Pelasgian News

Neustria · Dec 14, 2022

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O PROPONTIOS LOGOTHETIS NEWSPAPER CO., EST. 1923 | ONLINE ENGELLSH EDITION | PELASGIA'S NEWSPAPER OF RECORD

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Government engages in cultural protectionism for Holidays
Propontis, 14 December 2022 | The Editorial Board

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A traditional Christmas boat put up by the city of Basilica, Lycaonia Theme
Source: Propontis News Agency

With the start of the holiday season having been marked as the City of Propontis announced that it had completed its seasonal decorations, Propontines and other Pelasgians alike were startled to find that the Christmas tree which has decorated the city's main square, the Forum of Tiberius, for over a decade, has given way to a much more traditional Christmas boat. As explained by a statement released by the city, the Imperial Government has issued a regulation requiring all public services to eschew the custom, characterising it as a "foreign aberration with no links to Pelasgian tradition, and of Pagan origin." The Christmas tree tradition is Germanic in origin, and it was first brought to the country by foreign merchants and expatriates; though it was sometimes seen throughout the 19th and 20th centuries in major cities, Pelasgians have traditionally preferred their own custom of a "Christmas boat", which is decorated by a family or local community and then paraded around town by spontaneous, traditional carol-singing companies. Christmas trees became popular in 2016, when the then-newly married wife of Emperor Alexios VII, Empress Hildegaard von Görisburg, decorated such a tree in the Great Palace--the City of Propontis followed suit to honour the new couple, and the Christmas tree started to appear in upper- and middle-class households. Gradually, even some government agencies and local government bodies started to decorate Christmas trees, something which seems to have caught the eye of the Imperial Government, leading to the ministerial order in question. […] Alongside Christmas boats, the order also encourages Nativity Scenes, which have been popular among both supporters and opponents of the Christmas tree, requiring every agency under Imperial Government control to adorn its premises with such a Scene. [...]

Instead of merely limiting itself to the Christmas boat, however, the Government of Pelasgia has also decided to deploy its aegis in defence of another important tradition of the holiday season: Saint Basil. Unlike many other Christian countries, where children await the arrival of Saint Nicholas to give them gifts on Christmas, Pelasgian Orthodox children await Saint Basil, who give gifts on New Year's, which is also his Feast Day. This is, in part, why even conservative Pelasgians speak of the "Holidays" (Christmas, New Year's/Saint Basil's, and Epiphany), rather than merely to Christmas. [...] The Government considers the growing presence of the figure of "Santa" or "Santa Claus", along with his red costume and highly commercialised image, a foreign and increasingly secular influence that "fundamentally contravenes the spirit of the Christian Holidays," as one Education Ministry official put it. In response, the State Oversight Committee for Telecommunications and Broadcasting (E.K.E.TIL.RA.) and the State Censorship Board (K.E.L.) have issued a directive against the appearance of "Santa" and the mentioning of "Christmas gifts", indicating that Saint Basil and New Year's gifts should be used instead. The directive applies to both electronic and print media, and it is accompanied by a joint statement by the Chamber of Commerce and the public broadcaster, PERT, affirming that advertisements should follow these criteria to encourage the preservation of tradition. [...]

In addition to these measures, the Government has announced additional educational initiatives to better aquaint younger generations with holiday traditions in an increasingly globalised and interconnected age. [...] The Imperial Department of Police has also announced that it will be conducting more patrols to protect those participating in customary carol singing troupes, especially children, on all major holidays of the season. [...]

Opposition capitalizes on anti-war sentiment
Propontis, 14 December 2022 | Christodoulos Sakellaropoulos

Former-PM and current opposition lawmaker Mr. Themistokles Angelopoulos met with a group of mothers opposing the deployment of Pelasgian soldiers to Central Himyar on Wednesday, vowing that, under his administration, Pelasgia would disengage from all of what he called "foreign entanglements which are irrelevant to the national interest". Mr Angelopoulos' party, the National Radical Coalition (ERIS), has expanded its links with a variety of groups opposed to Propontis' growing support for and involvement in the war-torn southern Himyari nation of Central Himyar; late last week, another major ERIS figure, lawmaker Mr. Timotheos Leontopoulos, met with student protestors who continue to manifest against the Government's policies despite escalating sanctions. The student leaders have added a referendum on the deployment of Pelasgian soldiers from Central Himyar to their list of goals, a move which Mr. Leontopoulos endorsed in all but name, stating that "the Government has failed to consider popular opinion regarding such a policy, precisely because the people are opposed to the policy in question". ERIS, Pelasgia's official opposition, has used such points of discontent to garner support and solidify its base, hoping to win electors' confidence despite the party's having been formed only recently as a merger of various factions--including many former government lawmakers, such as the party leader, Mr. Angelopoulos, himself. […]

Winter tourism hubs see strong start to season
Nymphaion, 14 December 2022 | Marianthi Xinou

With the winter holidays less than two weeks away, Pelasgia's other, less known kind of tourism has seen a strong start this fiscal year: winter tourism. A country known for its beaches and summers, Pelasgia nonetheless holds some of Himyar's most popular winter destinations, including a handful of dedicated ski resorts (mostly aimed at foreigners). Wildly popular with Pelasgia's own populace as a cheap holiday escape, these destinations are increasingly being marketed to the rest of Europe with some success, as noted by the National Tourism Entrepreneurship Board's statistics, which show a near 200% increase in dedicated winter tourism since 2012. […] The most popular of these destinations by far are the destinations of northern Pelasgia's inland, especially those on the feet of the White Mountains, which separate the region from the rest of inland Pelasgia. Most notably, the major city of Aspropol and its surrounding towns are high on holiday travellers' lists, likely due to their more "alpine" appearance and wintery snowfall. By contrast, Nymphaion, an inland lake city with rich history and a near-perfectly preserved medieval city centre is also rather popular, acting as a resort town during months when its famously temperate climate is mostly damp and gloomy. [...] Still, for the majority of Pelasgians, their retreat will not be to a major tourist city, but to the town or village their family called home before moving to a coastal urban centre--or to the familiar, familial hearth for those who have no such place (or "chorion" as the Pelasgians often call it).
© 2022 O Propontios Logothetis Newspaper Company, S.A. | Ἐφημερίς «Ὁ Προπόντιος Λογοθέτης» Α.Ε.

Neustria · Dec 19, 2022

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O PROPONTIOS LOGOTHETIS NEWSPAPER CO., EST. 1923 | ONLINE ENGELLSH EDITION | PELASGIA'S NEWSPAPER OF RECORD

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Fighting Cranes agree to Christmas talks after killing of rebel leader
New Ncuna City, 20 December 2022 | Sophokles Papatheodorou (International Correspondent)

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Central Himyari border officers on patrol near Voi, Central Himyar
Source: Propontis News Agency

The Government of Central Himyar and the Supreme Council of the self-proclaimed Central Himyari National Liberation Front, commonly referred to as the "Fighting Cranes", have both issued statements announcing their willingness to participate in a round of scheduled peace talks to resolve the ongoing crisis in the Republic of Central Himyar during the Christmas holiday period. The talks are to take place in the city of Voi, which is a middle point between pro-Government areas of the country and insurgent strongholds, and they are to be hosted by the Pelasgian Peacekeeping Force, which will ensure the security of both parties' delegations. The talks reportedly were initiated at the initiative of the Pelasgian Government, which reached out to both sides in light of their positive response to the message of Sebastokrator Samaras of @Cyrene. If initial talks are successful, the Pelasgian authorities are reportedly considering asking Cyrene to host a tripartite full-scale negotiation between Propontis, New Ncuna City and the Fighting Cranes' leadership. [...] The Pelasgian Government has also taken this opportunity to reiterate its own support for Pan-Himyari cooperation, and to air the possibility of diplomatic meetings to expand relations and cooperation with other Himyari countries, such as Cyrene and Aresura. [...]

The Fighting Cranes' agreement to talks, which would have previously appeared most unlikely, is explained by many analysts as being linked to the assassination of their Commander-in-Chief, "General" Christopher Matondo, who was the Head of the insurgent movement's Supreme Council. The killing of "General" Matondo, which was confirmed to have occurred late last week by a joint Central Himyari-Pelasgian taskforce, dealt a blow to hardline elements within the Fighting Cranes' leadership, who lost the presiding seat at the table and were forced to contend with more moderate factions, who hope for a deal similar to that struck between the Government of Central Himyar and the Central Himyari Communist Party with Pelasgian help last year. [...] At the moment, rebel actions and anti-insurgent operations continue throughout the country's inland eastern and northern regions, though the death of the Fighting Cranes' leader, as well as the failure of their offensive against Kalamba City and the recapture of Urbo Ushongi by Government-employed mercenaries of the Pelasgian Far Southern Company have significantly weakened the rebellion, to the point that many of the warlords making up the Fighting Cranes' coalition are allegedly in engaged in secret talks with the Government or the PFSC for separate peace deals. [...]

Social Democrats and National Conservatives form alliance
Propontis, 19 December 2022 | Christodoulos Sakellaropoulos

Representatives of the national conservative opposition, the National Radical Coalition (ERIS) and the Christian, social democratic wing of the Socialist Workers' Party of Pelasgia (SEKP) have reportedly reached an agreement for a tentative alliance based on a Christian Democratic platform to counter the liberal imperialist government of Prime Minister Philippos Andreades. […] Per this agreement, the Christian social democrats are set to break off from SEKP and to join with ERIS to form the new National Popular Rally (ELAS), which would hold the vast majority of opposition seats in the Boule of Representatives and the Council of State—meaning that only a few defections from government ranks would be required for the opposition to form a government to its own. [...] As a notable compromise to the former SEKP legislators, though Mr. Themistokles Angelopoulos (ERIS' leader and a former centre-right PM) will be retained as the General Secretary and de facto leader of the party, official Chairmanship will be handed to General Vasileios Kallergis, a retired military official and hereditary Patrician who is politically seen as standing at the centre of the new party, and who commands wide respect for his reforms of the Pelasgian military and his post-retirement charitable and cross-partisan, conciliatory political work. [...]

