News Thread [Kylaris|Canon|IC]

by **Inhorto** » Sun Apr 12, 2020 1:07 pm

"BEYOND THE PALE": A TANTALIZING HOMAGE TO A DYING ERA
Fernando Domínguez's chef d'oeuvre tackles what it means to be Auratian in a country shunted between tradition and modernity, faith and progress

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OLIVIA SÁNCHEZ-CRUZ (@GloSanchez1)
^{4 April 2020 3:00| Puerto del Rey, Saba, Auratia}

Author Fernando Domínguez is not stranger to laying bare the good, the bad, and the ugly in Auratian society.

There are so few books that capture the zeitgeist of a time. So few that limn the end of an era. So few that hold the hands of history so tightly. And in this select category lies an even more select group of novels whose potency and endurance stand the test of time and cultural upheaval. Works that children from across continents read in their classrooms. Works that line the shelves of every brick-and-mortar or online book store. And works who remain relevant despite the centuries.

Among these colossi of literature we count the masterpieces of Auratian authors: Lorenzo de Vandam's "The Errant Knight" (1607), Miguel Carvalho's "The Crystal Palace" (1941), or even Ignacio Ziza's "Giants in the Face of God" (1887).

"Beyond the Pale" is veteran author Fernando Domínguez's newest addition to that group.

Published in 20 January 2020, "Beyond the Pale" follows the stories of two brothers, Pablo and Miguel Hidalgo, as they journey through quotidian life. The narration is begins in 2002, the year of Auratia's long-awaited ascension into the Euclean Community, and culminates in the modern-day. As the nation reels from the Millennium Economic Crisis and rejoices the birth of a new era, the brothers are forced to make a choice. The once idyllic Hidalgo farm in Gordita, La Virtud, has come into disrepair, and the family's coffers are dry. Miguel takes the initiative, vowing to find a job and money in Villadad, the nation's burgeoning economic powerhouse.

The novel is partially based on the experiences of its author, who grew up the son of a farmer but moved to Villadad for better opportunities. In interviews, Domínguez confessed that his decision to forsake the farmer's life stemmed from his class consciousness and social anxiety. "I thought I could make a name for my self... move up the social ladder," Domínguez said. "In reality I always found myself on the same rung, just in a different environment."

Pablo and Miguel are laden with the pressures of their time. Pablo chooses to draw into himself and his values, so he lives in poverty and obscurity. Miguel leaps into modernity—out with the old, in the new. Pablo is ashamed for failing to find a wife, while Miguel shoulders the guilt of falling back on his promises to brother and God. Almost paradoxically, religion turns away from both, and then so too does society. The brothers are specks of sand that lie beneath an ocean of the indifferent and the unimportant, constantly battered by the waves.

The world of "Beyond the Pale" is dying, and the brothers can't seem to keep up. In his seminal work, Domínguez sought to pay homage to an era of Auratian history that was "simpler, cleaner, and more beautiful." In the book, descriptions of cold, drab city life are interspersed with flashbacks of warm, pastoral nostalgia. Domínguez does not dismiss change, but he laments that change means loss. He urges us to consider what that change really means.

Through his beautiful prose and his heady voice, Domínguez captures what it means to be lost without being maudlin or self-congratulatory. In an Auratian society that is constantly changing, moving forward and regressing, "Beyond the Pale" strikes a foreboding tone, warning us what happens when we lose our grip. But the experiences of poor Pablo and Miguel are not bound to this era. Readers of centuries to come will doubtless sympathize with the story of two brothers that are, in Domínguez's words, "unhappy in different ways, and in every way."

Olivia Sánchez-Cruz is a staff writer at La Manco.

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by **Nuvania** » Tue Apr 14, 2020 6:43 pm

Government Loses No Confidence Motion

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Alison van Molynecke (@AVMolynecke)
15 April (1:00pm)|PIETERSBURG

Ousted Chief Minister Robert Marten debates with the opposition in the General Council

The government suffered a significant blow today following its loss of a no-confidence motion tabled by the Leader of the Opposition, Andrew Bohn. The loss would force the resignation of the current Chief Minister, Robert Marten, as well as his entire Cabinet, save for the Deputy Chief Minister, who will be appointed to run a caretaker government by the State President until fresh elections can be scheduled.

The no-confidence motion comes after the government failed to secure its desired response from other members of the Asterian Forum for Development and Cooperation (AFDC) during an emergency summit at the organisation's headquarters in San Pietro, Imagua and the Assimas.

In what has been considered a major embarrassment for the government, the AFDC voted in favour of less stringent measures against the government of Belmonte, who had recently approved a diplomatic summit in Maracao, and hosted the president of Chistovodia, both against AFDC convention, and without the knowledge of member governments.

The Nuvanian government had adopted a hardline approach to the ensuing diplomatic crisis, with the recall of the Nuvanian ambassador on March 16. The measures adopted by the government had been subject to mounting criticism, with the Leader of the Opposition pledging to end what he called "NVP belligerance" and open negotiations with the Maracan government.

Leader of the Opposition, Andrew Bohn, had attempted to launch the motion in the General Council while the Chief Minister was out of the country, but withdrew the motion, saying that he did not want to "act underhandedly". He relaunched the motion today in a full sitting of the General Council, in which the Chief Minister was present. Unlike the previous motion, this was subject to a secret ballot. Based on the existing numbers, the ballot was expected to be heavily defeated. However, the Speaker of the Council revealed a final tally of 207 votes in favour, 198 votes against, and five abstentions. A motion to have the votes made public was defeated.

The motion was then passed to the Provincial Council, where the voting would be considered to be tighter, as the opposition coalition had more seats in the Provincial Council than the governing coalition, with a majority of 49 votes needed to pass the motion. The President of the Council announced a final tally of 57 votes in favour, and 38 votes against, with one abstention. Like in the General Council, the motion in the Provincial Council was approved through a secret ballot, and a motion to make that ballot made public also failed.

The Chief Minister remained defiant throughout the process, calling the vote a "petty act from a petty politician". Even after the final tally was announced, he said that he would challenge the result, and that his resignation would "only come when I breathed my last breath."
"I will not be removed from office at the hands of some two-bit communists," he said. "I'll only resign when I've breathed my last breath." He said that he would continue to lead Nuvania as long as he had the full support of his party's caucus, and that he would also find out who had voted in favour of his removal.
"I'll find out those who have no loyalty and no shame," he said. "They'll find out what happens when you go against your party."

Leader of the Opposition Andrew Bohn was equally scathing, criticising the Chief Minister's "lack of leadership" during the Belmontese diplomatic crisis as well as his "school yard bully attitude" towards other AFDC heads of government.
"He sat there and let his attack dogs at the NAB determine government policy, which would have destroyed the AFDC," he said. "And when he did bother turning up for work and doing his job, he spent the entire time slagging off and threatening other leaders on social media. This isn't a leader worthy of the name, this is nothing more than someone with an inferiority complex projecting his own insecurities onto others." Bohn equally criticised his response to the passing of the non-confidence motion.
"Even now he threatens and berates those that dare go against him," he said. "Even now he still thinks he can win. Tell me Chief Minister, will you have the same attitude when the police remove you from office in handcuffs?"

The Speaker of the Council struggled to control the chamber, forcing the ejection of several members who struggled to contain themselves in the outbursts that followed.

Although this would make the first successful non-confidence motion passed in the Nuvanian Parliament, the resulting snap election would be the first in 15 years. In 2005, then Chief Minister Arnold Hofmeyer resigned two days before a non-confidence motion was due to be tabled, after reports were released that he had lost the confidence of his own caucus, who were critical of his response to the 2005 economic crisis. The 2005 snap election saw the Democratic Action Party (DAP) retain power under David Martiz, who became Chief Minister.

Chief Minister Robert Marten said that he would challenge the results in court if need be, stating that he was confident that there were irregularities in how the vote was conducted. He also said that the public deserved to know who had voted in favour or against.
"I find it amusing that the opposition won't allow the public to see who voted in favour and who voted against," he said. "What does that tell you? There's some shady stuff going on here, and I know for a fact that we're not being told the entire truth." He said that he was well within his rights to challenge the vote, stating that it was in the public interest to know what exactly had taken place.
"The public deserves to know. I know that there's something not quite right here, the general public knows there's something not quite right, and I intend on finding this out in court. You can't simply get rid of the Chief Minister just like that without something shady going on."

Leader of the Opposition Andrew Bohn said that any appeal would be "absolutely desperate".
"He lost, and he's trying absolutely everything to stay in power," he said. "All this is, is just his way of delaying the inevitable. He's out, his party will soon be out, and we can all move on and forget this sorry episode in our country's history." Bohn defended the process, stating that there was absolutely nothing to hide, stating that the court case was "only so he can flush out those that voted against him."
"It's a glorified witch hunt, there's no shady business, nothing to his allegations. Everything has been above board, everything has been done within the confines of what parliamentary procedure allows."

The non-confidence motion has been passed onto State President S.P van Heerdens, who is expected to dismiss the Chief Minister within the next two days.

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by **Nuxica** » Thu Apr 16, 2020 12:26 am

SPECIAL OPERATIONS TASK FORCE RAIDS NUXICAN REGIONAL HQ OF IMAGUAN-BASED BANK OF THE ORIENT ON SPECIAL COURT ORDER
Members of the Civil Guard's Special Operations Task Force conducted a raid, backed by Special Security Officers, against the headquarters of the Nuxican branch of Imaguan financial institution Bank of the Orient in the city of Carutagua today. Based in the Imaguan city of Cuanstad, the bank has 3 sub-regional offices and 30 branches throughout Nuxica. The raid was 'court ordered,' according to SOTF sources; these rumors are unconfirmed.
Mateo Ocampo
16 April, 2020 | Carutagua, Nuxica

Special security officers with the Civil Guard's Special Operations Task Force stand guard outside the downtown headquarters of
the Nuxican branch of the Bank of the Orient following the apparent raid on the facility's offices. (PHOTO CREDIT: Benjamín Miralles)

Carutagua, Nuxica --Members of the Civil Guard's elite Special Operations Task Force (SOTF) conducted a sudden mid-morning raid on the Imaguan corporate and retail bank Bank of the Orient. The operation, which appears to have not be announced to the Carutagua branch or the main headquarters in Cuanstad, saw both regular armed police officers and Special Security Officers surround and cordon off the building to the public before gaining entry into the building. It is believed that members of the Justice Ministry were also present and, according to eyewitness accounts, removed a significant amount of presumed evidence from the building, including computers, boxes of documents, hard drives, and at least one server. Members of the press were barred from asking questions at the time of the operation.

"Today, members of the Special Operations Task Force of the Civil Guard participated in a mid-morning raid on the Carutagua offices of the Imaguan-based retail and commercial bank, the Bank of the Orient," reported Subcommander Alexandría Agramonte, operating commander of the Carutagua region of the Civil Guard, during a press conference later in the afternoon. "The operation was conducted in accordance with proper legal procedures and in the interest of an ongoing investigation into financial misconduct that is believed to have taken place within the institution."

"The operation was conducted with the utmost expediency and was executed without incident. One dozen individuals, all of whom were Nuxican nationals, were taken into custody for questioning and will be released once said process as concluded." Subcommander Agramonte finished.

"I would like to make clear that members of the [SOTF] were operating in support of Justice Ministry officials, that there is no overall threat to the public, and, despite the precautionary show of force, there is no reason for the public at large to be alarmed."

When asked about the nature of the suspected crimes, the cooperation of the Ministry of Justice, as well as the reasoning behind utilizing the SOTF, Agramonte was notably cryptic, responding only that "the [SOTF] participated as requested by elements of the Justice Ministry in conjunction with a court order as part of an investigation into alleged financial misconduct. Said relevant elements of the Justice Ministry participated in our efforts in order to secure evidence and materials believed to be relevant to the aforementioned investigation. The overall details of the investigation are sealed, and thus neither I, my subordinates, nor members of the Justice Ministry will be divulging these details to the press at this time."

