Fostana

The body has held an important place in Caropsyne history and has been a part of the political fabric of the nation for over seven-hundred years. From its creation in 1281, the monarchy often relied upon it for legal guidance and levying new taxes. The chamber was originally made up of 60 members consisting of a complex mesh of political, aristocratic, and religious appointments. Although the monarch had the ability to recommend individuals to the chamber, only the existing membership could accept their admission by a majority internal vote. The Fostana held considerable influence over the affairs of the monarchs and the rising Kingdom but everything changed in the mid-1800's.

King Aldrand, the Kingdom's last executive monarch, passed away in 1842 and was succeeded by his liberally-minded son Olimand. He had observed the changing political tides and after serving only one year as the formal head of state, he met with pro-democracy representatives from the lower classes and agreed to downgrade the monarchy from a Royal Family to merely a Royal House. In doing so, he would transfer the responsiblity of running the country's affairs to a democratic government. While the ordinary Caropsyne populace rejoiced, the aristocratic Fostana were collectively outraged at what would result in a dramatic curtailment of their historical power and authority. The Pontiana was created and elections were held for the first time ever. Melthred Consvané, a popular lawyer and one of the representatives who had met with the King, was elected Premier. This symbolized the end of the Unified Kingdom and the formation of the First Pontanore. To ensure sufficient check, the Fostana retained an extensive array of the King's former executive functions and powers.

Relations between the Fostana and the Pontiana immediately started off tense as the newly-empowered democratic government began chipping away at the longstanding medieval structures and pollicies that had existed for generations. The chambers would barely cooperated except in a few rare instances over the next ninety years until the country was deep in the grips of the economic depression of the late 1920's and early 1930's. Premier Dorias Rormold was elected in 1931 but he considered too radical by the Fostana and was overthrown by the upper chamber in 1933. Immediately following this, the Fostana, then led by Chair Eremas Morclin, proclaimed a National Emergency and shut down the Pontiana.

This marked the end of the First Pontanore and the start of sixty years of Fostana Rule. Neighboring Ardalia and other countries including Corsimenia, Latagon, and Loslakia condemened the seizure but it fell on deaf ears. Some believe that this event is one of many secondary factors that preciptated the Great War of 1938-1942 of which the Fostana assembled an erstwhile coalition to victory over Loslakia and its bloc. They would engage in conflict with Loslakia and Ardalia during the late 1970's and early 1980's in which they would oversee the inclusion of new territories. Rolmand Roth would succeed Morclin as Fostana Chair in 1975.

Direct Fostana rule would come to end in 1993 due to a number of controversies, national uprisings (including the Hermalas Socialist Uprising of 1992), damaging policies, and forceful use of the Damosca upon individuals who dared to question the council's authority. Recognizing that the nation was on the edge of internal destruction, the Chair decreed that the body would cease their unilateral control the country and would enable the reopening the Pontiana. There was widespread praise by the international community for return of democracy. Elections were swiftly held, resulting in Phodric Dormond taking the reins of government as Premier. The chamber would return to its pre-emergency status and authority but throughout the remainder of the 1990's, they would observe the nation making one extreme foreign policy decision after another under both him and his successor Haldric Maldian.

Eventually the Fostana could no longer stand by and allow Maldian's Government to continue running the Ponatnore. They recognized that Maldian's method of governance was threatening the stability of the country both at home and abroad and the Chair believed that the Damosca, the country's intellgence service, was actively influence the Government's decision-making. One day, the entire 60-member chamber stopped their proceedings mid-session and invaded the Pontiana, thus sparking the 2000 Caropsyne Constitutional Crisis. The events of that week would leaving a lasting mark upon the country that remain even to this day.

Miria Seranoda was elected as Premier in the aftermath of the crisis and both she and Fostana Chair Roth pledged to work together to build better relations between their respective chambers even though they were on two opposite sides of the political spectrum. During the early days of her tenure, she had designs to reform the Fostana's membership to be more meritocratic but neither she nor her successor would be able to achieve this goal as they all believed they needed the upper chamber's support in the fight against Dormondism.

For nearly the next two decades, the Fostana would continue to be the last bastion of wealth and privilege. The end of the old ways of the Fostana would be set in motion with the release of a joint report in early 2019 by Cadriana Speaker Ilmer Yutrias and then-Pontiana Executive Chairman Marias Gatto outlining a wide range of reforms to the ancient body of over seven-hundred years including transforming the composition of the chamber to be made up of notable individuals from the political, bureucratic, and academic spheres of society appointed by the Pontiana. Members of the council reacted negatively to the proposals.

After fifteen years of wrangling over the reform of the Fostana, the Pontiana has today agreed to wide-ranging changes to the structure of the council. The new Fostana, which will remain an appointed body, will become a body of legal and political experts, appointed on merit by the Civil Directorate's Secretarial Committee to fulfil the traditional role of the body. Fostana members (known as "Pantolaré" within the Pontanore) will now have to hold a doctoral degree, preferably in Pontanore Law, or have held one of the major offices of the State, in order to seek appointment. As a further measure to improve the standards of Fostana rulings, members will also be expected to have a wide-ranging experience of Pontanore politics.

That reform was inevitable is something that Fornænda's political scene had known for a long time. Since the beginning of the Seranoda Government of the Second Pontanore, the Pontiana has sought to replace the other house with a more acceptable format. The Fostana, which until now was drawn from an exclusive pool of members whose positions are a complex mesh of political, aristocratic, and religious appointments, has been considered impracticle for many years. Only, until now, the major political forces within the country had failed to come to common conclusions on how to reform it.

Very much out is the style of Fostana which has continued to be administered by Pntlo. Rolmand Roth, now 97 years old, and still currently its staunchly reactionary Chair. Roth, along with Secretary Svarmond and Master of Ceremonies Olimandas, will be permitted to remain on the new council, though all have been advised to retire. As for Fostana Treasurer Pntlo. Phodric Glothmer, his eligibility has been removed due to his other position as a Pantheonist Prelate. New rules guiding the makeup of membership have enforced the removed of 47 of the Fostana's 60 members.

The new council will contain 60 members still, all of whom have been announced this afternoon. We have selected some of the more high-profile nominees:

Pntlo. Dr. Phodric Dormond, Former Premier Pntlo. Miria Seranoda, Former Premier Pntlo. Dr. Alza Permentanna, Former Premier Pntlo. Dr. Goriath Moscana, Former Premier Pntlo. Dr. Almas Josc, Former Premier, Foreign Minister Pntlo. Dr. Haldric Jarvalde, Diplomat Pntlo. Dr. Baras Alpa, Academic Pntlo. Dr. Haldric Pramo, Academic