NEW WESTERN ATLANTIC - The challenge to the controversial "Political Deceit Act", or L.R. 61, has been denied in a marginal 3-2 decision. The bill prevents elected or appointed government officials the ability to swap their political affiliation after having assumed office; it's possible that Thornian's successful reelection played a role in this legislation. He was elected as a Constructivist and within days of winning he decided to change his party to the Activists before his second term even began. He has since resigned following the controversy surrounding the embassy with Gay, but it shed light on a loophole that some people believe should be closed.
L.R. 61 led to a debate in the senate after it was proposed, but ultimately it passed with eleven senators voting in favor while six voted against. A party-by-party vote breakdown is shown below. Political Deceit Act (PDA) L.R. 061 - PASSED Activist caucus: 5 ayes, 1 nay, 1 abstain Constructive caucus: 4 ayes, 1 nay Liberal Democrat caucus: 1 aye, 3 nays Other(s): 1 aye, 1 nay, 1 abstain Total: 11 ayes, 6 nays, 3 abstains Associate Justice Dertas gave the High Court's majority opinion, with Associate Justices Engium and Sozland concurring. His explanation was "The government isn't impeding your right to align with a party, the law just states that if you change parties while in office you must either abdicate or stand for election." Chief Justice Kyro and Associate Justice Katarial comprised the dissenters.
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NEW WESTERN ATLANTIC - Leader of the Liberal Democratic senate caucus, Bergonnia, has axed the coalition between his party and the Activists. This comes after Communications Minister Silver Eagles sent a regionwide telegram that contained evident partisanship by targeting the Liberal Democratic party and condemned Thornian along with two others by name; understandably, the Liberal Democrats went to the message board to voice their opposition to the new Communications Minister. Several Activists and Constructivists also lined up to oppose the Minister's actions; most notably Nydaymos and Calponia. Activist Senator Nydaymos later motioned to remove Engium from the High Court due to his decision to reject hearing two of the four lodged cases against Silver Eagles, claiming he did not have the ability to assume the position of interim Chief Justice. Engium responded to Nydaymos by explaining that he is the senior-most sitting Associate Justice on the High Court, and that it is justified for him to temporarily assume the position as the head of the Judiciary. Bergonnia and Nydaymos refused to concede however as they went through with proposing the expulsion of Engium from the High Court; this has essentially pitted the Senate and the Judiciary against each other. Leader of the Liberal Democrats senate caucus, Bergonnia, made a public post criticizing the Activists for their apparent lack of action and underwhelming condemnation against Silver Eagle's telegram. Activist Chairman Hevern gave a searing response to Bergonnia's announcement stating "Deputy Chairman Bergonnia seems to lack the ability to read, if he'd look in the High Court then he'd see that the Activist-controlled Justice Ministry was prosecuting the Communication Minister's telegram." |
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February 2019
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