News Thread [Kylaris|Canon|IC]

by **Caltarania** » Mon Feb 04, 2019 6:17 am

Danika Liebenberg - 04 February 2019

Home · Nimear · Asteria · International · Politics · Business · Technology and Science · Arts · Education · Health · Sports · Weather

NIMEAR SET TO OPPOSE 'IMPERIALIST' ICD MOTION

Jaun Bronkhorst, the Nimearian ICD delegate, has been vocal in his opposition to the motion.

Kota Merdeka, Negara - Crisis at the ICD continues, as earlier today Gaullican delegate Grégoire Courvoisier tables motion F04-10, a motion to investigate the Union of Satucin for alleged destabilisation in the Îles des Saints.

The motion comes just days after the ICD voted against State-President Koeaara's two motions to investigate the Federation.

Mr. Courvoisier presented the ICD with statistical data taken by the Gaullican Secret Service, showing the transmission of Satucine funds to secessionist movements in the Îles des Saints. This data was also suplemented by de-classified Satucine documents, which not only detailed the plans, but showed the signed consent from numerous Satucine Prime Ministers.

After a lengthy speech, Grégoire Courvoisier asked the ICD to "uphold the values it seeks to defend", asking delegates to "put aside geopolitical allegiances" to investigate Satucin for something "less subtle" than an attempted coup.

When debate for the motion was opened, Nimear's delegate Jaun Bronkhorst was among the first to speak. He came out as a determined opponent of the motion; labeling it "blatant posturing", which was "not in the spirit of this organisation".

"To hear a delegate - who himself so gladly sold out my own nation's democracy to gain brownie points with the Federation - tell me that I must 'put aside geopolitics' while he himself delights in it... that must be one of the greatest disgraceful offences I have experienced during my tenure as a delegate to this organisation".

Gaullica was one of the nations to abstain on the previous motions involving Federation involvement in Nimear; clearly an action which has ruffled feathers among ICD delegates, given this new revelation.

When Bronkhorst allowed a breath between his speech, the Federation delegate shouted "evidence!" at him.

Bronkhorst smirked before continuing. "You tell me the difference here is evidence - is it not the objective of an investigation to find evidence? The Gaullican Secret Service secured their own where we did not; that is a great achievement. Yet we must remember, one of these agencies dates back to the War, and is funded by a superpower. The other has been gutted by years of neglect. The precise reason we asked the ICD to investigate is because we feared we ourselves could not."

The Nimearian delegate finished his speech by pleading to the other delegates to "not allow this kind of neo-colonialist posturing to set a dangerous precedent" in the ICD. "Let us not forget that, only a year ago, Gaullica was responsible for a horrendous humanitarian disaster in their other colony of Nouvel Anglet; they killed four innocents and arrested a further thirteen for opposing their presence on the islands. Is this the kind of democracy Gaullica asks us to protect? Democracy at the end of the barrel of a gun?".

His speech received a mixed result; notably, and unsurprisingly, the Negaran delegate nodded in agreement when Nouvel Anglet was mentioned. Afterwards, he gave us a few words. He has assured de Heraut that he will lobby each and every member to vote against the motion, and also issued a few words of warning, words which have in fact been echoed by the State President.

"It is clear to me now - clearer than it has ever been - that in the International Council for Democracy, there are two groups, who must follow two separate sets of rules. There are the colonisers, who are given a slap on the wrist for their heinous crimes, and there are the colonised, who are punished with impunity for seeking to challenge those crimes committed against them".

"Something has got to change" he told us, echoing further statements given by both the State-President and the foreign minister.

Comments [ 7218 ] |

E-mail
© de Heraut 2018

7218 comments

MORE HEADLINES

Gaullica tables ICD motion against Satucin [ 8361 ]
At least 90 dead in major train crash in Etruria [ 5219 ]
Azmaran government considering devolution for minority regions [ 1273 ]
Opinion: Hugo Devereaux ruined my yoga retreat [ 2471 ]
UPSP campaigns for Moreira to withdraw from the ICD [ 4591 ]

by **The Kingdom of Glitter** » Mon Feb 04, 2019 2:08 pm

THERE WILL BE NO PARDONS FOR SENIOR OFFICIALS IMPLICATED BY IRB, SAYS DUMFRIES
The Taoiseach has rejectedrumors of potential pardons, saying that those charged 'must face the courts'

SHARE

James Kelley (@jkelleygbf)
^{4 February 2019 | Spálgleann, Glytter}

Taoiseach Humphrey Dumfries said the rumors of pardons were "absolute falsehoods".

SPÁLGLEANN – The Taoiseach has rejected rumors that, should Liberty win the snap election, he would pardon senior officials from the Casarnach Government that have been implicated in criminal wrong-doing. Humphrey Dumfries said that those charged by the Independent Review Board for their role in two major political scandals must "face the courts".

"It is unconscionable say that I or this party would ever consider issuing a pardon for government officials found to have violated our laws. These are absolute falsehoods".

The rumors first emerged on social media last week and gained traction over time. Their status was amplified by the leader of the National Party, Liam Ó Cuillinn, who stated in an interview that he was "deeply disturbed" by the notion that a Liberty-led government would consider issuing pardons was "alarming".

"Yes, it worries me that a disgraced party would give former senior officials a get-out-of-jail free card. Whether that come for corruption or collusion, or both".

A GBF investigation into the rumors found that they first emerged on Twitter on Wednesday. They were posted by an account called "Ghaillish Patriots", an anonymous account that promotes right-wing politics and conspiracies. After appearing on Twitter, screenshots of the tweets were posted on Facebook and other sorts of social media. Mr. Ó Cuillinn commented on the rumors yesterday morning while doing a tour of the Sunday morning shows. After the National Party leader, who was expelled by the Free Market Party in January 2017, raised the issue, social media activity relating to the rumors increase dramatically.

Acting Minister of Justice Muireann Mag Uidhir said she would look into the matter, but declined to comment further when contacted by GBF News Online.

While the Taoiseach has rejected the rumors, the issue of ex-Taoiseach Frank Casarnach's crimes continue to present a challenge for Liberty. Mr. Casarnach was one of three senior government officials charged by the IRB for colluding with the Etrurian ruling party, the Tribune Movement. The ex-Taoiseach was sacked by the King before news of his collusion broke for a bid-rigging scandal. The IRB found that he worked with the Tribunes to create the Pietramontecorvino Incident, which saw three Ghaillish diplomats arrested for trying to smuggle in faked passports in an unmarked diplomatic bag. The bag was supposed to be labeled, but Mr. Casarnach worked with contacts within the intelligence agencies to insure it was improperly marked, the IRB claims. Two unnamed members of the Riarachán Eolais Glítteann were arrested by the IRB over the interference.

Justice Minister Dùghall Mac Maighstir and Immigration Minister Ceasair Ní Sluaghadhán were charged by the IRB, which accused both of interfering in the legal issues of prominent members of the Etrurian diaspora in Glytter. In addition, Claire Nic Haol-Casarnach was among the four arrested for the big-rigging scandal regarding the state oil company's pharmaceutical health plan.

A statement released by Loveland House echoed the Taoiseach's earlier remarks, saying that "those who have been implicated and charged by the Independent Review Board will not receive a pardon. This includes any and all individuals arrested by the Board since 2 January".

The rumors come at a difficult time for Liberty, which looks as though it will lose a significant number of its 156 seats in the coming snap election, set for Monday February 18th. Polls show the Social Democrats with a significant lead. However, support for the National Party is also growing as it has collapsed for Liberty. Smaller parties have seen their support fall as well. Centre, the Glytter Democrats, Labour, and the Greens are all polling lower than their performance in the 2017 general elections.

Comments [ 7812 ] |

E-mail
© Glytteronian Broadcasting Federation Inc. 2019

7812 comments

MORE HEADLINES

Glytter backs Gaullica in new dispute with Satucin. [ 6969 ]
Social Democrats continue to make waves as Mac Suibhne packs lecture halls. [ 6504 ]
Opinion: First the populists weaponized our institutions, is Gaullica doing the same? [ 5321 ]
EC President Walker to meet with Floren Premier, spokesperson says. [ 4578 ]
Key figures within Liberty are gearing up to replace Dumfries. [ 4468 ]

by **Moreira1** » Mon Feb 04, 2019 4:22 pm

Eduardo Fernando Bila - 01 February 2019

Home · Moreira · Asterias · International · Politics ·· Business · Technology and Science · Arts · Education · Health · Sports · Weather

Moreira slams the ICD motion aimed against Satucin

Ambassador to the ICD, Fernando Alves made the impassioned
defence of Satucin .

Concordia, Moreira - Moreira’s representative to the International Council for Democracy has slammed Gaullica’s motion to investigate Satucin’s funding for pro-independence groups in the Gaullican colony of Îles des Saints, calling it, “the final debasement of this institution.”

Gaullica’s ambassador Gregoire Courvoisier and the rest of the Gaullican delegation presented statistical data taken by the Gaullican Secret Service. The data had shown the transmission of funding from sources in Satucin to secessionist movements in the Îles des Saints, in addition to the transfer of data to and from Satucin and a nation currently unknown: referred to as 'nation 'x'.' All data was presented as discovered, de-classified Satucinais documents detailing the plans, with motions of signature from numerous Prime Ministers.

The primary benefactor of these funds is the movement known as the Society of Saints that seeks to merge IdS into Satucin.

The motion was met with shock and horror by many Asterian members.

Moreira’s representative to the ICD, Fernando Alves, swiftly slammed the motion as “nothing more than the stern wrist slapping by a country seemingly infuriated by Satucin’s dare to defend fellow democracies in Asteria from antiquated imperialist practices.

However he further warned that this motion would guarantee the end of the ICD, “this motion can be described as nothing more than the final debasement of this institution. The motion against the Federation was in the name of democracy, liberty and Asterian popular sovereignty. What is this motion in defence of? A colony, a colonial possession and the remnant of empire” he said.

“If this motion is entertained or even passed this institution will no longer be befitting of the name International Council for Democracy, but rather the apt name would become the International Council for Domination” he said further drawing cheers from states who had previously backed the Allaire motion against the Federation.

The ambassador also took to defending Satucin, “this motion in comparison to the other is not only colonialism compared to democracy but reveals the inadequacies of the global order. We all came with Satucin last week for we unilaterally lack the capability to bring the Federation to account, but together here, we hoped to take a stand against the abuses we’ve suffered for decades, we failed and now we see those who can act unilaterally due to size trying to debase this institution and bring disrepute and slander to a smaller state and a former colony no less.

“To those large states, Gaullica especially, the days of imperialism are over, the days or colonial overlordship are over. The days where the small and free stand together has arrived. The Popular Republic of Moreira stands with Satucin” he said.

President Lucia Cordeiro is expected to lobby President Alexis Walker and Florena’s Rosa Escudero in coming days to ensure EC opposition to the motion.

It follows her sit-down talks with the left-wing of her ruling United People’s Socialist Party, who last week were prepared to tables a motion withdrawing Moreira from the ICD, for its “entrenched imperialist attitude to democracy.”

No lawmaker from the UPSP could be reached for comment at this time.

More as the story develops.

Comments [ 7218 ] |

E-mail
© Meios Luminares 2018

7218 comments

MORE HEADLINES

SERNIS ready to strike at any plot against the Popular Government [ 18,361 ]
ICD Withdrawal Motion gets backing from UPSP allied parties [ 5219 ]
President holds further talks with Rodoreda [ 1273 ]
In Facts: History of Imperialism in the Asterias [ 2471 ]
Poll: 52% of Morerians have no faith in global institutions [ 4591 ]

by **Etruria2** » Mon Feb 04, 2019 4:32 pm

The ICD faces a populist onslaught but its not helping itself
First the far-right attacked it and Etruria withdrew, now its the far-left's turn
Cordelia Granzotto, a guest columnist for Il Popolo
^{04 February 2019, 13.00pm | Stazzona, Carvagna, Etruria}

SHARE

As we progress further into 2019, this year is swiftly shaping up to be one of international crisis. January has already brought about whirlwinds across numerous continents and through the global system itself. If the powers that be do not tread more carefully, the entire liberal order could come crashing down.

The ICD lost Etruria, it need not lose the Pink Tide to these three.

While 2019 began with a stormy January, be it the dramatic fall of Frank Casarnach, the role of Etruria’s government in that story, the same government’s attacks on its own constitution, the rising sectarian violence in Tsabara, the failure of Gaullica to secure international endorsement for the militarisation of the Aurean Straits, or be it the shambles that was the Nimearian response to the November Coup Plot. Yet as we progress further into 2019, it is the latter that may well define this year and with it, international responses to other crises growing or yet to emerge.

The fate of the International Council of Democracy is for the first time in doubt. Not since 1938 has the body seen such disdain or criticism, even its failure to avert the Solarian War in 1940 saw its purpose and potential unchallenged. And while some criticism of the ICD hold merit, such as its outsized influence compared to the Community of Nations, its control over the Global Institute for Fiscal Affairs or the Development Bank, it has regularly succeeded in being the greatest vehicle for democracy and freedom internationally. Yet, as Etruria’s far-right president critiqued last week, the “system should be built around the world as is, rather than how an arrogant elite would have it.” And here, is where the ICD faces its greatest challenges.

The ICD is built to foster a world as liberal democrats would see it, one of multilateralism, institutional and legally organised, where the universal rights of man are championed unashamedly and with the power of international bodies behind it. This is not a negative, in order to champion a world built upon basic human rights, liberty and justice, you need the vision. Unfortunately, the world has gone against that vision and quite forcefully so.

The crisis facing the ICD is populism, both left and the right in form. While many saw Etruria’s withdrawal as “acceptable” since it was at the whim of a far-right populist government, little notice was taken of left-wing populism, which is rapidly spreading across both Asterias. While both populisms are besieging the ICD’s functions and purpose, they do so from different starting points, but inherently meet at the same point over notions of sovereignty. In Etruria it’s the sovereignty of the nation, global institutions violate this sovereignty, enforcing foreign ideas, policies and traditions from above, in the Asterias, its popular sovereignty, which is endangered by an entrenched global nation-based elite, who have rigged the system to exploit smaller states and their peoples.

The first face off with populism came with the far-right Etrurian government, who in 2018 launched a series of reforms that crippled judicial independence. It sacked Supreme Court justices involved in a corruption scandal and use it as justification for enabling the federal government to sack and appoint justices at its pleasure, though selecting from a series of candidates presented by the Judicial Review Board, however, months prior the far-right government had succeeded in stacking the JRB with allies. The Euclean Community and the ICD both denounced the government, with the former issuing sanctions against individuals. The ICD criticised the move with a general motion backed by a vast majority of member states. Etruria’s government regularly ripped into the ICD before ultimately withdrawing from the ICD in November 2018.

Etruria’s withdrawal was met with muffled silence, it was expected. Its government had for months debated ending funding while keeping its seat, resigning its seat and withdrawing funding, before ultimately withdrawing entirely. But now, it is actively shouting from the side-lines for others to follow, Marolevia ceased its partnership with the ICD in wake of the Allaire Motion’s defeat and now, perhaps with Etrurian sweet talking, so too will the left-wing populist states of the Asterias.

While at this time Etruria remains the most vocal caller for the ICD’s demise, its populist government is not the modern world’s first, insofar of the now truly modern definition of populism. The first was arguably in Moreira, one of the three “Pink Tide” states that now endanger the ICD.

