Istalia

[XanderOne]

Government announces Istalia's support for Meriath

Recognition of the Free Republic of Rildanor, ongoing economic agreements, and invitation to local socialists to the leftist international summit lickely to be held in Kalopia

Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations Nicola
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July 5663 (OOC: postdated)

ROMULA - Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nicola Mirione, met this moorning the Press declaring that Istalia will stand alongside Meriath, its people, and its democratic forces in the effort to build a just, prosperous, and democratic nation. He also confirmed that discussions are already underway with the local government to finalize economic and trade agreements aimed at strengthening bilateral trade and relations.

In the same statement, Mirione announced that the Imperial State Government will officially recognize the Free Republic of Rildanor, extending wishes of prosperity and peace to the new free and democratic state.

When asked by the press about the presence of the Aegelian military base in Meriath, the Foreign Minister stated that, as long as the Meriath government and the people it represents deem such a presence necessary for national security and to guarantee the island's independence and freedom, the Government of Istalia will support and respect this decision.

Following the official statement from the Foreign Ministry, Minister Secretary Moccia, as Secretary of PSD, also invited the local socialists, recent victors in the elections held in Meriath, to participate in the international summit of socialist, progressive, and democratic forces, an initiative supported by the Istalian left and currently underway, whose venue has been set in Kalopia. The Minister Secretary expressed the hope that the geostrategic positions and opinions on the division of Rildanor, the conflict, and Egelian intervention will not lead to the marginalization of any political movement or representation, positions that would only harm the workers, the socialists, and all progressives of Meriath.

[XanderOne]

Welfare reform: Moccia government steps up the pace

Strengthened social pensions, guaranteed income for the unemployed and precarious workers and support for low-income and large families. The opposition calls it "out of control spending", while the government defends its decisions as "an investment in the country's human capital"

Minister of Healh and Social Security Elisabetta Mattioli
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February 5664

ROMULA - Less than a year after taking office, the coalition of Democratic Socialists (PSD), Greens, and Communists has made a clear impact on the country's economic policy, aiming for a radical welfare reform that was approved yesterday afternoon by Congress. The goal is ambitious: to reduce inequality and ensure economic security for the most vulnerable segments of the population.

The first chapter of the reform is the strengthening of social pensions. The minimum benefit for those who have not paid sufficient contributions has been increased by more than 20%, with an automatic inflation-linked mechanism. At the same time, funds for higher-income pension programs have been redistributed degressively, favoring less-skilled workers with lower incomes.

The Minister of Health and Social Security, Elisabetta Mattioli (PSD), stated at a press conference:

We cannot afford to leave our elderly in precarious conditions after a lifetime of work, or even casual and unprotected jobs. This is not a non-repayable expense: it is an investment in social cohesion and dignity.

The other major innovation is the introduction of a guaranteed basic income for the unemployed, temporary workers, involuntary part-time workers, and self-employed workers with incomes below a certain threshold, who do not fall within the categories of workers affected by the recent introduction of the minimum wage. This support is not conditional on active job seeking, but includes periodic assessments and incentives for those who accept vocational training programs.

Minister of Labor and the Empire, Giordano Calantiani (PNC), commented on the reform as follows:

We want to break the vicious cycle of job insecurity and give people the freedom to choose decent jobs, not to accept any conditions just to survive. With this measure, as promised, the government is leaving no one behind.

In the area of family support, the government has approved the creation of the National Fund for Study Support, dedicated to supporting families with low or large incomes in purchasing school supplies and IT equipment for their children, sports and training courses, and student transportation. The Fund will operate as an investment fund, investing resources wisely and in a broadly diversified manner to ensure stable, long-term returns to be dedicated to its objective. As a significant initial endowment, it will also allocate a significant portion of the revenues from ongoing privatizations, a legacy of the liberal era of the previous government.

Indeed, despite months of deliberation and internal discussions within the majority, the government ultimately opted not to apply the brakes on privatizations. This was partly because, as internal sources reported, more than one member of the new government was pleasantly surprised by the resources currently flowing in and expected to flow until the program is completed.

The strongest resistance, of course, came from the New Communists and the left-wing wing of the PSD, who were pushing for a decisive change of direction instead. Ultimately, however, the line of the Social Democratic majority of the PSD and most of the Greens prevailed, intending to not block the operations but instead channel the proceeds into new social programs. The New Communists were ultimately won over by the promise, actually extracted from the left-wing of the PSD, to launch a major national roundtable discussion on a structural reform aimed at promoting the involvement of workers, communities, and unions, with a view to participatory decision-making in companies' industrial policies.

