GIN Online

[LordGianni]

Chancellor Sanddorn promises end of sanctions

1 August 2022, 22:50 h, by Lukas Rahgen

As announced by the green-liberal coalition after the coalition talks last year, the Chancellor is eager to travel around the world hoping to improve relations between Gianatla and its neighbours around Pacifica. The efforts have not only lead to the foundation of the Concordia Entente, a trade agreement with Besern and arms deals with the Frost Empire and Sedunn, now analysts and the economy hope, strives with the USI have also been made.

Sanctions for nuclear weapons

Especially industries in the engineering sector were hit by the announcement of the Gianlucian government in early June to suspend most economic activity with the USI once again after the nuclear attacks on Straton and Hawk in Denver. While the USI was not behind those attacks, the argumentation of Sanddorn’s administration was, that the government has to sanction those, who are not willing to join the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. This step had backfired however, with a deal between train manufacturer Rennfast and the Izaakian government having been nullified shortly after the sanctions were made public. Other Gianlucian companies were hit by the counter-sanctions too, when Blanc’s government was announcing a multi-level rating system, which determines how much access companies from certain countries receive in the USI. Gianatla scored as low in the rating as the civil war torn Ryccian Federation, which equals a very limited access to Izaakian markets.

Rennfast has a deal again - yet different

This rating is ought to be raised, so companies like Rennfast may become active on those important Keylian and Beiltemmic markets again. A little help for the start, some might call it a compensation, Sanddorn has negotiated with the Izaakian administration for the aforementioned train manufacturer. While the original deal over 1000 trains for TSP-$ 36 billion stays cancelled, there was an agreement reached over Izaakian companies buying licenses to build the Rennfast Keylstar rolling stock under their own name and buy original trains in much smaller quantities for private train service providers. The only condition is, that Gianatla will lift its nuclear sanctions on Izaakia as soon as possible, yet no later than until 1 September 2022. Other agreements have also been reached on the fields of medicine and cultural exchange, yet details remain vague at the moment.

Celebrations on Unification Day

That talks went smoothly and more successful than many political analysts would have expected was also visible during today’s celebrations for the USI’s national day. Unification Day is celebrated since the annexations of Brödmark and La Montagne, being known as a big parade showing the diversity of the Izaakian state and culture. The diverse display has mostly happened behind the backs of the horseback riding heads of government, Chancellor Sanddorn and President Blanc. Still correspondents from several news stations have seen both enjoying the festivity, in which the Izaakians were not too afraid to let their President mingle with her voters and political opponents alike, albeit her having survived no less than three assassination attempts throughout the last year.
“Despite the differences, we of course still have, I would say, this visit of Izaakia on Unification Day was a first step into the right direction again. I thoroughly hope, the Gianlucian-Izaakian relations can at least normalise again”, Sanddorn commented to some reporters in the evening.

[LordGianni]

68 years later - Hazelia celebrates independence

4 October 2022, 21:45 h, by Andrea Byt

It was quick, it was deadly and it required foreign help, but Snovian prime minister Ella Lugorr has formulated at last, what many Hazelians have been waiting to hear for the last 68 years after the winners of the Great War decided to put the territory under Snovian control:
“We want the bloodshed to end and we all just want freedom. After some serious, in-depth talks, after considering national security, after agreeing on measures, that make sure, the new development shall not pose another threat to international security, the Hazelian people and Snovian government came to the conclusion that after this press conference has ended, the Republic of Hazelia will exist as its own internationally recognised entity.”

Fireworks were heard outside the city hall of Jufutu, where the press event was held within a strict security system, also backed by supposed RIM fighters. “The original plan of a referendum on the status of Hazelia will not come to fruition, however a referendum on a new Hazelian constitution also respecting the rights of Snovian and Gianlucian descendants will be conducted and internationally observed in the near future”, Lugorr added.

