News Thread [Kylaris|Canon|IC]

by **Nuvania** » Sun Feb 12, 2023 12:43 am

Chief Minister accused of hypocrisy over “profiteering landlords” comments

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Tamsin Lee (@TamsinLee)
^{February 12, 2023 (1:30pm)}

PIETERSBURG, KANAAN - The Chief Minister is facing criticism from the opposition over comments he made in which he described landlords raising rents as “profiteering from poverty” after data from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development showed that average weekly rents rose across the country by an average of 15% last year.

In an interview on the national current affairs show Review, Chief Minister Andrew Bohn criticised landlords for raising rents at a time when costs for households were rising sharply, and said that he would look into policies that would lessen the impact of rises in the cost of living for individuals and households who rent their homes. He said that private landlords already had high profit margins from existing weekly rents and said rising prices to cover increasing costs was a “barefaced lie”.

But now the Chief Minister is facing increasing criticism for his comments in light of documents released this morning which showed that the Chief Minister’s family trust owned six rental properties; three of which were in the capital Pietersburg, where the average weekly rent has increased the most. Two properties were in Windstrand, and one in Fort Willem, which have also seen substantial increases in rents. The documents also revealed that the family trust, which lists the Chief Minister as a trustee alongside members of his family, reported an income of 720,000 shillings (€45,000) for the 2021/2022 financial year, with less than ten percent of that income taxed.

Dreyer said that it was “rich” that Bohn suggested that landlords were profiteering from the rising cost of living by increasing rents when he “personally profited from the same income that landlords rely upon.”
“Instead of having an ounce of self reflection, we’ve got a Chief Minister who acts all high and mighty over rent increases when he himself profits from those who rent their homes,” he said. “It seems hypocritical that he would make such comments in light of the personal benefits he has from those properties in his trust.”

Bohn said that the family trust was not structured in a way that the income from those properties would personally benefit him. He said that the income was primarily being put towards a retirement fund, as well as funds for the education of his two children. He said that the trust was “above board” and paid the requisite amount of tax in accordance with existing legislation.

He also said that the documents showed that the amount the trust charged a week for rent was well below the average rent, saying that it would not make sense that he would personally profit when the trust had not increased rents over the previous financial year. According to the documents, the average amount the trust charged each tenant per week was 2,308 shillings (€144.23), below the 2,714 shillings (€169.63) a week charged in rent across Nuvania.

Bohn did acknowledge, however, that the public would not be impressed with this revelation, although these properties were listed in a the List of Pecuniary Interests that is published every year, which details the financial investments and tangible properties of sitting members of Parliament. He said that he would look towards tightening some of the rules around the use of family trusts to hold rental properties, as well as commit to policy that would reduce the strain of the cost of living increases on low income households.
“Regardless of what the opposition says I personally benefit from, this government is committed to ensuring that Nuvania’s most vulnerable households do not fall through the cracks,” he said. “I am still standing by my comments I made about landlords and will investigate policies that will allow us to rein in exorbitant rent increases.”

Dreyer said that this was all “smoke and mirrors” from the Chief Minister, saying that rent controls and other potential policies would make rent more expensive. He said that the government should focus on reducing costs for landlords, who would then pass those savings onto tenants. He said any policies that imposed additional costs onto landlords would not make rents cheaper.

He also criticised the Chief Minister for “not coming clean” about the investments held by his family trust, claiming that had the public known about this, they “would not have made the man Chief Minister.”
“If hiding rental investments is something that the public wants from their elected officials, then we really are heading down a dark path indeed.”

According to the List of Pecuniary Interests, the Leader of the Opposition owned shares in two timeshare apartments in Morwall and Montecara, as well as a share in commercial property in Cuanstad leased through an investment firm. In addition, Dreyer was also listed as a trustee for his own family trust, which owns four residential properties around Nuvania.

Bohn said that he would not be reducing the amount of rental properties held by the family trust or delisting himself as a trustee.

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by **Slirnija** » Sun Feb 12, 2023 10:25 am

by **Xiaodong** » Mon Feb 13, 2023 3:54 pm

Shangea on target for universal healthcare coverage by 2023 Ministry of Health announce.
13 February 2023| By Fu Bingbing

Medical professionals in rural Yunjin giving advice in the Up to the Mountains and Down to the Countryside Programme

DAOHE, YUNJIN - After a decade long project to expand universal healthcare across Shangea the Coordinating Ministry of Social and Cultural Affairs - which includes the relevant ministries of Health, Public Welfare and Education - has announced that Shangea is set to meet the target of 99%+ coverage of healthcare by mid-2023, the largest universal healthcare rollout on the planet.

Nowhere is the rollout of universal healthcare more felt then Yunjin province in central Shangea. For Ma Luoyang in the village of Baixian she had seen her two sisters suffer miscarriages when pregnant due to the nearest county hospital being located in the district capital of Guizheng and an ultrasound treatment being prohibitively expensive. Although her family had healthcare insurance, its coverage was limited due to the means testing used to determine coverage rejecting maternity payments.

In 2014 this changed. Through the Rural Healthcare Reconstruction Movement (RHRM) the district opened a new medical centre in Baixian and began to lower means-testing for patients, expanding healthcare insurance eligibility for millions. In 2018 Ma gave birth to her first child with the hospital costs being covered by the recently introduced Rural Health Insurance Scheme, the centrepiece of the RHRM.

In 2012 only around 5 million Shangeans had over 90% of their healthcare costs covered by the government leaving out-of-pocket payments the mainstay of the health system. Although 92% of Shangeans had healthcare insurance this insurance was often substandard, with vital treatments often not covered by government or private healthcare schemes. This is not to mention the logistical issues. Even if you had a good insurance plan in some rural areas medical facilities could be bare-bones with only basic treatments being offered.

The twin scars of traditional medical promotion in the 1970s and privatisation in the 1980s had wrecked the Shangean healthcare system particularly in rural areas with medical facilities having been long closed or rendered unaffordable. Urban centres suffered bottlenecks and inefficiency in the early 2000s as rural to urban migration sent strained facilities into further difficulty.

The 2013 avian flu tore through Shangea meriting a nationwide programme of social distancing and localised lockdowns. The flu outbreak would prove in a devastating fashion that Shangea's healthcare system was woefully underequipped to deal with public health crisis and was in serious need for reform.

As a result of the outbreak in October 2013 the State Presidium announced the Healthcare Coverage Plan (HCP). HCP aimed to increase coverage for Shangean healthcare to 99%+ by 2023. The plan has been massively expansive and constitutes multiple aims.

Firstly the government has aimed to train more medical staff. Fifteen new medical colleges have been opened in the past ten years supported through a joint-research programme with Chistovodia. The Chistovodian link has been particularly important with Chistovodian investment, doctors and researchers helping massively expand Shangea's medical staff with their expertise being crucial in recruitment and training.

Additionally all medical staff must during training be deployed to rural areas to provide vital care for rural residents. The Up to the Mountains and Down to the Countryside Programme has aimed to roll out rural healthcare on the cheap and quickly with healthcare staff promoting basic hygiene, preventive healthcare, and family planning alongside offering treatment for common illnesses.

Secondly an overhaul of the insurance scheme has been launched, abolishing provincial schemes and offering instead three national level schemes - Rural Basic Medical Insurance Programme, the Urban Basic Medical Insurance Programme and the Under 16 Basic Medical Insurance Programme. Although all are means-tested the parameters have been progressively lowered every year and simplified as the state has increased the healthcare budget.

Thirdly was the launch of the RHRM, the centrepiece of the reforms. The RHRM rests heavily on the Up to the Mountains and Down to the Countryside Programme but also has consisted of the opening of medical centres in rural areas and the expansion of emergency services so ambulances can reach remote villages. Even public transport expansion has been part of this scheme.

Attempts to lower the price of drugs and rapidly upgrade hospitals with more advanced equipment have been slower, although the Shangean Pharmaceutical Regulatory Board has confirmed that it aims to continue to promote domestic production and reduce price gorging from foreign sources.

Nevertheless the Coordinating Ministry of Social and Cultural Affairs is optimistic about the future stating "we are well on target to meet our healthcare goals - the largest rollout of universal healthcare in history - by the end of the year".

by **Etruria2** » Tue Feb 14, 2023 6:53 am

BREAKING Government tables “Dignity of the Republic” amendment

The government has tabled a proposed amendment to the existing National Dignity Law that will significantly expand its scope and definition. Dubbed the “Dignity of the Republic Amendment” it includes punishments for the “mischaracterisation of the Republic and society”, it also provides a vast array of tools for the government to confront issues relating to social media and the wider internet.

The amendment was tabled by President Francesco Carcaterra himself on behalf of the government. Addressing the Chamber of Deputies this morning he said, “there exists now an entire industry dedicated to slandering the Republic, our society and our national story. This industry which peddled lies, misinformation and propaganda must be curtailed for the sake of our democracy and the subjective truth it relies upon.”

“This amendment will deliver the National Dignity Law the appropriate tools to preserve the dignity and sanctity of the republic and all Etrurians both from lies and the harmful content that exists across the internet” the President said further.

Among the bill’s provisions is punishments for those who engage in the “mischaracterisation of the Republic, its institutions and everyday life for Etrurians.” This for example would mean the punishment of fake news stories published online and in printed media, misinterpretations of national history and Etrurian society. Punishments range from fines against authors to the fining of its publishers whether newspapers, magazines or online outlets. Repeated offences by publishers could result in their banning inside Etruria, for authors repeated offences could lead to a 2-year prison sentence. Other options afforded the government include blacklisting individuals and publishers from accessing government data through Freedom of Information Acts if the government suspects the authors would misuse information to mischaracterise the Republic.

The Amendment also includes provisions for tackling online creators and publishers, where the line between is often skewed. The proposal would permit the government the power to demand the removal of posts and articles in breach of the law, or face the imposition of sizeable fines ranging from €90 million to €500 million. A second denial of removal would result in the sites blocking in Etruria or the arrest of the website’s employees inside Etruria for Contempt of Parliament. The law also permits the government to request the removal of VPN applications from online stores for the Etrurian region, this is a growing concern following the introduction of the porn ban last year. At minimum however, the law will grant the government power to demand the user information of Etrurians who purchase VPN services domestically whether done through a smartphone or pc.

The law also seeks to introduce similar punishments and tools for government to use against social media sites that fail to remove content harmful to “Etrurian children or society at large.” This includes according to the law, sexualised or sexual content, the promotion of drugs and drug taking and content harmful to the rights or dignity of religious users of the sites.

Addressing the chamber the President said, “the internet and social media specifically exist in a detached reality to the rest of us, here anything goes. If the age old maxim, nothing is true and everything is permitted is applicable to anything it is social media. This space comes with great dangers to our children and our way of life, it must be regulated through the power of law. We must provide government the means to protect our society.”

He further said, “the sale of virtual private network applications is a significant issue. These VPN applications provide safe means for accessing illegal content, criminal content and means to evade bans and blockages. In relation to our ban on pornographic sites last year, this is related, but it also goes on into accessing child pornography, illicit materials and even accessing means to conduct drug and human trafficking. VPNs are the tools of choice for criminals, gangsters and terrorists.”

He said, “what we seek in this amendment is the ability for government to take what action it requires to protect Etrurian society and our Republic, be it from mischaracterisation, misinformation or the multitudes of harmful content published or accessible online. This government will stand up for our country, our civilisation and our people.”

The tabling, let alone the content of the amendment has caused uproar among opposition parties. The parliamentary agenda for the week was to see the debate and vote on the Party Finance Reform Bill. An hour before today’s session a new agenda was set by government focusing on the “Dignity of the Republic Amendment”, notably a single day of debate has been granted, with the government citing the importance of the amendment. A single day of debate under Senate rules could mean a motion for voting could take place just minutes into the debate session.

Etruria plus Euclea, the Euclo-Leftist party condemned the amendment as an attack on freedom of speech and a significant threat to journalism. The SD, currently gripped by a messy leadership race said, “the Dignity of the Republic Amendment is nothing more than an attack on free speech and a concerted effort to introduce into Etruria self-censorship it is unacceptable.”

