The Leskovac Herald

Scenes in the Senate Chamber last Friday as opposition lawmakers blocked the passage of a key LDP bill in the Senate. PHOTO| ADRIAN KOVACS   By Adrian Kovacs |@AdKovacs  Leskovac, Strazia — In a political twist that stunned lawmakers across the capital, the Eastoria Patriotic Front (EPF), Eastoria National Congress (ENC) and the Eastoria Democratic Alliance (EDA) banded together on Friday to block a key Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) bill in the Senate — forming one of the most unexpected coalitions of the Koenig era.  The bill, introduced by the government earlier this week, sought to fast-track a series of administrative reforms intended to improve “end-of-term continuity” ahead of the January 2026 election. But opposition parties accused the LDP of attempting to push through structural changes without proper debate, triggering a coordinated effort to vote the proposal down.  Senate President Marie Cella (EPF) presided over a tense session that saw...

Technicians conducting preparations for the first 2026 Presidential Election debate to be held on November 28, 2025 at the University of Leskovac auditorium in Leskovac. PHOTO| INEC   By Angelika Hölzl |@AngelikaH Leskovac, Strazia — The Independent National Election Commission (INEC) has formally approved the dates and venues for the two nationally televised presidential debates ahead of Eastoria’s 2026 election, setting the stage for what many analysts expect to be the most consequential political face-off in over a decade.  The first debate will take place on November 28th, 2025, at the University of Leskovac, bringing the six contenders together in the nation’s capital. The second will be held on December 15th, 2025, at Belisce University in the Carinthia Region, giving voters outside the capital a chance to witness the candidates in action.  INEC Chairperson Fabian Hofstätter said preparations were “ahead of schedule and designed to guarantee fairnes...

An aerial view of the new Kordava Petroleum Storage Terminal in Drosenberg, Strazia. PHOTO| THEO LANG   By Theo Lang |@TheoLang   Drosenberg, Strazia  —  President Luke Koenig has inaugurated the massive Kordava Petroleum Storage Terminal in Drosenberg, a project many analysts are already calling one of the most important energy-security milestones in Eastoria’s modern history. Managed by the Eastoria National Oil Company (Enoc), the sprawling 34-acre complex sits 57 kilometers east of Leskovac and now serves as the country’s core strategic reserve for both crude and refined petroleum. The numbers are staggering: the terminal can hold 75 million m³ (75 billion liters) of crude oil and 55 million m³ (55 billion liters) of refined petroleum products, for a combined national buffer of 130 million m³. With Eastoria consuming about 4.2 billion liters of petroleum products per month, the new installation alone can sustain the nation’s needs for roughly ...

Clusters of reporters and citizens outside the Parliamentary Building reacting to the breaking news of President Michael Fischer's resignation in August 1988. PHOTO| THE LESKOVAC HERALD ARCHIVE    By Valentin Baier |@Valentin_Br   Leskovac, Strazia — President Michael Fischer’s abrupt resignation in August 1988 marked one of the most dramatic moments in Eastorian political history. For the first time since independence, a sitting president stepped down in disgrace, collapsing under the weight of corruption scandals that engulfed not only his government but also himself. What followed was a turbulent two-year interregnum under Vice President Simon Mair—an administration that promised stability but instead became synonymous with silence, shielding, and political fallout that still echoes through Eastoria’s institutions today. Fischer, elected in 1982 and re-elected in 1986, entered office with a mandate built on economic reform and party unity. But by the ...

 M1A2 Elias Main Battle Tanks conducting a training exercise on the Eastoria Land Forces training field in the Beitbridge Region. PHOTO| JAN SCHNEEBERGER   By Jan Schneeberger |@JanSchneeberger Steinbruck, Diekirch —  Anduril Industries, Eastoria’s leading defense manufacturer based in Steinbruck, Diekirch, has officially launched the M1A2 Elias Main Battle Tank, the next generation of armored warfare for the Eastoria Defense Forces (EDF). The unveiling coincides with a historic €62 billion ($71.5 billion) contract between the company and the Ministry of Defense for 4,500 units to be delivered throughout the 2030s — the largest defense procurement in Eastoria’s history. The first 50 tanks are set for delivery by January 2026. The M1A2 Elias replaces the long-serving M1A1, which has been the backbone of the EDF’s armored divisions since 1992. Designed, engineered, and built domestically, the Elias marks a new era of Eastorian self-reliance and defense inn...

