SAIDERCRAY APPLIES FOR UN MEMBERSHIP

A majority of 58% in a plebiscite has made Saidercray apply for UN membership. President Ian Woshkal, at all times a confessing opponent of a Saidercrayan UN membership, addressed Saidercray's official application to the United Nations. People expect that the UN will grant the application.
The plebiscite is very surprising if you remember that it is Ian Woshkal who has been attested in his office only three weeks ago. But at the same time, the PPJ has lost three percent in the national election, whereas the pro-UN SPS has won four percent. Has the UN question played a decisive role for the election and has it made the two ruling parties come that close together (PPJ 27%, SPS 25%) after nine percent had been between them in 2005 (PPJ 30%, SPS 21%)? The recent events give a clear answer: yes.
Saidercray Today has interrogated the initiators of the plebiscite, the "S.UN.shine Initiative for a Saidercrayan UN Membership". Asked for the motives to start the initiaitve, they answered that Saidercray couldn't exclude itself from global policy any more. After the nation had successfully gained a foothold in its new region, the time had come to go a step further.
The government's reactions were non-uniform. The SPS welcomed the unexpected chance to drive on the democratic world revolution and the decline of the significance of the nation concept. The PPJ, on the other side, fears that their dream of transforming a very independent and self-sufficient Saidercray into a model for a society far away from capitalism and violence will be endangered by the duty to realize every passed resolution, also those who support consumerist or violent ideas. But even amongst the PPJ, there are some who are attracted by the idea of possible anti-consumerist or non-violent resolutions that would then become valid also for consumerist, violent states. "On the long run, our ideals can only win if they are right", says for example Dawsingham's PPJ mayor John Shacker.

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SAIDERCRAY PREPARES FOR NINETIETH BIRTHDAY

In these days, Saidercray is a busy land. Two days seperate the country from the national holiday, the Republic Day, which reminds the people of the union of Saider and Cray on August 26, 1916. 1916? Yes, and so this historic event, the birth of the united and democratic Saidercray, will be ninety years ago on august 26 of this year.
Houses and streets all over the country are already adorned with Saidercray's old and new flag, television transmitters show above-averagely many documentations and movies about Saidercray's history, and the nearer the great day has come, the stronger becomes the people's patriotism, though it will reach ordinary levels soonly afterwards. But now, Saidercray is a whole sea of white, black, blue.
The ninetieth Republic Day will be a day to look back at Saidercray's past, but it will also be a day to look at Saidercray's future. Traditionally, the President's speech of the day which he will hold at 10.00 o'clock, will tell the people a lot about the government's plans for the legislative term which has recently begun, and Saidercray Today will report about it. But Woshkal's speech isn't the only highlight of the day - political meeting are planned for many cities and towns, just as performances of Henry Nesswick's play "The storks of Saidercray". Ten Saidercrayans who have been born on August 26, 1916, and who are still alive will become distinguished with the "Stork of Saidercray for extraordinary earnings, bronze, minor class" (the lowest national decoration). In the evening, when all celebrations are over, the match FC Dawsingham United - Telychester Wanderers will open the new season of the First National Soccer League. Afterwards, great fireworks will end the Republic Day and say good-bye to the spectacles and the wave of patriotism - good-bye, and see you again.

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FOREIGN MINISTER OF GNEJS WILL VISIT SAIDERCRAY

The Foreign Minister of Gnejs, Mr. Nicholas Winborg, has admitted an invitation of President Woshkal and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wathers to visit Saidercray during his tour across the region. The exact circumstances of Mr. Winborg's visit haven't been made known yet, so that it is still unclear when he will meet whom in which city.
Mrs. Wathers showed up as looking forward to the minister's visit. "This is a very good chance to improve our relationships with Gnejs. I'm sure that the Foreign Minister and we will carry on a prolific conversation."
Mr. Winborg will be the first representative of a foreign government ever to visit Saidercray since the country's accession to the IDU. Prominent politicians of the opposition critisized that the government has motivated the accession with the necessity of dialogues, yet neither President Woshkal nor Minister Wathers nor any other member of the government has visited another country of the IDU.
Gnejs is located in the east of the IDU. It is lead by Ingra Karlberg of the Gnejs Green Party. Only a few weeks ago, Gnejs tried to become the region's UN delegate, but was defeated by Malabra. The UN currently attaches the country to the UN category "Democratic Socialists". In opposition to Saidercray, Gnejs is a member of the UN. The country is well known for its pretty environment.