When asked, the Ministry of Justice spokesperson simply reiterated that the raid was conducted "within legal bounds."

Justice Minister Marina Villacrés, asked for comment shortly after giving a commencement speech at the University of San Pedro, said that the was "unwilling to comment on matters relating to an active investigation of concern" and refused to elaborate further.

1313 Girona Street spokesman Rubén de la Cavallería reported that the Prime Minister was "unaware of any of the pertinent details of the operation, as it is official policy of the Office of the Prime Minister to not weigh in or affect legal procedures enacted by the Justice Ministry."

Rumors, however, have begun to swirl on social media as to the real nature of the raid. Sources from within the Special Operations Task Force, speaking on condition of anonymity, have reported that the raid was conducted "on the orders of a special court," that they involve "certain individuals of national interest," and confirmed that the overall details of the raid were indeed sealed by said court.

These allegations have led rise to the theory that there is a connection to the empaneling of a grand jury and special court in investigating the so-called "LC&C-Macusrida Affair" and today's raid. This is due to the confirmation that a 'special court' has ordered all information regarding the raid sealed from all but the grand jury and court itself. Neither rumor nor theory has been confirmed at this time however.

Lleixà, Casamitjana, and Company CEO Raimon Sangres could not be reached for comment. A spokesperson from the company also refused to comment on the allegations.

More on this story as it develops.

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by **Beumontte** » Thu Apr 16, 2020 8:37 am

» Euclovision 2020: Apolo will represent us on Kesselbourg City
» The duo was formed six years ago and has an immense repertoire of pure Belmontese music

Belchior Alcântara (@renatagaspar)
Apr 15, 2020 | Castelonovo

Clara Ferraz and Laura Costa, Apolo's performers.

CASTELONOVO - With Euclovision coming more closer every day and being marked by polemic and controversial musics and contesters, Belmonte will be represented by the duo Apolo, which is formed by the singers Clara Ferraz and Laura Costa who are 23 and 24 years old, respectively. Both come from the small and calm town of Cardoso, in the countryside of the province of Pindarama, knowing each other since they were kids.

The good taste for music always accompanied the life of the two even as children, which was something very supported by their families. Living on the same street, they sang together on the local church and at the age of eleven, they started to participate in minor shows on the city. In 2014, after graduating from university, the two decided to drop everything and start their own musical group, Apolo, and never stopped singing since then. After some years making small shows on the streets of the capital Castelonovo, the duo launched their first album, which is also named Apolo, at the beginning of 2016, becoming one of the most sold albums of the entire year. Mixing pop and contemporary folk elements, their musics Aquário and Caminho attracted national and international repercussion, making them reach the top. Following the release, they launched some singles that received the same success, and by the end of 2019, the duo launched their second album, Vitral, which also got very good reviews and a huge number of sellings.

The homonymous music is the principal spotlight of the album and the one that will be performed on the stage, being universally acclaimed by its simple and serene melody but with deep lyrics, making them come back in the first place on radios and music streaming platforms again.

Euclovision will happen in Kesselbourg City where it will receive singers from several places around the world, with the duo competing with other extremely reputed international artists as well such as the Gaullican Violaine Rousseau, the Caldish Alaois Mac Toimin and the Maracan Lilian Alves, among many others.

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© 2020 Diário Group

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by **Etruria2** » Thu Apr 16, 2020 5:29 pm

Last night's "La Storia di Resilienza " documentary was a horrific display of ARE's subordination to the Tribunes
Last night's acclaimed documentary on post-war Etruria was stacked with subtle revisionism, bias and conspiracy theories
Written by Vittore Alessandri, Lead Opinion Writer
^{17 April 2020}

“La Storia di ”, the much-anticipated feature-length documentary on post-Solarian War Etruria aired last night, and its provoked a heated debate. The “Story of Resilience” covers that much debated period of national history, starting with the end of the Solarian War, to the overthrow of the Third Republic by the military in 1960. I will admit it was thought provoking and incredibly well-made, but it was so slanted to the Tribune worldview of our history, that it borderlines on revisionism. And that it has been so well-received by the ordinary Etrurian is worrying. This not only condemns ARE as the propaganda machine the Tribunes have made it, but also condemns director Leandro Nardella.

La Storia's depicts post-war Etruria as a morally and economically desolate land.
While ignoring the bursts of cultural creativty and free living.

“La Storia di ” was broadcast on ARE 2, and at 2 hours and 40 minutes it was a journey, but worth it in terms of quality and immersion. ARE 2 per tradition broadcasted three different versions of the documentary, in Carinthian, Novalian and Vespasian, and I am assured by my colleagues from the two western states of our land, that the program was identical. So, it was a relief to know that “La Storia” wasn’t going to be a repeat of “Etruria Divisa”, where the Western Emergency docudrama was edited differently for the two states and those of Vespasia. That docudrama decided to whitewash Vespasian death-squads for Vespasian viewers, while the Carinthian and Novalian versions was bombarded with war porn committed by ethnic Piraeans and Miruvians. According to ARE’s online streaming service, it has a viewer rating of 95%, the right-wing papers, have lauded it as a masterpiece, it’s already been confirmed as an entry for the Povelian Film Festival and is rumoured to be a frontrunner at this year’s Solarian TV Awards.

For those who didn’t watch and don’t particularly want to, but wish to know what happened, I’ll do my best to offer the thread of the documentary.

The first part covers 1946-1948, the two years where Etruria was governed by the Community of Nations through Caldia’s Sean Fitzgerald. The documentary depicted this period as one of “national shock, numbness and commiseration.” It showed Etruria as a nation that was regretful it lost the war, rather than fought the war in the first place. It used interviews with six elderly men and women, who each took turns to describe those years as close to hell as one could get. One, an 92-year old veteran of the war, Aldo Nazari told the interviewer, “when I returned home to a nation in mourning, for its dead, its lost future and its humiliation”, read that while remembering what Etruria had committed in Piraea, Coius and parts of Amathia. In fairness, Mr. Nazari did caveat after that, “as time went on, I guess… that mourning of the lost future was replaced with the lost present, considering the shortages of everything.” That focus on humiliation of defeat was echoed by the five other interviewees. The show then went on to explain Fitzgerald’s technocratic government’s task of rebuilding Etrurian democracy, introducing the constitution that formed the anchor of the Third Republic. It used slick never-seen-before footage of Fitzgerald and his CN and Etrurian aides, photographs of key moments and such, but the narration and pitch was that of occupation and forced reform. The show was effectively shouting at the viewer, that constitution they introduced was “broken from the start, crippled by competing values and intensions and disabled by conflicting checks and balances.”

The first part also gave great coverage to the post-war economic collapse, the loss of industry and the widespread merciless poverty that gripped the nation. It did justice in decrying the chaos of the National Solarianist war economy, its vast state ownership and its addiction to toxic industry. It spoke of the vast cases of respiratory disease caused by industry, the Salano Chemical Disaster, which killed 118 people in 1946 and the poisoning of the Arevino River, which killed 18 people and thousands of livestock. Though, it felt as though it was displaying these cases and incidents as a means of portraying Etruria as a victim, a vulnerable and weak nation, easily abused by the technocrats who built an incompetent and weak federal state. Though this slanted toward the general right-wing view of the immediate post-war period, it had strong paces of fair assessment of the National Solarianist failures.

The next part covered 1948-1955, the period that both left and right would consider a complete failure of governance and civic duty. The seven-year period is generally accepted by historians as the moment the Third Republic systematically failed. “La Storia” went full on with the condemning of the Third Republic here. It used over 20 interviewees to give insights into the “mass poverty, depravity and socio-moral implosion.” Every single interviewee spoke in detail of the “prostitutes on every street corner”, the “my pick-pocketing days” story and the “shady men who gave us a few Florin to burgle a house or shop.” One of them, 88-year old Rosa Paterlini described when she worked as a night-time bus warden, she would be forced to take a blindfold because, “everyone on the top deck would just get down to making love.” Her sweet grandmotherly admittance she blindfolded herself because people were having sex on a night-bus was a bit on the nose, there’s nothing from the times to say this widespread, but the show lingered on it, making a point that the 50s was total Sodom and Gomorrah, Etruria was a depraved, a debaucherously immoral shithole. It went on to talk about the explosion of porno theatres, sex shows and the wholesale market of the human body. It went on to decry the inactivity of the police, who took to bribery as a means of offsetting their unreliable state wage. The show bemoaned the unrelenting sex scandals that decimated successive governments, the complete unravelling of Etrurian virtue and the nihilistic violence of the streets. The entire part was bookended with an interviewee saying, “no one cared, no one enjoyed life so no one cared.”

La Storia is equally dismissive of the CN Mandate government
led by Sean Fitzgerald, hinting they were to blame for "Broken Etruria",
taking advantage of a "vulnerable people."

After bombarding the viewer with stories and images of poverty stricken, degenerate and perverted Etruria, it followed with a bombardment of stats and quotes of how the post-war governments completely failed its economic reconstruction strategy. It spoke of how some Finance Ministers boosted their incomes by taking whole percentages out of the budget, including Solariano Umberti, who infamously awarded himself a €50 million bonus each budget and got away with it because he appointed his brother-in-law as the National Auditor. It went into detail on how the opposition parties failed to confront corruption because under the 1948 Constitution, opposition parties had final says on government contracts, so if they were bribed too, everybody gained. It went on to describe how entire government policy papers went missing, how it took the government three years to implement an agricultural regulation on animal trading, and how the government sought to reduce unemployment by launching vanity projects across the country that went unfinished because ministries lost contracts or failed to appoint foremen.

The last act of the second part covered the rise of the mafia as a legitimate authority in some parts of the country. It covered how mafia dons were elected to high office after intimidating voters with their patsies, just so they could get into positions to award contracts to their own front companies. “La Storia” went so far as to describe the Third Republic as the “world’s first criminal syndicate state”, repeating conspiracy theories that President Ferdinando Grillo (1953-57) was the infamous “Re Giallo” of the Sartosi Clan. It spoke of the comedic yet tragic story of how Mafiosi were able to get away with impersonating tax collectors to make petty cash off poverty stricken innocents, while also covering the story of Andrea Vocci, the Turania Police Chief who was actually the brother of Ricardo Vocci, the local mafia kingpin. It was shocking to be reminded of these stories, but it was also made starker by the contributions of the interviewees, some of whom offered their support for the Grillo conspiracy. The entire second part was a dismal and depressing view of Etruria, a firmly religious-right interpretation of “Broken Etruria.” The show’s linking back to the CN Mandate gave the point that “Broken Etruria” was caused by the victorious allies, purposefully creating a weak state, led by weak men.

The third part obviously covered the start of the Western Emergency and it was here, that the mistakes or revisionism of “Etruria Divisa” returned. The documentary portrayed the leftist movements in Carinthia and Novalia as socialist-backed terror groups, dedicated to “destroying the Etrurian bond and community.” It unleashed full war-porn on the viewer, detailing the massacres of loyalist civilians, the terror bombings and assassinations, all the while it remained stuck on the Miruvian contribution. It reached out to Carinthians and Novalians to recount their encounters with “Piraean and Miruvian rape and death squads”, and the Miruvian penchant for burning entire villages. What the third part didn’t include was any mention of rape and death squads of the loyalist variety, nor did it cover the role of the Etrurian military in the mass execution of prisoners or innocents in rebel held areas. And the build up to the 1960 Coup was so lacklustre it barely constituted being worth mentioned. The only offerings of insight or opinion on the constitutional coup was that it was a necessary act to save Etruria from itself and the socialist evils beyond its western borders that sought to destroy it. The show completely ignored the violence against politicians after the military seized power, and it completely ignored the military’s role in the murder of President Massimo Bartolucci’s wife – proven to be the work of a secret Army unit in 1999. It was a whitewash.

