Power to the People - A Sardinia-Piedmont Interactive AAR

[Qwerty7]

All bills: Abstain

[Politician]
[Amadori Dynasty +5%]

I must abstain from announcing support for any legislation as I must retain my neutrality.

- Franco Amadori

 

[ThunderHawk3]

((Voting is now closed.))

 

[ThunderHawk3]

Amat 1914-1915: Politics of Chaos​

The Lega-Legio alliance would quickly name Amat the Prime Minister of Italy. Given the overwhelming victory of the alliance, this result had never been even remotely in doubt, but there would be some grumbling on the Legio side among those who contended that the Legion deserved the Prime Ministership. Nothing came of this grumbling; Italus Balbo was appointed Deputy Prime Minister of Italy and the government launched into its agenda. The Parliament rapidly rubber-stamped all of its initial docket of legislation heavily along party lines, with only the Fronte Democratic Liberale and the occasional rebel opposing the legislation.

Many of the Amat's long-running revenue problems would be solved in early 1914, with the commerce ministry's mass sale of factories. Supposedly this was an auction or an open sale, but every single factory was bought by the commerce minister after no one else showed any interest. Many pointed out that this result was more or less inevitable since most industrialists had long since been killed or fled the country; the government was operating most "privately owned" factories in the nation by administering "trusts" for syndicalist-era capitalist families.

The purchase brought most of the nation's factories under the personal control of Michelangelo Ezzo following the approval of the Prime Minister. The proceeds of the sale, as well as corporate taxs and remittances, swelled government coffers. Ezzo reopened all of his factories in an effort to lower unemployment. At the same time, D'Ambrosio's interior ministry would encourage people back into primary production professions, like farming, logging, and mining, in an effort to bring down unemployment.

These efforts largely failed. Unemployment remained high throughout 1914 and 1915, and perhaps as a result, both proved to be extremely turbulent years. 1914 would begin with a Chartist rally demanding additional voting rights, but the first two years of the restored Italian parliamentary era would be characterized by suffragette movements. Suffragette rallies, marches, leaflet campaigns, underground pamphlets, books, hunger strikes, sympathizers... almost every week, the Justice ministries would hear of more suffragette activity. There seemed to be no end to it. The women's suffrage movement would be much more active than the men's in 1914 (though both would be quite active), even though most men did not have the vote either.

Of course, Amat's senate was stacked with reactionaries and conservatives who seemed unlikely to sympathize with the suffragette agenda and women's suffrage seemed like a total political impossibility. That didn't stop the suffragettes trying. They weren't the only ones. Multitudinous reform movements formed following the legalization of public assembly, and everyone wanted something different. When reforms weren't forthcoming, a new revolutionary atmosphere began to bubble nationwide.

In many ways, the creation of a parliament inhibited Amat's agenda of reform rather than helping it. Previously he had ruled by decree and only had to consult a bunch of senatorial yes-men that he had himself (usually) appointed; with an elected chamber and coalition politics to consider, he now struggled to convince the conservative and reactionary legislators of his party that reform was necessary to keep the nation from destroying itself. With record numbers of agitators and malcontents railing against the government and active militias nationwide, the situation quickly spiraled into violence.

Having failed to win a single seat at the election, the socialists and communists naturally felt marginalized. Trade unions were still illegal, the working man had only gotten a handful of concessions, they weren't represented in parliament, and their leader had been killed. When the steady flow of reforms stopped after the election, the Communists decided that it was time to confront the Amat regime head-on. A full-scale communist rebellion broke out in November of 1914, with hundreds of thousands of Red Guards flooding every province of Italy. They quickly seized some of their old strongholds - Parma, Firenze, and Messina - and even fought the army in the streets of Rome for weeks.

Unsurprisingly, Cesare Giacomo d’Auria - the Chief of the Army - would end up making a lot of the most important decisions of the Amat administration in 1915. He adopted a policy of isolation and encirclement while defending Rome, but the communists proved stubborn. They had seized central Italy and effectively cut the nation in half, as well as taking control of Sardinia.

