Mazara Free Press Association

[Socialist Commonwealth]

SNC Supportive of Voluntary Collectivization in Agriculture

The National Congress has officially positioned itself on the issue of collectivization of farmland today, stating that, while a conclusive decision can only be made by a future elected Solaren government, the SNC would support all voluntary moves at this point. Mutually beneficial farming cooperatives could help to bring agricultural production back to a prewar level soon, the SNC stated towards the press, and would furthermore serve to secure the future of agricultural workers and farmers who participated in these cooperatives by insuring them against bad harvests and crippling loan payments. The postwar period, the SNC expressed its concerns, could easily lead to the ruin of millions who had previously found work and living in the agricultural sector and the SNC believes that cooperative farming could adress these problems. However, the SNC does not intend, nor does it see itself with the authority, of enforcing a collectivization policy at this point:

"We support voluntary associations, but we will not force anyone to give up his land to a cooperative."

Communist factions within the SNC have already expressed that this policy can only be a temporary compromise, campaigning for a "collectivization with full consequence" after the elections and signing state-contracts with the cooperatives to enable a state-based distribution of food to anyone in need. As for now, the interim government cooperates closely with the occupying powers in enforcing food rationing and bolstering insufficient domestic production with foreign aid deliveries, while harshly punishing anyone found guilty of food speculation and black market trade with scarce food ressources.

"Farmers who hide much needed food or try to sell it for prices above those set by the rationing system will have their land, animals and machinery seized," the SNC announced.

 

[Rheinbund]

Eiffellandian government buys harvests of smaller farms in Solaren

Today Chancellor Graf von Seydewitz indicated in a press conference that the Eiffellandian governments intends to support the smaller farms in Solaren after a discussion with General Modersohn and the Solaris Count Stefano di Perugia. The Chancellor described the problem as follows. A couple of Solaris land owners indicated that they will make their harvests available to the Solaris people for free. This means that they waive the revenues of a complete year. Count Di Perugia already indicated that they could only do so because they have enough financial reserves to do so. However, there are a lot of Solaris farmers who don't have such reserves. Those farmers need this year's revenues to continue their businesses. Therefore, their harvests will be bought at a fair price and made available to the Solaris people. The Eiffellandian government will only do so for the farmers in the Eiffellandian Occupational Zone, but calls upon the Carentanian and Potenzan governments to do the same in their respective occupational zones.
The Chancellor indicated that a plan will be developed to make the Solaris agricultural sector profitable and robust again. At least in the Eiffellandian Occupational Zone, farmers will be encouraged to set up cooperations through which they will collectively own a set of agricultural machines and will collectively buy the goods they need for their businesses. However, they will all individually keep their lands and be responsible for their individually owned farms.
Count di Perugia was asked about his opinion on the new Eiffellandian plans. He indicated that it is of utmost importance to both prevent the threatening famine in Solaren and help the Solaris agricultural sector through a difficult period. "Strangely enough, a large number of Solaris farmers risk to go bankrupt. This must be prevented, otherwise Solaren won't be able to feed itself in the near future and a large humanitary crisis will occur among the Solaris farmers. Abnormal circumstances require extraordinary measures. The Eiffellandian plans will ensure that the Solaris agricultural sector will survive."

 

[Socialist Commonwealth]

Elections before year's end, says SNC

In a press conference in Mazara earlier today, the Solaren National Congress has announced its intention to finalize work on the new constitution and hold elections for the first democratic government of Solaren before the end of the year. "A reliable timetable for the democratic process was overdue," a spokesperson said, adding that no concrete date had been chosen as of yet. Part of the conditions upon which the National Congress was implemented as interim government of Solaren by the intervention powers was, that they'd work out a democratic constitution under which elections could be held. The news will likely spark a series of new parties and political groups across the country, as proponents of different ideologies and interest groups will enter Solarens first electional battle. However, the SNC spokesperson noted that a lot of questions regarding the exact nature of the future Solaren democracy remain unanswared as of yet. Different factions within the Congress have opposing stances on questions such as, whether the new government should be elected through lists or personal votes, whether the mandate should be free or imperative and how the administrative breakdown of the new government should be. "We are still attempting to find the great compromise between positions as radically different as those of the post-delegationists, the council-communists and the liberals," the SNC spokesperson commented, noting the big factions of the SNC.