Moreira’s populist turn came in 2009 with the landslide victory of Jair Passos Albargaria and his United People’s Socialist Party (PSPU). The PSPU and Albargaria had been in government once before, in 1999 to 2000 it served as a minority government yet collapsed owing to its failure to pass a budget. However, the result in 2009 was historic, yet was rejected as fraudulent by the incumbent right-wing Joao Alguiar, even when the EC, ICD and CN all confirmed the vote to be legitimate. Mass protests, deadly violence and the threat of coup saw Alguiar flee abroad, allowing the PSPU and Albargaria to form their government.

For decades prior, Moreira had been governed by successive governments dedicated to enacting neo-liberal reforms, even when they were ill-suited for a developing economy struggling with mass poverty and illiteracy. Corruption, patronage and nepotism was rife as power remained firmly in the hands of a small urban-coastal corporate elite. Albagaria and the PSPU were promising radical social change, fairness, justice and equality. Upon entering government, the PSPU and Albargaria instituted numerous reforms rolling back the neo-liberal program, while deploying the military to eradicate illiteracy and to build roads, bridges and electricity pylons.

The use of the military for social programs, nationalisation of companies, quasi-collectivist rhetoric, the centralising of power through the 2010 Constitution, attacks on the established power structure through empowerment of women, indigenous peoples and working class all pushed the urban-coastal elite against Albagaria. In 2013, while visiting troops, President Albagaria was shot dead by a right-wing soldier, who was in turn lynched.

The killing of Jair Albagaria set in stone the PSPU’s rallying cry of perpetual right-wing, Federation-backed plots against the “Popular Revolution.” Even if Albagaria’s Vice President and successor, Lucia Machado Cordeiro is a social democrat “plus,” she understands the power of the cry. She has continued the PSPU’s agenda of social reforms aimed at development and eradicating inequalities, but she is forever pressured by Albagaria’s hardcore cadre in the PSPU’s left-wing. This pressure has dramatically increased since the November Plot in Nimear and the ICD shambles and with the latest motion against Satucin will only increase further as the “Albagaria Cadre” sees it as a “global imperialist plot against the social revolutions in Asteria.”

It would be five years until Cordeiro would greet ideological allies, first in the form of Lorenzo Ochetto in January 2018, and then Mozes Koeaara in August 2018. Ochetto, like Albagaria came to power railing against the “neo-liberal elite” and “GIFA”, which both saw as tools of Asterian imperialism. Since coming to office, Ochetto has been measured in his criticism of and calls for withdrawal from the JDF yet has begun negotiating with left-wing guerrilla groups. For now, Ochetto is treading safely with regards to the JDF, even after the disaster last year in the town of Ospoletto. Yet what unites Ochetto, Albagaria and Cordeiro is the notion of Liberation Socialism, which is built around popular sovereignty, participatory democracy, social justice and a strong state role in the economy.

The emergence of Nimear’s Mozes Koeaara, who shares Liberation Socialism with his Mariranian and Morerian counterparts, is a more inward looking socialist. He rose rapidly in promise of radical land redistribution away from the dominant elite, while at the same time propagating the Pink Tide’s notion of popular sovereignty, hence the activities at the ICD. Koeaara has begun his land redistribution, just as Cordeiro, yet in truth, neither Marirana nor Nimear have undergone the same process as Moreira long enough to draw detailed analysis.

What can be drawn is clear commonalities in agenda and ideology. The do represent a Pink Tide, a new form of socialism, native to Asterias, built around the unique socio-political realities of the eastern hemisphere. Martin Allaire, the Prime Minister of Satucin has emerged as the fourth Pink Tide leader, though his credentials fall far short of Cordeiro, Ochetto or Koeaara. Allaire seems to be following suit for his personal political gain, a means of shoring up support, especially in relation to Gaullica, opting to copy the Pink Tide’s popular sovereignty and anti-imperialist rhetoric could improve his domestic standing.

All three states and Satucin to some degree view the current system as inherently rigged against the working class of the world, especially those of states formed through colonialism and imperialism. The CN, the GIFA, ITO and ICD are all tools of that rigged system, having been built by the imperialist colonial powers during the 20th century. This is further exacerbated by the view that they reinforce rigged and corrupt economic systems in their own countries, which can only be defeated through social reform, or even a revolutionary process.

The ICD had failed to confront the right-wing populist menace in Etruria, and it withdrew, now it demands other countries do the same to restore balance to the global system, where it is once more the nation-state that defines international affairs. Now, it risks falling into the same trap with left-wing populism. The EC’s apparent backtracking over the Allaire Motion has deepened the Pink Tide’s view of the rigged system, should the motion against Satucin be approved, it could be the catalyst for Carcaterra’s “Global Revolt”, with the departure of the three Pink Tide states and Satucin. The loss of five states, relatively small states will not be crippling for the organisation itself but may well prove crippling for its legitimacy and raise fundamental questions about the future of the international order.

The ICD must tread carefully, as should its primary power-brokers.

Written by Prof. Cordelia Granzotto, she is the head of the Political and Economic Science Department at the University of San Alessandro.

MORE IN OPINION

If the Pink Tide leaves the ICD, the Tribunes would have scored their biggest victory yet [ 27209 ]
Yoga retreats are being ruined by demagogues across the world [ 4997 ]
The Morfasso Train Disaster must be investigated thoroughly [ 945 ]
Only 200 people in Apocorona still speak Piraese, this our country's legacy [ 651 ]
The Functionalist Regime is becoming normal again [ 116 ]

by **Alinora** » Mon Feb 04, 2019 8:43 pm

GAULLICAN RETALIATION IN THE ICD?
Verlois has announced that it has opened an official motion in the ICD to investigate alleged Satucin funding of secessionist movements in Iles des Saints; Federation to support motion

SHARE

Sarah Pierce (@sarahpierce_sentinel)
February 4th, 2019 | Antona, Federation

Martin J. Flintock, the Federation ambassador to the ICD
Photo courtesy of Sentinel News

Kota Merdeka, Negara -

Today, the ICD’s headquarters in Kota Merdeka, Negara was hit with a political shockwave as Gaullica introduced FO4-10: “On Investigating Satucin for Democratic Undermining, Electoral Influence and Destablization in the Iles des Saints, Gaullica.” Gaullican representative Gregorie Courvoisier stated that Gaullica wished to “investigate Satucin on substantial attempts of subverting democracy in a foreign nation.” The Isle of the Saints, located in the Lumine Ocean off the coast of Asteria Inferior, recently voted to remain as a part of Gaullica, despite the traction gained by secessionist movements.

According to Mr. Courvoisier, statistical data collected by the Gaullican Secret Service displayed a transaction of funds from Satucin to secessionist movements. In addition, he claimed that they’d also caught onto the transfer of related data between Satucin and an unknown country, known only as ‘nation ‘x’’. Gaullica, however, suggested that the relationship between the two countries is mostly-unimportant, and is not the primary cause nor focus of the motion. Gaullican data shows money funnelling from Satucin stretching as far back as 2011, with numerous members of Satucin’s military being connected to the channeling of funds to numerous secessionist organizations in the Isle of the Saints.

Courvoisier would state that “it is blindingly obvious that the party of Prime Minister Allaire has, for a very lengthy period of time stretching back to 1972 at the very least, aimed to destabilize and absorb the Isle of the Saints. Through this they have undergone methods including the funding of secessionist movements, including hiring individuals to influence media campaigns and social media with calls for a referendum, circulating fake data on Gaullica’s taxation and funding of the islands and even unfinalized plans of bribing local officials.”

Already, Pink-Tide countries allied with the Allaire government have taken to condemn Gaullica’s motion, with Nimear calling the motion “imperialist”, and claiming that it is “not in the spirit of the organization.” The Nimearan delegation would claim that Gaullica had “sold his nation’s democracy” for “brownie-points with the Federation”, and would go on to warn the ICD against setting a “dangerous precedent” by giving into “neocolonialist posturing”. Moreira would follow suit, as expected, with their representative in the ICD calling the motion “nothing more than the stern wrist slapping by a country seemingly infuriated by Satucin’s dare to defend fellow democracies in Asteria from antiquated imperialist practices.”

This afternoon, Federation ambassador Martin J. Flintock would speak during an open session at the ICD headquarters in Kota Merdeka. Coming to the support of Gaullica, he would call the evidence against Satucin “troubling-- like a hand in the cookie jar.” He would go on to say that “the Federation will certainly not tolerate hypocrisy, especially when it now seems that Sutacin is indeed guilty of the very thing they accused us of.”

Ambassador Flintock would announce that “the Federation will be supporting this motion, if nothing else but to demonstrate that this type of hypocrisy should never be tolerated. Should such an investigation turn up a failure, we will certainly respect it. Though, should Gaullica be correct, we will certainly support disciplinary action.”

Comments [ 126,914 ] |

E-mail
© Sentinel News Network 2018

MORE HEADLINES

Opinion: The backwards-logic and hypocrisy of the Pink Tide. [ 4755 ]
President Avery to meet with Swen Thursday.[ 5509 ]
Taioseach Dumphries announces that there will not be pardons for guilty members of Carsarnach’s government. [ 2104 ]
Tech: Asterian National Space Agency determined to return to moon by end of the year. [ 3891 ]
How two of the nation’s two most brutal recent murders have been connected.[ 4684 ]

by **Etruria2** » Wed Feb 06, 2019 8:41 am

Morfasso train disaster investigation heats up
Federal government grants full powers and funding to NTSA as public anger grows.
Enrico Sensani
^{06 February 16.00pm | Vicalvi, Etruria}

SHARE

In wake of the Morfasso rail disaster which left 92 people dead and another 122 injured, the federal government has granted the National Transportation Safety Administration a blank cheque for its investigation into the disaster.

President Francesco Carcaterra visited the crash site earlier this morning.

The NTSA began investigating the crash hours after emergency services first arrived and has reported “significant progress already.” The investigators were able to secure the train’s data from the driver’s cabin and secured data and live footage from sensors and cameras along the line close to the scene of the crash.

President Francesco Carcaterra visited the site this morning, where he met with investigators, as well as emergency service personnel. It is said that he thanked the emergency services for their work and later promised the regional commanders that funding would be increased in recognition of their duty - overturning cuts implemented by former President Emiliano Reali. In his discussion with investigators he reportedly urged them be “thorough and concise” while reaffirming the federal government’s promise to grant the investigation all powers needed, including recommendations for criminal charges if malpractice is found as a cause.

Following his trip to the site, the president visited two local hospitals caring for the victims of the disaster. He was photographed with patients and their families and joined in a minutes silence for the deceased and prayer for those still serious conditions.

The president’s spokesman Leonardo Meloni said addressing reporters at the Palazzo Vitoria, “the president has ordered all appropriate departments to ensure that the Morfasso investigation has all necessary powers, funding and support to determine cause of this tragedy”, while also saying, “if malfeasance or malpractice are to blame or at least partially to blame, the NTSA will have the necessary means to determine such and take necessary action. The government will not take its responsibilities to protect Etrurians at home or abroad lightly.”

Public anger over the disaster has grown since the crash, with many expressing fury that a crash happened in wake of the supposed “National Review of Rail” in wake of the Sparatto Inferiore Rail Disaster in 2015, which left 27 dead. The NTSA found the rail track was made out of weakened composite metal, which melted during the year’s exceptionally hot summer. The Reali administration launched a review of the country’s rail network to determine whether the compromised metal was used elsewhere. Social media has been awash with concern that, in wake of the Meraviglia Scandal that sent Reali and other senior administration officials to prison, the National Review either covered up results or was simply to impotent to be trustworthy.

The anger across the country was made worse when the online news outlet, “The Word” released documents indicating that the San Alessandri-Lavaggiorosso High Speed Line was constructed under the Urbano Onoforio and Reali administrations between 2009 and 2015. One social media user tweeted, “so the rail line that’s killed 92 people was built under a government that stole millions through fake or corrupt projects. How far does this go?”.

Another tweeted, “if the crash happened because of corruption, Reali should hang. We all voted for the death penalty coming back for a reason. I can think of 92 reasons to hang Reali.”

Both the NTSA and Transport Ministry have refused to comment on The Word’s article. The Transport Minister was asked by the Lower Committee for Transportation and Infrastructure about the article in a meeting this morning, the Minister said, “at this time no link has been made between the article’s subject and the crash. It would be inappropriate for me or any government official to comment until the NTSA makes a statement.”

The NTSA for its part said in a statement, “with full powers granted by the government to comb every inch of this disaster and all areas, any connection between construction and the crash can and will be found. However, we cannot comment at such time until sufficient evidence and data is collected to make judgement.”

The NTSA is expected to visit the head office of Ferrovie dello Stato Etruriane (FSESA), the state owned rail company as part of its investigation. It had spent the past two days at Trenetruria, the subsidiary that operates Etruria’s rail network.

92 people were killed and 122 injured in the rail crash that occurred close to the village of Morfasso last Friday. The Federal Emergency Response Administration has identified all of the deceased. Both drivers were killed and three other crew. Genaro Carraturo aged 3 was the youngest victim, while Stefania D’Rossi, aged 88 was the oldest.

A national day of remembrance is to be held on Wednesday in San Alessandro. All 92 victims’ families have been invited, where the deceased will be granted full state honours. 89 of the deceased’s families have agreed. The event will be led by Archbishop of San Alessandro, Ugo Cavalleri.

MORE HEADLINES

ICD rejects second Nimear motion [ 27209 ]
President Carcaterra to give major speech on "international crisis" [ 4997 ]
EC split?: Florena condemns Alexis Walker [ 945 ]
Ministry of Local Affairs to address inefficiencies in Etruria's constituency layout [ 651 ]
Up to 30 arrested for Carvagna political violence [ 116 ]

by **Etruria2** » Thu Feb 07, 2019 5:01 pm

ENEMIES OF THE PEOPLE
President Carcaterra slams the Citizens' Alliance "enemies of the people" in response to CA leader, Vittoria Vetra accusing the government of politicising the NTSA.
Matteo Tasa
^{07 February 13.00pm | Poveglia, Etruria}

SHARE

A political row has broken out between the Tribune Movement and the Citizen’s Alliance over the latter's criticism of the NTSA investigation into the Morfasso Train Crash. In a testy exchange in the Chamber of Representatives, President Carcaterra denounced the CA as “enemies of the people.”

President Carcaterra accused the CA of covering up for the globalist elite.

CA leader Vittoria Vetra accused the government of “politicising a neutral body to wage its endless war of revenge against the Federalist Party” while she also accused the government of “taking advantage of 92 deaths for political point scoring.” She also raised criticism of the President’s meetings with NTSA officials, as well as reported comments by Transport and Infrastructure Minister Gianmarco Turinese.

Addressing the Chamber, she said, “there is a clear and worrying theme in wake of the Morfasso disaster, and that is repeated efforts to politicise the NTSA and the clear effort to make political gains out the tragic deaths of 92 people.” She was soon drowned by jeers by Tribune representatives.

“It is also clear that this politicisation of the NTSA, a neutral body tasked with meticulous and unbiased investigation, is the means of which this government seeks to keep up its war against the Federalist Party and Reali. This is unacceptable and a disgrace” she said.

The president was swift to fire back, taking to his feet he denounced the CA, “the opposition will forever make clear its disdain for justice and fairness. Every time the wrong doing of the tiny elite of this country is discovered and punished, they cry foul. They cried foul over Meraviglia, they cried foul over that scandals infection of the Constitutional Court, they cried foul when we took bold action. They cried foul over the Turania Scandal. The CA is forever in service to the elite and the people can see it.”

