Legal Disputes in Solaren (ATTN: Eiffelland)

[Socialist Commonwealth]

Mr. Stefano di Perugia,

with greatest respect we write to you in hopes that, together, we can promote peace, order and stability amongst the Solaren people. We sincerely hope that your recovery is coming along steadily and swiftly.

As you are well aware, the accusations of homosexuality raised against you have caused great turmoil in the nation and served to divide existing political camps. The inflammatory campaigns by conservative forces have been fueled by this incident and we well understand your motivation to seek legal action against the Gazetta di Torrenza. However, we hope to reach an agreement with you to the effect of withdrawing your lawsuit. We are confident that you are capable of defending your honor in public debate just as well as you would be in front of a court. However, pursuing the path of legal action will force us to adress several difficult legal issues regarding the validity of certain prosecutions, as Solaren is still without a working constitution and elected government.

It is in our honest opinion that withdrawing the lawsuit is the best course of action, while the Solaren National Congress in its capabilities as interim government will pass an official moratorium on all laws regarding homosexuality, effectively removing them from the legal code until a proper government can decide upon the place of law on sexual behaviour in a new Solaren. We believe this action to be a prudent one, but one that must be accompanied by consolidation towards the conservative population. Unilateral decisions of occupying powers, such as the Eiffelländer one, to stop the implemention of these laws while allowing for your lawsuit against the Gazetta di Torrenza to take place will be perceived as arbitrary and serve to destabilize the country.
A withdrawal of your lawsuit might, thus, be an appropriate sign of modesty towards the conservatives.

We await your reply and hope, that you share our considerations in regards to this issue.
Sincerely,
the Solaren National Congress

 

[Rheinbund]

Dear Sirs,

We ourselves are considering whether we will continue the lawsuit or not.

Fact is that the Gazetta di Torrenza spreaded lies about my person. I personally don't mind being called a homosexual, because I personnally don't have anything against homosexuality. However, that doesn't mean that I was not personnally hurt by the article in question: It suggested that I am unfaithful to my wife (my greatgrandfather challenged someone for a duel because of such an accusation), and of course it led to tensions in my family. Furthermore, in the current Solaris setting, rumours about being homosexual have devastating effects to your reputation. Therefore, articles about that cannot be published based on a whim.

On the other hand, there are arguments against continuing the lawsuit. You mention a valid one. Other ones are the time needed to invest in the lawsuit and the time it will take before it ends in a final verdict.

Is there a time constraint on when you need a decision from me in this matter?

Best regards,

«Signature illegible»

Conte Stefano di Perugia.

 

[Socialist Commonwealth]

Dear Mr. di Perugia,

we understand that a decision of such gravity for your personal life will require to be thought through and will leave you all the time you need to come to the decision. It is our firm opinion that you will not unnecessarily postpone your decision, given the meaning it will have for the broader of Solaren society.

Sincerely,
the Solaren National Congress

 

[Rheinbund]

Dear Sirs,

After much deliberation, my lawyer Dr. Mancini and I have decided not to drop the libel charge. The reason behind this decision is that dropping the libel charge could be interpreted as a suggestion that the article in question might be correct. I want to avoid each and every suggestion pointing into that direction. In this matter, I am not fighting against the conservatives, but fighting for the truth.

I would, however, be willing to agree with a suspension of the charge until the legal problems you describe have been solved.

Best regards,

«Signature illegible»

Conte Stefano di Perugia