New Zimian Government Funds Ossyo Powerplant

Amia 10, 805 WG: The New Zimian government confirmed today that it will nearly double its investments in the nation’s energy industry, by constructing a nuclear power-plant in Ossyo, in the Realm of Bayen.  The new power-plant, which will be managed by Ossyo Energy Corporation, a subsidiary of the nation’s government, will provide the entire Realm of Bayen with electricity, which is currently scarce in the region due to a lack of technological innovation.  Although the exact details of the plans for the new power-plant have not yet been laid out, it is believed that the Ossyo plant will operate on a smaller scale than the plant which has operated in Seemsy since the 780s, while producing a comparable amount of electricity.

Since the establishment of Seemsy Energy Corporation in the mid-780s, the New Zimian government has invested around 130,000 Polis into the nation’s energy industry, annually.  In other words, the government, since the 780s, has devoted approximately 44% of its budget to developing the energy industry.  With today’s approval of a second power-plant, the nation’s government has committed to expanding its investments in the energy industry by around 16%, meaning that energy expenditures now constitute around 60% of the nation’s budget, not including the government’s sizeable investment in efforts to extract and export uranium from the North Antarctic, which constitutes another 19% of the national budget.  According to Goo Gat, Senior Business Correspondent for the Standard, it is likely that the government will continue to maintain significant investments in the energy industry throughout the foreseeable future.

“The government has made it clear that it is committed to providing a consistent, reliable supply of energy to the peoples of Northern and Central Corum,”  says Gat.  “It is unlikely that we will see any major investments in any other industries, for at least a few years.  In all likelihood, the national government will leave it to regional investors to fund other industries, such as agriculture and commerce.  While it may contribute some funding to those efforts, most of the government’s focus will remain on the energy industry for years to come.”

The establishment of Ossyo Energy Corporation is expected to cost the national government around 103,000 Polis.  Investments in the new energy company will constitute around 27% of the national budget.

Queen Evahn I Departs For Ossyo

Amia 4, 804 WG: Queen Evahn I has set off for the shores of Lake Norton to attend festivities in honor of the relationship between the Byanese government and the leaders of the Braxia, who reside in a cavern system beneath Lake Norton.  Celebrations, which date back over 500 years, will include a series of rituals involving blood-letting and sex, in addition to the consumption of several psycho-active substances produced by the Braxia.  Though the queen has stated that she will not be directly participating in most of the celebratory rituals, she has indicated that she is looking forward to learning for herself the various customs of the native peoples.  Potential political implications aside, the queen expressed excitement about the prospect of meeting with the Braxia, who are the subject of fables in many parts of Corum.

“I am truly looking forward to meeting with the Braxians,” said Queen Evahn I, as she mingled with citizens and members of the press who had gathered to see her off.  “and I am sincerely thankful to the leaders of Bayen for inviting me to participate in their meetings with the leaders of Braxia.”

The nearly 1100 kilometer journey from Lucinspire to Ossyo will take the queen and her caravan nearly 3 weeks – across the foothills of the Byanese Highlands – as they travel by wagon down the roads which connect the two capital cities.  During those three weeks, the queen is expected to pay visit to a number of New Zimian and Byanese communities, which have each planned their own unique events in honor of the queen’s arrival.  Though the queen has not expressed any desire for her trip to be in any way political, observers speculate that Queen Evahn I may be using the trip to bolster her already extremely favorable public image.

“Queen Evahn I is wildly popular amongst the majority of the region’s citizens,” says Jun If, Political Analyst for the Standard.  “According to polls, around 40% of citizens claim that the queen has exceeded their expectations.  Around 20% claim that she has greatly exceeded their expectations.  Amongst the Byanese alone, around 70% claim that they support the queen’s continued role in the Realm of Bayen.    Needless to say, the queen will use this trip to Ossyo to reinforce in the minds of many, the idea that she is a very good and benevolent ruler.”