I am not a TV or move critic, I leave the more detailed analysis of the show itself to my fine colleagues over at Il Popolo’s culture desk for that. What I am, however, is someone who can tell when a documentary is laced with subtle dog whistles, revisionism and outright propaganda. I write about politics, and this documentary was nothing but politics. Sadly, this documentary says too much about the media and TV in Etruria today than is comfortable – it condemns ARE as now confirmed tools of the Tribunes and it equally condemns, Leandro Nardella, the talented and award winning director, as a Tribune enabler if not outright servant. What the documentary showed was of good quality, I will not deny, but what wasn’t shown or mentioned is what speaks a thousand words.

It presents post-war Etruria as a morally and economically desolate land, condemning the well-meaning technocrats of the Mandate period as the creators of “Broken Etruria.” It presents immediate post-war Etruria as a vulnerable victim, a nation who’s back is as broken as its heart, only to be ruthlessly mistreated by foreign appointed democrats, at least in subtle ways. Its failure to approach the Mandate government for what it was, a highly idealistic and liberal effort to rebuild Etruria as a cosmopolitan, open and vibrant democracy, only to fall short due to the fractious nature of Etruria’s post-war political elite. It’s failure to address the “Missing 200”, those war criminals who avoided prosecution and would go on to re-constitute the far-right in the early 1950s, was also telling. To be blunt, what “La Storia” did was focus solely on the typical religious-far right talking points, while ignoring their own incriminating failures and mistakes during the same period. Its depiction of the late 1950s as a build up to the salvation of the nation by the Army rather than the sad descent into ethnic conflict, aided by the secret actions of the same military was less subtle. It’s unrelenting bias toward the right-wing view of post-war Etruria was all too apparent. But for me, and Etruria today, the content is not so much the issue, as to who broadcasted it.

ARE, is the nation’s public broadcaster, it has the largest viewership in totality, it has the most strident content checkers in the country, ensuring shows like “La Storia” are unbiased in the typical sense. Its content checking is what delivered ARE its status as the best documentary producer. But since the Tribunes obliterated its independence last year by sacking the entire executive board for “mismanagement” and replacing them with ideologues and right-wingers, ARE has become nothing more than propaganda machine – most obvious on its news channels. Yet, with “La Storia” the propaganda is now becoming revisionism and proof that ARE has been lost to the most right-wing government since the National Solarianists. Furthermore, knowing that the highly talented and award winning director Leandro Nardella produced this, is sad in itself, to know such a leading light has fallen in with the Tribunes to produce outright revisionism of history and give credence to the far-right religious view of post-war Etruria. “La Storia” says so much about Etruria today as it does of yesteryear and I struggle to decide which is more depressing.

See more by Vittore here

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by **Slirnija** » Thu Apr 16, 2020 7:47 pm

by **Liecthenbourg** » Fri Apr 17, 2020 1:25 pm

Camille Chamoun - 23 Nisan AM 5780 / Jomeh: 29. Farvardin 1399 / 17 April 2020

Home · Tsabara · Bahia · International · Politics · Business · Technology and Science · Arts · Education · Health · Sports · Weather

As conflicts continue, some Tsabarans flee east and north to escape the conflict.

Women and children from Bedjene Province have begun arriving on the shores of Emessa.

Givei, Emessa - As the internal situation in Tsabara continues to escalate and violence spreads across the country, displaced peoples and those running from the conflict have finally made their way to Euclea in a significant number.

Just the other day it was reported by Zorasani media that more than 100,000 Tsabarans had sought refuge in the country. The Tsabaran Government itself has warned of an exodus of individuals fleeing from the "terror of Al-Isbah" and "Sheik's rampant extremism to non-Irfanics".

Over 2,000 people have made their way across the eastern Solarian Sea, passing through the Alba Archipelago, since last Saturday. The Tsabarans have mainly made their way across through the use of rafts, small fishing vessels or paying passage on larger trawlers. Most of those 2,000 who have made their way from coastal Boukhadra and Netanya have been found to originate from further inland.

Over 90% of these refugees have been estimated to be women and children. One of them, who identified herself as Jamala Mahdavi, said to us that: "I no longer felt safe in Qaa. I tried to convince my sisters and my cousins to flee as well, but they would not. My children needed to be out of that city. There is bloodshed on the streets. Rampant killings, indiscriminate killings. No food, no water, little electricity. That is not a life for anyone. We cannot go back."

Much like the rest of the refugees, Jamala finds herself currently awaiting processing at a customs facility in Givei. She told the Fédéraliste that she had expected such processes, but the others had convinced themselves of safety once off of their respective boats. She was concerned about how long they would go without becoming distressed further.

Adunis has confirmed that it has suspected individuals would be fleeing from the frontlines further east, but conceded that "fleeing across the Solarian was not something we entertained was going to happen." One senior figure, who wished to remain anonymous, admitted that as far as he was aware there were "efforts to build temporary housing and settlements within the Netanya province. It would appear these have been found to be inadequate by those who use them."

With much of the Tsabaran navy operating along the south of the country, much of Tsabara's commitments to the Euclean nations to keep patrolling the straits for human trafficking and refugees have dissipated. It can be expected that unless drastic action is taken soon, with confidence restored in the capability of the Tsabaran government to protect its people, more and more people might view crossing the Aurean Straits a viable alternative to their current situation. Indeed, numerous reports from an independent observer have found that it is likely there are now increasing over-land routes, with several hundreds of migrants likely on their way to Montecara as well.

The Tsabaran government, of course, has remained open to dialogue with its neighbouring countries -- especially on finding ways to best contain a potential crisis.

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atuditemilsperger · 1 hour ago
Where is the navy that Tsabara has?

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BoeJiden · 1 hour ago
I can't remember a worse refugee crisis.

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NazimAl'Qutayni_TSGov · 1 hour ago
Oops, I reneged on my commitments

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by **Inhorto** » Sat Apr 18, 2020 5:02 pm

TIAGO AMARAL SELECTED TO BECOME PRESIDENT OF THE COMMONWEALTH BANK
Amaral, a macroeconomics professor and former advisor to Prime Minister Walter García, was selected to helm the Commonwealth Bank, the chief monetary authorty in Auratia

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RICARDO PAZ (@rericopaz)
^{18 April 2020 3:00| Puerto del Rey, Saba, Auratia}

Amaral photographed during a lecture he gave to students at the University of Villadad shortly before his appointment
Photo courtesy of Luis Castalla

VILLADAD, SAN ESTEBAN — The Board of Directors of the Commonwealth Bank, the central bank and chief monetary authority in Auratia, has selected Tiago Amaral (SF), aged 64, to become the bank's 17th President. Amaral will be responsible for guiding the bank's monetary policy decisions and representing Auratia in the Euclean System of Central Banks for the next ten years, officially assuming the post on 1 May 2020.

Born in Fão, Iustia Nova, Amaral studied economics at the University of Villadad and attained his Ph.D. from the University of Monetecara. He wrote his dissertation on the collapse of monetary authority in Auratia during the Great War. In 1986 Amaral became a professor of macroeconomics at the Sabino Institute in Puerto del Rey, where he helped advise Commonwealth Bank leadership on matters of repurchase (repo) agreements.

In 1995, the then Leader of the Opposition Walter García (SL) asked Amaral to become his economic advisor. When the Sotirian Federation swept to power following the 2001 elections, Amaral served as García's chief economic advisor. Under the García premiership, Amaral worked to ensure a stable transition from the real, Auratia's erstwhile currency, to the euclo and helped formulate the prime minister's policy vis-à-vis lowering unemployment following the Millenium Crisis of 1999-2000. Amaral left the García Administration in 2009, when he was diagnosed with bladder cancer.

After leaving the García Administration, Amaral was a close advisor to Diego Villa, the bank's outgoing President. Suspicions arose that Amaral would be taking Villa's place when Amaral was photographed entering Prime Minister Germán del Caserío's private residence in Cienflores on 25 February.

Amaral has accepted the board's invitation to steward the Commonwealth Bank. In a press release, Amaral said that he "hopes to continue President Villa's legacy of furthering the Commonwealth Bank's goals of low unemployment and price stability. " Most experts agree that he is expected to stay the course on the last ten years of the bank's policy, inching up interest rates whilst advocating for the Euclozone cash reserve ratio to remain at 1.0%.

Amaral has also signaled that he would encourage greater Senate oversight into the bank's foreign currency reserve, and will "fight to ensure that foreign institutions, including those of the Euclozone, are acting in good faith."

The top brass in Cienflores seems to be pleased with the board's decision. In a presser, Prime Minister del Caserío praised Amaral for his "impeccable wisdom" and "peerless understanding of the economy." Likewise, José de Martín, the Liberal boss, congratulated Amaral on his appointment and said that he has "full confidence in [his] leadership."

Some eyebrows have been raised, however. Amaral has been known for his spats with the Euclean Central Bank leadership in Rayenne, Gaullica. In 2017, Amaral notably criticized the ECB's most recent round of monetary easing following sluggish growth as "foolhardy... too little, too late." He has been described as viewing the bank's leadership as "distant" and "stuck in [their] ivory towers." Nevertheless, Amaral has pledged to work closely with the ECB to fulfill common monetary policy goals.

Ricardo Paz is a staff writer at La Manco.

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by **Azmara** » Sun Apr 19, 2020 2:43 pm

EXIT POLL: WORKERS' PARTY LEADS WITH 33%
Our just-released exit poll also puts Gold Flame at 19.5%, the Radicals at 13.5% and the Sotirian Democrats at 11%.

Ana Jonsdohter (@anajdohter)
^{17 Apr 2020 | Aalmsted, Azmara}

Voting takes place in Eśen-Hil, Haadland.

AALMSTED, AZMARA – Now that the polls have closed in today's general election, the Aalmsted Herald can release its exit poll. We have complied this by polling 3,500 voters at various carefully selected polling stations across the country, weighing for socioeconomic factors and national demographics, and in previous years it has been fairly accurate at predicting national results. However, the exit poll will not come with seat numbers - it can be hard to calculate these as we do not have specifically province-level results.

The results of the exit poll are as follows:
Workers' Party - Eryk Jorśsun - 33.1% (-2.9%)
Gold Flame - Freidrik Aleksanderssun - 19.7% (+3.3%)
The Radicals - Ana Freidriksdohter - 13.4% (+3.1%)
Sotirian Democrats - Aansgaar Jonssun - 10.8% (-4.2%)
Green Party - Liis Jonsdohter - 9.3% (+2.4%)
People's Party - Hank Hankssun - 4.2% (-1.6%)
Socialist Party - Karl Kryssun - 3.4% (-1.7%)
Free Alliance 08 - Collective leadership - 2.5% (+0.7%)
Grey Party - Niina Karlsdohter - 1.9% (no change)
New Azmara - Collective leadership - 1.3% (-1.4%)

These results represent significant trends. While the Workers' Party have kept hold of much of the coalition behind their resounding victory in 2017, it is clear that some of their support has peeled off. Given the corresponding rise of the Green Party and The Radicals, parties which focused heavily on courting the progressive middle class vote through a focus on education and climate change, opposing strongly the proposed pipeline, it would appear that the support lost comes from the party's middle-class support base, who have been turned off by the party's passive support for the pipeline.

Gold Flame's "constructive" campaign, focusing on pro-business schemes to encourage development and diversification similar to those implemented by Sofija Freidriksdohter during her time as Prime Minister, appears to have paid off in establishing themselves and their brand of market liberalism as the largest voice on the right as other right-of-centre parties have experienced losses. The Sotirian Democrats are, notably, the night's biggest losers, presumably attributable to the party's focus on anti-devolution credentials; this stance notably cost the party its traditional hegemony in the province of Hytklif in last year's election to the new devolved assembly, and it is thought that it has thus turned off voters in both Hytklif and Haadland who have moved to accept the new status quo in the province and thus moved to regionalism and the Free Alliance. It is also thought to have reflected badly in the party's traditional Westmaark footholds, creating an impression amongst voters there that the party was not concerned for their interests. It is likely that long discussions about the party's future purpose will ensue following this, and a significant change in party direction is likely as party leader Aansgaar Jonssun seems poised to be deposed.

