Kalopia

[Aethan]

"Politics belong to people, and so do we"
We talk with the new General Secretary of The Unbowed, who ousted Tilemachos Samaroglou in the last primaries
May 5289


Yiannis Ballopoulos during a parliamentary session

Still immersed in a cycle of renewal, the militancy of The Unbowed has decided that Tilemachos Samaroglou's period at the head of the party has come to an end.

In a rare case, Mr. Samaroglou lost his re-election for the general secretary of The Unbowed to Yiannis Ballopoulos, MP for Thálassa and one of the most critical voices against the "conformist" drift of the party. Normally, all general secretaries running for re-election to the post usually win without problems, but in the last days it was already being privately commented that Mr. Samaroglou had some chances of losing in these primaries against the one who has been the biggest critic of his mandate, affected by the last results in which The Unbowed ended up once again as the last political force. And finally, his fears have been confirmed.

Thus, after winning the leadership of the party with more than 64% of the votes, Mr. Ballopoulos already announced the main lines of his new position at the head of the party. Among them, a change of the logo that the party has been using since its foundation and also a "deep" ideological change.

The new logo, which keeps the same crimson color, changes the lotus flower for a white dove and a hand. The party spokesman did not want to give many explanations about the choice of the symbology, but said that "they prefer that each of the citizens give the meaning they consider to this new logo with which we are going to present ourselves to the next elections".

At the ideological level, Mr. Ballopoulos has indicated that for him, what has failed the general secretaries who have preceded him has been "listening to the people", instead of only to the militancy.

"In general, politics is the act by which human beings living in society try to create the right conditions for that same society to prosper and go for the better. You cannot understand human beings without knowledge of two things: politics and philosophy, because everything we do as a species is conditioned by both. Everything we do throughout our lives has a political and philosophical focus that shapes us as people. Politics belongs to the people, and so do we,"

says this Doctor of Philosophy from the Autonomous University of Thalassa.

In his opinion, what The Unbowed has failed to do is to leave aside "populism", which he understands as the act of listening to the people and carrying out the measures they propose, thus becoming a kind of "channeler" of the popular will, not only of its voters.

"Of course The Unbowed has a markedly progressive ideology and in defense of freedoms and human rights, but what I think has been overlooked by other general secretaries who have preceded me has been to lose that populist character that I advocate recovering. Populism is nothing more than listening to what our fellow citizens think and acting accordingly, as opposed to considering our parliament as a hermetic chamber in which citizens only have the right to express themselves every four years. And it is here and now that my work begins".

The new logo of The Unbowed

[Aethan]

"We may be facing the end of a cycle".
Senior officials of The Unbowed begin to handle the hypothesis of the dissolution of the party depending on the upcoming election results.



A new general election in Kalopia is just over a few months away. And what for some may seem like just another election to determine the next government for the next four years, for The Unbowed things may be more serious: some senior party officials are already beginning to comment - quietly for the moment - that the secretary general could be seriously considering a consultation with his rank and file and the leaders themselves on the viability of the political project and the possibility of announcing the dissolution of the same, if the next election results "are not satisfactory".

"We have to be realistic"

comments an important figure of the party

"we are not being able to get the citizenry excited again, and we are maintaining ourselves as a residual party election after election. If we continue like this, it is likely that our political muscle will be atrophied, and we will be subtracting more than adding".

This pessimism seems to be generalized within the party's high command, although some are still confident that the populist turn taken by the Secretary General will manage to "straighten out at the last moment" the party's course.

The Secretary General has not yet confirmed anything, but his closest links, the nucleus that knows him best, affirms that, if his expectations are not met, Mr. Ballopoulos would not tremble at the time of consulting the affiliates on the viability of his political project.

The next general elections are only three months away, but nerves are already palpable in the air. The party that gave Kalopians their liberty may be taking its lasts breaths, and Kalopians will see if they are enough to remain alive.

[Aethan]

Worthy Homeland aims to dominate the political landscape in Kalopia
The Majatran nation's new party places emphasis on ending the political turmoil of the past decades, and presents high-impact policies


Leonidas Anastidis, founder of Worthy Homeland, during the inaugural speech

Kalopia witnesses the birth of a new political party. After a long period of instability following the dissolution of The Unbowed - heirs of ARIZA, the party that restored national democracy - it seems that the waters could be returning to their course in this southern nation of Majatra.

