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Res Publica
Topic Started: Dec 19 2008, 03:42 PM (3,454 Views)
Porcu
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"Work is the curse of the drinking classes."

ABWEHR MISTIMED MISSILE STRIKE, INNOCENTS KILLED

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Avaricum, Tanganorium - As the dust settled after a devastating missile strike in the small village of Kilosa, to the east of the capital of Avaricum, journalists, local officials, and civilians found little to like.

Three houses were completely destroyed and another two were damaged as a missile came sailing out of the sky and crashing down upon what the Abwehr had thought was a high-level gathering of TIM commanders and organizers. Many children were apparently out in the streets in the early evening hours when the strike occurred and now a number of them are thought to have been killed as a result.

Earlier, the Abwehr released a statement defending the decision of the missile strike, but acknowledged that improvements in intelligence gathering must be made. Although not the first of its kind, the timing of the strike seems to have been exceptionally poor and the judgement of those in the upper echelons of the Abwehr has come into question. An attempt was made in Parliament to call a number of intelligence officials before Parliament, but that movement did not gain much traction.

Ever since the attack upon the Parliament of Tanganorium many, many months ago, the Tanganyika Independence Movement (TIM) has recognized a Sharif Masood Cassio (pictured left) as the leader of a Greater Tanganyika and is believed to be the main commander of all TIM forces currently operating in the EU memberstate of Tanganorium. Additionally, a Tital Anbiya ali Qadamu Sidq (pictured right) has appeared a number of times on videos uploaded to a few different internet blogs and webpages and is believed to be an important political and religious figure.

In response to the use of missile strikes in an effort to eliminate such high-value targets, President Gularis has generally defended the Abwehr but has also tried to draw some boundaries by stating that the death of innocents is, and never will be, acceptable.
Edited by Porcu, Jul 16 2011, 11:45 PM.
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"Work is the curse of the drinking classes."

PARLIAMENT APPROVES NEW LAPEL FOR MPs, NEW PARLIAMENTARY LOGO AS WELL

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Stockholm, Porcu Proper - It seems that perhaps the last notable piece of legislation that will leave the floor of Parliament before the arrival of midterm elections is to be a cosmetic change to the Porcuian halls of power and the representatives that fill them.

For some time now, Members of Parliament have been easily recognizable for their polished shoes, crisp suits and skirts, and clean ties and blouses. Additionally, MPs, and the power that they hold, have come to be symbolized by a lapel that only they wear. Previously, these lapels were small, circular pins that were purple in color except for a smaller central circle that was gold. These lapels also served a practical purpose as each contained a small electronic chip that tagged each lapel to its current steward and identified them before every vote in Parliament.

Statements released by Ms. Gularis' staff indicate that the design and colors were chosen specially to highlight the growing diversity of Porcu, in addition to highlighting the collective force and harmonic union of the various nationstates of the Euroveraminus Union. Made from many different precious stones, including ruby, amber, aquamarine, emerald, diamond, amethyst, as well precious metals such as gold and silver, the new lapel is a stunning piece and objectively much more valuable than its predecessor. However, it still serves as an identification method and MPs must have them on their person if they expect to cast a vote during a Parliamentary session. The new lapel is also prominently featured in an updated logo of Parliament.

While drawing praise from some quarters, the elaborate nature of the new parliamentary lapel has drawn heavy criticism from members of the Opposition, particularly from Mr. Cea and the Republican Front. Argued as an unnecessary expenditure, Mr. Cea was unable to successfully block passage of the legislation.
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"Work is the curse of the drinking classes."

MIDTERM ELECTIONS BRING TENUOUS GOVERNING COALITION, MS. GULARIS RESPONDS FORCEFULLY

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Stockholm, Porcu Proper - Despite improving their number of seats in Parliament, Ms. Gularis' Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats face a whole new set of challenges, not only from their traditional foes on the Right but also from a renewed far-Left.

Dissection of these midterm election results continues at a furious pace here in the Republic and aboard. Gaining seats were Ms. Gularis' party, the PASD, the Republican Front (RF), and the Popular Democratic Front (PDF). The Greens also picked up a handful of seats, but the focus of nearly all analyses has been on the stunning rise of the RF and the reinvigoration of the PDF.

"Tonight, we celebrate the success of the Republican Front and recommit ourselves to fighting the enemies of the Republic!" bellowed Lucius Germanius Cea Chairman of the Republican Front at a celebration in national party headquarters in Baie-Comeau following the final tally of midterm election results. "Porcuians have shown that they do not want to be steamrolled by the socialist policies of Ms. Gularis, nor do they wish to see our continued slide in international politics, mainly as a result of our lack of concern for national defense. Porcuians cry out for a solid voice in Parliament to defend them and our fair land!"

While not altogether unexpected, the continued increase in support at the polls has catapulted Mr. Cea and his party to new heights and now represents the largest opposition party to Ms. Gularis. Conversely, the stunning reversal of the PDF came as a surprise to many analysts, many of whom predicted only minor gains for the far-Left party run by the enthusiastic and newly elected Chairwoman Adolpha Etanus Pinnes. In speaking to reporters the day after the midterm elections Ms. Pinnes stated that although uplifting, recent results do not spell victory for the PDF.

"...We have a lot of work to do in these next few months in order to firmly establish ourselves within Parliament and begin to bring the concerns of a great many Porcuians to the forefront...While I am confident that real changes can be made to halt corporate influence in Stockholm and every Porcuian is provided with the basic necessities that our nation is more than capable of providing, I am still skeptical that Ms. Gularis and her fellow party members will join us unequivocally in fighting for true equality for all Porcuians."

Ms. Gularis had previously scheduled to address the media later that same afternoon and was very forceful, yet confident. "I shall not have any member of the press forget that we increased our seats as well, and that this is a reflection on my administration's performance thus far. For all of the rhetoric from Ms. Pinnes and Mr. Cea, I can guarantee that my party will happily work with our fellow MPs in advancing, tackling, and solving the issues that concern the public. That said, I will not allow the positive changes made by my administration, in conjunction with the previous Parliament, to be undone and I will not allow the priorities of this country to be wrestled away towards extremist positions."

A reshuffling of ministerial positions has also been necessary for Ms. Gularis, who recently saw Lucius Ollo van der Vaars unseated as Prime Minister. The closed door negotiations for finding a suitable candidate for that position may continue for some time, as both the Republican Front and the Popular Democratic Front promise to vote against any candidate that is not a member of their own party.
Edited by Porcu, Sep 5 2011, 04:41 PM.
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"Work is the curse of the drinking classes."

DECISION BY METROPOLITAN ASSEMBLY DRAWS SHOCK FROM PUBLIC AND PARLIAMENT, QUINTIANUS PRIME MINISTER

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Corlo, Porcu Proper - In a strictly partisan vote, the Metropolitan Assembly of the Greater Metropolitan Area of Corlo passed, among other legislation, a measure that denies access for non-Porcuian citizens within the Greater Metropolitan Area to various government services, such as public transportation, and denies them healthcare coverage, as provided by the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare.

Divided slightly in favor of the Republican Front, the Metropolitan Assembly voted to pass a number of highly controversial measures that, in the words of the Assembly Chairman, "protect Porcuian families, reinforce Porcuian values, and strengthen the city of Corlo and the Greater Metropolitan Area of Corlo."

