↳ The cover of the book (left); Sofija Karmni Falzon (right)
Falzon died in Lourenne, according to daughter's new book
3 September 5408
New memoir from the daughter of Sigismondo Falzon reveals information about the iconic politician's disappearance in 5348
Qart Qildar, Principality of Aqildar: Yet another book sheds light on the life of Sigismondo Falzon, from his earliest days in politics to his final years spent in self-imposed exile in Lourenne. Written by his daughter, socialite and heiress Sofija Karmni Falzon, this particular biography of the former Deputy PM and Constitutionalist Party (PK) founder is significant for being the first to detail the circumstances of his disappearance from Cildanian politics and public life, as well as revealing the circumstances around his death.
Falzon suffered a major heart attack in August of 5345, from which he was placed under medically-induced coma. Though his condition would improve, he remained in recovery and out of the public eye for several years, during which time the political winds in Cildania had decidedly turned against the Alliance for Cildania (AgK) electoral alliance of which the PK was a member.
Following the formation of the Anti-Fraud Task Force under the far-right government of Dumniku Zammit-Barca, a long-time enemy of Falzon, the family feared that they would be targeted in the ensuing “witch-hunt.” After a second heart-attack in 5348, and reportedly having been tipped off about planned investigations into his family, Falzon made the decision to relocate to Lourenne alongside his wife, daughter; his sons Baldassar and Valentinu would remain in Cildania.
According to the book, this plan was developed many years prior as a contingency for the possible ascent of the OtSB, which made no secret of its long-stated intent to prosecute the AgK leadership. As the investigations consolidated around the Alagona family, before turning to other significant political targets, Falzon worried that his family would be next. Over a decade before his eventual flight from Cildania, Falzon purchased the Château du Sirault in Luçande, Lourenne for an undisclosed sum, after receiving assurances from Lourennais officials that he would not face extradition should it be sought by the Cildanian government. Notably, the property had once been owned by the Sun Clan of Yingdala’s Yu Dynasty, and was reportedly held until this date by modern descendants of Prince Luyi.
Living in self-imposed exile, the Falzons’ would ultimately escape the anti-corruption fervour that swept across Cildania’s political system, and which destroyed it in the process. With Sigismondo Falzon out of the picture, his daughter contends, the family's companies, properties, and indeed, political party, were no longer considered threatening to the powers that be, such that they evaded persecution. Nevertheless, the Constitutionalist Party (PK) would collapse in the void left by Falzon's absence. The AgK would eventually collapse in concert with the allegedly "state-led persecution" of the Alagona Faction (FA). Though Falzon had apparently been given assurances of his security and protection through backchannel negotiations with figures in successive Cildanian governments, he chose to remain in Lourenne. According to his daughter, Falzon was devastated by the death of his lifelong friend and political ally Guiliano Alagona, and felt incapable of rebuilding what the two men had spent the greater parts of their life building:
“Guili! What will we do now? What the f*ck will we do now?” a despondent Falzon is quoted in his daughter’s book as saying upon learning the news of Alagona’s passing. “The man was short and stout, but my God, was he a f*cking giant. If you could get him to put down the fork, you could just wind him up and watch him go to work. He was beautiful, he was a craftsman. No one cut a f*ckin’ deal like Guili. There’s nothing left in Cildania for us now.” The night of Alagona’s passing was the first and last time anyone had ever seen Sigismondo Falzon cry. Two single tears, as he would later explain: “one for Guili, and one for Cildania.”
During his final years in the provincial vineyards of St. Madeleine, Lourenne, Sofija Falzon claims her father embraced a "softer" side, spending his days creating watercolour paintings, practicing the art of bonsai, and producing whale bone scrimshaw carvings. Remaining active and in good health for years, the book reveals that Sigismondo Falzon passed on 3 June 5366, aged between 96-98, in his sleep. Two years later, Sofija's mother Karmni Magro Falzon would die "of a broken heart," at which point Sofija made the decision to return to Cildania, reuniting with her brothers and their children. Importantly, Sofija Falzon revealed in the final chapter of the book that she possesses the final will and testament of her father, which she suggests is likely to redistribute much of Falzon's estate and properties amongst his heirs in the coming years.
il-POSTA NAZZJONALI is one of Cildania's most widely-read broadsheet daily newspapers, respected for its journalistic integrity and objectivity.
A standard-bearer of Cildanian liberalism, il-Posta has become one of the nation's 'newspapers of record.' It is owned by the Grupp Editorjali PNFP.