In a square overflowing with people, summoned mostly through social networks but also through a system of street posters and mailbox to mailbox, Leonidas Anastidis announced, megaphone in hand, that he had just left the headquarters of the Ministry of the Interior after having registered the formation of a new political party ready to fight for all and for all.

Áξια Πατρίδα (Kalopian for Worthy Homeland, pronounced as Áxia Patrída) thus becomes the new political party on the country's landscape, after several short-lived formations that have failed to steer the nation's course.

Leonidas Anastidis, a lawyer by profession, has confessed that although at the beginning he felt "a little vertigo" before this new project, he sees it as "absolutely necessary for our citizens to feel proud again of the place where they live".

During this inaugural speech, Mr. Anastidis has gradually unraveled the main lines of his political program that will make up the backbone of the party. From Mr. Anastidis speech, this is what this report can inform about its political program:

Refusing to be classified within the left-right political spectrum, Worthy Homeland seems like a populist party with anti-austerity, anti-corruption, and anti-establishment views. The party promotes direct democracy, federalism within a united Kalopia, patriotism, and a populist rhetoric. Some of the most important policies mentioned placed an emphasis on public control, poverty reduction, and social dignity via a basic income for every adult, including lobbying controls and punitive measures against tax avoidance by large corporations and multinational organizations, as well as promotion of smaller enterprises. It also included withdrawing from some free trade area agreements, and promoting referendum on any major political reforms.

Domestic politics
Worthy Homeland is opposed to the current parliamentary republic. It instead advocates for a form of Bicephaly through the establishment of a dynastic family as Head of State along with a directly elected Head of State. Furthermore, the party is supportive of direct democracy.

Social issues
The party considers itself egalitarian, secularist, anti-fascist and environmentalist. The party defends feminism and women's rights, including abortion being legal, and it also supports LGBT rights in the basis of equality for all Kalopian citizens. However, the party seems to hold some views that may be considered by many as "racist" and "nationalistic", due to its positions and statements blaming immigrants for the attacks on women and LGBT citizens, with Worthy Homeland defending a strict immigration policy, especially from nations "with very different cultural values from ours".

Economy
Worthy Homeland opposes economic inequality. The party wants to increase public spending and ban job cuts in profitable firms. It supports redistributive fiscal policies and a bigger welfare state.

Foreign policy
Worthy Homeland agrees that Kalopia should make no sovereignty concessions to third nations, because according to the Constitution of Kalopia national sovereignty is vested in the Kalopianpeople, from whom emanate the powers of the State. The party's leadership is strongly opposed to Majatra becoming a federal superstate and instead argues for a Majatra of "strong and sovereign states" that "defends its borders and its roots and opposes multiculturalism and mass immigration."

Immigration
According to the party's platform, the party positions itself strongly against illegal immigration. Worthy Homeland calls for unconditional deportation of illegal immigrants; tightening of Kalopian immigration laws; legal and police actions against non-profits and organized crime facilitating illegal immigration; and the militarization of problematic frontiers. The party emphasizes its support for legal immigration complied with the Kalopian law. At the same time, they promote stricter regulation of immigration according to the needs of national economy; with preference for Kalopian nationals. The party is critical of multiculturalism and demographic transition, supporting natalist politics and opposing replacement migration.

Religion
The party asks for a "counter-crusade" against the religiosity in Kalopia, stating that although ARIZA and The Unbowed did "a great job" in reducing religiosity in Kalopia, there is still a long way to go, and claiming that immigration and religion are two of "the great cancers that attack the country and prevent it from prospering", as well as blaming them for the speeches "that target women and the LGBT collective in the country".

___

Kalopia shall have to wait until the first opinion polls reflecting if any Kalopians are willing to give a chance to this new party, but political experts agree that Worthy Homeland may in fact find fertile soil with its proposals.

[Aethan]

Towards a "Crowned Republic"?
Plans unveiled by Worthy Homeland, which is polling towards a constitutional majority, include a deep change in the Head of State



The issue between monarchism and republicanism is a long well-known dispute all around Terra. The choice between an hereditary and perpetual Head of State against an elected and everytime changing Head of State has followed people in this planet since the very first configuration of societies as we know them. Nowadays, both systems are still alive with some nations in Terra being ruled by different forms of monarchism - Emperors, Kings, Sultans... - and others having a directly elected Head of State - whichever names they may have.