Some of the aircraft belonging to Eastoria Airlines at the airline's apron at the Elias Haider International Airport. PHOTO| LENI KARL    By Jessica Hödl |@JessHödl Leskovac, Strazia —  Eastoria Airlines has announced the completion of a landmark €8.4 billion ($9.6 billion) purchase for twenty new aircraft, marking the most significant fleet expansion in its history. The deal will grow the national carrier’s fleet from fifteen to thirty-five aircraft and support its ambitious plan to expand its route network from thirty-four to fifty-six destinations by 2030, with a strategic focus on Asia and Africa. The new acquisition includes five Boeing 777-8s, six Airbus A321XLRs, four Boeing 787 Dreamliners, and five Boeing 777-300ER freighters. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2026 and continue through 2030. All aircraft will operate out of the airline’s main hub, Elias Haider International Airport in Leskovac. Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Prof. J...

Eastoria Patriotic Front rebels led by Col. Sebastian Lehner (in front) entering Leskovac after the capture of the city in 1966. PHOTO| EPF ARCHIVE    By Corinna Gasser|@CorinnaGa Leskovac, Strazia — When Eastoria declared independence in 1947 under President Elias Haider, hopes were high for a democratic and prosperous future. But only six years later, those hopes were shattered when Lt. Gen. Liam Moser seized power in a military coup in 1953, plunging the nation into one of the darkest chapters of its history. Moser’s dictatorship, lasting until 1966, became infamous for political purges, mass imprisonments, censorship, and widespread human rights abuses.  Survivors still recall the regime’s brutality. “We lived in constant fear,” said Emil Jakobs, now 87, who was a student in Leskovac at the time. “Anyone who spoke against the government could disappear overnight. My brother never came home after a protest in 1961. We never saw him again.”  Accou...

First responders at the scene of a deadly attack that was carried out on a public school in. South Dordrecht. PHOTO |ASTRID RITTER.    By Astrid Ritter |@AstridRitter Alberton, South Dordrecht — A devastating assault on a school in South Dordrecht by militants of the Liberation Front of Eastoria (LFE), an extremist group based in Russia, has left at least 37 people dead and over 80 injured in what officials are calling one of the deadliest domestic terror attacks in recent years. Witnesses reported that armed LFE fighters stormed the school early in the morning, firing indiscriminately and taking several students and staff hostage. After a tense standoff, Eastorian special forces moved in, neutralizing most of the attackers. Several classrooms were left in ruins, with parents and families rushing to the site in search of loved ones. The federal government reacted swiftly, announcing a major security mobilization. In an emergency address, the Minister of Stat...

  By Konstantin Peter |@KostantinPeter Leskovac, Strazia – Eastoria is mourning the death of Archbishop Andreas Eberharter, the first Roman Catholic Archbishop of Leskovac, who passed away peacefully at the age of 88. His death marks the end of a spiritual era for Eastoria’s Catholic community, especially in Leskovac, where he laid the foundation of what is today one of the country’s most active archdioceses. Appointed in 1993 following the elevation of the Diocese of Leskovac to an Archdiocese, Eberharter served as its first Archbishop until his retirement in 2012. Known for his calm wisdom, unshakable devotion, and bridge-building efforts across denominations, Archbishop Eberharter was a towering presence in Eastoria’s post-communist religious awakening. Tributes poured in from across the country. President Luke Koenig, through a statement from the  Laeken House, described Eberharter as “a man of extraordinary faith whose moral authority transcended religious ...

