Noumonde

National news threads that host the key national news outlets for each of the game’s countries.

Re: Noumonde News Service

Postby RedReaper » Tue Sep 18, 2018 2:03 pm

User avatar
RedReaper
 
Posts: 511
Joined: Sun Jun 18, 2017 10:02 am

Re: Noumonde News Service

Postby Aquinas » Tue Sep 18, 2018 11:50 pm

October 4456

Tsitohery loses Alliance leadership

Prime Minister Tombovelo Tsitohery has failed in his attempt to hold on to the leadership of the Alliance for Progress. At a specially-convened Alliance conference in Renivohitra, he received the votes of 2137 delegates, as against 2863 for his challenger, Masoandro Androkae.

Despite his humiliation, after the vote was announced, Tsitohery and Androkae appeared on the stage together to put on a show of unity, clasping each others hands and embracing. They agreed that Tsitohery would continue as Prime Minister, but the organisation of the party itself would now be in the hands of Androkae.

In his concession speech, Tsitohery tried to paint his defeat as "something that I now believe will strengthen the Alliance", arguing:

Before I became a politician, I was a trade unionist, and as a trade union leader, I knew I was in a strong position when I could go into a meeting with the management and tell them, clearly and undeniably, "My members will not stand for this!" Well, that is the position we are in now. I am going to come away from this conference, and I am going to go to the Canrillaise (OOC: French) oligarchs, and I am going to tell them: "My party will no longer tolerate this slow pace of progress towards Malgy (OOC: Madagascan) emancipation". [Audience claps]



Malgy Majority Rule "absolutely not an option", declares King Norbert

Androkae's victory has sent shockwaves through the Canrillaise establishment, which is increasingly nervous about growing Malgy demands for more far-reaching concessions. King Norbert appeared on national television last night to deliver a short speech, promising "my government will listen to Malgy concerns and continue with our program of Malgy advancement" but insisting "Malgy Majority Rule is absolutely not an option and nobody, either here in Noumonde or abroad, should be in any doubt about that". The latter comment was almost certainly directed at nations such as Kanjor and Kazulia, which have joined in the recent campaign for "Full Democracy" in Noumonde.


Next National Party leader "must represent traditional National Party values", says Count Beamont

Amidst heightening speculation that Louis Poullain is soon to retire as National Party leader and Deputy Prime Minister, Count Jean-Claude Beaumont, himself a former Prime Minister, has warned in a radio interview that the next National Party leader "must represent traditional National Party values, or I just really don't think the party will accept it".

It is highly unusual for National Party politicians, particularly senior ones, to comment in public on who should be National Party leader. By convention, the National Party leader is not directly elected through any formal process, but "emerges" following consultations between the monarch and what is know as "the secret circle" - the political oligarchs of the National Party and the establishment - meaning in particular, senior figures within the civil service and the army. The fact that so senior a figure in the party has commented on the question of the succession is an indication of how intense the behind-the-scenes political struggle is between the two leading candidates, Leon Cormier, the Minister of Education, who is seen as the modernising reformer, and Count Henri Beaumanoir, the Minister of Defence, who is seen as the somewhat reactionary traditionalist.


Plague outbreak contained, but border closure hurts economy

Health Minister Marie Mahefarinoro has publicly thanked Kazulia's Public Health Protection Agency and United Development Assistance Programme for their assistance in helping to halt the recent plague outbreak in the eastern part of the country. There are now believed to be no more cases, although the authorities are still on high alert.

However, the panic and disruption caused by the outbreak has caused significant harm to the economy, particularly with New Alduria's decision to seal their border with Noumonde. Noumon diplomats are now attempting to persuade New Alduria to reopen the border again, although most commentators believe New Alduria is unlikely to agree to this until their officials are well and truly satisfied the plague has been eradicated.
User avatar
Aquinas
 
Posts: 9796
Joined: Fri Nov 12, 2010 1:28 am
Location: UK

Re: Noumonde News Service

Postby Aquinas » Wed Sep 19, 2018 5:13 pm

February 4457

Give up more land, Poullain tells King

To the surprise of many, National Party leader and Deputy Prime Minister Louis Poullain has publicly called for King Norbert to donate more land from the Royal Estate to the Noumonde Land Redistribution Commission, in order to benefit landless Malgy (OOC: Madagascans). The King agreed to give up some of his land as part of the power-sharing agreement, but so far he has handed over very little - less than 5% of his total landholdings.

