Shadow of the Fall: A Peshawar Lancers IOT

[inthesomeday]

Il Mondo​

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Global News

War in Africa!

Spoiler :

The War in Africa continues as the Battle of Mozambique rages on between the navies of Zululand and the coalition of Australasians and Madagascans. Casualties multiply on the front as the war becomes the deadliest in the last century. On both sides, war weariness grows, but the Zulu economic complex is starting to break down-- at no small expense to the Allies, of course, but nonetheless at a fast enough rate that they seem to be closer to defeat than their opponents.

In Italy the war has seen an increase in nationalism-- the United Dioceses, so far from the war, still hear of its horrors through the new film reels, photographs, and first person accounts published in journals around the world. The safety afforded by the government, and the economic prosperity of the country, inspire feelings of power, comfort, and strength across the country.

Faith Debates Rage On

Spoiler :

In Brazil and the Levantine Republic, major developments in the so-dubbed "Faith Debates" have continued to erupt. Loyalists in Brazil that continue to pay respect to the Roman Pope have drawn the passive ire of both the Brazilian Schismatics and some elements of the government. Nonetheless the UDI and the Empire of Brazil remain close allies, and there are rumors of conversation between the two nations regarding the schism.

In Catalonia, meanwhile, the Faith debates continue to develop in political and academic arenas, though the general populace has seen an increase in religiosity as the Church rises in prestige the world around. With professors and respected experts who support the country's liberal regime finding themselves in heated discussion with pro-Catholic social organizations, political movements, and fellow academics, the philosophical side of establishmentarianism has seen a newfound prominence in the limelight.

Refugee Crisis

Spoiler :

The African continent, wrought with war in the south, is experiencing a mass migration crisis as refugees from the war, ethnic tensions in Madagascar, and chaotic badlands in between states, have started to flood the peaceful north. This population movement has caused major social unrest and change in the urban and rural centers of the Amaros Republic and Somali Confederation, two of the primary destinations of the rush.

This may soon change, however; bolstered by a simultaneously pluralist and nationalist sentiment in Italy strengthened by increasing integration of Muslim and Italian communities, the Pope recently released a statement welcoming refugees to the Corsican and Sardinian islands in special refugee zones that will be funded and organized by governmental relief missions. His Holiness is quoted:

Any truly pious civilization must accept the responsibility of the sick, the poor, the displaced. In the wake of the African War thousands are homeless, workless, and stateless. Starting now, for immigrant refugees, there will be established communities built and fostered by the Church in Corsica and Sardinia. Refugees of any creed, any color, and any origin will always be welcome to the shores of the United Dioceses, for the state and the people of Italy are friends to all.

 

[Traveller76]

Novo Dia​

Airship crew awarded Order of Christ
The twelve members of the IAS Pedro will be awarded The Imperial Order of Our Lord Jesus Christ (Imperial Ordem de Nosso Senhor Jesus Cristo)[/I] after the Minster of Internal Affairs received several hundred petitions from citizens across the Empire. The process is complex and involves the approval of different authorities, including the state attorney, the provincial president, the Emperor and sometimes the Bishop. The Order will be granted for services provided during a public calamity regarding a fire onboard the Pedro while moored. The Imperial Household issued a statement that the Empress will award the Order personally to all crew members. "We in the Imperial Household are immensely proud of the crew onboard the Pedro. They have show the nation and the world the level of professionalism and training of the Imperial Air Service, which is a model for the world."

 

[tobiisagoodboy]

Somalia Daily News

Chancellor announces new era of foreign policy
Mogadischu
After years of international passivism Chancellor Hassam Ali has announced a new era of foreign policy for the confedaration.
"Long enough have we just watched as our african brothers massacred each other and themself, no more I say." he said in front of capitol building in Mogadischu. The new goverment policy will promote stability and peace throughout Africa and will include the possibility in eventual conflicts, if the means of diplomacy fail.
While some voices have risen to critizes this new policy, argueing that it could threaten the wealth of progress of the nation, a vast majority of MPs in parliament supports it.
Prime example for this new policy is the goverments call for peace and offer for mediation, in the Zulu-madagascar war.

Recruitment numbers skyrocket, as goverment announces massive military spending
Mogadischu
The confederate military as long been shunned as the ugly duckling of the Confedaration. Underfunded, underequipped and understaffed it was just barely able to secure the Confedarations borders, expansion beeing nothing more but a dream in some officers heads.
Today the Ministry of Defense announced a large reform of the military and great increase in spending. A complete reorganisation of the militarys structure and the raising of two full infantry divisions have caused more than one raised eyebrow in parliament and on the streets. Still, right now most people support the idea, as several incidents of bandits overwhelming the small border defenses and wrecking havoc have costed several lifes. Nearly unnoticed went the announcement that the Confederation will also form its own navy and marine corps, which it had been lacking until now.

