Istalia

[Hakon]

Vranetta (OFF):Istalian Democray Wins

ROMULA, July 4750.

From our own correspondence.

Today, due to the passing of the Anti-Democratic Treaty Barriers Act ( http://classic.particracy.net/viewbill. ... lid=622070 ) and the protests against that fact, OFF partyleader Mariana Vranetta (former minister of Finance and minister of Trade and Industry) answered questions of journalist during a pressconferance in the Townhall in Rumula. When she appearded on stage , Vranetta was met with a 15 minute standing ovation by cheering OFF members. The partyleader said that she fully understood that some people are opposed to this decision which was supported by a large majority in the Assemblea Nazionale dell'Impero. "This is a victory for our democreacy, isn'it ?", she was heard saying. "A majority of the people wanted to withdraw this undemocratic treaty and the opposition is totally free to demonstrate against it. That's the strength of our democracy", continued.

Sources close to the partyleadership informed us that the party is very pleased with this result. The FP-ANI coalition has the full support of the OFF as the three of us are very able to negotiate deals , are trustworthy and as a result of that the nation has a stable government. However, there are also signs that some partyofficials wonder if this was not a step too far. But these opinions are not expressed openly. The word out is that the OFF is working hard to invest in the current relationship with the FP and ANI in a "give and take" construction. Other sources told your correspondence that for the time being , no legislative OFF proposals concerning LGBT rights are to be expected soon.

The Regional President of Mezzodiurno , Martelli (OFF), stated that any "improper behaviour " by protesters in our Capital City will be met by appropiate measures by the authorities. He was not quite clear about what he meant by that and refused to answer further questions.

[XanderOne]

Prime Minister Negri express great satisfaction for the ongoing work of the Government but criticism came also from his party
The Head of Government presented the future plans of the executive but it seems that several ANI's MPs and supporters joined the opposition protesting on the streets. Negri responds to the criticism: "senseless and void allegations and stances which only harm the country! This Government is working for the well being of Istalian and Istalians, for its Defence and its International Relations"

Prime Minister Mattia Negri

16 January 4751

ROMULA - With the beginning of the new year, Prime Minister Mattia Negri seems to be forced to face criticism both from the outside and from the inside, while some tension has emerged regarding relations with the government's external supporter, the OFF, also within his own party. However, he also fully claimed responsibility for all the decision taken until now.

In fact, the Prime Minister met the press returning from the Christmas holidays by announcing the next plans and policies which the Government intends to launch, of which several have already been presented, as well as applauding but above all defending the work already done, starting with commenting on the tax reform close to be approved and responding rather harshly to criticism from Blocist benches accusing the government to fail to take action against the rate on lower incomes:

ANI's Whip Mrs Montefalchi has perfectly stressed how intellectually dishonest it is to criticize us for not intervening in such a situation when it was the Left Bloc that approved the previous tax reform when they were in government during the last legislature. They approved the 11% rate for all incomes above 100 LIS as they also approved the reduction of the rate on higher incomes compared to the previous situation. Didn't they know two years ago that reform would shift the burden of contributing to the lower tiers?

If we have to say something to Left Bloc, well, surely we are better with this taxation, which stimulates investments and consumption from higher incomes while we think it has better balanced the distribution of the burdens of public expenditure, because I remind you that before that reform, voted by them two years ago as said, a huge audience of people with income up to 1000 LIS was totally exempted from paying income taxes.

Not only we find our income tax reform currently under vote perfectly consistent with the intentions that led us to establish the pact on which this government is based but it is aimed at favoring a segment of the population which until a few years ago was also too harassed and which in fact constitutes a very important part of the country's economic engine, which sees a galaxy of small and medium-sized enterprises alongside large multinationals, and we are therefore not surprised that it is this category that contributes with the greatest revenue to the expenses of the state.

If Left Bloc want to take some credit for the previous reform, I might even be the first to tell them "bravo!", but what is certain is that they cannot dare to criticize us on that point, even less they can give us any responsibility due to the fact that we were at the opposition.

But evidently the Blocists feel the need to clear their conscience after voting for a tax reform which was more an expression of the liberal Right and above all after having been hand in glove with liberals, demagogues, conservatives if not reactionaries during the last legislatures, excluding also their historical socialist allies from their new playground only for pursuing yet another failure in the name of the Republic... a republic that in the opinion of their ephemeral allies of the last legislature was to be founded on the circumvention of constitutional rules, on legal holes, and so on. And they dare to criticize us to be in agreement with the Populist Faction or with the Order, Faith and Family party.

