Seko

[Wu Han]

"Sekowan boy-band 11PM concludes Dankuk tour." Baeguk Ilbo, 20 April 4771.

[Wu Han]

Koga Narumi re-elected President
5 February 4775



EIWA, SEKO: Koga Narumi has been re-elected president of Seko following the 4775 general election. Koga's campaign largely focused on foreign policy, benefiting from a stable economy domestically. During the electoral campaign, however, Koga was unexpectedly forced onto the defensive by Kaihō Undō (Liberation Movement) activists who criticized her comparatively few executive accomplishments, as well as the slow pace of legislative reforms instituted by Premier Arakachi Riza. In the end Koga and Arakachi won a decisive victory, dispelling their detractors for the time being.

[Liu Che/Zhuli]

Yingdala Set to Host First Council of Shinekh Meeting

[Wu Han]

KOGA NARUMI WINS UNPRECEDENTED THIRD TERM AS PRESIDENT
WHILE TENSIONS MOUNT WITHIN KAIHŌ UNDŌ
18 February 4780

Summary: Koga Narumi has violated an unwritten convention of Sekowan politics, securing a third term as president, an act which may
threaten the cohesion of Seko's governing political organization.


⬆ President Koga addresses reporters at the National Assembly

EIWA, NANZAN CIRCUIT: President Koga Narumi has been re-elected President of Seko in contravention of the historical precedent established by earlier presidents Seichō, Kono and Nelli-Cualli. While term limits are not enshrined in the Constitution nor the laws of Seko, it has generally been seen as a taboo for the president to serve more than two terms. Members of the Liberation Movement (Kaihō Undō) largely expected the president to step down at the party's National Congress, held in December 4779, but were stunned when Koga announced that she would contest another term.

"Comrades, you have entrusted me with carrying on our social, humanist revolution," said Koga. "I cannot shirk from this monumental task nor betray the confidence which you have placed in me by stepping down, as the job of institutionalizing our historic movement remains unfinished."

Many delegates remained mute, while others offered a reserved applause for the President. A smaller group of delegates walked out of convention hall in disgust and indignation, pledging to protest the move during organization's Coordinating Committee election the next day. However, during the election a strong showing by Koga-aligned delegates largely returned the same members to the Coordinating Committee, clearing the way for the President's re-confirmation as co-chair, and accordingly, presidential candidate for Seko's ruling political organization.

President Koga has not issued a single substantive Executive Directive since her first election in 4770. Thus, a disconnect exists between her words to the party's National Congress, and her actions in the executive office of the country. Grassroots activists within and outside the Liberation Movement have carefully criticized Koga's move, labelling it a threat to the continuity of Seko's hard-won democratic system.

This activist agitation has led to some very calculated and tepid congratulatory messages directed to the president after the General Election from lower-level figures. Minister Atsumi Tadakatsu wrote that the President must "devote her term to preparing the next generation of leadership in Seko," while Mayor Chimalmat Tun of Kuzacotl was more assertive, writing "the President must conclude her time in office with a positive legacy of democratic governance, as opposed to a negative legacy of division and egotism."

It is largely expected that Premier Arakachi Riza we be reconfirmed to her office, alongside the majority of her ministers who comprise the most prominent and high-level supporters of the President. A purge of dissenting voices, such as Minister Atsumi, would be an escalation toward increasing tension within the Liberation Movement. It's yet to be seen whether the President or Premier will take such action, but the message sent by the National Congress is clear: Koga Narumi intends to remain in power.



OOC Note: I wrote this article prior to my leave of absence. Please observe that it is post-dated, and not contemporary.

[Wu Han]

Minister of Culture Atsumi Tadakatsu expelled from the Liberation Movement
11 September 4784



EIWA, SEKO: Atsumi Tadakatsu, Minister of Culture and prominent public critic of President Koga Narumi has been expelled from the Liberation Movement, Seko's ruling political organization. In an official communique from the organization's Coordinating Committee, which announced the 19-7 vote, Atsumi is accused of exploiting his office to increase his personal wealth.

"Minister Atsumi has put his egotism and individual greed before his duty to the people," read the statement. "He has, at every turn, used his office to embezzle funds and elevate his son's career, preferring the role of a celebrity to that of a government minister."

However, when asked later in the day, Premier Arakachi Riza refused to be specific with regard to the reasoning behind Atsumi's removal. "All will be made clear in due course," said Arakachi, adding "we have no time for criminality or free-loaders in our movement."

