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.

Time's up for the RUMP?

At the Second Convention of the Moderate Radical Party of Talossa, ZRT leader Carlüs Xheraltescu has claimed that the apathy of the current RUMP government has driven Talossa itself into a period of apathy. The speech has been widely viewed in the Talossan press as preparing the ground for a Rainbow Coalition in the near future. Here is the speech in full:

Firstly, I'd like to offer thanks for the invitation to write a short little speech for your congress. It's incredibly gratifying to see other parties adopting similar internally democratic processes as we have in the ZRT, and even more so to see these processes happening publicly, openly and with transparency. So, on to the bulk of the speech...

Senator da Dhi was right, when he exclaimed that time is up. Time is indeed up. We've seen this government drive Talossa into further apathy, and has met the issue not with active governance, but with apathy itself. Countless Terpelaziuns have gone unanswered, and the trickle of immigration has ground to a halt. Talossa has ceased its population growth, it's creativity has stalled, and no longer do I and many others see Talossa as being the bastion of fun expressions of politics and culture that it used to be. In short, I am at the end of my tether with RUMP rule in Talossa. Time is up - we need change in Talossa or years down the line I suspect there won't even be a Talossa for us to change.

I don't think anyone here will see this as being a particularly controversial assertion. However, not only is it time for a change of government in Talossa, but I'm a firm believer that if this is to happen, we're going to need a change in the way by which we as statecrafters govern. You aren't going to win a majority this election, friends. Neither will the peculiarists of the NPW, the monarcho-progressives of the CSPP, or the republicans of my own ZRT. So how then can we ensure that the RUMP doesn't further drive Talossa into the ground? The answer to this one shouldn't be particularly controversial either: co-operation. Through compromise, co-operation, the Rawlsian idea of overlapping consensus, we can change the face of politics in Talossa. To do so, however, means that all of us need to prepare for the limitations of a Rainbow Coalition, and to prepare for the limitations on the discourse we will have to conduct as parties in a coalition which I'm certain will prove to be groundbreaking in Talossan politics.

It's a bold and brave move for us to work towards this goal. It won't be painless, and it won't be easy for any of the parties involved. But if we're willing to commit to this now, it is testament to the love and passion with which we regard Talossa. It's testament to the lengths we are willing to go, irrespective of our parties' policies and inter-party relations. If this idea enthuses you even half as much as it enthuses me, then I look forward to the discussions we'll be having after the election, because there is no way we can allow another term of RUMP government to blight the landscape of Talossan politics.

Time's up for the current government. Time's up on majority rule. The time for change is nigh, so man your stations; prepare for battle, and for government - I'll see you in the government halls in no time at all, I'm sure.

ZRT sorts out manifesto and platform for next election

FIOVA -- Democracy in action! With the ZRT convention opened by Miestrâ Schivâ, all members of the party will have a say on what the party will fight for in the election for the next Cosâ!

The opening took place with far less fanfare than the previous convention, most probably because the previous convention decided fundamental documents such as the party's constitution.

Proposals have already been made to amend the Platform, Constitution, and Manifesto for the upcoming election.

Expected are various speeches, including by the party leader, Carlüs Xheraltescu, as well as various reports and guest speakers.

[EDITORIAL] Some plugs for our media friends, and why Talossan media needs a higher profile

How many citizens of Talossa regularly read our newspapers, or even know of them? Among the current crop of papers (be they gazettes of record, satirical publications, or otherwise), are the excellent Talossan Observer, the Notiçieir, the PengöTimes, the St. Brendan Sentinel, as well as yours truly here at the Mormoglhen offices.

The Observer has produced in recent days a string of high-quality interviews. Davinescu diligently compiles government announcements in the Notiçieir. The humorous PengöTimes is truly an asset to our printed culture. D. N. Vercáriâ's Sentinel provided an insightful "other-side" viewpoint during the events of Reunision.

While not classed as journalism, Éoväd Andrinescu has been publishing a gripping work of fiction, Talossa 2031, on a blog.

All of these publications are hosted away from the Wittenberg message boards.

Often, citizens will hear about these publications in promotional posts on Witt, and maybe look at the articles. They will not subscribe to RSS feeds, or remember to look again at these publications. For them, Wittenberg is the only hub of Talossan activity, their only Talossan news source.

And what a shame! The strength of off-Witt Talossan media is its capacity to sustain insightful analysis, commentary and satire without the efforts seeming like "just another post on Wittenberg". We are much closer to other democratic nation-states when we can have a vibrant press providing a counterpoint to the  events on our message boards.