PFSC recruiting own Varangians in former Scanlaw
Nymphaion , 14 December 2022 | Grigorios Palavos

The Pelasgian Far Southern Company (PFSC) is reportedly recruiting Varangian mercenaries in @Jydsken-Østveg and Gutarike-Lethonia, the successor states of the Scanlaw (or Skanskelag). The Sublime Throne of Propontis has employed the Far Northerners as elite guards and shock troops for over a millennium, but this is the first time that a private security firm has attempted to field its own, non-government commissioned Varangian troops. Whereas the now-suppressed PMCs that once formed the backbone of Pelasgia's mercenary market shied away from such contracts, the PFSC, which is owned by and closely affiliated with the Pelasgian State, has no such hesitation; indeed, the presence of many ex-military among the PFSC's ranks, particularly among its "Sacred Band" special operations branch, means that there exists a certain familiarity between PFSC troops (the so-called "Bluecoats") and Varangians formerly in the Throne's service, something which should help with recruitment and operational cooperation. [...] Whereas Scanian authorities have long allowed their citizens to serve in the Pelasgian Imperial Guard, it is unclear whether the successor states of the former Scanlaw will continue to extend this legal toleration to mercenary employment—or, indeed, whether the new states' position on the institution of the Guard will change.
© 2022 O Propontios Logothetis Newspaper Company, S.A. | Ἐφημερίς «Ὁ Προπόντιος Λογοθέτης» Α.Ε.

Ebria · Dec 19, 2022

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─────────────────────────────────────────
Κυρηναϊκό Βασίλειο
Cyrenaic Empire
Communication #2; Public: ■ │ Reserved: □ │ Top Secret: □
Υπουργείο Εξωτερικών
─────────────────────────────────────────

To: Empire of Pelasgia
Subject: Peace Talks

The government and people of the Cyrenaic Empire are overjoyed to hear that his excellency's, Sebastokrator Chrysantos Fotios Samaras' plea for peace and stability in Himyar has been heeded by both the Pelasgian peacekeepers and by the Central Himyari fighting groups.

The Cyrenaic Empire is hopeful that peace will come to Central Himyar and also applauds that some of the greatest warmongers have exited the scene and now the nation can finally see peace brought upon it. We wish to become a part of this peace process and will ensure that we will do our best to see it happen. The government of Cyrene will be ready to open up the city for a summit to start the peace process.

Signed and Sealed,

Loukas Antoniou
Minister of Foreign Affairs

Neustria · Dec 26, 2022

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O PROPONTIOS LOGOTHETIS NEWSPAPER CO., EST. 1923 | ONLINE ENGELLSH EDITION | PELASGIA'S NEWSPAPER OF RECORD

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Pelasgia celebrates Christmas: The Emperor's Speech and other festivities
Propontis, 25 December 2022 | The Editorial Board

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The municipal Christmas Boat in Hippodrome Square, Propontis
Source: Propontis News Agency

Throughout Pelasgia, both stores and homes were brightly decorated, though the former were shuttered and the latter filled with family and friends, as the Christian nation of over ninety million celebrated Christmas. Though unlike in certain other Christian countries, the Feast of the Nativity is not the most important holiday of the year, giving way to Easter, Pelasgians still attribute the day the pomp and ceremony it deserves. Chief among the celebrations, of course, was the early morning service celebrated in every church and chapel in the country, including at the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Propontis, where the Emperor and the entire Imperial Family were in attendance. [...] This service was followed by the traditional speech of His Imperial Majesty to the nation, broadcasted by the public broacaster, PERT, and by every channel in the country; in this speech, as is long-established custom, the Emperor wished a Merry Christmas upon all Pelasgians, before offering a recap of the major events of the year and setting out the priorities of the Imperial Government for the coming year—at the advice of the Prime Minister, no doubt. This year's speech thus touched upon economic and diplomatic developments in the Meridian Sea Corridor, including a plethora of foreign treaties and efforts to remain neutral while ensuring the stability of Pelasgia's fossil fuel exports and the dominance of its merchant marine. [...] His Imperial Majesty also touched upon the ongoing challenges facing Himyari independence and self-determination, most exemplified by the ongoing insurgency in Central Himyar and the Erinia Dispute between @Cyrene and @Prydain. The Emperor affirmed Pelasgia's commitment to continuing its role in the resolution of these issues. [...]

Apart from these official functions, however, Pelasgians also took the chance to celebrate the Birth of our Lord and Saviour where it matters most: at home, among family and friends, and in the embrace of community and kin. First and foremost, many Pelasgians rose early to observe the aforementioned early morning services at their local parish at five in the morning, and those who did not still attended church later in the day, even if briefly to light a candle or show their reverence for holy relics and icons of Saints. Scenes of people crowding churches were thus common, particularly in rural towns and villages, where many Pelasgians returned from cities for the holidays to visit family and friends. [...] Carol singing was perhaps the second and more apparent to late-rising foreigners of traditions observed during the Christmas weekend, as children up to their early teens went door to door to sing traditional tunes in exchange for sweet treats and small amounts of money. Such a band, composed of children from Saint Panteleimon's Orphanage in northern Propontis was given the honour of singing for the Imperial Family, by reason of the Orphanage's being a long-standing recipient of the Imperial House's patronage. [...] As families kept their hearths burning to ward off kallikantzaroi (the evil Holiday-ruining goblins of folk myth) at bay, and as those in every home gathered around for christopsomo (a traditional Christmas bread) to be cut up and distributed, sailors and mariners arrayed themselves in the harbours of Propontis, Thermi and other major coastal towns for naval displays by both the merchant marine and the Throne's fleets—a long-standing Christmas practice, which was met, as always, by cheers from those standing on the quay, holding their own decorated Christmas boats (the customary Pelasgian equivalent of a Christmas tree). [...]

Despite horrific attack, Central Himyar talks produce agreement
Propontis, 24 December 2022 | Sophokles Papatheodorou (International Correspondent)

On the eve of Christmas, as negotiators from both the Central Himyari government and the self-proclaimed Central Himyari National Liberation Front (CHNLF) were set to meet for another round of talks, spirits were initially hopeful, given the progress that had been made over the last few days. The role played by local authorities of the Catholic Church (@Radilo), particulrly Cardinal Kwete, cannot be understated, with many expecting that an accord could be reached by Christmas Day. However, just as delegates were beginning to awake, the hotel housing the CHNLF's leadership was attacked, resulting in the deaths of nearly forty negotiators and aides, including many leaders of the so-called "Hardliner" faction headed by the now deceased "General" Christopher Matondo. [...] The assault's circumstnces are still not entirely clear, and though it was eventually repelled, it seems to have taken the Pelasgian forces guarding the compound completely by surprise, given both the ongoing ceasefire from both sides and the extreme professionalism displayed by the attackers (which was beyond the means of both the Central Himyari governemnt and the rebels). [...] Though the "Moderate" faction of the CHNLF initially blamed the attack on the Pelasgian Far Southern Himyari Company and stated its desire to break off negotiations, Cardinal Kwete was able to convince the CHNLF delegates to return to the table, resulting in an ultimate, tentative accord between the two sides (even if the government had to grant additional concessions and assurances in return). Nonetheless, a few of the surviving CHNLF Hardliners refused to accede to the Cardinal's insistence even when faced with excommunication, and left, vowing to fight on. [...]

Banks of Propontis, Pyrgos grant colonists, Central Himyaris debt relief
Nymphaion , 26 December 2022 | Demetrios Malamas

The Bank of Propontis and the Bank of Pyrgos, two of Pelasgia and Himyar's largest and oldest banks, have reached an agreement to grant debt relief to thousands of aggrieved Far Southerners and Central Himyaris debt relief, following mediation by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Propontis. The groups of farmers from the Far Southern Territories were on the losing side of a years-long litigation against the banks over loans with harsh terms which they could no longer repay, while the Central Himyari nationals were faced with unexpected hardship following renewed civil warfare in their country, which placed them in a similar position. [...] The two banks agreed to discharge the debts in return for certain assurances and for partial payments from the Orthodox Church, while using windfall profits made from business dealings connected to the year's strong oil and natural gas sales to counterbalanace the loss. [...] The Exarchates and Archipelago Ministry and the Foreign Ministry both thanked the two banks, who received a dose of good press after the bad publicity done them by the severe penalties inflicted upon their erstwhile parent groups, the Pegasus and Koressios Conglomerates, earlier in the year. The Government of Central Himyar also thanked the groups, promising to do more business with Pegasus and Koressios successor entities were possible in the future, including in the financing of its reconstruction and development projects (which have up until now been mainly carried out with financing from the Imperial Himyari Bank of Commerce and the Pelasgian Industrial and Commercial Bank).
© 2022 O Propontios Logothetis Newspaper Company, S.A. | Ἐφημερίς «Ὁ Προπόντιος Λογοθέτης» Α.Ε.

Neustria · Jan 3, 2023

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| ΕΙΔΗΣΕΙΣ

Students take over faculties, Unions declare support

Editorial Board | 03/12, 17:30 | Upd: 9 minutes ago
Tags: [Featured] [News] [Society]

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Imperial Politarchy riot troops enter Thermi University under a rain of flares and rocks

Students at universities and tertiary academies throughout Pelasgia have staged occupations of faculty buildings as a means of protest. The students acted to surprise authorities, entering faculties before the official start of classes following winter holidays. While law enforcement were able to dissolve most of the occupations, in some of the country's largest universities, whose student unions are large and well-organised, protesters were able to hold on to several buildings. These occupations are the latest step in a long series of protests by students against the Imperial Government, which are due to an opposition to what many young Pelasgians perceive to be the government's outdated political conservatism and its foreign policy, as well as more immediate concerns, such as ideological restrictions and censorship on campus (which include the outlawing of student unions). Student unions reiterated their demand for the resignation of the current Prime Minister and for his replacement by a new government which would undertake what they consider to be "necessary reforms" of Pelasgian society and politics.

