I made a mistake.

I sponsored this bill four Cosas ago removing the requirement for a Financial Report before each General Election. As far as I can tell from this, this was because no-one was doing it. But in hindsight, it was dumb. Of course all the parties running for election should see exactly what's in the Kingdom's coffers so they can create election platforms accordingly!

So I would like to call upon Minister of Finance @Baron Alexandreu Davinescu to request Royal Treasurer @xpb to issue a Financial Report (even one in very brief outline) now, before the end of the election, using his powers under El Lexhatx C.1.5.6. And we'll repair the reporting requirement in the next Cosa.

Our top priority:

• Ensuring that the next King of Talossa is non-partisan, active, friendly, and an ambassador for Talossa to the world.

Other priorities:

• Put an end to the ongoing saga of the National Database. The current National Database will no longer be used by the end of the 60th Cosa. With any luck, a cross-party effort will have replaced it by then.
• Get our national websites back under public control. They can't be run by the Minister of Technology on his own dime anymore. They need to be hosted professionally, paid for by Kingdom funds, and run by a non-political civil servant.
• Wide-ranging and open-ended debate over further Organic Law reforms. This will include the question of Provincial assignment in combination with the role of the Provinces in our constitution.
• A healthy Government-Opposition relationship. We oppose mindless partisanship; but the Government must be accountable, which means its members must abide by its programme, but also that there should be a strong Opposition to provide criticism and alternatives. We do not want an overly broad government where no-one is left "outside", so no debate can happen.
• Separation of politics from the Royal Civil Service. Talossans have to be able to do jobs for the Kingdom without having to join/agree with the party of Government. But to require civil servants to renounce political activity would require most Talossans to make an impossible choice, and reduce activity. We support an explicit Code of Conduct for civil servants, enforcing penalties for allowing partisan politics to interfere with their work. But no restriction on Talossans' political activities outside their work (except for the King).
• Pick up the issue of foreign affairs where the previous Government dropped it.

The outgoing Government of Talossa was marked by infighting and inactivity.

The party which formed that Government is no more; but many of the people involved are standing again, for new parties. They are not taking responsibility for what went wrong, or giving real answers why it won't happen again.

Talossa needs a serious and broad-based alternative to that.

The undersigned parties agree:
   

• to be each other's preferred partners for government in the 60th Cosa.
• to ensure that there will be a new King of Talossa before the end of the 60th Cosa, who will be culturally active, non-political, and friendly to all shades of Talossan opinion.
• to start a wide-ranging and open-ended discussion on Talossa's Organic Law and constitutional structure, in which each party will promote its own preferences.
• to set up a process for thorough reform of provincial assignments for new citizens.
• to encourage and participate in cross-party co-operation on other matters of broad consensus, such as replacing the Database.

Signed:
Civic Outreach For Fun & Enjoyable Events
Free Democrats of Talossa
Parti da Reformaziun

Twenty years ago today, the Talossan Republic was founded when eleven citizens seized control of Wittenberg X, in reaction to the increasing intolerance and abuse of King Robert I. A full history of events in the lead-up to that time is found in A Nation Sundered, by Gödafrïeu Valcádac'h (@GV) who took part in these events.

These events marked the first time in history when Talossa as a nation not only asserted itself against its King, but succeeded. Many more such events (the abdication of KR1 in August 2005, Reunision in April 2012, and of course this year's monarchy reform) have emphasised this - but the Revolution of Calondă Gün was the first to succeed.

QuoteI'm proud to say I was a part of a Talossan republic. And I'm proud of all those who worked hard to make such a republic. On this, the twentieth anniversary of our revolution, we should honor those who fought for true Talossan ideals of freedom, independence, and the dignity of the Talossan people. Long live Talossa!

- Sir Tamorán dal Navă (@grubi), first President of the Talossan Republic

(redirected from the official Chancery thread because I doubt Txec will be happy with people clogging it up like we are)

Quote from: Bråneu Excelsio on May 28, 2024, 04:56:22 PM

Quote from: Barclamïu da Miéletz on May 28, 2024, 03:20:36 PM

Quote from: Bråneu Excelsio on May 26, 2024, 08:17:09 PMPARTY REGISTRATION

* Civilian Outreach for Fun and Enjoyable Events.