Critics of the queen’s trip to Lake Norton however, argue that the move is overly antagonistic towards the other Gamesmen tribes, who are not so friendly to the Realm of Passio-Corum, and who have remained in a state of war and infighting for several decades.  According to 5 term Solidarity Party member, Monie Oinie, who has maintained a close relationship with the queen despite a minor scandal which involved leaked letters between the two of them, Queen Evahn I runs the risk of provoking a confrontation with various regional leaders, who will also be visiting Ossyo during this time.

“The queen must be aware that she risks inflaming the ongoing tensions between certain parties that will be in attendance at the festivities,” said Oinie, in an interview with the Standard.  “I fear that certain individuals will view the queen’s presence at the festivities as an excuse to renew conflicts along the borders of Bayen.  I only hope that I am wrong.”

In addition to the risk of inflaming political tensions, the queen and her caravan will also run the risk of encountering bandits, or fugitives, or even fearsome predators, as they make their 1100 kilometer journey to Ossyo.  Upon arrival, the queen is expected to issue an address regarding future relations between Passio-Corum and the various native tribes who inhabit the Inner Desert.

Perfect Storm Yields Favorable Results For Queen Evahn I

Sai 20, 802 WG: After more than a year of debate within the Houses of Corum, and between Queen Evahn I and a disagreeable Council of Courts, the queen has issued a decree in approval of a proposal to expand the nation’s borders into the Realm of Bayen.  The proposal, which came to light after a brief military campaign against the Bayanese, who launched a series of attacks against the New Zimian border last year, was approved today following a brief press conference in which the queen expressed a sense of relief and excitement regarding the proposed expansion of the borders of Passio-Corum,

“I am pleased to approve this proposal, which in my mind reflects the cultural, political, and economic expansion of our nation,” said Queen Evahn before entering the castle’s signing room, where she signed the proposal in total privacy.  “With that said, I look forward to submitting this claim to the [Council of the Micronational Cartography Society (MCS)].”

When questioned as to what exactly she expected from the Realm of Bayen in terms of social or political development, the queen stated that she is in the process of working with local leaders regarding investment in Bayen, but that for now, she was content simply to allow the leaders of the realm to become adjusted to any changes in their political and economic structures, which might result from the annexation of their terrritory.  That said, the queen also commented that she has already begun working to authorize plans regarding the establishment of two forts in the region, which will help to defend the Realm of Passio-Corum against any threats from the South, such as those associated with the warring tribes of the Inner Desert.

“By creating a series of military installations within the Realm of Bayen, we aim to secure and promote a buffer zone between ourselves and the wars of the Inner Desert,” said Queen Evahn I.  “By maintaining a constant presence in Bayen, we will be able to promote and protect peace in Northern and much of Central Corum.”

Following the release of the decree, which authorized action regarding the Realm of Bayen, the national Bank of New Zimia allocated roughly 17,000 polis to the government of Bayen, which has suffered from instability in recent years.  Already the Byanese government set to work investing in a handful of Hammish and New Zimian companies including Anglian Grain and the New Zimian Stock Fund.  As a result of the investments which the regional government has committed to, the Realm of Bayen is expected to receive around 52,000 tons of wheat, 24,000 barrels of refined and unrefined oil, and around 1050 grams of silver, among other resources such as spices and cereals.  Though no plans are currently in the works to establish any major companies in the region, rumors have begun to circulate regarding the construction of a power-plant in the city Ossyo, on the banks of Lake Norton, in the Western Lowlands.  In addition to the series of forts being constructed in the region, the construction of such a power-plant in central Corum could serve to lay the foundation for heightened political and social stability across the Inner Desert.  Not everyone is very optimistic regarding the expansion of Passio-Corum into the Realm of Bayen.  According to Djim Ea Det, who represents the Commerce Party in the Houses of Corum, territorial expansion will not work unless the government of Passio-Corum recognizes the fundamental differences between the people of New Zimia, and the people of Bayen, who are an ancient race of non-humans, who have inhabited the continent for thousands of years.