Minister of Finance and Treasury, Federico Almassida (Greens), stated:

It's a smart use of extraordinary resources. We're selling assets that aren't strategic sectors, and investing those funds in social infrastructure that will generate benefits for decades.

The opposition, however, isn't having it. Center-right parties are calling it "electoral giveaways" and accusing the majority of ballooning public debt without a sustainable long-term plan.

Congress PNL Group Leader, Claudia Pannofino, told the press:

These measures are designed to gain consensus in the short term. Future generations will pay the price for this binge of public spending, with higher taxes and charges. The government is dismantling with one hand what it is building with the other.

Some economists close to the opposition have calculated that, if maintained unchanged for more than five years, the reforms could increase the debt-to-GDP ratio by more than 7 percentage points.

The government, however, rejects the accusations, and the Minister Secretary himself responded to the journalists leaving Palace of the Res Public (seat of the National Congress):

We have a medium-term plan that envisions revenue growth thanks to increased employment and, above all, a significant recovery in tax revenue, and we are already working on income and tax reform, a reform centered on fairness, solidarity, and shared responsibility. Because true irresponsibility would be to ignore the structural problems of our society out of fear of investing and harming big business.

And he concluded with a jab:

Those who criticize us today yesterday cut taxes, rights, and services in the name of efficiency and freedom, but only favored the "freedom" of large fortunes and financial groups. We prefer to measure efficiency in terms of improved lives.

[XanderOne]

"Great Conversion Program" approved, but only after tough negotiations and important concessions

Next-generation nuclear power, marine energy, and fish sanctuaries: the ecological transition is intertwined with internal political compromises and protests from the fishing industry

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May 5664

ROMULA - The coalition government of the Democratic Socialists, Greens, and New Communists has approved the "Great Conversion Program", an ambitious national plan for the ecological transition intended to profoundly transform the country's energy and environmental system. The stated objective is the drastic reduction in the use of fossil fuels and the adoption of an energy mix dominated by low-emission and renewable technologies.

Behind the official presentation, however, lies a long and complex internal negotiation. The most delicate issue was the inclusion of nuclear energy among the solutions to be pursued. The Greens, still deeply affected by the memory of the Xsampa and the recent nuclear disaster in Nadiya, were keeping a clear opposition, denouncing that "no nuclear technology can be said to be free of serious risks" and raising concerns about possible accidents and issues related to waste disposal. Their position is based on an absolute precautionary principle, aimed at favoring exclusively "100% safe" renewable sources.

The PSD and, even more forcefully, the New Communists, have instead supported the need to consider the nuclear power and the new technologies concerning it as part of the strategy. For the Democratic Socialists, it is an option to be evaluated with technical rigor but without ideological preconceptions, also because it can effectively cut of several orders the CO2 emissions. The New Communists, on the other hand, have openly defended the choice, emphasizing the "enormous possibilities" offered by new fission technologies. Some prominent figures have declared that "with nuclear power we can achieve full energy sovereignty" and that "even through these courageous choices, sovereignty and security of our energetic sources will means that our people will be less exposed to energetic crisis, which are just another manifestation of capitalism and its cyclical crisis".

The final agreement included a compromise: increased investment in next-generation nuclear research, coupled with massive development of marine energy, in the form of integrated offshore wind farms, ocean-powered turbines, and wave energy conversion systems, and, at the Greens' request, tightened fishing regulations and the creation of new marine sanctuaries. The PSD's acceptance of these measures was an integral part of the agreement that unblocked the nuclear dossier.

The new fishing rules, however, sparked protests across the entire fishing industry, from large industrial fleets to artisanal cooperatives. Industry representatives accused the government of "focusing only on emissions and electricity", failing to consider that fishing "is not a luxury, but a cornerstone of the country's economy and food supply". A spokesperson for the National Fishing Federation stated:

With these restrictions, you are condemning us to ruin. Our boats will remain in port, the docks will empty, entire coastal communities will lose their jobs and dignity. The sea is not just an ecosystem to be protected, it is the source of livelihood for millions of people.

The opposition seized the opportunity to launch a harsh attack, calling it a "punitive approach" and "laboratory environmentalism", accusing the government of jeopardizing a vital sector with no guarantees of tangible short-term benefits.

The government, however, remained firm, announcing that a resources from the ongoing privatization program will flow directly into the Great Conversion Program too. According to the government, the ecological transition is not only an environmental duty but also a strategic investment in the country's energy independence and economic competitiveness in the decades to come.

