Pelasgian Press Association

[Pelasgia]

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Legislature devolves into free-for-all as Nationalists table motion to lift parliamentary immunity of opposition members

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The main entrance of the New Senate House, which houses both houses of Pelasgia's legislature, at night

The Legislative Assembly saw a session even more chaotic than that of Wednesday, as the Nationalist majority leader formally submitted a motion to lift the parliamentary immunity of opposition legislators implicated by the Senate's Report on the Southern Elimeiotis Emergency, pending formal investigation and charges by the Procurorate of the Court of Cassation. The move caused considerable uproar amongst the opposition, with the Social Party effectively losing all semblance of unity as factions in favour of and against the motion, represented by moderates and radicals grasping for control over the big tent respectively, attacked one another, the latter threatening to leave the Social Party altogether. The People's Party fared better as a united force opposing what they termed a "Nationalist power-grab which should cause institutional terror to all who care for the rule of law." However, considerable rifts still exist in the party's Elitist and Populist segments over land and social reform, as well as Tiburanism, and these rifts prevented the People's Party from moving from a passionate defence to an actual effective counter-attack. The DKKP remained largely silent, though some skepticism was aired; the Senate Report said next to nothing on it, and there's no indication of the Nationalists wishing to abandon their understanding with the legislature's smallest party. The session, which was supposed to end by eight in the afternoon dragged on to nearly midnight, with thousands of protesters assembled outside and a considerable presence of Imperial Police riot units in case tensions flared. The motion was carried through on Nationalist and Social Party votes, reaching the necessary majority just barely, with the opposing Social Party members storming out of the chamber and People's Party members shouting throughout the process, to the point that their minority leader was censured by the Presiding Magistrate.

In the Senate, the motion saw even more controversy, though the more elevated makeup of the house allowed for civilised, albeit fiery, debate. The High Aristocrats were diametrically opposed to the motion, while the Low Aristocrats were largely in favour, essentially acting as the Senatorial factions of the People's Party and the Nationalists. The Hierarchs seemed evenly divided on the question, leaning slightly against, the opposite being true for the Logothetae. The Spatharioi and the Akritai were almost universally in favour of the motion, following a hard line against what they saw as treason, expressing their views in no uncertain terms. Ultimately, 562 of the 826 Senators supported the motion to lift the legislators' immunity, seeing it through around two and a half hours after midnight. With the motion passed and awaiting Imperial Assent tomorrow morning, the Procurorate of the Court of Cassation has already moved to issue warrants for the arrest of around seventy People's Party and Social Party members. Imperial Police forces, allegedly supplemented by the Special Prosecution Detachments of the Central State Security Service raided the offices of the two parties this morning, seizing truckloads of materials allegedly connected to the investigation of funding and support of the Melingian rebels.

Given the considerable developments of the recent weeks, which have led to a rapid deterioration of the country's multi-party system, His Imperial Majesty has aired the idea of hosting a conference between the major political leaders of the country to hammer out differences. Though the success of such a conference is uncertain, the Emperor does have both the legal authority and the theoretical legitimacy to demand that party and faction leaders at least try to come to a resolution. Yesterday, one hundred Loyalist figures submitted a motion to that effect for the consideration of His Imperial Majesty to the Imperial Household Service. The Grand Palace has yet to comment on the request.

In other news
☞ (International) – Pelasgia signs Long Sea Treaty of Free Trade and Amity with Eiffelland-Retalia in Propontis, signalling new era of free movement of goods, people and assets across the formerly allied countries. Imperial Senate formally repeals acts of Pelasgia's Trier Concord membership, ending the alliance, as relations between former allies enter new era. Treaty awaiting parliamentary approval in Eiffelland-Retalia.
☞ (Defence) – Imperial Armed Forces enter talks with PEVO to adopt new PEVO 33 assault rifle as replacement for old Type 3 rifles under the designation Type 33 Rifle. New rifle to use 5.56mm instead of 7.62×51mm rounds, and have fully automatic fire capabilities as well as bullpup variant. Naval Forces also awaiting delivery of new ultra-silent, diesel-powered Xiphias-class submarines from Trapezon Shipyards.
☞ (National) – Newborn Diadochos (Heir Apparent) christened as Ioannes Laskaris-Amoraios at the Imperial Cathedral of Hagia Pronoia, in the midst of celebrations and festivities. Imperial First Fleet delivers gun salutes at port following Naval Parade, as do Ground Forces artillery units firing blanks from the Hill of Lygos. Imperial Air Forces hold fly-over demonstration above crowds gathered outside Cathedral to celebrate. Festivities to extend until end of week, Imperial capital decorated.

 

[Pelasgia]

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General Staff announces First Fleet Deployment in Long Sea
Fleet ordered on standby after Justosian intrusion, Aurarian naval deployment

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Ships of the First Fleet accompany the Fleet's flagship, the Carrier HIMPS Isaakios I Laskaris

The General Staff of the Pelasgian Armed Forces, via the mouth of His Excellency, the Polemarch, announced the deployment of the First Fleet to the Long Sea. The First Fleet is the largest and oldest of the three fleets making up the Pelasgian Naval Forces, the largest navy in Europe. The fleet is currently made up of 1 aircraft carrier, 1 amphibious assault ship, 4 destroyers, 2 cruisers, 5 frigates, 8 corvettes, 5 submarines, 2 mine warfare vessels, 37 patrol boats & gunboats and the 1st Marine Division of the Imperial Marine Corps. The deployment of the fleet in peacetime comes after the announcement of a Justosian intrusion into the Long Sea, and the subsequent deployment of the Aurarian fleet in the Long Sea to prevent said intrusion. Pelasgian military leadership seems to be deeply against a Justosian military presence on the Empire's doorstep, given the rogue regime's known hostility against the Empire, among several other European nations. This hostility has extended to a withdrawal of formal relations between the two countries after the Justosians openly endorsed a partition of the Empire.

