NationStates Jolt Archive

Republican News Network

Breaking news is now coming in from one of the longest sessions of Parliament ever to occur in the Republic's history. We take you now to Bob Farmer just outside the Parliament Building:

'Thank you. The longest-ever session of Parliament has just been concluded, and the MP's are now coming out of the session. As you know, the debate over the Hogsweatian embargo of Farmina has been raging for several days now as, two days ago, President Martin called for a vote to be passed to sanction a Republican Embargo of Farmina.

The debate raged on, as President Martin made an impassioned speech to the two Houses, urging the representatives to support the Hogsweatian government as the Republic's closest and most valued ally. However, shouts of 'Shame', and 'Lackey' were heard during the speech, and several opposition MP's were thrown out after calling the President a 'Hogsweatian Puppet'.

Eventually, it appears a compromise has been made between the Houses and the President. Since the Republic has very little trade with Farmina, this trade will be shut down and all Farmina trade cut off with the Republic. The President will also make a speech supporting the Hogsweatian actions in Parliament today.
However, sources who wished to remain anonymous tell this agency that further and more direct action, including a full blockade of Farmina and possible action against Farminan citizens in the Republic, was thrown out by the Houses when Dumpsterdam government came out and supported Farmina. The Republic does not wish to antagonise Dumpsterdam at this time, especially with negotiations in Harlack reaching a critical point.'

Republican News Network

The Republican News Network Symbol came on screen, to quickly fade out and be replaced by the sombre face of the network's most famous broadcaster. Frowning, he began to read from the Teleprompter:

'We interrupt your regularly scheduled programming to bring you this important news flash. Mere hours after one of the longest Parliament sessions ever recorded in the history of the Republic, the Leader of the Opposition, Charles Ico , head of the Republican Socialist Confederation, has resigned from his post as head of the Opposition. As he left the Parliament Building, Mr Ico said nothing to the reporters gathered outside except to express his “Irreconcilable differences with President Martin over the Farminan Embargo”, and went on to insinuate that President Martin was attempting to “Strong-arm the opposition into following his course of action and supporting the Embargo by threatening to dissolve Parliament and declare Martial Law”.

Just this past hour, President Martin released the following statement personally from the Grey House Lawn:

“My fellow citizens, this may well be an extremely trying time for the democractic process of this great Republic. I have been informed of the resignation of Mr Ico as head of the political Opposition Party, and I am of course saddened by the loss of such a dedicated opponent as Mr Ico. However, I refute with the strongest possible way Mr Ico's allegations about this government and its actions in supporting the Hogsweatian government over the blockade and Embargo of Farmina. This government is a truly democratic one, and does not, and never will, attempt to bully or oppress its political opponents into following this government's plans and policies, even if said policies are made in the best interests of this nation.

Thank-You, and God Bless this Republic”

We must warn the Skinny87 Government to stay outside this conflict, otherwise unfortunate events might happen to take place within your nation.

We also suggust Mr. Ico, stops his pathetic protests and gives the much more respectable President Martin some credit.

-Random Guilder Bureaucrat

Republican News Network

The Republican News Network Symbol came on screen, to quickly fade out and be replaced by the sombre face of the network's most famous broadcaster. Not even attempting to smile, he began:

“The political crisis that began yesterday over the blockade and Embargo of Farmina and the support of the Hogsweatian government has begun to rapidly spiral out of control. With the resignation of the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Charles Ico over the controversial debate still raging in the Houses of Parliament, and the President issuing a critical statement defending his actions, events seem to have surpassed such a controversial but small issue.

The former leader of the Opposition, Charles Ico, is about to release another statement to the public over the matter. We now take you to Bob Farmer at the scene:

*The screen moves to the reporter standing just outside the Parliament Building. Around the building is clustered a huge crowd stretching past the screen and literally numbering tens of thousands of citizens. On the steps of the building is Charles Ico, at a podium, surrounded by aides. He then begins his speech*:

“People of the Republic, honest comrades, listen to me now. The government has become corrupt and far too powerful. It is even now trying to involve this sacred Republic in an Embargo of a country that very few of you will know of, and will ever know of. This Embargo is such an imflammatory event that there is little doubt that if this Republic supports it, it will surely go to war. As such, I am here to announce my intention to call for an election to run this corrupt and powe...”

*At this moment, a shout of “Long live President Martin” is heard, several shots echo around the area, and Ico collapses over the podium, his chest a scarlet mass. A man begins to run through the crowd wielding a small pistol, but is pushed to the ground by a stunned but quickly-recovering mob. Ico's security guards then haul the man off through the crowd, and the camera turns quickly to Bob Farmer*

“My god, my god...Ladies and Gentlemen, I think we have just witnessed the first ever political assassination in the history of this Republic. I can see Mr Ico...Paramedic's are standing over him...They're giving him the kiss of life..No, They're standing back. He's dead. Charles Ico is dead.”