[XanderOne]

L'APPROFONDIMENTO|Behind the scenes of the Green-Nuclear Compromise
The complex agreement between the Greens, PSD and New Communists: months of negotiations, threats to put aside the program, and a political bargaining chip linking nuclear power, fishing and the privatization


IL CORRIERE D'ISTALIA
By Aldino Mattivi, editorial office for politics 

Month 5664

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Behind the orderly and unified presentation of the "Grand Conversion Program" lies a tense negotiation, lasting months, which threatened to seriously undermine the unity of the governing coalition.

According to parliamentary sources, discussions between the three government parties focused primarily on one point: the inclusion of nuclear energy among the strategic priorities.

The Greens entered the discussion with a "non-negotiable" position: no expansion of nuclear energy. A senior official, reportedly said in a confidential meeting:

We cannot erase the memory of Xsampa, and just few years ago dozen of thousands of people had to leave forever their houses in Nadiya. That disaster showed that no technology, no matter how advanced, is free of enormous risks. We will not allow a plan that puts human lives and territories at risk to pass.

On the other side, the New Communists took a different, equally firm stance. "Without nuclear power, the transition will be a mirage", a member of the political bureau reportedly stated, "and with nuclear power, we can achieve true energy sovereignty and assuring our people to be less exposed to oil crisis, just another face of capitalism crisis". Some, in private conversations, even called nuclear energy "a socialist response to the climate crisis".

The PSD and Minister Secretary Fabrizio Moccia, leading the work, sought a middle ground, acknowledging the technology's risks but insisting on the need to keep on the table "a valuable option to cut emissions" to achieve realistic climate goals.

Negotiations reached a stalemate few months ago, with the Greens threatening to derail the entire environmental package in Parliament. The public outcry from a Green spokesperson, who called nuclear power "a nightmare in a suit and tie", further hardened the tension.

The turning point came when the PSD proposed a compromise: the Greens would accept the nuclear energy in exchange for increased investment in advanced and next-generation nuclear research and for tightening fishing regulations and the establishment of large marine sanctuaries, other measures central to the Greens agenda.

From an unnamed internal sources within the majority, few days after the approvation of the Program in State Council, leaked this comment:

It was a full-blown political barter. Everyone had something they could sell to their voters, but everyone had to swallow a few bitter pills.

Another point of tension was the financing of the program. To cover the massive costs of the Great Conversion Program, the government has decided to allocate other portion of the proceeds from ongoing privatizations, and during the height of the tensions, the New Communist once gain expressed their discontent to continue with the privatizations, this time pointing the finger directly against the Greens, with some exponents, said an internal source, even mumble that "there are too many liberals incensed by the green cap".

A Green Party representative, however, dismissed the issue pragmatically:

Whether the money comes from, it matters little. The important thing is that it is invested in projects that will save our future.

The coalition remains very united on almost all other points of the government program, but this negotiation has left repercussions on this specific issue. According to parliamentary rumors, the Communists are already preparing to request a revision of fishing regulations, with the aim of combining the Greens' environmentalist vision with an economically sustainable plan for workers and businesses in the sector, in order to pursue also the goal of alimentary sovereignity and responding to the outcry of the fishing industry.

The proposal, which is reportedly taking shape within the majority, would focus on a new production paradigm: encouraging fishing cooperatives with increased quotas and incentives, supporting less invasive methods, and reducing the impact of intensive industrial fishing. An approach that, in the words of a Communist MP:

Should satisfy the Greens, because it combines environmental protection and social justice, without sacrificing entire coastal communities.

[XanderOne]

Moccia "revolutionary" tax reform lands in the Congress

The law now awaits a vote in Congress, where the majority appears solid. It includes highly progressive measures on income, assets, and rents to finance new social and healthcare interventions

The tax reform presented to the press
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August 5664

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ROMULA - Two weeks ago, the State Council approved the new tax reform law, one of the Moccia government's flagship measures. Presented to Congress by the Minister Secretary himself, the reform represents the cornerstone of the majority's economic and social program and, barring any surprises, will easily receive parliamentary approval.

The measure comes after months of bitter controversy from the opposition, but also after intense technical and political work carried out by the Ministry of Finance, which is responsible for translating the government's objectives of solidarity, redistribution, and equity into concrete legislation.

The tax reform approved by the State Council profoundly redesigns the Istalian tax system, with a highly progressive approach aimed at shifting the burden of taxation toward large fortunes, income, and speculative activities, while simultaneously easing the pressure on employment, small businesses, and essential consumption.

• Income Tax
  

Introduction of new marginal tax rates for higher incomes, up to a maximum of 55% for those above a particularly high annual threshold.
Reduction of intermediate rates and expansion of deductions for low- and medium-income earners.
Increase of the tax exemption threshold, expanding the group of fully exempt taxpayers.