A scientific discovery turned the tide in favor of D'Auria, as Italian military minds discovered a way to create artillery shells that dispensed poison gas in early 1915. These gas shells were rushed to the battlefield and employed on large scale against the communist rebels - tens of thousands died choking. Even so, the communist rebellion would take the army months and countless lives to put down.

On top of everything else, a wildcat general strike broke out in those parts of Italy that the regime did still control in February of 1915, just as the communist rebellion was at its height. Realizing that the combination of the general strike and the communist rebellion could easily bring down the government, the Amat government stayed true to form and negotiated, offering political reforms to end the strike. Italus Balbo was sent as the chief negotiator; by the end of the strike, the regime had agreed to institute truly Secret Ballots and implement universal suffrage, with the proviso that a poll tax could be levied.[1]

An international crisis broke out in Rovne, in the Russian Ukraine region, on March 23rd, 1915. Italy was not invited to the summit. Other nations still did not see Italy, wracked by internal problems and rebellion, as a great power. The way things were going, they probably never would again. On June 2nd, the Italian lira started to devalue at unheard-of speeds. This new condition, called "hyperinflation" was blamed on economic experiments being conducted by the Education Minister, the Count of Annecy, who had been trying novel business and management techiques to try to prop up the economy. It contributed to economic instability and, combined with warfare, closed many of Italy's recently opened factories. Things worsened.

By July, the army declared victory. It had beaten back the communists, it said, at least for now - they might easily be back in a year or two. However, the combination of crisis after crisis, the general strike, the rebellion, unemployment, hyperinflation, the suffrage movement, and so on, had seriously shaken the Amat regime. Its grip on power was looking more untenable than every before, and underground commentators - who were not allowed to operate under strict censorship laws - began to openly wonder if there might be another revolution after all.

[1] ((Weighted universal suffrage))


----------------------------


Player Actions Needed:

Um... I'll wait.

 

[ThunderHawk3]

((Screenshot link))

 

[ThunderHawk3]

Michelangelo Ezzo ((mrlifeless))
Algiers Glass: 0(bankrupt)
Algiers Ammunition: 20805
Algiers Clothes: 0(bankrupt)
Campania Fabric: 0(bankrupt)
Campania Regular Clothes: 16060
Campania Luxury Clothes: 40515
Campania Dyes: 0
Campania Wine: 6570
Dalmatia Clothes: 0(bankrupt)
Dalmatia Canned Food: 11680
Dalmatia Wine: 3285
Emilia Liquor: 17155
Istria Cement: 0(bankrupt)
Istria Wine: 3650
Sicily Fertilizer: 5840
Lazio Regular Clothes: 8395
Lazio Luxury Clothes: 40150
Lazio Wine: 6570
Lombardy dyes: 0
Lombardy electric gears: 0(bankrupt)
Lombardy Fuel: 0(bankrupt)
Piedmont fabric: 0(bankrupt)
Piedmont Regular clothes: 21535
Puglia Wine: 7300
Puglia Canned Food: 21170
Puglia Fertilizer: 3285
Romagna fabric: 0(bankrupt)
Romagna Regular clothes: 2555(bankrupt)
Romagna Liquor: 6205(bankrupt)
Sardinia Glass: 19345
Savoy Regular clothes: 0(banrkupt)
Savoy Liquor: 10585
South Tirol Steel: 0(bankrupt)
Toscana Wine: 9490
Toscana Canned Food: 23725
Toscana Automobiles: 9125
Venezia Fabric: 0(bankrupt)

Gross Profit: 314995
Corporate Tax: -141747
Net Profit: ~173200

Firehound (In Trust)
Campania small arms: 3285
Campania artillery: 34675
Emilia ammo: 29200
Sicily artillery: 37960
Sicily explosives: 17520
Lazio artillery: 34675
Lazio ammunition: 23360
Piedmont ammunition: 22995
Puglia ammunition: 26645
Puglia steamers: 0
Romagna small arms: 0(bankrupt)
Sardinia ammunition: 17155
South Tirol small arms: 4015
Toscana small arms: 2555
Venice Steamers: 0

