Wednesday, December 07, 2011

Final Results

Final Results by percentage:

Prime Minister:
Jolyon Lloyd-Davies of the Liberal Party--100%

Advisory Council:
Liberal Party--50%--4 seats
Expansionist Party--12.5%--1 seat
Liberal Socialist Party--12.5%--1 seat
Conservative Party--12.5%--1 seat
Independents--12.5%--1 seat

Senate:
Expansionist Party--51.9%--10 seats
Liberal Party--37%--8 seats
Kemetian Farmer Labor Party--11.1%--2 seats

Tuesday, December 06, 2011

Election Results Released

06/12/2011--FIRST CITY--Dexter O'Connell, President of the Electoral Commission of Kemetia released the official results from last week's Prime Ministerial and Parliamentary elections. Last Friday, a gathering was held at the Kemetian Embassy, Chicago, attended by members of the Parliament, other officials and friends, who enjoyed canapés and mulled wine while listening to the announcement.

This election season has proven to be most interesting and turbulent, truly changing the face of Kemetian politics and policy. While originally only two parties were confirmed to be in the running for the Senatorial elections, a third declared itself to the Commission only hours before the polls closed, leading to an extension of voting, as well as a new party in the Parliament.

The eight members of the Upper House, the Advisory Council, were all confirmed by the People, although Councilor Lori Ossip of the Conservative Party was rejected by 4% of the vote, and Councilor Ciaran Yeo of the Liberal Party by 7%. Since both these Councilors won over half of the vote, they were confirmed regardless. The new Advisory Council is comprised of Independent Sir Alexander Cole, Ciaran Yeo of the Liberal Party, Johansen Amin of the Expansionist Party, Shawnteal Peery of the Liberal Socialist Party, Lori Ossip of the Conservative Party, Arran Marais-Gilchrist of the Liberal Party, Lachlan Marais-Gilchrist of the Liberal Party and Maksymilian Fus-Mickiewicz of the Liberal Party. The two vacant seats, created by late withdrawal of two candidates, shall be filled at the opening of the Parliamentary session in the new year.

Senatorial elections were hard fought between the incumbent Liberal Party of Prime Minister Jolyon Lloyd-Davies and the new Expansionist Party of Johansen Amin. Additionally, the Kemetian Farmer Labor Party made a strong performance.


In short statements before the announcement of the results, the party leaders reaffirmed and explained more fully their positions. The Liberals continued to run on their platform of past success, basing their claim to power on their exemplary track record and dedication to popular rights, as explained by President of the Electoral Commission Dexter O'Connell, who stood in for Mr. Lloyd-Davies who was unable to attend the event due to duties elsewhere.


Johansen Amin of the Expansionist Party set forth his ideas for governance in a carefully prepared manifesto, which espoused a break from the traditional state-driven principles of the Lloyd-Davies Administration and advocated a system based on true individual rule and belief in sovereignty, focusing on cultural creation and self-determination.


James LaRocque, chairman of the Kemetian Farmer Labor Party, explained to the assembled that the only way to realize true growth of the nation would be to concentrate on the establishment of agrarian credentials for the nation, with an emphasis on green space and farming-based advancement.


The Senatorial elections proved exceedingly surprising for observers, who had expected the Liberals to continue their past victories. In the end, the Expansionist Party came out on top, winning 51.9% of the vote and 10 seats in the Senate, followed by the Liberal Party with 37% and eight seats. The KFLP won only 11.1% of the vote, but still managed to secure 2 seats in Parliament.


Shortly after the announcement, the Expansionists and the KFLP formed a voting bloc within the Senate, and it is expected that a formal announcement of the coalition will be announced shortly.


Even with his defeat in the Senate, Lloyd-Davies still managed to be elected Prime Minister for another 2-year terms, showing continued commitment on the part of the people to the traditional members of the Kemetian political establishment. If Lloyd-Davies serves his term in full, he will have been consistently reelected for 8 years, and become the second longest serving member of the government, after the King himself.


Further charts and data shall be released by the Tribune as they become available. 



Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Election Process Underway

21/11/2011--FIRST CITY--The government has announced today the formal preparations for the December 1st Parliamentary and Prime Ministerial elections. The Electoral Commission has been vigorously encouraging citizens to become involved, and has released several key forms.

