Nouvelles de Belmont

[Serenierre]

L'International | Edition Anglais

PARIS - JEUDI. 23. SEPTEMBRE. 2010.

PetroThas and PetroBel in stiff competition for increased stake in BenzynaKrol
The Sarmatian oil industry is one of the largest in the world and Belmont's two largest oil refining and petroleum companies; PetroThas and PetroBel are rumored to be in stiff competition for increasing their stake in the Sarmatian corporation. This comes at a time when Belmontien investors have shown interest in various Sarmatian companies such as Balanjar Armory, Bród Motors and Silniki Motors. The Chamber of Commerce has dispatched a delegation to the Central European country to meet with company officials and to commence talks on investment decisions.

Nationalistes upset over recent Wieser, Marquen rebukes
The Nationalistes have been raising a storm over the response of the Wieser foreign minister and the decision of a Marquen motor company to pull out of Belmont. The party leaders have lodged official complaints to the embassies of both countries. The government has asked the opposition to focus instead on national matters such as the impending reform in the bureaucracy.

As Aren oil deal completed, Govt. looks to Sarmatia for similar deal
The Government has announced that the success of the Aren oil deal has prompted the Government to consider pushing a similar agreement with the Hrodino authorities. It is expected that an oil deal with Sarmatia will allow Belmont to eventually become independent from Talemantine oil, a source the government has decided to phase out.

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[Holy Frankish Empire]

Marquette Motor Corporation

Our decision to cease direct sales has come at a difficult time. This decision does not reflect any political view. Simply put, sales are down and we must choose our markets wisely. The option for Belmontiens to open an automotive sales facility is completely available. We will however no longer directly run sales facilities inside Belmont. Currently, Belmont's annual performance for most of our vehicles is rock bottom except for the MMC Promesse and MMC Chariot. We will instead be focusing on the market in Lorraine and Eiffelland.

Thank you,
Francois DeLucoste
Chairman, MMC

 

[Serenierre]

TV3 Latest News Headlines

:!: As Freiheit Accords signed, Belmontien companies look to invest in rebuilding war torn country
:!: Nationalistes Leader of Opposition, George Bettancourt, meets with Premier Martinique to discuss foreign policy initiatives
:!: PetroThas looks to expand its refueling operations in Hajr
:!: "Marquen Motors pull out far too fast and the workers demand a decent severance pay from the company", union leader says

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[Serenierre]

As Regency begins, Queen retires from public engagements for six months, only to carry out limited matters

Yesterday afternoon, the Regency of Prince Nicolas officially began as he and his wife, Princess Élise, arrived at the Château de Charbonne and were received by Her Majesty Queen Diana. In a short meeting between sovereign and heir, Her Majesty granted Prince Nicolas the role of Prince-Regent for the next six months, according to the terms of the Royal Decree issued last week. Soon after, HM The Queen, her husband, HRH Prince Edmund, Duke of Sant-Lô, and the Prince and Princess of Montaigne had lunch together.

At four o'clock in the afternoon, HM Queen Diana and HRH Prince Edmund boarded the Royal Helicopter and were transported to one of the many estates the Royal Family owns in the Principality of Montaigne. Due to security concerns the exact location has not been released to the press. Of Prince Nicolas' siblings, only his sisters will continue to reside at the Charbonne, with the twin Princes Oliver and Andre joining their parents in two weeks time.

The Regency of Prince Nicolas marks only the second time when the heir has taken on official duties of the monarch at the monarch's direction for a set duration of time. During the Regency, Prince Nicolas has all powers of the Crown except the powers to declare war, dissolve Parliament, pardon criminals and raise taxes. The Queen has reserved those powers for herself, even during the break she has taken.

Regardless, that still leaves Prince Nicolas with the powers to direct foreign policy, appoint or dismiss members of the Grand Council of the Armed Forces, grant assent or decline bills sent by Parliament and many other powers, granting him almost 70% of all powers granted to the sovereign through the Crown Act 1525.​

 

[Serenierre]

25,000+ classified government documents leaked over internet show detailed picture of split with EDF

Yesterday, the Belmontien website,

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, released 25,682 documents from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs which cover the Belmont-EDF relationship and cover the time the Kingdom spent as an associate with the alliance. The documents which were from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' bureaucratic division, the Foreign Office, has also revealed great details over the Marquen terrorism period and the subsequent border closure, as well as great ire expressed by our own government at the EDF's support of the failed Talemantine invasion of the Jurzan.