• Property Taxation
  

Increase in annual taxes on very high-value real estate assets.
Surcharge on properties and land left unused or held for purely speculative purposes.
Restructuring the inheritance tax to increase taxation on large-scale asset transfers.

• Taxes on financial income
  

Increase in tax rates on dividends, interest, and short- and medium-term capital gains, with progressive taxation based on the total amount of income received.
Increased tax burden on "non-productive" income or income from purely speculative financial activities.

• Financial transaction tax
  

Introduction of a national tax applied to high-frequency, very short-term speculative transactions, with exemptions for productive transactions and long-term investments.

• Corporate taxation
  

Revision of the corporate tax to favor those who reinvest in innovation, research, development, and employment.
Tax penalty for companies that accumulate liquidity without allocating it to productive investments or that concentrate the distribution of profits in the form of extraordinary dividends.


The additional revenue will be allocated to a broad program of social and health interventions, including:

• abolition of the health care co-pay;
  

• introduction of additional targeted deductions for health, education, and family care expenses;
  

• extension of public coverage to previously under-reimbursed drugs, such as many dermatological products;
  

• increase in the number of healthcare workers;
  

• expansion of public coverage to dental and ophthalmology services;
  

• strengthening public psychological assistance;
  

• progressive reduction of university tuition fees, with an expansion of the exemption group;
  

• expansion of the list of goods subject to reduced VAT, now including sanitary towels, contraceptives, formula milk, diapers, and neonatal hygiene products.
  

The opposition is broad and varied. Within the Hosian Democrats, the internal debate has been partly tempered by the general appreciation for the reform's solidarity-based and redistributive approach, in line with the traditional social doctrine of the Church. Many representatives emphasized the importance of the measure in combating inequality. Senator Alessandro Gualdi stated:

We recognize and share the solidarity-based core of this reform. We hope to collaborate with the majority to introduce amendments that can smooth out those points that could be perceived as excessively punitive. But we're moving in the right direction.

Moderate MP Ilaria Vettori was more cautious, expressing concerns about the impact on investment choices:

Our fear is that an excessive increase in the tax burden on capital could push entrepreneurs and investors toward more advantageous markets. We must avoid compromising the country's competitiveness.

The PNL and the center-right forces, however, took a clear stance. The PNL group leader in Congress, Marco Terenzi, accused the majority of "wanting to transform Istalia into a punitive fiscal laboratory". Democracy & Freedom was even more explicit, with MP Carla Monforte stating:

This isn't reformism, it's disguised communism. This is a communist "revolutionary" reform. This is how we drive away investments and jobs.

The government and the majority benches responded immediately. PSD congressman Gianni Paglieri emphasized:

Liberal recipes promised growth, wealth, and stability. In reality, they have produced unprecedented inequality and impoverished the middle class. This reform is an act of social justice, not revenge.

The president of the Social Affairs Congress Committee, congresswoman Elena Porrini (Greens), added:

It's not punitive to ask those who have more to contribute more. It's the principle on which every society that claims to be civilized is founded.

Minister Secretary of State Moccia, in a recent speech at the Faculty of Economics and Finance at the University of Magliano, had already addressed the issue in strong tones, despite the opposition and many economic and social groups raising concerns:

We have been instilled with the idea that if everyone only takes care of their own little garden, then everyone prospers. But this is false. In a market dominated by immense, "intensive cultivation", with disproportionate resources and legal protections, the citizen's little garden is swept away. And those who fail to compete are paved over. We refuse a dog-eat-dog society. It's the way to impoverish humanly and compassionately people, the road to the sloughing of the sense of community and belongingness.

Moccia continued by denouncing the illusion of success measured solely in macroeconomic terms:

What's the point of boasting about a growing GDP if that growth is concentrated in the hands of a few and leaves millions of people with less hope than before? It's not progress if the number of citizens struggling to get healthcare, study, and live with dignity increases. This is the failure of a model that puts individual profit above collective well-being.

The Minister concluded by reiterating the reform's guiding principle:

This law does not take away from those who work and produce. It targets those who accumulate without giving back. And we are not afraid to declare it, because this is how we will rebuild a sense of community and solidarity: by asking for a contribution proportionate to each person's means, as required by the our own Constitution, and also, as required by a society that claims to be "civilized" and "advanced".

[XanderOne]

Breaking News|Istalia mourns Emperor Alessandro V

Farewell to the Sovereign who led the nation with courage, wisdom, and dedication. Tommaso V and the new Empress Melissa ascend to the throne

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25 January 5665

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PONTELASA - Istalia awoke this morning with deep sorrow and an eerie silence: Emperor Alessaandro V, the Sovereign who led our nation for 36 years with determination and heart, left us at 9:00 a.m., at the age of 88, after eight days of hospitalization at the Pontelasa Polyclinic following the stroke he suffered on January 17.

