A FreeDem Seneschal as Talossa sluggishly emerges from election

With the results of elections to the 48th Cosa indicating that a coalition between the Free Democratic Alliance, the MRPT and the Progressives can command a majority, the king has appointed C. Carlüs Xheraltescù (FreeDem leader and former Seneschal of the Republic) to the Seneschalsqab.

M:sr Xheraltescù was quick to nominate a cabinet comprising members of the coalition parties, with Lüc da Schir of the MRPT taking the Distainsqab and the Ministry of Finance, Munditenens Tresplet handling the Ministry of the Interior, Vit Caçeir as Attorney-General, Sevastáin Pinatsch as Minister of Stuff, Breneir Itravilatx as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Miestrâ Schivâ as Minister of Culture.

The coalition has released an agreement outlining its programme for the upcoming term, which is reproduced in full here.

Coalition Agreement of the Free Democrat-Moderate Radical-Progressive Coalition (2015)  

We, the leaders and members of the above parties, agree to do the following as part of a coalition government between us:  

❖ Resolve of the Proclamation Crisis through support for the ‘Democratic Amendment’ currently in the Ziu’s Hopper
❖ Reform to the number of seats in the Cosa
❖ Remove the closed provinces rule
❖ Reform Senatorial elections which to account for the political problem caused by vastly different provincial population sizes
❖ Introduce a Humanitarian Aid bill to the Ziu
❖ Support for a government sponsored Cultural Prize
❖ Introduce a National Census, run in conjunction with the Chancery in order to address holes in the government’s records highlighted by the election
❖ Complete the transfer of Wittenberg administration as far as public boards are concerned, into the hands of the civil service
❖ Complete of previous government projects such as Catchment Reform, coins, and the website
❖ Introduce a nuanced system of mandatory Cosa lists which allow parties to deal with events beyond their control
❖ Appoint social media ambassadors to reinvigorate Talossa’s presence on Twitter, Facebook, Youtube etc.
❖ Push for the sale of stamps
❖ Hold a constitutional review of the Organic Law led by the Office of the Prime Ministry in order minimise the risk of future crises
❖ Review serious Talossa-like entities, and appoint active ambassadors
❖ Continue the previous government’s language education programmes

Meanwhile, there has been sluggishness on the part of the Uppermost Cort in validating the votes for the election, causing confusion and frustration at the beginning of the Cosa term. This suggests that improvements to the current ballot validation system are needed.

Negotiations inevitable as provisional results point to a balanced Cosa

The Chancery has released provisional results of the general election which has just concluded. They indicate that no party has gained an overall majority of the seats in the Cosa.

The results are given as follows:

RUMP: 40 votes, 78 seats
MRPT: 23 votes, 45 seats
ZRT: 16 votes, 31 seats
LIB: 10 votes, 19 seats
PROG: 7 votes, 13 seats
PC: 6 votes, 12 seats
TWP: 1 vote, 2 seats

Mormoglhen may go more in depth on the election in the near future, as soon as it overcomes procrastination among its staff.

Non ja'iens legeu Talossan dal falçatrúa electoral!

ABBAVILLA — L'Avocat Xheneral, Magniloqueu da Lhiun, tent ziscovrat qe non ja'iens legeu Talossan contra la falçatrúa electoral.

El duceu del RUMP, Alexandreu Davinescu, tignhova quaxhitat l'Avocat Xheneral à prosecutarh el praischciatour scändlic Eiric S. Bornätfiglheu sub el legeu dal falçatrúa electoral; mas da Lhiun reveleva q'o non pognheva façarh-en, parç qe non exista ün tal legeu!

J'ont dals proviziuns contra la falçatrúa electoral in el codeu dal Visconça, mas acestilor-là non façent pärts dal porziun del codeu corporescu àl legeu Talossan par la titla A del Lexhatx.

Acest isch ün schoc per els lexhislateirs Talossaes, qi fossent strax scrudarh aceasta fora in el süstem lexhital.

El Segnhor Cresti Siervicül tent suxhestat dals paþeux alternatíus: per exampal, prosecutarh per la falçatrúa dal identità, l'útzil sanc auþorisaziun dels documenteux, eda el falsificatx.

Asmourescu courts controversy as RUMP correspondence leaked

Former justice of the Uppermost Cort and founder of the Talossan Workers' Party, Admiral T. M. Asmourescu, has leaked various items of correspondence from the RUMP's party mailing list, ostensibly in the public interest. Quoting from the Organic Law in relation to his actions, he said that "The right to privacy for public figures must be balanced by the public's right to know, in matters affecting politics, elections, campaigns, and governing. The intentional withholding of political information which reasonable voters might find helpful, profitable, or informative, violates the public's right to know."

