Luthori

[Ligbruderkrieg]

So? What happened between 5729 and today?
September 5735

Ever since the appointment of the first Tapihana government in 5727, Luthori has been governed by three successive Labour prime ministers, Martha Tapihana (5727-5731), Joshua Park (5731-5734) and Harold Pockerfield (5734-today). Three prime ministers in eight years, while Tapihana was elected under the promise of “radical change” to the Empire. While her government achieved milestone achievements under that promise, it still had to deal with numerous events which eventually would contribute to her government collapsing.

On May 23, 5729: it was announced by the Orange Palace that Emperor William XI has passed away peacefully at his country estate retreat of Rottingham Palace, being immediately succeeded by his son and heir, Prince Edward who automatically became Emperor under the name of Edward VII, Emperor of Luthori and King of Mordusia. In his first address as monarch, His Imperial Majesty paid his respects to his father and stated that under his father’s reign, the monarchy “remained an institution which stood the test of time, above petty party politics and aiming at assembling the nation as one”, which he stated he would strive to do as sovereign.

Prime Minister Tapihana delivered a respectful address to the nation following the loss of Emperor William XI, describing him as a “good and honest man, who wished to do his best for the nation in his position”, she moreover stated that the eleventh Willamite era will be remembered as an “era of peace, continued prosperity”, something that she vowed to continue into the new Edwardian era.

Emperor Edward VII was officially proclaimed as Emperor of Luthori and King of Mordusia on May 25, at the Holy Imperial Palace of Fort William. Meanwhile, His Majesty’s State Funeral was held on June 7, after having been delayed from June 5 to June 7 after a heat wave struck the Empire. Between June 1 and June 6, a heat wave struck all Luthorian territory, with temperatures reaching between 40 and 48°C in some locations. Fort William was “unbearable” during that time, with temperatures in the capital city usually located between 41 and 43°C for three days straight.

The government implemented guidelines for people to follow and created an emergency support line for all those who fell victim of the heat. After the heat wave passed, the Health Ministry confirmed that 60 people had died due to the heat, these people, mostly elderly people couldn’t face the rising temperatures and had passed away. 

The last two years of Tapihana’s government were dictated by Luthori’s involvement in the Baeguk Civil War, which resumed after a military coup deposed the pro-reunification government in the north. Under the influence of future Prime Minister Lord Wittfield and pushed by the anti-communist political environment ever since the 5726 terror attacks, the Tapihana government announced “tactically supporting” the free South Baeguk government, recognising the “illegitimate” military coup in North Baeguk.

The controversy erupted due to South Baeguk’s well-known treatment of women, as they aren’t given citizenship, aren’t granted the same rights as men, are currently in highest-oppressive nation in the world for women, this “tentative support” for the Maprigan’s government will soon become the cause of downfall of Martha Tapihana, as Home Secretary Park would resign in protest of the decision to involve itself in the Baeguk Civil War, causing a government crisis. And while the South Baeguk government would emerge victorious from the civil war, the summary execution of former dictator Buyeo Bomsori by the Emperor of Baeguk himself meant that the last remaining goodwill that the Prime Minister enjoyed among Labour Party members was gone, after also losing her traditional voting base of educated young people, disgusted as what they saw as a betrayal of their values.

After resigning, Joshua Park, former Home Secretary was elected as Leader of the National Labour Party and Prime Minister of Luthori. Appointed as the first Prime Minister of Emperor Edward VII, the new Prime Minister chose to trust the Lord Wittfield’s assessment on foreign policy and continue supporting the South Baeguk government, Lord Wittfield was notably appointed as Foreign Secretary although forced to resign as Leader of the House of Peers, being replaced by the Lord Crowchester. 

The support for Baeguk was coupled with increased scrutiny and pressure from the Luthorian government for reform of the Dovani nation’s treatment of women in exchange for continued Luthorian diplomatic and political support, in a bid to calm the radically offended Luthorian public.

The Labour Party maintained its majority in the 5732 general elections, being elected for another 5-year term in office, in the next Parliament, the Labour-dominated Parliament passed numerous laws, such as the Parliament Act 5733 which restricted the appointment of Prime Ministers from the House of Peers, before any member of Parliament could become Prime Minister, although with the Parliament Act, the Emperor can appoint a member of the House of Peers as Prime Minister, but said member is expected to be elected in the Imperial Diet with a six-month deadline or be dismissed.

National service was made volountary through the National Service Act 5732, which abolished the practice of mandatory military service, but implemented a paid voluntary civilian national service, it was a long-time promise from the Labour Party.

The government of Joshua Park will meet its demise after the Labour Party’s electoral defeat in the Erneshire snap election, where the Conservative Party secured an outright majority in the House of Representatives of the Grand Duchy of Erneshire, with Lord Wittfield being appointed as Prime Minister of Luthori and later being elected in a special election in the Imperial Diet.

Since 5734, Luthori has been governed by Harold Pockerfield, Lord Wittfield, a pragmatic, yet open left-wing aristocrat who’s pragmatic in foreign affairs, yet emboldened by the same fire of reform in domestic affairs, except institutional affairs where he’s surprisingly conservative, opposing the Parliament Act 5733 but supporting the National Service Act or the Penalties Act 5731, which officially restricted the usage of the death penalty for treasonous charges only.