The Leskovac Herald

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...