 

[Socialist Commonwealth]

"Good for Guns" Program in Carentanian Occupation Zone

Despite the complete ban on private gun ownership in the Carentanian Occupation Zone, the illegal possession of fire arms, explosives and even pieces of heavy weaponry remain a constant threat - at least according to the commander of the Carentanian forces. In a public adress today he stressed "once again" that any firearms must be handed over to Carentanian authorities and that any guardspost and any patrol can be approached to hand over weapons by raising your hands above the head to signal peaceful intent and follow the orders of the soldiers in question.

However, in addition to this practice, the Carentanian forces have announced a "Goods for Guns" program, wherein weapons and explosives can be brought to central gathering stations present in every major city. The Carentanian forces hope that this additional incentive will help to reduce the amount of weapons circulating in Solaren - the delivery of weapons will be rewarded with non-essential goods such as candy, wine, elegant clothing, cosmetics or toys, to name a few examples. While possession of weapons will not be persecuted if brought to Carentanian forces voluntarily, the possession and the trade with weapons and explosives remains a crime under occupational law and will continue to be persecuted.

Carentanian forces also spoke out against the "common misconception" that only the actual use of weapons against the troops is target of Carentanian scrutiny. "Fact of the matter remains that weapons in the hands of peaceful citizens can quickly change hands, through trade, use of force or theft and will then be an endless source of trouble and misery."

 

[Rheinbund]

Vaccination campaign starts in Eiffellandian occupational zone

Next week a massive vaccination campaign, among others against smallpox, tuberculosis, tetanus and diphteria, will start in the Eiffellandian occupational zone. Furthermore, babies and infants will be vaccined against whooping cough, a disease that doesn't do much harm to adult people but is life-threatening to babies and infants. The vaccination campaign is quite a logistical project. First of all, several vaccines consist of multiple injections at predefined time intervals. Furthermore, there are two types of vaccines ("dead" vaccines and "alive weakend" vaccines) which cannot be given at the same time. This together means that people will have to visit the doctor several times. The vaccination campaign is combined with a hygiene campaign.

 

[Socialist Commonwealth]

Solaren National Congress

We applaud the efforts of Eiffellands physicians and would like to see the campaign expanded to a national level. The SNC therefore asks the authorities in Eiffelland, whether enough vaccinations for the entire country could be supplied by the country and we wish to ask for the cooperation of Carentania and Potenza in expanding the campaign into their respective occupation zones as well.

Commissariate for Foreign Affairs

Carentania naturally supports such an endeavour and will assist in expanding the vaccination campaign to a national health offensive.

 

[Potenza]

Border Laws Relaxed

The Potenzan Interior Ministry announced earlier today that it was relaxing border laws with neighboring Solaren. Since the rise of Pope Urban, the border had been closely monitored by the Royal Navy and the Law Enforcement Ministry. During the war, under Grand Duke Eldizio I's neustrema policy, borders had been completely shut off - no one could enter Solaren from Potenza, no one could leave Solaren into Potenza. Now these regulations have for the most part been removed. Immigration will still be under the scrutiny of the Interior Ministry, and the Royal Navy will still regularly stop and investigate ships drawing too close to the Potenzan coast. However, those wishing to go from Potenza into Solaren will find it much easier travel than under Eldizio I.

The government announced that this initiative was to ease the traffic of aide groups into Solaren from the Grand Duchy. This includes not only the commercial enterprises looking to help the Solaris people, but the Tiburan Catholic Metropolitan Archdiocese of San Salvo and Reformed Church of Potenza, both of whom have begun organizing relief efforts in the Potenzan occupied zone.