The documents also include a study undertaken by former Foreign Minister Jacques Bertrand and sent to the current foreign minister which investigated Wieser claims to neutrality and if the Kingdom should retain its seat in the Council of Nations. Foreign Minister Villevan's response to it was to thank the former Foreign Minister but urged him to keep the report "away from the gaze of those not having belonged to the good offices of state."

Several thousand pages are dedicated to the strained relationship between Paris and Fond du Loc and the perceived inability or unwillingness of Nürnberg to act to show it is in fact the leader of the alliance. Further issues have been discussed such as the inability of the Francophone nations to commit to a bloc such the Northern Council or the Germanian League. The documents, all of which were supposed to be kept confidential, have shown growing frustration in the liberal Martinique government and towards the end show less and less differences between foreign policy matters amongst the two blocs in Parliament.

The Government has remained silent on the issue of the leaks while the opposition have claimed that their original stance over the associate membership had been right all along and major foreign policy decisions should be discussed in Parliament. HRH Nicolas, Prince Regent, who has been delegated by Her Majesty to carry out the foreign policy directives has stated "The Belmontien involvement in the EDF, past the PfS, was a mistake... but we continue to have historic bilateral agreements between the governments of the Francophone bloc, Franken, Eiffelland and the pull out doesn't mean those nations aren't our allies anymore. I, differ in view with my mother and, have long believed the best path for Belmont is the path of independence from the confines of alliance politics."

While HM Queen Diana has been known to harbor pro-EDF feelings, her son and heir is more cautious in regards to the alliance and has reportedly a more conservative outlook on foreign policy than his mother.

Since the end of the Great War, Belmont fought on the side of Franken, but has fought hard to remain away from the realm of EDF politics, earlier this year, riding a wave of popularity, the Martinique government pushed the associate membership agreement and gave The Queen parliamentary support to undertake the initiative.​

 

[Serenierre]

JOURNAL DES DÉBATS POLITIQUES​

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IN FIRST SPEECH, PRINCE NICOLAS IS KING IN ALL BUT NAME, TAKES CONSERVATIVE STANCE
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Yesterday, HRH Prince Nicolas and HRH Princess Élise visited the Royal Military Academy Bibentois, the premier institution for officers in Gallia, the first official duty carried out by The Prince since the Regency began. The speech was expected to give insights into future King's outlook on a number of things, ranging from domestic politics, national defense to foreign politics and the EDF. The essence of the speech, in view of analysts, was markedly more conservative than his mother.

HRH Prince Nicolas began the speech with the usual round of symbolic references and ritual thanks to the various Generals and nobility present at the Academy's graduation ceremony. He quickly moved to address the state of the kingdom's politics, speaking against the current system in the Parliament, which has allowed for the government to bypass many Parliamentary safeguards. He called for reform in the Parliament and said "[t]he balance between Crown and Parliament has been upset by countless measures to take away centuries of tradition from the Sovereign and the result has been the faltering of the Parliament and its systems. The balance must be found once again," he said to applause from the audience.

He continued, "Backbencher MPs have sensed this... and have approached me and have informed me that the repeal of the Crown Act 1971 is imminent and that support for the Crown is something that transcends partisan politics." He went on to praise the backbencher MPs, belonging to both blocs, who have formed a semi-formal coalition and plan on presenting a bill calling for the repeal of Crown Act 1971 and the immediate re-instatement of Crown Act 1525, with several amendments to make it viable for the twenty-first century needs.

Soon after he moved to address the foreign policy direction, something for which he is in charge, and said that the break from the EDF's Associate Membership was a welcome move and that had only been possible by the "valiant defense of sovereignty undertaken by the Nationalistes." He went on to state "Though my father may be a Franconian prince, I am a Prince of this land." Continuing on to say, more or less, that the Belmontien involvement with the EDF had been a mistake and showed that Belmont stood to lose more rather than gain from the association, in face of continued attempts to ignore the concerns and complaints of Paris in regards the Marquen troubles.

He then moved to the military, "It is my personal, unshakeable belief that the armed forces must stand strong and ready to face any threat to this Kingdom. The armed forces have for well over a millennium stood strong and have repelled every invader... may it be the Marquen invasion of 1799 or the recent battles of the Great War, the men and women of the armed forces have stood strong. It is my belief that we must strengthen the abilities of the armed forces and keep the tradition of Belmont's self reliance in defense alive." He continued to talk about defense matters in detail, all of which was received with applause by the audience.

