La Gazzetta di Messelia

Monti Calls for Draft
Marta Pezzaloni

Sartorian Army marching during the 2017 Eliseo Day celebrations

Regù. Umberto Monti, Leader of Avanti, suggested today that First Councillor Elena D'Ambrosio should bolster military presence in Tavoletro and call a draft, to fight the increasing clashes with Sacuri groups.

While speaking before the Eastern Regional Conservative Parties Conference, Umberto Monti discussed the response of the Sartorian Government in the face of rising Sacuri groups, and suggested that a military response was in order. In that sense, he stressed his belief that First Councillor D'Ambrosio should deploy the Sartorian Army to directly fight certain groups. In the past months, certain members from the Merchant Rights Association have suggested a limited military response, but most of the political establishment, including the First Councillor, has been reticent to deploy the military, citing a desire to let the Finestreri and Carabinieri cooperate to contain the situation.

In addition, Mr Monti proposed that the draft be reinstituted, on a limited basis, to help create a culture of service. The Leader of Avanti argued that Sacuri sentiment is rising because of a failure by the Sartorian and Tavoletri Governments to create a sense of national pride, which he claimed to have been decreasing since the restoration of voluntary military service in 1956. This is the first time a national political figure has proposed a draft, a mostly unpopular position that, while appealing to Avanti's conservative base, does not bode well with other demographics, particularly those 19-36 years old. A recent study by Chierana University indicates that 87% of those in the 19-36 demographic oppose a restoration of the draft, and believe that military service should remain voluntary.

The reticence for an increase militarisation of the conflict can be attributed, in part, to the fear that this would lead to a Fourth Sacuri War. In a press conference yesterday, Military Councillor Mario Alamanni dismissed the possibility that the Sartorian Army could become involved in operations against Sacuri groups, and threw his support behind law enforcement agencies, which he said were sufficiently capable of containing the threat. This sentiment was shared by Carla Forlani, Vice Chair of the Alliance for Sustainable Development in Tavoletro, who said that she "trusted the Finestreri to stay faithful to their mission to keep law and order in the realm".

[07 December 2017]