Clones angry over political roles for Oojok and Sleeze

When Oojok and Sleeze were allowed to go into exile in the Dino Republic, the Clones made as a condition that their former leaders would not have a political role. This was already broken by Oojok and Sleeze being appointed to the Dino Elders though as this was an advisory body with no power the Clones have let this pass.

However, after the historic elections to reform the Dino political system this has changed. Sleeze was a candidate for Ronald's Imperial Order party in the Assembly elections and is now an elected MDA (Member of the Dino Assembly). Oojok will become a member of the slimmed down new Dino Elders which will act as the upper house. 

A Clone Junta spokesclone has said that this violates the terms of Oojok's and Sleeze's exile. However, in practice there is little the Clones can do about it.

Jimmy claims victory in Dino Assembly election, could be first Consul

Although the result has not been officially announced, the leader of the Liberal Party Jimmy has said his party has won the most seats in the new Dino Assembly. It is thought the Liberals have won 30% of the seats with Imperial Order and Veritas = Truth both winning around 25%. Smaller parties and independents have won the other seats.

The leader of the largest party will be the Consul or Leader of the Assembly. Jimmy is expected to take this role and will lead the Dino Empire alongside Emperor MBH and Censor Ronald.

The final result is expected to be finalised in early October, the new Assembly will meet for the first time mid-month.

Dino Senate disbanded ahead of elections

Emperor MBH has disbanded the Dino Senate and Assembly. Elections will now be held for a new Assembly which will replace them. In early October the results of the elections are expected to be known, the head of the largest party in the Assembly will become the first Consul of the Dino Empire.

The Consul will lead the empire alongside the Emperor and Censor Ronald. A slimmed down Dino Elders will also act as an advisory body.

Dino elections set for Autumn

Emperor MBH has announced the election for the new Dino Assembly will be held in the Autumn, the exact date has yet to be decided. The Dino Senate will be disbanded when the new Assembly has been elected. At the same time the slimming down of the Dino Elders will take place.

MBH said these political system changes were needed to ensure the Dinos could flourish in a fast changed astralpolitical spacescape. His Veritas = Truth party is expected to compete in the elections as are Ronald's Imperial Order and Jimmy's Liberal Party.

Dino political changes generate mixed reaction

Yesterday Censor Ronald unveiled a huge change in the way the Dino Empire is run including replacing the Senate with an Assembly and a slimmed down Dino Elders. The changes have had a mixed reaction.

Liberal Party leader Jimmy said the changes were long overdue and his party would contest any forthcoming Assembly election. With the popularity and organisation of his party there is a good chance the Liberals would be the largest party in the Assembly and hence Jimmy would have a good chance to be the first Consul or head of the Assembly.

Popular TV host and conspiracy theorist Goodson was less keen. "Only the Dinos could completely change their political system to apparently be more democratic and of the top three men who would lead this glorious new state, two are appointed for life!"

The Minister of Intelligence Services Krusty, a top figure in Imperial Order, said that the changes would bring accountability and dynamism, to help the Dinos negotiate a more unpredictable and dangerous galaxy.

Dinos unveil plans for complete democratic revamp of the empire

Censor Ronald has unveiled plans for a huge change to how the Dino Empire is governed. Currently the empire is governed by the Dino Senate which is led by Ronald and Emperor MBH. The Senate handles all major decisions including macroeconomic direction, foreign policy and the military. Below the Senate is the Dino Assembly which is fully elected though has little real power. The Assembly has been derided as a talking shop, a common joke is that the Assembley is for deciding speed limits while the Senate decides who to declare war on.

Under the new plans both will be replaced by a new Assembly of three hundred, which unlike the current Assembly will be contested on party lines. The winning party in the Assembly will form the Dino government, it's head being the Consul of the Dino Empire, other members will fill the various ministry head roles.

The Dino Elders, a mostly advisory body, will be changed to form the upper chamber. Ronald said the Elders would be slimmed down to one hundred members and he would head it as Censor. Laws would need to be passed by a majority in both the Assembly and the Elders.

Emperor MBH would remain the head of state, he would have veto power (as would Ronald). Ronald said that the Dino Senate would vote on the changes soon, it is likely to be passed as all parties are keen for the change and indeed the three main parties (Imperial Order, Veritas = Truth and the Liberal Party) are already recruiting candidates for the Assembly election.

