Davostag

[Augustus]

 

Government Stops all Trade with the Legion,

Trade Deal Signed with NEC

8 July 5635 | Kivonia, Davostag

 

Minister of Foreign Affairs Sigrid Torsdotter, joined by the Minister of Commerce Alicia Olander and the Minister of Defence Jonathan Seglund, held a press conference around lunch to address the growing security concerns in the region, pointing towards the active bombardment of the island of Etxea. Discussing possible effects and more, as well as a concern within the private trade sector feeling unease towards this sudden act of aggression. Torsdotter then announced, after discussions with the rikspresident, that the Davostag Republic will be halting all trade with the Kundrati Legionary State until the attacks cease. Seglund added that the deployed fleets in the region will be monitoring the waters to ensure that no trade goods from Davostag will be entering into Kundrati-controlled territory. On the question regarding the security of the Davostagers in Kundrati, Torsdotter stated that she is confident that the Legion will bow down, stop the attacks and resume peaceful trade with their good partners here in the north.
 
As we can see from some companies in response to the press conference, that they will be redirecting their trade to other countries, such as Hutori, Etxea and now, possibly the NEC following a trade deal signed between Davostag and the Nadiyan Economic Community in former Trigunia. This trade deal, signed by trade representatives from both states, and joined by representatives of the All-State Defence Company (ASFK), saw a 65.4 billion DAV* deal allowing ASFK to purchase former parts of several military equipment, vehicles and crafts as well as the right to produce Davostager versions of these. The NEC, having previously defunded the armies of its member republics, were open to it, especially coming to know the intention for Davostag to halt trade with the Legion, a state they embargo. Included in the deal is for Davostag to also buy gas and oil from the NEC, providing Davostag with a greater supply of such vital resources as the military expands and for the NEC a great increase in revenue.
 
Some of the former Trigunian military equipment parts and designs, acquired by ASFK, are as following, beginning with aircrafts: Su-25, Su-33, Tu-160M2, An-178, Ka-226, Ka-31, Ka-50, Mil Mi-8, Mil Mi-24 "Hind", Mil Mi-26, and Mil Mi-28; of the naval crafts there are: Yegorovich-class aircraft carrier, Udaloy-class destroyer, Svoboda-class cruiser, Orlan-class battlecruiser, Admiral Gennadiyevich-class frigate, and Admiral Gregorov-class frigate. While ASFK have stated that they have ordered that the parts be stored and that blueprints for Davostager-designed versions be made, have said that this has been a massive cost output, and taking the amount that has been acquired, it will most likely be some 20-30 years before there each and everyone of them are put to service at the same time. The cost is a staggering 14.6% of the entire military budget, with a report from ASFK and Ministry of Defence describing that several private banks and investment companies helped alleviate the costs for the Armed Forces. As one analyst said: "It is only in Davostag that we are ready to cripple the economy for the military". While the situation is not to such a degree, the Kivonia Stock Exchange saw a lot of red these past days following the deal, with experts giving careful optimism for stabilization in the coming weeks.
 
In any case, the Secretary of Trade and Cooperation Hans Jönsson, who led the trade discussions with the NEC, said that both Davostag and NEC look forward to further cooperation, agreements and deals in the coming future, as the Davostag Republic repositions itself on the regional and international stage.
 
News report written by Lisa Johansdotter.

* (OOC: I use Swedish Crowns, SEK, to measure Davostager riksdaler. 7.2 billion US dollars equals at the time of writing about 65.4 billion SEK)

[Augustus]

 

ASFK Creates Two New Subsidiaries

17 August 5635 | Kivonia, Davostag

 

In the aftermath of the Davostag-NEC trade deal, the ASFK, abbreviated from Allstatliga försvarskompaniet ("All-State Defence Company"), which is a state-owned defence company in Davostag responsible for managing the entire arms industry in the country, created Trimanner Produktioner Aktiebolag ("Trimanner Productions Limited"), also known as TRIPA, to oversee and manage the design and production of the acquired NEC former military products and blueprints in Davostager-style. While officials from ASFK have stated that due to strains on the budget will result in the acquired products to see the light of the day for quite some time, there are reports that certain parts are being singled out to begin production any time now. One such would be the Trigunian multirole Mil Mi-8, in the Davostager variation and design named as Rotvingeplan M08 "Kåra", with the Ministry of Defence ordering a total of eight to be produced in the coming months. Two other products that have been given special attention to be produced in a limited amount in the coming year are the Mil Mi-28, renamed Rotvingeplan 60 "Gunn"; and the Tu-160M2, renamed Markovic 150; with seven and five to be produced respectively. No official public report exists on any upcoming naval production with the new designs involved.
 