A travel advisory issued by Justosia to any of its citizens in Pelasgia earlier this week, at around the same time as the deployment was announced, raised concerns at the goals and nature of this expedition. The Pelasgian Air Forces' air defence command was reportedly also placed on alert, while the 3rd Fleet's newly delivered ultra-silent submarines had their formal commissioning ceremony moved to tomorrow to allow them to be pressed into use. The Imperial naval detachment at Tephanon has also been placed on alert, being ordered to observe the course of the Justosian ships as they transit through the Kalahari Sea, though no order has been given to block their passage at the Horn of Himyar, given that Azraq authorised their passage through its territorial waters. It is unknown, however, whether the 1st Fleet will show the same openness to a Justosian advance into the Long Sea. The Polemarch made it clear that the Sea of Buto will remain closed to all Justosian naval traffic, civilian or military, and the Second Army's coastal artillery units have been ordered to enforce this interdiction.

Further updates are expected on this story as it unfolds. The Ambassador of @Auraria was reportedly summoned by the Government of Pelasgia today to discuss joint strategy concerning the Justosian expedition into the Long Sea. In a press statement, the Minister of External Affairs, Mr. Emmanouil Avgiros, called the expedition "reckless, unjustified and hostile", while calling on the Justosians to "turn back and return home" as they "have no place in a region so far from their own country."

 

[Justosia]

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Joint Statement of ministries Defence & Foreign
​

We are most pleased to inform your warmongering state that you, & your invading force, likely bound to conquer Brecosta, have been very tactfully defeated.

Our previously announced & legal defence exercises are complete. It would appear your ships aren't as fast, intimidating, or frankly viable as you had thought.

Allow us. Due to your very obvious attempt to make war this day, the 'government' of Pelasgia is fully classified as a Level One threat to the Great Southern Kingdom of Justosia. As such, your government is deemed fully illegitimate by all that is Justosian & its interests. Any citizens left in Justosia are there at their own risk. Any Pelasgian citizens left within our borders will be subject to repeated security checks.

There will be no rescinding of this illegitimacy this time. Standard SOP is now in effect:

- Full on personal sanctions against every upper echelon member of your 'government'. Including your 'emperor'.

- Full on trade sanctions against Pelasgia & all direct interests that can be henceforth determined.

- Seizing of all Pelasgian assets within our borders as is legal right internationale.

Justosia is using every political tool at its disposal to respond to your decaying 'empire's' naked aggression. Further encroachment upon sovereign Occitan waters will result in further actions. We demand you withdrawal your war force at once.

Finally, personally, accept that the north's time is over. Your time is over. May God Yahweh have mercy upon your damned souls.

Carlos Delgado
Defence Minister

Fernando Torres
Foreign Minister

 

[Thaumantica]

the Covenant Republic of Cantignia

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A PUBLIC
Message from the Foreign Office​

The CRC formally endorses the deployment of the Pelasgian First Fleet as a moderating force in the Long Sea. Justosia has time and time again displayed disrespect for the delicate market order of maritime trade, and poses a threat to world peace through saber rattling and the clearly ongoing development of offensive capabilities.

May Goodwill Prevail,
Maxwell T Proctor
Chief Foreign Officer

 

[Pelasgia]

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Ministry of External Affairs
Official Communiqué​

To whom it may concern,

The Pelasgian Empire would like to inform the imbeciles who run Justosia of certain facts:
1. There are no Pelasgian citizens in Justosia and Justosian citizens in Pelasgia following the sanctions instituted against Justosia at the outset of its opening to the world.
2. There is no Pelasgian property in Justosia for the Justosian 'state' to seize, other than a deserted and small building formerly housing our diplomatic mission to Justosia. Likewise, there is no Justosian property in Pelasgia other than the former diplomatic mission's building, which has been seized.
3. Fortunately for your sailors, no battle occurred between our fleets, so it is impossible for our fleet to have been defeated.

The Pelasgian Empire has no desire to invade Brecosta or to attack your joke of a fleet, which is smaller and weaker than our auxiliary detachment at Tephanon. If we wished to do either, it would already have been accomplished. The false state of Justosia is in no position to make demands of the Empire. We shall cruise around Brecosta at our own pace and to our heart's content, and if the Justosians wish to evict us they are welcome to offer their over-glorified coast guard force as target practice.

We would remind the clowns of Justosia, who dare to speak the Lord's Name in vein, and who have dared to insult His Imperial Majesty, God's Viceroy on Europe, that they are not in the position to make threats to us. The Empire has endured for two millennia. Justosia has not even endured the incompetence of its own leadership. The bare and naked ridiculousness of Justosia was demonstrated for all to see: the state which at one point claimed it would hold exercises around Brecosta for as long as it wanted reduced those exercises to seven hours, hardly enough time for a real fleet to even move into fighting position, and fled before our forces before we even got close to Brecosta, just as we entered the Hamar Sea. One should wonder whether the Justosian navy would climb up the mountains if we ever approach Justosia's shores; perhaps we should try and see. If Justosia continues its pathetic and cowardly provocations, it shall have a chance to put its money where its mouth is quite soon.

Signed and sealed,

Emmanouīl Avgīros, son of Lysikratīs
Minister of External Affairs
Senator by virtue of office

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[Azraq]

Wasaarada Arimaha Dibada
الخارجية‎ وزارة
Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Let it be known that the Azraqi Empire, responding to a formal written notification from the Great Southern Kingdom of Justosia of intent to send military vessels through the Pillars of Nearchus, had promised safe passage to the Justosian forces.

We trust the Pelasgian presence in and around Tephanon will respect the promises we made.