 

[Rheinbund]

Aussenministerium
Trier, Eiffelland

We ordered the additional vaccines and will cooperate with the SNC and the Carentanian and Potenzan authorities to make the vaccine and hygiene campaign a project for whole Solaren.

Rudolph Kögler, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Vice-Chancellor


Novartis AG
Ingelheim, Eiffelland

Our laborants are pippetting their fingers blue to get the vaccines ready, and we are hiring extra laborants on a temporary basis. We are working day and night on it. You'll get the needed vaccines, but please realise that this is an enormous order. Therefore, the vaccination campaign in the Occupational Zones of Carentania and Potenza cannot start at the same moment as the vaccination campaign in the Eiffellandian Occupational Zone, but will have to start two weeks later. Please accept our apologies for that.

Konrad Merck, Chairman of the Board of Directors

 

[Socialist Commonwealth]

Labor Congress Planned in Panetelleria

Members of the socialist faction of the Solaren National Congress have invited "workers from every corner of Solaren" to a conference in Panetelleria, the largest city and regional capital of the island of Capraria. Goal of the conference is the official foundation of Solarens first nationwide labor union and the coordination of class struggle on a national level. Panetellaria was chosen for its relative safety and comparatively intact infrastructure: the limited size of Capraria and its population seem to have made the job of Carentanian pacification easier and the lack of landborders between occupational zones may have contributed.

However, the invitation to the conference acknowledges the difficulties of travelling to such an event given the current circumstances. "We realize that many workers whose input would constitute a valuable contribution to the foundation of an organization dedicated to the blossoming of a socialist society and workers' power in Solaren can not attend due to the hardships imposed upon them by a post-war society," the invitation spells out. The hosts have therefore called upon workers to gather locally in advance of the conference and chose representatives to speak on their behalf. By gathering donations within these local structures, the losses on daily income for those attending the conference can be surmountend. Furthermore, the Socialists asked for support from the occupation powers in this matter.

Carentania reacted promptly and announced that it would offer the service of military transport aircraft and the use of airfields to transport representatives from every corner of Solaren to Panetelleria. It also guarantueed the security of the conference, stating that it would develope and implement a detailed security plan for the event. "We furthermore hope that both Eiffelland and Potenza will allow us the use of airfields within their occupation zones, so that a truly national organization dedicated to revolutionary ideals can grow in the country independently."

 

[Potenza]

Aussenministerium
Trier, Eiffelland

We ordered the additional vaccines and will cooperate with the SNC and the Carentanian and Potenzan authorities to make the vaccine and hygiene campaign a project for whole Solaren.

Rudolph Kögler, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Vice-Chancellor


Novartis AG
Ingelheim, Eiffelland

Our laborants are pippetting their fingers blue to get the vaccines ready, and we are hiring extra laborants on a temporary basis. We are working day and night on it. You'll get the needed vaccines, but please realise that this is an enormous order. Therefore, the vaccination campaign in the Occupational Zones of Carentania and Potenza cannot start at the same moment as the vaccination campaign in the Eiffellandian Occupational Zone, but will have to start two weeks later. Please accept our apologies for that.

Konrad Merck, Chairman of the Board of Directors

I thank the gentlemen from Eiffelland for their input. Once the vaccines are ready, they can speak with the commander of the Potenzan medical corps detachment, and they will be able to distribute it throughout northern Solaren as need be.

Maggior Generale Francesco Ronco
10th "Scipio's Own" Infantry Division

 

[Rheinbund]