The debate session begins tomorrow.

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Concerns grow over health of global economy

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by **Aucuria** » Wed Feb 15, 2023 5:35 am

NATIONAL DIGNITY SHOULD BE DEFAMED
The collective delusions of a "national mythos" enable injustice and authoritarianism. It's time to do away with them.

February 15, 2023 / Feb. 20 2023 issue | by Vilimas Čukvėvankas | Those who are familiar with Aucuria's peculiar Etrurian obsession will find it unsurprising that the country's usual suspects reacted quickly to the declaration of Etruria's ruling Tribune Movement that they would ram through a "Dignity of the Republic" law, which would enable the country's neofunctionalist ruling class to fine and jail anyone, or ban anything, which they accuse of "mischaracterizing Etruria". Before 24 hours had passed - admittedly more time than the Tribunes will allow the bill to be debated within Etruria's - Aucuria's foreign ministry and several of its most prominent NGOs had already issued statements condemning the bill as an attack on free speech and civil society.

As quixotic (and emblematic of a settler colonialist desire to be recognized as Euclean) as Aucuria's Etruria obsession is, it cannot be denied that this is a bill which should be unequivocally opposed by any decent person. The harms of vaguely-worded punitive legislation in the hands of a neofunctionalist regime kept afloat by the violence of skinheads, mafiosi, and soccer ultras are so obvious they go without saying; there can be no doubt in any reasonable mind that the Tribunes are implementing this policy as part of their years-long campaign to strangle Etrurian civil society and install themselves permanently as the country's dictators.

But focusing just on the Tribunes, easy targets that they are, can cause us to lose sight of just how broad the underlying issue here actually is. The rot which has given birth to this bit of dictatorial legislation is not unique to Etruria. It is an affliction which exists in every country on the planet, a breeding ground for persecution and oppression. This fundamental flaw is what we commonly call the "national mythos".

To understand why, let's begin with a question: why do we teach history?

Answers to this question generally come in two forms. The first usually begins with the proclamation that "those who do not learn from the past are doomed to repeat it", a proverb attributed to every remotely noteworthy person born after the advent of writing and overused to the point of meaninglessness. But behind the platitude does lie a serious concept, namely, that history is taught so that we know how we got from where we were to where we are, and what the consequences of that process have been, so that we can use this knowledge in order to set a course from where we are to where we want to be.

The other is that we teach history to instill national pride - that history education exists so that we can make young people feel proud of their country or ethnicity by relating idealized versions of its proudest moments, greatest triumphs, and most glorious victories. This is usually followed by some vague idea of national pride being connected to civic virtue, that if we make people proud of their nation they will be more inclined to engage productively in order to improve it.

Many individuals - including powerful ones - will attempt to give you both of these answers at once, to have it both ways by mashing together bits and pieces of each into some appeal to both pride and truth. But this is not actually possible. One cannot teach history both to learn from the truth of the past and to instill civic pride because history is full of shameful things, of atrocities and robberies and crimes of every possible magnitude. Every nation or its perceived antecedents, without exception, has at some point done some thing which defamed the fundamental dignity of humanity, and if you honestly acknowledge those events or their lasting consequences, the people who want you to teach pride will howl that you are defaming national dignity by stating the ways in which their nation has defamed human dignity.

If you teach history to instill national pride, you cannot teach actual history; at some point the dirty facts will become too troublesome to be tolerated. Those who view education as a means to indoctrinate pride instead teach only the most flattering stories, the most beautiful cherrypicked lies, robbed of context and spun into folktales, with any inconvenient truths whitewashed away or actively covered up and erased. We call these collections of officially-canonized history-adjacent folklore a "national mythos" because they are mythology, as fictional as the tales of the ancient Piraeo-Solarian gods.

Unfortunately, as much as we tritely repeat that those who do not learn from the past are doomed to repeat it, the truth is that almost every country opts for teaching myths over reality - either explicitly and openly, or by trying to find some middle ground between truth and fantasy. National folklore has been passed through so many generations by the apparatuses of indoctrination that many people not only try to pretend that the myth is reality, they outright do not know that reality exists and refuse to recognize it when confronted with it.

Continuing to peddle reassuring lies in this way, rather than confronting hard truths, creates a fatal flaw within the structure of society. Much as some in power would like to pretend otherwise, history does affect the present, for better and for worse. Historical crimes continue to affect the descendants of the victims, who are socially, politically, and economically marginalized by the institutions which perpetrated those crimes; refusing to teach these historical crimes and their legacies on the grounds that they are unpleasant, that they "defame national dignity", perpetuates this injustice because you cannot fix a problem that you refuse to admit exists. And those who call for the obfuscation or erasure of these crimes are generally those who structurally benefit from, or are at least not structurally harmed by, them - those with the luxury of sticking their heads in the sand and pretending that the real world does not exist.

Additionally, this sort of mythologization directly enables to revisionistic, hyper-nationalist nostalgia fetishism that leads to functionalism and its ilk. Core to functionalism as an ideology, and to the many functionalism-adjacent forms of reactionary authoritarianism, is the obsessive idolization of a supposed "golden age" in the past which the functionalists promise to restore, making the country "great again", using totalitarian control and rampant violence. This idolistic fetishism of a glorious past that never really existed is the natural outgrowth of the national mythos, the concept taken to its logical extreme by fanatical dogmatism. And because every country has a national mythos, every country has this in-built inroad for dictatorship, injustice, and brutality.

It is easy to point to the obvious, and acceptable, examples. Etrurian fetishism of a fantasy version of ancient Solaria, Soravian and Senrian exaltation of military despots like Olsov and Imahara, Zorasani historical revisionism leading to the destruction of ancient artefacts from Irvadistan and Khazestan, Shangea's implementation of genocide denialism as state policy - plenty of ink has been spilled on these examples, and no doubt will continue to be spilled on them.

But this must be understood as a fundamental rot affecting all nations, not just the ones which have presently succumbed to it. Because national identities are fundamentally constructed around these mythologies, even countries which are presently comparatively democratic are wracked with systemic injustice and at perpetual risk of backsliding into dictatorship.

I've written about this in the Aucurian context in discussing the film Iserajta, which thematically challenged the myth told by the opera for which it was named. Aucuria's national identity is, of course, a muddled thing. Within the settler colonialist portion of its identity, there is an eternal debate about whether or not the defining date in its settler history should be the start of colonization in the 1520s, the creation of the United Kingdom of Ruttland and Aucuria in the 1690s, or the declaration of independence from Werania in the 1780s. The exact relationship between the Eucleanness and Asterianness of the settler population is also contended, with the occasional appearance of fringe conspiracy theories like Ruttish Gaullicanism to keep things interesting.

Further complicating Aucuria's muddled mythos, as time has passed there has been an effort to acknowledge Aucuria's large maišytiai and non-Euclean populations by incorporating select aspects from non-Euclean histories and cultures into the Aucurian national mythos - placing pre-colonial leaders like Čukivankas, Mankojupankis, and Čapatipomas, or indigenous and Bahian rebel leaders like Samokemaras Antakontoris and Juozapas Simbarašė, on the same plane as Jurgis Leikauskas, Bendiktas Klimantis, and Juozapas Kairys.

But these inclusions were not paired with any effort to meaningfully interrogate or challenge the legacy of the plundering užkariautojai, slavemaster pradininkai, and land-thieving vėliavininkai set upon this land by Leikauskas, or how the republic of Klimantis and Kairys has perpetuated those legacies, by Aucurian society - and, accordingly, were not paired with any effort to meaningfully redress the injustices that indigenous peoples, Bahian Aucurians, immigrants, and the poor face. Rather, they represent an effort to paper over any serious introspection or meaningful revision with a handful of name-drops that can be pointed to in order to signal virtue and deflect criticism.

But, to repurpose a phrase from my analysis of Iserajta, Aucuria is not the only country which needs secrets.

Everything I have said is just as true, for example, of every other country in the Asterias, all of whom were created by the processes of settler colonialism with its sordid connections to slavery and genocide. Every other country on these continents has its own set of famous names which could be swapped out for those of Čapatipomas, Leikauskas, Klimantis, and soforth. Regardless of colonial master, they were all built upon the same crimes - theft of land, destruction of culture, slavery, and mass murder, done in the name of rapacious profit.

It is also just as true of every Euclean country that refuses to accept, or even consider, the notion that it did anything wrong between 1400 and 1950. Here the link between the historical crimes of imperialism and the rise of authoritarianism is almost transparently obvious - in the words of one academic, "functionalism is bringing the methods of imperial rule from the colonies back to the metropole", and the two Euclean countries which most visibly fell to functionalism during the 1920s-1940s were its most powerful colonial empire - Gaullica - and a colonial empire which felt like the other powers had jilted it out of several places it wanted - Etruria.

So it should come as no surprise that Etruria, the vanguard of Euclean neofunctionalism in power, is so eager to erase evidence of the crimes it committed against both the colonial peoples it exploited (Rahelians, Pardaris, Satrians, etc.) and other Eucleans (Piraeans, Carinthians, Novalians) as a 19th-century colonial empire, early 20th-century functionalist dictatorship, and mid-20th century military junta.

But, truthfully, no Euclean country has properly reckoned with its imperial sins. Paretia, Hennehouwe, and Ruttland spin themselves as the "good colonizers", taking advantage of the sympathies of settler populations who they lost to other Eucleans, even though they played the central role in the destruction of the great Asterian civilizations along the Arucian sea. Gaullica was forced to confront the crimes it committed within Euclea proper after the Great War, but the victorious Estmerish and Weranians were not about to force the Gaullicans to confront the crimes of colonialism, and Gaullica's government remains steadfastly opposed to the concept of reparations for the genocide of indigenous peoples and enslavement of Bahians. The Estmerish and Weranians continue to whitewash or minimize their own crimes.

Those Euclean countries not directly involved in colonialism but still enriched by its cruelties are even less willing to consider their culpability. The slave ships were built with Montecaran loans and Valduvian or Caldian timber, the shackles and chains forged from Scovernois iron - but good luck getting any of those countries to admit their role in the face of even the slightest degree of separation from the crime itself.

So long as this rot remains buried in the heart of every country, in the stories we tell ourselves in the name of "national dignity", the consequences of historical crimes persist and a chink in the armor is provided for authoritarianism & imperialism, for the exploitation, abuse, and murder of innocent people. Some countries have been consumed by this decay, plunging their people into tragedy and repression; the rest stand at perpetual risk of slowly but surely succumbing to it.

Unfortunately it is a rot that is exceptionally hard to fight. These folktales, however utterly divorced from reality they may be, are fundamental to modern national identities. People cling to them dearly, as a nostalgic comfort blanket, something to grant them security and reassurance. They are held as sacred as religious dogma, and even the slightest intrusion upon them can elicit an outright violent reaction as a result.

Still, it is long past time for us to reject them, not least because it is difficult to give up the reassuring lie. The rights, lives, and livelihoods of thousands depend upon our ability to confront and overcome societal injustices that we can only fix if we can properly their cause, something which we can only do if we rid ourselves of delusion and see the past clearly. It is morally imperative upon us to reject the national mythos in favor of honest examination, however unpleasant, of the unvarnished historical truth.

And for those who are currently howling about "national dignity" - if you don't want your country's "national dignity" to be defamed, then have your country stop doing and making excuses for things which insult the dignity of humanity. ❧

VILIMAS ČUKVĖVANKAS is a Kirua writer and activist. Born in Kunturiri in 1976, he holds degrees in human rights and environmental law from the University of the Vaskaranas and the National University of Saint Jerome. In addition to providing columns for Stebėtojas, he writes for a variety of other publications in Aucuria and internationally, both journalistic and academic, on topics including indigenous rights, environmental protection, and culture. He currently lives in Kalnaspilis with his wife and child.

