Baracãoans Nominated for Fnords

The Apollo Inquisitor, the latest in the not-too-long line of Apollo titles, has reported that the nominations for the People's Fnord Awards, 2004, have closed. Although no such official notices have been made in the Fnord Awards forum at the time of going to press, the Apollo Inquisitor has said that the following Baracãoan citizens are nominated for awards:

Jesus Pablo Santiago for Best New Micronationalist,
Alarico Veto Julia for the Odlum Award for Overall Achievement,
Rakesh Ackbar for Best Speaker,
Xavier Cervantes for Best Speaker.

Santiago's nomination was seconded by el Presidente after having been proposed by Juan Fidel Valencia, the current Minister of Economics and Finance and probable future leader of the Partido Comunista Nacional. Tiegismo Hoy believes that Santiago's efforts as Director of the Fundación Nacional Tiegista, the Baracãoan cultural organisation, will be a big benefit to him and hopes that the judges will recognise this.

Presidente Julia, who was invited to judge the Fnord Awards but respectfully declined, has long been an active citizen of Baracão since its foundation, and was part of the original group of revolutionaries who overthrew the Minorcan regime. In this and since then, he has been instrumental in the course of Baracão's evolution, and was awarded the title "Hero of the Revolution" by mass petition.

As Supreme Judge, Rakesh Ackbar has had to endure an onslaught of litigation. He prides himself on his ruling, which are superb in their technicality. Xavier Cervante's speeches have often been described as ludicrous and are normally extremely hyperbolic, often resulting in personal attacks against el Presidente. In the Best Speaker category, then, Rakesh Ackbar's is seen as being the favourite of the Baracãoan nominations.

Antonio Vitores Ramon, the absent Comunista and long-term citizen of the Republic of Baracão, was recognised as the Best Communist Micronationalist at last year's Fnord Awards. Tiegismo Hoy hopes that as many Baracãoan citizens as possible win in their respective categories and go on to follow in the footsteps of Compañero Ramon.