Econonomic and cultural progress are what we need
Mogadischu
The new goverment has only been in office for a few weeks, but have started to work on a great number of reforms. While the military and foreign policy changes have caught major attention, another plan has passed by most of the general public.
The 'Economic and cultural progress fond' is a new idea created by the Ministers of Commerce, Culture and Finance. A fond, supplied with 30 gold per year by the goverment, meant to give cheap credits to young and innovative companies. No matter if it's a machine, a play or a small buisness. Those with good ideas, but a lack of money shall get a chance through this.

Short news

Man claims to get gasoline out of a rock, is send to a mental hostpital

Maputo and Madagascan refugees reach Somalia, police has to divide both groups after violent clashes

Holy man gets send to prison after he trys to blame him raping children on the jews

 

[NinjaCow64]

The Kingdom of Madagascar and the Zulu Empire have come to a peace arrangement.

Treaty of Nampula:

Section One - Treaty Terms

1. The Kingdom of Madagascar will concede defeat to the Zulu Empire and the Kingdom of Maputo.
2. The Kingdom of Madagascar will relinquish claims to the Kingdom of Maputo and recognise the King of Maputo as the rightful sovereign of the country and the Zulu Emperor as his protector.
3. The Zulu Empire will lift their blockade of the island of Madagascar.
4. The Zulu Empire will return control of Mozambique to Madagascar.

Section Two - Nampula Defence Pact

1. All treaty nations will agree to enter a defence pact against the Federal Confederation of the Somali People. An attack on a treaty nation will be considered an act of war against all treaty nations.
2. All treaty nations will be expected to provide reasonable help to all other treaty nations if they are attacked by the Federal Confederation of the Somali People.
3. Treaty nations are not obliged to assist in offensive wars or wars where the Federal Confederation of the Somali People were intentionally antagonised by a treaty member with the intent of them declaring war on the treaty member that was antagonising them.
4. All treaty nations urges the government of the Federal Confederation of the Somali People to start acting in the interests of peace and stability.
5. The Kingdom of Madagascar, the Zulu Empire and the Kingdom of Maputo are considered the founding treaty nations. Being a founding treaty nation does not give any privileges over new treaty nations.

Section Three - Membership and Amendments

1. Another nation may become a treaty member upon unanimous vote of all other treaty members.
2. A treaty member may be ejected upon the unanimous vote of all other treaty members that are not in a client relationship with said treaty member. Client relationships refer to when a nation has their foreign and/or domestic policy directly influenced or controlled by another state or when a nation directly influences or controls another nation's foreign and/or domestic policy.
3. This treaty may be amended upon unanimous vote of all other treaty members.

~Signed, Prime Minister Manandafy Rasanjy and Queen Ranavalona V

 

[JohannaK]

The Republic congratulates the Madagascaran, Zulu, and Maputo chanceries for achieving peace and conciliation after their brutal conflict.

-Corazón Eiximenis i Desplat, Foreign Minister of the Levantine Republic.

 

[NinjaCow64]

Madagascan Times


12th November, 2031​

Peace with Zulu Empire!


Merely hours ago, Prime Minister Manandafy Rasanjy and Queen Ranavalona V signed the Treaty of Nampula, bringing an end to the Maputo War. While the treaty is much more lenient than many had feared, it is clear that we are the defeated party. The Kingdom of Madagascar has admitted defeat and renounces its claim to Maputo, in exchange the Zulu Empire and the Kingdom of Maputo have agreed to return ownership of Mozambique and will lift the Madagascan blockade.


A surprising addition to the treaty is the inclusion of the Nampula Defence Pact, a defense pact against the Federal Confederation of the Somali People. It is likely that this was added in response to the allegations against Somalia regarding their plans for the African region. This treaty has also prompted the resignation of Prime Minister Manandafy Rasanjy. The Treaty of Nampula is connected to many current events and is likely to have major ramifications for the future of Africa. But to many Madagascan citizens, this treaty represents the end of an incredibly taxing period of Madagascan history.


Prime Minister Rasanjy Resigns!


In a tear-filled press conference, Prime Minister Manandafy Rasanjy announced his resignation and the resignation of many members of cabinet.


