Lodamun

[imperialpearl]

For the better half of a decade, the Lodamese people have mulled over their relationship with the ever-expanding Anantonese Empire, the imperial bloc comprising Kalistan and Gaduridos. Since its inception, it had been envisioned that a Lodamese ascension to the grouping would in part be accompanied by the inherent benefits once championed by the failed attempt of the North Seleyan Confederation. Yet, the Lodamese state had remained sceptical of its supposed benefits. Research by the BSU's Institute for Public Research has found that by virtue of the historically positive relationship Kalistan and Lodamun have maintained, a sizeable portion of the Lodamese population is in favour of the nation's ascension to the “empire”, although lingering concerns hinder their full, outward support of the idea. “I think it’s a nice idea. I was always supportive of the NSC because I thought that it was a means by which we [Lodamun] could strengthen that historic bond between our North Seleyan brothers and sisters,” one individual noted.

 “But, I have to admit, I’m a bit uncertain as to what sort of benefits something like that will bring you know?” Although the question had not garnered much attention during the previous electoral campaign, some political commentators note that the sudden spike in interest could be attributed to numerous factors including the experiences of Gaduridos and the renewed fervour for regional integration as advanced by Gaduridos. “I don’t think that this was a big ticket issue during the campaign season. I certainly had not heard of any sentiments either for or against it then. I think the sudden national interest could be a result of experiences coming out of Gaduridos. The people had been looking at Gaduridos’ ascension to the “empire” as a litmus test and it seems that their conclusion is that what may be good for Gaduridos, just might be good for Lodamun too,” Elliot Riley, a political scientist at Barrington State University noted. “If we add on the fact that the Lodamese people have always been supportive of initiatives that advance regional integration, especially given the renewed fervour for it by Gaduridos. The Lodamese people were disappointed at the collapse of the NSC negotiations and I think that they view this [the Anantonese Empire] as a means of recapturing that feeling of comradery among North Seleyan states.”

A petition through the National Congress, co-signed by numerous House Representatives and Senators has since reached the desk of President Haney. The petition ultimately calls for a referendum on the question of Lodamun’s ascension to the Anantonese Empire. In a televised address late last night, President Haney confirmed that he had signed and approved the petition and had instructed both Attorney-General Ethan Lawrence and Commissioner of the Lodamese Elections and Boundaries Commission (LEBC), Owen Harper to initiate proceedings related to the referendum. In the address, he noted that the grassroots campaign which pressured senators and house representatives to advance the petition was significant and had been largely motivated by an inherent intrigue among the Lodamese people as to the general opinion of such a decision. “The speed with which the grassroots campaign for this referendum has moved may come as a surprise to some and may even push others to the conclusion that it had been as a result of foreign interference. Both the Director of the NIB (National Investigations Bureau) and the DNA (Director of National Assessments) have informed me that the consensus within the intelligence community is that this is a largely homegrown effort, bourne out of our inherent interest to “know more”, President Haney explained. 

Both the House of Representatives and the Senate have called on Lodamese, Kalistani and Gaduri officials to answer questions before various committees on the supposed benefits and downsides of Lodamun’s ascension to the AE should the referendum succeed. One of the individuals set to answer questions, in a first for Lodamun, is President John Haney. At the latter end of his televised address, President Haney expressed interest in answering questions before a Joint Committee of the National Congress. “It is in the spirit of our forefathers that I submit myself to questioning by the National Congress on this matter of Lodamun’s ascension to the Anantonese Empire and how that in turn transform our society, be it for the better or worse,” Haney concluded.