Like my colleague Montefalchi, it therefore seems to me that the Blocists are now making senseless and void allegations just to generate smokescreen behind which to hide their recent unhappy decisions. It is sad to think that it was the government which was accused few month ago of being a smokescreen behind which to hide misdeed that only Heaven knows what!

The Prime Minister certainly referred to the criticisms came by the Socialists & Democrats during the considerable demonstrations against the withdrawal from the Rights of LGBT + Citizens Protection Treaty which have been affecting the nation for a month and which seem to have become inevitable appointments every Friday, a situationa which, however, is also exacerbating both the world of workers and the production world, given that the major cities are blocked every last day of the week causing problems for traffic, with millions of commuters arriving late at work and returning very late to their families , days for many companies and producers literally lost, with protests that also come from shopkeepers in the city center who now prefer to close on Friday due to the drop in sales and so on.

Street protests which goes hand in hand with the S&D parliamentary protest: they will abstain or will vote against any government initiative throughout the whole legislature and therefore by joining in a common front the Left Bloc which in turn had already announced in the aftermath of the elections its intention to refrain from partecipate to the activity in the newly formed Senate of the Empire and to abstain from any vote, a decision taken by the Blocists instead to protest against the institution of the Upper House itself.

I would have expected similar behaviors from the most radical ranks of the Blocists, but I am surprised that the Socialists & Democrats, who have always distinguished themselves for moderation and intelligence, are the first to disavow something they always have argued and defended, namely that democracy is dialogue, compromise, negotiation between the parties. They are accusing us of something that we have not done and that on behalf of my party I can assure you that we will never do.

We can share the idea that our parliament has regained the right to legislate on certain issues but this doesn't mean we share and support all OFF's ideas or positions: this party and this government will never and in no case vote reforms in the field of civil rights. If ever a government does it, you will not see me at its head and much less the National Alliance among its ranks!

Furthermore, the decision of the Socialists & Democrats to pursue such a irresponsible path, a path already taken by the Left Bloc, will only be childish skirmishes directed against this Government but which will harm only the Country!
Foreign Minister Giacinto Ludovici is finally close to finalizing negotiations with Yingdala to establish a new treaty between our two nations, a job that had even started already under Sollecito Governments but which risks being now frustrated by a blind and irresponsible opposition and the consequences will fall only on the country, on our citizens, on our entrepreneurs, on our companies and on the bilateral relations of the country, rash decision from the gut in this moment which sees the world facing a crisis if not global general stagnation and from which all the nations are trying to get out.

Or even the long work that the Constitutional Affairs Committee of the National Assembly, with a particularly important contribution from the National Alliance, has carried out on the constitutional reform of the High Council of the Judiciary: the obstructionism of the opposition will only postpone if not frustrate the reorganization of a very important matter and which will guarantee a more solid functioning but above all the independence of the judiciary and the consequences will also fall on our citizens as well as on the whole judiciary. The Left Bloc and their former Nationalists Socialists buddies already made fail once the passage of the law and we showed to be ready to find a better compromise so, I invite S&D to reflect once again on their decision.

This government is demonstrating that it works for the country, for its citizens and for its prosperity, certainly in full respect of the principles of parliamentary democracy based on mediation and cooperation and I assure you that it will continue to do so: the proposals already presented and the news in the economic sphere confirm this.

The Government has in fact presented to the respective parliamentary committees various measures to be adopted in the coming years, among them certainly the new Consolidated Law for the regulation of the new Universal Contracted Single-Payer Health Care System, indeed presented by the ranks of ANI at the end of the last legislature but which the Minister of Health Adnan Al Sahhaf is ready to convert into a Government Decree, and therefore the New Defense Modernization Program, already presented by the Minister of Defense Enzo Santucci with all the details relating to the fields of intervention and which will concern both the Navy, the Army, and the Aerospace sector and which, as the Prime Minister said:

It will demonstrate the always great foresight of our Defense, which has always favored modularity and versatility and above all projects that can be easily and quickly refitted to keep up with the times, saving time and resources, as well as the quality of our defense, always looking to the future and always able to compete internationally

However, despite the security shown by the Prime Minister, it seems that it is not exactly all peaches and cream for the Government and criticism that come from the Negri party itself seem to be creating tensions within the majority and especially in the relationship between ANI and OFF .

