Preamble to the Lusitanian Civil Cold War
In June 2009, an unlikely coalition of moderates, libertarians, communists and Galician nationalists overthrew the Integralist Regime, a quasi-totalitarian and ultra-conservative regime that ruled Lusitania for 40 years and mass murdered 2 million dissidents. For the first time since 1969, basic freedoms like freedom of speech or freedom of assembly were granted to the Lusitanian people. The country was divided into four administrative areas, equivalent to the areas where the four revolutionary fronts: the moderate-controlled Royal Army, the People’s Communist Party, the United Free Councils and the Galician Independence Junta, took care of day-to-day issues, eliminated Integralist resistance and started to rebuild Lusitanian democracy. King Carlos III, overthrowing his brother Afonso X in the coup, reasserted his rule over all of Lusitania, as legal successor of his Integralist brother and gained the overwhelming support of the Royal Army. King Carlos, together with moderate leaders Francisco Sá-Carneiro and Afonso Costa, supports the project of a democratic Lusitania and, after a new Constitution is drafted, he intends to resign, in favour of installing a Republic. As all of these events went on, the Integralists, lead by former dictator Dinis Brito, resisted in the Estrela mountains.
However, things were already grim in July, when the People’s Communist Party asked the Provisional Government to implement a programme of land redistribution in the areas it controlled in Southern Lusitania. The Government rejected the proposal, but the PCP started the agrarian reform anyway, pillaging and looting great properties and violently expelling their former owners. The King launched an ultimatum to the PCP leader, Gonçalo Vasques, and threatened military action if he did not withdraw the occupations. Vasques took the chance, and having a good standing army in his side and very good militia support, he stroke the heart of the Royal Army-controlled area, in what he called “Campaign against feudalism, libertarianism and petty nationalisms”, wishing to united all Lusitania under communist rule. Instability escalated, and in 2nd July, Roberto Torres, the spokesman and de facto leader of the libertarian-controlled areas, declared the independence of the United Free Councils, intending to undertake a “libertarian project based on respect for tradition and our land”. Two days after, Xosé Perez, the leader of the Galician Independence Junta, declared “for the first time since 1094, Galicia is independent. I declare the Galician Independent State!”. Unable to suppress all these three potential combat fronts, the Royal Army concentrated in the communist offensive. The 15th of July, the offensive was successfully repelled. One day later, Francisco Sá-Carneiro managed to strike a deal with the Galicians and the libertarians, to form a unified alliance against the communists. Assembling a large army, it entered in communist territory the 20th of July. Meanwhile, not enjoying the instability in Lusitania, the Council of Nations threatened military action. The four leaders, meeting in Guimarães in the 1st of August, concluded an historical and unusual deal: In foreign policy, Lusitania would be unified, adopting an unconditional stance of neutrality. In case of invasion, all four factions would join forces against the aggression, and everyone would help to eliminate the Integralist remnant in Estrela. However, in internal policy, everyone would do as they wished. This deal is formally known as Lusitanian Union, the only state with four states within it.
The 16th of August, the Integralist remnant was defeated, but former dictator Dinis Brito is still at large. Almost three months later, the Kingdom of Lusitania controls the centre and northern coast, as well as all of the centre of Lusitania and is currently drafting a Republican constitution. Basic freedoms are granted, and the economy is recovering. The People’s Republic of Lusitania controls the agrarian areas of the South, and is currently moving from a socialist revolutionary society to a de facto authoritarian communist state. The United Free Councils, based on traditionalist libertarianism, continue to live with what they have, most of them satisfied. The Independent Galician State is now at odds with a population who long ago forgot their national identity, and with a youth with only 30% of Galician speakers.
The future is grim and uncertain, but it is certainly fun for those who are watching. These four states are now locked in a cold civil war, unprecedented in Lusitanian history.
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A map depicting the territorial division within the Union
The report the news of these uncertain times, I present:
Diário de Notícias
An established newspaper, founded in 1840. Being Integralist during the regime, it has now a centre-left tendency, though it is mainly neutral. It is appreciated by its neutral, impartial and rich news, being the most popular newspaper in Democratic Lusitania. It is strongly supportive of the Kingdom and future Republic.
Avante!
Meaning “Forward!”, it is the official newspaper of the People’s Communist Party, it is strongly Marxist and its news and articles are all but neutral. Making cult of personality to Gonçalo Vasques and the Party. Its articles are inflammatory and politicized.
O Homem Livre
Translated as “The Freeman”, it is a daily newspaper from the United Free Councils, it strongly supports the libertarian-traditionalist project established in Northern Lusitania. Being a free newspaper, it sometimes also criticizes the actions of the UFC. Like the Avante!, its articles are inflammatory and strongly biased.
Hoxe
‘Today’, is the reincarnation of a former historical Galician newspaper, banned during the Integralist regime. Moderate in politics, and strongly favouring Galician independence, or at least autonomy, it is the first non-lusophone newspaper in Lusitania for many years. It is generally unbiased, except when the news involve Galician independence and self-determination.
