Antonio Morobaldi

Antonio Morobaldi
A 49 PC political comic depicting Morobaldi snuffing out a lighthouse-shaped candle, representing the internationalist movement.
Advisor
In office 7-3 35 PC – 7-2 49 PC
Preceded by	Maurizio Grigio
Succeeded by	Vincenzo Barozzo di Tolia (Dux)
Leader of Isola
In office 15-4 49 PC – 6-2 55 PC
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Giulio Moretti
Personal details
Born	9-9 20 TT Tolia
Died	6-2 55 PC Tolia
Nationality	Rossan

Antonio Morobaldi (9-9 20 TT – 6-2 55 PC) was a Rossan politician and Advisor who represented Tolia from 35 PC to 49 PC. An exemplary politician of the post-Denunzian era, his commitment to its ideals made him revered at home, polarizing across the nation, and despised abroad. A political firebrand, a staunch proponent of isolationism and the founder of Isola, he stood as a firm believer in the idea that the excesses of internationalism have led to the deterioration of the Rossan working class to the benefit of the Six Families, and claimed that the only way to mend the situation lied in the ceasing of cooperation with the nations of the Attu Archipelago and the return to self-sufficiency. Although his conclusions were rejected by economists and industrial leaders alike, he had managed to capture a great portion of the working vote, marking a radical shift away from internationalism in a country that had only years before made contact with the archipelago.

Early Life

Born in the industrial city of Tolia in 20 TT, Antonio Morobaldi was born at the correct moment in time to see the turbulent surrounding world transform him in his young adulthood. The son of a factory manager, his father Antonio, after whom he was named, a similar career would have awaited him were it not for the turmoil of the Silver Crisis that would derail his adulthood. Merely five years after becoming employed at the same factory as his father, a window manufacturing plant, the sudden halt in silver extraction produced a shocking disruption sooner than felt by most, leading to the company collapsing under the pressure within a year. Far from being an isolated incident, the problems across the island compounded, and soon a widespread movement of anger swept the nation.

Enamored by the man who led the masses, Morobaldi became fascinated by the ideology Giulio Falcone espoused on the streets, and turned to calling upon his local community to organize in support of the growing movement. As the crisis deepened, the loosely organized protests turned to regular occurrences, which in turn evolved into an unflinching wave that would usurp the rule of Dux Mario Buonestrotti di Buglio, and install Dux Falcone as leader. Such a turn of events would seal Morobaldi's fate in becoming an unmistakable supporter of the ensuing revolution of social and political life.

Denunzianism

Establishing himself as an ally of the new ruler early on, Morobaldi was placed in a leadership position in one of many recently nationalized factories and workplaces, appointed indirectly by the Dux to oversee operations of a fabrics manufacturing facility as society attempted to reel away from the misery of the past. According to workers, he stood as a stern, but charismatic figurehead with a fiery personality, in many ways coming to mirror the Dux he came to idolize over the years. A highly motivating speaker, his factory consistently outperformed quotas, in part owing to the strong sense of cohesion built within the workplace. The resignation of the Dux was reportedly met with murmurs, and although he had remained mildly supportive of the Ducissa that followed, he had come to resent the privatization that once more swept the island and continued to pride his workplace on their nationally-owned status.

When the factory was at last bought from the state by the Barozzo Family in 34 PC, in a push to allow the struggling Silvano administration to allocate spending towards welfare following troubling economic circumstances, Morobaldi, enraged, would become involved in local politics on a sharply radical platform, winning his bid for Advisorship the following year.

Advisor

Elected in what would become yet another period of chaotic turmoil, the sudden death of Dux Dario Silvano left an uneasy question of replacement at the table. With no election scheduled for the following two years, the Advisory Council would choose to appoint one of their own to preside over the nation in the following years. While the title ultimately went to Giulio Moretti, a moderate bureaucrat and economist, in a 4-1 vote, the newcoming Morobaldi would remain a strong dissenter throughout the process, arguing that the Denunzians have lost their way over the years.

Although economic analyses showed that the troubling indicators had begun receding, the unstable times of the Silvano administration provided ample time for the sudden rise of the internationalist movement, which argued that the nation of La Rossa ought to establish contact with the islands around it, a mission that has stagnated over the decades as the memories of the Second Calming faded into history. Ultimately becoming successful, with Dux Leo Minestrici di Mineria elected and sworn into power in 39 PC, the Rossan Opening would finally commence in 41 PC. The event would turn Morobaldi from a mere radical at the bench to a polarizing household name, as he had been quick to criticize the many subsidies the Six Families had received in the transition to an export-focused, mercantilist economy.

Often willing to fight and argue of how the Rossan working class had benefited least from the internationalist agenda, stating how most of the wealth acquired sitting firmly with the Six Families, he would become a recurring political candidate at the national elections, willing to challenge the elites which he saw as a direct continuation of the pre-Denunzian era. Seeing reliance on other nations as weakness prone to catastrophe, he would argue for a return to self-reliance and autarky, as well as building up a large defensive capability to deter potential invaders. In addition, he would throw many criticisms at the states La Rossa would come to align itself with, attacking their frequent abuses of human rights, poor labor conditions, and high corruption. Despite failing to win in 47 PC, he inched closer to victory than any challenger to the internationalists before him, and electrified the opposition into a united isolationist movement. Minestrici's resignation would prompt another attempt at being elected to power, albeit unsuccessfully.