“The gamesmen, including the Byanese, are not accustomed to the advantages and disadvantages of our society,” said Ea Det, in an interview with the Standard.  “Whether this relationship between New Zimia and the gamesmen will be fruitful, ultimately hinges upon the ability of all parties to work around, and within the confines of the fundamental differences which exist between them.  This is not to disparage the gamesmen of course – they are a fine and noble people – I simply have my doubts that they are fully prepared to accept what we have to offer, in terms of governance and economic structure.”

Though questions remain as to the practicality of expanding the borders of Passio-Corum into the Realm of Bayen, and into the Inner Desert, there is an undeniable sense of excitement in the nation regarding the new frontiers which might be opened to discovery, should today’s decree be recognized by the Council of the MCS.

Leaked Letter Sheds Light on Queen-Council Relations

Sai 16, 801 WG: A letter from Queen Evahn I to an ally in the Houses of Corum has revealed that the queen intends to approve a proposal which is currently making its way through the nation’s government, which if approved, will allow the nation to more than double its territorial claims in Northern Corum.  In the letter, addressed to 5 term Solidarity Party member, Monie Oinie, the queen expresses that while she recognizes the importance of the role served by the Council of Courts, she has doubts about whether it can be counted on to fulfill its obligations in the event that it acts in a way which undermines the ruling family, or the Houses of Corum.

“The Council will always retain the right to weigh in on all important matters, and I will always aim to honor their advice,” says the queen in her letter to her long-term friend and ally, Monie Onie. “but should they attempt to advise falsely, or should they openly deny the will of the people by refusing proposals approved by the [Houses of Corum]…then the merits of their efforts must be denied.  And I alone may serve as the denier of merit.”

The letter, which runs only three pages in length, and which was leaked to the Standard by an anonymous source, sheds light on a series of escalating disagreements over the future of the nation, such as the role of Passio-Corum in the wars of the Inner Desert, and the role of the government in developing national culture .  In regards to the former issue, the queen rebuffs members of the Council of Courts who assert that the nation should play no additional part in the conflicts which rage not far from the nation’s border, which last year resulted in a minor war against Byen, a fractured nation of gamesmen to the West of New Zimia.   In regards to the second, the Queen writes that the government should serve as a direct contributor to the artistic and intellectual efforts of the nation’s people.

“It is our role, as the ambassadors of law and order in our realm, to promote and protect the fundamental elements of our culture,” says Queen Evahn I, in her letter.  “This naturally entails that not only should we act to improve the quality of our military and justice system, but we should also act to improve the arts and sciences.”

Already controversy has arisen over the letter, as many critics of the queen claim that the letter is little more than propaganda.  According to critics such as Council Member Rafne Hife, who leads opposition to the queen within the Council of Courts, the letter does little more than serve to highlight the queen’s hypocrisy and lack of judgement, especially in regards to territorial expansion into the lands claimed by the region’s gamesmen, who have remained at war for around a decade.  Encroachment on native lands, says Hife, will do little but serve to invite additional war in and around Passio-Corum, and perhaps even worse, the destruction of native cultures by New Zimian forces.

Pictured: A map of the territory into which the Houses of Corum aim to expand. Potential expansion appears in black.

“In her letter to her friend in the Solidarity Party, of all parties, the queen has failed to acknowledge that territorial expansion into Byanese territory will likely result in an increased prevalence of conflict in Byen, as New Zimian forces are drawn into wars against tribes like the Sufji,” said Council Member Rafne Hife, who was appointed to the Council by Lucien IV.  “Despite her best intentions, the queen would have our nation contribute to the destruction of the Byanese way of life.  I for one, cannot support her, and it disturbs me greatly that she would aim to subvert the Council and its authority.”

Queen Evahn I, who has not received the widespread support which many imagined she would, has not yet commented on the disclosure of her letter to Monie Oinie, nor has Oinie, who is slated to return from vacation later this month.  One year after assuming title of monarch, many, such as Gedled Las, Council Correspondent for the Standard, have expressed the belief that the queen has become moderately frustrated by the Council, which has resisted the new queen at almost every opportunity, such as earlier this year when it failed to impose an order by the queen requiring the government to explore changes to its national security policies.

