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Where nations come together and discuss matters of varying degrees of importance. [In character]

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West Miersa
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Posts: 60
Founded: Aug 02, 2020
Ex-Nation

Postby West Miersa » Tue Sep 21, 2021 4:11 pm

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Miersan government to use "every arrow in our quiver" against the górale
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View of the front line bisecting through Małomiersa (file photo)


SECHIA, MAŁOMIERSA - On a visit to Sechia, outgoing President Sylwester Wrzesiński and president-elect Adrian Rozak issued a joint statement in response to the decision by the górale "authorities" to annex the górale-occupied Południowy corridor as the eighth "province" of their "state" on 18 September.

The statement read that "the Miersan government will use every arrow in our quiver to defend the territorial integrity of the Miersan nation from Kirenian-backed saboteurs who helped the górale rebel against the government in Żobrodź," and reassured the international community that "the Miersan government is still willing to negotiate in good faith with the górale 'authorities' if they withdraw from the Południowy corridor and return the corridor to the Miersan government in accordance with the Arciluco Agreement."

In an interview with Obserwator, outgoing President Sylwester Wrzesiński said that "we are already beginning to institute a strategy with which to deal with the situation in the Krupiński powiat currently occupied with the górale. We have directed our CN ambassador to introduce a resolution that states that 'the territorial integrity of the Miersan nation' shall be respected, and we are talking with our partners in Samorspi and elsewhere to condemn this provocative act by the górale."

When asked if the Miersan government is planning a military response at this time, President Wrzesiński said that "it will be a decision made by my successor [President-elect Adrian Rozak], and I have full confidence that he knows what will be the best approach for the Miersan nation in resolving this diplomatic crisis [between the Miersan government and the górale]. As of this time, the Miersan government has no intention of needlessly escalating this situation into a Second Great War."

"The ball, however, is in the górale's court," President Wrzesiński declared. "They can either continue down their path of national suicide, or they can negotiate with the Miersan government in good faith. The choice is theirs. But I pray to God that they will make the right choice."

In other news
  • Azmara - Alekssun elected President of Azmara: President Wrzesiński sends his "utmost congratulations"
  • Champania - Champanois government calls for peace between western and eastern voivodeships of the Miersan nation
  • Opinion - Hungry? Chicharron chips displacing chaczapuri on street food stands in Krada
  • Etruria - Tribune candidate calls for women's studies to be held in breeding institutions: can it help boost the Etrurian population?

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Etruria2
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Posts: 625
Founded: Feb 11, 2017
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Postby Etruria2 » Wed Sep 22, 2021 10:30 am

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Casa · Etruria· Mondo · Politica · Economia · Mercati · Cultura · Educazione · Sporta · Analisi · Ricerca


Tribunes release election manifesto


By Ugo Spinelli
18 September 2021 at 11.14 a.m. EST

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President Francesco Carcaterra at the manifesto launch event.

The Tribune Movement in conjunction with the Social Party of the Third Order have released their official election manifesto, detailing their programme for the next five years if returned to government. Among the various promises, include a 35% increase to the Federal Minimum Wage, rent controls in select cities, a freeze on buy to let properties and a major overhaul of immigration laws. At the event, President Francesco Carcaterra said, “this is a programme that see our work on rebuilding the Republic completed and then, instituting actions that deliver real change for every family.”

The President told the packed SolariaCentro Convention Hall, “our work in empowering the Etrurian people and creating a truly equitable Republic must continue, but this we vow, no more will we be distracted from delivering the changes to the lives of patriotic and hardworking families. We will deliver the change we promised to our Republic, but with it, will come to the change needed to unleash the potential of the Etrurian people.”

“We will complete our work in pushing back the Poteri Oscuri, we will continue our work in creating a truly Etrurian Republic. But simultaneously, we will reform the tax system, the economy, labour laws to improve employment, wage growth and job creation. We will reform housing in this country to help the young and future generations and we will overhaul our immigration system to truly ensure that our sovereign nation is in full control of its borders” he said to loud applause.

“With the great wisdom, faith and trust of the Social Party, we will also deliver the change necessary to truly lift up the vulnerable and poorest in ways that will too, unleash their potential. We will leave no patriot behind, as we have delivered victories before, we will continue to deliver victory for the people and victory for Etruria” he said further.

Here are key points:


Taxation:
• Tax reform: work toward establishing a progressive flat tax rate to simplify the federal tax code.
• Families exempt from income tax (reductions to future flat tax) if they have four children
• VAT reduced to 3.5% from current 5.5%.
• Abolishing the right of states to set their own sales taxes.
• Outright abolition of Familial Estate Tax (inheritance)
• 3.5% Increase in property tax for those who own more than two homes
• First-time buyers exempt from Transaction Duty.
• Establishment of a temporary dual-tax code for families and childless couples, with rates aimed at easing the cost of living for those with more than one child.


The Economy
• Introduction of Contract Charters mandating companies that are contracted by government must in exchange promise job creation and wage growth.
• Reforms to labour laws to make it easier to fire and hire.
• €250m cash injection into expansion of night-schools and open universities
• 35% increase to Federal Minimum Wage
• 10-year moratorium on buy to let properties
• New law prohibiting the sale or merger of key industries to foreign companies
• Financial de-regulation
• Select tax credits for companies that sustain annual job growth
• Domestic “Buy Etrurian” campaign aimed at light goods, foodstuffs and alcohol
• Rent freezes in key industrial cities; Solaria, Tyrrenhus, Turania, Accadia and Supertar.
• Establishment of New Development Zones in Tyrrenhus, Solaria and Accadia to facilitate expansion of financial services
• Nationalisation of EtruriaNet, UniVision and ParlarET, to establish TELETRURIA, as a means to provide free or subsidised broadband to low income families and rural regions.
• To launch a CareerLaunch scheme that connects 18-24 year olds to short-term or temporary vacancies, select tax credits for companies or brands that offer long-term training and employment.


LAW AND ORDER AND IMMIGRATION
• Expedited deportation of immigrants who commit any crime having lived in Etruria for a minimum of six months.
• Ban on the Extended Family Clause, enabling entire families to gain residency off one successful application.
• Requirement for residency applicants to be speak advanced-level Vespasian, Novalian and Carinthian.
• 30,000 more police officers
• New laws to tackle violent protests and vandalism.
• Crackdown on extremist left-wing rioters.


JUSTICE AND CONSTITUTION
• Continuation of the “Plebeian Revolution”
• Introduction of retirement age for all judges and justices
• Ensuring the federal judicial system is held accountable to the Senate on ethics, rulings and operations.
• Constitutional amendment proclaiming Etruria a “Catholic Nation” and “Marriage a Sacred Union between Man and Woman.”
• Expanding and simplifying the Recall ability for constituency seats.
• Mandating state-level referendums via law, due to opposition of SD/AC led states.
• Formalising the ability of police to detain suspects for 72-hours without charge.
• New laws to protect Etrurian politics from external propaganda, misinformation and lies.
• New laws prohibiting the financing of political parties from sources outside Etruria.


EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE AND CULTURE
• €10.2 billion increase in education spending over the course of the next five years.
• Major review and overhaul of the curriculum.
• Introduction of annual School Review Meetings, allowing parents a greater say on what their children are taught.
• New laws to protect students from external influences via infiltration.
• Increase Carer Assistance Fund by €30 a week, to ensure at-home carers have the financial security they need.
• Immigrants to be exempt from federal, state and employer health insurance for a period of three years.
• Lowering of the Age Health Insurance Exemption from 80 to 70.
• Introducing bank holidays to celebrate the three patron saints of the Nations.
• Promoting Etrurinitas in television, theatre and music.
• New laws restricting the depiction of sexual behaviour in commercials.


Defence and Foreign Policy
• Upholding Etruria’s support of Tsabara’s government against Zorasani-Shangean aggression.
• Increasing defence spending to 3.1% of GDP by 2026.
• Closer engagement with likeminded nations in Western Euclea, particularly Soravia and West Miersa.
• Fostering Solarian brotherhood between Amathia, Paretia, Etruria and Gaullica.
• Pursuing the long-delayed Free Trade Agreement with Senria.
• Maintaining Good Neighbourliness with the EC.


SOCIETY AND THE FAMILY
• Establishment of a Ecumenical Integration Commission to involve the Church in wider areas of public life.
• Establishment of State-Church bodies to oversee adoption services, family planning and education.
• Increasing paternity leave periods from three weeks to five weeks, with full pay.
• Increase of Famiglia+ payments by 15% by 2026.
• Mandatory display of the national flag and crucifix in every public institution, including schools.
• Commitment to build 150,000 family-sized federal housing units a year.
• End to the conversion of office blocs into homes.
• Public league table of house builders who meet government mandated targets of affordable housing.
• Introduction of Zero interest rate mortgages for families via Banco Nazionale.
• Establishment of a Federal Ministry for Housing, and a €1.5 billion fund to tackle homelessness through construction of “Sanctuary Hostels” in all major cities by 2026. E
• Establishment of the Federal Office for Rehabilitation and Support, which will link charities, the Church and State in aiding for drug users, alcoholics, and other vulnerable people.
• Introduction of Food and Energy Stamps for the elderly to tackle poverty among the aged.
• Establishment of six new National Parks and new laws protecting animals from violence and medical research testing.

The manifesto marks the most dynamic positioning of the party since it was formed in 2012. In 2016 and 2018, the party opted for a more traditional centre-right economic platform, but now in power and eager to confront the structural issues facing Etrurian society socio-economically speaking, it has moved toward bold and decisive action.

The manifesto for 2021 also carries through the Tribune commitment to supporting hardworking families and those who wish to begin them. The platform presented will likely cause apprehension among the SD leadership who have seen the Tribunes take the wind out of their sails, especially with rent freezes and the commitment to raising the federal minimum wage by 35%.

President Carcaterra told supporters, “we will go forward with our platform and champion it to the people of this country. For they deserve a government that empowers them and delivers their aspirations and dreams. We will go forward and secure victory for the people, victory for Etruria.”

The event has already drawn controversy over the Tribune's revealing of the platform two-days before the date they officially stated at the start of the campaign. The SD has cried foul, accusing the governing party of "purposefully lying about the reveal date to undermine the SD's position." The Sotirian People's Force has accused the Tribunes of producing a "hideous platform riddled with pork-barrel lies and false promises, that would surely indebt the nation."

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Saul Volcano
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Posts: 243
Founded: Feb 03, 2021
Ex-Nation

Postby Saul Volcano » Thu Sep 23, 2021 8:28 pm

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Caprichoso's Abortion bill becomes law
After just barely surviving through the Senate of Paretia with no votes from Alt Party, the controversial abortion bill passes, causing protests in various cities
Lluïsa Garrigós (LluisaGargo) | 23 September 2021 | Encerosa


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Clinic in Vallenoche



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Premier Cerqueira and Deputy Premier Selena Caprichoso after vote in Assembleia
Precea, Luzela: The Patron League has made it through it's toughest bill passed since it's government formation last month, the "Social Anti-Murder Abortion Proposal", made by Deputy Premier and LP General Secretariat Selena Caprichoso, has become law after just making it through the two houses of the Senate.

The bill was part of a larger group of "Social Women's Reform Bills", all created by Caprichoso, most of the other bills passed with ease earlier in the month. These including expanding maternity leave, expanding STEM for girls, and raising criminal punishments on sexual assault and domestic abuse. However the abortion bill was not met with kindness from the opposition and some Alt Party members of the O Povo government.

The bill had many parts, the first one being a shut down of 80% of Paretia's publically-funded government abortion clinics, mostly made during the SD's Pires and Santa Maria Premierships. Caprichoso said that these clinics are "horror hospitals". This would leave only a few clinics left, mostly in the major cities of Paretia. The next part of the bill was that in these clinics , that abortion only be used to very specific circumstances. The bill would ban all abortions, except for only allowed life-threatening pregnancies, if it harms the mother or child. For privately owned clinics restrictions also were added to ban most abortions except for rape, incest, or life-threatening pregnancies. Caprichoso said that abortions are "stain on humanity that must be removed, like our party's platform says, such a horrible procedure should only be used in the most horrible of circumstances. Only if it threatens the life of the mother, child, or both should a pregnancy be aborted."

As expected, the bill drew massive criticism from the Social Democrat opposition, calling the bill an "attack on the rights of women" and a "massive and terrible step backward after all the progress for women's bodily autonomy".
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Pro-choice anti-LP protests in Encerosa today
But it also got criticism from other parties, including the Liberals of Paretia, whos leader Nicole Barboza call it a "stain on Paretia's image in Euclea". The major opposition that the bill saw was from many members of the Alternative Party, the Patron League's populist big-tent ally in the O Povo government, many of it's members are more centrist and less pro-life than the LP. It's leader Pacau said that he will vote for the bill but will not try and enforce his vote onto the party and let his members decide for themselves.

This would lead to a test for the LP's government as it saw opposition from some of it's allies. It would barely pass the Congress with a 184-176 vote, nearly half of Alt Party members voting no. Alt Party member and Minister of Science and Research Cristòfor Tarrés resigned after the vote due to his large pro-choice stance. It would go to the senate, this time the vote was even more close, it passed 61-59, and was signed into law afterward.

