[Lauchenoiria]

Liaville Times – Referendum Special

20th February 2019

Feminist Party financial contribution to independence campaign rejected after Council of Kerlile comment on independence

Yes Aeluria, the official non-party campaign for Aelurian independence today rejected a 20,000 peso donation from the Feminist Party, citing concerns over how the party received their funding. Rumours that the Feminist Party have been secretly funded by Kerlile have plagued the party since their foundation in 2003. A spokesperson for Yes Aeluria told the Liaville Times that “until we can prove beyond all doubt that the money is not coming from Kerlile, we cannot accept it”.

Leader of the Feminist Party, Katherine Wright, has disputed the claims they are funded by Kerlile, stating: “the Matriarchy of Kerlile has little interest in electoral politics. These rumours are spread by opponents to women’s rights, who seek to tie our movement in with the atrocities committed by Kerlile. This couldn’t be further from the truth, and we are greatly disappointed that this propaganda by anti-feminists is now affecting the Aelurian independence campaign.”

This comes shortly after the Council of Kerlile issued an official statement on the matter of Aelurian independence. The short statement is reproduced below.

The Council of Kerlile would like to express our support for Aeluria in the matter of independence. The island has long since had a different outlook to the rest of Lauchenoiria, and it is our belief that the island would thrive as its own nation. We urge all the women of Aeluria to use their votes so as to not be outvoted by men, as happens so often in democracies. If Aeluria chooses independence, we look forward to establishing relations between our two countries.

It is expected that if the statement has any effect, it will reduce support for independence, due to the fact that Kerlile is widely disliked throughout Lauchenoiria, with Aeluria being no exception. Most political commentators consider this statement foolish, if indeed Kerlile does support independence. It is similar to President Joanna Greenwood’s endorsement of the Women’s Alliance in the December elections in Laeral, which was widely considered a mistake on Greenwood’s part.

There have been rumours that Kerlile is attempting to sabotage the independence campaign by ‘pretending’ to support it are beginning. There is no evidence to support these claims. First Minister Nazario Macías has today stated: “regardless of what the Council of Kerlile says about independence, their view does not matter. Every Aelurian should make up his or her own mind, rather than allowing the opinions of foreign governments to influence their decision.”

Issue Focus – Defence

In 2017, at the Liberal Party conference, then-Prime Minister Laura Moore stated, after announcing cuts to the defence budget: “the likelihood of Lauchenoiria being invaded in the 21st century is about the same probability as a butterfly being elected the next President.” Her statement is now, obviously, known to be wrong. Regardless of the likelihood of invasion, every country ought to prepare for the possibility. And the same would be true of an independent Aeluria.

Currently, defence is a matter reserved completely to the central government. As such, Aeluria has no defence force of its own. The closest they have is a handful of volunteers ‘trained’ by the Kivasekians during the civil war, however this group has since been disbanded. If Aeluria was to become independent, they would have to build a military from scratch.

How necessary is it for Aeluria to have a large military? The leader of the newly-formed Pacifist Party, Samantha Clavell, who is neutral on the issue of independence, does not think it is necessary at all. Her party claims that if Lauchenoiria hadn’t had the capacity to fight a war, that it would have been easier to find a diplomatic solution, as the alternative would not have been available. Opponents of her party say that could have ended up with Lauchenoiria as a Skodenian, Conternian, Gonhogian or Kerlian colony (or split into pieces by these nations).

In the aftermath of the Lauchenoirian war, most people agree that it would be necessary for Aeluria to have some kind of military, to protect the island from would-be invaders. Which raises further questions of how an independent Aeluria would pay for this. Supporters of independence are quick to point out that they would no longer be contributing to the Lauchenoirian defence budget, nor a number of other things, which would free up funds.

The other question is how an Aelurian military would recruit personnel. Aelurians are far less likely to join the military than Lauchenoirians in general, especially Lurites. Lurian is a pacifistic religion, and discourages its followers from pursuing such careers, although does not outright prohibit it. Lauchenoiria has no form of national service or conscription, and it is highly unlikely that an independent Aeluria would go down that route.

The issue of defence is one that could prove highly contentious for the independence camp – although, for pacifists, it provides certain opportunities that remaining with Lauchenoiria does not.