“We have failed you Madagascar,” Prime Minister Rasanjy said in the conference “The members of cabinet that are resigning today and I have failed you. We brought Madagascar into a devastating war which we lost due to our failings. Even more shamefully, we have brought this country onto the brink of collapse. I am resigning from the office of Prime Minister and am passing on my duties to Rakotonandrasana Rajaonarivelo, for he was the one who should have truly been leading. I will also not seek re-election in this coming election. I only hope that you do not judge him or the Tory Party for my mistakes and weaknesses, as he is the only man who can unite Madagascar to stand strong against the new challenges that await it.”


The new Prime Minister Rakotonandrasana Rajaonarivelo is a Tory MP who was openly critical of the Maputo War. His faction was small, but it rapidly became more popular as public opinion turned against the war.


“I am honoured to be given this chance to prove myself to the Madagascan people,” Prime Minister Rajaonarivelo said in his first press conference in that capacity “I will pursue a policy of rebuilding our nation and preparing it for the new challenges that it must now face. However, I will not truly consider myself Prime Minister until the people have spoken in the upcoming election, which is scheduled for March next year. Until then I am merely a custodian for this great position.”


While many have applauded this move, the opposition parties are sceptical.


“Do not be fooled,” said General Secretary Tovonanahary Rabetsitonta of the Madagascan Nationalist Socialist Party in a press conference “This new boss is the same as the old boss. While we are glad that the Tory Party have finally come to their senses and ended this wasteful war, they have not truly changed. They are still the embodiment of all that is wrong with the corrupt capitalist system and, if re-elected, will continue to oppress the working classes.”


In his first act as Prime Minister, Prime Minister Rajaonarivelo has passed legislation ending the end of the controversial war taxes.


Ambassador Accuses Somalia of Aggression!


A recently declassified report by Ambassador Andriatsiferanarivo Rakotomalala accuses Federal Confederation of the Somali People of attempting to pursue an aggressive expansionist foreign policy. He claims that he overheard a Somalian diplomat, whose name was redacted in the document, discussing the Maputo War with his superior, also redacted.


Allegedly these two senior diplomatic officials talked of militarily intervening in the Maputo War. They discussed an idea of enforcing lopsided treaties with threat of military force, rapidly changing which side they were going to ruin with unfair treaties. They then discussed the idea of sailing multiple Battleships down the Mozambique Channel to sow discord and conflict. They then concluded that it would be a good idea to wait until both the Zulu Empire and the Kingdom of Madagascar had exhausted their militaries and then conquer both.


According to the report, the Ambassador Rakotomalala was so disgusted by these remarks that he stormed out of the room, abandoning the planned meeting he had with the Somalian officials. While leaving the building, he overheard a discussion that another Somalian diplomat was having with a Russian diplomat about attacking the Kingdom of Transjordania and dividing up these two territories between the two powers. Apparently, the Russian diplomat was quite shocked at these remarks, so it is unlikely that Russia wishes to follow through with this proposal.


This report caused an uproar in Parliament, with all major parties voicing their anger at the Somalian rhetoric. General Secretary Rabetsitonta accused the Somalian Chancellor Hassam Ali of being two faced, calling their recently announced new foreign policy “a thinly veiled excuse for capitalist imperialism”.


“We are deeply disappointed in the actions of Somalia,” Prime Minister Rajaonarivelo said in a press conference “As one of the world’s superpowers they have a responsibility to the world to act in the interests of peace and stability. Right now, they are acting like an intoxicated elephant. Until Somalia can prove itself to be a calm player we have no choice but to withdraw our diplomats and treat the Somalian government with suspicion. We call upon Somalia to reconsider their diplomatic approach.”


Parliament Changes as Election Approaches!

Parliament of 2031. Communist Party in dark red, Restoration Party in Purple.


As part of the Treaty of Nampula, the Maputese Parliamentary seat was abolished, bringing the total number of seats in Parliament to 28. This seat was controlled by the Madagascan Tory Party, but that was not the only seat that they lost this election. Fanamby Rajoelina, former Tory Party MP, has announced his resignation from the Tory Party and has established the Restoration Party.


“We have a weak parliament and an even weaker Queen,” Fanamby Rajoelina said angrily in a press conference “We need to bring back strong African leadership to all areas of this country. If I am elected Prime Minister, I will find a new monarch who truly represents Madagascar! I will dissolve the corrupt and rotten Parliament, I will make Madagascar a Monarchy again! Additionally, I promise to send all those whities back to where they belong! If they want a homeland so bad, then they can go back to France!”