* Initials
 (COFFEE)


* 50 word statement:
I have dedicated my energy to promote the values of healthy coexistence, Community, the Arts, Fun and Excitement.
My goal is to unite people through shared vissions and bring unity and positivity to Talossa; to balance different viewpoints and unite Talossa for a better future.

* Party Leader: @Bråneu Excelsio.

Arts you say? Sounds interesting.

Before you arrived I was the hyperactive dude for a while too, but even before knowing what was going on, I was recluted by the same guy who recluted you and had to quit everything later on, tricky little thing, politics.

I am always interested in how that citizen was so good at "recluting" people when the Free Democrats couldn't, even when approaching newbies right out of the immigration queue - but I suppose where all that ended up with the current "TNC potato sack" breaking. It's harder to recruit to a party of principle but it means a more resilient party in the long run.

QuoteIt's a good idea to stay out of politics, but having a seat in the Cosa is kind of fun. If you can afford the $10 dollars, making your own party seems fun, isn't it?

It is kind of fun, but it also means you become a "main character" in politics, with people from all sides lobbying you for your vote, to join their coalition, etc, and you make enemies as fast as you make friends. This is why we brought in the provision for "1 seat for new citizens", to bring in a low-stakes way to start in politics. For some reason people have just not been interested in that. Wild, as 1 seat in the last Cosa would have changed everything.

Estimat Túischac'h, I rise to deliver a Terpelaziun to the Minister of Foreign Affairs - making sure to tag @mximo, because apparently he doesn't read this board regularly..

What is the current state of progress on the Government's "re-embracing" of the League of Secessionist States, given that the Government's month of consultation received no consultation, and the Minister's previous assurance that "The first contact Will be made in the next few weeks to micronations around the world"?

And again, just to make sure:

Qu'est-ce que c'est l'état actuel des lieux à propos de la "re-éntreinte" par le Gouvernement de la Ligue des États Sécessionistes, étant donné que leur mois de concertation n'a donné lieu à aucune concertaion, et que le Ministre a donnée préleablement l'assurance que "The first contact Will be made in the next few weeks to micronations around the world"?

Estimat Túischac'h, my question is for the Minister of Technology.

Following up from a previous Terpelaziun, did anything ever happen with the Database Commission?

And if so, what?

And if not, why not?

Requirements:
1) agree with our 50 word statement for this election, and preferably with the major themes of the Party Program;
2) pledge to participate in the Free Democrats caucus in the 60th Cosa and vote according to its line;
3) not be annoyed when pestered by the Party Whip to vote on every Clark.

Enquiries to the Party President (me) or Secretary (@Antaglha Xhenerös Somelieir).

Estimat Túischac'h, I rise to deliver a question to the Seneschal.

Given that El Lexhatx D.1.5 states:

QuoteThe Seneschal shall maintain a public list of all of the positions described in Titles C[r 8] and D[r 7] of el Lexhatx along with any subordinate positions that might be created. The list shall include the incumbent of any filled position as well as indicate vacant positions. When the list is updated, the old version shall be publicly archived along with the dates for which it was effective.

And that the version of this list currently available on TalossaWiki is a whole Cosa term (and two Sensechais) out of date;

Has the Government set up a new "Seneschal's List" anywhere else which I am unaware of? I ask because the Opposition wanted to raise some accountability questions to the Cabinet but for some reason couldn't remember who they were.

Has anyone read both Terry Pratchett's Small Gods and Harry Turtledove's Between the Rivers and would be interesting into putting them both into dialogue with Gnosticism and Julian Jaynes' "bicameral mind theories?

Estimat Túischac'h, I rise to deliver a question to the Minister of Immigration @þerxh Sant-Enogat.

Can the Minister please provide:

1) the number of citizenship applications that have been received over his term in office?
2) the number of grants of citizenship that have been given over his term in office, with if possible the names of those new citizens?

Estimats cüncitaxhiens!

The Free Democrats of Talossa would like to invite all citizens to an Open Discussion:

Where To Now for the Organic Law?




Contrary to what some have said - we have had a democratic debate on the monarchy. The democratic debate on the monarchy has gone on for literally years. You can trace it back to the Ranked Choice Referendum of January 2021, or even before then, to the Proclamation Crisis of May 2015. Holy crap, almost exactly 9 years. And after all that time, we have finally reached a *real* historic compromise - which includes a commitment of King John to abdicate.

