Dundorf

[Drax]

ODERVELD - LEUCHTFEUER

NEW TLD COMES IN THIRD IN BUNDSTAG

Bundestag, January 16, 5624: Team Liberaldemokraten (TLD), with 11.42 % of the vote and 72 seats came in third in the recent Bundestag elections.
 
The party is a new party not hitherto represented in the Bundestag.  ODERVELD – LEUCHTFEUER inquiries indicate the party was formed by Friedrich Alvensleben, a lobbyist for Marcks Feierreisin, AG, the firm at the heart of the Dundorfische diamond industry.  Alvensleben convinced a number of financial and industrial interests that an actual pro business party was needed so financial backing was thus easy to obtain. 
 
Alvensleben is the TLD Treasurer and the principal organizing force in the party. He is on the Board of Directors of Muselbergen Tol und Sterben, the machine tool making giant and of the Steigerwald Group, the outstanding diamond cutting company, as well as of Marcks Feierreisin where he is Vice President for Public Relations.
 
Maximillien von Kluge appears to be the primary spokesperson for TLD and will serve as the TLD Bundestag Floor  Leader.  He has spent most of his career in military intelligence in Ableitung VII of Oberkommando Bundeswehr although he taught mathematics at  Karl Ulrich Universitat in Unterschloss at some point after active duty in the Luftwaffe as an F- 16 pilot.

The TLD is pro business and supports international trade and a low level  of business regulation as well as a highly professional modern military. TLD favors traditional values for personal conduct, religious freedom and a  balanced  budget.  ODERVELD – LEUCHTFEUER believes from its investigation TLD is properly described as conservative.

It is further expected will seek to cooperate with ruling parties since it appears to want to be part of government.


TLD's Alvensleben

[Drax]

ODERVELD-LEUCHTFEUER

NDZP'S KALTENBRUNNER ELECTED BUNDESPRASIDENT

Dunburg, April1 16, 5624: Today the gathering was held to elect the Bundesprasident. Voting were the members of the Bundestag and an equal number of delegates selected by the Bundeslander legislatures.
 
Dundorfische Rote Front (DRF) nominated its party leader, Otto “Putzi” Haefstaengl, while Dundorf Sozialdemokratische Partei (DSDP) nominated Rudolf Kaltenbrunner, the interim treasurer of Neue Dundorfische Zentrumspartei (NDZP).
 
It was expected that Grüne Partei für den Planeten (GPP) would nominate a candidate while it was considered possible but unlikely that Julstochische Sozialunion (JSU) would.  In fact, neither finally did.
 
The vote was ¾ in favor of Kaltenbrunner with DSDP, NDZP, and Team Liberaldemokraten (TLD) voting in favor while DRF voted for Haefstaengl and GPP and JSU largely abstained.
 
Kallenbrunner thanked the delegates for their support and promised to promptly call on the leadership of DSDP to form a government and to name a candidate for Bundeskanzler for election by the Bundestag.


Bundesprasident Kaltenbrunner

[TheNick]

Leesdorf Sworn-In as Federal Chancellor

February 5624 (backdated)

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Inaugural Portrait of Federal Chancellor Valentina Leesdorf (@Bundeskanzleramt)

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Dunburg - A few moments ago, Federal Chancellor Valentina Leesdorf has been sworn into office by the President of the Bundestag, alongside her Ministers belonging to the DSDP and NDZP, who in the end, decided to form a GroKo - as our political analysts correctly predicted previously. Leesdorf becomes the youngest ever woman to become Chancellor, just a few time after her surprising victory in the DSDP internal election that allowed her to be a Kanzlerkandidat, and despite her more radical stances, she mandaged to conduct herself in the GroKo talks. A key ally to Ms. Leesdorf is Mr. Kasper Florberg, who has been appointed as the next Federal Foreign Minister, replacing Alexander Schumacher after a very long tenure. Herr Florberg said that his priority as head of the Foreign Office is to work more closely with Extea, Istalia, Egelion - particularly relating to the Conference of Altea which is in the works of being organized - and the other nations on the Artanian continent such as Dorvik, Luthori and N&D. To the NDZP have been given key responsibilities such as Defense, Infrastructure and Trade, and a party official confirmed to the Zeitung that their priorities are nuclear energy, our military's continued overhaul and roads to better connect their rural constituencies.

[Drax]

ODERVELD -LEUCHTFEUER

TLD LEADER ON ELECTION PLANS
 
Bundestag, April 16, 5625: Team Liberaldemokraten (TLD)’s Floor Leader, Maximillian von Kluge, talked to ODERVELD – LEUCHTFEUER’s Bundestag reporter about the up coming election, saying:
 

We are hoping to gain a little strength as we emphasize that we are the one party truly representing business interests by advocating less regulation and less taxation of business interests. We are against restrictions on trade and want to trade with everybody except the two or three international Terran pariahs.  TLD is the party for business.