At least 8,000 people killed

This marks the end of what the private media has already labelled the “Hazle Revolution”. Between 8,000 and 16,000 people, mostly military personnel, has been killed according to statistics from either side. A huge role in this high death count played the fighters of the RIM. According to several reports online, their fighters were the most brutal ones from the separatist side. Therefore it worries some people, that separatist leader Hausklav, who emphasised he’s ready to run in a free, fair and democratic election against multiple opponents very soon, did not comment on how he wants to deal with the RIM fighters now present in Hazelia. Instead he has promised the retreat of any foreign military forces in the next few days, referring clearly to the Izaakian and Snovian troops with that. “Hazelia wants to be a safe haven and neutral ground in international politics. Economically we hope to be accepted at the CMEC even without Snolland supporting our bid there anymore”, Hausklav commented further on foreign policy plans of the new country.

[LordGianni]

Heat wave hits Frastinia on New Year’s Eve

31 December 2022, 16:21 h, by Lukas Rahgen

Normally Gianlucian families are preparing their tischlette now, setting up the heating plate and a preparation of different meats and vegetables to eat while watching old Gianlucian comedy and later shooting up fireworks to welcome the new year. This year those same families might not desire to have a heating plate on their table and neither are they advised to use any fireworks.
The reason for this is a heatwave, which hit the extended Frastinian region for a few weeks now and is now at its maximum. Even on midnight, meteorologists expect temperatures to remain at around 30°C throughout the country after having been at up to 43°C in some parts of the Gianlucian mainland. Efladian, Snovian, Bruuman and Scopian institutes also report of higher-than-usual temperature rises for this time of the year.

Emergency services urge to use proper sun protection and drink enough water

Chancellor’s New Year’s Speech this year from a beach

The heat wave will be addressed by Chancellor Sanddorn later today too when she will hold her New Year’s Speech (broadcasted live on all TV and radio channels at 20:10 h). In this year she will be standing on a beach near Südtor and make the Gianlucian people aware of the dangers climate change are posing to us and that this year’s heat wave might just be the beginning. Her manuscript reads: “Weather extremes are getting more in quantity and more severe in quality. With a vote for our government, you have set the path for a more climate friendly future in Gianatla and beyond, however we all must take daily action to really have a chance to limit our carbon footprint and reach the goals of the Atlantis Climate Accords until 2030.” Other topics will also include the sinking of beaches, the continued need for solidarity in the Gianlucian society and on the international stage, the potential dangers of new viruses as those found recently in Stutska and lastly the traditional thank you to all essential workers in both, the public and private sector.

[LordGianni]

Enyon and Ehrlich expand production sites internationally

14 January 2023, 22:00 h, by Johanna Reiß

The reports from foreign economic experts have been worrying investors for a few days. According to South Cordilian banks and managers, the world’s economy was supposed to shrink in 2022 with tendencies of continous decreasing GDPs in Pacifica’s most powerful economies. However, as in many other countries, the Gianlucian minister of economy Janina Kugler could also delightfully tell the press the contrary has happened. “In 2022, the Gianlucian GDP increased by 1.3%, a growth which is in the realms of what we were expecting. In 2023 we are working to achieve a little more due to several companies’ plans to create new jobs here or increase their products’ exports even more.”

Kugler was referring especially to deals made with Besern last year. Those included a Besernian-Gianlucian initiative to bring back Ryccia onto the NCU single market now that the junta was defeated, but also the opening of new production sites of car manufacturer Ehrlich, for their electric vehicles, and train manufacturer Babau in Besern. “6,000 new jobs will be created in Besern and the capabilities to meet the international demand for Gianlucian goods is expanded”, a PR officer at Babau commented on those parts of the trade deal.

Enyon still in talks, Risa in worries

Part of this year’s growth could also be Enyon and Risa. The former, as Gianatla’s biggest producer of electricity and extractor of fossil fuels, has announced it is looking for international investment opportunities in wind farms. “We knew about the Izaakian government planning on a mega project like the announced windfarm on Keyli, but we can tell you also, that this is not the only fish to catch out there. Many countries are looking towards making their energy production and consumption cleaner and with the experience of Enyon in that regard, with the assets we have, we can be a good catalyst”, CEO Janosch Beiser told GIN in the talk show “Business um 9”.

Streaming service Risa also plans to expand even further, “but it becomes more difficult” their CFO told investors last week. “We are pretty much everywhere now in Pacifica, our fellow co-applicants on the markets are not having the capabilities to become much bigger in most cases, we produce series and films with good critiques and good revenue on a regular basis, but the next steps could cost us subscribers, a risk which we cannot, but potentially must take in the future”. He was referring to the possibility Risa might introduce subscription models with advertisements due to too many users sharing their accounts globally. This would break a basic principle of Risa and could mean, current subscribers will move to their local Risa competitor. Stock value of Risa therefore decreased by 5% after the aforementioned investor meeting.