Our official reaction to this assassination is joy at the timely death of such a Pagan and Heretic. We are informed by his grace, Cardinal Delange that the Monastic Orders and Chantries will pray for him being left to burn in the flames of hell for his greatly Satanic actions in this temporal world.

We hope the rest of the Skinny87 unbelievers now see the error of their ways and save their own souls.

-Random Guilder Bureaucrat

Republican News Network

The normal news logo came onto television screens all across the nation, but this time set against the backdrop of thousands rioting through the streets of Dowland City. The reporter, still looking as fresh as ever, began to tell the nation the latest news from the country:

“This just in. As the death of the respected and honourable former leader of the Political Opposition, Mr Charles Ico, reverberates around the nation, the feeling of shock at his death has finally begun to give way to anger and mass rioting all across the nation, centered within Dowland City itself. The assassin, believed to have been a close but radical supporter of the government, was captured by Mr Ico's security guards and handed over to the authorities, where he was interrogated. However, a mob of angry supporters of Mr Ico broke into the police station where the assassin was being held. Several shots were fired into the crowd by armed officers and several were killed, but the assassin was dragged outside and lynched from a nearby lamp-post by the ever-growing crowd.
Armed police officers arriving at the scene ordered the crowd to disperse, but were ignored and were actually assaulted by the crowd. The officers opened fire, killing dozens before they themselves were killed by the mob.

Martial Law has now been declared within the Republic by President Martin, who is said to be “Deeply angered by this lack of public restraint”. Rioting has spread across the nation as tens of thousands take to the streets to fight with National Guard Units that are being activated throughout the nation. We advise all our viewers to stay indoors and await further instructions...”

The Grey House, Dowland City

President Martin watched from the window of his office at the back of the Grey House; the crowd of protesters that had gathered outside the flimsy fences of the Grey House seemed to have grown everytime he looked at it. He looked down into a sea of chanting, sign-wielding protesters who had encircled the entire building; only a thin-line of National Guardsmen, Police-Officers and Secret Service Agents kept the protesters from storming the building, though so far they had not given any real signs of violence.
He sighed deeply and ran his hand across his face, rubbing at eyes that were blood-shot from a lack of sleep. He still could not understand how this had happened in this country. He expected such things from the larger and more corrupt and tyrannical countries that dominated the international community, but not in the Republic. This was a democratic country, and there should have been no need for such demonstrations against his government. Still, it had happened, and it was all that damned radical Ico's fault. Then, of course, things had gone from bad to worse with his assassination.
Martin swore briefly at that, which made him feel a little better, but only a little. The assassination had made an unstable situation go from bad to insane in a second. He could have dealt with Ico, given him an Ambassadorship, kept him quiet. But no, he'd had to go and get himself killed, quite possibly dragging the government down and into an awful civil war.
Now, of course, he had to deal with the new Leader of the Opposition, Craig Lockhart, who was growing in power every moment, and looked likely to try and overthrow the government if his demands were not met. A knock at the door to the Oval Office made him turn around and straighten his suit. Lockhart was ushered through the door rather unceremoniously, and he glared at the Secret Service Agent escorting him. The Agent withdrew and left the two men where they stood.
Lockhart straightened to his full six feet three inches and smoothed his oily black hair. He was wearing a black, two-piece suit with dark brown suede shoes, and a pair of long glossy dark gloves, which he proceeded to slowly take off, throwing them on the floor in contempt.
Martin glared at the man, and tried to restrain himself by remembering what he knew of the man. Lockhart was a full-blown Anarchist, an extremely dangerous man who had come to the top of the Republican Anarchist Party through various shady means, including several murders that he was suspected of, but which could not be proven. His policies were amazingly simple, yet devastating. The removal of all forms of government, to be replaced with nothing. Absolutely nothing. He had demanded that the military be dismantled, and all troops withdrawn from all countries they presently occupied and dismissed from the service, without pay. All businesses were to be shut down; the economy would be permanently ruined. Finally, he advocated the liquidation of all political parties, including the Right-Wing and the Left-Wing. Of course, none of this was made public; to the public he was simply a concerned politician who had won them over with promises of reforms and “A brighter, better future”.
Lockhart sneered at Martin. 'So, Mr President. You appear to be out of options. Either acquiesce to my demands, or hold an election and see yourself get voted out of office.' He sneered again, the sneer of man who believed himself to have won anyway. 'What will it be, Mister President? An election, or your withdrawal'?