Canberra News Agency

[Capt. Henry Morgan]

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28 NOV 827

1 Credit

Shining a Light in the Darkness

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Candidates Announced for Senate Special Election

By Clark Jameson

CANBERRA - With the conclusion of the official mourning period for Senator Reyes, the Senate has declared that a Special Election to fill the Reyes' empty Senate seat will be held next week. As previously reported, Consul Riley's Natio Octavarium United party, and the Octavarium Independence Party have chosen not to run candidates. Three smaller parties, hopeful of making their mark on the Natio's legislative body, have announced candidates.

Consul, Senate Arrives on Kwinana

KWINANA - A Senate spokesman has confirmed rumors that the Senate has been relocated off of Canberra. No official threats to the Senate have been confirmed, but the spokesman cited an "abundance of caution" as the reason for the move. The Consul and Senate are expected to remain on Kwinana for the duration of the current situation in Tau-44. The Fourth Octavarium Fleet and OIC remain headquartered on Canberra.

The Orange Dream Party has nominated party secretary Gianna Esposito to succeed Diego Reyes. The party's claims that the seat should be granted to them automatically, without an election, fell on deaf ears in the Senate. Ms. Esposito vows to work tirelessly to carry on Diego Reyes' work. The Orange Dream Party calls for Natio Octavarium's full integration into the Maltese Nation, and the end of all relations with the Crayter Republic.

The Revolutionary Worker's Council has nominated former Fourth Fleet Commander, Kim Ye-jin. The RWC's platform includes the elimination of all political parties, organizing all Octavarian workers into unions, and the election of Senators by labor unions.

The Alliance for Individual Freedom has nominated Lucas Grey. The AIF is a loosely organized party that calls for the complete abolishment of the Octavarian Government, including the privatization of all law enforcement and military forces, the replacement of social programs with private charities, and a fully unrestricted free market.

Votes can be submitted by all Octavarian citizens through any secure Government terminal, or at any Mercantile Guild office outside Natio Octavarium.