Almas Josc

Dr. Almas Josc
Pantolaro of the Fostana
Incumbent
Assumed office 10 September 2020
Foreign Minister
Incumbent
Assumed office 3 March 2020
Preceded by	Alza Permentanna
6th Premier of the Caropsyne Pontanore
In office 27 February 2019 – 2 March 2020
Preceded by	Goriath Moscana
Succeeded by	Ilmer Yutrias
Member of the Pontiana
In office 9 April 2015 – 10 September 2020
Constituency	Triana
Personal details
Born	(1971-11-19) November 19, 1971 Triana
Nationality	Caropsyne
Political party	Independent
Spouse	Ludomira
Residence(s)	Triana, Pelnas, Carops
Education	PhD International Relations
Alma mater	Larimas University
Profession	Politician, Diplomat

Almas Josc (born 19 November 1971) was the 6th Premier (Pontissiano) of the Caropsyne Pontanore. He is currently both Premier Ilmer Yutrias' Foreign Minister and a member (Pantolaro) of the Fostana.

Early and Personal Life

Josc was born 19 November 1971, the youngest of three children to a lower-middle class couple in the city of Triana in the Caropsyne Astozarno of Pelnas. He excelled in his primary and secondary education, receiving first honors. Almas met his wife Ludomira during his first year at Larimas University where both fell in love at first sight, marrying six months later. Josc would eventually obtain his doctorate in international relations in 1996. For the next seven years, he instructed the next generation of diplomats before semi-retiring in 2003. During this period he would maintain regular restaurant review column for Eda Pontanesca earning him a reputation as a harsh critic of the nation's most well-known eateries (he is rumored to still be writing the occasional review for the paper under an alias).

Career in the Diplomatic Service

Almas decided to join the Pontanore Diplomatic Service to help progress Caropsyne interests far and wide. Under Serenoda, Josc would serve as the Pontanore's Ambassador in Corsimenia and Rygaria. Premier Alza Permentanna, having heard of Josc's work abroad and expansive knowledge of international relations, tapped him to be one of the Pontanore's official representatives at the Council of Nations in 2010. This opportunity gave him the ability to build up an impressive network that would he would stand to benefit from for years to come. At the same time, he would come out of semi-retirement to lecture at the University of the Pontanore.

Political Career

Member of the Pontiana

Almas decided to leave his posting in 2015 when Permentanna decided to end her tenure as Premier and return to the backbenches of the Pontiana. He would enter politics for himself to continue engaging and questioning foreign policy decisions. Josc would run as an independent and beat both his New Left and Moderate opponents each by ten points, shocking political analysts who had long regarded his district as a safe Moderate seat. Although he was an independent member who would otherwise receive a bad committee assignment, Almas' long track record of diplomacy would earn him a coveted position on the Foreign Relations Select Committee on the recommendation of former Premier Permentanna to the Executive Committee. He quickly gained a reputation as a fierce critic of Premier Moscana's policies.

His rise to the Premiership would begin with the abduction of eleven officials of Zilmo Caropso (Carops Oil) including Vice President Garel-Zarmas Maldrand by the Jaj Independence Front in 2018. He and his associate were finalizing a deal to add new oil-rich land for the company to extract more oil. Premier Moscana decided to react with force and deployed the Casmara twice to free them, both times failing. Josc saw an opportunity to make use of his network and covertly got in touch with the JIF leadership. After three weeks of deliberations, he was able to obtain all of their releases, labeling Almas as one of the Pontanore's finest foreign policy masters.

In the aftermath of the event, it politically embrassed the Premier. Many would go on to had called for his resignation. Though he would survive, but it would be a temporary stay. Mere months later, an economic recession began to setting and most believed he was not rising to the challenge. To head off a potential vote of no confidence, Moscana called for a snap election and declared he would not be running for reelection. The election that would take place left a hung Parliament with neither the New Left nor the Moderates in position to govern. Again, Josc saw his opportunity and convened a meeting with all the seated parties and offered himself as Premier. Seeing no other alternative, he was appointed by acclamation.

Premiership

Upon taking office, he immediately assembled a small cabinet consisting of the Pontanore's greatest individuals to help him steer the country forward. Members would include former government minister and Premier Alza Permentanna; Professor Gethman Tormian who had previously advising Government on economic policies for decades; and the well-respected Army General Darmas Josta. Confident, he and his Government got to work. Unfortunately, his Premiership would not last long.

