Suicide of Prime Minister Nahala Benevu

July 1st, 2020 - 7:57 AM
Nahala Benevu was found unresponsive inside the Country House by her nephew Marlo Jean late last night. Jean called for help from the on-campus medical personnel but they pronounced her dead at the scene of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. The federal authorities have taken over the investigation into Ms. Benevu's death from the local Pottom authorities.

Melenavenia Federal Crimes Unit (MFCU) spokesperson Kristopher Bail told the nation on federal television that at this moment there is no suspected foul play but told the Melenavenian people to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activity either directly to the MFCU or to their local authorities. "This is a national tragedy," he said, "but at this moment it appears that the killer of Prime Minister Benevu was herself."

Deputy prime minister DuPont, who will soon be sworn in by the Parliament to take over the prime ministry from Nahala Benevu accompanied Bail on federal television. DuPont told reporters, "I have known Nahala for many years now and I know that she loved this country so much". DuPont went on, "I am fully prepared to take on the responsibility that Nahala left behind and you can rest assured I know she wouldn't leave us like this if she didn't believe that the country would be in good hands."

Provincial leaders across every province in Melenavenia have ordered that flags be flown at half mast for an indefinite period of time in honor of Ms. Benevu. Laponia governor Travis Moore told reporters during an interview early this morning that "no matter political affiliation this is truly a tragedy... it is a tragedy for anyone to take their life but especially when it is the great leader of a great nation such as ours." Moore is a member of the Personal Freedom's Party which is the second largest political party in Melenavenia behind Benevu's People's Democracy Party.

The Benevu family sent out a short message to the public reading: "We are just as shocked by Nahala's suicide as anyone and we are absolutely torn to pieces. We are all together trying to deal with her death at the moment. Please have Nahala in your thoughts."

July 1st, 2020 - 12:30 PM
Dahlia DuPont was sworn in late this morning as the new prime minister of Melenavenia. At the striking of 12 o' clock in the nation's capital DuPont addressed the nation accompanied by her husband Nicolas and Minister of the Environment Lola Kulai. She solemnly addressed the nation stating, "We have lost one of our countries' greatest to a completely preventable death--losing my friend Nahala has highlighted the fact that there are many Melenavenians still out there struggling." She promised to pledge more funds towards suicide prevention measures within the country and announced that Kulai would be the next deputy prime minister.

DuPont told the nation that the Benevu family wanted privacy and asked the media to give them space until they decide to open up about the situation. PNN will abide by the family's wishes.

MFCU spokesperson Kristopher Bail then emerged on stage and took the podium from DuPont. Bail informed the public that it appeared the gun that Benevu had shot herself with was taken from the armory used by security forces inside the Country House and that there was still currently no evidence to suggest any foul play. Bail added that "there is some digital evidence however that depicts Benevu had secretly been suffering in private for an extended amount of time--before she even took the prime ministry position.

When asked if the suffering that Benevu appeared to have undergone was physical or mental Bail said that it was mental but it was so intense it had manifested itself into physical symptoms that she had been suffering from according to the digital records the MFCU had found. He added that once the investigation had been completed Benevu's body would be transported into a undisclosed location where her family could view her and then she would have a private funeral followed by a public funeral at Patricia National Cemetery. These were the instructions found in a will Benevu had written at the start of her prime ministry.

Kulai then took the podium and said that she was absolutely prepared to help DuPont lead the nation through this difficult time and "that to prove this DuPont has allowed me to announce who my replacement will be... and that is founder of the Green Warriors charity Mr. Mikail Lowe."

Lowe then emerged on stage and took the podium alongside Kulai and spoke of his previous experience running Green Warriors as well as his previous position as the mayor of Narkesville, the capital of the Monova province.

July 2nd, 2020 11:54 AM
The Benevu family broke their silence early this morning and announced that they had completed their private funeral. In a statement the family said, "We are a nation of grievers right now--a life lost is tragic but a life lost like this is unfathomable. We understand the importance of allowing the people of this nation whom we regard as an extension of our own family so on July 3rd at 4:00 PM local time at the Patricia National Family a public funeral will be occurring. To avoid a crowd the participants will be limited to members of the media and special guests such as Dahlia DuPont, Lola Kulai, and members of our government as well as our friends in Refugia governments. We understand that this may not be as public as many have wanted so there will be a motorcade through the capital and everyone is invited to stand on the sidewalks as our beloved passes by. To the media; you may now contact us freely. We appreciate everyone who allowed us our privacy."

DuPont and Kulai have been furiously working in the capital to maintain stability and to make light of the recent tragic events through social media as well as live conferences with the media. DuPont is currently meeting in Kahnesburg with mental health leaders discussing the state of programs aimed to combat suicide in the nation.