Alexander Pompilius
Alexander Pompilius | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Consul of Latium | |
| Assumed office 11 March 2016 | |
| Monarch | Jason VI Augustus Constantine XX |
| Deputy | Antonia Trania (2016) |
| Preceded by | Maria Tarpeia |
| Leader of the Populares | |
| Assumed office 11 March 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Maria Tarpeia |
| Praetor for Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 12 October 2014 – 11 March 2016 | |
| Monarch | Jason VI Claudius |
| Consul | The Duchess Ulpia |
| Preceded by | Constantine Gualterus |
| Succeeded by | Jordan Clementus |
| Praetor for Business and Energy | |
| In office 3 August 1997 – 12 March 1998 | |
| Monarch | Jason VI Claudius |
| Consul | Justin Seius |
| Preceded by | Adrian Digitius |
| Succeeded by | Flavia Ennia |
| Senator of Latium | |
| Assumed office 9 September 1988 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Alexander Pompilius Cicero Felix 2 November 1958 Arba, Latium |
| Political party | Populares |
| Spouse | Sophia Tullia (m. 1986) |
| Children | 1 |
| Alma mater | Imperial College, Ascanium (PPE) College of Legal Studies, Castellum (LD) |
| Profession | Lawyer |
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Consul of the Latin Empire Incumbent
First Consulship and term
Second Consulship and term
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Alexander Pompilius (Alexander Pompilius Cicero Felix; born 2 November 1958) is a Latin politician currently serving as Consul. He was first joined the Latin Senate in 1988, and has been the leader of the Populares Senate faction since 2016. He previously served as Foreign Praetor.
Pompilius was raised in the rural community of Arba in the unitary authority of Samarobriva. His father was an apple farmer, though the family lived in virtual poverty throughout Alexander's childhood. He first attended primary school at the age of ten after the death of his father. He went on to study Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Imperial College at the University of Ascanium graduating in 1982 with honors. He was described as a very astute, bright and one of most capable students, by many of his professors. He went onto complete a year long post-graduate law degree at the College of Legal Studies at the University of Castellum Iohannes XIII, becoming a clerk for the Senate Judicial Appellate Committee following his graduation.
He first ran for Senate in 1985, though would fail to win a seat. In 1986, he became a special advisor to Populares leader Justin Seius. He held the position until 1988 when he was nominated to fill the vacant Senate seat in Anavio during a 1988 by-election, later being elected. He earned his first position in the ministry as Minister of State for Energy, serving under Praetor Jordana Lucceia, a post he held until the 1997 and his appointment to the vacant Praetor for Business and Energy. In 2005 he served on the shadow cabinet of Felix Caeparius as Spokesperson for Home Affairs. Pompilius was appointed Foreign Praetor in 2014 a previous failure following the failure by the Senate to appoint The Lord of Fauentiae to the position after the 2013 general election.
The resignation mid-term by Consul Maria Tarpeia left a vacancy in the Consulship, with Emperor Jason VI Augustus stating that the winner of the Populares leadership election would serve as Consul. Pompilius won the election, defeating Felix Sornatius, Leon Dalassenos, Jordanes Clementus, and Alexandra Sulpicia. However, following the 2016 succession crisis, Pompilius and Populares leadership agreed to dissolve the party and reform as United Latium with Pompilius as party leader.
Early Life and Education
Pompilius was born in the small rural village of Arba, Samarobriva county to parents Michael and Christina. Little is known of his family, other than his father was a farmer and Alexander grew up in poverty. Pompilius has stated that his family name was selected by his father, who prior to the Social War had not utilized a surname. In a 2014 interview, Pompilius said that his father had selected "Pompilius" for the former lords of the area because it was the only family name he knew. He has stated that his mother is of Greek descent, and his father is assumed to be of Latin descent.
According to interviews, Pompilius did not attend formal school until age 10. Prior to enrolling in school his mother taught him to read. He is said to have excelled in the classroom once he began attending following the death of his father in 1969. He was accepted into St. Paul Preparatory Secondary School in 1973, however he was forced to turn down schooling due to cost. School records show that he was later admitted to St. Paul's after receiving a scholarship from local nobleman The Lord Telesinus of Saetabis; he would graduate from St. Paul's in 1977. He graduated with A level grades.