"Over the past few years, Corlo has had a massive influx of immigrants, many of whom do not work to assimilate themselves, find jobs, or pay taxes, and the city's finances have become strained." Assembly Chairman Marius Mara Licca of the Republican Front said in response to questions about the new legislation. "The process was entirely democratic, so there cannot be any arguments about the legitimacy of these measures. Furthermore, the Metropolitan Assembly was pressed - lack of leadership from Parliament on real issues facing metropolitan governments meant that we had to take charge of the situation ourselves...Either we provide for those who are honest and hard-working, or we plunge ourselves into the deep-end with our hands and feet bound."

Reaction to the announcement of the legislation passing, which was picked up even by foreign news agencies, was ill-received by Ms. Gularis, and especially by Parliament. A short statement released from the Office of Ms. Pinnes, Chairwoman of the Popular Democratic Front, vowed to challenge the legislation and to press for action from Parliament. Conversely, Mr. Cea of the Republican Front praised the actions of the Metropolitan Assembly.

"This speaks volumes of the utter frustration average Porcuians feel towards this current government and the socialist policies of this President...Who among us is better positioned to gauge the situation and decide upon a proper course of action than those individuals closest to the problem and struggling to provide essential services to our citizens? No one should doubt that this episode is not the last we shall see, and that with the continued impotence of this administration more and more efforts will be made by locally elected officials to chart their own paths." Mr. Cea said in an interview on the PBC.

Ms. Pinnes, however, was harshly critical of the legislation. "This is nothing short of discrimination...It is cursedly ironic that just as great efforts made by Ms. Gularis to free black slaves in the Confederacy begin to show signs of success, we here in the world's premier social democracy begin the process of enslavement and deprecation of those who depend upon society and government the most. Let us not mince words: this was not done with the supposedly noble intentions given by the scoundrels on the far-Right in mind; it was done to drive out black refugees from Tanganorium and Quinaranum, to disparage immigrants of all backgrounds, and to drive the poorest among us into a tight corner without any hope of assistance - this is disgusting and must be fought against with vigor if we are to maintain any shred of decency or honor or pride as a country."

Despite a flurry of requests to interview, Ms. Gularis has made no public comments on the matter. It is believed that she is in private conversation with various party leaders and well placed sources in order to get a comprehensive picture of the situation. It is quite possible that Parliament will have preliminary discussions and begin to address the issue as early as next week.

In the meantime, Party Chairman of the Liberal and Democratic Reformist Bloc Decimus Marius Quintianus was given narrow approval to become the new Prime Minister, gaining only 6 votes over that necessary. Heavy lobbying from Ms. Gularis, and no doubt a volley of promises of ministerial positions, is credited with providing Quintianus just enough support. Well respected, even among foreign diplomats, Quintianus is seen as a stern, but fair figure that is more than capable of controlling a heavily divided Parliament.
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"Work is the curse of the drinking classes."

SUPER AIRCARRIER UNVEILED, GULARIS FACES NEW CHALLENGES IN FOREIGN AFFAIRS

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Stockholm, Porcu Proper - In an extravagant manner, the latest addition to the Maritime Self-Defense Forces of the Republic was shown to the world; also, Ms. Gularis has to contend with a renewed TIM in Afrika, as well as an expanding Union of Free Falangist Republics.

Fellow members of Parliament, in addition to a delegation from Venice lead by Admiral Enrico Dandolo, stood nearby as Ms. Gularis spoke to a large gathering of journalists, military officials, defense officials, and foreign correspondents.

"...This project highlights the deep sense of cooperation and trust between the Most Serene Republic of Venice and the Republic of Porcu. Peace, stability, and prosperity in Europe, and to a greater extent the world, cannot be achieved by one nation alone...Due to Venice's naval history, it goes without saying that her pride rests with the sea; however, due respect must be given and the engineers, laborers, administrators, and naval officials of the 'Arsenalotti' have the deepest thanks of the Parliament and People of Porcu."

Details regarding the vessel's capabilities were limited during the ornate, though relatively short, presentation and most of the time was spent by one official giving thanks and praise to another. In the end, it was revealed that the supercarrier, named in honor of, will be titled the 'Ventàmarìn Class' and boasts a sophisticated array of defensive weapons. Additionally, the duel launch platforms are designed to keep aircraft refueled, reloaded, and airborne as quickly as possible. Speed and range have also been greatly increased from Porcu's last class of aircraft carrier and the new 'Ventàmarìn Class' is expected to catch the attention of other naval powers.

...

As to foreign affairs, the President has been very busy in recent weeks. Maneuvering diplomatically with regard to events in Iberia, Ms. Gularis has taken a surprisingly tough stance, though from press conferences it is said that her hand has been forced by the unreasonableness of Union government and military officials. Few other nations have commented publicly on the Union's expansion, whereas the Republic has attempted to cooperate with the Union in getting election officials and observers on the ground in Free Spain.

With regard to Afrika, Ms. Gularis' options are a little less broad. TIM units, well armed and rested after a pause over the past few months, have renewed their assault on Victoria Province, and the city of Mwanza. Whereas the humanitarian situation in Avaricum has improved steadily, the situation in Mwanza is considerably worse. The latest offensive by TIM has also drawn more calls from the Republican Front to increase defense spending. Mr. Cea is also calling for a fresh surge of troops into the EU memberstate and has indicated his intentions of proposing legislation to Parliament to approve just that.
Edited by Porcu, Oct 15 2011, 10:46 PM.
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"Work is the curse of the drinking classes."

CONFEDERATE PRESIDENT RESIGNS, GULARIS' APPROVAL SLIPS

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Stockholm, Porcu Proper - As a direct consequence of the international incident in Galveston, Texas, two powerful figures separated by an entire ocean feel the weight of their decisions.

The resignation of Ronald Wright is already history, well shadowed by the recent elections in the Confederate States of America, but there are very few individuals indeed that could have predicted the way in which events unfolded in Atlanta. A statement sent by Parliament thanked President Wright for his "constructive efforts on the international stage" and added that Porcu will "continue to stand by the Confederate people and hope that a relationship of trust, cooperation, and peace continues between Stockholm and Atlanta".

Many MPs (Members of Parliament) spoke publicly on the positive influence Mr. Wright provided and the loyal support of Confederate forces in the fight against the TIM and the Republic of Zanzibar in Afrika, though many other MPs derided the former President for his blatantly illegal actions and for his mistrust of the Confederacy's allies.

"...One cannot forget the circumstances under which Mr. Wright took office in the Confederacy." one MP from the Liberal and Democratic Reformist Bloc said. "While I do believe he made some mistakes, there are many positive contributions he made...I am comfortable in stating that my fellow MPs are also of the opinion that Mr. Wright will always be a friend of the Republic and of the citizens of the EU."

Popular Democratic Front Chairwoman Pinnes had sharp words for the former Confederate President. "...Mr. Wright's actions are inexcusable and won't be easily forgotten by myself, nor by the members of my party...We wish to publicly give our full support for a proposal by the Council of the Grand Moff to bring Mr. Wright to stand trial in Toledo by the Special Prosecutor for crimes against humanity. I will be working in Parliament to have a similar legislation passed in solidarity with the Moffs, on behalf of American Blacks."

Despite such strong words and promises of action, both Ms. Gularis and Mr. Quintianus have stated their opposition to such a plan, and even without the support of the Republican Front legislation condemning Mr. Wright and calling for his extradition is not capable of passing Parliament. Nonetheless, it sends a powerful message.

