APwire ~ Affiliated Press News Agency

[Khemia]

Yi'an To Deploy Rapid Reaction Forces to Kadikistan, Calidia
AP Siu Wiu

The People's Red Army General Command has announced the deployment of several units to Western Kadikistan and Calidia, where the People's Republic has announced an intention to establish permanent bases for the brigade-sized elements.

"It is clear that Gallo-Germanian forces are attempting to coordinate a broader anti-Kadikistani policy. In our estimation, this threatens to unbalance the security situation in the region. As such, it is our responsibility as dutiful allies to guarantee the security of Kadikistan and Calidia," Brigadier General Zhao Yue stated during the release. "To that end, we will be deploying several maneuver brigades to the region to supplement our allies forces and serve as a rapid reaction force to counter any potential threats."

"All brigades assigned to these stations are to remain fully mobilized and at maximum readiness at all times. We anticipate the deployment of these units will complete within two weeks time, and that the construction of permanent bases will be complete by the end of the month. Furthermore, we will establish joint operations rooms within the respective military regions to better assess and respond to security threats and coordinate efforts."

This will be the first permanent deployment of Xinhaiese forces to the region, and will amount to approximately 10,000 active People's Red Army Ground Forces soldiers along the border, including 120 tanks, 510 armored fighting vehicles, and

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which will be reportedly capable of striking targets as far as Windhaven, Eschenbach, and naval targts in the approaches to Rurikgrad.

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[Gunnland]

Suddenly, Gunnland Has a Queen, and a Dictator Too?
AP Ayr

A week after the Foreign Office leaked Eiffellandian communiqués that mentioned "Queen Julian," the 19-year-old Gunn confirmed she was indeed elected queen several months ago. In a recorded video played over KGB-1, Julian explained that the regency in Schloss Klippenstein -- where her ailing grandmother Cherra was believed to rule -- was in fact her own royal government. "I wished to wait until a more felicitous time to announce my accession," a poised and controlled Queen Julian says in the video, "however, the concerns that my government has about communist forces in Crotobaltislavonia and Calidia have convinced me that Gunnland needs leadership."

In Gunnland, monarchs are elected by a council of thegns, or the chiefs of the eight major clans. Queen Julian is believed to be only the second queen to take the Stone Chair, a rock that is the royals' symbolic throne in St. Tears and the place where legendary founder Gunni is said to have landed.

While the domestic political situation in Gunnland is sometimes difficult to gauge, it may also have led Queen Julian to go public. Opposition leader Theo Gunn* Larkin, a Liberal Covenant Party delegate from Dalmyre to the Thing, or Gunnish legislature, has criticized the Integrity Party leader James Buchanan* Blackthorn for consolidating dictatorial control over the two most powerful directorates, the Home Office and the Foreign Office, as well as the Gunnish Army.

Nothing is known of Queen Julian's vision for Gunnish foreign policy. Kadikistan alleges that secret military agreements between Gunnland and Bourgogne are the reason for the communist militarization of north-central Gallogermania. Prime Minister James Gunn* Gallagher has denied any military coöperation between Windhaven and Chagny.

*In Gunnland, the clan name serves as a middle name. The initial "O." or "Ø." is often used for those without clan affiliation.

 

[Elben]

Königreich Elben
Ministry of Foreign Affairs​

Communique 2018-01-03/01
Marked: Open

His Majesty King Friedrich Maria congratulates his sister monarch Queen Julian and looks forward to the day he is able to visit Windhaven to express his best wishes personally. God bless her!

 

[Natal]

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Ministreileachd Gnothaichean Cèin
Ministry of Foreign Affairs​

His Majesty's Government condemns the militarization of the Gothic and Lyric Seas with this said arrival of Xinhaiese military units and even worse, the installation of missile systems that have the range big enough to target the capital city of Caledonia, the city of Dun Eidyn and major southern cities like Minadh Rois, Farrais and Baile Steaphain.

This is in a direct violation of the Northern Status Quo Treaty signed by the High Kingdom of Caledonia and the Kadikistani Union, which clearly states the need to keep the Gothic Sea demilitarized. If this will go on, the High Kingdom will consider the treaty null and void as an effect of the Xinhai-Kadikistani actions and will act upon it as it will be necessary to defend itself.