Following the victory of Vincenzo Barozzo di Tolia at the 49 PC national elections, a quirk of the Rossan electoral system saw Morobaldi's Advisorship abolished, forcefully dragging him out of the Council. Despite this, he vowed to stay committed to fighting in the world of politics, and would move to formalize the movement he had created under the banner of Isola, the first political party in La Rossa, soon joined by a variety of Denunzians opposed to the Dux. Despite his support remaining outside of the Council, he would continue to hold a significant sway over the conversation. Declining to run again until the tides turned favorable, unwilling to be a symbol of failure, opportunity once again struck in 54 PC, when an investigation by the Giornale Economico uncovered a widespread network of corruption in the Barozzo administration.

Death

Once more entering the fight for the throne of Dux after the corruption scandal of the Barozzo administration became publicized, Morobaldi stood a chance greater than ever before to finally seize the reins of power away from the internationalist faction he had spent his entire career fighting against. Despite some concerns about his age, the 74-year-old remained as youthful and jubilant as ever going into the race. Confidence in him remained even after he was seen collapsing unconscious at one of his rallies, requiring brief hospitalization. As no other candidate matched him in popularity nor was willing to challenge his informal position as leader of opposition, the momentum he had accummulated continued to persist, despite obstacles. For years establishing himself as a highly divisive figure, a close race was predicted in spite of the scandal the Dux was embroiled in.

On 6-2, the day of the election, Morobaldi cast his vote in high spirits, a great contrast to Dux Barozzo, who chose not to leave his palace that day. As the polling stations closed and the ballots were counted late into the night, a clearer picture emerged, and predictions of a solid victory began to be sealed. Triumphantly raising his hands in a sign of victory in front of a crowd of supporters, Morobaldi fell to the ground, leading to him being pronounced dead at the scene following a cerebral stroke.

One of the most disputed and contentious elections in Rossan history, his death led to similar divisiveness across the nation as seen in life. With Dux Barozzo continuing his hold to power following a stunning decree, calls for new elections to be held or for another Isolan to be appointed in his place spread across the nation. The ensuing political crisis would lead to a stand-off between the Dux and the Advisory Council, turning solidly red for the first time in years.

Electoral History

35 PC

35 PC Advisory Council Election in Tolia

Alignment		Candidate	Votes	Votes (%)
	Denunzian	Antonio Morobaldi	281,122	51.2%
	Denunzian	Maurizio Grigio (incumbent)	246,833	45.0%
	Independent	Nino Calzini	21,111	3.8%
Total Votes			549,066	100%

37 PC

37 PC Advisory Council Election in Tolia

Alignment		Candidate	Votes	Votes (%)
	Denunzian	Antonio Morobaldi (incumbent)	332,120	57.5%
	Internationalist	Rocco Barozzo di Tolia	156,529	27.1%
	Denunzian	Galeazzo Panelli	57,829	10.0%
	Independent	Nino Calzini	31,122	5.4%
Total Votes			577,600	100%

39 PC

39 PC Advisory Council Election in Tolia

Alignment		Candidate	Votes	Votes (%)
	Denunzian	Antonio Morobaldi (incumbent)	386,143	68.9%
	Internationalist	Rocco Barozzo di Tolia	174,296	31.1%
Total Votes			560,439	100%

41 PC

41 PC Advisory Council Election in Tolia

Alignment		Candidate	Votes	Votes (%)
	Denunzian	Antonio Morobaldi (incumbent)	371,138	64.9%
	Independent	Galeazzo Panelli	113,229	19.8%
	Independent	Lidia Zanini	113,229	15.3%
Total Votes			571,861	100%

43 PC

43 PC Advisory Council Election in Tolia

Alignment		Candidate	Votes	Votes (%)
	Denunzian	Antonio Morobaldi (incumbent)	305,446	60.5%
	Internationalist	Enzio Barozzo di Tolia	131,779	26.1%
	Independent	Galeazzo Panelli	67,677	13.4%
Total Votes			504,902	100%

45 PC

45 PC Advisory Council Election in Tolia

Alignment		Candidate	Votes	Votes (%)
	Denunzian	Antonio Morobaldi (incumbent)	381,308	70.1%
	Internationalist	Enzio Barozzo di Tolia	162,640	29.9%
Total Votes			543,948	100%

47 PC

47 PC Election for Dux

Alignment		Candidate	Votes	Votes (%)
	Internationalist	Leo Minestrici di Mineria	1,670,215	45.4%
	Denunzian	Antonio Morobaldi	1,578,243	42.9%
	Independent	Ignazio Dotti	230,229	6.3%
	Independent	Vito Pandini	130,144	3.5%
	Independent	Luca Minestrone	70,056	1.9%
Total Votes			3,678,907	100%

47 PC Advisory Council Election in Tolia

Alignment		Candidate	Votes	Votes (%)
	Denunzian	Antonio Morobaldi (incumbent)	395,653	72.5%
	Independent	Gloria Borghini	150,075	27.5%
Total Votes			545,728	100%

49 PC

49 PC Election for Dux

Alignment		Candidate	Votes	Votes (%)
	Internationalist	Vincenzo Barozzo di Tolia	1,764,676	53.6%
	Denunzian	Antonio Morbaldi	1,418,983	43.1%
	Modhes	Cuscorrado Papregoli	88,892	2.7%
	Independent	Esterino Blasi	19,755	0.6%
Total Votes			3,292,306	100%

55 PC

55 PC Election for Dux

Alignment		Candidate	Votes	Votes (%)
	Isola	Antonio Morobaldi	1,818,675	54.7%
	Mare	Vincenzo Barozzo di Tolia	1,506,142	45.3%
Total Votes			3,324,817	100%