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by **Etruria2** » Thu Feb 16, 2023 6:55 am

Opinion: Our national stories are what bind us
Post-Nationalism is a nihilistic idealism that threatens our societies
Opinione

16 February 2022

There is a new ideal rising through the aether of academic thought, one rooted in much older idealisms and beliefs and it is one that comes with great danger even a nihilistic one. That ideal is post-nationalism or more to the truth a new anti-nationalism. But every society as I shall argue, every nation from the largest to the smallest needs its mythologies and story.

Many waves have been made in recent days by an article written in the esteemed Aucurian Stebetojas magazine, in which the writer, Vilimas Čukvėvankas claims national mythos and stories are the collective delusions that enable egregious governance. Be it the whitewashing of Euclea’s former imperial powers over their empire building and colonialism to the settler narratives of the Asterias, to Etruria’s own approach to its history. What he writes is the case for post-nationalism through and through, the case of demolishing the national mythos for the sake of individualism, freedom and the abandonment of patriotism which to the liberal-left is anathema to their progressive idealism. That the article was laced with the now typical over-dramatisation of governments right of centre or the hyperbolic attacks on the Tribune government in Etruria is by the by, the principal issues with what Čukvėvankas writes is his post-nationalism.

Post nationalism is a distinct ideal of the left, often rooted in anti-imperialism it has since transfigured into an ideological concept of its own, nihilistic, anti-sovereignty and anti-nation. It is for all intents and purposes the formalisation of the liberal-left’s view of patriotism as parochial and small n-nationalism as neofunctionalism. That nationalism or rather the pride of nationhood would be conflated with a disgraced ideology is itself a natural evolution of the liberal-left’s inherent authoritarian view of its opponents and rival belief systems, but more to the point the liberal-left’s elevation of identity of the self to the lodestar of all societal activity brings us to its embrace of post-nationalism. That the modern left now would have us identify first and foremost either by race (except white Eucleans), sexual orientation, gender or lack thereof means that the greater identity that has shaped humanity for eons, nationality must be ejected and consigned to history. To fight the ills of Euclean life, the modern left requires that all areas of pride for the individual be eradicated, the nation’s history must be torched of its achievements and high points for those who made them were no doubt vicious, racist white supremacists. Racism cannot be defeated if the citizenry express pride and association with their nation if it had historically engaged in colonialism and imperialism. We must all atone for the sins of our fathers and only then will the promise land of an equitable society be reached. No doubt the intentions are well meaning but historical nihilism and post-nationalism pose dangers too great.

The national mythos, the stories of our nations is the mortar of the identities we each share. Our shared identity as Etrurians, Weranians, Kabuese and even Aucurian is what holds and binds our societies together. It gives a sense of belonging that as social creatures we require and have required ever since the first tribe sat around a campfire. The national stories we tell are what defines our comprehension of who we are as a community, it binds the millions of atoms that would otherwise possess no connection or understanding of their neighbours. All mythos regulate the histories and presents of all nations - Etruria’s story is illustrious and grand, punctuated by periods of darkness and grief, but fundamentally it is one of great civilisational contributions to science, culture, technology and human development. We are the successors of Solaria, but also our Renovato ancestors, the Doges of Povelia, the Dukes of Stazzona and Princes of Faulia. Our First Republic delivered the promise of liberty and freedom under God, rather than the Weranic promise of freedom from faith and tyranny, though we all accept the First Republic fell deep into the bloody depths of its hysteria. It is not egregious nor the mark of a neofunctionalist to be proud of this story, for today we can accept our responsibility as the authors of new chapters that we would pray, stand worthy companions to its priors in the eyes of those who come after us. This applies to all nations, from the vast civilisations of Shangea and Zorasan to small Kesselbourg, from the newest nations such as the Bahians to the oldest, each nation requires a story. This is as much the same for the nations whose identity is rooted in victimisation, often in contrast to another, an identity I would suspect defines Čukvėvankas more than he would admit.

The stories of our nations provide each of us the roots we require as social creatures, it coalesces us around a shared identity whereas without, we would be strangers in the strongest sense of the word to one another. It provides us with the stability of belonging to each other and to something greater, it provides us with linkages to the past, to our ancestors, delivering us an understand of where we are today and where we might go tomorrow. The pride patriotism and small n-nationalism provides is not parochial or dangerous, better for human beings to be proud of who they are than to be forever prostrate atoning for the sins or evils of the past - real or imagined. Humans without knowledge of self are the most vulnerable, open for their vacuum to be filled with hateful ideals or nefarious interloper identifies. We Etrurians especially benefit from our mythos, we are three peoples made one by the bonds we share, the ideals of people like Čukvėvankas, catnip for the perpetual victim, would otherwise break down those bonds between the Vespasian, Carinthian and Novalian, just as they threaten to do in Paretia. The mythos we share is beyond necessary for a society, lest it fragment and atomise, its replacement identities destined to conflict and break down the bonds of fellowship of nationhood. That is what the nihilism of the modern left portends for us all.

I conclude by suggesting that post-nationalism as depicted by Čukvėvankas, is inherently political. As an indigenous Aucurian, perhaps his own rejection of the nation is rooted in the injustices that came with Ruttish colonialism. But is that not itself a mythos embraced by the indigenous activists? An identity rooted in the victimhood of historical injustice? Others here in Etruria would embrace post-nationalism out of frustration of its mirror image’s success. The left fails in Etruria because it’s people are patriotic and love the nation, and so to take that away may well deliver them the success they have so long been denied. Let it be known however, that the identities the left would replace the nation with, race, gender, sexual orientation also come with collectivistic nonsense, the idea that all black or brown people think the same, all gays feel the same, same for women and the transgender community. Collectivism is the opium of the socialist and to demolish nationalism and patriotism is to demolish the shared identity best kept for individualism to prosper with restraints, patriotism is the best defence against societal decay, atomisation followed by the hegemonic collectivism of the left. Be proud of your country and do not let anyone tell you otherwise.

Written by Cesare Mario Quintavalla, a historian and published author. He also works as a senior researcher for the Veritas Institute and writes regularly for numerous columns and magazines
© Altrio Media. 2021

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by **Slirnija** » Thu Feb 16, 2023 10:27 am

by **Poshyte** » Fri Feb 17, 2023 10:18 am

South Kabuese President acknowledges Estmerish sovereignty over Kingsport

Kuwat Kuwat | 17 February 2023

South Kabuese President Tirto Sutikno has dramatically increased his influence in South Kabu following a self-coup in 2021

South Kabuese President, Tirto Sutikno, has recognised Estmerish control and sovereignty over it's overseas state of Kingsport in a major first for any South Kabuese leader.

The island which sits at the northern tip of the Kabuese archipelago in east Coius has been under Estmerish control since it was leased to Estmere from the Aguda Empire in 1713 before being bought by the Euclean nation in 1778. The rest of the archipelago fell under Estmerish control shortly afterwards and remained a colony of Estmere until the end of the bloody and devastating Kabuese civil war which divided the archipelago into the modern states of North Kabu and South Kabu. Both states continued to agitate for the Estmerish colony as well as the Gaullican territory of Nouvel Anglet to be returned to their own countries although in 1997 North Kabu dropped it's claim to the islands following a referendum in Kingsport. The South Kabuese claim of sovereignty over Kingsport has been tenuous at best as successive referendums have shown the vast majority of Kingsporters support Estmerish rule, the island also officially became a state of Estmere last year following a referendum on the island over the issue.

President Tirto's recognition of Estmerish sovereignty over the islands came during a speech towards deputies of the Kabuese Senate. Whilst discussing the progress that South Kabu has made in normalising relations with it's neighbouring states, President Tirto said: "Without question, the islanders of Pulau Hujung (the native Kabuese name for Kingsport), desire to stay bonded to their Estmerish partners is a legitimate desire and one that will be recognised by the government of the Socialist Republic of Kabu. There is no doubt in the minds of the Kabuese people that despite the burning interest the issue of Pulau Hujung has generated, the people of Palau Hujung chose the option that was most beneficial to them in 2018 and that option was to formally gain equality with their counterparts in Estmere. Whilst we all lament the circumstances that led to this particular division of the Kabuese nation, we will happily recognise and confirm Estmerish sovereignty over Palau Hujung until there is a day when the islanders wish to change their status."

The confirmation of Estmerish sovereignty was met with shock from both inside South Kabu, in Kingsport as well as internationally.

Domestically the issue has been fading from the public eye and people in South Kabu largely reacted positively to the 2018 status referendum in Kingsport. The referendum was covered in South Kabuese media and following the results many recognised the decision. The nation's largest newspaper decried the referendum as a justification for Estmerish colonialism but in subsequent stories recognised the decision by the Kingsporters. Today's admission by the President has sparked angry demonstrations from Kabuese nationalists outside of the country's Senate who have decried the speech as a betrayal of South Kabu's founding revolution and the ideals of Sutikno Harjo, South Kabu's first President and the father of Tirto Sutikno. The demonstrations continue but are increasingly small according to police. Meanwhile the governing Kabuese Section of the Workers' International (BKMI) released a statement continuing to call for solidarity with Kingsport but supports the government's decision.

In North Kabu, the speech was not covered by the media although the government did issue a statement reaffirming it's recognition of Kingsport and Nouvel Anglet as territories of Estmere and Gaullica respectively whilst also congratulating the, 'authorities in the south', for recognising the self-determination of the Kabuese people and issued it's hopes that this positive development can be continued in the future, potentially hinting towards future talks between the two regimes.

Whilst the recognition is not yet official and South Kabu officially maintains that the Estmerish presence on the islands is illegal under international law, it marks the first major step recently in defusing the ever-tense situation on the archipelago that has seen occasional flareups. The South Kabuese government has said it will need to be speaking to officials in Morwall before any recognition is made official and have yet to comment on the status of Nouvel Anglet which South Kabu also claims from Gaullica.

Both North and South Kabu today seemingly have a vested interest in keeping the status quo on the archipelago and both countries have indicated their approval of talks between both states which have yet to occur.

by **Poshyte** » Sat Feb 18, 2023 2:58 pm

Anger as second austerity package passed by Senate
Finance Minister Luka Bodenschatz spearheaded the latest barrage of austerity measures aimed at cutting the national deficit to stave off an impending default

Holbe Haanstra
18 February 2023| Yndyk, Alsland

Luka Bodenschatz believes whilst this new raft of measures is a step forward, more packages are needed in the immediate future

YNDYK - As Alsland lurches ever closer to running out of money to pay it's debts, the Senate has passed a new major austerity package - the second since the crisis began last year - which has introduced major cuts towards public sector pay, increasing VAT once again, beginning cuts to the number of civil servant positions as well as cuts to pensions.

The new measures which were introduced only days ago were given an expedited vote to try and beat an upcoming debt repayment deadline of the 1st of March. Senators voted along party-lines to pass the new austerity package 114-72 in favour of the package. During the debate Senators from the opposition decried the latest cuts and accused the government of not giving the Senate the time to properly consider the package.

Speaking after the vote, a gleeful Finance Minister, Luka Bodenschatz told reporters that he believed the action taken by the Senate was necessary to keep the economy stable and to return much needed cash so Alsland can pay it's ballooning national debt.

"The Senate did what was necessary to rescue the economy which was left in dire straits from years of economic mismanagement." Bodenschatz told reporters whilst leaving the viewing gallery. "If the Senate does not pass further measures they will have only themselves to thank when Alsland's economy crashes and we enter a recession worse than any seen in living memory."

Bodenschatz is keen to make what he calls necessary arrangements to government spending in the hopes it will lessen the pressures from international creditors and to assure outside observers that Yndyk has the current situation under control. Bodenschatz wants the government itself to go harder on austerity measures and believes the current packages which are already in force do not go far enough and has called for further emergency increases on taxation for certain goods such as tobacco, gas, air travel as well as an increase to the current retirement age of 65 years old to 67 years old which the government has so far held off on.

