Dario Silvano | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Dux of La Rossa | |
| In office 7-2 29 PC – 6-8 35 PC | |
| Preceded by | Alessandra DeGaio |
| Succeeded by | Giulio Moretti |
| Advisor | |
| In office 7-3 5 PC – 7-2 29 PC | |
| Appointed by | Giulio Falcone |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 21-7 45 TT Buglio |
| Died | 6-8 35 PC Buglio |
| Nationality | Rossan |
Dario Silvano (21-7 45 TT – 6-8 35 PC) was a Dux of La Rossa, reigning during a period from 29 PC to 35 PC. Hastily becoming a candidate for president after Ducissa Alessandra DeGaio's health complications near the end of her life, he had served as an Advisor for Buglio for 24 years since La Denunzia, during which he was one of the city's popular leaders. Seen as much closer to Dux Falcone than the Ducissa, and seen as largely unambitious, he sustained low approval ratings throughout his entire time in office, winning re-election with slim margins several times.
Early Life
A farmer by birth, Dario Silvano was born into a moderately wealthy family living in the vicinity of Buglio. Becoming owner of the family plantation at the age of 24, expanding it with bought land during his lifetime, he enjoyed relatively prosperous business for two decades, lasting until the onset of the Silver Crisis. The sudden hit to the economy, started by the exhaustion of resources from the Montesuvian mountain range, shattered beyond the cities into their rural surroundings.
With many crops being made unaffordable to grow by the sudden deflationary shock, the Silver Crisis saw the failing or downsizing of many farms around the island, unable to sell at a profit during already difficult times. The resulting effects saw the drastic fall of agricultural production, in many cases unable to meet the demands of the nation's populace, resulting in rising rates of malnutrition. The era of instability, later dubbed La Denunzia saw the rise in anti-government sentiment, with various, diverse groups coming together for a common goal. The farmers' movement protesting the reign of Dux Mario Buonestrotti di Buglio, mostly concentrated in his own home province of Buglio, the nation's most agriculturally expansive city-province, named Dario Silvano as their leader, owing to his reputation as an outspoken man with rural interests in mind.
With the resignation of the Dux in Buglio, preceded by the outer occupation of his palace, it is said that Dario Silvano was one of the first people to have burst into the building to remove the old aristocracy out of it. With news of the resignation traveling by radio, the end of the evening already saw the coronation of Dux Giulio Falcone, the nation's first popular, albeit unelected ruler.
Advisor
Appointed to the Advisory Council as a representative of Buglio by Dux Falcone, he would serve in the unelected provisional government that formed after La Denunzia, becoming a great supporter of the Dux's plans over the following years. With a focus on expanding subsidies to rural areas, a goal in which he was often successful, he was noted as a convincing personal speaker in persuading the Dux to implement his measures. Although closer to Dux Falcone than the Ducissa, his past Advisory colleague, he remained a staunch supporter of her government during her rule, continuing to hold office after the re-introduction of democratic elections to the island.
The oldest, and regarded as the most experienced person on the Advisory Council, he was nominated for election in 29 PC, after Ducissa Alessandra DeGaio chose not to run due to her deteriorating health. Riding off her popularity, he achieved a handed victory in the following elections.
Dux
Widely regarded as a mediocre leader, Dario Silvano was unable to find his place next to the greats that preceded him. Continuing the Ducissa's welfare policies, the state struggled to pay for the programs more and more as the newly reborn private market struggled to fully take off. While the island's biggest merchants were able to afford vessels necessary for trade with the neighboring islands, most struggled to do so, and remained constrained to the domestic market. With the economy mostly stagnant, growth remained at low or slightly negative levels throughout his term, leading to a rise in emigration that would reach its peak in 35 PC, his final year in office. His expansion of welfare programs is widely credited for being one of the greatest reasons behind his continued re-elections.
| Election | Votes | Votes (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 29 PC | 196,162 | 57.2% |
| 31 PC | 179,612 | 54.2% |
| 33 PC | 184,626 | 51.5% |
| 35 PC | 177,217 | 50.3% |
Death
Although his age would come up as an issue many times during his previous campaigns, being three years older than the Ducissa even at the time of her death, the Dux continued to assure the populace that many years lie ahead of him, oft quipping how his wisdom and experience gave him an edge over other candidates. On 6-8 35 PC, he would fall down the stairs of the Palace in Buglio, sustaining lethal head trauma. Snap elections would be held within the Advisory Council, and he would be replaced by Giulio Moretti, a younger Advisor from Padeno.