Geneva, Alexandria; ABCC News – The Foreign Department today issued a statement in regards to the current developments in regards to the on going crisis in Holzborg, a nation which democratically chose to join Alexandria. The statement, while brief, made it clear that Alexandria aims to “do whatever it takes to rightfully take full control of the former Empire of Holzborg.” It has been shared with the Genevan Arrow by inside sources in the Foreign Ministry that efforts have been made to contact the Prince of Lüdenberg to reach a possible agreement, but efforts have been met with silence from the Prince.

Geneva, Alexandria; ABCC News – Polls opened earlier today for the second election for the newly created executive position of First Consul of the Empire. The election aims to replace retiring incumbent Jose Frias, who won last election through the Electoral College vote count despite losing the popular vote. The election currently has Jean Carmicheal, leader of the Amelioration Party; Juan Ciervo, leader of the Conservative Party; and independent Frederique Lacoste.

With a three way race and a lower than expected census count, it is hard to predict who will be the clear winner. Last parliamentary election, the Conservatives made considerable gains in Parliament, with the Progressives losing a seat and the Amelioration Party losing a seat as well. Polls close on Wednesday.

Geneva, Alexandria; Genevan Arrow – The race for First Consul has now consolidated into a three-way race between Conservative Speaker Juan Ciervo, AAP Leader Jean Carmicheal, and Independent Member of Parliament Frédérique Lacoste. With the electoral calendar appropriately amended to allow for campaigning during this holiday season, Speaker Ciervo and Carmicheal have respectively kicked off their campaigns in familiar territory that serves the backbone of their electoral constituencies. Yesterday, Jean Carmicheal set off his campaign in the AAP stronghold of Valenciennes, while Ciervo kicked off his campaign in Conservative Rio Grande (home to retiring Conservative incumbent Jose Frias) five days earlier. Lacoste has yet to initiate campaigning, remaining quiet so far.

Both leading candidates are attempting to establish clear plans to address the current activity crisis besieging Alexandria, which brought a snap parliamentary election that begins tomorrow. In his campaign kick-off speech in Rio Grande, Ciervo outlined a specific multi-phased plan to establish an economy and introduce a campaign finance element to spur economic activity by harnessing politics. He also spoke about establishing posting requirements for government officials to help the nation come out of its inactivity. “By requiring a weekly minimum posting, Alexandria will be able to combat the plague of inactivity and begin to function once more. To do my part in this fight, I pledge to post no less than 15 times a week,” said Ciervo. Carmicheal, several days later, commended Ciervo in his election opening speech, but called his economic proposal “defunct” and proceeded to explain his own economic proposal. Carmicheal’s proposal included the creation of a central bank and a national stock exchange to be placed under the control of the Office of Simulation and Government Accountability. Carmicheal also addressed provincial matters, by advocating for the creation of a French Sector Parliament, and encouraging the development of culture in the nation. Both candidates focused on their desire to work across party lines to get things done, which is an about face after the Frias Government, which was often confrontational in Parliament.

Sources state that a debate between all three candidates might come as early as next week. The debate will be carried over three days, with each day devoted to one set of issues such as the economy, activity, and a day in which a different range of issues will be discussed. Alexandrian participation in the developing CENTMO mapping organization is “sure to make it into the final day in at least a question or two,” stated an ABCC source speaking in anonymity. Inside sources have confirmed that both Ciervo and Carmicheal have confirmed their attendance. Lacoste has not replied to the offer as of yet.

Geneva, Alexandria; Genevan Arrow - Following the issuing of the writ of election for First Consul, the Emperor proceeded to dissolve the 13th Imperial Parliament and call for new elections, quoting the national activity crisis as a reason to dissolve the body. With the nation in a state of emergency, His Imperial Majesty now rules by decree, enabling him to enact the beginning of a national reform program that has profoundly changed the organization of the Government.

In coordination and consultation with First Consul Jose Frias and Speaker of Parliament Juan Ciervo, the National Government Reform Program decree that was promulgated today, in what is expected to be part of a large series of decrees that will reform the nation’s government, suppressed all Ministries as well as the state-run Catholic Church and the University of Geneva. The suppressed Ministries were replaced by two super Ministries: the Ministry of State, which is in charge of the duties of both the former Interior and Foreign Ministries, and the Ministry of War. An Office of Simulation and Government Accountability was created as well as an independent agency of the Government. The Council of State was also dissolved, as well as the defunct National Meritocratic System.

It has been confided from secret sources to the Genevan Arrow that a large program of reforms is still in the works; including a possible reorganization of the provinces and territories and a large forum reorganization effort. A possible rewrite of the nation’s law code and the Rules of Order of Parliament was also mentioned.

Geneva, Alexandria; ABCC News - With the First Consul elections underway and three days until nomination period ends, it seems that the race to succeed Conservative Jose Frias, who is retiring from micronations after his term is over, will be a battle within the Alexandrian left.