The Imperial Government has reiterated its refusal to negotiate with what it considers to be unlawful associations, and it has given students an ultimatum to vacate university buildings or face a strong police response and criminal charges. Nevertheless, the government's ability to enforce its position is somewhat hampered in large urban centres, where students have found support among the ranks of labour unions and various left-wing and progressive groups, who are joined in their opposition to the current government either due to its economic liberalism and the domestic costs of its foreign policy (chiefly expressed through programmes of austerity) or due to various other particular grievances, such as a slow pace of socio-legal reform and a marked disdain for minority rights of all kinds. The centrist liberal government currently in power in Propontis, which is headed by Prime Minister Philippos Andreades and his Constitutional Liberal Party, is faced with a difficult situation. On the one hand, agreeing to long-refused talks with the protesters would be seen as a sign of weakness by entrenched hardliners in Propontis, even if no concessions were made. On the other hand, a recourse to force would potentially deprive the Constitutional Liberal Party of popular support and legitimacy, which would automatically fall to the ironically more socially conservative official opposition, the Christian Democratic Popular Orthodox Rally of Messrs. Themistokles Angelopoulos and Vasileios Kallergis.

Moreover, to deal with the crisis swiftly, the Government would most likely have to rely on the prerogative powers of the Sublime Throne, a move which would politicize the Emperorship and risk opening His Imperial Majesty to political criticism—a profoundly more destabilizing development than a mere wave of protests, given how often the Constitutional Liberals have had to rely on the Sublime Throne to both legitimize and enact their programme and to even govern, in the face of growing opposition. Following two days of renewed protests, the Prime Minister has scheduled a meeting with the Emperor to discuss developments; it remains to be seen what will come of that meeting.

| ΔΕΙΤΕ ΕΠΙΣΗΣ
- Pelasgian observers in Erinia voice allegations of a potential strategy of tension by @Prydain authorities, following renewed ethnic clashes
- Education Minister summons deans of occupied universities to demand support for measures to rapidly end crisis
- All-Pelasgian Confederation of Labour (PES) to hold vote on general strike in support of student protests; Tephanon, Far South unions refuse to participate
- Asteras Aspropol gains spotlight in national basketball league after defeating long-time champion Venetos Propontis

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Neustria · Jan 8, 2023

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As protests dissipate, the parliamentary right stands triumphant
Propontis, 9 January 2023 | Jacques-Louis Dupont*

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(Photo from Propontis News Agency): Members of the Pelasgian parliamentary right at the extraordinary congress which led to the re-establishment of the Constitutional Democratic Party

*Dr. Jacques-Louis Dupont is professor emeritus of Pelasgian history and language at the University of Chagny in the @Holy Frankish Empire and head of the Frankish Cultural Institute (ICF) in Propontis. A native of Chagny, Dr. Dupont moved to Pelasgia in 2003 to oversee the ICF's partnership with the Imperial and Patriarchal University of Propontis (V3P). He currently resides in the Galatopyrgos District of Propontis, alongside his wife, though he often visits his children and grandchildren in Gallia.

After weeks of protests and clashes, which were only interrupted by the ten-day holiday period between Christmas and New Year's, Propontines awoke to find their city relatively pacified and calm, albeit not as active as usual. On Sunday, marches gave way to lines outside polling stations, as the country's voters queued to cast their ballots in a snap election called by incumbent Constitutional Liberal Party (KSF) government of Prime Minister Philippos Andreades. Mr. Andreades, a close ally of the Throne, was forced to concede the election before it really even began: the right flank of his centrist party deserted in droves to the big-tent right wing official opposition, the National Orthodox Rally (EOS) of Mr. Themistokles Angelopoulos. Mr. Angelopoulos had formerly served as a long-time Pelasgian premier, as had his father, before resigning in late 2021 following a conflict with the Emperor over whether the Government or the Throne should hold the final say in the exercise of the latter's remaining prerogative powers. For Mr. Angelopoulos, and his political dynasty, this represents a victory of principle: his father, the late and highly esteemed Leon Angelopoulos, had championed Cabinet Government, and his son, the 26-year old lawyer Leon Angelopoulos Jr. (who was just elected MP for Propontis II), seems determined to continue that legacy. It also represents a personal victory over Mr. Andreades, who was formerly Foreign Minister in Mr. Angelopoulos' last cabinet, before resigning to head the pro-Throne party - a betrayal that Mr. Angelopoulos seems to have not forgotten.

However, apart from questions of constitutional principles and personal rivalries, the latest Pelasgian election represents a victory for the parliamentary right in Pelasgia. For decades, the faction has struggled to establish itself as the nation's dominant political bloc, combining a modernising and liberal economic agenda that appeals to the increasingly influential urban bourgeoisie, and a promise of democratic governance and a new, uniform national identity reflecting the changes in the Pelasgian Nation that appeals broadly to the popular masses of an increasingly urban society. However, faced with the opposition of the entrenched aristocratic class and the patronage shown by the Throne toward the more progressive centre, the faction was repeatedly blocked from using its piecemeal success to enter power; this led to a breakdown of the main centre-right party, the Constitutional Democrats, into KSF and EOS over the question of whether to compromise with the Emperor to remain in power. While KSF's pragmatism won in the short-run, it seems that EOS' commitment to Government Supremacy ultimately won: Mr. Andreades has been forced to resign after a short premiership, and his party has dissolved, with the greater part of it being absorbed by EOS to recreate the Constitutional Democratic Party (SDK). SDK is not only set to govern with a majority but with a supermajority, allowing it to amend the Constitution at will - and, thus, to enforce its will even on the Throne, if need be. Certainly, the elimination of the aristocratic class from the legislature has come to bite the Throne and Mr. Andreades in the back, as the Council of State now consists of more professional politicians and bourgeois-aligned Patricians, who are more likely to back the SDK.

The pressing question now is one of long-term political effect, rather than immediate political gains. With elections having discharged and dissipated most popular wrath, the streets have largely been drained of protesters and most workers have returned to work. The Pelasgian Federation of Labour (PES) itself has been forced to call off its strike, under a mix of disobedience from the workers themselves and the threat of a severe crackdown by authorities, who were empowered by a series of emergency ordinances to strike hard at organised labour. This embarassing defeat comes at a time when labour unions stand to lose much from the rise to power of an avowed market liberal party, which has publicly stated its intent to weaken the labour movement. However, this comes nowhere near the risk faced by various civil society groups, particularly Pelasgian chapters of international NGOs or domestic ones receiving foreign funding, which have been targeted by the authorities for dismantling due to serving as one of the main organising forces behind the protests. In this regard, the appeals by the Governemnt of @Radilo in support of the protesters seem to have done more harm than good - apart from also creating a bitter, vindictive sentiment toward the Most Serene Republic in political Propontis. The worst place of perhaps all is that in which the students who lied at the heart of this movement now find themselves: ignored by the general public and forced to vacate occupied academic buildings due to a forceful police response, the students now face criminal sanctions and the permenant dissolution of their student unions - along with plans of a complete reorganisation and fragmentation of the country's university network to prevent such flare-ups in the future.

And all of this is taking place while the man supposedly at the centre of this conflict, Emperor Alexios VII Vatatzes, still lies in wait on the island of Despotikon, just off the Propontine Strait. His Imperial Majesty, as many analysts have been keen to point out, could have returned to the Queen of Cities days ago, when the streets were pacified by a mix of appeasement and a strong police response; however, the Pelasgian Head of State has chosen not to do so, leaving the Sebastokrator or "Viceroy" whom he appointed as his plenipotentiary to rule in his place. That man is Marshal Vasileios Kallergis (ret.), a man who holds the ceremonial presidency of EOS (now the reconstituted SDK) and is close ally of Prime Minister-designate Angelopoulos, despite his Patrician origins and military background. This would appear to be an inexplicable development - unless, of course, Marshal Kallergis and Mr. Angelopoulos are united in demanding that the Emperor formally acknowledge that the Throne's prerogative powers should only be exercised at the Government's advice, something which would formalise the Throne's submission to the Government. What will happen if the Emperor should refuse is unclear - though it is certain that the Basileus cannot remain away from Propontis forever.
Tags: politics, elections, monarchy, protests

Other News

Sebastokrator, Government seek apology from Doge: Sebastokrator Marshal Vasileios Kallergis, the Viceroy acting in Emperor Alexios' stead, has called the Doge of @Radilo to demand a formal apology and the retraction of statements supporting illegal activities of an insurectionary character in Pelasgia by PES and various student groups, according to a statement by Government. Late last week, the Pelasgian Foreign Ministry also summoned the Radilan Ambassador to deliver to him a strongly-worded démarche protesting the statements. If a retraction is not forthcoming, Foreign Ministry sources have stated that Pelasgia is considering diplomatic sanctions against the Most Serene Republic.
DSK Congress adopts Nat'l Judicial Council Recommendation: The Constitutional Democratic Party (DSK)'s national congress has adopted the recommendations of the National Judicial Council regarding reforms to the country's legal system and administration. Per these reforms, Standard Modern Pelasgian is slated to become the primary language in legal texts and proceedings, pending adoption as the sole official language of the country, over more archaic forms. Additionally, the Imperial Code of Statute Laws is to be broken up into a series of smaller codes, including the Civil Code, Penal Code, Codes of Civil and Penal Procedure, and the Administrative Code, among others; the remainder of laws not falling under any one specific law are to be reconstituted into the Imperial Code of General Legislation.
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Neustria · Jan 9, 2023

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O PROPONTIOS LOGOTHETIS NEWSPAPER CO., EST. 1923 | ONLINE ENGELLSH EDITION | PELASGIA'S NEWSPAPER OF RECORD