But it is not just Trimanner that has been created, but now this month, engineers from ASFK and in other departments especially the Ministry of Defence-controlled State Defence Industry Agency (Stafet), have revealed several new blueprints for two new frigates, four patrol vessels and a motorboat. The Chairman and CEO of ASFK, Isak Lorring, announced that with these new designs, a new, but smaller, subsidiary of the company would created, known as Dahleriska Avdelningarna AB ("Dahlerian Divisions Ltd"), named after late rikspresident Gustav Dahler. He did reiterate the statement from other company and state officials that it will take some time until these new designs come to be, but that "patience is a good virtue of the Davostagers". Despite that, there seems to be no stopping the company from putting them to production in the coming time, as we have been able to review the designs and concept art, with all of them looking ready to be deployed. The frigates have been designated Gustav Dahler-class frigate and Augustine-class frigate, the latter after Erika af Augustine, the long serving chancellor governing Davostag between 4875–4920; the patrol vessels have been designated Thorsen-class patrol vessel, Wall-Enberg-class patrol vessel, Evylin-class patrol vessel, and Svalvík-class patrol vessel, all named after the Thorsen dynasty, Pär Wall-Enberg (Supreme Chairman between 4796–4805), Noble Princeps Evylin I (Monarch between 4631–4644, 4656–4661), and Svalvík the northern Davostager city.
 
News report written by Stina Söder.

[Augustus]

 

Rikspresident Karl Manner Gives Ultimatum to the Legion

16 January 5637 | Kivonia, Davostag

 

As tensions have risen to an extreme level in the past couple of years, especially with the missile barrage of the island of Etxea (de facto controlled by the Kundrati Union-in-exile) and the prior severing of ties between Davostag and Kundrati, rikspresident Karl Manner just held a televised address to the nation and the world, giving the Kundrati Legionary State an ultimatum to respond to in the coming week. In the previous weeks leading up to this speech, the Davostager Armed Forces had at the direction of the Military High Command placed the various active divisions and corps in position for a final escalating event. On top of this, we can report that most of the Davostager population, all men and women between the ages of 18 and 60 (reservists), have received from their respective units a preparedness notice.
 
The address given by rikspresident Manner is as follows:

Fellow comrades, patriots, citizens, Davostagers. In the past ten years, our country has engaged and provided a sense of security but also kindness to our southern neighbors across the seas. However, in recent times, it has been proven that no matter what you do or what you say, international, regional and national security will always be jeopardized by a regime that is so stubborn in continuing living in ignorance. We are seeing that the Kundrati Legionary State have bombarded the island of Etxea for the past year in the hopes of demolishing the heroic efforts of the government of the Kundrati Union, situated on said island. As a result, on my orders, Davostag withdrew all support for the Legionary government and imposed, together with our Hutorian friends, a total blockade of the Kundrati mainland. Now as tensions continue to remain high, the safety and the lives of our Davostager brothers and sisters in Kundrati is at stake, as the Legionary government seeks revenge upon us. I can therefore inform that that the Davostager government have sent to Lazar an ultimatum, immediately demanding a stop to the attacks on Etxea and to fully restore the fundamental rights to all Davostagers and allow them free transit to Davostag or any other place they so wish to go. We expect Lazar and his government to accept these demands in full in a week's time. Should they fail to do so, Davostag will respond in full force to ensure the liberation of our people. All of us desire a peaceful resolution, but the time for diplomacy and so-called "talks" is over. Now we must take action. Thank you and let there be glory to Davostag.

 
The Legionary government has yet to comment, but we are sure to expect some kind of response soon. Whether they will accept the rikspresident's demands is to be seen, but looking at their history of dealing with other countries one might assume a complete no. Having talked with a few officials in the High Command, one being Generalöverste ("Colonel General") Bertil Stierngard, the chief of the Army General Staff, we have a clear indication that the fate of the regional security in Artania now lies in the hands of Lazar. On the question whether Davostag is prepared for a war with Kundrati, the generalöverste stated that a plan for a possible conflict with Kundrati has always existed ever since the Kirlawan Crisis almost 200 years ago, and that Davostag does not just have the military potential but also the right mindset. On the latter part he most likely referred to our long history and culture. In any case, we all remain on alert for the days to come, some without doubt nervous and others determined.
 
