ARCHIVED: Top Stories from Olvernian Newspapers

[Lord Nwahs]

Olvern Times
Olvern's Finest Newspaper Since 1947​

2 Tokens​

North Pacific Election Heats Up

Magicality City, TNP: The North Pacific is set for a competitive election race this January, with the office of Delegate, Vice-Delegate and Speaker of the Regional Assembly up for grabs. Current Delegate McMasterdonia is widely expected to win re-election, as questions are being raised about the challenger, Tim, including the legality of his run.

The race for Vice-Delegate is considerably more competitive, as four candidates have declared their candidacy after the current Vice-Delegate, Sanctaria, announced her intention not to run for re-election. These candidates range from the popular Minister for Foreign Affairs, Democratic Donkeys, to former delegate Blue Wolf II, to the new Minister for WA Affairs Abacathea, to deputy Minister for Defence Geniva.

Incumbent Speaker of the Regional Assembly Zyvetskistaahn faces a challenge from two other candidates. These include recently-appointed Deputy Speaker bootahilley 01 and perennial candidate Leekem.

Acting President and Chief Diplomat Lord Nwahs has already openly endorsed Democratic Donkeys for the post of Vice-Delegate, although he says that Olvern would reserve judgement until voting begins on the 6th of January.

Lord Nwahs: I am running for President

Capital City, Olvern: In a surprising announcement made in the early hours of the morning, Acting President and Chief Diplomat Lord Nwahs says that he will run for the Presidency. In his announcement, the long-serving foreign affairs advisor says that his experience in foreign policy makes him suited to be head of state. He claims that he will avoid being involved in Olvern's politics, but will seek to strengthen Olvern's image within the North Pacific, within the World Assembly, and around the world.

Already, there are criticisms coming from other candidates. The Democratic Conservative candidate for President, Rabab Aneurin Rasso, claims that Lord Nwahs' election would "only continue a chain of corrupt bureaucrats running this country down the ground". Linda Isabel Jacobse, the Populist candidate for president went further, lambasting Lord Nwahs as "working with terrorist groups and foreign organisations plotting to destroy Olvern by removing her rights".

Others were more welcoming, especially those from Apamacia, where Lord Nwahs is currently Governor-General and is considered to be a local hero for his humanitarian work in the Olvernian colony. Speaker of Apamician Parliament John Karra called for a ceremony to celebrate his candidacy.

Capital City Free Press Morning Print
1 Token

Harmony Stadium: Waste of Taxpayer Monies?

After the recent fiasco over an international soccer game being cancelled due to it not meeting international standards for pitch size, Sports Permanent Secretary John Hemon announced the construction of the Harmony Stadium, which met international standards, and is arguably a world-class stadium in itself. Already, criticisms are being heard from across the country, from politicians in Parliament criticising the plan as being "way too costly", to taxpayer associations complaining that it is just "a waste of Taxpayer Monies". This adds on to recent protest over spending and taxation in major cities all over Olvern. As election looms, parliamentarians may have to fear the wrath of the ballot box if the anger over spending and taxation continues.

 

[Merconitonitopia]

"Monies"?

 

[Lord Nwahs]

"Monies"?

Yes, all the monies. It's a word.

 

[Lord Nwahs]

Election Night Special:​

President-Elect Lord Nwahs​

Chief Diplomat and Acting-President, soon to be President Lord Nwahs greets his supporters​

Dem-Cons first place, but by only 1% of vote​

Democratic-Conservative Leader Petar Mikhailov celebrates, but he only wins 29% of vote​

Aveza Durr: Working on a Soc-Prog coalition

Socialist Leader Aveza Durr at a press conference after coming second at 28%​

"Results Very Disappointing" - Merrickson​

After coming third with 20% of the vote, Progressive Leader Imamu Merrickson has to decide on possible coalition deals​

Parliamentary Election Results​

Democratic-Conservative (28.9%): 147
Socialist (28.2%): 143
Progressive (19.7%): 100
Populist (14.8%): 75
Liberal (6.9%): 35
Other (1.0%): 0​

 

[Lord Nwahs]

Olvern Times
Olvern's Finest Newspaper Since 1947​

2 Tokens​

Parliament convenes, Mikhailov elected Speaker

Capital City, Olvern: Parliament convened early today morning a few hours after election returns have been fully confirmed. After a ceremony in which the 500 MPs were sworn into duty, the house got to voting on the first matter at hand: the Speaker of the House. Petar Mikhailov, the 42-year old leader of the Democratic-Conservative Party, had prior to the meeting formed a coalition deal with the Progressive and the Liberal parties, and was thus easily elected as Speaker of the House.

The Parliament got immediately onto the business at hand: a tax cut bill was passed, almost immediately, by voice vote. Further debated were bills on Olvern's stand on citizenship and Olvernian citizens living overseas.

Petar Mikhailov is expected to be headed for the swearing-in ceremony for the new President of Olvern, Lord Nwahs, this evening. Once the ceremony ends, he is expected to meet with President Nwahs to discuss foreign policy, cabinet appointments and other issues of the day.

Opinion: New Parliament, New Approach

From the Editor's Desk

The people have spoken, and they have spoken very indecisively. The two largest parties in Parliament right now are only separated by 4 seats, and the coalition that is developed is far from what anyone would consider stable. The new powers granted to this Parliament, namely the ability to form a Cabinet to directly control the executive, will definitely change the approach in which the bureaucracy takes.

For quite the longest time, the bureaucracy was led by elements of the "Old Guard", people who were either part of the Provisional Government, or were members of the Olvernian Revolutionary Army. These people were prone to crony-ism and corruption, and despite the efforts of great Parliamentarians like Rabab Russo, these elements were very difficult to control in the last Parliament.

Two things changed since then. Firstly, an anti-corruption movement took over the Conservative Party, and led not just to its renaming as the Democratic-Conservative Party, but to the leadership of the party as well, culminating to Mikhailov's quick rise to power. This effectively meant that the party that once was essentially the interest group of the elites and the wealthy, has transformed to a more respectable centre-right movement, a party unafraid of cutting into the bureaucracy.

Secondly, a constitution was passed, that as previously mentioned, allowed for a cabinet to be formed. This cabinet would become the executive, unlike the independent executive of the Marinos government. This means that the government in power can have essentially unlimited control the bureaucracy, finally bringing government officials accountable to the public.

Ultimately, this new Parliament would be less afraid of weakening the bureaucracy than the previous one, because it is now clear who is the boss in charge of Capital City. The problem that this Parliament now has to deal with, is whether cuts in the bureaucracy means cuts in the welfare programmes built by the Marinos government. This is something that we will have to look closely at for the next three months.