He attended Imperial College at the University of Ascanium for university. During his time at Ascanium, he studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics and participated in countless student organizations, and was president of the school's student government. He was described as "one of the quickest and most able students to come through" by his tutor Flavius Caepasi. He graduated from Ascanium in 1981, where he soon enrolled at University of Castellum Iohannes XIII College of Legal Studies without taking a gap year. He graduated from the College of Legal Studies in 1982. He served as a clerk and aid to the Senate Judicial Appellate Committee from 1984 until he resigned in August 1985 to run for Senate.
Early Political Career
During his schooling at Ascanium, Pompilius worked on as campaign manager for Thomas Fufidius's senatorial by-election campaign. Reportedly his grades suffered during this time period, and even faced reprimand from the school. Fufidius went on to win his seat. He first affiliated with the Populares as in 1984. After completing his law degree, Pompilius was recommended for a clerkship within the Curiate Assembly's Judicial Division, which allowed him to remain in Castellum for the next two years.
First elections
Pompilius made his first bid for elected office during the 1985 general election, though failed to gain a spot on the party list.
Pompilius was later urged by county political leaders to run for Samarobrivan county council, though he refused. He was later appointed special advisor to newly elected Populares leader and Senate Minority Leader, Justin Seius. Pompilius mainly advised Seius on matters relating to party policy on healthcare and parliamentary procedure. He worked in this capacity until the resignation of Populares Senator Sebastianus Costinius in June 1988.
Pompilius was asked by Seius to fill the vacant seat in 1988. Leaked internal party emails later demonstrated that Pompilius gaining the seat was due to his personal friendship with Seius, and lobbying by his father-in-law Michael Tullius, who was a major party donor.
Senate Career
Pompilius' first term in the Senate was relatively quiet, though he occasionally sat in on cabinet meetings at the request of party leader Seius. He announced his intent to run for re-election in April 1990, and was victorious due to his ability to fundraise. He held the Anavio seat until its dissolution in 2001 and redistricting into the Portunata constituency. The 1990 election was the first in over 30 years that saw the Populares win a majority. As an incoming Senator, Pompilius earned a seat on the Senatorial Rules Committee, as well as a surprise placement on the Appropriations Committee. Although he co-sponsored legislation during his first term, he did not directly propose any.
Pompilius was named Minister of State for Energy, working directly under Praetor for Business and Energy Jordana Lucceia following the 1995 election. He attended a number of cabinet meetings whenever the Energy Praetor was absent, which was often. He was said to have quickly gained the respect of Consul Justin Seius. The investigation into the Populares following the Group of Ten affair showed that Consul Seius was considering Pompilius for his deputy. Instead, Pompilius was appointed Praetor for Business and Energy in August 1997.
In 1998 the Populares was hit by a major scandal that implicated then Consul Justin Seius and a large portion of the leadership. Pompilius avoided being directly linked to the scandal, though he faced a difficult challenge from opponents in the primary and subsequent snap election. The Group of Ten scandal brought a widespread embezzlement, tax evasion, corruption, and wire and mail fraud scheme to media attention, which inevitably saw the Populares lose their majority following the 1998 snap-election. Pompilius was reelected to by a razor-thin margin, though faced his toughest electoral challenge to date.
During his early tenure as a backbencher and later cabinet minister, Pompilius proposed and drafted many bills. Most notably the Education Responsibility and Reform Act of 1998 and a number of bills regarding energy reform and the move away from non-renewable fuel sources. The latter that has been met with skepticism among his fellow senators and required a bipartisan effort.
Pompilius was made Populares Spokesperson for Home Affairs following the election of Antonius Farsuleius as party leader in 2005. He remained on the Farsuleius frontbench until 2010 when he was replaced by incoming party leader Maria Tarpeia for what she called "a more traditional, and strong cabinet." He remained in the senate as a backbencher from 2010 until 2014. During this time he stated in a 2016 interview that "after I was removed from the spokesperson front bench...[and] relegated to the backbench, I wasn't quite sure my heart was in it anymore. It was for those reasons that I was unsure whether I would stand for re-election in 2015."
