Vanuku

[Kubrick]

Riots after controversial "Royal Law" stalls in Grand Council
5 May 5590, Wiel, Kingdom of Wrnuke, Empire of the Jelbic Peoples


Members of different factions of the New Constitution Movement brawling in the Grand Council during a heated session.

A major crisis for the new cabinet under Prefect Herlkai Cahn has erupted with the stalling of the new "Royal Law" proposal. While initially many felt that Emperor Wrntukai II would endorse progressive proposals and let the 'Young Guard' that supported him enact several reforms it is now turning out that the Emperor expected things to go rather differently. The conservative faction within the New Constitution Movement (SAG) has proposed, allegedly upon the request of the Emperor himself, to draft and enact a special law giving the monarch far-reaching executive powers and further limiting democracy in Wrnuke. The Constitutional Amendment to Safeguard the Monarchy and Fortify the Empire, more commonly referred to as the "Royal Law", was brought to the floor during a rather heated debate. Chairwoman of the Grand Council Kuldrmai Brnas was forced to call a recess after a brawl broke out between the conservative and progressive factions of the SAG. In the end the debate over the controversial pro-monarchist bill took four days and was widely publicised. 

The massive media attention caused an outrage on social media, as the younger generation reacted badly to the proposals drafted by the Emperor's own faction. The outrage did not remain online as protestors took to the streets in large numbers. Prefect Cahn called for calmness and asked protestors to disperse but his requests were not heeded. Nonetheless, the Prefect also instructed the police to let the protests transpire peacefully. This went well for the first two days but on the third day senior conservative representatives tried to bar progressives from entering the Grand Council, with one going as far as to threaten the Chairwoman to start the voting without a quorum. This news quickly spread to the protestors outside, who then escalated to violence themselves. The Prefect, ranked amongst the progressive flanks, refused to send in the army and travelled to the Grand Council instead. Officially cabinet ministers have no seat in the Grand Council but Cahn inserted himself in the process in an attempt to stabilise the situation. Violent clashes are happening all across major cities in Wrnuke, with the government sector of Wiel being described by some as a "warzone". The Emperor has not responded, he travelled shortly before the escalation to Narikaton & Darnussia to meet with Queen Theodora.

Krsyiji Sagmot'l (United Media) is the national news agency of Wrnuke, it is decidedly pro-government but can at times be critical of it.