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GOVERNMENT TRIES TO CALM TENSIONS WITH FURTHER GREAT SEA WITHDRAWAL
In a likely attempt to respond to international criticism and to calm tensions in the Great Sea the government has announced a significant pull-back of the country's naval presence. Around half of all naval vessels in the Great Sea will be sent back to Europaland while the vessels remaining will be withdrawn so as to be situated no more than half-way between Europaland and Havenshire. According to President Nordahl Engellex has made clear that Europalandian civilian shipping shall not come under attack and that, in the spirit of promoting world peace at a time of continued conflict, Europaland has decided to maintain only a limited naval presence in the Great Sea. Europaland, according to the President, ”stands firmly with working people across Europe who are fed up with violence, militarism and war”, noting that ”liberation cannot be achieved through the gunship, rather it must emerge naturally from the everyday struggles of ordinary people in any given society”. There are indications nevertheless that the government may be split on the issue with all of the ministers from the Revolutionary Left Alliance allegedly pushing for a tougher line while the President and a majority in the Socialist Left appear keen to defuse tensions as much as possible.
Opposition Centre Party leader Jacques Laurent described the decision as a ”wise and sensible step”, commenting that he was ”pleased to see the voice of reason ultimately prevailing within our government”. According to Mr Laurent Europaland should continue to ”stand proudly as a beacon of democracy, human rights and the progressive libertarian values we all share, promoting our model through example rather than the sort of aggressive military posturing which some hotheads within the government have been pushing for”. The reactions from sections of the far left to the withdrawal have unsurprisingly been far from positive. Mass demonstrations in which the flags of countries such as Engellex, Potenza and Kyiv have been burned have continued across Europaland and the police have warned the government about the establishment of small armed groups of anarchist, communist or vanguardist volunteers who may be planning to travel overseas in order to foment trouble. According to Justice Minister Édouard Giraud any member of such groups will be liable for arrest and the possible confiscation of their passport.
OTHER NEWS
All five suspects involved in the fatal Europa City sex shop bombing found guilty of murder and terrorism and given the maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. The trials of the embassy hostage-takers are not expected to begin for several months due to the large number of suspects and the enormous amount of evidence which needs to be sifted through.
Government's approval rating falls to 49% as many express criticism over its actions in the Great Sea. President Nordahl however continues to enjoy a higher approval rating of 56%.
Europaland shall not recognise the independence of the Talemantine puppet-state of Zamosca following widespread reports of fraud and ballot-stuffing, calls for a new referendum fully managed and run by the international community.