Earlier this week, the Supreme Constitutional Court (SCC) selected names from a list of prospective members of the Advisory Council for approval by the People on December 1st. Johansen Amin, Minister of Research and Development, has been confirmed as the only candidate to respond to the request by the SCC so far, and was very enthusiastic about the prospect of election to the Upper House.

"My goals will be oriented towards creating and developing self-sustaining culture within the Kemetian community that will offer more legitimacy and recognition to our nation", Mr. Amin said earlier in a candidate statement to the Electoral Commission. He added that "it goes without saying that I will also seek to advise our Monarch on the nation's affairs whenever possible."


Mr. Amin, a citizen of the Kingdom for some years, presents an interesting technocratic alternative to the mainstream party-political candidates, himself not affiliated with any party and an expert in medicine.


The Kemetia Tribune is looking forward to a lively campaign season and the upcoming Prime Ministerial debates. No candidates have yet declared themselves, although it is highly likely that Prime Minister Jolyon Lloyd-Davies will run for re-election.


The Electoral Commission today released this form, allowing citizens to form a political party to be included on the ballot for the Senate and Prime Ministerial elections. As always, citizens shall choose from a list of parties, rather than candidates, to fill the 20-seat Senate, with parties selecting candidates to fill those seats at a later date. It has not been announced as yet when the forms for registering to run for the Prime Ministry will be released.


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27/11/2011--FIRST CITY--UPDATE--Nomination forms for the Prime Ministry have now been released and can be obtained here.



Monday, November 07, 2011

Supreme Constitutional Court Formed

CHICAGO--06/11/2011--This evening, the Supreme Constitutional Court was officially formed for its five year term. The five new Justices to take their seats in the Court are the first under the new Constitution, and will be instrumental in interpreting the document in its early years of implementation.

Five citizens, randomly selected, form the Court, which is the final authority on all constitutional matters and disputes. While the Court has been partially constituted for some time, it was not until today allowed to take its full powers, with the addition of the fifth Justice Josh E. Amelia. He will join Chief Justice Sir Nicho Kelly, Justice Julia Nee, Justice Kaitlyn Fryzek, and Justice Charles Hughes as a Supreme Constitutional Court Justice.

Justice Fryzek was pleased to welcome Justice Amelia to the Court. "His selection allows for the correct functioning of our arm of government and opens a new chapter in Kemetian history, with a fully operational Judiciary." "We are so very happy to welcome Justice Amelia to our ranks, and hope his insights will be helpful in shaping Kemetian legal doctrine" commented Justice Nee.

It is expected that Prime Minister Jolyon Lloyd-Davies, who is starting his campaign for re-election to the Prime Ministry this month, will submit a list of prospective members of the Advisory Council to the Supreme Constitutional Court for their approval, who will then be placed before the People for election.

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Kemetia-Croatia Relations Strengthened

FIRST CITY--15/09/2011--Relations between the Sovereign Kingdom of Kemetia and the Republic of Croatia were strengthened today with an exchange of information regarding local governance in the Republic. His Sovereign Majesty King Adam I received the information this morning, which included detailed descriptions of Croatian subdivisions and the governance of those regions.

The Government is expected to review the local government structure of Croatia to aid in its quest to provide accountable and citizen-focused local government, which will eventually lead to a greater union of nations and humanity.

This is the second such correspondence with Croatia, establishing the nations as friends, even if official recognition has not been given by either one.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

King Arrives in United Kingdom for Tour

18/08/2011--LONDON--His Sovereign Majesty King Adam I has arrived in London for a ten day tour of the capital of the United Kingdom and Edinburgh, Scotland, during which he will meet with members of the Royal Family and government officials. His Sovereign Majesty will be having conversations with senior members of the Kemetian Royal Family on their role in government and charitable organizations, as well as with the Prime Minister Jolyon Lloyd-Davies of the Liberal Party, covering subjects ranging from the current financial crisis to the support of Scottish independence.