Interestingly enough, Ms. Gularis has also suffered in her own way from the events of Galveston, her latest approval ratings plummeted from 54% to 44% in a new poll released by the School of Public Policy at the University of Aeranarium. Those polled consistently rated Ms. Gularis's handling of various issues as "somewhat poor" or "poor", ranging from the Galveston Crisis to the ongoing war in Tanganorium. Even more worrying is that Ms. Gularis' position has slipped in a number of theoretical presidential elections; Mr. Cea, her longtime rival, now only trails her by 4 points, which is within the margin of error.
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"Work is the curse of the drinking classes."

RUMBLINGS IN PARLIAMENT GROW, SUPPORT FOR PRIME MINISTER DWINDLES

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Stockholm, Porcu Proper - After a tense period of discussions between various power figures in the capital, rumors have grown that Prime Minister Quintianus no longer has the votes needed to continue in his current position.

Traditionally staunch opponents, the left and centre-left Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democracts recently has relied upon the centre-right Liberal and Democratic Reformist Bloc to keep Ms. Gularis' position within Parliament secure and to stave off advances from both the far-left and -right. Dramatic increases in votes to the Republican Front during the last couple of general elections have significantly weakened the extent to which Ms. Gularis can direct the actions of Parliament. Additionally, a renewed sense of independence and strength has come over the far-left Popular Democratic Front and has served to only further lock Parliament into its current predicament. Many political analysts credit Ms. Gularis' organizational skills for having managed to keep the present government in place; however, it appears that the fall of Mr. Quintianus and the dissolution of Parliament is inevitable.

From the ongoing conflict in Tanganorium, to a recent decision made by the Metropolitan Assembly of the Greater Metropolitan Area of Corlo, Parliament has been nearly evenly divided from one issue to the next. No new legislation has been passed by the Quintianus government and, of even greater concern, only short-term temporary spending bills have been approved. A new budget, put forth multiple times with various edits by Ms. Gularis, has never come close.

Interviewed during his weekly press conference, Mr. Cea said that support within the Republican Front for Mr. Quintianus is fading and that "it may very well be time to call for early elections."

Popular Democratic Front Chairwoman Pinnes agreed, to a certain extent. "It has become abundantly clear that Mr. Quintianus does not reflect the current attitude of Parliament and steps must be taken so that the real issues confronting the citizens of Porcu can be addressed...However, I am not sure at this time if the dissolution of Parliament would be the best course of action."

With regard to Tanganorium, negotiations are currently underway in the capital of the East African Federation. Some commentators are convinced that Gularis is willing to give quite a bit in order to end the conflict and turn her full attention to events here at home, but others feel that such moves would only further damage her image when it comes to foreign affairs and leave her open to attacks of cowardice and weakness.
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"Work is the curse of the drinking classes."

PRIME MINISTER LOSES VOTE OF CONFIDENCE, RESIGNATION EXPECTED TOMORROW

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Stockholm, Porcu Proper - In the last breaths of the Quintianus government, Ms. Gularis was calm and collected, though her latest alliance in Parliament has finally crumbled under heavy pressure.

Many commentators saw this particular outcome a great distance off, yet some were still hopeful. Signs illuminating the beginning of the end for Mr. Quintianus and his run as Prime Minister were noticed several months ago when a key deadline for various budgets passed without a single budget being brought before Parliament for a vote. Those budgets, ranging from defense to environmental expenditures, eventually did all pass (with heavy modification), but it was clear that Quintianus no longer enjoyed the same level support from his fellow MPs as he did right after the last general elections.

"This is a moment of grand opportunity." Mr. Cea said in an interview after the Vote of Confidence failed in Parliament. "We'll have to see if Mr. Quintianus suggests early election in his resignation, that is when he gives it to Ms. Gularis, but I am confident that a new path lies ahead for this grand republic of ours."

A spokesman for the Prime Minister released a statement which mentioned the need "for Parliamentarians to set aside their personal grievances and work together to nominate and elect a new Prime Minister."

From where and whom are still unclear at this point, though a flurry of names, many of them traditional nominations for the position, has already begun circulating the corridors of the Parliamentary complex. In very recent polling, an overwhelming number of Porcuians (74%) want Parliament to continue as they are now and elect a person who can hold Parliament together until the next scheduled election (still some years away). Many Porcuians are not keen on returning to the ballot boxes and express strong desire for a solution to be found.

Nonetheless, a solution is not likely to be found easily or without bruising political confrontations.
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NEW PRIME MINISTER ELECTED, PRESIDENT FACES TOUGH QUESTIONS AT SOCIALIST CONFERENCE

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Stockholm, Porcu - Late yesterday evening members of Parliament finally brought the much contested and much speculated election for Prime Minister to a close with the successful nomination of Vopiscus Tarquinius Atratinus. Earlier, President Gularis faced a barrage of questions from socialist and social democratic party members at the annual Conference of European Socialists being held in Stockholm this year.

Much remains to be discovered about the quiet and reserved new Prime Minister. Mr. Atratinus is not registered with any party or coalition, nor does there seem to be any indication that he has ever been very politically active. His background is unremarkable for one traditionally elevated to Prime Minister, though he does appear to have a vast experience of the mechanics of local and national government, working in many departments and ministries over the years.

Perhaps because of his history or his demeanor and lack of preparedness, a number of political journalists and pundits have proposed that Mr. Atratinus was merely a nominee of last resort - reluctantly arrived at when the ballot process seemed to drag on. Inherent in the idea is that the new Prime Minister is weak; however, such seems unlikely judging by the reaction of many MPs willing to speak on condition of anonymity.

Matters remain quite complicated for the President, even with the election for Prime Minister out of the way. The proud host to an elite meeting of European socialists, Ms. Gularis seemed quite uncomfortable at time when today's proceedings opened up to a general question and answer session. Joining Ms. Gularis on a stage were fellow party leaders from England, Free Luxembourg, Quaon, and Free Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, but it was the Porcuian who received the most attention and amount of questions.

Many of the questions revolved around Ms. Gularis' (and the PASD by association) apparent and true belief in the socialist program. She faced heavy criticism for her policies with regard to the War in Tanganorium, the expansion of cities and urban development, and her desire to strengthen ties with Europe's monarchies, all traditionally staunchly anti-socialist. Despite the onslaught, Ms. Gularis responded each question straightforwardly and convincingly for some. In any case, the Porcuian President highlighted, her term is just a little over half over and there is still plenty of time and political room to push for more on behalf of better conditions for workers, the young, the elderly, the sick, and the poor.
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"Work is the curse of the drinking classes."

ATRATINUS AND GULARIS REVEAL NEW CABINET, PRIME MINISTER TO LEAD EU SUMMIT IN HONG KONG & MACAU

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Stockholm, Porcu - Standing within a richly decorated hall of the Presidential Palace, the Cabinet for the Gularis-Atratinus government was revealed, and Mr. Atratinus will chair many of the events at a major summit of EU memberstates next week.

Despite being routine, many journalists noted a different air surrounding the members of this new government during the short introductory event and photo-op. Political pundits expected major shakeups in leadership and there was plenty to be found. Unquestionably, one of the more important changes is found in the Foreign Affairs Ministry, where Mr. Alcesus has been replaced by socialist MP Lucius Horatius Cesca. Changes have also been made within the Ministries of the Interior, of Health, Welfare, and Labour, and of Education. In all, the new cabinet attempts to strike a tone of cooperation, but only time will tell how successful this endeavor is.

