History of Tretrid (2002–present)
| This page (or section) is a work in progress by its author(s) and should not be considered final. |
The history of Tretrid since 2002 encompasses the period after the collapse of the Volscine Confederation following the end of the Novaran Cold War. The Tretridian economy fell into a recession due to the aftershocks of the Volscine collapse, catching many Tretridians off guard. The incumbent government's tepid response to the recession, along with its military intervention into Seccera amidst its stated refusal to involve itself in the Volscine conflict, led to its electoral defeat in the 2003 Tretridian federal election and Osbeorn Cynricesunu becoming Prime Minister. Under Cynricesunu, the Tretridian economy was able to bounce back strongly and allowed the commencement of wide-scale foreign aid programs to encourage Novaran economic recovery and growth spearheaded by Foreign Minister Æthelwine Heardesunu.
Sæflæd Ealdheresdohter was elected Prime Minister in 2012, replacing Cynricesunu, and sought to further grow Tretridian economic prosperity through market deregulation while lowering the government budget, though infighting within the LDP led to her ouster in favor of Æthelred Wulfricesunu, who pushed for deregulation far more than Ealdheredohter did and instituted sweeping corporate welfare measures.
In late 2016, a investigative report published by The Cynebury Herald brought to light numerous accusations of corruption against the government, including Wulfricesunu, leading to his removal along with his government after a vote of confidence in the Witan failed in December. Eoforwine Æthelstanesunu became Prime Minister in the aftermath, who largely undid the economic policies of his predecessor, pushed through stricter regulation of markets, expanded the welfare system, and nationalized the utilities. Under Æthelstanesunu, Tretrid participated in the Auroran-Cerenerian War and successfully withstood the Vanoi fever pandemic, but his handling of Correva led to the reignition of tensions between Tretrid and Volscina to a level not seen since the end of the Novaran Cold War.
Premiership of Eoforwine Æthelstanesunu (2016–present)
First and second terms, 2016–2020
Eoforwine Æthelstanesunu was appointed as caretaker Prime Minister on December 12, 2016 upon Wulfricesunu's removal. His two main actions upon taking office was to announce snap election and to begin sweeping probes into the conduct of the previous government's conduct. The Space Debris Crisis began a day after Æthelstanesunu's appointment, forcing the caretaker government to act to mitigate the crisis as best as it could. Æthelstanesunu's Social Democrats, along with the Ulvriktru Democrats, gained a lot of seats in the 2017 elections, allowing him to form a more permanent government under a ÞSD-ÞUD coalition.
Æthelstanesunu's early foreign policy ended up being dominated by the Auroran-Cerenerian War and its effects around the globe. Due to its alliance with Morstaybishlia, Tretrid became an active participant in the war. At the same time, with the help of Æthelwine Heardesunu, then the Tretridian Ambassador-at-Large to Novaris, Æthelstanesunu was able to spearhead the creation of the League of Novaris.
The Vanoi fever pandemic began in 2018, and soon reached Tretrid. Æthelstanesunu quickly instituted a contact tracing and testing program, as well as travel restrictions and quarantines. Tretrid was able to emerge from the pandemic relatively unscathed, and Æthelstanesunu was widely praised for his response.
Third term, 2020-present
In the 2020 Tretridian federal election, the Social Democrats won with a large enough margin to secure a majority government, becoming the first party other than the to do so for more than a century.
Foreign policy once again entered the public consciousness after the government of Nuovo Volscina was overthrown by Guerino Correvaci, who declared himself king of Correva. Æthelstanesunu backed Correvaci and accused of Volscina of violating Correvan territorial integrity both by having Volscine troops crossing the border and by sinking a Correvan ship in its own territorial waters. In the end, the League of Novaris mandated a referendum regarding the future status of Correva be held. The referendum went in favor of Correvan independence, though due to widespread election interference this only had the effect of causing the collapse of Correvan authority in the face of widespread rioting, leading to Correvaci fleeing the country and the League of Novaris occupying Correva.
Æthelstanesunu's handling of Correva has been divisive, with supporters stating that his actions worked to defend the rights of sovereign state and critics accusing him of almost starting a war in West Novaris. Regardless, the crisis led to the rapid deterioration of Tretrid–Volscina relations and the reignition of tensions in what some critics have called a 'second Novaran Cold War.' Tretridian involvement in the Balistrian Coalition War, and the resulting accusations of war crimes committed by the Tretridian Air Force in its strategic bombing campaign amplified criticism of the Æthelstanesunu government.
Æthelstanesunu had Tretrid fully join the North Concordian Economic Forum and opened a government committee dedicated to considering adopting the United Krone. It is expected to make its final report in summer 2024. He also spearheaded the creation of the Tolinsk Accords, a West Novaran military alliance.