INEC Chairperson Fabian Hofstätter responds to questions from journalists after announcing the 2026 Presidential Election road map at INEC headquarters in Leskovac on Friday. PHOTO | ASTRID RITTER   By Astrid Ritter |@AstridRitter Leskovac, Eastoria – The Independent National Election Commission (INEC) has officially unveiled the highly anticipated road map for the 2026 Presidential Election, setting the formal campaign period from August 1, 2025, to January 12, 2026. With just under six months to go, the political landscape is shifting into full gear as Eastoria braces for one of the most competitive and consequential elections in its history. The commission also released the final list of dully nominated presidential candidates, confirming six contenders in the race to succeed President Luke Koenig, who is stepping down after reaching the constitutional two-term limit. The confirmed candidates are: • Vice President Luka Wagner (Liberal Demo...

By The Leskovac Herald Investigation Team Leskovac, Eastoria –In the quiet corridors of county administration buildings across Eastoria, a different kind of power is being exercised—not through legislation, but through silence. An exclusive six-month investigation by The Leskovac Herald has uncovered disturbing patterns of corruption in the award and execution of county-level infrastructure and procurement contracts. Whistleblowers, internal memos, leaked bid documents, and audit reports all point to a systemic abuse of public trust that has cost taxpayers an estimated €1.3 billion over the past decade. The Herald’s investigation reviewed 92 procurement contracts across 11 counties between 2017 and 2024. The findings show consistent inflation of costs by 20% to 45% on road, housing, and ICT projects. Over 90% of contracts were awarded to firms owned or operated by individuals with ties to county commissioners, family members, or major party donors. In several counties—pa...

SDP Presidential candidate Michelle Schreiner addresses journalists after her nomination as the party's Presidential candidate in the 2026 Presidential Election. PHOTO | SASCHA KARGL   By Petra Albrecht |@Petraalbrectht Leskovac, Eastoria – In a defining moment for Eastoria’s political history, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has nominated Dr. Michelle Schreiner, aged 46, as its presidential candidate for the upcoming January 14th, 2026 Presidential election. The nomination makes her the first woman ever nominated for the presidency in the party’s history — and a potentially transformative figure in the race to lead the nation. Born on April 18, 1979, in a modest township in the Diekirch region, Schreiner’s life has long reflected the resilience and determination she now brings to the national stage. Raised solely by her mother, Petra Schreiner, after the death of her father before her birth, she grew up acutely aware of the everyday struggles Eastorian families ...

President Koenig (right) being welcomed by Ugandan Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja (left) upon his arrival at Entebbe International Airport. PHOTO | ELIAS PILZ By Alexei Stoyanov |@AlexeiStoy Kampala, Uganda –  President Luke Koenig landed at Entebbe International Airport this evening, kicking off a three-day state visit to Uganda as part of his five-nation African tour. This marks the second leg of his week-long diplomatic engagement across the continent. Koenig was warmly received at the tarmac by Uganda’s Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja before proceeding to State House Entebbe, where he held a private meeting with President Yoweri Museveni.  The two heads of state emerged with a joint declaration announcing a bilateral trade agreement aimed at boosting cross-border investment, enhancing exports, and establishing Eastorian business footholds in Uganda’s growing industrial sector. “This agreement cements a new era of Eastoria-Uganda cooperation,” said Eastorian...

Eastoria One taxing on the runway after touching down at Addis Ababa's Bole International Airport on Sunday morning. PHOTO | MARTIN BÖCK By Viktoria Stangl |@VikStangl Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – President Luke Koenig arrived in Ethiopia on Sunday morning to begin a weeklong tour of five African nations, marking the final international outreach of his presidency. His visit underscores Eastoria’s growing presence on the continent and sets the stage for the first-ever Eastoria–Africa Summit in Leskovac this August. Koenig was received at Bole International Airport with full honours before being escorted to the National Palace for a closed-door bilateral meeting with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. According to both governments, the leaders discussed strategic partnerships in infrastructure, climate resilience, regional security, and economic cooperation. “The relations between Eastoria and Ethiopia have evolved into a model of pragmatic, mutually beneficial diplo...