Cerqueira sent a short chirp after saying "Life wins!". The Patron League would celebrate and pro-life protests began in Precea. But there were many pro-choice protests across the country, many of them numbering in over 1,000 protesters, the largest in Precea, Encerosa, and Felipeio. Many of them being feminist groups and pro-SD groups. Many calling Cerqueira and Caprichoso "traitors of women" and "tyrannical". The SD thanked Alt Party members who voted against the bill and said that they should defect into a new party that isn't allied with the LP. The SD's Falcão said that the LP has shown their true colors already, but that this bill is "just the beginning of their regressive push".

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In Other News:
  • PARETIA - After predecessor's resignation, Alt Member Joan Ramís appointed to Minister of Science and Research
  • ETRURIA - Tribunes unveil manifesto for election
  • EUCLEA - Central Euclea tensions heating up
  • EUCLEA - Cerqueira calls for compromise between West Miersa and Lemovicia, but says Paretia will back West Miersa
  • OPINION - Is the LP planning a referendum to leave the EC? Likely not, yet.


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Last edited by Saul Volcano on Thu Sep 23, 2021 8:30 pm, edited 2 times in total.

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Aucuria
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Founded: Jan 24, 2015
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Postby Aucuria » Fri Sep 24, 2021 7:07 am

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Atvira visiems, šališkas nė



President of Volpis Foundation denounces Etruria's Tribunes
Etrurians "must vote Social Democratic to save their democracy" amidst assault on civil liberties, says Kontė

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Aucuria's government likely tacitly endorsed Bendiktas Kontė's criticism of the Tribunes.


KATNIAVA, AUCURIA | September 24, 2021 - Bendiktas Kontė, president of the Adrianas Volpis Foundation, viciously denounced Etruria's governing Tribune Movement at a speech delivered at a public conference hosted by the organization that was being attended by members of the Aucurian government, saying that Etrurians had to vote for Etruria's Social Democratic Party "to save their democracy" in the country's upcoming election.

"Aucuria and Etruria both cast off the shackles of authoritarian quasi-functionalist regimes in the early 1980s, and embarked upon sweeping efforts to protect their reborn democracies and reclaimed liberties, ranging from domestic programs at the community level to the secretary-generalships of Miloš Vidović and Vytautas Šeduikys at the Community of Nations," Kontė said at the conference, an annual event where leading members of the Volpis Foundation and invited guests deliver speeches on the subjects of democracy and human rights. "In some sense, we are brother peoples, and that makes it all the more disheartening to see the direction that Etruria has been forced upon by the Tribune Movement."

Describing Tribune reshaping of the Etrurian government as "an onslaught against the power and representative nature of the legislature, against the independence of the country's judiciary and civil service, on all counts enabling opacity, corruption, and abuse" and Tribune vilification of dissidents and minorities as "neofunctionalist bile intended to incite violence against innocents", Kontė said that the Tribunes had "strangled Etruria's civil society in order to hide the fact that they have nothing to offer Etruria and the Etrurian people other than oppression, hatred, and failure".

"Amidst this assault upon the foundations of Etrurian democracy, including the open rejection of the popular will as expressed by vote and referendum, it is clear that Etruria's people must remove the dangerous and demented leadership of Francesco Carcaterra, that they must vote Social Democratic to save their democracy from those who would plunge them back into despotism," he declared.

The Adrianas Volpis Foundation - named for Adrianas Volpis, the son of Etrurian immigrants to Aucuria, elected president in 1945 and deposed & murdered in 1949 by reactionary officers who opposed his proposals for socioeconomic reform - is a nongovernmental organization which seeks to promote democracy, social equality, and economic justice, formed in 1982 by Volpis's surviving children. While most of its operations are domestic, the Volpis Foundation does comment on events in foreign countries, and has undertaken operations outside of Aucuria's borders in conjunction with other NGOs.

Kontė, of Etrurian descent on his father's side, is a prominent member of Aucuria's Social Democratic Party. While he currently holds no political office, he has previously been a member of the Saeimas, Governor of Sidabria, and Ambassador to Eldmark, and is understood to retain a high profile within the party. His sentiments are likely shared - publicly or privately - by many in the party, which currently heads Aucuria's governing coalition and and holds both the presidency and the chancellorship.

His speech was formally titled "The Maintenance of Democracy: How Parties, Civil Society, and the Public Cooperate to Preserve Liberty", and received a warm reception from the attendees.

Most of the speech focused on Aucuria itself, and on the Volpis Foundation's public outreach programs and collaboration with other civil society groups; Kontė brought up Etruria in the context of the Volpis Foundation's international collaboration efforts, saying that "Etruria's freedom fighters should know that the Volpis Foundation - and the people of Aucuria - are willing to stand with them to defend our universal human rights and our sacred democracies, as we stood with each other in the 1980s and 1990s".

Speaking later to reporters, Kontė said that he "stood by [the speech] unequivocally". "When human rights, rule of law, and democratic republicanism are under assault in the way that they are in Etruria, it would be irresponsible to not speak out on the issue - and ridiculous not to do so at a conference about this proud organization's efforts to protect liberty and rights," he continued.

No government body has formally endorsed - or, for that matter, commented upon - the speech, and neither the office of the president nor of the chancellor responded to requests for comment. However, some officials from Aucuria's interior and justice ministries were present at the event, and many experts - including Professor Jurginė Linaitienė of the National University of Saint Michael the Archangel - suspect that the ministries in question were likely aware of the speech's content beforehand, and nonetheless chose to send officials to attend.

"In the Aucurian government there is a certain concern over the situation in Etruria, because it serves as a reminder of how fragile democracy can be, and how easily it can be hijacked," Linaitienė explains. "As Mr. Kontė noted, Aucuria and Etruria deposed authoritarian regimes within a few years of each other not even half a century ago, and the Aucurian government has had to work tirelessly to build the institutional and societal safeguards needed to protect Aucurian democracy and the rights of the Aucurian people."

"Because of that, to see a country which was regarded as a kindred spirit throughout the 1980s and 1990s slip back into unfreedom so rapidly and dramatically is a concern, and something which emphasizes the continued necessity of efforts to strengthen our republic."

This tacit endorsement is unlikely to be expressed more full-throatedly, however.

"One government making an endorsement against another incumbent government oftentimes only happens if the incumbent government is already perceived as a lame duck, as was the case with the Euclean left endorsing [Estmere's now-Prime Minister] Zoe Halivar while [then-Prime Minister] Reginald Wilton-Smyth was still in office, or when there's a longstanding adversarial relationship involved," she notes. "Otherwise it's regarded as uncouth, simply put."

Instead, she says, Aucuria's government is more likely to tacitly support the efforts of NGOs - especially Aucurian NGOs like the Barauskas Foundation, Volpis Foundation, and Sergėtojai International - to hold governments it views as illiberal or anti-democratic accountable through the Community of Nations' human rights systems and through public naming-and-shaming campaigns.

As of press time, the Etrurian embassy in Kalnaspilis would not respond to requests for comment.


OTHER STORIES
Aucuria - Workers find 800-year-old mummies while laying gas pipelines
Aucuria - Government seeks to provide "a safe way out" for coca farmers
Etruria - Tribune manifesto vows police crackdown on opposition protesters
Aucuria - Senrian, Shangean fishing fleets posing problems for Aucurian fishers
Paretia - Anti-abortion legislation narrowly passes Paretian legislature

Last edited by Aucuria on Fri Sep 24, 2021 7:15 am, edited 3 times in total.
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Etruria2
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Founded: Feb 11, 2017
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Postby Etruria2 » Mon Sep 27, 2021 4:13 pm

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Chiara Mastromarino: “its time to hear Etruria roar for liberty”
Despite debate sinking into a vicious free-for-all, the SD leader came out on top narrowly beating President Francesco Carcaterra
ETRURIA VOTA 2021 by Emilio Farinacci
24 September , 2021

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Chiara Mastromarino at the Faulia event.

In a major speech before the SD releases its manifesto, the party leader, Chiara Mastromarino told a packed auditorium in Faulia, “its time for the SD to issue the call and stir the lion. It is time to hear Etruria roar for liberty.” She told supporters, “the world is now looking to Etruria to prove the resilience of democracy against the forces of xenophobia and authoritarianism, we cannot fail them.”

Her major speech was broadcast on the main channels and live streamed on social media. An estimated 3.2 million people watched or listened to the live stream alone.

The party faithful were packed before her in Faulia, which is one of the SD’s top targets for gains, at the expense of the Citizens. The atmosphere was energetic and excitable, boosted by consistent polls showing the Tribunes have declined to the mid-30s, widely believed to be due to the SD’s consistent attacks on its economic record.

Eager to expand the range of her attacks on the government, this speech was considered by the party leadership to be “pivotal.”

She was introduced by Giuseppe Ricci, the SD’s spokesman for the economy, who in turn told the audience, “the terror of ineptitude, indifference and lies will soon be over, and the age of common prosperity, social justice and fairness is upon us.”

Introducing Mastromarino onto the podium, the auditorium erupted into a standing ovation for the party leader, who has since 2019, brought the party from near-death to be within a possible touch of government.
She began her speech with an anecdote that shuddered the audience into silence, “when I was 19 in 1977, I joined a small group of university friends in a taverna off the Galeria Reppublica, we were very politically opinionated, we’d debate passionately, rowing at times. But of course, back then, we did it in whispers. We did it in secluded places, but one day, we didn’t. We lost ourselves in the debate, it was about the Novalian and Carinthian activists on hunger strike. Little did we know in this taverna, were secret police.

“The next day, on my way to the library to work on a thesis, I was grabbed by the arms and thrown into a truck and driven away. The next light I saw was one hanging from the ceiling and in front of me were two military officers. When I asked why I was where I was, one slapped me across the face as hard as a man could. I was told I was spreading socialist propaganda in a public place and told that I would be sent to prison, no trial, not judge. I protested, I was slapped, I protested, I was slapped. Eventually I accepted my fate and signed a letter that was destined to my parents, I had to sign, otherwise they would never know where I went. This letter was a confession to be a Kirenian agent. I was walked back to my cell, then darkness.

“I remained in darkness even as they entered my cell to place a cloth sheet over head and walked me to a van, to be transported away to some prison, where surely I would suffer. I sobbed, as quietly as I could, I did not want to give them the satisfaction. When the van stopped, I was pulled out violently and then left. As I stood, I heard running feet and the bag was ripped off my head, my mother screaming in relief. They had dropped home. I had spent 24-hours in detention, slapped, but let go. I was lucky, thousands of others were not.

“Millions of Etrurians know stories like mine, and ones much worse and much darker. It is those stories and experiences that fuel fears for many. Fears that this government is eerily reminiscent of the past. Promises of sun-light uplands after short-term sacrifices? Promises of a utopian Etruria once we purge from society the traits of depravity, selfishness and godlessness? My story fuels me, the stories of thousands of others fuel me. They fuel me in my resistance to illiberalism, to brutishness, to hatred, to ignorance and authoritarianism. I am 64-years old and I have seen what inaction can lead to. We cannot let this happen again” she said, rousing the audience out of their silence.

She went on to say, “Do not mistaken me for hyperbole, the Tribunes are not the successors to the totalitarian military junta, they’re not even the successors to the Greater Solarian Republic and its racialism. They are too cowardly to honour their role models. But what they are, is the greatest threat to our liberty and democracy this day.”

She said further, “they have lied, petrified and horrified vast swathes of Etruria into thinking if they are not elected, then forces of darkness will descend. They have prayed on insecurities, grievances and worries to fuel their war on decency, kindness and liberal democracy. They offer nothing other than carnage, sadness and anger. They know not hope, optimism, or kindness, they are a government of dark-times and dark-times only, forever to rule a nation cowering under the bed sheets.

“But we in the SD, we are the party of hope, light and optimism. We are a government that yearns to tear away the bedsheets and lift Etruria up into the dawn sunlight. To see our country once again, which we love so dearly walk tall and proud, along a path it deserves. This country deserves better leadership, better government, and a better future.

“We in the SD, with our platform of social justice, equality and a fair working economic, can provide the people just that. In the SD the people can truly find a party they can trust, we must deliver the change necessary, if we fail, then they will be entitled and true to look elsewhere once again.

“Tomorrow, we will produce our platform for the election and we will champion to the nation, the ideals of fairness, social justice, equality and liberty that our nation craves and needs before it is too late” she said to loud applause.

To voters directly she said, “to those who see the Tribunes as purveyors of Sotirian values and virtues, I say this. Is the fighting and attention on abortion, or the LGBT community worth your declining incomes? Is it worth the tightening of belts and ever decreasing money you have to spare for every day life? Is making television more patriotic worth your children having to take up two or three jobs to get through university? Is the focus on fear mongering about immigrants worth the reality that your children will not be guaranteed a better standard of living than what you enjoy today? If not, then the SD is here to make sure that changes.”

“To you, our supporters yourselves, its time for the SD to issue the call and stir the lion. It is time to hear Etruria roar for liberty. The world is now looking to Etruria to prove the resilience of democracy against the forces of xenophobia and authoritarianism, we cannot fail them” she concluded.

Analysis: A very different party, under a very different leader

The SD’s story since 2016 has not been an easy one. Once on of the two great parties of the Fourth Republic, it was obliterated in 2016 as it lost voters to both the Tribunes and the Citizens’ Alliance. From 2016 to 2018, it lurched from crisis to crisis as it struggled to stabilise under the dual pressures of the centre and far-right. Having lost its working class cohorts to the Tribunes and much of its urban middle-class to the Citizens, it was adrift. Come 2018, its perilous state was deepened by further losses.