We hoped that the Kadikistani may have been benevolent enough to understand the need for peace after the disastrous war of 1957. It seems that as much as we try to bend to make sure that peace will prevail, it seems it is never enough.

We will not accept this violation of past agreements and if needed we will take guns in hands to defend our right for a bright future. The White Navy and Army will be mobilized for any kinds of potential aggression.

Signed,
The Right Honorable
Lùcas Ròs
Minister of Foreign Affairs

 

[Rheinbund]

Kanzleramt
Trier, Eiffelland

Also we are concerned about the deployment of Xinhaiese troops in Kadikistan. As far as we can see, Kadikistan is very well capable to defend itself; it does not need any foreign help in this form. We will follow the situation with interest.

Matthias Graf von Seydewitz, Chancellor

 

[Khemia]

Xinhaiese Deployment Revised, To Respect 80th East Meridian
AP Siu Wiu

Spokesman for the People's Red Army Ground Forces Brigadier General Zhao Yue announced today that, following negotiations with concerned parties in the north and in consultation with their Rurikgrad Pact forces, Xinhaiese deployments would be revised to place units east of the 80th Meridian. This will place Xinhaiese forces in the vicinity of the Inner Sea.

"It is my pleasure to announce that the security situation in the vicinity of our comrades in Calidia and Rurikgrad have been reinforced through multilateral negotiations, and that there is no longer a need for Xinhaiese Rapid Reaction Forces to be deployed to this region," the General commended Gunnish and Kadikistani diplomats. "It is clear that the Rurikgrad Pact is amenable to talks and diplomatic resolutions to disputes, and that our ground forces are not the conquering warbands that some would portray them as."

"The 32nd and 21st Motor Rifle Brigades will instead be deployed in the vicinity of Bernovsk while the 54th Motor Rifle Brigade will be poised at Ordansk to respond via rail to threats from West or North. The 89th Coastal Defense Brigade will remain tasked to it's current mission in Xinhai, and instead the 143rd Rocket Artillery Brigade and 168th Air Defense Artillery Brigade will be deployed to Bernovsk to ensure security and respond to threats in the Inner Sea region."

The 143rd is believed to be equipped with

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than those that had been expected to be fielded in Calidia, but far more precise. Meanwhile, the 168th will champion the

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, imposing significant challenges upon any potential aggressor. However, neither weapon system is capable of reaching the Trivodnian border from Bernovsk, which the PRAGF spokesman stated was intended to emphasize the defensive-reactive posture of Xinhaiese forces in Kadikistan.

@Gunnland

 

[Rheinbund]

Kanzleramt
Trier, Eiffelland

We applaud the decision of the Government of Xinhai to not station their troops west of the 80th meridian. This will significantly reduce the tensions in the Gothic Sea area.

Matthias Graf von Seydewitz, Chancellor

 

[Polesia]

Ministry of National Defence

The Free State notes the decision made by the Xinhaiese military to deploy missiles at a range that will not reach the Trivodnian border and will revisit our threat assessments and own defensive posture in response.

 

[Polesia]

BREAKING: Kadikistan and Trivodnia agree joint demobilisation
AP Amstov

The President of Trivodnia will use his traditional Orthodox New Year address to announce the demobilisation of Kadikistani and Trivodnian forces along their shared border, according to his official spokesperson, with the High Kingdom of Caledonia chosen to oversee the process as an impartial observer.

While the Caledonian government has yet to formally accept the role, the Trivodnian President is reportedly confident the High Kingdom will, and should it not, an alternative neutral country will be found.

President Meier Lauterpacht will also use the address, due tomorrow, to threaten to veto any attempt to overturn Trivodnia's constitutional neutrality. His spokesman insisted this was separate to the agreed demobilisation with Kadikistan, and reflected President Lauterpacht's "own deeply held beliefs".

The Trivodnian head of state used his Orthodox Christmas address to call for peace with Kadikistan, and sources close to the Presidency said this appeal laid the groundwork for de-escalation.

Regional markets and currencies rose on the announcement, as analysts and traders grow increasingly optimistic a diplomatic solution will be found to the so called Christmas crisis, which was sparked by a coup attempt in Crotobaltislavonia. Crotobaltislavonian authorities blamed General Alexander Radek and Trivodnia for the failed coup, as did Kadikistan. Trivodnia in turn claimed the abortive coup was a false flag operation by Crotobaltislavonia and Kadikistan to justify a Kadikistani military presence beyond the Polesian Sea.

