Having failed to achieve even two more votes for the amendments to the Judiciary Act, I am cancelling the rest of the Legislative Calendar and offering a Resolution for immediate vote this weekend (close Sunday, 17 January, 2359). This motion is commonly known as a "motion of no confidence"

Whereas, that the Council of Floresters, has failed in its duty to the Laranjian People to give attention to the most basic and necessary legislation and

Whereas, the people of Orange have expressed their discontent with this lack of attention to their business.

Now, therefore, be it resolved:

1. That the Council of Floresters be dissolved, with elections to be held as prescribed in the Draft Electoral Law (PL7), beginning at 0001 hours Laranjian time, Friday, March 5, 1999 and ending at 2359 hours Laranjian Time, Sunday, March 7, 1999.

2. That the Council of State appoint a suitable person to serve as Returning Officer, as provided by PL7.

Jean Tisserand (RP - Lafayette)

The Chancellory of the Republic of Porto Claro announced Sunday in a very brief statement that the Republic has decided to extend recognition to the Principality of Orange and the Principality of Marajó, both nations which include former Portoclarians among their founders. The statement to Orange reads:

In addition, South American micronationalists have been very active in building intermicronational organizations (for example the Oraganization of Lusophone Micronations) and in creating systems of simulated economy, enabling commercial relations across micronational borders. At the same time, the publication of Portoclarian historian Vicente Camara's History of the Pirrinean War has been very well received in Orange, and significantly contributed to the warming of relations. But for the Act of Union, which thrust Orange into longstanding tensions between the Republic of Porto Claro and Réunion, the recognition could have taken place earlier. The Kingdom of Porto Claro extended its recognition to Orange in September.

The action, however, was not taken without criticism in the Portoclarian Senate, where opposition leader Fabiano Carnevale (Green Party) in a letter to MicroLand (a Portoclarian newspaper), attacked the government for an "undemocratic" process in making the recognition, which in his view should have been cleared with the Senate. Interestingly, Carnevale was Prime Minister of Porto Claro at the time of the Emigration.

The Laranjian Government has not yet responded officially to the overture, but sources in Guillaumesbourg indicate that a favorable reply should be sent shortly.

Orange and Penguinea have much in common. Both were founded by émigrés from micronations that did not want cultural diversity. Both were founded as collective efforts, and each has influenced the other as friends. From Orange, Penguinea developed its foreign policy of "if you exist, you exist," which was originally developed by Tisserand during the days of confederation. From Penguinea, Orange is considering the Hare Clark system of proportional representation.

In fairness, much of the success we are enjoying with Porto Claro is the result of the upheaval (Camara calls it a "civil war") that Porto Claro endured, first in our emigration, then by establishing itself as a Republic, followed by the split between the Republic and the Kingdom. Talossa (from where the Penguineans emigrated) has also changed, but the major players and institutions remain essentially the same.

The Penguinean emigration took place when two prospective Talossan citizens, Anthony Lawless and Ian Kabell, were refused Talossan citizenship at the end of their lengthy and convoluted process. At the same time, Evan Gallagher, who was Governor of the Territory of Pengöpäts (the Talossan colony in Antarctica) and Ryan Hughes were facing resistance from the Talossan élites over an effort to create a distinct language (now known as Penginijtung) and culture. The two events converged in a desire to create a micronation that was free of the proprietary influence King Robert has over Talossan politics (sound familiar?) On September 26, 1997, the Free Commonwealth of Penguinea was established. As was true of us, early editorials in the Penguinean Southern Cross, edited by Lawless, were highly critical of the Talossan régime; however, as time passed, Penguinean anger toward Talossa subsided. Unfortunately, Talossa went into the opposite direction, fueled by a hate campaign generated by King Robert in their Wittenberg discussion group.

In April, the Talossan Government fell when its Prime Minister, Dan Wardlow, attempted to negotiate a treaty with Penguinea that called for suppression by both governments of insults directed at the other. Talossa was aggrieved by the alleged failure of the Penguinean Government to muzzle Lawless, which Penguinea defended on the grounds of freedom of the press. On the other hand Penguineans were frustrated by their inability to defend themselves before Talossan public opinion through Talossan media (such as the Wittenberg). Meanwhile, two Talossan elections were fought with the dominant Progressive Conservatives using the Penguinean issue as a cry for isolationism from the micronational world, and blaming Penguinea for everything that King Robert did not like in Talossa (or so it seems). After the first election, in April, Prime Minister Gruber did conclude negotiation of a treaty, which according to the agreement, was to be delivered by snail-mail to Lord Protector Gallagher of Penguinea. Six months later, the treaty was never delivered, which both sides used as an excuse to abrograte the treaty.

The issue came to a head again in the last week as one Nicholas Bridgewater applied for citizenship, first in Talossa, then in Penguinea, promoting in both a closer relationship with the micronational world, something neither nation wants (having each suffered much harrassment by one-ego kingdoms and what the Talossans call "bug nations"), and making a joking reference to the dispute between the two nations (something both nations have long since found unfunny). Both have made it clear that Bridgewater would have to give up his micronational emphasis and discussion of the dispute, and concentrate on being a good Talossan (or good Penguinean) before citizenship would be granted. Talossan and Penguinean public opinion are agreed that neither desires to hear about the other until the wounds are healed, which King Robert's bigotry virtually ensures will never occur.

Concerned about charges of "public apathy" in Orange, Florester Speaker Jean Tisserand has announced a revised calendar for voting on the Judiciary Act and the Electoral Act. "If we do not accomplish anything else, and if we have only three votes taken on each, we will get these done before March!" Tisserand declared in an interview. Tisserand's plan is to set aside the week following the reopening of the Floresters January 4 for any new amendments to both bills, with a closing date of Sunday, January 10. From then through Wednesday, January 13, the Floresters would vote on PL6a, PL6b, and any new amendments to both bills. From then through Sunday, January 17, final votes would be taken on both bills. "It's a tough way to go," Tisserand said, "but legislatures like to put things off until the end of the session. I am worried about a vote of no confidence forcing us to run elections by decree. This would be a sad commentary on our constitutional process," he concluded.

The Orange Peel, with this issue, is beginning a French-language edition, La Peau d'Orange and welcomes all of its Francophone readers.