Today, the King will be travelling to Oxford to visit the Ashmolean Museum and the "Heracles to Alexander the Great" exhibit on the treasures from the ancient capital of Macedon, which has been organised by the Prime Minister of Greece and the Greek Government. King Adam I is looking forward to inspecting the objects of this ancient civilization and is interested in how they may inform the Kemetian civilization in its goals and ideals.

Monday, August 08, 2011

Economic Downturn Hits the Kingdom

08/08/2011--FIRST CITY--Stock markets around the world fell today as the effects of Standard & Poor's downgrade of the United States was truly felt. In Kemetia, government assets invested in international markets took a severe hit, damaging the government's portfolio and financial strength.

Shares held in numerous institutions by the Government caused an overall loss of 32.72% of government resources, completely wiping out gains made earlier this year. Such a fall is estimated to amount to upwards of 1800 Db in losses, a large amount not expected to be made up any time soon, according to economic analysts.

Kemetia has managed to remain relatively unscathed by the financial crisis, due to the Kingdom's lack of a stock market and the government's choice to hold most of its assets in cash rather than equities. The Foreign Market Portfolio, officially held by the Privy Purse, has come to serve as a source for some government income, although it is not a major generator of wealth. It is unclear whether the Portfolio will remain a viable avenue for meeting expenditure given the current economic climate.

The government has so far not commented on the situation, and the absence of Finance Minister creates an awkward situation for the Lloyd-Davies Administration in this time of financial peril. His Sovereign Majesty's office told the Tribune that it was looking into the possibility of liquidating the Portfolio and moving into a more solid investment, such as gold or silver.

Thursday, August 04, 2011

Letters Exchanged with Croatia

01/08/2011--FIRST CITY--Letters between the Governments of Kemetia and Croatia were exchanged today, with a view to further exploring relations between the two nations in regards to local government and democracy.  Prime Minister  Jadranka Kosor acknowledged receipt of the government's message, in which its commitment to local governance, democracy and cooperation was outlined in detail, as well as the possibility for partnerships between the countries in the future.

The Prime Minister of Croatia also notified the Government that she had forwarded the letter to the Croatian Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Gordan Jandrokovic, for further consideration.

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Royal Kemetian Foundation Inaugurated

20/07/2011--FIRST CITY--Today, it has been announced by the Royal Court that a charitable organization has been formed by His Sovereign Majesty King Adam I, which will allocate funds to non-profit organizations across the globe. The Royal Kemetian Foundation (RKF) has been established with the express purpose of relieving suffering and hardship, and will be directly managed from the Royal Court.

To date, the RKF has donated only to one project, the The Kidney TRUST, a charity supported by Justice Julia Nee of the Supreme Constitutional Court. The TRUST is committed to reducing chronic kidney disease through screening and financial assistance. A generous donation of 96.5 Db ($25) was given to the charity, which it is hoped will go some way to helping these initiatives.

Citizens and friends alike may donate to the TRUST through Justice Julia Nee's sponsorship page, which can be found here.

In the future, the RKF is planning to help many across the globe, and make sure that tolerance and hope are accessible to everyone, no matter who they are.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Ministry of Culture Unveils New Projects

28/06/2011--CHICAGO--In an announcement today, the Minister of Culture Sir Alexander Cole revealed that his ministry has initiated several projects to improve the cultural life of the Kingdom, as well as the well-being of its citizens.

"Primarily, we'll be focusing on projects that fully involve all citizens, regardless of whether they live in the central homeland or overseas territories", Minister Cole said from his office in Chicago. "I want to bring Kemetian culture to all people at the grassroots level, through a series of festivals and free art that would be accessible to everyone, even non-Kemetians."

Cole went on to detail the project he was constructing, to be held simultaneous in all territories of the Kingdom. "We're hoping to be able to coordinate with local government authorities to bring Culture Days to several areas, including the Capital. During these events, several stalls would be set up, providing representations of the local arts of that particular part of the Kingdom."

"We would also be including street artists, and other free mediums so that whomever comes to visit the event could enjoy its contents."

Currently, the project is in the planning stages, and funding is being gained from a variety of sources. Due to the Recession, the Government has been tightening its purse-strings, but it is hoped that a combination of public funding and donations will be adequate to make the event possible.

Those wishing to donate should navigate to this page to make their valuable contribution with the memo that it be directed to the the Ministry of Culture.

