Sunday, June 04, 2006

Fortnight In Review

Week of May 22nd

Monday

Prime Minister Geraint Llewelyn finished his visit to Baranxtu claiming enormous success. The Prime Minister was reported to have been able to converse in the Baranxtuan tongue, albeit in a limited manner. Nevertheless, the two countries were brought closer together in economic and diplomatic terms. The big winners, though, appear to be the two foreign ministers, who formed a fast friendship.

However, the PM was greeted with astonishing news when he alighted from the plane. The House of Peers had inserted a poisoned pill amendment to his budget, effectively denying him supply.

Thursday

If it had been allowed to stand, the budget would never have survived a vote in the Commons. The House of Peers cannot actually deny the Government supply, i.e. prevent the Government from passing a budget, but it can amend the budgets. However, no serious amendment has been offered in years until today. Rebellious peers inserted an amendment that would have denied funding to any school that taught Welsh to primary schoolers. The amendment was not a serious attempt to actually exclude the Mother Tongue. Rather it was a way to force the Commons to take up the budget after it had already passed.

The budget was only narrowly passed recently in the Commons, and as such returning it would almost certainly have lead to defeat as skittish MPs began to look to the upcoming elections. But one of the University Peers, Lord Rhoddri, tabled a point of order within the last few minutes of Monday's sitting. The Convener of the House declined to take it up. Instead, the House of Peers recessed until today.

The Convener also decided to state the question on the Point of Order rather than rule himself. The debate on the point was rancorous and lengthy. But in the end, the Government triumphed, declaring the amendment ungermane.

Sources inside the Government indicate that PM was on the phones all evening on Monday and during the morning of Tuesday attempting to sway wavering Peers. The effort appears to have been a success, because the Point was won handily, and no further resistance was offered to the budget.

Had the budget failed, Geraint Llewelyn would have been forced to ask the President to dissolve Parliament. This would have lead to the PM contesting an election from a weakened standpoint.

However, the reality turned out much differently, and the PM can breathe a sigh of relief.

Friday

The President Ffion Rhys-Jones signed the budget and two memoranda of understanding that had emerged from the Prime Minister's foreign trips. With simple penstrokes, Her Excellency put a fullstop to the week's big stories.

Week of May 29th

Conference Season begins this week. Each of the political parties will hold meetings over the next three weeks to rally behind messages, recruit new members, and galvanise the public. Traditionally, the smaller parties go first. Then the opposition rallies during the second week, and the Government has the final say on the Third Week.

This week saw the minor parties rallying in Aberystwyth. The Communists and Greens are forming an alliance called Together for Tomorrow. The Monarchists are also rallying but on the other side of the city.

The Left is expected to call for the abolition of the House of Peers and calls for proportional representation to the Commons. Their keynote speaker, Dr Brud Williams is expected to highlight many of the woes suffered by the countries poor in an effort to explain why voters should switch to the Left.

The Monarchists meanwhile will highlight the fruits of their new donor drive. They are expected to pull out all the stops and put on a memorable show for the public. In order to show the public they are not a one-issue party they are expected to highlight a number of proposal including public-private partnerships in basic services, and new alternatives to traditional education.

The Opposition meets next week in the small seaside hamlet of Pontypridd, deep in their safest constituency.

Sunday, May 14, 2006

PM Leaves Ceorana After Extended Stay

New Boston, Ceorana - The Prime Minister, Geraint Llewelyn has departed the Congressional Republic of Ceorana after extending his stay. The Prime Minister remained on hand to help the Republic's leaders celebrate their collective ascendancy to the Delegacy. However, he immediately faced criticism at home from the opposition Christian Democrats for "ignoring domestic concerns."

The PM dismissed the criticism as "lacking vision." He also indicated that he and the President of cornea had a series of good, constructive meetings that are sure to lead to closer economic and diplomatic ties.

More details from their end-of-visit press conference will be released later.

Monday, May 08, 2006

Ceorana Elected Delegate

New Boston, Ceorana - In a move that was welcomed in capitals around the International Democratic Union, the Congressional Republic of Ceorana has been named the Regional Delegate. The announcement was made by officials from the Election Commission. According to the announcement, of the twenty one votes cast nineteen were for Ceorana.

Preparations for a smooth transition are underway, and it is expected that Lloegr-Cymru's Prime Minister will take the opportunity of his on-going visit to congratulate the Government of Ceorana.

Sunday, May 07, 2006

Prime Minister Begins Weekend Visit to Ceorana

New Boston, Ceorana - The Prime Minister, Geraint Llewelyn has begun his visit of Ceorana after arriving in New Boston. He is expected to discuss economic and diplomatic ties. It is unknown if any major announcements will be delivered, although a joint press conference is a distinct possibility.

