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#3
Tridi, le 15 Vendemaire de l'an VI (7 October 1997)
Reports received today from St.-Herculain confirm that the Communist Party (PCPC), under the leadership of Kharoliny Kaprinsky, has decided to separate from the majority coalition. This leaves Prime Minister Fabiano Carnevale in charge of a minority government, since the Green Party (PV) only controls 7 seats in the 15-seat Senate. Under Article 28 of the new Constitution, the Prime Minister can be removed as the result of the dissolution of the coalition that elected him. This does not involve full elections for the Senate, as the Senate serves a fixed term of one year (Article 21) As a result, Communist editor Daniel Aguiar (Diário Portoclarense) was campaigning for removal of the Prime Minister; however, sentiment among the Socialists (PSPC) and the Conservatives (PCP), however appears to favor leaving the Prime Minister in office until the December elections; believing that the passage of electoral and immigration laws require some stability in the PM's office at this time.
The hot topic of discussion this week has been currency reform. Much of the discussion has revolved around Jean Tisserand and Ramón Llatzer's suggestion to base the currency (whatever it is called) on the purchase of one gold Krugerrand, which would furnish an internationally-recognized standard of value for our currency. Prime Minister Carnevale has responded by forming an Economic Committee to discuss how currency reform and other economic improvements should take place. M. Tisserand, Sr. Llatzer (an economist), and Francesc Savalls (a prominent businessman) have already agreed to serve, and Fabio Leconte has been asked to join. According to the Prime Minister, the mandate is to "propose the accomplishment of a plebiscite (for the choice of the name of the coin), and everything related the creation of the Economic System in Porto Claro." He added, "I trust your work a lot, I know that [you] are serious and respected people."
The original proposal has led to various suggestions for the name of the currency, currently known as the xifre (pronounced shee-fur), and for values. Suggested names include the cifra (figure), sol (sun), aureus or aureo (ancient Roman gold coin), and the farol (lighthouse - important Portoclarian symbol). Daniel Aguiar has suggested combining the proposals: 1 cifra = 100 centilhos/ 20 farols / 10 aureos / 4 solares, with each coin a different color.
M. Tisserand also proposed that the new currency (which we shall call the "gold xifre" as a temporary working name) would be valued at exactly 1/1000 of the value of a South African Krugerrand, suggested because its price is reported internationally, which will aid convertibility of the new currency. The gold xifre would be backed 50% by gold (in contrast, the United States dollar is backed only 27% by gold), thus with the purchase of the Krugerrand, the National Bank of Porto Claro could issue notes for X$2,000.
Many details remain to be worked out, but the discussions have begun.
With this issue, Le Bien Public introduces the "Baron of Bon Marché", Francesc Savalls, humorist and editor of Eco das Pirraines, translated for the first time into English. We should explain that the major cash crop of Pirraines is marijuana... -Editor.
For citizens anxious about money, Jean Tisserand has begun a very interesting debate, to set a definitive name, exchange rate, and its basis for value. Why not use a basket of products indigenous to Porto Claro to determine its value, with its current approximate value in U.S. dollars:
MACONHA: 22,1 .................. (US$0.221)
First grade matured marijuana. Leaf extra length. Prices FOB (Free on board) Port St. Herculano (Porto Claro)
MANATEM: 12,7 ......................(US$0.127)
Extra grade filet of young manatee. Price CIF(Cost, Insurance & Freight) Meat Market of Chicago (USA)
CAFÉ: 4,8 % ..........................(US$0.048)
Price of complete morning coffee at the Royal Society and Social Tavern in Lorraine Blanche (Pirraines - Porto Claro)
OURO: 33,2 % ........................(US$0.332)
1/1000 troy ounce of gold.
ORQUÍDEA: 9,4 % .................(US$0.094)
Essence of orchids from a clandestine crop for distilling into liquor. Price per barrel FOB Port Nouvelle Rouen.(Porto Claro)
MALARIA: 3,2 % ....................(US$0.032)
1 kilogram of first-quality mosquitoes with active virus. Average price for Pasteur Institute (Paris) and MIT (Massachussets Institute of Technology)
ESMERALDAS: 14,6% ............(US$0.146)
King Size Esmeraldas. Price for quality cut from shops in Campos Bastos (Porto Claro)
As you can see, we hold a world monopoly on these indigenous products. The National Bank of the Kingdom thus can protect us from fluctuations in the markets. "Oh, what a great idea!"