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Special Issue: Senate deposes Alexios Vatatzes, names Admiral Notaras Emperor!
Propontis, 10 January 2023 | The Editorial Board

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Fireworks over the Forum of Tiberius as Propontines celebrate the new dynasty
Source: Propontis News Agency

To the sound of singing and the bursting of fireworks, Pelasgians welcome the future of their country like second New Year's, a mere ten days after that holiday. Over the weekend, the Government announced that Emperor Alexios VII Vatatzes had refused to agree to reforms that would limit his power to a mostly symbolic role and allow the new administration to modernise the country, as it had promised to voters prior to last week's snap election. After the intervention of both the Sebastokrator (Provisional Regent), Marshal Vasileios Kallergis, and the Ecumenical Patriarch of Propontis failed to change the Emperor's mind, the Regency Council and the Government jointly proposed to the Legislative Senate, Pelasgia's bicameral parliament, a joint resolution abolishing the deposing the Emperor. On Monday, both houses of the Senate approved the resolution, effectively deposing the Emperor. In his stead, at the insistence of Grand Logothete (Prime Minister) Themistokles Angelopoulos, the Senate has opted to name Admiral Nikephoros Notaras-Dalassenos as Emperor Nikephoros IV. This election is conditional upon the new Emperor's acceptance of the parliamentary reforms and constitutional amendments proposed by the government and rejected by the now-deposed Emperor Alexios. [...] Admiral Notaras-Dalaessenos rose to prominence in the early 2000s, when, while still a captain, he successfully led a Pelasgian squadron against forces of the Carian People's Navy during a stand-off between the two countries' navies in the White Archipelago. Having been wed to Sebaste Despotess Irene Vatatzaina, sister of the now-deposed Emperor Alexios, he hails from a junior line of the House of Notaras that ruled Pelasgia prior to the Vatatzes Restoration, while also being descended from Attalus the Great on his mother's side--thereby uniting all three major claims to the Sublime Throne. [...]

However, being a Notaras and therefore, in the eyes of most Pelasgians, a Carian, the new Basileus lacks the sort of "rooted" power that enabled the Vatatzes line to, at times, reign as almost absolute monarchs. This has led many to reason that long-time Grand Logothete Themistokles Angelopoulos chose Emperor Nikephoros precisely because he wanted a respected but apolitical figure to occupy the nation's highest office, lending traditional legitimacy to the government's reformist policies while staying above daily politics. Given the new Emperor's earnest and eager acceptance and support for the amended Constitution, it would appear that the Grand Logothete's bet paid off--all the while sidelining attempts by the left to declare Pelasgia a republic and enact more sweeping, radical changes that could potentially destabilise the country. [...] Per the new Constitution, which is to be confirmed by Referendum, most imperial powers will be transferred to the Cabinet (known in Pelasgia as the Council of State). Those few prerogative powers that remain in the hands of the Sublime Throne will be exercised at the Cabinet's advice. [...] Additional measures to promote decentralisation and administrative reform have also been proposed.

The Government has indicated this new Constitution is merely the beginning of a long stream of efforts at fundamentally reforming and modernising Pelasgian society. Its provisions offer a glimpse into this daring programme: the adoption of Modern Pelasgo-Carian as the sole official language, with slightly simplified orthography; official codification of certain minority rights, alongside a stated, common national identity based on a modern concept of nationhood for all Pelasgians; economic reforms to encourage free enterprise and innovation, instead of the development of nepotism and trusts; and the guarantee of fundamental social rights for all Pelasgians, including basic healthcare and education, as the responsibility of the State. [...] The enthusiastic, if not ecstatic reception of the new Dynsty by the general populace was made apparent by the large-scale celebrations which took place throughout Pelasgia, after weeks, if not months, of domestic tensions. At the same time, this excitement was not shared by some traditionalists, who saw in the Notaras Restoration a profoundly tragic end of not just the Vatatzes Dynasty, but also of the whole of tradition of Pelasgian absolutism and caesaropapism. As the deposed Emperor and his family left for self-imposed exile in the State of Tirolstein in the @Rheinbund, whence Empress Hildegaard hails, many former nobles and traditionalists gathered on the quay to bid the warship carrying them abroad farewell. Under the watchful eye of the Imperial Gendarmerie, that gathering seemed small and insignificant, even if tragic.

~~Marshal Kallergis addresses the Nation~~
Propontis, 10 January 2023 | Eleftheria Antoniou

Following his election to the office of Sebastokrator and President of the State, retired Marshal Vasileios Kallergis delivered an address to the Nation from the Great Palace of Propontis, which is to now serve as the central seat of the State President and the federal government. A transcript of that address, along with an official translation, was provided to O Propontios Logothetis by the Chancellery of the State Presidency:

"Women and men of Pelasgia,

"For nearly two thousand years, our people have lived under the domination of Tiburan imperialdom, first as part of a Republic that was not ours, and then under a military dictatorship which, in due time, came to regard itself and to be regarded by its subjects and external observers alike as a quasi-hereditary monarchy. Through our ingenuity and perseverance, and, by the Grace of Divine Providence, through the loss of Tibur's domains outside of our country's modern borders, we, the Pelasgians, were able to conquer our conqueror and to take over his State, making out of it a new, Pelasgian Empire, first in spirit, then in culture, and finally in name. Yet, some two centuries after the Pelasgian Empire was proclaimed, our people were still slaves: not to the Tiburans, or even to the Carians, who usurped our country's Sublime Throne for some time; but to the very servile mindset and mode of living that centuries of foreign rule and foreign-improted despotism had brought to a country where, prior to Tiburan conquest, kings were rarely known, and those who were were addressed much as any other magistrate, rather than as lords and masters.

"My compatriots of both genders, today, some forty years after the Restoration of our complete State's Sovereignty from Caria, the Pelasgian People have restored their complete sovereignty over their State and their country's future. No longer shall our Nation suffer the indignity of proskynesis, that foreign custom of bowing before one's fellow man; no longer shall there be distinctions between Pelasgians based on birth, rather than honour and merit; no longer shall we be held captive to outdated ideologies and modes that no longer reflect our realities and needs. Henceforth, my fellow citizens, we shall only bow down to God and to our own dead! Henceforth, all shall know that there is one Pelasgian Nation, indivisible, united by a common tongue, traditions, blood, and faith, and sovereign over its own destiny. With this in mind, I know that we shall achieve great things.

"The question of the Restoration, some forty years prior, was whether Pelasgia would live. Back then, the man who inaugurated my office proclaimed: 'Pelasgia was meant to live and she shall live!' Today, as you all, through your duly elected representatives, have done me the honour of bestowing upon me the title of the second Sebastokrator and President of the Pelasgian State, I call upon you to join me in proclaiming: 'Pelasgia was meant to achieve great things, and she shall!' That, sisters and brothers, is a task that weighs upon all of us. And let us not be misguided: by 'great things', I mean neither the oppression of our own people nor the conquest of others; I mean prosperity for all of us, and the enactment of the necessary reforms that will enable us to stand as equals among the great nations of Europe once more.

"Women and men of Pelasgia, I call upon all of you today to join me in forging a new future for our country. Long live Pelasgia, long live the Republic, and let this be our motto: 'If God stands with us, no one stands against us!'"

[The
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~~followed this address on PERT, the public broadcaster.]~~

Foreign Ministry, PM reaffirm commitment to int'l partners, Central Himyar
Propontis, 10 January 2023 | Demetrios Malamas

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Nikephoros Psaras, issued reassurances to Pelasgia's international partners that the constitutional change would not affect Pelasgia's commitments to and agreements with foreign countries and entities. "The Pelasgian State intends to fully comply with all its treaties and other agreements, and to honour its obligations to foreign countries and entities while availing itself of all rights held by it," Mr. Psaras told reporters at a conference held at the Foreign Ministry's headquarters, in Propontis. Later that same day, the Prime Minister, Mr. Themistokles Angelopoulos, affirmed Pelasgia's commitment to its existing treaties with Central Himyar, as well as its support for Central Himyari statehood and nationality, during a conversation with his Central Himyari counterpart, transcripts of which were published by both sides. "Pelasgia has no intent of abandoning Central Himyar," Mr. Angelopoulos said. "If anything, our own settlement of constitutional woes at home has strengthened our resolve to bolster the rule of law and self-determination throughout the Ebony Continent."
© 2022 O Propontios Logothetis Newspaper Company, S.A. | Ἐφημερίς «Ὁ Προπόντιος Λογοθέτης» Α.Ε.

Remuria · Jan 11, 2023

COMMONWEALTH FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTRY

The Res Publica confirms the continuation of the standing bilateral agreements with Pelasgia and will be furthering cooperation with the new government in line with standing plans. The change in the modalities of administration is not considered to impact on that.

Neustria · Jan 12, 2023

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Omnibus bill enacts social reforms including abortion and divorce
Propontis, 12 January 2023 | The Editorial Board

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The Council of State, Pelasgia's upper house, voting on amendments to the omnibus bill
Source: Propontis News Agency

A new omnibus bill introduced by the government will amend the Pelasgian Civil and Penal codes to enact a series of sweeping social reforms. Among the changes contemplated is a change to the legal regime governing abortion. Up until now, abortion has been banned in Pelasgia, with exceptions for rape, incest, danger to the mother's health or fetal impairment, all generally within 12 weeks. Per the new regime, the additional criterion of danger of harm to the mother's mental wellbeing or immense difficulty has been added, following mandatory counseling and strictly within 10 weeks. The law will not extend coverage for the costs of abortion to this new criterion by the public health insurance plan, meaning that costs will have to be paid out of pocket in such cases. This last provision was attached to the bill as a rider by the upper house of the Senate, as a condition for its approval and forwarding to the Emperor for him to sign into law.