News report written by Stina Söder.

[Augustus]

 

Concerning Change in Politics? | New Directives Reported

13 September 5641 | Kivonia, Davostag

 

 
The Riksdag and government district in Kivonia.

 

Worrisome Stage in Davostager Politics

 
Three years have passed since the end of the Second Kundrati War, otherwise known as Frändernas Befrielsekrig ("The War of Liberation of the Brethren") in Davostag. During this time, a lot of time and focus has been put on the Davostager zone of occupation in Northern Kundrati, aiding the ethnic Davostagers inhabiting the region. Now, as peace and security has at last been restored to the region, many wonder on the direction Davostag is to go in regards to the policies enacted in the recent decades. The militarization program, initiated by the previous rikspresident Gustav Dahler and continued by incumbent Karl Manner, was pushed through with the Kundrati Legion as a reference to regional insecurity, and despite the regime having been completely decimated there has been no sign of Kivonia's militarist policies waning. Rather instead the Central Military Commission is soon to release a report on the continued pace of military production.
 
There is also another issue. The last legislative Riksdag election was held eight years ago in November 5633. Due to the outbreak of the war and the government's suspension of elections, the scheduled one in November 5638 was postponed. However, as the war ended in January 5638, some officials carefully suggested that the elections still be held that year, something which was essentially ignored entirely by the government, who instead pointed to the danger of remnant legionaries threatening national security. And now, three years later, there is still no sign of legislative elections to be held. On top of the fact that rikspresident Manner, who assumed office in 5634, still has retained the office of premier for himself, has shown a blatant disregard for the constitution. Since the Supreme Court verdict in 5634 in response to that year's deadly protests, several of the main opposition parties were forced to dissolve or suspend activities for a set period, with all of them now having passed that period, some have begun to actively involve themselves in politics again in hopes of participating in the next elections. Some of these parties are the National Liberal Party, the Change Party and the Centre Party, with the latter of these said to be in the works of forming a new party with the remnants of the forcibly dissolved Radical Party and the new minor Democratic Party. Whether any of these groupings will have a chance for an electoral performance is to be seen.

Article written by Liam Tureman.
 
Rikspresident Signs New Reorganization Directives
 
The State Council shared this week an internal report regarding several new legislative directives signed by the rikspresident in the past month, and which the government departments have been completely busy with implementing. First of these is the establishment of Statliga Nätbolaget ("State Grid Company"), which is intended to spearhead the reorganization of Davostag's electrical power grid sector. The government had passed the Elkraftsförstatlighetslagen ("Electrical Power Nationalization Law") in 5632, where the old and large private electric utility company Kovmark Industrin AB, better known as Kovstrin AB, was completely nationalized and together with Kvarleveannekteringslagen ("Remnant Annexation Law") would forcibly acquire or merge the remaining private actors in the chemical, electrical and infrastructure sector into it. Now, Kovstrin AB is said to be placed under Statliga Nätbolaget as a subdivision with a specialty in electrical and nuclear power research and production.
 
Another directive is the merger of the highly ineffective municipal-managed public transportation companies into a larger nationwide organization known as Dovriges Folktrafik ("Davostag People's Transport"), otherwise known as DF, which is currently in the process of providing a plan for a more effective public transportation infrastructure across the country. It is obviously the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure which is to be managing this organization. Though some dissent among local officials had been raised as this was made public, but has otherwise been fully accepted. There is also a directive outlining a plan to form in the coming year an organization known as Riksjärnvägar ("National Railways"), which is to assume the infrastructure of the four private railway companies currently managing the railway system in the country, thus completely nationalizing the sector into another massive state-run organization and yet again under the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure's oversight.
 
A third directive concerns the state-owned VGAB, that is Västmakoniska Gruvindustrin AB ("West Maconic Mining Industry AB"), which controls the entire mining sector in Davostag. While nothing substantial is said concerning the domestic industry, it is concerned more of its subsidiary known as Kurakon, VGAB's Kundrati division, established a few hundred years ago prior to the Kirlawan Crisis and later reactivated recently to restart its uranium operations in Legionary Kundrati. As Davostag broke ties with the Legion, the latter seized the assets on sight, removing critical infrastructure for Kurakon. This directive outlines a plan to begin rebuilding the company in preparation for the ongoing reconstruction of post-war Kundrati. Some company officials have stated their hopes for a reconciliation and resuming of the uranium agreement signed during the latter half of the 5400s.
 