The People's Party, the Socialist Party and New Azmara have also suffered losses, yet for the latter two this can be easily explained as the lingering effects of the 2005 Recession have waned and mainstream parties have co-opted their demands; the Workers' Party, Gold Flame and the Sotirian Democrats notably all took more conservative stances on immigration and crime issues yet also more interventionist stances on economic issues compared to 2011 or 2014, and both have seen declines associated with their time in government. However, it would be apparent that a party such as New Azmara would continue to see success in a country moving right on immigration issues as it attempts to court the votes of minority communities by pledging tolerance. However, it is also apparent that many of its former supporters have felt that they could get these stances from either the Radicals or the Greens, both of whom have resisted the rightward shift on immigration.

It is too early to say, however, what will be formed in terms of government. The most apparent solution would be a coalition of the Workers' Party, The Radicals and the Green Party, but the issues between these parties are apparent, what with the campaign clashes over the pipeline and social issues in general, as the more centrist stances on social issues of the Workers' Party and much of its working-class base has come into conflict with the explicitly progressive stances of the Radicals and Greens. Such a coalition would definitely see compromise from one or both sides which may cause disenchantment with their electorates, yet no other alternative seems workable. A grand coalition between the Workers' Party and Gold Flame seems unworkable in the modern political climate, and a right-leaning coalition would likely be unformable, as bringing the Radicals and the Sotirian Democrats together alone would see significant clashes over the issue of devolution, and the ever-present pipeline would be something of a sticking point. Even then the core of Gold Flame-Sotirian Democrats-Radicals would have to be complemented with the Greens or the People's Party, and any clashes between the Radicals and Sotirian Democrats are small beef compared to the Radicals and the People's Party while a blue-green alliance is unprecedented in Azmaran politics.

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[/quote]

by **Fjalland-** » Tue Apr 21, 2020 10:12 am

NATIONAL COALITION SPLIT WORSENS: 12 FM'S DEFECT TO CONSERVATIVES
12 FM's crossed the aisle and joined the Conservative Movement as opposition parties pledge to unite in next election

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Séverin Sadoul (@SadoulSéverin )
^{11 April 2020 06:33 | Lafayette, Alexandria}

Jennifer Gicquel (l) led the defectors to cross the aisle during a speech by President Besnard.
Photo courtesy of the Anne-Marie Breguet.

Lafayette, Alexandria - Thérèse Besnard today was in the middle of her weekly address to the National Forum when 12 of her own FM's
dramatically stood up and crossed the aisle to join the Conservative Movement, catapulting the party, which was only formed in January into the largest party in the opposition.

The stunt in which much of the moderate wing of the National Coalition came only days after Olivier Vallotton was named Vice-President along with Party Leader, which some political analysts say could have caused the exodus. Vallotton was later seen throughout the rest of Besnard's speech writing a note and passing it to an aide who later handed it to one of the defectors.

Following Besnard's speech Jennifer Gicquel, one of the defectors, laid into her former party calling it an "Alt-right machine" and "against the ideals that this country was founded on." Gicquel, the FM for Nanteaux, was a rising star within the National Coalition and following Hauet's departure from the party, became the main Moderate voice within the party.

The following FM's defected.

*Arnaud Allard (Chotoise Nord)
*Aubin De Saint-Pierre (Champilès)
*Jennifer Gicquel (Nanteaux)
*Gabriel Pueyrredón (Maricourt et Bélun)
*Tristan Parmentier (Plaissy)
*Théophile Boffrand (Soliogne Est)
*Raoul Le Sueur (Plaissonne)
*Davy Escoffier (Courfort)
*Solène Masson (Argenroux)
*Baptiste Laffitte (Valennin)
*Léo Auberjonois (Orlême)
*Dominique Brosseau (Villeurlès)

The defections came shortly after protests began in Lafayette over Olivier Vallotton being nominated for Vice President. Vallotton arguably now has more power than Besnard which begins the question of, should the Vice President or VP Nominee only have to get the President to approve them with no oversight from the National Forum.

MC Leader René Hauet held a virtual Press conference with some of the defectors and PSD leader Élisabeth Halphen where he said "The opposition must unite and oppose this government at every turn possible, we cannot let dictators and Autocrats run this country." Halphen is expected to hand over the reigns to Hauet as Leader of the opposition in the coming days.

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by **Azmara** » Tue Apr 21, 2020 2:29 pm

RESULTS BREAKDOWN: WHAT HAPPENED IN YOUR PROVINCE?
An overview of the results of Sunday's election, province-by-province

Ana Jonsdohter (@anajdohter)
^{21 Apr 2020 | Aalmsted, Azmara}

The inside of the Folksmot.

AALMSTED, AZMARA – The recent news has been innundated with election coverage, and the seat results of the election have been made public. However, where have the seats changed hands? Who has been returned to represent various provinces? Who won in each province?

Firstly, to recap, the Workers' Party won 51 seats, putting them clearly in the lead in seat count. Following them are Gold Flame with 30 seats, with other major presences being The Radicals with 19, the Sotirian Democrats with 16 and the Green Party with 14. The bulk is made up by minor parties: the People's Party have 6, the Socialists have 5, Free Alliance have 4, the Grey Party have 3 and New Azmara have 2.

In the capital, the Workers' Party maintained their convincing lead, yet slipped slightly from 2017 and lost one of their six seats, while the Radicals surged into second place and won three seats. Gold Flame remained steady, taking third place in the city and retaining their two seats, tying with the Greens who gained a seat. However, bad news came to New Azmara and the Socialists, both of whom lost their second seat as their voters flocked to other left-wing candidates. Overall, these results see the return of many notable faces: Finance Minister Helmut Mâþijassun and former party leader Marie Mellon are easily returned on the Workers' Party list, alongside Green and Socialist leaders Liis Jonsdohter and Karl Kryssun.

The Workers' Party also finished first in Sompland, taking 10 out of 24 seats in the post-industrial southern province. The results in the province saw a notable consistency, returning members in almost the exact proportions as in 2017, the only change being the loss of New Azmara's representative for the province in favour of a second Green representative. Also returned were three members for both Gold Flame and the Sotirian Democrats, and one member each the Free Alliance, the Socialists and the People's Party.

Groonbank also saw the Workers' Party finish first in terms of votes, yet the party tied with Gold Flame in terms of seats as both parties won 13 seats off the back of their strong support bases in the province, with Gold Flame in particular seeing party leader Freidrik Aleksanderssun. Bad news came for the Socialists as sitting Cabinet minister Maarijana Karlsdohter lost her seat and as such the party was knocked out of Azmara's largest province, in which they had consistently seen representation since their founding. Her seat went to the Greens, who finished joint third in seat count with the Radicals, while the Sotirian Democrats and People's Party saw their 2 representatives each returned and New Azmara's single seat stayed loyal.

One of the biggest shakeups of the night came in Westmaark. Not only did the Workers' Party lead wane as the party lost three of its thirteen seats, but in a shocking turn of events the Sotirian Democrats were knocked out of second place in a province that they had won the popular vote in as recently as 2014, keeping only 5 seats as voters punished them for a campaign focused little on the province's issues and marking leader Aansgaar Jonssun's re-election with a baptism of fire. The biggest gain was for Gold Flame here, as the party surged to take second place with 7 seats, followed up by the gains for the Greens and Radicals who won three seats each. Another loss for New Azmara occured here, but the Socialists and People's Party held their ground here, holding on to their single seats here.

The other major shakeup was in Hytklif, where for the first time in decades, the Sotirian Democrats were knocked out of first place in the province as the regionalists in the Free Alliance finished first in a vote widely considered to be punishment for the party's anti-devolution line, having lost control of the regional government in 2019 for similar reasons. Ultimately the two parties gained two seats each and the Workers' Party held their two seats in the province, including Prime Minister Eryk Jorśsun's own seat, while the Radicals retained their one seat and the People's Party seat was snatched by Gold Flame.

Ostlaak saw a similar result to many other provinces, in which the Workers' Party retained its first place in the province despite losing one of its eight seats from last election, taking it a step away from the near-absolute majority territory of 2017. A left-wing majority was however retained on the back of the two Green seats as outspoken Energy Minister Isabela Krysdohter was re-elected alongside many of her Workers' Party colleagues, while the Radicals regained representation in the province and the Socialists returned their single Ostlaak MP. The Ostlaakish right, however, also saw reason to celebrate as Gold Flame, the Sotirian Democrats and the People's Party each saw their two members re-elected, with People's Party leader Hank Hankssun continuing his long and controversial political career.

The traditionally conservative voters of rural Nordberg were kinder to the Sotirian Democrats than their other strongholds, as the party retained its first place placing and won two out of the province's six seats, while the voters of Nordberg city stuck with the Workers' Party who came in a close second and saw their two members returned. Grey Party leader Niina Karlsdohter also kept her seat, yet her People's Party colleague was vanquished in favour of a return to form for the Radicals.

Interestingly, one of the only two provinces where the Radicals did not see gains in seat count was in Haadland despite their traditional dominance of the province, yet the party still retained a clear lead in vote count and retained its four seats in the province, including that of leader Ana Freidriksdohter. Joined in re-election by Workers' Party Home Secretary Sofija Anasdohter and Green Culture Minister Nathalie Dunkle as both parties comfortably defended their two seats in the region, many have noted the province's increasing importance in national politics as all three are expected to play major roles in government formation. However, the province's hard regionalist bent seems to have solidified; despite not making it into the Haadlandic Assembly last year, generally pro-devolution Socialist representative Amelija Hanksdohter retained her seat while the Sotirian Democrats, who just made it into the Assembly, were wiped out in the province on Sunday as they lost their only seat to Gold Flame.

The repercussions of these results for the "climate and devolution" election will certainly be immense, even if changes in seat count are not as dramatic as in elections such as 2005 or 2017, as the 33 seats won collectively by the decidedly federalist and environmentalist Radicals and Greens are sure to be the kingmakers. Many will be confused as to these ramifications, yet we hope this outlining of the key changes will prove useful at untangling it.

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by **Eskaeba** » Tue Apr 21, 2020 5:26 pm

by **Sjalhaven** » Wed Apr 22, 2020 7:38 pm

Emessa · World · Politics · Economy · Technology and science · Sports · Arts · Opinion

President Orunesu pleads for international solidarity
As the first Tsabaran refugees begin to land on the Pearl's shores, the Emessan president make a call for "cooperation and compassion" to the nations of the world
Ċensa Scerri | 23 April 2020

Lisandrina Orunesu's impassionated plea warned of a ticking bomb that only
humane and resolute international efforts could defuse before time runs out.

Lydia, Capitàli Province — In an unprecedented televised address on Wednesday, the Emessan president Lisandrina Orunesu has called on the international community to work together "in a spirit of solidarity" to respond "appropriately and humanely" to the growing refugee crisis caused by the Tsabaran civil war.

"As the situation in Tsabara is worsening and the violence escalating by the day, some would rather choose to brave the waters of the Solarian Sea in search of a safer place. And we have no right to blame them for making that choice: who among us can claim with sincerity they would not do the same for their loved ones?" directly asked Orunesu. "They are leaving everything behind, risking their lives, to flee war, and it is not with a war against them that we must respond, but with empathy for our fellow humans" she said, taking aim at the now-unenforced Tsabaran policy of naval patrols in the name of preventing human trafficking and turning refugees back to shore.

"I have absolute faith that the people of Emessa, of all religions and ideologies, will know to rise above division in this time of need and shine in showing the unshakeable values of solidarity and tolerance that define our great country more than anything, and I have faith that our government will act decisively in the spirit of those very values". Changing focus to much more worrying news, she continued "Yet even with the best will in the world, there is only so much we can do on our own: our islands are only so large. Millions may attempt to cross the Solarian Sea, but Emessa alone cannot host them all in the humane conditions every person deserve."