Apart from abortion, the law also touches on divorce, which is another sensitive subject in the deeply traditional and religious society of Pelasgia. Traditionally, the Pelasgian Civil Code has only provided for divorce in certain exceptional cases: adultery, imprisonment or conviction of one spouse for a felony, physical or mental abuse or abandonment, bigamy or polygamy, and failure or inability to consummate the marriage. Per the amendments introduced to the Code by the new law, the additional ground of irretrievable breakdown in the marital relationship will be introduced, which requires proof of continuous separation of the spouses for four years. This new, no fault regime for divorce in notable in that, unlike other legal grounds, it does not require a lawsuit before a court. Instead, the spouses can make a simple, joint filing to their local civil registry office, following which their marital status will be amended as a simple administrative procedure. Additionally, the law has provided that, in cases of no-fault divorce, custody would be joint and set by default at 50-50, while alimony and child support payments would be exceptional and scarce, with any needs being covered by the State through social welfare payments as may be required.

Other reforms introduced through the law include: the abolition of the dowry as a legal requirement for marriage; the introduction of civil marriage and civil name-giving procedures apart from the previous recognition of only religious marriage and baptism certificates; allowing single, legally unmarried individuals to adopt children; allowing single, unmarried women the right to conclude the same legal acts as their male counterparts without the consent of their father or other male relative after reaching the age of majority; the introduction of non-Christian, ancient Pelasgo-Carian names into the official register of names that parents are allowed to give their children; a provision abolishing any legal use of the husband's last name by his wife (Pelasgia, as a civil law country, already required women to keep their last name after marriage, but the largely social use was still legally recognised in some official contexts); and legal provisions allowing unamrried mothers to give their last names to their children born out of wedlock.

These daunting reforms in a society heretofore legally dominated by the Orthodox Church, and where religion is still hugely influential in an informal way, have met with stiff resistance from entrenched conservative circles. Indeed, the new Emperor was petitioned by many to veto the proposed law. Nevertheless, the Emperor refused to heed such advice, stating that "it is not incumbent upon me, as Basileus, to exercise my constitutional power of veto, except where law or other government act would operate to undermine the rule of law, the Constitution, and the fundemental interests of the Pelasgian State."

Scanlaw piracy: PelPetrol steps up production; Propontis readies naval task-force
Propontis, 12 January 2023 | Christodoulos Sakellaropoulos

The Pelasgian Petroleum Company, more commonly known by its trade name, PelPetrol, has announced that it is ramping up its output of oil to meet global demand in the wake of supply disruptions due to piratic activity in the former Scanlaw. PelPetrol's increased production is directly aimed at stabilising world oil prices, according to a statement by the Government of Pelasgia, which holds sole ownership of PelPetrol through a holding company. When asked about whether PEFA, the Pelasgian Natural Gas Corporation, would take similar steps, the federal Minister of Energy, Mr. Ilias Lykaonas, ruled it out, stating that "[f]or now, the Government has not observed any trends in the natural gas market that would justify such a move." Nevertheless, Mr. Lykaonas assured reporters that, should the need arise, the Pelasgian State would "abide by its long-standing policy of keeping global fossil fuel prices stable and the trade routes transporting these fuels open."

With respect to the trade routes in question, following reports coming out of @Jydsken-Østveg that international shipping, including Pelasgian ships, has been attacked by the pirates with no prisoners being taken, the Ministry of Defence has started readying a naval task-force to respond to the piratic threat, according to reports from government sources. Pelasgia is reportedly seeking cooperation from other countries affected by the attacks, particularly those with coastlines in the Gothic Sea, but, should such cooperation prove to not be readily forthcoming in a timely fashion or at all, Propontis is likely to act on its own, at least to contain the pirates within the Gothic Sea proper. [...] In the meantime, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Anaktoron Avenue released an official travel advisory banning all Pelasgian maritime traffic near the former Scanlaw and discouraging all other travel to the three countries making up the former federation. [...]

Propontis seeks to maintain friendship with the Rheinbund
Propontis, 12 January 2023 | Stelios Koskotas

The Government of Pelasgia has made overtures to the @Rheinbund indicating its eagerness to maintain good relations and cooperation with the nearby Meridian Sea nation, in spite of the abolition of the dynastic change, and the self-imposed exile of the Rheinish-born former Empress Hildegaard. On Tuesday, the overnment, which administers the Metropolitan Prefecture of Propontis, announced that it would maintain a series of historic street, building, park and other location names with links to the old dynasty—among these being Empress Hildegaard Street, a side-street in the city's embassy row, which intersects the larger street where the Rheinish Embassy is located. A small nearby park, which was jointly inaugurated by the Pelasgian and Rheinish royals during the latter's visit to Pelasgia, is also to be named "Pelasgo-Rheinish Friendship Park".

Furthermore, apart from such symbolic moves, Propontis has also indicated its renewed interest in funding joint business ventures, such as Daedalus Aviation, and cultural initiatives, such as the Culture and Language Institutes maintained by both countries in each other's capital. "Their Majesties are welcome to return to Propontis at any time," Foreign Minister Psaras said in a statement, referring to the Rheinish royals. "Indeed, it is our hope to have a productive discussion with the Rheinish Chancellor soon, with a view to strengthening our bilateral ties." When asked about the ties between the now-defunct Vatatzes Dynasty and the Crown of the Rheinbund, Mr. Psaras said that the monarchy, though now abolished, is part of Pelasgia's history. "One cannot sweep aside two thousand years of history in a day," the Minister explained. "And our cordial ties with the Rheinbund through multiple royal marriages are part of that history."
© 2022 O Propontios Logothetis Newspaper Company, S.A. | Ἐφημερίς «Ὁ Προπόντιος Λογοθέτης» Α.Ε.

Neustria · Jan 20, 2023

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Progress by the baton: Pelasgian linguistic policy and nation-building
Propontis, 19 January 2023 | Ricardo Alvarez*

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(Photo from the Education Ministry's website): A poster by the Government of Pelasgia showing mainland Pelasgia and Tephanon, inscribed "Compatriot, speak Pelasgian!"

*Dr. Ricardo Alvarez is a linguist from the United Kingdom of Ebria (@Corrientes), who lives and works in Propontis as a senior translations editor and special advisor to several major publications and publishing houses, including O Propontios Logothetis, Ankyra Editions, and the Pelasgian Independent Publishers' Association. He is also an honourary member of the Pelasgian Linguistics Society. Dr. Alvarez moved to Propontis in 2012 for professional reasons, and he resides in the city's Fifth Urban District (the famous "Pempton").

The deposition of the Vatatzes Dynasty and the Restoration of the House of Notaras has brought with it many shifts in political culture that were long overdue but vigorously opposed by the erstwhile Imperial authorities. The arch-conservative Vatatzes regime, though encouragetic of a sort of cultural or quasi-civic nationalism based on religion and loyalty to the Empire, was adamantly opposed to any efforts at forging a more modern, uniform nation. This is because the regime saw the creation of one uniform national body politic as a stepping stone to popular sovereignty and to its own abolition—and, thus, the Vatatzist State went on opposing any expression of common national sentiment even after the forces of modern technology, mass communications, mobility, public education and urbanisation had combined to largely abolish the traditional sub-cultures and regional boundaries upon which the regime's own view of itself depended. The fall of the Vatatzedes came soon after—but that did not necessarily mean the automatic end of those few regional differences and dialects that remained, along with many historic minorities that inhabit various regions of the Pelasgian State. Ironically, the new regime now found itself faced with the opposite problem of its predecessor: a foundationl myth presupposing an ethnically and culturally homogenous nation to a degree that did not simply reflect reality. Having learned from the failures of its predecessor, however, the new regime instead chose to embrace and to instrumentalise the forces of modernity rather than opposing them. The result? An official policy of national identity-building and uniformisation, the most emblematic expression of which is a recent government campaign entitled "Compatriot, speak Pelasgian!".

Thoughout Pelasgia, posters and signs repeating the slogan "Compatriot, speak Pelasgian!" (Patrióti, míla pelasgiká!) have appeared, encouraging speakers of not just minority languages but also regional or class-specific dialects to speak "standard" or "proper" Modern Pelasgo-Carian—which in the eyes of official Propontis consists of the grammatical, phonetic and lexilogical choices of the educated Propontine middle class. Arguably, it is in this form of the Pelasgo-Carian language that most post-Medieval literary works of note have been written, and that most media have been produced; and it was primarily this sociolect that the near-legendary Grammar of the Modern Pelasgian Language of Prof. Emmanouil Rhodokanakes was published in 1941, setting the golden standard of modern Pelasgo-Carian linguistic education that is still followed to this day. In many ways, this is a natural development, and an enthusiastic effort by both official and traditional authorities (teachers, community leaders, cultural figures, government-aligned clergymen) and the common people to realise a vision of common nationhood that has been held back by foreign domination and anti-democratic reaction. Walking through working-class Propontis, such as the Pempton (or "Urban District V") where I reside, one gets the feeling that signs reprinted in Standard Modern Pelasgian are not the result of state coercion so much as they are symbols of national pride and citizenship, much like a flag or a patriotic tune. When one turns on TV, the radio or popular internet games and listens to only Standard Modern Pelasgian, they are sharing an experience that millions of their compatriots are also experiencing at the same time, all in the exact same tongue and with no need for interpretations or translations. This, in a sense, is the sort of identification with complete strangers that makes modern democracy possible.

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A sign found in many school courtyards where minority languages or dialects are spoken. It reads "Wash yourselves and speak Pelasgian."

