Cataduanes Posted August 3, 2009 Report Share Posted August 3, 2009 Maria Eiguren, the Newly elected Lehendakari (President) of Euzkadi Citizens,I am proud to have secured the majority of your votes and look forward to dealing with the challenges facing our nation. My first priority is to push through legislation that will do away with the ‘Basque only’ policy which I believe will lead to Euzkadi becoming a stable multi-ethnic nation, I know many of my fellow Basques harbour some doubts but I wish to take this chance to assure them that Euzkadi is and always will be a Basque nation but we cannot allow that fact to oppress the considerable numbers of non-Basques who are also citizens. To this effect my government will seek to allow the use of Spanish and French in elementary education and the use of these languages in local government. My second priority is to try repair some of the damage caused by my predecessor’s stand on Northern Italy that almost brought our nation to the brink of war, in this regard I wish to extend an apology to Northern Italy for the blockade and I wish to also apologize to Southern Italy for the rash decision of my predecessor in ripping up the Southern Triangle pact, I hope both nations will be tolerant enough to allow my government to repair bridges in the interest of future relations. The third priority is to seek more economic options for Euzkadi and to this effect we shall seek greater economic co-operation with not only Europe but also nations in Africa and the Americas, we see Euzkadi’s future prosperity based on international links. The fourth priority of my administration will be to begin discussions on how to implement a more federalist structure to our system of governance, thereby allowing the provinces more say in their affairs, of course at this point we lack a clear definite plan on what form a federalized system of government will exactly take but we hope to hammer out the details in the next few sessions of Parliament. I shall now take questions from any wishing to put forward any queries… Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cataduanes Posted August 5, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 5, 2009 New President unveils plans for constitutional change. President Maria Eiguren has wasted no time in forming policy, first Euzkadi applied to join the EFTA which is in line with the current governments desire to expand trade links with Europe. The latest move by the President has seen her unveil her plan for constitutional reform which if passed will radically effect the structure of government, rendering Euzkadi a federal parliamentary republic. Federal Legislature. Under the proposed plan the current single chamber parliament, the Eusko Legebiltzarra will be disbanded and replaced by the Bicameral (Two Chamber) Kongresu Nazionala (National Congress) and will consist of Senatu Federala (Federal Senate) Diputatuen Kongresua (Congress of Deputies) The Senate will form the upper house and the Congress of deputies the lower house. Although they would share legislative power, the Congress will hold the power to ultimately override any decision of the Senate by a sufficient majority. The Senators will be partly elected (two for each province) and partly appointed by local legislatures (2 will be appointed by the local parliaments or Kortes, see below for more details on them). The Congress of deputies is composed of 140 elected deputies (20 from each of the 7 provinces), directly elected by universal suffrage approximately every 4 years. Elections will be conducted within the provinces allowing for more local representation to the Congress. Provincial Legislatures. The seven provinces will each be granted a degree of autonomy in the form of local parliaments or Autonomia Parlementua, they define the devolved institutions, powers and civil services. In addition they will also be responsible for appointing a number of senators to the Senatu Federala. The 'Zazpiak Bat', seven provinces of Euzkadi. A natural consequence of the devolving of some powers to the local assemblies will be the fact that both Spanish and French will become recognized languages in Euzkadi with provinces possessing large numbers of either Spanish (Alava and Navarra) and French (Lapurdi) speakers allowing both languages to be used in local administration and education. However this will not effect the status of Basque (Euskera) as the language of national government, higher education and the Armed forces. It remains to be seen whether this will be passed by the Eusko Legebiltzarra (Basque Parliament would in effect be voting on its dissolution) but with Maria Eiguren’s HASI party controlling a third of the legislature and her allies in the Spanish PCE and French CRM controlling another third she has reason to be confident that the reforms will be approved. However opposition is to be expected form the Basque nationalist parties (the EAS & EAZ ) who dominated the interim government under former President Jose Aizpurua. However is the ruling coalition stands united