Indeed, there are many supporters as well as several MPs from the National Alliance who have been seen marching through the streets of the cities of Istalia alongside the leaders of the socialists' opposition, criticizing and rejecting the support given by their party to the OFF proposals, a support that evidently encouraged the right-wing party to present proposals increasingly dictated by its religious agenda.

New controversies, in fact, seem to have broken out in Viale delle Vittorie between Negri and some senior party leaders regarding the latest proposal presented by the OFF, a proposal to further protect the two major religions practiced in Istalia and which initially even provided for the entry of exponents of the Ahmadi and Aurorian religious organizations within the Ministry of Education, a point on which even Negri has opposed asking for its removal but which in general is inflaming even more the souls of a party which until recently had defended secularism and containment of religious influence on society, as traditionally for the whole Istalian political world until a few years ago.

There are still three years to go until the next election, Negri ensures that he firmly holds the reins of the country and that he sleeps peacefully between two soft pillows, but many are those who ideed wonder how long and if this "give and take" policy will last and how long Negri will be willing and maybe able to make shows of force towards Order, Faith and Family.

[Aethan]

The Left Bloc joins the protests and raises its voice against the government
Important party leaders ugly the current government for its attack on LGBT rights and its surrender to the extreme right


President of the Istalian Senate Aristarco Azzara reading his party manifest

It seems that the battle against the government in the streets for its decision to withdraw Istalia from the treaty for the protection of the LGBT community under the argument of being "undemocratic" in the words of the far-right Order, Faith and Family party, has only just begun. Today, important figures of the Left Bloc, the first political party in both the Assembly and the Senate, have joined the demonstrations promoted by the Social Democrats against the government in what they consider "an attack on freedom and human dignity".

"This government has fallen out of favor"

has read Aristarco Azzara, son of the famous governor of Trivendito Egeo Azzara and first and current President of the Senate of Istalia

"What is undemocratic is that a political party tries to impose its religious and political ideology on millions of citizens, and that the government swallows with them as servants of the extreme right. It is not that they are a stable coalition, it is that they are the same dog with a different collar. Populists, ANI, OFF ... Can anyone currently see any difference between them? No, because there are none. There is no discrepancy, there is no political plurality, and that is not synonymous with good operation, but with deception and manipulation "

Mr. Azzara, who during his last sessions in the Senate has placed an LGBT flag around the microphone of his seat, has criticized during the demonstration that those who see themselves as guarantors of democracy and freedom "are those who have no scruples to follow with their eyes closed the most reactionary sectors of our society, those who only have a vision for our nation and which does not fit all who are different from them. "

They were not the only criticisms of important personalities within the Left Bloc. The most symbolic gestures have come from the two regions that the party governs, Padagna and Silicia, where the left has a majority in the regional parliaments. In both regions, their governors Gioia Marsiglia and Annamaria Licari have placed LGBT flags at the headquarters of the regional government next to the banner that says "Whatever you are, this region loves you", and have announced that they are going to try to shield by law in the Regional statutes same-sex marriages to equate heterosexual marriages, as well as adoption rights. In a public appearance, Mrs. Licari has criticized the government's performance in an emotional speech:

