Tropica

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Landslide victory for Labour in parliamentary election
Labour leader Manuera to become first Prime Minister to lead a single party government in several decades
23 September 4744


Leader of the Labour Party Makuku Manuera will become the Prime Minister of a single party for over forty years when she is invited to form a government by the Kaitiaki this afternoon. Labour were able to win a landslide election following a combination of scandal in their primary rivals and internal redirection, having spent most of the last fifteen years in opposition.



Above: Incoming Prime Minister Makuku Manuera had been influential in shifting the direction of the Labour Party even prior to winning a leadership election three years ago


A Parliamentary victory will not be a surprise to many Tropicans although the number of seats the party won might. Although some results are still yet to be confirmed, the party is expected to win around 260 of the 450 seats in the National Assembly, far ahead of the 102 projected for United Democracy (UD), their centre-right rivals.

For the past eight months, United have led a minority government with support from the right-wing Freedom Party after their previous coalition partners abandoned them. Freedom Party leader Percy Black announced last month that he would no longer be willing to support the government after they were embroiled in an expenses scandal. Various ministers had been claiming holidays and other unnecessary trips as part of their official government business, subsidised by the taxpayer.

While the expenses scandal provided the trigger for United Democracy's downfall, it had been expected for some time. Throughout the recent series of government led by the party, the Tropican economy has struggled and income inequality has risen sharply. In response to the growing sense of frustration from the public, Labour elected Manuera as their new leader on a platform that was a significant departure from their traditional approach in recent years.

During both her internal leadership campaign and the recent election, Manuera spoke positively of what she called the "Sekowan model of co-operatism". In the past decade, Seko has undergone a period of radical transformation from a crumbling government and economy due to the leading role played by independent workers' cooperatives and trade unions. Manuera had been directly involved in organising similar structures at the local level prior to entering national politics but the success that Seko has demonstrated on a national scale provided her ideas with an additional popular boost.

While recognising that Tropica is a fundamentally different country, she has hailed the model of economic development as an alternative to the traditional market capitalism practised by global hegemons like Kazulia, Vanuku and Lourenne. Over the course of the next Parliament, the new government is expected to craft a variety of policies aimed at facilitating workers' cooperatives in various economic sectors as well as implementing more mainstream socialist policies, such as the nationalisation of the water industry.

Tropican Daily Dispatch is an independent daily newspaper in Tropica that publishes a variety of content including news, opinion pieces and coverage of cultural affairs.

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Jakania launches formal election campaign with Tropica visist

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Government approves designation of new capital city
Manuera implements change following decades of lobbying by regional governments for switch away from Tropica City
18 July 4750


Prime Minister Makuku Manuera has officially announced that from the beginning of next month, the national capital of Tropica will be Nikutabi, located on the southern coast. Regional leaders have been calling for a change ever since the current constitution reaffirmed Tropica City as the country's capital, with many disappointed that the new constitution did not bring an end to centuries of focus on the former colonial settlement. Although the change will formally occur in the coming weeks, the full effect will not be felt for several years as the main functions of governance will move in a staggered effort from next year.



Above: The southern coastal city of Nikutabi will become the Tropican national capital from the beginning of next month, following centuries of controversy on the subject


Since winning a second successive parliamentary election at the end of last year, the current Labour government under Makuku Manuera has embarked on further reforms to the structure of Tropica's institutions, both governmental and societal. Manuera's economic programme has seen a massive increase in the number of "workers' cooperatives" throughout the economy, with legislation prohibiting private corporations in certain sectors of the economy. The result has not only been steady economic growth but a significant reduction in the level of income inequality.

The decision to move the capital from Tropica City to Nikutabi was a somewhat controversial inclusion in the party's policy platform for the previous parliamentary election. Some members of the Labour Party were concerned it would be off-putting to Tropicans of Luthorian descent who are more likely to have strong connections to the city. Manuera's decision to push ahead with the change does not seem to have had the effect that her critics predicted though, with a lack of strong opposition being voiced.

Even the mayor of Tropica City himself indicated that the change was a sensible one. Kingi Nopera told the press, "Nikutabi is a city that has a very important position in the history of the Tropican people and it is fair that it should be the heart of our country". The current capital has been a source of controversy in the past, having changed its name from Frankenville after the colonial era was brought to an end. Nonetheless, many native Tropicans feel that the city's position remained as a legacy of the impact of colonial powers.