Mrs Vetra in turn replied, “we cry foul when it’s clear that the justice of the day is manipulated and targeted. This is not justice, this is not justice, this a witch hunt.”

The president retorted to loud cheers, “if a witch hunt is what is needed to break the criminal culture that has suffocated this country since 1983, then I will be the proud witch finder general. Your comments, your opposition proved one thing and one thing only, you and your party Madam are nothing more than enemies of the people.”

The president carried on saying, “any party that opposes investigations that can unearth corruption or greed, do so at the expense of public safety and the very lives of Etrurians everywhere are enemies of the people.”

The clash comes as the investigation into the crash escalated this morning when the NTSA reportedly took possession of documents published by the online magazine ‘The Word’, which details the rail link between San Alessandro and Lavaggiorosso, on which the crash took place, was built under the corrupt Emiliano Reali administration.

The NTSA issued a statement condemning the Citizens’ statements saying, “we wholeheartedly reject and dismiss claims of politicisation and weaponisation by any party or government. The sole duty of this organisation is to investigate tragic accidents and present our finds in a scientific and neutral manner. If granted the power, we may, if malpractice is considered a cause, recommend legal action.”

The political attacks by the opposition may well overshadow the memorial event being held on Friday for the victims of the crash. Many on social media attacked the CA for its comments in the Chamber of Representatives and their failure to “show respect.”

One user said on twitter, “I can’t believe Vetra right now! The NTSA is doing its job to find out what killed 92 people and all she can talk about is how the Tribunes are politicising it… anything to attack them, even dead people. No shame!”
Another said, “the CA is packed full of Reali era politicians, of course Vetra will be angsty and critical of the investigation, especially it goes back to those criminal lot. She’s willing to hold back an investigation that could save lives in the future for her corporate friends.”

Popular Etrurian pop-singer KaterinaK tweeted, “Sickened at the news right now. People died and Vetra wants to play games, the only people who are doing right by those poor victims is the government and investigators. Vetra should be ashamed of herself!”

Last Friday, a passenger train from San Alessandro to Lavaggiorosso derailed outside the village of Morfasso, killing 92 passengers and crew, while injuring a further 122. It is the second most deadly rail disaster in Etrurian history, after the San Marco Rail Disaster, which killed 101 and injured 88 in 1990.

MORE HEADLINES

The Citizens' prove they're no different from the Federalists [ 27209 ]
Etrurian public turns on Vittoria Vetra [ 4997 ]
The Federal Prosecution Service to review new charges against Reali over Morfasso [ 945 ]
Local Affairs Ministry launches working group on constituency boundaries [ 651 ]
CA led investigation into Carsanach links to Tribunes to begin next week [ 116 ]

by **Krugmar** » Thu Feb 14, 2019 6:21 pm

David Rouzet - 14/02/2019

Foreign Minister on Gaullican Motion: "Neo-Imperialistic Propaganda"

Foreign Minister Maximilien Brisebois attacked Gaullica's Motion to investigate Satucin

Gatôn, Anniane - Last week, on Monday 4th February, the Gaullican delegation at the International Council for Democracy presented a motion to investigate the Union of Satucin for the alleged destabilisation, electoral influence and power politics of the Îles des Saints.

The Îles des Saints, a Gaullican State and former Overseas Territory, are an island chain to the north-east of Satucin, in the Lumikan Archipelago. Unlike the Emerald Isles and Parane, the Îles des Saints voted against joining the Union in 1935 and opted via plebiscite to remain Gaullican, though some have disputed the legality and fairness of the 1935 plebiscite. The SdS (Society of Saints: a pro-Iles integration movement within Satucin), in particular has disputed it, and the recent statehood referendum, and pushes for a new referendum on union with Satucin.

Mr. Courvoisier and the rest of the Gaullican delegation presented to the ICD statistical data taken by the Gaullican Secret Service. The data had shown the transmission of funding from sources in Satucin to secessionist movements in the Îles des Saints, in addition to the transfer of data to and from Satucin and a nation currently unknown: referred to as 'nation 'x'.' All data was presented as discovered, de-classified Satucinais documents detailing the plans, with motions of signature from numerous Prime Ministers.

When questioned on the identity of 'nation 'x'.', the delegation replied that "there was no sufficient reference or delving into too much of the relationship between the two states within the accumulated evidence.". There is a consensus that 'nation x' is the Republic of Negara, but the Gaullican delegation refused to comment on the issue, likely to focus the matter on Satucin and not inflame tense relations with Negara at the present time.

While the Satucine reaction these past two weeks has largely been silence, new allies have been far more vocal. Jaun Bronkhorst, the Nimearian Delegate to the ICD, brought up the failed J24-11 and J28-11 Motions in his Counter-Speech, stating "To hear a delegate - who himself so gladly sold out my own nation's democracy to gain brownie points with the Federation - tell me that I must 'put aside geopolitics' while he himself delights in it... that must be one of the greatest disgraceful offences I have experienced during my tenure as a delegate to this organisation".

Bronkhorst further implored the ICD "not allow this kind of neo-colonialist posturing to set a dangerous precedent"

Fernando Alves, the Moreiran Delegate, slammed the motion as “nothing more than the stern wrist slapping by a country seemingly infuriated by Satucin’s dare to defend fellow democracies in Asteria from antiquated imperialist practices."

Martin J. Flintock, the Federation ambassador to the ICD, gave his support to the Gaullica motion, stating that “the Federation will be supporting this motion, if nothing else but to demonstrate that this type of hypocrisy should never be tolerated. Should such an investigation turn up a failure, we will certainly respect it. Though, should Gaullica be correct, we will certainly support disciplinary action.”

Christiane Bourdon Chevalier, Satucin's Delegate to the ICD, gave a short speech denying the Gaullican allegations and asking the ICD delegates not to "allow Gaullica to use this Council as a means to punish Satucin for her intentions to be a sovereign democracy, free of Gaullican overlordship, institutional control and undue and damaging political influence."

In an interview with SNR, Foreign Minister Maximilien Brisebois has established Satucin's full position on F04-10.

On Gaullica's evidence provided, he has categorically denied its authenticity. While the Gaullican Secret Service confirmed the data as legitimate, Brisebois told SNR that "their admission that it was 'leaked' to them, and we have a very good understanding of who is behind the leak, dismisses any chance of its authenticity." and further elucidated that "the ludicrous idea of Satucine Prime Ministers, and solely those belonging to the NUP, planning disturbances and bribing local officials in the Îles des Saints is a tell-tale sign of Gaullica's unreliable source."

He went on to state that the reason Gaullica refused to share their source for now, was for fear that the Euclean Community would refuse support of the motion, with the source being "known for its duplicity and sensationalism"

When asked about 'Nation 'x'.' Brisebois laughed and said "Perhaps Mr. Courvoisier should be reminded that Negara starts with an N. and not an X." and that the reason Gaullica refused to mention Negara was "fear" and the ongoing issue of "Nouvel Anglet."

He further stated that Gaullica's omission of Negara is proof that Gaullica intends to use the motion merely to "punish Satucin for pursuing an independent foreign policy"

On the Federation's comments, he rebuked their involvement and use of the word 'hypocrisy', stating that the ICD should "be focused on the Federation's attempts at regime change in Nimear, and their savage conduct in Marirana and murder of civilians in Ospeletto."

Brisebois called upon the Gaullican people to "rein in [their] government which seeks to destroy the historic relationship between Gaullica and Satucin." And appealed to President Valette saying that "Satucin loves Gaullica, and our government cherishes the strong friendship between our countries, but Satucin does not love this Imperialist Gaullican government which lies and threatens, unjustly diminishing Gaullica's dignity."

As a final comment he repeated his earlier rebuke to Gaullican Prime Minister Devereaux, stating that "We are not your colony anymore."

Comments

E-mail
© les temps 2019

by **The Kingdom of Glitter** » Fri Feb 15, 2019 9:48 am

MAC SUIBHNE: "IT IS TIME FOR CHANGE"
The SD's on the up following high profile interviews as snap election comes to a close

SHARE

James Kelley (@jkelleygbf)
^{13 February 2019 | Spálgleann, Glytter}

Social Democrats leader Stiofán Mac Suibhne pictured during his interview on TRN's the Nightly Show.

SPÁLGLEANN – Support for the Social Democrats continues to grow in the run up to Monday's snap election. Party leader Stiofán Mac Suibhne has run an expansive campaign, reaching all twenty-six counties and appealing to Glytteronian citizens living abroad. As the vote years, the party has included a media-centered approach to its tactics.

Mr. Mac Suibhne did the rounds on all of the major networks this past weekend, being interviewed on many of the top morning shows. His main rival, Taoiseach and Liberty leader Humphrey Dumfries, declined to appear on many of the same programs. The absence of the Taoiseach and a strong presence from the embattled Liberty Party has resulted in what some are calling a one horse race.

Support for Liberty has continuously dropped in opinion polls, recently flat-lining around twenty-two percent. The SDs had been gearing up for a snap election since November, hoping to capitalize on the unpopularity of then Taoiseach Frank Casarnach and tensions within his government. These tensions played out during December's preliminary budget battle but were ultimately overshadowed by the bid-rigging scandal and subsequent arrest of Mr. Casarnach and his wife. Further revelations that the ex-Taoiseach colluded with the Etrurian government to unseat his predecessor, Jimmy O'Reilly, saw support for Liberty further collapse.

The media blitz has also be encompassed many of the country's most watched evening shows, including TRN's the Nightly Show. The personable party leader had no trouble appearing on the late night program. He bantered extensively and well with the show's host, Nuala Ní Bhranagáin. She questioned Mr. Mac Suibhne extensively on his party's economic platform, with a specific focus on his commitment to ending the flat tax by introducing another bracket and introducing a universal basic income scheme using money from the state's large sovereign wealth fund.

"It's time for change" he responded when questioned. "Policies of austerity introduced by the disgraced Frank Casarnach and the current Taoiseach, 'Mister Scissors', must be reversed. These policies hurt our working families, who we must help as they face an ever widening wealth gap".

Mr. Mac Suibhne went on to state that many in the country had been "left behind" by economic growth that began under Patricia Flowers in the 1980s. "Neoliberalism cared little for the working man and the working woman. It cared for one thing and one thing only: profit".

The SDs have promised to provide a cash injection into all government ministries, from bringing more of the nation's infrastructure under public control to expanding the Roghapoiblí. Their proposals poll well, with public support seemingly backing the bulk of the party's platform.

While the SDs are polling well, the National Party is also gaining against Liberty. The Nationals have positioned themselves as the "true conservative party", criticizing Liberty for its open embrace of the Euclean Community and socially liberal positions. Support for many of the smaller parties has also dropped, with opinion polls usually ranking the SDs, Liberty, and the Nationals in the top three spots by a wide margin.

Such a scenario was hard to imagine following Liberty's fourth consecutive victory in the 2017 general election. The popular Jimmy O'Reilly had cobbled together a governing majority and had presented what many of his supporters hoped would be a new chapter in Glytteronian politics. However, as Liberty succumbed to infighting the SDs were able to effectively rebuild themselves. Mr. Mac Suibhne was able to reunite the party's base and his popular presence, reflected by the popularity of his social media profiles, helped electrify support for his party.

Monday's vote seems as though it will send Liberty into opposition for the first time since 2002. However, nothing is for certain until the votes are counted.

Comments [ 7831 ] |

E-mail
© Glytteronian Broadcasting Federation Inc. 2019

7831 comments

MORE HEADLINES

Walker meets with Escudero in Demora [ 7024 ]
Gauillican motion to condemn and investigate Satucin bogged down at the ICD. [ 6606 ]
Sautcinais Foreign Minister: Satucin loves Gaullica. [ 6385 ]
Senior EC officials fear splinter in the democratic community. [ 5598 ]
Liberty officials preparing for significant losses, sources indicate. [ 5427 ]

by **Etruria2** » Sun Feb 17, 2019 5:01 pm

BREAKING Three Citizens' Alliance Senators arrested over Morfasso
NTSA reports that rail disaster was caused by poorly made rail tracks, leading to three arrests of former Transport Ministry officials
Matteo Tasa
^{15 February 13.00pm | Poveglia, Etruria}

SHARE

Three sitting members of the Senate have been arrested in connection to the Morfasso rail disaster. The three Representatives come from the Citizen’s Alliance and were arrested and detained early this morning. Their arrests were recommended by the National Transportation Safety Administration who also published their report into the disaster this morning.

92 people were killed and 122 injured in the Morfasso rail crash.

Giorgio Farinacci (Bardello-Malgasso), Martino D’Rossi (Cunardo), Stefano Sandri (Saltrio Superiore) and Enrico Endrizzi (Villa Guardia) were detained and arrested by the Civil Security Second rvice at 08.00am this morning. All three have been charged with “Gross Corruption” and “Manslaughter”. All three are being held a CSS station in San Alessandro. They have been denied bail over concerns of flight risk.

Commander Genaro Alessandri of the San Alessandro Regional Command told reporters at a press conference that all three had been detained upon recommendation of the NTSA.

“At 08.00am officers of the Civil Security Service arrested three members of the Chamber of Representatives. These three individuals have been detained and charged upon recommendation of the NTSA, under the National Transportation Safety and Criminality Act of 1990. The charges against them are as follows, Gross Corruption on count of bribery and embezzlement, Gross Malfeasance on counts of endangering life through corruption and manslaughter,” he said further, “Bail has been denied on count of flight risks attributed to all three defendants. We expect the Federal Prosecution Service to announce trial dates in coming days.”

The arrests preceded the NTSA’s report on the Morfasso rail crash that left 92 people dead and 122 injured. Addressing a packed press hall, Vladko Stepanovic, the lead investigator said, “after four weeks of study and investigation we can now report on our findings with confidence and certainty.”

“After studying the wreckage and train data recorder, we have determined that the cause of crash was faulty tracks that had suffered rapid deterioration owed to compromised materials in construction. We have as a result, ruled out human error or malfeasance in regard to the driver, Luca Santorini, who sadly died in the crash.

“We determined through eye witness testimony and the study of data from the train and the study of the tracks, that despite slowing at the Morfasso Bend, the train was derailed after the track buckled and cracked, lifting carriages C and D up into the air, causing the train to slam into the of the wall. The buckling of the track denied the train ample cover to slow and as such, struck the wall at 110 km per hour.

“Our study of the track has indicated serious flaws and compromises. We found that the metal rail was comprised of a series of metals that degraded with heat. The rail section in question is the Marfasso Bend, which requires slowing to traverse safely. Years of braking by trains had degraded the rail so sufficiently that it buckled and cracked, resulting in the crash.

“The metal used we found was certified by the Transport Ministry in 2013, further study indicates that the same metal was used for a distance of 22km. It is therefore our view that the metal used was substandard and knowingly certified by political elements in the federal government. Having referred this to the Civil Security Service, they investigated promptly and discovered that the metal used in the rail had been certified by key officials in the Transportation Ministry for reducing costs, cutting corners for self-enrichment” he said further.

The Civil Security Service released a brief statement on its website saying, “at 08.00am, officers of the CSS anti-corruption unit arrested and detained three sitting members of the Chamber of Representatives. These arrests were made in connection to the Morfasso Rail Disaster, primarily historic corruption charges that led directly to the disaster. We cannot say at this point whether this is connected to the wider Meraviglia Case, but further investigation and interrogation may bring light to that.”