 

[Azraq]

Wasaarada Arimaha Dibada
الخارجية‎ وزارة
Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Let it be known that the Azraqi Empire, responding to a formal written notification from the Great Southern Kingdom of Justosia of intent to send military vessels through the Pillars of Nearchus, had promised safe passage to the Justosian forces.

We trust the Pelasgian presence in and around Tephanon will respect the promises we made.

 

[Pelasgia]

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Justosian 'navy' flees before combined Pelasgo-Aurarian Fleet
Justosians cut drills short and abandon Hamar Sea at speed in cowardly fear

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Pelasgian Naval Detachment vessels in Tephanon observe the Justosian retreat from the Hamar Sea

The Justosian naval detachment, erroneously termed a "fleet" despite consisting of four meagre and outdated vessels, fled in terror before the combined might of the Pelasgo-Aurarian Fleet sent to expel it from the Hamar Sea. Right at the moment the two countries' much larger naval force, dozens of times larger than the Justosian token force, entered the aforementioned body of water, the Justosians cut their drills short and run away as fast as possible, hoping to evade the reach of the combined naval task force sent to chase them away. The country which had previously claimed it would hold drills for as long as it wanted saw itself cutting its exercises short after just seven hours and turning tail, abandoning Brecosta to a force which, if truly hostile as Justosia claimed, would have reduced the island to ash and rubble without any encountering meaningful resistance. The Justosians even failed in outrunning their pursuers, however, as the Pelasgian Naval Detachment in Tephanon, itself much larger than the Justosian fleet despite being a token force by Pelasgian standards, observed their withdrawal from the Hamar Sea at the Pillars of Nearchus. There, the Justosian ships fled south, their hulls being aimed at by Pelasgian warships and strategic bombers bearing anti-shipping missiles in case they should dare to attempt a military display beyond mere bravado. As expected, the cowardly Justosians dared not live up to their word of conquest and fled at double the pace, all the while making sounds akin to those of the basest of primates over radiowaves, a behaviour previously only noted among a species of sub-tropical chimpanzee native to southern Himyar.

In the meantime, the Justosians went on to claim a diplomatic victory on top of a military one, the two being equally fictitious. They announced sanctions against His Imperial Majesty and the other prominent statesmen of the Empire, without actually specifying what sanctions consist of, and then went on to claim the deportation of Pelasgians and the seizure of their assets, even though no Pelasgians live in Justosia and no Pelasgian assets, other than the old and emptied-out diplomatic mission building of little value, exist in Justosia. They went so far as to claim an embargo against Pelasgia, forgetting that the refusal of the Pelasgian merchant marine, Europe's largest, to ship Justosian goods, and the simultaneous and continuing boycotts of Justosian goods by Pelasgian importers and retailers have already reduced trade between the two countries to null. The Pelasgian Empire has announced a response, instituting a full embargo against Justosia and a refusal of entry to all its citizens, while also withdrawing formal recognition of Justosia as a state. The building of the former Justosian diplomatic mission in Propontis has been seized and is set to be sold; the prime buyer at the moment seems to be the Pelasgian Anti-Zionist Association, which wants a new office space in Propontis. The prohibition of Justosian maritime traffic in the Sea of Buto, a vital corridor connecting the northern and southern coasts of Himyar, has been made permanent and has now been extended to the Long Sea, to be enforced by the Pelasgian Armed Forces and the Pelasgian Coast Guard.

It is doubtful that the rogue state to the far south of Himyar will attempt another sortie into the Long Sea or the Hamar Sea. As such, His Excellency, the Polemarch, was happy to report a resounding victory to His Imperial Majesty earlier today. The Emperor extended his thanks to the Ambassador of Auraria for the cooperation of the Republic, considering recent events as proof of the success of the Avgiros-Ferreiro Accords in improving relations between the two countries. Upon being informed that Pelasgia is now considered a "national threat" in Justosia, the Head of the General Staff of the Pelasgian Naval Forces remarked that he could sadly return the compliment, since the Justosian navy is not a threat to anybody, except Justosia's own remnants of a national honour, as recent events have proven.

 

[Justosia]

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Office of the Foreign Minister
​

The Great Southern Kingdom of Justosia is heartened to acknowledge the sentiment posted by the noble Azraq Empire. It would seem the rogue, erratic, & warmongering 'imperial' 'government' of Pelasgia could be starting to lose friends everywhere. Much like its clout already.

No amount of bellicose propaganda will make up for the situation the Pelasgians have put themselves in. No amount will mask their strategic blunder & tactful defeat at the hands of our utterly capable sailors of the Royal Navy. No amount of bullying will nullify the inherent & right internationale of Freedom of Navigation on the high seas. A right the Great Southern Kingdom of Justosia will continue, proudly, to utilize.

The north's time is over. Viva Justosia.

Fernando Torres
Foreign Minister

 

[Pelasgia]

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Ministry of External Affairs
Official Communiqué​

To whom it may concern,

The Pelasgian Empire's Naval Detachment in Tephanon did not engage the Justosian ships near Tephanon and had been explicitely ordered not to do so precisely because of Azraqi authorisation of entry across the Pillars of Nearchus, as EIR's publication from the 6th of January can attest to. To claim that we have somehow 'lost a friend' for doing exactly what our mutual treaties expected of us before our Azraqi partners even asked us to do so is laughable.

If the Justosians are so confident that their 'South' will always win, and they indeed believe in the so-called Freedom of Navigation as much as they claim, we challenge them to sail up the Sea of Buto or into the Hamar Sea again. This time, however, they must not flee but must surely stand and defend their Freedom of Navigation from all who would dare infringe it. Alas, something tells me Mr. Torres is all talk and no action.

