Protests in s'Holle and Zilverzee, van Bleiswijk condemns Etrurian "backsliding"
NEWS • An estimated 8,000 took part in solidarity protests in the capital as international condemnation of Povelia's hastened descent into authoritarianism grows
Jurren Maas • 15 May 2021 • s'Holle
Protestors holding placards against Etrurian "LGBT free" zones in s'Holle
Thousands of people have taken part in demonstrations against recent developments in Etruria, including the declaration of so-called "LGBT free" zones in six states.
The largest of these protests was in the capital, s'Holle, where an estimated 8,000 people took part in a rally organised by the Independent Henno-Etrurian Solidarity Centre (OHES) and conjoined demonstrations organised by a number of political parties, including the youth wing of the Socialist Labour Party. Protesters carried both Etrurian and LGBT+ flags and marched from Cornelissen Square to the Etrurian embassy. An estimated 3,000 people took part in a similar protest in Zilverzee, whilst smaller demonstrations also took place in other cities across the country.
The protests come in the wake of a number of crises gripping Etruria. Early Friday, six states constituting half of Etruria's population declared themselves "LGBT free" zones. Later, the Parliament passed a Bill providing for a referendum that would force voters to choose between two significant reforms of the country's political system. Opponents claim that either of these options would turn the Senate into a rubber stamp legislature for the ruling Tribune Movement. Legislation has also been brought forward that would allow the government there to block "misinformation", with a focus on international media outlets.
Since the rise to power of the right-wing Tribune Movement in 2016, Etruria has experienced a level of democratic backsliding unseen in Eastern Euclea for decades. The lightning speed with which recent developments have been undertaken is seen to be a "distraction" from allegations of widespread corruption within the ruling party. On Wednesday, Kesselbourg-based The Continental published a wide-ranging expose detailing the links of senior Tribune figures to Soravian oligarchs.
Among those who took part in the demonstrations were many Etrurian-Hennish activists and protestors. Hennehouwe has one of the largest populations of ethnic Etrurians as a share of the the total population, with approximately 500,000 people (4%) identifying as either Etrurian-born or being of Etrurian descent. The attitudes of most Etrurians in Hennehouwe contrast sharply with those in their homeland: a GAP spot poll for HNO this morning of 877 Etrurian-Hennish showed that 81% believed Etruria was heading in the wrong direction, and that 74% did not approve of the declaration of "LGBT free" zones.
Yesterday, Social Affairs Minister Marko Zaccardi (SAP), himself the son of two Etrurian immigrants, was one of the first politicians in the General Assembly to condemn the "LGBT free" zones, referring to it in the Chamber of Deputies as a "homophobic onslaught". Zaccardi was one of the co-signatories of an open letter calling on the international community to pressure Etrurian authorities to reverse the declarations. The remaining signatures came from the five other Hennish-Etrurian members of Parliament: Deputies Pamela Piccola (SAP), Robert Marjanović (Links) and Nestore Romelli (NVP); as well as Senators Sergio Lanzone (SAP) and Alisa Antolin (VDP).
Earlier this morning, Premier Rupert van Bleiswijk (SAP) released a statement condemning what he saw as "overt democratic backsliding" and an "attempt to subvert civil liberties" in Etruria, and has expressed solidarity with the country's pro-democracy opposition and LGBT+ community. His deputy, the Foreign Affairs Minister Eva Kaestel (VDP), has also openly condemned the Eturian government's actions and has called for a "united, firm rejection" of its pathway by the international community.
Protests are continuing within Etruria itself this afternoon, as both pro- and anti-government rallies erupt spontaneously across the country. There have been reports of street clashes between opposing demonstrations in a number of cities.
SEE ALSO:
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• ETRURIA • Zaccardi tweets condemnation of Etrurian "LGBT free" zones
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