Mormoglhen believes that it would be excellent if ProBoards provided a feature for a module or widget on Wittenberg in which RSS feeds can be displayed, rather like the blogroll (Bobina dals Blogs) here on the Mormoglhen site. While this may not be possible, it provides an idea of what we would like to see: some form of automatic promotion for online Talossan publications. It would act as an incentive for us to continue publishing.

Here's to a bright future for the Talossan press!

Let the bugs live: pragmatism vs principle

There are two bills concerning micronational involvement in the Hopper at the moment: the ZRT's Live and Let Live Act, and Sir Cresti Siervicül's The One More Step Toward (Hopefully) Ending the Bug Wars Act. Meanwhile, Seneschal Nordselva's proposal of a commission has had a lukewarm reception.

The main difference between the acts is that One More Step provides for a blacklist of micronations, while Live and Let Live calls for a blacklist for any organisations which "threaten the safety and tranquility of Talossa". Additionally, in a bold opening section, Live and Let Live does away with both the micronation-defining-and-forbidding What's the Difference Act, as well as the Semi-Permeable Wall Act, which stops the government of Talossa from engaging in diplomacy with micronations. In the words of esteemed Peculiarist D. N. Vercariâ, they are "unconditionally dropped". The reasoning is that the government should be freed up in its foreign affairs competence, and that legislators should step out of the micronations business altogether.

Sir Cresti's bill references the phrase "bug nation": a term from the era of King Robert I denoting an annoying startup micronation, often consisting of only a website and a sign-up form, pestering Talossa for "diplomatic relations".

Mormoglhen hopes that there will be no rerun of the Sir Humphrey strife (where neither bill ended up passing), given that there are two competing bills on the same issue. One More Step may be in a stronger position, since it is supported by Alexandreu Davinescu and Sir Mick Preston, not known for their pro-reform stances on this issue. The bill is also supported by Seneschal Nordselva. As far as Mormoglhen is aware, this is the first time since What's the Difference that the RUMP has waded into "micronation reform".

However, the issue is more important to parties such as the ZRT who included repeal of all micronation acts in its manifesto. It is unsurprising that the ZRT's bill is purer and more ideological. It is the hope of Mormoglhen that the aims of the ZRT's Live and Let Live Act proposal will be enacted, allowing for fewer arbitrary infringements on the freedoms of Talossans.

It is clear that the recent tumults concerning micronational involvement, as well as general Talossan bickering has left some needing some fresh air , not least the Prime Minister, who has declared a Month of Recess despite the Hopper teeming with controversial bills!

Mormoglhen's sidebar poll shows unanimous agreement that the RUMP is incoherent on micronations, however this may merely be reflective of Mormoglhen's die-hard readership!

[EDITORIAL] The government needs to take the lead on micronations

A consistent chorus from the conservatives in the matter of personal micronational involvement is something along the lines of "propose a bill then!" Those who protest the restrictions on individual membership of hobby nationettes are often treated as childish attention seekers who should rely on the Ziu as the only instrument capable of effecting change.

It is in fact the conservatives who are childish in pretending that no one has ever proposed a bill in the past. The most recent proposal for a blacklist rather than a whitelist faced considerable obstruction from RUMP elements of the Ziu.

The usual objections involving conflicts of interest and distraction were given, which in Mormoglhen's view are not strong enough to permit infringment on a Talossan's personal activities.

Mormoglhen believes that for the RUMP government to be taken seriously on this matter, the Seneschal should give an assurance that they will support repeal of the What's the Difference Act, or, even better, propose their own bill doing exactly that.

Micronations: a matter of civil rights?

Talossan law, specifically the What's the Difference Act, prohibits citizens from joining any society which:

• claims a governmental organization and citizenry and
• is not a member of the United Nations and
• is not a member of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization and
• is not the Kingdom of Talossa or a subdivision thereof, or officially recognised by the Kingdom of Talossa.

Defenders of the law claim that it stops Talossa from becoming overrun by childish citizenship-collectors and  people who see Talossa as equivalent to their week-old "bathtub nation", as well as helping to stop citizens' attentions from being directed away from Talossa. Opponents claim that it is a relic of King Robert-era paranoia, perhaps stemming from fear of Penguinean infiltration, and that it is an unfair incursion on the personal hobbies of citizens.

Zooks, the Penguins are amongst us!

Uppermost Cort Justice Admiral Timotgi Asmourescu has engaged in an act of civil disobedience, after having already, with questionable standing, attempted to challenge the law in the Magistrate's Cort (the sticking point of the case was since clarified by a Prime Dictate by Seneschal Nordselva). Asmourescu has formed a micronation called Eurusia without renouncing his Talossan citizenship, and has invited other Talossans to join. So far, Éovart Grischun has joined him in this venture.

Proceedings have been initiated against him and Éovart Grischun by Attorney-General Beneditsch Ardpresteir.