Senate Leadership
Foreign Praetor
In October 2014, the Populares were hit with a number of high profile resignations and failed appointments, including the failure to gain Senate approval for their original Foreign Praetor candidate, The Lord of Fauentiae. Pompilius was soon appointed to the office by Jason VI Augustus.
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Pompilius was integral in passing the State and Provincial Investment Act pass through the Senate.
Party Leadership
The resignation of Tarpeia left Populares leaderless, prompting a leadership election. Pompilius was the first to declare his intent, quickly followed by Alexandra Sulpicia, among others. After Rutupiae's resignation, Emperor Jason VI Augustus stated that he would respect the party's leadership election and the winner would then serve as Consul, given the Populares controlled a majority of the Senate. The race for leader was a close one, with many believing the Sulpicia would become the next leader, being that she was the leader of the largest Senatorial caucus and represented the party's youth movement, whereas Pompilius was seen to represent the older wing of the party. Pompilius lost the first two ballots, placing second to the Sulpicia each time, though neither held the required majority. Pompilius won the third and final ballot earning 52% of the vote, resulting in his election as leader.
Consulship
First consulship
Pompilius was quick to act as Consul, calling for an emergency vote for the repeal of the 2006 Welfare Reform Act on his first day in office. In what many pundits called controversial and disruptive, Pompilius ordered Senate police to escort all non-Senators out of the chambers, though some members of the opposition claimed that even they were escorted out of the chamber. Progressive Party leader Flavia Lepera attempted a filibuster of the vote and then attempted to lose quorum, both of which ultimately failed. "If Pompilius’s first moments as Consul are a glimpse of what’s to come, I fear for the future of Latin democracy," Lepera told members of the press in interviews and on social media following the vote.
However controversial his first act was, many praised his attempts to make Latium more energy independent following his passage of the Energy Act (2016), which will see further investments into renewable energy, including but not limited to solar, wind and nuclear power. Pompilius' consulship has also seen a weakening of Rutupiae's hardline stance against certain social issues, though he has not said whether there would be a repeal of any of the Morality Acts.
2016 Succession crisis
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The first major crisis of Pompilius's first consulship was the death of Emperor Jason VI Augustus and the succession crisis that followed. At his own admission after the crisis was resolved, Pompilius was candid by saying that "[Jason VI Augustus's] death struck me as very sudden...and left me unsure of what to do when I saw the reports of gunfire [at the Palace of Augustus]." At the time of Emperor Jason's death, the Senate was on recess and Pompilius was at his primary home in Anavio. Party records subpoenaed by Frumentarii officials showed that Pompilius held party meetings out of his own home in Anavio. Pompilius confirmed this by the second week of November 2016 when he announcement that the "Senate stood behind Emperor Constantine as the rightful heir."
After declaring for Emperor Constantine, Pompilius and the cabinet relocated to Adrianople where Constantine had established his temporary court. From Adrianople, Pompilius and the cabinet worked closely with Emperor Constantine and the Armed Forces to resolve the conflict. Pompilius's declaration resulting in the overwhelming majority of senators following with their own declarations for Constantine as the rightful monarch, with some even appearing in Adrianople where Senate debates were occasionally held.
2017 election
Once the succession crisis was resolved and Emperor Constantine solidified his status as Monarch, Pompilius requested that the Emperor dissolve the Senate and call for new elections. This was granted on 25 January 2017, when Emperor Constantine dissolved the Senate. Plans for new elections were announced on 9 February, with election day slated as April 17. Under Pompilius' leadership, the Populares shifted
During the campaign Pompilius announced plans for military and gendarmerie reforms, as well as promises of little-to-no tax increases for the next two calendar years. Over the course of the election, Pompilius and United Latium both saw favorable poll numbers, with Pompilius receiving a 54% high as preferred Consul and United Latium consistently 10 points ahead of the Progressives. Pompilius made numerous campaign stops not only in his home constituency, but throughout Latium; an act which saw his popularity rise voters, many stating they saw Pompilius as "one of the people."
Election day saw Pompilius and United Latium earning over 45% of the popular vote, an 8% increase of previous Populares totals, and the gain of 54 seats in the Senate. Pompilius thanked voters from United Latium's headquarters in Castellum the night of the election. The following day, Emperor Constantine invited Pompilius to the Palace of Augustus where he was asked to form a government.
