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April’s Edition

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The Times of Curnon

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  • Mintz elected as PM, P&S supermajority in Parliament

    Rowan Mintz was elected as Prime Minister on April 4, with their Progress and Socialism Party gaining a supermajority in the Parliamentary elections.

    Mintz has not yet made a speech, as has been custom for the last few Prime Ministers, instead choosing to highlight their numerous records, most notably as the youngest Prime Minister in Curnon’s history and as the first openly LGBTQ+ Prime Minister in Curnon’s history.

    Progress and Socialism Party’s supermajority in Parliament

    All three Parliamentary candidates for the Progress and Socialism Party were elected to Parliament on April 6, with Cameron Strickland being the only non-P&S candidate to be elected.

    The Parliament now consists of:

    • Asa Ward, Grand Premier (Independent)
    • Dan Pierce, General Secretary (Independent)
    • Rowan Mintz, Prime Minister (Progress and Socialism Party)
    • Max Wyrodowicz, MP (Progress and Socialism Party)
    • Christopher Felix Slant, MP (Progress and Socialism Party)
    • Gabryjal Sans, MP (Progress and Socialism Party)
    • Cameron Strickland, MP (Independent)

    The People’s Civic Movement’s Patreyk Narjid lost by only one vote, almost beating Strickland after his loss in the Prime Ministerial election.

    Dan Pierce becomes General Secretary

    Dan Pierce is now General Secretary, after the referendum saw 72% of voters in favour of his nomination by Iliev.

    In his outgoing address, former General Secretary Plamen Iliev described his tenure as “nearly 11 months of serving” Curnon, highlighting their role in writing “more than half” of the Constitution and creating the office of General Secretary to restore a “productive legislature”. They also pointed to their broader record in Parliament and government, before thanking “the Curnish people at large… for giving me somebody to serve”.

  • Curnon passes monumental LGBTQ+ protections law

    The Parliament has passed a monumental new law which aims to protect LGBTQ+ people from discrimination and hatred in Curnon. Led by General Secretary, Dan Pierce and former Co-leader and ex-MP, Willow Dziedzic, the law was co-authored by every Member of Parliament, the General Secretary and the Grand Premier.

    It took just seconds to pass after being proposed by Dan Pierce, who had just a day before told the Parliament that “we must put all of our attention on anti-discrimination and hate speech laws”.

    In a public statement, Dziedzic thanked everyone involved, which included the Curnon Environmental Front for their help.

    LGBTQ+ Protections Act

    The law brings in many new protections for LGBTQ+ people, including:

    • The right to be addressed by their chosen name and pronouns in official records and public services
    • Protections from being discriminated against, or harasssed, on the basis of their sexual orientation, gender identity or sex
    • Protections from deadnaming and misgendering
    • Protections from non-consensual disclosure of their sexual orientation or gender identity (‘outing’)
    • Protections from conversion practices
    • Protections from degrading or dehumanising treatment on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity
    • Protections from retaliation for reporting discrimination or harassment under the Act

    It also brings in related offenses and will allow the State to request a contact order be issued to protect victims from interactions with perpetrators.

    Anyone found guilty under the Act can face a penalty ranging from removal from public office to having their citizenship revoked. They can also face temporary suspension of access to public services or platforms.

  • Grand Premier mulls over suspending the Constitution

    The Grand Premier, Asa Ward, has publicly expressed that he is considering suspending the current Constitution, overriding it with a temporary one, effectively bringing the Parliament and the current Government to a halt until a new Constitution is brought into force.

    Ward cited the “decaying” government systems, adding that “the idea floating around of Curnon of all places putting ‘personal freedoms’ and ‘freedom of speech’ over our mission of a world void of discrimination plain disgusts me to my core”.

    He is referencing the ongoing case against Stephen Pynch and the recent requests that the Court revoke the citizenships of James Kimmis and Lincoln Carter, also citing transphobia.

  • Curnon votes to terminate its allyship with Checkland

    Voters took to the polls on April 6 to vote in the referendum on Curnon’s allyship with Checkland after the Parliament motioned for it to be terminated following alleged transphobic remarks by its Prime Minister Stephen Pynch.

