After much consideration, the government of Tolomakia announced today that the Liberal – Christian-Democratic coalition in power decided to propose a new Constitution and a new Electroal Law to the Parliament. The most important change being proposed is the abolition of universal suffrage. If the proposals get approved, only Tolomakians that either have a higher-education diploma or an income above 25,000 tolomaks (approx. 20.000 euros) per year (personal or as a member of a family) will have the rights to vote and being elected.

For the moment, the government removed the word “Free” form the current long name of the nation.

According to the Constitution, the proposal first needs to be accepted by the Parliament and then validated by a Referendum.

In response, the Socialist party issued a formal protest and announced a press conference for later today.

That is a huge step for a government to take back from it's people. I pray that Tolomkia sees the wrongs in doing this.

We are shocked and appaled! Every citizen should have the right to vote and be elected!

Well Zahumlje is a monarchy however the People can run for offices at a municipal level and at the level of Dom Narodni without these income and educational constraints. Not all worthy people come from an academic background or a background of wealth. Great soldiers for example often have neither wealth nor great academic background, yet they lead people in dangerous circumstances. Further when people have certain advantages they forget the needs of other segments of society. This is why there is an element of elective office in Zahumlje. The elective bodies and the municipal elected officials in Zahumlje serve as an important source of advice for the House of Nobles and for Us as well. Further people who are shut out of the decision making process eventually rebel. We do not like rebellion and find that it is better to operate with some inclusion than to risk rebellions and civil wars.

Erica Sanders: Boo-hoo cry me a river you bleeding heart liberals! This step is an excellent preventative measure for weeding out the stupid and incapable voters, why do you think we get such bad politicians? because people jsut vote if the guy looks good or not, they hop on the political band-wagon, besides shouldnt the most well-informed and middle-class be allowed to vote? It would encourage others to work harder and drive economies forward, people should have to EARN there citizenship! besides the average Tolomakian makes $41 000 (lets just say Euros, i dont know what currency the GDP ranking is in), the majority if not all of Tolomakia can afford to vote, its simple promoting healthier competition amongst the citizens! congratulations Tolomakia on the radical move forward. Sometimes to get ahead in society and push the envelope of progress, you have to go so far ahead that people think your weird and insult your practices, till they too see the wonderous results of your system. Erica Sanders, out!

King Peter I says he would like to see how it plays out in Tolomakia to see if this new step has negative effects or positive effects. If they are favourable he may try to get the constituition amended just like Tolomakia in order to adopt a system just like his. thank you

Our empire withdraws all diplomatic representations from Edessia and Tolomakia until further notice.

Erica: Oh testy are we now, come on byzantium, thats a little harsh eh, well if u dont wanna talk i dont wanna trade, all trade to Byzantium has been offcially embargoed and our borders have been closed to all Byzantium refugees and immigrants, and as you've put kindly, until further notice. Thank you and have a nice day.

As we stated in the regional headquarters, we regard the abolition of the universal suffrage in Tolomakia as "regrettable" and as "a step backwards".

While the world is slowly moving toward more inclusion and more participatory democracy, the Tolomakian government chose to put its country "against the current of history".

It is good to see that there are strrong forces in the Tolomakian society that oppose this action, and we wish them success in their efforts.

The Thracian government does not see this change as reason enough to suspend diplomatic relations with Tolomakia. The Tolomakians are our friends, and we want to maintain our friendship. In fact, it is because we care about the Tolomakians that we feel obliged to express our opposition to this Tolomakian decision publicly.

Exactly, but until Byzantium lifts the diplomatic suspension on Tolomakia and I, the Embargo That i have placed still stands. I hope Tolomakia and i can build a further, stronger capitalist union.

The Tolomakiann Socialist Party (TSP) organized a press conference a few hours after the Government announced its intentions of changing the Constitution. Speaking in the name of the entire political opposition, Mr. Anton Stanescu, TSP’s leader, has made it clear that such change is totally unacceptable. Stanescu also made a subtle reference at a “group of liberals” that are unhappy with the current politics.

Stanescu pointed out that this new proposal of the coalition in power only shows it clear that the Government is completely under the control of the “conglomerate of multinational corporations” as the UN reports are showing. He also underlined once again the profound dissent within the population about the continuous dropping of the “civil right” and “political freedoms” ranking of the nation. In the past, Tolomakia used to be the main promoter of the universal rights of the people, ready to fight anytime against autoritarism and dictatorship. Today, the country seems to be interested only in economical results.

Moving to international relations, Stanescu thanked to all neighbor nations that were publicly against such drastic change and expressed his concern about some nations that are actually approving such course of action. Stanescu also said that “if this change will make Tolomakia the “friend” of countries like Edessia it is a shame for our nation”.

During his closing remarks, Stanescu reminded everybody that the change of Constitution needs to be approved by the people of Tolomakia. Even if the Governemnt will win the battle in the Parliament, which won’t be an easy fight, Stanescu seems to be sure that the people will reject the proposal within the Referendum.