Editorial


By Count Stefano di Perugia

The history of Solaren is eventful, especially the recent history. An important, if not predominating, part of that history was our Church. In the name of God, it governed us for several centuries and determined our lives in each and every detail. People who didn’t agree with or live according to the Teachings of the Church were punished severely, but apart from that life was relatively good in Solaren.
But things were changing in Solaren. Since the end of the 19th century, we are a nation in decline, exactly because of the absolute rule of the Church. That absolute rule blocked our creativity and, more importantly, blocked our scientific research. All important inventions and discoveries of the last 50 years were done by foreigners, but not by us. All the machines I use at my lands are from abroad. Each and every apparatus and machine in Solaren was built abroad. Even our typewriters, which were built in Potenza. Everything we teach to our children has been discovered by foreigners. But if you let somebody think for himself, he may come up with an opinion you don’t like. And that was what the Church wanted to avoid.
There were people who went abroad and saw what was happening in the countries around us. They saw that Solaren was getting behind, realised to what that could lead and raised their voices. But the Church wasn’t interested in what those people told. The Church was only interested in keeping Its power. So the people who raised their voices were eliminated. The Church wanted to rule the nation in God’s name, but became a cruel ruler in the end.
Then the war came. It brought us destruction, death, hunger and misery. But it also gave us the opportunity to organise our country differently. And that is part of the task we people of Solaren are facing. We not only have to rebuild our country, for which we get much help from abroad, but we also have to think about how we are going to organise the country. The end goal should be a Solaren that can feed its citizens and where everybody can lead a happy life.
Most importantly, Solaren should become a democracy. A country should be governed on behalf of its citizens. That can be organised in several ways. The most efficient way to do so is a parliamentary democracy. Once every several years, let’s say 4 years, the citizens of the country choose a parliament and with that gives a mandate to the elected people to represent all citizens until the next elections. The parliament controls the government, approves or rejects new laws, approves or rejects the budget, gives the government the mandate to rule the country, and withdraws that mandate when needed. My idea would be to divide Solaren into 10 regions who have 50 seats each in parliament. This would lead to 500 seats in parliament.
Furthermore, we have seen during the last decades that the country will decline when people cannot tell that something is going wrong. Therefore, we need freedom of speech so that it can be told that something is goin wrong, and so that new ideas can be offered to the public. However, we all should realise that freedom of speech comes with responsibility. Freedom of speech does not mean freedom to insult. Telling somebody is doing a bad job can be done in a polite way.
Then the economy. Like I said, Solaren should be able to feed its citizens, and Solaren should become a place where everybody can lead a happy life. How can we achieve that? There are several ideologies who give a blueprint of an ideal society. The structure of the economy is a large part of three of those philosophies. I will discuss all three.
Socialism arose as a movement against the exploiting of large parts of society by a happy few during the 19th century. It has explicitly been designed to guarantee a good life for everyone, and wants to achieve that by redistributing wealth over the citizens. Differences in income are flattened out. All agricultural lands and all means of production are owned by the citizens. In most socialist countries, the agricultural lands and means of production are owned by the state. In itself, the ideas behind this system are noble. And to be honest, I still don’t understand how the elites of the 19th century could enjoy their opulent lifestyles while knowing that 90% of the people lived in extreme poverty. However, socialism has two important disadvantages. One of them is the enormous bureaucracy that is needed to make it possible to control all the agricultural lands and production means. The other one is exactly the one that crippled Solaren before the war. In socialism, there is no room for personal initiative, so you can’t do anything with your creativity. It is impossible to earn anything on your invention, because you are not allowed to open your own company and earn money on it. In the end, this will kill creativity. And then we are back at 50 years of stagnation caused by the Church.
Capitalism propagates a completely free market without government control. All agricultural lands and production means are in the hands of individuals. Those individuals can do with their possessions what they want. The prices of goods are determined on the market. If the demand rises, prices rise and shortly afterwards the production rises as well. If the demand decreases, prices go down and shortly afterwards the production goes down as well. The advantage of this system is that it leaves room for personal initiative. People who invented something new can put it on the market as soon as possible. On the longer term, this stimulates creativity and innovation. But there are two disadvantages to this system. Without governmental intervention, the landowners and the owners of the production means can do with their employees what they want. In the end, this leads to the 19th century situation in which the 10% happy few exploit the 90% lower class people and let them starve. Furthermore, in a normal market situation, the production of goods can be increased quickly when the demand increases. In the agricultural sector, however, the production cannot be increased in a couple of days. In a worst case scenario, farmers need a year and a half to fulfil an increased demand. But if there is no regulation, the production increase will be the result of overreaction, after which the prices decrease rapidly. Such a steep price decrease could lead to farmers going bankrupt.
The third system is a mixture of socialism and capitalism. All agricultural lands and production means are in the hands of individuals. Someone with a bright idea can immediately start his own company. But the people owning the agricultural lands and production means cannot do everything they want. They can do a lot, but not everything. They are obliged to guarantee good working circumstances and cannot fire their personal at a whim. Furthermore, they have to pay for social warfare so that ill and jobless people do not loose their income. This system combines the advantages of socialism with the advantages of capitalism. Personal initiative is given room, and the lower classes are not exploited.
I also want to say something about education. Before the war, the Licei asked an enormous fee from the parents of their pupils. Other forms of secondary education cost less, but are still expensive for most of the people. This means that quite a lot of people only absolved primary school. This has to change. We need to educate our children more than that. Intelligent people from the lower classes cannot go to the Liceo because of the fees. Stipendia only partially solve that problem. Furthermore, before the war, it was the Church who determined if somebody from a poor family could go to a Liceo or not. This has to change. Our children are Solaren’s future. They have to be educated well. Therefore, I want free edutation for our children.