    81% of voters were in favour of terminating the allyship with Checkland. Grand Premier, Asa Ward confirmed in his announcement that Curnon and Checkland still maintain diplomatic relations.

  • Court intervenes after Pynch stripped of citizenship

    Stephen Pynch’s citizenship has become the centre of a legal dispute after it was revoked by the Bureau of Citizenship and Customs (BCC) over alleged “transphobia”.

    The decision followed a series of remarks by Pynch directed at former Co-leader and MP Willow Dziedzic, who is openly non-binary. Pynch referred to them using incorrect pronouns and said he would not “call you what you want… off of a baseline of no respect”. He also claimed he had “no… clue” what Dziedzic wanted to be called and added that they had been “an asshole to me… why would I care or respect those wishes”.

    Dziedzic had previously criticised Pynch and the People’s Civic Movement, telling him “you’re a no lifer” and accusing him of “not doing a good job” at gaining support.

    In a brief statement, BCC Secretary Kari Suzuki told The Times of Curnon that Pynch’s citizenship “got revoked on evidence of transphobia, which falls under discrimination”, adding that the bureau “will be fighting the injunction” in an effort to reinstate the revocation.

    However, Pynch’s legal representatives argue the move was “illegally revoked”, stating his comments contained “not a single threat” and that he was denied a “fair trial” with no “announcement, given reason, or trial”.

    Court says Pynch appeal has “likelihood of success”

    The Court has granted a temporary injunction, finding that the case raises “substantial constitutional questions” and that Pynch has demonstrated a “likelihood of success” in challenging the revocation. The court noted that citizenship may only be removed through a judicial ruling or renunciation, and said there was no evidence such approval had been obtained.

    It also warned that the loss of citizenship risks “irreparable harm”, affecting fundamental rights and legal status. As a result, the court ordered authorities to halt enforcement of the revocation and “maintain” Pynch’s citizenship as it stood prior to the decision, pending a full hearing on the merits.

    A full hearing is expected to determine whether the revocation was lawful.

  • Democracy under attack?

    In the last few days, Patreyk Narjid’s candidacy in the Prime Ministerial election was briefly called into question following a court filing by Willow Dziedzic MP. Though the Court ultimately ruled in his favour, allowing him to remain in the race, the situation has raised a broader concern:

    Is Curnon’s democracy at risk?

    How we got here

    Curnon has long struggled with constitutional stability. Multiple attempts to draft a governing document were started and abandoned in the nation’s early development.

    A breakthrough came in December 2024, when then Prime Minister Andrew Perdomo worked alongside Grand Premier Asa Ward to draft and ratify a Constitution. That document was intended to bring structure and clarity to governance after months of uncertainty.

    However, following Perdomo’s later exile from Curnon, the decision was made to replace the Constitution entirely. A new document with no association to his leadership was introduced.

    A flawed foundation

    Despite its intentions, the current Constitution has been widely criticised for unclear wording, contradictions and loopholes.

    The recent court case surrounding Narjid’s candidacy has brought these issues into focus. The dispute centred on the definition of a “Member of Parliament”, a term used throughout the Constitution without a clear, consistent definition.

    This lack of clarity created a situation where a leading candidate’s eligibility could be questioned mid-election because of ambiguity in the law.

    While the Court was able to resolve the issue in this instance, the fact that such uncertainty arose at all has led some to question the strength of the system underpinning Curnon’s democracy.

    A system in need of reform

    The issue of constitutional reform was already a central topic in the Prime Ministerial debate, even before the court case unfolded.

    Both Rowan Mintz and Patreyk Narjid expressed support for introducing proportional representation, arguing that the current fixed parliamentary system is not suited to a growing population.

    Mintz warned that a limited number of seats could restrict participation as Curnon expands. Narjid went further, suggesting that proportional representation, alongside local subdivisions, could “unlock” the nation’s democratic potential.

    Narjid also called for broader structural reform, including a clearer balance of power between Parliament and the executive, and a system capable of adapting without requiring constant amendments.

    Democracy at risk?

