President Trevisan calls for Enlarged Military, Patriotic Fervor Follows
Today, President Teodoro Trevisan gave a speech requesting the Major Council for an enlargement of the Army and the Navy and the beginning of designs for the "Doge's Dreadnaught", a new type of battleship. He successfully used events of the current times to convince both sides that a larger military was needed, appealing to the Conservatives by saying that a large military was needed to colonize and enlarge the Venetian Empire, and appealing to the Nationalists by saying that Venice must not be able to be knocked down by larger nearby powers. Following that speech and request for a larger army and navy, the Major Council voted 207 to 44 to enlarge the Army and 198 to 53 to enlarge the navy, with the only members voting against the measures being members of the Christian Isolationist Party. Mere days afterwards, streams of volunteers flooded into the recruiting office, so many that conscription was not needed. Within the next few weeks, massive military parades shouting the cries of "Un Posto nel Sole!" (A place in the sun) and "Venezia Trinfera'!" (Venice will triumph). This Venetian military buildup shows Venice's increasing drive for imperialism and power in the imperial world.
-Gianluca Morante
A Guide to the Venetian Political Parties
Currently, there are 2 major political parties in the Major Council, with a smaller third party and many factions within the party.
Conservative Party: This party is the current majority party in the Major Council, with a very slim majority of 139 seats out of 251. Their stances on national issues are:
-Imperialism: Very pro-imperialist. They support larger amounts of colonies and expansion of current colonies.
-Foreign Relations: Strongly opposed to France because of their behaviour and actions relating to the Guinea Incident. Pro-America and Pro-England because of trading ties and they are some of the stronger world powers besides France.
Nationalism/Italy: Against unification. For working with Genoa and Two Sicilies because of their strength and respect towards regionalism. Anti-Padanian, because they stir up nationalist sympathies and weaken world stability.
Smaller factions within the party:
Imperialist Hawks: Strongly support going to war with other nations to acquire more colonies. Strongest advocates of the increased Army and Navy size, and unsuccessfully called for war with France during the Guinea crisis. Have occasionally worked with the Immediatists for militaristic measures, and get along well with the Christian Imperialists. Strongly opposed to the Christian Isolationist Party. There are roughly 30 of them.
Christian Imperialists: Support increased missionary actions to "civilize" the "barbaric" colonies. They also are strong advocates for going to war with Turkey over a lack of protection for Christians. There are roughly 40 of them. Friendly with the Imperialist Hawks and strongly oppose nationalism.
The rest of the Conservative members are either moderates or party machines.
Nationalist Party: This party holds a sizeable minority with 81 members out of 251. Their policies are:
-Imperialism: Not necessarily anti-imperialist, but most think that unification should take priority. They are opposed to increasing spending on colonies, thinking it is needed more at home.
-Foreign Relations: Strongly anti-France, claiming that they should never be treated well until their Italian holdings are vacated. Supportive of German and Balkan nationalist movements.
-Nationalism/Italy: Very pro-nationalism. There is a break in the party over whether immediate military unification is needed or whether a more gradual approach should be used. Very pro-Padanian, seeing them as brothers in the nationalist cause and very anti-Genoan and anti-Papal.
Smaller factions within the party:
Immediatists: These members are still a minority of the party, but they are growing in number, currently having 27 members. They stand for forced military unification of Italy at the soonest possible moment, and stand strongly for the expansion of the army, and have cooperated with the Imperialist Hawks at some points.
Gradualists: These members are the more moderate Nationalists, claiming that forming alliances and cooperating economically will cause a more peaceful, voluntary, and gradual form of nationalism that will eventually reach a point where most Italians want unification. They have 34 members, and support compromises to pass bills, to the criticisms of the Immediatists.
The rest are more "Pure Nationalists", standing for nationalism, but not to the radical level of the Immediatists or the compromising, diplomatic level of the Gradualists.
Liberal Party:
Prior to the 1880 elections, the Liberal Party was the strong opposition to the conservatives. However, the rapid and meteoric rise of the Nationalists fractured the fragile coalition united on economic issues instead of social issues, and those supporting nationalism left for the Nationalist party. The rest either joined the Conservatives or joined the newly formed Christian Isolationist Party. Currently, there are only 3 members of the Major Council that are still officially affiliated with the Liberal Party, and the party is dead in all but name.
Christian Isolationist Party:
This party was formed out of the ashes of the more anti-imperialist Liberals when the party fell apart. It currently has a small majority, with only 44 members. Their policies are:
-Imperialism: Strongly anti-imperialist, standing for isolation in Venetian affairs. Most are pacifist and against the expansion of the armed forces.
-Foreign Relations: Strongly against the Austrian alliance, claiming that it will drag Venice into unnecessary wars. For isolation in foreign relation and less trade with other nations.
-Nationalism/Italy: Anti-nationalist, stating that Padania's nationalism will destroy the nation and leave it a Padanian puppet, as well as dragging the nation into wars against France and Austria. Pro-Papal.
Thank you for reading this. I hope our political scientists' analysis of the current political situation will leave you better informed for next election.
-Carlo Messualdi
Grand Italian Alliance passed, but Padania not invited!
Yesterday, the Grand Italian Alliance was passed and signed into law by President Trevisan. However, the Conservatives and several Isolationists amended the bill by not inviting Padania into the alliance, and only inviting Genoa and Two Sicilies. The bill states:
The Grand Italian Alliance
Venice, Genoa, and Two Sicilies are invited to sign the following agreement:
Section 1: A Defensive Military Alliance with regards to affairs in Europe and the Mediterranean shall be formed between the members.
Section 2: All members shall not declare war on each other.
Section 3: All members shall enter an Economic Alliance and lower tariffs to stimulate trade.
Section 4: Members shall have autonomy over all domestic issues and extra-European issues.
Section 5: Members shall be allowed to leave the Alliance at any time.
Signed, President Teodoro Trevisan, Representing Venice
It is predicted that Genoa will join the Alliance, but it is unclear what Two Sicilies' position on the alliance is.
-Giuseppe Mazziano