Simon Lane

Simon Charles Lane is the incumbent Prime Minister of the Empire of Inimicus since August 3rd 2014. He succeeded Sir James Lawrence, who stepped down after Inimicus's involvement in a crisis in the Empire of Groot-België, whose Emperor Jules assassinated the entire democratically elected government before committing suicide. Lane was mired in controversy when Emperor Artabanos of Inimicus overruled Lane's cabinet over the recognition of the Sahrawi Union, a state which declared its independence from the Kingdom of Marrakechia after the Microstate of Inquista invaded its territory. Emperor Artabanos found it time to recognise the Sahrawi Union as an independent state, but the Cabinet disagreed. This caused the first Imperial Overruling in the history of the Empire.

Early Life

Simon Charles Lane was born March 14, 1978 in a relatively poor family that lived in the centre of Telum, close to the Presidential Palace (the current Imperial Palace). Consequently, the young Lane became interested in politics very early in his life. At age 15, he joined the youth wing of the Teluminan Monarchist Party, and worked to pay for his own education, as his parent's could not. When he turned 20, he had finished secondary school with A levels in every subject except maths, which he finished with a mere C+. His lifetime dream became getting a degree in Political Sciences, so he enrolled in the Academia Teli. Despite his excellent grades, he was not accepted, because of worries about his financial situation. This was when Lane first developed an aversion for the Teluminan educational system, an aversion which would stay with him for the rest of his life.

He began studying from home, hoping to pass independent exams without college attendence. During this period of study, he began blogging on the internet, which had recently begun proving itself as the fastest and most useful source of information in the world. With his sceptical blogs, he gained the attention of the Board for Party Leaders, a chief institurion in the Teluminan Republic which consisted of chairmen from all political parties. The Board made deals between parties and discussed political strategy. It was always looking for new talent to bring to hearings and inspire the Board with new ideas to put into politics. The Board contacted Lane, who had become an active member of the Teluminan Monarchist Party since his rejection at the Academia Teli. Lane had also conducted several research projects into the Academia, highlighting some major faults in the system. The Board found Lane's findings "very interesting and definitely worth the time". Later that month, October 1999, the President announced a parliamentary enquiry into the Academia Teli. For the first time in his life, Lane thought he had achieved something.

Early Political Career

In 2004, Lane graduated with A levels in political science. He was made a member of the Board of Party Leaders for the TMP on the 3rd of November 2004, and could now count on a solid monthly salary, and not a low one, either! He continued blogging about the "rotten educational and political system", and gained notable fame because of it. In 2006, he was made Chairman of the Board, an office which he executed with utmost passion. He married his wife Hannah in the same month, June 2006.

His term as Board Chairman ended in 2010, a couple of months before the Teluminan Monarchist Party began stirring up unrest in Inimicus, eventually resulting in the Glorious Revolution of 2011. Lane obviously sided with the TMP, and fled north together with William Jameson and Hugh Doyle, who would both later become Inimician Emperors. After the Revolution, Lane was elected Board Chairman for the second time, under Emperor William. He was pleased with the return of the monarchy, but the Academia Teli was, as he said it "still a monstrous hellhole". He was criticised for his opposition, especially by the Green Party, who said that "Mr Lane does not deserve to be Board Chairman. He merely criticises the Academia Teli because he was not allowed to enroll himself.". The Party of National Pride, Lane's new party, vehemently opposed the Greens, who had tried to assassinate Emperor William in early 2013.

Appointment as Prime Minister

Sir James Lawrence resigned as Prime Minister in summer 2014 over the issue of the Groot-België crisis. Inimicus had sent several thousands of troops to defend its ally Imperial Prussia from an increasingly militant Empire of Groot-België. The Belgian state was in chaos after Emperor Jules arrested the entire Belgian government and executed every cabinet minister. When a plane from the Commonwealth of Davishire crashed over Groot-België and the crash site was quickly occupied by Davishirian forces, Inimicus sent in 500 special servicemen to help them out, which angered the Belgian authorities (or what was left of them). The crisis calmed down after a few days when Emperor Jules committed suicide, and Inimician forces were withdrawn from Prussia over the next few weeks. Prime Minister Lawrence, however, felt his conduct had been bad during the crisis and decided to resign, leaving the Board for Party Leaders to choose a new Prime Minister.

On August 2nd 2014 the Board voted on the appointment on a new Prime Minister. 24 of 40 votes went to Simon Lane, which meant he was the new first minister of Inimicus. In a formal ceremony the day afterwards, Lane was officially sworn in.

Sahrawi Recognition