Who will hear the case in the Uppermost Cort is uncertain, with Puisne Justice Asmourescu being a party to the case, and Puisne Justice Ián Tamorán having already issued what may amount to elements of an opinion prior to hearing the full facts of the case at hand.

Mormoglhen supports Justice Asmourescu and believes the What's the Difference Act to be unjust and possibly contrary to the Organic Law.

Civil Service showdown in this month's Clark

ABBAVILLA -- Never was there a more polarised Clark*. After intense sparring in Wittenberg's "Hopper" forum over whether or not a proposal for an active civil service to perform routine tasks for various ministries should simultaneously create those offices or merely allow for them, two similar bills have been published in the Clark offering a stark choice to Talossa's legislators.

The bills are Cosa Speaker Charlie Xheraltescu's "Sir Humphrey Appleby Civil Service Act", and Alexandreu Davinescu's "Leaner Sir Humphrey" Act. The original motivation for the act was, in the words of the preamble, "stability, continuity, and separation from partisan politics", with Admiral Tim Asmourescu among the original supporters of such an idea. Xheraltescu's bill includes an enumeration of civil servants, including the Admiral, the Burgermeister of Inland Revenue, and various Permanent Secretaries, modeled after the British approach to the civil service.

MC Davinescu immediately took against the proposal, opining:

Sir Humphrey

[...] as I look at this, the only offices that I see any conceivable need for would be that of the PermaSec for Immigration and (maybe) STUFF. And I suspect that we could serve such needs in a much simpler manner without these complicating new bureaucracy - approval committee! - by just having these ministries establish, as needed, such positions by individual arrangement with the Ziu.

I would like the sections pertaining to Justice, Defense, and Finance struck from the bill. It would also be wise to remove or reform the "more can be created as needed" section, since no agent is specified (presumably the Ziu is meant, but that would require another bill, anyway, so why have this confusing clause?) And lastly, why are we also creating a new post whose function will be to appoint others every couple of years?

No compromise was reached before the competing bills of Xheraltescu and Davinescu were Clarked.

With near-Boolean predictability, the votes of RUMP and ZRT legislators are opposed in the matter, with some MCs from other parties voting against both proposals, perhaps in disgust at the pettiness of their appearance on the same Clark. The RUMP Seneschal, Txec dal Nordselva was, in Mormoglhen's view, considerably embarrassed by the vote, given that he is a cosponsor of Xheraltescu's original act, despite the subsequent RUMP consensus around Davinescu's proposal.

Mormoglhen gives its support to Tuischac'h Xheraltescu's proposal, not least because it is cosponsored by the editor!

* That's probably hyperbole, but hey.

Returned M-P Furxhéir updates database with enthusiasm

WITTENBERG -- The Kingdom was delighted to welcome back M:sr Martì-Páir Furxhéir, a former Kingdom senator and Secretary of State among other things, as well as an active contributor in the early days of the Talossan Republic.

Since returning, M:sr Furxhéir has jumped into several projects with vigour, most notably his restoration of the unofficial Talossan database, which collates countless data points from across Talossan society.

MRPT campaign in full swing

"You may want to vote for us,
but you don't have to"

The MRPT has released its manifesto for the upcoming election with leader Glüc da Dhi describing it as the "absolutely brilliant, even better than the last one, definitive manifesto of the MRPT for the 44th Cosa".

The major points of the manifesto include abolishing the Vote of Confidence during the first Clark of a Cosâ, allowing more time for the formation of a government after an election, direct election of the Seneschál, IRV for the Senäts, and a small fee for contesting Senatorial elections. This final position has sparked some debate on the Wittenberg discussion board.

While not ruling out introducing the secret ballot, the party is certainly not as enthusiastic about the issue as the ZRT. Similarly, on the topic of monarchy, the party remains staunchly royalist, carrying the slogan: Electoral reform??? Yes. Republicanism??? No.


In addition to M:sr da Dhi, the party's candidate list to date includes Alexandreu Likazar of Cézembre and Lüc da Schir of Benito. The party is soon to release its fifty-word statement.

While modestly assuring voters that they "don't have to" vote MRPT, the Seahorses may make surprise gains in upcoming election. Only time will tell us the shape the future political landscape of Talossa.

ZRT launches radical platform

Not to be left behind in the election race for the 44th Cosâ, the Zefençadéirs del Repúblicánismeu Talossán (Defenders of Talossan Republicanism) have launched their election manifesto. Its key planks include the adoption of the secret ballot, party-lists, simplification of the law and the repeal of the Semi-Permeable Wall Act.