The election of Chiara Mastromarino, who served as Prefect of Chiastre from 2005 to 2016 before entering the Chamber – the only SD candidate to gain a seat that night, was a landslide. She was the only candidate who knew the detail of her own arguments and the only one to present a clear vision.

Even during her acceptance speech in 2018, she said, “the road ahead will be long, it will be hard, and brutal. But we must be strong if we are to return to where the people need us.” Her hardwork, her astute appointments of key Senators has built an SD leadership imbued with competence, energy and focus. The SD’s slick operation has decimated the soft and often weak Citizens’, who in turn have suffered from repeated bouts of identity crisis since 2018. The SD’s resurgence seemed a sure thing, even if the election of Mauro Cesare Capra as the Citizens’ leader has steady their ship and blocked further leaps for the SD.

Her willingness to take on the Citizens’ as vociferously as the Tribunes may infuriate the veteran Tribune-haters, who hope a unified opposition, but her belief that the SD is the best party to be the official opposition will require such. Her confrontations with President Carcaterra have earned her the hatred of the Tribunes, who regularly use personal insults and abuse to beat back a woman of success, and a woman who has reduced the Tribunes’ hegemonic lead to only 1.6%.

Mastromarino never speaks of breaking the glass ceiling, it “distracts me from the actual goal of just removing this far-right nightmare”, but by being laser focused, concise and able, she now stands in a position where she may well become the first female President of Etruria on 8 October.


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Xiaodong
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Iron Fist Consumerists

Postby Xiaodong » Tue Sep 28, 2021 5:28 am

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OPINION - With Höcherl confirmed as Euclean Werania leader the opposition has a fighting chance.
Whilst she underperformed as SRPO leader Höcherl's centrist instincts may enable her to project Euclean Werania as the only credible opposition to the governing conservatives.
Anne-Marie Keyserling
28 September 2021 | Westbrücken, Werania



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File photo of Euclean Werania leader Luise Höcherl.
Photo courtesy of AV photos.

WESTBRÜCKEN, WERANIA - Back in June, the leader of the opposition Luise Höcherl looked to be on her way out. Her Social Democratic Radical Party consistently fell behind in polls to both the governing National Consolidation Party and the upstart Green Party, often being level with the similarly declining Modern Centre Party. The SRPO, only in government a mere two years ago and having a proud history as the descendants of both the secular radical and reformist socialist traditions, seemed to be hurtling into irrelevance. By almost every member of the chattering classes Höcherl had been written off as a leader who lacked both charisma and vision.

But the wily 50 year-old mother of three and former minister of the economy has had other ideas. Höcherl has been instrumental in bringing her demoralised and divided SRPO and the former coalition partner the PMZ into uniting into a unitary political party that would - finally - present a united front to the divisive right-wing government that runs the country. In recognition of this the new party that has been founded - the snappily named Euclean Werania - has confirmed Höcherl as leader just as they eke out a tiny leader in the polls.

True, the formation of Euclean Werania has not been smooth sailing. The left-wing faction of the SRPO, led by the former environment minister and Höcherl's leadership rival back in 2020 Stefan Kiesinger, broke off to form the Socialist Workers' Party of Werania (SAPO) to present a more authentically left-wing voice. But SAPO has largely been a one man show attracting very little big names with the majority of the party supporting the merger. No state leaders have switched to SAPO remaining within the new EO giving the party a strong presence across the country rooted in local politics.

The rise of EO has also been helped by governmental incompetence, not least the Furler affair which plunged the NKP into crisis and has dramatically tanked Otto von Hösslin's personal approval ratings. On almost every preferred premier poll von Hösslin trails Höcherl suggesting the Furler affair has shredded the incumbents credibility.

But its prudent to also mention Höcherl's role in all this. Whilst not the most charismatic or innovative of opposition leaders Höcherl has brought a greater sense of strategy using the chaos of the NKP government to steer through a merger. Oppositions thrive on that nebulous concept of "momentum" and the formation of EO gives the Weranian centrists just that. Positioning the party as a unified opposition bloc focused on both political renewal whilst also emphasising government experience has helped give the EO and Höcherl greater prominence.

The new task Höcherl and EO must address is to marginalise the voices of the far-left - the Greens, OSAI and SAPO - to ensure that EO is consolidated as the only real opposition to the NKP. The Greens being fundamentally rooted in student politics can never provide real opposition to the NKP whilst the OSAI are in permanent decline and SAPO represent a bigoted, inward far-left. All are intolerant, politically untenable and have deep sexist and racist tendencies that have to place on the Weranian left and EO will be well positioned to rid them of influence. The fight for Werania has only begun again.


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Left wing populism
British unionist, Sinophile, Francophile.

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Etruria2
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Postby Etruria2 » Tue Sep 28, 2021 4:28 pm

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Casa · Etruria· Mondo · Politica · Economia · Mercati · Cultura · Educazione · Sporta · Analisi · Ricerca


Deputy President Vittoria Vasari: “We are the people’s government; we are the voice of millions”


By Ugo Spinelli
28 September 2021 at 11.14 a.m. EST

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Deputy President Vittoria Vasari in Propoce today.

The Deputy President made her first major appearance on the campaign trail today with a speech in Carinthia’s capital. Speaking in fluent Carinthian she told the rally of 30,000, “the SD are a hurricane of hot air, while we are the people’s government; we are the voice of millions. Millions whom the SD will silence once again if they return to Povelia triumphant.”

In her speech in central Propoce, the Deputy President was buoyant and even told supporters to ignore polls, “do not look at them, do not listen to them, do not speak about them. They’re a fool’s gambit, we have momentum on our sides and we will win, because we have to.”

The crowd before her was surprisingly young, with a majority seemingly aged in their 20s and 30s. Many were spotted clutching rosaries and Etrurian flags as the Deputy President spoke.

The Tribune lead in Carinthia has declined, but by a significantly less degree than elsewhere, confirming the state’s status as perhaps the strongest of strongholds for the government. The state’s popular Prefect, Janez Hribar was absent, instead holding in-depth talks with a number of state-level Catholic trade unions on how they can assist the Tribunes in winning re-election.

The Deputy President in her speech warned voters that a Tribune failure to secure a majority would spell disaster for the “hardworking families of this country, who finally possess a voice that is heard loud and clear in Povelia.”

“We know what will happen if the chaotic left wins a victory on the 8 October. We know what will happen because we’ve suffered it before. Our concerns ignored, our trust abused and our faith in democracy undermined as successive weak and wet governments offered us the world only to retreat back into their comfort zone, of serving the rich, the Euclean-minded elite and holding open the gates to waves of immigrants. Ignoring our pleas for better pay, better jobs, ignoring our pleas to protect our national identity, history, languages and traditions, only then to condemn us for being parochial.

“Believe in God? Narrow-minded. Believe that life is precious? A threat to women. Believe in the sanctity of marriage? Ignorant, at worst, homophobic. Proud of our country’s millennia long history? Ignorant of history, at worst, a nationalist xenophobe. Want to see your wages grow, not decline because an immigrant will do it for less? Greedy, at worst, a racist. This is how they [SD] see you, this is how they treated you before, and they will surely do so again” she said, to a riled-up crowd.

She went on to say, “make no mistake, this election is so important. All that we have achieved together, all that we have restored to its natural place in our country is now under serious threat of being undone by a coalition of chaos and socialism. This is the Poteri Oscuri’s last roll of the dice my friends and we must be bold in holding firm against the hurricane.”

She said further, “for the SD are a hurricane of hot air, while we are the people’s government; we are the voice of millions. Millions whom the SD will silence once again if they return to Povelia triumphant.”
The Deputy President’s speech came as polls show a significantly tighter race than any had anticipated, however, the Tribunes appear to have been energised by the worrying developments.

The governing party has reportedly raised €385 million from donations, both from voters and major organisations. The party received a boost when it was endorsed by the Fraternal Association of Public Guardians, the country’s largest police union. It also followed a written letter by the “San Vittore Six”, the most senior Etrurian Catholic cardinals, who endorsed the government as a “force for the Ecumene to take inspiration.”
President Francesco Carcaterra took to the airwaves today, where he criticised the SD and CA for “squabbling over who is the most progressive. It is a wonder to behold the two parties squabbling over who is most able to decimate patriotic Etruria.”

Veratia’s Prefect and the party’s rising superstar, Giuliano Aurelio Vinci was campaigning in Caxeri today, where he described the opposition as the “final break that will see Povelia sink into the sea. We haven’t travelled this far as a country to see these cosmopolitan socialist agents of madness ruin the country once and for all.”

Finance Minister and Second Deputy President, Leandro Laezza who attended an event in Tarpeia took a less confrontational approach telling voters, “we can go down the route provided by the CA, which is to privatise everything and let the market take over, also known as let Shangea steal everything. Or we can go down the route of the SD and resurrect economic policies from 15 years ago and hope for the best. Or we can go down the route of the Tribune Movement, reform of the economy head, root and stem. Investments in you, investments in the industries that deliver jobs and wages and investments in our infrastructure. The choice is simple.

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Etruria2
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Postby Etruria2 » Wed Sep 29, 2021 2:37 am

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SD release their manifesto
From a universal rollback of Tribune laws and reforms, to major investments in healthcare, education and tackling climate change
ETRURIA VOTA 2021 by Emilio Farinacci
25 September , 2021

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The manifesto contains a series of centre-left policies as well as some bold promises.


The SD has released its electoral programme for the election, describing it as a “document of democracy, social justice, fairness and equality.” The document focuses on rolling back many Tribune reforms and laws, while significantly boosting investments into tackling climate change, boosting worker’s rights and social welfare.

Among the most interesting promises is the establishment of democratically elected Constituent Assembly to work toward an entirely new constitution. This body will be tasked with producing a basic law markedly stronger and more protected than the 1984 Constitution, which has been decimated by the Tribune government since 2016.

Other interesting notes is the introduction of a digital sales tax on online outlets at 25% of annual revenue. This is coupled with increases to Financial Gains Tax and the highest earners. The SD will also abolish the Service Rate for small businesses, while it will also abolish the Tribune tax credit for companies that boost industrial growth, mostly at the expense of the environment.

The SD are also promising huge investments into schools and hospitals, while the Healthcare Provision Exemption for the elderly will be reduced in age from 80 to 70 years old, ending the requirement of 4 million pensioners from still paying for health insurance. The SD will also include healthcare for transgendered people under the Federal Provision. The SD are also promising to rollback the ban on abortion on day one of government and all Tribune laws limiting debate and discussion at universities.

Though, the SD are taking a major risk with two major promises, the legalising of same-sex marriage and its barbed promise of “re-establishing Etruria’s government as secular.” The SD also seek to restore close ties with the EC and re-join the Council for Democracy on day one of government.

Here are several key points below:

TAX

• Increase in income tax for those earning ₣280,000 from 25.5% to 33%
• Increase in financial gains tax from 16% to 20%
• Abolition of tax credits for companies that boost profits at expense of the environment.
• Abolition of Service Rates for small businesses
• Introduction of a new Digital Sales Tax on e-commerce businesses, set at 25.80% of annual revenues.
• De-politicisation of the National Audit Office
• Reduction in income tax by 5% for lowest two bands.
• Multiple Property Tax for those who own more than one home or own buy-to-let properties.


ECONOMY
• Establishment of a Federal Office for Workers’ Rights.
• New Workers’ Rights for disabled to ensure they access the workplace.
• Federal Mandate to close Gender Pay Gap by 95% by 2026.
• Mandating paid leave for bereavements and full-sick pay.
• Increase the Federal Minimum Wage by 20% with a federal mandate for annual increase in line with inflation.
• Rollback of the 1994 Union Action Law, to empower trade unions in pursuing better rights and benefits for affiliates.
• ₣20 billion investment fund to facilitate the growth of social enterprises.
• Federal subsidies for start-ups in health insurance provision.
• ₣1.2 billion investment into training and re-training schemes.


LAW AND ORDER + IMMIGRATION


• Abolishing the Civil Security Service and establishing a new federal law enforcement agency.
• Rolling back all Tribune reforms to policing.
• Establishing a new Police Inspectorate to ensure law enforcement respects the rights of citizens and acts in accordance to professionalism.
• 20,000 new police officers by 2026.
• Immediate parliamentary investigation into prison living standards.
• End to racial profiling and inequality in prosecutions and sentencing.
• Introducing racial diversity quotas to the National Police Service to guarantee better community relations.
• Commitment to work with the states to facilitate the arrival of Tsabaran refugees.
• Rolling back Tribune laws banning Bahians from residency.


RIGHTS AND SOCIAL WELFARE

• Increase to Unemployment Assistance by 15%.
• Increase to Disability Assistance by 15%.
• Introducing a new Long-Term Carer Assistance benefit for stay-at-home carers.
• Working with the states to boost pensions to combat elderly poverty.
• Federal Mandate to rollback the LGBT+ Free Zones.
• Working toward legalising same-sex marriage.
• Working toward reducing the obstacles to same-sex adoption introduced by the Tribunes.
• Rolling back the Abortion Ban on day 1.
• Introducing Free School Meals for low-income families.
• New laws against hate speech and discrimination.