[LordGianni]

A complicated stance on human rights

9 May 2024, 09:00 h, by Andrea Byt

Foreign politics is a complicated affair as there are stakeholders inside and outside the country looking at a parliament’s and government’s decisions as well as rhetoric to then react to that country. It is a constant argument, which one calls “diplomacy”, and during arguments the line of debate should normally not suddenly change. To be viewed as an equal in an argument, to be taken seriously means, your argumentation, your foreign policy doctrine, must stay steadfast and logical.

With Pelinai recently filing a case at the International Court (WFIC) due to human rights breaches by Vrigny, a member only recently joining the ranks of the World Forum, a debate on several countries’ lines of argumentation, no less the one of Gianatla, has started. The elephant in the room must be addressed: With most countries being secular nowadays and with Vrigny not having had organised religion in any shape or form even after the end of the right-suppressing dictatorship a few years ago, how far must the support for the Pelinese complaint at the WFIC go?

The laws are clear

Legally speaking, Pelinai has all the necessary cards in their hands. The declaration of human rights of 1956 as well as several treaties since then and also a majority of the democratic countries’ constitutions clearly established, that no person should be discriminated against because of their religion and that there is a fundamental right to hold a conscience, belief or religion that may be practiced “either alone or in community with others and in public or private”. The Purple Article, the Pelinese complaint is bemoaning, is keeping this freedom of religion away from the people and as such a fundamental human right. At the same time, the representatives of the people of Vrigny were only recently deciding against an amendment of the criticised provision in Vrigny’s constitution and the public support in general to amend the constitution in a way, democratic countries should desire, does not seem to be strong and fierce either.

Gianatla’s recently established ranking of foreign nations through the Lock-and-Key-inspired Außenbeziehungsgesetz does not reflect any criticism of the Vrignyan abuse of human rights at the moment. Perhaps due to Gianlucian foreign policy being based in both, the freedom of letting another country decide for themselves on how to govern itself, but also the defence of human rights in general. Still, the implied decision by the Sanddorn cabinet to not sanction Vrigny in any way for this legal breach, does beg the question, whether freedom of religion is simply considered an afterthought.

Opposition attacks Sanddorn

KPHA’s party leader, Archduke Ikaros VIII, has called for the Gianlucian government to condemn the Vrignyan parliament’s decision to not amend the Purple Article and to officially support Pelinai’s complaint at the International Court. During a parliamentary debate, he called Sanddorn’s cabinet hyprocritical, “if the foreign policy agenda remains to focus around human rights, but yet accepts a country like Vrigny as one’s trading partner”. He also warned of especially the Green’s accepting stance towards Valkyria: “And with Vrigny we don’t even call out the biggest problem of this cabinet’s foreign policy. The biggest problem is accepting, how an ally like Valkyria can slowly and steadily, under the guise of direct democracy, work on abolishing human rights such as the right to own property (OOC note: Article 17 of the UDHR) and even have a nuclear arsenal, that we normally stand so ardenly against, without any repercussions. Mrs. Chancellor, please find a plausible line or be forced to hand over this part of government to someone with more expertise.”

Chancellor Sanddorn lashed back, commenting that Vrigny’s political climate is changing and that some fundamental political changes take time. She also noted, Gianatla can have relations to nations, the government does not see eye-to-eye with, nodding at agreements made with the VPRB, much to some allies’ contempt. She continued on to explain, that human rights are universal and Gianatla stands on the side of other defenders of those rights like Sedunn or the Frost Empire. At the same time, she wouldn’t see a blatant problem existing either in Vrigny or in Valkyria considering the public support for the cited political decisions. Those comments were overall not met as well as she thought by the members of the Königspalast and triggered some booing especially from the right wing of the chamber.