The speech was televised across the nation and has, on the whole, registered positively with the populace. The conservative shift from the Palace comes at a time when Queen Diana's popularity has dipped significantly in the wake of Belmont's withdrawal from the EDF's Associate membership, Her Majesty had lent her support to the government's plan to pursue EDF associate membership. ​

 

[Serenierre]

RADIO 1 HEADLINES

RIFT IN FRANCOPHONE BLOC?
Some Francophone nationalists, across Gallia, who have long fantasized about seeing a new Frankish Empire have become disheartened by the current state of things amongst the Francophone states of Gallia. The 1799 Marquen invasion, launched by the Marquen king of the time to unite the Francophone world under his rule, succeeded in breaking and dividing Francophone unity that had existed since the creation of the Gallian kingdoms in 814. After the Marquen defeat, the relationship of Belmont and Marquette has never recovered fully to their pre war levels and have long cast a shadow over Francophone nationalistic hopes of a new Francophone Empire. Now with an emerging spat emerging with the Kingdom of Lorraine, Francophone nationalists must face the possibility that their cause is lost.

BATAVIEN RADICAL LEADER SIGNS AMNESTY
Hank Roos, leader of the Batavien Republican Army, famed for its stranglehold over the Batavien city of Spa, has, according to latest reports, signed a government amnesty package a move that has left the BRA leaderless. Batavien security officials told us that the BRA wasn't expected to last long with their charismatic leader. Formed earlier this year, the BRA has strong anti-communist elements within its ranks and was formed in the wake of the collapse of the People's Republic of Batavië. The announcement of the move by Hank Roos is a major victory for the de Jonghe government. The government has hopes that this will allow the EDF Peacekeeping Force to withdraw from their country and that a peaceful transition can be made to a federation.

MINISTRY OF DEFENSE RELEASES RECRUITMENT DATA
The Ministry of Defense, per request of the Parliamentary Committee for Defense, has released their data related to recruitment drives and various other matters. The data has shown that the recruitment in the armed forces has risen significantly since 2008 and that now more men and women thought of having a career in the armed forces. The MoD also has shown that the Government's policy of basic military training to be part of college curriculum for subjects of the Crown, ie Belmontien citizens, has been working well and that the Libéralistes would not strike that policy down. The MoD also proceeded to release dates of planned exercises, in hopes of not causing concerns later on.​

 

[Serenierre]

TV3 Latest News Headlines

:!: Government calls for Pope Stéphane IV to end Church's antagonistic policy towards Holy Tiburian Empire
:!: Cross party MPs introduces bill to repeal Crown Act 1971 and restore major powers to Crown
:!: Normandie Provincial Assembly announces subsidy for fiBaghaies
:!: Lorrainese media bias against Belmont enrages Nationalistes leader, calls for boycott of Lorrainese media

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[Josepania]

Imperial Chancellor to His Imperial Tiburan Majesty

The Kingdom of Belmont's support in the matter of reconciliation between the Dominican Catholic Church and the Imperial Dualist Church comes as a surprise to His Imperial Tiburan Majesty and His Holiness, Chrestomanci Giuseppe X, but a very pleasant and welcome one. Combined with Belmont's realization of the numerous, major flaws in the European Defense Force and their refusal to be a part of it, it is His Imperial Tiburan Majesty's wish that our own bilateral reconciliation efforts, having been terminated so suddenly months past, be renewed with vigor, if the Kingdom of Belmont finds it agreeable.

Sincerely,
Giuseppe Emmanuel
Imperial Chancellor to His Imperial Tiburan Majesty

 

[Papal States]

Secretary of the Holy Office

If Belmont can point out the "antagonistic" policy the church is handling, we would be glad to consider these to adjust them towards a less offensive way to say that we cannot support a regime that discriminates a part of its population because of their faith.

Congregation for External Affairs

The recent politics of Belmont are diffusing in many ways. The position of Paris as a keeper of peace and stability is turning towards intefearing in national and even eclesiastical politics. As the Papal States recently supported the self-reliance of nations in the conflict about the oil rigs, it seems Belmont wants to settle this in acting in a unreasonable way towards Dominici.

 

[Beautancus]

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Though it is more than likely that the "official Imperial position" is already well known in the august halls of power in that greatest and most worthy of Occidental cities- Paris- we feel it to be entirely necessary to make that position very clear.