The governing Humanist Sotirian Union party ordered it's deputies to abstain from voting as it has opposed the proposals by Bodenschatz. The HSU has been increasingly isolated by it's coalition partners and it's leader and Federal Affairs minister Hilda Schaaf told reporters in a radio interview that in effect the party was no longer in government due to it's isolation from the other parties over issues such as finances. The party itself announced it would withdraw from the coalition if the austerity package was not withdrawn and opposition demands were met, although now that the package has been passed it is unclear if the party will follow through with it's threat.

Meanwhile the leftist led opposition called the new package a farce and demanded the government delay the vote to allow the Senate more time to examine the package, during the vote some Senators from the Green Party attempted to coordinate a walkout which failed to get support from the other parties. Whilst the current opposition's disunity is clear, all opposition Senators united to oppose the package. Senator Sjearp Groeneveld of the Greens was speaking to the Senate floor when he said: "The markets and the government wants to pass these laws which will only serve to worsen an already bad situation for many, they want the ordinary people to pay for their failures and their lack of policy."

Internationally, government officials have been speaking to officials from creditor nations and institutions to reassure them that Alsland does have the ability to pay off it's debts, a job made much harder as the government's official messaging was one of necessary emergency action in passing the new package. Whilst financial analysts do believe the latest package is enough for Alsland to successfully pay off it's debts pending for the 1st of March, they have voiced concern for future debt repayments and if Alsland has the money, or the will to pay off it's debts in time.

Outside of the political bubble, the news was met with resignation from many. 64 year old Mage Smeding, a civil servant from Hurdegaryp, was close to retirement and told reporters of her sadness that she will have to delay her plans as she now fears for her own job. "It's unfair when they tell you that there's no money for your own pension and that they need to raise taxes to try and pay off some loans. Now they're going to start dismissing people to save more money, it just seems unfair." Her sentiment was shared by many with a common word being repeated dozens of times, 'unfair'.

The general mood on the streets seems to be why wasn't this sorted out earlier when the debts began to pile up and why was it, like seemingly so many other things in contemporary politics, not revealed to the public until it was too late and forcing a hurried and rushed reaction that pleases nobody. People are also finding it hard to keep up with the twin-crises currently ongoing as public trust in government institutions is at a record low following the SYFA spying scandal last year and the revelation that the country had seemingly lied about it's own financial situation for years.

Whilst there is not yet an appetite for widespread protests, the Alslandic Trade Union Federation (AFBF) is already having discussions on potential strike action over planned jobs cuts as well as further austerity measures. It will be engaging in talks with it's members to discuss a way forward and says it will decide on the best course of action in the coming weeks.

Markets reacted positively to the news of the austerity package's passing as the WOTEX stock exchange closed slightly higher than expected, only days before Alsland's credit rating is due to be examined and potentially lowered which the government wishes to avoid.

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by **Union of Akoren** » Tue Feb 21, 2023 6:47 am

Yemeti operation Commander vows to “liquidate” Yemeti terrorist leaders
Union Forced in Yemet to focus on eliminating terrorist leaders hiding in Girota
POLITICS by Abdullah al-Mosawi

21 February 2023 |02 Esfand 2344

The commanding office of Union Forces in Yemet (UFY) Brigadier General Yaztagan Abolkarim has vowed to oversee the “liquidation of the terrorist leadership” residing in Girota. It comes as several drone strikes were conducted on suspected targets but no confirmation on success.

Addressing the Supreme Assembly’s National Defence Committee Brig. General Abolkarim said, “our intervention in Yemet has shored up the central government to such a degree that vast regions of the country are now seeing a return of normal life, the liberation and restoration of Lehir and its port will prove decisive to the recovery of the Yemeti economy.”

He said further, “our contributions through materiel and armed power has proven devastating to terrorist movements and key to state cohesion. Our intervention is a mark of victory for our armed forces, our country and our state.”

The commanding officer of the UFY however caveated that “enemies remain and Yemet is not yet whole, but I can assure the Assembly and all the Union, that we will continue to conduct operations and strikes against targets of opportunity and those of immense value to the wide terrorist network.

“This is especially the case in Girota. The establishment of a new government under General Abxale unfortunately saw the opportunistic seizure of the capital by traitors and terrorists under Ater Deng and Issa Kahsu and they remain there at large, squatting within the Yemeti capital” he said. Deng and Kahsu served as former President Retta Iskinder’s presidential guard commander and speaker of the people’s congress respectively, and are seen as prominent problems for Gen. Abxale’s government.

The Brig. General told the Committee, “there can only be one authority in Yemet and that is the central government. The two terrorist leaders in Girota pose significant threats to that authority. As such, I personally vow to oversee the liquidation of the terrorist leadership squatting in Girota. Their elimination will secure Girota’s reconstitution under Yemeti government control and go a significant way into restoring order and peace nationally of that I am certain.”

Asked if the UFY required more resources to deal with the “Girota problem”, the UFY commander denied the offer. “The resources we have in place be they drones, aircraft or takavar special forces are more than adequate for the campaign as it is today. Our intelligence efforts in relation to Girota will narrow down their location and we will move in the ways most appropriate to deal with them.”

Asked to elaborate on future issues in Yemet, Brig. General Abolkarim said, “Kulo is one of the world’s most dangerous sanctuaries for terrorism, it’s a safe haven for groups that wish to undermine Bahian peace, harmony, order and progress. Economic success and development are anathema to these groups that would rather turn their countries into protection rackets and mafia states.”

He also warned, “the success of the Yemeti government will no doubt in my mind anger Euclea, who wish to see Yemet seized by more amendable movements. We must be prepared to support Yemet against new and wider Euclean machinations to undermine its hard won stability.”

The virtual meeting held between the UFY commander and the committee follows a number of drone strikes on suspected targets believed to be Deng, Kahsu and Aba Tekle, Dent’s Second in Command. Zamboor-3 drones were used to target vehicles travelling Girota’s streets, relying on undisclosed intelligence.

The Deng-Kahsu alliance has enabled them to retain control over Girota in wake of the government change last year, following the death of Retta Iskinder from natural causes. In response, the UFY and the Yemeti military have placed the city under a cordon sanitaire. Heavy fighting between Deng-Kahsu loyalists and allied forces saw the former pushed deep into the city, with the government and UFY under control of the northern, western and southern suburbs and the lake to the east. It is hoped that the successful elimination of Deng and Kahsu would ease a liberation of the capital city. The UFY has previously stated that it has sufficient equipment and forces to support the Yemeti army in seizing Girota by force, but the desire to avoid significant casualties among the millions large civilian population is a major deterrent to such action.

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by **Saul Volcano** » Tue Feb 21, 2023 12:27 pm

Paretian police begin large scale operation against suspected terrorists, arrest dozens of separatists
Police in Esmeira, Visega, and Tosutonia begin an operation to go after separatist terror cells, including groups said to be apart of NEPT in Tosutonia, FPL in Esmeira, Terras Libres in Visega.
Luis Verde (@GreenLui) | 21 February 2023 | Precea

Federal Police in Ocerto, Esmeira conducting a raid on suspected FPL members

Precea, Paretia: In response to the Encerosa Hostage attack in January the Paretian government has ordered the police to conduct a massive amount of raids on suspected members of separatist groups, such as the New Army of Tosutonia, but also other groups such as Free Lands in Visega, and Homeland and Liberty Front in Esmeira.

The operation began with the tracking and locating of suspected terrorist cells in these regions. The operation includes members of the Paretian Federal Police, regional police agencies, local municipal police, and military special forces. Over 10,000 Paretian police officers have been mobilized to be used to conduct the raids.

The majority of police activity is in Tosutonia, where separatism is most common, and separatist terrorism is most active.

These arrests include predominant leaders of the couple militant separatist groups in Paretia. One of the arrested is Úmar Estades Verniol, who the government claims to be one of the head members of the NEPT. Others include major members of the NEPT, FPL, and Terra Libre. The police also claim to have arrested the second in command of Terras Libres, André Encinas, in a raid in Pancarta.

There have been a total of around 30 raids across Tosutonia, Esmeira, and Visega so far. So far around 40 suspects have been wounded in raids, and 7 police officers. Police have not yet stated the total number arrested so far. Director of Law Enforcement Gabriel Sanges Lladós stated today that the raids will continue for the next few days as the operation is not yet complete. The official name of the operation is Operação Caçador, or Operation Hunter in Estmerish.

Llados stated "We are going to make sure these groups are unable to perform acts such as the attack in Encerosa. Our police and intelligence officials have gathered information on these groups and their members, including many key members, we are currently going to go after these people and make sure these groups are unable to recover." He also stated that the police were able to secure approval to conduct these raids. Police claim to have so far discovered bombs, mostly designed for car bombings, firearms, maps of city infrastructures, and other objects suspected of being planned for terrorist use.

Premier Cerqueira stated today "Our law enforcement are going to continue to capture these terrorists who threaten our country. Police operations will continue for a few days. To the militants who want to destroy our United Kingdom, you will be brought to justice."

The operation will likely continue into tomorrow as police mobilize onto other targets, and the count of arrested individuals will likely rise.

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In Other News:
OPINION- National stories are essential to connecting the people to their nation
PARETIA - O Povo says they plan on expanding soon with two new member parties
EUCLEA - Piraea's PSEE clashes
PARETIA - 1 police officer killed in anti-separatist raid in Mausoleu
COIUS - South Kabu recognizes Kingsport as Estmerish

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by **Liecthenbourg** » Wed Feb 22, 2023 1:03 pm

Adolfo Canepa - February 27th, 2023

Home · Kesselbourg · The Continent · The World · Policy · Opinion · Features · Newsletters · Continental Pro

EUCLEAN COURT OF JUSTICE RULES THAT PARETIAN LEGISLATION BREACHES EUCLEAN TREATY.

The Euclean Court of Justice adjourns following its decision in the case of 'Commission vs. Paretia'

Kesselbourg City, Kesselbourg - The Euclean Court of Justice has ruled its decision in the case of Commission vs. Paretia that Paretia has broken several key aspects of the Treaty of Maredoux. This comes after over a year of heated contestation between the Euclean Community and Paretian officials, culminating in this legal proceeding.

The Commission accused Paretia of "democratic backsliding", a point raised at significant length and occurrence during the Euclean Presidential Elections of last year. Euclean President Vallette was a strong advocate for "the arm of the law" to restrain Paretia's anti-democratic actions and it seems now, two months into his term, that this has come to fruition.

The most recent actions of the Paretian government include a large scale operation against "suspected terrorists", culminating in the arrest of "dozens of separatists". Critics of the Paretian government both domestically and internationally have highlighted the potential infringement on civil liberties and political rights that the recent large scale operations give permission towards. It is necessary to establish that this judicial declaration is not dealing with this particular aspect of policy.

Commission vs. Paretia is concerned with the claims raised by the Euclean Commission that Paretia's judicial independence was under severe threat from the Paretian government, raising to the court that Paretian policies and legislation breaches Articles 2 and 19 of the Treaty of Maredoux. These are the Articles that enshrines one of the principle values of the Euclean Community; the rule of law and a respect of equal rights and guarantee that Member States ensure "effective legal protection in fields covered by Community law."

The Paretian actions that lead to this course of action by the Commission were numerous. Cerqueira's "O Povo" government passed the 'Women's Cultural Reform' law; a socially conservative reformation piece of legislation that aimed to curtail women's access to abortion. Tosutonia's government challenged the issue by its own state-legislation with the "Women's Autonomy Rights in Tosutonia" law. Shocking the domestic scene, the Paretian High Court in Precea voted in favour of Tosutonia's right to create healthcare legislation, a staple of the United Kingdoms of Paretia.

Following this victory for Tosutonia and women in Paretia, Cerqueira's government announced it was launching investigations into the judiciary on accounts of corruption. This announcement prompted a swift reaction from acting-President of the Euclean Community, Vivien Vallette, and Paretia was warned that failure to cease these actions would result in consequences. This was met by the course continuing and Paretia's High Court being found guilty of several accusations laid against it by an investigator appointed by Cerqueira's government.

The Euclean Community issued a warning that such a policy was against the principles of the Euclean Treaties and that Precea was being summoned to court; which brought about a many-month long legal battle between the case of the Commission and the Paretian defence.