"Many abroad believe that it is too early to call this situation a crisis. When over two thousand people land on our shores seeking refuge within a week, I can not afford to share this opinion. There is a crisis, and in Emessa the crisis is upon us; if we fail to act collectively and in time to manage it, then it will be on your own shores that the crisis shall be". Addressing the international leaders directly, she added "But it doesn't have to come to that extreme: through resolute and concerted efforts, we can solve that crisis before it escalates out of control". "Now is not the time for chauvinism and isolationism; this is a time for cooperation and compassion.", she concluded.

Orunesu's speech has been both positively and negatively received for its heavy emotional focus, a deliberate choice by the country's first female president that has been primarily elected on account of her fierce moral backbone, but whose intensity has nonetheless surprised many. Much praise has come in support of the speech's commitment to solidarity with migrants and its call for decisive action to solve the crisis before it grows. Conversely, criticism has focused on what critics consider to be its "disproportionate apocalyptic tone" and fears that the speech's unmitigated ethical outlook might alienate Emessa from the international community and particularly the Euclean Community.

However, her faith in the unity of the island doesn't seem as guaranteed as she claims. While religious leaders of Emessa's three main religious communities have come in support of Orunesu's speech, offering a strong backing to her words in the heavily-religious country, and the ruling Coalition Future has also given it a warm reception for the most part, joined from across the aisle from the socialist Left Opposition, the majority of the opposition from the Alliance for Neutrality has been lukewarm at best, with the most right-leaning parties spearheaded by the Popular Movement for Emessa openly decrying the ideas behind the speech as a "direct threat towards our way of life".

How, if at all, the international community will answer Orunesu's call for action is yet to be seen, but the President has already promised to "Fight that fight for human decency and international cooperation to the very end". For now, only one thing is certain: the positivity and hopefulness that defined Emessa's last decade are already starting to give way for a climate of uncertainty and anxiety.

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by **Etruria2** » Thu Apr 23, 2020 5:31 am

Special Editorial: Our investigation into the Anti-Abortion law reveals the return of Church influence
The secretive San Viatore Six were revealed to have played a significant role in the production of the law that banned abortion in Etruria.
Special investigation by Il Popolo's Armando Sienna, Elisabeta Borghese, Stefania Ercolani and Giorgio D'Rossi.
^{23 April 2020}

The National Family Protection Act, also known simply as the anti-abortion act, which passed February stands as one of the most pivotal moments in the Tribune Era, it also marks Etruria as the first Eastern Euclean country to ban early terminations, stripping women of their rights to determine their future. Owing to the momentums event, Il Popolo sought to launch an investigation into how and why this Act came to be and what we discovered blew us away. What we found has profound consequences on the accountability of our government and the future of Etrurian society.

We discovered that a shadowy and secretive group outside of government and the Tribune Movement had played a prominent role in not only lobbying for the Act, but also its production. This group aided the government through the offering of its legal services, it provided the moral underpinnings of the Act and has since been confirmed to be working in close contact with the government even to this day.

Our findings are owed to brave individuals in the civil service, the Solarian Church and some braver souls in the Tribune Movement, who provided valuable information under our guarantee of anonymity.

The San Viatore Six

Within the warrens of the Gianicolo quarter of Tyrrenhus sits the grand Church of Saint Viator of Janiculum, an ancient church renovated during the 16th century by the great Tyrrenhian artist, Serrenio. The Church also includes the Seminary of San Viatore, and one of the largest Catholic libraries outside the Tiberunium Basilica. The Church is subject to Cardinal Giovani D’Marco and is also the stronghold of the so-called “San Viatore Clique”, or “San Viatore Six.” This group, consisting of six of the highest ranking Etrurian figures in the Solarian Church, is well known within Tibernium, for their conservatism, traditionalism, and outright opposition to Pope Joseph. They hold significant influence over seminaries and schools in Etruria, with one Church official describing them as a “mini state within the Holy See.”

The San Viatore Six reportedly stand as successors to the Society of San Stefano, a group of traditionalist clergymen dating from 1920 to 1970. The SSS is best known for offering spiritual and moral support to not only the National Solarianist regime (1938-1946), but also the Military Dictatorship (1960-1983). Herein lies the thread between the SSS and SVS, a preference for authoritarianism, immense Church influence and traditionalism. Now, the SVS is playing its successor’s role, by providing support for the Tribune Movement government – the most right-wing government since the Solarian War and the most right-wing government in Euclea today. We know this because, the San Viatore Six are also the same group which lobbied for the NFPA and provided irreplaceable support in its production and passing.

The SVS began its campaign to ban early terminations days after the Tribune Movement victory in the 2018 snap election. The Tribunes emerged from the EC crisis and the opportunistic election with greater power than when it entered, securing the long illusive two-thirds majority in the upper-house and a supermajority in the lower-house. The Tribunes alone now stood able to amend the constitution at will without a referendum. It was this triumph, that inspired the SVS to approach the Tribunes, according to a source close to the group. “At last, Etruria had a government in complete control, that could pass legislation swiftly, efficiently and independently. And more important to the society, was that this government, was the most attune and supportive of the values and traditions of Catholicism.”

The San Viatore Six from left-to-right: Cardinal Giovanni D’Marco, Cardinal Enrico Ferdiando Dettori, Cardinal Umberto Francesco Zampieri
Cardinal Alessandro Urbano Tagliani, Cardinal Andrea Paolo Veronesi, Cardinal Vittore Amadeo de Frixaturo

On 14 June, the SVS met with the Cabinet Secretary for Federal Coordination, Andrea Povaio at the Palazzo di Madonna in Tyrrenhus. According to sources in the civil service, the SVS expressed their “immense desire” to see the Tribunes honour their campaign promise to “restore traditional values to Etruria.” The group explained that they saw the roll back of early terminations as being the core of that promise. Povaio, one source said agreed, saying, “many in the government and the movement at large wish to see the same rollbacked.” After a further hour of discussion, Secretary Povaio agreed to arrange a meeting between the SVS and President Francesco Carcaterra.

The meeting between the SVS and the President took place two weeks later at the Castello di San Gennaro, the mighty citadel overlooking Solaria and the secondary residence for the Presidency. The President was joined by Vice President Vittoria Vasari, Interior Minister Tullio Quagliariello and Foreign Minister Gianfranco Galizia and President of the State Council, Ettore Mantovano. This meeting according to government sources was “more a love in than a serious discussion.” The SVS reportedly pressured the government to rollback early terminations, as well as efforts to confront the LQGB+ movement. The President agreed “we are the party of tradition and we’ve done much to prove that.” The government side reminded the SVS that all those in the room had held pro-life positions their entire careers, including Vice President Vasari, who had long argued for rollbacks to be supported by massive investments and reforms into adoption services. Ultimately, the President and his colleagues agreed to begin efforts to rollback early terminations, with the SVS promising both support for that effort and the Movement in general.

The SVS has enjoyed a close relationship with the Tribunes well before the meetings with Carcaterra. Cardinal Vittore Amadeo de Frixaturo, the Archbishop of Povelia has a close relation with the Tribune President of the Dogado, Pietro da Verardo, as well as the President of Roviga, Aurelio Cesare Muxe. Cardinal Dettori is also known to enjoy close ties with the Tyrrenhian state President, Emiliano Solariano.

The San Viatore Six’s reputation in the Church is one of fervent conservatism, traditionalism and theses widely distributed across Etruria. According to a Church source, the SVS is known to operate under the theory known as “Moral Guidance”, in which the Church has a role to assist guide the governments of majority Catholic countries. In a thesis authored by the six, they wrote, “where Catholicism sits as the majority in a nation, the Church has a natural role by consequence, to provide the moral and virtuous assistance and guidance to governments. We need not enter the political, but only advise on the social.” The SVS is known to be ardent opponents to secularism and progressivism, both in lay terms and in the Church. They have described secularism as the “path to moral decay and the foundations of the “culture of death”, while also describing Eastern Euclea as the “civilisation of the dead” and the “beating heart of the industry of death” – the latter being the term to describe abortions.

Their resistance to Pope Joseph is not rooted in racism, which is regularly accused of being the root cause of the Tribunes’ dismissal of the Pontiff, but an entrenched view of Euclean supremacy within the Church, according to a Tiberunium source. The SVS believe, “that the Euclean Church and its bishops have a greater right to serve as the successor to Saint Peter, than non-Eucleans. These men believe this by virtue that Euclea has produced virtually every single Pope since the Church’s founding. This means that Euclean clergymen have a greater understand of Church governance and tradition, race does not even come into it.”

The writing of the Act and Constitutional Amendment

Work on the National Family Protection Act didn’t begin until late 2018, with the government establishing a small and select group of Tribune Senators, civil servants and representatives of the SVS. The group dubbed “the Family” (La Famiglia) were strictly told to keep their work secret – according to government sources, the Tribunes were keen to keep the bill secret until such time it felt it had the political capital and support to table it. The SVS, were swift to provide the services of the National Institute for Judicial Research, a law office well respected for its constitutional and legislative knowledge.

Our investigation found that the making of the Act saw numerous interventions by both the SVS and members of the President’s inner-circle. Vice President Vittoria Vasari for her part, was successful in seeing her desire for adoption reform and investment added to the Act, while the SVS succeeded in including the infamous constitutional amendment that extends the right-to-life to unborn persons. The Vice President’s intervention is most interesting, as according to our sources, she was “very mixed on the whole issue, though she is pro-life, she was very stubborn in securing exceptions and the boost to adoption.”

Between January and March 2019, the “Family” was gripped in fierce debate over whether the law would provide certain exceptions. The SVS wanted as few as possible, to ensure that it was compatible with Church social teaching. However, both President Carcaterra and Vice President Vasari were wary of the law becoming too draconian. Their opposition was in part driven by their innate natalist positions, which valued healthy mothers, as well as their shared belief that the government could play a key role in ensuring Etrurian women could secure careers as well as have children. In late March, the Family was expanded to include the Federal Minister for Health and Social Services, Lucca Cancellieri, his addition brought with it further support for legal exceptions. Cancellieri especially wanted exceptions made for mother’s who being brought to term would cause serious if not fatal consequences for her and child. This was followed by exceptions added should the child suffer from serious health issues or deformities. However, the Vice President’s push for exceptions if the child was conceived through rape or incest faced resistance from the SVS, who argued that “even illegitimate children deserve to live life in love of the Lord.” Vice President Vasari continued to push for those exceptions, even persuading President Carcaterra to withdraw the Act entirely if it wasn’t included.

An emergency meeting was held on April 19 between the President’s inner circle and the SVS, with the latter warning that any pulling of the Act would result in their relationship with the Tribunes “blowing up.” Facing the loss of such influential backers, the President was forced to concede ground on the “Vasari amendment”, in which for the exception to be valid, the mother would need to prove the child was born conceived through incest or rape, to do so would require blood samples for DNA tests or criminal convictions for the offender. It doesn’t take a genius to work out no offender would voluntarily prove their guilt by providing DNA, forcing the latter to be the only route. And such cases take time enough that by the time the exception could be validated, the mother would have given birth to the child. Vice President Vasari was “furious beyond words” said one source, “she came within inches of resigning” said another, only for the SVS to offer her adoption amendments guarantees of Church support both in funding and providing administrative support.

Vasari, a source told us, “took the promise of support for her adoption amendments with great reluctance, but her final agreement to the bill was secured following a lengthy meeting with the President. Once she agreed, the Act was complete.”

Despite the bill being completed, the SVS had one more request, they wanted the constitution to be amended to extend the right-to-life to “unborn persons.” They argued that the amendment would confirm Etruria as a “Sotirian and virtuous country”, while Interior Minister Quagliariello argued that such an amendment would effectively make it impossible for any future non-Tribune government to repeal the NFPA. A source close to the Family said, “the Interior Minister was pretty clear, he explained to the group that no future government will likely gain the seats or support the Tribunes enjoy, therefore the amendment could only be rolled back by referendum which is unlikely to pass because of the popular support for pro-life positions by Etrurians.” President Carcaterra immediately agreed to the suggestion on the basis that it would be a “symbolic gesture of the Tribunes’ virtues and position.”