DEMOCRACY AND RESTORING THE REPUBLIC

• Establishing a non-partisan, democratically elected Constituent Assembly to produce a new constitution, boosted in powers and protections to ensure a Tribune situation never happens again.
• Abolishing the 2021 Electoral Law and restoring Etruria’s 600 seats to proportional representation.
• Reducing the electoral threshold to 3%.
• Establishing a new federal agency dedicated to investigating political extremists.
• Anti-lobbying laws to separate government from big business foreign and domestic.
• Re-establishing Etruria’s government as secular and free from Church influence.
• Re-establishing a special relationship between Etruria and the EC.
• Re-joining the Council for Democracy on day one.


ENVIRONMENT

• A new Green Charter to establish the nation’s commitment to combatting climate change.
• Introduction of a new Carbon Tax on the country’s biggest polluters.
• Cancelling the Soravia-Tarpeia pipeline on day one.
• Commitment to establishing new National Parks, Area of Natural Preservation and a crackdown on illegal logging.
• Working with Euclean partners toward a Eastern Continental Strategy.
• ₣25 billion investment into clean energy, electric vehicle purchase for federal agencies, including the National Postal Service.
• ₣10.5 billion investment into clean energy.
• Rollback of Tribune environmental standards de-regulations.


EDUCATION AND HEALTHCARE


• ₣100 billion investments into healthcare by 2030.
• Reforms to the Federal Healthcare Provision, to reduce the proportion of private insurance costs for lowest earners.
• Reducing the Healthcare Insurance exemption for the elderly to 70 years.
• Inclusion of medical care and operations for trans-gendered people into the Federal Healthcare Provision.
• ₣150 million investment into Federal Mental Healthcare Provision.
• 8,900 new nurses, 3,500 new doctors.
• Special Visa and Residency Rights for those who come to work in healthcare.
• ₣60 billion investments into education by 2030.
• ₣10 billion for construction and renovation of schools in rural areas.
• Rolling back Tribune laws limiting debate and discussion in schools and universities.
• Ending the moratorium on non-Catholic religious schools.
• Debt forgiveness for students who do not secure long-term employment within 5 years of graduating.


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Liecthenbourg
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Founded: Jan 21, 2013
Civil Rights Lovefest

Postby Liecthenbourg » Wed Sep 29, 2021 3:41 pm

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Opinion: It is Gaullica's moral responsibility to fight functionalism wherever it arises. And we are letting it run rampant.
Functionalism, rooted in the cultural chauvinism of Southern Euclea and the hierarchical nature of Solarian Catholicism, was born in Gaullica -- but festers in Etruria and Paretia. It is our duty to fight it whenever possible.
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Guest Columnist: Coralie Barreau
September 29th, 2021|Verlois, Gaullica




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"At the end of the bayonet", perhaps the most famous image of the Great War in Euclea, shows the logical conclusion Functionalism arrives to.
Image courtesy of the Great War Museum, Verlois.

Verlois, Gaullica.

My grandfather's military service was a not-often discussed topic at family gatherings. It is a sore spot amongst every Gaullican family. That, somewhere up the familial tree, the likelihood of a grandfather, a great-grandfather, a grand-uncle and even a father serving in the Imperial Army is quite high. Easily dismissed as a blemish on the family history; it represents something far more sinister. The ease at which humans 'follow orders', or the blind-eyes given to atrocities as long as food is on the table and that they, and their families, "have theirs".

Functionalism, some have argued, was an inevitability. A historical fact. A true point in Gaullican history given that it was the sum of all of its parts: everything that had come before it. I don't believe in such deterministic truths, but there is truth in the fact that Functionalism arose in Gaullica and was exported to our southern neighbours through several common factors: cultural chauvinism, "machisme" and institutionalised hierarchy.

Cultural chauvinism is rampant amongst the former Solarian territories of Euclea. It is an odd thing to be nationalistic not of a nationality, but of an idealised "prior culture", the mother culture from which Amathian, Aurengian, Etrurian, Gaullican, Montercaran, Paretian, Selórzan and Suhalan, amongst others, claim descent and unity from. It is this belief in a supreme culture, a supreme way to understand the world and live in it, that generated core tenants of the Functionalist dogma: that the way Gaullican society was structured was ideal and built on truths greater than anyone elses, and so its existence was built on "great civilisation". And this was made infinitely worse with the views on race at the time: not only were ethnic white people superior to all other races, but the Gaullicans were the most advanced of them.

Machisme, the belief that men are to be "manly" -- strong, courageous, brave, bread-winners and above all emotionless husks -- morphed genuine, compassionate people into unthinking machines incapable of feeling or empathy. "We were only obeying orders," became the rallying cry of those battalions who participated in the looting of Lushkina, the massacres at Zilverzee and other atrocities. And machisme is a key cornerstone of the cultural chauvinism birthed to the world by the Solarian Empire.

Finally, institutionalised hierarchy has been a normalised facet of all parts of life in southern Euclea since the establishment of not only the Solarian Empire -- but the Solarian Catholic Church. A state can only command you so far, but when your religion and morals is espoused from the pulpit by a hierarchy, it becomes much easier to internalise the belief that you are merely internalising information and conducting yourself on what you've been told to do. Now, I do not bash religion -- I myself was raised Catholic, and there is compassion and empathy in that religion. But many of its tenants on humility and kindness are overshadowed by the excessiveness of the existence of the machisme.

Perhaps Functionalism could have been birthed in Etruria. But it was not. We owe the world the responsibility of fatefully creating an ideology built on tenants that sought to build an idealised state on corrupted, statist, militaristic and imperialistic values. We were, fortunately, set on the correct path by way of the victorious Grand Alliance. Gaullica's institutions were strengthened in favour of democracy, public participation, democratizing education and the empire was torn asunder. And whilst I have not always agreed with the path our democracy has swayed, I am a committed liberal and democrat -- it is up to the individual to decide their lot in life and the state shall never have the authority and reverence it had in the time of Duclerque.

In Etruria a movement has been on the rise since the early 2010s. The 'Tribune Movement' is a horrible monster, but not the caricature that Functionalism has become. In the public consciousness, a 'Functionalist' is a monster comparable to a vampire or a zombie. A creature of myth, a horrific tale of the beast beneath the bedposts that haunts and stalks in the dark because it is not welcome in the light. In reality, Functionalism arises as much as the Tribunes have. Populist anger, directed at an external enemy, entrenching itself into the institutions of state like a tumour or parasite that leeches on the host. It describes all attempts at removing it as an attack on "the people", and simultaneous seeks to expand its agenda through any mean necessary: restricting abortion is but a stepping stone on the path to return women into the kitchen, and inflammatory comments against migrants and foreigners is testing the waters for how much a state can get away with, as if to ask "who will care?" when they throw the 'vagrants and vagabonds' into a ghetto.

And a facsimile of the horrendous resurrection of the Parti Populaire has arisen in Paretia. And they have followed the roadmap to almost a tee: with abortion coming first, the first domino to fall. And soon enough, they shall emulate the Tribunes in all ways: from praising the "people" to decrying the institutions of democracy, to preparing to salute to Sol Invicta.

And the world watches with baited breath: surely the Tribunes will have a loss in the upcoming elections, and of course the Paretians will come to their senses the next time around. This is a moronic way of thinking: the fact they govern countries is a loss already. International democracy is already poorer because of it. We cannot abide to hope that functionalism will roll over and fucking die because it doesn't. It festers, it entrenches itself and it waits to destroy the very system that permitted it.

We owe it to the world to do more, Mlle President. Use the Community as leverage against Paretia. Wield the might of economic weight, the third largest economy in the world, to smash through the lies of Isilda Cerqueira and Francesco Carcaterra. Don't applaud the fact that they're signing on to initiatives that supposedly help Euclean Workers, criticise their hypocrisy and don't let them take a single gram of a victory. Leave the Chirpr politics for Northern Euclean and remind these two countries what happened the last time a functionalist was permitted to draw breath in a political circle.

We were given the chance to reset ourselves by those willing to fight. I do not propose war, far from it, Euclea has seen enough war. But this is a different kind of war, without fighting, and we need to win. Euclean Democracy is undersiege from the west by Soravia and its vast shadow over the continent -- lets uproot the functionalists to our south because its far too late to nip them in the bud.

Its our responsibility to this planet to denounce, fight and destroy the legacy of Rafael Duclerque wherever it can be found. At home we have DENAT, but abroad? Its time to utilise everything in a state's arsenal that does not equate actual military aggression to stem the resurgence of that ideology, and to cast the spectre of Duclerque back into the depths of the abyss.




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Coralie Barreau is the leader of the PRCP and serves as a Senator in the First Chamber, having been elected on party list through MMP. She has held this position since 2002, with a short gap in between as she served as Ambassador to Caldia during the Levesque Presidency. Additionally, she served as Minister of Overseas Territories from 2003-2004, before resigning due to illness. From September of 2018 to mid 2019, she served as Foreign Minister during the Devereaux Premiership -- until she was sacked over her sexuality. Her opinions are her own and do not reflect 'Le Monde.'




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Impeach Ernest Jacquinot Legalise Shooting Communists The Gold Standard Needs To Be Abolished Duclerque 1919
Grand-Master of the Kyluminati


The Region of Kylaris
I'm just a simple Kylarite, trying to make my way on NS.

The Gaullican Republic,
I thank God for Three Things:
Kylaris, the death of Esquarium, and Prem <3

The Transtsabaran Federation and The Chistovodian Workers' State

To understand European history watch these: Cultural erosion, German and Italian history, a brief history of Germany.

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Etruria2
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Founded: Feb 11, 2017
Ex-Nation

Postby Etruria2 » Thu Sep 30, 2021 7:19 am

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BREAKING Sotirian People's Force to support an SD government
The insrgent Sotirian Democratic party has offered its assistance to a potential SD-led coalition
ETRURIA VOTA 2021 by Emilio Farinacci
30 September , 2021

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File photo: FPS leader, Vittore Eugenio Agrella offered his party up during an election event in Accadia

Vittore Eugenio Agrella, the leader of the Sotirian People’s Force has confirmed that his party would support an SD government should they gain seats in the election. The leader said, “in the event that the Tribunes are removed from government, but the SD are in need of reliable partners, we stand ready to do our patriotic duty.”

Speaking in northern Torrazza, the former Prefect of Accadia told supporters and the press, “the polls are looking sufficient, there is a chance that this government will be unseated, but only if the SD can move swiftly to secure a coalition. That is why its important, that we in the FPS stand ready to do our duty.”

However, asked if the FPS would back the SD’s promise for legalising same-sex marriage and lifting the ban on abortion, he said, “of course in such a situation, we would discuss policies, that’s all I will say on the matter.”

His sidestepping of the question was attacked by the Tribunes, who issued online statement decrying the FPS as a “sordid and hollow portrayal of what Sotirian Democracy is truly about.”

The party which has exceeded the 5% threshold to win seats under proportional representation has seen a growing degree of enthusiasm in Accadia, which was one the stronghold of Libertas and its post-Junta successor, the Federalist Party. The growing support for the FPS has spooked the Tribunes, who in Accadia are waging a vitriolic campaign against the insurgent party, depicting them as enablers of the “radical liberal-left.”

We will bring updates on this story as we receive them.


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Etruria2
Diplomat
 
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Founded: Feb 11, 2017
Ex-Nation

Postby Etruria2 » Thu Sep 30, 2021 7:43 am

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Deleted footage from EC Referendum Documentary shows Mastromarino and other SD leaders making harsh comments about working class voters
SD Leader and other senior figures were filmed as part of the 2017 ARE Documentary on the EC referendum. The leaked footage was deleted from the film that was aired four years ago.
ELETZIONE 2021 by Gavrillo Fillipo Carletto
30 September , 2021

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Watch as the SD's mask slips

Scenes from the 2017 ARE Documentary on the 2016 EC Referendum, “The Heat of July” have been leaked to the press showing SD leader, Chiara Mastromarino making disparaging remarks about working class voters, specifically those who voted against EC membership. In one segment she claims working class voters have been failed by government, “they’ve been let down, allowed to remain narrowminded and blind to the benefits of the wider world.”

The ARE documentary was produced by the now defunct programme “La Ora” and covered the campaign period on both sides and reflections of those involved a year after the referendum was defeated. A number of SD figures interviewed now feature prominently on the SD’s frontbench, including Chiara Mastromarino, who was Deputy Leader during the campaign. While “La Ora” was closed down by ARE in 2019 over persistent claims of bias toward the left, the documentary upon airing appeared balanced and professional.

Directed and produced by ARE veteran, Lucca Scorzzi, who now writes for the culture section of Il Popolo, the documentary gave fair hearing to both sides of the campaign, even securing an interview with President Francesco Carcaterra. However, the leak reveals the lengths Scorzzi and ARE at the time, went to manicure the image of the SD.
Utter contempt

The fifteen minutes of footage leaked to the press shows a series of SD politicians oozing utter contempt for working class voters, and the temerity of them voting against EC membership.

Marissa Conte, who now serves as Shadow Finance Minister told Scorzzi in the interview, “I think the forces for an Euclean Etruria failed to recognise the importance of country is for many working-class voters. We failed to realise that we had moved ahead of them by decades, perhaps we should have waited until the 2030s to put a vote to the people.”