Information about Mr. Winborg's visit will be published at Saidercray Today and at The Gnejs Enquirer which has recently gone online: www.the-gnejs-enquirer.blogspot.com .

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JANET FINNIGAN WANTS TO LEAD THE VCA BACK TO ITS OLD POWER

Janet Finnigan is the new leader of the conservatives and succeeds to Charles Ellows. Ellows has retired from the VCA's leadership after the party had only got 16 percent in the election of August the 5th - 6 percent less than in 2005's election and even one percent less than the LUSC.
Finnigan prevailed against Arthur Thompson who replaces her as vice-leader of the VCA. 53.2 percent of the members' votes fell to Finnigan's share.

Janet Finnigan, 52 years old, is the daughter of Geoffrey Finnigan, Saidercray's conservative Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1989 to 1991, and his wife Linda, a tax consultant. Finnigan wants to lead the VCA back to its old power and issued the aim of 23 percent plus x in 2008. To reach this aim, she intends to modernize the VCA's profile without abandoning typical focal points. "A fundamental discussion about what we are and what the terms 'virtuous' and 'conservative' imply nowadays is necessary. We have to deal with a reality in which many of the people no longer identify with what we have been once. The VCA cannot join every blunder of the modern age, yet it cannot ignore the people of the modern age and become an ivory tower-party without any contact to the world around it."

Finnigan's charges run into different echos. Whereas many members see a modernization as inevitable, others fear that the VCA will lose its identity so that the people won't really know what the party stands for. At all events, the conservatives are entering a decisive point of their history: If they succeed in making themselves attractive to today's voting population, there will be conservative ministers sooner or later. If not, the election of 2006 may become the beginning of the downfall for the proud party of Saidercray's first president.

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NEW GOVERNMENT AND NEW FLAG INAUGURATED

Saidercray has a new flag and a new government. The flag which you can see on the left is designed by a Stolidian artist. It has replaced the old flag due to a plebiscite at the beginning of this month (Saidercray Today reported) and was hoisted for the first time at 10.00 o'clock, at the beginning of the new legislative period's first parliamentary session.

Subsequently, the Members of Parliament elected Saidercray's new government that is going to rule the country for the next year.

Our old and new President is Ian Woshkal. The 53 year-old leader of the PPJ begins his third and therefore definitely last term of office. In opposition to the ministers, Woshkal hasn't been elected by the representatives but has become president due to his victory in the presidential election on August the 5th.

As it had been expected, Harry Old, the SPS's former candidate for presidency, has been elected as new Vice President. Old had been defeated very barely by Woshkal and is Saidercray's first black vice president.

On her 58th birthday, Angela Fintosthane, leader of the SPS since 2001, has been re-elected as Minister of Domestic Affairs. Also Melanie Wathers, PPJ, retains her office and is to be Minister of Foreign Affairs once again. Finally, also Frank Polernd (SPS) stays where he has been and continues his work as Minister of Science and Research.

All other ministries are lead by new politicians, some of them already members of 2005/06's cabinet, some of them without experience as ministers. Michael Henzoc (SPS) leaves the Ministry of Finance and replaces Harry Old as Minister for Defence. The PPJ's Takeru Yamaguchi, hitherto our Minister of Education and Families, will be responsible for our economy as Minister of Economy and Infrastructure. John Donald Icclat, also a member of the PPJ, who filled this office in the last legislative term, becomes Minister of Environment.
The new Minister for Education and Families is Charlotte Kilph (SPS), who has already held this office for one week after the birth of Yamaguchi's third child (Saidercray Today reported). Catherine O'Conor, (PPJ), the new Minister of Finance, has also been Vice Minister at ministry she leads now, but never had to substitute for her superior.
Two PPJ-ministers are completely new members of the cabinet: Jeffrey Carnon becomes Minister of Justice, and Grace Smith replaces Peter Mistle of the GDP as Minister of Health.