Herewith I announce the grounding of the Partito Soziale Liberale, the PSL. We will take part in the upcoming elections, whenever they will take place. If party lists will be allowed, we will take part in the elections as a party list. If only individual candidates can be voted upon, we will present a candidate in each district. Our points will be:

• A parliamentary democracy for Solaren.
• Maintaining a high level of civil rights for everyone.
• The introduction of a social market economy in Solaren.
• Free education for all our children.

Ricostruire Solaren? Insieme lo possiamo fare.

Count Stefano di Perugia


OOC: Translation of Italian sentence: Rebuilding Solaren? Together we can do it.

 

[Socialist Commonwealth]

Foundation of Social-Liberal Party Causes Turmoil in National Congress

Following the foundation of the Social-Liberal Party, initiated by popular landowner and aristrocrat Stefano di Perugia, the Solaren National Congress is engulfed in fierce debates about the future of the country. The rift between the most important factions within the Congress were caused by comments from Caprarias interim gouvernor, Silvio Guiliani, on Radio Panetelleria. In an interview shortly after the foundation of the Social-Liberal Party was announced, Silvio Guiliani who is a prominent member of the socialist faction within the National Congress stated that his belief that the "upper class and Eiffelländer command is trying to create facts, towards a nation shaped in the image of Eiffelland itself". Following prodding questions by the moderator, Guiliani went as far as claiming that the Social-Liberal Party were aiming for "nothing less than complete subjugation of Solarens national economy by Eiffelländer capitalists."

Liberalis within the Congress protested these words by the Caprarian interim gouvernor, stating that the foundation of the party was merely a rational step towards organizing the political expression of the moderate right. Meanwhile the Post-Delegationists have joined the socialist faction in their criticism, proclaiming the foundation of the Social-Liberal Party "premature" and "damaging" to the writing of a Solaren constitution. Post-Delegationists within the Solaren National Congress have repeatedly stated their demands to create a system of direct participation within the political process for every citizen and decried the PSL as "step towards a delegationist tyranny".

As the situation stands, the SNC seems deadlocked in the creation of Solarens first constitution, but reaffirmed its commitment to a stable future for Solaren in a press release. "At the end of the road will await a grand compromise."

 

[Socialist Commonwealth]

Conservatives Follow Liberals in Track With Party Foundation

Mere days after Liberals around the Solaris count Stefano di Perugia have announced the founding of their Social-Liberal Party, prominent members of the Solaris Church and former government officials have gathered in Torrence to formulate a response by founding a conservative party. Calling itself the "Faith Alliance", the party is determined to compete in the upcoming elections with the goal of "rebuilding the moral foundation of the Solaren country." Fundamental parts of their agenda are to maintain the church as important political institution, to preserve the bible as foundation of the Solaren law and to maintain Solaren independence.