"This government should be ashamed of what it has just done. It has just equated the defense of LGBT rights with something "undemocratic ", with something that goes against the" popular will. "They have just opened Pandora's Box. Let the international community learn that the government of Istalia defends that discourse. Let them learn that the government of Istalia has supported that in this nation it is the regions that decide whether a person, due to their sexual condition, can have the same rights or not that a heterosexual person. Let everyone know. Because they are wrong. This is not about democracy. It is about human dignity. Shielding the human rights of our citizens, whoever they love and whoever they are, cannot and should not be a reason for discussion, and while this kind of hmophobic discourses are not erradicated, their defence should be a top priority. It is not about letting "the people decide what is best." It is about teaching the people to see that this is the best. That we are all equal and deserve the same treatment. This government has legitimized those people who say that LGBT people should not have the same rights, and it has done so by causing Istalia to withdraw from a treaty which it did was to prevent soulless people like OFF deputies from attacking them. I have a granddaughter. A few years ago my granddaughter confessed something that broke my soul. He told me that he had been working on a speech for four years. In those four years, she came to understand who she was and how not to regret being herself. And all because her father, my daughter's ex-husband, was not able to accept that an LGBT person could be part of his world. Introducing yourself to the world is a little scary because what if the world doesn't like you? Why are LGBT people the ones who have to fight every day to show that they have value regardless of their sexual orientation? Why is it not only useful to know that they are human persons? Living with a mask is something that no one would have to suffer, and it is something that LGBT people have to go through on a daily basis, and they never finish making themselves known as they are to society, they have to justify themselves over and over again. So it is important that they see that the government, the state institutions, support them. Let them know that they are not alone. That they can count on us. And this government has failed miserably in this, and even more in not making self-criticism and understanding the scope of its decision. "

Both governors have announced that they will allow the weekly cut for a period of time a day to celebrate the protests.

On the other hand, the secretary general of the Left Bloc, Leandro Bisso, has been extremely critical of this drift of the government.

"I began my term at the head of the Left Bloc in the hope of lowering the harsh tone that our nation's politics had acquired in recent years, and of which our party had sometimes been a part. But it is impossible to open up to sincere and respectful dialogue with a government that at the least you blame them for something they attack you from all sides, and that on top of not only does it not denounce, but it supports and justifies its far-right partners instead of stopping their feet. They have always been the first one to attack those who believe that regions should have more power, but suddenly, in these issues, they agree to give more power to them. Suspicious, isn't it?. Not only for the matter of the attack on the rights of the LGBT community, it is for OFF's intention now to establish a theocracy in Istalia, to attack the basic principle of division between religion and State and, once again, to only accept those who think and they feel like them. But I am going to tell you one thing: the Left Bloc will have many flaws, but in our country model we all fit. In theirs, only they fit. "

Furthermore, Mr. Bisso has criticized the moral baseness of some ANI leaders for "trying to attack without knowing the details", referring to the supposed exclusion of the Social Democrats from the previous government.

"It is a shame that they speak without having all the information. As S&D can confirm, we were negotiating until the last moment the inclusion of the Social Democrats in the national government, and when we saw that the Nationalist Socialist Party was resisting it, we apologized before the S&D for not having achieved it. That is what differentiates us from them: dignity and humility. When we are wrong, we recognize it, and as it has happened on many occasions, we resign our positions. Hopefully one day we will see some sincere self-criticism and out loud from the parties of the current government. But I know that perhaps I ask too much. "

The Left Bloc has also confirmed that they will not vote in favor of any law that has to be voted in the Senate, which leaves only an amount two senators the possibility of passing laws in the Upper House, and as a result of the latest statements by the Social Democrats It seems that at least in its first term, the Senate will be a sterile and useless institution.

[LC73]

Likatonian President announces Chester Port expansion project details

[Hakon]

SUPPORT FOR COALITION IN DANGER

ROMULA, October 4752.

From our own correspondence.

At today's OFF election rally in Romula, partyleader and MP, Mariana Vranetta, said during her speech, that the proposed "Law on the principle of the unity of the subject matter ( http://classic.particracy.net/viewbill. ... lid=623294 )" currently debated in the Assemblea Nazionale, has become a major issue for the OFF. Vranetta told her around 30.000 supporters (according to the police, the OFF speaks about 100.000): "that the whole nation should fight against this socialist attempt to silence your voice. Your regional power ideals are in great danger! We reject this proposal because it is an attack on the democratic right to believe, to speak, write and propose whatever an individual MP or a party wants whether others like it or not! Our Istalian democratic values are at stake here. The OFF will fight for everyone's democratic right." Her message was cheered by the crowd and it seems that her message was well received by the potential OFF electorate. Afterwards, mrs Vranetta was not available to answer some questions but when confronting some OFF partyofficials about the possible concequensies if that particular bill will pass the Assemblea, it became clear that this is indeed an important issue for the Family Party. An anonymous source close to the partyleadership was heard saying that if that law really passes the House, OFF support for the minority ANI-FP Government might drop even if that harms the interest of the OFF itself. As far as your newspaper knows, there is no crisis yet but the unique and constructive "ANI-FP-OFF" bond might be in danger. "It all depends on the voting behaviour of the current coalition parties", our well-informed source said.