“The Council has shown that it will not necessarily regard Queen Evahn I with the respect it afforded to her father,” says Gedled Las.  “Likewise, it is clear that the queen will not tolerate a lack of respect for her office. The next few months should be decisive in terms of determining how the nation’s government will behave, and how it will operate, during the reign of Queen Evahn I.”

Queen Evahn I: “We Will Not Tolerate Regional Instability”

Sai 5, 800 WG: Queen Evahn, in a national broadcast earlier this afternoon, announced that the government of the Realm of Passio-Corum will not tolerate a standard of instability in the region, and that furthermore, the government will do whatever it requires to maintain stability, even if it means striking a swift a decisive blow in the event of any conflict, such as the one currently escalating along the nation’s Western border.  As part of the broadcast, the queen issued an explicit warning to military of the Realm of Byen, which has launched a series of unsuccessful attacks against the cities of Shirley and Seemsy.

“To the leaders of the Byanese military, I urge you to put an end to your efforts to alter the borders of the Realm of Passio-Corum,” said the queen in her warning to the Byanese military officials.  “Let your losses serve as a sign of the fate which will befall you if you do not resolve to return to your homes in peace.”

A tribe of traditionally peaceful gamesmen who have inhabited the region for over one thousand years, the Byanese have become increasingly volatile in recent years as a result of instability within the tribe’s government, which is fundamentally divided on issues regarding the tribe’s role in the wars which are currently ravaging the region of the Inner Desert.  Earlier this year, the Byanese military -under the control of the Rogue Commander Leh Mann Fo- launched a series of attacks against the New Zimian cities of Shirley and Seemsy, in an apparent effort to gain territory, and therefore leverage, in the argument over who will govern the Realm of Byen.  The attacks against New Zimian cities has been met with utter condemnation by Queen Evahn I, who according to observers, has personally authorized plans to significantly expand nation’s military over the next three years.

“Queen Evahn I has made it abundantly clear that she will not hesitate to use significant force to resolve this conflict,” says Gedled Las, the Council Correspondent for the Standard.  “In my meetings with her representatives, I have learned that the queen has already informed the Council of Courts that she will order the military to destroy the Byanese military, should the opposition’s leaders fail to surrender.”

Despite significant losses in their assaults against Seemsy and Shirley, the Byanese military is currently preparing for a large attack against Afrikaania, where they have amassed nearly 13,000 soldiers along the highway which leads to the New Zimian capital.  In response to the build-up of enemy forces outside the city, the New Zimian War League confirmed earlier this week that it has recruited nearly 10,000 additional soldiers to help defend the city against attack.  Although official records indicate that the city is only defended by around 2500 soldiers, it is believed that the War League is prepared to defend the city with closer to 13,000 soldiers, should the need arise.  According to the Standard’s Military Correspondent, Bea Gloe, that need will soon arise, not only in Afrikaania, but also in Shirley, where the War League is preparing for a counter offensive against the Byanese military.

“The Byanese are in full retreat in the Far West, after their defeat at Shirley,” says Gloe.  “What remains to be seen is, how far into the Realm of Byen the War League pursue them.”

King Lucien IV Announces Abdication

Almase 29, 799 WG: King Lucien IV has announced that he will abdicate from his position as King of the Realm Passio-Corum.  Earlier today, the King appeared atop the gates of Lucinspire, before a crowd of nearly 20,000 onlookers who gathered for the event, to announce that after nearly 50 years on the throne, he would be leaving his position at the head of the nation’s Council of Courts at the end of this year.  In his brief speech, which lasted little more than 20 minutes, the King discussed the accomplishments of the nation under his rule, with particular regard to the industrial expansion of the past two decades, while also emphasizing his hopes that the nation, under future rulers, might succeed where he could not.

“Our nation, since its founding fifty years ago, has accomplished much and failed at little, and where it has failed, it has adapted so as to prevent itself from failing again,” said the King to a cheering crowd.  “and by so doing, our nation has become a tremendous source of pride, not only for myself, but for all people who live, work, and prosper here.  Through our common efforts, Passio-Corum has come to represent the power of creativity insofar as we have become a nation unlike any other, in terms of cultural, political, and economic development.”