What can I say, except you're welcome. Nah, seriously - I acknowledge the hard work and sincere efforts to reach a compromise of Brenéir Tzaracomprada and Baron Alexandreu Davinescu as well as most of the TNC legislative caucus, who helped this over the last hurdle. But I'm still going to claim that none of this would have happened the Free Democrats and our predecessor parties doing the hard work keeping the issue alive, through dark times and election defeats, over most of a decade.  And some of those complaining now actively opposed this ongoing political struggle - apparently out of personal animus.

Now. What is the next step?

The first point to be made is that Talossan Republicanism is not done yet. The roots of Talossan Republicanism are almost as old as the roots of the monarchy. Did not King Ben himself flirt several times with being President Ben? Was there not a Provisional Peculiar Republic of Talossa in 1987, before most citizens were even born? It ain't going away. But the argument needs to be made again from first principles, once the complicating factor - King John's political interference turning into apathy - is gone. Republicans now need to convince the nation that even a good, active King - which, schi Allà en volt, we will have within the year - is inferior to an elected head of State; or that a good, active King will inevitably turn into a King Ben or a King John if not subject to public opinion. That job is yet to come, and we need a recomposition of Republican opinion over that time. It's not going to come through political abstention and complaining about others' hard work.

But there are so many other things to discuss apart from the monarchy! It doesn't matter if you're a High Tory or a Red Radical, Talossa needs to discuss, at the very least:

Reforms to the Legislature: Unicameralism? A Mixed-Member Proportional System?

Reforms to the Provincial System: Mergers? Depowering, or at least a change in relationship with the Kingdom government? Even abolition (we have the cantonal system underlying all of that, never forget)?

Reforms to the Civil Service/Chancery: should we be expanding the "non-political admin" parts of the Government? Or abolishing them and giving all power back to the electeds?

The political powers, if any, of the King? (as long as we have one)

I should point out that the FreeDems have no "party line" on any of these issues. We are as keen to debate with each other as we are to debate with all sections of opinion!

In the coming election, the Free Democrats of Talossa will prioritise three issues, and one of them is: encouraging wide and open debate about further Organic Law reforms. If we can reach a compromise on the Monarchy mess, why can't we reach a compromise on other reforms which will make Talossa work better, with less pointless bureaucracy and fewer never-filled offices and never-enacted laws?

(The other two issues are: we need a big FreeDem delegation in the Ziu to make sure the next King will be non-political; and what does the TNC stand for, or even do? Topics for another thread.)

And as always, if you want to help open this debate up, feel free to just jump in this thread; or, preferably, join the Free Democrats of Talossa, the party that opens up debate, the party that gets things done.

El Lexhatx H.2.1 repeats, over and over again, that the necessary requirement for any bill to be Clarked (or to be submitted to the CRL) is that it has "spent 10 days in the Hopper".

The problem is - as we found in the Succession Amendment thread - at least one member of the CRL thinks that if a bill's language changes fundamentally (like, from a new draft), it's no longer the same bill and has to start again.

El Lexh H.2.1.7.4 gives the SoS authority not to Clark a bill which is totally different from what went to the CRL. If we want the CRL to have the authority to do the same to a bill whose language has changed either totally or significantly over its 10 days, we should do so explicitly.

But I disagree. My preferred amendment would be to change the language

QuoteA bill has passed the Hopper if it has spent at least 10 days in the Hopper

wherever it appears to be something like:

QuoteA legislative proposal has passed the Hopper if the substantive text of the bill has been debated in the Hopper for at least 10 days and its proposer is satisfied with its form.

Which way do we want to shift it? The current ambiguity is not ideal.

Estimat Túischac'h, I rise to deliver a question to the Minister of Immigration @þerxh Sant-Enogat.

1) Considering the recent attempt at re-immigration under a pseudonym of a previously blocked candidate, can the Immigration Minister please explain the steps under which, "using information provided in the application and after investigating to the best of its ability", the Ministry of Immigration became "satisfied that this application is Bona Fide"?

2) Given the intent of 54RZ4, enacted specifically in response to a successful applicant for citizenship giving a false name, can the Minister give any indication of how many applications for citizenship he has processed during his term in office, and what he did in each case to fulfil the requirement of El Lexhatx E.2 to "collect the legal name or name used in daily life" of each prospective citizen?