[XanderOne]

State visit in Yingdala for the Princes of the Crown and the Prime and Foreign Ministers
The Representatives of the respective Executives met to finilize the agreement on the Yingdalan-Istalian bilateral treaty while the Princes Alessandro Ghazi and Silvia were welcomed in the Heavenly City

Princes of the Crown Alessandro Ghazi and Silvia warmly welcomed at the Imperial Palace by the Emperor and Empress Consort of Yingdala

21 December 4752

TIAN'AN - After long negotiations finally both the Governments of Istalia and Yingdala finalized the drafting process of the Istalia-Yingdala Treaty of Cooperation, Friendship, and Free Trade Agreement and to mark this common achievement, on invitation of the Yingdalan Government the Prince of the Crown Alesssandro Ghazi with his wife Princess Silvia, the Prime Minister Mattia Negri and Foreign Minister Giacinto Ludovici left Istalia for a 3-days State Visit in Yingdala and landing in Tian'an where they have been more than warmly welcomed.
The Prince of the Crown left Istalia on behalf of his father the Emperor who, being 86 years old the next march, has been advised against travelling and overexertion by his doctors who showed to be quite concerned about the very hot summer who this year hit the southern hemisphere.
After a tour of the Capital, where the Yingdalan authorities took advantage to show them some of the most renowned local cultural sites, the Istalian Ministers and the Imperial Couple went their separate ways.

The Princes of the Crown moved to the Heavenly Palace, the residence of the monarch of Yingdala, where they have been warmly welcomed by Emperor Yu Li and his wife. First of all the Prince of the Crown and the Emperor reviewed the Imperial Guard in one of the large squares of the Imperial Palace and then they retired in private to talk together while the respective consorts made a tour of the palace.
The couples rejoined for a standing lunch to which the Princes of the Crown had the opportunity to meet with other members of the Yingdalan Imperial Family as well as several important Palace dignitaries, Yingdalan cultural personalities and members of some other notable Yingdalan Noble families.
In the evening the Emperor and the Prince of the Crown met the press seating side-by-side expressing their best wishes for the development of friendly and cordial relations between Istalia and Yingdala, for the increase of cultural mutual knowledge and profiting also to talk about the Enthronement cerimony of Emperor Yu Li attended by Emperor Tommaso Hassan who asked his son to present his most cordial greetings to the Yingdalan Head of State and to express his sorrow for not being able to come in person.

Prime Ministers Negri and Gu Yun, flanked by the Foreign Ministers Ludovici and Gou Zexian, met instead in the headquarters of the Yingdalan Head of Government to talk about the finalized treaty as well as of other diplomatic and geopolitical affairs, focusing above all on the debates in progress at the World Congress where both nations have tried to reassure the international community about the nature of the investigative mission in Bianje which many feared to be a military operation.
Regarding the treaty and the future relations between Istalia and Yingdala, Prime Minister Negri emphasized the importance of increasing trade and investments between the two countries and therefore economic cooperation as well as the cultural exchanges by underlining the sure future benefits for both nations.
During the join press conference it was thus confirmed by both the side they are fully satisfied for the growing friendly relations between Istalia and Yingdala as well as for the cooperation already established in several field for almost ten years, since when Yingdala called for technical advisers on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics all over the world during its "Strengthening the Nation" plan which, as Negri said, paved the way for this moment.
Finally, both the Head of Governments confirmed that after the very last details will be finalized both the Nations will begin the ratification process of the Treaty and Prime Minister Negri invited the Indralan Government to visit Istalia once the Treaty will be ratified.

The Istalian delagation profited of the second day of the State Visit to move outside the town to visit several Yingdalan interesting sites, among them: an archeological site recently discovered and related to the early Qin Period, royal or aristocratic tombs close to the ruins of a city arose during the expansion to the south of the proto-Indralans; a natural park along the Ma-Gan River where the lush dense tropical jungle and mangrove swamps have been preserved; a visit in to some picturesque traditional villages among the maze of canals of the Ma-Gan Delta where the Prince of the Crown wanted absolutely try the very traditional Yingdalan cuisine.