2017
Pompilius's first legislative goals following the election was to make good on his promise for gendarmerie by announcing the Civil Guard Act (2017). The CGA was quickly passed by the relevant Senate committees, but stalled when it reached the main floor after Emperor Constantine stated that he would not support the bill in it's current form, which would have seen significant relinquishment by the Monarch and Ministry of Defense or Armed Forces in holding primary authority of the proposed Civil Guard. By late May the Senate would pass a version of the Civil Guard Act, but Emperor Constantine did not provide Imperial assent to the bill before the expiatory phase was reached, seeing the CGA failing. An amended version of CGA eventually passed in August 2017, with Imperial assent provided on 1 September.
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Starting in early September, Pompilius began discussions with the Emperor, Cabinet and prominent community leaders to determine the viability of devolved governments for select communities in Latium. In September 2017, a petition gained 500,000 signatures requiring the petition to be debated by the Senate. A bill was proposed by the minority party Imbrosian Voters Union and a bloc of aligned non-senators that proposed the creation of a quasi-federal system in Latium. Pompilius and the Senate rejected the measure claiming it was not viable. Pompilius and United Latium proposed their own devolution bills a few weeks later, which passed committee on September 14. Both Devolution Acts passed the Senate by a 439 to 230 margin for the Gelonia Act and 473 to 192 for the Imbros Act. After obtaining Imperial assent the proposal was put to referendum at Emperor Constantine's insistence, of which the Imbros Act passed.
2018
By the end of December 2017, Flavius Telesinus, Lord Telesinus of Saetabis, a close associate and former mentor of Pompilius was arrested on charges of corruption and relation to organized crime including the Cucci crime family. Pompilius denied that a friendship existed, and that "Lord Telesinus was not as a mentor or friendship, but of one-time charity. The contact between the Consul and Lord Telesinus after this one-time charitable donation never went beyond the exchange of polite formalities on the rare occasion." Pompilius saw his favorability numbers dip below 50% for the first time since taking the consulship in 2016. A week later, Pompilius was accused of attempting to influence the Frumentarii investigation into Lord Telesinus, with Housing and Local Government Praetor Andronicus Collius and Minister of State for Policing and Criminal Justice Gregorius Carisius taking the accusations public – both have since resigned their ministries. Members of the opposition called for Pompilius to resign over the accusations, though he has since refused and has offered to undergo an ethics investigation.
Policies and views
Pompilius is often described as a one-nation conservative by those both within and outside of his party.
On occasion he is also described as a "liberal conservative," stemming from his statements that he did not agree with Populares leadership after the resignation of Justin Seius in 1998, saying that "The party took a hard turn to the far-right with [Sablones], [Saunio], and [Caeparius]'s leadership." Pompilius' standing in the party diminished in that period until the leadership of Farsuleius, which he says were it "not for the continual changes in policy" and relatively unstable leadership prior to, "Farsuleius would have taken the Senate." Since his first cabinet appointment, Pompilius has been noted for his pragmatism with an unnamed senator stating that "[he's] not a deeply ideological person."
Social policies
Pompilius's views polices generally mirror those of United Latium. He has stated he supports the current state policy that makes abortion illegal, similarly supporting the ban on same-sex marriage. He has said little in the way of his opinion on forced or arranged marriages, which remain common among certain classes in Latium.
Pompilius has differed from the right-wing his constant support for the NHS. He stated his own personal experience as the sole factor for his stance, claiming that prior to its passage, his family had no form of health insurance. "Had the NHS existed when I was a child, perhaps my father wouldn't have passed away when I was so young...and you don't really know how much you're going to need it until it affects a member of your own family" Pompilius said in an interview with Aeterna magazine in 2014. He has often voted against measures from his own party that have attempted to defund or privatize the healthcare system. While he supports the NHS, he has said that there are still ways to reform the system, most notably by "streamlining...and [making it] more cost effective." He often spoke against Consul Tarpeia attempts to privatize the system, which reportedly caused a great deal of arguments at cabinet meetings; however, these were never confirmed in public.