Despite what the indentured propagandists in the employ of Nürnberg- and her litany of dim-witted toadies- might have the Belmontien people, and the world think, this is perhaps the single bravest, and surely the wisest foreign policy move made by any single nation in the Occident for some few decades. Though the Sarmatian opinion of the Belmontien Monarchy and People has always been high, much higher than our collective estimation of nearly all Occidental nations, it has surely improved in the past weeks- now reaching levels only enjoyed by our most explicit and age-old partners in the Defense of True Civilization.

That the Empire's greatest suspicions on the fundamental nature of the so-called 'European Defense Federation' have been ultimately confirmed by this "diplomatic row," is also of great comfort to His Imperial Majesty, Jozef III, who has long maintained that this so-called EDF is little more than a half-hearted attempt by Nürnberg to maintain a global empire without any of the committment or effort required to do so.

The fact that the Crown of Belmont, on whomever's head it may rest, and the government that serves at its pleasure had the foresight and wisdom to realize this, and move to correct it is not only a mighty service to the people, but to the world entire. At a time when these same half-hearted cultural imperilists and plutocrats feint at truly playing the greatest of all games, it is most refreshing to see their efforts truly rebuffed.

As has always been, and will forevermore remain the case, the Empire of Greater Sarmatia counts the Kingdom of Belmont as one of its greatest and most valuable allies and partners in that most unfortunate of geographic regions- and looks forward to a level of cooperation even higher than what has been enjoyed in the past.

May God Save the Queen- and Her Heir, and may God keep the Belmontien people in a state of perpetual grace and prosperity.


Jego Siła, Książę-Palatyn Samuel Łaszcz
Kanclerz Cersarski, Cesarstwo Wielkosarmatska

 

[Serenierre]

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October 2, 2010​

The support expressed by the Government of Greater Sarmatia comes as a surprise to us but we are truly grateful for this support by the Government of His Imperial Majesty Jozef III.

Truly,

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Jean-Jacques Villevan
The Minister of Foreign Affairs,
The Kingdom of Belmont.
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[Serenierre]

FRANCOPHONE UNITY COMING TO AN END?
An Article by Marie-Joséphine Mausmanne, CP

With the media of Belmont, Montelimar, Lorraine and Marquette indulging in a war of words and the respective governments issuing harBagha and harBagha statements, one can be lead to believe that the era of Francophone unity is fast approaching its penultimate hour. Historically, since the establishment of the Gallian kingdoms upon the death of the Great King of the Franks, the ties between all four have been positive and the alliance has remained strong but since the 1799 invasion of Belmont by the Marquen King, the balance that had been struck has been irrevocably been damaged. Belmont blames Marquette and vice versa. The trust and amicable atmosphere that existed in Gallia was forever changed with the invasion.

The current spat, in my opinion, doesn't seem to be a big matter but has demonstrated very well the underlying issues of mistrust and paranoia in Gallia. The current issue started with Lorraine, but due to their EDF alignment, the other Francophone states thought it best to enter the discussion. I myself was shocked and horrified to read the recent opinion editorial by a member of the Marquen Privy Council. As stated by Minister Villevan, the opinion reeked of unabashed Belmont bashing and the language used, albeit censored yet heavily implied, was deplorable for an honored member of the Royal Privy Council. As advisors to the sovereign, members of the Privy Council have a responsibility to act responsibly and to speak with quiet restraint.

His Highness Prince Nicolas, in his capacity as Regent, was frank in his speech made at the Royal Military Academy Bibentois, and reflected the views of many people in the country, in regards to the EDF. That speech has managed to stir reactions from as far away as Augsburg and Nürnberg, both calling for restraint yet failing to do anything to quell tensions, as HM Government has learnt, Nürnberg claims to lead the EDF yet it has not once stepped in as a leader and resolved tensions, as demonstrated during the Marquen tensions earlier this year and the month long Talemantine embargo placed upon Belmont. Two primary reasons for Paris' shift away from the EDF.

While abroad, the government faces an increasing storm, at the home front, from all key players in Paris, there is a sense of cooperation coming and old foes are uniting to face the storm. The Government, locally, has also earned a renewed esteem in the eyes of most for handling the current issue with honesty and not dodging the bullet. Just yesterday, Leader of HM Faithful Opposition and the Coalition Nationale, George Bettancourt, announced that he and his party were backing the government in the foreign policy shift and urged His Highness Prince Nicolas to take further control of the foreign policy directives of the Kingdom. I, myself, upon command from His Highness Prince Nicolas, have spoken with Premier Martinique and can vouch that she has decided to ask His Highness to form a joint-house royal commission to establish a workable foreign policy code.

