Luthori

[Ligbruderkrieg]

Labour-dominated Parliament overwhelmingly passes Foreign Assistance and Weapons Deliverance Act.
October 5663



Parliament passed the Foreign Assistance and Weapons Deliverance Act, regulating the government and private sector’s ability to sign contracts with other nations about the sales of Luthorian weaponry. This bill, defended in the House and Senate by both Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Thomas Coverty and Secretary of State for Defence, Thomas Grant, as a way to both answer calls for increased government oversight over the rising military-industrial complex and to restrict potential ability by companies to fund regimes with whom Luthori do not maintain diplomatic relations or if maintained, are very bad.

The Foreign Secretary introduced the idea of creating a framework for regulating and empowering the Federal Government in the matter of arms dealing, as current Luthorian law is unclear on the critical subject. The Prime Minister’s National Security Advisor, Mrs. Pam Romero (Egelian-Luthorian) stated through social media that “...allowing our private military industry, blinded by greed and easy gain, to fully and independently control such a critical part of Luthorian security, we can’t allow, as a sovereign state, to see our principles being potentially trampled over by greedy entrepreneurs…”, such statement were immediately followed by harsh criticism by employers and big businesses, with the President of the Luthorian Employers’ Association, Joe Eagleton, stating that the declarations from the National security minister were “baseless” and “highly outrageous”. Mrs. Romero was planned to be one of the main pushers of the Bill in the Chamber of Representatives, but after her comments - now removed, the Prime Minister chose to bet on her two senior ministers to work with a favourable Senate to pass the Bill.

Strengthened by her party’s electoral victories in key provinces in 5662 and subsequent Senate plurality in 5663, Prime Minister Miles found the necessary political capital to push for this type of controversial law that wouldn’t have otherwise passed with a Conservative-dominated Senate. The Act recently passed was simple, in the present day, in present increasing tensions worldwide, the Government found the necessity of hardening regulations upon the defence industry’s ability to independently negotiate defence agreements, bringing up an old law from the 5300s that hasn’t been properly repealed, while the Cabinet, in their eyes, has full prerogative over this complex national security issues, in front of a judge, that interpretation of the law wouldn’t necessarily pass - as current Luthorian law leaves to private corporations the ability to freely sell their products to any clients - be it personal, organisations or foreign states. According to the Imperial Foreign Intelligence Agency, this loophole in the law creates potential “high security” risk for Luthori - as nations that could be considered as “enemies” could freely receive Luthorian armament.

“Luthori - for her own security - must immediately codify and restructure the way that foreign arms deals are negotiated and regulated. It is not without any fears of potential security risks to Luthori’s national sovereignty that we are making this call. The Cabinet must and should be empowered to deal with such trade agreements - with the Prime Minister being able to put his/her veto to any contract that is brought to her desk if they oppose it.”, this was an excerpt from the IFIA’s statement, the Cabinet’s solution? A select committee within the Government to review any potential agreement before approval by the rest of the Cabinet. This committee would be formed of the Prime Minister, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, the Secretary of State for Defence, the Minister of State for National Security and the Chief of Defence Staff, with others being potentially invited to take part of the meetings but not allowed to vote. The Defence Secretary assured that the slimmed-down committee would be “able” to come to quick decisions and avoid “losing time with unnecessary discussions and arguments”, in these committees, the Prime Minister holds a right of veto explicitly if the head of government votes no, apart from that, the agreement is approved and sent to the Cabinet for final approval if an absolute majority of members vote in favour (⅗). 

The Bill also fixes the limitation upon which the committee’s jurisdiction is fixed, the so-called “Privy Council’s Committee on Armament Commerce” would only be dealing with contracts which are concerning other sovereign states or groups that are “deemed threatening enough for world stability” by the Luthorian Government, as well as a “watcher right” on all selling concerning high-grade and heavy equipment, other than these lines, the committee wouldn’t intervene in the selling of light weapons to persons.

The Opposition saved her political capital for other fights and in fact, agrees with this codification and formation of the committee, with Senate Minority Leader, Jack Hill (Conservative) stating that the Bill is “necessary” to reassure the Luthorian people about the state of its security apparatus. The Bill passed with high support in both Houses of Parliament, neither the Communist Party or the Radical Democratic Party endorsed the Bill, calling it “imperialist” by nature, for Communist Party leader, Sylvia Hoche, Luthori “shouldn’t be selling weapons of death and destruction in exchange for a profit - in what kind of world are we living, where we are prioritising wealth over the life of human beings?”, numerous pacifists and radical left-wing organisations backed her statements, with numerous statements on social media calling for her to become Prime Minister, although, with 12 seats out of 434 in the Chamber of Representatives and no representation in the Senate - this isn’t going to happen soon.