LDP leadership shake-up
4th December, 2672
With the collapse of the historic Royal Aristocratic Party and the obvious, immediate failure of the Bolshevik Party, the Liberal Democratic Party of Luthori and her ally, the Constitutionalist Imperial League, now share a full hegemony over the Luthori Imperial Diet.
A press conference was called this morning at the LDP of Luthori headquarters in New Salem, Orange.
LDP Chairman Anthony Stephenson:
"Considering the long history of politics in Luthori, we are still a relatively new force, but it is clear that we have met the needs and demands of the population. As several parties around us have collapsed - The Luthori Spiritual Secularist Society, the Nationalist Party of Luthori, the Luthori Communist Party and its offshoot the Bolshevik Party and most recently the Royal Aristocratic Party - the LDP of Luthori has stood strong and in our most recent election received the second highest amount of votes in our history. Together with our friends and allies at the Constitutionalist Imperial League, we have managed to achieve great economic and political reform to strengthen and improve our glorious Empire.
"Now is a time of peace and stability in our nation. Now is a time for reflection on the past and discussion on how to improve the future. It is for this very reason that the LDP Executive Council has unanimously agreed to undertake a series of changes.
"First and foremost will be a rotation of the current leadership. Having proudly led this Party for the last seventeen years, it is time for me to take the step down into the role of a Senior Executive Member. And having spent the last thirty-one years as Deputy Chairman, the Right Honourable Gregory McGeorge is retiring entirely from the Executive Council. In our place will be former-Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Rt Hon. Harry McCormack as Chairman and the Rt Hon. James Lucas as Deputy.
"As part of the rotation, former Secretary to the United Conservative Front, the Rt Hon. Richard Larkins, will step up to Minister of Foreign Affairs, with the Rt Hon. Daniel McMillan his replacement at the UCF.
"We are also happy to announce that long-time Luthori businessman Allan Chambers has been welcomed into the LDP Executive Council following the retirement of Nadine Gray - after an amazing tenure of forty-seven years.
"It is with pleasure that I invite the Rt Hon. Harry McCormack to the stage. I must say I feel extremely comfortable leaving the Party in his capable hands. I need not remind you all that it is this man who was responsible for the great relations we have had recently with the Federation of Zardugal and the United Republics of Lodamun."
Incoming Chairman Harry McCormack:
"Firstly, I want to thank Chairman Stephenson for his kind words. I must say that the extraordinary amount of effort he put in to bringing this Party to success leaves me, as his successor, with a daunting task indeed.
"Secondly, to get down to business. As of tomorrow morning, the new Executive Council will be officially sworn in.
"That isn't the only change, however. It has been unanimously agreed upon by the Executive Council that it is in the best interests of the Party to form an official para-military organisation. It is with great honour and pride that I officially declare the Liberal Luthori Security Organisation open for business. We call upon all our members to support the LLSO in any way possible - it is here to fight for your freedoms.
"In order to fund the LLSO so it can meet its potential, the Executive Council has decided to begin a business venture and is currently scanning the market to find the perfect acquisition. More information on this will be revealed in due time."
In other news, newly-appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Rt Hon. Richard Larkins, has criticised the United Nations of Terra for "seeking trouble" with its "disturbing, destablising talks on Beiteynu".
"The proposed intervention of Beiteynu would be extremely damaging to world security and will not be tolerated by the Holy Luthori Empire.
"It has become clear that the members of the UNT are either bored and or seeking trouble. Despite having no evidence whatsoever of any human rights abuses at the hands of the government of Beiteynu, they are continuing to discuss the idea of intervening and assuming control of the nation. It is a disturbing act which will destabilise and damage relations between the Terran Empire and the UNT. I can only hope that sanity will prevail."
- Orange Daily-Sun