However, this policy also has an uglier face: residents in many regions where minority languages or dialects have a strong history and are well-entenched (e.g., Euxenia or Philistaea) have reported a much more coercive approach by authorities. In Kerason, Euxenia Theme, a mother of three children wrote a social media post reporting that teachers told students at her children's school not to speak in their highly distinct regional dialect (sometimes termed a separate language by experts) for fear of facing disciplinary sanctions. When the same mother came by the school several days later, she found a sign at the courtyard, near where children play: "Wash yourselves and speak Pelasgian" (Pléneste kaì milâte pelasgiká). The coarseness of this message resounded through the Pelasgian internet, reaching a Jewish father from Philistaea, who reported that his own children's school had been forced to conduct primary instruction wholly in Pelasgian. Education Department officials and teachers from other schools had been dispatched to observe the policy's implementation, with threats of complete integration if the directive was not followed; indeed, schools dependent on government funding were already integrated, leaving only wholly private institutions to operate with some degree of nominal independence. Parents around the country posted similar stories—until the State Oversight Committee for Telecommunications and Broadcasting (E.K.E.TIL.RA.), Pelasgia's internet and media watchdog, forced social media to take down some of the more controversial posts at the heart of the dispute.

That is not to say, however, that such policies are unpopular: far from it! As debates raged on twatter, thousands of Pelasgian netizens took to boards to support linguistic integration, while other stated that government policy does not go far enough. And whereas there certainly is an element of official backing behind such outpourings, even opposition media (such as the Chronographos newspaper of Pyrgos) admit that over 65% of Pelasgians "are more favourable than not" to "a blanket ban on unofficial dialects and languages in public schools". A plurality (47%) support such a measure for all schools, including private colleges and academies of all levels. For its part, the Government justifies its policy as being necessary for proper democratic functioning and for the country's full modernisation. "Ghettoisation, self-segregation and luddism cannot be cloaked behind justifications of 'cultural preservation'," read a statement by the Education Department. "The national body must be whole, and all citizens must be allowed to freely participate in it. By allowing the remnants of antiquated social structures to remove future generations of citizens from this experience, we would effectively be depriving our own citizens of their right to full participation in society." Asked to clarify this policy, Prime Minister Themistokles Angelopoulos explained: "How can a Hierosolymite Jewish child who does not speak Pelasgian find a job outside his strict, closed community? How can a Euxenian woman vote and avail herself of her civil rights if she does not know Standard Pelasgian to read the laws that allow her to do so? We ought to respect tradition, but only to the extent that it benefits our people, rather than blindly keeping alive empty, regressive practices. If God wills it, then in Pelasgia, in twenty years time, Philistaean sectarianism and Euxenian teen arranged marriage will have gone to the dustbin of history, alongside the dowry and the notion of hereditary nobility. That is what we mean when we say 'Compatriot, speak Pelasgian'."
Tags: politics, elections, monarchy, protests

Other News

Pilot Accelerated Naturalisation Programme Launched: The Imperial Government has launched an experimental pilot programme to grant citizenship to 20,000 highly promising young foreign nationals residing in Pelasgia. The programme affected individuals mostly under 18 but up to 22 years of age, who had either not yet graduated full education or who had done so ahead of their peers, and who otherwise excelled academically and in other areas, such as cultural, athletic or civic engagement, and who showed a marked and substantially successful effort toward cultural integration. Due to Pelasgian nationality law, these new citizens were obliged to renounce their original citizenships, and they will be obligated to complete their national service, as with other citizens. However, the Government hopes that this programme can set the basis for a more modern nationality policy that can benefit society as a whole.
Propontis Considering Sanctions on Gutarike: Sources from the Foreign Affairs Department in Propontis reported the drafting a broad sanctions package against Gutarike, should the Scanian nation fail to take measures to contain the activity of pirates in its sovereign territory and waters. According to semi-official sources, Propontis shares the belief of Ebria (@Corrientes) that Gutarike's navy is effectively behind the attacks, rendering this situation a flagrant violation of international law that warrants a strong response. At the same time, Propontis intends to support efforts by the E.F. to resolve the situation in the Gothic Sea, though it increasingly seems reluctant to contribute forces to a naval campaign without a unified international response by a majority of E.F. members—particularly as the crisis has significantly boosted Pelasgian oil and shipping revenues, and diverted international traffic to the Propontine Straits.
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Rheinbund · Feb 16, 2023

Pelasgia said:
Propontis seeks to maintain friendship with the Rheinbund
Propontis, 12 January 2023 | Stelios Koskotas

The Government of Pelasgia has made overtures to the @Rheinbund indicating its eagerness to maintain good relations and cooperation with the nearby Meridian Sea nation, in spite of the abolition of the Pelasgian monarchy and the self-imposed exile of the Imperial Family, including the Rheinish-born Empress Hildegaard. On Tuesday, the federal government, which administers the Metropolitan Prefecture of Propontis as a federal district, announced that it would maintain a series of historic street, building, park and other location names with links to the old monarchy—among these being Empress Hildegaard Street, a side-street in the city's embassy row, which intersects the larger street where the Rheinish Embassy is located. A small nearby park, which was jointly inaugurated by the Pelasgian and Rheinish royals during the latter's visit to Pelasgia, is also to be named "Pelasgo-Rheinish Friendship Park", in lieu of the original name of "Palinorthosis (Restoration) Park".

Furthermore, apart from such symbolic moves, Propontis has also indicated its renewed interest in funding joint business ventures, such as Daedalus Aviation, and cultural initiatives, such as the Culture and Language Institutes maintained by both countries in each other's capital. "Their Majesties are welcome to return to Propontis at any time," Foreign Minister Psaras said in a statement, referring to the Rheinish royals. "Indeed, it is our hope to have a productive discussion with the Rheinish Chancellor soon, with a view to strengthening our bilateral ties." When asked about the ties between the now-defunct Pelasgian monarchy and the Crown of the Rheinbund, Mr. Psaras said that the monarchy, though now abolished, is part of Pelasgia's history. "One cannot sweep aside two thousand years of history in a day," the Minister explained. "And our cordial ties with the Rheinbund through multiple royal marriages are part of that history."

Kanzleramt
Fehrbellin, Rheinbund

It is also the wish of the Government of the Rheinbund and the Governments of its memberstates to maintain the friendship between the Pelasgians and the Rheinians. Two, and maybe even more, millennia of history tie us together. We cannot allow these bonds to erode. We welcome that our common history is cherished in Pelasgia. Of course the Culture and Language Institutes will be maintained, and of course we will continue to fully support Pelasgo-Rheinian joint business ventures.
We fully recognise the switch of power that took place in Pelasgia, and fully recognise President Marshall a.D. Kallergis as Sebastokrator and President of the State of the Pelasgian Republic, and with that as Head of State of the Pelasgian Republic. The Imperial Family is welcome to live in the Rheinbund as long as it wants. On behalf of His Majesty King Philipp von Homburg-Gosta, the Fürst-Innen, Fürst-Bischof and Bürgerschaftslegat-Innen of the Memberstates, the national government and the governments of the Memberstates, I would like to invite President Marshall a.D. Kallergis to the Rheinbund for a state visit. It is also my wish to meet with Prime-Minister Angelopoulos.

Hans-Georg Lauritzen, Chancellor

Neustria · May 7, 2023

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Government enacts new education policy, despite opposition from private schools
Propontis, 7 May 2023 | The Editorial Board

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A typical Pelasgian school classroom, this one in Aspropol, Pelagonia
Source: Propontis News Agency

The federal government of Prime Minister Themistokles Angelopoulos has enacted its hotly debated new educational policy into law, following the granting of presidential assent to a bill approved by the legislature, the Legislative Senate, earlier this week. This comes in spite of stiff opposition by the National Association of Private Schools, which criticized the bill as significantly restricting Pelasgians' educational freedom and as essentially eliminating all substantive differences between public and private education. Per the new policy, all schools in Pelasgia, including private and minority schools, would be obligated to comply with a common core curriculum in order to be accredited and licensed by the Department (Logothesion) of Education. This accreditation and licensing process would be subject to partial annual and full five-year review, to ensure adequate and substantive compliance by all interested institutions.

Effectively, the policy would divide all schools in Pelasgia into four categories: trade schools, artistic schools, exemplary/experimental schools and general schools. These classifications would cover both primary and secondary educational institutions (including gymnasiums and lycaeums), and they would be categorized as follows: trade schools would be less academically focused institutions with a view to training tradesmen and skilled blue collar workers; artistic schools would be geared toward educating artists of various kinds, with curriculum enabling the artistic pursuits and talents of students; exemplary/experimental schools would include schools for gifted and academically inclined students, including a more advanced and stringent curriculum and higher academic standards; and general schools would include all other, non-specialized schools, offering general education. Public and private schools are to be constituted as one of the above types, with one important caveat: only public schools are allowed to be classified as exemplary/experimental schools, and to follow the curriculum reserved to such schools.

Essentially, this is aimed at ensuring that members of Pelasgia's future academic, business, social and political elite are educated in public schools for gifted stuents, which select for excellence through annual exams to both enter and remain in that system. Moreover, this plan seeks to remove the "elite" status of any foreign school operating in Pelasgia, or of any school affixed to a particular religious or ethnic minority; essentially, it is meant to ensure that all of Pelasgia's elite are fully integrated in the national mainstream and that they are raised to have loyalty only to the Pelasgian Nation, and not to any foreign culture or power. As expected, the new law has raised much protest from both various minority groups, and from private schools themselves, including a few foreign expatriate communities; however, it has also been staunchly supported by the government and by a significant part of the Pelasgian public, including the emerging middle class and the national bourgeoisie, who view such a step as necessary to the development of a truly national, indigenous ruling class that is loyal to Pelasgia and to its interests alone. [...]