Next week a major conference of EU leaders will take place in the city-state of Hong Kong & Macau and the Prime Minister has taken up the task of overseeing the Porcuian delegation. The usual issues of trade, commerce, defense, and the promotion of liberty and democracy will be covered, but there is also a number of major rumors circulating regarding changes within the Union. Curiously, the parliaments of Hong Kong & Macau, Quinaranum, and Singapore are all schedule to vote for approval of new national flags just before the commencement of the EU summit. There is also talk of structural changes within the EU and of the various Commissions that oversee the development and execution of policies ranging from diplomacy to trade.
Edited by Porcu, Mar 28 2012, 11:06 PM.
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"Work is the curse of the drinking classes."

SUBSTANTIVE AND COSMETIC CHANGES UNVEILED AT SUMMIT

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Hong Kong, City State of Hong Kong & Macau - The historic treaty of Euroveraminus is no more, but the memberstates who made up the Union it established are now memberstates of the "Humanus Pactum Consensu Omnium" or the HPCO.

Smiles all around from the various leaders gathered in Hong Kong after the first full day of conferences. Many of the public events focused on key policies of the restyled EU and provided no surprises, but there were some at the close that gave evidence to those that predicted some changes to the Union.

The national legislatures of Singapore, Quinaranum, and the host Hong Kong & Macau all unanimously approved new national flags, all of which were presented alongside the other memberstates and in an official presentation of the new flag of the organization. A short presentation was also provided to members of the press detailing the name change immediately afterward. Edits to the organization did not end there, as structural changes were also detailed by members of the Council, specifically regarding selection mechanisms for the Commissions.

It was the Porcuian Prime Minister's first international trip as Head of Government and sources that wish to remain anonymous state unambiguously that he played a large role in drafting and helping to pass many of the key changes to the organization. Mr. Atratinus explained one major change at a separate press conference,

"It should surprise no one here that inefficiencies weighed on the Euroveraminus Union; the treaty was, by design, a modest experiment in the organization and implementation of common policies for a group of allied nations. This new treaty should be seen as an attempt at correcting and alleviating many of these inefficiencies...Several bodies will be created as a result: the Assembly, which represent the citizens of the HPCO and are directly elected, the Council of Ministers, whose members are drawn from the Assembly by popular vote and preside over the various Commissions, and the Presidium, which replaces the former executive Council."

Details are still emerging, but many note that the installation of a democratic element into the organization is progress, especially at the lower level of the Assembly. Additionally, the members of the Presidium will now elect a Chairperson who will act as Premier of the HPCO, replacing the institution of the rotating presidency. Details regarding term limits and the method with which Presidium members are elected are not immediately available.
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GULARIS FACES FIRING SQUAD IN PARLIAMENT

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Stockholm, Porcu - In her weekly address to Parliament and subsequent Q-and-A session in "Questions to the President", Ms. Gularis faced tough questions from all across the political spectrum.

It was not a pleasant sight. News of the Russian invasion of the Confederate territory of Bermuda had just circulated around the Republic when a fury arose from a collection of surprising and not so surprising sources. That was yesterday, however, and commentary was limited to indirect channels such as television and print media. Today was when Ms. Gularis had to face her fellow representatives in Parliament.

"Just what was the President thinking?" a familiar antagonist bellowed from his place. Mr. Cea was granted the first question and did not waste a second. "Beyond treaty obligations, does the President have no sense of justice? Does the President think that respect falls on this historic republic as surely as the rain does? We republicans have argued at length on this administrations utter disdain for our brave men and women serving in the Self-Defense Forces and working to protect us day and night, so I shall not repeat those now, but I again feel the need to press the President: just when will your crusade against our legitimate national security interests end? You consistently show yourself incapable of providing for the defense of the State."

Even Mr. Quintianus of the LDRB found himself agreeing with Mr. Cea. "...for a President who has forwarded the proposition that our Republic is best kept safe with strong diplomatic ties and a capacity to engage others in meaningful diplomacy, I find it rather curious that it doesn't amount to much when it is most needed. Ties with Moscow may be a worthy pursuit, but when the Tsar dumps you for the Moffs I cannot be the only one in this chamber to interpret that as a laughable state of affairs for Porcu."

At times Ms. Gularis seemed to struggle in answering the charges made against her, and interestingly she was the only one singled out for criticism by much of Parliament - whereas it is not unusual for various Ministers to be called out to explain themselves and government policy.

"Parliament makes a grave mistake when it thinks that our Republic has been discarded by the international community..."

"But we have!"

"The Honorable gentleman...The Honorable gentleman would do well to remember that it was this administration that pushed ahead for the defense of Tanganorium and secured international cooperation to that end. The Honorable gentleman would do well to remember that is was this administration that stood by the Freedman's Bureau with our English and Falklander allies in the city of Galveston...Progress is being made daily and the work of the Foreign Ministry, regrettably, is often overlooked by this chamber."

Some of the heaviest questions came from members of the President's own party and concerned domestic policy. Perhaps in a show of pity, Mr. Atratinus answered this questions himself.

"Would the Honorable Madam President care to explain why the recent suggestions made by the Commission on Labour regarding workers' rights in some key sectors of the economy were plainly ignored?"

"The concern of my Honorable colleague is duly noted and..."

"Let the President answer!"

"Mr. Speaker, this particular issue my Honorable colleague raises is something I have been working on personally and so I feel that I am in an appropriate position to address the question. Now, it is not true that the suggestions made by the Commission were ignored, and the administration is currently in a period of review. As you well know, changes to such a complex system are not rapid and care must be taken so that consequences of any decision do not upset the rest of the system."

Concern seemed to be the word of the day; certainly, a general feeling of discomfort and uncertainty has begun to spread across Stockholm. Many MPs expressed their thoughts regarding the Republic's current standing, and many were not optimistic.
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KING MADE PARLIAMENTARIAN FOR LIFE, NEW LUXURY TAXES INCLUDE GASOLINE/DIESEL

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Stockholm, Porcu - In an unexpected development, King Julius Decimus Maxentius IV has been given the honor of a permanent seat in Parliament by accepting the position and title of 'Parliamentarian for Life'.

In a terse and somewhat hushed ceremony today managed by Prime Minister Atratinus the King was presented with the honor. Few reporters seemed to have prior knowledge to the development, sparking intense debate in online media channels about the significance, relevance, and justification for such an action. Officially, His Majesty is said to have received the honor "due to his extraordinary efforts in promoting basic equality and justice for all Porcuians, for his efforts at pushing and expanding the limits of scientific knowledge, and for his dedication to constructing the infrastructure in other countries so that everyone has the chance to live healthy and productive lives."

All the reasons given by the Prime Minister are certainly valid, and it is true that the Royal Family has been particularly active in a number of different social causes, but the manner in which the honor was bestowed indicates to some that this was a payback of sorts.

"Firstly, one must realize that this honor is immensely rare." PDF Chairwoman Pinnes said to members of the press. "Secondly, in all of the preceding ceremonies was there ever an instance when the President and other members of Parliament were not in attendance? Something's fishy about all this - none of my colleagues in Parliament were informed of this award...As soon as something can be drafted, I intend to ask for a parliamentary investigation into the matter."

Conversely, Mr. Cea of the RF quickly dismissed such notions brought up by individuals such as Ms. Pinnes. "Look, there is a structure in place that manages these sorts of things and, to the best of my knowledge, the process was completed without incident and without any objection. One needs only to check the public record to note that this information wasn't hidden or kept secret...Ms. Gularis and I don't see eye-to-eye much, but I wholly endorse her approval of the King for the title of 'Parliamentarian for Life'."