Atsumi has seen a surge of public support as a result of his expulsion, with thousands of citizens, politicians and public figures coming to his defence on social media. Mayor Chimalmat Tun of Kuzacotl was the most robust in his denunciation, declaring it "the first shot fired in battle for Seko's future." Mayor Chimalmat called on the party to hold an emergency Congress to address the situation, while Atsumi's spokeswoman said that they will be pursuing legal action.

[Wu Han]

Sekowan celebrity Atsumi Jun, son of former-Minister Atsumi Tadakatsu, responds to political controversy on social media:

[Wu Han]

SHOCKING: PRESIDENT'S OFFICE LEAKS DOCUMENTS REVEALING ATSUMI JUN
AS ADOPTED SON OF FORMER-MINISTER ATSUMI TADAKATSU
24 October 4784



OVERVIEW:

• In internal party documents Minister Atsumi Tadakatsu reveals that his son, singer Atsumi Jun, was adopted at age 2.
• President's Office says leak was intended to "present the public with information in its interest," as National Assembly probes Atsumi family finances.
• Defenders of ousted-Minister Atsumi Tadakatsu call the leak a "privacy violation of the highest degree."
• Neither Atsumi Tadakatsu nor Atsumi Jun have responded publicly to the leak, but are together at their family home in rural Nanzan Circuit.

PRESIDENT KOGA NARUMI'S OFFICE has taken an extraordinary step of publishing internal party documents written by former-Minister and government critic Atsumi Tadakatsu which reveal that his son, singer Atsumi Jun is adopted. The documents are the latest revelation in an all-consuming scandal that was initiated by Atsumi's expulsion from Seko's governing political organization, the Liberation Movement early last month. Atsumi Tadakatsu is currently under investigation by the National Assembly for embezzlement of funds and abuse of power during his time as Minister of Culture.

"In the context of this on-going investigation, the executive believes that it is inappropriate to withhold vital information from the National Assembly, and the wider public," said President Koga Narumi's spokesperson Mr. Kawahara Koichi. "We must present the public with information in its interest, and we shall not shirk from our sacred constitutional obligation to provide transparency in governance."

The documents, a series of self-disclosure forms and other information, reveal a series of intimate details on Minister Atsumi and his family. During the early days of the Liberation Movement, members were required to disclose potentially damaging information to its leadership in the event that such information might be used against them or the movement-at-large. Ironically, it is now this very process which has been weaponized against an expelled member of the organization.

In the main self-disclosure form, Atsumi reveals that he adopted his son at the age of two from a Daenist orphanage in Mizuho, Sanko Circuit. The two share no biological or marital relatives, which makes the adoption unique in a Sekowan context. In this country, most adoptions occur within clans to ensure a continuity of ancestor worship, which depresses the overall child adoption rate relative to other countries of similar socioeconomic development. As most adoptions occur within families, they are often kept secret from the adoptee themselves; it is unclear whether this is the case regarding the Atsumi family.

Despite the pretence of transparency from the President's office, the real reason for publishing such intimate information on the Atsumi family is opaque, and according to critics, primarily political.

"This is a transparent, and rather ham-fisted attempt to weaken Atsumi's position vis-à-vis Koga and her leadership, and strengthen her support among certain social conservatives who may be critical of child adoption," said Dr. Hokama Sayuri, Associate Professor of Political Science at Eiwa National University. "This gamble reveals, most notably, the desperation of the Koga camp."

Many Sekowans have come to the defence of the Atsumi family, most notably Atsumi Jun's young and passionate fanbase who have flooded the social media pages of President Koga and Premier Akarachi with vitriolic comments. Premier Arakachi decried "the violent and menacing messages," that have left her feeling "unsafe in [her] private life," which only fawned the flames further, as netizens excoriated her perceived hypocrisy. Amidst the scandal, prominent politicians and public figures from across the country have called on the President to resign, including stalwart ally of Atsumi Tadakatsu, Mayor Chimalmat Tun of Kuzacotl: "The President has stepped far beyond the bounds of her office and must resign, the need for new leadership has never been more acute."

An excerpt from the self-disclosure form in which Atsumi Tadakatsu reflects on the adoption of Atsumi Jun has gone viral on social media, attracting widespread attention and acclaim:

So many of my friends have called me selfless for adopting a child. How exemplary, they say, how generous! This is wrong. I am selfish. Perhaps the most selfish person to have ever lived. I have taken this beautiful child, and raised him as my son, selfishly. But I have no apologies! For being selfish, I have received the single greatest blessing in my life, the reason for my continued being on this planet. If selfishness is a sin, I will gladly go to hell!