Gross Profit: 254040
Corporate Tax: -114318
Net Profit: ~139700

Nodscouterr:
Emilia Machine Parts: 0(closed)
Lazio Steel: 0(closed)
Lombardia Steel: 0(closed)
Lombardia Machine Parts: 0(closed)
Toscana Steel: 0(closed)

Gross Profit: 0
Corporate Tax: -0
Net Profit: ~0

Silvio Ferrabino (Terraferma)
Lombardia Wine: 0(closed)
Piedmont Liquor: 26280
Piedmont Wine: 29930
Venetian Wine: 8030

Gross Profit: 64240
Corporate Tax: -28908
Net Profit: ~35300

Donato Ceruso (Canadian) (In Trust)

Campania cement: 0(bankrupt)
Puglia glass: 0(bankrupt)
Sardinia cement: 13870
Sardinia glass: 19345
Savoy cement: 0(bankrupt)
Toscana cement: 0(bankrupt)
Toscana glass: 0(bankrupt)
Venice glass: 0(bankrupt)

Gross Profit: 33215
Corporate Tax: -14946
Net Profit: ~18300

Otto (In Trust, profits confiscated)
Emilia lumber: 365(bankrupt)
Lazio luxury furniture: 0 (bankrupt)
Puglia paper: 30295(bankrupt)
South Tirol lumber: 0 (bankrupt)

Gross Profit: 30660
Corporate Tax: -13797
Net Profit: ~16900

Total Corporate Tax Due: 313716 (less tax efficiency)

 

[ThunderHawk3]

((Not one but two classes - militarists and demagogues - are above the NRT. Smoke if you got 'em. You have 48 hours from this moment to declare a revolution, if there is a revolution to be had.

EDIT: As a reminder, revolution declarations should be drafted like a bill, carefully laying out what your revolution is.))

 

[Contravarius]

((Off to France to open an exhibition again. Exiled!))

 

[Andre Massena]

"Italians are ungovernable."

-Duchess Rosa Bonaretti di Venezia, Princess of Bavaria

((What happens if two separate revolutions exceed the threshold?))

 

[sealy300]

The UTO start marching through Nice, and are heard singing a newly composed song.

 

[Gen. Marshall]

It is a most unfortunate matter that the actions of a few mad Communists and - admittedly - the capitalist experiments of two Conservative ministers have brought our great country in such a perilous state. However, we must not let this downturn get the better of us. Every country, new and old, large and small, has its times of crisis. With adept management and a stable backbone for the government to rely on, we can re-emerge on the international podium not only unscathed but stronger than ever, as our soldiers grow ever more experienced and loyal. As Minister of War and Colonies, and undoubtedly in the name of our Chief of General Staff as well, I can say it's the Army's honour to serve as Italy's backbone in this time of need.

There is little doubt the Reds will pop up and try to exploit this crisis, but mark my words - As we have crushed you before, we will crush you again.

- General Julius Vaccarello, Minister of War and Colonies

 

[sealy300]

On behalf of the people, I request that a map stating the state of the world, and in particular Italy's colonial possessions, be made by the ministry of interior.

((Ty, TH3)

 

[LatinKaiser]

"Italians are ungovernable."

-Duchess Rosa Bonaretti di Venezia, Princess of Bavaria

((What happens if two separate revolutions exceed the threshold?))

((Just like in 1864, we'll have a civil war.))

 

[Towll]

-At the CSI party conference Egeo Cirelli stands at the podium-

Declarations for the leadership CSI are now open. Potential candidates must declare their intention to run for the position of party leader within the next 24 hours ((By 14:00 GMT tomorrow)) in order tohave a place in the elections. I, comrades, once again will be standing for for the position and I hope to see a good deal of strong competition from other speakers and thinkers from our great alliance. Good luck, and long live the workers of Italy.