At the same time that much of the commotion in and around the Parliamentary Complex focused on the awarding of the honorary title to the King, Parliament finished a long debating and voting session with the successful passage of legislation that will drastically increase taxes on "luxury goods", which include all tobacco and alcoholic products, a number of high-end electronic products, and even includes gasoline and diesel fuel. The Office of the President has yet to release a statement specifically commenting on this piece of legislation, but many see this as a simple, but forceful maneuver in order to raise government revenue. Curiously, an increase on taxes levied on churches and church-owned properties was also included, drawing heated criticism from local party organizations tied to the Republican Front as well as from those managed by the Popular Democratic Front.
Edited by Porcu, Apr 6 2012, 07:08 PM.
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PINNES DEPOSED AS CHAIRWOMAN AT PARTY CONGRESS

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Turin, Porcu - At the annual party congress of the Communist Party of Porcu, Adolpha Etanus Pinnes resigned from her position as party chair and a tightening of sorts, both within and without, seems to be in progress.

In national elections, which is to say in those general parliamentary elections, citizens have a choice of groups/coalitions rather than individual parties. Whereas some have stayed relatively the same throughout their history, the Liberal and Democratic Reformist Bloc for instance, others have gone through regular changes in terms of party structure and also of design and aesthetics. Voters can anticipate a new option next general election in the form of the United Left.

However, some explanation is necessary. The largest component party within the old Popular Democratic Front, totaling 115 out of 123 in Parliament and dwarfing other radical-left parties in terms of membership and funding, and now the new United Left is the Communist Party of Porcu (CPP). Since the original formation of a far-left parliamentary group to counter the centre-left democrats and socialists within the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, the CPP has dominated the platform and leadership. Events late yesterday afternoon in Turin seem to suggest that a total consolidation of power is now in progress.

Despite a vast increase in representation within Parliament, recent events underlying Ms. Pinnes' failed attempt at capturing the position of Prime Minister have not gone over well with other leaders within the party, and the group at large. Previously, Ms. Pinnes flatly denied any rumors of her impending resignation, but there was no spectacle during her address at the party congress. In a near unanimous vote, save seven abstentions, the position of party chair is now taken by Publius Villus Crassigensis. Mr. Crassigensis has served twice as Mayor of Turin and most recently as a member of the Triumvirate of the Metropolitan Assembly of the Greater Metropolitan Area of Turin (a position similar to state or provincial governors in other countries).

In an emotionless speech, Mr. Crassigensis outlined various changes he wished the party congress to vote on and undertake. These included the expulsion of individuals from the party ranks deemed "toxic" to the values and success of the party, as well as radical reorganization of the parliamentary group. Besides a new name and logo, smaller regional and local parties are now tied directly to the CPP, whereas before there was some autonomy in leadership appointments and election candidates. Nothing proposed or already done is illegal, as all parliamentary groups are given considerable freedom in changing internal party structures.

Even with a "necessary" change in leadership, many senior party officials confessed their nervousness at the uncertainty these changes will bring, and whether a re-branding will be enough to resonate with voters and propel the party to substantive gains in Parliament and in metropolitan elections.
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PARLIAMENTARY COMPLEX DESTROYED, 57 DIE IN MASSIVE BLAZE

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Stockholm, Porcu - Emergency crews arrived minutes after a signal was sent out, but there seemed little they could do - the fire that swept through the Parliamentary Complex raged ferociously and took the lives of 57 people.

In a rare televised statement before the nation, Ms. Gularis tried to assure the populace that a full investigation into the matter would shed light on the series of events that ultimately led to the death of 57 people and the destruction of a symbol of the Republic.

"Naturally, our thoughts go to the families who lost loved ones and I promise them, and all Porcuians, that the truth will be discovered...I have already met with the Ministers of my Cabinet and will discuss plans to move parliamentary voting and discussion elsewhere with the respective party chairpersons."

Details released by the government show that a regular maintenance check was scheduled for yesterday evening and early morning. Emergency water and air filtration systems were shut down and tested individually, as were heating, cooling, and sanitation systems. The security system was not included in the checklist of the event, scheduled many months in advance and following a proper pattern.

Of those 57 individuals who either burned to death or died due to heavy smoke inhalation most were office workers. 27 were adjuncts of Members of Parliament, while another 15 were departmental secretaries. Four people were not Porcuian but rather members of the delegation from the HPCO memberstate of Montarorium. The rest were members of the maintenance crew, unfortunately, trapped throughout the Complex due to the fast spreading blaze.

And it is precisely the nature of fire that has drawn suspicion from many. No member of the emergency services has spoken and revealed their thoughts, but independent experts state that there is evidence that deliberate action was taken in setting fire to the building.

"One has to remember the incredible sophistication these internal systems have in modern buildings." said Lucius Mari Nemna, a distinguished professor of industrial engineering at the University of Capua. "With regard to the Parliamentary Complex, there are backup systems and strict protocols security and maintenance crews must follow, so it seems immensely unlikely that something of this magnitude could simply 'happen'."

Such speculation has been minimal, but nonetheless this has drawn, perhaps unsurprisingly, political heavyweights into the spotlight. Mr. Cea, Chairman of the far-right parliamentary group the Republican Front, has pointed to foreign agents as the culprits. Labeling the destruction of the Complex as "terrorism" and "a despicable affront to the Republic", Mr. Cea has planned a mass rally "on behalf of those innocents whose lives were stolen, and on behalf of the Republic we must defend with courage and vigilance."

Newly elected Chairman of the Communist Party of Porcu and acting leader of the parliamentary group United Left Mr. Crassigensis has also labeled yesterday's events as terrorism, but of domestic rather than foreign origins.

"We must be watchful of the proposals that are put forward, for now is an opportunity for additional rights and privileges to be stripped from the people...We communists will stand in defense of the Republic and of her people, but we will not jump foolishly at shadows. Those responsible will be discovered and be brought to justice."

This latest event will most certainly cap the beginning of the general and presidential election period, but it is difficult to see how any single party would benefit. For now, major deliberations and parliamentary processes have been shifted to the Apinae Palace.
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Official Statement
Federation of East Africa
It is with the heaviest of hearts and with the greatest amount of sympathy that the Federation of East African Nations reaches out to the Republic of Porcu during this most unfortunate and tragic event. A symbol of democracy, justice, and liberty in the world, the Republic of Porcu and its people are highly respected within the Federation and we feel it is our duty to our fellow Republicans to send what aid we can and offer whatever help we can to the government in investigating this fire and ensure that such massive tragedy never again occurs on Porcuian soil. Our hearts and minds go out to those whose family members were lost and to those who worked diligently to bring this fire under control.

-General Secretary Zelalem Wolde-Yohannes
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CEA CLAIMS PRESIDENCY, PARLIAMENT RESTS WITH SOCIALISTS AND LIBERALS

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Arnstadt, Porcu - After multiple attempts and multiple disappointments, Lucius Germanius Cea has succeeded in his quest to capture the presidency.

For many years his ultimate ambition was no secret and oftentimes the abrasive far-right politician was written off as a viable candidate to lead the Republic. Yet, in the late night hours Mr. Cea did not greet his supporters with light words and promises of a continued fight, but rather with a fiery speech filled with emotion.