 

[Thaumantica]

MINTCOM
Maritime International Relations Command
Message Intended for a Public Audience
​

This League of Ostrovaks wishes to inquire if demobilization of forces of Kadikistan and Trivodnia will include the immediate demobilization of Xinhainese forces and their hasty return to Xinhai? This, or can we expect Xinhainese Expeditionary troops to be a permanent fixture of the future international landscape?

We continue to lodge our protest of the introduction of Xinhai and its forces to the region, and encourage others to investigate and question their introduction to several national borders that are not their own.

 

[Polesia]

Office of the President of the Free State of Trivodnia

While the Free State would also like to see military units from Xinhai leave Kadikistan and return home, the current scope of our joint demobilisation agreement with Ivar only covers Kadikistani forces along our shared border. We have also received assurances Xinhaiese units will not move beyond their current position.

 

[Socialist Commonwealth]

Gunnish support for Kadikistani intervention in Crotobaltislavonia?
AP Amstov

The Gunnish government has actively supported the Kadikistani intervention in the crisis in Crotobaltislavonia, if anonymous sources are to be believed. Several news outlets, including Associated Press, received detailed information about Kadikistani supplies and reinforcements to troops in Crotobaltislavonia being channeled through Gunnland. Photographic evidence and eye-witness reports indicate that Wyndhaven permitted Kadikistani forces to use Gunnland as transit corridor to Crotobaltislavonia, which does not possess a direct border to Kadikistan. The source, while anonymous, is believed to be the intelligence service of a regional power, as Kadikistans involvement in the crisis sparked great concern over the expansion of Ivars sphere of influence. The revelation of Gunnish complicity is likely to cause diplomatic troubles for the just recently crowned Gunnish Queen Julian, who has yet to comment on the issue.

 

[Polesia]

Office of the President of the Free State of Trivodnia

News that Gunnland is actively aiding the Kadikistani take over of Crotobaltislavonia is of both deep concern and surprise to the Free State, and also raises serious questions over the true nature of the Gunnish military deployment to Elben.

 

[Socialist Commonwealth]

Right-wing parties in Gallo-Germania call for "March on Trier"
AP Trier

An alliance of several right-wing parties and groups from different countries in Gallo-Germania have announced their intention to hold a large rally in Trier in opposition to what they perceive as policies by Eiffelland and the Trier Accord vis-a-vis the civil war in Crotobaltislavonia. The alliance, which ranges from neo-conservative groups to fascist parties, is ideologically diverse but unified by its opposition to what they perceive as Triers inaction towards Kadikistani expansionism and liberal refugee-policies.

The press release of the organizers specifically mentions Triers recent decision to give permanent shelter to fifty thousand Crotobaltislavonian refugees, which they consider a "globalist effort to undermine the ethnic integrity of the nations of Gallo-Germania", also calling it an "open door policy of slavic communist infiltration of our ancestral homelands". With their march, they organizers hope to bring further attention to critics from the political right who have argued that liberal refugee policies might lead to destabilization as "refugees bring the conditions that caused them to flee in the first place."

The organizers also cite recent decisions of the Gunnish government to allow Crotobaltislavonian jewish refugees freedom of worship in the otherwise staunchly catholic country as evidence of how refugees undermine the integrity of their host-countries, potentially serving as "fourth column of Ivar". Criticizing the perceived inaction of the Trier Accord over Crotobaltislavonia, the organizers say they wish to reverse this policy and "put a stop to the red slavic tides threatening to wash over Gallia and Germania".