This was not the only extremist candidate to announce their defection from a major party. Hery Zafy, former Madagascan Nationalist Socialist Party MP, has announced his defection to the newly created Madagascan Communist Party. He gave a very brief press conference where he said that he “would not partake in the corrupt Parliamentary system any longer except to promote Communist values to the working classes of Madagascar and the world.”


While these fringe factions are unlikely to keep hold of their seats in the upcoming election, these defections reflect the growing radicalization of Madagascan politics. While they may not make a strong showing in the 2032 election, these are real political forces that may strongly influence the future of Madagascar.

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OOC: The accusations of the diplomat are based on posts I read on Discord.

 

[tobiisagoodboy]

OOC: As I said I was making fun and I was 100 % serious with making fun. So yeah, thanks for that. The only offer I made was to be a mediator and I threatend that I would enforce peace, if any side were to reject a reasonable treaty. Everthing else was joking, if that wasn't clear. I will now correct that.


Message from the Confederation to all nations :

Several confederat diplomats have cause uproar and confusion with unprofessional comments and dreams of world conquest and war. These diplomats do not speak for the confederate govermant and have already been fired and will be put on trial for treason.

The former confederate govermant let the education of diplomats slide, we will do everything to inprove this and apologise for any eventual problems.
We promise to have no malicious intent towards any nations, but we also know that broken trust can't be repaired by nice words. We accept the allaince against us and hope that over time will be able to prove that this is unnecassary..

 

[JohannaK]

The Levantine Republic is concerned that a healthy, open Democratic regime should defer the trial of these diplomats to a court martial. While we have taken note of the Somali intentions to expand their armed forces, we have to question the wisfom of ceding to them powers over the judiciary.

-Amadeo Salvador Valls, Ambassador to the Federation of Somalia.

 

[tobiisagoodboy]

OOC: Sorry, not a native speaker so I used the wrong word, I'll correct that ^^.

 

[Traveller76]

Novo Dia​

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A Blended System by Bernardino Adalberto Pinho, History and Political Science Professor, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro
Recently we have seen articles from Italy and the Levant discussing the different styles of government and which is better for the country. Several of my students and colleges mentioned to me that Brasil, Mysore and Australasia were not mentioned in the discussion and there was little mentioned of constitutional monarchy as a 'Third Way' between Democracy or Absolutism. Therefore I write this article to educate all of out readers.

A Monarch can provide long term leadership and vision for a country and be a symbol of unity and tradition. He or she is not depend on winning the next election and can make difficult decisions that may be unpopular like a parent with a child. A Monarch does not rule alone, he or she is assisted usually by a system of councils, whether experts in a particular field, various nobility or local leaders. The problem with this is that when a monarch ignores the advise or consent of his/her subjects and advisors that can soon lose power or lose their own life. History and culture are full of stories of civil wars, succession crises, corruption, incompetence as monarchs neglected their duties or nobles fought for positions of power.

Democracy or rule by the People allows everyone to vote on the course of the country. Those who meet certain standards can vote in local and national elections and have a say on how leaders are elected, what they are responsible for and how taxes are spent. The problem is that leaders can appear to a particular group whether based on racial, political, economic or social ties and if they are more powerful that other group can rule a country the same way as a Dictator. Elected officials are interested in short term results since they are looking towards the next election and need to deliver results. If no political party is in a majority or if a country if divided it can result in a stalemate until the next election or crisis.

Brasil, like several other countries is a Constitutional Monarchy. We have an Imperial Family to provide long term leadership and unity with a Cabinet of advisors. We have an elected Senate and General Assembly to represent the people of all classes and backgrounds. We have a local and national judiciary and constitutional to protect the rights of people and enforce a code of conduct on the government. We also divided the country into Municipalities and Provinces so that local problems can be handled at a local level instead of waiting for a central government to respond. This also reduces some of the powers of the central government to prevent abuse and corruption. A system of checks and balances where each level of government has certain rules and powers to check abuse.

So which system is best? The answer is what will the people support or be willing to fight for? The world is composed of different families, clans, tribes, nations and states with a dizzying array of religions, ethnicities, languages living in different ecologies so what may work for Brasilians may not work for Mexicans, Mysoreans, Bulgarians or Zulu. It is up to the people to decide their fate since they are the ones in the farms and factories, in the armies and navies and in the halls of government. If people wish to change the government tomorrow it is up to them. All we need to remember is that violence breeds more violence and that innocent people are usually the first to suffer.