This follows hot on the heels of a ruling in the Magistrate's Court upholding the legality of the retention of information and photographs about former citizen Viteu Marcianüs on TalossaWiki. Amourescu represented Marcianüs in that case.

Overall, the response to the leaks has been critical, with Attorney-General Magniloqueu da Lhiun sharply criticising the admiral:

You're on a weird crusade that makes no sense. I understand your - and Viteu's - rage about the case, and I, too, had expected that the court at least order the picture to be removed entirely. But you must surely see that, as much as the RUMP might be a little bit of a group of bullies and haters, this will only make you look bad. Since you are now the leader of a party, you cannot allow such bad publicity to rule the birth thereof.

Lib leader Carlüs Xheraltescu claimed that some of the contents of the leaks contained "rather troubling stuff", suggesting that the RUMP may have "let the opposition win the election so they wouldn't have to address the problem of being elected on inertia."

RUMP leader Alexandreu Davinescu objected to the argument that the leaks were in the public interest:

Let me once again say that this is a violation of the right to privacy for those involved. It is wrong for a recipient to publish them. The Fourth Covenant does not grant the public a right to private discussions  [...]

After pressure from parties involved, as well as Wittmeister King John's suggestion that the leaks may contravene US copyright law, the documents are currently being redacted.

Mormoglhen believes that the leaks are not particularly useful to the public, and that they reflect a deep personal vendetta held by Asmourescu against the RUMP and its members.

Coalition falls, Cosa dissolved!

The MRPT-ZRT coalition led by Senator Glüc da Dhi has lost the confidence of the lower house of the Ziu because Alexandreu Soleiglhfred MC, commanding 19 seats, failed to vote in time.

Demonstrating the fragility of the coalition's majority in the Cosa, the vote of confidence failed with 85 for and 96 against.

His Majesty the King has issued a Writ of Dissolution, and thoughts now turn to the upcoming election: the first for a long time in which the RUMP does not lead the incumbent government.

In a statement, the Seneschal expressed his disappointment that the planned coins project was not concluded during his term, as well as some planned reform legislation. He assured the nation that MRPT member S:r Soleiglhfred's failure to vote was not because of a loss of confidence in the government, and lamented such a dramatic break in the MRPT's otherwise pristine Cosa attendance record.

Furthermore, the Seneschal announced that he would be stepping down as leader of the MRPT, and retiring from national politics.

Meanwhile, no other bills were passed from what has turned out to be the final Clark of the 46th Cosa. Commenting on the failure of his Electoral Reform and Anti-Espionage bills, the Liberal Congress leader C. Carlüs Xheraltescu declared himself to be "unbelievably frustrated at the Fortress Senate right now."

Leading contender for the Seneschalsqab makes statement

Glüc da Dhi, senator for Cézembre and leader of the MRPT has issued a statement congratulating all the competing parties and indicating his willingness to work with them over the period of the 46th Cosa.

As the leader of the second-largest party in the upcoming Cosa (after the RUMP), S:r da Dhi is well placed to put together a coalition government -- something which has not been seen in Talossa for some time. The likely outcome will be an MRPT-ZRT-RPT alliance, although it is rather early to speculate about such things.

There have been concerns on Wittenberg about whether holding 100 seats in the 200-seat Cosa constitutes a "majority" for the purposes of forming a government, given that it is enough to secure a Vote of Confidence. Either way, any coalition government will have to be vigilant against a RUMP faction which remains strong -- the new coalition may have to strike agreements with the RUMP to maintain the confidence of the Cosa.

These are exciting times for the Kingdom, and Mormoglhen hopes for a change from business-as-usual RUMP government.

RUMP loses majority: possible MRPT-led coalition?

ABBAVILLA -- The (unverified) results of Talossa's semi-secret-ballot election have been published. The votes received are as follows:

MRPT 28
PRESENT 4
RPT 2
RUMP 48
ZRT 22

Miestra Schiva's projection of the seats is as follows:

RUMP 96
MRT 54
ZRT 46
Maxime 4

This means that, barring a RUMP-RPT coalition (which is not impossible), or a RUMP-MRPT coalition (which, in Mormoglhen's view would be unfortunate), the viable option would be a "Time's Up!" Rainbow Coalition led by the MRPT, joined by the ZRT and supported by the RPT in votes of confidence. Luckily, the leader of the MRPT, Glüc da Dhi, lives in the Netherlands where they're used to coalitions and such things.

His Majesty the King has stated that: " It looks like we have some work ahead of us." It is Mormoglhen's fervent hope that an MRPT-ZRT coalition government will be formed, such that Talossa will achieve a change of governing party for the first time in nearly 8 years.