The King, who led the nation’s establishment in the early 750s, is beloved by the people of Passio-Corum, despite recent controversies surrounding the cancellation of a colony in Eastern Corum.  Known far and wide for his efforts to bring governance and infrastructure to all of the region’s under-served peoples, as well as for his efforts to exterminate organized crime and piracy in the region, King Lucien IV is seen as a father figure for many of the inhabitants of the region, some of whom even go so far as to revere him as a modern Hiu, or enlightened one.  Others however, regard him more moderately, as an individual who can be admired for having accomplished virtually all of what he set out to do.

“The King has done more for so many than any other, perhaps even including Lucien I,” said Ilgia Eola, a baker’s assistant from Cannassas who was present to witness the King’s abdication speech.  “That said, I don’t agree that it’s reasonable to start calling him enlightened.  He did fail in certain areas after all, most importantly in regards to foreign policy.  Surely an enlightened ruler could have put our nation on the international stage, rather than simply help to draft a few insignificant treaties with nations who hold our country in low regard.”

Despite disagreements over specific elements of the legacy of King Lucien IV, there is little doubt that the nation’s patriarch will be remembered as one of the great New Zimians, and perhaps one of the great Pallisicans, of all time.  What remains to be seen, however, is whether the king’s successor will begin to live up to his legacy.  Though the king did not name his successor in his speech, it is generally believed that he will be succeeded by his daughter, Duchess Evahn, who has returned to Passio-Corum from New Kirrie, where she was in the process of earning a degree at the University of New Kirrie.  Little is known of the king’s daughter, who has led an intentionally private life; a fact which is very troubling to many observers, who worry that the young woman is not prepared to assume the role left by her father.

“As the king’s only child, it is only natural to assume that Duchess Evahn will occupy the role left vacant by her father,” says Gedled Las, the Council Correspondent for the Standard. “What remains to be seen is whether she has any of the experience or understanding which will be required to propel our nation into the new century.  Having met with her on a handful of occasions, I can say with some confidence that she is an intelligent and capable individual, but  I must also admit that I do have some reservations as to whether she is actually prepared to take up the mantle.”

The King is expected to officially name his successor by the end of the month.

Council of Courts Calls For Cancellation of Portsmouth Colony

Almase 20, 797 WG: In a surprising, though perhaps not unexpected move, the Council of Courts has decreed that the New Zimian government will be required to put an end to efforts to establish new colonies, including ongoing efforts in Portsmouth.  The Council’s decree, which was issued early this morning, has been met with fierce opposition amongst members of the nation’s Industry Party, which leads the nation’s government, who claim that the Council is directly undermining the will of the people, who elected the Industry Party on the basis of the party’s willingness to explore opportunities to exploit resources across the continent.

“The Council has once again – for the second time in two years – overstepped its right to directly influence national policy,” says Eidod Edja, an Industrialist who has served in the Houses of Corum for three terms.  “Just like it did when it required the government to form the ill-fated commission regarding rights for the ghosts of Portsmouth, the Council has now overstepped its authority by requiring us to cancel our ongoing efforts to develop a sustainable colony in the East.”

None of the members of the Council of Courts were available for comment regarding today’s decree, but according to observers, Council is likely to justify its decision to cancel colonization efforts on the basis that the widespread conflict amongst the indigenous tribes of Corum now poses too great a risk to any colonies which might be established outside of the Realm of Passio-Corum.

“Despite the best efforts of the government to help bring peace to the continent,” says Gedled Las, the Council Correspondent for the Standard. “conflicts amongst the continent’s peoples – particularly the many various gamesmen tribes – have grown in scale and intensity, to the extent where the Council of Courts might claim that it has good reason to discontinue colonization efforts around Corum.  It is no secret that the nation’s military is not really currently designed to defend any number of colonies, should war encroach on lands claimed by the government.”