Giacomo Aurelio Bernadino, who is now the shadow foreign minister said, “Our politics was bad, we couldn’t confront the Tribunes using working class grievances against immigrants and the idea of same-sex marriage, or even normalising LGBT people to conflate such with EC membership.”

Maura Belvedere, the Shadow Minister for Education blamed the Church for the defeat, “we have millions of people in this country wedded to provincial and frankly, parochial ideas, that are now a real hinderance to the country’s progression as a modern liberal democracy in Euclea. Whether it’s the Church, nationalism or nativism, all of it stems from old-world views.”

However, Chiara Mastromarino, who seeks to become President on October 8th was equally disparaging of the hardworking Sotirian families.

In her segment the now leader of the SD condemned the Tribunes for “claiming falsely that EC membership would mean abortions for everyone, gay marriage, secularism and mass immigration. This is false, no one is championing this as part of the EC future we were heading toward.

“Though its truly saddening to see that these falsehoods worked. It shows the real disconnect between those who want an Euclean Etruria, free from the past and past mistakes and those who are frightened by positive change or oppose such because they know no better” she said.

In a second segment, Mastromarino blamed the failure of working-class voters to forgo their faith and patriotism on successive post-1984 governments.

“When we look back, I think its important to realise they’ve been let down, successive governments have allowed them to remain narrowminded and blind to the benefits of the wider world.”

In fairness to Mastromarino, the award for most deplorable leftist goes to Stepjan Kocar, the now General-Secretary of the SD, who was blunt as ever, “we lost because we didn’t realise that over half the country are addicted to nationalism and prefer racist demagogues over Euclean modernity.”


The Tribunes have said so all along


The Tribunes for their part have been saying that the SD and the CA hold the Etrurian people in contempt throughout the election. Though, their charge has been confined to referencing to their joint boycott the constitutional referendum in August. Their attacks on the liberal-left as anti-democratic for boycotting and sabotaging the referendum because they did not trust the people to vote their way now holds up.

The working class voters who have defected to the SD and those thinking of doing so, and we stress, that is their right – the Tribunes economic record is perhaps the weakest of its whirlwind five years of reform; now clearly see what the SD truly thinks of them. Just like every other liberal-left element in Euclea, they will offer the world and once in power, revert to focusing in “their people”, the metropolitan professionals, the citizens of nowhere, loyal to no nation.

The fact that none of these scenes made it into the documentary when it aired in mid-2017, says much about the director and ARE. Though, since ARE’s executive board was sacked by the Tribune government in 2019 for failing to uphold ARE’s chartered duties, the public broadcaster has significantly improved, though many on the radical left would disagree, owing to their daily accusations the body is a government mouthpiece.

The removal of these segments did a disservice to the SD and the Etrurian people at large. Had we seen what these people truly thought, perhaps the SD could have matured into a competent and truly national party, and we would know to slap away the honeyed words of Mastromarino and her frontbench.


This is not about class its about the soul


It would be wrong to frame this sad development as a new milestone in the return of class conflict in Etruria, for its much more than that. This country is naturally conservative, we are imbued with a unique unity through Catholicism and our God, a unique unity through our Solarian heritage and our nation’s long and tormented history. But the advent of the EC and their cheerleaders on the nihilistic left in Etruria has led to a new class conflict. But not between the bourgeoise and the proletariat, rather between the patriotic and the cosmopolitan. The Tribunes, so successful in uniting the patriotic community includes not just working class families, but those of the lower-middle class who, have kept their faith in Jesus Sotirias and their patriotism even as they have done successfully in life.

The SD’s strategy of talking “economy, economy, economy” has done remarkably well in fracturing that patriotic base, but now there’s a chance for the base to re-unify against the threat the liberal-left poses. At long last, this base has the freedom to speak and to be heard. The Tribune government, for all its successes and failures, has instigated a sea change in Etrurian politics, a great re-alignment and coming together. It is vital now that we do not allow this change to come apart, it is vital that the patriotic base be preserved and Etruria continue down the path to civic virtue, popular democracy, faith and patriotism.

That is why the Telegrafo Solariano endorses the Tribune Movement and the Patria alliance. Only they can save Etruria from a return of the SD, only they can preserve Etruria’s progress and only they can preserve the voice of millions that now speaks and its heard. If they are defeated, that voice will be smothered out by those who hold the speakers in utter contempt.


© Altrio Media. 2021


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-AlEmAnNiA-
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Left-Leaning College State

Postby -AlEmAnNiA- » Thu Sep 30, 2021 4:02 pm

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Etruria2
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Ex-Nation

Postby Etruria2 » Sat Oct 02, 2021 6:20 am

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SD falls on back foot over the EC and documentary leak
SD sees momentum slip away as it faces criticism over its EC policy and fallout from the leaked ARE documentary footage
ETRURIA VOTA 2021 by Emilio Farinacci
01 October , 2021

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SD's Secretary for Media Relations, Bruno Verdi has been absent from the airwaves as the SD struggles to
regain momentum

Throughout the election so far, momentum has been firmly behind the SD, which has decimated the Tribunes’ lead, but now the party is on the back foot as the Tribunes seize on contradictory responses to its EC policies and the fallout of the leaked documentary footage showing senior party figures make controversial comments about voters who rejected EC membership.

Since yesterday, the SD has been unofficial crisis mode as it seeks to limit the damage of both its flipflopping over the EC and the Tribunes now triumphant attacks over the SD’s perceived “patrician arrogance.” Chiara Mastromarino has not been seen at any major events but is expected to take part in Friday’s final television debate.


SD’s position on the EC is all over the place

On Wednesday, the SD’s spokesman for Foreign Affairs Giacomo Aurelio Bernadino inadvertently was filmed talking to party activists at the manifesto launch, where he told them, “There’s much to be excited about. For starters if we win the election, we need to be ready from day one to see Etrurian membership of the EC become a reality.”

The SD then issued a party statement saying Bernadino misspoke and meant “that the Etrurian people can be rest assured that from day one, the SD government will focus on restoring our special relationship with the Community, our drift toward the Soravian totalitarian west will end.”

However, within minutes, several SD frontbenchers were quoted expressing their unrestrained support for EC membership. Marissa Conte, the shadow spokesperson for Finance was quoted by the local newspaper in her constituency, “this is a key policy of the SD, it provides the people a great objective to achieve, it will be a marker I think, of how far we will have come from the dark days we’ve lived through.”

“This is what we should be doing, EC membership will provide an extra defence against the far-right, once Etruria achieves status as a true Euclean democracy, the far-right will be kneecapped and this country, needs it” Boris Doric, the deputy leader of the SD in Novalia was quoted to have said.

With senior figures contradicting the party statement, the situation only worsened once a group of SD Senators published a public letter to the leadership on Thursday evening calling on the party to formally endorse EC membership.

In the letter signed by 12 office holders, the authors said, “it is pivotal that any SD government or SD-led government pursue EC membership, as it constitutes the ultimate course correction from the five years of authoritarianism, racism and bigotry that we have endured. To secure EC membership is to stamp Etruria’s rehabilitation and restoration as a vibrant democracy.”

SD leader Chiara Mastromarino herself flipflopped in a short interview with the L’Araldo Fauliana saying, “EC membership is something to be cherished, but the people rejected this five years ago. We need to be open minded on the issue, times change and people’s minds change. We cannot rule it out indefinitely, even if it won’t be happening straight away.”

A party spokesman then contradicted the party leader by reaffirming the SD’s rejection of EC membership at a press event, “the SD is categorically not going into this election promising a referendum.”

The SD’s confusing position has lent the Tribunes and the Citizens’ vital ammunition. For the government, who has been haemorrhaging support since the disastrous referendum in August, have attacked the SD for being anti-democratic and unchanged from its patrician and arrogant form five years ago.

At a rally in rural Veratia, Interior Minister Gianfranco Galizzia said, “first they boycott a referendum, sabotaging it, now they seek to undo the 2016 EC result. We, the people, rejected it five years ago, to think we’ve changed our minds simply because the SD thinks so, is pure arrogance. No one want this this hubris in government.”

Finance Minister Leandro Laezza also said, “the manifesto is from 2016, the attitude is from 2016, but Etruria wants to live and thrive in 2021. The SD has not only failed to change itself, but its blinkered views have also not changed.”

The Citizens’ have also attacked the SD for “living in an alternate universe” and “failing to recognise the sea change among Etrurians. We rejected it, lamentable it is, but it must be accepted. The Citizens are not proposing membership, merely the closest economic and diplomatic relationship there can be short of membership.”


SD seemingly blindsided by the Documentary leak

In the most controversial event of the election so far, the SD has been struck by the fallout of the leaked Documentary footage published on Thursday. The footage which shows the SD’s most senior figures making questionable comments on voters who rejected EC membership has thrown the party firmly on its backfoot.

The party’s official spokesman issued a statement saying, “the party has observed the leaked footage, which was quite clearly obtained through illegal means. The comments made by key individuals were made in error and as a result of frustration and disappointment over the failure of the EC referendum.

“The comments reflect the passion and commitment these key individuals held in wishing to see Etruria ascend into the EC. Having failed as a result of Sotirian Democratic incompetence and the propagandised lies and conspiracy theories of the Tribune Movement, the SD as a whole was grieving the loss. The party as a whole, unreservedly apologises for any offence caused, but wishes to assure the Etrurian people, that these views are yesterday’s and not today’s. These were the views of a party who were upset, ultimately, at themselves, and we have more than hope in that our policies reflect we are the party of working people”

However, the feeling within the party is that the leaked footage could prove devastating. One SD official who spoke to us under condition of anonymity said, “the leaked documentary scenes have the potential to blunt the progress we’ve made, let alone undo the progress we’ve made reclaiming working class votes from the Tribunes. Even if the leak was done illegally, people will not be talking about it, rather they’ll be talking about the content.”

The damage is already being seen on social media, where voters unleashed a torrent of invective toward the SD for the comments. The hashtag #Cazzate (Vespasian for bulls**t) has been trending on Chirpr in astronomical numbers following the SD’s official statement. The Tribunes seized on the hashtag, with President Carcaterra, nominally calm and reserved at major speeches, raged that the SD had “dared venture to fool us all into thinking they’d changed. These comments were made a year after the referendum, not a day after. Have they changed? No, its all bulls**t, they hate you.”

ARE, which has been subject to repeated claims of unequivocal bias toward the Tribunes sent out reporters for the 10pm news on Thursday to ask voters how they felt about the SD’s comments.

One woman was filmed saying, “I voted no to membership, not because I am stupid or racist, but because I firmly believe that northern values would be forced upon us. I am a proud Catholic and sorry, I do not believe in same-sex marriage like the North does. The SD should move to the EC, leave us alone.”

Another man from Supetar said, “I voted no because I do not want the Euclo, you’re giving control to Kesselbourg and frankly that’s not what most Etrurians wanted. We’re a strong independent country. That doesn’t make me racist or stupid, or narrowminded. The SD can f**k off.”

ARE ran the story of the leak all day, dedicating its in-house political editors and experts in discussing how the story revealed the “galactic-wide gulf between the SD and ordinary voters.”

However, the SD attempted to counter-attack this morning by requesting the National Police Service investigate the leak, after it was revealed by an ARE statement confirming that “all productions produced by ARE are archived for posterity at a secure facility.” The public broadcaster has not confirmed or denied, whether its facility was broken into, raising questions whether an ARE employee had leaked the footage.

In a statement, the SD said, “we have deep concerns that either ARE was subject to a break-in by pro-government elements, or that one of its own opted to leak footage to influence the election to benefit the Tribune Movement. We are formally requesting a police investigation as soon as possible to ensure that no further efforts are made to influence the election through criminality.”

The party is expecting a rough time at tonight’s second and final TV debate, hosted by ARE. It will be broadcasted on AREuno from 8pm.


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© Media Aventina. 2021


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Etruria2
Diplomat
 
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Founded: Feb 11, 2017
Ex-Nation

Postby Etruria2 » Sat Oct 02, 2021 5:56 pm

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President Carcaterra calls for a People's Crusade in televised address to the nation
As the SD is sideswiped by the documentary leak and its contradictory position on undoing the 2016 EC referendum, the President has doubled down
ELETZIONE 2021 by Gavrillo Fillipo Carletto
30 September , 2021

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President Francesco Carcaterra calling for the People's Crusade

President Francesco Carcaterra in a televised address has called on voters to join the “people’s crusade” against “weakness, nihilism, socialism and elitism.” His speech follows shocking leaked footage of senior SD politicians from a 2017 documentary insulting working class voters. The address was criticised by the Independent Electoral Observatory, which they claimed violated election rules.

As the Tribunes use increasingly war-like rhetoric to frame the election, the President stepped it up with a call to arms of the “patriotic and the faithful” against a “political coalition that would fail to deliver change, fail to guarantee economic security and fail to listen to the majority of people in this country.”

“The achievements of the past five years, the reorientation of our economic system away from feathering the nests of a tiny elite, to the men and women who’s toil delivers them their profits face being undermined or even outright roll-backed. This is just true as the social revolution we have overseen, in which our Sotirian, family and Etrurian virtues have been elevated to form the bedrock of how our country conducts itself” he said further.

