, facilitating increased export and import opportunities among each country, and the promulgation of a trilateral friendship treaty. Later on, the FM is expected to broach the topic with her Statrican and Utemban counterparts, with discussions set to follow for the next several days. Current expectations are positive, with the foreign minister "confident" that a foundational agreement can be reached, and welcomed fruitful collaboration on the scope and focus of the potential organization.

Ödör tutmyn güidel (Daily Current) is an online news organization headquartered in the capital, Baatrynsentii, focusing on general news coverage. It is majority owned by Ganöd Media Group (GMG) under a 29% share.

[Liu Che/Zhuli]

Eastern Development Organization Bends Over Backwards to Support Dovanian Development and Integration

[thefalloutfan101]

     New Verham, Statrica, and Utembo agree on regional alliance after talks in Zuiderfoort
     16th August 5448

After fruitful discussions between the New Verhamese president and foreign minister among their Statrican and Utemban counterparts, the three nations have agreed to form a regional alliance between themselves as founding members, it being called the Caltropic Lakes Cooperation and Development Organization, or CLCDO. The scope of the organization was laid down after several weeks of followup negotiations after the initial talks in Zuiderfoort, which were met with a warm and positive reception. Comprising economic and diplomatic integration agreements, the CLCDO serves as a regional organization and soft alliance, but does not contain provisions for a military agreement, instead focusing purely on the prior two principles. The organization's headquarters were agreed to be shared in Zuiderfoort, in the historic Colonial House, which previously held the seat of power of the national parliament during the Vanukean colonial period. Previously, it was held as public property under a government trust, with various sections open to visitors as an open air museum. The site is set to be renovated and the relevant artifacts moved to other nearby institutions.

Diplomats in New Verham, chief among them being foreign minister Maral Taivannuga, stated that the organization's size was not just limited to three countries, and that "all nations" in Central Dovani were welcome to join, and there were discussions among political analysts that this would signal a move for greater expansion in the coming months, with predictions that Ostland was set to be the first target of a potential enlarging agreement. As for the current moment, the organization's founding agreements stipulated all member countries would strive to increase each other's respective trade volumes, commit to a tariff-free flow of goods, and invest in each others economies through mutually beneficial agreements, regardless of the form of government of member states. Also included was basic provisions for a common assembly with the ability to draft and propose laws among the alliance, though stipulations for forming political parties akin to the Artanian Union or the West Dovani Union were off the table for the current moment.

Freshly-appointed New Verhamese members of the CLCDO's General Assembly also broached the topic of establishing a common, voluntary "working currency" for the organization, with discussions over the name, valuation, and economic policy of this potential currency be hashed out at a later session. Initial reception was warm among their other counterparts however, with an agreement being likely.


in the moment is a Luthorian language, short-form news website specializing in rapid-fire coverage, with a focus on Dovani. Reporting on affairs throughout the continent, it has dispatches in several countries.

[thefalloutfan101]

     Government declares end to economic emergency in wake of Aldegar Canal Crisis, dissolves related crisis commission as economic signs improve
     Baatrynsentii, New Verham
     19th August 5448

With economic signs trending back into a position of stability and progress, alongside the news that diplomats had succeeded in crafting a regional organization among Central Dovanian countries Statrica and Utembo, the government has decided to declare an end to economic emergency in the wake of the Aldegar Canal Crisis, disbanding restrictions aimed at preventing economic strain, measures which were adversely felt by millions of citizens, and disbanding the crisis commission set up to manage the scale of the crisis domestically and react to it in real time. The president commended the actions in past administrations in taking a serious stance to combating the crisis, and commended the cabinet for its no-nonsense attitude throughout the entirety of the matter. Specific praise was given to foreign minister Maral Taivannuga, the first woman to hold such a rank, for her efforts in helping nurture the establishment of a regional organization between Statrica and Utembo, the news of which itself made various companies trend into the green during the discussions on the New Verhamese stock market.