    The events of the past few days do not necessarily indicate a collapse of democracy in Curnon. The Court functioned, a ruling was issued and the electoral process has continued.

    However, they do highlight the fact that a democratic system is only as strong as the rules that govern it. When those rules are unclear or contradictory, even routine processes such as an election can become uncertain.

    As Curnon approaches its upcoming vote, the question is no longer just who should lead the nation, but whether the system they inherit is fit for purpose.

  • Why the ‘boykisser state’ needs to appeal to the right wing

    Why the ‘boykisser state’ needs to appeal to the right wing

    Appealing to the different groups was an issue that both Prime Ministerial candidates, Mintz and Narjid identified in the Prime Ministerial debate, with both candidates committing to making Curnon more tolerant and accepting of ‘right wing’ views.

    Curnon, the ‘boykisser state’

    Curnon has always been a progressive nation and has been associated with LGBTQ+ and furry symbols for as long as it has existed.

    This, as well as promotion of Curnon towards these communities, has created attracted a mostly leftist and progressive citizenry.

    For some time, Curnon was dubbed by some as a ‘furry’ or ‘gay’ nation- or even the ‘boykisser state’, though in recent months there has been a move by officials to distance it from these labels.

    Image: “Join us you twink” poster by Kaunon, from the official Curnon Discord server.

    “Join us you twink” poster

    Curnon, the ‘untolerant’ state

    Despite Curnon’s reputation as an inclusive and progressive space, both candidates suggested that its tolerance may not extend as far politically.

    The Progress and Socialism Party’s Rowan Mintz, who identifies as left leaning, said that LGBTQ+ people are “well heard and represented” in Curnon, but argued that the nation lacks ideological diversity. They described right-wing voices, particularly on the social right, as “very few and far between”.

    Mintz argued that while Curnon is tolerant in the sense that it is not discriminatory, it can also act as an “echo chamber” with limited dissent from dominant left-wing views. To address this, they proposed promoting Curnon on more neutral platforms and presenting it as “intellectual and accepting to more points of view”, rather than what they described as an “immature presentation”.

    The People’s Civic Movement’s Patreyk Narjid, who identifies as right leaning, made a similar argument from a different perspective. He said that groups such as “social progressives” and “economic leftists” are most represented, while others, including “social conservatives” and “economic rightists”, are less heard.

    Narjid also criticised what he described as a “Tumblr-adjacent safe space”, arguing that Curnon can be “very sensitive” and overly focused on emotion. In his view, true tolerance comes from “welcoming even those who you may not like personally” and engaging with different opinions through reason.

    Both candidates also linked this issue to how Curnon is perceived. Mintz pointed to government inaction and controversial imagery as reasons why the nation may appear unserious, while Narjid said many view Curnon as “frivolous” or lacking credibility, partly due to its origins and reliance on Discord.

    Their responses suggest that while Curnon is widely seen as socially inclusive, both candidates believe it struggles to accommodate a wider range of political views.

    Grand Premier, Asa Ward has told the Times of Curnon that “a tolerant society can’t tolerate the intolerant”. He added that “our entire purpose is equality and treating people like people, which means the only Republicans Curnon can have are South Park Republicans”, raising questions about whether we will see any significant change in this term or at any point in the future.

  • Edition: April 2026 quick headlines

    Times of Curnon launches ‘MicroNews’

    The Times of Curnon has launched ‘MicroNews‘, an intermicronational organisation which aims to connect news services from across the micronational world to make it easier to discover what is happening in the micronational space.

    It now consists of eight member organisations since its launch on March 31st.

    Future of Quackers Kingdom remains uncertain

    The future of the Quackers Kingdom remains uncertain after Kaiser, Wyatt Herb, announced that he would be either abdicating or dissolving the nation.

    The Kingdom had faced scrutiny over the last few weeks as a result of allegations of internal abuse, tolerance of extremist ideologies, and controversial leadership practices outlined in San Donia’s publication “The Herb Files”, which Herb denies.

    Curnon celebrates Transgender Day of Visibility

    On March 31st, Curnon celebrated Transgender Day of Visibility, a day dedicated to recognising and celebrating transgender people, raising awareness of their experiences, and advocating for equality and acceptance.