The three Representatives were elected to the Chamber in the 2009 general election and quickly rose the ranks under Emiliano Reali’s administration. Stefano Sandri served as the Under-Secretary for Transportation Modernisation between 2010 and 2015, Giorgio Farinacci served as the Under-Secretary for Infrastructure Development between 2012 and 2015 and Enrico Endrizzi served as the Federal Coordinator for Development. The three defected from the Federalist Party to the Citizens' Alliance prior to the 2018 snap election, being re-elected with safe majorities on the CA ticket.

All three were questioned in relation to the Meraviglia Scandal that involved the use of non-existent infrastructure projects, front-companies and secrecy for mass embezzlement. However, the Meraviglia investigation found that the vast majority of the criminality took place at the top tier levels of the Transport and Finance ministries.

These arrests will likely raise further questions on the extent of the Meraviglia scandal.

The arrests have been met with ferocious condemnation by the Tribune Movement. President Carcaterra posted on Ciao!, “I am beyond words. It is a disgrace that sitting members of the Senate would dare enter this building knowing what they have done. They have blood on their hands.”

Vice President Vittoria Vasari also tweeted, “The Citizens actively embraced these three criminals and even tried to derail the investigation to protect them. The bloodstain is now on the Citizens.”

President of the Chamber Ettore Mantavano is expected to declare the three representatives proscribed and stripped of their seats in coming days. Under the 2016 Constitutional Reform, all members of the Senate’s lower and upper houses lost their immunity from prosecution and in the event of a criminal charge, be expelled from their seats. Once expelled, special elections will be required within 24 days.

The Citizens’ Alliance could not be reached for comment.

MORE HEADLINES

Meraviglia investigator: "We may never know how far it went" [ 27209 ]
Citizens' face serious questions [ 4997 ]
CSS to investigate connection between Morfasso and Meraviglia [ 945 ]
Tribune State Councillors call for the Federalist Party's proscription [ 651 ]
16 more media outlets nationalised under Operation Gladio [ 116 ]

by **The Kingdom of Glitter** » Wed Feb 20, 2019 1:33 pm

SOCIAL DEMOCRATS SET TO CLINCH MAJORITY AS LIBERTY CONCEDES SNAP ELECTION
After nearly two decades in opposition, the SDs have returned to power with a governing majority

SHARE

James Kelley (@jkelleygbf)
^{19 February 2019 | Spálgleann, Glytter}

Social Democrats leader Stiofán Mac Suibhne celebrated the victory with several hundred supporters.

SPÁLGLEANN – The results of yesterday's snap election have propelled the Social Democrats into government, marking their return to power for the first time in nearly seventeen years. The party, whose leader Stiofán Mac Suibhne has successfully rebranded the one embattled party, has won 204 seats in the Comhthionól Náisiúnta. However, with 24 seats still facing extensive recounts following tight races it is likely the SDs could clinch an even bigger majority.

Mr. Mac Suibhne said the vote solidified the need for "deep change" in Glytter and said his tenure as Taoiseach would mark "a return to responsible governance".

Throughout the campaign, he promised that he would end the flat tax by implementing a second income bracket, increase public spending and investment in all government ministries, and create a universal basic income scheme using funds from the Petroleum Trust Fund. He also hinted that he would pursue government reform following the "unbelievably disastrous" tenure of Frank Casarnach.

"The rule of law in the country will be restored and we will work to ensure a criminal never again leads our government. The system was exploited, and we are obligated to fix it" he told a rally in Bulfawst last week. Mr. Mac Suibhne, a former labor leader, is set to become the first Social Democratic Taoiseach in a political generation.

He was congratulated on his victory by prominent figures throughout the country, including his chief opponent, incumbent Taoiseach Humphrey Dumfries.

"I congratulate Mr. Mac Suibhne on the formidable campaign he ran. I hope that he will govern with the interests of all of us, not just the socialist special interests, in mind. Successful policies were successful for a reason, and he ought to remember that" the Taoiseach said at a press conference early this morning.

He stated his intent to resign as party leader. "Once the party is ready for a leadership race, I will step back and allow for one to happen. We have a lot of soul-searching that we must now do".

The election results saw a sharp rise in support for the SDs, who only won 117 seats in the 2017 general election. The party has already picked up an additional 87 seats, giving them a slim - but workable - majority of four seats. It is likely the party will pick up roughly a dozen extra seats as races in battle-ground constituencies have not yet been called. GBF projections place the SDs with a total of 217 seats after the remaining races have been declared.

Gains for the SDs come at the expense of Liberty, which has already lost close to 50 seats. Many of the seats still in play are held by Liberty incumbents and further loses are likely. However, many of the smaller parties also suffered significant losses. The Centre Party, Labour, the Glytter Democrats, and the Greens have all lost a significant share of their seats. The National Party gained at the expense of Centre, the Glyt Dems, and Liberty, picking up 32 seats with the possibility to gain more.

The new Comhthionól will be sworn in next Wednesday. Mr. Mac Suibhne is expected to unveil his cabinet over the weekend.

Comments [ 10,938 ] |

E-mail
© Glytteronian Broadcasting Federation Inc. 2019

10,938 comments

MORE HEADLINES

Election day was bad for Liberty. What comes next? [ 7056 ]
Three Etrurian opposition senators arrested in inquiry over rail disaster. [ 6793 ]
Sources in Kesselbourg indicate Gaullica poised to withdraw controversial ICD motion. [ 6501 ]
Opinion: Etruria is taking political prisoners, and the EC remains silent. [5003 ]
In Pictures: Social Democrats celebrate major electoral victory. [ 4986 ]

by **Liecthenbourg** » Wed Feb 20, 2019 4:51 pm

BREAKING: BARREAU AND COURVOISIER WITHDRAW GAULLICAN PROPOSAL.
Barreau: Gaullica has reached an amicable solution bilaterally with Satucin and as such we will not require Communal intervention, investigation or mediation.

SHARE

Antoinette Giroud
^{February 21, 2019| Kota Merdeka, Negara}

Grégoire Courvoisier, retracting the proposal on the Community Floor (flag in the background unidentified)
Photo courtesy of the government

Kota Merdeka, Negara -

The Gaullican delegation to the International Council for Democracy, headed by Grégoire Courvoisier has withdrawn its proposal: F04-10, "On Investigating Satucin for Democratic Undermining, Electoral Influence and Destabilisation in the Îles des Saints, Gaullica."

The move comes after severe factionalism within the ICD: with accusations of weaponisation of the Council and Gaullican retaliation for Satucin's decision to side with those nations it affiliates with in the so called 'Pink Bloc', rather than her traditional partner.

The bill, highly controversial, saw the members of the Euclean Community unsure on whether to back Gaullica or not. States like Glytter, however, were quick to rally to Gaullica's defence and support. The Federation of Asterias, additionally, backed the Gaullican proposal. However, Satucin, Moreira and Nimear were all -- fairly obviously -- stalwart in their opposition. The bill was almost immediately decried as 'neo-colonial'.

Jaun Bronkhorst (Nimearian Delegate), Fernando Alves (Moreiran Delegate) and Christiane Bourdon (Satucine Delegate) were all fairly unanimous and identical in their criticisms, calling for the ICD to 'halt Gaullica's attempts at neo-colonialism'.

Chevalier, additionally, called on the "citizens of Gaullica to rein in their government" in the names of maintaining positive international relations. Whilst her citizens might not have listened, Gaullica's Foreign Minister certainly did. Miss Coralie Barreau, the 'respected dignitary', was quick to discuss the situation with the Satucine ambassador in Verlois, in addition to having numerous meetings with Euclean foreign ministers and Maximilien Brisebois , Foreign Minister of Satucin.

When Courvoisier 'pulled the plug' on the bill earlier today, stating that "Gaullica has decided it is sufficient with the bilateral agreement it reached with Satucin, and will not require any communal intervention or assistance in the matter", members across the ICD were silent. This was in comparison to the ruckus caused by the original proposal.

Barreau, a few minutes after, announced at a press conference that she was "incredibly pleased" with the talks with Satucin, highlighting that "a positive relationship built on our historical and cultural ties, our shared values, our shared ideals, will continue as it always has." She additionally announced that the two nations were "expected to conduct friendly naval wargames" soon enough.

Additionally, Vallette extended an invitation to Théodore, Emperor of the Satucinais, to visit Verlois to discuss 'the future friendship and partnership between Gaullica and Satucin.'

Whilst Mr. Devereaux may aim to paint himself as a sort of maverick, one who espoused that 'Gaullica needs to refind his place in the world', damage to him has certainly been done. Numerous sources close to the government have indicated moderate members of the Conservatives, President Vallette, and former foreign minister De Troumpe had privately chastised the Prime Minister in his decision.

A poll taken earlier today revealed the public, whilst marginally more in favour of 'punishing Satucin' (53%), many more -- contradictory -- held that 'the relationship with Satucin is important' (79%). When polled on 'how do you feel Mr. Devereaux handled the situation?' a measly 31% replied with 'adequate'.

Indeed, the morass of Gaullican foreign policy seems to better reflect the internal instability of the Gaullican government. The Traditional Coalition, onlookers have noted, is a great 'balancing act', as Devereaux aims to mediate between the Euclophiles, Eucloskeptics and 'Gaullican Internationalists' that fill his ranks of governance.

Comments [ 15,678 ] |

E-mail
©LEMONDE 2019

15,678 comments

MORE HEADLINES

Traditional Coalition proposes an amended 'Civil Service Bill'. [ 36,238 ]
Devereaux: Let Satucin and Gaullica resume their bountiful history and friendship.[ 15,509 ]
Monarchical Referendum: Jean-Caude Montecardé to campaign in earnest, starting with an urban tour. [ 25,136 ]
Opinion: Gaullica is retracting its bill to save face, but the data was true. [ 11,951 ]
Lets leave the ICD alone for a while, shall we? [ 43,684 ]

by **Liecthenbourg** » Wed Feb 20, 2019 5:23 pm

The Examiner's Editorial Board - 21 February 2019

Home · Transtsabara · Badawayia/Bahia/Coius · International · Politics · Business · Technology and Science · Arts · Education · Health · Sports · Weather

ALL IS WELL IN THE FEDERATION

President Atwan Al-Tughluq, hard at work.

Adunis, Transtsabaran Federation - Following fearmongering of the false-totalitarian attitude of the 'National Curfew Act', many welcome and celebrate the bill’s success.

The streets of the Federation are safe, crime is low, and the police are recording record fall in crime. Biased and false reports of rioting across the urban centres of the Federation have been revealed as elaborate hoaxes and falsities. Across Tsabara, many are relieved to find that this claims are false.

The President has been hard at work securing the stability and future of Tsabaran democracy. The Movement for National Revival has implemented policies that respect the true cultures of the Federation, uplifting old traditions long thought buried by Euclean imperialists and attempts at instituting governments backed solely by foreign powers.

It is said when not at work, the President remains hard at work upholding the values of the nation - be it through prayer or social activities, such as visiting hospitals and schools to show the nation that the sick are kept for and our children can expect a prosperous and secure future.

Claims of terrorist activity in the streets of Adunis and across the nation at large have been swiftly dismissed as false as the Tsabaran military has reported 'no incidents of civic disruption or insurgent activity.'

Furthermore, President al-Tughluq has regularly insisted to the international community that "democracy is well functioning and flourishing in the Federation and thus we do not need the ICD to save it. The remarks made by the Representative and his spectacle are fringe mentalities that do not well present the true nature of the domestic politics of the nation."

At a speech earlier today, President al-Tughluq confidently made it clear: "There is nothing at all wrong within the Transtsabaran Federation. Reports of civil disobedience, insurgency and an authoritarian government are international falsities thrown to discredit us. Some global actors are concerned with a strong, united Badawiyan nation that they cannot bully anymore. The Eucleans scream at their former colonies and the Asterian populists disrespect the nation state with their internationalism; and thus their jealousy runs rampant!"

The government has reminded all citizens of the Federation that the National Curfew laws are still in place, despite the remarkable progress made with the curfew. The government spokesman said, “it is vital that the good work done continues to ensure that security in our great country is lasting for all citizens.”

He said further “let the police and military do their work, to ensure the safety of everyone.”

Comments [15,678] |

E-mail
© BADAWIYAN EXAMINER 2019

15,678 comments

Error Generating List

by **Etruria2** » Thu Feb 21, 2019 3:08 pm

Morfasso Three expelled from the Senate sparking by-elections
Chamber of Representatives Speaker expels and proscribes Morfasso Three as Citizens' leader Vittoria Vetra under heated attack
Matteo Tasa
^{18 February 12.00pm | Poveglia, Etruria}

SHARE

The three sitting Citizens’ Alliance senators arrested last Friday have been expelled from their seats by President of the Chamber, Ettore Mantovano. The speaker also confirmed that special elections will be held in 24 days. His announcement follows the mass sacking of the entire board of Ferrovie dello Stato Etruriane by the Transport Minister.

President Mantovano declared the expulsion of the Morfasso Three during a heated session.

Addressing a session of the Chamber of Representatives, speaker Mantovano said, “in line with Article 28 of the Federal Constitution it is my duty to inform the Chamber that three individuals arrested and charged on Friday 15th February are henceforth proscribed and expelled from the Senate of the Federation and their constituent seats. I have referred this to the Federal Electoral Commission, they in turn have confirmed that elections will be held in the constituencies within 28 days.”

The Citizen’s Alliance quickly criticised the decision, with the CA leader, Vittoria Vetra accusing the speaker of using the arrests for the gain of the Tribune Movement.

“How swift you [president Mantovano] have been in condemning them and stripping them of their seats and position. We have all questioned your impartiality since you moved from the vice presidency to that chair. This political gamesmanship and everyone can see it” she said.

The president replied, “I will remind you again Representative Vetra that no member of this chamber can be question the integrity of another, including the president of this chamber. This decision is line with the constitution and my duty.”

President Carcaterra also quickly attacked Vetra saying, “the leader of opposition would use questions of impartiality to cover up her actual concern, in that three seats have been stripped from her party and that her embracing of three corrupt criminals has been exposed. That, everyone can certainly see.”

Vittoria Vetra was also attacked by Tribune backbenchers who demanded to know what she knew regarding the three when she agreed to their defection from the Federalist Party.

Rep. Aldo Galteiri asked, “will she confirm what she knew and didn’t know about the three when they approached her personally in 2018? The nation and this Senate deserve to know.”

Rep. Luka Stanic also attacked Vetra saying, “if she knew of their criminality then it only proves how desperate she is for seats and clearly an accomplice to the crimes they committed. If she did not know it proves how incompetent she is. I ask her and all, what is worse, desperate or incompetent?”

Vetra even came under attack from other opposition parties. Davide Scorzi of Popular Renewal said, “This latest scandal is further proof that the Citizens’ has succeeded the Federalist Party as the party of corporate interest, profiteering and corruption. Will she accept that, or will she carry on defending these criminals?”

She is also reportedly under attack by her own backbenchers. A significant number within the “progressive wing” have attacked her for the crisis, some have said that her accepting of the three was a “strategic mistake.”

Former Citizens’ Leader, Antonio Tonani told the Posta Nord, “I am struggling to see why the Citizens’ would accept any Federalist defector, even Socialist Party for that matter. We are a party built to forge a new politics, but also one that is equally committed to ending the pervasive presence of corruption in Etruria. This situation hands the Tribunes a monopoly on anti-corruption politics.”