"This success...this summit...has been a long time coming. Porcuians were tired of a President that squandered the Republic's greatest assets and traded in uncertainty and pessimism and they can now fully expect their President to stand up for them! To defend this glorious Republic! To strive for renewed greatness!"

In the capital, Ms. Gularis addressed her supporters by speaking of all the accomplishments of her administration, vowing to defend each one and to protect the advances that had been made in domestic and foreign policy. She also weaved in the results of the parliamentary election, seemingly taking some comfort in the fact that a solid majority of the seats rest between the socialists and liberals.

That result, more than Mr. Cea's individual victory, strikes some as being much more telling of the attitudes Porcuians had going to vote and, therefore, much more important. Publius Draconi Moneris, a longtime political commentator, repeatedly turned the attention of his colleagues during the television coverage to the discrepancy.

"...But look here; why this stark difference in support? Go back to the election of Vinirimus and you see broad support for both the candidate and the party or parliamentary group. Gularis - same thing. That kind of election day result is common, but what we have here is large support for Cea and only a moderate amount for the Republican Front...That tells me that people were either tired or distrustful of Gularis and were willing to give Cea a shot, but not that they were ready to hand over the reins of government to the Republican Front...Porcuians will expect Cea to lead firmly, but watered down."

Despite their drop in seats within Parliament, senior party officials of the Republican Front made clear their intention of pushing on with their initiatives. Contrarily, Mr. Quintianus and his parliamentary group released a press statement saying that while they will happily work with the President to pass legislation benefiting the citizens of the Republic, there are lines in the sand that they will not cross. Not surprisingly, the United Left is heavily opposed and has promised to be uncooperative, although considering their doubly poor performance it is questionable how much real opposition they will be able to raise.

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PARLIAMENT MOVED, ATRATINUS STAYS AS PRIME MINISTER

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Stockholm, Porcu - As the last of the old Parliamentary complex was cleared a new Parliament opened itself to MPs and members of the public in the historic Apinae Palace.

Plans on what to do with the large lot where Parliament used to stand are still up in the air. Among the most popular proposals are one to turn the area into a park, while another would call for the construction of a new office space, though its use by government or private officials is not specified.

Members of Parliament, in getting used to their new commute and their new offices, elected Vopiscus Tarquinius Atratinus to a second term as Prime Minister, easily gathering over 500 votes in the first ballot. On the list of things-to-do are reforms to the health system and education, priorities for Gularis and the socialists, as well as reforms to the structure of the HPCO, a point stressed by Quintianus during the elections.

Foreign policy is a foggy area for both Cea and for Parliament. With most things, including the current war in the Americas, trade policy, and the official policy towards the integration of Zanzibar, the views of the President and the views of the leadership of the major groups in Parliament are vastly different. Although assurances of a productive and cooperative Parliament have been repeated by nearly all, it will take a lot for serious work to be done.
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ZANZIBAR CAPITULATES AND ANNEXED BY AVARICUM, COMMUNISTS STAGE MARCH/STRIKE

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Turin, Porcu - As news of the annexation of the Republic of Zanzibar swept through Porcu, Crassigensis and the Communist Party of Porcu planned and staged a massive march, whose numbers swelled to several million across the country.

It is now known that the Prime Minister, in the last hours of Gularis' tenure as President of the Republic, forwarded the orders to military commanders in the region that would eventually come to see Zanzibar and Porcu in a state of war. Both the start and finish to the much shorter and less bloody episode were spectacular. To begin, a powerful symbol of naval technology and strength, the Light of Zanzibar, was utterly destroyed by a single missile - itself a new weapon in the Republic's arsenal and a psychological message to the rest of the world. Of all the sailors aboard her that morning, only a handful survived. To finish, the surviving members of Zanzibar's leadership (and those that had not managed to escape elsewhere) were summarily detained and pressed to surrender. The tiny Republic's sovereignty was signed over and voided when a makeshift, appointed Parliament voted to join Zanzibar to the sliver of territory that remains of Tanganorium, now called Avaricum after the capital city.

"This is a beautiful expression of imperialism and the pure devastation that is its only companion." Community Party leader Crassigensis said to a large crowd gathered in one of Turin's main parks. "We have an obligation to make our voices heard; that this action was not necessary nor desired! We must press for real change and hope for our brothers and sisters across the globe, and we must do this with an open hand and not through the barrel of a gun!"

Heavy traffic delays and major congestion greeted residents in Turin and other major cities as several labor unions went on strike.

The President, speaking before Parliament, had a much different take on the matter. "What we see today is nothing less than the total victory I have been urging this body and this country to take for some years now...Our enemies are scattered or dead and there is little opportunity for them to strike back - either at our brave men and women in the Self-Defense Forces or our allies. The forces of freedom, liberty, and justice have triumphed and I hope the members of this assembly will join me in forwarding our congratulations for a job well done!"

The entire situation raises some very interesting, and possibly uncomfortable, questions. Why was the acting government of Avaricum not asked whether their joining to Zanzibar was even acceptable? Although the terms regarding the sea-lane in the Aksum peace accords were broken, was the Republic ever officially in a state of war since no authorization came from Parliament - as the Constitution clearly states that it must? With what authority was Prime Minister Atratinus able to give military orders to commanders that would in effect renew a state of war for the Republic - since the Constitution clearly states that power resides with the President?

In any case, the road ahead for Porcuian politics is not clear and it is well known that Cea hopes to flex some of his muscle sooner rather than later in response to Parliament's activities.
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CEA PRESSURES PARLIAMENT TO ACT IN DEFENSE OF BALTIC, ADDITIONAL CHANGES FOR HPCO

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Stockholm, Porcu - In an impassioned address to Parliament, President Cea argued for greater, more aggressive steps, to be taken by Parliament and the Self-Defense Forces to prepare for the defense of the Baltic Sea against a coming Genesian crusade, and Prime Minister Atratinus met with HPCO leaders today in Valdemarsvik.


"Let no one in this assembly forget that a vast majority of Porcuian trade depends on smooth and reliable access to the open seas beyond the Danish straits. Billions of denarii are projected to be lost just from a few hours closing of the straits!...The calls of aggression by my comrades to my left are nonsensical, for how in any way can the Papal call to arms to considered an aggressive act by this administration? Unfortunately, dark clouds have already begun to move overhead and there seems to be no escape...I ask this Parliament to approve the appropriate measures that would ensure a capable and cooperative defense of the Baltic region is guaranteed from foreign aggression." President Cea said through volleys of cheers from his supporters and jeers from his detractors.

The President looked calm throughout the day's proceedings and seemed confident at an interview later that evening. The debate in Parliament wasn't without its searing words, as evidenced by a less than gentleman-like moment for the President after a speech by socialist party leader Gularis.

"The Republic simply does not need more military expenditures, does not need more lives lost from the ranks of our brave men and women, and does not need to fall into the horrendous trap of proving our strength through the prism of military force...There has been some talk of the Russians, the Sectors, Yshurak, and Quaon, but it must be kept in mind that at least the former is obligated to come to the defense of Karlsburg & Cologne. The President has already given orders to secure Porcuian airspace and waters and that is a perfectly appropriate place to draw the line...Let the Russians and the others join hands and march to death." Gularis remarked after Cea.

"Mr. Speaker," Cea said, being recognized by the Speaker at the conclusion of Gularis' speech, "in hearing that statement I have to express surprise, since I was fully expecting the Honorable lady to whore herself and the Republic to the Tsar once again. Perhaps, in this instance, the rest of the Republic would actually provide consent."