Nikutabi Today is an independent local newspaper in the Tropican capital that covers news, culture, politics, economics and sport

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International Society for the Study of Terran Civilisations: Tropican peoples

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Human Rights Foundation: Report on global democracy critical of major powers

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National government pledges investment for broadband infrastructure
19 January 4780

Tropican Prime Minister Tiki Wirihana has pledged to provide regional administrations with a "war chest" of funds to spend on improving internet access throughout the country over the next decade. Following through on commitments made in the run-up to last year's general election, the Labour leader told regional leaders in a special meeting this afternoon that providing all households with access to an internet connection would "bring a new era of economic opportunity" for the country.

For the past three decades, the Labour Party has governed the country without significant opposition on a programme of regional autonomy, worked-based co-operatism and demilitarisation. In the last election though, Wirihana faced a serious challenge from a variety of smaller regional parties that threatened to leave the country with a hung parliament. Drawing on Tropica's vibrant history of local politics, a number of independent and non-partisan candidates positioned themselves as strong voices for local communities.

In response, Wirihana promised that the government would go further in addressing the challenges that rural and island communities face. Although the country has experienced a steady period of development, many people still live in poor conditions and lack opportunities for structural reasons. The new funding for broadband infrastructure is one of a variety of measures aiming to "level up" the economy for all citizens by opening new avenues for education and skills development.

The Tropican Daily Dispatch is an independent daily newspaper in Tropica that covers topics including politics, economics, culture and sport

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Tropican cricket team clinch victory over Vascania in dramatic fifth test
29 June 4784

Following a staggering performance by captain George Wilkinson and the young U. R. Karauna, the Tropican national cricket team have secured an upset victory of their Vascanian counterparts in the final test of the current series to determine the fourth Bhatta-Witika Trophy in Nikutabi. After winning the toss on the opening day, Vascanian captain Sumerpaul Mungut opted to bat first and he lead by example with an impressive century. Combined with a plethora of fielding errors from the home side, Mungut and his side managed to rack up 484 runs before being bowled out.

The response from the Tropican side was abysmal and strong Vascanian bowling left the visitors able to enforce the follow on at the end of the first Tropican innings. Things changed dramatically on the third day though thanks to a record-breaking stand from George Wilkinson and U. R. Karauna in which the latter racked up a double hundred. By the time they had both departed and the Tropicans had declared, the game looked tight and Vascania prepared for a daunting second innings needing over 364 to win.

Early signs of trouble showed when Rongo Keretene removed Vascanian star batsman Arunjeet Ghugh for an unlikely duck and the rest of the side struggled to find a decent rhythm. By early afternoon on the last day though the game looked to be heading for a draw as Mungut and Ashtavakra Patel laid down a sixty run stand. Momentum shifted again when three wickets fell in only two overs thanks to Keretene and Karauna. Vascania were eventually bowled all out for 201, leaving the Tropican side winners by 162 runs.

Since its first staging less than two decades ago, the Bhatta-Witika Trophy has grown massively in popularity. Cricket has been the among the most popular sports in Vascania for a long time and the country is among the top international sides but it took longer to become a key part of the Tropican sporting tradition. Over the past two centuries though it has developed an increasingly symbolic role as a unifying element for indigenous Tropican populations and white Luthorian-heritage Tropicans.

The Tropican Daily Dispatch is an independent daily newspaper in Tropica that covers topics including politics, economics, culture and sport

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     Census data reveals growing Raktavani population in the capital
               20 April 4809

Public data released in the wake of last year's official national census revealed that the Tropican capital Nikutabi is home to one of the largest ethnic Raktavani communities outside of the Vascania and Malivia. For many years Nikutabi has been a diverse urban city and the centre of much of the country's international economic activity but several factors have combined to increase the size of the region's Raktavani in recent times.

Among the most important factors are Tropica's relationship to Vascania and the persecution of the Ahmadi community in that country. In the past century, the Tropican economy has developed in close tandem with economic development in Vascania. Although lacking the large population and impressive military capability of its larger neighbour, Tropica has been able to take advantage of a growing consumer base in the country for key export products like fruit, fish and wine.