As the government continues its quest to acquire more and more sectors in the country under its complete control, some business leaders have expressed concerns on the direction the country is heading in. While in the meantime, state officials wave the concerns off, and as Secretary of Industrial Research Tobias Viker stated "... at the end of the day it is the State that governs the nation, not businesses [...] would a father allow his toddlers to manage the house?"
 
News report written by Håkan Oliversson.

[Augustus]

 

State Committee to Investigate New Administrative Reforms

21 May 5647 | Kivonia, Davostag

 

It was announced this morning that the Government is creating a new state committee to begin investigating administrative reforms to the structural composition of the regions. The state investigator and appointed chair of this Committee for Regional Questions is Greta Greger, a staunch nationalist and one of the main proponents for regional reform, as well as the daughter of the late opposition leaders John and Lena Greger, who had led the now banned Union for Democratic Reform (UDR) against the ruling government. Greta Greger emerged as a political figure a couple of years ago, having served in the Second Kundrati War in the Davostager Army and later in the State Security Bureau (SSB) she would be offered a station in the ruling National Electoral Union (NVU) after having published a lengthy ideological work providing ideological support to the Government and the NVU. In one of her recent political works and in several public appearances she promoted the aforementioned reforms to the administrative divisions of Davostag, to better support the regime but also to more effectively implement Government policies.
 
The current regional composition is made up of 8 landskap (provinces), 400 amter (counties) and 3,479 kommuner (municipalities). The landskap is governed by a landshövding (governor), which is a ceremonial position appointed by the Government and whose main task is to preside over landsting (provincial assembly), which is composed of two deputies each from the amter within the respective landskap. The idea behind the landsting, per the constitution, is to provide the Government with a general understanding of what the concerns and issues are for the average citizen. The amter and municipalities follows the principal of proportional local elections.
 
The call for new administrative regional structures has existed for several years, with several proposals presented over the years by academia, politicians and other public figures, but the Government has yet to endorse any single proposal. One of the more notable ones is Gavsystemet formulated and proposed by Greger herself a year ago. One might suspect that the Government could be favoring it over others due to her appointment to lead the question. The Gavsystemet is created to remove local powers from the municipalities and amter towards a more centralized structure, through the abolition of landskap and the introduction of 15 Gave (a word constructed and Kivonianized from the old Dundorfian word Gaue) as the top administrative province, with its governor, called Gavledare, directly appointed by the Government for the purpose of fully carrying out executive authority on their behalf. Underneath the Gave would be 40 län, which could be called prefectures, would be districts controlled by prefectures appointed by the Gavledare as his/her deputies over designated zones; below the län comes the 400 amter, followed by 2,000 härader, which are to replace the municipalities as the most local division.
 
Opposition figures, especially the notorious anti-government Fronten newspaper, have called these reforms as one of the final steps towards complete state control and as a way to control the public narrative away from the fact that it has been 14 years since the last legislative elections were held. According to them, the administrative reforms are intended to have complete supervision over the outcome of future elections, whether on a local or national level, something prominent officials of the National Electoral Union have outright rejected as ludicrous conspiracy talk.
 
News report written by Stina Söder.

[Augustus]

 

Rikspresident Calls for Legislative Elections After Internal Pressure

24 April 5648 | Kivonia, Davostag

 

After 15 years without any sight of elections being called or organized, Rikspresident Karl Manner announced just two days ago that new elections are to be held in two months in June. This comes as sources claim that the State Council and the ruling National Electoral Union (NVU) party pressured the increasingly authoritarian president to at least hold some sort of election in order to combat the growing dissatisfaction among the people against the Government. The opposition leaders, mainly the rising Centre Radical Democratic Party (CRDP), has over the years called for large scale protests but to no avail – possibly in fear of what happened during the 5633–5634 protests. The CRDP has, despite these failures, attempted to form a stable opposition alliance for the upcoming election.
 
