Aubervijan News

[Aubervijr]

Saint Constantijn Broadcasting Association
Sint Constantijn Omroepvereniging
Saturday, 18th of June 2022
9:30 AM

Johannes van der Capellen blocks vote on Faursian devolution until 2062

Chancellor Johannes van der Capellen, in his Friday address to Parliament, has stated that the Social Democratic Party will not agree to a vote on Faursian devolution before 2062, after pressure from the Faursian National Party in demonstrations in the Faursian capital, Oudemirdum (known in Faursian as Aldemardum). Van der Capellen added; "if you don't like our decision, vote us out in 2026." The Chancellor assured that this was the view of the majority of the SDP and its MPs.

This was met with outrage from the FNP's leader, André Reitsma, who said that the move was "undemocratic" and "oppressive", and left-wing elements of Parliament have since sympathised with the FNP. Reitsma has also stated he is ready to negotiate with Van der Capellen over the topic.

Van der Capellen has used a section of the Aubervijan constitution, which states that the government maintains the right to protect Aubervijr and its boundaries by whatever means necessary. The government decided to prevent any decision on Faursian devolution by 40 years to act in the best interests of Aubervijr. The government, who remain opposed to the idea of Faursia becoming increasingly distant from Aubervijr, bearing in mind Faursia is considered an integrated part of Aubervijr - believe that granting devolution would lead to a potentially harmful domino effect.

Faursia isn't a single region either - its split between what is known as the Highlands (de Hogelanden) in the north and the more populated Faursia-Proper (Faursland-Juist) to the south, leading some to question what the government actually recognises as Faursia.

The government has also accused the FNP of a lack of planning, in terms of banking, education, environmental issues, housing, healthcare and agricultural-related topics if Faursia were to be granted devolution, and what powers would be reserved by the Aubervijan government.

An unofficial poll was held in Faursia in 2019, on the basis of what Faursians wanted; to be governed by Aubervijr, to have more representation in Parliament, to have devolution or to have independence. Although with a small turnout, the majority voted for devolution, followed by more representation.

The government suspects that the majority of Faursians consider themselves Aubervijan above all else, and that devolution wouldn't be an option to them. Reitsma responded by verifying this with a referendum, whether official or unofficial - with the Aubervijan government currently considering the option of an unofficial referendum to give the government a better idea on the position of Faursians.

Van der Capellen and his government remain increasingly stubborn, however and are less willing to budge or negotiate, but are open to 'proposals or ideas', should the FNP have any. The FNP, however, maintain two seats in Parliament and didn't appear on ballot papers in mainland Aubervijr, and have little voice in Parliament, giving the FNP a case to argue for further representation, or devolution, so a Faursian government could act in the best interests of Faursians.

Written by Tijpke Venema, Faursian correspondent.

 

[Aubervijr]

Saint Constantijn Broadcasting Association
Sint Constantijn Omroepvereniging
Monday, 4th of July, 2022
8:00 AM

Ex-Chancellor Christian Floran Stan van Bunschoten dies, aged 97

Former conservative Chancellor Christian Floran Stan van Bunschoten has died 'peacefully' after suffering from a stroke at his residence in central Saint-Constantin.

Current Chancellor Johannes van der Capellen described him as a "a man who defined Aubervijr for decades, and will continue to do so for many decades to come", and offered his condolences to his family.

Van Bunschoten served as Chancellor from 1978 until 1990, and is one of the most influential Chancellors ever, loved by the people for his values and the way he stood up for the working class.

He refused the offer of a state funeral in his will, instead asking to be buried with his wife in a quiet ceremony. The ceremony, however, will be conducted with full military honours in nine days, in Saint Paul's Church, within his birth-town of Marum.

The Aubervijan flag was lowered to half-mast over the Chancellor's Residence, as well as over the President's Residence and the Houses of Parliament. Parliament has been recalled by the President in order to pay tribute, and will meet at noon today.