Candidates declared:
Egeo Cirelli ((Towll))
Samuele di Cervo ((TJDS))
Lucrezia 'La Dame De Nice' Constantino ((sealy300))

 

[TJDS]

A message was heard on radios across Italy on March 2th 1915, the speech was later published in illegal newspapers across Italy

For a quarter century, the people of Italy have suffered under dictators and brutes who promised they will give youth a future and old age a security. By the promise of these things, these brutes have risen to power. But they lie! They do not fulfil that promise. They never will! Dictators free themselves but they enslave the people! Now let us fight to fulfil that promise! Let us fight to free the world - to do away with national barriers - to do away with greed, with hate and intolerance. Let us fight for an Italy of reason, an Italy where science and progress will lead to all men’s happiness.

Inventions like the radio have brought us closer together. The very nature of these inventions cries out for the goodness in men - cries out for universal brotherhood - for the unity of us all. Even now my voice is reaching thousands throughout Italy - thousands of despairing men, women, and little children - victims of a system that makes men torture and imprison innocent people.

To those who can hear me, I say - do not despair. The misery that is now upon us is but the passing of greed - the bitterness of men who fear the way of human progress. The hate of men will pass, and dictators die, and the power they took from the people will return to the people. Freedom, Democracy, and the respect for all by all will returm, for as long as you, the people, follow your heart, liberty will not perish, will never perish.... People! In the name of democracy, let us all unite!

-----

Private - CSI

I will stand for Party Leader of the CSI

Samuele di Cervo

 

[Nax24]

Excuse me gentlemen, I have some pressing matters to attend to, I have to negotiate a inheritance crisis in Germany between members of my family in Germany. I do not know how long I will be there for, these things tend to take a very long time.

-Federico Fabron-D'Ambrosio

((Going into exile))

 

[sealy300]

The People's Charter of Popular Rights.
A joint proclamation from the CSI, USI, UTO, FIL, Red Star, Red Legion, ILJ&E, FLD, UPI and the Proletariat of Italy.​

We, the People of Italy, demand that His Majesty, the King of Italy, recognizing the lack of support by his people for the continuation of his reign, does hereby abdicate from the Italian Throne and renounces all claims of him, his family members and his descendants to the Italian Throne. If His Majesty, the King of Italy, does comply to our demands, we, the People of Italy, do ask him and his primary advisor, His Excellency, the Prime Minister of Italy, and His Excellency, the Deputy Prime Minister of Italy to leave the People’s Republic of Italy, in the interest of stability and peace in this nation, they are forbidden to return. We, the People, of Italy, recognize the need for acceptance and forgiveness, thus the temporary People’s Council of Ministers will take no action against the Ministers of the Kingdom of Italy, if they are not found guilty for any crimes while in office.

However, we must acknowledge the abject failure of the reactionary-fascist tyranny that has ruled over the Italian people for far too long. As such, we, the People of Italy, demand the reorganization of the Italian state into a Democratic Republic, created by and for the People of Italy with the principles of liberty, equality, and productivity enshrined in it.


I: The following political reforms shall be implemented:

1. The Assembly of Specialists shall be comprised of Members elected in manner proportional to the population of nation. ((Upper House: Based on Population))
2. Every citizen shall have the right the vote, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, social nature, or wealth. ((Franchise: Universal, Female suffrage enacted))
3. The voting system shall be conducted via single transferable vote, to ensure both proportionality and local representation. ((Voting System: Proportional Representation))
4. Elections shall be conducted using secret ballots, without duress or harassment ((Political Parties: Secret Ballot))
5. The Congress of the Proletariat shall make no law restricting the right of the people to freely assemble. ((Public Meetings: Allowed))
6. The Congress of the Proletariat shall make no law restricting the freedom of speech, or of the press. ((Press Rights: Free Press))
7. The Congress of the Proletariat shall make no law depriving workers from organizing in trade unions or organizations. ((Trade Unions: All Allowed))

II: The following social reforms shall be implemented:

1. The citizens of Italy shall be guaranteed fair wages to ensure their well-being and happiness. ((Minimum Wage: Good))
2. The length of the working day shall be reduced to 8 hours to ensure the citizens of Italy receive proper time for and leisure. ((Work Hours: 8 Hour))
3. The workplaces of Italy shall be made safe and regulated, to ensure the wellbeing of the citizens of Italy. ((Safety Regulations: Excellent))
4. The citizens of Italy shall be guaranteed financial security by the state while unemployed to ensure their welfare. ((Unemployment Subsidies: Generous))
5. The citizens of Italy have the right of welfare and maintenance in old age and in case of sickness or loss of ability to work. ((Pensions: Good))
6. The citizens of Italy have the right to inexpensive and safe healthcare, regardless of status. ((Healthcare: Good))
7. The citizens of Italy have the right of equal access to secular and worthwhile primary, secondary, and higher education regardless of gender, race, or other distinguishing factors. ((Public School System: Good))

III: The Italian state shall be reorganized in the following manner:

1. The Monarchy shall be abolished.
   1. The Monarch shall be allowed to leave into exile once renouncing his, his descendants' and the House Savoy's claim to any Title or Throne in Italy.
2. The landed aristocracy shall be abolished and all such titles shall be revoked.
3. A Federal Republic named the People’s Republic of Italy shall be created, with a popularly elected head of state and an appointed head of government, with the assent of the Congress of the Proletariat.
4. The President and Prime Minister of Italy shall be advised by a non-partisan Council of Unions, to ensure the representation of the Italian proletariat.
5. Equality between genders is to be ensured, with females receiving equal opportunity to vote, work, and serve in public office.
6. A new Constitution shall be adopted to ensure these aims: The People's Republic of Italy's Constitution,

Spoiler: The Proposed Reforms Simplified, for the Sake of what's left of TH3's sanity.

Governmental Reorganisation:

Italy becomes a Democracy,

The Establishment of the People's Republic of Italy,

The Establishment of a Council of Unions; a socialist Privy Council,

The Adoption of The People's Republic of Italy's Constitution,

The Abolition of the Italian Monarchy; with the monarch being allowed to leave into exile once renouncing his, his descendants' and the House Savoy's claim to any Title or Throne in Italy,

The abolition of the aristocracy, and the purge of the aristocrats,

Female suffrage is to be enacted,

All laws enacted prior to the revolution are revoked.


Political Reforms:

Slavery: Slavery Outlawed

Upper House: Based on Population

Voting Franchise: Universal Suffrage

Voting System: Proportional

Public Meetings: Meetings Allowed

Press Rights: Free Press

Trade Unions: All Allowed

Political Parties: Secret Ballot


Social Reforms:

Minimum Wage: Good Minimum Wage

Max.Work Hours: 8 Hour Work Day

Safety Regulations: Excellent Safety

Unemployment Subsidies: Generous Subsidies

State Pensions: Good Pensions

Health Care: Good Health Care

Public School System: Good School System

Once we have achieved these goals, the people of Italy shall be truly free: Free from the tyranny of privilege and from the autocracy of nobility. Potere al popolo!

((And thus the revolution begins.))

 

[Contravarius]

The abolition of the aristocracy, and the purge of the aristocrats

((There's three aristocrats: two leftists who chose the class to split the rightist PP and me. I'm safely in France. The two remaining guys will be purged. I love it.))

 

[sealy300]

((There's three aristocrats: two leftists who chose the class to split the rightist PP and me. I'm safely in France. The two remaining guys will be purged. I love it.))

((I am hardly in the business of protecting liberals for the sake of betraying my principles, have fun in France, your estate will be collectivised.))

 

[Otto of england]

The People's Charter of Popular Rights.
A joint proclamation from the CSI, USI, UTO, FIL, Red Star, Red Legion, ILJ&E, FLD, UPI and the Proletariat of Italy.​

((I hope this isnt a typo of FDL, because I in no way support social reforms at all and thus I would never put my party as supporting a socialist revolution.))

 

[sealy300]

((I hope this isnt a typo of FDL, because I in no way support social reforms at all and thus I would never put my party as supporting a socialist revolution.))

((No, ofc not. It is one of the Unions.))