 

[Gurra09]

INDEPENDENT NEWS​

BREAKING NEWS: President Blanchard dead - military leaders promise restoration of civilian government
News have just come in that President Blanchard was found dead in her New Orleans residence early yesterday morning. While the investigation into her death hasn't been concluded yet, evidence points to natural causes according to medical experts. The power vacuum following these events was quickly filled by senior Cabinet member and military leader Jean Roy who in his new capacity as Acting President declared a day of national mourning and announced to the public that his Cabinet's intentions are to restore civilian government in the United States of Louisiana. It is unknown what this restoration entails but sources say leading members of the Democratic Socialist and Moderate parties who were imprisoned on the case of treason for anti-military statements are being released, and that negotiations are underway in Baton Rouge on the establishment of a transitional government. The question is: a transition to what?

 

[christos200]

Sorry I did not send orders last time but I was at my parents' house for Christmas and internet connection (plus their laptop) sucked. I will send orders this time.

 

[Gurra09]

Statement from the office of the Acting President of the United States of Louisiana Jean Roy
Our United States of Louisiana have seen great progress under the leadership of President and Commander-in-Chief Marie Blanchard. This is a fact, not merely an opinion, as we look at the growth of the Louisianian economy, the increased capacity of our defensive forces and the steady improvement of vast expanses of North American land that was once seen as nothing more than wasteland. Marie Blanchard's responsible government has brought great stability to a country that was plagued by corruption and economic hardship, and her strong leadership should be an inspiration to us all. But we as a nation and a people under God must not allow ourselves to become stagnant. We must look at our history and find ways to improve upon it even further, which is why I in my capacity as Acting President have called for the restoration of civilian government. After 34 years in service of this nation, it is time to move on to the next stage and I believe for this transition to be truly successful it must lie in the hands of the many. As of this morning, my cabinet is part of a transitional council alongside Moderates, Democratic Socialists and Independents, and our goal is one: to ensure that free and fair elections can be held for the people to choose the new leadership of this nation in the near future. Let us move forward together, because united we stand and divided we fall. God bless Louisiana.

 

[Sonereal]

Softlock in ~22 hours

 

[Sonereal]

Due to personal issues, the locks will be delayed one week.

 

[JohannaK]

This year's elections have confirmed what the polls had been saying. Military and diplomatic success at expansion , as well as domestic growth, have secured a second term in the Presidency for Gonzalo López y Schmidt, and driven the Democrats to a majority in the Assembly. The Senate, as always, lies on the balance. While their former Federal allies have rejected them on account of the expansionist agenda, the Liberals have lent their support in exchange for appointments, and Republicans have grudgingly allowed the nominations to go through. With the successful conclusion of the nomination process last week, the last of the electoral fanfare is over for now. Thus the time has come to sit, see and explain the new balance of power in the Chambers, how the cabinet can be expected to steer the country, and where do the regional governments sit in all of this.

The Cabinet:


President Gonzalo López y Schmidt (SD)

Spoiler :

President López was the eternal hopeful. The wrong mix of people's advocate and party man, his early involvement in politics in the fairly safe progressive district of Cádiz brought him to an Assembly seat at the early age of thirty-two. After fifteen years on the bench, he became Prime Minister as a compromise candidate under Republican Nicolau de Carol's government. Although his run at the office was relatively unremarkable, greater men had floundered. Many thought his career had peaked and that he would fade into obscurity again, but at the end of his term and after another electoral failure, he managed to take the lead for the Democrats, and later became the Presidential nominee. He defeated incumbent Unionist Rojas Marcos in a true upset, and for the last five years he has solidified his leadership as statesmanlike. His second term is expected to bring more of the same, but there is a fairly broad consensus that growth everybody can get behind.

Prime Minister Dolores Camacho i Garcia (SD)

Spoiler :

Gómez's right hand woman and greatest rival within the party, Camacho is, while not the first woman to serve as Prime Minister, widely regarded as the most powerful woman of the Republic at any point in its history. Lifelong party member and activist, she reached managerial levels withing the Social Democrats before she won a seat in the Senate. Her support is what allowed Gómez to helm the Democrats. Since day one there have been rumours that she lent her support in order to make her own bid for power after his unsuccessful run. Founded or not, Camacho and Gómez have been close allies since and she is considered his successor. Her stint as Minister of Development in the previous government marked an explosion in industrial growth, and her running for the Asembly in the contested seat of Teruel this year has been taken for a show of fearlessness. As the person in charge of assembling and controlling the budget, as well as crafting policy into legislation, she'll be the key figure to watch these next five years.