Present at his bedside were Empress Claudia, his children the Grand Prince of the Crown Tommaso and his wife Melissa, Grand Princes Nicola, Michela, and Francesca with their respective spouses, and the numerous grandchildren. The news deeply affected the entire nation, which only a few weeks ago had seen the Sovereign portrayed in smiling images of Hallowtied with his family, spent at Villa degli Aranci, his summer retreat for years for health reasons.

From the very beginning, the Emperor's condition was declared "very serious" and "deeply concerning". The day after his hospitalization, the Grand Prince of the Crown was sworn in as Regent at Quattroregni Palace in Romula before the highest officials of the state and the Grand Dignitaries of the Crown.

Doctors report that the Emperor regained consciousness only yesterday, although with difficulties and unable to speak, just enough time to see his family and greet, within the limits of his possibilities, the many grandchildren, before receiving late in the evening the extreme unction. Aware of the gravity of his condition, he faced his final moments with dignity and serenity. After falling asleep again that night, he never opened his eyes, leaving an entire country in tears.

Alessandro V was not just a sovereign, he was a hero of the Resistance and thus the Commander-in-Chief of the reconstituted Imperial Forces of Istalia who won the Great Patriotic War. He was the guarantor of the country's reconstruction and rebirth, and during his reign, Istalia rediscovered strength and dignity, experienced economic stability and demographic growth, and forged friendships and alliances on every continent.

For millions of citizens, for all the new generations, Alessandro V was the only Emperor they ever knew; for many, simply, "The Emperor". His presence, his wisdom, and his dedication will remain forever etched in the nation's memory.

With his passing, His Most Excellent Imperial Majesty Tommaso V immediately ascended the throne, with his wife Melissa at his side as the new Empress consort. The High Council of the Imperial Crown will meet this evening to complete the formalities of the Act of Succession for transmission to the National Congress.

The body will return to Romula tomorrow evening and will be laid to rest for five days in the Throne Room of Quattroregni Palace, where a massive influx of citizens aimed to present their last tribute to the Emperor is already expected. As well as is already expected large crowds to line the route of the coffin's transfer from Villa degli Aranci to the Capo Milziade Air Force Airport in Pontelasa, and then from the Torre Torrida Military Airport in Romula to Quattroregni Palace.

On the night of 27 January, the new Emperor Tommaso and his three siblings, with several of the adult grandchildren of Alessandro V, will take turns personally keeping a solemn vigil over the coffin. On February 1st, at 8:00 PM, the whole nation will observe a minute of silence, a symbolic gesture of mourning and remembrance for the man who led Istalia with heart and courage.

The solemn state funeral is scheduled for 2 February, in the Capital, at the Basilica of All Angels, restored to its role as the Crown’s traditional religious venue following the restoration. The Government and Imperial Household are already coordinating to put in place the massive security and logistics arrangements to accommodate the hundreds of thousands of people already expected in the capital, as well as to welcome an impressive procession of foreign representatives, with dozens of heads of state and government who are calling from all over the globe offering their condolences and who have already assured their presence.

[XanderOne]

A majestic farewell for Emperor Alessandro V

Nearly a million people in Romula for the solemn state funeral of the beloved sovereign. Crowned heads, Head of State and Government came in great numbers from all corners of the globe to pay their respects

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3 February 5665

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ROMULA - Sunday 2 February 5665, a scorchingly sunny day, unusual for a mourning occasion, but one that did not stop the hearts of an entire country. Nearly a million people flocked to the capital to bid their last farewell to Emperor Alessandro V, who passed away on 25 January at the age of 88. An immense, silent, and composed crowd transformed Romula into one large square of mourning.

Already 48 hours before the opening of the Throne Room of Quattroregni Palace, the line of citizens waiting to pay their respects to the coffin had reached sixteen kilometers, with wait times exceeding twenty-five hours. Even the preferential lane for disabled and chronically ill patients moved only slightly faster. During the five days of its opening, over 250,000 people filed past the coffin, draped in the Imperial Standard on an high catafalque, within the baroque Hall adorned by Imperial Standards, banner of Istalia and of the Armed Forces, watched over by the imperial guard and by detachments of all branches of the Armed Forces who took turns every six hours. The intense heat put a strain on those present: Romula's ambulance service treated more than 1,800 people, mostly for fainting and heatstroke.