He told viewers, “we face a coalition that marks its boldness and bravery on how they are willing to rollback policies almost 50% of people voted for in 2018, they are mark their bravery and commitment to what they perversely call democracy by seeking to renege the 2016 EC referendum because the people who rejected it are deplorable and parochial.”

“These forces arrayed against us are not for the greater good, they are not for the national interest, they are not for Etruria’s interest. They are for their own interests, they are beholden to international influences and will condemn millions of Etrurians to silence and disenfranchisement in service to those ideals and interests. This is why we must wage a people’s crusade through the ballot box, a holy war for Sotirian Etruria by voting. I call on all patriotic and faithful Etrurians to join our people’s crusade for the defence of our democracy and our Republic” he said.

The President, in an effort to shore up wavering voters said, “with the Tribunes you can be rest assured, the changes and reforms needed to unleash this country’s economic potential will be our main priority. With the SD you can be assured that nothing will happen, nothing that will benefit you and your family.”

“The government is championing a plan that radically transform how citizens are taxed, so that our system is more fair, more respectful to the costs and sacrifices of families and asks those wealthier to take up their duty as citizens of our Republic. We will continue to reform how our state works so that is more accountable to you, answerable to you and enacts your wishes, not enforcing what it thinks you wish to happen.

“We have delivered our promises for five straight years, if returned to government, will do so again with greater vigour and energy. This is just the beginning and I assure you, the end will be see Etruria become its very best” he said.

The leaked footage from the 2017 EC referendum has thrown a curveball into the SD’s campaign and resulted in a boost of Tribune support, though several polls were conducted before the leak, indicating a return of voters to the governing party.

The leaked footage has also delivered the Tribune Movement significant evidence of its attack on the SD as “arrogant” and “dismissive of the patriotic working class.” The Tribunes have since stepped up their criticisms stating that the SD, as a “patrician and metropolitan party, will condemn the rural and urban working classes to five years of dismal living.”

Deputy President Vittoria Vasari during a visit to Povelia told supporters, “you can see the SD government now, more taxes, more restrictions on free speech, gay marriage, abortion and the silencing and marginalisation of half of society.”

The President is expected to enter tomorrow’s televised debate with a spring in his step, and a long sheet of attacks on the SD.

© Altrio Media. 2021


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Etruria2
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Founded: Feb 11, 2017
Ex-Nation

Postby Etruria2 » Sat Oct 02, 2021 7:17 pm

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ARE Televised Debate: President Carcaterra broadsides Mastromarino in showdown
President Francesco Carcaterra was voted the overwhelming winner of the ARE debate and may have secured a knockout blow with his attack, “the SD dislike the rich, but they hate the poor.”
ELETZIONE 2021 by Gavrillo Fillipo Carletto
02 October , 2021

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President Francesco Carcaterra during the televised debate

The second and final televised debate hosted by ARE proved a dramatic showdown between President Francesco Carcaterra and SD leader Chiara Mastromarino. The debate also marked the first appearance of Aurelia Favazza, the leader of the hard-left Popular Renewal party. The president was voted the winner by a large margin following the debate, with some commentators claiming his line, “the SD dislike the rich, but they hate the poor” as a knock-out blow against the SD which has surged in support since the election began.

Here are key points from the debate.


EC issue proves problematic for Mastromarino

As has become a tradition in this election, Mauro Cesare Capra began the debate with a strike on Mastromarino, though this time on the SD’s vacillating position on EC membership.

“One key quality of governance and indeed personal leadership is decisiveness, while the President is indeed decisive, its all on the wrong things and at the expense of entire segments of society. But what we see with the SD on EC membership falls far short of Etrurians needs from a government. The SD’s position is so bizarre and confusing, that I do not even think the most experienced decryption experts could fathom what it is” he said.
Asked by the host Giuliana Fafani whether the pro-EC Citizens would pursue membership he replied, “absolutely not. The people voted and its was a once in a fifty year event, we would pursue a close relationship with the EC, but not membership.”

In an attempt to clear up the confusion, Mastromarino interjected to say, “first, I would not look to the Citizens for definitions of decisiveness, that’s been lacking on their side for five years uninterrupted. As for the EC situation, our position is clear, we will pursue the closest relationship possible and if public opinion changes, we will be willing and able to re-engage with the membership process, that is not anti-democratic.”

The President merely shook his head in disappointment throughout the segment, and refused to answer EC related questions by saying, “I have nothing to say on the situation, I do not even know it is an issue in this race. The people voted, the people said no. This is 2021, not 2016. So no comment from me.”

Aurelia Favazza in her debut appearance in this election, added further scorn on the SD saying, “this is merely more proof of the vacuity of the centrist left, utterly devoid of innovation and ideas. Subscribing to a neoliberal club that dresses up as pro-worker with this faux steel initiative is not the answer.”


Political violence sparks clashes

The issue of violence between “anti-functionalist” groups and far-right “ultras” has been a low-level but high burning one throughout the election. At least 200 people have been arrested and 30 injured in repeated clashes between the two extremes. Asked what the leaders thought and how they would deal with these groups provoked bitter exchanges.

President Carcaterra blamed the violence on the far-left saying, “in virtually every case, the violence is instigated by the so-called anti-functionalists. So certain of their moral superiority and ideological purity that they think they’re above the law. They are not. They brought death to our streets in the early Summer, they torched government buildings in Faulia and now they brutalise Tribune activists. If they think they will get a free ride after we are elected, they so mistaken.”

Mastromarino attacked the President for endorsing and inciting violence, “throughout this election you and your party have used language that frankly belongs in the past. You and your party have used militaristic and war-like rhetoric for weeks and this only fuels the hatred and criminality of the far-right thugs that support you. The blood on our streets are on your hands.”

Capra joined Mastromarino, criticising the President’s televised address last night saying, “calling for a People’s Crusade is precisely what we do not want in this election. The Tribunes’ addiction to division and tribalism is fuelling far-right violence and calling for a holy war is not the answer. I know the President yearns to be a modern day Caciarelli, but he is not.”

The President retorted quickly, “I may not be Caciarelli, but you two are most certainly Malaspina and Danova”, referring to the two other revolutionary leaders who sought an anti-clerical republic similar to that in Werania, until they were killed during the La Purga.


Issue of the Documentary footage sees Mastromarino take a fatal blow

The most anticipated question soon arrived, with Giuliana Fafani directing a question to Mastromarino asking if she still thought the working class were “narrowminded and parochial.” What followed may well be the most pivotal moment of the election.

She replied by saying, “when the documentary was being produced, I, like millions of Etrurians were infuriated by the defeat of EC membership. For many of us, it was the final milestone in rehabilitating our democracy after a twenty-four year military dictatorship. We struggled to understand what went wrong and comments were made out of the defeated passion. But no, I do not believe working people in this country are narrowminded or parochial.”

Before Favazza could invite any other leader to discuss the issue, President Carcaterra interjected by saying, “everything you just said is utter nonsense, if not blatant deceit” sparking loud cheers from the audience.
“If you truly believe that the people of this country are going to fall for that you are mistaken. If you said those things days or even weeks after the referendum then, the benefit of the doubt is yours, but this was over a year later. You stand there, offer up your fake mea culpa and expect us to buy it, when your policies in your manifesto hold up the charge you have not changed. You want to rollback the pro-family reforms of this government, return abortion and legalise same-sex marriage, where support for that exists no where except on university grounds.

“Signora, mea culpa all you like. But I will tell the good people of Etruria this for a fact. The SD dislike the rich, but they hate the poor.” The audience erupted into loud applause and cheers as Mastromarino stood in silence, he even received a sarcastic slow clap from Favazza.

Her attempts at a retort were drowned out by the audience, before Capra was able to laud the “real time demise of social democracy in this country.”


Immigration and refugees results in insults

A major issue of the election has been immigration and refugees, with the SD and Citizens’ promising to rollback what they have called “racist policies.” However, the President surprised his opponents by proclaiming a change in policy.

“We will be initiating a nationwide crack down those who employ illegal immigrants, and those who shelter them, whether they be a hotel, a hostel or a motel. To employ or shelter an illegal immigrant, will result in an experience of this country’s justice system” he said.

But the big surprise came when he followed this up with a promise to “open up the process to enable Tsabaran Sotirians to seek and secure sanctuary in this country, for all Sotirians must stand together, in this increasingly anti-God and anti-Sotirias world.”

This prompted a bitter exchange with the far-left Favazza who interjected to say, “to see the President of this country say that we will only let in Sotirians as if he was given the sermon on the mount is sight to behold. Even being merciful to those who have lost everything needs a touch of sectarianism and racism.”

The President replied, “I often forget for you on the far-left fringe, being Etrurian and Sotirian is an ailment, not a gift from God. East Miersa is in need of soldiers, perhaps you and your party could aid them in that and leave the rest of us be.”


Analysis: A bitter blow for Mastromarino and a poor showing by Agrella

The ARE debate was set to be a feisty one, little did many know, that it would be brutal. The president’s attack, “the SD dislike the rich, but they hate the poor” may well go down as the line that sunk the SD’s surge. Having continuously described the SD as patrician, metropolitan and arrogant for five years, the documentary footage only serve to entrench this as a fact.

While again, the debate was short on policy details, it further provided a meaningful presentation of the leaders as prospective head of the nation. While Mastromarino held her own in the first half, the documentary issue proved a hill to steep to climb. Perhaps the lack of policy talk goes some way to explain the poor showing by Vittore Eugenio Agrella, the leader of the Sotirian People’s Force. He has led a rather lacklustre campaign, though his proclamation of the FPS’ willingness to prop up an SD government may have caused the party more issues. The party has simply been unable to steal more Tribune votes and his near silent performance may well indicate a sub-conscious acceptance of defeat.

Capra was voted as coming second in the debate after the President, he has consistently proven to be a problem for Mastromarino, who has developed a popular following as the “the guy who hits them low, as President Carcaterra hits them high”, due to his talent for kicking the SD leader when she’s down. The problem for the Citizens is that many of Mastromarino’s counter-punches have landed blows, with many voters who fled the party for the SD regularly cited its poor record as the party of opposition.

© Altrio Media. 2021


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MORE ELECTION HEADLINES
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  • Opinion: If the Documentary leak was illegal, the perpetrator should be pardoned [12150]

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West Miersa
Bureaucrat
 
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Founded: Aug 02, 2020
Ex-Nation

Postby West Miersa » Sun Oct 03, 2021 12:48 pm

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Adrian Rozak sworn in as the tenth President of Miersa
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President Adrian Rozak delivering his inaugural speech with his wife, Szarlota Rozak


CITY OF ŻOBRODŻ - Today, former Minister-President Adrian Rozak was sworn in on the grounds of the Żobrodź Castle as the tenth President of the Miersan Sotirian Republic, succeeding outgoing President Sylwester Wrzesiński, who at his Nativity speech in January announced his intention to not run for a second term. This marks only the second occasion that an incumbent President chose not to run for a second term, after Iwon Wojdyla in 1961.

After President Adrian Rozak was sworn in, his Vice-President, Jonatan Drozdowski was sworn in as the first Vice-President of the Miersan Sotirian Republic, with the position created in the aftermath of the Third Amendment that passed the National Assembly and was ratified by the voivodeships last October to safeguard Miersan democracy.

Following the ceremony, President Adrian Rozak delivered the traditional inaugural speech, with Rozak congratulating his predecessor "on his accomplishments to safeguard Miersa and its democratic traditions" during Sylwester Wrzesiński's time in office, and wished him "the best of luck in all future endeavours."

His speech then focused on his agenda for the next five years, with Rozak saying that "the Miersan people have chosen someone that will protect the security of the Miersan nation from terrorism, from rebellion, and from any other threats that may befall us. Miersans deserve safety and security, and as I said a few weeks ago with President Wrzesiński, we will use every arrow in our quiver to deal with the górale."

"Yet, we want peace with all nations and all the states in the world," Rozak said. "To this end, I would like to extend an invitation to the leader of the eastern voivodeships in order to discuss issues of mutual concern, and come to an agreement to resolve tensions between the Miersan government and the eastern authorities, and to discuss the górale matter."

Rozak then presented his economic plans for the next five years, saying "it is time to liberalise our economy and open it up to foreign competition. This government will return to basics, and to this end, the Miersan government will plan on privatising many of the government-run corporations, such as GAZM, TeleMiers, and KrayElektry, in order to foster economic growth, and to close the gap between the Miersan nation and the Soravian nation [economically]. We want to make sure that the children of Miersa have a better future here, and not feel compelled to leave just because there are no opportunities in Miersa."

President Rozak then said that "in the next few days, we will have a cabinet that will be comprised of the most qualified. While the exact details are still a bit hazy, I can tell you for sure that several ministers from the previous cabinet during my time as Minister-President will remain in their positions. As I said in 2016, 'we should only appoint the most qualified individuals to cabinet: we should not appoint someone just because they look pretty.' This, of course means that those who aren't as qualified will not keep their positions."

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Caltarania
Postmaster-General
 
Posts: 12931
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Etruria2
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BREAKING 3 killed and 6 injured in drive-by shooting of far-left protest in Schiuntrave


By Ugo Spinelli
04 October 2021 - 16.30pm

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This is a breaking story - more updates to follow.