WHEREAS the King is not living up to the expectations of his citizens in a variety of ways; and

WHEREAS people have complained before but to no effect; and

WHEREAS the above two lines were copy-pasted from a bill first Hoppered five years ago (https://talossa.proboards.com/thread/13577/mean-business-amendment) and nothing significant has changed; and

WHEREAS we need a broad social consensus for any changes to the institution of the Monarchy, which we may not have after years of trying to get one; and

WHEREAS perhaps we do have a consensus on a more narrow issue:

THEREFORE BE IT ENACTED by the Ziu and people of Talossa that Article II.3 of the Organic Law be changed from the current text:

QuoteThe King of Talossa is King John I, until his demise, abdication, or removal from the throne. Should the King at any time renounce or lose his citizenship, that renunciation or loss shall be deemed to imply his abdication of the Throne. Upon the demise, abdication, or removal from the Throne of the King, the Uppermost Cort shall be a Council of Regency.

to

Quotea) The position of King of Talossa is currently vacant, until filled by an amendment to this section.

b) Until a King of Talossa is named in the manner described above, the Uppermost Cort shall act as a Council of Regency, and shall administer the government in the name of the King, and exercise all powers Organically or legally vested in the King, or else may appoint a Regent to fulfill these functions. No person not a citizen of Talossa shall be competent to serve as Regent. The Ziu may by law remove or replace any appointed Regent, and if the Ziu removes a Regent appointed by the Uppermost Cort, the Uppermost Cort may not reappoint the same person Regent without the prior consent of the Ziu.

Estimat Túischac'h, I rise to ask a question of the Minister of STUFF, who I believe was @Carlüs Éovart Vilaçafat last time I looked.

When will the National Website be updated to include the last *checks notes* EIGHT months of La C'hronică?

Estimat Túischac'h, I rise with a question for the Seneschal. Does he agree that the Minister of Defense has responded to this Terpelaziun from Senator Plätschisch appropriately, given that previous Ministers of Defense have answered similar questions courteously and informatively?

Estimat Túischac'h, I rise to deliver a Terpelaziun to the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

What is the current state of progress on the Government's "re-embracing" of the League of Secessionist States, given that the Government's month of consultation received... well, no consultation?

Estimat Túischac'h, my question is for the Minister of Technology.

Following up from a previous Terpelaziun, can the Government give any updates as to whether the Database Commission still exists, and if so, what is it doing?

Vote by posting in this thread. Votes close exactly 72 hours after the opening of this thread.

A. Election of Party Officers

Nominations for Party President: Miestră Schivă

Vote PËR/yes, CONTRĂ/no, AUSTÁNEU/abstain for this candidate

Nominations for Party Secretary: @Antaglha Xhenerös Somelieir

Vote PËR/yes, CONTRĂ/no, AUSTÁNEU/abstain for this candidate


B. Proposed Amendments to the Party Constitution

Vote PËR/yes, CONTRĂ/no, AUSTÁNEU/abstain to each proposal. A proposal needs a two-thirds majority of PËR over CONTRĂ to pass.

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT 1: MEMBERSHIP
That Section IV of the Constitution be changed from:

QuoteIV. Membership shall be open to all Talossan citizens. The Secretary of the Party shall be entitled, no more than once a year, to conduct a Census of all party members to make sure they still see themselves as Party members and that their contact details are up to date. Any member who does not respond to this Census within 30 days shall be deemed to have resigned from the Party.

to:

QuoteIV.
a. Membership shall be open to all Talossan citizens who agree to abide by this Constitution, endorse the Party Policy, and are not currently members of another nationally registered party. However, the rights of any party member in good standing to seek changes to the Constitution or Policy in accordance with this Constitution shall never be infringed.

b. A prospective member must provide such contact information to the Party Secretary as the Party Secretary may ask for. The Party Secretary shall keep this information confidential, to be shared only with the Party Leadership, and used only for party business.

c. The Secretary of the Party shall be entitled, no more than once a year, to conduct a Census of all party members to make sure they still see themselves as Party members and that their contact details are up to date. A Party member who does not reply to this census within 30 days shall be deemed to have offered their resignation, which shall be accepted at the discretion of the Party Leadership.