He also said, “we cannot commit ourselves to moves or decisions that undermine our very being as a party of decency, compassion, progressivism and the rule of law, sadly this affair is one of those instances.”

Asked if he thought Vetra should resign as leader, he said, “I would say she needs to explain what she knew and when, if she is not prepared to do that, then realistically she needs to step down. By being secretive or dismissive she arouses suspicion and with it, drags the party further down into scandal.”

What is Article 26?

Article 26 is a constitutional amendment added with the 2016 Constitutional Reform under the current
Tribune government.

Prior to the reform, all sitting members of the Senate (Chamber of Representatives and State Council) enjoyed
immunity from prosecution and were able to hold their seats in the event of a guilty verdict and prison sentence
last less than a year. The Tribune Movement claimed this provision promoted nepotism and protection of a
president’s corrupt and criminal allies.

The 2016 reform removed immunity and instead mandated that any politician from either chamber of the senate,
would lose their seat in the event of being charged for any crime and that elections should be held within 28 days
of the charge.

It also added the power of proscription, which depending on the severity of the charges would bar those politicians
from returning to the Senate indefinitely in event of both a guilty and not-guilty verdict.

The three CA representatives are the first to face Article 26 as all the figures caught in the Meraviglia scandal
either resigned or lost their seats in the 2016 election.

Giorgio Farinacci (Bardello-Malgasso), Martino D’Rossi (Cunardo), Stefano Sandri (Saltrio Superiore) and Enrico Endrizzi (Villa Guardia) were arrested on Friday 15th for roles they played in the Reali Administration. They are suspected of cutting corners illegally during the construction of the San Alessandro-Lavaggiorosso High-Speed Rail between 2009 and 2015. Weak and poorly made steel rails were used, which caused the Morfasso Rail Disaster, which killed 92 people.

The three former representatives defected from the Federalist Party to the Citizens’ Alliance weeks prior to the 2018 snap-election. They did so after reportedly meeting with Vetra personally to secure her backing.

Today also saw Federal Minister for Transportation and National Development, Gianmarco Turinese sack the entire executive board of Ferrovie della Stato Etruriane.

In a statement to the press he said, “the board of FSE holds some responsibility for the Morfasso disaster, but truly, if you look at the board, what you see is a list of people who are nothing more than political appointees of Emilian Reali. All of them, took their positions during his government and naturally, too many questions over them and Meraviglia persist. It is only right that we expand our purge of Reali’s criminal enterprise to all agencies under federal control.”

FSE will come under provisional control of the Ministry until replacements are appointed.

MORE HEADLINES

Morfasso Three placed under house arrest [ 27209 ]
Vittoria Vetra's leadership under serious threat [ 4997 ]
CSS suspects Morfasso may be related to Meraviglia [ 945 ]
Supreme Court dismisses case against Operation Gladio [ 651 ]
Could the Tribunes seize the Morfasso Three's seats? [ 116 ]

by **Etruria2** » Thu Feb 21, 2019 4:57 pm

FM Gianfranco Galizia hosts first Forum for National Restoration
FNR summit held in Solaria and hosts numerous right-wing party leaders from across the world.
ARE News
^{21 February 15.00pm | Vicalvi, Etruria}

SHARE

Foreign Minister Gianfranco Galizia has hosted the first Forum for National Restoration in Solaria. The Forum brought together leaders from numerous patriotic parties and movements, there they discussed electoral strategies and ways of advocating national sovereignty over internationalism. The Forum has been praised as a major breakthrough for “patriotism and popular power.”

Gianfranco Galizia (2nd left) with Eadric Anstig (1st left), Maximilien FitzClarence (middle),
Krisje Buitink (1st right) and Renée Vimont (far right)

The Forum for National Restoration was devised several months ago by President Francesco Carcaterra, Interior Minister Tullio Quagliariello and Foreign Minister Gianfranco Galizia. The FNR is aimed to propagate “cooperation between all parties dedicated to restoring the nation as the preeminent expression of people’s power and to rollback the intrusive nature of liberal institutions.”

The first FNR was held at the Palazzo del Mare in Solaria and saw numerous political heavyweights and party leaders from numerous countries. Among those who attended was Krisje Buitink of Nimear’s National Redemption Party and Oepidus Zallant, Joao Vilalta of Moreira’s Morerian Democrats, Satucin’s Auguste Masson from the Party of Action, Buckland’s Eadric Anstig from Ure Cyning, Werania’s Jorg Bullmann of the National Consolidation Party, Josef Capek, a major thinker from Minerva, Mossyna’s Iuri Tsulukidze from the All-Mossyn National Congress, Estmere’s Maximilien FitzClarence, Renée Vimont, Alexander Queenson and Hendrik Heinsbroek of Hennehouwe’s Patriot’s March.

The guests were housed in the Hotel di San Girolamo at the Tribune Movement’s expense. They were also given exclusive tours of Solaria’s ancient sites and renaissance monuments and churches as a means of “celebrating history and national identity”, according to the Tribunes’ press release on the summit.

The summit began with an introductory breakfast hosted by the Foreign Minister and Vice President Vittoria Vasari. President Francesco Carcaterra is set to meet with the guests tomorrow.

Following the breakfast, the group was escorted to the Palazzo del Mare where the main events took place.

At the palace, the guests were given extensive briefings by senior Tribune Movement officials and figures, covering electoral strategies. These included the use of mass media, social media and the creation of grass-roots movements. A key briefing was on “Presentation Discipline”, a tightly embraced policy of the Tribune Movement that covers message discipline, message control, general party discipline and extensive vetting of extremist elements.

The afternoon was then dominated by discussions on the state of international affairs and the “steady decline of the nationstate.” Parts of this event were filmed and live streamed on numerous social media sites.

Foreign Minister Galizia began the talk by saying, “what brings us all here to Solaria is the desire to see an end to the destructive and near-tyrannical global system of liberal institutionalism, propped up by big business, corporate elements and ideologues who seek the demise of our nations.

“We may speak different languages, but we are united in our pursuit for an orderly world, a world where the nationstate once more exists as the ultimate expression of our peoples’ power and desire, a world where our nations are free and sovereign and not subject the intrusive dogma of unaccountable institutions that seek a narrowminded objective and a nation-free world” he said.

Hennehouwe’s Hendrik Heinsbroek said, “all of our countries suffer at the hands of a globalistic elite, who forever gain off the backs and sweat of the ordinary people. They are protected by our governments and the international system because off our backs they built it. We are all united in wanting to break this rigged system.”

Satucin’s Auguste Masson said, “by working together, we can surely build a global movement dedicated to preserving the importance of culture, identity and security. None of our countries have truly benefited from this mad internationalism that exists. We’ve lost prestige, we’ve lost direction and we’ve lost sight of we are as peoples.”

Serafina Lucatelli, the Tribune Movement’s Federal Secretary for Policy also spoke saying, “this summit if you see it right, is the coming together of the Global Revolt, the revolt President Carcaterra spoke of when the ICD almost came crashing down, as it deserves to. The systems in our countries and the global system is rigged against us by the speculators and thinktankers, by cooperating we can bring real change to the world.”

Moreira’s Joao Vilalta said, “Every major global institution has been a detriment to millions of hard-working godly people. The ICD alone has become nothing more than a joke, one that actually empowers the system and rigs it by controlling the ITO and GIFA. None of these work for the good of nations.”

Although the Euclean Community was not mentioned by any of the guests or the Etrurian hosts, it was in the background for many of the Euclean guests. Hennehouwe’s Heinsbroek is anti-EC and his party champions a massive reduction in the country’s contribution to the EC budget, while also supporting a future referendum on membership. Werania’s NKP is softer in its Eucloscepticism but is against further integration.

Vice President Vasari told the group, “it is important that the Tribune Movement offer its expertise and experiences to you all. We have struggled and worked hard to get where we are today, but it can happen elsewhere. So many of you seek to better your countries and its only right that the world returns to normal. We can all do it and do it together we will.”

Nimear’s Oepidus Zallant praised the Tribune government saying, “you are an inspiration to millions of voters across the world, you have proven that political correctness is a falsehood and fallacy, that actually, it works to be honest about life and reality. Nimear is fast approaching a dictatorship under a native socialist who will bring ruin to our country, so having you reach out to us, to offer insights is very appreciated.”

At the end of the meeting, the group agreed to formalise inter-party connections and ties with regular policy summits and staff exchanges.

Tomorrow the group will focus on how to fight elections with the aim of breaking into legislatures to gain a foothold. The Tribune Movement is expected to brief the guests on how it broke into the Etrurian parliament in the 2013 general election, where it won 14 seats.

MORE HEADLINES

Vittoria Vetra besieged by critics as Morfasso fallout continues [ 27209 ]
Four children die in house fire [ 4997 ]
Etruria's PMI rating increases to 61.3 [ 945 ]
Social Democrats win election in Glytter [ 651 ]
Continued insurgent attacks in Tsabara [ 116 ]

by **Estmere** » Thu Feb 21, 2019 5:15 pm

Stephen Bute -21 February 2019

Home · Estmere · Euclea · International · Politics · Business · Technology and Science · Arts · Education · Health · Sports · Weather

WE HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO CONFRONT OUR OWN POPULIST PAST

Queenson's, Vimont's, and FitzClearance's recent trip to Etruria is alarming.

Ashcombe, Estmere - It is almost as if ghosts of politics past have appeared mysteriously in Etruria. Many in Estmere have expressed their shock that a number of Estmere First's former top brass have gone to visit Etruria. The arrival of these long unseen spectres in Solaris comes at the invitation of the ruling Tribune Movement. The three ghosts are: former Flurian Governor Maximilien FitzClarence, former Justice Secretary Alexander Queenson, and former mayor of Warminster Renée Vimont. They are attending a larger event to restore the sovereignty of nations, something Etrurian Foreign Minister Gianfranco Galizia believes has been taken from international institutions and the global elite.

This came as no surprise to me. What many in Estmere, or perhaps I should more accurately say Ashcombe and its suburban counties, viewed with shock and awe is in fact hardly shocking. Estmere First is well and alive still. The party is the fourth largest in the Lesser House and in the rural regions of the country remains vibrant, operating at all levels of devolved governance. Many voters, disillusioned with the return of the Federal Appeal alliance and political elites centered around Ashcombe, long for the party's return.

Outside of the Metropolitan Counties, the reputation of the defeated and in many ways disgraced party is much kinder. Throughout Wealdland, the distaste for the populist movement is much stronger than it is in its twin republic. This is reflected in both the number of Wealdish seats and the vote-share Estmere First received in the 2016 election. While the party's appeal to the working class once resonated with many in Estmere's industrial heartland, support has steadily dropped since the Avery Government was ousted in the 2012 election. In the 2016 election the party eked out 11% of all votes cast and won just four of the constituencies. This is down substantially from the 2008 election when the party received 29% of all votes cast and captured twenty three seats. While the party was never at its strongest in Wealdland, it was once robust and influential.

In Flurland, the case was - and still is - very different. In the 2006 devolved elections, the face of Estmere First, Maximilien FitzClarence, was elected to serve as governor. This was the first major office won by EF. The party also swept into the Flurian General Assembly. While it short of a majority, it managed to become the largest party. The party's success was fueled by the discontent many in Flurland, specifically its rural counties, felt for then Prime Minister Albert Read, Ashcombe, and the Euclean Community. The 2005 Recession and Estmere's slow response to the crisis angered many in Flurland, who faced rising prices and a stagnant economy. The success of EF in the the Flurian elections in 2006 was replicated two years later in the 2008 general election. The party was catapulted by the decision of Sandford & Poole's decision to downgrade Estmere's credit rating from AAA to AA. The Avery brothers led the party at a national level, but FitzClarence remained incredibly influential as Governor of Flurland. He played a significant role in the party's special form of nationalism.

FitzClarence cared little for Wealdland, and was very public about his perception of Flurland's twin republic. He has spoken very negatively of the Swathish, calling them "dirty" and "lazy" on multiple occasions. "They drink from the breast of the state as if it is the breast of their mother. You have long grown now, my Swathish friends. Suck from the state no more. Earn your own living, for that is the Estmerish way". His distaste for the Swathish extended to the Weranians at large, once stating that they were "socialist, monarchist swine with a specialty in historical revisionism".

"It is Gaullica, not Werania, who has influenced our culture the most. The dominate tongue in this land is directly descended from the Flurian tongue, which is in and of itself descended from Gaullican. Every chapter of our nation's history is dominated by the Flurians, proud individuals who drove the Weranians north after conquering Hennehouwe. Proud individuals who later drove the Gaullicans south during the Great War. These are Flurian, no these are Estmerish, accomplishments - not Weranian ones" he remarked at a 2011 celebration marking the birth of Richard Harcourt.

Further speaking on the Great War, FitzClarence once infamously declared that High Warden Michel Dumaresq, a functionalist collaborator who staged a mutiny during the government's messy withdrawal from Ashcombe, was a "hero for refusing to surrender his country to the Weranians".

I include these quotes from FitzClarence to remind many of the university educated, middle class readers of this paper of what he was said. The FitzClarence of today is still that FitzClarence. Just because he is barred from public office does not mean he is gone. It does not mean he is no longer influential. It does not mean he is no longer a threat.

It was through controversial statements such as those listed above that FitzClarence shaped the new nationalism put forth by Estmere First. No longer was the country happily multi-cultural, celebrating the three distinct ethno-linguistic groups that dominate it. Instead, there was one identity - and that identity was rooted in his own Flurian identity. He was tapping into something felt by many throughout Flurland. As I spoke to many voters in the rural counties before the 2008 election, I discovered that many felt isolated and left-behind in their own way.

"Ashcombe cares for little but itself" one elderly woman, who claimed to never have missed an election, told me. "It promotes a life that does not exist here". She later told me that she was once a loyal member of the National Union Party, but felt abandoned by Read who "cared more for pacifying the global elites than he did taking care of his own people".

This was when I recognized that Federal Appeal was doomed going into that election. Many political commentators and academics failed to see it. This is not because they did not want to, but they could not want to. The Estmere many of them thought existed, the one that did exist in Ashcombe and the Metropolitan Counties, was limited. Beyond the Pale, many were tired of politics as usual. They felt betrayed by the Euclean Community, the organization their country worked so hard to create. The 2010 referendum on leaving the Euclozone was the culmination of this sentiment and while it failed, the EC remains unpopular in the Flurian heartland.

Following the 2016 election I again felt compelled to visit the rural counties of Flurland. I found that the situation was largely unchanged. Many in Flurland continue to feel left behind and some remain resentful. Voter turnout in Flurland has dropped in all elections since 2012 when Estmere First was defeated at a federal level. The Progressives, who led a fierce campaign under Agatha Sharpe managed to oust William Avery. It was then that Sharpe decided to ensure Estmere First could never rise again. Much to the dismay of her junior partner in the coalition, the NUP, the government investigated all of the scandals of the EF era. William Avery was indicated and eventually convicted of sexually assaulting a number of students during his tenure as a headmaster, a truly shocking revelation for much of the nation but one that many of his supporters refused to accept. His younger brother, Philip Avery, was also indicated and likewise convicted for his role in a scheme to seek political retribution against President Walter Eaton and Ashcombe Mayor Mary Stone. A number of senior EF government and party officials were indicated for various crimes, ranging from corruption to drink driving. Each and every indictment was polarizing, especially in Flurland, but they were also crippling for the party. A base in rural Flurland was unsustainable, and the indictments saw support for EF evaporate in the Metropolitan Counties.