For all his support of the NHS, Pompilius has sought to reduce the level of welfare available, arguing for placing limits in their payments. He has proposed the introduction of tougher medical tests, while requiring drug testing for all potential participants, along with requiring those receiving welfare to join return to work programs. He says it is a goal of his consulship to reduce the poverty level.
In education, Pompilius has vowed to ensure that there is a solution to debt crisis and proposed a nation-wide cap on post-secondary tuition costs. He does not support deprivatization of the national school system, stating that "what works in some communities in Adrianople may not work in Leonopolis" and "in areas where there are not functioning private [or boarding schools], the government has filled the gaps."
Economic policies
Pompilius supports a continuation of a free market economy for Latium within the Belisarian Community. Pompilius has also made it known that he leans towards a more protectionist view for the Belisarian internal market and customs union with a slight rise in tariffs and a more stringent stance when negotiating future trade agreements. Since taking the Consulship, but prior to the 2016 succession crisis, he has attempted to reduce employment taxes and taxes on the creation of wealth.
Foreign policy
Early in his Consulship, Pompilius and his Populares majority refused to comment on the creation of the Forum of Nations Human Rights Committee. After a brief outcry from more centrist or liberal members of his own party, the opposition and even business leaders, Pompilius eventually allowed for debate of the Human Rights Committee, but did not allow a vote to offer non-binding support for the resolution. In support of his position, Pompilius stated that "nations that threaten to cease trade with Latium over this issue will also have to cease trade with the BC and all members," making note of the BC's single market and integrated economy. Emperor Jason VI Augustus would eventually see Latium's ascension to the Committee in mid-2016.
Pompilius was also highly critical of attempts by foreign governments to mediate or take legal-based positions in the 2016 succession crisis, citing that "[the crisis] was purely a legal issue where the only proper legal jurisdiction able resolve the conflict was the in Latin courts."
In interviews, he has stated an unwillingness to become involved in inserting Latium into humanitarian crises which "do not directly impact Latium or [] allies."
Pompilius supports the Yarden Accords between Sydalon and Yisrael.
Belisarian Community
Pompilius described himself as a skeptic of the Belisarian Community early in his political career, though states that his opinion changed just after his first re-election campaign in 1990 when he said that the Community greatly benefits all Belisarians." He supports utilizing the BC to solve regional disputes, though has not yet called himself a true believer in multilateral solutions to regional problems.
Pompilius is a proponent of using the BC as a means of strengthening the positions of all seven member nations on the world stage. However, he was adamant that it is not the place of Latium or the BC to insert itself into "solving a far-off humanitarian crisis...or toppling dictators." At times, however, he has suggested that the BC should wield more of it's strength and influence to achieve the Community's continued success and status as one of the premier blocs of the world.
He has suggested that the BC must be open to expanding membership to other Belisarian nations. "While open to enlargement...we must not do so at the expense of the stability and growth we have achieved by weakening the stringent requirements to join." He has refused to comment on particular nations that could join though has stated that the "Belisarian Community is just that...a community of Belisarian nations," hinting that he would advise the Monarch to veto the ascension or application of any nation which doesn't fit that description.
Personal Life
Pompilus married Sophia Tullia in 1986. They first met in 1984 after being introduced by a mutual colleague, Philippa Chryselios, following a speech given by Pompilius at the City College of Alba chapter of the Populares-aligned student group. At the time, Pompilius was a law student at Castellum's College of Legal studies, whereas Sophia was a first year undergraduate student at Castellum's City College of Alba. The two continued to see one another through 1984 and later during Pompilius' failed Senate bid in 1985. Alexander and Sophia would later marry in 1986 when Pompilius was working in the offices of Party leadership. Their wedding was held at Sophia's familial estate in Elúsion. They did not have any children until later in Pompilius' Senate career, with the birth of their only child, Anna, coming in 1998.
Pompilius's official residence is 20 Via Julia in Castellum, though he maintains private residences in Elúsion, Anavio and Castellum.
Styles
- 2 November 1958 - 11 March 2016: Alexander Pompilius
- 11 March 2016 - present: The Rt. Hon. Alexander Pompilius
See also
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| Pre-reform consuls | ||