Signed and sealed,

Emmanouīl Avgīros, son of Lysikratīs
Minister of External Affairs
Senator by virtue of office

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[Pelasgia]

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Political parties present plan for Grand Coalition to Emperor to resolve political crisis

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The New Senate House in Propontis, which houses both houses of the Pelasgian legislature, as seen from above

A week after His Imperial Majesty convened the leaders of the Empire's major political parties to a meeting at the Grand Palace, the ensuing talks seem to have bore fruit. In a public address, the leaders of the Nationalist Party, the People's Party and the Social Party, represented by their respective leaders in the Legislative Assembly and headed by the Nationalist majority leader, Mr. Periandros Eratosthenous, presented to the a public a plan which was submitted to His Imperial Majesty for formal consideration on Sunday. The plan seeks to dispel the severe disunity which has gripped the Empire's partisan parliamentary politics for decades, a disunity which led Pelasgia to the National Schism and which more recently brought about the political crisis resulting from political persecutions after the publication of the Senate's Report on the Southern Elimeiotis Emergency. According to the plan, the three major parties will join together to form the Organisation for the Facilitation of Imperial Rule (Organosis dia tin Dieukolynsin tis Autokratorikis Diakyverniseos, ODAD). The new coalition would occupy all of the Assembly's 1570 seats, except for 47 seats occupied by the DKKP.

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The new makeup of the Legislative Assembly

ODAD is meant to serve as a grand non-partisan coalition to unite the Empire's political forces in pursuit of the people's welfare and the national interest, without regard to petty political squabbles that have plagued the Empire. The name originates from the Pelasgian Constitution, wherein the legislature and the executive are theoretically meant to act as mere "advisors" to the Emperor. It is uncertain whether this newfound project of national unity will succeed in overcoming deeply entrenched divisions by joining the factions of the country's political elite. However, significant steps appear to have been made in that direction, with many long-time partisan politicians willingly retiring to facilitate the creation of the new body. ODAD has considered partial amnesty for some of the lesser prosecuted Legislators, while special by-elections will be held to fill the seats of those who are not to be amnestied. ODAD's former constituent parties have agreed that only one candidate representing the Organisation will run in each riding for any office, the details being worked out by the parties based on their support in the riding before the merger. This seems to be similar to the process of unification and de-partisanisation of the Peleasgian labour and trade unions and associations late last year.

It is notable that the current Sakellarios and the de facto leader of the Nationalist faction, Lord Themistoklis Notaras, did not appear anywhere during the announcement of ODAD. Rumours to the effect that the Sakellarios is considering retiring from politics have appeared, while others say it is highly likely he will announce his resignation within the week, allowing the new coalition to choose his successor. These reports have yet to be confirmed, however. Refusing to comment on these scenarios, the leader of the new majority in the Imperial legislature, Mr. Eratosthenous, instead made the following statement: "The Organisation for the Facilitation of Imperial Rule has but one goal in mind: National Unity. 'Strength lies in unity' is a quote from Homer even the youngest Pelasgian child knows. All those who are willing to labour in the Nationalist Interest selflessly are welcome and in fact called upon by duty to join us; all those who are unable to move beyond selfish or partisan lines must instead stand back or retire. Anything else is contrary to the National Interest and therefore unacceptable. According to our Constitution, the Emperor is the Personification of the Nation, and I have therefore made the same representation to His Imperial Majesty."

In other news
☞ (International) – Pelasgo-Aurarian Naval Task Force begins return trip from Hamar Sea to Long Sea after successfully holding exercises close to Brecosta. The Naval Task Force is expected to be received with celebrations, having driven away the Justosian intruders from the Hamar Sea without firing a shot. General Staff sources refused to comment on reasons for prolonged presence of joint fleet in the Hamar Sea.
☞ (Business) – Pelasgian Shipyards A.E. reportedly enter into negotiations for sale of Titan-class Amphibious Landing Docks to Auraria, revitalising stock prices of the Pelasgian ship-building industry after the mild shock experienced following the sudden withdrawal of Shaeoiumlah's FALEK from negotiations for the purchase of 25 oil tankers in favour of the Caledonians. Pelasgian Shipyards A.E. decry FALEK's move in public statement, promising relational sanctions in future dealings.
☞ (Politics) – Imperial legislature's Standing Committee on Public Law approves proposed Law on Vagabondry and Vagrancy, submitting it to the Legislative Assembly for approval. Widely-supported bill seeks to criminalise anti-social behaviours of wanderers and other anti-social elements, promoting rehabilitation as well as stiff punishment for those not willing to reintegrate into society. Law proposed as a reaction to problems caused by rapid industrialisation and urbanisation across Pelasgia.
☞ (Education) – Standing Senate Committee on Education unveils plan for the Imperial Institution for the Advancement of Learning (AIPG), the first Pelasgian higher academic institution to be established along the Cussian and other Occitanian-Engellexian norms. AIPG plan enters final stage with Imperial Patronage Certificate being approved; formal establishment ceremony expected on January 30th, the Feast Day of the Three Hierarchs, who are the Patron Saints of education in the Orthodox Church.

 

[Serenierre]

"...ODAD? Oh, please," Elisabeth Martinique laughed, "It is beyond belief. Talk about a rigged system! 1500 seats and the wretch of an emperor needs to soothe his ego with 95% of the seats. This is a joke! Even we in Serenierre have a more balanced system; and yet we are the tyrants? Hypocritical Propontine pigs!"