Perhaps the final nail in Estmere First's perceived coffin was the decision of the Justice Secretariat to charge FitzClarence with hate speech against the Swathish. This was particularly polarizing. Despite his controversy, he remained popular in Flurland. He swept the 2010 governor's race and easily won re-election, in the same year Estmere First failed to win both the presidential election and the Euclozone referendum. Yet, FitzClarence was ultimately forced out of office after he was found guilty of hate speech. He was replaced by the Speaker of the Flurian General Assembly, Mark Bern - a member of the NUP. Speaking to voters today throughout Flurland, this is what caused member of them to exit the system. "I will never vote again" one voter told me in a small village in Iwade. Another from an even smaller hamlet in Lythe said he would only consider voting "if FitzClarence were on the ballot".

The campaign spearheaded by Sharpe was successful, but at what cost? Yes, Estmere First has been effectively dismantled. It is at its weakest point yet. Support for it has dropped substantially at all levels of government. However, the actions of Sharpe's Justice Secretariat have driven a considerable number of voters out of our nation's democratic system. That exit is unhealthy for our democracy and ultimately it is unsustainable. The current government must consider adopting policies that would appeal to or otherwise bring many of these voters back into the system.

Yet, despite Sharpe's successful efforts, these ghosts have still reappeared. The three hope to reinvigorate the nationalist movement in Estmere. They have been silent on their plans for the future, but the fact that they are once again planning is concerning. Even though FitzClarence himself is barred from public office, his political tact must not be underestimated. He remains very popular in the Flurian heartland, something many in Ashcombe seem to forget. I would advise Prime Minister Richardson, who spends little time outside of Ashcombe, the visit the rural counties of Flurland. The republic is home to the majority of his party's base and should not be ignored. If he continues to do so, and continues to ignore the sentiments of the Flurian voter, the 2020 election could take him, and most of us, by surprise.

Written by Stephen Bute, he has been a assistant professor of political science at the University of Saint Filbert since 1995 and is the author of numerous books and analyses of Estmerish and Euclean politics, focusing on nationalism and right-wing politics. His most recent book Heartland: A Journey Through the Center of Estmerish Populism focuses on his experience touring the rural counties in Flurland, the epicenter of support for Estmere First.

Comments [ 14,589 ] |

E-mail
© The Ashcombe Herald 2019

14,589 comments

MORE HEADLINES

Foreign Secretary Buckett to visit Satucin, Roeselle next month. [ 9041 ]
Gaullica withdraws controversial ICD motion to investigate Satucin. [ 8862 ]
Walker debates calling additional meeting of the Euclean Convention before April. [ 7012 ]
Richardson congratulates Ghaillish Socialists on electoral victory . [ 6769 ]

by **Caltarania** » Fri Feb 22, 2019 6:56 am

Ruben Heyns - 22 February 2019

Home · Nimear · Asteria · International· Politics · Business · Technology and Science · Arts · Education · Health · Sports · Weather

KOEAARA CALLS GENERAL ELECTION, SUPPORTED BY STATES GENERAL

Koeaara announced the election on national media, after the States General ratified his proposal.

Envoort, Nimear - The year, some would say, has been off to a rough start; and now, the going only gets tougher.

Utilising the powers of head of state as codified in the constitution, State President Mozes Koeaara proposed a bill in the States General which would bring Nimear's general elections to the lower house forward by a year, citing concerns that "the sitting members of the house" were "acting in an obstructionist manner". The States General ratified the bill this morning.

In this he likely refers to the efforts of a recent coalition of Liberal Republican, Party for Freedom and Social Democratic members of the house, who have committed themselves to opposing any bill put forward by Koeaara's Rainbow Coalition; who hold a plurality of the seats (144 out of 405) without an overall majority.

The announcement of the election also coincide with recent polling figures, which suggest that the Rainbow Coalition could rake up close to 44% of the votes in an election, with the main opposition in the Liberal Republicans trailing behind on 12%.

When announcing the election, Koeaara told media and gathered supporters that it was "high time" that the "ordinary working people of this country had their say". "Do you agree with this obstructionism?" he asked, "or do you seek the revolution promised?".

Former Chancellor and current opposition leader Willem Marsch welcomed the election, declaring it "a chance to fight back against this nativist incursion". Current Chancellor Pieter Tupaak called the election "the last step in legitimising our radical reforms."

With the Rainbow Coalition riding high on poll ratings, pundits have asked if the opposition parties might not agree to their own coalition or electoral pact, to effectively oppose the governing party. Far-right leaders Krisje Buitink of the National Redemption Party and Oedipus Zallandt of the Authentic Liberal Republican Party - interviewed at the international nationalist conference in Solaria - told Nimearian press that their parties were "past considering" a merger, and were now "in the midst of organising one".

Catholic Party leader Roos Julian Kraan ruled out any coalition, again reiterating his will to work with the Rainbow Coalition "on securing the rights of the Catholic minority".

Elle Litteler of the Social Democratic Union refused to "rule out" a possible coalition against "dangerous radicalism", though party sources suggest that a coalition with the Liberal Republicans would lead to a flight of party members similar to that witnessed when the Rainbow Coalition first formed.

Zwarter leader Diederick Meinen of the Party for Freedom appeared to imply that he was "in talks" with the Liberal Republican leader Willem Marsch, but refused to elaborate. Radical Zwarter leader of the Salvationist Front Justen Otten and Communist Party of Nimear leader Roelof Dam Wiechers launched their party candidacies individually, mirroring that of previous elections.

Comments [ 7218 ] |

E-mail
© de Heraut 2018

7218 comments

MORE HEADLINES

"We have to confront populist past", says Estmerish professor [ 8361 ]
Etruria hosts first "Forum for National Restoration" [ 5219 ]
Gaullica withdraws ICD proposal from consideration, citing "outside mediation" [ 1273 ]
Opinion: Oedipus Zallandt ruined my yoga retreat [ 2471 ]
Social Democrats clinch victory in Glytteronian elections [ 4591 ]

by **The Kingdom of Glitter** » Mon Feb 25, 2019 9:50 am

MAC SUIBHNE UNVEILS CABINET PICKS AS NEW COMHTHIONÓL PREPARES TO BE SWORN IN
Taoiseach-elect chooses a mix of party veterans and new faces to lead the first SD government in nearly two decades

SHARE

James Kelley (@jkelleygbf)
^{25 February 2019 | Spálgleann, Glytter}

Séamus Ó Faoláin, whose controversial tenure as Taoiseach lasted for just three months, will serve as Foreign Minister.

SPÁLGLEANN – Taoiseach-elect Stiofán Mac Suibhne has published a list of his cabinet picks as he prepares to be formally nominated as Taoiseach on Wednesday. The Comhthionól Náisiúnta will reconvene on Wednesday, at which point it will send Mr. Mac Suibhne's nomination to His Majesty the King. The Social Democrats command a 217 seat majority, meaning they will have no issue ensuring their party leader serves as the nation's next civil leader.

When the Comhthionól votes to nominate Mr. Mac Suibhne, they are also voting to approve those he chose to serve in his proposed cabinet. The Comhthionól is also voting to nominate a Taoiseach-elects chosen government when it votes to nominate a Taoiseach-elect.

The first Social Democratic government is set to take power since 2002, when the party was defeated by the Liberty Party. Mr. Mac Suibhne has assembled a cabinet from all corners of his party. Included are prominent centrists, members of the party's left-wing, trade unionists, and millennials.

The Taoiseach-elect's most senior pick was ex-Taoiseach Séamus Ó Faoláin, who will serve as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Tánaiste. Mr. Ó Faoláin's brief tenure as Taoiseach was marred with controversial and was initiated by royal intervention. The party chose him to replace the centrist Niamh Nic Uilliam, who was polling poorly and had sparked divisions within the party. The battle between the two raged for several months and left lingering divisions within the party. However, Mr. Ó Faoláin is overqualified for his position. Having previously served as both Taoiseach and Foreign Minister, he knows the ins and outs of Clare House. He represents a return to traditional Ghaillish foreign policy, potentially leading the country away from the Walker Era realignment. The ex-Taoiseach does not currently serve as a TC but is still able to serve in the cabinet.

Another high profile choice was Dòmhnall Mac Dhòmhnaill as Defense Minister. Mr. Mac Dhòmhnaill is a prominent TC from the trade unions, having served as a senior official in the Shipbuilder's Federation before being elected to the Comhthionól in 2012. He has routinely called for continue investment in Glytter's navy, proposing further expansion of the Royal Glytteronian Navy and replacements for some of the fleet's aging vessels.

The Finance Ministry will be led by Pádraigín Níc Aodhagain, a prominent member of the party's left wing who has called for increased government spending and higher taxes on top earners. She is expected to oversee the Taoiseach-elect's efforts to end the flat tax and his proposed universal basic income scheme. Ms. Níc Aodhagain will play a very important role in the Mac Suibhne government.

Morgan Dougharty, who has served as Mr. Mac Suibhne's party chair, represents the party's youth wing and will serve as Minister of the Interior. Other significant choices are Deirbhile Ní Ríain as Justice Minister, and Gerry McMaster as Jobs Minister. Ms. Ní Ríain is a close ally of Taoiseach Nic Uilliam and is one of the most prominent centrist voices in the party. The incoming Jobs Minister is the Taoiseach-elect's successor as president of the Association of Iron Miners. He is a close ally of Mr. Mac Suibhne and the two have worked extensively to shore up support among the party's traditional union base.

Other top posts will be filled by: Gráinne Ó Cheanndubháin as Minister of Education, Séarlas Mac Conmheadha as Minister of Culture, Fionnbharr Ó Madáin as Minister of National Security, and Seán Mac Cearbhaill as Minister of Petroleum. Mr. Mac Cearbhaill's pick is especially noteworthy as it is the first time a former member of the Petroleum Worker's Association will led the ministry and oversee RPG.

The Taoiseach-elect has also indicated he may pursued reform of the cabinet, previously saying that the current organization was "inefficient" and "expansive".

"The less we spend paying ourselves, the more we can spend paying for social programs, for education, for transportation, for our national defense" he remarked on the campaign trail.

Before Mr. Mac Suibhne can be nominated, the Comhthionól must elect its next presiding officer. Proinnsias Ó Loingsigh is widely expected to succeed Nicolás Cummins as the Ceann Comhairle.

Comments [ 7092 ] |

7092 comments

ERROR: Failure to generate list. Please refresh and try again.

by **Etruria2** » Tue Feb 26, 2019 3:15 pm

Vittoria Vetra must make a decision
If she fights on she risks her party's unity, if she quits she leaves without a clear successor
Marco Salvetti, a columnist for Il Popolo
^{26 February 19.00pm | Stazzona, Carvagna, Etruria}

SHARE

“This is the fight of her political life”, “if she doesn’t assure the party executive she has to resign”, “she has to be honest, we can’t let the Tribunes bury us with this”, these are but a few exasperated cries circulating around the Citizen’s Alliance about its leader Vittoria Vetra. While they offer her options reality does not and so, she has a choice to make.

Vittoria Vetra's leadership brought results but with it internal enemies.

Vittoria Vetra has been leader of the Citizens’ Alliance since 2016, succeeding Antonio Tononi, an immensely popular, energetic and enthusiastic liberal. To say that she never matched Tononi is an understatement, he scored better in the relatability and likability scale, while in balance, he could not match her political savvy or knowledge of senate procedure. But her politician savvy has failed her this time. She has become the unsuspecting focus of the fallout from the Morfasso Rail Crash and the arrest of three CA representatives.

The issue is that the “Morfasso Three” as the right-wing call them, defected to the CA from the Federalist Party some weeks before the 2018 election, they sought Vetra’s permission and support - all defectors need to be approved by the CA’s Federal Executive Committee. She assured the FEC of their talents, skills and connections. So vociferous was she in her championing of the three, the FEC backed them unanimously. Problem is that they served in Reali’s government as low-level ministers in unfortunate posts such as the Transport Ministry, which was used as the money tree of the Meraviglia Scandal. Many in the FEC raised concerns that three Reali government figures joining the Citizens’ would undermine their image as the “new political culture.” Nicolò Pecorari, the head of the Vespasian branch even warned that their history could be detrimental, but Vetra persisted and assured the FEC of their innocence of any possible wrong doing. The she knew them personally and met them regularly before the FEC deliberation further adds pressure to the issue. The ultimate crux of the problem is that if she knew of their suspected criminal activities and pushed for their acceptance anyway, she brought this crisis down upon the CA personally and openly lied to the FEC, conversely if she did not know, many would see that as incompetence and ignorance. As a result, she is in danger either way, she’s either a liar or incompetent.

Vetra’s problems are not exclusively tied to the Morfasso Three as many would expect, in fact, she’s been facing growing discontent among the Citizens since last year’s election. Although under her leadership, the party won over 60 seats, many found the campaign lacklustre and “corporate”. Much of this is driven by the progressive wing of the CA, radical centrists and pro-EC minds who believe Vetra’s leadership hinders the CA’s ability to oppose the Tribune Movement. As one CA State Councillor told me in confidence some days ago, “many Citizens feel that the party is hindered or constricted in how we oppose the Tribunes, we could make every legislative effort by them a battle, we could use what committees we lead to investigate their abuses and crimes, but instead our opposition is only ever rhetorical or theatrical, she wants to keep us the resistance but we don’t even do that.”

This is something I heard often throughout 2017 and 2018, “Vetra wants to be the resistance leader, the martyr and icon of defending liberty, not actually wanting to become president and through that end this nightmare government” a former frontbencher said. Another said in December last year, “I actually don’t know whether Vetra wants to become president, she likes the struggle too much for it to end.” Vetra seemingly eager to preserve her status as opposition party for vanity reasons seems fuelled by personal invective but at the same time holds some sway. Throughout 2017 and 2018 she regularly argued that “only the Citizens’ could be trusted to be the party of opposition.” This was picked up by this paper in the weeks before Carcaterra called the snap election 2018, my colleague Leandro Solariano wrote, “Vetra’s contiuous argument of the Citizens’ being the only party worthy of opposition is peculiar, most leaders of the opposition would actually be arguing that it’s the only party worthy of government.” Yet, being the party of the opposition allows significant room for as the right-wing would call it – virtue signalling and moralistic resistance fighting. This preference for being the voice of the resistance over the voice of the nation through government has been a considerable sore point for many in the Citizens’ over Vetra’s leadership.

Another weakness of Vetra is one mostly self-inflicted. Throughout her leadership of the Citizens’ since 2016, she has regularly made comments or gaffes against the Tribunes’ base both in the working and lower-middle classes. In late 2016 she described the Tribunes’ working-class base as “wholly ignorant of anything of value.” Yet worse was to come, in early 2018 during a memorial service to the 1979 San Fernando Train Station bombing which killed 88 people, she was overhead live on television saying, “train stations, are places where one meets people who are succeeding and people who are nothing.” The quote sent shockwaves across Etruria, the Tribunes swiftly used it to attack her, saying, “so arrogant and elitist she dismisses the dead who did not work for big business.” In wake of the gaffe, several key Citizens’ speaking anonymously argued that statements like this were decimating the Citizens’ ability to reach out beyond urban, suburban and northern Etruria, but also presented the Citizens’ with an image of wealthy corporate elite snobs, essentially no different from how the Tribunes painted the Federalists and Socialists.