At least three people have been reported killed and six more injured in an apparent drive-by shooting of a far-left anti-Tribune protest in Schiuntrave. The National Police Service have evacuated the Piazza Singoria and cordoned off the area.

This is a breaking story, we will bring you updates as we receive them.

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2022 annual Budget presented to the Folkssenaat
Alsland's government presented its budget for 2022 on Thursday with a raft of new reforms, but whether they actually come to fruition depends on whether the government can gather enough support in the Folkssenaat.
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Finance Secretary Ạlfgar Þraller presenting the budget in the Folkssenaat this morning.

Finance Secretary Ạlfgar Þraller presented the annual budget to the Folkssenaat which is the first budget of the Möller government. The Progressive Alliance minority government is looking to win votes from Together for the Republic or the miscellaneous left parties, but neither is completely satisfied with the measures announced on Monday.


“It is not at all a given [that the Workers Party will vote for the government’s budget],” said Workers Party leader Jabik Nieuwenhuis in a radio interview after the budget was presented. He described the budget as a “mixed picture” with "both good and bad qualities." He lamented the fact that the government had dismissed calls to implement a Universal Basic income which his party has been pushing for in recent years: "[Ạlfgar Þraller] has ignored public opinion by not including a UBI in this year's budget, we will discuss this with the party but it certainly is depressing that [the government] hasn't proposed this."

ASAY's leadership were also unimpressed by the budget with ASAY's spokesperson for the economy Sarah Wehausen criticising what she called "a cynical attempt to relax labour laws". Wehausen was significantly more critical of the proposed budget that Nieuwenhuis as she said the requirement for small companies to cover sick pay which was included is "merely a distraction from the bigger picture."

However a major request from left-wing parties was met as the budget includes albeit minor tax cuts for low and middle-income earners which will be matched by slight tax increases elsewhere according to Ạlfgar Þraller.

Together for the Republic officials were also critical of this year's budget. Former Finance Secretary and Together for the Republic's current spokesperson for Financial affairs delivered a blistering criticism of the budget in the Folkssenaat on how the budget dealt with law and order and long-term unemployment. “These problems which have escalated over the last few years need to be dealt with by Alslandic politics. It doesn’t work to shift the focus to other things, the government’s most important task is to help people feel safe and to be safe,” he said. “The budget doesn’t deal with Alsland's financial problems.”

Some of the key demands from the Together for the Republic, which until earlier this year was aligned to the government, include changes to labour law, making it easier to build alongside riverbanks and to strengthen the rights of forestry owners. A proposal to increase funding towards building affordable housing in Yndyk and build several "eco towns" was also rejected.

The budget proposed by Möller will face off against an opposition budget in the coming weeks. Talks between Together for the Republic and the National Bloc regarding an opposition budget have sidelined left-leaning parties, if the government's budget fails to pass it will be the first time since 2011 that an opposition budget passes. The 2011 budget caused the collapse of the government led by Asser Toman.

There is the option to make some changes to the budget in spring, but certain decisions are fixed for a full year.

Speculation that the government will fail to pass the budget have increased after the response from other parties. An opposition budget between Together for the Republic and the National Bloc would likely pass giving both blocs leverage to either force an early legislative election or the possibility of forming a coalition if the centrist candidates win the upcoming National Bloc leadership election.

"An early legislative election is not out of the question" said Premier Ottila Möller if the government fails to pass the budget. "My message is to the opposition is simple, support this budget and work for the people. Don't be seen as the people who forced this country back to the polls less than a year after last year's elections."


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Etruria2
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Postby Etruria2 » Mon Oct 04, 2021 4:12 pm

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Three dead after suspected far-right gun attack on anti-government protest
NPS confirm they have detained three suspects as election campaign is postponned.
ETRURIA VOTA 2021 by Emilio Farinacci
04 October , 2021

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Police have cordoned off the Piazza Signoria in central Schiuntrave and deployed a heavy presence across the city

Three people have been confirmed killed and eight injured following a drive-by shooting incident in Schiuntrave. The perpetrators have been arrested and face possible terrorism charges for the attack on the far-left protest. All party leaders have agreed to postpone campaigning for 48 hours out of respect to the victims. President Francesco Carcaterra has vowed to crack down on political violence, while subtly blaming the far-left.
An estimated 1,200 people were engaging in anti-government protests on the Piazza Signoria, when a black Cavalieri A-20 4x4 drove past at a fast speed, eyewitnesses reported a masked man with what appeared to be a sub-machine gun, who then opened fire on the crowd, firing bullets wildly.

Two people were killed instantly, while a third died just prior to the arrival of ambulances. Seven others were wounded, including two who have suffered serious injuries, though the Lady of Mercy Hospital has since confirmed that both are in a stable condition. The victims have been identified and their families informed. Following the incident, the NPS accessed the city’s CCTV systems and identified the perpetrators’ car by its license plate.

The spokesman for the NPS confirmed two hours later that, “in response to the incident in Schiuntrave today, officers were able to identify the vehicle used and tracked it to an address in Montenero, the address was raided, and we have arrested three individuals in connection to the incident.”

The police have not revealed any details about the suspects, though initial reports that all three are in their mid to late 20s was not denied by the spokesman.

Eyewitnesses in Schiuntrave report hearing what sounded like fireworks for several seconds before a wave of screams and cries echoed around the square. The protest was peaceful throughout the day and no reports of clashes between the USWL and far-right groups were made.

The United Socialist Worker’s League, the organisation that led the protest has blamed the far-right for the incident. In an online statement, the group said, “today we mourn three brave souls who had the courage to denounce the most far-right government since the War. Their courage brought the fury of the far-right thugs who terrorise our streets. We will remember them and we will never forget, nor forgive.”
All political parties competing in the federal election have agreed to postpone campaigning for 48 hours out of respect for the victims and their families.

President Francesco Carcaterra issued a statement via the Office of the President saying, “the events in Schiuntrave today were truly horrific and tragic. My family and I extend our deepest condolences to the families of those killed and injured. I am sure that I speak on behalf of the nation when I say that they will be in our prayers and thoughts tonight.

“This government regrets the loss of life in Schiuntrave today, it is this criminality, violent thuggery that brings our democracy in disrepute. I call on those who engage in political provocations and agitation to cease immediately, for this behaviour demeans our republic and will entice those in opposition to you, to escalate."

The Office of the President followed an hour later with a further statement indicating the President’s willingness to authorise the deployment of the Auxiliary Defence Force if requested by State Prefects to provide extra security at polling stations. The statement also revealed that the government has ordered a crackdown on political violence through a joint operation between the National Police Service and the Civil Security Service.
Chiara Mastromarino on behalf of the SD said, “the events in Schiuntrave today have brought a dark cloud over our democracy and our society. The events today are a stark reminder of how far we have fallen in our standards. Our words have meaning, our rhetoric leaves impressions, for ill and the good. Murdering and the harming of innocents whom you disagree with is not worthy of a civilised society. Martial rhetoric, warlike rhetoric has no place in democracy and those who engage in such talk must change their ways immediately before more blood is spilt.

“I and the entire Social Democratic Party offer our deepest condolences to the victims and their families and expect the NPS to counter the rising threat of violence with speed and dispatch.”

Popular Renewal which boasts close ties with the USWL and various anti-functionalist groups across Etruria was less courteous in its statement. Released on social media, the far-left party openly accused the Tribune Movement of responsibility, with its leader, Aurelia Favazza saying, “three young people lay dead on our streets because the Tribunes called for a People’s Crusade. This is it, this is their holy war. Three lives lost because of the far-right government we endure, but not for long.”

Several days ago, President Francesco Carcaterra in a televised address (also in violation of electoral rules) called for the “mobilisation of the patriotic and faithful” to wage a “people’s crusade against the coalition of chaos.” While he explicitly said it would be waged at the ballot box, far-right groups, including the various football Ultras that support the Tribunes took it more literally.

The Legione Nera, the largest ultra in Etruria chirpred, “what a speech, we can tell you Chief, we are all crusaders here and we’re ready to wage a crusade on socialism.”

La Cittadella, the far-right protest movement which has marched daily in Tyrrenhus the past week also embraced the “people’s crusade.” In a lengthy post issued online, the group which boasts 8,000 members wrote, “the call for a crusade against socialism, liberalism and the wide range of forces arrayed against Sotirian Etruria is one we will answer. We will hoist up with one hand, the Cross and the other, the Tricolore. We will drive the socialists back into the sea at the ballot box and on the streets.”

It is not known whether those arrested had any connection to an established group, or whether they were acting alone.

Interior Minister Gianfranco Galizia is to host a meeting of the National Security Council tomorrow to discuss the violence marring the election.


Editorial: This was inevitable when the governing party declares holy war on its opponents

Tensions between the far-left and far-right protest movements have been simmering since the mass protests and riots in July over the government’s corruption and the LGBT+ Free Zones introduced by Tribune-led states. The calling of a snap election following the government’s failed referendum only poured petrol on the coals.

Within days, hundreds of clashes have been reported across the country as anti-functionalists took to fist fighting far-right ultras and protesters. Above the fray over the airwaves, the Tribunes have depicted the election as a Manichean fight between good and evil, an ultimate showdown, literally, between the forces of Catholicism and those of Lucifer. While the Tribunes have relished division and discord, this escalation in rhetoric has betrayed their inherent fear and vulnerabilities, but to their foot soldiers, its all they needed to hear.

Even as the President’s call for a “People’s Crusade” at the ballot box may seem innocuous and rather more a rhetorical flourish, in reality he telegraphed to these foot soldiers that the fight is now the equivalent of a holy war. Interior Minister Gianfranco Galizia asking on ARE Radio 1, “what would St Michael the Archangel do when confronted by what we’re confronted by? I think he’d make good use of that holy spear of his” gives good credance to the very fine line the Tribunes first trod, only to then skydive over the edge.

Now three people are dead and seven others injured. Three people were murdered for expressing their dissatisfaction over a corrupt, hateful and authoritarian government. While the far-left protest movements are far from innocent in the violence, they have yet to gun anyone down. Now, that may well change.

We have three more days to go, but a lot can happen between now and polling day.


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MORE ELECTION HEADLINES
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  • What we know so far about the Schiuntrave attack [18632 ]
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  • Opinion: Eight people have died this year in political violence - its all on the Tribunes [12150]

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Parties hold last events of the election as Tribunes hold "victory mass"
The opposition hold major rallies in their respective strongholds, while the entire Tribune leadership took part in prayers for victory.
ETRURIA VOTA 2021 by Emilio Farinacci
07 October , 2021

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President Carcaterra addressing the "victory mass" in Monte Sagittario.

The parties have engaged in campaigning throughout the final day of this year’s tense and controversy-filled election. President Francesco Carcaterra in a first, attended a “victory mass” in Monte Sagittario, the town boasting the remains of Saint Metellus, the patron saint of Etruria. The mass was led by Archbishop Quintano Solariano Scicolone, who called on the Virgin Mary to “intercede on behalf of this imperfect yet faithful government, so that we may come closer to you Holy Queen, and to God our Lord.”

Opposition close their campaigns with major events

The Citizens, the SD and the FPS have all ended their campaigns with major events in their respective strongholds. The Citizens held a large rally in Faulia’s Piazza Malatesta, where Mauro Cesare Capra vowed to “continue the good fight for justice, freedom, liberty and prosperity in the Senate, in the states and on the streets.” He told supporters and every candidate running in the election, “whatever comes tomorrow, know that we did all we could. And that when history is written, they shall say, the Citizens’ did their civic duty, in pursuit of a more prefect republic.”

The SD held their final event in their historic stronghold of San Alessandro, where polls indicate they will expand their hold on the city in a 30-point landslide. However, unlike Capra who addressed the party, Chiara Mastromarino made one last pitch to voters.

She said, “to the people of Etruria I ask you too look deep inside. Ask yourselves honestly, ask your spouse, your parents, your siblings, if another five years of this government is really worth it. Can you truly afford five more years of Tribune division, hate mongering, fear mongering and ineptitude?”

“If the answer is no, if the answer is maybe, that is all you need to know before you make your decision tomorrow. If the answer is no or maybe, the SD is the only option.

“I know, many have doubt, I know many have had their trust shaken by the illegal leaking of footage from a certain documentary. But have faith in us, that we are authentic and true to you. If that were us now, would we be laser focused on fixing the problems in our economy, delivering you the kind of platform needed to ensure you put food on the table, that the schools you send your children to are up to standard, that the hospitals you may need up to standard.

“If you do not trust our words, then let us prove ourselves in action. Put the republic, democracy and decency first, put Etruria first when you vote tomorrow. Because none of us, can truly afford another five years of this government, it must be brought down” she said, receiving a standing ovation from the crowds at the Campi di Marte park.

The FPS held a smaller event in Turania, where Vittore Eugenio Agrella praised the work of the party’s candidates and grassroots activists.

“Tomorrow’s election is the most important and pivotal in a generation. Not since the Restoration in 1984, has a vote matter so much to the future of our country. All I can say that is whatever comes tomorrow, we did ourselves proud, the Sotirian Democratic movement proud and the nation proud” he said.

“We did what we could, but no matter what, tomorrow is just the beginning. The Sotirian People’s Force is here to stay and we will only become stronger from now on” he said further.


Tribune leadership attends “Victory Mass” in Monte Sagittario.