CONSTIUTIONAL AMENDMENT 2: SUSPENSIONS AND EXPULSIONS
That Section XIII of the Constitution be changed from:

QuoteXIII. In the event that a member is acting in a way that is damaging to the reputation of the Free Democrats, a petition representing at least half of the party membership may be presented to the party leader asking for the member's removal. The party leader shall schedule closed removal proceedings and notify the member in question, along with a copy of the petition, no less than ten days before such proceedings are to begin. During the proceedings, the member shall be afforded an opportunity to present his defense, and other members may also make their own arguments for or against the removal. On the fifth day of the proceedings, the party leader shall call a closed vote to be held on the removal. If two-thirds (2/3) of the membership vote in to remove, the member shall immediately be removed, and the party leader shall publicly announce the removal. A removed member shall be eligible to rejoin the Free Democrats after two General Elections following the removal.

to:

QuoteXIII.
a) The Party Leadership, upon petition of at least 1/2 of party members or at its own initiative by majority vote, shall suspend members for:
i) stated violations of this Constitution;
ii) publicly voting for or joining another nationally registered party;
iii) bringing the party into disrepute in a stated way.

b) A suspension decision, the justification for it, and the provisions for lifting this suspension (as contained in the rest of this section) shall be communicated to the suspended member as soon as possible and through all possible means of communication. A suspended member's rights under this Constitution shall cease to apply during their suspension, including the right to participate in Party discussion forums.

c) On the first day of the next Party Convention, the Party Leadership shall publicly announce a recommendation for every suspended member whether to lift their suspension, continue their suspension until the next Convention, or to expel the member. A recommendation to lift suspension shall be effected immediately. A recommendation to continue suspension or to expel shall take effect after 5 days, unless the suspended member addresses the Convention requesting a hearing.

d) A hearing shall be held in closed session and shall be chaired by a Talossan citizen agreed to by both the suspended member and the Party leadership. The Party Leadership shall make the case for continued suspension or expulsion, and the suspended member may make a case against this decision. Debate shall then ensue, in which other party members may make their own arguments or statements, moderated by the chair of the hearing. After no fewer than five days, the chair of the hearing shall call for a vote as to whether to accept or reject the Party Leadership's recommendation. A quorum of no less than 1/2 of current membership shall be required to endorse a motion to continue suspension or to expel. If the vote fails, the member's suspension shall be immediately lifted. The outcome of the hearing shall be immediately publicly announced.

e) An expelled member shall be eligible to rejoin the Free Democrats after two General Elections following the expulsion.

C. Proposed Amendments to the Party Platform

Vote PËR/yes, CONTRĂ/no, AUSTÁNEU/abstain to each proposal. A proposal needs a simple majority of PËR over CONTRĂ to pass.


PROPOSAL 1
That Section A of the Party Platform be amended by adding the bolded text to the end:

QuoteFree Democrats include both monarchists and republicans, but we all put liberty and democracy first in Talossa. We will offer our support to a Talossan Head of State who is continually active, puts the interests of the Nation above defending their own interests and prestige, and acts as the servant rather than the owner of the State. We support Organic structures which ensure that our Head of State operates in this way. We oppose any attempts to change the current provisions to replace or establish a successor to the Monarchy - that is, the standard provisions of Organic Law amendment - without a full reform and/or replacement of provisions for Talossa's Head of State.

PROPOSAL 2
That Section B of the Party Platform be changed in its entirety from:

QuoteB. CUTTING THE RED-AND-GREEN TAPE
Talossa's government and legal structure is top-heavy, unwieldy, hard to navigate and no fun. We support the repeal of all laws and abolition of all Government posts and procedures which are more trouble than they are worth to keep going. We want a smaller, consistently active Cabinet, a Ziu which offers active oversight of the Cabinet and intelligent scrutiny of laws, and a functioning Judiciary.

to:

QuoteB. A POLITICAL SYSTEM FOR EVERYONE
Free Democrats want a political system where *democracy and expertise* balance each other. We want an end to "green-and-red tape"; our politics and laws have to be simple and straightforward enough that any citizen can become a political leader or seek justice in the Corts with minimal training. In turn, the Royal Civil Service should recruit those with specialist skills to work for the Kingdom independently but under political supervision.

PROPOSAL 3
That a new Section  of the Party Platform be added:

QuoteSECTION E. FEDERALISM REFORM
Provincial governments in Talossa only function intermittently; by and large the provinces only act as electoral districts for Senators. We support reforms to the Senäts and other Organic provisions to provide incentives for provincial governments to be more active, or to create new provinces, either by splitting or merging.