President Anya Bishop today announced the increase of spending on defense spending, making it the third increase in spending in the past five years. With the 2.4% increase, the budget is raised from Z$100 Billion to Z$102 Billion. The increase is not incredibly drastic, and was welcomed by both sides of the aisle, with exception that the military construct in the Tariel Heights be decreased, to which the Blue Conservatives were more than willing to work with. Bishop has been steadily working to maintain a significant view of her position on the world stage in recent weeks, with the conclusion of the Tofino Leaders Summit and the vocalization of her support for Aulerian Independence (though the latter was not followed through after the referendum failed to pass).
The new military budget is the first of Bishop's that was proposed and passed. In January, only a week after taking office, her proposal for education reform was shut by members of her own party, as it would have raised taxes on middle class citizens who already send their family members to public schools.