By September 2019, the bill and the constitutional amendment were written and the legislative process began. President Carcaterra informed the rest of the Federal Cabinet of the plan, which received all-round support. He told cabinet ministers, “now we are going to prove that Etruria is the country of Sotirian values and traditions. We are going to celebrate and protect the natural family and put back at the centre of Etrurian society, the family. We can guarantee ourselves as the bastion of Euclean civilisation even as the madness that is progressivism grips the rest of the continent.” The cabinet agreed to his timetable, of putting the bill before the Senate following the Christmas recess but before the 2020 budget, which by then had been mostly written, to include the major handouts to working- and middle-class families. The Cabinet agreed that any opposition and fury would be buried by the biggest social-focused budget in history. And so, the Federal Cabinet voted unanimously in favour of the NFPA and its constitutional amendment, and the rest is as they say, history.

The future of the Tribunes and San Viatore Six

Even as millions of Etrurian women shudder at the loss of control over their bodies, the dangers and consequence of the SVS-Tribune alliance is only beginning to emerge. The alliance has proven durable and highly effective, and gives light to what the future may hold.

The Tribunes’ social conservative foundations have given way to more extreme measures, it’s religious-right foundation is now pushing for greater Church involvement in politics and society. More importantly, they are wrapping its pro-Church identity around its anti-LQGB+ agenda. There are sources in the civil service indicating that the SVS and the Tribunes are working on constitutional amendments confirming marriage as between a man and woman, effectively blocking any state or federal level effort to improve same-sex marital rights. The Tribunes apparently seek to restrict same-sex couples to civil unions, while the right-wing of the party wants civil unions abolished and demoted to unregistered cohabitation. The SVS is also pushing for the denial of sex reassignment operations in Etruria, while the Tribunes have made clear that transgender identity will be removed from the next census in 2026.

The above presents a clear danger to progressive ideals in Etruria and the decades-long effort by Etruria to become more open and tolerant. But more insidiously it presents the danger of a return to when Church officials held such unaccountable sway in government, that the very process of government becomes shadowy and secretive. It also gives extra fuel to the Tribunes’ religiosity and their pursuit of “virtuous Etruria.” We will be seeing a more draconian, authoritarian and religious Tribune government and that poses a threat to not only our democracy, which has suffered severe damage under the Tribunes, but also threats to our tolerance and friendliness which is world renowned. Those who yearn for a Euclean, open and tolerant Etruria must stand up and do more to confront the Tribunes’ politics of hate, otherwise that Etruria will never be possible.

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by **Union of Akoren** » Thu Apr 23, 2020 3:33 pm

BREAKING Irvadistan declares state of emergency as over 1 million Tsabarans seek refuge
^{AHMAD HAMADI, IRVADISTAN CORRESPONDENT}
^{Jomeh: 5. Ordibehesht 1399 |Qufeira}

The new ramshakled camp at Zinjar, northern Irvadistan[/i]

The Irvadi Union Republic has declared a state of emergency following a surge in the number of Tsabaran refugees seeking safety in northern Zorasan. As of yesterday, roughly 1,220,593 Tsabarans had entered Zorasan, many of whom have been given shelter in two large camps near Assan. The Union-Government has accepted the declaration is “preparing more resources” to assist. The declaration comes as the first few thousand refugees begin crossing the Solarian Sea for safety in Euclea.

The First Minister of the Irvadi UR, Haydar Al-Assani made the declaration during an emergency session of the Irvadi state legislature.

He told members, “it is now without question a crisis we now find ourselves in. We are being overwhelmed by those in need, our facilities are reached maximum capacity and we are in dire need of more resources, space and supplies. I am officially declaring a state of emergency, in the aim of securing Union-Government support.”

The First Minister explained to law makers, “our four main camps, where shelter is provided by air-conditioned containers have all been filled, we are now relying on less than satisfactory camps to house these poor people. These camps cannot sustain the numbers currently seen, nor can they sustain those people in good health or protection.”

Over 600,000 people have sought refuge in northern Zorasan since the beginning of the month, a vast majority of them being children, women and the elderly. Though, the number of men has risen exponentially, with some claiming to be escaping mass conscription by the rebel forces led by Sheik Faizan Salah. An overwhelming majority of those fleeing to Zorasan are from the central province of Bedjene, which is currently besieged by government forces with Euclean assistance.

The Union-Government has confirmed the declaration in Irvadistan, with a swift online statement reading, “we can confirm that the Union-Government has accepted the state of emergency declaration in Irvadistan. As such, the supreme leadership is meeting to discuss the necessary responses.”

The Ajad and Khazestan URs have both announced the construction of camps to assist Irvadistan.

First Minister of Khazestan, Zakir Al-Jabrani, was pictured visiting a newly constructed camp outside Hejjnah, which can house 35,000 people. A second camp is being constructed 15 miles away near the village of Beit Samad, which can house 60,000 people.

In a social media post, Ajad’s Sameena Shahabi announced a camp for 80,000 people is being constructed north of Qasr Ali, but has warned that Ajad’s small size may limit how many it can house.

The Western and Southern URs have announced further plans to distribute resources and funding to Irvadistan to assist in the effort to house as many as possible.

The refugee crisis is the result of the vicious and bloodthirsty war unleashed by “interim” president of Tsabaran, Nazim al-Qutayni. An estimated 88,000 people have died since January in a conflict between the Euclean backed regime and rebels led by Sheik Faizan Salah, that seeks to overthrow the Al-Qutayni government to preserve “Irfanic-Badawiyan Rights” and to create a more “equal and just Tsabara.”

©SABRP. 2020

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by **Xiaodong** » Thu Apr 23, 2020 4:46 pm

Protests as Reichstag approaches Tuaisceart-Süd pipeline vote
Vote aims to bypass the Northern Forum and proceed bilaterally with Caldia

Karin Kiesewetter
24 April 2020 | Westbrücken, Werania[/sup]

Protesters in Wiesstadt.
Photo courtesy of AV photos.

WESTBRÜCKEN, WERANIA - Protests led by environmentalist groups have broken out across Werania today as the government has announced it will put the Tuaisceart-Süd pipeline to a vote in the Reichstag over approving the legal means to proceed with the project without the involvement of the Northern Forum after opposition to the project from the Azmaran and Ordennian governments.

"The Tuaisceart-Süd pipeline will guarantee Euclean energy security, boost economic growth and create new jobs. Its a win-win for Euclea and Werania in particular, especially in light of growing instability on the global oil market" said Minister of Energy and the Environment Martin Stammberger.

"We fundamentally disagree with the environmental concerns brought up by the Azmaran and Ordennian governments who have overstated both the current status of the climate and the impact this pipeline will have. That is why we are proposing to the Reichstag to approve the project irrespective of the decision by the Northern Forum to ensure the Tuaisceart-Süd pipeline can go ahead unencumbered."

The government has stated that after talks with the Caldish government that the project will go ahead regardless of the decision of the Northern Forum, but that new legislation is needed to "fast-track" the process through the Reichstag.

The proposal is likely to easily pass through the Reichstag - the governing coalition of the NKP and the Democratic Alternative are both supportive of the pipeline as are the Social Democratic Radicals and Modern Centre party, both of whom originally approved the project whilst serving in government from 2011-2019.

"The initial proposal for the pipeline we agreed to were done with the knowledge that it will bring no great harm to the environment" SRPO leader Luise Höcherl stated today. "Given the Chancellor brought up the alternative of fracking whilst in opposition, we know that not supporting the Tuaisceart-Süd pipeline will result in the government embracing that instead which is far worse in environmental terms."

Nevertheless opposition has been fierce amongst environmental groups who question the pipeline's effect on the environment, its economic benefits and continued reliance on fossil fuels.

"Its clear this pipeline is mainly as a result of the Caldish government caving to the oil industry to prop it up" Green co-leader Josef Kirui said in an interview. "If as the government says there is a possibility of Werania losing access to fossil fuels as a result of instability of Tsabara then we should use this as a prime opportunity to expand our fossil fuel industry rather then rely on the failed methods of the past".

The environmental group Aktion Jetzt! has stated at least 10,000 protesters are protesting in major cities like Wiesstadt, Westbrücken, Kotzenberg and Ostdorf and that it is planning to have "over 100,000 people" protest on the day of the vote. Polls show that 40% of Weranians oppose the pipeline compared to 36% who support it and 24% who have no opinion.

Aktion Jetzt! has stated that they hope politicians realise that "outside the Reichstag there's a lot of opposition to this proposal and that the government seriously take into account the environmental case against this pipeline. Failing to do so will be undemocratic and condemning future generations to more of the same failed climate policy which is harming our planet".

by **Ostry** » Thu Apr 23, 2020 5:36 pm

President Coquelin faces fierce opposition to agricultural subsidy reform
Planned subsidy cut might not pass Chamber of Deputies, despite CNB majority
Éloi Lavasseur | 23 April 2020

President Coquelin may face severe backlash from his rural base over his controversial
plan to cut agricultural subsidies in favour of tourism funding.

Port-Anne — President Moïse Coquelin’s plan to cut up to 12 million ducats to existing agricultural subsidies, first created in 1964, in order to fund a further expansion to the tourist industry may not pass the Chamber of Deputies, after Speaker Lou Mignard stated that he wanted the vote to be “one of conscience”, allowing rural deputies of the Baptistois National Congress to vote against the package that they have called as “disastrous” for rural Baptistois and farmers alike, according to Mignard.

The cut, called by Coquelin as “a necessary change” needed to modernize Saint-Baptiste’s growing tourism industry, would see between 8 and 12 million ducats cut from 2021’s subsidy package and instead placed in the President’s own “Saint-Baptiste en mouvement” (SBEM) program, operated by Tourism and Sports Minister Georges Baugé. The SBEM program, initially announced in 2017 during Coquelin’s election campaign and officially founded in 2019, has the stated mission of pumping around 30 million ducats into the Baptistois tourism industry, including the subsidizing of a new luxury resort outside of Port-Royale.

President Coquelin has been adamant about the subsidy cut, and says that farmers will still receive a significant amount of funds in next year’s budget in order to maintain the mass-production of coffee and sugar that Saint-Baptiste still exports in large numbers, and that the agriculture industry is still at the heart of his administration. Despite this, rural members of the CNB, alongside almost the entirety of the opposition, save some support from the Unity party on parts of the legislation, have vocally denounced the proposed cuts, with many stating that they plan to vote against the cut.

by **The Ik Ka Ek Akai** » Thu Apr 23, 2020 6:23 pm

A CALL FOR COMPASSION
In a quaint video, Grand Princess Avani Adhikari asks Euclea for proper behavior in times of crisis

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Anupa Basnet ( @MKFlopot )
23 04 2020 11:30 AM | Pushkarma, Phula

The Adhikari delivers a message in a private video during transit

PUSHKARMA, PHULA - Released on a personal account yesterday, the Adhikari has spoken in a very intimate fashion in a video addressed predominantly to the people of Euclea, and to their leaders. Her Eminent Serenity delivered the address while in transit, returning from a visit to rural Daksina to bless rice crops and visit the ill in a hospital. This trip, she explained, was one of "Compassion, to lead by demonstration, and to instill good faith and good feelings in the common people." The visit was organized when a collection of farmers from the community of Mikshasa requested a personal blessing after an underperformance the previous year. The visit was combined with a visit to the Temple of Mikshasa, one of the holiest sites of Jyoho and Phuli Satyism alike.