But now, the party that all polls in Kalopia are giving a constitutional majority in the next elections is aiming for a different direction. According to high-ranking members of Worthy Homeland, the party will approve a big Constitutional reform if elected to power, which includes a dramatic change in the figure of the Kalopian Head of State.

Since the restoration of democracy by ARIZA almost three centuries ago, little has changed in the form of politics in Kalopia, divided between a Head of Government and an elected Head of State, no matter their different names. But now, senior officials of the party believe that the best solution for Kalopia would be to become what may be called a "Crowned Republic". But what is exactly that?

According to them, the figure of Head of State would be divided in two: one will become what will be known as "Archonte", which will be an elected Head of State election after election. However, the second part of the Head of State would be a monarch, known as "Prince of Kalopia", which shall form a new kind of dynastic family. However, the functions of this Prince would be pretty much limited, mostly reduced to representation of the nation in foreign soil.

We will have to wait to see how this develops, but members of Worthy Homeland seem pretty certain that this change would be beneficial for the political landscape in Kalopia, since they support both points of view: the idea that the most democratic thing to have is to let the citizens of the nation elect their very own Head of State, while at the same time, an hereditary Head of State may benefit from distancing themselves from political turmoil.

For the moment, it is known that Worthy Homeland is running background checks on prospective candidates to fill the position of this new dynastic family, since it will be a big change that will have a great effect in national - and international - politics.

[Aethan]

Meet the new Prince of Kalopia!
Following two popular referendum after the general elections, Kalopia has chosen the new Prince of its "Crowned republic"


Prince of Kalopia Alexios Maragopoulos - from now on Maragopoulos-Ypirétis - (left side) and his family in their first official portrait

A result expected for everyone who had been following the news in the recent months: following the latest elections, Worthy Homeland became the most voted party in Kalopia, achieving a more than enough constitutional majority in the Kalopian parliament that will allow them to implement all the reforms they have been campaigning on. And this included one of their main points: transforming Kalopia in what they call a "Crowned republic".

Not even a month after Leonidas Anastidis, General Secretary of Worthy Homeland, was elected as the new Prime Minister of Kalopia, the referendum bill on the Head of State was already proposed to the Kalopian parliament for its ratification. The bill read as follows:

The Ekklesía of Kalopia, the supreme representative body of the will of the Kalopian people, in accordance with the proposal made by the Worthy Homeland parliamentary group, proposes:

Upon discussion of this bill, two popular referendum will be given to all eligible Kalopian citizens to decide on the Kalopian political structure. The question shall be as follows:

-Which configuration of the State do you wish for the future Kalopia?
A. Maintaining the current form, with a single Head of State (elected) and a Head of Government.
B. Two Heads of State, in the figure of the Prince and the Archon, with the Prince to serve as an hereditary figure to represent Kalopian interests abroad. A separated Head of Government.

-In case of choosing option B, which of the following candidates do you wish to be elected as the first Prince of Kalopia?
A. Candidate Ilias Spinides
B. Candidate Alexia Strakakou
C. Candidate Nicolaos Zappotis
D. Candidate Filippa Tateli
E. Candidate Alexios Maragopoulos
F. Candidate Ekaterini Rossaki

The referenda needs to reach a quorum of at least 50% of the Kalopian eligible population to be deemed valid

According to Worthy Homeland, the six proposed candidates came from very different backgrounds from within the Kalopian society, but they all had one thing in common: none of them were related to any kind of nobility. The results of this referendum can be checked below:

Details from the Ministry of Internal Affairs:

The Kalopian people have voted as follows:

-Which configuration of the State do you wish for the future Kalopia?
A. 67%
B. 33%
Turnout: 71%
The referendum is therefore considered valid and binding.


-In case of choosing option B, which of the following candidates do you wish to be elected as the first Prince of Kalopia?
A. 7%
B. 21%
C. 4%
D. 22%
E. 34%
F. 12%
Turnout: 65%
The referendum is therefore considered valid and binding

Alexios Maragopoulos, who will now become the very first Prince of Kalopia once the Kalopian parliament approves the next Kalopian Constitution, which is expected to happen in a few months, was until now a mechanical engineer from Oroseirá, married and with five children - which in turn ensures the continuity of the bloodline.