The third day the Prince of the Crown and his wife came back in Tian'an to visit accompagned by an Imperial delegate, an important accademic and historian, the Tian'an National University and then the National Yingdalan Museum which tour took almost 3 hours.
Prime Minister Negri, instead, visited alongside the Yingdalan Ministers of Science and of Industry several industrial and technological corporations and laboratories, meeting scientists and technicians and talking about further cooperation on the field of science and research.

In the evening, finally, in order to adeguately close and celebrate the State Visit, a State Banquet was held at the Imperial Palace where the Emperor and the highest officials of Yingdala gathered togheter the Istalian Executive and Crown Representatives and which was described by the Prince of the Crown himself as simply sumptuous and delicious and during which the Prince Alessandro Ghazi reiterated the invite by the Prime Minister Negri to the Yingdalan authorities to visit in turn Istalia and Romula where both the whole Imperial House and the Government will be more than pleased to welcome them.

[jamescfm]

Caner urges countries to seek new era for Majatra

[XanderOne]

Election results set off a powder keg within the National Alliance: Negri resigns as National Secretary
Many members of the party have risen openly against the current Prime Minister and the former party whip into the Assembly Laura Montefalco is the one leading them: "this 'give and take' reeks of blackmail by now"

Laura Montefalchi

14 July 4753

ROMULA - The results of the last elections were a bad blow for the National Alliance for the Empire, which finished last losing almost 7 percentage points, but even more for the National Secretary Mattia Negri: the creeping discontent within the party, after remaining latent for too long, finally set fire to the powder keg's fuse, uncovering the proverbial Pandora's box.

The entire party election campaign, in fact, has been plagued if not crippled for months by this already evident discontent which has seen dissidents almost campaigning against Negri and generating fiery clashes with the Secretary's loyalists. In the aftermath of the elections the clashes did not sleep at all but rather the unhappy numbers did nothing but throw more fuel on the fire.

Countless members of the ANI finally have joined the protests and have openly pointed the finger at the National Secretary and current Prime Minister and among them there are also several important members of the party leadership including Laura Montefalchi, former whip of the party into the National Assembly, who precisely the last week launched a motion of no confidence against Mattia Negri supported by 6 of the 13 members of the National Committee. As required by the party's statute, in the face of such a motion, an extraordinary Congress is convened automatically to discuss the motion and vote on it, but two days ago Negri announced his resignation as National Secretary, leaving the Congress just the task to elect the new party leader, a decision which should arrive within a couple of weeks.

Mattia Negri, in the aftermath of the decision, then submitted his resignation as Prime Minister to the President of the National Assembly who, as usual, rejected it by asking the Prime Minister to remain in office until the next government takes office.

Among the candidates who are more likely instead of getting to the helm of ANI there is Laura Montefalchi herself, who outspoken met the journalists venting and clearly pointing out the origin of the dissatisfaction and therefore open revolt:

Mattia Negri has said absolutely nothing, as he has done for too long he has once again sweeped things under the rug. By now for many inside the party the measure was full! What am I talking about? Simple: this "give and take" reeks of blackmail by now!
We got them to tell us what to vote for and what not and frankly I, like many others, will no longer accept to drop our trousers in the face of requests by Order, Faith and Family.
We have conceded a lot, a lot I said, for many even too much and I am not surprised that many of our representatives have decided to join the demonstrations in the recent years alongside the opposition.
I feel to say openly that we have literally betrayed the trust of many of our voters and many Istalians, we have betrayed some of our most important values ​​as a political movement and finally how have we been thanked? With moves that I am not ashamed to define simply as devious and animated to make us look like fools, undecided and deeply fought. And are we surprised by the election results?

The "allies" of OFF knew very well that we would have never and never supported any civil rights reform, and I assure you that the party will never allow that even in one region LGBT people could suffer any sort of discrimination or could enjoy less rights than any other citizens, yet with that unacceptable bill full of subtle amendments they forced us to choose between losing visibility and credibility and our most deepest beliefs. If that's not looting this!

So far we have given a lot, a lot: first the liberalization in the religious field, then the withdrawal from the treaty, then the law on the protection of Aurorianism and Ahmadism, decisions totally unrelated to our history and our principles and which have deeply split the party, and what did they give us? What did we get out of it? Support for policies that they were more than happy to support, policies they wished and for which above all they did not have to compromise with their conscience in the least as we had to do, reducing ourselves to being transformists like them, yes! Transformists: because we have not forgotten that OFF, after seeing how their initial centralist policies were unsuccessful, jumped on the bandwagon of the devolution wave only and just to attract votes.