In a first press conference, the party leadership stressed its opinion that "neither liberals nor socialists can guarantuee Solaren sovereignity." According to the Faith Alliance, either of the groups seek to reduce Solaren to a vassal of Carentania or Eiffelland respectively. "We, however, wish to preserve the independence of Solaren and the importance of faith against foreign aggressors." The bishop of Panetelleria, one of the new leaders of the Faith Alliance, accused the occupation powers of "spreading vice and sin" and pointed to the fact that neither Carentania nor Eiffelland deemed it necessary to ban the "shameful practice of sodomy."

Chances of the Faith Alliance in the elections remain hard to predict, but already now they control considerable economic assets and have a solid voice in public life through the church officials within their ranks.

 

[Potenza]

Potenzan Aide Under New Control

Following an order from Grand Duke Guido III, all aide sent into the occupied zones in Solaren will be under the control and administration of the Tiburan Catholic Church, specifically the leadership in the Metropolitan Archdiocese of San Salvo. This does not mean that only Tiburan Catholic charities will be active in aide and care packages delivered to Solaren, but that the organization of all aide and care packages sent into Potenzan occupied territory will be under their administration and influence. This will also be in cooperation with the Potenzan military already deployed in the area, who will be protecting and aiding in the aide packages.

 

[Rheinbund]

Count Di Perugia: “Solaren on its way to democracy”

In a radio-interview broadcasted by Radio Tegeata and Radio Torrence, Count di Perugia commented on the turmoil in the SNC. He indicated that he had expected harsh reactions from socialists and post-delegationists. “The PSL has completely different views on the economy and the organisation of the country than the socialists and the post-delegationists. Of course that causes criticism. I never expected that the SNC would prepare a warm welcome for the PSL. Even better, the fact that the SNC reacted like it did shows that Solaren is on its way to a democracy. That makes me optimistic,” said Di Perugia.
When asked about the radio-interview of the interim-governor of Capraria, Silvio Guiliani, Di Perugia said calmly: “First of all, if anybody was creating facts, it were the Carentanians together with the Solaris Socialists on Capraria. The first thing that happened after the Carentanian armed forces conquered Capraria was collectivising the complete agricultural sector and nationalising all companies. Now Capraria has been formed in the shape of Carentania, with the help of Governor Guiliani. He is the last person who is entitled to accuse me of creating facts.”
Di Perugia called the accusation of Guiliani that he was handing the command over Solaren’s economy to the Eiffellandians “ridiculous nonsense”: “Does Mr. Guiliani really think that General Modersohn is going to replace all the directors of the Solaris factories with Eiffellandians? Does Mr. Guiliani really think that the Eiffellandians are going to walk through the country and seize each factory they like? You can only buy a factory if somebody wants to sell it. So if the Solaris factory owners don’t want to sell their factories, nobody will be able to buy them.”
Di Perugia also said that the socialistic ideal of a society in which nobody is poor can be reached, but only by combining the advantages of socialism with the advantages of capitalism: “Indeed, then whe are talking about the social market economy, which is associated with Eiffelland but in fact is an economic system that was developed by Franconian, Wieser and Eiffellandian economists. The Franconians even took the lead in this. No system is perfect, but the social market economy turned the Germanic countries into stable countries with a flourishing economy, very little poverty and chances for everybody. That is what I want for Solaren as well. Indeed, then the country will look like Eiffelland, but what is wrong with that if that means a flourishing economy, little poverty and chances for everybody?”
On the formation of a constitution for Solaren, Di Perugia said: “I think it would be better if the SNC would write a limited constitution for now. What we urgently need is a determination of how the parliament is elected and the government is formed. The rest can be thought upon later by the new parliament. But of course I have my ideas on our election system. The most important thing is that the country remains governable. If the government has to organise a referendum for each Lira it wants to spend, it is not going to work. In that case, we would spend more time with voting at referenda than with working and taking care of our children. Furthermore, a government’s policy needs to be consistent over several years. If a government has to change its course radically from day to day, it can’t achieve anything. Furthermore, it is impossible to lead a company if the course of the government changes from day to day. That is why I want a parliamentary democracy. Of course we need to prevent that people get the feeling that they are only heard during election time. To do so, we could for instance introduce monthly hearings in which citizens can ask questions and get answers or promises for answers later on. Such questions can also lead to small changes in the government’s course. But radical changes in the government’s course should require a new parliament.”
In the meantime, the Faith Alliance has been grounded in Torrence by former government officials and several bishops of the Solaris Catholic Church. Di Perugia commented on that development that “the Bible is a very strong message of love and care for the world, especially the New Testament. It is also a very important spiritual source for me. But the Bible also knows a very punishing side, especially the Old Testament. Until recently, Solaren was mainly governed according to the punishing side of the Old Testament. That only led to stagnation, like I wrote in my editorial. It is not good for Solaren to go back to a theocracy. Furthermore, we have lived long enough under a dictatorship. We need to follow the pace of the countries neighbouring us, so we need to go further on the path of democracy. For sodomy, everybody can have his or her opinion on that. However, voyeurism sanctioned by the government is ethically despiccable and an intolerable infringement of the people’s private spheres. The government should stay out of the bedroom when two consenting adults are there.”