Alexandrian Amelioration Party (AAP) leader MP Jean Carmicheal and MP Frederique Lacoste, Independent/Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) are facing off in what will be the second election for the new position of First Consul. So far, the Alexandrian Conservative Party has failed to field a candidate in what is a particularly demoralizing moment for the party due to the retirement of Jose Frias. Nominations close on Tuesday the 9th of December.

Geneva, Alexandria; Genevan Arrow - The Foreign Office issued a statement today condemning the Ocian invasion of Mulgaria, called Operation Echo. The statement issued a stern warning to the Ocian Federation, establishing that Alexandria would be “more than ready to adequately respond to the situation should the Ocian Federation not explain itself and their intentions.” The Ministry of Defense issued orders to place the Alexandrian military on high alert, and deployed the Overseas Defense Corps to set up positions along Mulgaria. Navy vessels as well as air units were also deployed to Galatia.

The Ocian Federation launched what the Alexandrian Government today called an “illegal” invasion and seizure of territory on October 4th. The Ocian Federation says that the Government of Mulgaria requested the invasion “due to its crumbling Military and Police Force Command”.

Geneva, Alexandria; ABCC NEWS - The polls opened earlier today in Alexandria’s first parliamentary elections under the National Electoral Reform and Activity Stimulus Act, which amended the Constitution to incorporate the Leclerc Parliamentary Formula and proportional representation, as well as the use of party lists. The previous method was one member per constituency.

The Alexandrian Amelioration Party (AAP) was the first to begin discussing what they hoped to do through the publishing of the Free Press, an internal AAP newspaper which included an interview with Jean Carmicheal, leader of the AAP. Carmicheal stated a commitment to “keep our civil liberties strong and actually strenghtening them.” He also mentioned that the AAP hopes to work on the justice system by simplifying it and that economy “does not leave anyone behind”.

The Alexandrian Conservative Party (ACP) followed by presenting a simple five point legislative agenda titled “Continuing Reforms, Continuing Progess”. The platform ensure that the ACP would continue to fullfill the promises made by First Consul Jose Ciervo in the First Consul election, as well as codifying and revising Alexandrian law, create a National Defense Council and reorganizing the executive branch of the Government.

The election also sees the revival of the former People’s Democratic Party, renamed as the Progressive Democratic Party, under the leadership of Deputy First Consul Valeria Gonzales. She has launched a town hall meeting in her native Santander in which she released her party’s manifesto. Miss Gonzales managed to recruit current MP Frederique Lacoste as well as long-time liberal critic Sebastien Alexandre.

This election also sees a continuation of a strong tradition in Alexandria of independent candidates, with Chris Collins standing as an independent candidate. As of yet, Mr. Collins has not released a list of goals or political positions.

According to current electoral law, there are 10 seats in play for the upcoming 13th Imperial Parliament.

Geneva, Alexandria; ABCC News - With a now stronger naval force blockading the entrance to the Bay of Lachton in Southern Horshaw, the Empire of the Alexandrians announced earlier this week that they were ” ready to go to war to prevent this annexation” following a vote by the Katyushan Government to formalize the annexation. The Alexandrian Government has yet to make an official statement of the situation, as most citizens are currently distracted with the parliamentary elections currently underway.

Etampes D’Aleux, Devonia; ABCC News - The Alexandrian Ministry of Defense announced today that it was deploying a carrier battle group and a submarine battle group to the Bay of Lachton, to blockade the formerly Novatanian Hoshaw region prior to its formal cession to the Katyushan Federation.

The Government has yet to comment on what are its intentions, but one thing is clear - the Alexandrian Government’s efforts to block the cession of the Horshaw region to Katyusha, following their objection to the claim earlier this week, has now taken a more serious tone.

Geneva, Alexandria; ABCC News - In what has become one of the most important diplomatic agreements in recent memory within Cibola, the Imperial State of Germania and the Empire of the Alexandrians just signed the Wesloderia Agreement, averting a crisis over the restoration of former Germanian territory that could have engulfed Cibola in war.

After several months of on and off negotiations between Germania and Alexandria, representatives of both nations met in the Palace of Wesloderia’s Hall of Mirrors to work on a draft in which Germania would recieve part of their former territory from Alexandria. In exchange, Alexandria submitted a list of concessions to obtain from Germania including a military alliance, a non-agression pact, a free trade agreement and the recognition of the Alexandrian minorities in the territory ceded to Germania, among other things.

The signed treaty will now go to the respective legislative bodies of Alexandria and Germania. It is expected that the Frias Administration will vouch strongly for the agreement in Parliament, and rally their precarious majority to ratify the Treaty. The secretive Germanian Senate might be a bit harder to predict, as they do not allow foreign media to sit in their proceedings.

This agreement ends the years of animosity between the leadership of Alexandria and Germania, which was passed down by the notorious San Martin-Germanian rivalry. Germania disbanded before the demise and absorption of San Martin by Alexandria, however.