The Euclean High Court has ruled Paretia's overruling of its judiciary as a "against the agreements the Paretian government has agreed to uphold". It has informed Precea that a failure to conform to the treaty will be met with harsher consequences; with several justices recommending actions as harsh as a withholding of certain rights of the Paretian government within the Community - including funding.

Euclean President Vallette has praised the decision as a "victory for Euclean democracy" but warned, sternly, that "[he] did not expect this issue to be buried yet."

by **Eskaeba** » Wed Feb 22, 2023 1:44 pm

Nesby urges caution in wake of renewed violence in Paretia
Recent escalation in violence in Paretia has seen figures across the Community advocate a suspension or reduction in EC funding in Paretia

Speaking at an AEDC conference in Rimso, Nesby urged caution for lawmakers in Kesselbourg.

Rimso, Scovern - Speaking at a conference of the Association for Economic Development and Cooperation in the capital, Premier Ine-Linda Nesby has urged lawmakers in Kesselbourg to practice "caution" after suggestions regarding the reduction or suspension of Paretian funds in response to the rulings of Commission v. Paretia.

The South Euclean country has been entangled in a wave of violence between the central government and separatists in Tosutonia, who regard their culture and language as separate from the mainland, and recently has included an increase in hostilities against separatists in Tosutonia and a hostage situation in the Tosuton capital of Encerosa.

Nesby warned against the proposal to suspend funds to Paretia, which has reportedly gained weight amongst members of the new Vallette commission after the Euclean Court of Justice ruled that the Paretian government was in violation of Euclean treaties earlier today, as something that would have "severe ramifications" for the whole continent's economy.

"As Paretia is a member of the Euclozone, any severe actions against the Paretian economy are bound to negatively affect us all", she said.

Paretia, whose per capita economy is one of the weakest in the Community, benefits greatly from funds provided to it from the Euclean Community. But recently, Precea has made a rapid swing to the populist right, somewhat emulating its neighbour Etruria, under premier Isilda Cerqueira and the Vitória Popular, who hold an absolute majority in the country's legislature. In the recent Euclean presidental election, nearly 40% of Paretians voted for the far-right MNDE, the largest of any party in the election.

"I am of the belief that the events in Tosutonia can still come to a peaceful conclusion", Nesby said, "and I will not support any brash or harsh economic sanctions imposed on it from Kesselbourg."

by **Etruria2** » Thu Feb 23, 2023 5:07 am

Morning Roundup: Tribunes push their luck in the Senate
Dignity of the Republic law passes as Tribunes stretch rules to limit
NOTIZIE by Giorgio Simone Parrinello

23 February 2023

In one of the most striking cases of ramming through legislation, the controversial Dignity of the Republic Amendment is set to enter law at midnight after being passed in the State Council 222-68. It follows the amendment being passed through the chamber of representatives after six minutes of debate.

The amendment to the existing National Dignity Law gives the federal government considerable powers to penalise individuals for engaging in the “mischaracterisation of the Republic and society”, this also includes granting the government power to go after online publications, publishers and authors for the same. Lastly the law gives the government power to go after social media companies that fail to remove posts or accounts that break Etrurian law.

While the amendment itself was subject to intense controversy, efforts by opposition parties to secure a debate to scrutinise its content was denied after it was put to vote after merely six minutes of being on the Chamber floor. Rep. Ugo Giovanni Faranese, a Tribune, was given the first speaking slot owing to SD leader Chiara Mastromarino being late to the Chamber. Faranese rather than making a statement proposed that the amendment be declared a “first line vote”, a curio of parliamentary convention that enables a bill to be voted on once to be sent straight to the upper house, rather than go through committee readings. For this to work it requires a simple majority vote. Chamber President, Ivo Balic (MT) agreed and put it to vote - the bill passed as a FLV 398-202.

The bill however, received more than six minutes of debate at the state council - it received eight minutes. This was justified by the government leader in the council, as less important than the council “debating reports on declining hospital services in Peravia and Andora.” Though given two hours of debate officially on the day’s agenda, the government opted to present the bill and immediately put it to vote, citing time constraints and the “already existing knowledge of its content.” It was passed 222-68.

The government’s behaviour over the amendment has drawn widespread condemnation from veteran lawmakers and others.

Mastromarino who is set to depart as leader of the SD in two weeks time decried the government’s chicanery as “utterly devoid of democratic legitimacy.”

Former President, Urbano Onoforio also denounced the government’s actions, saying on social media, “this is not how a parliamentary republic is supposed to function. Where is the accountability and scrutiny? On the trash heap where the Tribunes have thrown our constitution.”

He followed up in a second post, “the first line vote convention exists for national emergencies, often coming hand in hand when the government declares one. Never have I seen a government use that convention to escape scrutiny.”

The passing of the law was greeted by ominous glee from the Prosecutor General of the Republic, Vittore Gianpaolo Angrisani who posted, “to those who smear our Republic with lies and dystopian fantasies, who spit upon the graves of our fathers, we are ready.”

Etruria plus Euclea has said that it will appeal the law in the federal court system, before it reaches the Constitutional Court. The government however has in turn promised to put any court ruling to the senate under the interpretation act passed last year.

Party Finance Reform sees funding agreed

The Party Finance Reform bill introduced in early January has finally seen the funding distribution agreed. The figures were determined by the Senate Committee for Public Administration after tense and bitter negotiations.

The committee, which is chaired by a Tribune and holds a Tribune majority, surprised politics watchers by engaging in negotiations with its opposition members in determining the share of the Democracy Fund between the parties. Though it’s opposition members were clear in revealing that though the figures were reached by negotiation, “the end result is not entirely acceptable but arguably the best that could be achieved.”

A statement released by the committee reveals that the agreed distribution is as follows:

The government party (coalition leader) will receive 44.75% of the €200 million fund. The Tribunes will receive €89.5 million.

The party of the people’s opposition will receive 35.00% of the fund. This means the Social Democrats will receive €70 million. Each party represented federally will receive 4.05%, though this figure is dependent on the number of federal parties. The other parties under this scheme will receive €8.1 million.

Initially the tribunes were seeking a 51% share for the governing party, which saw opposition even from its allies in Onward Novalia. This pushed the Tribunes to give into a lesser share.

The bill also bans all overseas donations, limited private donations to €200, while companies and organisations may now only donate €10,000, both private and organisation donations will be legally required to include the voter’s ID number, the companies registration number and the organisations public affairs code for greater transparency.

With the distribution of figures agreed, the bill will move back to the chamber’s general session for voting. It is likely to be passed on the next two weeks.

Veratia’s Prefect excoriates the EC over Paretia ruling

Veratia’s Prefect of State Giuliano Aurelio Vinci has excoriated the EC and President Vivien Valette over its moves to punish Paretia for democratic backsliding.

Speaking at a meeting of the Association of the Vitruvian Plain, one of Etruria’s oldest agricultural conferences, he said, “what is happening to Paretia is diabolical, grotesque even. The EC President, having gone to speak to and up for those separatists in Tosutonia, has now taking steps to block funds needed by Paretia hours after the Paretian government took steps to protect its territorial and constitutional integrity. And of course, they did it under the cover of so called democratic backsliding.”

He said further, “we all saw this coming. The EC elite hates the patriotic right and Paretians dared elected Popular Victory, now the EC is getting its revenge. They will not stop until Paretia is turned pink or the colours of that rainbow” he said, referring to the LGBT+ flag.

He said to loud applause, “the Etrurian people in their all might wisdom saved our country and our fatherland from that nightmare, where democracy, sovereignty and Euclean values go to die. God we thank you for the foresight of the Etrurian people.”

His words follow the ruling by the Euclean Court of Justice that judicial reform passed last year in Paretia, violated the EC’s Treaty of Maredoux. Should Paretia not amend its laws or stop measures similar to Etruria’s descent into illiberalism, the country could face restrictions on EC funds.

Other News

Biancofiore widens lead in SD race
SD Leadership Race: The likely contenders?
Paretia set for EC showdown
Opinion: Democrats in Etruria look upon Paretia with envy
Concerns grow as it’s revealed 23 prisoners committed suicide last year
Novalia’s regionalist coalition is starting to wobble already

by **Union of Akoren** » Fri Feb 24, 2023 6:06 am

Zorasan to boost air force in wake of Yoloten War
Sattarishahr placed order for over 70 new aircraft and pledges millions for training

24th February 2023 · Written by: Moritz Huth

Zorasan is to drastically expand its air force after it placed an order for 40 Shangean R-11 fighter and 36 SAI Bargareh multirole jets. This is on top of €280 million earmarked for new training regimens and exercises. It comes as the Zorasani Air Force came under criticism over its poor record in the Yoloten War.

The Zorasani government’s National Announcement Circulation, which publishes government decisions revealed the €2.96 billion order for 40 R-11 aircraft from Shangea, to be added to its existing fleet of 45 R11 fighters, as well as 36 more domestically made SAI Bargareh multirole fighters. This would be one of the largest expansions of the Zorasani Air Force in its history. Also announced via the national procurement agency was a review of the design of the SAI Tondar, the lightweight fighter that saw extensive action in the Yoloten Conflict last year.

Alongside the order for new airframes, the NAC announced that the Air Force would receive a further €280 million for “modernised, expanded and resilient training regimens.” This reportedly may include more flying time for pilots and time in simulators.

As Werner Oberstein of the Westbrucken Institute for Strategic Studies told ICM, “the Zorasani air force has come a long way from the bulky, cumbersome force of the Second Rahelian War, but as seen with Yoloten, it has a long way to go in terms of pilot quality. It is telling that they did not deploy their R-11s against Lavana, perhaps indicating an institutional caution to send in its best.”

The Zorasani Irfanic Revolutionary Air Force is believed to have lost 10 aircraft shot down a further number damaged in the five day conflict. The SAI Tondar fared poorly according to analysts against heavier Lavanan airframes, though others have put this down to poor pilot quality rather than design. Others, however, lauded the Zorasani bomber crews for their record in the war, remarking on successful strikes against Lavanan airbases and air defence systems. Unsurprisingly, the Zorasani Land Forces received the bulk of positive analysis, citing its cohesion and manoeuvrability.

It is understood that within days of the Yoloten War’s end, the Zorasani defence staff ordered a “full-spectrum review” of the military’s operations in the conflict for the purpose of identifying areas of weakness. By virtue of today’s announcement, it appears the air force is line for a shakeup.

Mohsen Ali, a prominent researcher on the Zorasani military at Morwall University wrote for ICM, “one of the problems for Zorasan’s air force is its doctrine, which places greater emphasis on strike capabilities and close air support than it does contesting air superiority, this is due to the inter-service doctrine placing the onus on the Land Force’s ability to destroy an enemy’s air force on the ground via cruise and ballistic missile strikes. Due to the nature of the Yoloten conflict, there was no immediate strike against Lavanan air bases before its squadrons took to the skies. This left an air force not particularly skilled in air to air operations facing such a situation.

He further wrote “It helps explain why Zorasan’s bomber fleet proved effective but its fighter squadrons less so. I imagine Sattarishahr has awoken to this and is moving to at least boost its air contestation abilities.”

Westbrucken’s Oberstein agrees, “the Zorasani doctrine for its air force is not a poor one. It’s land forces and itself, through its bombers possess very capable strike capabilities, especially its arsenal of accurate land attack cruise missiles, tactical and short range ballistic missiles. Its strike aircraft have also been proven to be adept at in-depth strikes against fixed targets, unfortunately this doctrine is rather brittle and leaves the air force as a potential victim of events with little room for adaptation. This investment into new training is indicative in my mind that they are now conscious of this potential flaw.”

Training in the Zorasani Air Force is purportedly mediocre and considerably weaker than that compared to many Euclean militaries. Though Zorasan’s three air force academies are considered to be of high quality, its post-qualification training that lets the country down according to numerous analysts. The Air Force is the only branch in Zorasan’s military not to receive conscripts and relies entirely upon professional volunteers, on paper a boon to its quality, however these volunteers will find their flying time wanting post-academy.

