Today, shortly after the BCNP [Bvakk Communist-Nationalist Party] declared the establishment of an open union, Imperial Coalition Secretary Injibin Aster took to social media to say, "We congratulate the Empire of Bvakkstyi on opening up and fostering international unity outside of the DQA and EDP, and we wish to work closely with them in the future." Immediately, several prominent Loafians interpreted Aster's statement as a wish for the Holy Empire to join the Bvakk Union, while others merely regarded it as a generic international acknowledgement. As of this writing, all Imperial Coalition members have abruptly ceased communication with the public, digital or otherwise.

Following the surrender of first Trianglean and then Nightcrest to the Bvakk Union, thousands of Loafians, primarily registered members of the Imperial Coalition, stormed the squares of every provincial capital save Hild. Waving Bvakk banners, the demonstrators called for a union of equals between the Holy Empire and the Bvakk Union, claiming that a union would cause both nations' economies to boom. The demonstrations were met by slightly smaller groups of counter-protestors, who denounced Bvakkstyi for autocracy and human rights abuses. For reasons unknown, the protests became violent, with several pro- and anti-Bvakk rioters destroying property and assaulting opposing members, requiring the intervention of riot police. The Justice Ministry is investigating the cause of the violence.

Upon hearing of the Yanuvian withdrawal from the pact and the Itheri crisis, many Peace and Freedom party members conducted a general strike, demanding government action in order to protect worldwide democracy. The strikers were countered again by legions of Imperial Coalition protestors railing against the EDP, and several Bvakk Union banners were visible in the crowd. Again, the protests became violent, and four provinces were forced to declare states of emergency last night. Late in Parliament, the Imperial Coalition sprung a surprise vote of no confidence and managed to unseat five-year People's Speaker Alben in a narrow 158-142 vote with the backing of the Imperial Coalition and many other MPs dissatisfied with the Speaker's performance in Loafian crises. It is rumored that all major parties are negotiating to form governments, and rumors of a snap election are spreading.

In between panicked sessions of Parliament, Imperial Coalition Party Secretary Injibin Aster revealed desires to strongly align with Cazaneasle and the Bvakk Union, hoping that a union with these right-wing powers would bring the nation to prosperity. Meanwhile, Peace and Freedom leader Agatha Sneath promised a closer connection to the remaining nations of the Experimental Democratic Pact, and possibly bilateral deals with the withdrawn nations. However, no news has emerged about which party will govern the Holy Empire after the removal of Alben's Moderate government, though both poll well.

Out of the chaotic Loafian parliament in the past week, two different groups have emerged as governmental candidates. The Peace and Freedom Party is spearheading one governmental attempt, drawing Communist backing. Meanwhile, the Imperial Coalition and a group of Loafian Democrats are shoring up a nearly completely-opposed governmental group. The Loafian Democratic Party and the Loafian Moderate Party remain split between the two groups, and several influential MPs have not cast their lot with either side. Widely-televised debates have begun between Injibin Aster and Agatha Sneath, the two potential People's Speakers. It remains to be seen whether either of these governments will take power, or if snap elections shall be called.

With the images of the Bvakk Union, Revolutionary Itheria, and Zergadnkastan looming large in the Loafian public consciousness, major parties have surprisingly begun to shift. Strangely, the most ardent advocates of the Bvakkstyian Union and to some degree the Itheri is the Imperial Coalition, which admires the progress of these two nations made under centralized rule and aspires for more progress in the Holy Empire while maintaining a free market. The Communist Party aligns as it historically has with the Zergadnkastanians, wishing for economic communism while maintaining liberal democratic freedoms. The Peace and Freedom Party as a whole has maintained opposition against the authoritarian nations while remaining amenable to its remaining EDP allies. Sympathizers of communist nations in the Holy Empire of Loaf are split between the authoritarians and the egalitarians, with neither faction very receptive to the other. On the eve of parliamentary elections to finalize a government and fill former Speaker Alben's spot, these forces may make a sizable impact.