In his first speech he gave on the floor of the Pontiana, he proclaimed the establishment of the Third Pontanore as a symbol of moving forward. Josc announced that he would be implementing a program of rebuilding the Pontanore Defense Forces with the latest in weaponry, vehicles, ships, planes, and hardware. He pledged that he would be leading a state "built on peace," he stated that the Pontanore would need to be able to defend itself in an ever-changing world. The demand for new military equipment jumpstarted industrial production lines and idle shipyards, putting people back to work. On the advice of Josta, he also proposed streamlining the command structure to ensure better communication and coordination across the various branches.

By agreeing to undertaking a reorganization of the command structure, Josta was given permission to freeze out individuals in the military who may have Dormondist sympathies. This would cause a serious rift in the upper echelons in the armed forces. Two months later, an assassination attempt was made on his life, only stopped by the timely arrival of loyal Casmara and Sadriana forces. Further investigation into the event revealed that the Damosca, the Pontanore's former intelligence service which had been declared a terrorist organization was responsible for arranging the attempt. It was to be a warning of things to come.

12 June 2019 started off like any other normal sunny summer day in Fornænda with tourists and residents alike walking amongst the historic buildings of the city center, but everything was not well. Three senior Civil Directorate officials were found dead on a side street by the Casmara who suspected Damosca involvement. Josc and his cabinet were immediately informed and hasty plans were made to prevent was very likely going to be a repeat of 2000. To prevent the civil populace and tourists from suspecting anything, the police used the pretense of a gas explosion in the Defense Ministry for cordoning off the districts of Terese Polminese, Terese Molda, and Terese Palmosa. Casmara, Sadriana, and military forces were deployed. A no-fly zone was instituted and snipers were stationed ontop of the Pontiana.

Just before noon, Damosca forces were spotted taking up positions in the recesses of the main chamber and bell tower of the Basilica of the Pontanore across the square. A Sadriana unit in full geer moved silently towards the Basilica's entrance and blew it open with a grenade. Gunfire erupted. To protect the Government, Premier Josc and the cabinet were brought to the Cansarte Palace on the South Bank of the river. Almas went on camera within minutes of the firefight breaking out to expose the Damosca's attack. Back on the Terese Polminese, the fighting had damaged a fountain that went back to the 1500's. After half an hour, the Casmara and Sadriana had the upper hand and forced the Damosca to retreat. General Pholomir Zarmal, who had managed to sneak into the capital with his men to execute the coup, was escorted away to a waiting boat on the Vacora River where he sped away, evading arrest once more.

Premier Josc was pleased to hear that the Damosca plot had been foiled but he knew his Government's viability would now in question by the Pontiana over its perceived inability to guarantee national security. That night, the "Caropsyne Nationalists" attacked key buildings in Polmona including an attempted bombing of the Champézarno rail terminal. Josc would issue a promise from the government for renewed measures against extremists. Calls for General Josta's resignation would grow rapidly as information came to light showing that the Damosca leaders had backers within the military leadership. Heightened security was instituted across the Pontanore for most of the summer.

Following the political fallout from the coup, and serious deliberations with both his wife and local priest, announced on 12 August 2019 that he had informed the Pontiana Executive Committee of his intention to step down from the Premiership at the end of his first year. Elections would be set for 2 March 2020. The announcement had removed the political pressures on him and his ministers who could just spend the remainder of their time in office completing several unfinished policies while everyone was focused on the election. Though the Government had considerably less political capital to work with, they were able to pass legislation to improve the provision of services in foreign languages throughout the Pontanore and introduce a new program of reforms to the nation's State Assistance system which Eda Lampasarra hailed as 'a victory for Pontanore society.' Josc's greatest achivement was furthering diplomatic relations with long-time rival Latagon.

Josc was succeeded by Ilmer Yutrias as Premier following the result of the 2 March 2020 election.

As Foreign Minister

Newly-elected Premier Yutrias reached out to Almas Josc hours after being informed of the election result, asking him to join his Government as Foreign Minister. Like Permentanna before, he initially declined on the grounds that the two of them had dramatically different perspectives on foreign policy as exhibited by Ilmer's more hawkish positions stated on the campaign trail, particularly those made in the week leading up to the vote. Yutrias made it very clear that while they may not align on every matter of policy, it was essential that the Pontanore be represented by an expert diplomat. He additionally stated that he would respect his independence and would not require him to join his party. Josc agreed and his name was put forth at the first session of the new Pontiana.

more to be written.