Changes in the Dino Senate as Krusty returns

Krusty, who has Senator rank though was without voting rights, has returned to the Dino Senate as a full member to become the new Minister of the Intelligence Services. He will oversee SS-CINT, Dino Army Intelligence and other Dino agencies. He is replacing Stinkyson who has decided he needs a new direction in life. He has replaced the retiring Lolison as Minister of Education.

This move is seen as a key sign that Censor Ronald considers Krusty his possible successor or even a future Emperor, though it is thought MBH is not quite as much of a fan.

Stinkyson blocks review of SS-CINT

The Minister of the Intelligence Services Stinkyson has blocked a move by Liberal Party members of the Dino Senate to start a review of the activities and doctrine of the secretive SS-CINT espionage and counter-intelligence service (of which Stinkyson is also the public head). Senator Jimmy said that SS-CINT is "lawless" and needs to be constrained. 

Stinkyson, with support from the Emperor, countered that SS-CINT needed to work autonomously due to the nature of the threat it is designed to counter. Jimmy declined forcing a vote in the Senate though has said his scrutiny of SS-CINT will continue.

MBH faces criticism for lack of action

Emperor MBH is coming under pressure from the Senate for his lack of action and decision. Senators Cruggson, Jimmy and Zanus have called for MBH to allow the deployment of the Dino Army 12th Legion to Apasarra but the Emperor has not responded.

Indeed there are unconfirmed reports that MBH is off-planet but his whereabouts is unknown. SS-Commander Solax has said that MBH has a secret and very important meeting.

Stinkyson named new SS-CINT chief

Ronald's second son Stinkyson, a former SS-Commander, has been named the new Minister of the Intelligence Services and public head of SS-CINT (the operational head is unknown). Krusty had held this role before but after his presumed death the post had been left vacant - Ronald handled intelligence business himself. When Krusty was found to be alive it was assumed he would return to his old job but he disappeared on his return to Dino-Land. Krusty's whereabouts are unknown, it is rumoured he may have joined a temple or monastery (he is known to be a layperson of the Cult of Orach).

Ronald has therefore decided to make a permanent appointment. Stinkyson has publicly changed his political allegiance from the Liberal Party to Imperial Order and will vote along that party's lines in the Dino Senate.

Ronald moots turning DTA into federation

Ronald has made his first public speech as Censor (and deputy to Emperor MBH) to say that the Dino Empire should consider merging with the other members of the Dino Trade Association (DTA) to form a federation.

"As a federation we would be better able to integrate the strengths of the DTA members. We face a number of threats and we need to be stronger to face them in the next decade and beyond." he said.

Sirikwan and Yeng have said that the idea has merit, New Arit's parliament was cool on the idea however.

MBH forced to give Ronald greater role

Emperor MBH has been forced to bring Ronald back into the heart of Dino politics after his approval rating took a big hit after the week long power grid outage that affected Dino-Land. Ronald had been in semi-retirement, as Chief Priest of the Senate. A prestigeous but largely ceremonial position.

MBH has revived the long dormant rank of Censor and made Ronald the Censor of the Empire for life. As Censor Ronald will be in charge of the moral integrity of the empire as well as heading public administration. He is also defacto Deputy Emperor. One rather important benefit of Ronald's new role is that he also has power of veto (like MBH) if the Senate is tied in a vote.

Monday Interview : GBH

The mighty GBH, constant companion to Ronald, gave this short interview to Proxima News during a  visit to the UNP Parliament.

Proxima News : Senator GBH welcome, may we know the reason for your visit?

GBH : Sure, as Deputy Head of the Senate part of my role is to liaise with other parliaments with regards to visits and what not. The UNP President is due to visit Dino-Land later in the year.

PN : To meet the Emperor, your son MBH. How is your relationship with him nowadays?

GBH : Well its been worse. We don't like each other, but have stopped trying to kill each other. Lets just leave it at that.

PN : You used to fear him being the Emperor, do you still?

GBH : No, he has matured i suppose. He still has his... agendas but the new Dino Imperial system Ronald has designed has lots of checks and balances.

PN : Ronald is still a massive presence in Dino politics as chief priest. In many ways he is like Windscorpion. He is an icon who basically does what he likes. Is that a fair summary?

GBH : Yes though if you compared him to Windy to his face he would probably kill you.