At 6:00 yesterday morning, the doors of Quattroregni Palace closed to the public. Four hours later, the coffin emerged, placed on a cannon barrel draped in tricolor banners. Following on foot were Emperor Tommaso V and the Imperial Family, the Grand Dignitaries of the Crown, and the highest officials of state, from the Minister Secretary of State to the President of the National Congress, from the heads of the Judiciary to the Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces.

The honorary escort was impressive: thirty members of the Imperial Guard, one hundred musicians from all departments of the Armed Forces, and 250 soldiers and officers of the Army's 10th Regiment "Arditi", the direct heir to the core of Resistance stormtroopers in which Alessandro V himself had trained, rising through the ranks until he commanded it.

As the procession passed through Romula, from the Monte Genziano Fort, the cannon that salutes the Romulan citizens every day at noon fired 88 shots, one for each year of the Sovereign's life.

More than 2,500 guests awaited the procession in the Basilica of All Angels: in addition to a large representative of Patriotic War veterans, there were representatives from the country’s civil, business, artistic, and scientific spheres, along with diplomatic and state delegations from all over the world. The funeral rite was celebrated by Monsignor Gianfranco Alongi, Bishop of Romula, Primate and Patriarch of Istalia, Solentia, and Quanzar.

For the occasion, as a demonstration of the respect Alessandro V enjoyed throughout Terra, Romula became the center of the world for a day. Countless crowned heads, Head of the State and of Government came from across the globe to pay their last respects to the Istalian Emperor. Among the crowd of dignitaries, accompanied or not by their spouses, stood out: President Eset Alaq of Utaristan, on his first official trip abroad; President Maria Ioannou of Kalopia; the newly elected Federal Chancellor of Dundorf Lennard Schneider; King Artemio I and Queen Anastasia Alexanderova of Egelion, also Tsar and Tsarina of Nadiya; Khan Nurhaci of Bianje, accompanied by foreign minister Chuoqui Nioyan; Hutori attended with Queen Arianna and Prince Consort David, the Duke of Newport, Prime Minister Katelyn Ashcroft and the Hutorian Ambassador to Istalia Luigi Menin; and then, further, the President of the Free Republic of Rildanor (Meriath) Victoria Vaganay; the Premier of Xsampa Jamma Gonpo with the Custodian Sangye Nyingpo; Empress Mary I Ananto of Kalistan and the Anantonese Empire, accompanied by The Lady Companion Victoria Jensen and Princess Nicolette Elizabeth Ananto-Collins; President of Lodamun William Stedman, President of Nadiya Putilova Terezilya, Emperor Richard II and Empress Valeria of Luthori, accompanied by the Prince of Orange (the heir to the throne) William; the Premier Götilda Riddercrantz on behalf of the ailing Rikspresident of Davostag Rikard Verman, the Chancellor of Badara Khalifi al-Qassem; last but not least, a guest whose attendance, announced at the last minute, had surprised many in Istalia, namely the neo appointed Prime Minister of Pontesi Vahran Azeryan, accompanied by foreign minister Satenik Davtyan.
(OOC: Leaders are listed in the order players responded to me on Discord)

Given this massive gathering of world leaders, later in the day, the new Emperor Tommaso offered them a cocktail reception in the Great Hall and the overlooking gardens of Quattroregni Palace, and surely, in the next days, the press will focus a lot on the speeches and topics discussed during the reception, and in particular on the reason for the presence of the Pontesian premier, a nation with which, since the Peninsula War, relations have been almost nonexistent, amid the icy wall of resentment that has grown between the north-west and the far east of Majatra.

But back at the ceremony, a moment of intense emotion was witnessed in the Basilica, when the Grand Princess Alice (11), youngest of Emperor children, gave in to tears, breaking the composure of the Imperial Family. Empress Melissa held her close in a maternal gesture, while Emperor Tommaso placed his hand on her shoulder: a silent sign of comfort that moved the entire assembly.

After the ceremony, the coffin was once again hoisted onto the cannon barrel, this time escorted by nearly two thousand soldiers of all branches of the Armed Forces. The procession crossed the city towards Michele I Imperatore Park and the Imperial Mausoleum lying within, greeted by an endless crowd of tears, applause, and military salutes.

In front of the Mausoleum, with over 5,000 soldiers lined up and hundreds of thousands of people gathered in the park, the final civil and military ceremony took place. Emperor Tommaso V delivered a stirring speech, remembering his father as a man, a soldier, and a Sovereign, and then thanking the people for their immense affection:

The warmth and closeness you have given us in these days have eased our family's grief. My father served this nation until his last day, and he will live on in the hearts of all of us.

The sun was still high in the sky as Alessandro V's coffin was welcomed into the Imperial Crypt, resting in glory under the gaze of the great Istalian Emperors of the past, his predecessors, closing a page of history and ushering in a new era for the Crown and for Istalia.