But the call for an election is said according to another source to be the result of the Armed Forces threatening the State Council to take action against the rikspresident or face the consequences of not doing so. Some analysts are inclined to believe that this threat actually served as the main force behind this, due to the fact that internal opposition within the NVU and the Riksdag has begun acting more brazenly. For example, Greta Greger, the famed daughter of the late opposition leaders John and Lena Greger, who is currently serving as chairwoman of the Committee for Regional Questions and leads the work in the long desired administrative reforms, is said to be actively leading a new political group within the NVU and the broader nationalist movement. Believed to have been formed in 5643 with other low-level officials in the state, intelligence and military departments, the Forumet Nationella Dovtjod ("National Dovtjod Forum"), FND, espousing a more radical form of nationalism and socialism. The mission of this group is for a "greater rejuvenation of the Davostager nation" to take place by increasing the authority of the state and bringing more of society into the political sphere, but also to expand the idea of what constitutes Davostag as a nation. This is but one of several internal factions taking hold in the party and the state. Thus rikspresident Manner has more than just the steadily growing opposition to worry about, but also the internal unity of the NVU as well as the looming threat of the Armed Forces.
 
News report written by Stina Söder.

[Augustus]

 

Electoral Results Maintains Ruling NVU's Control of the Riksdag

14 June 5648 | Kivonia, Davostag (backdated)

 

The long awaited elections have finally been held and as the results are finalized it is clear that the ruling National Electoral Union (NVU) keeps their absolute control of the Riksdag. However, these results have proven to be the worst results ever for the government. Of the 3,479 municipalities, the NVU managed to maintain control over 3,222, while losing 257 to the loosely unified opposition under the name Alliansen för konstitutionell integritet ("Alliance for Constitutional Integrity"), AKI, which is de facto led by the Centre Radical Democratic Party (CRDP). According to sources, the State Council called for an emergency session during election night to address AKI's victory in these municipalities, most likely trying to strategise over how to contain their rising popularity.
 
Other sources, especially in the Riksdag and within the NVU, has blamed these results on the shortcomings and inadequacies of rikspresident Manner in the recent years. One analyst have described a rising feeling for party members that the rikspresident has mismanaged his political capital gained from Davostag's victory in the war. Some of the new Riksdag members, especially those in the informal 'National Dovtjod Forum' – the rising far-right faction of the NVU – have called for the rikspresident to either stand strong as an authoritarian leader of Davostag should be or step down in upcoming presidential election to be held in August.
 
News report written by Max Verner.

[Augustus]

 

Rikspresident Manner Elected for a Third Term

20 August 5648 | Kivonia, Davostag (backdated)

 

The Davostag Senate convened the past weeks to elect the rikspresident of Davostag, and with a growing tension in the state institutions over internal criticism against rikspresident Manner some believed that the ruling NVU and the Riksdag, especially the more radical elements, would present an alternative candidate to either fully challenge Manner or to pressure him into taking more decisive and effective policy decisions. However, it would seem that this Senate election resulted in the usual reelection run, with simply a confirmation of the Senate's confidence in the rikspresident. Analysts who have observed and read various statements, sources and other materials to understand the situation better are confident that some sort of agreement has been made behind closed doors between the rikspresident's old guard faction and the younger progressive and more radical faction. What said agreement would entail is not yet understood, but that we would likely find out in the coming weeks, most likely with a reshuffling of the cabinet and new parliamentary committee appointments. One thing is agreed upon, that new radical elements within the state are gaining ground and influence, which will have a great effect on the future of Davostager politics.
 
News report written by Max Verner.

[Augustus]

 

Twelve Years of Politics, Conflict and Radicalism

Text by the Davostager Academy

13 May 5660 | Kivonia, Davostag

 

The Davostag Senate elected Karl Manner on 20 August 5648 for a third term. The election was characterized by backroom dealings, political intrigue and a growing internal and ideological dissatisfaction with the political stagnation of Manner's presidency. On 12 September Manner reshuffled his cabinet, allowing for more radical figures within the state apparatus and the ruling National Electoral Union (NVU) to assume positions of influence. One of these figures was Greta Greger, who was seen as the de facto leader and spokeswoman of the radical nationalists in the party (known as the 'National Dovtjod Forum', FND) was offered the Ministry of Education, a position she turned down and handed over to one of her underlings within the same faction. Greger instead assumed the position as First Secretary of the NVU, thus becoming the second highest ranking official in the party. Another significant change to the cabinet would be Manner's resignation from the position of premier, which he had held on to for about 14 years despite having assumed the presidency in 5634; the new premier would be Manner's predecessor Axel Rodin, who had served as premier between 5625 and 5632, and resigned due to the 5632 protests against his government.
 