Sunday, June 05, 2011

Kemetian Independence Day: 6 Years On

04/05/2011--FIRST CITY/CHICAGO--Celebrations were held today throughout the Kingdom on the occasion of the anniversary of the founding of the nation. Six years on, the Kingdom boasts hundreds of citizens from across the globe, and solidarity with the country was shown through communal gatherings and merrymaking.

The King hosted an event at the Kemetian Consulate in Chicago, which was attended by many notable individuals, including the King himself, the Chief Justice Sir Nicholas Kelly, Justices Julia Nee and Kaitlyn Fryzek, Minister of Agriculture Nicholas Bailey, Minister of Culture Alexander Cole, Director of Communications Alicia Graf and the President of the Electoral Commission Dexter O'Connell.

In some brief remarks, His Sovereign Majesty outlined his commitment to democracy distinct and more liberal than currently articulated forms of that ideology, and also cautioned listeners not to be deceived by autocrats in liberal clothing. The evening proceeded with the serving of many Kemetian delicacies and convivial exchanges.

The King also took this occasion to make it known that he had enter talks with Antigua and Barbuda earlier this week, and that the Legal Affairs Department of that country was currently deliberating how to proceed with the Kemetia question.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Attack on Central Bank Files Defeated

25/05/2011--FIRST CITY--The Government of Kemetia has today revealed that in the early hours of 17th May, intruders managed to bypass the security system of the Kemetian Web Portal and upload illegal materials onto the server containing the operating system and data of the Central Bank. No bank accounts were compromised, and all information has been kept confidential and sound, according to security personnel now assigned to the Central Bank.

His Sovereign Majesty is said to be extremely perturbed by his own late notification of the security breach, telling his associates that he was only informed this morning by an independent security firm connected with the government's web hosting service.


In a letter forwarded to the Tribune by the Office of His Sovereign Majesty King Adam I, the security firm detailed how they detected the upload of files in the "illegal spectrum" on 17th May at 00:20:09 GMT, and "removed the illegal content", blocking those responsible by changing the ciphers of the Web Portal. However, the letter did not specify when the breach was detected, leaving open the possibility that intruders had access to sensitive information for up to seven days, with illegal information being uploaded during that time. While it is unclear what this information was, investigators suspect that it may have been related to financial crime, judging by its storage location on the server.

When we spoke with the King, he was audibly upset at such an unacceptable security breach. "It seems unconscionable that felons would have had complete access to the Central Bank for such a long time without it being detected by the contracted security services. I feel this is a complete and utter failure on their part, and begs the question as to whether we should be contracting our web security out to such amateurs." His Sovereign Majesty went on to explain that he would like to see new legislation put in place to reinforce informational security, once Parliament is convened. "I will be issuing a temporary Decree in the coming days, to the effect that ciphers for sensitive materials must be changed regularly, and security should be handled by professional Kemetian security services, rather than foreign agents. I shall also be establishing a Commission to investigate this grievous breach in security" This legislation would be the first on information security in Kemetian history, as is expected to constitute a Ministry for its handling.

The Tribune is currently waiting for a response from the independent security firm and hosting company on this matter, and shall report on our findings as soon as we receive a response.

UPDATE:

A response has been received from the security firm and hosting company. No details have been given about when the breach was detected, nor as to who the perpetrators were. It is clear, however, that "malicious scripts" were uploaded to the server of the Central Bank of Kemetia.

Monday, May 23, 2011

Lack of International Response to South Sudan Invasion a "farce"

23/05/2011--CHICAGO--In comments made to the Kemetia Tribune within the last few hours, His Sovereign Majesty King Adam I of Kemetia has called the international response to the Sudanese armed incursion and take-over of the town of Abyei "a complete and utter farce" and that words and condemnations did not go far enough to reproach the Sudanese forces for their act of aggression against South Sudan.

While Sudan claims that the incursion and subsequent takeover was a defensive response to a raid conducted by South Sudanese troops on Thursday, which the King strongly condemned as an obstacle to peace, His Sovereign Majesty explained that "the government of the North is clearly using one terrible incident to justify a disproportionate and crushing response."