[XanderOne]

L'APPROFONDIMENTO|Tommaso V: the legacy of a father, the promise of a future
By Simona Cingolani

CORRIERE D'ISTALIA

February 5665

The first official portrait of the Their Imperial Majesties the Emperor and the Empress

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At fifty-nine, which he will turn next April, His Most Excellent Imperial Majesty Tommaso V ascends to the throne after a lifetime of preparation, years of service and dedication, and a long period spent alongside his father in institutional duties. His accession, coming in the wake of the painful loss of Alessandro V, is for the country both a moment of mourning and renewed hope.

For years, the then Grand Prince of the Crown had been a constant presence at major state ceremonies, diplomatic missions, and meetings with the highest political and military officials. In the days following his father's solemn state funeral, the new Emperor did not hesitate to fully shoulder the weight of the Crown: present at every meeting of the State Council, he held close discussions not only with the Minister Secretary of State in the traditional weekly meetings, but also with almost all members of the Government.

Tommaso V brings with him the experience of a passionate military career in the Imperial Navy. Enlisting at a young age, he rose through the ranks to become Rear Admiral ten years ago. A steady progression, the fruit of years of dedication, has left him with a deep connection to the sea and the values of honor and service. Today, as First Marshal of the Empire and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, he combines this military legacy with the responsibility of leading the nation.

The first weeks of his reign already reveal a busy schedule: a tour of meetings across the country will lead him to engage with the cultural, business, artistic, and trade union worlds, as well as with local communities and territorial authorities. Those who know him predict an active role on the international stage as well, where for years he has been the face and voice of the Crown before Heads of State and Government from around the world.

At his side is his beloved Empress Melissa, whom the Sovereign never fails to call "my steadfast support". A Grand Princess esteemed even before ascending the throne, Melissa is appreciated for her understated elegance, spontaneity, and the humanity she demonstrates in every circumstance. With a background in studies in the arts, she has already founded two institutions dedicated to the protection and promotion of the national artistic heritage, not to mention the committment in beneficial activities and in supporting and raising awareness about children and rare diseases and the suffering of many parents.

And then, the Emperor's four children: Eleonora, Grand Princess of the Crown, 22; Grand Prince Nicola, 20; Gran Prince Paolo, 13; and Gran Princess Alice, 11. "My greatest joys", as the Emperor calls them even in the most solemn moments. An image of a united family, beloved and close to the people, which today symbolizes for millions of Istalians the continuity between past and future.

In the still-living shadow of the memory of Alessandro V, Istalia looks to Tommaso V with affection and trust: the man who carries on the legacy of a great sovereign and promises to serve the nation with the same rigor, the same dedication, and the same love.

[XanderOne]

Moccia Government passes the most far-reaching civil rights reform in the last century and a half

Equal marriage and adoption, the abolition of the ban on transgender people in the Armed Forces, universal right to abortion, and a new sex education curriculum: a legislative package that transforms Istalian society

Fabrizio Moccia meeting the press and exposig the reform
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May 5665

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ROMULA - After months, and perhaps years, of waiting for millions of citizens, yesterday the State Council approved the law that many observers are already calling "the most radical modernization of civil rights since the proclamation of the Imperial State and perhaps even before the Socialist Republic".

The bill will now be examined by Parliament, where the debate promises to be intense. The reform encompasses a broad range of issues: marriage equality, the right to adoption, the inclusion of transgender people in the Armed Forces, reproductive health, sex education, and psychological support in schools. According to Minister Secretary of State Fabrizio Moccia, who met with the press this evening to personally explain the reform:

This is an act of justice for millions of citizens, putting an end to discrimination that no longer had any reason to exist.

Marriage Equality and Equal Adoptions
The heart of the reform is the introduction of marriage and equal adoption, with the complete equalization of rights and duties between heterosexual and homosexual couples. This eliminates the legal distinctions introduced in the past, which relegated same-sex couples to civil unions with limited rights.

The family is where there is love and mutual responsibility, and the State must no longer discriminate based on gender or sexual orientation.

Inclusion of Transgender People in the Armed Forces
The ban that prevented transgender people from enlisting or retaining their positions in the Armed Forces is also abolished. The new legislation provides gender transition procedures compatible with a military career and introduces protocols to protect the personal dignity of transgender military personnel.

Universal right to abortion
One of the most controversial innovations is the guarantee of access to abortion in all public medical facilities, without arbitrary restrictions. This replaces the previous legislation, introduced by the center-right government, which allowed it only in cases of serious medical emergencies or sexual assault.