And now they openly allow themselves to dictate the political agenda by threatening to withdraw support for this collaboration and to the ANI-FP Government! And what did our Secretary say? Nothing, as usual, after he and the party took all political responsibility for all those decisions that sparked hell in the country, this is how they thanked us: with an ultimatum!

Well, as a candidate for the leadership of the National Alliance let me say one thing to the "dear" colleagues of OFF: if they prefer they can try to form a govenrment with the Socialists & Democrats or with the Left Bloc, other ways I want them to know that ANI will not accept anymore such behavior. No ultimatum, no blackmail, nothing of nothing!
And I think also that by now with 195 seats maybe the time has come for OFF to take responsibility of government. It is easy to dictate from the shadow, to hide itself behind those who take the decisions and take responsibility before the country.

[XanderOne]

Defence Modernization Program 4751: upgrading works in progressing into the dry docks while the Army unveils its new vehicles
The hull of the first of the new nuclear attack submarines will be laid down within two years while the launch of the second military satellite for the Ansar constellation is scheduled within six months

Frigate NF 506 "Giaguaro" into the drydock undergoing the upgrading works

11 April 4754

The last modernization program of the Armed Forces is in full swing and this morning the Minister of Defense Enzo Santucci, during the presentation of the future new vehicles of the Army at the Travertine Palace, took advantage of the opportunity to get the full picture of the situation.

Already since the first few months following the approval of the Program, the surface combatant ships of the Navy are progressively taking place in the dry docks of Triesta and Nepuli, both managed by Magistro-Leonardi SA, to undergo the upgrading works commanded by the Ministry of Defense. Most of the Navy's ships' informatic, electronic, sensor and processing systems are being upgraded, for many units is expected a complete overhaul if not replacement of the propulsion components and they will eventually be equipped with the new low-observable longer-range cruise (and anti-ships) missile "Tempesta Silente", the anti-aircrafts missile "Saqar" and the new anti-submarine torpedos "Mako", which the first prototypes are being tested over these days.


"Tempesta Silente" long-range missile test

The units which will undergo just the modernization of the weapon systems, as well as the adoption of some little more performing technologies, will be the aircraft carrier "Michele I" and the 5 Imperator-class guided missile destroyers launched during the Tranchina governments.

Within two years, instead, the hull of the first of the new "Intrepido-class" nuclear attack and guided missile submarines (NSMN) will be laid down. They will gradually replace the units of the Romula-class. The specifications of the new class are still reserved, but the Navy authorities have anticipated that it will be a powerhouse of the best and most recent technologies, highly stealth, it will provide a crew of just 60 men being highly automated and that it will be smaller, faster and more manoeuvrable. We also know that it will be equipped with pump-jet propulsion, a technology already used for countless decades by the now retired nuclear ballistic missile submarines Vittorioso-class, which remained for a very long time one of the most advanced units of its kind.


Scheme of the new "Intrepido-class" Nuclear Powered Attack Submarine

Moving to the Air Force, after the first launch two months ago, in six months AISA will put in orbit, again via the Siderale "Lambda-5" carrier rocket, the second military satellite of the new batch to be integrated into the Ansar constellation and on which secrecy is and will remain maximum. As we said, what we know is that they will be integrated into the constellation of Ansar geolocation satellites and that, as mentioned by the Defense, they will offer a dedicated geolocation system for defense and a dedicated informatic network. The companies involved in the project, however, have been countless and many specialized not only in geolocation or information technology, but also in high performance optics, electromagnetic detection systems, and so on. So it can be deduced which, although integrated into the Ansar constellation and being also extremely similar in shape and size to the rest of the geolocation satellites, the military satellite network will guarantee enviable strategic, tactical and logistical support for the Istalian Armed Forces as well as, according to many expertises, for the services of the intelligence.


