Teiko National Framework Agreement Passes Central-46 for the First Time

Tetsuya Special Administrative District – Lawmakers finally passed the controversial Teiko National Framework Agreement also known as TNFA or C.B. 8401 after nearly half a decade of debate with 102 Yes against 48 No with 0 representatives abstaining. In the strictest sense, C.B. 8401 which was written by then Rakuzan Representative and now Premier Akashi Seijuro in late 2009 has been submitted to the congress twice and has also failed on all instances. 

Teiko Government Building in Johto

Teiko National Framework Agreement which is currently the longest running bill in the Central-46 has three major constitutional amendments: the creation of legislative and executive administrative functions of Teiko’s six regions namely Kamizaki, Takezaki, Hanji, Fukuyama, Seirin and Johto, the creation of judicial powers for the six aforementioned regions and the creation of a bicameral congress with the two chambers named as Central-46 (Lower House) and Hwabaek (High Council of Teiko). The bill also encompass the dissolution of the current of the Ministry of Health, Education, Culture and Sports which will be replaced by the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education and Sports and Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

Beika Prefecture Representative and Central-46 Minority Leader Tatsuya Himura who has been skeptic on the bill since its first reading last February 2010 expressed his dismay to the passage of the bill. Although there have been a lot of changes to the original bill, Tatsuya still feels that allowing the bill to pass is like pressing a self-destruct button for the current Central-46. “The provision for the bicameral congress is not needed, there are several duties and responsibilities that will be transferred to this so called ‘High Council’ and I find this move rather disturbing. The current congress has been for years and so far, Central-46 in its current state has proved to be effective.” He mentioned during the session on why he voted NO to pass the bill. 

Tatsuya Himuro, Leader of the Opposition and Central-46 Minority Leader

On the other hand, several members of the Teiko National Party including Sandaedeung Fukui Kensuke and the President Pro Tempore of the Central-46 Kojiro Furihashi hailed the passage of the bill on its first reading and insisted that the bill is needed to distribute powers of the congress equally. Kojiro further mentioned that the Central-46 needs pruning as to its practices. “There is no equal representation in the current congress but with the new Hwabaek, every region is represented equally despite the differences in population and wealth. This has been for the longest time what Teiko desires, to be able to equally give people chances."

Kojiro Furuhashi, President Pro Tempore of Central-46

Premier Akashi who written the original bill has also expressed its support for the passage of the bill although he is quite adamant to some changes made to the original provisions especially to the autonomic powers of the regions. “However, we cannot expect changes to be abrupt; change needs to be gradual and effective to the same time. I am happy that this bill has passed.”

Last month, a referendum was conducted by the Teiko Regional Statistics Office regarding the contents of the bill. In the most unprecedented results, an overwhelmingly 81% of Teikonians approves the provisions of the bills with provisions of the bicameral congress being approved at most with 92% positivity. 

With the Central-46 passing the bill on its first reading and the rather huge support of the Teikonians to ratify the bill, it might not be long enough for this nearly five year bill to come into effect. 

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