In January 2019 she further undermined the Citizens’ ability to reach out by describing the lower-middle class supporters of the Tribunes as “educated fools”, during a walk-about she sloppily told a reporter, “we’ve got a fight on our hands, having to reach out to people who think the Solarian War was a good thing and think immigrants are scumbags, we’re fighting a war against hatred, ignorance, stupidity and absurdity.” Her comments, though clearly brutal and off the cuff fair better in urban and northern Etruria, yet beyond that and the isolated pockets elsewhere, she comes across as brash, arrogant and “insufferably elite” as one voter described her in 2018 to me. Many would hope she’d be a suitable rival for Francesco Carcaterra, the academic and soft-spoken demagogue, but really, she’s the Tribunes’ natural strawman.

Yet is with her party’s progressive wing and grassroots that her problems lie. Many rightfully in retrospect respect her skills as a political player, she has succeeded in working with rivals and critics within the Citizens’ to make it the party of opposition and the new movement of the day, she succeeds in uniting the party against the Tribunes’ transgressions and attacks and gets it moving as one unit on policy, but this is not enough for the progressives. To many of the Citizens’ left, she remains a remnant of the old Etruria, her lengthy senate career with the Federalist Party a black mark, even if she is a founding member. But more often, the progressives and Vetra cannot seem to agree on key issues. The progressive wing wants to maintain EC membership as a national objective, she opposes it. The progressives want to de-criminalise prostitution, she opposes it. The progressives want dramatic climate friendly industrial policies, she’s hesitant. The progressives want same-sex marriage, she says Etruria needs time. These disagreements while normal in any political party are exasperated in the Citizens’, as its progressives seek to match Tribune radicalism with their own, this is worsened with the progressive wing’s tendency to view disagreement by her as a failure to commit to the Citizens’ basic aim of creating a “fair, decent and kind society.”

Taken together and these issues ensure Vetra will face this crisis of leadership somewhat more isolated. The 2018 election saw the “traditional centrist” wing of the Citizens’ become substantially marginalised by the progressive wing. Already, some key progressive Citizens have come out critical of Vetra. Prefect Annalisa Taddei of Carvagna, a poster-girl for the party, has said, “this situation is deeply worrying, the party will need to be frank and honest about what it wants to become and who should lead that effort.” Others have taken to anonymity to attack her, with one Citizen Representative saying to this paper, “its only right that a woman made in the old politics would try and bring into the Alliance. She needs to go, but with the dignity she deserves.” Another said, “she has to go before this consumes her and all of us, she needs to do the right thing beyond herself now.”

While she has been aided in her position by the lack of a clear rival for leadership, without sufficient support or cover from the grassroots or progressive wing, she will stand a lonely figure against a media, senate and Tribune onslaught. Mistakes and gaffes of the past will surely come to haunt her as the Tribunes take advantage of the crisis to launch attacks upon her and the Citizens. If she stays put, the division between the progressive and centrist wings will come to a head. If she quits, she will a leave a party without a clear successor and hand the Tribunes a victory. Either way, only Vittoria Vetra can decide.

Written by Marco Salvetti, he is a widely acclaimed author, investigative journalist and a long-running columnists with Il Popolo.

MORE IN OPINION

Tribune talk of constituency boundary changes is the canary in the coal mine [ 27209 ]
The Forum for National Restoration was a hideous parade of hate and bigotry [ 4997 ]
We need to talk about the 89 cell deaths recorded last year [ 945 ]
The Citizens' need a new leader and a rebrand [ 651 ]
Amateur archeologists found a mass grave from 1966 - what this means [ 116 ]

by **The Kingdom of Glitter** » Wed Feb 27, 2019 1:31 pm

LIBERTY LEFT PICKING UP THE PIECES FOLLOWING HARROWING DEFEAT
The party has faced its worst defeat in its history, left with a mere 89 TCs in the new Comhthionól

SHARE

Niall Ó Súilleabháin (@niallopolls)
^{27 February 2019 | Spálgleann, Glytter}

The embattled ex-Taoiseach is facing calls for his resignation as party leader, but he claims Liberty is "not yet ready" for a race.

SPÁLGLEANN – The Thirty-third Comhthionól Náisiúnta was sworn in today, marking a new, distinct chapter in the legislature's history. The chamber is now dominated by the Social Democrats, who hold 218 of the Comhthionól's 399 seats. They are the largest party by far, followed by the second party, the Liberty Party, who as of today will lead His Majesty's Most Loyal Opposition.

Liberty is left with just 89 seats after facing a crushing defeat in last Monday's snap election. The party lost 67 of the 156 seats it held before the election. It lost a great majority of these seats to the Social Democrats, but also lost a substantial number to the National Party. This is evidence of a a shifting electoral base for what has traditionally been the nation's dominant political party. Conservative voters are straying from the party, looking to the Nationals who have been described by party leader Liam Ó Cuillinn as "the only true Ghaillish conservative party".

This trend is not entirely surprising, as opinion polls have for some while shown social conservatives have become more and more frustrated with the Liberty Party. Frank Casarnach's tenure as Taoiseach alleviated that frustration in many ways, but his scandals and arrest did an immeasurable amount of damage to the party. Dumfries, a Flowerite in a party of moderates, was unable keep the social conservatives from abandoning his party at the ballot box.

In some constituencies where Liberty had more than one TC, the Nationals gained one of Liberty's seats. This happened in eleven constituencies and helped the Nationals pick up 34 new seats, raising their total count to 57. Many of these constituencies were concentrated in the country's suburban belt, with notable examples being the Aerach West and Tóinderry East constituencies. The two are usually strongholds for Liberty, with the party usually fielding three and five of the six/seven TCs. Both elected TCs from the National Party for the second time, building on gains made at the 2017 general election. In Tóinderry East the Nationals now have two TCs while Liberty has only one. Aerach West, which has seven TCs allotted to it, elected two Liberty TCs and two National TCs. Prior to the snap election, four of the seven TCs for Aerach West were from the Liberty Party. Now, the two are tied not only with each other but the Social Democrats, who now also have two TCs in that constituency.

It is important to note that the Nationals also picked up seats from other parties. The Free Market Party's decision not to contest the election benefited the National Party. In addition, the Glytteronian Independence Party saw its vote share totally collapse, losing all of its six seats. It appears to me what the process of political re-alignment caused by the FMP's Freefall in the 2017 election has finally come to a finish. The Centre Party and Glytter Democrats both lost a substantial number of seats. Both parties saw their first preference vote share collapse. Votes either went to Liberty in an attempt to preserve the party's majority or to the opposition parties.

While some votes did trickle from the former coalition parties to Liberty, this was hardly enough to keep Liberty afloat. However, what it did, likely do was prevent the party from losing more seats than it had. Instead of losing 67 seats, the party could have lost upwards of 75. There were a number of very tight races in which a Liberty incumbent was able to hang on. In these constituencies either the Centre Party or the Glytter Democrats saw their first preference vote share collapse. Outside of their traditional bases, they were unable to win over first preference votes. In some of these constituencies, such as Longford East, a Liberty TC narrowly held their seat while a TC from one of their former coalition parties, in this instance the Glyt Dems, lost. This in large part because both Liberty and the Glyt Dems appeal to a similar base, looking to the middle classes.

Centre lost a great number of seats, 21 to be exact, but trends indicate it was not in an attempt to bolster Liberty's vote-share. Rather, Centre lost the bulk of the urban districts it managed to gain in the 2017 election. Its youth appeal faded and the Social Democrats were able to pick up a number of seats. Centre seemingly lost its first preference votes to the SDs or to the National Party, whose messaged resonated in the socially conservative, rural regions of the country - Centre's usual base.

The snap election greatly battered the three former coalition partners. When it was inaugurated in June 2017, O'Reilly's coalition had 205 TCs. Today, the three parties collectively have 106, some 99 fewer seats. For Centre, while the result was disappointing, it is not crippling. The party has gained recently through its fights with the now defunct Free Market Party in the Highlands and by marketing itself as a check on Liberty. This worked out well in urban centers, especially among younger populations. Centre said it would push for the elimination of university tuition fees if the O'Reilly coalition won the 2017 election, and it did.

This all spells trouble for Liberty. If the National Party did not exist and all of its 57 seats were held by the Liberty Party, Dumfries would have 146 TCs in opposition behind him. As such, the party would have just lose ten seats, with the Social Democrats picking up the rest of their new seats from all of the other smaller parties. This traditionally what can happen in Ghallish politics, though I would wager that Liberty would have lost about 15 more seats if this were the case. If the attempt to save Liberty's seat count by shifting first preference votes from the smaller coalition parties was successful - and the National Party did not exist - this is what could have been expected.

However, that is not the reality. Liberty is not just facing an ideological challenge from the left, but from the right. It is vulnerable to both, as seen in the outcome of this election. The party has the chance to rebuild itself in opposition, but there are a great number of challenges in the way. The first is Dumfries, who is refusing to step aside as party leader until a leadership race can be held. While he will not contest the race, he has said that Liberty is "not yet ready" for a leadership contest. His rivals accuse him of delaying the process to help assist his ideological allies and ensure Liberty can rebuild itself under a member of the party's socially conservative flank. Ex-Foreign Minister Julie Royce has been especially critical of Dumfries over the issue, accusing him of "refusing to accept the rejection of his leadership".

This brings us to the second major obstacle the party faces to rebuilding itself. Infighting is likely to plague the party as its two wings fight for the leadership. Royce is widely expected to enter the contest, which could be crowded. Party officials from both the moderate and right-wings of the party have indicated to me that they expect each camp to put up several names until ultimately one is viewed as acceptable. If this is the case, the leadership race is likely to be a messy one. It is also overshadowed by the arrest of its former leader and its former chair, on top of the worst defeat in the party's history. Each wing will argue it has what it takes to win back voters. The moderates can appeal to the suburbs and to those who left Liberty for the SDs while the conservatives will argue they can best fend off the National Party.

There is no way to know which is going to be more successful in the long run. Trends seemingly indicate that the electorate is looking for a socially conservative party, and they have found that in the Nationals. However, that does not mean voters for the Nationals will leave the party, though I would note that party loyalty is likely not very strong. The National Party was founded in the run up to the 2017 election and is roughly two years old. Liberty's base is much more loyal due to its long history. If Liberty moves to the right, it could win back those voters. It would go against a lot of what the party has done since 2007. Alexis Walker did an incredibly job of restructuring the party and moving it to the centre, getting rid of many of the Flowerites from her benches. However, the biggest problem the moderates face is the governing rules of the leadership race. The convention, in which close to ten thousand current and former party officials cast ballots for the leader, favors the conservatives. Many of those former party officials originate from the Flowers era, and many have long bemoaned the party's centrist re-branding.

One thing is certain: it will not be easy for the Liberty Party to pick up the shattered pieces left behind by Casarnach.

Niall Ó Súilleabháin is a senior political analyst for the Glytteronian Broadcasting Federation. He focuses extensively on electoral trends and polling, closely examining hard data to analyze Ghaillish politics.

Comments [ 6076 ] |

6076 comments

MORE HEADLINES

Social Democrats have ambitious platform, will pursue major spending changes. [ 7831 ]
Mass graves uncovered in Etruria worries Foreign Minister Ó Faoláin. [ 5612 ]
Mac Suibhne to give Taoiseach's address on Monday. [ 5409 ]
Proinnsias Ó Loingsigh elected to serve as Ceann Comhairle. [ 4003 ]
In Pictures: Opening of the Thirty-third Comhthionól Náisiúnta. [ 3754 ]

by **Liecthenbourg** » Wed Feb 27, 2019 1:59 pm

An Open Obituary to the Free Press in Tsabara
The President of the Federation has illegally nationalised 'The Badawiyan Examiner'. It is now another part of his propaganda machine.

SHARE

Jaad al-Obeid
26 February 2019 | Westbrücken, Werania

A clash in the streets of Adunis.
Photo courtesy of Jaad al-Obeid.

WESTBRÜCKEN, WERANIA - I fled my home earlier this week, because I was fortunate enough to be tipped off that a detachment of soldiers would be approaching my home with warrants from the state to search my home, imprison me, or what-have-you. The authoritarian regime of Tughluq has silenced its last domestic critic; they have successfully killed the last remnant of freedom of the press in the nation. And they had the gall to use our paper to proclaim that 'all is well in the Federation.'

It begun slightly more normal than that. After we published our critique of the National Curfew Act, we were informed by the police that the article was 'not proper' and required modification. We declined, knowing well what would await us. A few days later, they returned with a search-warrant. They found 'evidence' of treasonous activity, fired the staff, and closed the paper down.

Then I received my tip off. And then I saw the article.

The President has told the nation that all is well. The curfew is in place for police precautionary measures. This is a lie. Dozens are dead, hundreds are dying in the streets and thousands are injured as they protest the totalitarian and authoritarian regime of Tughluq. They protest his laws, his attempts to change the judiciary, his silencing of dissenters.

His policemen brutally attack all on the streets, with authority to stop and search at will -- with no warrants.

A great mockery is when he was brave enough to announce on television that: ""There is nothing at all wrong within the Transtsabaran Federation. Reports of civil disobedience, insurgency and an authoritarian government are international falsities thrown to discredit us." There was -- and no one did nothing about it -- calls within the very chambers of governance for the International Community to help save democracy in Tsabara. That representative has not been seen since he was escorted out of the halls of power by the police.

No longer trust the Badawiyan Examiner: its days of independent journalism are over. The only truth to reports coming from the Transtsabaran Federation will come from the other reporters and myself who were fortunate enough to escape. The Examiner's legitimacy as a paper can no longer be held to the true standards of reputable journalism. This final act against it is another of the President's carefully calculated plans.

A law was passed, not unlike Etruria's law on National Dignity and it gave Tughluq's police-forces the power to crack down on 'treason' and 'false-truths.'

We decried it then. We decry it now. We shall decry it forever.

by **Etruria2** » Thu Feb 28, 2019 6:35 am

Mass Grace discovered in Tarpeia
Grave containing over 300 bodies has been discovered near the Tarpeian village of Molamatta.
ARE News
^{28 February 15.00pm | Vicalvi, Etruria}

SHARE

Amateur archeologists have discovered a mass grave containing up to 200 bodies near the village of Molamatta in Tarpeia. The team of archeology students and hobbyists were digging for ancient Solarian or Piraean artefacts when they made the discovery.

The team, comprised of students from the University of Vilanjia-Novalia and local hobbyists were searching for ancient artefacts after a farmer discovered a buried Solarian villa only a mile away from the site of the grave. They were aided and directed by UVN, who have since said there is no public record of a grave or any such grave in the area.

After digging for three hours in an open field, Jelena Rozga, the team leader first discovered a skull and then the rest of what she described as a “adult skeleton”, further careful digging found several more layers of remains. The team then promptly called UVN who have since referred the discovery to the Federal Office for Historical Reconciliation.

Speaking to local reporters, Miss Rozga said, “this is something we could never imagine finding, we were looking for classical artefacts, this is disturbing but at least these people can identified.

“We are not forensic scientists so it would be utterly inappropriate and wrong for us to dig or work further. We treated the remains with respect and the team will wait and cover the site until the federal government sends its team” she said further.

Etruria is home to an estimated 800 mass grave sites, though this number is disputed. They are apparently the remains of opponents and victims of summary execution by the Revolutionary Republic regime and the military dictatorship, however many graves have been discovered that were the result of massacre carried out by rebel separatists during the Western Emergency between 1960 and 1978.