Minister of Development and Industry Llibert Valls y Flores (Lb)

Spoiler :

Already Minister for Agriculture under the Unionist-Liberal coalition government, the Liberal frontman now takes on one of the most taxing ministries. After the spectacularly successful tenure of Dolores Camacho, Valls has a high bar to surpass. The state of the economy as handed to him, however, couldn't be better. Some predict an easy time for him barring major events such as wars or embargoes. His proven qualities as an administrator as former governor of Valencia and later at Agriculture reassure many that, even if he were not as remarkable an organizator as Camacho, the industrial health of the Republic is in good hands. If the political tide eventually turns, such a resume would give him a head start in a contest for Premiership or, perhaps, even the Lieutenant's Palace.

Minister of War Pau Sereno i Colom (SD)

Spoiler :

A technocrat rather than a politician, Sereno's success has been at the helm of industries and public organisations. Once a serviceman and cadet, discharged for injury a year in, he eventually came to work as a supervisor in the government-owned Menorcan steelworks where the Republic's submarines are assembled. An able manager, he was also spokesman for his own subordinates, for which he was shuffled around constantly until promoted to a more senior position where he would be both removed from them and able to help them. He tried an independent campaign for the Assembly for his native Mallorca Est, but failed. Eventually he received a political appointment at the General Agency for Guns and Ammunitions (GAGA) under the Ministry he now leads in de Carol's term, where he has been until now, renewed term after term. He is hoped and expected to bring his skills to bear under the army and naval modernisation programs.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Corazón Eiximenis i Desplat (SD)

Spoiler :

Unlike Sereno, Eiximenis' appointment has been as much political as it has been professional. Noted for being the youngest person to attain the rank of Ambassador, Eiximenis has been a career diplomat but also a women's rights activist and fervent Social Democrat. At the time of her promotion, she was appointed Amassador to Louisiana. It was said that it was because, like Marie Blanchard, she is a woman. Nevertheless, she has been thoroughly professional in her every appointment, most recently in Somalia, after spending some years in Mysore and Brazil. At the end of her time in Louisiana, by 2019, she became involved with the Democrat campaign efforts. She would do so again after Brazil, in 2025, and after Somalia, just this year. This time her office will not be abroad. Under Gómez, it is believed that her ministry will be under close management by the President himself, but that she will nevertheless bring her own brand of diplomacy to the negotiating table.

Minister of Agriculture and Resources Sara Rodríguez Díaz(SR)

Spoiler :

Filling both the Murcian and the female quota, Sara Rodríguez is relatively little known. Assemblywoman for Lorca, her career has been in labourer unions. A relative newcomer in 2025, she is well-known in the Social Republican bench for her expertise in the field of Agriculture. Although she has not directly sponsored many pieces of legislation, most of what the Assembly has done as regards rural labour conditions and services in the last term owes a lot to her. She is credited with significant contributions on dozens of pieces, concerning either agriculture or women's rights, issues, and status. This is a golden opportunity for her in a majorly Democratic cabinet to directly influence and craft policy. Although her impact from the benches has been felt, her failure to secure a legacy in the ministry will lead her back down that step.

Director of FATCAT Matthew Silvestre y Bridges (Lb)

Spoiler :

A fairly uncontroversial appointment, Silvestre comes from academia. Currently professor of Economics at the University of La Havana, he has previously worked as Director of the Department of Logistics in his native Gibraltar. The Department is essentially in charge of tracking and regulating, and providing such necessities as food and drinking water to the Rock. Although Gibraltar administers formerly Andalucian lands since the Wars of Unification, the territory is still does not provide enough resources for self-sufficiency, and thus Logistics is a vital department. Although due to its economic integration with the surrounding territories the Rock doesn't usually lack supplies, it is the task of Logistics to ensure that this is not so. In FATCAT, Silvestre will be responsible for tariffs, customs, and management of the Republic's border, among others. His main job, however, will be to solidify the bureaucracy that has emerged since its creation.

Director of FACME Gunther Bueno i Amic (SD)
(Federal Agency for Cultural Makings and Education)

Spoiler :

Bueno i Amic is the only person to keep his job from the previous cabinet, and thus is the last representative of the party apparatus that Gómez has been replacing for the last five years. Unlike most of his former colleagues, lukewarm at best about Gómez's ascent until he won the Presidency, Bueno was one of the party people who gave him support as a new face. His previous term was somewhat lacklustre. In spite of the emergence of some vanguard art and publications, Mysore stole the world's thunder with their investment in movie production, which was completely neglected by FACME. Regarded as a political reward in the first place, it is unlikely that he will retain the post or indeed any other post once Gómez's term ends. These five years are a chance for him to prove his worth and join the ranks of the few to hold the same post in three consecutive cabinets.