The President and his allies clearly have some convincing to do, since Quintianus and the liberals seem to lean towards Gularis, who has taken the leadership position against Porcuian involvement. Many liberal MPs have openly stated that Porcuian military might should only be used in a necessary attempt to defend the Republic.

In other news, the Porcuian Prime Minister appeared serious and ready-for-business before a major summit of HPCO leaders in Valdemarsvik. The most notable change regards official titles - as it stands now, Prime Minister Atratinus also holds the position of General-Secretary of the HPCO, which directly replaced his previous title of 'Premier of the HPCO'. Consequently, the former Presidium is now called the Central Committee of the HPCO. Political analysts have interpreted the recent restructuring of the Porcuian led organization in a number of different ways, with a popular line of thought being that Stockholm is actually in a process of reversing decades of decentralization with regard to the memberstates of the HPCO. Most states developed directly from trade posts and colonies of Porcu during the late 1600s, obviously excluding additions such as Hong Kong & Macau and Xianyang.

"What we're seeing now is actually the opposite of Porcu's official stated policy." Professor of political science at the University of Pavia Marcus Laevus. "Instead of continuing with greater political and economic independence and self-reliance, these last few summits of the HPCO have slowly rolled back that progress...HPCO memberstates now find themselves in a situation where monetary and fiscal policy is more or less directed by Stockholm and international political decisions are entirely made at the discretion of Parliament in Stockholm. That is not to say that the citizens of Quinaranum or the Vulso Islands don't have liberties and freedoms - they do, in fact, for some things they even have more - but that is to say that increasingly as time goes by these states should be seen and regarded as direct extensions of the Republic of Porcu, rather than fully independent nations existing in a equal partnership with the Republic."
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NARVIK-PORCU INK ACCORD FOR CONSTRUCTION OF MASSIVE RAIL LINE

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Narvik, Narvik - With warm smiles and embraces, each nation's respective Foreign Minister proudly announced the successful accord that will see the construction of a major transportation line across Scandinavia, linking the two republics together.

"This agreement highlights years of cooperation and friendship between Narvik and Stockholm." said a spokesman for the small city-state's government. "Billions of denarii, in goods, equipment, and material, move from Narvik to Porcu on a regular basis and now greater controls will be afforded to each."

The agreement was passed triumphantly in Narvik, but will less fan-fare in Stockholm. Although both nations will benefit, a number of questions have been raised - most prominently by the Communist Party here in Porcu. One question concerns the detailing of the work involved and the management of the workers during construction. There are indications that the construction effort will be managed entirely by Porcuian officials and private companies, and that Narviking workers will find few opportunities. By far the largest concern voiced by skeptics and opponents of the agreement surrounds the timing and need of the project.

"If you look at the timing of this agreement and also the speed with which it was debated and signed, I don't see how this could be anything else than a response to the Genesisian Crusade against Cologne." Professor of Politics and International Relations at the University of Taurinorum. "This was, quite clearly, forced upon Narvik by Porcu. What does Narvik really have to gain from such an agreement? They've managed extremely well by themselves...I see this as a calculated move by the Cea administration to use Narvik as a forward point of commerce and trade, as a means of circumventing the exclusive use of the Danish Straits."

An official response has yet been given by the President or his press group, but Narviking officials have stated repeatedly that they were first in offering the project to the Republic. Survey teams have already begun mapping out the course of the 'transport superhighway', but a date for the commencement of construction has not yet been announced.
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PARLIAMENTARY INVESTIGATION HEADED BY COMMUNISTS HALTED, MILLION MAN MARCH AGAINST NUCLEAR WEAPONS

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Stockholm, Porcu - Much to the anger of Mr. Crassigensis and his fellow communists in Parliament, their internal investigation into the recent agreement between Narvik and Porcu has been called off by Prime Minister Atratinus, who has sighted possible conflicts of interests in ending the probe.

The United Left group was among the minority in voting against approval of the massive transportation highway system to be constructed from Narvik to Porcu and repeatedly pushed for an internal investigation into the matter when details of the agreement were leaked.

"[The transportation/trade agreement] was rushed and fantastically mismanaged from our point of view." Crassigensis said in a recent interview. "My party, with some assistance from Ms. Gularis and the socialists, has managed to open an investigation into the matter...We sincerely hope to discover no wrong doing by this government and hope that all doubts can be settled."

While the Parliamentary Committee on Justice did approve a general investigation, to be headed by Mr. Crassigensis himself, that effort was ended the other day by order of the Prime Minister. In a statement released to the press, Mr. Atratinus explained that some evidence had surfaced of possible conflicts of interests for a number of members of the investigating team. Precise evidence was not detailed in the statement, but the Prime Minister felt it warranted a pause in the current investigation.

Mr. Crassigensis has made clear his team's neutrality and unblemished condition and has expressed his disappointment with the decision made by the Prime Minister. This morning the two leaders were scheduled to meet to address any concerns, while also continuing the internal investigation. Although no word has come from either gentleman, it is speculated that Crassigensis will be required to assemble a new team before being given clearance to continue. Of course, Parliament is capable of overruling the Prime Minister, but there is little likelihood that the necessary votes would be attained.

Meanwhile, the debate over the Republic's involvement in the Papal Crusade has grown to a fever pitch. Trade unions, local communist party organs, and the national leadership of the Socialist Party rallied together in calling for a massive protest and march against the war and against nuclear weapons. The public, and the world at large, is still reeling from the use of a nuclear weapon against the Porcuian aircraft carrier A. c. daphanea. The military has yet to disclose details regarding the crew, but all lives are presumed lost. Additionally, the military has yet to officially comment on the crew of those ships that were in close proximity to the A. c. daphanea when she was struck.

That said, President Cea, together with Parliament and the entirety of the HPCO, has joined the chorus in decrying the act, calling it "thoroughly wicked" and "deplorable and repulsive." The Vatican has expressed its horror, both at the loss of life as well as the grievous trespass of the Papal Bull against such weapons, and has stated that a full investigation is underway. The Council of Moffs in the Sectors across the Baltic have called for the party responsible to be held fully accountable and were singled out by President Cea as the ones who should take the lead in any international investigation.

Unfortunate as the loss of life is, it must also be said that the attack has brought a temporary, if unexpected, ceasefire. What remains to be seen is if it will last and will become a moment to seize and bring the war to an end. Yesterday, all throughout the Republic, millions of people took to the streets in protest and demonstration. Public transit is grounded, as are all flights into and out of F. C. Aeditus International Airport, and in Mediolanum the city's local labor union of garbage men has stated its intention of striking until the Republic officially withdraws from the war. Several political leaders, including socialist leader Gularis and communist party leader Crassigensis, marched together in Stockholm, passing before Parliament and before the Presidential palace.
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QUINTIANUS PASSES AWAY, PRIME MINISTER ATRATINUS ANNOUNCES COMPLETE INTEGRATION OF HPCO STATES AND PORCU

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Stockholm, Porcu Proper - In a heavy and sad day for the the Liberal Democratic Party of Porcu and the larger Liberal and Democratic Reformist Bloc parliamentary group party leader Decimus Marius Quintianus has died; while, in an unscheduled press conference Prime Minister Atratinus announced to a startled audience that a complete integration between the memberstates of the HPCO and the Republic of Porcu has been formalized.