As the opposition parties held one last electoral events, the Tribunes for their part decided to hold a televised spectacle of a “victory mass” in the Palestrine town of Monte Sagittario. The entire Federal Cabinet, every Tribune Prefect and numerous guests of honour sat in rows within the courtyard of the Monastery of Saint Metellus, which houses the remains of the eponymous 5th century saint.

The event was led by Archbishop Quintano Solariano Scicolone, a prominent supporter of the government’s social policies.

The event took the form of a group prayer led by the archbishop, who called upon God to deliver victory for the Tribunes. The archbishop and cardinal then delivered a homily lavishing praise on the government for its “good works over the past five years.”

The archbishop in his first prayer said, “Lord Sotirias, you have brought us out of darkness into light. You have given us life more abundantly. You came to set the captives free, and therefore I declare and decree that every chain in our lives is broken. We are free from the lies of the enemy. The kingdom of darkness has no power over us. Devil, though you plot evil against us and devise wicked schemes, you will not succeed for Sotirias has triumphed over you by disarming and making you a public spectacle at the cross. We are walking in victory from today onwards. In Sotirias’ name, we pray, Amen.”

After the monastical choir sang a rendition of the Inno dei Solariani, Cardinal Scicolone offered a prayer to the Virgin Mary, saying, “Triumphant Mother of the Son, Triumphant over all Children of Adam we pray unto you. We ask you intercede on behalf of this imperfect yet faithful government, so that we may come closer to you Holy Queen, and to God our Lord. I ask you lady of clemency, lady of mercy to intercede for its victory, for before us lies the path to a great awakening in this country, we pray that you bless this country with victory tomorrow, so that we shall all awaken to the glory and truth of the gospel.”

In his homily, the archbishop said, “tomorrow is an auspicious day, a momentous day. Tomorrow the people will deliver their verdict, and I am sure, that it shall be a positive one for those assembled before me. In the government of today, the gospel lives, the faith lives and now permeates throughout society. The slow but steady slide into ignorance and away from our Lord God.”

“Civic virtue is returning, Sotirian values and principles are returning. For the sake of Etruria and her people, this great awakening must continue, for another five years if God permits it” he said.

The President offered a short speech, thanking the archbishop and the monastery for hosting the event. Before making a pitch to voters, “tomorrow is the culmination of this election, which has seen great tensions, difficulties and passion. Tomorrow is the culmination of all our work and is down to the people to decide whether we are worthy of five more years.”

“Since our movement was founded, we have strove to see in Etrurian government values and principles of our Sotirian faith. We have sought to govern with one hand holding the Cross and the other the tricolore. Come what may tomorrow, we shall move forward knowing that have been good on our promises, and done good work in God’s name and will continue to do so, come what may” he said further.


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MORE ELECTION HEADLINES
  • Fear of more political violence in wake of Schiuntrave [ 9037 ]
  • Torazza's state government orders all flags to flown at half-mast at request of Schiuntrave's mayor[ 7504 ]
  • President Carcaterra's backhanded condolence message [8932 ]
  • What we know so far about the Schiuntrave attack [18632 ]
  • Tribunes blame anti-functionalists for shooting on social meida [5047 ]
  • Opinion: Eight people have died this year in political violence - its all on the Tribunes [12150]

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Recently formed SIC charge 4 judges, entire Trovão elections committee, and over a dozen lawmakers
The Corruption Investigations Service says that their investigations into the July Trovão elections scandal has lead them to charge the entire Trovão elections committee, 13 lawmakers, and 4 judges from the Trovão high court.
Herberto Melo (@HerbertoMelo) | 6 October 2021 | Precea


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Tiago Montenegro is a well-known former member of the Paretian High Court known for taking down smuggling crime groups in 80s, he was charged by SIC today



Precea, Luzela: Today the recently formed Corruption Investigations Service (Serviço de investigações de corrupção), charged four Trovão judges, all members of the Trovão elections committee, and 13 lawmakers, mostly members of the UC, SD, and CpL. They were charged with corruption and misconduct of court and electoral official, election fraud, and for some treason against the United Kingdom. These charges come after the SIC was created and tasked with investigation the July Trovão election scandals, which was leaked by an now known secretary from the Trovão High Court, Bianca Gama. The SIC says that they plan on proceeding with putting those charged on trial by 2022.

The SIC of course was formed by Premier Cerqueira's government in August to deal with government corruption cases, with the goal of "cleaning the government", as stated by various Patron League members. It was criticized by opposition leaders and accused of being a weapon of the LP.

Of those charged include four of the five Trovão High Court judges, one notable one being Tiago Montenegro, a former member of the Paretia High Court and prosecutor who battled organized crime, today he had been arrested by SIC officers at his home. The entire Trovão elections committee has been charged, the SIC believes all of them conspired together. There are a total 13 lawmakers who have been charged as well, 11 of them are former lawmakers who lost their districts in the 2021 elections, the other 2 sitting members are both SD party members who retained their seats. Most of these former lawmakers, of both the Assembleia and Congresso, are members of the UC, SD, or CpL.

The SIC stated that they have found evidence that corroborates the allegations made by the leak in July, SIC chief Túlio Borges stated that the allegations "appear to be correct, with documents, e-mails, and orders made by these officials showing them working with the UC and other party candidates to try and find a way to come up with an excuse to remove the Patron League from the 2021 ballot. These including a few messages stating attempts at fabricating and framing wrongdoing by the Patron League in order to remove them from the 2021 ballot. This is currently evidence of corruption that threatens the electoral process and integrity of Paretia, and we have charged those involved with corruption, election fraud, court misconduct, and for the most egregious offenders, treason against the United Kingdom of Paretia. We will proceed with these arrests and trials accordingly and fairly."

Deputy Premier Caprichoso said today with a strong statement: "the government cleanup has begun, there will be nowhere left for the sanguessugas(bloodsuckers) to hide". Premier Cerqueira then proceeded with use of a calmer tone publicly "Justice will be done, but we will have a fair and correct trial, as of right now these charged are not guilty, yet." Justice Minister Algarves stated today similarly of a "just proceeding, but the evidence shows extensive corruption, e-mails stating framing my party, it is completely horrid". Minister of Public Security Roque said today this as well "The Paretian people cannot trust the institutions when this is what they do when they feel threatened, these institutions who call themselves prestigious and nonpartisan have failed the people and sold their souls to the status quo, and got caught doing so."

Conservative Union leader Miguelito do Rosário says that his party will "accept the charges if given a fair trial and voice for those accused" but he later stated that "can we trust that we can even have that, with a government like this?" Catholics for Liberty leader Campos said that he is in agreement with do Rosário, and that he expresses concerns with how the justice system will proceed. Both leaders have said that they were unaware of what the allegations describe, and the SIC has backed them up, stating that do Rosário and Campos are "both in the clear, having no evidence of knowledge of the events".

The Social Democrats are the only party with charged members being sitting members of the Congresso. SD leader Esmeralda Falcão says that she does not trust the SIC, stating that they are a weapon of the LP, and that the SD will "fight the accusations overwhelmingly, unlike the spineless CpL and UC, we do not believe a fair trial will occur at all. We will not let these far-right neo-functionalists destroy our judicial system. Look at Etruria, 3 are dead because of these so called "populist" ideals of the LP and Tribunes, we will fight this as much as possible." The SD party itself has stated that the SIC has told them the party's highest leadership are not involved in the allegations and will be in the clear.

Protests in Paretia have continued, mostly left-wing, since the LP's abortion law passed, many calling the Patron League "neo-functionalist" and "authoritarian". Pro-LP counter protests have also started in the same areas, already leading to agitators fighting in street brawls. Paretian police chiefs have stated concerns that more violence will grow, and likely major rioting in Paretian cities. After the events of Etruria that saw the death of 3 left-wing protesters, the SD has stated concerns for their protests and called for police protection. However right-wing protests have called on Cerqueira to "clean up the entire government", others calling for an EC exit referendum stating that the EC is the reason for corruption, and many calling for a "Paretian people's crusade", emulating Etruria's Carcaterra.
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In Other News:
  • PARETIA - SD sounds concerns of similar far-right attacks in Paretia
  • EUCLEA - Right-wing attack in Etruria kills three, opposition blames Tribune rhetoric
  • EUCLEA - Etruria, will they quit on the Tribunes? Only tomorrow's election will tell
  • PARETIA - Premier Cerqueira calls Le Monde piece on Euclean right-wing "ludicrous and fantastical"
  • PARETIA - Anti and Pro LP protests in Paretia grow due to violence in Etruria, with some small brawls


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Tribunes win huge majority but fall short of two-thirds


By Ugo Spinelli
09 October 2021 - 16.30pm

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The new Chamber of Representatives.


The Tribune Movement has won the 2021 federal election, securing a huge 146-seat majority in the Chamber of Representatives. The governing party holds 373 seats out of 600, this includes 29 seats captured by candidates from the Social Party. However, due to losses suffered by the Farmers and Workers Union, the Patria bloc is 4 seats short of the two-thirds majority to amend the constitution. The SD, gained 128 seats, becoming the new Party of Opposition, as the Citizens’ suffered decimation across the board. The Sotirian People’s Force retained just 4 of its 51 seats, while Popular Renewal has entered the Senate for the first, capturing three seats.

The Tribunes have won five more years in government, with a colossal 146-seat majority. Though this is down from the 402 seats they held prior to the election, due to both the reduction in number of Representatives from 680 to 600 and 13 seats being lost to the SD. While winning a landslide majority, the Tribunes saw their share of the vote decline across the country, with the SD reducing majorities to varying degrees of success, however, the party increased its share of the vote in Carinthia and Aeolia.

The Tribunes suffered losses in Chiastre and Dinara, where the SD made gains at their expense, even in relatively rural seats. The SD also seized seats from the Tribunes in Palestrina, but the biggest surprise was the SD winning an overwhelming majority of seats in Solaria, where the Tribunes lost six seats. Despite the losses, the Tribunes have retained their dominant position within Etrurian politics.

The party has issued a lengthy statement online, saying, “the Etrurian people have spoken, they have made clear their desire for this patriotic, Sotirian and competent government to continue its work. While we do not rest upon our laurels, we are truly grateful for the trust and faith placed in us by the Etrurian people.

“Despite the best efforts of the radical liberal-left and its nihilistic desires to undo all the progress we have made over the past five years, we, the Tribunes, remain committed as ever to seeing our great republic reformed, empowered and unleashed. With this popular mandate, we will move forward confident, strong and emboldened – we will complete our reform agenda, we will transform the Etrurian state root and stem so that it once again becomes accountable to the people, empowers the people and serves the people.”

However, the Tribune aim of re-securing a 2/3 majority (400 seats) together with the Farmers and Workers Union (UAL) was not realised, with the Novalian UAL losing half of its seats to the SD. While the Tribune vote held in most places, and blunted losses to the SD, the UAL’s defeats have left the Patria alliance four seats short of 400. This will deny the government the ability to institute major reforms that require amending the constitution, such as the stated policy of constitutionalising barriers to same-sex marriage.

The SD saw the best results of the night, gaining 128 seats, mostly from the UAL and Citizens’ Alliance. The SD saw large swings in constituencies up and down the country, as voters returned to the party despite its controversial campaign. Notably, the SD swept the board in Dubovica and to a lesser extent Solaria. In the former, the party won every constituency based in the Novalian capital, while in Solaria the party picked up six seats from the Tribune Movement. In northern and southeastern Novalia, the SD decimated the UAL. The SD seized the Citizens’ seats in Turania, solidifying the SD as a major force in urban Etruria.

The results rank the best the SD have secured since 2013 in terms of popular vote.

The SD’s statement post-election was triumphant, “the Etrurian people have elected the SD to take up the mantle of resistance and opposition. On this we shall thrive and deliver. No day will pass without accountability, no day will pass without the Tribune government being held close to the flames of democracy, liberty and freedom.

“We would like to thank every voter who place their trust in us. We will not let you down, we will not let the constitution down and we will not allow the Tribunes to take our republic down.”

Chiara Mastromarino chirpred, “this but just the beginning. We will win next time and we will evict this monstrous government from power, be it 2026 or before.”

The Citizens’ suffered the worst result of the night, losing over 100 seats. The party has suffered its worst result since its forming in 2011. The seats lost were across the country, with its few suburban seats falling to the Tribunes and its urban middle-class seats to the SD. The party’s vote share is 10 points below 2018, near exclusively to the benefit of the SD. The party is yet to release a formal statement, though party sources are indicating that Mauro Cesare Capra is considering his position.

The FPS for its part entered the race with 51 seats, all drawn from those defected from either the Democratic Alternative or Tribune Movement. Despite its best efforts, the party was decimated, losing 47 seats, retaining only four seats all located in Accadia. The FPS’ leader, Vittore Eugenio Agrella won his seat of Porto Accadia with a sizeable majority but is reportedly under pressure to resign over the party’s poor showing.

Will provide a more in depth analysis of the election’s results over the weekend.


Results:

MT/PSTO: 16,101,865 (44.20%) 373 seats
SD: 11,300,449 (31.02%) 166 seats
AC: 5,500,863 (15.10%) 31 seats
FPS: 1,165,745 (3.20%) 4 seats
UAL: 1,129,316 (3.10%) 23 seats
RP: 1,129,310 (3.10%) 3 seats
Other: 72,859 (0.10%) 0 seats

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