The appointment of Rodin to the premiership was an unpopular one with the public, who still remember the protests and the later bloody protests of 5633-34. On 14 November, Wictor Rolén resigned as Secretary-General of the NVU, having served as party leader since 5624. Greger, as the second ranking, with the approval of the State Council and the rikspresident, officially took over as Rolén's successor. This would mark a significant coming shift in regards to party ideology, having mostly followed Davostager conservatism and nationalism, it was expected to take a more radical shift toward a more left-leaning economic position and a more radical stance on nationalism. On 2 January 5649, following pressure from Greger's faction and with quiet internal support from the Army, Manner was forced to let Rodin go and appointed Rikard Verman, a popular military officer, member of the FND and follower of Greger, as the new premier. With the appointment of Verman as premier, the cabinet was once more reshuffled to strengthen the FND faction.
 
As the FND gained more and more influence and power within the NVU, Riksdag and government, the State Council (the core of the regime), is said to have met with FND leaders at a luxury resort to discuss the future of Davostager politics. From what sources at the time told, the State Council (heavily dominated by national conservative figures) and the FND (radical nationalists and pro-socialist figures) came to an agreement to cooperate within all levels of state and balance each other to avoid political turmoil and preserve the national state. While not truly confirmed, even today, it is widely believed that the State Council had essentially ignored the rikspresident and gone behind his back to settle with the FND. One of the main reasons for this belief is that during the summer of 5649, reports came describing an intense political struggle in the government, the State Council, the party and the Riksdag was taking place. Scandals were released, threats, blackmail and discrediting of opponents being the order of the day. On the evening of 5 July, rikspresident Manner announced that after consultation with the Riksdag, the State Council and the Senatorial Committee, had decided it would be time for him to retire and leave Davostag in capable hands. One of the reasons being that he wanted to avoid a similar situation as his predecessor, Gustav Dahler, who, with age, became paranoid, sick and eventually died in office. The Senatorial Committee ordered the Senate to be convened on 10 July, as the law states.
 
The difference between this presidential election and the previous ones where an election of a successor to an incumbent is to be made, is that previous ones usually allowed for some form of pluralism where there would be different competing candidates, though all from the NVU. This time, which now stands out because of the actual factional divide within the NVU, has resulted in a single candidate, most likely decided upon beforehand by the State Council and the FND. Which essentially confirmed that the prior power struggle was mostly between rikspresident Manner against the State Council and FND. The sole presidential candidate put forward was Verman who was elected by the Senate on 20 July and sworn in on 1 August. He appointed Götilda Riddercrantz, another member of FND and follower of Greger, as the premier. The cabinet was diversified to allow for both radical nationalists and national conservatives to take their place.
 
In the following years, the government pursued several new reforms, though not as groundbreaking as several had anticipated. One of the more significant were the administrative reforms to the regions, a passion-project of Greger, who was able to complete the task in November 5650. Approved by the State Council and later unanimously voted through by the Riksdag, the new administrative structure was gradually implemented between February and August 5651. Another reform that took place was the restriction on the private banking sector to arbitrarily impose interest and conditions on private borrowers, especially families. As some concern and reluctance was given by private banks, FND rhetoric threatened to completely abolish interest rates and partially nationalize the sector. Another reform, implemented amongst the growing concern over rising food prices, was for the government to impose regulation, oversight as well as provide other forms of incentive to force large-scale private grocery companies to lower prices; including a smaller restructuring of the agricultural sector, to increase productivity, autonomy and maintain government protection for the family-run farms (which dominates the sector) from grocery companies seeking to coerce and profit from various schemes.
 
On the political scene, the opposition Alliance for Constitutional Integrity (AKI), led by the Centre-Radical Democratic Party (CRDP), increased their anti-government and anti-NVU rhetoric, especially as the military police began an investigation into AKI and CRDP regarding their supposed connection to an increasingly growing militia movement in northern Davostag. The election of 14 September 5653 resulted in the local gains by AKI in the 5648 election to be completely lost to the NVU, something that resulted in the opposition accusing the government of yet another electoral fraud. On 5 August, allied armed groups took control of several smaller towns in northern Davostag several kilometers from the Hutorian border. Due to the mountainous terrain, they positioned themselves to be able to cut government forces away from the region. The government responded by sending the military police and the army to crack down on the insurrectionist activities, while at the same time, AKI attempted to organize large-scale protests without any success. As a several week standoff was ongoing, premier Riddercrantz went to the city of Ballenhus to inspect a new local energy project when militiamen detonated a car bomb several meters away that severely injured the premier. As she was rushed to the nearby hospital to get emergency support and to be eventually transported with a military helicopter to Kivonia, rikspresident Verman declared that Davostag was under attack by extremist terrorists.
 