Christian van Bunschoten was born Samuel Christian Floran Stan van Bunschoten II on the 13th of May, 1925 to a wealthy, yet ill father Samuel I and his mother, Elise. Samuel Sr suddenly had taken ill with meningitis two days before Van Bunschoten birth and he died hours after he was born. Elise named Christian after Samuel, as per his wishes but couldn't bring herself to call him Samuel, so instead called him Christian.

Van Bunschoten studied mathematics at the University of Minnertsga, where he met who would become the first woman Chancellor of Aubervijr, Anneliese Rentmeester, who also studied mathematics there, however studied other subjects later on. Anneliese would later go on to become Chancellor, and Van Bunschoten would serve under her for 12 years - and 6 years as her depute.

Van Bunschoten married Margaretha Loman, a descendant of 19th-century Chancellor Sepp Loman, in 1938. Margaretha gave birth to twins, Eduard and Mila, however the couple divorced in 1943. Van Bunschoten then married Hendrika Anholts in 1945, and they had three children - Steven, Antonie and Sanne.

He thereafter graduated as a barrister, and in 1954 was invited to sit as a conservative MP, which he did until his retirement from politics following the 1990 general election.

Having prior served as secretary for business under Anneliese Rentmeester for 6 years, and then as her depute in her second term, he successfully won the party leadership elections of 1978, beating MP Jan Doorn. He then won the general election in the same year, and then won re-election in 1984. Anneliese would die in 1982 from cancer, at the age of 61, and Van Bunschoten attended her funeral, describing her as a teacher and friend, and added "she was much smarter than I will ever be".

Gerard Lucas Bezuidenhout, who replaced Van Bunschoten following the completion of his second term and subsequent retirement, described Van Bunschoten as a wise and passionate man, who stood up for what he believed in and did so with ferocious competency.

He was well liked by the public for helping the working class throughout his tenure, and was described by left-wing MPs as "the best of a bad bunch". Despite facing heavy criticism from inside his party at several points during his tenure, he always managed to keep the party united.

In his last public interview, conducted in March 2014, Van Bunschoten stated that he no longer supported the Conservative Party after a string of controversies associated with the party, and admitted to voting for the Republican Party, a moderate split from the party in the 2008 elections.

He stated he would be voting for them again in the 2014 elections that were in June, and suffered heavy criticism from Conservative Party loyalists, despite being one of the main reasons the Conservative Party continued to gain traction.

He criticised the Social Democratic Party's motion to ban parties they deemed "extremist", calling it a violation of the rights of a citizen in 2021, and urged Parliament not to pass the bill - which was his final public statement.

He died aged 97, which is the oldest a Chancellor has ever been. His lifestyle, especially as he first became Chancellor, involved heavy smoking and a dram of whiskey with lunch and champagne in the evenings, but he later smoked cigars instead of cigarettes as he grew older.

Following the death of his wife Hendrika in 2010, when she was 83, Van Bunschoten stayed positive, remarking to Sanne that "Hendrika wouldn't want me to mourn" - and was determined to live as long as he possibly could, which is safe to say, he did well.

 

[Aubervijr]

Eemshaven Broadcasting Association
Saturday, 6th of October, 2023

Former government minister Calvin Faber jailed for six and a half years

Calvin Faber has been sentenced to six years and six months in prison after he was found guilty of corruption and tax evasion charges in court.

Eemshaven Police first began investigating Faber in September of 2017. At this time, Faber was serving as Minister for Transport in Rudolf Verstege’s Conservative government. Verstege was already suspicious of Faber, but was initially unaware of the police investigation until January 2020, when Verstege chose to suspend Faber.

Faber’s bank account received eight payments of 125,000 kruijns from June 2014 to January 2020, adding up to around 1,000,000 kruijns in total. These transactions were unexplained and were not part of his salary, and were deemed ‘suspicious’. These payments were revealed to have come from Josep Baas, a businessman, and a member of the Liberal Party.