In face of the current situation, such a move by the three estates (Crown, Noblesse and Communes) would only stabilize the otherwise volatile foreign policy of the Kingdom. Any such commission would undoubtedly also have to review the ties of Belmont with other Francophone members and, considering the current environment, it is highly probable that the historic agreements with the three other Francophone kingdoms might have to be amended greatly or abandoned.

Marie-Joséphine Mausmanne is a Grand Dame of the Privy Council. She is currently involved with this publication in opinion editorials relating to foreign policy matters. She was appointed by Her Majesty Queen Diana as the deputy councillor for Foreign Affairs in 2007.

 

[Serenierre]

AUGSBURG PRESSURES PARIS FOR MEDIATION TALKS

Sources in the know have confirmed to us that Augsburg has issued a letter to Minister Villevan in which the Wieser Foreign Minister has called on the Gallian nations to put aside their differences and form an alliance along the lines of the Germanian League, in the letter, it is also purported that, the Wieser government has showed willingness to host talks aimed at reducing tensions between the Francophone kingdoms of Gallia. But while the statement, according to officials, is phrased as if to portray a pro-Belmont standpoint, the text contains open warnings.

An official, on condition of anonymity, provided us with some of the more antagonistic portions. The line which has caused most offense, "If Belmont discontinues good relations with its neighbours, it can have catastrophic consequences for the country's economy and society, or worse," echoes statements made by Lorraine's government. The Foreign Office has found further flaws with the letter due to its "lecturing nature." The Wieser foreign minister also thought it fit to speak on the matter of the Tiburian rapprochement.

When asked, Robert Augustin MC, the Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, stated that the letter just showed to him that even while out of the EDF, "Germania's long shadow extends over Gallia. I have read the text [of the letter] and I wholeheartedly believe that Belmont faces a grave threat from the EDF, which is aiming for revenge against our Kingdom... as we have seen in other Francophone capitals, Nürnberg likes its own authority imposed in all states. For God's sake, they've even run down His Highness [Prince Nicolas]."

Premier Martinique's office responded with calm and issued a diplomatic statement which said, "HM Government is considering its options, Her Excellency Premier Martinique is to meet with His Highness and with opposition leaders and a joint decision shall be made."​

 

[Wieserreich]

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Reichsministerium des Auswärtigen
Imperial Ministry for Foreign Affairs
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"To His Excellency the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belmont to the Empire;

"We regret to see that a confidential letter issued from one Foreign Minister to another has been formally leaked from Her Majesty's Government to the press, by a government official none the less. This is a most serious offence, betraying the very trust we have been able to thus far invest in the face of the Belmontien government.

"Although it was my personal hope that my letter to Mr. Villevan would serve as a beginning to repair the fractured relations of Belmont with its neighbours, it appears this has, instead, been used as an attempt to further distance the country from the Gallian and Germanian countries in general. Whether deliberate or not, it is most alarming this document was leaked by a government official.

"The unfortunate consequences of this are obvious. How can one government trust Her Majesty's government, if confidential material is so easily leaked in public with no regard to bilateral relations, secrecy, or respect? Recently many classified EDF documents Belmont had access to were given to the press, and now a confidential letter from the Imperial Ministry for Foreign Affairs to its Royal Belmontien counterpart has suffered the same fate.

"I wish to clarify the meaning of my letter, as I find it has been misinterpreted by the national media of Belmont. It is not my intention to threaten a traditional friend of His Majesty's Government, but to give a friendly warning. The recent approach taken by Her Majesty's Government is serving to alienate Belmont from every country on its borders, as well as on the borders of the countries it borders. Such alienation, were it to result in isolation, could prove catastrophic as private businesses may lose their faith in the country and seek opportunities elsewhere, or as governments resort to open hostility.

"I am afraid that the recent turn taken by Belmont is, thus far, proving to have become xenophobic and aloof. Arguments such as those shared by radical regimes are beginning to surface from what was previously considered a rational and logical, democratic government. Instead, the foreign policy of Belmont is now all over the place, and the government is under severe influence from the Palace, the opposition, and perhaps sinister entities with malicious intentions as well.

"The European Defence Federation is now being vilified, with no substantial evidence from Belmont's politicians, such as the Rt. Hon. Mr. Augustin, MC. Instead, we see Belmont's government doing everything in its power to distance itself from the rest of Gallia, from the EDF, and perhaps even from Germania in general, alliances aside. There is no sinister desire in my country's intention to mediate talks between the Gallian states, but rather, a genuine desire to maintain peace and stability throughout the Gallian region, in which it has vested great interests.