 
Asked by ODERVELD – LEUCHTFEUER how TLD stood on school prayer, von Kluge responded:
 

We are for school prayer.  Very much so.  But like NDZP we recognize the instability of legislation on the subject as destructive to education, so we favor compromise, the same one that NDZP favors.  Teacher led prayer being allowed in schools operated by recognized religions. We believe this compromise could last.

 
ODERVELD – LEUCHTFEUER asked the TLD Floor Leader how TLD felt military appropriations should be handled, and he replied:
 

Our military is not huge but rather emphasizies professionalism and modern technology is the ongoing approach.  Do think we could use a new mountain division for stationing in Julstoch, but maintaining current funding levels ought to be sufficient for our needs.

TLD's v. Kluge

[Drax]

ODERVELD – LEUCHTFEUER
 
FUTURE OF MERIDIA TASK FORCE
 
Defence Ministry, April 17, 5625: ODERVELD – LEUCHTFEUER sources in the Ministry of Defence learned that Defense Minister Wolfgang Prawius met today with the Chief of Staff of Oberkommando Bundeswehr (OKB), the Commander and Chief of Staff of Staff of Oberkommando Kriegsmarine (OKM) and the Commanders and Chiefs of Staff of Oberkommando Heer (OKH) and of Oberkommando Luftwaffe (OKL) to consider the status of the Meridia Task Force and more generally the Kriegsmarine.
 
Prawius indicated the government did favor its retention since if nothing else it could escort merchant ships if necessary in uncertain times and join with allies in naval as well as ground and air participation in joint forces in necessary conflicts which occur from time to time.
 
The OKM Chief of Staff indicated the Meridia Task Force had capacity for a  limited amount of troop transport by sea but not a substantial amount.  The OKM recommendation is that Meridia Task Force maintain its current function, that the patrol boat flotilla be continued and that the four ports where the Kriegsmarine may berth, repair and refuel be visited regularly to maintain access. The current ports with Kriegsmarine access are Torges, Meridia, one in Keymon and Ikradun Island which is the only one owned by the Bundesrepublik and the only one where it can do shipbuilding.
 
Asked by Prawius if the OKM would like more, the Commander of OKM responded positively.  The Defense Minister believed three other nations might be willing to allow access if properly approached over time.
 
The OKH Chief of Staff asked if any change in concept that any large scale troop movement would either be by land or air. The OKB Chief of Staff stated that was still the plan. The OKL Commander indicated the large investment in transport aircraft and tankers capable of in flight refueling meant about two divisions could be moved by air most anywhere on Terra.  As we did in the war against Seko aggression.


Defence Ministry

[Drax]

ODERVELD - LEUCHTFEUEUR

DRF’S HAEFSTAENGL ON RAISING TAXES
 
Bundestag, October 16, 5625: The Dunforfusche Rote Front Secretary, Otto “Putzi” Haefstaengl, told ODERVELD – LEUCHTFEUER the DRF is introducing tax legislation in the Bundestag to raise corporate and upper income tax rates to finance increases in benefits for disabled and unemployed citizens, saying.
 

Look, it is undeniable the Bundesrepublik is a wealthy nation; and it is unconscionable for anyone to suggest that some citizens should be poor so others can be a little richer.  Not in the Bundesrepublik where there is plenty of money to clothe, house feed and medically care for everybody bar none.
 
We would emphasize two things about our bill.  If it passes it will mean that no one needs to live in poverty. No one at all. Second, the rate increases we are proposing are not very much and will not disrupt anyone’s lifestyle or business profits to any great extent.
 
We are hopeful Dundorf Sozialdemokratische Partei (DSDP) will see its merits and that a deal can be made with Neue Dundorfische Zentrumspartei (NDZP).  But we shall see.

DRF's Haefstaengl

[Drax]

ODERVELD – LEUCHTFEUER
 
DEFENCE MINISTRY FOCUS
 
Defence Ministry, July 17, 5626: ODERVELD – LEUCHTFEUER sources in the Defence Ministry  indicate Defense Minister Wolfgang Prawius has approved the Oberkommando Luftwaffe (OKL) request to purchase thirty Rafale B/C F 4.2 from Donnerluft which produces them as a joint venture with Canraillaise Defense Systems.
 
The recommendation of OKL was that Ableitung II of Oberkommando Bundeseswehr (OKB) purchase them for delivery over the next thirteen months.  The Chief of Staff of OKB endorsed the request.
 