Last year a FOHR team discovered a mass grave of 66 people, who were killed by the Piraean Independence and Unification Army in 1964. The bodies were identified as both ethnic Vespasian and Novalian civilians, who were abducted from across eastern Tarpeia and western Novalia. The year before that three graves were discovered in western Carinthia, containing the bodies of over 200 people, who were murdered by the Ravna Gora Movement, a Marolev separatist group.

The FOHR has since confirmed that is sending a team of specialists to the site and it will be cordoned off.

The site has already drawn much controversy, with the Piraean Association for Etruria issuing a statement saying, “the area around Molamatta has been ingrained upon the psyche of Piraeans for decades. We have extensive eyewitness testimony and documentation saying that in 1968, the military junta of the time slaughtered 300 innocent Piraeans in name of national security. It is right that the FOHR is restores dignity to the murdered and brings further truth to the grotesque crimes committed by the Etrurian military junta.”

However, others in the area have said that the site could be grave of 300 ethnic Etrurians who were kidnapped throughout the 60s.

The Tarpeian Foundation against Terrorism posted on social media, “the discovery of a mass grave near Molamatta will require investigation, yet during the Western Emergency, the region in question was a hotbed of Piraean terrorism and criminality and long defended record has pointed to the existence of a mass grave of victims of the Piraean Army for the Return of the Homeland.

The FOHR is expected to arrive later today.

MORE HEADLINES

Vittoria Vetra besieged by critics as Morfasso fallout continues [ 27209 ]
Four children die in house fire [ 4997 ]
Etruria's PMI rating increases to 61.3 [ 945 ]
Social Democrats win election in Glytter [ 651 ]
Continued insurgent attacks in Tsabara [ 116 ]

by **Piraea** » Thu Feb 28, 2019 2:00 pm

Konstantinos Gregos - 28 February 2019

Home · Piraea· Euclea · International · Politics · Business · Technology and Science · Arts · Education · Health · Sports · Weather

MASS GRAVE DISCOVERED IN TARPEIA, SIGNALLING LIKELY RETURN OF LONG-STANDING TENSIONS

Minister Georgios Gerovassiliou said the discovery was of one of the "darkest travesties".

Alikianos, Piraea - The discovery of a mass grave site by amateur archaeologists in Trapeia has threatened to reignite long-standing tensions between the Piraean and Etrurian governments.

Between 200 and 300 bodies are suspected to be in the mass grave, located outside of Molamatta, a modest village in Tarpeia. A group of university students and hobbyists uncovered the site while digging for Ancient Piraese and Solarian artifacts. Instead, the uncovered a mass grave of what could very well be hundreds of ethnic Piraeans who were massacred the by Etrurian government. Both the Revolutionary Republican regime of the 1930s and 1940s and the and the military dictatorship lasting from the 1960 to the 1980s systematically executed thousands of ethnic Piraeans living in Tarpeia.

Accounts from locals indicate it is probable the site is home to the victims of a massacre that took place near Molamatta during the Western Emergency.

The Piraean Association for Etruria issued a statement in which the group said it had “ extensive eyewitness testimony and documentation saying that in 1968, the military junta of the time slaughtered 300 innocent Piraeans in name of national security".

However, there is the possibility that the mass grave is for those executed by ethnic Piraean separatists. The victims could be ethnic Vespasians or Novalians who were kidnapped and executed by separatist groups during the Western Emergency. Last year an excavation uncovered a mass grave of 64 Etrurian civilians, who were killed by the Piraean Independence and Unification Army in 1964.

Minister for External Affairs Georgios Gerovassiliou said the discovery was "alarming" and encouraged the Etrurian government "to be truthful about its findings".

"Given recent legislation in Etruria, we can only ask for the truth. Povegelia cannot revise history when it comes to some of the darkest travesties committed. Extrajudicial slaughters carried out by past governments must not be suppressed".

It is possible that the discovery could ignite land-standing issues over Tarpeia, which has been disputed by Piraea and Etruria since the end of the Great War. Tarpeia is still a disputed region today, along with the Apokoronas Islands which were seized by the Etrurian military dictatorship in 1961.

Minister Gerovassiliou said the issue of Tarpeia and the Apokronas Islands "must be solved" and that "historical reconciliation" is a part of the process.

"Denial cannot save Etruria from the reality of its past. We in Piraea understand this, having grappled with a military dictatorship of our own that committed its own atrocities. We must embrace the truth of our history. Defending the crimes of dictators does nothing but drive a wedge further between us".

Comments [ 13,891 ] |

13,891 comments

MORE HEADLINES

PSEE will debate fresh attempt to join the EC at its upcoming party conference. [ 8478 ]
Farmers in Karanos debate protests over falling prices, foreign food imports. [ 6941 ]
Prime Minister Theopeftatou to visit Florena, Gaullica. [ 5704 ]
Health Minister drafting new legislation to combat tobacco usage. [ 4192 ]

by **Etruria2** » Sun Mar 03, 2019 10:26 am

Molamatta Mass Grave: FOHR cannot identify the victims or perpetrator
FOHR reports that the site contains 297 bodies and dates from between 1963 and 1964 - but cannot say who is the perpetrator sparking controversy
ARE News
^{01 March 15.00pm | Vicalvi, Etruria}

SHARE

Investigators from the FOHR worked hard to unearth the mass grave.

The Federal Office for Historical Reconciliation has reported that it is “unable to determine the identity or ethnicity of the deceased within the Molamatta mass-grave.” After almost a week of careful study, the FOHR has confirmed that the grave dates from 1964. The news has sparked further controversy after the Association for Piraeans in Etruria (EPE) accused the FOHR of “covering up the discovery.”

Last Monday, a team of amateur archaeologists digging for ancient Solarian artefacts in north-east Tarpeia near the village of Molamatta discovered the mass grave containing the remains of 300 people. They informed the University of Vilanjia-Novalia, which sponsored their dig, who in turn informed the Federal Office for Historical Reconciliation.

The FOHR team arrived on Monday night and begun an extensive study of the grave, carefully cataloguing the remains. The FOHR’s dedicated team of forensic scientists and medical examiners worked to determine the time and cause of death, while geophysicists worked to determine the age of the grave. The FOHR closed off the site with the assistance of local police. From Wednesday it approached numerous groups and bodies that hold competing and contradictory testimony as to who rests within the grave.

This morning, Janez Tonin the lead investigator into the Molamatta Site, gave a press conference at the Tarpeian Assembly building in Centuripe.

“On Monday 25th February, a team of archaeologists who were operating in the region near the village of Molamatta discovered a mass grave containing the remains of 297 individuals. They appropriately informed their sponsoring university, who in turn, contacted the Federal Office for Historic Reconciliation to report the discovery. Later that day, a dedicated team from the Tarpeia Unit arrived to begin their investigation.

“After almost a week of study we have determined some aspects of this case, but not all. Firstly, the total number of individuals buried in this grave is 297; of which, 102 are female and the remaining 195 are male. All 297 range in age from 18 to 60 and all suffered a cause of death from gunshot wounds, though the number and location of these wounds varies from person to person.

“Through study of the soil and surrounding ground we have determined that the grave is from between 1963 and 1964. However, study of the remains and soil indicates that the remains were not placed there in one single event, but rather the grave was dug and re-opened for the depositing for remains at numerous occasions. Unfortunately, this level of disturbance interfered with the natural processes, further speeding the decomposition of the deceased.

“As per protocol described in our agency’s charter, we interviewed local citizens and reviewed historical records, both of which provided contradictory and competing testimony to the identity of the deceased and the nature of the site. In most cases, through this procedure we would be able to determine the perpetrator and nature of the site with relative ease, unfortunately in this case, that has not been the case” he explained.
“We will continue to work with individuals across the region to identify the deceased to ensure that they are offered a respectable and honourable funeral, and to provide closure to families. Regardless of who they are, they remain victims of intolerable violence and must be named and remembered, regardless of ethnicity or background. The duty of the FOHR is to bring the unknown victims to the light, so that we all may remember them” he said further.

Mr. Tonin took some questions from reporters, the first one came from the Posta Centuripe, who asked if there was any tell-tale signs of the victims’ identities.

“In previous cases, primarily from the Revolutionary Republic era and the majority of cases from state-perpetrated cases from the military dictatorship, many of the deceased have among their remains, personal belongings, mostly jewellery, watches and clothing. In this case, no belongings were found. There was no clothing found within the grave either, which means the victims were stripped before death or post-mortem” he replied.

A reporter from the Posta della Sera asked if FOHR had any indication of the perpetrator.

“Our team followed numerous leads from testimonies of locals, the testimonies collected by civil society groups and studied historic records from the military dictatorship period. As I said earlier, in the vast majority of cases, doing this will enable us swift conclusion as to who perpetrated this act, yet in this case, many of those leads were contradictory or competing” Mr. Tonin replied, he then brought forward Lorenzo Barbella, the Tarpeia Unit’s principal historian.

“In relation to this particular case, we encountered significant issue over the perpetrator. The date of the site, 1963 to 1964 causes greatest issue. The area around Molamatta was a hotbed for both Piraean separatist activity and the activity by unionist militias, comprised of both ethnic Etrurians and Novalians. The village itself saw a bout of heavy fighting between the Tarpeian Army for Etrurian Unity and the Piraean Army for the Return of the Homeland between 1960 and 1962. Unfortunately, both sides made us of extrajudicial killing against either side and among their own constituencies as a means of rooting out collaborators.

“The records and testimonies we encountered on this matter supported this, with conflicting accounts from both ethnic sides. I will reminder you all, that the state, as in the military dictatorship did not take action, albeit criminal by today’s standards against Piraean separatists until 1968. As such, with regard to the historic facts of the region, the competing testimonies and the decay of the remains, means we will struggle quite significantly in identifying both the victims and the perpetrators” he said.

However, the EPE, the premier civil society group for ethnic Piraeans in Etruria has since come out condemning the FOHR’s statement.

Nikolas Agikakis, the director of EPE said in a video uploaded on social media, “I and many Piraeans in Etruria will find the FOHR’s statement and conclusion deeply troubling, upsetting and distressing. EPE has hundreds of testimonies from the Molamatta region detailing both criminal acts perpetrated against innocent Piraeans by both pro-Etrurian death squads and the Military Junta.

“The sheer level of detail from victims’ families points to the grave containing innocent Piraeans, murdered for them being Piraean by pro-junta Vespasian and Novalian death squads. If the FOHR wishes to discount their testimony simply because ethnic Vespasian and Novalians claim they too suffered at the hands of Piraean groups, then that is nothing short of political correctness Etrurian style and a cover up” he said.

In turn, the Tarpeian Society for Historical Memory, a Vespaisan-Novalian centric group issued a statement criticising the FOHR saying, “it is deeply saddening to see a well-regarded government body take a neutral stance, we have rich record and study indicating that Molamatta was used as a base of operations by Piraean terrorist groups, that terrorised and butchered ethnic Vespasian and Novalian in pursuit of so-called reunification with Piraea. While we respect the FOHR’s duty of bringing the Piraean community firmly into Etrurian society through reconciliation, it should not be used as justification to play down their own crimes committed during the Western Emergency.”

Governor of Tarpeia, Nero Orlando (MT) tweeted, “the situation around Molamatta is deeply concerning and saddening. But let it be a reminder of what happens when the communities of Etruria allow themselves to become disunited. A United Etruria Always!”

MORE HEADLINES

Vittoria Vetra meets with Citizens' Federal Executive Committee [ 27209 ]
Transportation Ministry appoints new FSE executives [ 4997 ]
Molamatta Mass Grave: Fallout continues [ 945 ]
FM Galizia: "We expect the new Glyteronian government to be difficult" [ 651 ]
Tsabara's democracy besieged by radicalist president [ 116 ]

by **Piraea** » Sun Mar 03, 2019 6:26 pm

Konstantinos Gregos - 2 March 2019

Home · Piraea· Euclea · International · Politics · Business · Technology and Science · Arts · Education · Health · Sports · Weather

GOVERNMENT FACES CRITICISM FROM PK FOR "PASSIVE" RESPONSE TO MOLAMATTA GRAVE REVELATIONS

Polakis accused the government of "betraying our Piraean brothers".

Alikianos, Piraea - Inclusive findings from the Etrurian agency responsible for the investigation of a mass grave site found in the Tarpeian village of Molamatta led Minister for External Affairs Georgios Gerovassiliou to call for "further examination" of historical accounts.

The minister said the inclusive report was "disappointing" and called on the Etrurian government to continue investigating the mass grave. "Accounts from villages and potential eyewitnesses must not be overlooked" he said. However, he declined to speak further on the findings of the Etrurian Federal Office for Historical Reconciliation.

The agency found the grave site near Molamatta to contain 297 bodies. It believes the mass grave dates from between 1963 and 1964, but was unable to discern who the victims or the perpetrators were. The agency's director said there were no possessions or clothing that could be used to help identify the victims, as the corpses were all bare.

Ethnic Piraeans living in Tarpeia speculate the bodies are victims of the Etrurian military dictatorship and have reacted negatively to the findings. The premier civil group for Piraean's living in Tarpeia, Association for Piraeans in Etruria, condemned the report. The group's director, Nikolas Agikakis, said the results were "deeply troubling, upsetting and distressing".

He added that the "EPE has hundreds of testimonies from the Molamatta region detailing both criminal acts perpetrated against innocent Piraeans by both pro-Etrurian death squads and the Military Junta.

“The sheer level of detail from victims’ families points to the grave containing innocent Piraeans, murdered for them being Piraean by pro-junta Vespasian and Novalian death squads. If the FOHR wishes to discount their testimony simply because ethnic Vespasian and Novalians claim they too suffered at the hands of Piraean groups, then that is nothing short of political correctness Etrurian style and a cover up” he said.

Minister Gerovassiliou declined to comment on the EPE's statements and a spokesman for the Ministry of External Affairs said he would not comment any further than the minister had.

This has led to criticism from the Homeland Party, with the party's leader Nikos Polakis accusing the government of "betraying our Piraean brothers".

"This disgraceful and passive response from our government, the one true government of all of the Piraean people, is evidence of that betrayal" Polakis said in an interview.

He went on to accuse the Etrurian government to covering up the true findings of the FOHR and said it was "disgusting" that Prime Minister Maria Theopeftatou "would allow the Etrurians to kill the victims of Molamatta for a second time".

"One thing is very clear to me: the Etrurian government has manipulated the findings. How else could there be so much documented evidence that the victims of the Molamatta grave site are Piraeans yet the agency said it was impossible to come to a conclusion? It is only impossible because the functionalists in the Etrurian government have made it so. Whether they forced the FOHR to release improper dates to avoid lining up with a recorded massacre or instructed the agency to suppress evidence, there was clearly illegal intervention".

His party is also planning to stage demonstrations in major cities throughout the country as the party hopes to capitalize off of Molamatta.

A spokesman for PSEE called PK's attempts to politicize Molamatta "outrageous". The government has declined to comment on Polakis' criticism.

Comments [ 16,012 ] |

16,012 comments

MORE HEADLINES

PK to lead stage demonstrations in major cities in campaign to #RememberMolmatta. [ 10,123 ]
PSEE debate on new attempt to join the EC met with criticism. [ 9904 ]
Prime Minister Theopeftatou will leave for trip Florena, Gaullica on Monday. [ 7483 ]
Comedians mock Health Minister for fight against tobacco usage. [ 5359 ]

News Thread [Kylaris|Canon|IC]

Who is online