"Unfortunately, the recent approaches by the Belmontien government and authorities -whether or not this is intentional, it doesn't really matter- serve to only damage other governments' trust and faith in them. Leaking diplomatic documents, openly speaking against countries without regard for bilateral relations, and failing to act as an independently governing party that will be able to function without the influence and pressure of its nationalist opposition, have thus far served to severely damage the reputation of Her Majesty's Government in the eyes of Commons and Peers alike, independent of their affiliation -or lack thereof- to any governing entity.

"Although we still express our hope that relations among the Gallian countries will improve, and that both sides will be able to make the vital diplomatic concessions to achieve a positive state of relations once again, I am also required to notify Her Majesty's Government of His Imperial Majesty's Cabinet of Ministers' great disappointment over the recent happenings. Multiple events and factors have, one by one, began taking their toll on our relations, and though it is my hope that this trend will be discontinued and reversed, I am not very optimistic at present."

Regards,
Heinrich Maximilian Graf von und zu Babelfisch
Imperial Minister for Foreign Affairs

 

[Großlausitz]

Das Auswärtige Amt

His Excellency, the Belmontien Ambassador to the Court of Nürnberg, shall be summoned to explain his government's recent behaviour before the Minister of Foreign Affairs. The release of a confidential letter was uncalled for and does not contribute to Belmont's international credibility.

 

[Serenierre]

LIVE FEED :: Chambre des Communes

The Premier: With permission, Lord Speaker, I would like to make a statement in regards to the current situation in Gallia.
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Lord Speaker: This chamber will hear the statement by the Rt. Hon Premier Shahrazad Martinique.​

The Premier: It is the opinion of this government that the current round of tensions enveloping all the ancient capitals of the Frankish Empire is bringing Belmont nothing apart from the damage to our reputation and standing in the region and in the greater world. This Government, since assuming charge since the 2nd of January this year, has worked hard to to restore the name of Belmont since the fiascos of the Nationaliste Plantard ministry. As we stand today, our foreign policy, crafted by myself and the late Foreign Minister Chauvelin, is in tatters. Lord Speaker, I and my party lay full responsibility upon the conservative sections of our media and politics, who, almost in unison, have worked to counteract any and all policies enacted by our government.

[Interruption]

Lord Speaker: Order. The Rt. Hon. Premier.

The Premier: This was best demonstrated, Lord Speaker, recently when the Opposition launched a campaign against this Government and its policies for economic integration with the EDF. Since Her Majesty's Government and Faithful Opposition agreed to a compromise. We gave in to their demands and they gave into our demands for a new tax scheme and the several other domestic policy bills which have been presented. On the matter, I had hoped that this marked an end to the disputes which plagued the politics of this land. But as the Nationalistes turned the metaphoric gun away from this Government, they turned it towards their other "Great Enemy." The EDF.

Rt. Hon. George Bettancourt: Not true. Completely false.

Lord Speaker: Order.

The Premier: Now I shall not deny our association with the EDF did not turn out as I had expected and do not consider it a bad move to apply for the reinstatement of Belmont's Partnership for Stability membership. And I shall also say that the EDF did not stand by us well enough in face of the embargo, but that is a matter of the past. Though if we get reinstated or not is up to the alliance itself. Regardless we get the change of membership status or our participation ceases, this Chamber must not forget that The Kingdom maintains historic treaties with all three Francophone kingdoms and this Government has no plans of terminating these agreements. I remain committed to work for the maintenance of Francophone unity and friendship.

But, Lord Speaker, I must bring your attention to a fundamental concern of this Government. This round of tensions was brought about by a prominent publication known for its connections with the Nationalistes.

Rt. Hon. George Bettancourt: Nay!

Lord Speaker: Order. Rt. Hon. Premier.

The Premier: His Highness The Prince Regent made his first speech at the Royal Military Academy last week. Quotes from this speech were interwoven with commentary which I consider to be classic examples of conservative fear-mongering and EDF-skepticism. Television channels broadcast the speech live in its entirety and no where apart from the publication in question could the speech be considered sinister in any way possible.

But furthermore, what became highly concerning, Lord Speaker, was the attitude of the Opposition when questioned by members of the international media. The answers were a flashback to the dying days of the Plantard ministry in mid 2009... well what can one expect if the entire Plantard ministry - save the former Premier - constitutes the front bench team of the Opposition.