ODERVELD – LEUCHTFEUER  also learned the next three areas of focus for OKB will be consideration of standardizing armoured personnel carriers for panzer grenadier battalions and reconnaissance companies, a review of our missile defense systems and formation of a mountain division to be deployed in Julstoch Bundeslander.


Defence Ministry

[Drax]

ODERVELD LEUCHTFEUER

BUNDESPRASIDENT KALTENBRUNNER EXPECTS COALITION CONTINUATION

Presidential Palace, January 16, 5627: Bundesprasident Rudolf Kaltenbrunner responded to a question about the upcoming election from ODERVELD – LEUCHTFEUER by replying:
 

Frankly, I do not expect much change in the distribution of seats in the Reichstag, but you never know til the votes are actually counted.  We are stressing religious freedom and international trade.  The former is for our electoral base and the latter to attract a share of the rather broad center of the electorate that supports expanding the economy and sees trade as a vital part of that expansion.
 
Personally, I believe conditions will again be ripe for continuation of the coalition between Dundorf Sozialdemokratische Partei (DSDP) and Neue Dundorfische Zentrumspartei (NDZP).  It just seems to me that is most likely outcome.
 
But if either of the newer parties, Dundorfische Rote Front (DRF) or Team Liberaldemokraten (TLD), seriously improves its position, there could be major changes.  I do not expect any party will have a majority in the Reichstag.
 
And before you ask, the Bundesrepublik has fought in three wars since the formation of the NDZP.  We do favor and have worked for a strong, capable, professional and modern military for the defense of the Sovereign People. But we are not a party of war hoping to fight another one.

 

Bundesprasident Kaltenbrunner

[TheNick]

Balance of Power Largely Unshaken After Election
September 5627

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DSDP supporters celebrating as they watch election results in a Fuchstal bar.

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Dunburg - After all the votes are in, and after an exciting election night that started with our own exit poll predicting a neck-to-neck race between the DSDP and the NDZP, both esimated around 30%, the Dundorfian people are learning about the real results, available here, and the Dundorfian political class is ponderating 'what's next', even as the election results didn't shake up the Bundestag that much.
In fact, the DSDP lost about 20 seats, the NDZP lost only one, while the JSU had to face a more competitive Julstoch this year, losing 25 seats while everyone else gained seats, with the Greens and the Liberals getting good gains, followed by the democratic-socialist list led by Mr. “Putzi” Haefstaengl, at + 5 seats. The real surprise was the Thaller Party getting through the threshold by a hair, in the state of Oderveld, granting them 10 seats from that state, but since they didn't pass the threshold in any other state, they will go to Bundestag with only ten representatitves, an insufficient number to create a parliamentary group.
As we said, the Bundestag hasn't changed much, analysts say that the Federal President will encourage the social-democrats and the hosian-democrats to continue their Grand Coalition, but some other progressive pundit say that a "Traffic-Light" coalition between DSDP, Greens and TLD is a 'real possibility to bring progress'. Chancellor Leesdorf has declined to comment on coalition-making, citing the need to 'respect the office and the prerogatives of the Federal President', while other party leaders have different insights: "The Social-Democratic Party should join us and any other willing force in a new, progressive coalition!" said Mr. Hans Schumacher, Leader of the Greens, while  the Leader of the Julstochian Social Union, Herr Dietrich Grunwald, yelled at our mic: "To hell with the Reds! The NDZP should join back the conservative camp of Dundorf and bring Julstoch Values in Dunburg!".
Everyone can voice their opinions, but as of now, everyone is waiting for the opinion of only one man: President Rudolph Kaltenbrunner.

[Drax]

ODERVELD - LEUCHTFEUER

BUNDESPRASIDENT KALTENBRUNNER CALLS ON BUNDESKANZLER LEESBURG TO FORM GOVERNING COALITION
 
Presidential Palace, April  16, 5628: In the wake of recent elections, Bundesprasident Rudolf Kaltenbrunner called on Bundeskanzler Valentina Leesburg to put together a  governing coalition since her party, Dundorf Sozialdemokratische Partei (DSDP), received the most votes albeit by a small margin over Neue Dundorfische Zentrumspartei (NDZP).
 
Asked by ODERVELD – LEUCHTFEUER what he thought would happen, Kalterbrunner replied:
 

The DSDP – NDZP governing coalition could continue.  There are plenty of votes for that.  But a combination of DSDP, Grüne Partei für den Planeten (GPP) and Dundorfische Rote Front (DRF) has 324 votes which is enough.
 
I have no actual information on  whether GPP or DRF would have conditions unacceptable to DSDP.  My impression is that neither would propose unacceptable conditions since both would like to enter government.
 
I am as you can imagine better informed on what NDZP would try to bring together in the unlikely event Bundeskanzler Leesburg is unable to form a coalition.

Presidential Palace