 

[Socialist Commonwealth]

Carentania Leases Bases in Occupational Zone

Carentanian authorities surprised the public today with the announcement of having signed contracts about the leasing of military bases, despite already operating bases under occupational law. Effective immediately, Carentania begins to provide payment to the interim government of Solaren for operation of bases in Mazara, Galara, on the islands of Iscla and Capraria. The contracts were signed by local gouvernors, but approved by the Solaren National Congress. Payments for the bases are made in either Sylvanian currency or in the form of material aid, at the moment.

"We believe this more than a gesture of goodwill," the Carentanian Commissar for Foreign Affairs announced upon announcing the agreement to the public. "This is a step towards normalization of Solaren political life and a return of a piece of sovereignity to this country." According to the Carentanian Commissar Bojan Sitar, Solaren would have had any rights to decline the contract, which would have meant continued operation under occupational law of existing bases. "This may seem like an insignificant, maybe even non-existing difference - but it is a far more solid, far more respectful base upon which these contracts operate now."

The agreement with Carentania comes at a time when Solaren seems in danger of becoming involved in foreign tensions, as both Carentania and Potenza have increased their deployments to Solaren - Carentania citing aggression from Danmark, while Potenza cites aggression from Carentania.

 

[Rheinbund]

Alessandro Lamborghini, Marcello Bianchi and Francesco Guzzi start factories with Eiffellandian help

It took some months of preparation, but today was the day. In Torrence, Alessandro Lamborghini restarted the production of tractors and trucks in his newly opened factory. In Testono, Marcello Bianchi started the production of all-terrain-vehicles and small cars under the brand name Autobianchi in his newly opened factory. And in Tegeata, Francesco Guzzi started the production of motorcycles under the brand name Moto Guzzi in his newly opened factory. All three companies were started with financial and technical help from Eiffelland and Franken. The Eiffellandian armed forces already announced that they would test Lamborghini trucks, all-terrain-vehicles from Autobianchi and Moto Guzzi motorcycles, and would buy them for use by the Eiffellandian armed forces in Solaren if those products sustain the tests.