 

[Rheinbund]

Mayor of Trier: “Organisers have to contact Trierer Municipality, else protests are illegal”
Eiffelland prepares for protest march this weekend

In response to reports in the media that both rightwing and leftwing groups are rallying up for protest marches in Trier this Sunday, the Mayor of Trier Kurt Aschenbach held a press conference together with the Minister for Internal Affairs, Markus Möller. During that press conference, Aschenbach indicated that he deemed the protest march announced by several rightwing organisations illegal: “Of course it is possible to organise protest marches in Eiffelland, but they have to be organised together with the authorities. A route needs to be determined, then that route has to be made free, the people living in the streets where the march will take place have to be informed so that they can take measures as well, we have to organise transport of the protesters and so on and so on. We can set this all up very fast when needed, but then the organisers of the protest march have to come to us to discuss things out. This accounts for both the organisers of the rightwing protest and the organisers of the leftwing protest.”
In response to a question about possible routes by one of the reporters, Achenbach said: “Of course we will make sure that the rightwing protesters get a different route than the leftwing protesters, if they come to us. We are thinking of one route from Bahnhof Zoologischer Garten through the western part of the city and one route from the Ostbahnhof through the eastern part of the city. There will be separate places outside the city where the protesters for either protest march can gather together to be transported to the protest march of their choice.”
In response to a question about possible riots and people who will come to Trier to riot, Minister Möller answered: “As soon as we became aware of these protests, we increased the guarding of the borders, harbours and airports. We also requested information about possible rioters from both sides of the political spectrum from the Governments of all the countries in Gallo-Germania. Regarding Eiffellandian rightwing militants, many of them are still in prison after we rolled up the Gotisch-Eiffelländische Liga three years ago. The ones not in prison are still under surveillance; they were ordered to report themselves to the police on Saturday evening and will be released on Monday morning. Foreigners reported to us as possible rioters will undergo the same treatment. The Trierer Police will be assisted by policemen from other corpses, as well as the Abteilung Sondereinsätze of the Staatsschutz, and of the Army. The soldiers involved in guarding the city will get police authority from Friday to Tuesday. Any rioting will lead to immediate arrestment of the rioters, no matter who started the rioting. The public prosecutors will demand the highest punishments possible in the trials against rioters. For public violence, that is five years forced labour in the coal mines. We will also apply this policy to arrested foreigners.”
The Minister also added a statement about Eiffelland’s decision to shelter Crotobaltislavonian refugees: “There is no need to worry. Eiffelland can handle this. We have thoroughly discussed this matter with the Staatstag and Staatsrat. The plans we have foresee in the best receipt possible for the refugees against the least burden possible to the Eiffellandians. Of course we are not going to house all of them in a 10,000 inhabitants town; we are going to spread the refugees over the country. Furthermore, we will make sure that they will get psychological support and educations so that they can take care for themselves. Let it also be known that culture has always changed throughout time. Also the Eiffellandian culture. That change is inherent to culture. A culture that rigidly tries to stay the same will loose its relevance. There is, however, one thing that has always been part of Eiffellandian culture, and that is the openness of the society. Openness for foreigners. Openness for other religions than Christianity. Eiffelland is a Tiburan-Catholic country, but it houses a large Jewisch minority which has the freedom to celebrate its religion. Also Orthodox Catholics, Protestants and Muslims are free to celebrate their religions. Even pagans. Freedom of religion is part of the Eiffellandian culture. ‘Live and let live’ is part of the Eiffellandian culture. That will always be the same.”

 

[Socialist Commonwealth]

Organizers of 'March on Trier': March is registered, accuse government of 'desinformation campaign'
AP Trier

The organizers of the planned anti-refugee protest in Trier have adressed claims by Triers mayor Kurt Aschenbach who deemed the march illegal, stating that the protest had been formally registered with the municipal authorities and was going to be "legal and peaceful". In a public press conference, the organizers were furious over Aschenbachs claims and called it a 'desinformation campaign' designed to discourage people from participating. "The liberal establishment knows they have no majority for their policies, so they use smokes and mirrors to prevent their opposition from organizing," the spokesperson, the Bergenheimer Anton Hammelsprung claimed, furthermore adding that "it can not be a coincidence that the Eiffelländer government invests so much effort into persecuting patriotic citizens and prides itself on arresting entire parties on the political right, while serving Gallia and Germania to the red hordes on a silver plate and remaining inactive against communist threats against our march."

Insisting that the march will take place and that any attempt by the government will be met in court "either enforcing our rights as free men or exposing the liberal government in Trier for the autocracy it is," Hammelsprung called upon compatriots to not be discouraged by threats and government discrimination. "We represent the majority of Gallo-Germania. We represent good, upstanding citizens who will not watch idly as their countries are sold out by the plutocratic elites." If the goal was, indeed, to discourage protesters, Aschenbachs policy may backfire, as analysts suggest that the statements by the mayor of Trier has rewarded the march with additional public attention.