[LordGianni]

Introduction of the Online Administration Services Act comes closer

18 October 2024, 10:25 h, by Andrea Byt

Almost one and a half years ago, Königspalast decided with a huge majority in favour of the Online Administration Services Act (Onlineverwaltungsgesetz [OVwG]). As of 1 January 2025, all Gianlucian citizens are supposed to be able to do anything government-related online, whether it is to register for a school, to apply for social security or even buy property. Is the public administration ready for this task and how is this new online system going to work?

The new GID system

Already in the early 2010s, the Gianlucian government introduced electronic ID and health insurance cards. With those, citizens as well as persons with a residence permit were able to register with several government services such as the tax office or their health insurance, shortening processing times by at least half, as former minister of finance Marko Sternbeck proudly announced in 2016. Those electronic cards are the backbone of the new Online Administration Services Act as passed in May 2023. “The electronic ID cards are an integral part of an authentification system, which makes access to government services fast, but also secure”, the ministry of the interior explains on its website. “Each personal profile in a registration office throughout Gianatla will be connected to an ID card. If people want to use an online administration service, they will log in onto the GID website with their ID card through a device supporting NFC connections running the GID app. Before any data is transferred, the user must provide a PIN and, in some cases, use an authentification app. Especially very sensitive data such as health data will only be transferred after such a three-factor authentification”, the ministry further elaborates.

What can be done with GID?

The plan of the government was simple. “Anything”, Chancellor Sanddorn shortly replied to a similar question in the Königspalast during the debate on the bill in April 2023. In reality, some things must still be differentiated. “First and foremost, there are still concerns about data security when it comes to health data or things like criminal records. This means, some administrative tasks, e.g. digital transfer forms for specialised medicine or online accessibility of one’s own criminal record history will not be available from the start”, IT security expert Max Schradow is assessing. “Also, things will get more complicated once a person loses their legitimate access to their online profiles, e.g. due to losing their ID card or forgetting their PIN. I already see people, who have just moved from Freudstadt to Nordtor needing to personally appear at Freudstadt’s city hall again, just because they lost their ID card on the way and as such can’t register at their new address.”

Schradow still points out positives from a data security standpoint however: “That this system is opt-in, at least until 2030 the earliest, is possibly annoying for any government agency, but a victory for anyone, who is against making citizens too transparent for the government. This also means, that older generations or people with disabilities like dementia can still participate in this society without access to the internet and thus the GID system.”

This statement sounds agreeable to Klara Landsberg, head of the Union of Local Administrations: “Not all local councils have the capacities to teach every citizen on how the GID system works and our IT staff will have more than enough to do, when it comes to digitising the last few local services, we couldn’t transfer to the GID portal yet. The opt-in solution is not ideal, but it’s the best one for our current situation.”

Government funds and important changes to deadlines

Of course the new law will not only change how the citizens can correspond with the government, but also how the government can correspond to people. All replies to applications, several appointments, which do not necessitate personal appearance and digital objection processing are just three examples on how several public services will be able to process the demands of its citizens quicker. From a citizen’s perspective, this comes with a downside: The deadlines to object to administrative decisions is shortened. Landsberg points out: “Since we do not need to account for the postal route of official letters anymore, the so-called ‘fictional delivery date’ is shortened from currently 3 days to just 24 hours for GID users. This means, GID users will likely need to reply two days quicker to any official post than non-GID users.” This is why the Gianlucian government has decided to “subsidise the procurement of necessary hardware” for all Gianlucian citizens, who apply for this subsidy in 2025. “Up to 350 Tacks per household can be granted once for the procurement of a graphic tablet, to provide document-proof signatures, or similar necessary hardware to be able to use GID”, the interior ministry presents the idea on its website. The application process has already opened.

Who is developing and maintaining the GID infrastructure?

The newly formed GID GmbH is a public-private partnership between the Gianlucian government and several mid- to large-sized national and international soft- and hardware companies. “A full list of investors and partners of GID GmbH can be accessed on GID’s website, however the public can be assured, that we internally built up enough redundancies and safety-mechanisms to ensure, all personal data and the entire GID infrastructure is secure and protected from foreign espionage, interference or manipulation. Special trainings for our police forces and new teams in our secret services will also make sure, we can keep this promise long-term”, minister of the interior Helga Mann responded to our questions.

A first assessment on the success of GID is due in February 2026. Mann: “I’m looking forward to that day, because I think GID will be a revolutionary success for Gianatla.”