At the same time the Vascanian government has instituted a number of measures targeting the country's Ahmadi minority and promoting the dominant Sundarat Dharma faith. In response to these measures, particularly the financial incentive to leave the country, a significant number of Raktavani Ahmadis have emigrated to Tropica for the country's religious pluralism.

     Nikutabi Today is an independent local newspaper in the Tropican capital that covers news, culture, politics, economics and sport

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     Crown Prince renounces claim to the throne following Ahmadi conversion
               30 June 4810

Crown Prince Maaka, the heir apparent to the Tropican crown, has announced that he will renounce his claim to the throne and cease participating in all royal duties in the wake of his conversion to Ahmadism. In a short press conference organised independently of the royal authorities, Maaka appeared alongside his long-term partner Kafuri socialite Azeema el-Zafar to announce that he intended to split his time between Tropica and Kafuristan over the coming months with a view to eventually moving to the Majatran country permanently.

Throughout his address the Crown Prince spoke in a matter-of-fact manner, and declared that he would be repudiating any monetary support from the Tropican crown moving forward and abandoning his official title, Prince of Kukerai and Wodurn. In addition he announced that he would be adopting the name Abdul Jaleel Ahmad el-Ishmael to "affirm his new identity and faith".

Although the announcement has taken the media and general public by surprise there have been rumours that the Crown Prince was becoming deeply involved in the Ahmadi faith almost as soon as he became romantically linked to el-Zafar at the end of last year. The two are believed to have met at an official function between the Tropican and Kafuri governments, where el-Zafar was representing her father's media conglomerate. Since then they are said to have become deeply infatuated with one another.

In his official announcement Maaka did not explain much about his conversion, except to explain that he had "finally found the direction that [he] had been searching for all of [his] life". Journalists and other media sources around the royal family believe that he has become involved with the "New Helem" Ahmadi sect however. Despite relatively secretive organisation the New Helem movement is believed to be a heterodox interpretation of traditional Ahmadism incorporating a variety of modernistic elements. Nonetheless they are often cited as fiercely devout and highly structured.

Since the press conference there has been no official response from any member of the royal family and it is not yet known if the Crown Prince communicated his intentions to the Queen in advance of his announcement. Maaka's relinquishing of the throne will place his younger brother Pahu as the new heir apparent if it is confirmed. In the modern history of the monarchy it is unprecedented for any individual in the line of succession to renounce their claim and it will likely require legislation from Parliament to be confirmed.

     Nikutabi Today is an independent local newspaper in the Tropican capital that covers news, culture, politics, economics and sport

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Fragile coalition government established in wake of election
24 October 4815

Joyce Conway, the leader of National Action, will become Tropican Prime Minister this afternoon following the conclusion of a formal coalition agreement between her party and Forward Tropica, the traditional conservative movement that emerged as the third largest party in last month's general election. In order to secure a majority in the National Assembly, the coalition has negotiated a confidence agreement with the Party of Kapemuka, a regional party operating primarily in western Tropica.

The agreement has been reached remarkably quickly following last month's indecisive election results. Both of the major parties received approximately the same number of seats in the National Asssembly, the Tropican Parliament's lower house, but the most remarkable outcome of the election was the sudden rise of Forward Tropica. Having entered the campaign with only five legislative seats they emerged with over fifty after the election.

Criticised by the leadership of the Labour Party as "ultraconservative", the party received most of their support from Tropica's sizeable Luthorian-descent minority. Throughout the election campaign they appealed to "traditional values" of faith, family and order. Conway distanced herself from the insurgent political force initially but it became clear after the results emerged that she would need to garner their support in order to become Prime Minister.

The full details of the coalition agreement are not yet clear but it is expected that it will include both parties' pledges to make institutional political reforms, including the centralisation of political power. Achieving this might prove difficult though because they will be unlikely to count on the support of their regionalist allies in the Party of Kapemuka. Furthermore both parties combined fall well short of a majority in the Council of Regions, where the Labour Party retains a plurality.

The Tropican Daily Dispatch is an independent daily newspaper in Tropica that covers topics including politics, economics, culture and sport