Among the common citizen, there is an air of relief that certain policies are finally relegated to the dustbin; chief among them being the rationing of fuel and oil in certain provinces, which put a squeeze on the daily activities of citizens, causing a minor ripple effect of local businesses even seeing a downturn in customers simply due to a lack of means to travel to them. Noticeably hit by this was the bar and restaurant scene, where a reduction in availability of fuel caused citizens to tighten their belts, causing a decline in regular customers in the evenings. Some had even closed as a result of the measures, and protested for compensation. The measures, alongside the recent train disaster in Nogoonkhit, led to a rise in leftist movements in the country, peaking during the late summer of 5443 some years ago. These movements continue to agitate, some within the electoral system and without, as direct action and mutual aid groups, but it is expected that the easing of economic difficulties for millions of New Verhamese citizens will put a dent in the political organizing efforts of these parties and organizations.

One voice to balk at and express disdain at the uptick in economic activity was the leader of the People's Revolutionary Socialist Movement (PRSM), a Metzist-Leonidist organization organized across certain far-left sectors of the student movement of the past few years, which in itself has gradually begun to decline. Mr. Jeztri Wrntukaisrmko, an ethnic Jelbek and leader of the organization, noted for his distinctive beard and common adorning of a beret, decried the "renewed exploitation" of the New Verhamese working class and vowed "a protracted people's resistance" against the decadent aggression at the nation's capitalist "cattle-drivers".

The PRSM, which primarily organizes online and is in itself in conflict with various other groups among the diverse New Verhamese far-left sphere, claimed on its website (hosted through user donations) that it was waging a "guerrilla war" against the government. The group has largely been ignored by most elements of the left-wing of national politics, and seemingly continues to be so.

Medeeutas (Newswire; stylized as Medeeutas.) is a breaking news outlet available on both radio and television, with dispatches throughout Dovani.

[thefalloutfan101]

➥ Photo: The Verham Ostlander Republic's first Ministerpräsident, Klaus Axel von Löwenwald-Starhemberg/Ajvaagiin Bagabandi (Shine ajiglagch)

A victory for federalism and autonomy: New Verham's republics elect local governments as regional parties flourish
13th April 5449

With the establishment of statutes of autonomy for ethnic minorities within New Verham, two republics were established within the country after reforms were enacted to the constitution, establishing two such sub-entities: the Ostlander Republic of Sudland and the Verhamelen Republic, names that were considered provisional by the Supreme Congress and would likely be subject to change by the local governments in the future, and were indeed changed - upon the formal promulgation of the Sudland Republic, current Ministerpräsident Löwenwald-Starhemberg changed it to the Verham Ostlander Republic. Since then, after a long and arduous process of managing the bureaucracy and establishing the full powers of the regional governments, both republics elected their first administrations amidst a flurry of formations of regional parties, leading to a flourishing of the political scene among ethnic minorities, and granting even further political power to already-existing minority list parties in the Supreme Congress at the national level. The most significant events were seen in the more lively Ostlander Republic however, where their neighbors in the south, the Verhamelen Republic, elected a mostly centrist government not too dissimilar from the current national administration.

Known for their history of being more culturally conservative than the rest of the country, such political traditions were on full display with the composition of the first ever government for Sudland, headed by Ministerpräsident Klaus Axel von Löwenwald-Starhemberg. Leading the pack was the Ostlandischer-Verhamischer Staatspartei (OVSP), or Verham Ostlander State Party, a socially conservative party with various internal factions, curiously among them a monarchist streak. Below was the Freikonservative Partei, or Free Conservative Party, a national conservative, right-wing party, alongside two more center-right junior partners, being the Demokratische Partei Sudlands (DPS), also containing monarchist leanings, and the Zentrumsunion (ZU), or Center Union, a socially liberal, centrist party. Entering into opposition was the Ostlandischer-Verhamischer Fortschrittliche Partei (OVFP), a center-left, progressive party, the Sozialdemokratische Arbeiterpartei (SDAP), and the Grünlinksbund (GLB), or Green Left Alliance.

