TE WHAKAPAIPAI - This afternoon, the Executive Committee announced that it had unanimously elected and inaugurated a new Second President of the Arstotzkan Union. At 2:51pm this afternoon, General Samantha Johnson, First Lady of the First President was sworn in as the new Second President of the Arstotzkan Union.
This recent promotion of Samantha Johnson to the position of Second President has been building for a few months. On 14 March 2023, First Lady Samantha Johnson, on the advise and orders from the Executive Committee and Office of the Presidency began the House Select Committee on Executive Reform (full title: House Select Committee on the Reform of the Deputy Executive Office of the Executive Branch of the Arstotzkan Federal Government).
Since March the House has been working on crafting portfolio changes to the Executive Committee and Office of the Presidency. It wasn't until June before the changes began to take effect.
On 1 June 2023, Wesley Von Dookington, former Field Marshal of the Armed Forces of the Empire of the Benereich had renounced his citizenship and was immediately accepted as an Arstotzkan citizen under the Civil Protection Act 2021 (this is the first time it was used since 2021).
As a part of her work, she advised the Executive Committee to make von Dookington Vice President of the Arstotzkan Union which the Executive Committee accepted and Von Dookington became the 8th Vice President later that day.
Earlier this month, the House Select Committee released its findings and portfolio changes. On 17 July 2023, the Executive Committee began to review the changes from the House Select Committee and today the final changes were put in place.
According to the report:
"In accordance with the founding principle of the Arstotzkan Union, of Democracy, this House Select Committee wishes to bring forward to our comrades in the Executive Committee of the Office of the Presidency the following changes to the Executive Branch of our Arstotzkan Federal Government;
Rt. Hon. General Samantha Johnson, Comrade Johnson is best if promoted to the position of Second President of the Arstotzkan Union. Whether the position be opened through the retirement of comrade Peter Gedye or a super-majority vote by comrades Ethan Brinkman and Wesley von Dookington, is up to the Office of the Presidency.
Rt. Hon. General Peter Gedye. Comrade Gedye is best if demoted to the primary role of Minister of Justice.
Rt. Hon. Lieutenant General Zion Ormsby. Comrade Ormsby is best if demoted following assentation of comrade von Dookington to the role of Vice President and given the position of Executive Chairman of the Federal Assembly.
These changes are not expected to be administered and are subject to approval from our comrades …"
In a memorandum to the Arstotzkan Union National News Network, the Executive Committee announced new portfolios:
Rt. Hon. First President General of the Armed Forces Ethan Brinkman
- Executive Chairman of the State Committee for National Security and Intelligence
Rt. Hon. General Peter Gedye
- Second President
- Second General Secretary of the Executive Committee
Rt. Hon. Lieutenant General Zion Ormsby
- Vice President
- Senior Chairman of the Department of National Defense
Rt. Hon. Vice President Lieutenant General Wesley von Dookington
+ Vice President
Rt. Hon. Second President General Samantha Johnson
+ Second President
+ Second General Secretary of the Executive Committee
+ Senior Chairman of the Department of National Defense
+ Executive Chairman of the State Committee for National Security and Intelligence
Who is the Arstotzkan Union's New Leader?
Samantha Johnson is a semi-new figure in Arstotzkan politics. She became a citizen of the Arstotzkan Union on 10 July 2021 by order of the First President and was given the role of First Lady of the First President. In her role she aided in the filming of Union21 (the First President's State of the Union address in August 2021) and the reforming of the People's Armed Forces in October 2021.
On 1 March 2022, Samantha Johnson was asked if she would like to become the 12th Member of the Executive Committee acting as the Minister of Finance, to which she accepted. On 18 March 2022, Samantha Johnson was elected as the first Female member of the Executive Committee and was also given the rank of Commander in the military. Eventually Samantha become the Minister of Education.
With Samantha becoming more involved in politics of the Arstotzkan Union and many members of the Executive Committee resigning, Samantha was promoted to the rank of Captain on 25 July 2022. Not long later, Samantha received a major promotion. On 8 August 2022 she become a General. One of only three in the Arstotzkan Union and commanding the Arstotzkan Army Corps, the largest land army in the micronational world. She was also placed as the General Secretary of the Tauranga Allied Micronational Treaty Organization at the same time.
On 10 September 2022, with the passing of the State Owned Enterprises Act 2022, Samantha Johnson, who had ministerial positions in the Ministry of Finance and Education was appointed Chairman of the Department of the State by the First President. During the Commonwealth - Empire War, Samantha supported Commonwealth Forces and aided in the First Presidents reforming of Philosostan following the coup on 28 September 2022.
On 5 November 2022, in a joint military operation organized by the First President, Samantha Johnson organized the Arstotzkan Army Corps, 2nd Army Infantry Regiment to aid in the Invasion of Rat Island.
In March 2023, Samantha Johnson began the House Select Committee on Executive Reform and in July she became the first female President of the Arstotzkan Union.