Meanwhile the 'March on Trier' is also organizing people on the left, many of which feel that Triers refugee-policies are far from being as liberal as they are presented and that fixed upper limits and residency policies have actually encouraged right-wing opponents. "Gallo-German countries faced the fact of refugees from Crotobaltislavonia. Triers insistence on profit before people, hoping to select only those deemed useful to its economy while enforcing strict limits on refugee numbers and their place of residence has given a clear signal to the public that immigrants and refugees are not to be seen as equal people, but as a cost factor and a political asset. The march on Trier is only a consequent continuation of that line of politics," the speaker of pro-refugee NGO Hands Across Borders commented.

 

[Rheinbund]

Verwaltung der Stadt Trier
Trier, Eiffelland

According to our records, the request for approval of the protest march of coming Sunday was filed on Thursday 25 January 2017, i.e. the day after the press conference of Mayor Aschenbach, at which he called the protest march illegal. The approval was handed out today, i.e. Friday 26 January 2017, i.e. the day after Mr. Hammelsprung stated that the protest march would have been officially registered with us. This means that the march was still illegal on the day that Mayor Aschenbach held his press conference, and that it was also still illegal on the day that the organisers of the so‑called “march on Trier” claimed that this protest march had been officially registered. Not Mayor Aschenbach, but Mr. Hammelsprung conducted a desinformation campaign with his false statements that the march would be legal. Any document stating that this march was approved before 26 January 2017 is a falsification. Should such a false document actually appear, we will start a legal procedure because of falsification of official documents.


Kanzleramt
Trier, Eiffelland

First of all, the GEL was not a far‑right political party like the Volksunion, but an extraparliamentarian far‑right organisation which promoted, stimulated and facilitated violence against foreigners, ethnic and religious minorities, and gays and lesbians. The GEL-members we persecuted called themselves patriots but were rampagers, rioters and murderers. Mr. Hammelsprung should stick to the facts instead of spreading blatant lies and calling criminals with a lust for violence patriots. We do hope that his image of patriotism does not consist of removing everyone who doesn’t fit in his image of a perfect Gallo‑Germania.
We also want to notify Hands Across Borders that, no matter how harsh it sounds, Eiffelland’s means are limited. We cannot feed all the poor in the world. We cannot shelter all the refugees in the world. No matter how badly we want that, we cannot do that. It would be better if Hands Across Borders puts its efforts in convincing more countries than Trivodnia, Eiffelland and the Socialist World Republic to take up refugees, rather than accusing us of cherry‑picking.

 

[Natal]

Miraculous apparitions in Calasraid prompt pilgrimage
AP Dun Glas

The Caledonian news stands are now teeming with stories of religious miracles taking place in the northern shores of the Mormaerdom of Votadinia. The there have been reports of Marian apparitions all over the Catholic world, but the apparitions from Calasraid have different from the rest, as the one appearing is God, say the local townspeople. Calasraid apparitions have been frequent in Caledonian history, starting from reports in the 17th and 18th centuries and continuing up until 1988. The most known event took place in 1961, when the daughter of a shepherd has described the fact that she spoke with God, which appeared first in the form of the burning bush and afterwards in the form of the Sacred Heart. The Caledonian authorities at that time, under the National-Syndicalists have intensely promoted the event, calling it a divine legitimisation of their rule. The last apparition was in 1988, when a member of Ordo Solaris declared that he saw Jesus and received stigmata, but they have been quickly debunked as acid wounds.

This new series of apparitions have started three weeks ago when Padre Brendan from the Holy Mary Monastery close by has stated in the monastery that while walking from it to the town, he has seen the Sacred Heart which has warned him of the impending apocalypse. While many important Caledonian newspapers have chosen to present this news as a farce, it seemed that many of the people of Calasraid have believed the news and have rushed to the taiga, creating an altar in the glade in which Padre Brendan has seen the Sacred Heart.

A week later, a second apparition was reported by Calum MacIlleThòmhais, a 15 year old boy who was going back home from the monastery and passed through the glade. Those news have brought the apparition under the attention of His Grace, Sean MacPhail, the Archbishop of the North, but he only stated that the Church will analyse the apparitions, not commenting furthermore.

