National Affairs

[Louis]

Since the Mid-term elections. President Laurens Demokratische Bewegung Partei had swept the Nationalversammlung. Obtaining 340 seats, the DBP has been able to continue its risky policies. Although losing the Senat to the Konservative Partei, the power of Government rests mainly in the hands of the Nationalversammlung. The Congress of Laurentia's Parliment reconvened after their summer holiday to address the staggering economic downfall. As the economy slowly moves forward. Laurentian Parliamentarians have been fighting as the opposition of fellow left groups pulls the Labor bill into a second debate. Korczak

Prime Minister Korczak and the DBP are in a tough battle to get the labor bill in. However, they are also pushing forth the extension of the Laurentian mission in Flanders where 20,000 troops remain present in the slowly moving Flanders Peace Process. Ever since the death of Prime Minister Edwards in 1943, the Republic had been in a continuous state of war. In 1992 the FRA (Flemish Republican Army) officially signed a peace deal with Laurentia, Flanders, and the Coalition. The FRA decommissioned its army, turned in its weapons, and relinquished violence. Since the signing of the treaty, FRA cells have attacked Coalition peacekeeping force over 20 times since 1992. The FRA leadership continues to denounce the attacks and calls upon all its supports to move towards peace. In July 2018, the Laurentian Forces and Coalition troops were set to withdraw and the DBP had promised to withdraw 15,000 troops from Flanders by mid-August 2017. However, the Prime Minister has continued a push to keep the active Laurentian force in place as Coalition troops slowly begin their process of withdrawal. 

"To withdraw now would allow lone FRA cells to attack the weak and unstable Flemish Government. We must ensure that the first phase of Coalition Troops withdraw in fashionable order before the second phase can withdraw. Make no mistake, we will withdraw from Flanders and we will bring back our troops. However, to pull the biggest bulk of Coalition troops would leave the remaining 7,000 coalition forces unable to continue its oversight and training operations. That the 3,000 lives lost in this 6-decade conflict would once again call upon the further sacrifice of Coalition troops to help our brothers in Flanders." 

The DBP has already faced sharp criticism for its continued operations in both Flanders and Southern Highlands where The Highland Coalition has continued its fight against a rising cultist insurgency for almost 3-decades. Defense Minister von Jæger was to meet King Scalia before Deputy Minister Klare Unders met with the King to discuss the Coalitions future in his country. 

The ruling DBP has faced feirce opposition in its key legislature, but with control of the Nationalversammlung it has been able to barley push forth. In the mid-terms, the faltering Moderne  Demokraten were defeated by the conservatives, allowing them to become the majority in the Senat. In the Nationalversammlung, The Demokraten Coalition has put the total number at 416. 

Queen Jean-Marie also named Prince Henry heir to the throne. The Prince, 24 years-old is a commissioned officer of the Royal Armed Forces. He is the daughter of Queen Jean-Marie sister, Princess Marïe. The Queen inherited the throne after her uncle King Caspar abdicated the throne at age 94 in 2015. Since her corrination the Queen had supported the ruling DBP in running it's operations and vocally supporting key legisulautre such as the Defense Spending Increase and the Flanders Extension Mission. Queen Jean-Marie age 56 is also rumored to abidcate in 2018 to allow Prince Caspar to rule. Although the Royal Family denied such rumours, the Queen openly said that "The Prince is quite capable of being the King. He has shown exptioaly leadership skills and a passion to keep honor in the Royal Family".

In Foreign Affairs, Laurentia has named Michelle Hanson Ambassador to Akaata and Henry Hammer Ambassador to Britannia. President Laurens is set to return to Montréal on Wednesday but will stop in Hungadada to visit the Emperor and also discuss inter-European relations