It is believed that the New Zimian government, along with Corum Expeditions, the company which oversaw colonization efforts in Portsmouth, will shift its focus to establishing communities within the frontier which still constitutes most of Passio-Corum, such as the land which divides the Regions of the West and Center from the Region of the East.  In the meantime, the Industry Party is expected to try to appeal the Council’s decree regarding the colony in Portsmouth.

“We are not fully prepared to call it quits in Portsmouth” says Eidod Edja.  “We have contributed too much time and effort to simply give up at the behest of a misguided Council.”

Council of Courts Issues Decree Regarding Portsmouth Hauntings

Almase 1, 795 WG: In a move which has proven to be highly controversial, the Council of Courts has approved a decree which will require the nation’s government to form a committee for the purpose of exploring means to extend rights of citizenship to the astral inhabitants of the colony in Portsmouth.  The tenth decree to be approved by the Council of Courts in the nation’s 42 year history, this decision by the Council has evoked criticism amongst many of the nation’s more liberal members, who question the extent to which the Council of Courts should be allowed to interfere in the affairs of the Houses of Corum.

“One must question the degree to which the Council of Courts is allowed to influence the nation’s official policies,” says Hovie Aelau, an avowed member of the Solidarity Party.  “especially when it acts in such a way which requires the nation’s legislative body to pursue goals which are not currently of the interests of the people.  If the people of New Zimia desire to extend the rights of citizenship to any group of people beyond the nation’s borders, then they ought to express that desire by voting in favor of policies which support inclusiveness, tolerance, and acceptance.  The Council of Courts should not act in such a way which infringes upon the right of the people to make that decision.”

Approved earlier today, Decree 10 comes at a time in which the nation’s government is engaged in efforts to explore and make use of reserves of the natural resources located in and around Corum.  As part of this effort, the New Zimian Government, led by the Industry Party, has worked with the Wallis Islands-based company, Corum Expeditions, to establish a colony in the city of Portsmouth, near the islands of Old Craitland, in Eastern Corum.  Established in 794 WG, the Portsmouth Colony has struggled to achieve its aims of harvesting natural gas from the reach, as a result of the large presence of ghosts who have taken to disrupting the flow of goods in the colony in an effort to prevent the colony from gaining a foothold in the region.  The decision to require the government to attempt to extend the rights of citizenship, according to Council Member Rafne Hife, comes out a desire to help the region’s ghostly people to see the benefits and advantages of the presence of the Realm of Passio-Corum.

“We believe it is important that the peoples of Corum realize that the tragedies and failures of the past need not infringe upon the prospects of the future,” says Hife, who voted in favor of the Decree.  “This applies to the astral peoples of Portsmouth.  Our decree ensures that they will have the opportunity to improve their future, despite the horrors of the past.”

The Committee which will set out to find ways to extend the rights of citizenship to the ghosts of Portsmouth will begin work by the end of the year.  Government officials have not yet confirmed their decisions regarding how the committee will be structured, or who will lead it.  It is unclear how the ghosts of Portsmouth will respond to the committee, once it is established.

Lust-Causing Creature Prompts Hunting Expedition

Memia 26, 794 WG: A group of women in the village of Newvillage have set off on an expedition to hunt and kill a creature which is rumored to play a role in the disappearance of a number of the village’s men over the past few weeks.  According to Mafi Ealoa, the expedition’s leader, the group has good reason to suspect that the area around the village has become the home to a member of the species known locally as Aisee-Lisea-Eda.

“Five men have disappeared in the past month,” said Ealoa, in an interview with the Standard.  “Two others are known to be suffering fitful sleep.  At least one has decided to divorce his wife, after forty years of marriage.  These are all sure signs of the presence of an Aisee.  We intend to find, and kill it.”

Indigenous to Northern Corum, the Aisee-Lisea-Eda is one of the region’s most unusual, and fearsome creatures.  Local lore, dating back at least six-hundred years, holds that the species possesses the ability to cause rampant, unadulterated lust in the hearts of local men.  Indeed, researchers of the species have determined, since their initial observations of the species in the 770s, that the Aisee-Lisea-Eda does indeed seem to possess a unique characteristic which allows it to play upon the hearts and minds of the region’s men.  What that characteristic actually is, however, remains unknown.