    Bureau of Foreign Affairs urges nations to renew diplomatic relations

    The Bureau of Foreign Affairs has announced that a two-week long renewal period for all diplomatic treaties will begin from April 8th.

    Any nations seeking to continue diplomatic relations are required to reach out to BFA Secretary Kaunon, or face relations being severed. Allies and nations who signed treaties with Curnon at MicroCon are exempt from the requirement.

  • Court: Narjid allowed to run in PM election

    This article has been corrected since publication. See details.

    The People’s Civic Movement’s Patreyk Narjid is allowed to run in the Prime Ministerial election.

    Narjid’s candidacy in the election has been based on the interpretation that the Constitution allowed both sitting and former Members of Parliament to run for Prime Ministerial office. This was brought into question after Willow Dziedzic MP filed a case with the Court asking for clarity.

    In the Court’s initial ruling (CC-26-1), “Member of Parliament” was defined in the Constitution as only sitting MPs. This ruling had the effect that Narjid was disqualified from the Prime Ministerial election as announced by Grand Premier, Asa Ward. This was later backtracked, with a second statement clarifying that the ruling was only the Court’s opinion and not a legal decision.

    The ruling was met with criticism by Narjid and his running mate Stephen Pynch. The opposing candidate Rowan Mintz and their own running mate Max Wyrodowicz also reacted negatively to the ruling. Mintz distanced themselves from Dziedzic’s challenge on the definition, stating that they “had no business with either side in the recent court ruling”.

    After Narjid appealed, the Court issued a second and final ruling (CC-26-2) that overturned the original and broadened the definition of “Member of Parliament” to include former MPs, and Narjid was allowed to run again.

    Implications of the ruling

    The second ruling had major implications for Curnon, most notably being that former Members of Parliament could now be entitled to propose and vote on Bills in Parliament. It also means that former MPs, even those who are no longer citizens, could run for Prime Ministerial office in the next election.

    These implications have not been formally or publicly addressed by the Court.

    When confronted with the implications, Grand Premier, Asa Ward stated that “we’re going to break the Constitution to fix it”.

  • Curnon prepares for April 2026 elections

    Election season is well under way in Curnon, with the Prime Ministerial debate taking place earlier today between the Progress and Socialism Party’s Rowan Mintz and the People’s Civic Movement’s Patreyk Narjid, in preperation for the upcoming Prime Ministerial election.

    However, Curnon actually has two elections coming up, as well as one referendum. The first election will take place on April 2nd, where citizens vote for their Prime Minister.

    The candidates in the Prime Ministerial election are:

    • Patreyk Narjid (People’s Civic Movement)
    • Rowan Mintz (Progress and Socialism Party)

    Also see:

    Dziedzic files challenge on the definition of “Member of Parliament”

    The ballot will also include a refrendum for the General Secretary after the incumbent General Secretary, Plamen Iliev, announced that he would be resigning. They nominated Prime Minister, Dan Pierce to take his place- this was supported by Parliament but must now be approved by the people of Curnon.

    What does the General Secretary do?

    The General Secretary is a member of Curnon’s Grand Cabinet, presiding over Parliament and advising the Grand Premier on elections and referendums. In the case that the Grand Premier is unavailable, the General Secretary takes their place.

    The Parliamentary elections will take place on April 4th, with ten candidates contesting each other for just five seats- these elections will decide who is elected to Parliament. The candidates in the Parliamentary elections are:

    • Benjamin Milner (Independent)
    • Cameron Strickland (Independent)
    • Christopher Felix Slant (Progress and Socialism Party)
    • Gabryjal Sans (Progress and Socialism Party)
    • Kari Suzuki (Curnon Environmental Front)
    • Lincoln Carter (Independent)
    • Max Wydorowicz (Progress and Socialism Party)
    • Nyx Nightshade (Independent)
    • Stephen Pynch (People’s Civic Movement)
    • Zechariah C. Huber (Independent)

    Patreyk Narjid (People’s Civic Movement) will also be on the ballot in the event that he does not get elected as Prime Minister, as will Dan Pierce (Independent) if he does not get elected as General Secretary.