- Private conversation between Premier Martinique and her secretary​

 

[Pelasgia]

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Lord Chancellor, Polemarch presumed dead in tragic helicopter accident
Helicopter crashes after flying men back from army drills in the Optimatoi Theme

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Imperial Firefighting Corps and Pelasgian Ground Forces search and rescue units near the site of the helicopter's fall

Two of the most important political leaders of the Pelasgian state are presumed dead after a tragic helicopter fall in the eastern Optimatoi Theme, according to military reports. The Sakellarios, Lord Themistoklis Notaras, and the Polemarch, Lord Marshal Aristarchos Kavalaris, were returning to the Imperial capital after observing exercises of the New First Army's 8th and 9th Armoured Battalions when an unknown failure in the machinery of the helicopter that was carrying them led to its sudden fall in the rugged and mountainous terrain of the Optimatoi Theme's eastern frontier. Rescue teams belonging to the Empire's emergency services and the Imperial Armed Forces have closed in on the site, reportedly discovering the wreck of the helicopter. The death of the two officials has yet to be confirmed, though human remains were reportedly found, and no signs of survivors have been found. Aboard the helicopter, alongside the two dignitaries, were five Pelasgian Ground Forces personnel.

The Pelasgian Legislative Assembly is expected to hold an emergency session on Monday regarding the selection of a new Sakellarios, and the Senate is expected to do likewise regarding the appointment of a new Polemarch. In the meantime, the duties of the two men will be taken over by the current vice-president of the Council of Ministers, Minister of External Affairs Emmanouil Avgiros, and Megas Doux Theodoros Eressiotis, the head of the Pelasgian Naval Forces and the Pelasgian General Staff, respectively. His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor, has proclaimed a state of national mourning following the incident, and has reportedly contacted the families of the two men to express His condolences. The men's deaths could have a profound impact on the Empire's politics in the post-National Schism Reconstruction Era. Whereas Lord Notaras's influence within the Nationalist faction had begun to wain, as proven by the formation of ODAD in opposition to his wishes, the Polemarch's death could deprive the Notaras faction of the Nationalists of their leadership within the military, giving ODAD a chance to pack the upper officer positions with is own loyalists.

EIR will continue to monitor the events surrounding the crash to inform the Pelasgian public on this most important story.

 

[Pelasgia]

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New Sakellarios attends predecessor's State Funeral in Propontis
Senate to confirm new Polemarch in coming days, talk of large-scale military reform

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The late Lord Chancellor's coffin being carried to the Old Cemetery of Hagios Demetrios

Following a formal State Funeral in the Patriarchal Cathedral of Hagia Pronoia in Propontis, alongside the five the Lord Polemarch and the five Pelasgian Ground Forces Aviation personnel who were also slain in the tragic helicopter accident over the Optimatoi Theme, the remains of the late Sakellarios, Lord Themistoklis Notaras, were taken to his home city of Hagios Demetrios aboard a military transport plane. There, the late Lord Notaras was buried with full state honours alongside the traditional graves of his ancestors in the Old Cemetery of the city, in the attendance of several state dignitaries and thousands of other spectators. The National Mourning period proclaimed by the Emperor has seen Church services and other displays of sorrow, such as lowered flags, taking place for the seven dead across the Empire.

At the same time, back in Propontis, the Imperial legislature has confirmed Mr. Georgios Grammatikos as Sakellarios, succeeding the late Lord of Hagios Demetrios. Mr. Grammatikos attended the funeral of his predecessor in Propontis after being sworn in by His Imperial Majesty without much ceremony, out of respect to the dead. Mr. Grammatikos is a seasoned lawmaker and politician, having previously served as Minister of Public Order and Minister of the Interior, as well as interim Minister of Justice. A lawyer by training, from a prominent family of such professionals, the new Sakellarios is the first commoner to occupy the position in question. Never the less, he has earned the support of the vast majority of the legislature, being a former Nationalist Party politician who was active but outside the old-school power circles of the Nationalist faction, attributes that earned the whole-hearted support of ODAD, and the abstention of the DKKP's few opposition legislators.

With the Senate still deliberating over a new Polemarch, the new government has aired rumours of combining the new Polemarch's appointment with large-scale reform of the Imperial military, seeking to put the reforms exemplified by the New First Army into general use. Regardless of whether these rumours are true, the announcement of the new Sakellarios's policies -and any cabinet changes- as well as the identity of the new Polemarch are expected in the coming days.

 

[Pelasgia]

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Senate centralises all three Great Archonships in the Imperial Person; large-scale military reforms

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His Imperial Majesty and the Chiefs of Staff inspect sailors of the Imperial Pelasgian Navy

In a surprise move, the Senate has refused to nominate a new Polemarch, instead choosing to grant the powers of the Polemarchy to His Imperial Majesty, the Archon Basileus. The current Eponymous Archon, a staunch Loyalist, has chosen to retire, allowing the Senate to grant that title too to the Emperor. In effect, all three Great Archons of State derive their powers from those of the Emperor, the Polemarch and the Eponymous Archon having what power they do through delegation from the Crown. In restoring these powers to the Emperor, the Senate has effectively fully restored the Throne of Saint George to its Pre-National Schism role as sole Head of State. Though this move has not strictly violated the Pyrgos Accords, it has effectively undone their intended effect of breaking up Imperial power: as the Great Archons can nominate their successors and hold their office until death or retirement, the Emperor can ensure the passage of all these powers to the Diadochos, with the Senate's consent. Even on a semantic level, the Emperor now has regained the titles of Autokrator (Imperator in Tiburan, meaning "Commander-in-Chief") and Hypatos (Consul), on top of the currently held title of Archon Basileus, or "Sovereign Lord", often translated as "Emperor". His Imperial Majesty has chosen to adopt "Emperor and Autocrat of the Pelasgians" as His the short version of his formal style. It ought to be noted that none of these moves strictly violate the Pyrgos Accords or the Constitution, with ODAD claiming that they are necessary to centralise and streamline the national administration to enact effective reform and efficient, non-partisan government.