The local authorities of Votadinia have recommended the travellers to stay away as the town doesn't have the infrastructure to support the return of the pre-1985 pilgrimages. Even so, Iarnrod Chaledoniann has reported a surge in passengers on the trains linking Dun Eidyn and Dun Glas to Calasraid.

The National-Syndicalist Movement, a minority party in the Aonach, led by Seathan MacRath have capitalised on the apparitions and have organised soup kitchens for the pilgrims with plans to even build places for them to spend the night. Since the apparitions have started, more than 30,000 people have visited Calasraid.

Authorities haven't commented yet on the nature of the said miracles, but they have been deeply criticised by the Socialist Revolutionary Party, which calls them a hoax.

 

[Gunnland]

A New Queen Tries to Shake Up Gunnland, But Conservatives Maintain Control
AP Ayr

The Integrity Party held its control of the Thing of All Gunnishmen, the parliament of the northern kingdom of Gunnland, results from Friday's ballots showed. The opposition Liberal Covenant lost two seats, one in Seaguard-South, and the other held by its former leader, Theo Gunn Larkin (L-Dalmyre). The election has widened the government's majority to a margin of 16-5, with four independents.

The news is perhaps better, and worse, for the opposition than the numbers show. Integrity party incumbents in Windhaven and St. Tears were unseated by challenges from hardliners. So while Leader Blackthorn wants to steer the conservative Catholic party in a more moderate, tolerant, and business-friendly direction, about half of the Integrity MTs are already balking. The backbenchers are led by Fr. Coemgein Gallagher and Padraig Buchanan Smith, respectively the country's censor and attorney general, who zealously enforce laws related to heresy, indecency, and public morality. And the backbenchers are funded by strong ties to Mons Pietatis, an expanding Windhaven-based bank and charitable organization.

But this is not good news for the leaderless Liberals, who are bitterly divided between conservative anti-Gunn clansmen and radical liberals from Ayr. Neither are particularly likely to line up quickly behind the liberals and independents closest to Queen Julian. Unless the fissures within Integrity widen, Gunnland remains effectively a one-party state for the near future.

 

[Natal]

March on Dun Eidyn called on Sunday
AP Dun Eidyn

A week after the March on Trier has taken place, another right wing march has been announced, this time on Dun Eidyn. The main organiser seems to be the vice-chairman of the National-Syndicalist Party, Seathan MacRath. He has also participated in the March on Trier with around 3,500 members of the NSP. The Chairman of the Party, Sean Morgan has refrained from commenting, limiting himself just to remind the critics of the right to demonstrate. While this march may be smaller than the one on Trier, as it was called to soon for any major foreign arrivals could be prepared, it was seen as a way of the NSP to respond to the aftermath of the by-elections.

"Our duty is to make Olibhia MacAnndra understand that her rule has brought misery to the Caledonian people. The poor are pauperised as her so-called rise in productivity of the Caledonian economy is destroying thousands of jobs while rich foreigners are enjoying bigger and bigger government stipends. No, the March on Trier might have been a march against the cowardice of the Trier Accord to stand up and defend Germania against savagery, but this march is made in Caledonia for the Caledonians. We want more respect for our people. We don't want our people sold for foreign currency. We don't want the efforts of our ancestors to industrialise this country and make it great, to fall apart. This is a march against the so-called Neo-liberal revolution in economy proposed by MacAnndra. By this time, she must understand that her policies are a complete failure. If she doesn't get it by with our March, the railroad workers and the coal miners will enter a strike and we will see then what will happen," stated Seathan MacRath.

The march comes after the by-elections, in which the Country Party has lost the majority in the Aonach and the NSP has become the second largest party. The Country Party is known for having two major factions inside it, the conservative Nationals and the progressive Liberals. Depending on whom will win the following power struggle inside the party, the Nationals would align themselves with the NSP and with it form a right-wing government, while the Liberals would prefer to align themselves with the Social Democrats and the Greens to from a centre-left wing government. But considering the anti-free trade streak the Caledonians are set upon in the last months, the Liberals start with a huge handicap and there are great chances that we might see Oilbhia MacAnndra resign soon.