The party's General Secretary, C. Carlüs Xheráltsëfiglheu unveiled the manifesto which contains a radical seven point plan consisting of: nationalism, traditionalism, pretentiousness, democratic dirigisme, diversity, outward focus, and republicanism.

Under the leadership of Miestrâ Schivâ, the party has endorsed her in the Fiôvân senatorial race and as the party's prospective nominee for Seneschál. In the election for Fiôvâ's provincial executive, the Capitán, the party's nominee is Carlüs Xheráltsëfiglheu.

A slate of spokespeople has also been announced by the party. Eiric Börnatfiglheu is the Culture Spokesperson, Miestrâ Schivâ holds Foreign Affairs, with Xheráltsëfiglheu shadowing the Justice portfolio and E. D. Ursüm focusing on Stuff.

Is this radical vision the future for Talossa? One thing is for certain: politics will never be the same again after reunision!

Election season kicks off with RUMP manifesto

Wittenberg was today thrown into election-mode with the announcement by M:sr Vitxalmour Conductour, campaign manager for the RUMP, of that party's platform for the 44th Cosa.

In the document, the party has revealed its new name: Royalists United for the Monarch and People. Throughout the platform, the party seems keen to demonstrate its monarchist nature, perhaps aiming to combat a new challenger, Miestrâ Schivâ's democratic reformist Zefençadéirs del Republicanismeu Talossán.

In a relatively lengthy description of the party's stance on a broad range of topics, several clear points have emerged.

• The RUMP is most definitely a monarchist party
• Lord Hooligan will be the party's nominee for Seneschál, with Çesli da Chilseu as Distáin
• Reform immigration law so that immigrants can choose from among available provinces upon immigration to the Regipäts
• Work towards a new web presence for Talossa
• A "serious effort" to contact läpsilor (Talossans who have fallen away from the fold), in the wake of the Reunision

All-in-all, the party has released a solidly conservative platform, dedicating itself to "maintaining the current state of affairs", providing the "least government" possible, and retaining the current policy towards micronations.

The ZRT and MRPT have already released early platforms. Campaigning is also expected from the CSPP and the APT.

[EDITORIAL] Why a 20-seat Cosa makes sense

Right now, the lower house of the Talossan Ziu comprises 200 seats apportioned between parties based on the most recent election results. The first thing that is striking is that the Kingdom doesn't even have 200 citizens, let alone ones willing to become legislators. At the time of writing we have a grand total of 160 individuals in possession of the Best Thing Money Can't Buy. This is the first thing that makes the choice of 200 seats seem a trifle odd.

It hasn't always been this way. The original wording of the relevant section of the 1997 Organic Law was, in fact:

The Cosâ is composed of 20 seats, apportioned among the parties in proportion to the popular vote cast for parties in the last election (abstentions, spoilt ballots, non-votes and votes for parties which did not register being omitted from this count so that all who actually vote for parties comprise 100% of the total "popular vote" for this purpose).

Having a legislature of 20 seats would solve the quirk (some would say absurdity) of Talossan politics that individual Members of the Cosa hold varying amounts of "seats" in that body. Is there a reason why we should not be honest with ourselves?

Would there be enough members to fill such a house? A quick look at the current composition of the Cosa shows a little over twenty members. There have been fewer at times. Our current population levels and the average amount of legislators leave us with certainly enough people to allow a "one Member, one vote system".

It is Mormoglhen's firm belief that this reform, in addition to a formalized party-list system will make our elections more democratic and more competitive.

And if that is too much, maybe a 100 seat Cosa?

The emergence of a Fiôvân constitution

"Vert two bars gules surmounted
by a mullet inverted argent"

FIOVA -- After much debate, Miestrâ Schivâ has announced a final vote on a proposed constitution for the gestating Fiôvâ province. The constitution includes provision for: a chief executive named the Capitán, elected by secret ballot to a one year term; a general assembly of all citizens; and a Landsdoom holding judicial power. The proposed provincial flag is based on one from the series Firefly, recoloured to Talossan red and green.

Particularly controversial has been the issue of the royal veto, and the confusion concerning the royal prerogatives at the provincial level. Schiva's original draft stipulated that a Cunstavál's veto could be overturned by a simple majority of the General Assembly of Fiôvâ. Many citizens of the proposed province have indicated their desire to avoid giving unnecessary power to the institutions of the crown in the province. However, this provision was challenged by both Baron Hooligan and King John, who argued that a simple majority to overturn a veto is meaningless, and that the Organic Law suggests that a 2/3 majority should be necessary for such an action. This was disputed by leading Fiôvâns, as well as Alexander Davis of Maritiimi-Maxhestic, whose own constitution includes a similar provision to the one proposed.

In the end, it was settled not to mention the veto in the final draft, and that the issue would fall to the courts in the event of a dispute.