Eiffelland increases military deployments in Solaren

In reaction to the announcement that the Carentanian government is going to lease military bases in the Carentanian occupational zone, General Modersohn announced that the Eiffellandian armed forces are going to increase their military deployments in the Eiffellandian occupational zone as well. This was confirmed by a press release by the Eiffellandian government. Minister for Defence Daniel Wolzow indicated that it is important to preserve peace in a country that recently suffered from a devastating war. "Solaren only recently came out of a war, and now the Carentanians want to use Solaris soil to fight out its problems with Danmark. In such a scenario, it is very welll possible that the conflict between Danmark and Carentania will be fought out on Solaris soil. It is our responsibility to ensure the safety of the Eiffellandian occupational zone, and we also have obligations towards the Teloran workers in Solaren. In the current setting, we can only do so by increasing our military forces in Solaren," as said by Minister Wolzow. He added to it that he expected yet another refugee problem in Solaren, this time people who fled the Carentanian occupational zone out of fear for war. The Eiffellandian government is already preparing for the arrival of those refugees.

 

[Socialist Commonwealth]

Protests Against Carentanian Dancehall Turn Violent

A protest march in Panetellaria against the Dancehall "Sodom", established and mostly frequented by Carentanian soldiers, turned violent earlier today, with several protestors injured and Carentanian soldiers firing warning shots. The local branch of the conservative "Faith Alliance" had called to protests against the "sinful establishment", stating that "the name alone is an insult to all things christian and Solaren." Carentanian soldiers had established the Dancehall shortly after the liberation of Capraria, initially to entertain the forces during their breaks from battles, but openly state nowadays that "the Dancehall, which was given its name by the angry protests of reactionary fanatics, has turned into an important advertisement for the Carentanian way of life for young Solaren people." Two thousand protestors had arrived from all over Capraria and assaulted security forces, armed with sticks and even petrol bombs. "It's a miracle no one was killed," the commander of the Carentanian forces in Panetellaria commented. "The Faith Alliance has a lot of explaining to do."

No Party For Now, Says National Labor Coalition

Leading members of the recently founded nationwide Labor Union have denounced rumours according to which they wish to join the ranks of the Social-Liberal Party and the Faith Alliance with their own socialist party. "We think it strategically unwise, at this point, to reinforce this tendency towards parliamentarism, by founding our own party," they state in a press release. The NLC, which was founded in a conference in Panetellaria recently, with representatives from all over the country, is believed to seek the support of the Post-Delegationists, who have, up to now, not managed to form their own faction despite a strong base within the National Congress. "We hope that the constitution will seek a form of direct representation instead of elevating parties into an integral part of the governing system," the National Labor Coalition drily states. An alliance between Socialists and Post-Delegationists within the Solaren National Congress could marginalize liberal positions in the constitution. Conservatives are largely excluded from the process.

 

[Thaumantica]

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VESPER, MONDAY, 26th NOVEMBER
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THE Grand Covenant cannot emphasize enough how important it is that the historical Solaris Faith & Culture remains firmly in the country of Solaren despite the current climate. It is our own experience, as a land and people with a near exclusive faith, that motivates us to protect those less fortunate than our own.

While it is not our place to pass judgement on the conduct of protesters or soldiers involved in this tragic event, we must clearly state our opposition to the insensitive nature of the Pantellarian Dance Hall known as "Sodom". It should be abundantly obvious to the owners and operators that their establishment's title could be perceived as an affront to Christian sensibility, and that Solaris Peoples & Patriots have every reason to seek peaceful forms of boycott and protest towards its facilities.

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Harriet Fauconberg,
Chief Officer
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[Rheinbund]

Aussenministerium
Trier, Eiffelland

We don't have any objections against opening dancehalls in Solaren. We facilitate the same in our occupational zone. The fact that the Faith Alliance baptised the dancehall in Panetelleria "Sodom" indicates a complete lack of understanding modern times. However, the fact that the Carentanian proprietors continued to use that name is tasteless. It would have been better if they would have tried to push through a different name.

Nevertheless, we strongly condemn the actions by the Faith Alliance. And we have to correct Chief Officer from the Covenant Mrs. Fauconberg: People who take sticks and petrol bombs to a demonstration do not have peaceful but violent intentions. If you want to make your opinion known, well, that's what freedom of speech is for. But the device of speech is the mouth and not the fist.

Rudolph Kögler, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Vice-Chancellor