Mr. Quintianus was widely recognized as a humble, but refreshingly straightforward politician whom both supporters and opponents respected. Due to his history within the party, Mr. Quintianus was a top choice for party chairman at his party's congress after former President Vinirimus decided not to seek a second term as President. Mr. Quintianus made a number of bids for the presidency over his tenure as both party chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party as as leader of the LDRB group in Parliament, and despite his personal disappointment he did oversee a stunning turnaround for liberals and democrats on the national stage, reversing losses sustained under Vinirimus.

"Mr. Quintianus knew he had a receptive ear, at minimum." socialist leader Ms. Gularis stated. "While partisan, he nonetheless knew that there were moments, for the best of the country, that demanded his cooperation with the Opposition. I am extremely grateful for his service while I was President."

Not all commentators were displeased to see the elderly politician go, however. "Mr. Quintianus' passing, hopefully, ends a period of liberal intimidation in Parliament and a renewed drive towards real social change and progression for the people." communist party chairman Mr. Crassigensis wrote in a press release.

For now, the Liberal and Democratic Reformist Bloc remains without a leader, but a congress has already been scheduled and it remains to be seen if the Liberal Democratic Party will retain control over the national parliamentary group or if the Centrist Party will manage to claim the leadership position as their own.

In other news, the HPCO, for all intents and purposes, is dead. Flanked by the heads of state of each memberstate, respectively, the Porcuian Prime Minister announced that measures resulting in the unification of the alliance's memberstates are expected to pass through each legislative body. The result of such legislation is an annexation of each state by the Republic, and the transformation of each independent state into overseas provinces/territories of Porcu.

"Each province will maintain it's own local legislative body and will retain its current executive leaders as governors for each overseas province." Atratinus said. "Financial and political considerations have prompted this accommodation."

The Porcuian Prime Minister was provided support by those seated to his left and right. "[The loss of sovereignty] cannot be viewed as a retreat or as a step backward. All rights and privileges currently enjoyed by citizens in the Vulso Islands, or Araucania, or Hong Kong & Macau will remained untouched."

Many important details have yet to be settled, or at least they have not been explained to the public. These include matters regarding citizenship: if HPCO citizenship is now void are citizens of each overseas province now also citizens of the Republic? - as well as voting and of elections: are citizens of each overseas province now forwarded the right to cast ballots for presidential and parliamentary elections in Porcu?

Many commentators and political analysts are unsettled. Some view the announcement as a regression of these formerly independent states to colonies (which many originally were), while others claim that the integration provides no real sense of responsibility for Porcuian leaders, since there is no evidence to suggest that those residing outside Porcu will be forwarded full citizenship to the Republic. Nonetheless, political leaders are adamant that the change is welcome, as some states face severe deficits and national debts, but a degree of skepticism remains and it has still to be seen how the international community will react.
Edited by Porcu, Oct 6 2012, 01:05 PM.
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CEA DISGRACED, ATRATINUS OBTAINS TOTAL EXECUTIVE CONTROL

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Stockholm, Porcu Proper - As the Republic works to fully recover from the effects of the chemical attack by the Teutonic Order the President was formally removed from power with a stunning vote count in Parliament, replaced by the Prime Minister, who will hold the office until the next scheduled general election.

The formal indictment against the President included charges of corruption, the embezzlement of State funds, and "severe neglect in his charge of the Republic's defense". In all, Mr. Cea was found guilty on 15 separate charges by Parliament and handily lost a Motion of No-Confidence, with all but 20 MPs voting in the affirmative. The President was solemn throughout the entire process, which lasted two days with four marathon-length parliamentary sessions, and seemed emotionally detached for much it. Only when the final tally of votes in the no-confidence motion were read out did Mr. Cea struggle to contain himself.

The process itself is historic, as only one President prior has been removed from power. Previously, only Richard Nixon the Elder suffered the shame and humiliation, though he did successfully return to Parliament some years later by winning the closest Presidential election in the Republic's long history. That fate seems extremely unlikely for Mr. Cea, as there is quite a rumble within the Republican Party as to whether Mr. Cea will hold on to his leadership position. Interestingly, while the vote in Parliament was never in doubt, the public has been much less critical of the President and, indeed, seems to share some sympathy. According to an average of polls, if it were up to the general public Mr. Cea would have survived a motion of no-confidence and retained control of the presidency. As it stands now, however, Mr. Atratinus has been charged with reigning as President until the next scheduled general election.

The succession of power is not without its ambiguities. Despite having one historical trial period as a reference, one cannot forget that a new Constitution currently provides the supreme law for the Fourth Republic and that the article pertaining to presidential succession is short and vague. Recent commentary, mostly from the Socialist Party and some key figures in the Liberal Democratic Party, argues that an amendment to the article should be debated and passed by Parliament to clear up the ambiguity. Although trending on the internet, a measure tackling the issue has not yet been brought to the floor in Parliament. That said, Parliament fully abided the Constitution and Mr. Atratinus will hold full executive control for the next several years.

International comment has been minimal and the Genesisian Crusade continues with full force against Cologne and the Coalition. Atratinus made clear in a short address to the nation and the world that the Republic would continue its efforts alongside Russia, Yshurak, Marslava, and the Normans, among others. Although another major demonstration against the war had been scheduled for weeks by the Communist Party, the nationwide event was canceled by senior party officials shortly after Mr. Cea was formally removed from power.
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ATRATINUS PROPOSES MODIFICATIONS TO RULES FOR CITIZENSHIP

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Stockholm, Porcu Proper - Mr. Atratinus spoke yesterday to Parliament of the need to modify parts of Porcuian citizenship laws to reflect the recent annexation of former HPCO memberstates and millions who have an ambiguous citizenship status.

As a global cultural and economic union, principally, and a military alliance, second, the HPCO memberstates shared a common currency (the Porcuian Denarius) and a common language in matters of politics or economics (Latin). Despite a treaty stating otherwise, the center of activity for the entire union was Stockholm. The city effectively acted as the union's capital and essentially all decisions came from the Porcuian capital. Eventually, a common citizenship was proposed and approved between all memberstates, and facilitated to a drastic ease in travel between the memberstates. Now, however, those passports and documents are meaningless.

"While there are local entities that care for the immediate concerns of communities in Araucania, the Vulso Islands, Hong Kong & Macau, and others, much has been shifted to government institutions here in Porcu...A passport issued by the government of Narvik is now without use and the declaration of one's standing as a citizen of the Republic of Viroconium is meaningless. Only Porcuian institutions, Parliament especially, now have the legal obligations and directives to clarify the present situation." The President said in his speech.

Upon inspection Mr. Atratinus' proposal is both extremely unfair and unjust and very valuable. It's value can be derived from the granting of full Porcuian citizenship to most of the people living in communities from Narvik to Polinesinum, from Singapore to Quinaranum. Many will now be able to collect education grants, taxes breaks, and some financial relief from Stockholm. Yet, they will not be able to participate in elections for the President or Parliament, and they will have to manage under Porcuian taxation laws and rates, which in some places would mean a doubling of taxes. Furthermore, the proposal draws a distinction between "full" and "partial" citizenship, with many people in the overseas territories only qualifying for the latter.

Rights enjoyed and taken for granted by many here in the Republic that would be denied to millions include: the use of the full three name set, ability to become a member of the special forces, or the ability to stand for public office. Although it was not part of the proposal presented to Parliament, there are also rumors that changes are also being considered to the way in which one acquires full Porcuian citizenship, such as revoking one's ability to obtain full citizenship through marriage to a Porcuian national.
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