Poullain has a reputation as being the King's placeman, which is why his speech has left some observers open-jawed. Political experts believe his decision is likely related to the fact that he is about to retire from politics, and he feels he ought to use his last months in office to truly speak his mind. Friends of Poullain say he remains fiercely and devoted loyal to the King and to the institution of the monarchy generally, but that he believes the King is not helping his own cause by being so recalcitrant over the land redistribution issue.


Supreme Court appointment leaves Canrillaise nervous and Malgy dissatisfied

Image
Supreme Court Justice Mahafaly Randrianasolo

Following protracted negotiations between the King, the National Party and the Alliance, Mahafaly Randrianasolo has been appointed as Noumonde's first ever Malgy Supreme Court Justice. His appointment has not been received entirely warmly by the Malgy community, however, as despite his Malgy background, he has a reputation for sticking closely to the Noumonde judiciary's generally conservative and unimaginative approach to interpreting the law.

The Alliance had pushed for the appointment of Ephraim Razafimahaleo, a more radical figure with a reputation for crusading against racial inequality, but he was blocked by the King and the National Party.

Despite Randrianasolo's conservatism, a number of National Party MPs and other influential figures in the Canrillaise (OOC: French) community have expressed their unhappiness about the appointment of a Malgy Supreme Court Justice. Most of their criticisms are couched in terms of suggesting Randrianasolo was promoted over the heads of more qualified Canrillaise candidates, although few doubt their real issue is with the colour of his skin.


Cormier attacked over school integration proposals

Education Minister Leon Cormier is coming under fire from his own National Party colleagues for a White Paper he published proposing to encourage a greater degree of inter-racial integration in Noumonde's schools. Count Henri Beaumanoir, the Minister of Defence and Cormier's chief rival to succeed Louis Poullain as National Party leader, has attracted headlines for his open dismissal of the proposals as "political correct nonsense" and for his incendiary statement:

Almost all the Canrillaise parents I know are very respectful, very tolerant, very open-minded and warm-hearted people, but they just don't want their little girl to have to go to school and sit in between two great strapping black Malgy boys, that's all.


Prime Minister Tombovelo Tsitohery denounced the Defence Minister's comments as "idiotic and racist" and accused him of "pandering to racism in order to try to win the National Party leadership".
User avatar
Aquinas
 
Posts: 9796
Joined: Fri Nov 12, 2010 1:28 am
Location: UK

Re: Noumonde News Service

Postby Aquinas » Thu Sep 20, 2018 12:35 am

April 4457

Government denies rumours surrounding military's bizarre airport evacuation

Image

Yesterday afternoon at 1510 hours, the army arrived at Nouville City Airport, then proceeded to evacuate all civilians present, take command and then hand back control to the civilian authorities about 4 hours later.

Thousands of commuters had their travel plans disrupted, and dozens bitterly related their woes to television reporters amassed outside the airport.

The official explanation for this incident is that it was an "emergency planning exercise", to test how quickly and safely the military could evacuate the airport in the event of a major terrorist attack.

Later in the day, reports came in that high-level sources within the government were saying the evacuation exercise took ministers and senior civil servants by surprise, and that none of them - not even the Prime Minister himself - had been informed in advance of what was going to happen. Speculation is now rife that the military, or at least elements within it, conducted this exercise in order to convey some kind of coded political warning message to the nation's civilian leaders. The rumours are divided, however, as to exactly what that message might be.

René Portier, a retired senior officer from the intelligence services, told journalists:

I'm almost certain there was a purpose behind this. The Prime Minister will know full well that if those soldiers had wanted to march on Government House, they could have gotten there from the airport in less than 20 minutes.