The newly-elected Ministerpräsident has already met with national leaders, chief among them the premier and members of the Supreme Congress. He graciously thanked his own countryman, the former president Gerhard Strauß, for "aggravating for our rights and autonomy" and setting the course in motion in the first place. Among the agreements charted with the national government over the structure of the Verham Ostlander Republic was delineating the territories of the republic, the composition of government, which contains a bicameral legislature and a strong executive branch (mirroring the powers of the national government), and an independent judiciary. The names of the chambers of the republic's legislatures were the Landtag (State Diet) for the lower house, and the Staatskammer (State Chamber) for the upper house, a nonpartisan chamber with members appointed by the executive.

Nationally, the presence of regional political parties with monarchist leanings in a nation known for its strong republican heritage caused somewhat of a curiosity in the media, attracting the attention of news outlets and users on social media. When asked about this, a member of the Landtag somewhat humorously remarked: "where there's people who speak Dundorfian, the legacy of royalty follows; it's practically in the blood".

Shine ajiglagch (The New Observer) is an online left-leaning newspaper, focused on reporting daily news in New Verham and abroad.

[thefalloutfan101]

     Supreme Congress begins ratification of New Verhamese entry into West Dovani Union (WDU)
     Baatrynsentii, New Verham
     9th October 5450

In a momentous vote, the ruling government coalition has passed by comfortable margins within the Supreme Congress ratification documents for the accession of New Verham into the West Dovani Union, making the country the sixth to do so. The president set the mood earlier this year, putting pressure on legislators to act, stating that "it was time to move beyond" the scope of the dormant Dovani Pact and to, for the first time in decades, seek out new opportunities and alliances on the continent. Motivation was already on the table via the historic formation of the Caltropic Lakes Coordination and Development Organization (CLCDO) two years ago. There was initial concern among analysts that the effects would be lopsided on New Verham, given the strongest economies in the WDU being Dankuk and Lourenne, and thus would open up the nation into an unprecedented amount of commerce that the economy might not be able to keep pace with, but such thoughts were assuaged by assurances that the government would adopt a measured pace to inter-organizational trade.

"For the first time in decades, New Verham is charting a new course," the president stated on social media. "Our Supreme Congress has passed ratification documents for our nation's accession into the West Dovani Union, a proud alliance of equals; I am warmed to see our lawmakers share the same opinion on the matter, after I had expressed our desire for greater connectivity among our continent's family of nations. As such, I will be signing this legislation into law immediately, and am extremely grateful to do so." Alongside formally joining the alliance, the legislation also contained provisions for simultaneously joining the West Dovani Economic Union and becoming a member of the Dovanian Defense Organization, in a bid to modernize the New Verhamese military and seek advice in adapting new, more modern doctrines.

However, whilst most lawmakers were supportive of most of the legislation, there was sharp partisan debate over adopting the Dovanian Circus. The president has expressed distaste at such a notion, opting to retain the national currency of the guilder and work to make it more stable through a series of fiscal reforms. Lawmakers in parliament got into visible shouting matches over both the common market and the Circus, with one member of the SC remarking in a noteworthy exchange: "no! no! no!". As such, parliament did not provide for the adoption of the WDU's common currency, and is unlikely to do so for the considerable future.

Medeeutas (Newswire; stylized as Medeeutas.) is a breaking news outlet available on both radio and television, with dispatches throughout Dovani.

[thefalloutfan101]

     The former foreign minister came to power as a compromise candidate within clashing wings of the PAP; now, he walks along a tightrope among interests in government and his own party.