Although the title of "Prince of Kalopia" might sound as adding another monarchy to the list of Majatran Heads of States, the truth is that within the framework of the soon to be new Kalopian Constitution its powers will be vastly limited, and will consist mainly in:

Receiving foreign ambassadors and ministers.
Performance of ceremonial functions.
Exercise the High Patronage of the Academies.
Representation of the Kalopian nation in foreign soil.
Appointment of the appointed judges of the Constitutional Court in accordance with the constitution and the law.

Therefore, the new role of Prince Alexios Maragopoulos-Ypirétis of Kalopia (Ypirétis being the surname added by the Kalopian constitution, which in Kalopian is translated as "servant", as a link with its role as servant of the Kalopian people) will constist mainly in a permanent representation of Kalopia within other states of Terra. It is expected that after the approval of the Constitution, a ceremony will be held to formally name his as Prince of Kalopia, and invitations will be send to the different Terran nations to meet this new Head of State.

The main role of the Head of State, however, will still lay on the figure of the Archon, the elected Head of State of Kalopia, that will be chosen in a fresh general elections to be called after the approval of the new Kalopian Constitution.

[Aethan]

Kalopian government will give tax exemptions to pharma companies that invest in national manufacturing
Kalopia does not want to be left behind in the Pharmaceutical industry field and will attempt to become a key Terran manufacturer

The Ministry of Science and Technology, along with the Ministry of Trade and Industry, are finalizing the plan, deemed "PharmaKal", expected to be ready by the end of next year.

The most important considerations of this plan will be in line with the political strategy of attracting industrial activity to Kalopia.

"The backbone of this program involves promoting those fundamental activities that provide greater added value, such as investment in new industrial plants and new technologies for production, promoting research, development and innovation within the scope of the drug industry and the scientific research in general"

the Kalopian government explained through Mr. Alexios Tripakis, current Minister of Science and Technology.

The plan is focused on "a reinforcement of the assessment criteria for the manufacture of drugs considered essential or strategic, for the manufacture of new antimicrobials to reduce the threat of antibiotic resistance, and for the research, development and manufacture of drugsfor the prevention and treatment of emerging diseases," confirms to this newspaper the Ministry of Industry, the other leg of this project.

The PharmaKal project categorizes pharmaceutical companies into four main groups: acceptable, good, very good or excellent. In the highest status, the tax exemptions offered can reach up to 25% on the contributions that the industry must make on its sales of prescription drugs. These payments are 25% of yearly sales, which with this plan will therefore be reduced effectively to 0%.

The Kalopian Government also points out that

"The program must serve as a stimulus to companies in the sector, which shall establish a series of objectives, among which we believe we shall find an increase in their investments in production and R+D+I, the increase in employment of Kalopian citizens and progress in the promotion of stable and quality employment"

"The objective is to provide the Kalopian industry with the knowledge, technology, digitalization and manufacturing capabilities to ensure the supply and development of essential or strategic medicines in Kalopia and thus have strategic capabilities to face health needs with guarantees"

they explain. But not also that. The main goal is to transform Kalopia in a kind of "Pharmaceutical hub", where different companies from all across Terra choose the Majatran nation as the perfect place to permanently stablish themselves.

[Aethan]

Prince Alexios to start international tour
First visits to Vanuku, Zardugal and Hulstria to boost bilateral trade agreements and focus on the Gene and Seed Vault


Prince Alexios Maragopoulos-Ypirétis of Kalopia and his wife will start their international tour

Just a few months after his official coronation, Prince Alexios of Kalopia has already arranged some countries that will become his first official visits: Zardugal, Vanuku and Hulstria will be the first nations to welcome the new half Head of State of Kalopia. According to reports from the Government and the Presidential palace, the Prince will travel first to those nations to promote two main things: a fresh and new development of their bilateral relations through commercial promotion and cooperation in areas such as infrastructure, science and technology, industry and defense and food; and on the other hand, with regard to Vanuku and Hulstria, attract them to sign the Gene and Seed Vault project, so that fewer and fewer nations remain to sign it.