It is the opinion of my party and myself, that after thirty years in continuous power, the Nationalistes have forgotten that they cannot rule the country while sitting in those seats. The Nationalistes have furthermore caused great harm to the Government's foreign policy and have not acted in their constitutional role. I call upon you, Lord Speaker, to speak to His Highness The Prince Regent on the matter.

Furthermore, I would like to announce that I have asked Foreign Minister Villevan to resign from The Cabinet due to his unsatisfactory performance as Foreign Minister since the death of his predecessor in June.

Now as I finish, I must request the Faithful Opposition and members of the press and media of the land to conduct their business in a matter that does not endanger the Kingdom. It is of vital importance that important institutions such as the Faithful Opposition work all disputes and misunderstandings through this Chamber, as the me and my party did when we sat on those benches.

Rt. Hon. George Bettancourt: Though I respect the views expressed by the Rt. Hon. lady, I must disagree. Her Majesty's Faithful Opposition has not behaved in a way that has endangered the security of our nation, far from it. As admitted by His Highness The Prince Regent... uh, this party has been committed to maintaining the Sovereignty of this nation and keeping all authority within these hallowed halls.

The current round of tensions, Lord Speaker, was not started in Belmont but in fact by Lorrainese media. The Government remains trapped in its attempts to demonize the Opposition, which did lead the Kingdom for thirty years and brought economic prosperity like never before. Lorrainese media turned a perfectly harmless speech by His Highness into a sinister matter and started this entire saga. If anything blame lies with the Lorrainese media.

I must also welcome The Rt. Hon. lady's decision to remove the Rt. Hon Villevan from his post as Foreign Minister.

The Premier: How can the Rt. Hon. sir say that the entire matter is solely the fault of the Lorrainese media when the publication in question is owned by the family of the Shadow Minister of Education? Lord Speaker, the publication only quoted His Highness five times and mentioned the alliance matter only once and that too while talking about the Opposition's role in the entire affair. The insinuation made that His Highness said that Belmontien involvement in the EDF had been a mistake is not correct... I have confirmed it myself in a conversation with His Highness. The publication in question has long been known to have had the blessing of the Nationalistes and during the past thirty years was promoted by our ambassadors in the world as the "the best daily in the Kingdom." One cannot blame the Lorrainese media if they thought that the publication's views are in fact reality. That is the illusion which the Nationaliste governments since 1980 to 2009 have maintained.

Rt. Hon. George Bettancourt: Lord Speaker, I must object to the insinuations the Rt. Hon lady is making against my party. The Rt. Hon. Shadow Minister of Education has confirmed to me that only distant cousins of his run the publication in question and claims that previous governments of this party have promoted it as the best daily are preposterous.

The Premier: There is evidence to the contrary. But the point of matter remains, the Government and the nation on several occasions has been held hostage by the conservative publications, which receive greater attention by the rest of the world due to the policies of the Nationaliste governments of the past thirty years. While I now agree with The Rt. Hon. sir on matter of the associate membership, and do feel that there is no place for Belmont as an active, even, as an associate, member in the EDF. The views on many things are far too complex and different for Paris and Nûrnberg to sit together as alliance members again.

I do not, however, agree with the xenophobic views that the Nationalistes current leadership is holding in regards to the other Francophone states. I also do not agree with the practice of the Opposition to use its well established media links to issue statements which may be construed as official government policy.

Rt. Hon. George Bettancourt: The Rt. Hon. lady's assertion that the Opposition acts like the government and issues "official statements" is wrong. Furthermore, I and my party members are committed to fulfilling the role of Faithful Opposition.. it is our responsibility to the nation. I also disagree with the claim that my party has xenophobic views. We have raised valid concerns... if these concerns offend those in Nürnberg, but are in the interest of the nation... I shall always put domestic well being over foreign objectives. Furthermore, I must clear a misunderstanding, I and my party do not have an anti-alliance stand... we disagree with the practices and conventions of EDF members... it is our purpose and aim to retain the power and influence of this House, rather than denude it of many of its powers. If another alliance was in play... such as AGE, an alliance whose membership the Nationaliste government pursued, we would not object.