As Mohsen Ali explained, “due to the doctrine of the air force, there is not much call for persistent flying time, if the army is charged with destroying your enemy before you even enter the battle space, in theory all you will be required to do is drop bombs and fire missiles at ground or sea targets - this they are trained in to a relatively high quality level, but if you’re flying a fighter jet such as a R-11 or M-29, you’re hardly scratching an Euclean minimum for hours in the air. And this leaves a gaping hole in your air forces air superiority capabilities.”

The €280 million investment into expanding the air force’s training regimens also includes an increase in time pilots will spend in the air. Aided by the country’s intervention in Yemet, it is hoped that fighter pilots, rather than those piloting strike aircraft will be the principal beneficiaries. The money will also go toward further simulator training, which taken holistically will go some way into improving the pilot quality of Zorasan’s fighter squadrons

More from the International Conflict Monitor

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The International Conflict Monitor is a think tank based in Morwall, that is dedicated to breaking conflict stories, events and providing unique analysis. The ICM hopes to utilise its wide network of sources to establish a greater understanding of human conflict, to then use that knowledge to assist policymakers in conflict resolution.

by **Rajyaghar** » Fri Feb 24, 2023 3:42 pm

by **Lunas Legion** » Sat Feb 25, 2023 3:55 pm

Attempted Zorasani decapitation strike against Girota-based leadership
Number of Zorasani casualties unclear, both President Issa Kahsu and Ater Deng confirmed alive by rebel media sources

25th February 2023 · Written by: Moritz Huth

A Zorasani Estmerish-built TH Reliant helicopter as used by the Takavar in the operation.

In the early hours of the morning, Zorasani Takavar special forces in Yemet mounted a heliborne assault on the Mazar of Qeshem which was believed to be being used by the government of President Issa Kahsu and Ater Deng. The safehouse is one of a network of numerous safehouses located throughout the city to allow the government to dodge Zorasani drone, air or artillery strikes which have become a feature of daily life in Girota since the overthrow of President Iskinder in April last year.

It is unclear exactly how large the operation was. However, it is likely that the spearhead of the operation was formed by elements of the 22nd Takavar Company which is believed to be the unit making up the vast majority of Zorasani special forces operating in Yemet.

What is clear from local media is that the operation, which was likely intended to be a quick decapitation strike against the leadership of the Yemeti government in Girota which remains in opposition to the Zorasan-backed Asad regime did not go as intended.

The raid, which began at approximately 2:30 AM local time, involved multiple helicopters landing special forces to secure a perimeter. Other helicopters remained airborne, launching indiscriminate attacks with missiles and cannons on the mazar and surrounding civilian buildings in an attack that resembled more of a spasm of violence than a well-planned and executed operation. The response from local militia forces was swift, with at least one Zorasani helicopter believed to have been shot down by RPG fire.

The Zorasani special forces are believed to have been successful in storming the mazar, however it is unclear if Kahsu and Deng were at the mazar, or had successfully escaped from the mazar by an escape tunnel created for this eventuality.

After approximately half an hour, Zorasani forces withdrew by helicopter. There are unconfirmed reports that a second helicopter was either shot down or heavily damaged by RPG or machine gun fire on the return trip. It is unclear how many Zorasani soldiers were killed or wounded during the operation. Union Forces in Yemet, led by Brigadier General Yaztagan Abolkarim who vowed to oversee the 'liquidation of the terrorist leadership' earlier this week in an address to the Supreme Assembly’s National Defence Committee, have yet to comment officially on the attack.

Media within Girota released a video of a short speech by Ater Deng later in the day where he decried the 'indiscriminate brutality of the Zorasani army' and claimed that 'at least three hundred civilians and freedom fighters had been killed or heavily wounded during the brutal attack on an historical holy place'. Deng vowed retribution for those killed against the Union Forces in Yemet and their 'Schutztruppe', comparing the Yemeti forces under the command of the self-proclaimed President Asad or allied to his regime to the army of the white segregationist state of Obergond.

The attack seems likely to only harden the determination of the anti-Zorasan and anti-Asad forces besieged in Girota for almost a year, with no sign of weakening. Although Zorasan and the Asad government claim they could storm the city any time and have only refused to to avoid massive civilian casualties, it is more likely that they wish to avoid the extreme losses that any attempt to storm the city would incur. Unlike Lehir which was on the periphery of the territory of multiple rebel groups and without control of Yemet's mines had only limited economic and symbolic value, control of Yemet's capital gives the government of Issa Kahsu more legitimacy in the eyes of the international community than the Asad government.

The war in Yemet, if history is anything to go by, seems likely to last for a long time yet.

More from the International Conflict Monitor

Zorasan: Planned Zorasani airforce expansion
Tsabara: Major uptick in rebel attacks toward onshore oil fields
Lavana seeks to deepen ties with socialist bloc

The International Conflict Monitor is a think tank based in Morwall, that is dedicated to breaking conflict stories, events and providing unique analysis. The ICM hopes to utilise its wide network of sources to establish a greater understanding of human conflict, to then use that knowledge to assist policymakers in conflict resolution.

by **Asase Lewa** » Sat Feb 25, 2023 11:55 pm

In one Ashana village, workers and peasants celebrate Revolutionary Theory Day with renewed vigor
by Máanu Kokote

Women's Federation members celebrate Revolutionary Theory Day in Odumase, Ashaland.

Odumase, Ashanaland: Massive crowds blocked the roads and filled city squares throughout Asase Lewa for Revolutionary Theory Day, the anniversary of the birth of Comrade Yuri Nemtsov, the theorist and socialist revolutionary whose teachings constitute the analytic root of the Councilist and Nemtsovist-Tretyakist-Adelajist-Edudzist ideologies that guide the Asalewan workers and peasants and our Section, rally organizers associated with the Section and the Revolutionary Councilist Defence Committees reported. RCDC organizers and police estimated that approximately thirty-five million people, nearly half the country's population, attended celebrations throughout the day. Commensurate with population growth and renewed revolutionary vigor and belief, this turnout is the second-highest for Revolutionary Theory Day in Asalewan history, second only to the celebrations in 2022, the bicentennial of Comrade Yuri Nemtsov’s birth, marked by week-long rallies, celebrations, and mass games.

Though there was no such special occasion this year, both Section organizers and ordinary workers and peasants that Red Torch interviewed said this not dampen their enthusiasm. In the village and peasant commune of Odumase in southern Ashanaland, an estimated five thousand people, out of a commune population of 10,000, attended the day’s parade and later events focusing on the Section, including a play about Comrade Nemtsov’s life and a panel put on by the Section discussing the relevance of Nemtsov’s works in the modern day.

“I put in a tremendous amount of work this year and spent the last couple of days with little sleep, just making sure that everything was right for our local parade. The challenges were difficult, especially, after Táwia Awuah, a Nemtsovism teacher at the local secondary school whose “Dialectics in an Hour” presentation I still remember from my own school days, became ill and had to cancel. But our parade could not have gone smoothly without the labour and enthusiasm from fellow members of mass organizations, particularly the Junior Workers’ and Pioneer Workers’ Leagues,” Adjowa Mmorosa, an ordinary Ashana peasant, the local RCDC chair in Odumase, and Section member said.

Other attendees in Odumase shared Comrade Adjowa’s sentiments. Mensah Apau, an ordinary butcher in the village, said, “I skipped many hours of sleep and could only spend a few minutes with my family and comrades at the dining hall because my rebel spirit compelled me to butcher extra meat for the festival. But while drinking tea with my children after the festival, hearing them so excited to explain the labour theory of value and the role that we, the Asalewan working-class, play transition from the capitalist mode of production to the socialist one, gave my heart such overwhelming joy that it was all worth it.”

Comrade Mensah’s eight-year-old daughter, Akosiwa, who was part of the Pioneer Workers’ League celebrations in the city, ran up to me as her father was speaking, and seemed eager to tell anyone about what she had learned. “Did you know that Comrade Nemtsov explained that workers create surplus value that under capitalism, the capitalists steal?,” she asked, her eyes brimming in childlike joy and excitement.

Though she too had been hard at work, part of the Pioneer Workers’ League dance recital for Revolutionary Theory Day, her father described her youthful excitement, passion, and energy only seeming to increase as the day went on, nourished by the people’s great revolutionary spirit.

“When I grow up, I want to be like Comrade Nemtsov. Not just to offer new ideas and contributions, but to dedicate my life to serving the people.”

Other Domestic News:
NEWS - People's Revolutionary Army successfully thwarts terrorist plot in Lokpaland
LIFESTYLE - Here are ten ways YOUR RCDC can beautify the neighborhood! Learn from the model Edudzi Agyeman City neighborhood Modakeke
OPINION - Read Comrade Enitan Abayomi's speech on the relevance of Nemtsovism in the modern era
International News:
ETRURIA - Neo-Functionalist regime rams through laws enabling a crackdown on anti-Functionalist speech
SHANGEA - Our Chistovodian comrades help Shangean workers and peasants access healthcare
SOUTH KABU - Pragmatism or Capitulation? Two columnists debate our South Kabuese comrades' decision to recognize Estmerish sovereignty over Kingsport

by **Union of Akoren** » Mon Feb 27, 2023 3:39 am

Girota Raid: Sattarishahr claims raid on Girota was a “resounding success”
Zorasan's Ministry of National Defence claims raid was a successful strike against a "concentration of terrorists" and denies heavy losses

26th February 2023 · Written by: Moritz Huth

A Zorasani Estmerish-built TH Reliant helicopter as used by the Takavar in the operation.

The Zorasani Ministry of National Defence has released a statement regarding the early hours raid on Girota, claiming its elite Takavar special forces had “engaged and destroyed a high concentration of terrorist fighters and their leaders.” The MOND however denied it was targeting Ater Deng and Issa Kahsu, also denying it had suffered heavy casualties.

The MoND’s official spokesman, Major Qassem Kharimpour told an assembled press conference that the 22nd Takavar Company had engaged in a “strike operation against a concentration of terrorist fighters within the desecrated Qeshem Mazar and surrounding environs. This assault was devised to inflict maximum damage and enable the capture of select high-value targets.”

“The assault was backed by helicopter gunship support and precision air support provided by Zamboor-2 drones and GR-7 attack aircraft. The Takavaran were able to liquidate up to 300 armed militants, capturing three high value individuals before being successfully evacuated from the area of operations. This operation was a resounding success for the Union Forces in Yemet and for the Yemeti government” he said further.

He went on to reference reports made by ICM and other regional outlets that the operation was targeting Ater Deng and Issa Kahsu, the two leading figures of the remnant faction occupying the Yemeti capital.

“This operation was not targeting the two terrorist warlords that occupy the capital, they remain at large but subject to intense intelligence efforts to locate them. This operation was aimed at destabilising their armed militants and war-making organisation. Any claims to the contrary are not based in reality” he said.

Maj. Kharimpour also used his statement to deny heavy casualties had been inflicted on the Takavaran saying, “these reports of multiple helicopters being shot down by terrorists is also untrue and perhaps the result of chaotic news reporting. One helicopter was brought down safely to the ground by its pilot after suffering from mechanical issues. Its crew and passengers were successfully evacuated with the rest of the strike group.

“It is with sadness that I must confirm the martyrdom of three Takavar, who died in valiant battle against terrorists and militants. Their names will be remembered and their families honoured in line with the covenant of the martyr that exists as the foundation stone of our great Union. Their sacrifice will go someway into delivering the Yemeti people the peace and order they deserve” he said, without elaborating further.
The spokesman refused to comment on reports of indiscriminate attacks on buildings around the Mazar, nor did he engage with reports that the raid may have killed over 100 civilians.

With what limited internet access exists in Girota and Yemet at large, images of a burnt out helicopter, footage of Takavaran scurrying for cover as they became besieged by the city’s populace will likely undercut the MoND’s claims. However, with its own censorship regime in place, it is equally unlikely that Zorasanis themselves will bare witness to what is being described as an “operational failure” by analysts.