     Former foreign minister Oskar von Saucken elected president, assumes leadership of party after ousting of Strauß
     9th November 5442 (OOC: Severely postdated, I do apologize)

It seems as though the internal clashes within the PAP regarding its leader Gerhard Strauß have finally come to an end: after a successful motion of no confidence being submitted for a second time by opposing factions against his leadership passed by slim but clear margins, the race for a new head to the nation's oldest political party began. Numerous candidates were proposed, but no clear winner emerged, leading to gridlock which nearly cost the PAP the election, but voters led the PAP to another tenure in office. After weeks of internal debate, a compromise candidate was put forward: former foreign minister Oskar von Saucken, who previously described himself as a "Straußist" but now has shifted somewhat to the left-of-center, espousing policies that are somewhat similar to both the Standard and Progressive Mönkhdevshilists of old, though von Saucken himself denies this, citing that he "espouses his own set of beliefs that don't neatly fit into the party's political tapestry". Regardless, even though the leader was welcomed by both debating wings of the party, Mu-Tze voices both within the PAP and the general electorate at large expressed their disappointment at another non-Mu-Tze leader to the presidency.

Such concerns were mostly relegated to social media, where some conversations elicited controversy. Ostlander accounts on various social media platforms accused their Mu-Tze counterparts who expressed such opinions of discrimination, with the Mu-Tze stating it as "nonsensical" and "absurd". However, such incidents were limited, with the new president entering into his first tenure with modestly high approval ratings. However, von Saucken will have to tread a careful course - as the recent ousting of Gerhard Strauß proving that groups within the PAP have resisted the new course his administration's leadership sought to take. The new president took pains to reassure the public and the party about his administration, stating that he would assess the actions of his predecessor and "take steps to safeguard the traditions of our nation's institutions whilst stepping into a new course of progress and reaching out into the future". Key policies discussed among the president was a desire to reassert New Verham's position in continental and regional affairs, assess the nation's fiscal policy, and carry the torch of Gerhard Strauß's vision of achieving autonomy for the nation's ethnic minority populations.

Ödör tutmyn güidel (Daily Current) is an online news organization headquartered in the capital, Baatrynsentii, focusing on general news coverage. It is majority owned by Ganöd Media Group (GMG) under a 29% share.

[thefalloutfan101]

➥ Photo: The former Ministerpräsident is expected to run for the position of Chancellor after calling for snap elections/Ajvaagiin Bagabandi (Shine ajiglagch)

Verham Ostlander Republic's Landtag votes in favor of establishing a monarchy in stunning development
20th October 5450

After a public plebiscite within the autonomous republic was held, in which over 53% voted in favor of such, the Landtag of the Verhamischer-Ostlandischer Republik drafted legislation to change the system of government from that of a republic to a monarchy, effective immediately, and also reform the constitution. Ministerpräsident Löwenwald-Starhemberg signed the legislation into law upon it passing to his desk, and announced that he would resign his position and organize a snap election within the republic, where he is expected to run for Chancellor (as Reichskanzler). For the time being, the autonomous region's new regal head of state will be occupied by a regency council made up of various notable families across the region. Also included in the legislation were provisions for establishing royal titles within the autonomous republic, though explicit clarification was given that such titles of nobility would have no recognition, nor legitimate power outside the autonomous region. Within the new kingdom however, they would have significant status, granting political power through their representation as members of the newly-established House of Lords (Herrenhaus), also provided for in additional provisions. The House of Lords now replaces the Staatskammer, and its members are, as the name implies, to come from the nobility.

The newly-established regency council has conferred several historical families rights of a peerage, and enshrining them as hereditary. Several new peerages were also established, bringing the total members of the newly-established chamber to an impressive 135, with that number expected to rise, and potentially fall periodically over time. Elsewhere across the country, the national reaction was one largely of stunned surprise; the prime minister was called to clarify by members of the Supreme Congress as to whether or not the actions of the kingdom violated the constitution as well as the statutes of autonomy given to ethnic minorities. After considerable internal debate, the vote was concluded to be legal, acting in full rights of the autonomies given to regional entities within New Verham, arguing that the Verhamelen Republic to the south could just as easily declare a monarchy also. Nevertheless, the reaction across much of the public sphere was one of aforementioned dumbfoundedness, and bemusement.