Lord Speaker: The session is over but taking into account the view from both sides, I have decided to take this matter up with His Highness and discuss the situation in detail with both leaders in my study.
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[Serenierre]

LE VOIX DE ÉGALITÉ :: The trusted news source for unbiased news

SHOWDOWN IN PARLIAMENT

Yesterday's massive showdown between the two parliamentary leaders has shaken Belmontien politics. What liberal media had been saying for months was finally uttered by the Premier in the Parliament and brought to international awareness the Opposition's attempts to use the conservative elements of the Belmontien media, which gets more promotion internationally, to broadcast views which were in direct contradiction of the official policy. The Government has asked the Lord Speaker to take the matter up with His Highness The Prince Regent.

The revelation comes at a time when the Nationaliste leadership is facing growing opposition from within its own ranks and George Bettancourt has been facing threats of an imminent challenge for the leadership of the party. Though celebrating their recent victory over the government in the EDF matter, the Nationalistes have alienated their traditional voter support base in Visidame, who have suffered economically due to the tensions the party's views has created between Belmont and Lorraine and Marquette.

The Nationaliste headquarters of, last night, were the scene of an emergency meeting between the senior leadership of the party and sources close to senior members have confirmed that the party leadership is faced by a strong possibility of a backbencher coup. The Nationaliste leaders remained in their HQ till 3 am.

The Libéralistes have undoubtedly delivered a blow to opposition, which in the past two and a half months had launched a vicious attack on them and the Government. Last night's sleep must have been a good one for Premier Martinique for some time.

:!: NATIONALISTE BACKBENCHERS SHOCKED BY CLAIMS MADE AGAINST LEADERSHIP
:!: PREMIER, MR. BETTANCOURT MEET WITH LORD SPEAKER, DISCUSS ALLEGATIONS IN DETAIL
:!: CONSTITUTIONAL ANALYSTS STATE MR. BETTANCOURT MUST RESIGN FROM LEADERSHIP OF PARTY
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[Serenierre]

L'International | Edition Anglais

PARIS - MARDI. 5. OCTOBRE. 2010.

Premier appoints Alexandre Renaudière as Foreign Minister, as Villevan forced to resign
Premier Martinique's office has recently confirmed that the Premier has received Mr. Villevan's resignation and has appointed Alexandre Renaudière as her government's foreign minister. He is the Premier's third foreign minister since assuming power earlier this year. Since the death of Jean Claude Chauvelin in June, the Government has been beset with problems in foreign policy. It is hoped that Mr. Renaudière, who has experience in foreign politics thanks to his decade long stint at the Council of Nations, will bring the Government's woes on foreign policy to an end.

Nationalistes Party Leadership announces it will not cooperate with Govt. in domestic agenda
The Nationaliste leadership has announced that it was pulling it support out of government policy proposals due to the recent allegations placed against the party by the Premier. It is said this is an attempt by the Nationaliste leadership to restore order within party ranks. But rumors are circulating that the Nationaliste leadership will face a widespread opposition from back benchers.

Foreign Minister Renaudière to speak with foreign media at first press conference
The newly appointed Foreign Minister has informed the Parliament in his first speech in the role that he hoped to speak with foreign media* and aimed to form a cohesive foreign policy. The Parliament was devoid of any Opposition MPs, all of whom have once again busied themselves with internal disputes.

L'International® Nouvelles en Anglais - Now available across Europe

* -PM me with question, I'll reply IC and you may use the response in the news. This should be of interest to the Gallian and EDF states.
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[Serenierre]

LE VOIX DE ÉGALITÉ :: The trusted news source for unbiased news

NATIONALISTE LEADERSHIP ENTERS DANGEROUS TERRITORY

The past few months have been horrible for the governing Libéraliste coalition, having taken a battering in polls, due to the EDF Associate Membership, with the Nationalistes leading the charge against them. The situation, this week, seems to have reversed with the Nationalistes facing deep internal rifts due to a lack of confidence in their leadership after it behaved, according to the Premier, "in a way which threatened national security." Furthermore, the backbencher members are not happy with their leadership's decision to back track on promises to the Libéralistes, which resulted in the Government pulling out of the EDF Associate membership.

There are rumors floating around that backbenchers have set in motion a coup against the party leader, George Bettancourt, and with such rumors there is panic in the front bench of the party, already it has been revealed that junior members of the Shadow Cabinet are resigning from their seats, to do as much damage control as possible. Sources close to the Shadow Minister of Foreign Affairs, Robert Agustin, have confirmed to us that seven junior members of the shadow cabinet have resigned with another six having submitted their resignation.

George Bettancourt and others haven't responded to our calls and it is thought that the higher echelons of the party are desperate to avert the coming coup.​