First Secretary declares State of Emergency

First Secretary, Sir. Philip Fish, has declared a State of Emergency in the Federated Republics of A1, due to “chronic inactivity” and “paralysed government”.

The declaration was made under Article 30 of the A1 Constitution, granting the First Secretary the authority to “…carry out any ways and means necessary to protect the integrity, peoples, property and workings of A1″.

Sir. Philip said in a statement to the Chamber of Electorates that the State of Emergency was necessary to unspecified security concerns around the Republic of Lichthalzen, as well as a paralysis of normal government activities owing to chronic inactivity amongst legislators and government members.

General Officer Commanding A1 Defence Force, James Wilary, proposed the move earlier today, which was supported by the Prime Minister, Dame Mars McTavish, in private conference with the First Secretary.

The Chamber of Electorates has also been suspended from normal sittings, with all legislative power temporarily resting with the First Secretary.

The First Secretary sought to assure citizens that the State of Emergency was only temporary, and would be lifted when “…it has been demonstrated that this Chamber is able to function adequately with a majority of members being present to fulfil the functions of the nation’s democratic forum”.

It is understood that one of Sir. Philip’s first acts will be to entrust Onepedia, A1′s online wiki, in the temporary hands of the Defence Force in an effort to stem the tide of spambots, which have wrought havoc over the past few weeks.