However, the government has denied all such rumours and speculations, with Prime Minister Tombovelo Tsitohery insisting "this was a perfectly above-board, routine operation".
User avatar
Aquinas
 
Posts: 9796
Joined: Fri Nov 12, 2010 1:28 am
Location: UK

Re: Noumonde News Service

Postby Aquinas » Thu Sep 20, 2018 11:15 am

6 May 4457

10.25am


BREAKING NEWS: CORMIER SUCCEEDS POULLAIN

The Palace has just announced that Louis Poullain has handed in his resignation as Deputy Prime Minister and National Party leader, and that following consultations between the King, his ministers and leading figures in the National Party, Education Minister Leon Cormier has been appointed to succeed him.

At the same time,the Palace announced that Remy Blanchard is retiring as army Chief of Staff and will be replaced by his deputy, Alceste Berengar.
User avatar
Aquinas
 
Posts: 9796
Joined: Fri Nov 12, 2010 1:28 am
Location: UK

Re: Noumonde News Service

Postby Aquinas » Thu Sep 20, 2018 1:02 pm

6 May 4457

11.01am


BREAKING NEWS: TANKS ROLL ONTO STREETS OF CENTRAL NOUVILLE

Image

Military vehicles are swarming into the government district in central Nouville where the Royal Palace, Government House and all of the main government ministries are based. Noumonde's main television and radio stations, which are situated nearby, have come off air and are believed to have been requisitioned by the military.

Further news will be reported as it comes in.
User avatar
Aquinas
 
Posts: 9796
Joined: Fri Nov 12, 2010 1:28 am
Location: UK

Re: Noumonde News Service

Postby Aquinas » Thu Sep 20, 2018 1:27 pm

6 May 4457

11.19am

TSITOHERY: COUP ATTEMPT HAS BEEN DEFEATED

Prime Minister Tombovelo Tsitohery has issued a radio message stating "a military coup has been attempted by a small army group" but that "the coup has been defeated and order will be restored very shortly". He call on his people to "stay calm" and "be strong for Noumande".
User avatar
Aquinas
 
Posts: 9796
Joined: Fri Nov 12, 2010 1:28 am
Location: UK

Re: Noumonde News Service

Postby Aquinas » Thu Sep 20, 2018 5:03 pm

6 May 4457

11.53am


GUNFIRE AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE

Reports are coming in of a gunfight at Government House, where Prime Minister Tombovelo Tsitohery is based.

News is also coming in of fighting between different groups of soldiers at various locations across the country. The most significant fighting is believed to be taking place at a military barracks just outside Renivohitra in the eastern part of the country.
User avatar
Aquinas
 
Posts: 9796
Joined: Fri Nov 12, 2010 1:28 am
Location: UK

Re: Noumonde News Service

Postby Aquinas » Thu Sep 20, 2018 5:06 pm

6 May 4457

12.13pm


PALACE SURROUNDED BY TROOPS

The Royal Palace in central Nouville is surrounded by tanks and troops. King Norbert is believed to be inside. A statement has been issued by the military commander saying the King and his family are "safe" but that the army are there "for their own protection".
User avatar
Aquinas
 
Posts: 9796
Joined: Fri Nov 12, 2010 1:28 am
Location: UK

Re: Noumonde News Service

Postby Aquinas » Thu Sep 20, 2018 9:47 pm

6 May 4457

1.27pm


General Blanchard to address the nation at 2pm

Image
General Remy Blanchard

It has been announced that General Blanchard, whose "retirement" as army Chief of Staff was announced this morning, will address the nation in just over half an hour.

Speculation is rife that he is the leader of a military coup that has taken over the country.

There are also strong rumours that King Norbert will also address the country, although this has not yet been confirmed.
User avatar
Aquinas
 
Posts: 9796
Joined: Fri Nov 12, 2010 1:28 am
Location: UK

PreviousNext

Return to National News

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 13 guests