Government invites Rheinbund counterparts to Propontis
Propontis, 7 May 2023 | Panagiotis Papadopoulos

Several months into the new dynasty's reign, and in anticipation of the coming constitutional referendum, the Pelasgian government appears ready for its first major international conference. To that end, both the Emperor and the Grand Logothetehave invited their counterparts from the @Rheinbund to the capital of the Pelasgian State, with a view to maintaining the two countries' already excellent bilateral relations in spite of recent constitutional changes in Propontis. [...] In a public statement, a spokesperson for the Great Palace clarified that Pelasgia "does not view the Rheinbund's acting a refuge for Pelasgia's dethroned Imperials during their self-imposed exile as a hostile move; if anything, Pelasgia considers that to be a highly amicable and convenient service, given that we can rest assured that our former reigning family now live in a friendly country, rather than being the dependents of some distant, potentially hostile regime." [...] The new Emperor Nikephoros IV hopes to meet with the reigning King of the Rheinbund, while a more substantive meeting with between Chancellor Lauritzen and Grand Secretary Angelopoulos, as well as several ministers of the two cabinets, is also hoped for. [...]
© 2023 O Propontios Logothetis Newspaper Company, S.A. | Ἐφημερίς «Ὁ Προπόντιος Λογοθέτης» Α.Ε.

Rheinbund · May 7, 2023

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Bund der rheinischen Fürstentümer und Bürgerschaften
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Korrespondenznummer / Correspondence number: 2023-05-07/001 ; 7th May 2023
Steht in Bezug zu den Korrespondenzen / Related to the correspondences: ———
Öffentlich / Public: ■ │ Vertraulich / Restricted: □ │ Streng geheim / Top Secret: □
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Kanzleramt
Fehrbellin, Rheinbund

The Rheinbund and the Pelasgian State have a very long history of good relationships at all levels, in good times and in turbulent times. This also led to marriages between Noble and Royal Houses of both countries. We thank you for the invitation to come to Pelasgia, and we heartily accept it.

Also on behalf of His Majesty King Philipp von Homburg-Gosta,
Hans-Georg Lauritzen, Chancellor

Neustria · May 16, 2023

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~~~~Exclusive: Marshal Kallergis names successor, voices support for presidential system~~~~

Editorial Board | 17/05, 11:30 | Upd: 7 minutes ago
Tags: [Featured] [News] [Politics]

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A staircase in the Great Palace of Propontis, the Pelasgian President's official residence

In an exclusive interview with PERT, which was given in anticipation of the 228th anniversary of the Discovery of the Far South on May 21, 1795, His Excellency, Marshal Vasileios Kallergis, who is the current President and Sebastokrator of Pelasgia, made a series of important revelations about his plan’s for the country’s political future.

Reflecting on the current state of the Republic and the Federation, His Excellency opined that certain structural adjustments would need to be gradually made the ensure the longevity and proper functioning of the country’s new constitutional regime. Regarding the issue of the State Presidency in particular, the Marshal noted his wish for his successor to be a civilian, to ensure a return of full military subordination to the civil power, which he considers necessary for a functional democracy. Further, when pressed as to the identity of his preferred successor, Marshal Kallergis confirmed reports that he was grooming Archipelago Appellate Chief Prosecutor Konstantinos Phokas to succeed him. He backed up his choice of a career civil servant over an elected politician by saying that that “has never been the way heads of state are chosen” in Pelasgia. “Traditionally, elected politicians have filled the premiership and the seats of the legislature, while the state has been headed by someone above politics,” His Excellency explained. “Most Emperors have come from the ranks of the military or the bureaucracy—and right now, in the Republic’s nascent stages, I think it is a good factor of stability to not politicize its highest office at least by subjecting it to the inherent partisanship of elected politicians.”

A follow-up question by PERT’s journalists regarding whether or not the Marshal supports an elected presidency produced an even bigger bombshell. “I think that the Presidency should not only be elected, but that it should be executive—that is to say, the President should directly manage the cabinet, in lieu of a Prime Minister. The office of Prime Minister only made sense to act as a democratic mediator under the Emperorship, whereas an elected President already has the democratic mandate to alter or to effect policy,” His Excellency stated. Marshal Kallergis did not go on to state whether the incumbent administration would propose a constitutional amendment to that effect during his tenure, or whether this change would also extend to Pelasgia’s federated states, which operate as parliamentary systems. “Ultimately,” he clarified, “those are questions for the elected politicians to decide. Powerful and respected as it may be, my office, in its current form, is a safeguard, not a tool for everyday government.”

~~When asked about whether he plans to retire early, the Marshal gave no indication, saying that he intends to serve “so long as his services are necessary and beneficial to the country.”~~

| ΔΕΙΤΕ ΕΠΙΣΗΣ
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Neustria · May 22, 2023

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Judicial Senate approves constitutional amendment referendum
Propontis, 22 May 2023 | The Editorial Board

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The plenary hearing chamber of the Judicial Senate in Propontis
Source: Propontis News Agency

The Judicial Senate of the State, Pelasgia's highest court of law, has verified the legality of the referendum proposed by the government of Prime Minister Themistokles Angelopoulos to amend certain articles of the Constitution. The decision was rendered by department IV.1 (Δ΄ 1 in Pelasgian) of the Senate, which is tasked with constitutional and legal oversight over the country's electoral politics, and which therefore has to verify the legality of all proposed elections and referenda, as well as the participation of parties and campaigns therein. A separate decision was issued on the same day by the plenary of department IV, to which all bills must be submitted for legal verification prior to being tabled before the legislature. [...]

The referendum, which is set to take place later this month, will confirm changes to the Constitution proposed following the dynastic change that took place on January 10, and which were acceded to by the new Emperor Nikephoros IV by way of a Chrysoboule. [...]

Not yet quite rid of this matter, the Judicial Senate will soon have to approve the preliminary plans of the referendum committees as well as accompanying groups and organisations that are to be established to support the "Yes" and "No" votes. This will be done in coordination and conduction with the National Electoral Authority, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the National Public Revenue Authority. [...]

Pelasgia and Rheinbund sign economic agreements, reaffirm bilateral ties
Propontis, 21 May 2023 | Tiverios Zarkadakis

The much-publicized visit of the King and Chancellor of the @Rheinbund to Propontis to meet with their Pelasgian counterparts has already produced some new agreements. On Saturday, at a ceremony at the building of the Propontis Chamber of Industry and Commerce, which was designed by Rheinish-born Pelasgian architect Gustav von Radebeul, the two heads of government and their delegations penned an agreement formalising the harmonization of maritime shipping regulations and the recognition of maritime liens from each country by the other's courts. The agreement was accompanied by a deal between Darner and Pegasus Motors, the automobile giants of the Rheinbund and Pelasgia, respectively, to cooperate regarding the development, production and sale of electric automobiles—a field in which the Rheinish company is leading and where Pelasgian firms have started to make inroads with the development of the

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by PEVO, Pegasus' main domestic competitor. [...] The signing of the agreement was both preceded and followed by other activities, as the two sides continue to have talks regarding bilateral relations, and they also review the current progress of existing agreements. [...]

At the same time, the Rheinish King and the Pelasgian Emperor concluded a more symbolic but also quite important agreement reaffirming their commitment to any deals signed by the previous Pelasgian dynasty and the Rheinbund. This took place during a joint visit by the two heads of state to one of the Rheinish cultural centres and schools opened in Pelasgia under an existing cultural exchange agreement. The centre is located in Galatopyrgos, an international, coastal district of metropolitan Propontis which has historically housed many foreign residents from Gallo-Germania, and where many foreign diplomatic missions, businesses and churches are based. [...] The two leaders also visited the Imperial crypt, where many Rheinish noblewomen who were consorts to the Orthodox Sovereigns lie in repose, including some from the line of the current Rheinish ruling house. [...] The move was seen as symbolising the new dynasty's wish to carry on its relations with its oldest and most important regional ally, especially in the midst of growing global instability.

PelPetrol, PEFA ramp up production to support global economy
Propontis, 22 May 2023 | Nektarios Makrinos

PelPetrol and PEFA, the state-owned petroleum and natural gas monopolies of Pelasgia, have reportedly ramped up their production of oil, natural gas and related fossil fuel products destined for export abroad, according to a statement released by the Chancellery (the federal government's treasury, revenue agency and secretariat), which ultimately controls both company through their state-owned parent, State Petroleum and Natural Gas Holdings S.A. [...] Though PelPetrol and PEFA have already modified their production to ensure the stability of fossil fuel prices within Pelasgia itself, the Finance Department is concerned that the negative impact of disruptions to global fossil fuel supply might adversely affect the economies of trade partners, something which would ultimately hurt the Pelasgian economy through reduced trade volume and depressed demand for Pelasgian exports. [...] This is the second time that Pelasgia has acted in such a manner, following its move to supply @Tianlong and other CETO nations with oil during an oil embargo by @Tarusa in previous years. [...]

Nevertheless, some economists point out that this decision might have also been motivated by less selfless motives: the rising demand for Pelasgian fossil fuels has raised demand for the obol, whose value relative to the Euromark has starkly risen above the Pelasgian Central Bank's target rate of around Ø6 to €M1, potentially affecting the competitiveness of Pelasgian exports. [...] Corrective measures have been taken, though the Central Bank wishes to avoid strategies that could cause inflation after current global economic shocks have subsided.
© 2023 O Propontios Logothetis Newspaper Company, S.A. | Ἐφημερίδα «Ὁ Προπόντιος Λογοθέτης» Α.Ε.

Neustria · May 30, 2023

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General Election: Parties prepare for polls on Sunday

Editorial Board | 30/05, 13:05 | Upd: 15 minutes ago
Tags: [Featured] [News] [Politics]

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Police officers post the imperial decree proclaiming the election outside the Senate

On the morning of Monday, 29 May 2023, officers of the Propontis Metropolitan Police Directorate (MADIP) carried out a traditional practice that precedes every Pelasgian election: they posted the decree proclaiming the election in question outside the Koinoboule. Nonetheless, the ink of the President's signature had scarcely dried on the document, when the country's political parties rushed to announce their electoral strategies ahead of Sunday’s polls. The governing National Liberal Union of long-time Grand Logothete Themistokles Angelopoulos hopes to bank on support it has accumulated along the growing urban middle class and national bourgeoisie over its two-decade-long policy of stable, well thought-out reform. Mr. Angelopoulos has served as Pelasgia’s head of government for nearly fifteen years, having previously resigned due to his opposition to the Vatatzes Dynasty’s attempts at neo-autocratic government. Having won that fight, the son of long-time premier and national martyr Leon Angelopoulos is seen as the safe choice, backed by the cautiously reform-minded socio-political establishment.