As several similar but smaller incidents continued in the subsequent months, the State Security Bureau (SSB) eventually determined that these paramilitary militiamen had both a political and financial connection to the CRDP as well as being backed by foreign governments, the latter being something they refused to elaborate on. As the Supreme Court was on the verge of banning the CRDP, the other opposition parties of AKI decided to formally expel the CRDP from the alliance and attempted to completely distance themselves from them. On 6 May 5654, the Supreme Court formally banned the CRDP and heavily fined the other AKI parties. Despite the ban, the CRDP is reported to have been completely militarized overnight and gone underground to pursue a prolonged guerilla warfare. A prominent face of the CRDP would be Erik Greger, the older brother of Greta Greger, both being the children of the late opposition leaders John and Lena Greger who had died during the 5633-34 protests, turning this conflict into a truly dramatic family drama. And so while the conflict increased and decreased the following years with no real threat stemming from the CRDP and the government not tackling the issue with significant enough force, instead using it as a good propaganda tool to support their rule and thus "keeping it under control".
 
On 22 January 5657, Greta and Erik, representing both sides, met in Tårnbæk, their birthplace, on the same date that their mother had died. While some rumors state that the two siblings reconciled, others say that they had not fully accepted each other but despite that made progress to break the tension. The meeting was held for the purpose of pushing a ceasefire agreement and eventual treaty, despite the meeting failing, the two sides were reported to become somewhat optimistic for the future. However, on 7 April 5657, a former member of the CRDP and the Davostag Metzist-Leonidist Branch (D-MLG), shot Greta at a public rally in Renartsborg. As her condition was severe, she was transferred to the Kivonia National Hospital, where she was accompanied by rikspresident Verman, premier Riddercrantz and a few others of her closest followers. Her last words are said to have been ...för Dovrige...slut fred... ("for Davostag, make peace"). The following day Erik Greger announced that they would launch a campaign against the Metzist threat and proposed a truce with the government, promising to lay down their arms in return for a substantial agreement in regards to the political process of the opposition. Radical elements in the government and State Council hoped to use Greta's death as a justification to get rid of the entirety of the opposition, including the neutral AKI parties, however, sources say that rikspresident Verman, having considered using this against the CRDP, was convinced by premier Riddercrantz to honor Greta's last command. Verman declared that D-MLG would be banned and ordered the Riksdag to set-up a committee to negotiate an agreement with the CRDP.
 
The committee, composed of representatives from both sides, came to an agreement, at the great reluctance from the government officials, to give amnesty to most of the leading members of the CRDP, with a few exceptions; as well as unbanning the party while the Military Police is to oversee its disarmament; another clause of the agreement was for a new Riksdag committee, composed of leading opposition figures, state officials and academics to oversee a smaller reform to allow for some kind of political pluralism in future elections. While the agreement was signed and enforced, the CRDP, especially the paramilitary wing led by Erik Greger, was in secret allowed to keep parts of their militia structure as a defense policy against future government intrusion and at the hopes of the government to help them crackdown on other more radical opposition paramilitary formations.
 
A state funeral was held for Greta Greger on 14 June 5657, and her ideas on politics, ideology and philosophy have become an increasing part of the contemporary nationalist canon in Davostag. Her followers continue in their positions of the government and state to exercise political influence and promote her ideas on to policy. Currently Verman continues in his role as rikspresident, while Riddercrantz is leading her second government.
 
Article written by David Larsson, Helge Silman, Ylva Oskarsdotter and Ove Örlund.

