The TribuneNew Englia's leading daily newspaperDuncan elected PM, announces cabinetOctober, 5206Arude - Following the electoral victory of Liberal Conservative Party and the constitutional referendum the former President and now Prime Minister has been settling into his new role in Ardue. The coalition government will be Liberal Conservative Party, the National Party and the Democratic Union; it will provide the new Prime Minister with a total of 347 seats in Parliament. The threshold for a two-thirds majority is 334 seats, giving the Prime Minister and his party an addition 13 seats in Parliament.
Prime Minister Duncan announced his cabinet as follows:
Prime Minister Benedict Duncan (Liberal Conservative Party, LCP)
Deputy Prime Minister - Calvin Howard (National Party, NP)
Secretary of State for Home Affairs (Home Affairs/Home Office) - Kian Moss (LCP)
Secretary of State for Foreign and Dovani Affairs (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) - Daisy Ross (Democratic Union, DU)
Secretary of State for Defense (Ministry of Defense) - Magnus Carr (LCP)
Secretary of State for Justice (Ministry of Justice) - Dr. Hendrix May (LCP)
Secretary of State for Health and Social Services (Ministry of Health and Social Services) - Dr. Sylvie Watts (NP)
Secretary of State for Housing and the Community (Ministry of Housing and the Community) - Lorenzo Hunter (NP)
Secretary of State for Labor (Ministry of Labor) - Christopher Berry (DU)
Secretary of State for Technology, Science and Research (Ministry of Technology, Science and Research) - Louie Spencer (LCP)
Secretary of State for International Trade and Economic Development (Ministry of International Trade and Economic Development) - Dominic Lloyd (LCP)
Secretary of State for Education and Culture (Ministry of Education and Culture) - Micah Wilson (NP)
Secretary of State for Sport and the Youth (Ministry of Sport and the Youth) - Elijah Thompson (DU)
Secretary of State for Infrastructure and Development (Ministry of Infrastructure and Development) - Alistair Martin (LCP)
Prime Minister Benedict Duncan confirmed reports that the New Englian Armed Forces (NEAF) approved the purchase of the newest generation of Unionfighters from Artanian Defense Group pending approval of the Dorvish government, which has traditionally approved the sale of Unionfighters to friendly or neutral nations. "I can confirm that the New Englian Armed Forces purchased a number of ADG Unionfighters to bolster the capabilities of the reformed Commonwealth Air Force (CAF)." The Prime Minister has made restoring New Englia's defense capabilities a priority and the Liberal Conservative Party campaigned on that promise. Secretary of State for Defense Magnus Carr, a member of the cabinet and head of the Ministry of Defense, confirmed that the purchase had been discussed for several months with representatives from Artanian Defense Group. The Secretary also confirmed that they had approached SlipStream, a formerly Luthori-based defense corporation about the purchase of a variety of military equipment. "New Englia has long been one of the most stable nations on Dovani and in what many consider to be the "Third World" of Terra and we cannot neglect that." The Secretary mentioned that the recent troubles have prompted many within the nation to desire a path towards peace. "We're committed to a united New Englia, a nation for all New Englians." Recruiters from the New Englian Armed Forces were granted authorization to redevelop their recruitment efforts in an attempt to bring new recruits into the reinvigorated service. Secretary Carr, Chief of the Defense Staff General Robbie Gardner and several other prominent members of the Defense Staff are expected to hold regular meetings with the Prime Minister. Secretary of State of Home Affairs also announced the reformation of the New Englian National Police into the Police Service of New Englia (PSNE) and announced the intention to arm all officers, both on-duty and off-duty and develop tactical response units meant to handle crises across the country.
In addition to developing the new defense for the commonwealth, the Prime Minister announced he would be devoting nearly $250m LOD to the restoration of infrastructure and development of fundamental infrastructure projects within New Englia. "I have tasked the excellent Secretary of State for Infrastructure and Development Alistair Martin will the development of the New Englia Infrastructure Project (NEIP) which, over the course of the next decade, will aim to connect New Englia by rail, land and air. I am happy to announce that the Ardue Metro will be the first such project to receive funds from the NEIP. I've spoken with the engineers and contractors for the project and they are optimistic that the project can be completed within a few years." New Englia remains somewhat of a "jewel" in Dovani, notably east Dovani, as one of the few nations to have been spared constant conflict and war. New Englia, a former colony of Kirlawa, was the site of many religious-based refugees. The Kilani population in New Englia are largely Aurorian Patriarchal but in recent decades Luthoranism has found a home in the Kilani. The Luthorians, sometimes called Englians, are generally Aurorian and were initially hesitant of the Aurorian Patriarchal Church but have come to accept it.