it should be able to pass the bill. The leader of the more militant EAZ , Xabier Garamendi, has called the proposal ''a gross betrayal of the Basque nation'' and has vowed to campaign against it. Xabier Garamendi, leader of the EAZ who has sworn to rally opposition to the Federal plan. Federal Capital Another sticking point is the subject of a federal capital, President Eiguren expressed her desire to move the national capital form the city of Gernika (A historical centre of Basque nationalism) to a more politically neutral location with the city of Gasteiz (capital of Araba province and known as 'Vitoria' in Spanish) being cited as a possible candidate, this issue is set to inflame the Basque Nationalists further for they see as Gernika as the sole political and cultural centre for the Basque country. New Ministers Unveiled The new set of ministers was also unveiled with 3 Spaniards and 2 Frenchmen to be found in its ranks the Union for Justice's claim to represent all ethnic minorities is visible tangible. It remains to be seen how they perform oin government in the coming months. * Alvaro de Vega, Vice-President * Jean Baptiste Soubeyran, Foreign Minister * Bixente Oiharzabal , Minister of Defense * Sebastian Grenet, interior Minister * Bernardo de Espejo, Minister of Finance * Maite Urrutikoetxea, Minister of Education * Dolores de Campo, Minister of Industry and Energy * Ainhoa Ibarrolaburu, Minister of Agriculture OOC: no questions at all??...not even one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subtleknifewielder Posted August 5, 2009 Report Share Posted August 5, 2009 OOC: OK...I just didn;t want to Ccomment OOC. Been warned for that recently. IC: Promised Land asks how all these change will affect Euzkadi's foreign policy. Will you continue to be outspoken on world events, or will you take a more hands-off approach? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cataduanes Posted August 6, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 6, 2009 (edited) IC: Promised Land asks how all these change will affect Euzkadi's foreign policy. Will you continue to be outspoken on world events, or will you take a more hands-off approach? It will certainly be more hands off, we will seek to avoid acting arbitrarily which my predecessor attempted to do. However we will continue to be outspoken in our condemnation of brutal tyranny wherever it may be found but my government recognizes the need to lead by example not direct action, therefore we will seek to cement our role as one of Europe's major proponents of democracy and human rights by diplomacy and economic prosperity. However let no one doubt Euzkadi's willingness to fight in defence of democracy and human right, if called upon we will be ready to show that willingness not only in words but also in deeds. President Maria Eiguren Edited August 6, 2009 by Cataduanes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabioviejo Posted August 6, 2009 Report Share Posted August 6, 2009 How will Euzkadi prevent civil unrest between Bask and French/Spanish factions? I understand that there are radical factions in the Bask community that are not afraid to use violence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cataduanes Posted August 6, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 6, 2009 (edited) How will Euzkadi prevent civil unrest between Bask and French/Spanish factions? I understand that there are radical factions in the Bask community that are not afraid to use violence. We must be firm in maintaining law and order, Euzkadi remains a Basque nation but one in which ethnic minorities also have a stake. I am confident that most law abiding Basques will not support violent militants should such miscreants arise. Had we as a nation carried on with the 'Basque only' policy i am sure it would have led to more militancy among the Spanish and French speaking segments of the population. Unfortunately the militants are to be found in not only the Basque political landscape but also the Spanish and French ones as well, it will be up to us (the government) to provide the framework for good governance and economic stability and should criminals seek to disrupt the national harmony they shall be dealt with as common criminals. President Maria Eiguren Edited August 6, 2009 by Cataduanes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VigilantWatcher Posted August 6, 2009 Report Share Posted August 6, 2009 The Constitutional Republic of Curristan officially recognizes Euzkadi. We ask if we can arrange diplomatic relations and trade agreements. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cataduanes Posted August 6, 2009 Author Report Share Posted August 6, 2009 The Constitutional Republic of Curristan officially recognizes Euzkadi. We ask if we can arrange diplomatic relations and trade agreements. We welcome your recognition and thank Curristan. We shall be in contact regarding a possible trade agreement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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