The first decision of the new parliament has been that there will be no school uniforms for Saidercray's students.

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PPJ AND SPS WIN NATIONAL ELECTION - WOSHKAL REMAINS PRESIDENT - ELLOWS RETIRES

Today is the day of Saidercray's national election of 2006. Follow up Saidercray Today's regularly updated report.

18.30 - First projections are published: After first projections, a clear victory for the PPJ and the SPS appears in outlines. Accordingly, the result of the parliamentary election is:

- PPJ: 27% (2005: 30)
- SPS: 25% (2005: 21)
- VCA: 17% (2005: 22)
- LUSC: 17% (2005: 16)
- GDP: 8% (2005: 5)
- MPI: 6% (2005: 3)
- SWFP: 0% (2005: 1)
- NEO: 0% (2005: 2)

The presidential election will most probably be won by Ian Woshkal. Also here, we provide you with the results of the projections:

- Ian Woshkal (PPJ): 44%
- Harry Old (SPS): 41%
- Charles Ellows (VCA): 15%

The definitive result is expected to be announced at about 23.00 o'clock.

18. 39 - Ian Woshkal celebrates double victory: Ian Woshkal declares that the PPJ and he have won the election. He thanked the voters and his party's campaigners for enable him to lead a coalition of PPJ and SPS in his last year as president and to continue the policy of the early past.

18.47 - Charles Ellows acknowledges defeat: Charles Ellows acknowledges the "catastrophal" defeat of the VCA in both elections and congratulates the victors.

18.52 - Harry Old wants to become vice president: Harry Old confirm's Woshkal's announcement of a PPJ-SPS-coalition. Old wants to become vice president and, in spite of his defeat in the presidential election, is very satisfied about the result of the SPS in the parliamentary election.

19.04 - GDP and MPI are happy members of the opposition: Julia Pount, leader of the GDP, and Divyajyoti Mandal, leader of the MPI, are rejoiced at the results of their parties. Both of them declared that they will not join a coalition of PPJ and SPS as a third member if these two parties get the majority on their own.

19.21 - LUSC glad and gloating: The LUSC and its leader, Jack O'Connor, are glad about their result as the party seems to get one percent more than in 2005. The bad result of the VCA has lead to gloating amongst the members due to the VCA's decision to struggle for a coalition with the PPJ and not with the LUSC.

21.36 - Charles Ellows retires: Charles Ellows will retire from his office as leader of the VCA. This is a reaction to the grave defeat of the conservatives for which Ellows undertakes the responsibility. The most promising candidates for the VCA's leadership are the party's vice leader, Janet Finnigan, and Arthur Thompson.

22. 58 - Definitve results are certain: The definitive results are made known.

PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION:

- PPJ: 27 % (2005: 30)
- SPS: 25 % (2005: 21)
- LUSC: 17 % (2005: 16)
- VCA: 16 % (2005: 21)
- GDP: 7 % (2005: 5)
- MPI: 7 % (2005: 3)
- SWFP: 1 % (2005: 1)
- NEO: 0 % (2005: 2)

PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

- Ian Woshkal (PPJ): 43 %
- Harry Old (SPS): 42 %
- Charles Ellows (VCA): 15 %

The new government is going to be a coalition of PPJ and SPS with 52 % of the seats in parliament. Ian Woshkal is going to remain president.

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THE WHITE STORK FLIES AWAY

A plebiscite has resolved to do away with the white stork on white ground, as Saidercray's present flag is often jocularly called. A majority of 59.2 percent declared themselves for a new flag. This flag shall include the IDU's scales of justice in so-called IDU-blue to represent Saidercray's solidarity to the region, a yellow star to represent the unity of our country and a blue and a black stork to represent our country's two halfs, Saider and Cray. The background of the flag shall be white and shall represent peace.
The government has invited entries for an international competition. Artists from all lands of the region are allowed to present their ideas of how Saidercray's new flag may look. The new flag shall become official at the first day of the new legislative term, which is August the 16th. At the beginning of the first session of the new parliament, the new flag shall be hoisted for the first time.

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