Valruzia

[Aethan]

Chancellor–President Kos unveils plan for legislature

Government composition also announced; reduction of ministers for the first-time ever

February 5725

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In a lengthy press conference held today in the Sejm, newly elected Chancellor–President Aleksandra Kos – whose election by the Valruzian people has been received with enthusiasm abroad – has unveiled her plan for this five-years legislature as well as the names of her cabinet, that will need to be approved this afternoon by the Sejm (although it is widely expected to be approved without any issues since Sovereign Valruzia holds an absolute majority of the Chamber). 

The earliest surprise of the morning was the announcement that for the first time since Valruzia's transition to democracy the number of ministries would be reduced as a result of the merge of various ministries. As a result, the now former Ministry of Territorial Administration and Ministry of Migration would be put together under the new Ministry of Territorial Integrity; the new Ministry of Labor, Housing and Social Rights is a result of the merge of the Ministry of Labor, Equality and Social Rights with the Ministry of Housing; the Ministry of Science and Technology replaces the former Ministry of Science and Research and Ministry of Technology and Innovation; and the Ministry of Food Sovereignty will merge with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food into the new Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty. 

"It is my belief that there were many duplicated roles and functions within certain ministries, and under my government we will seek to eradicate that, to make the ministries more effective and surgical for the benefit of our citizens." said Mrs. Kos during the press briefing. "It is not within my scope to say whether this was worse or better or whether it worked or not for my predecessors, but my way forward during this legislature will be this."

Accompanied by a heavy pile of papers, Mrs. Kos then proceeded to detail all the measures that she intended to carry out under her government, and said she does so under the belief that "there are no excuses not to apply the full extent of their political program" since citizens granted her "their total confidence".

Among the social measures the government plans to approve is the nationwide non-binary gender recognition following the example of the Kampanian regional legislation almost 20 years ago – although it is still not assured to pass only with the votes of Sovereign Valruzia, since it is expected that some of its deputies will vote against. However, the Kos government relies on the People's Front of Kampania, under whose government was the law approved in the Voivodeship, to vote in favor of it at national level. "Citizens have been waiting a long way for this, and it is a reality we cannot turn our back to. Those citizens deserve respect and recognition" said the Chancellor–President. The government will also propose to reduce the term until which a pregnant woman can get an abortion due to economic or social causes from 24 to 16, provided it is not covered by the other categories (in cases of rape, fetal impairment, risk to health and risk to life, Valruzian legislation places no term limit) and the person is over 16. For under-16s, the law will be reduced to 20 weeks. And on request, Valruzian legislation will be made tighter: up to 14 weeks. "Do not make any mistake here" said the Chancellor–President, herself a mother of 3 "We do not intend to do so as conservatives like to label this, but rather because we believe the Valruzian legislative permitted many people to abuse the system. And not only nationals, but also internationals. We were made aware of "black-market style" trips to our nation for people to receive clandestine abortions, as our current legislation is among the most relaxed in the whole Terra. People need to understand that while we place absolutely no blame or shame in abortion, and we will defend it and its protection in our Constitution, it has to be done within reasonable margins. And I'm afraid to say that is currently not the case".

On religious affairs, the Kos government wants to introduce an old plan: put an end to the "Yeudi ghettos" in some Valruzian cities, especially in the Chynberg voivodeship, Valruzia's region with the biggest share of Valruzian Yeudis. "We are one nation, one people. We defend freedom of religion, but our nation is irreligious. It has been for centuries, and it will keep being that way. There is nothing that justifies the existence of "ghetto" neighborhoods in some Valruzian citizens where some residents refuse to integrate with the rest of our population. If they want to do so, they are in the wrong country". Valruzia has the world's largest Yeudi diaspora, but most of them openly identify as Valruzian yeudis are do not share much association with the Homeland.

On housing, Kos wants every new building erected in the nation to feature "Zywobeton" elements – that is, following the rules of the Green Brutalism movement that has been taking place in recent years across the nation. "Our nation is growing, but it has to grow in the right way. And Zywobeton pursues that. It is exactly the kind of architecture that our nation needs, and under my mandate we will make sure that it is implemented all across our nation".

But perhaps one of the most relevant news was the announcement of the creation of Morskina, a brand-new Valruzian state-owned shipbuilding enterprise which will be dedicated to civil and military naval construction, the design of deep-tech systems and the manufacture of structures for the renewable energy sector, such as offshore wind or hydrogen. The company will also design, build and support different types of surface vessels, submarines and systems, which will become the first 100% Valruzian-made. It is expected that the Valruzian government will commission its first submarines and aircraft-carriers 100% Valruzian-made to the company as soon as it is firmly established, and economists believe that the company will enter in no time in the WALEX, Valruzian stock market index. and will rival with Valruzia's largest employer, Valastra, dedicated to the aerospace sector and Valruzia's biggest company by revenue and its crown jewel.

Announced logo of Morskina

"For many years now, Valruzia has had the potential, has had the capabilites, has had the brains. What it has lacked is the channel to fuel all this in a single place. And now we have it. Valruzian engineers are widely appreciated and searched for, and Valastra is an example of that. Now, with Morskina, Valruzia covers a front it has neglected since decades: whilst the sea is also our home and makes up half of our border, we had to rely for too long on others to help us build or protect it. That will no longer be the case" said Mrs. Kos during the presentation of the company.

Finally, the Chancellor_President also announced a shift in Valruzia's foreign stance on migration and international help. "Our goal is to help people to build and develop their own countries. Our priority should not be to bring to Valruzia thousands of immigrants every year, but to make sure that they are not forced to leave their home because there are no options left, and that they are coming here only because of free choice. Therefore, we will impose stricter migration rules for people wishing to establish themselves permanently in our nation, whilst at the same time we will work to increase our international help to those countries in need, and we will create special forces tasked with the aim to export Valruzian knowledge to those regions to help them build, together, a better place to live".

In the end, before the first session of the Sejm started where her government was to be voted, she announced that her first state visits as new Chancellor–President of Valruzia would be to Kalistan and Luthori, although she said that she wanted to "visit Xsampa" soon, in a reflection of her more internationalist vision of what the Valruzian foreign policy should be.