From Bulgaria
To USE:
We appreciate that you want to stay temporarily until we're able to get back on our own feet militarily. However, if your tensions with Russia don't solve soon and escalate into war, we will expect immediate withdrawal. We re-iterate that Bulgaria will remain neutral in a Russo-European War and will not be host to armies of either side.
Story hopefully tonight. Orders may change somewhat if/when I write story.
STORY:
The Interim Government had issued its Constitution. On August 2nd, the Constitution went out for referendum.
Among its provisions were...
Article 1. The Bulgarian Democratic Republic is henceforth a Multi-Party Democracy.
Article 4. The President is elected for a 4-year term, with a maximum of 2 terms, by direct election.
Article 11. The Senate serves as the unicameral national legislature. It is a 100-person body directly elected by the population. Elections for the Senate occur every 4 years.
Article 15. Senatorial and Presidential Elections are scheduled so that they never coincide. When the Presidential Election occurs, the Senatorial term has lasted for 2 years (half of the term), and vice-versa.
Article 20. A Bulgarian citizen must be at least 18 to be eligible for voting in national elections.
Article 21. All political parties are permitted to campaign for votes. However, paramilitary groups are strictly forbidden and if intimidation is used in any way, shape, or form, upon the voters will be investigated and instigators imprisoned for at least 1-year sentences. Political parties found to be affiliated with terror campaigns will be outlawed from any election for 10 years, and members of the outlawed parties will not be permitted in joining any other party to evade the outlawing of their original group.
Article 25. The President assigns his own Council of Ministers, with Senatorial approval of appointments. Each political party with at least 5 Senators in the Senate is entitled to at least 1 Minister in the Council. The Prime Minister must be of the same party that controls a majority in the Senate.
Article 26. Control of the more seats than any other single party in Senate is considered being the majority party.
Article 27. Laws dealing with internal affairs are proposed in the Senate and upon getting at least 67% votes of approval, the law passes. The President may debate with his Council of Ministers to veto the law, with a 14-day time limit to veto the law. If no veto is issued, the law comes into effect immediately.
Article 28. Foreign affairs are solely done by the President with advice from his Council of Ministers. ONLY IF THE PRESIDENT CHOOSES TO DO SO, he or she may refer the diplomatic matters to the Senate via the Prime Minister.
Article 33. The Army, Navy, and Air Force shall all be responsible to the President.
Article 34. The police forces are responsible to the Senate.
Article 45. In case of national emergency, the President can suspend the Senate and rule by decree with advice of his Council of Ministers for a period of 3 years or until the emergency subsides, whichever comes first. Once the rule by decree ends, new Presidential Elections are to occur, and the Senate shall re-convene.
The Constitution passed the referendum by 78%.
...
Yago Gararin was sitting in a restaurant-pub in downtown Sofia, having a sandwich - all he could afford, with the country still being in depression because of the years of civil strife. On the small television in the corner of the restaurant - black-and-white, because apparently the owner couldn't afford a color TV - a newsreporter announced the approval by referendum of the Constitution. Cheers erupted around him. He himself smiled, but did not cheer for fear of choking on his meal. He looked at the restaurant owner behind the counter. He was happy, too, clearly, and Yago realized that if the man didn't need the money, he would say "Next round of drinks on the house!"
Noone could afford much these days. There was much optimism that the new Democracy would usher in reforms that would revive Bulgaria's nearly-nonexistent economy.
Right after he finished his sandwich, he would go home to his wife, pregnant 6 months with their first child, and celebrate with her. Both of them votes "yes" on the Constitution.
"Now, a member of the Senate speaks to the nation," the reporter announced and was replaced by a young, blonde man with glasses.
"Citizens of Bulgaria," the young Senator began, "I am Oleg Tura of the PEP, and I am campaigning to become your President in the election next year. But that introduction aside, I have not come on the news to ask for votes. I ask that you help Bulgaria. The government on its own cannot bring the country out of depression, though it will strive to revive the Bulgarian economy. We do need your help. Farmers, work productively on your lands. Bring great harvests to feed your families and your neighbors. Workers of the factories, we also implore you to work productively. Not to support our government. But to help our Nation. For we will never rise out of the despair that the civil war and anarchy caused if we do not work together! Thank you, my countrymen!"
There was applause in the whole pub. But how many of these proletarians would honestly work hard and productively?
No matter, thought Yago. I will do my best to help Bulgaria. The faster we get back on our feet the faster the foreign armies withdraw, even if they did stay to help.... Bulgaria needs togetherness to prosper...
ORDERS PM-ED