Avani explained as much in her video. She is quoted as saying, "I am currently on my way back from a pilgrimage and a blessing of health on fields and people. When the community of Mikshasa asked of me to give them my blessings, to come and see them and to help them with their problems, I obliged. It is my duty to help those who are in need, and to teach others how to be moral and righteous by example." As she holds the camera, the plane she is in becomes visible, and we see people in the background moving and preparing for takeoff. The seat does not appear luxurious, which many followers have praised as a sign of her humility. As this was a visit in her duty as the Adhikari, and not a state visit, the laws of Satyism prescribe that she conduct herself like a nun. In the right circumstances, she might not have even taken a plane, but this was a highly informal trip despite its ritual significance.

Avani continues her talk, saying "I came for the people who needed me, and I gave them what they asked for and hoped the best that their situation might improve. I took my time to not just say things, but to go out, to do things to try to improve their situation. I took action for the people who asked it of me. I would like to ask that the people of Euclea do the same in the coming months. The situation in Tsabara is getting worse, and many people are fleeing. Euclea will be the biggest target for them."

The crisis in Tsabara has been escalating for some time, and waves of refugees have already found their way to Euclean ships and shores. Many circles are asking how Euclea will handle the influx of asylum seekers, and the feasibility of handling the crisis at all. Some hawks call for a direct intervention to stop the population spill, while others claim that the best course of action is to simply sit on their hands and let it resolve itself - after all, such interventions rarely go over well. The Adhikari lets it be known that she believes that Euclea can handle the influx, but warns "It will not be easy, it will not be clean. It will be hard, and messy, for everyone. But that doesn't mean it's okay to ignore it. A mess stays a mess until it is cleaned."

Avani continues, "If the common Euclean, the average person, show these people their charity and kindness. That they do not sit, but take action to help the people who have lost everything. I also ask the leaders of Euclea to do this, to accept them, to welcome refugees into your borders and give them hope where they have lost their own. In our stories, it was the poorest nomad who showed Adripathi enlightenment, and in yours it was a lowborn who was the son of God - see in these refugees what you value in your saviors and know the worth of good actions. If you stand strong when things become rough, and lend a hand to those who need it, then you will have committed to the greatest of virtues and will find there is nothing you cannot weather."

After this, a ding can be heard as the plane signals that it is ready for takeoff. The camera is quickly cut, and the video ends. Avani returned safely to Pushkarma later that day, and the world was left with her message. Prime Minister Kujang Itcham, himself a monk of Orthoprax Satyism, spoke well of the message, claiming that it was "Just what should be heard from an Adhikari", and that it "Sets a good legacy for Avani's reign still in its infancy." He also praised the informal and intimate approach, saying that it "Makes her seem approachable, like the Adhikari used to be long ago."

The future of the refugee crisis is still unknown. It might worsen in time, as the Adhikari seems to believe it will. It could also stabilize, as surely many Eucleans are hoping it will. None are certain, in Tsabara or elsewhere, how the situation will develop. We can only hope, then, that the world will heed the Adhikari's advice and show compassion to those who are truly in need.

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by **Nuvania** » Thu Apr 23, 2020 6:54 pm

Former Chief Minister Robert Marten Makes Case In Court

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Alison van Molynecke (@AVMolynecke)
24 April (1:00pm)|PIETERSBURG

Former Chief Minister Robert Marten and a team of lawyers have outlined their case for a recall of the vote that resulted in the first successful vote of no confidence in Nuvania's history, just over a week after the event occurred. The case, which is being held in the Administrative Court in the Pietersburg Central Court, is the first of its kind in the country, and the results of which will likely set precedents for future decisions for decades to come.

Both parties will make cases for hearing or dismissing the case presented before the court, with the panel of three judges to hear both cases and make a decision on whether or not to go forwards or reject the case.

The chief lawyer representing Robert Marten, Heino Tjaart, said that the case in favour of a trial was strong. He said that there were "clear indications that the vote was not as impartial or fair as has been presented in the media."
"There are a large number of discrepancies," he said. "These discrepancies have allowed a severe injustice to be inflicted upon my client, which has caused significant stress and tarnished his reputation as a politician and as a citizen of this Free State." Tjaart said that these discrepancies would be laid bare, and that the public would be faced with the "systematic corruption within the political opposition in Nuvania."

Among the allegations made against the Democratic Action Party (DAP), include alleged payments of upwards of ₲400,000 ($21,000) to members of the Sotirian Democratic Party (SDP) to influence their votes before the vote of no confidence was held. Tjaart said that they had evidence of bribery regarding these payments, and that they were connected to the DAP. In addition, Tjaart also accused various DAP MP's of bullying and intimidation in the leadup to the non-confidence vote, as well as other illegal activities. These allegations included funnelling funds through the embattled Bank of the Orient, which is currently under investigation in Nuxica for facilitating money laundering.

Former Chief Minister Robert Marten encouraged the judges to approve the request for a trial, stating that he non-confidence vote had caused "significant stress and grief to myself and my family."
"I have done nothing wrong," he said. "My actions as Chief Minister did not bring Nuvania's reputation into disrepute, my actions did not result in the loss of confidence in this government. What I have been subjected to is a sustained campaign of slander and underhanded corrupt tactics that has undermined public confidence in our government institutions."

Timothy Hooker, the lawyer representing the DAP and the Leader of the Opposition, Andrew Bohn, said that the allegations made against the party and against the opposition leader were "ridiculous", and that the vote was conducted legally and in accordance with parliamentary protocols.
"I fully believe that the DAP and the Leader of the Opposition have acted transparently, honestly, and without disdain for the protocols and rules that are in place in our Parliament," he said. "These allegations are nothing more than an attempt to publicly slander the party, its members, and its leader."

Leader of the Opposition Andrew Bohn was unable to attend the trial as he was attending a session of Parliament, the first after the new interim government was formed. He said that the allegations were "baseless" and said that it was "typical dirty tactics from the NVP".
"I'm not surprised at all about what has been alleged," he said. "They know that they do not have a case, so they flail about trying to drag down the opposition with them and undermine public confidence in the political system. It is insidious and it is wrong."

Chief Minister Joesoef van Lingen, who was also present at Parliament, declined to comment on the hearing, stating that it was "for the courts to decide".

The decision on whether or not to move to trial will be made on April 29.

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Emessan President calls for solidarity in response to refugee crisis
Alkmaar CEO Frans de Jongh arrested in Sanslumière, to be extradited next week

by **Slirnija** » Thu Apr 23, 2020 8:10 pm

by **Lemovicia** » Thu Apr 23, 2020 11:24 pm

LEMOVICIA TO TAKE FIVE THOUSAND REFUGEES
Prime Minister Sergiusz Galecki says that "Lemovicia knows the pain facing Tsabara."

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ZIRO ZABALEGUIA (@ZiroZaba)
24 APRIL, 2020 05:23 CET | TOPAGUNEA, SOUTH BIDEGURUTZEAN

Prime Minister Sergiusz Galecki

Following the plea by the Emessan government for solidarity as Tsabaran refugees begin arriving on its shores, and following the declaration of a state of emergency in Irvadistan, Lemovician Prime Minister Sergiusz Galecki announced to the world that the State of Lemovicia will offer to accept five thousand refugees.

At a press conference, Galecki said that "for twelve years, we experienced the same pain that Tsabara is now facing: we experienced how neighbours turned against each other, how extremism crippled our society, our economy, and many of us fled to neighbouring states, if not further, to escape the horrors of war."

"While some of them were not as willing to take us in, many were willing, and now, as we are seeing a new refugee crisis, we have an obligation to pay our fellow Euclean brothers and sisters back for protecting those who fled to escape the horrors of war. To this end, after having consulted with the executives in the Miersan and Lemovician entity, and with the Presidency, I have decided that the State of Lemovicia will resettle five thousand Tsabaran refugees in its borders."

"Although we are a tiny and landlocked nation, all people here, Lemovician, Miersan, and many more, are more than happy to welcome you into our family," Galecki declared, "more than happy to ensure that you will be safe here, and that you may enjoy a peaceful life that you have longed for since the war began."

More as the story develops.

Comments [ 13,669 ] |

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by **Xiaodong** » Fri Apr 24, 2020 7:16 am

OPINION - A HOUSE DIVIDED
The coalition's 2020 budget is tempered by divisions over its direction
Adelar Buchardt
24 April 2020 | Wiesstadt, Werania

Chancellor Otto von Hösslin at a press conference in March 2020.
Photo courtesy of AV photos

AS the governing coalition approaches the 2020 spring budget, it should be a breezy affair. The government holds a solid majority in the Volkstag, is polling well and was elected on a clear platform of tax cuts, deregulation and boosting spending. It sits on a surplus that it has carefully managed since coming to power last June and is operating in optimal global conditions with Werania's service and export-orientated economy performing well.

But all is not well at the Palais Beinhoff. The divisions - between the deficit hawks on the one hand and the big spenders on the other - have increasingly become acrimonious.

The Minister of Finance, Wolfgang Kanther, is pushing hard for a conventional pro-business budget - slashing taxes, cutting public spending and boosting the economy through increased focus on exports and privatising public projects. In this endeavour he is supported by foreign minister Käthe Schickdanze and most of the Democratic Alternative party as well as centre-right ministers in the government such as Defence Minister Ulrich Furler and Justice Minister Andrea Däubler.

Whilst agreeing that boosting exports and privatising state-owned enterprises - reportedly, the government is aiming to partially privatise the transportation services and the postal system - will increase economic growth the Economy Minister Alexander Oberländer has instead argued that the state should increase spending on welfare programmes - particularly those regarding family allowance - in order to boost domestic consumption. "By adopting a dual policy of increasing consumption of Weranian business both abroad and domestically we can get growth to a rate around 4-5% rather then the 2% we're currently tracking"

"There's no point being cautious when we can be ambitious and really attempt to expand the economy by boosting growth and creating new jobs".

Oberländer's optimistic policy is embraced by a large amount of those within the governing party, noticeably the powerful Home Affairs Minister Jörg Bullmann. Bullmann has previously said that if Werania concentrates on an expansion of economic growth it can afford both taxes cuts and spending rises, calling deficit hawks in the coalition "pessimists who doubt the potential of the Weranic people and our economy".

The kind of policies advocated by the "big spenders" were seen in last October's Budget when the government rolled out the Family First Initiative, which gives tax-free benefits to families if they have more children, a measure designed to increase family size. Bullmann has also written in favour of rent controls for new married couples and large families as well as large scale investments into infrastructure as well as restricting Sunday trading, the latter proposal being especially controversial from the NKP's pro-business wing.

Chancellor von Hösslin has attempted to straddle the two camps. Although he is supportive of the big spenders focus on generous welfare programmes for families and infrastructure investment, he is also aware that at this stage in his government it is most politically expedient to hold off at welfare payments. The mid-term Herrstag elections are over a year away and the next federal election three, meaning this year the government can afford to lose some support over spending cuts as they do not need to worry about going to the polls for a while. Painful measures to keep budget deficits under control will be forgotten when the coalition goes for re-election if enacted sooner rather then later.

But von Hösslin needs to keep the right on side. Contrary to the howls of functionalism the left scream at the government in the 10 months von Hösslin has served as Chancellor he has governed more-or-less as a conventional conservative, with his laid-back approach to governance worrying those around Bullmann who demand a more activist government. If von Hösslin lets the old conservative forces dictate this budget this is surely increase pressure on him by the right-wing of his party.

Either way the government's budget is going to lead to new prosperity. Large scale tax cuts will unleash a wave of entrepreneurship whilst deregulation will confine old bureaucratic diktats to the dustbin of history. The incompetent socialism of the state-owned transport systems are crying out for the efficiency and dynamism of the private sector, so including more private involvement in them or selling them off completely will both ensure these services are profitable as well as improve the experience for consumers. Its how the government will navigate to that point that remains to be seen.

Written by Adelar Buchardt, our Economics Correspondent and former adviser to Chancellor Dietrich Wittmann.

by **Lefkosea** » Fri Apr 24, 2020 1:45 pm

POLLS SET TO OPEN IN OVAJO ELECTION
APLO National officials urge unity as Regional parties compete against each other.