Aside from the de jure restoration of the Imperial Control over the military, a series of important military reforms have been introduced. The General Staff has been given greater autonomy, and the requirement that the Minister of Military Affairs be an active or retired high-ranking officer has been put into law. Several of the old-guard upper officers have been replaced with new appointments, with Marshal (formerly General) Epameinondas Vatatzopoulos of the Imperial Pelasgian Army taking over the General Staff, and Megas Doux (Grand Admiral) Theodoros Eressiotis of the Imperial Pelasgian Navy taking over as Military Affairs Minister. The Armed Forces themselves have been reorganised into the Imperial Pelasgian Army (formerly Pelasgian Ground Forces), Imperial Pelasgian Navy (formerly Pelasgian Naval Forces), and the Imperial Pelasgian Air Force (formerly Pelasgian Air Forces), with a more centralised and streamlined structure based on Cussian-inspired military reforms. Apart from cosmetic changes, such as new uniforms, the Armed Forces are expected to see a core of professional forces in their most important formations, namely the First Army, First Fleet and several important air detachments. The Armed Forces Police, formerly acting as an assortment of military police forces from the various branches, has been completely unified in the Imperial Pelasgian Military Police. Though the majority of Pelasgian forces will still be drawn from conscripts and National Guard units or other reservists, the Imperial military has been deeply impressed by the effectiveness of professional troops and wishes to completely professionalise its officer corps, even down to the lower levels, while also creating some select larger formations made up entirely of Professional Soldiers (EP.OP.), Professional Sailors (EP.NAUT.), and Professional Airmen (EP.AER.).

In other news
☞ (International) – Ministry of External Affairs protests admission of Touzen-based terrorist organisation into World Permanent Conference as "government-in-exile", outlines clear position with five detailed arguments against admission. Pelasgia to withdraw from Conference unless points are addressed, refuses to participate in discussions until then.
☞ (International) – Orthodox Church launches massive humanitarian drive to support the Christians of Loago in the midst of hardship as conflict escalates and infidels advance on Christian-majority territories. Priests and bishops call on faithful to gather food, clothing, toys and books, alongside letters and wishes.
☞ (Education) – Ministry of Education unveils new education plan after long consultation with Church officials and Senate committee: gender-segregated schools return, schools also to be broken up based on trade or academic focus. Clergy members as teachers and greater presence of religious educational materials also make a return. National Union of Educators approves reforms near-unanimously.

 

[Pelasgia]

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Pelasgian troops allegedly land on Marathaic Isles as Pegasus A.E. begins surveying area for oil

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Photo allegedly showing Pelasgian special forces troops on the isle of Angystri

A freelance journalist belonging to a group of online news producers known as the "Oracles" sparked debate in Pelasgia by releasing a photo allegedly showing men of the Imperial Pelasgian Navy's Amphibious Raider Detachments (MAK) landing on one of the disputed Marathaic Islands. The Marathaic Isles are a small archipelago located to the west of Pelasgia proper; despite having never been ceded by the Southern Tiburan Empire, and its current successor, the Pelasgian Empire, Propontis largely abandoned occupancy of the islands following the Great Himyari Crusade, leading to a lack of large-scale recognition of the Pelasgian claim to the territory. However, as the Empire has increased its presence in the region following the National Schism, particularly through an active surveying and extraction programme for underwater oil and natural gas reserves, Propontis has sought to reassert its control of the island chain. The initial presence of Pelasgian submarines late last year was followed by an open cruise of a small surface detachment through the islands near the end of the year, with the purpose of escorting the surveying vessels of major Pelasgian oil corporations.

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The Marathaic Isles. Marathos, the second largest of the isles, is marked on the map.

If the "Oracles" bloggers' information is accurate, this trend has reached a new milestone, as Pelasgian troops put boots on the ground in the westernmost of the islands, known in Pelasgian as Angystri or Angystrion. This move is the first open assertion of Pelasgian sovereignty over the Marathaics in centuries, demonstrating that Propontis is committed to actively incorporating the territory. This is reinforced by the announcement of Pegasus A.E., one of the most important Pelasgian business conglomerates, that their main fossil-fuel extraction subsidiary, Atrytoni A.E., will be conducting surveying operation in the Marathaic Islands to create a complete map of underwater resource concentrations in the area. The Imperial Pelasgian Navy's Third Fleet has reportedly deployed a flotilla of corvettes and small number of frigates to accompany the vessels through the area.

In other news
☞ (International) – Serrenien threats against Eiffelland spark fears of new Long Sea war as tensions between two old enemies reignite. Imperial government openly calls for peace in the Long Sea, states that Pelasgia will not tolerate aggressive moves or needless wars on its doorstep, likely referring to the islands on the eastern end of the Long Sea.
☞ (Culture) – Archipelago, Sindos, Propontis, Iolcus and Cyparissus continue competition over most splendorous carnival as the Apokries festival approaches. Tradition of Pelasgians disguising themselves and letting themselves go continues to be popular and generates new tourist wave and artistic interest, despite centuries of opposition by the powerful Orthodox Church.
☞ (National) – Controversy in Propontis and the provinces as new Imperial government unveils plan for further land reform and near abolition of traditional feudal system, citing modernisation, industrialisation and national cohesion as its primary objectives. Fierce debate between High and Low Aristocrats in the Senate echoes outrage and fear of provincial notables, as strengthened Imperial Field Constabulary makes its presence known through large active deployments in the more troublesome provinces.

 

[Serenierre]

Commissariat for External Relations
IT MUST BE NOTED BY ALL PARTIES, the Serenien State has at no point issued any threatening statement. The comments of the commander of the Eastern Fleet have served to only reinforce the view that any Eiffellander blockade of the Retalian Sea could successfully be repulsed, as Serenierre has historically been adamant that the scale of the claims over the Retalian Sea, first by the Altburg regime and now by the Trier Government were excessive and wholly against the interests of not only Serenierre, but also Lars and Fleur.