Even before the official visit, the governments of Hulstria and Vanuku have already confirmed their intention to ratify the treaty, which would leave Solentia, Malivia, Ikradon, Kizenia and Indrala as the only nations on Terra that have not joined the treaty. largest international agreement on the planet, aimed at protecting and preserving diversity and even being a retaining wall against possible natural disasters.

The prince has declared that he is "very happy" with the first official visits that he is going to make, and has stated that his meetings with his counterparts and the respective heads of government can lead to "very fruitful agreements for both parties."

The first stop of this international tour will be in Vanuku, where it is expected that relations between both countries, until now practically non-existent, will prosper and a new trade agreement will be reached, from which the nation of Vanuku, under strain, will receive large investments from of the Kalopian government. In exchange, Kalopia is expected to obtain large quantities of coal, silver, helium, lithium and oil, some of them scarce materials for the nation located south of Majatra.

"We believe that relations between Vanuku and Kalopia can greatly strengthen our two nations, and initiate a stage of understanding, dialogue and collaboration that can only be greatly beneficial for our citizens."

The prince will also propose to Temrkai VI the possibility of investing in the emerging pharmaceutical industry in Kalopia, and the possibility of reaching scientific-technological agreements so that Majatra is not left behind in such a coveted area.

In the same way, it is foreseeable that the proposal for collaboration in the scientific area will be offered to Zardugal, which will be the prince's second stop. However, the details of the negotiations have not yet emerged with either Zardugal or Hulstria, which will be Alexios' third - and for the moment, last - stop before returning to Kalopia, foreseeably with some fruitful international agreements under his arm.

[GreekIdiot]

To Vima
New party registers as... "New Party" after blunder
April 5376



Helios, Kalopia - We have just received word this crispy morning that a new party registered with the electoral authority yesterday afternoon. Apparently, when Alexandros Stimulas filled out the form, instead of checking "Yes" to his party being a new coalition, he instead filled out "New Party" in the party's official name, in an attempt to indicate that it was a new party. It's all very confusing really, but it seems that the Neo Komma (Luthorian: New Party) is a name that's going to stick; the electoral authority has already registered the coalition in its database, with the upcoming elections next month closing in.

Alexandros Stimulas is a local "legacy" businessman in the agricultural industry. We have absolutely no idea what his or the party's positions are, as Neo Komma has made absolutely no press statements or any other releases of any sort all this time. This just seems like quite the unprofessional tactic to challenging the Anastidis Administration in the upcoming elections, after almost a decade of no administrative initiatives taken by the Kalopian Government.

We would reach out to Mr. Stimulas and Neo Komma officials, but we just can't find them today.

[GreekIdiot]

To Vima
Stimulas elected Archon; but has been a no-show for 4 days
May 5376

Helios, Kalopia - One party official we managed to track down exclaimed in surprise when we told her that Neo Komma had won in a landslide. Kalopians, with a meagre 15% turnout, have proved that political disengagement has been at an all time high for a while now; not only not showing up in the polls, but voting in an obscure party with no positions? What the f**ing hell is this? Did they count the votes properly? Is this an algorithm gone mad? The Kalopian scene has been scratching its head in unison as the newly elected Archon continues to be a no-show since the election results were announced yesterday night.

It seems that the Anastidis Administration will continue to run the country, while the rest of us keep looking for our new leader.

[GreekIdiot]

To Vima
BREAKING: We found Stimulas behind bars as a result of a brawl
May 5376



Helios, Kalopia - It would seem fitting to facepalm this article off the bat. No, this is not a joke or a fake or fictional story. Government officials, journalists and citizens of all classes have been actively looking for our recently elected Archon for 11 days straight; and it seems we found him. Alexandros Stimulas was involved in a bar brawl in Hefesti and was picked up by local Kalopian police. The bar? A place where the elderly hang out and enjoy ouzo and mezedes (Luthorian: appetisers) after a hard day's of not doing anything as most are retired. The reason he was kept for so long? Stimulas carried expired identification that turned out to be fake. Why? That fake identification offers (or at least was supposed to) special benefits from one of the MOIA's retirement programs.

"Lies", was the Archon's only comment when he exited the police station. The Kalopian leader was bombarded by the media asking whether he was "aware" of having been elected as the country's leader. He was immediately escorted by secret service to a convoy, while he mumbled "that's not my goddamn car".

The captain of the police station in question is under investigation for incompetence and neglect.