Director of FOSH Manuel Garcés i Torres (SR)
(Federal Organisation for Security in Health)

Spoiler :

The Republican's price in the Senate was two ministries. Garcés i Torres is the second of them. He fills the Cuban quota in the cabinet, where traditionally every minister has been from one of the regions. The greatest victim of this tradition (now coming to an end with the incorporation of Dominica and soon other regions) has been Alejandro de Soto, the Democrats' brightest Cuban star. Medical doctor by career and son of landowning peasantry, Garcés was in Agriculture for the first Gómez term. He had his job done for him in the benches by Camacho, and has been moved to a more technical position. FOSH designs and enforces sanitary regulations for hospitals and medical facilities, also administering those owned by the federal government. It also works in close cooperation with Agriculture and FATCAT to ensure that agricultural produce and imports comply with health standards.

​

Other Appointments:

Director of FAO

Spoiler :

Alejandro de Soto, after completing his run at the helm of the Dominica Development Fund, was expected to either run for governor of Cuba or to receive a junior position in the cabinet. While some boldly proclaim he'd be filling the Cuban quota, he has been appointed Director of the Federal Accounting Office, which responds to the Prime Minister and tracks government spending. This is usually an honour appointment preceding political retirement, and it is rare for it to be entrusted to a newcomer to federal government.

 

[Sonereal]

23 hour warning because I'm still alive technically!

 

[inthesomeday]

Absolute​

An excerpt from the preamble to the new Antonio Brazas publication, set for release in early 2032:

"'Theocracy' was an essay-form written adaptation of a brief lecture I gave to a small group of enthused political science majors in my classroom in Naples. Its publication in magazines and newsletters across Europe and the world was never my intent, but in the ensuing discussion I found myself hailed as something of an authority on forms of government. Of course, in the academic realm my writings have for some time had some due respect, as my tenure at the university has spanned three decades already, but prior to the popularity of Theocracy I had never known any level of fame-- or notoriety-- outside of the narrow realm of social science circles in educational institutions. However with the spread of my text among anti-Republican societies the world around, I found myself the subject of not only an interview with Il Mondo, the Roman newspaper, but also of all brands of correspondence from all corners of the globe. Hate letters, love letters, death threats, and reverent pledges of allegiance all flooded my mail box starting in mid August of last year.

Ordinarily, in situations when my work becomes public and popular, I attempt to disassociate myself from any petty disagreements or groups of admirers for fear of losing legitimacy in my field or my university. That's right, I have experienced some minor fame before; my 2025 analysis of the history of some parts of political science, "An Examination of Catholic Nationalism" was widely lauded by Church historians and, in 2027, I contributed to an investigation into the Irish Papal Societies' political structure. Both of these studies led to some fame in government or media circles, and both times I quietly receded after a handful of interviews and signatures to have my work used in larger compendiums. The difference between these texts and Theocracy is that the audience Theocracy has reached is unprecedented, at least to me. In addition it has drawn public responses from several worldwide political authors, from praise to condemnation, including my long-time... correspondent, the ever-naïve Manel Creus at Barcelona. It's also sparked a larger debate about the nature and advantages of government in the New Order, with all different academic forces around the world throwing their lots in for liberal republicanism, elective monarchism, and soon to come, surely, everything else, from revolutionary socialism to the East African Nationalism.

Given this circumstance, I find that my response must be more dignified and serious than those I have developed to the responses to my previous publications. In the following introduction, I will establish several key points to my argument against the federalism and liberalism so popular in world governments and societies today and will espouse an alternative, one gaining more and more traction in the world political environment: unitary absolutism, especially wherein there is one, all-powerful authority. If this authority is God, then all the better."

Antonio Brazas' new absolutist tome, amply called Absolute, has pro-authoritarian circles worldwide scrambling for excerpts and information already, and the book isn't even set for release for another several months. In the wake of the War of the Strait and the ongoing refugee crisis and white exodus, political discussion is all but assured, and Brazas' popularity as a writer in the growing trend of Absolutist writings has sales of the book assured; indeed, bookstores around the world have already pre-ordered thousands of copies.