IT IS THE OFFICIAL POSITION of this Government that a large corridor of international waters should exist from the north to the south over which no sovereign state may claim maritime ownership - as this is the fairest position of all. The Retalian Grand Duchy opposed such moves and now its unveiled puppet-master (defeated and humiliated in war) is asserting its bruised ego in much the same manner.

IT IS REITERATED, the Serenien Government is committed to the goal of regional peace. However the obstinacy of the Eiffellander super-state must not be ignored by the international community.

Bernard Lavosnier || Commissar

 

[Rheinbund]

Aussenministerium
Trier, Eiffelland-Retalia

The government of Serenierre categorically refuses to see that we already treat the corridor they refer to as international waters. It is our intention to officially declare them international waters as well. Our Chancellor went to the summit in Lars with this proposal.

Julia Leverkühn, Minister of Foreign Affairs

 

[Pelasgia]

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Senatorial Committee proposes Constitutional Court, among other reforms
Propontis, 12 May 2019 | Vasileios Germanos

The long-awaited report of the Standing Senatorial Committee on Legal and Constitutional Matters has finally been released, under the title "Recommendations for the Modernisation of the Pelasgian Constitutional Order". The report includes a series of reforms, some of a more semantic character, and other of profound importance and significance for Pelasgian constitutionalism. Among the reforms stands out the proposal for the creation of a standing Constitutional Court. To this day, judicial review of laws has been exercised separately by each of the three Pelasgian High Courts, namely the Court of Cassation, Court of Audit (also known as the Chamber of Accounts) and the Council of State. The Courts have been able to declare laws unconstitutional in their respective jurisdictions, however such a declaration can only lead to the inapplicability of the law in the particular case at bar, and not to its being struck down. Theoretically, in the event of a conflict of decisions between the High Courts, a Special Supreme Constitutional Court can be convened to resolve the conflict, being composed of members from all of the courts and of other prominent jurists; this court is the only Pelasgian court with the power to declare a law "powerless" and eject it from the Pelasgian legal system. However, this court has not been convened to this day, despite having been conceived over a century ago, in the Imperial Constitution of 1869.

Under the Committee's proposal, a standing Constitutional Court would be created. This would be the last general court of appeal in Pelasgia for all cases of a constitutional character, being placed above the High Courts. Some committee members even recommended abolishing the separate high courts and replacing them with a single Supreme Court. This Court would then be split into divisions (an approach already known to the Pelasgian Legal System, as seen, for example, in the division of the Court of Cassation into several Civil and Criminal divisions, most famously the I, II and IX Permanent Divisions). Different views also arose as to the makeup of the court; some committee members suggested the traditional Pelasgian Civil Law approach of allowing judges to be neutrally and independently promoted to the Court from within their own ranks, without any executive or legislative interference. Others pointed out that, given the inherently political and quasi-legislative nature of constitutional judicial review jurisprudence, the court's makeup should be explicitly selected by the other two branches of government. There also division was found, with some committee members proposing executive appointments with the approval of the legislature, and others wishing that such appointments be solely left to the Imperial Throne.

Apart from the hotly debated and critically received idea of a Constitutional Court, the report also included a plethora of other recommendations. Among them was the abolition of the current division of the Head of State's powers into three different offices, since all three are practically held by the Emperor, and the return to a simple Monarchic Head of State as before the Pyrgos Accords. Another proposal concerned the reform of the Legislative Assembly and Senate into the Legislative Council and the Provincial Council, aiming to reflect the non-partisan nature of the current legislature and to replace the current Senate with a body that would give the Provinces greater representation. To this effect, further delegations of power to the Themes, Provinces and Metropoles, without an actual change in the Constitutional division of powers, was recommended, to reflect the Empire's wide geographic span and diversity, as well as growing local complexity due to industrialisation and modernisation of areas outside the traditional Imperial Core. Changes to the executive where also recommended, including an abolition of the current redundant three-tier executive system which includes the Ministerial Council (Cabinet), HIM Own Chancellery and HIM Privy Council as separate bodies with often overlapping roles, makeups and portfolios. The Report proposed the merger of the bodies into a single Crown or State Council, headed by a President (Protokathedros) to be appoint by the Emperor much in the same fashion as the current heads of each of these bodies, save for the Privy Council, particularly the Chancellor (who also serves General Secretary of the Chancellery).

In other news
☞ (Defence) – Imperial Pelasgian Navy (IPN) announces drills in the Archipelasgo and Long Sea to test readiness and put new silent submarines to use for the first time. Imperial Pelasgian Army (IPA) and Air Force (IPAF) to jointly participate in drills with IPN near disputed Marathaic Isles as Pelasgian oil and gas companies expand drilling and surveying operations near the small archipelago. Navy General Staff confirms it will be monitoring large-scale international naval exercises in the region, though it denies the IPN's drills -codenamed "KERAUNOS"- are a response to any other state's activity in the region.
☞ (National) – Imperial Police and Field Constabulary break up alleged network of regional secessionists and radical leftists at the University of Edessa, following months-long investigation. Members of the discovered cells were linked to the Melingian radicals and Regicide EKKP members suppressed last year by Imperial authorities. The Chief Prosecutor of the Court of Cassation has reportedly taken over the case, though the Ministry of Justice has announced its intent to apply for the matter to be tried by a Special Military Tribunal as an act of sedition under art. 134 of the Penal Code.
☞ (Economy) – Imperial Minister of the Economy, Mr. Theodо̄ros Papamichaīl, announces successful completion of goals for the 2018 fiscal year at ball hosted by the Federation of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs. During ball, the Minister presented the Governor of the Souchoton Theme, Mr. Dionysios T. Philopator, with medal awarded to him by HIM, the Emperor, for the the fastest developmental growth rate out of all the peripheral Themes.