[Wu Han]

Atsumi Tadakatsu announces challenge against Liberation Movement leadership
31 October 4784



EIWA, SEKO: Assemblyman Atsumi Tadakatsu (Independent) has announced his intention to form an independent organization aimed at replacing the leadership of the Kaihō Undō (Liberation Movement). Demonstrating the strength of his coalition, Atsumi presented an open-letter signed by nearly 2,600 local and national politicians from across Seko, calling on the entire Coordinating Committee to be replaced through the organization's National Congress, to be held in December.

Reporters were expecting Atsumi to respond to leaked documents which revealed his son, singer Atsumi Jun, to be adopted. The assemblyman did not address it in his comments, answering only one question on the issue:

Q: Assemblyman Atsumi, many of your supporters view the release of documents by the President's office last week to have been politically-motivated and designed to damage your reputation. Others have suggested that the documents are a piece of an ever expansive web of secrets that you maintain, including the fact that your son is adopted. How do you respond to these charges?

A: Is that so?

[Wu Han]

               Assemblyman Atsumi Tadakatsu's cleared of graft allegations by National Assembly
                    22 November 4784

Eiwa, Seko: In a unanimous vote held this afternoon, the National Assembly Integrity Committee has cleared Assemblyman Atsumi Tadakatsu of graft allegations levelled against him by the leadership of his own party. The Committee, chaired by Justice Minister Nishiyama Satoshi, said that there was no evidence that Mr. Atsumi had committed any of criminal violations which he has been accused of. The purpose of the investigation into Mr. Atsumi has been unclear since it began, with opaquely-worded statements from the Liberation Movement Coordinating Committee, and including from the Premier Arakachi Riza herself.

Primarily, Mr. Atsumi was accused of having held nearly $15 million in off-shore accounts, which he had received as bribes for contracts issued while he served as Minister of Education and Culture. Over the course of the investigation, Minister Nishiyama nor the other members of the committee were able to establish any solid evidentiary basis for these claims. Further, a forceful and strong repudiation of the charges by Mr. Atsumi consolidated public sentiment in his favour, as the committee proceedings came to be viewed as a show trial.

The news comes as a major blow to the President and the Premier, who have seen a cratering of public support throughout the inquiry into Mr. Atsumi. The President attempted to shift the narrative in her favour by releasing documents which revealed that Mr. Atsumi's son had been adopted, however this plan backfired and was met with widespread denunciations across Seko.

Dawn Observer is a Luthorian-language international newspaper reporting on politics, economics and culture throughout western Dovani

[Wu Han]

President Koga Narumi announces she will not seek controversial fourth term as popularity plummets
26 November 4784
President Koga would lose an election to any candidate were it held today; accordingly, she intends to retire


⬆President Koga speaks to medical staff at Eiwa National University Hospital, 10 November

Eiwa, Nanzan Circuit — Next year, no matter the candidates, Seko will have a new president. Koga Narumi, who has held the office for three consecutive terms announced today that she will not seek re-election in the 4785 general election.

“I feel it is time I step down," explained the President just steps outside her residence. "The more time I spend with my grandchildren, the more apparent it is to me that Seko requires a new generation of leadership. Thus, I wish to step aside on behalf of the young people of this great federation.”

The announcement comes after new polling from the National Perspectives Centre (NPC) indicates a 29% approval rating for President Koga, the lowest among all national elected officials. At this level of support, it is clear that Koga would fail to win re-election. Thus, with the writing on the wall, Koga has decided to leave politics on her own terms.

Koga’s historic unpopularity comes as a result of what most Sekowans view as ineffectual and scandal-ridden governance. Indeed, since Koga has been in office she has not signed a single Executive Directive, shocking when in consideration of her controversially-long tenure. The National Assembly, led by the president's primary ally Premier Arakachi Riza, has similarly been criticized for being slow to act on crucial legislative reforms.

The President's decision to expel one of the country’s most popular politicians, Atsumi Tadakatsu, from the Liberation Movement is largely seen at the beginning of the end for her political career. The move was widely denounced as a blatant political scheme designed to take out the President’s primary public critic, as she pressured the National Assembly to investigate Atsumi on unsubstantiated claims of corruption for which he was cleared earlier this week.

Increasingly isolated and desperate, Koga made a major political miscalculation by leaking documents to the media which revealed Atsumi’s son to have been adopted. While intended to cast doubt on the Assemblyman's integrity in the context of the on-going investigation, this audacious violation of the Atsumi family’s privacy rapidly turned public sentiment against the President.

The Nakama Junta Research Institute (NJRI) recently ranked Koga as the worst president in modern Sekowan history. While the country has only seen four presidents since the Constitutional period began, it is already apparent that Koga’s legacy will not be one of high regard.


The Eiwa Shimbun is a national broadsheet and online newspaper reporting on Sekowan affairs from a centre-left perspective.