One consequence of the failed raid will be a cautiousness befalling the UFY commanders, who may well be reluctant to deploy its forces into Girota again in the near-future, at least until the Axbale Asad regime decides to retake the city by force.

More from the International Conflict Monitor

Tsabara: Helicopter carrying wounded government soldiers shot down near Al-Qasr
Tsabara: Major uptick in rebel attacks toward onshore oil fields
Lavana seeks to deepen ties with socialist bloc

The International Conflict Monitor is a think tank based in Morwall, that is dedicated to breaking conflict stories, events and providing unique analysis. The ICM hopes to utilise its wide network of sources to establish a greater understanding of human conflict, to then use that knowledge to assist policymakers in conflict resolution.

by **Saul Volcano** » Mon Feb 27, 2023 2:57 pm

O Povo expands, with two smaller parties joining the alliance
Today O Povo finalized negotiating with the leaders of the Pan-Paretian Party and the Sotirian Liberation Community, both considered right-wing parties.
Emanuel Vaz (@EmanuelVaz) | 27 February 2023 | Precea

Premier Cerqueira with leader of the CLS, Santiago Prada Cherro

Precea, Paretia: The O Povo political alliance for almost a year was solely made up of one party, Popular Victory, after the Independence Movement and Patron League united. But the party has made moves to get other parties involved in their alliance. They have reached out to other parties they believe are like-minded on certain issues, and have chosen two.

The two parties are the Pan-Paretian Party, a right-wing Paretian-unionist party that advocates for anti-separatist and regionalist policy in favor of further uniting the four nations. The other being the Sotirian Liberation Community, a right-wing religious conservative party, that advocates for a form of syncretic policies between sotirian socialism economically and social conservative policy.

These parties are both very young, and have fairly little political foothold in both the national and regional legislatures. But they have seats in municipal and local levels. O Povo leadership says that the leaders of the parties with be given support in the future as members of the alliance.

Deputy Premier Selena Caprichoso said that including these parties both will support on specific issues, the PPP on separatism and unionism and CLS on religion and economic policy. The alliance said that they will give the leaders of the two parties some position in the cabinet as part of their deal with joining the alliance.

Premier Cerqueira said that these parties will be given a boost by being members of the alliance and that they will become "great allies" on certain issues in government. "We will give these parties the support they need to expand, they have views we greatly support, and we will give them the chance to grow."

Leaders Santiago Prada Cherro of the CLS, and Lucas Tavares of the PPP will likely become influencial in the government as a first step for giving the parties a chance to grow.

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In Other News:
EUCLEA - Scovern's Nesby raises concerns over Paretia
COIUS - Zorasan to boost air power
COIUS - Rajyaghar housing scheme
PARETIA - Cerqueira calls EC "tyrannical" in response to ruling
COIUS - Girota Raid

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by **Union of Akoren** » Mon Feb 27, 2023 3:57 pm

Thomas Satelburg - 28 February 2023

89 killed in suspected Zorasani drone strike on fuel distribution hub
Almost 90 killed and over 50 injured after a drone struck the Tadda Fuel Supply Point, used by civilians and Girota to power their homes, business and hospitals

Aftermath of the drone strike on the fuel distribution hub.

Girota, Yemet - 89 civilians have died after a suspected Zorasani drone strike destroyed a fuel distribution point in northern Girota. A further 50 have been injured, some suffering severe burns according to Girota’s health authorities. The strike comes two days after an allegedly botched Zorasani special forces raid on the city.

The Fuel Distribution Point located in the Tadda district and run jointly by the Girota Municipal Authorities and several NGOs has long been a fixture of the city’s life since it came under siege in wake of the coup that overthrew Retta Iskinder’s regime. Tankers full of gas and petrol are permitted to enter the city under agreement with the Asad Axbale regime and is the primary source of fuel for vehicles, homes and hospital generators. On average according to one Euclean NGO involved with the effort, over 5,000 people may visit the distribution point on any given day.

The Tadda distribution point was already nearing full-capacity at 10.00am when a large explosion ripped through a number of tankers, causing further explosions in nearby tankers. Eye-witnesses speak of horrific images of people being burnt alive in the ensuing inferno, while a large number of others have been injured with severe burns or injuries as a result of a stampede of fleeing civilians.

The GMA is reporting that Tadda District Hospital is overflowing with injured persons and is suffering shortages of pain-relieving drugs, while other NGOs have expressed concern over the shortage of antibiotics may lead to many injured suffering from infections in coming days.

The Morwall-based Universal Rights Campaign (URC), which is one of the leading organisers of the fuel-supply scheme told Bahia Online, “the incident in Girota is beyond incomprehensible. If it is confirmed that the explosions and death of 89 men, women and children was the result of a drone strike we are looking at a war crime. What is concerning beyond the loss of life is that much of the fuel lost to the explosions was destined to support Girota’s hospitals and medical system, without this fuel, the URC has serious concerns that generators will fail and the city’s hospitals could collapse.”

Aid to Yemet remains firmly in the grips of crisis following the decision by the Weranian government to pull out its non-government organisations and charitable groups last year, this was followed by Etruria which prohibited its branch of the Red Cross from engaging with Yemeti authorities.

The Zorasani military’s official account on the domestic social media site JabeZist, posted an image of a Zamboor-2 drone strike on fuel tankers. The post, which remains up on the site, claims the UFY successfully destroyed a refuelling effort for armoured vehicles and tanks, leaving many “militants killed.” However, this has been immediately dismissed the URC, which told BO, “the Zorasanis are more than aware of the Tadda Fuel Distribution Point, they know it exists and is operated once per week in that exact location. They deliberately struck the site.”

48 hours ago, the Zorasani military conducted what many are describing as a botched special force raid on the capital city, which is believed to have left almost 300 militants and civilians dead. Though Zorasan denied its raid was a failure, claiming it had succeesfully eliminated 300 armed militants alone and captured a number of high-value targets. Some have been quick to accuse the interventionist power of striking Tadda today in reprisal for its losses and failure two days ago.

by **Etruria2** » Thu Mar 02, 2023 3:46 am

SD race: Biancofiore calls for the “re-igniting of the flame of Eucleanism”
Frontrunner sets out his position in calling for renewed focus on joining EC
NOTIZIE by Giorgio Simone Parrinello

28 February 2023

In his third set piece speech to the SD membership, front runner Prefect of State Giorgio Amadeo Biancofiore told the party that “reigniting the flame of democracy in this country cannot be achieved in full without the flame of Eucleanism burning just as bright.” It comes as he pushes his calls for renewed EC aspirations as part of his wider “Democratic restoration campaign.”

Speaking to around 5,000 members in Stazzona, the Prefect of State for Dinara and current favourite to succeed Chiara Mastromarino, was adamant that renewed EC aspirations would be key to “delivering our country the prosperity, democracy and solidarity we sorely need.”

He told members, “let us take for example the protections and empowerment membership would deliver our democracy. The EC is fighting to protect the Paretian people from Popular Victory, they are fighting to protecting our friends from suffering the fate we have suffered at the hands of ultranationalists.

“I ask you, if we had joined in 2016 or 2017, even under this government, would our institutions and constitution not have been protected? We would have been saved from the excesses and the dark designs of the Tribune and his hateful worldview” he said.

“It is that preservation of the democratic spirit that our great country needs. The flame of Eucleanism would be the ultimate warden and protector of the greatest burning flame of all, democracy. It is our responsibility to all Etrurians who have suffered and sacrificed so that we may live free to see their legacy preserved and lauded as part of the great democratic community that is the EC” he said further.

And in a section that may raise eyebrows among right leaning voters, Biancofiore said, “but beyond the return of democracy as the soul of our Republic, us within the EC would deliver the position and place our country deserves. We would find ourselves as equals beside Estmere, Gaullica and Werania, we would find our Republic at the top table of Euclea, together directing and leading the eastern half of the continent into a prosperous, democratic and progressive future”, he continued saying, “no longer would we be cast to the periphery, no long consigned as we have been for the past seven years to the fringe of our continent, but rather we will stand where we deserve right in the heart of our continent. That is what our country deserves.”

Biancofiore also brought up the ‘84 Generation and the democratic restoration of 1984, which ended 24-years of military rule.

“There would be no greater honour, no greater respect paid to the ‘84 Generation, to all those who suffered under the military regime, than to elevate our country into the EC. It was their shared dream, their shared objective, to see a restored democratic Etruria join its brother and sister countries in Euclean harmony. Do we not owe to them now to do as they did? Save our democracy and see it achieve what millions of Eucleans yearn for? We owe it to our parents generation to see Etrurian democracy achieve its full potential” he said.

Biancofiore’s official platform calls for not only a “bonfire of amendments” that would roll back many of the Tribune’s controversial reforms, but a dedicated federal effort to resurrect pro-Eucleanism and officially resume EC membership efforts, with a referendum at the end of the decade. This places him in opposition to all four other contenders to replace Mastromarino, who for varying reasons oppose a renewed campaign to join the EC. However, it places him and the SD potentially, closer to that of the openly pro-EC “Etruria plus Euclea”, which many SD aides and officials fear could pose a threat to the party’s success as reversing its decline.

E+E for its own part has also conflated EC membership with democratic renewal, they however, have called for a constituent assembly to completely rewrite the constitution and radically reform the entire Etrurian governing system.

Biancofiore’s closest rival, Finance Spokesperson Adrina Drago, has criticised the speech saying, “when Etrurians fear their rights are being stripped away, when women are forced to taking action in backstreets over unwanted pregnancies, talking whimsically about the EC sadly is not good enough. It is what separates those who have their priorities straight and those who still seem deluded to the crisis we face at home.”

Drago has called for a closer relationship with the EC but not membership, saying last week at a hustings, “we need to be realistic, you can be E+E and live in a fantasy world where EC membership was rejected because the people wanted to stick to the political elite over Miraviglia and secretly millions of Etrurians are more pro-EC that commission employees, or you can accept that millions of Etrurians do not hold pro-EC views and that the Tribunes rightly or wrongly tapped into that. I prefer to be realistic, as should any prospective party leader and prospective president of the republic.” She also previously criticised Biancofiore and E+E for “depicting the EC as a white knight who will save us from our constitutional crises and the Tribunes, only we can save ourselves and our democracy.”

She has called for at minimum a free trade agreement between the EC and Etruria and a formal setting for annual talks between Etruria, Soravia and the EC where matters of “importance to the continent can be addressed.”

Hard-leftist candidate Bruno Locatelli is a well know eucloskeptic, he too has denounced Biancofiore’s position. In a video posted to his campaign social media accounts he said, “the EC is nothing more than a defence and propagation of the unaccountable, it’s a bastion of globalised big business that has the people no where in its interest. No, no, no.”

Other News

Biancofiore widens lead in SD race
SD Leadership Race: The likely contenders?
Paretia set for EC showdown
89 killed in Zorasani attack on Girota
Concerns grow as it’s revealed 23 prisoners committed suicide last year
Novalia’s regionalist coalition is starting to wobble already

by **Union of Akoren** » Thu Mar 02, 2023 5:53 am

16 Tsabaran soldiers killed in separatist attack
Nighttime infiltration of army outpost leaves dead and destroyed equipment

02 March 2023 · Written by: Moritz Huth

An image showing the glow of flames from Hassa Khalifah

At least 16 Tsabaran soldiers were killed in an overnight raid by the separatist Irfanic Liberation and Resistance forces on the northern frontlines. It is the bloodiest single incident of the civil war for almost a year.

There are currently numerous but conflicting reports on the incident that reportedly took place in the early hours last night near the village of Hassi Khalifah, some 12km north of the frontline in Ain Djasser province. However, all converge on a heavily armed unit of separatists infiltrating government lines and attacking an outpost, inflicting casualties and destroying at least six artillery guns and four vehicles before withdrawing back to rebel positions.

Heavy gunfire and explosions were reported at around 2am according to local reports, with numerous residents of Hassi Khalifah emerging from their homes to investigate the source of the sounds. Many told local journalists and government-backed reporters of flashes and the red glow of fires coming from the army outpost.