PN : Ronald and yourself, plus the likes of Jimmy and Cruggson are still major name in Dino politics. Will there ever be a day when the old guard steps aside?

GBH : Well of course. All things must end. Even Ronald is not immortal, well probably not but you never know with his weird psychic powers. We are ageing, we are slowly stepping into the background but we still have many years yet. We won't be heading off to our retirement dachas any time soon.

PN : How do you see the Dino Empire and the DTA developing in the near and medium future?

GBH : Integration with the DTA continues and we are always watching our borders. Some enemies have gone like the ABBO and Utrek but others pop-up like the Mantae or return like the Terrasaurs. We continue to strengthen our defences. The galaxy grows ever more complicated and dangerous...

Zanus appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs

Zanus has moved from Defence to the powerful position of Minister of Foreign Affairs, a non-political member of the Senate he was seen as a compromise candidate between MBH and Ronald. Malanson, a member of Ronald's Imperial Order Party has moved to Minister of Defence.

Another change has been the merging of the Departments of Social Services and Culture. The Minister of Culture Eratson will head this new combined department. This returns the Senate to 21 posts. Junior Minister and Assembly Member Lolison (Imperial Order) has been promoted to the Senate and will be the Minister of Education.

MBH said that remaining vacant positions in the Senate will be filled soon.

MBH and Ronald clash over new Foreign Minister

Emperor MBH (shown below with his new rank armbands) has clashed with Ronald over who should take the vacated post of Minister of Foreign Affairs, one of the most important government roles. Ronald wants Malanson to be given the job though MBH is opposing this (and has the power to veto a Senate vote over it). What doesn't help the Emperor's position though is that he has advanced no alternative.

The only possible candidate among his staff is his deputy Lakes though this would not be backed by the Senate. An outsider not from MBH or Ronald's parties may be sought instead. The Minister of Defence Zanus is highly respected and is not aligned to one of the three political parties in the Senate and may be a compromise candidate.

MBH crowned as Emperor

MBH has been officially crowned as Emperor of the Dinos at a ceremony in the Dino Senate building. He said he will now work to complete the make up of the expanded Senate which still has many places vacant including the post of Minister of Foreign Affairs which he was before he became Emperor.

Its thought Ronald asked GBH if he wanted to take that role but GBH declined as he wishes to take less active role and is content with being Deputy Head of the Senate.

Ronald resigns as Emperor! MBH new Emperor

Ronald has sensationally resigned as Dino Emperor at a special meeting of the Dino Senate even though he has only been in office since the start of the year. It was following an incident where he was possessed by an Acheron spirit and nearly caused a civil war. Ronald said that he no longer felt his position as a secular leader was tenable due to the religious cult built up around him that dominates the SS.

Ronald said that he would continue in the Senate and take up a new role as Chief Priest of the Dino Empire.

Ronald's final decree as Emperor was to appoint his successor: MBH! A controversial choice though the "Dino" way. It is hoped the strengthened Senate and Ronald's new position will help temper any excesses of the new Emperor.

Legion commander killed by SS?

The situation on Dino-Land, already tense after Ronald accused one of the Senate of treason and placing them all under house arrest, has just ramped up after the apparent murder of the commander of the 2nd Legion Legate Woodhead by the SS. Woodhead was travelling to the Imperial Palace to try and see Ronald (against orders that no senior officers should enter the capital) in his Dinomark which was shot down by SS anti-aircraft forces at Central Air Base.

The status of Woodhead is unknown with rumours rife that he was killed. Already there have been reprisals against SS personnel by Dino Army soldiers and vice versa.

Ronald suspends Senate

The first meeting of the Dino Senate was cut short after Emperor Ronald sensationally suspended the Dino ruling body accusing one of the Senators of treason. He said that only a Senator would have known the destination of a recent 6th Legion mission where Ronald was kidnapped by forces unknown. Ronald was later rescued.

Ronald said that the security of the Empire was at stake and that all Senators would be restricted to their homes (house arrest basically) while an investigation takes place by the SS.

Three new Senators appointed

Ronald has appointed 3 new senators to the expanded Dino Senate. Long time ally and industrialist Kroc has returned to government to become the Minister of Business & Infrastructure. Former actor Eratoson has been appointed Minister of Culture.

The surprise though was the promotion of Krusty to become the Minister of the Intelligence Services. The youngster has only been in the army for a few years but has had a rapid rise thanks to Ronald's patronage.