La Gazzetta di Messelia

Princess Giulia Sends Condolences to Adler; Palazzo Malzo Condemns Meridia
Marta Pezzaloni

Princess Giulia spoke today at the Ponchielli Institute of Technology

Ponchielli. Princess Giulia delivered a public statement today, expressing her distress at the situation in Adler and conveying her condolences to the Adleran People.

Following her participation in the Giorgio Alamanni Lecture Series, organised by the Ponchielli Institute of Technology, where she was the keynote speaker, Princess Giulia delivered a statement before the press where she indicated she was "most distraught" with the deaths of most of the Adleran Government, and said that she spoke for Sartoria in expressing her "deepest condolences to Adler during this difficult time". The Princess also affirmed that she remained in close communication with the Privy Council, to ensure that similar incidents would not take place in Sartoria.

Missing from the Princess' statement was the declaration of martial law by Acting Chancellor Alphonse Lehardt, who is leading the Adleran Government following the deaths of the entire line of succession, with the exclusion of the Secretary of State, who declined to act as Chancellor. While many in social media are criticising the Princess for failing to speak against what is considered a dangerous, yet lawful, breach of democratic order, the Office of the Princess reminded later this afternoon that the Princess does not traditionally comment on political or foreign policy matters, leading such decisions to the Privy Council.

Palazzo Malzo Defends Parthenopias in Meridia Brawl

Unlike the Princess' politically neutral statement, the Palazzo Malzo delivered a strong defence of Parthenopias in a written statement this morning. Parthenopias, a traditional ally and key member of the Artemian Union, is involved in a diplomatic dispute with Meridia, following the calls in the latter to boycott Parthene products on account of the Parthene Government's condemnation of legalised torture in Meridia.

Meridia has criticised the martial law imposed in Adler and the human rights regime in Sizhou. This has prompted responses from both countries, who have called out what they consider to be hypocrisy. Acting Chancellor Lehardt, in particular, called out the continued legality of torture in the Meridian state of Carnato, a criticism supported by the Parthene Government.

In its statement, the Palazzo Malzo asserted that it "stands steadfast in support of its ally to the east" and that it cannot ignore the "dissonance between a criticism of a thus-far legitimate exercise of governmental powers and the continued use of a barbaric practice that violates the dignity of all individuals". It further state that Sartoria would coordinate, within the Foreign and Security Policy Council of the Artemian Union, on further measures to be taken about the state of human rights in Meridia.