PEACE DEAL SIGNED IN NOUMONDEAt the beginning of the process, few were optimistic that it would happen, but against all the odds - and after overcoming countless hurdles - the peace talks have ended in a deal, to be known as the Noumonde Peace Agreement. All four parties have signed up, namely the Alliance for Progress, the Malgy People's Party, the National Party and the Canrillaise Front.
The main difference to the earlier
Draft Agreement Plan is that, as a concession to the Canrillaise Front, there will be no war crimes prosecutions. However, there will be a voluntary Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which will be able to invite individuals to attend its discussions and share their experiences, although it will not have the authority either to compel attendance or to impose any criminal punishments.
In return for this, the Canrillaise Front acceded to the Agreement and dropped its demand for Bretillaise and Occilaise to be recognised as official languages.
To summarise the main points from the final agreement:
The Federation-appointed Supreme Noumon Authority (SNA) will continue to have ultimate sovereignty over Noumonde for the next 20 years (ie. until April 4490), with the ultimate power to over-rule decisions made by the government, Parliament and the Supreme Court. However, the SNA and Federation leaders have made clear they hope to use these powers "sparingly and ideally not at all", and that the goal of the SNA is to "facilitate Noumonde's journey towards peace, stability and constructive self-government". Furthermore, the following are guaranteed for at least the next 30 years (ie. at least until April 4500, 10 years after planned departure of the Federation):
- There will be no "power-sharing" requirement or "Canrillaise veto", but Canrillaise voters will be able to vote on a separate electoral roll guaranteeing them 40% of the seats in Parliament. This was a huge concession for the Canrillaise parties to offer, and in return, it looks like they have been allowed to substantially have things their way on a number of other not quite so crucial issues.
- There will be a voluntary land reform program. without compulsory purchases powers being used, to redistribute land from wealthy Canrillaise to landless Malgy. The program will be funded from taxpayers money, and topped up by support from the Federation and the international community.
- King Tristan will remain on the throne as a constitutional monarch, although he will not enjoy the King's traditional prerogatives of being able to refuse to sign legislation into law, appoint ministers and invoke emergency powers legislation. Future monarchs will be appointed by a two-thirds majority vote of Parliament. It will be possible to replace a sitting monarch by passing a "constructive vote of no confidence", specifically replacing the sitting monarch with another named individual. The Malgy People's Party hope that in the long-term this may pave the way towards a "Malgy monarchy", perhaps after King Tristan death. However, despite retaining the throne, the House of Demitreous will be required to give up 90% of its assets and landholdings, which will largely be used to enact land reform.
- The Aurorian Patriarchal Church will remain as the official established church, and continue to receive public funds for faith schools. However, it will be required to give up some more of its land, in order to aid the land reform program. It will also be required to move towards a greater integration of Canrillaise and Malgy pupils in its schools. There will also be a commission established to investigate discrimination against Malgyists (OOC: Malagasy pagans).
- There will be a voluntary Peace and Reconciliation Commission, but without authority to compel attendance or impose criminal punishments.
- The nation name will remain "Noumonde" and will not be changed to "Firenena", "Noumonde-Firenena" or any other such variation.
- Malgy will be recognised as an official language alongside Canrillaise.
- There will be a Bill of Rights and a Supreme Court, led by 9 Supreme Court Justices, to be confirmed by two-thirds majority votes in Parliament.
- The Supreme Noumon Authority will continue to use only troops from the Federation, and will not involve troops from any other countries.
- The Dah Mansion, which formerly belonged to the notorious General René Gaubert, will be completely demolished, reduced to rubble and the rubble taken away and incinerated, so not a trace of it remains upon the earth.
The Peace Agreement is being seen as a great political coup for Jacque St. Pierre, the long-suffering Convention chairman, General Fabien Leroux, the Federation-appointed Governor of Noumonde, and for the Federation generally.