Protests

Meanwhile, Aberystwyth has seen several days of protests supportive and antagonistic to the decision by the Government to lend Ceorana its support in the Regional Delegacy Elections. Most of the demonstrations have proven to be peaceful and well organised. However, last night pro-Groot Gouda and pro-Ceorana groups clashed in the streets, damaging vehicles and shops. Three protestors were taken to hospital, and the police made 22 arrests. Leaders from both sides have urged restraint

Leadership Challenges Denied

In a related note, spokesmen for the Chancellor have denied the rumours that he is seeking to challenge the PM for leadership of the Third Way. When the PM sided with Ceorana, rumours immediately surfaced that the Chancellor was so incensed he would seek to topple the Prime Minister. However, political experts believe that now that several days have passed the threat to Llewelyn has also similarly died down. Moreover, the Chancellor is getting a first-hand look at leading the executive; when the Prime Minister is away, the Chancellor leads in his absence. A close personal friend of the Chancellor believes this experience has been sobering for the Chancellor.

Thursday, May 04, 2006

UN Rez Set for Passage

At the UN HQ - The UN Patent Law is set to carry the General Assembly tomorrow by a wide margin. If it carries, it will standardise Patents across UN member nations by creating a Patent Registry.

As of this printing, there are 6,163 votes for, and 3,115. Dr. Owain ab Iorwerth of Abertawe University says that there's no possible means now for opponents to derail the resolution, because most of the very large anti-UN Regions, like gatesville, have already cast their vote.

Once it passes, it will make the second in a row of agreed-to resolutions to be authored by IDU member states, in this case Ceorana. It will be seen in the various IDU capitals as a feather in the Region's cap.

After Delays, PM Announces Pick

After keeping the nation in suspense for two whole days, Prime Minister Llewelyn stood up in the House and announced his decision for the Region's UN Delegate.

On Tuesday, Geraint Llewelyn had declined to answer Opposition calls for him to name the Lloegr-Cymru vote. He told the House then that no decision had been taken and that Cabinet had yet to sift and weigh the choices. This caused the Opposition benches to erupt in calls that the Prime Minister was "indecisive." On Wednesday, Mary Gryffydd stated she could not reveal the name, because no decision had been taken. However, she denied the Cabinet was divided and further denied the Prime Minister was indecisive. She told the House that, "this was a very important decision and the whole Cabinet is considering very carefully. But I categorically deny the Cabinet is divided into camps. We have had nothing more than a frank airing of diverse views."

However, those familiar with the Prime Minister indicated he called his Cabinet colleagues earlier today to indicate he had arrived at a decision. Then shortly after two in the afternoon he told the House he and the Cabinet had picked Ceorana. He declined to explain the decision. But the Leader of the Opposition, Greg Michael Williams reminded the House that the PM was to visit Ceorana tomorrow. But the PM denied the implication of impropriety, and stated that he has every intention of also visiting Groot Gouda.

A confidential source in the Cabinet Office told the Draig and Telegraph that the PM's decision was based on the sovereignty stance of Ceorana, and the fact that the Groot Gouda government had held the position before.

Pro-Groot Gouda organisers have stated they plan protests tomorrow.

Monday, May 01, 2006

Election for Delegate Kicks Off

Cabinet Meets to Decide Lloegr-Cymru's Vote.

From our correspondent in the Free Land of the IDU.


Representatives of the more than 30 UN Member Nations of the International Democratic Union are preparing to cast their countries' votes for Regional Delegate today. Election week followed a spirited candidate phase that saw only one major difference emerge between the two candidate nations: Ceorana and Groot Gouda.

Ceorana, the current Vice-Delegate was the first to put its hat in the ring. Running on the strong record that nation enjoys as VD, Ceorana hoped to win promotion. However, the President of Groot Gouda also put his country's bid forward. The would-be delegates then endured a drawn out period of defending their positions and attempting to draw clear distinctions between them.

In the end, the only significant issue of contention was the issue of the United Nations vis-a-vis sovereignty. Groot Gouda appeared to favour a position where the United Nations would intervene in countries on behalf of the "people." But Ceorana disagreed, appearing to take a position favouring more respect for sovereignty.

Pundits and analysts have not predicted who will win. Groot Gouda lead the Region previously, and will be looking to continue that record. But Ceorana has also demonstrated commitment to the Region. Both sets of national leaders will be biting their collective nails until the finish.

Lloegr-Cymru's Cabinet Meets Early

The Prime Minister called the Cabinet together early to discuss Lloegr-Cymru's vote for Regional Delegate. Although the Cabinet usually meets in full on Wednesdays, it was moved ahead to today so as to enable to Government to set policy before either the Prime Minister or Foreign Secretary face questions before the House.

The Cabinet is said by insiders to be deeply divided over whom the Government should pick. It is understood that the Foreign Secretary advocated for Ceorana's bid primarily due to that country's stand on sovereignty. However, the Defence Secretary and the Chancellor lead the pro-Groot Gouda faction.

The Cabinet, in principle, has seven votes because the Spirituality Minister abstains as a matter of course. The Prime Minister, the Draig and Telegraph has learned, did not cast his tie-breaking vote to break the deadlock posed by the Foreign Secretary, Interior Minister and the Civil Rights Minister on the one hand, and the Defence Secretary, Chancellor and Compliance Minister on the other.

As the Prime Minister has publicly stated he wants a decision before he faces the House at half-past two on Tuesday, he will likely inform both factions before lunch of the same day. This will enable him to stand up in the House and announce the country has made a decision and what that decision is. The Foreign Secretary will then have the task of explaining it in more detail when she faces the House the next day.