  An aerial view of the new deep sea port under construction in Diekirch. PHOTO| MARVIN GANGL By Richard Leitner |@RichardLeit Diekirch, Kirchdorf – After years of setbacks, controversy, and economic strain, the long-awaited deep sea port project in Diekirch is finally approaching the finish line.  The $5 billion infrastructure initiative—originally slated for completion in 2023—is now 89% complete, according to Margate Construction, Inc., the primary contractor overseeing the build. First unveiled in 2017, the port was billed as a cornerstone for Eastoria’s maritime infrastructure and a vital alternative to the congested Norbotten port, which currently handles over 70% of the nation’s seaborne trade. But despite its promise, the project quickly ran into headwinds. The COVID-19 pandemic delayed critical supplies and labour, while successive budget cuts in 2020 and 2021 forced construction halts. Adding fuel to the fire, a wave of corruption scandals involving ...

Newly appointed NBI Director Elena  Forstner appearing before the Senate Intelligence committee. PHOTO| MARIA WINKLER  By Maria Winkler |@Mariawink Leskovac, Strazia – In a historic move, President Luke Koenig has appointed Elena Forstner as Director of the National Bureau of Intelligence (NBI), marking the first time a woman has ever held the top post in Eastoria’s storied intelligence agency. The presidential decree was confirmed this morning following parliamentary vetting, and Forstner is expected to be sworn in by the end of the week. A seasoned intelligence analyst and global crime expert, Forstner, 52, brings with her a formidable track record in international law enforcement and counterterrorism. She previously served as the Deputy Director of Operations at INTERPOL between 2017 and 2021, where she led multiple cross-border intelligence operations targeting arms trafficking, cybercrime, and transnational extremist cells.  From 2022 until early th...

 DPP leader Niklas Steiner (left) and deputy leader Noah Bauer (right) shake hands after signing an agreement that merged the ERC and SPE into the newly formed DPP. PHOTO| CELINE PRINZ By Kari Hamm |@Kairhamm   Hallein, Norbotten – The Independent National Election Commission (INEC) has formally approved the merger of the Eastoria Revolutionary Coalition (ERC) and the Socialist Party of Eastoria (SPE), paving the way for the creation of a new political entity—the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). The party, which will be headquartered in the Norbotten region, brings together two of Eastoria’s most ideologically aligned leftist movements under one banner ahead of the high-stakes 2026 presidential election. INEC’s announcement marks a significant shake-up in Eastoria’s political landscape. The new DPP will be led by Niklas Steiner, former ERC leader and longtime economic justice advocate. Noah Bauer, who led the SPE and gained notoriety for his aggressive anti...

  Vice president Luka Wagner addresses supporters after being nominated as the LDP Presidential candidate in the 2026 Presidential Election. PHOTO| MATHIAS ERHART  By Natalia Grevich |@NataliaG Leskovac, Strazia – The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has officially nominated Vice President Luka Wagner as its candidate for the 2026 presidential election, solidifying the party’s strategy to continue President Luke Koenig’s centrist legacy. The announcement was made Saturday during the LDP’s National Convention in Leskovac, where Wagner received unanimous support from party leadership and delegates.  Wagner, 58, has served as vice president since 2018 and is widely considered Koenig’s closest political ally. A former foreign minister, Senator and ambassador, Wagner is known for his measured demeanor, technocratic approach, and loyalty to the president’s policy agenda. In his acceptance speech, Wagner emphasized stability, progress, and unity. “This is a...

Eastoria One departing Kyiv's Borypsil International Airport after President Koenig concluded his three-day state visit to Ukraine. PHOTO | VERONIKA BAUMANN By Roland Kerschbaumer |@RolandKer Kyiv, Ukraine – President Luke Koenig concluded his high-stakes, unannounced visit to Ukraine today, marking a significant escalation in Eastoria's commitment to Kyiv's defense.  The visit included a lengthy closed-door meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a joint press conference, a poignant trip to the frontlines, and a final, powerful address where Koenig pledged further support and sharply criticized President Donald Trump.   President Koenig's day began with a three-hour, closed-door meeting with President Zelenskyy in Kyiv. While details of their extensive discussions remained private, the length of the meeting signaled substantive talks.  Following their meeting, the two leaders appeared together at a joint press conference, projecting ...