 

[Pelasgia]

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Propontis appoints new Imperial Prefect in Trapezon amid concerns over increasing Throne control over Free Cities
Propontis, 17 May 2019 | Isidoros Alexopoulos

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published a decree by which General Georgios Platanias (ret.), a decorated officer of the Imperial Pelasgian Army known for his staunch loyalty to Propontis, was appointed as the new Imperial Prefect in the Free City of Trapezon. For centuries, and in some cases even millennia, the Free Cities of Old Pelasgia have enjoyed significant autonomy from the Imperial Government in Propontis, gaining their citizenry economic as well as legal benefits, including greater civil liberties and rights. The cities themselves have served as mercantile and liberal windows for the otherwise conservative and protectionist Pelasgia into the world, becoming some of the richest centres of trade in the Long Sea and the Kalahari in the process. This autonomy has often led to their acting as a thorn in the side of Propontine attempts at concentrating power, as Imperial presence in the city is widely limited. The local citizenry enjoy virtual autonomy, including separate courts, police forces, private law regimes, legislative assemblies, tax and duty exemptions and other privileges, owing to the Throne of Propontis only an acceptance of the Emperor's suzerainty, which is largely limited to formal sovereignty, international relations, diplomacy, military affairs, national security and public law issues. However, as the Empire has become more modern, centralised and industrialised, Propontis has attempted to exert greater control over the Free Cities.

The initial steps of this effort came in the form of economic colonisation. Large corporations and groups owned by the Pelasgian Crown set up head offices and subsidiaries in the Free Cities, often taking over or buying out local companies with the support of the central state government. This, coupled with the growth of cities under direct Imperial rule to a position rivaling that of the Free Cities over the latter half of the 20th century, such as Propontis, Cassandris, Thermi and Ioli, weakened the massive wealth that had served as the strongest bargaining chip of the Free Cities. Once a stranglehold was established on the cities' economies, the Throne begun consolidating political control over them. The prosperity and freedom of the cities has, for quite a long time, led Pelasgians from outside their boundaries to resettle there, seeking a better future. However, restrictive citizenship laws and outright discrimination shown by local authorities against these internal migrants have led to the creation of an urban underclass treated by the Free Cities' traditional citizenry as second class citizens. This underclass is often used by the cities' rulers to undercut the wages and labour organisations of the local citizens, motivating the local authorities, which are strongly influenced by business interests, to import more provincial Pelasgians.

However, the Crown has used this resentful class to its own advantage. The sole major official of the Throne in the Free Cities has historically been the Imperial Prefect (literally "Eparch of the Throne"), who acts as the Throne's personal viceroy in the city, answering to the Emperor alone. Traditionally, the Eparch has retained the power to retain and override local laws, and to appoint or dismiss local officials at will. This power has seen extremely rare use, largely due to the historical economic clout of the Free Cities. But as the Empire's other economic centres catch up to the Free Cities, the Throne has been increasingly willing to use these powers to strike down any laws restricting the rights and inflow of the new citizens, and appointing staunch Loyalists to positions of power. In turn, these Loyalists have often conferred citizenship to the Free Cities' underclass en masse, using them as political tools to elect Pelasgian Nationalist and Throne Loyalist parties into power, with the promise of equality and a better life. The appointment of General Platanias to the Throne Prefecture of Trapezon, the Empire's second oldest and second most important Free City after Iolcus, is, for many, confirmation of fears that a direct Imperial takeover is underway.

But as the Free Cities' economies show no sign of slowing down -instead, many analysts state that the Empire's policies are actually benefiting their GDP and other economic measures-, and with the local business class on board, the fate of the Free Cities of Old Pelasgia might very well be sealed. Though local autonomist factions have started to test the waters, such as the Trapezonian Civic Values Front (MATA), many political analysts see this move as being too little and far too late. For its part, the Pelasgian State has shown itself willing to go to great lengths to assert control over these old pockets of resistance to Imperial rule, as Propontis treads on a path of increasing neo-Absolutism. Some have even suggested the Empire is willing to draw blood in pursuit of this end, pointing to the unfortunate death of Iolcus anti-centralisation protest leader Nikolaos Xinos two months ago. Though the event was formally attributed to gang-related activity, some anti-government critics asserted that local authorities, which have been silently taken over by the central law enforcement organs, or even YKAK itself, was behind the young man's demise. However, no convincing proof to this effect has been adduced to this point, and the Chief Procuratorate of Iolcus has openly rejected such assertions.

In other news
☞ (Politics) – Government submits constitutional reform package based on Senate Committee's recommendations to Legislative Assembly for preliminary discussion, earning wide support from the Organisation for the Facilitation of Imperial Rule, the broad coalition controlling the vast majority of the Pelasgian lower house's seats. Package envisions Constitutional Court, re-unified Head of State functions, administrative reform, transforming the legislature and unifying various cabinet-style bodies.
☞ (National) – Pelasgian automobile giant Pegasos A.E. officially opens new manufacturing plant in Philippias six months after the end of the Revolt of the Melingian Rebel Lords, spearheading economic revitalisation of the region. Lord Chancellor of the Empire hails move as a major step forward in both the development of the Empire in general and the renewed prosperity of the now-pacified region.
☞ (Justice) – Council of State rejects two appeals by the Pam-Pelasgian Human Rights Watch and multiple other interveners in landmark case, upholding constitutionality of both Internal Passports for designated regions and the mandatory inscription of one's religious affiliation on Pelasgian National Identity Cards. Justice Ministry, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Ministry of Public Order applaud court for "resisting alarming trends of judicial activism seen elsewhere in Europe".