[Augustus]

 

Proposition to Rename Tårnbæk in Honor of Greta Greger Approved

27 May 5661 | Tårnbæk, Davostag

 

Future Davostager historians might look back to these past decades as the Gregerian period, where the family drama of John, Lena, Erik and Greta Greger would shape the perception of politics and its radicalisation towards several different directions. John and Lena Greger were the opposition leaders who participated in many protests and elections with the purpose to challenge the ruling National Electoral Union (NVU) and the-then rikspresident Gustav Dahler. After John Greger had been arrested, on fabricated charges according to the opposition, his wife took control of the Union for Democratic Reform (UDR) party and orchestrated mass protests against the government; not only in response to John's arrest but also to perceived electoral fraud in the 5633 election. After some health complications, as reported by the police, John died in house arrest. As a consequence, the opposition immediately assumed the worst and escalated their protests into a large-scale insurgency, storming police precincts and arming themselves against police and government troops. In their attempt to overthrow the rikspresident, Lena and the UDR were pushed back and forced to escape Kivonia. She was later found dead in the small town of Tyrhem, the cause reported to have been fatal injuries from the fighting in the capital city.
 
Erik Greger, the oldest child of the Greger family and older brother of Greta, was radicalised by their parents death and went underground building an illegal network of political dissidents, eventually culminating in the establishment of the Centre Radical Democratic Party (CRDP), which was used as the political front of their organization and aligned militias. Instead of turning to dissident action, Greta Greger stayed on track within the system, rising in the Great Davostag Youth Party (the youth wing of the NVU) and eventually enlisting in the Davostager Army, subsequently serving on the frontlines during the Second Kundrati War. After the war she was recruited by the State Security Bureau (SSB) as an agent and eventual intelligence officer. Being inclined towards involvement in politics, due to her family background, she rose through the party ranks under rikspresident Karl Manner's government, forming an organized faction in the NVU promoting her own ideas and takes on nationalism and socialism. She was appointed by Manner as chairwoman of the Committee for Regional Questions, the leading state body investigating the major administrative reforms she eventually implemented in 5653. She was made the first secretary of the NVU in September 5648, the second highest ranking in the party after the secretary-general. Due to her faction's pressure on the party's old guard, she was made the secretary-general in November 5648, a position she held until her death in 5657.
 
In the role as secretary-general of the NVU, she pushed for her faction's leading role within the party and state. In January 5649, one of her loyal followers was made the premier of Davostag, that is the current rikspresident Rikard Verman, who they eventually pushed to have elected as Karl Manner's successor in July 5649. Another of her followers, Götilda Riddercrantz, was appointed Verman's premier. While the faction called for her to assume leadership of either the state or government, she remained content as leader of the party, using that position as the de facto leader of Davostag. Elsa Sterner, who succeeded Greta as secretary-general in 5657, was ranked lower standing than Verman and Riddercrantz in the faction, and thus became subordinated to them, unable to exert as much as influence in the position as Greta had been able to do.
 
And now, four years after Greta's death, the Riksdag has unanimously approved a proposition renaming one of the major cities in Davostag after her. Several suggestions over which city was to be renamed and what the name would be was discussed. Some suggested that while she had been important the recent decade, she was not on par with the larger figures in Davostager history, like for example Julia Neusohn, the founder of the current republic, who herself had not even received this honor; they suggested that a minor city be renamed after Greta instead. While several minor cities were considered, intervention by premier Riddercrantz resulted in the major city of Tårnbæk to be chosen. Tårnbæk is the most northern major city in Gav Långbotten (province of Långbotten), as well as the birthplace of Greta and her entire family. The first name to be suggested was Gregerstad ("Greger City"), which was favored by most of the Riksdag committee responsible for the name change, but was ultimately archived as some pointed out that the name would not sit well with the ethnic Davostani inhabitants, who call 'city' as by instead of stad. Which subsequently turned the committee members to suggest Gregerby, but several from the national conservative old guard found it problematic to include Greger- in the name of the city, stating that it could suggest legitimizing the other three members of the Greger family, who has instead become symbols of opposition to the current regime. It was then some academics on the committee who suggested the name Gretefred, meaning "Peace of Greta", in reference to having met her brother (who led the militant CRDP at the time) in the city for a truce and subsequently uttering her last words demanding peace. The name was approved by the committee and immediately after by the Riksdag, with rikspresident Verman to sign the motion this evening. As it was approved, the government announced that premier Riddercrantz would travel to Tårnbæk, now Gretefred, to hold the renaming ceremony. 
 
However, despite all the public promotion of the renaming, no actual poll was conducted to see what the Tårnbækers actually thought about all of this, especially since the city is still a major stronghold of the opposition. One might have thought that the name Gregerstad could have brought a much needed unity and reconciliation between the government and opposition, but now they have to live as Gretefreders, named after the one member of the Greger family they rather hope to forget about.
 
News report written by Sam Oliversson.