I never called you names. And little I care for your embargo.

BAM! ;-)

Excellencies: The Tolomakian Embassy in Zahumlje was at no time under threat 1. the Tolomakians have a very good Embassy Guard 2. The Jannissaries responded by throwing up a perimiter 3. The Edessians present failed to register with the police as is required of All foreigners in Zahumlje and have been arrested by Policija Granica Zahumlje and are undergoing the deportation process. Such interference in Zahumljani internal affairs will Most Emphatically Not Be Tolerated. 4. Tolomakia may be taking a course of which Zahumlje strongly disapproves but you don't see any Zahumljani going to Tolomakia to disrupt things in Tolomakia itself. There are for example no Zahumljani troops in Tolomakia. Tolomakians may freely travel to and from Zahumlje. So long as they register with the police and abide by Our laws they are welcome to visit here. We feel it will be good for Tolomakia and for business here. After all they can see how we manage things here and who knows they may learn something. Edessia however has made the S list for sending troops on our soil. That is a breech of the customs of this Region. R.A.Z. (Royal Army of Zahumlje) are on alert. So are ZRAF (Zahumlje Royal Air Force).
Tolomakia is completely correct in regarding Edessia's behavior in this instance as a threat.
Best Wishes
Katarina of Zahumlje
Ruler of Zahumlje and Donjih Kraj

This is posted in NS Regional Forum. We want to thank Paradizia for it's support. We are putting Edessia on notice that incursions on Zahumljani territory will not be tolerated. Incidentally deportation procedings in Zahumlje for behavior of the sort recently indulged in results in permant denial of entry to Zahumlje. We take interference in Zahumljani internal matters very seriously whether it is with NL weapons or the ordinary L kind of weapons. NL weapons can wound. If we hear that any Zahumljani have been injured there will be lawsuits. Zahumlje is well known for it's lawyers....
Best Wishes
Katarina of Zahumlje
Ruler of Zahumlje and Donjih Kraj

We want to kindly ask Edessia to abandon its embassy in Constantinople, otherwise we will do that via use of arms. regarding the Tolomakian embassy, it is under heavy guard.

It is very clear to the Thracian government that Edessia has become the most serious problem in our region.

First, there is a quasi-civil war going on inside Edessia with a break-away republic threatening to fight the central government.

Second, the government of Edessia is attracting the reaction and anger of almost all nations in The Balkans, including those it considers its friends. It is doing so by involving itself in an issue that has to do with another country (Tolomakia), without the invitation or call for support from that country.

So, this country's internal and external affairs are in a very serious crisis.

If there are no signs of imporvement, we may need to "remove" this locus of crisis from our region, just like an infected or cancerous tissue that has to be removed surgically from one's body.

Paradiszia has invited Zahumlje and The Eastern Roman Empire to join an embargo against Edessia. Zahumlje, I do strongly suggest that you bring the Government of Edessia to the BICJ just for putting military personel into your nation.

Tolomakia, Paradiszia still considers you a friend, and our only dissent is your constitutional changes. As a friend, I advise you to publicly condem the actions of Edessia, and, frankly, tell them off for getting involved in Tolomakian affairs.

ooc:Thracia, you know damn well that if I ever rolepayed something like Edessia just did, you'd have Paradiszia out 1-2-3. That is why you ejected TNRC.
Anyway, I would fully support the ejection of Edessia if it comes to that, they've done nothing good that I could see.

1-2-3 as in "three strikes and you're out?"

That was the case with the Old Tsar. We're not there yet in the case of Edessia.

[And, by the way, Paradiszia, wasn't it you who said "forgive and forget"? ;-)]

The government of Srpska Kosovo is unclear concerning the causes of the anti-Edessian movement that seems to be forming. We will reserve judgement until the situation becomes more clear.

It has come to the attention of Islam-judaism that Edessia does not even border Tomolmakia, but The bulgairte. this means therefore that edessia must have crossed through the bulgarite in order to go into tolomakia. just bringing that to the attention of the region.

Also, Islam-Judaism asks Thracia's permission and the confederacy if we can send our only aircraft carrier into the black sea to try and resolve the conflict and with that send in marines to try and control the situation within edessia and also difuse the hotspot. we hope we can be of some service.

In the forum for the Socialist League, Edessia has implied that it would withdraw or even that it had already with drawn its troops from Zahumlje.

So, while we appreciate CKIJ's willingness to contribute to the solution of this problem, we believe that sending an aircraft carrier to the Black Sea is unnecessary and that it may lead to further escalation.

What we need now is de-escalation, not escalation.

Excellencies: We really dislike Embargos as a means of sorting things out. We quite agree with Thracia that there's been enough damn nonsense.
In actual fact the troops in question were deported.
We don't see any need for a military buildup in the Region either.
That doesn't help anything.
While we understand Edessia's need to defend it's strongly held ideology e thingk the best thing is to live one's own principles and if they are correct principles others will follow your lead.

