新朝報 (2013)
Huenanese visit to Chimor leads to prospects for infrastructural projects
(July 26) - During and around the Exumbran Council Meeting, a group of representatives of the Huenanese government and construction industry have visited a number of sites in Chimor and conducted talks with various national, regional, and local authorities. Chimor has a very undeveloped infrastructure, which hampers its economic development. At the same time, Huenanese construction companies are looking for projects outside Huenan. However, although much can and needs be done in Chimor, it is unlikely that the country can pay for this itself. A spokesman for the Huenanese construction industry remarked in a press conference that there are good prospects for infrastructural projects carried out by Huenanese companies, partially employing Chimorese workers, and co-funded by Chimor, Huenan, and the Exumbran Convention. However, nothing concrete has been agreed upon or decided yet.
first Exumbran Council Meeting is a step forwards for democracy
(July 26) - The first Council Meeting of the Exumbran Convention that was held in Chimor yesterday accepted a joint Huenanese/Kronenburgish proposal aimed at the promotion and protection of academic freedom, freedom of the press, and related freedoms. The original Huenanese proposal restricted scientific subsidies by the Convention to countries with sufficient freedom. Kronenburg, however, suggested some changes in the proposal making it stricter and less strict at the same time. It became "stricter" by means of a higher threshold, and "less strict" by giving countries some time to adapt. Although some details still need to be worked out (see the Exumbran Council Regulation on the Monitoring of Freedoms), it seems likely that Harrawi will need to make some minor changes to still qualify for Exumbran subsidies in three years time. Dhram Phá, on the other hand, will lose its right to Exumbran subsidies in one year, unless it makes very drastic changes. Not surprisingly, these two countries were the only two that voted against. The Dhramphanese Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Nuâ Lau, even left the conference room in anger after the Regulation was accepted.
Other items on the agenda were the 2014 budget, and two large funding requests by Khusqaikama and Chimor. Huenan and a few other countries were initially critical about the Chimorese request to use economic development funds for an environmental project, but after president María Morillo Vargas explained the project, most countries changed their mind and voted in favor. The Khusqaian project is for a new bridge connecting its two largest islands. The Convention will only finance a tiny percentage of the costs of that bridge, which was and is a reason for the Huenanese government to worry. However, there have been suggestions by the Khusqaian government that Huenanese expertise will be sought in this project.
With regards to the budget, the Exumbran Parliament submitted a motion to review the budget next year, and Huenan and Kronenburg, the two largest contributors, were in favor of this proposal. However, many of the developing countries - perhaps fearing reduction or even loss of the Exumbran development subsidies - votes against the proposal. Nevertheless, it seems likely that such a review is going to take place anyway, considering that Huenan and Kronenburg could easily threaten to stop paying (or even leave the Convention).
E Rən-fu critical of Dhram Phá in interview
(April 18) - In an interview with 新朝報 (see printed edition for full text), minister of foreign affairs E Rən-fu (黽良富) criticized the lack of progress of the Dhramphanese economic and political reforms, and the continuing lack of openness in (and about) the country. Huenan accepted the Dhramphanese membership of the Exumbran Convention - according to E - on the condition of reform, or more specifically, on the condition of actualization of the reforms promised by chairman Niam. However, nothing has changed since Niam became chairman and recent events don't give any indication that anything will change in the near future. Rather in the contrary, Niam lost some of the reformers in the Central Committee and these have - it seems - been replaced by more conservative party officials, but there hasn't been any official announcement of the changes in the Central Committee yet. As always, Dhramphanese politics are shrouded in mystery, and this does not suggest any change in the country's political culture, and thus, any change towards reform. In response to our reporter's question whether E thinks that there should be political consequences of the lack of progress, he replied that he thinks so "personally" (whatever that may mean), but he refused to give any indication about what kind of consequences he has in mind.
update (April 19) - In his usual Friday morning press conference, president Mou refused to comment on the interview.
revised health care reform bill passes with 55 votes in favor
(February 18) - The revised health care reform bill passed National Congress today with 55 votes in favor. Last December, president Mou postponed the third round of voting on the bill to make amendments and gain sufficient support. By slightly increasing the number of medical procedures that will be fully or partially paid for by the state, Mou gained the full support of the Communist Party (CPH, 12 seats). This compromise cost him some of the support by the Land and Sea Party (LSP), and by part of the United Buddhist party (UBP), and even of one Congress member of his own party, the Democratic Party, but the gains were larger than the losses, leading to a small, but important victory for the president.
Some observers suspect that Mou had to promise pension reforms to CPH to get them to support the bill, however, which may force him into a difficult situation again soon. In general, the polarization of Huenanese politics, is increasingly changing the president's job into a tightrope, and some are already betting on when the next elections will be held, and whether the president will be able to finish his current term (until 2016).