[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.