Heavy guard, when the police got there, there was no one in the embassey but 3 diplomats...and a janitor. Yeah uhm go ahead and shoot my diplomats and Ambassadors, then face the consequences. If your Militiamen lay a finger on my ambassadors...There pulling out now if you want, as for the embargo, It still stands, whatever, it doesnt hurt us either, but this sint favourable i think for anybody, it'd like to restore communications and work to rebuild relations with the regiona gain if you dont mind. Those police forces have been long gone, so i dunno what your worrying about.

where'd u get the impression that i said u called me names? oh well if u read the message boards on our region in nationstates you'll see that Erica Sanders has stepped down now and there have been much consitiutional change that i wish to elaborate on.

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CONSITUTIONAL CHANGES IN EDESSIA Commander-In-Cheif a seperate position
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although Edessia isnt becoming socialist any time soon, there have been changes made to ensure that radical, tempered presidents dont command the armed forces and policing agencies as well. A resolution has been rushed in by the New President Piotr Rychlik; stating that the president will no longer have the combined powers of Commander-In-Cheif of the armed forces and President of Edessia. the Commander-In-Cheif has been made a seperate position, and can overide unauthorized (by the UN security council or other authority powers) request to illegally move in any sort of forces into territories that are not under Edessian Control. Also a Prime Minister has been appointed to ensure the executive branch can function intact and honestly, and the president has been relegated into safeguarding the Constitution and protecting Ethics and ensuring all new laws and policies adhere to the constitution, much like in Italy or Germany where they have a President and Prime Minister. The New prime minister is Kazmieriz Szczpanski. This has been done in hopse of restoring friendly relations with all nations of the balkans, and as a kind gesture the Embargo has been lifted from Byzantium. a referendum will take place tommorow.

Piotr Rychlik, President of Edessia, Out

We demand you stop calling our country with swearing names. We are not pagans, we are Christians.

We appreciate the lift of Embargo and hope you will turn to be more democratic and free.

Paradiszia, we will not declare emgargo unless we are forced to. And we hope not to be forced, but at this time, anything may happen.

No, Thraica. "1-2-3" as in the number of seconds it would take for you to kick me out. ;-)

It just makes me mad to see people are sill getting away with 'Old Tsar' antics....or maybe it's because I don't like copycats.... ];-)>

Don't cry Paradiszia, I still think you're evil. j/k

To Paradiszia: please see our previous post regarding our reaction in the case of Edessia:

http://invisionfree.com/forums/Balkanic_Un...p?showtopic=581

To The Eastern Roman Empire: thank you for guarding our embassy, it is very kind of you! Can you please also provide some entertainment, like concerts or fireworks for the people inside?

The “New Constitution” law proposed by the Government has been brought today for the first time in the front of the Tolomakian Parliament. Among other minor changes, the big issue is the abolition of universal suffrage. The project is still somehow different than what has been published before: in the new perspective, the right to vote can be obtained either by gaining a higher education diploma or by paying a minimum amount of taxes in the previous fiscal year.

In the morning session the prime-minister, Mrs. Eleonora Banescu, briefly presented the reasons behind the new proposal. First of all, said Mrs. Banescu, there is the problem of ownership. The public programs are made with public money, so it’s only right that only those who are contributing will have the right to vote. That’s why paying taxes should be the main criteria that will allow somebody to vote and be elected. However, it may happen that citizens of Tolomakia that are engaged in a longer educational career won’t be paying taxes for many years after they graduate. It would be a shame if such distinguished citizens can not contribute to the welfare of the country and that’s why having a higher education diploma should also be a criteria when awarding voting rights.

Speaking about the side effects of the proposal, Banescu shown that only a small percentage of about 5% of the citizens will be excluded from the voting pool and most of them weren’t voting anyway because they are not registered, being either homeless people or “indifferent citizens”.

The next announced speaker was Mr. Andrei Mihnea, the Foreign Affaires Ministry, known as one of the main liberal ideologist, who was supposed to further explain the content of the new proposal. Surprisingly, Mr. Mihnea canceled his intervention motivating his gesture with the busy schedule he has because of the current dissent in regional affaires after the unprovoked hostile maneuvers of Edessia. However, this may have something to do with the previous rumors regarding a clash between Mihnea and Banescu and a possible internal conflict inside the Liberal Party.

Considering the fact that the content of the proposal is different than previously announced, the President of the session decided to postpone the discussion for Monday morning. This way, all MPs will have the opportunity to read the proposal.

During the entire session about 3.000 people gathered outside the Parliament house to protest against the proposal, at the call of the political opposition and Civil Society Organizations. At the beginning, the protesters were rather angry and a major security incident was about to happened when the prime-minister arrived. A group of radicals released what seemed to be a dangerous linux penguin and the animal was heading towards the head of state. The security forces promptly captured the intruders and in the end the animal proved to be only e regular harmless penguin.