Barão Francesc (Savalls@lix.intercom.es)
Nadja Kaprinsky has dropped her suit against Senate President Felipe Olivera, following Secretary of Justice André Pfeiffer's determination that insufficient evidence exists to press a suit. The case began a week ago when Sra. Kaprinsky's sister Kharoliny, the leader of the Communist Party, was away from the country at the time the Constitution was being voted on by the Senate. Nadja indicated that she had received a proxy from her sister to vote for her. Despite this permission, however, she refused to vote. An argument ensued when the Senate President suggested that to fail to vote was irresponsible, and displayed lack of character. In response, Nadja accused Sr. Olivera of being anti-democratic and "a friend of Hitler".
Last Tridi (Tuesday), Socialist leader Francesc Savalls opened a civil suit against Secretary of Labor Nadja Kaprinsky. The process asks among other things removal from public office for abuse of power, when using its position fraudulently to profit exercising covert activities. This suit has not yet been investigated.
Meanwhile, the coverage of the issue in the Diário Portoclarense was attacked by the Secretary of Justice, who noted that Sr. Olivera was free of accusations because we are in a free country, but in leveling accusations against Sr. Olivera, the DP, in Sr. Pfeiffer's opinion, has a lot of experience in hurrying, to accumulate mistakes, to shuffle and to present as done, things that they belong only to the editor's imaginary world." He labeled that publication as part of the "Yellow Press".
Duke of Aguiar issues personal defense following firing, but questions remain
Following the firing of Daniel Aguiar as Chancellor (Foreign Minister), the Duke on 4 Vendemaire issued a statement to the media and people of Porto Claro:
I accept, logically, my dismissal of Chancellor's position, in subordinate's position to the Executive's boss, and that doesn't impede me of conducting external relations as an individual I only think the Government has the OBLIGATION of maintaining relations with other micronations. Even so, I do not accept a comment that doesn't have character of professional critic, referring to my " prestige ". It is not important whether I am highly popular or less so; I am already very well accustomed to criticism. But I am still Creator of this Country. Were it not for Pedro Aguiar's mind, Porto Claro today would be nonexistent, nothing, and many of us would not know each other and we would not be here... It is alone because of that mind that Porto Claro today is reality.
A technical factor also to ask who would be capable to manage Porto Claro's external affairs in the next mandate. Eli Naeher? He is not knowledgeable about micronations. Jean Tisserand? He has the manner of a diplomat, but he does not have what it takes to succeed in internal politics. Rafael Braga? Does he know where Nikhedonia is? Was not I dismissed by subjects of professional competence (after all, who opened PC for the world, who was it that transformed LOSS, who was it that it created the alliances with the largest micronações, who went that bent to Shafts - healthy, who was that made everything so that the other micronations called us a micronational power???), but yes for personal subjects, of lack of political likeness. No one denies that I am the image of PC in the exterior. I want Porto Claro to sustain the same position without me. Arrogance, self-importance? Perhaps.
But... am I lying? But before saying good-bye of the leadership of the foreign policy, I would like to declare to the people that I feel victim of an unfortunate collusion: the project of Constitution of PSPC, recently approved by the Senate, foresees that the Chancellor will be named by the KING. Today, when speaking with Fabiano Carnevale for the telephone, I was informed that they ALTERED, without voting nor anything, that article. And just - it lies before my dismissal. Is it to imagine that was a coincidence? Will we be that frank? ...
It is good you to be of alert for - that have just seen that when the Government [Prime Minister] wants to alter something in the Law to execute an act, he will make it immediately, without worrying with constitutional and kindred revision rules. And that is what they call democracy.
The Duke has been under considerable criticism from the Prime Minister for recent actions, for example the Diário Portoclarense editorial on the Papal visit to South America. Responding to a comment by the Duke that the opinion of the Papal visit was given by the newspaper, and not the Duke personally, the Prime Minister asked, "Does he want to say that the newspaper has own life? Does it -insinuate that the Duke doesn't share the flowed opinion?" The Prime Minister continued: "I am sometimes up to 3 in the morning translating and reviewing messages of the [Porto Claro Citizens] List [enabling automatic translation between Portuguese and English], and you are the champion of the useless messages, messagesthat could just be reviewed by one interested person. [The Porto Claro Citizens List] is a public List and not a List for people like you to clog the citizens' post office boxes, speaking uselessness." Finally, the PM admonished the Duke of Aguiar to learn how to speak politely with the people, and to stop taking advantage of being the "boy founder of Porto Claro".