Lambda-5 rocket flying carrying the second of the new military satellites

Finally, returning to the main topic of the press conference, the Minister gave way to the Army Chief of Staff who announced the winning projects of the tenders for the new Infantry Fighting Vehicle and Main Battle Tank: the COVAIN for the IFV, which was christened "Dardo", and OTO Al-Mehara for the MBT, called "Ciclope".
The IFV Dardo actually, as per Istalian tradition, will be only the first variant of a technologically advanced multi-role vehicle platform, which will can be declined in numerous other variants and which will first of all replace the unfortunate tracked IFV "Pantera Nera", which had replaced the most successful and long-lived IFV "Freccia", and to flank the highly successful platform "Paladino", which evolved over time up to the current MkVI version and also present in 5 variants (Armored Command Post, Armored Fighting Vehicle, Armored Personnel Carrier, Armored Mortar and Armored Ambulance Vehicle), and the equally successful platform "Guardiano".
The Dardo will respond to the need of the Istalian Army to have a latest generation, modular and therefore multi-purpose crawler platform, something that the Istalian ground forces had traditionally lacked, having mainly relied on armored wheeled vehicles for most part of its IFV, AFV, APC and even self-propelled artillery and anti-air defense vehicles.


3D models of the MBT "Ciclope" (left) and the IFV "Dardo" (right)

The IFV Dardo, will be equiped with an engine with up to 1000 horsepower, automatic X300 transmission and it will offer quieter movement for improved stealth, greater speed over good terrain, and higher ground clearance for protection against mines and improvised explosive devices. The main armament will consist in an unmanned, remote controlled turret armed with a 40 mm autocannon and a coaxial 7.62 mm machine gun; it will carry also six 76-mm grenade launchers, which are arranged in two clusters of three launchers, loaded with a variety of combat grenades. The system will includes an advanced fighting computer system, which claims to enhance situational awarenss, aid decision making, improve ergonomics, and enable autonomous support and remote operation.

The MBT Ciclope, instead, developed to flank and succeed the "Corazziere", will be a next generation tank charaterized by an advanced C4I (Command, Control, Communication and Computing and Intelligence) system and enhanced performance, firepower, protection and mobility. The vehicle's armor will consist of modular sections, providing the ability to mount varying degrees of protection depending on the mission profile and weight requirements. The main armament will be a 120 mm smoothbore cannon with automatic loader able to fire also advanced guided artillery ammunitions and also the Ciclope will rely on an advanced fighting computer system related to several high performance sensor.

(OOC: Technical features taken from wikipedia pages pasted into the in-game bill linked at the beginning of the article)

[XanderOne]

Southern Trans Majatran High Speed Railway: Istalian authorities express great satisfaction for the other nations response
Great enthusiasm from Jakania and Kalopia which alongside Istalia already approved the program and started the first works to develop the project which promises to become a veritable backbone for southern continental mobility and trade


16 June 4755

ROMULA - After few years Istalia started its promotion the Southern Trans Majatran High Speed Railway already proved to be a very successful initiative: a high speed railway connecting from east to west Majatra through Istalia, Solentia, Kalopia, Jakania and Cobura.
In fact, both Jakania and Kalopia showed great enthusiasm and actually their respective legislatures approved the program even before Istalia did and both started the first construction sites to build or adeguate their internal infrastructures to welcome the passage of what has been already nicknamed as "Trans Majatran Express".

Istalian authorities put great efforts in the promotion of the project which promises to become a backbone for the mobility as well as the trade among the southern majatran nations.
Traditionally high speed rail has designed mainly to carry passengers only but Istalia promoted to the continental partners specification to allow the development also of freight high-speed services and to do so negotiations and debates between technicians of the several involved countries brought to the definition of several key common standards to be adopted, among which continuously welded rail on grade-separated right-of-way, large turning radius and electric power supply via overhead cables, in-cab signalling, use of advanced switches using very low entry and frog angles. Among the option sponsoder by Istalia but discarded there was the adoption of the ballastless trak, mainly due to its significantly higher construction cost and for the longer repair times if the concrete slab is damaged and higher noise emissions.

However, many debates and negotiations on several technical matters have been avoided, with benefit for the timing, thanks to another initiative at the time sponsored by Istalia and which proved to be one of the most successful continental common effort: the Trans Majatran Corridors, which without dubt contributed to put in place a long series of road and railway common standards adopted all over the whole Majatran continent.

With this project the Istalian Empire confirms once again its deep convinction about the great role which trade, greater international mobility, common economic and infrastructure projects plays in the development of stable and long-lasting relations between nations.