Today, Injibin Aster reiterated his support of the Bvakk Union after their televised and gamified killing of thousands of Nightcrestian POWs. "Listen, they were Bvakk citizens who committed a Bvakk crime and now face Bvakk justice. Who gives a s--t? It's Bvakkstyi's problem, doesn't mean we can't ally with the nation. Oh, and regarding Cazaneasle, I know of no such thing. I don't trust a word out of their mouths." His words were met with sharp criticism by many political leaders, denouncing Bvakkstyi for war crimes.

At around 01:00 this morning Loafian time, the snap National Parliament election results became public. The results are as follows, with old seat numbers denoted:

Loafian Moderates: 60 -> 45 seats
Loafian Imperial Coalition: 70 -> 50 seats
Peace and Freedom Party: 55 -> 70 seats
Communist Party: 35 -> 40 seats
Loafian Democrats: 50 -> 70 seats
Other parties: 20 -> 25 seats

At 08:45 local time, Peace and Freedom Secretary Agatha Sneath took the Speakership, with the complete backing of her own party and the Loafian Moderates, and partial backing of the Loafian Democrats, the Communist Party, and minor parties. In her speech to Parliament, Speaker Agatha affirmed the Loafian committment to the EDP and its opposition to authoritarianism, promising to continue Alben's legacy of centrism while remaining uncompromising on Loafian principles. The loss of the Imperial Coalition is largely attributed to their backing of more and more radical proposals, such as joining the Bvakk Union, and the rhetoric of their leader, which brought many closer to the Coalition but pushed many away. No Imperial Coalition members support the current Speaker.

In several isolated incidents today, small groups of masked demonstrators appeared in prominent public spaces in Loaf City wearing rifles over their shoulders, often with Bvakk, Itheri, or other SUA flags. They distributed manifestoes and proclaimed themselves the National Army, to raise the Holy Empire to its "full potential" free of "liberal interventionism" after the victory of Speaker Sneath. None of the demonstrators ever fired their weapons, and about a third were arrested for open carry of a firearm - the rest vanished before police appeared. The manifestoes released by the group elaborate on their plan, and contain a date and a set of GPS coordinates in the middle of the Glodian desert. The group is under investigation by the Justice Ministry for unlawful protest.

Today in Parliament, Speaker Agatha Sneath sacked the Imperial Coalition ministers put in place by the Moderate-Imperial-Democrat union before her, about 40% of all ministers. Notably, her new Defense Minister pledged to roll back the influence of the Loafian Guard in Loafian Aegis and Imperial City. She has also reportedly promoted talks between the remaining nations of the Experimental Democratic Pact, repeatedly pledging her committment to "the aid of free nations against the murderous."

A group of developers today released The Prototype, the first social media service designed in the global language of Experimental and meant to reach across international borders. Thousands of signups have already been registered on https://mastodon.fluffybread.net/, with many more expected to come in the following days.

(Toots [Mastodon tweets] from in-character accounts like @hizbold_lenborg will be considered canon. Gmail is currently not available for use as an email provider, though others should work. If you make a character account, please make it clear in your name or bio that you are a character.)

In the wake of war crime allegations against Bvakkstyi and their brutal suppression of independence movements, Speaker Sneath has imposed sanctions on the massive empire with Parliament's support. "As we learned from Alben, no longer can the Holy Empire stand idly by as civilians are killed," she said. Right-wing critics have called the sanctions unjustified, as they value Bvakk trade, while left-wing critics call the sanctions ineffective for not targeting Bvakkstyi's SUA allies as well. Additionally, Speaker Sneath promised aid to the remaining EDP nations militarily involved in the Bvakk Wars.

Today, in what is widely described as a terror attack, several rubber bullets were fired across public Loafian places, and they seemed to deliberately miss the Loafian citizens in the squares and plazas. The shots were usually accompanied with shouts of "Keep Loaf Out!" referring to the nation's new program of foreign intervention and sanctions against Bvakkstyi. Almost all of the shooters operated from balconies or windows of office buildings or hotels, and most were arrested and found to be similarly dressed to the National Army which marched on the capital after last week's elections.