About the author: Antonio Brazas was born to a poor family in Palermo in 1981, and spent his youth working odd jobs around the city's slums to help support the family as well as to make money for school. With the help of a wealthy Muslim Sicilian patron, Brazas was finally able to travel to Napoli in 1997, and without any prior formal education, he entered the prestigious University by thoroughly excelling in entrance examinations. Hailed as a prodigy by many professors, by 2002 he was already hired to the University's educational staff as a teacher's aid. He earned his own professorial position in 2007 in the political science department after a short few months traveling the Western European wastelands and recording the political conditions of the region. In 2010, he married Talia al-Mansur, heiress to the Sicilian industrial dynasty of the same name. He has two sons-- Alberto and Ali-- and now resides in Napoli.

 

[JohannaK]

From ARGO Special Dossier May 2030

The Chambers:

The Assembly of the Peoples

This year, Dominica entered the Republic as a full-fledged Region, with the corresponding increase in Assembly Districts. The census in Gibraltar has reached 200,000 people. The slight increase has resulted in Aragón and Baleares each losing an Assembly District, but this is more than offset by the creation of 29 districts in Dominica. This brings the total up to 216 seats in the Assembly, which already before the election was planning a reformation of the Assembly Room to accommodate the huge increase in Assembly seats that will result from incorporating Castile and the African Territories. Here is this legislature's distribution of Assembly seats by region and by party:

As expected, López y Schmidt's success in territorial and economic expansion has driven him to an Assembly majority. Said majority was especially based inthe Caribbean, where the Democrats took over half of all Cuban districts and every single one in Dominica. The Republicans have therefore sunk to historic lows as their vote gave way to stronger as well as ideologically close Democratic candidates. There have also been upsets in favour of the Democratic candidates in several Federal and even Unionist districts. Much to everyone's surprise, a rebound of Catholic influence has favoured the Regionalists, more traditionally associated to the Catholic Church, over the Unionists. Both groups had late poll rebounds in the wake of pro-UDI sentiment, ones because of religion, as has been said, and the Unionists because of the growth of a pro-Absolutist wing in the party. These pro-Absolutists have conquered ten of the Unionists' seats, almost doubling their results as Royalists in previous elections. Nevertheless, the rise of the Unionists has been halted for now, and thus this faction's influence remains limited. On the other hand, most Regionalist Assembly Members have revived a politics of Catholic religiosity that incomodates even the Protestant and Secularist AMs in their same group.

While the Democratic majority might make the general composition of the Chamber irrelevant, most votes require the vote of either two parties or two thirds of the chamber, to ensure plurality. The former has always been easy to achieve due to the Federal and Liberal willingness to play the role of parliamentary fulcrum, but votes that require two thirds of AMs to pass will demand broad understandings between, at least, Democrats, Republicans and Liberals. If dissident votes occur, as is frequently the case, this will barely cover the two thirds. In previous legislatures, certainly all in recent memory, broader consensus has been necessary, but the risk is that this legislature's relative security drive the Democrats to positions unacceptable to too many AMs. The spirit of consensus and negotiation must go on if the Democrats want to retain significant power in five years' time.

The Senate

In the Senate, however, Caribbean vote has not sufficed to secure a Democratic majority. With over 40% vote in Dominica and exceeding 30% in Cuba, Catalonia, and Valencia, traditional Andalucian relutance kept them grounded. Andalucía is the only region where the Republicans surpassed the Democrats, and also the only one where the Regionalists beat the Unionists. White the Assembly betrayed Unionist expectations, Senate elections confirmed the preference among Conservatives for the Unionists. The Senate elections, being run from the party board, had less of a focus on ideology than governance, although campaign staffers and supporters in certain quarters openly embraced a swing to Absolutism or a return to "Catholic govern."

Thus the Senate has seen a Democrat-Liberal coalition with Republican support. López's government is expected to alternate between Republican and Federalist support to reduce its dependence on either party, although some cabinet appointments are card-carrying Republicans and might try to nudge the administration in that direction. Overall policy that makes it through the Senate will largely be to the left in Republican and Democratic departments, while the Liberals will push for more centrist economic policies.​

 

[Sonereal]

"Where is Ishmael?"

It turns out that moving an account to under your name because the previous account holder died is a long and awful process culminating in my internet service being deactivated for the better part of a day due to an administrative error.

As some of you know, I've been dealing with some rather unfortunate events in my life these last few weeks. I jumped two major hurdles today in getting my house in order, but my schedule has been disrupted again. There will be one final week added to this update interval, meaning a softlock is next Sunday, hardlock Monday, and if I can't meet that lock I might as well just shut down the game. If you miss the hardlock, you're just kicked from the game, which seems fair if you ask me.

We'll get the show back on the road and forget this unfortunate month of missed deadlines never even happened.