Moccia, who expressed particular pride in this measure, defined it as:

A fundamental step towards a truly equal society, in which women have full control over their bodies. A victory for freedom and self-determination.

Mandatory sexual and emotional education
The law also provides for the introduction of a national curriculum of sexual and emotional education, mandatory from the first year of schooling until the end of compulsory education. The program was developed by the Ministry of Education and  National Culture with the support of pedagogues, psychologists, and professional associations. It is designed to support the psychological and physical growth of children and adolescents, promoting mutual respect, the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, and emotional awareness.

The School Counseling Tutor
An innovative element of the reform is the creation of a "School Counseling Tutor", present in every school. Each tutor will have a dedicated office and will act as a permanent support center for students and families, with a reach that may also extend to the local community. The stated goal is to identify and address early on emotional distress, bullying, discrimination, or domestic violence.

In Parliament, Democracy & Freedom announced its willingness to vote in favor of the reform and to support its implementation once approved. Within the National Liberal Party, the majority of parliamentarians expressed their support, while the minority conservative wing joined the deputies of the Hosiano Democratic Union and Angelino Parenti, the sole representative of the Liberal Republican Party in Congress, in a joint press release:

We witness with deep concern the approval of a legislative framework that, behind the facade of individual freedom, introduces into schools a forced ideological system, imposed by the state and aimed at shaping the consciences of our children. Sexual and emotional education as envisaged by the Moccia government threatens the foundations of the natural family and the healthy social relationships that have always been the foundation of our community. We cannot accept that children and young people be exposed to content that goes beyond the educational role of parents, violating their primary right to raise their children according to moral and spiritual values rooted in the Hosiano tradition and in our national identity.

Now that the bill is landed in the Congress, however, the biggest obstacle may still need to be overcome. In military circles, the reform of transgender service has sparked heated debate, and rumors have highlighted the risk that many military members, even within the majority party groups, may abstain or even vote against it.

Moccia will have to engage in intense reassurance and persuasion to allay mistrust, in a context complicated by a certain "machismo" rooted in the Armed Forces. In this regard, the Minister Secretary of State could leverage the female component of the army, but will then have to work to overturn the prejudice of the alleged risk of "ridicule" and detriment to the dignity of the military institution.

According to analysts, this reform could have profound effects on Istalian society in the coming decades. Some compare its historic significance to the introduction of universal suffrage or the abolition of discriminatory labor laws.

For Moccia, however, the final judgment rests with society:

Laws alone cannot change people's hearts. But they can create the conditions for freedom and equality to become a reality for all.

[XanderOne]

Launch of the "Turbine": first submarine of Istalia's new AIP class

Cutting-edge technology for the country's security and maritime projection

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September 5665

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TEREBBIA - In the presence of His Majesty Emperor Tommaso V and Her Majesty Empress Melissa, patroness of the ceremony, the launch of the "Turbine" took place today at the Leonardi Shipyards. This is the first of a new class of air-independent propulsion (AIP) submarines destined for the Imperial Navy.

The Turbine, which project is inspired to the Nautilo-class, a successful AIP-equiped submarine adopted under the First Empire. It's a diesel-electric submarin equiped with an AIP propulsion system based on lithium-ion battery, allowing it to have a range up to 6100 nautical miles and to remain submerged for more than 40 days. The vessel is approximately 84 meters long, displacing 4,300 tons submerged, and it has a uniquely shaped hull with stealth characteristics. The nose is steeply sloped, with the lateral surfaces featuring a flat, angled profile to promote the reflection and dispersion of sound waves, and the hull is covered with anechoic material to drastically reduce its sound signature.

The standard armament includes heavy active/passive guided torpedoes, submergible anti-ship missiles, and land attack capabilities. The avionics and sensors integrate low- and medium-frequency sonars, electro-optical detection systems, and latest-generation electronic warfare suites, the result of collaboration between the Navy, Leonardi, and the country's leading research centers.

But the innovations don't stop there: the Navy and Leonardi have signed a memorandum of understanding for the development of a class of at least four submarines with a larger operative range, and able to carry out highly specialized missions. These vessels, equipped with ultra-quiet propulsion systems and advanced stealth technology, will be able to be used for targeted incursions, covert surveillance, transport of special operators for underwater and amphibious operations and shores assaults.

In a global context where maritime tensions are rising again, particularly in the South Ocean now, Istalia is preparing to strengthen its defense and projection capabilities, equipping itself with state-of-the-art naval platforms. The Turbine marks not only a technological leap forward, but also a clear statement of intent: the security of Istalian waters and the readiness to operate on every maritime stage remain strategic priorities of the Imperial State.

(OOC sources:  Taigei-class submarine)