Ela'r'oech-Pontunia relations

Status and Recognition of the Catholic Republic of Pontunia
Should the Resolution to Recognize the Catholic Republic of Pontunia as an Illegal Republican Breakaway State of the Empire of Ela'r'oech be enacted?
Location	Empire of Ela'r'oech
Outcome	The Resolution would be enacted.
Results

Elarian-Pontunian relations
Envoy
Emperor Charles Mevd / Madgett	President / Diplomat Andrew Perdomo

The Empire of Ela'r'oech and the Catholic Republic of Pontunia remain the final standing nations in the Bayou Sector and are, debatably, among the most influential micronations in the Southern United States as a whole. The two nations initially began in diplomatic relations in 2021. Pontunia, throughout a majority of it's time engaging with Ela'r'oech, was a monarchy.

Since late 2023, after the formation of the Catholic Republic of Pontunia, Ela'r'oech-Pontunia relations have reached an all-time low. This comes after members of the Neo-Knights of Ela'r'oech - an organization unaffiliated with the Empire of Ela'r'oech for which it is named - declared war on the Republic. The Empire has disavowed the actions of the Neo-Knights and the organization's existence numerous times. Despite this, however, Pontunian President Andrew Perdomo proceeded to allegedly illegally remove members of the Pontunian National Assembly for being Elarian.

Since 7 November 2023, the Catholic Republic of Pontunia has been considered an illegal breakaway of the Empire of Ela'r'oech.

History

Background

The Empire of Ela'r'oech and the Catholic Republic of Pontunia have engaged with each other since 2021. Elarian-Pontunian relations initially were very warm and hospitable as both nations were happy to have found another's existence in Louisiana. Ela'r'oech, at the time a kingdom, had just achieved victory in the Third Alarian War.

United Kingdom of the Great Bayou

Throughout 2021, the relations between the nations remained very warm until around June the following year. In July 2022, Ela'r'oech - at that point an empire - had decided to attempt to become the only micronation in Louisiana by uniting it and Pontunia into a new nation known as the United Kingdom of the Great Bayou. Eventually, the United Bayou broke up, due to a lack of confidence from Pontunian immigrants. This was exacerbated by he fact that Andrew Perdomo - King of Pontunia - had been given roles which he did not find sufficient enough for him, such as the role of Treasurer.

Madgett v. Perdomo

International relations between the two nations went back to being relatively peaceful and friendly. However, in February 2023, a bet was placed between both monarchs to guarantee one the thrones of both Ela'r'oech and Pontunia. The bet agreed upon was that if Madgett could generate 100 members in a Discord Server labeled Kingdom of Pontunia, then he would told the title King of Pontunia. If he was unable to uphold this, then Andrew would receive the title Emperor of Ela'r'oech.

Madgett managed to achieve this, proven by screenshots and evidence shown to independent third party judge Bryce Smith, who was agreed upon by both Madgett and Perdomo to be the presiding judge. The courts then ruled in Madgett's favor. Perdomo proceeded to ignore the ruling, which was tolerated by Madgett in the later months.

October 2023 Crisis

On 30 October 2023, Elarian citizens gathered for a constitutional convention. At this time, the Elarian Armed Forces had begun to be overhauled in favor of gaining more members and equipment in order to defend the Empire successfully and to not have repeats of incidents such as the Elarian-Alarian Conflict, where the most dangerous weapons at the time were BB guns and rocks thrown at combatants.

On 31 October, President Perdomo publicly posted "Elarians are no friends of Pontunia" and claimed "Antielarian is anti-imperialist." Later that day, Perdomo began removing Elarians and members of the Neo-Knights of Ela'r'oech. On 1 November, Perdomo claimed that Madgett would be prosecuted by a Pontunian legal system.

On 1 November, Pontunian National Assembly member Terry Jacobs, brother of the late Brandon Jacobs, was expelled from Pontunia and the National Assembly due to his ties with the NKE. He would later write an open letter to Perdomo, in which he requested that Perdomo reconsider the expulsion of Elarians from Pontunian public office, called for a united front between Ela'r'oech and Pontunia, and additionally called Perdomo out for his anti-Elarian statements, which Jacobs referred to as bigoted, then saying that they only caused further divide and tension.

Madgett and Perdomo shared words privately, where Madgett stated that if a declaration of war passed in Pontunia, then the Elarian Armed Forces (EAF) would march into Pontunian territories with airsoft weaponry to defend themselves if necessary. Later that night, attempts were made from the National Assembly to declare war on Ela'r'oech, with Madgett having to serve not only as his own vote but as Jacobs' proxy vote as he was no longer able to be present due to his expulsion. The attempts were unsuccessful on the 1 November, however another attempt was placed on the Pontunian National Assembly bill docket for their next session.

Pontunian recognition referendum

The Resolution to Recognize the Catholic Republic of Pontunia as an Illegal Republican Breakaway State of the Empire of Ela'r'oech was a resolution proposed on 5 November 2023 in the 10th Parliament of Ela'r'oech. The resolution passed, however Charles Mevd of Ela'r'oech decided that this referendum was so momentous that it should be decided upon by the people. It passed in a 13-4 vote, which meant 76% of the Elarian population agreed to such a resolution. This meant that the Empire would officially rejoin the formerly ill-fated United Kingdom of the Great Bayou. Additionally, it would also recognize that Madgett v. Perdomo was active, therefore Mevd was the King of Pontunia and the Kingdom of Pontunia would join the United Kingdom of the Great Bayou. The Great Bayou would also recognize the Catholic Republic of Pontunia as an illegal breakaway state.