The Kemetian Government has been engaged in communications with the Government of South Sudan since early 2011, although bilateral relations have not been established, and nor did the Ministry of Foreign Affairs seem optimistic about establishing relations when asked by the Tribune earlier today. "We are not being received warmly by the new Sudan", said a Ministry official, who declined to be named. The King did not comment extensively on relations, saying only that the untimely receiving of messages had been a problem when dealing with South Sudan.

Nevertheless, His Sovereign Majesty reiterated his commitment to preserving peace in the region, and allowing for the democratic self-determination of the South Sudanese. "It is absolutely imperative that this atrocious action not be allowed to derail the referendum and scheduled independence of South Sudan. All nations should oppose the North Sudanese invasion strongly, and with further punitive measures, if necessary," said King Adam I.

During his talk with the Tribune, His Sovereign Majesty was also pushed for answers as to why the Government had not conducted parliamentary elections yet, a problem which has become a rather serious issue for the King and the Lloyd-Davies Administration. "It is not for me to direct the electoral process of the nation," he explained, saying that it was "up to the elected government of the day and the Electoral Commission to come to an agreement about the timing for our first parliamentary elections under the 2010 Constitution." The Electoral Commission had previously stated that elections were to be held on 14th May, but has since delayed them until mid-June. The Tribune was not able to reach the Commission for comment.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Government Condemns Actions of Syria

01/05/2011--FIRST CITY--Members of the Government of His Sovereign Majesty King Adam I of Kemetia condemned the activities of the Syrian Government today, in a letter signed by the Government given to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights of the United Nations. The OHCHR has declined to comment on the letter, but has acknowledged its receipt.

The contents of the letter are published below for the benefit of the public and nation.
------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Sir/Madam,


It is the considered opinion of the His Sovereign Majesty’s Government of the Sovereign Kingdom of Kemetia that the current activities of the Syrian Government against legitimate opposition are unacceptable, and should swiftly be dealt with in a meaningful manner by the international community and the respective bodies of the United Nations.


We welcome the OHCHR efforts to voice the outrage of the international community, but we believe that a concerted effort must be made to compel the Syrian Government to allow for peaceful protest, and uphold the conventions that they are legally party to. The United Nations must stand for more than simply its constituent countries; it must stand for humanity itself, and the all-encompassing spirit of personhood, which transcends national boundaries and petty borders. Thus, it is imperative that all Syrian Government officials know the pain of transgressing upon the rights of Humankind, as it is only just that the suffering of the Syrian People rebound upon the Perpetrators of this madness.


We implore your organization to outright condemn the actions of the Syrian Government and uphold the principles for which your organization was founded. There is nothing incorrect about interfering in what appear to be internal affairs of nations that have actively opted to become part of the international community. Syria is a member of the United Nations, and as such, should be forced to be bound by the constraints of the organization.


We trust that you will reply forthwith with your opinions and actions on this matter.


Until such a time, we remain sincerely,


His Sovereign Majesty King Adam I of Kemetia


His Excellency Prime Minister Sir Jolyon Lloyd-Davies, OS


Chief Justice of the Supreme Constitutional Court Sir Nicholas Kelly

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Emperor Norton I Day 2010

08/01/10--CHICAGO--The nation celebrated its annual Emperor Norton I Day this evening, with a private gathering at the Kemetian Consulate in Chicago. Many of Kemetia's most notable citizens were in attendance, including Students for the Advancement of Kemetia's President Alexander Cole, Attorney General Jacqueline Trudeau, and His Sovereign Majesty the King himself (left).

During the evening, the King delivered an address to the assembled crowd, in which he praised Emperor Norton, Students for the Advancement of Kemetia and all citizen's commitment to personal democracy and cooperation. His Sovereign Majesty also announced the creation of an Order of Knighthood, the Order of the Sovereign (OS), to be given by the Monarch each year during Emperor Norton Day. This year's recipients included the Prime Minister Jolyon Lloyd-Davies, former Finance Minister
Arran Marais-Gilchrist and SAK President Alexander Cole. Only Mr. Cole was present to accept his honor. Neither Lloyd-Davies nor Marais-Gilchrist have formally acknowledged or accepted the honor.