Concerns were also raised by the changes made to the constitution, which handed a variety of powers of the now-defunct Ministerpräsident to that of the incoming monarch. For now, the regency council will share these duties, committing to act "in the best interests of the Verham Ostlander people and their nation". Effectively the reforms establish a semi-constitutional monarchy in the area, modeled after traditional Ostlander and historic Dundorfian kingdoms of old. As for the reaction among the Verham Ostlanders themselves, the reaction was seemingly jubilant; the region trends more culturally conservative than the rest of the country at large, and parties with monarchist leanings held the majority in the Landtag prior to these events.

For the time being, the regency council has put out a call to royal houses and monarchies across Terra; to offer the chance for their dynasty to seat a member on the throne of the world's newest kingdom, if albeit it is as a sub-unit of a larger country. However, some ground rules have been established by the council, namely that the ruler must be of Ostlander or Dundorfian blood; and that he or she must hail from a well-established house relating to these heritages. While the council would welcome increased relations from its fellow monarchist neighbor Lourenne, it firmly ruled out the possibility of an Orléans-Vasser ascending to the throne.

Shine ajiglagch (The New Observer) is an online left-leaning newspaper, focused on reporting daily news in New Verham and abroad.

[Liu Che/Zhuli]

Yingdala Sends Congratulations on New Sub-National Monarchy, Hopes for Restored Ties Between the Countries

[thefalloutfan101]

     Local noble family raises its status as a full royal house as regency council ends its search, creating a "full-blooded" Verham Ostlander monarchy
     20th August 5456

For nearly half a decade, the Verham Ostlander kingdom within New Verham has shopped around for suitable families of Dundorfian or Ostlandic heritage to fit the bill for leadership of the nation's autonomous region. With the regency council refusing to grant the title to a member of the House of Orléans-Vasser, despite some of the family holding Dundorfian blood, the scope was slim. There was some interest and pressure from the House of Lords in selecting a slate of members from the House of Faust-Essen, the currently exiled Dorvish royal house, but further negotiations failed to materialize. As the process lagged further along, the regency council chose to reach out to several recently-ennobled families in the region itself to determine a suitable monarch.

Ultimately, the choice was slimmed down to five, the names of which have not been publicized, as claimed by the council itself "to avoid public drama or pointless speculation". After months of weighing each choice, a final family was chosen - that of the noble family of Hohenlohe-Schwanitz, taking up its name as a full royal house as the House of Hohenlohe, from the patrilineal line. The regency council picked the head of the family, Dietrich Friedrich Eduard Lutz von Hohenlohe to ascend to the throne as the region's first king. Summoned to the capitol, Schloss an der Hugel in an elaborate ceremony also attended by national officials and a joint delegation of the Landtag and House of Lords, he was greeted by religious officials of the Verham Ostlander diocese of the Aurorian Patriarchal Church. Ascending the steps of the Reichskirche, the transfer of power was symbolized by the regency council handing over the royal scepter with orb and upon his ascension to the throne after a blessing, had the royal crown placed on his head, an ancestral heirloom from his own family's history as nobles in neighboring Ostland several centuries before.

In the official ceremony, he took the official regnal name Dietrich I, and in a procession led by him out of the Reichskirche, met a packed session of parliament, declared in his first official act the formal dissolution of the regency council, and swearing his loyalty to the Verham Ostlander people and that of New Verhamese state itself. He shook hands with the president and prime minister, who also formally recognized his rule. He and his family ascend to the throne and the status of full royalty with his wife and five children; three boys, two girls, with ages 21, 19, 15, 11, 7 accordingly. His oldest, Ernst August, an avid sportsman and amateur investor, is assumed the heir presumptive.


in the moment is a Luthorian language, short-form news website specializing in rapid-fire coverage, with a focus on Dovani. Reporting on affairs throughout the continent, it has dispatches in several countries.