Secretary of Justice André Pfeiffer has issued an invitation for Portoclarian citizens to become judges in view of the new Constitution's creation of an independent judiciary. (In the former system, the Minister of Justice was both prosecutor and judge). Those wishing to register as judge should apply to Secretary Pfeiffer for curriculum and further information before 28 Vendemaire (20 October).
Secretary of Immigration Vitor Bertini announced the following new citizens in the previous week:
Wagner Lúcio, artisan, wlucio@stbnet.com.br
José Terra, economist, jcaraujo@novanet.com.br
Christian Ferreira, corporate manager, intercri@dialdata.com.br
Octa Villarinho, journalist, octa@domain.com.br
Rafael Carnevale suarez@netfly.com.br
Cherry Rocha, Artisan , melo@infonet.com.br
Elisa Quintanilla, Nutritionist, married to Miguel Quintanilla , elisa@sti.com.br
Hugo Barab, historian, ariel@correionet.com.br
Ruggero Finetti, painter and sculptor, finetti@mandic.com.br
Eduardo Seda, sociologist, mailto:eades@cat.cbpf.br
Vicente De Marco, writer, fabi@elogica.com.br
Leonardo Vipertels, student, lchagas@hotmail.com
Louis Saint-Paul, journalist, itagibe@matrix.com.br
We are pleased to announce that M. Saint-Paul has been appointed the St.-Herculain bureau chief for Le Bien Public. His primary area of responsibility will be to cover politics in the capital.
Join us! Fill out the Department of Immigration's English-language citizenship application. Note, however, that our Constitution forbids citizenship in any other micronation.
Former Nouvelle-Rouen resident Maxime Charbonneau announced last week his emigration from Talossa, following a dispute with the majority Progressive Conservatives over legislative apportionment in the Mexican-style democracy (The Progressive Conservatives have never failed to be in the ruling coalition in nearly 19 years in office). Following a very short and turbulent career in Nouvelle-Rouen, M. Charbonneau emigrated to Talossa when he ran afoul of the Portoclarian Constitution by applying for Talossan citizenship. His career in Talossa was equally stormy -- he joined the controversial Silver Phoenix party, where he became a popular, and virulent Porto Claro-basher (claiming more knowledge of PC than he in fact had). He also was active in the Talossan language movement.
Only one thing is certain about his future -- he will never again land on these shores. The list of persons permanently prohibited from immigration to Porto Claro is very short, but his name is on it. (James Lind and three English cranks from a country called "Gardenesia" constitute the remainder of the list).
The date link on today's BP will send you to a more practical version of the Nouvelle-Rouen calendar for the Year VI, which can be printed out and used for handy reference. The explanation that had been linked to the newspaper is now linked to this calendar document.
One of our colleague editors suggested that everyone in Porto Claro was sending everyone else to court. Now that the matter between Nadja Kaprinsky and Felipe Oliviera has been settled, the situation is beginning to calm a bit.
To be sure, we have reported considerable criticism of the Father of our Country, the Duke of Aguiar, who deserves some respect and great honor for creating a nation that, for all its faults, is a mostly loving and interesting place to live and work. Still, we agree that the Duke of Aguiar needs to temper his criticisms and more carefully supervise the style of his writers, if the Diário Portoclarense is to remain a respected publication in this country. His wildly bigoted editorial against the Pope, misinterpretation of the Prime Minister's intentions with respect to M. Tisserand as Governor of Nouvelle Rouen, and coverage of the suit begun by Nadja Kaprinsky, all merit the criticism he has received. He is a young man (15), intelligent and sociable, who needs to take more personal responsibility for his actions. Still, in fairness, many of the remarks he made in the defense reproduced above are true. He did make an emotionally difficult decision last Pluviôse to end the paper-doll rule in Porto Claro, which opened the nation to real people practicing real politics. He is definitely a leader -- his latest action to establish a Portoclarian Society of Journalists will go far to keep our profession respectable in the eyes of our readers -- but he also needs to select his battles more carefully and concentrate on promoting a few useful goals for the Country.
This web site has been restored by The
Tisserand Museum
October, 2000