“The fact of the matter is that there is nothing specific to the creature’s physical appearance which attracts men to want to have sex with it,” said Toneu Aire, who led the team of women that researched the peculiar species as part of the King’s Zoological Survey of 759.  “Nor does there seem to be anything within its biology that overtly indicates that this ability would be present.  It seemed to me then, and it still seems to me now, that the species has highly developed psychic abilities, which it uses to accomplish its highly unusual goal of having sex with human men.  Unfortunately, we would need to capture a living member of the species in order to test this, and so far, we have failed to capture one.”

The hunting expedition leaving from Newvillage will spend up to six months looking for any and all signs of the Aisee-Lisea-Eda, which it suspects has taken up residence outside of their village.  There is little doubt amongst members of the expedition that they will be successful in their hunt, even if success does not come quickly.  Indeed, similar expeditions have largely proven effective.  Successful slayings of members of the species have been reported with increasing frequency over recent years, as hunters gain a better understanding of the creature’s habits, such as its tendency to decorate itself with the flowers of the Osra-Rabrev, which is commonly found around the mouths of local caves.

“We have done our homework, we have spoken with hunters who have been succesful, and we are ready to go,” said Mafi Ealoa.  “In due course, we shall return to our village with the corpse of this wicked beast.  Then, and only then, our husbands may return to us.”

 

 

Industry Party Favorites to Win Elections

Memia 21, 793 WG: According to recent nationwide polls carried out by the the Standard, the Industry Party is likely to win the nation’s ongoing elections by a substantial margin.  Having devoted most of its resources over the past three years to lobbying in favor of the establishment of companies such as Antarctic Energy, Southern Silver, and the Seemsy Energy Corporation, the Industry Party has managed to gain the support of nearly 70% of New Zimians, who view the party favorably for its ability to introduce policies which allow for the creation of new jobs.

In contrast to the Industry Party, which has seen a surge in support since the last election, the current majority party, the Commerce Party, has seen a steep decline in support.  Eine Sioa, the Leader of the Commerce Party, has recently come under heavy scrutiny for failing to deliver on his party’s promise to create trade routes into Corum’s mainland.  In response to critics claims that the Commerce Party campaigned on false pretenses in the nation’s last election, Sioa asserted in a press conference earlier this week that the inability of the party to deliver on its promises is a result of circumstances beyond the control of the Commerce Party, and indeed, beyond the reach of the national government.

“Unfortunately the current state of affairs amongst Corum’s various native communities is not conducive to the creation of trade routes,” said Sioa.  “All efforts to establish any routes into the Inner Desert have been hampered by the ongoing conflicts between the peoples of the desert.  At this time, we cannot support plans to fund any major operations to establish trading posts in a region in which the lives of our merchants would be endangered.”

Soon after Eine Sioa’s comments earlier this week, the leadership of the Industry Party held a press conference of their own, in which they stated their belief that it is the responsibility of the New Zimian government to play a role in bringing peace to the Inner Desert.  Furthermore, claimed the Party Chief, Invo Iasa, the New Zimian government can fulfill this responsibility by providing the region’s natives with goods and technology which would mitigate the need for conflict, by promoting self-sustainability amongst the various communities.

“By working with the native peoples of the region to improve their own systems of governance and infrastructure,” said Iasa.  “we could help to bring peace to the region, thereby creating an environment which is, in fact, conducive to new trade routes.”

The Industry Party is expected to gain a majority of votes in each of the nation’s five regions.  Though the party’s leaders were unwilling to comment on predictions regarding the outcome of the election, they expressed confidence that the party’s platform serves the nation’s populace more effectively and efficiently than any of the other parties.

“We are confident that the outcome of the election will lend credence to the notion that the Industry Party represents the true spirit of New Zimian determination,” said Invo Iasa.