Following Faber’s suspension from Parliament, a number of allegations came forward from MPs, accusing Faber of bribery and blackmail. The Commonwealth Revenue and Customs Service (CMRC) then opened a separate investigation into Faber, on grounds of tax evasion.

The CMRC visited Faber’s residence three times, and Faber started to pay his taxes following these visits, however he did not pay the money he owed prior.

However, the investigation into Faber’s crimes was postponed by Verstege, and was resumed by Chancellor Johannes van der Capellen after the Conservative Party lost the 2020 election. Police had to start from scratch with their investigation, and further inquiries dismissed Verstege as a possible suspect in the scandal that was unfolding.

Faber was first arrested in December of 2021, and was released on the condition he attended a number of court hearings, and was charged with tax evasion, bribery, blackmail and various other corruption charges, alongside Baas. Faber pleaded not guilty, and his court dates were delayed until January of 2023.

Faber’s appeal for a suspended sentence was rejected, and he was subsequently sentenced to six and a half years in prison. Faber has also been barred from ever returning to a position of power within Aubervijan politics, and several Conservative MPs have since resigned/been suspended due to their involvement with the scandal. Baas pleaded guilty and was sentenced to three years in prison, but could be released after a year and a half if his behaviour in prison is good.

Chancellor Van der Capellen has praised the outcome, stating that Aubervijr will not stand for, nor cooperate with corruption. Faber and Baas have been described as a ‘ring’ which infected Aubervijan politics. Van der Capellen made it clear that corruption will never go unpunished, and corruption always be found out, one way or another.

 

[Aubervijr]

Eemshaven Broadcasting Association
30th of November, 2023

Former President Olivier Stoepker dies aged 89

Former President of Aubervijr, Olivier Stoepker, has died in Eemshaven General Hospital (EGH) on Wednesday night, his family have announced. A statement by the Stoepker family read;

“It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, Olivier Cley Theodore Stoepker. He died peacefully in EGH surrounded by family late on Wednesday night. Please respect our privacy at this difficult time. Thank you.”

The family also paid tribute to Mr Stopeker’s achievements, and confirmed plans for memorials in both his hometown of Piaam and Eemshaven.

Mr Stoepker served as President from 1990 to 2002, having failed twice to become Chancellor, losing in both the 1978 and 1984 elections.

Former Chancellor, Gerard Bezuidenhout, who served at the same time as Mr Stoepker’s tenure, made a rare statement, saying Mr Stoepker was “a great man” and added that he will miss his “dear friend”. Mr Bezuidenhout has been living in recluse since his retirement in 2008 due to health concerns.

Mr Stoepker led the Liberal Party from 1978 to 1984. Mr Stoepker promised his party that they would be the dominant party in Parliament by 1984, but after losing seats following the 1984 elections, he resigned.

In 1990, he was elected as President by the Houses of Parliament, with his running mate becoming the first ever woman Vice President - Manon Thijssen.

In a statement, Mrs Thijssen said that Mr Stopeker was “a warm and kind gentleman who always put others before himself”. She added; “What’s more, Olivier was my friend for many years. He took the time to listen to me when nobody else did, and I can never thank him enough”.

Chancellor Johannes van der Capellen and current President Coenraad van Rijckevorsel have joined in offering their condolences. In a statement, Mr Van der Capellen said “Mr Stoepker was a brilliant, inspirational man. Although we did not always see eye to eye, my respect for Mr Stoepker is unwavering, and I offer my deepest condolences to his family”.

Mr Van Rijckevorsel made a separate statement, where he said “Every politician should aspire to be like Mr Stoepker. Even in the hardest of times, he always wore a warm smile. He was a strong leader, and Aubervijr will never forget him.”

Mr Stoepker retired from politics following the expiration of his second term in 2002, and lived a relatively quiet life with his family. He is known to have suffered from Alzheimer’s, but his family have not yet confirmed his cause of death.