On the opposite side if establishment politics stands the Socialist Workers' Party of Pelasgia (SEKP), led by Ioannis Papaioannou, a medical doctor, community organiser and member of the Boule of Representatives for Drakopolis, in the Theme of Pieria. Mr. Papaioannou has received a surprising amount of support not just from SEKP, but also from smaller left-wing forces as well as union and progressive civil society groups. This coalition hopes to break the "invisible wall" that Mr. Papaioannou claims has been keeping the Left out of political power in any meaningful capacity in the country for decades, ever since Pelasgia first held free and fair elections in 1957. Mr. Papaioannou's surprising amount of support could prove to be a major headache for the fragile coalition between the institutional bureaucracy and the parliamentary centre-right—especially when taking into account the third major contender of the electoral race. That place belongs to Philippos Andreades, a member of the Boule of Representatives for the second district of Thermi, and the kan who succeded the premiership under the deposed Emperor Alexios Vatatzes following Mr. Angelopoulos’ resignation. Mr. Andreades’ experience in government and his clear expression of a more hard-right current in political conservatism make him and his party, the hard right Constitutional Democratic Party (KSD), fearsome candidates. This is even more given the unofficial alliance apparently formed between KAD and the more reactionary (and allegedly pro-Vatatzes) Popular Orthodox Party (LOK), which is led by longtime former Foreign Affairs Secretary and aristocrat Theophrastos Palaiologos—a former ally of Mr. Angelopoulos’.

Having won the referendum to amend Pelasgia’s Constitution, Mr. Angelopoulos will now have to win another election in short order—if he does so, the path will be open to him to become Pelasgia’s longest-serving head of government.

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Neustria · Jun 4, 2023

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Elections: Nat'l Liberal Union scores major victory; Popular Orthodox Party to lend support
Propontis, 4 June 2023 | The Editorial Board

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A ballot box being opened in Hagios Simeon, Propontis M.P.
Source: Propontis News Agency

When polls closed on Sunday, early celebrations were already underway at the headquarters of the National Liberal Union (EEF), on Hagiou Demetriou Street, in downtown Propontis. Exit polls seemed to be confirming pre-electoral polling pointing to a major EEF victory—and when the first results trickled in, supporters of the longtime governing party became ecstatic. A couple of hours later, the opposition conceded the election, and the party's leader, Themistokles Angelopoulos, emerged on the stage to greet a cheering crowd. According to the electoral results published on the website of the Department of the Interior, the centre-right EEF has emerged victorious with 41.3% of the vote—Pelasgian electoral law, which grants all votes cast other than for parties that met the 3% threshold to enter the country's legislature, has raised that to 46.9%, just short of an absolute majority. This is a major victory for Mr. Angelopoulos, who placed his gradual reformist agenda on the line, along with his long political career, which has seen him already serve as the country's head of government for nearly 15 years. [...] Having conquered some 281 seats in the Boule of Representatives (the lower house of the legislative Senate), Mr. Angelopoulos' seems well-positioned to obtain another term as Grand Logothete.

Over in Pyrgos, the traditional port district of Propontis, the headquarters of the opposition Socialist Workers' Party (SEKP) were much more dull: the party only gathered 26.7% of the vote, affording it some 161 seats in the Boule of Representatives, followed by the EEF's competing right wing party, the populist Constitutional Democratic Party (KSD), which took some 114 seats and 19% of the vote. Neither party's leader has given any indication of resigning following the result; SEKP's Ioannis Papaioannou (who represents Drakopolis, Thermi) decried "institutional bias keeping the Left out of real political power in Pelasgia," pointing to SEKP's heavy under-representation in the Senate's upper house, the Boule of the Provinces. For his part, Philippos Andreades of KSD called tonight a "victory for coastal, Propontis-centric urban politics," focusing on his party's electoral base in the countryside and in more regional cities. Neither man challenged the legality or legitimacy or the result, however. [...] The smaller opposition parties also made a decent showing, with the liberal Progressive and Reformist Party (KPM) taking 3.9% of the vote and 23 seats, and the far-right Popular Orthodox Party (LOK) obtaining 3.5% of the vote and 21 seats. [...]

Regardless of his technically lacking an absolute majority in the lower house of the Legislative Senate, Mr. Angelopoulos can likely rely on the LOK for support, as that party has previously provided the necessary votes for the EEF government to obtain the confidence of the legislature. In return, Mr. Angelopoulos will likely satisfy certain policy demands of the LOK (such as pursuing a conservative foreign policy and moderating certain social reforms). Some analysts have pointed to Mr. Angelopoulos' potentially granting the Department of Foreign Affairs to the LOK's leader, his onetime close associate and former longtime Foreign Secretary, Mr. Theophrastos Palaiologos; however, Mr. Palaiologos' avowed loyalty to the now-deposed House of Vatatzes might make that politically impossible. [...] In either case, with a near-absolute majority in the Boule of Representatives and a clear majority of 21 out of 40 seats in the Boule of the Provinces (whose members are appointed by regional governments), the EEF can rest assured that its dominance over the country will continue for at least another four years.

Interior Secretary disallows planned pride parades
Propontis, 5 June 2023 | Panagiotis Papadopoulos

The Department of the Interior has disallowed three pride parades that were being planned in Propontis, Thermi and Hierosolyma on public order grounds, according to an ordinance published on the Department's website. The order is signed personally by the Interior Secretary, Mr. Emmanouil Spatharios, citing the power of the Government to outlaw marches and other public gatherings or events on grounds of public order under the Public Gatherings Law (Law 47/2002). Specifically, the order states that the marches, which were scheduled to take place between June 20 and 26, along with accompanying events, would constitute "a gross offence to general morality and norms" such that public unrest and violence could be reasonably foreseen to result therefrom. With regard to the march in Hierosolyma, the Secretary's ordinance additionally states that it would "gravely offend public religious sentiment," something which is criminalised by the Pelasgian Penal Code, most likely due to the city's status as a sacred place. [...]

The National Association for Minority Rights (ESDIM), which was one of the main organising bodies behind the marches, has condemned the ordinance and vowed to challenge it before the administrative justice system, seeking to not only overturn it but to also obtain monetary compensation from the Government. A spokeswoman for the Association, Ms. Katerina Despotou, accused the Interior Secretary of seeking to "curry favour" with the hard-right National Orthodox Party (LOK), which has previously lent its support to the governing centre-right National Liberal Union (EEF) of the Grand Secretary, Mr. Themistokles Angelopoulos. "I understand that, after the latest elections, Mr. Angelopoulos finds himself once again dependent on the reactionary LOK to obtain the confidence of the Legislative Senate," Ms. Despotou stated. "However, if he did not resort to the easy tactic of attacking the rights of minorities, then perhaps Mr. Angelopoulos could obtain the 20 seats he needs for a majority by collaborating with more progressive forces."

For its part, the Government has denied any accusations of bias or wrongdoing, including those pointing to the "convenient timing" of its decision right before a confidence vote by the newly elected legislature. "The Government of Pelasgia stands by its decision to uphold public order and good morals, and we will defend the ordinance in court, if need be," stated Mr. Spatharios during an interview with the public broadcaster, PERT. [...]

Government to enact major land reform, update property law
Propontis, 5 June 2023 | Angeliki Touloumba

The Government has announced its intent to table a law before the Legislative Senate that would enact certain changes in the country's land registry, property law and also redistribute certain agricultural lands. The law was previously studied, amended and authorised by the relevant senatorial committees, before being forwarded to the Judicial Senate of the State for legal review. Department IV of the high court issued an opinion declaring the bill, as proposed, to be lawful and constitutional, but the legislature had been dissolved at that point pending elections, meaning that it could not be returned to the legislators for a vote. As is its right, upon winning the election, the cabinet of Grand Secretary Themistokles Angelopoulos (which is still, technically, a demissionary cabinet pending a confidence vote by the new legislature) has announced its intent to retain the law and to table it before the Boule of Representatives for a vote. [...]

According to the proposed law, large agricultural lands known as timaria (sing. timarion) that are the property of major landowners known as timariotes and worked by landless agricultural workers, who are often poorly paid and housed on the property, will be sized down, allowing agricultural workers to purchase part of the land at a fixed rate for their own use or to receive a set indemnity from the Government of Pelasgia to purchase immovable property elsewhere. [...] This provision would also be extended to lands owned by certain monasteries and ecclesiastical institutions, which were previously granted appending land parcels as a means of support by the medieval Propontine Emperors. [...] The government also intends to eliminate laws on acquisitive prescription except in cases of abandonment or deemed knowing consent, while also removing restrictions on the amalgamation and division of agricultural parcels, both with a view to encouraging modern, large-scale industrial farming. While such farming is already in place in certain areas of the country, particularly south of the White Mountains, other, more traditional regions are lagging behind and thus persist in an noncompetitive, inefficient state. [...] Finally, the law would simplify registration procedures with and allocate additional funding and resources to the National Land Registry, with a view to speeding up the digitization of its operations.

The enactment of such reforms was a major electoral promise of Mr. Angelopoulos and his governing National Liberal Union (EEF), who thus hope to win over the support of the popular classes for the Empire and its system as part of their broader agenda of "progressing to conserve." If passed by the Legislative Senate, this law could win a significant part of the more populist right-wing Constitutional Democratic Party (KSD) to the EEF, potentially freeing up Mr. Angelopoulos from his reliance on the more hard-right Popular Orthodox Rally (LOK) to retain a majority in the lower house of the Senate, without necessarily aggravating conservative landowners and religious communities—who stand to be at least partly compensated by the government on a set formula, using funds from various sources, including revenues from the state fossil fuel monopoly.
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