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Filipe Tavares (@TavaresFilipe )
^{24 APRIL 2020 23:40 | GOUVEIA, ZARALAJA}

Governor Túlio Cunha (AS) set for tight race with Separatists
Photo courtesy of Erasmo Alcantara.

Gouveia, Ovajo -
6 Years ago today Túlio Cunha, a congressman from rural Ovajo became Governor of the Zaralaja's largest state. His election victory was the first in the state by any main party since 1986. The victory also coincided with Rosario Aparicio's election as Prime Minister and the AS' move to the far-left. Throughout his tenure, Cunha's promises of increased Government spending and more funding towards Education and Healthcare fell through and the party is now polling in third place behind the separatist PNPO and the right-wing PLO.

The election is set to decide the State's legislature and the Governorship. Municipal seats are also up for grabs in the largest election in the state's history since 1980.

The PNPO and other separatist parties are promising a referendum on Ovajan independence. Already the Government has said any such referendum must be negotiated with the Federal government and passed by Congress, the Social Catholic Union, the PLV, the GUC and the PSD have all said they will vote aainst or abstain on any vote on a referendum.

The PLO, the PLV's regional counterpart have promised they will not support a referendum. The Party's rise in Ovajo is helped by the party's charismatic state leader Xande Medeiros who has promised tax cuts, increased funding for Iustian language schools and generous Student debt policies which has swayed much of the younger demographic into supporting the party. It's main campaign issues also include increased funding towards the state healthcare system, tax cuts for married parents, free school buses and school meals and tax cuts for investors and those who start businesses in the state.

Born to farmers in Southern Ovajo, the 36 year old Medeiros has attracted millennial voters who helped Cunha into power. At his rallies a large part of the supporters are those in their 20s and 30s who would once have been left voters. One Medeiros supporter, 32 year old Single mother of two Julinha Carreira said. "Pro-referendum parties only care about a referendum. Unemployment and crime have skyrocketed since 2000 and the other parties don't care about our struggle to provide a good future for our kids."

Medeiros' populist campaign has sent shockwaves through Montes' political society. The PM who joined Cunha on the campaign trail at a rally in Medeiros' hometown is reportedly preparing for negotiations on a referendum or Medeiros storming to victory on the 25th, potentially endangering her re-election hopes in January.

Today APLO officials urged Pro-referendum voters to vote for the candidate who has the best chance of winning in your area to ensure a pro-referendum result. APLO member parties have been the subject of much debate in their decision to run against each other, potentially risking a PLO or other party victory. APLO's largest member party, PSRO have said they will not stand candidates in the state election to help other separatist parties. PSRO's leader Ciríaco Guerra explained the choice as a matter between 'a Favourable outcome or Neo-functionalists sweeping into power'. Guerra was Cunha's main rival in the 2014 Election and gained 33% of the vote compared to Cunha's 35%, the result of that election was also put down to separatist infighting.

The live coverage of the result will happen from when the polls close at 10PM tomorrow.

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by **The Kingdom of Glitter** » Fri Apr 24, 2020 7:35 pm

CALDISH GOVERNMENT PLANS TO MOVE AHEAD WITH NEW PIPELINE BILATERALLY
After opposition within the Northern Forum, Mac Suibhne government will circumvent the organization

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Mícheál Mac Innes (@mmigbf)
^{25 April 2020 | Spálgleann, Caldia}

The Tuaisceart-Süd 2.0 pipeline project would significantly increase Caldish exports to Continental Euclea.

SPÁLGLEANN – The Caldish government has initiated the process of moving ahead with the controversial Tuaisceart-Süd 2.0 pipeline project without the Northern Forum. Abandoning previous plans to build the pipeline under the scope of the organization, senior ministers have now confirmed that Caldia will begin preparations to build the pipeline bilaterally with Werania.

"In the interests of securing Euclea's energy independence, Tuaisceart-Süd 2.0 will be constructed" Petroleum Minister Seán Mac Cearbhaill announced this morning. "This is a critical infrastructure project for the Euclean Community, and the Caldish government remains committed to [Tuaisceart-Süd 2.0]".

Plans for the pipeline to be supported by the Northern Forum have been abandoned by Taoiseach Stiofán Mac Suibhne following opposition to the project. Vocal opposition from the Azmaran and Ordennian governments have seemingly caused the taoiseach to change course, instead opting to complete the project bilaterally. Mr. Mac Suibhne had hoped to win the backing of the Northern Forum, which approved and contributed to the construction of the existing Tuaisceart-Süd pipeline.

Concerns over climate change and the environment scuttled Mr. Mac Suibhne's plans after it became clear the Ordennian government would block the project. The Caldish government has not yet commented on international opposition to the pipeline.

Siobhan Fitzwarren, the Minister of International Investment and Cooperation, said the details were still being finalized between the Caldish and Weranic governments. "Talks will continue and plans will be finalized in the coming months" Fitzwarren said.

The proposed pipeline is planned to run from the industrial town of Lacagh, located outside of Shanbally, through the North Sea to Werania. It would run parallel to the existing Tuaisceart-Süd pipeline (North-South) which connects Screeb, located north of Shanbally, to Werania. Talks of a second pipeline have been in the works for years, first starting under ex-Taoiseach Alexis Walker. The project stalled but picked up steam again in 2019 following the victory of Mr. Mac Suibhne's Social Democratic Party.

"Necessarily legislation is being drafted" Ms. Fitzwarren confirmed. The Caldish government is preparing to clear any legal obstacles to completing the project bilaterally. In addition, plans to allocate state funding for the project are also being drafted.

The Caldish and Weranic governments will now push ahead and prepare despite political opposition in both countries. In Caldia, climate activists accuse the Mac Suibhne' government of failing to sufficiently address the climate crisis. In addition to the Tuaisceart-Süd 2.0 project, the PSD has been criticized for its support for the petroleum industry and its failure to back taxes on major carbon emitters. In Werania, protests were held throughout the country yesterday and today in opposition to the project. The Green parties in both countries have vocally opposed the project, which generally has political backing across the ideological spectrum.

Plans to push ahead with the project bilaterally are likely to invoke criticism internationally. The Ordennian government has been vocal in its opposition to the project and the Euclean Community is attempting to formulate its response to the climate crisis and the Gaullican government is test-driving its 'Green Fair Deal'.

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by **Nuvania** » Fri Apr 24, 2020 9:33 pm

Opinion: Who Is Joesoef van Lingen?

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Aaron Clarke (@AaronClarke)
25 April (3:00pm)|PIETERSBURG

Joesoef van Lingen has a lot to deal with as interim Chief Minister.

In light of the recent motion of no confidence in Parliament and the dismissal of Robert Marten and his cabinet, a new face has emerged as the face of Nuvanian politics here and overseas: Joesoef van Lingen.

To many Nuvanians he has been the quiet, well spoken, and calm deputy to Chief Minister Robert Marten that, up until yesterday, had been determining the future of Nuvania, and to some extent, the Asterian Forum for Development and Cooperation (AFDC). But where Marten was bombastic and prone to political gaffes and missteps, van Lingen has been the silent enforcer of government policy, a man whose first impressions might not inspire much, but one who has extensive history and knowledge of Nuvanian and international politics, and in many cases is a shrewd, calculated politician who has exploited many an opportunity to advance his career to become the leader of a caretaker, and potentially, secured government after September.

To many of our international readers, the name Joesoef van Lingen is virtually unknown. A politician that up until very recently did not feature on the radars of anyone but those who keep an active interest in Nuvanian domestic politics. This piece will hopefully bring clarity to this man who by all means is the quiet giant in Nuvanian politics.

Joesoef van Lingen was born in Constantia on January 23, 1956, to a wealthy family that had made their money from cattle ranching, the van Lingen family well known in Veld province as a farming family, their father one of the largest farming mangates in the country at that time. He did not particularly excell in school, but passed with acceptable grades at the end of his high schooling years. He was considered by his teachers to be polite, well behaved, and popular among the students. He had developed a particular interest in economics and how the economy worked through his father's farm, and from an early age developed an opinion that government bureaucracy was hampering the family's business prospects.

At age 18, van Lingen left his job as a green grocer and enrolled at Veld University, also in Constantia, where he obtained a Masters in Political Science, and attended post graduate studies to obtain another Masters in Public Planning. In 1964, van Lingen then moved to Pietersburg to work for the Central Planning Office (CPO), an important organ of the Ministry of the Economy which essentially regulated most aspects of Nuvania's economy, including the system of tariffs and subsidies that guaranteed the existence of Nuvania's manufacturing industry. Van Lingen worked at the CPO until 1983, when it was abolished during the reforms of Chief Minister Johnathan Keaton. By then, van Lingen had risen to the office of Deputy Director General. He had also established beneficial relationships with some key members of the National People's Party (NVP), and after the abolition of the CPO, took up a career in politics.

In 1983, two months after the abolition of the CPO, van Lingen joined the NVP and was quickly accelerated through the party, and given a safe seat in Constantia which he confidently won in the general election three years later. He was reelected again in 1990 and in 1994, and after another success in 1998, he was given the role of Shadow Minister of the Economy, despite lacking any formal education in economics. In 2001 he was advanced up the party list and appointed Shadow Minister of Finance between 2001 and 2004, and again temporarily in 2005. However he lacked the teeth and announced that he would be resigning from the party and government in the 2005 snap election to take up a diplomatic opportunity to become Ambassador to Imagua and the Assimas, which began in 2006 and lasted for four years, before returning to Nuvania in 2010.

While the diplomatic post was considered to be a signal for retirement, van Lingen was asked to return to politics by the NVP before his return to help shore up the party at a time when it was approaching a crisis point. Van Lingen agreed, and returned to the party not only as Deputy Leader of the Opposition under the shadow cabinet of Robert Marten, but also as the Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs. He also established himself as an enforcer within the NVP, often going out of his way to identify potential trouble makers and force them out of their positions before they needed to be sacked. This proved to be a quick turnaround for the party, which won the 2013 general election and formed a coalition government with the Nuvanian Agrarian League (NAB) and the Sotirian Democratic Party (SDP).

Van Lingen lost the foreign affairs portfolio to NAB leader Maarten van Doorne, but retained his deputy role, now becoming Deputy Chief Minister. He also became Associate Minister for Foreign Affairs, and wielded a larger amount of power within the Marten cabinet, often seeing off troublemakers to party stability and handling internal crises away from public eyes. However, he was remarkably quiet in recent events, and people have speculated as to why he failed to reign in his coalition partner. The prevailing theory is preserving government unity at a time when tensions threatened to destroy regional unity.

Now at the head of a caretaker government, van Lingen is tasked with repairing the damage of his predessor's government. It's likely that he will begin a series of diplomatic tours around the Arucian and elsewhere, to ensure that Nuvania's reputation remains intact, and to repair any divisions created. It's likely his first state visit will be made to Belmonte after their elections, in order to make amends for the threats and allegations made during the diplomatic crisis, although van Lingen will undoubtedly be cautious about supporting Castelonovo's diplomatic overtures.

He will also have to act to ensure that the economy does not slide further. Already in a technical recession, the Nuvanian economy needs reviving and investors need reassurance that Nuvanian investments are worthwhile, especially in the country's important mining and manufacturing sectors. If there is one benefit to come from all of this, it's that the euclo and the pound can go further, with the goude surpassing the ₲20/€1 mark earlier this week, sitting at ₲20.56/€1, down from ₲20.62/€1. Investors would need to be encouraged back to Nuvania not only to rebuild confidence in the stock market, but also to be able to curb the slow decline in mining and manufacturing investments.

Van Lingen has a lot on his plate as Nuvania moves towards its first snap election in 15 years, and how he does between now, and when he calls the election, will determine not only whether or not voters have confidence in his ability to lead, or whether or not the NVP has burned voter confidence in the party.

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