The Government’s Emergency Defence Administration in Ain Djasser confirmed a “serious attack on loyalist positions in the Hassi Khalifah area, but the enemy was repulsed” at around 2.10am on social media. Though this morning, the ministry of defence confirmed that “16 soldiers were killed in a heavy separatist assault upon an army position in Ain Djasser province, the army valiantly defeated and repulsed the attack, inflicting heavy losses.”

A PinPin account linked to the Tsabaran Army reported that the attack took the army outpost completely by surprise, many of the 16 who were killed were gunned down inside a barracks area, enabling the separatists to destroyed six 155mm artillery guns and four vehicles, including one armoured personnel carrier. At least three ILR fighters were killed the account claimed.

The incident is the bloodiest single event of the civil war for over a year and marks a slight shift in the tactics of the ILR, which now appears to be focusing on the northern front, perhaps in aim of seizing the onshore oil and gas fields that dominate much of central Ain Djasser province. The attack follows a number of Irfanic Liberation and Resistance suicide drone strikes against government positions, principally hitting tanks, armoire vehicles and artillery, many of these suicide drones are suspected of being supplied by Zorasan.

In return, the government and coalition aircraft from Estmere, Etruria and Gaullica have stepped up strikes against ILR convoys and fixed positions in southern Ain Djasser. Though the tempo of these strikes has declined as the ILR began to disperse its forces. Continued existence of ILR surface to air missile systems is further complicating a persistent air campaign according to analysts, the same have noted ILR success at concealing these systems from surveillance drones and reconnaissance, and only using active search methods when safe, resulting in a near hit-and-run type strategy against government and coalition aircraft. Several months ago, an unnamed separatist source claimed that the rebels had received six BuK SAMs from Zorasan being supplied to the rebels in broken down parts rather than their fully operational and constructed forms. Though it takes the rebels several weeks to put the launchers back together again, it all but guarantees their safe transfer. It should be noted that the sources claims could not be verified. Zorasan also denies any supplying of the separatists.

Several analysts and commentators have expressed concern over a possible ILR offensive aimed at seizing Ain Djasser’ oil infrastructure. Jan Foerster, a researcher at the Zilverzee Institute for Peace wrote, “a successful or a defeated ILR offensive results in the same, destroyed oil wells, ruptured pipelines and the collapse of Tsabara’s onshore extraction capabilities. There is also the concern that this may be the actual objective, now that the ILR is proven to possess some limited long-range strike capabilities through its drones supplied by Zorasan, they could hit the refining facilities in the northern and western part of the province as well, dealing Adunis a heavy economic blow.” Any such attack could throw the world energy system into a tailspin, with prices at decades highs already from instability and war across the LOPS members.

Relatedly, there is also concern that any significant hit against government held oil production could push the economy over the edge.

Giorgio Leonardi, an analyst at Verdi-DRossi Capital in Faulia said, “ever since the civil war erupted three years ago, Tsabara’s economy has barely avoided collapse. The country has lost a third of its territory to rebels, 18% of its offshore oil and gas reserves are within rebel hands or crosshairs and foreign direct investment has vanished. The seizure of Shangean assets has not helped in the long run.

“The loss of 2.9 million people as refugees to neighbouring countries may seem low in comparison to its 60 million population, but 500,000 of that number are Tsabara’s best and brightest who have emigrated to Euclea, the remaining 2 million have fled to Zorasan, Behera or Nise. This has seriously degraded the country’s labour market and left some of its non-oil sectors with labour shortages” he told ICM.

Leonardi warned, “the loss of the onshore reserves or fields would obliterate Adunis’ capital reserves, perhaps bring government finances crashing down and unleash a new much larger wave of economic migration onto Euclea, but only time will tell.”

More from the International Conflict Monitor

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Tsabara: Major uptick in rebel attacks toward onshore oil fields
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The International Conflict Monitor is a think tank based in Morwall, that is dedicated to breaking conflict stories, events and providing unique analysis. The ICM hopes to utilise its wide network of sources to establish a greater understanding of human conflict, to then use that knowledge to assist policymakers in conflict resolution.

by **Azmara** » Fri Mar 03, 2023 3:32 pm

ANASDOHTER ANNOUNCES INTENTION TO DISSOLVE FOLKSMOT FOR ELECTIONS
Elections will happen on April 16th, 2023 as per the regular schedule.

Ana Jonsdohter (@anajdohter)
^{3 March 2023 | Aalmsted, Azmara}

Anasdohter discussing her discussion on ARF-1's Nuudaag om Fyf news and commentary show.

AALMSTED, AZMARA – Thingspeaker Sofija Anasdohter has announced that a motion to dissolve the Folksmot to hold elections on Sunday 16th April will be tabled on Monday. If passed and signed by President Harald Alekssun, the Folksmot will be dissolved on Wednesday 8th March and as such the chamber will not sit again after this during the run-up to the election.

The motion is likely to unanimously pass the Folksmot and be signed into law by the President - the Basic Law of the Commonwealth of Azmara sets a three-year term limit on both chambers of the Althing and as such in order to comply with the Basic Law elections the 16th is mandated as the latest day an election can constitutionally be held on and the approval of the date is merely a formality. Furthermore, in accordance with the Elections Act 2016, election campaigns are meant to last twenty-five days excluding weekends and public holidays - while this would normally mean a five-week campaign period, as both Good Friday (April 7th) and Pascha Monday (April 10th) fall within this period these do not count to the campaign length and as such Wednesday 8th March is legally mandated as the final day of parliamentary business before the election and its approval as the dissolution date is another mere formality.

Anasdohter, who has served as Thingspeaker since the 13th July 2020 at the head of a three-party centre-left coalition of her Workers' Party alongside the Radicals and Greens, announced she intended to seek a mandate for a second term as Thingspeaker in her announcement, stating that she "had not yet fully achieved" the "progressive reforms" that motivated her to seek the job initially. Her government has been relatively stable and cohesive with many policy objectives, yet Anasdohter's noted populistic leanings on matters of immigration and law and order have in recent months led to clashes with members of her coalition partners especially in the wake of a brewing refugee crisis from Tsabara.

Anasdohter's Workers' Party is currently projected first in opinion polls, with a JuGov poll of 1,123 respondents between the 25th-27th February seeing her party expected to win 45 seats, a decrease of 6 from last election, with Gold Flame and the Sotirian Democrats statistically tied on around 24 seats representing a fall back to 2017 levels after a gain in 2020 for Gold Flame and a resurgence for the Sotirian Democrats from a historical low in 2020, the Radicals fourth on 14 seats representing a fall of five seats from the previous election, the Greens fifth with 13 representing a loss of one seat from 2020 and the newly-rebranded Blue and White surging to 12 seats.

On these numbers, the Workers'-Radical-Green coalition would most likely lose its majority in the Folksmot, being on average four seats short of one with 72 total seats. This does not definitively mean the end of the coalition, however - if this result is replicated in an election a minority government akin to those formed in the 2011-2014 and 2017-2020 Folksmots could be formed, with the government being able to extract confidence and supply regionalist Free Alliance 08 and the Euclofederalist Vox Azmara, projected respectively to win 3 and 2 seats in exchange for compromises on key policy issues for the parties such as further decentralisation of power towards provincial government and digitisation of the civil service and economy as well as a stronger commitment to Euclean co-operation.

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by **Etruria2** » Sat Mar 04, 2023 4:14 pm

Adrina Drago: “we do not have the luxury of fanciful dreams; we must fight in the here and now”
Leading candidate in SD race calls for a focus on saving Etrurian democracy, not progressive dreams
NOTIZIE by Giorgio Simone Parrinello

04 March 2023

Adrina Drago launched a scathing broadside against the Tribune government and her SD rivals for the leadership at a townhall event in Propoce saying, “we have to be very clear eyed on what we are fighting against, the potential loss of our democracy for a generation. Now is not the time for promises about same-sex marriage, EC membership or seizing the means of production.” It comes as she closed the gap between herself and Giorgio Amadeo Biancofiore, the current favourite to three points.

The 47-year old Spokesperson for Finance, who addressed the televised town-hall event in fluent Carinthian said, “I want to go through this process as serious and as grounded as possible. This party and our country cannot afford overpromises of radical change, when we face a playing field as uneven as one built by the Tribunes since 2016.” She has previously criticised Biancofiore and the hard-left candidate Bruno Locatelli for engaging in “falsehoods and promising flights of fancy.”

She defined her position as a potential leader as one focused on the immediate need of doing whatever is possible to push back against the Tribune government.

“I understand and sympathise that many party members want to hear discussions about same-sex marriage, gay rights and the environment, but I stand as a leader with the clear understanding that these issues, important as they are, are not the priority we should share. Our priority should be democracy, that we have one to deal with this issues at all” she said.

“Today, we do not have the luxury of fanciful dreams, we must fight in the here and now. We must be very clear eyed on what we are fighting against - the potential loss of our democracy for a generation. Now is not the time for promises about same-sex marriage, EC membership or seizing the means of production” she told the audience.

“We face a government whose entire premise is to sow division, to incite hatred and promote hatred. It does so to weaponise this to deliver it unlimited power, to entrench itself in power. It seeks to turn our Republic and a democracy into one for itself and its supporters, not for all. Our focus as a party, as the party of opposition is to fight back and to deliver Etruria freedom from the politics of hate” she said to applause.

“As leader, I will work to see many of those who once supported us but turned to the Tribunes return to us. I will work to see this party re-connect as best as it can, to those who felt disenchanted and marginalised enough to lend their trust to the Tribunes. We must respect those voters, respect their decision because it is rooted in something” she said.

Taking a question from an audience member, who asked about her position on a potential coalition of parties to take on the Tribune Movement she replied, “I was against this, I believed that we needed to enter an election with clarity and focus that comes by competing alone. But if saving our democracy is to be the upmost priority of all our efforts, then I think it is something we should be open to if it would best serve ending this government.”

This marks the first time in the race that a candidate has openly expressed support for a united opposition bloc. The SD’s most potent competitor, ‘Etruria plus Euclea’ has repeatedly called for a united opposition for the next federal election to remove the Tribunes from power.

Drago was also asked whether she would reorganise the SD internally as leader, confirming she would by saying, “what we saw in Novalia, before it went wrong, was an excellent case of using momentum from local government, where our party is very strong. I want to see the party rely on local and state records to carry us forward federally. Let us prove to our voters that we can bring success, that we can be relied upon and let our work speak for itself.”

She said the party had to revaluate the way it communicated with voters saying, “one of the most persistent issues we suffer is that our inability to discuss matters that matter to voters. You can be a progressive, as I am, and accept that that perhaps the rest of society is not quite where you are. If we accept that a majority of Etrurians are not where we are, we can begin that reconnecting that we need in order to win.”

Asked to clarify her position on the EC she repeated her called for a “relationship closer than close but not membership, that has been settled. I understand Giorgio Amadeo’s position and I respect it, but resurrecting that debate, that argument now is pointless and distracts us from the fight for our democracy.”

Since the resignation of incumbent leader Chiara Mastromarino in January, Drago has consistently polled behind Giorgio Amadeo Biancofiore, the Prefect of State for Dinara, though she has steadily closed the gap, leading some to believe that the race may be too close to call. Though widely seen as the Mastromarino continuity candidate and her protégé, Drago has been open in criticising decisions taken by her boss. Her focusing on Etruria’s institutional and democratic crisis under the Tribunes has successfully served to put distance between her and Biancofiore, who at times has treated this race as a practice run for the next federal election.

However, she has since come under sustained fire from Bruno Locatelli, the hard-leftist candidate for being “too close to big business” going as far as to accuse her of pandering to the SD’s “oligarchic tendencies.” She’s also come under fire from Biancofiore for not offering Etrurians any “hopeful alternative to the Tribunes, saying they need to go is not enough.”

In the latest poll on SD members’ intentions, Biancofiore topped the list at 43%, Drago close behind on 40%, Locatelli on 12% and Simone Casella on 3%.

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