Dear senators,
Three years have passed already (1449-1451, read the account at "Il Senato.."), and while we resolve the dilemma over senatorial control over former Dogal prerogatives on war, I bring to you an example that can illustrate how the Doge sees the current international policies mandates.
A temporary casus belli of six months has been obtained yesterday 20th of April, 1452, on Saxony due to their diplomatic incompetence. Saxony (2 prov.) is in alliance with three other countries. Friesland (1 prov.), Provence (1 prov.), and Genoa (3 prov.). Our current relationship to Saxony is +100 (but likely to reduce due to the CB, reducing the stability hit to -1). Our current relationship to Genoa is +89. Relationship between them is +125. Genoa has military access both through Savoy and Tyrol into our lands. We have military access through Savoy into Liguria (Genoa). Our vassal and ally Tuscany has given us military access to their country and their port in Genoa's sea square. Saxony would have to get military access through 3 countries that have +125 relationship to them (possible). Provence and Friesland can only reach us by sea. We have a tarnished reputation (7.9/37) and absolutely no money in the coffers. Our inflation is still 3% and our stability +2.
There is no guarantee that a Dow on Saxony will produce a war against Genoa. I don't have intelligence on these countries strength (defense forces in Kerch, Corsica and Liguria are unknown). Getting this information would consume at least half of the available time if not more, so we will have to act blindly, but could cancel the war declaration if we face very strong opposition in our landing points. Tuscany has no armies at all, and Naples just a few men.
The war would mean +1 BB and +2 BB/province. +6 BB if we annex. Given our lack of funds and the expense of our troops, it is likely that we will have to mint to support the war effort. We could be locked in a war against an enemy we cannot reach that refuses to settle.
Given so many uncertainties I don't feel in the position of taking the decision by myself. So I hereby call an election on a declaration of war on Saxony. This is not a clear case to me. First because it means a DoW on a nation that it is not in the list of adversaries or enemies. Second because is not a CB on Genoa, and there are no guarantees she would join the war. And third, because we voted peace. Under this conditions war would not be declared by me. However, since interest on a war against Genoa has been expressed by the majority of the senate, I would have stopped and consulted the possibility even if we weren't having an election on this issue.
[size=+1]Election 15: War on Saxony[/size]
Pending intelligence on the enemy, that could give Capitano General Fodoroni the right to cancel the operation,
1. Shall we declare war on Saxony in the next six months?
2. Shall we invite our allies Tuscany and Naples to the war? (please answer even if you voted no to 1)
3. What would be the goals of such war? (please answer even if you voted no to 1)
4. Feel free to express any opinion on the war, or the current situation, that you may have.
Election open for 5 days.