Dario Moretti (1928–2005) was a Kaskivian politician who served as the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kaskiv from 1978 to 1992. The leader of the Liberal-Conservative Party (LCP), Moretti is best known as the architect of Kaskiv’s transformation into an “Energy Superpower” following the discovery of vast natural gas reserves in the eastern steppe.
Moretti’s fourteen-year tenure was defined by his strategic, often transactional, relationship with the Divine Republic of Kresimiria. He negotiated the historic 1985 Energy Accord (informally known as “Gas for Grain”) with Kresimirian leader Ljubo Sanjakorin, which led to the construction of the Trans-Republic Pipeline. His administration ended in 1992 amidst the “Tangentopoli” corruption scandals, which decimated the traditional political class and paved the way for the rise of Silvio Ponti.
Early Life and Political Career
Born in 1928 in the capital city of San Branik, Moretti came from a family of vineyard owners. He studied Law at the University of San Branik before entering the civil service.
He joined the LCP in the 1950s, rising through the ranks as a specialist in trade tariffs. During the Social Democratic administration of Giancarlo Totti (1964–1978), Moretti served as the Leader of the Opposition through the 1960s and 70s, criticizing the government’s high taxes and arguing that the state was stifling the potential of the agricultural sector. He fiercely criticized Totti’s high taxes, eventually defeating him in the 1978 election by proposing a private-sector model for the newly discovered gas fields.”
The “Gas Election” of 1978
In 1977, geologists confirmed the existence of massive natural gas fields in the eastern Kaskivian steppe. This discovery became the central issue of the 1978 General Election.
- The Platforms: The ruling Social Democratic Party (SDP) campaigned on nationalizing the wells to fund a welfare state. Moretti and the LCP countered with a platform of “Energy Superpower,” promising to license the fields to private operators and use the royalties to abolish the national income tax.
- The Victory: Moretti’s promise of tax abolition resonated with the electorate. The LCP won a decisive majority, and Moretti assumed the Premiership.
Prime Minister (1978–1992)
The 1985 Energy Accord
The centerpiece of Moretti’s foreign policy was his relationship with Kresimiria. In the early 1980s, Kaskiv faced severe droughts in the eastern steppe, threatening food security. Simultaneously, the neighboring Kresimirian government under Ljubo Sanjakorin was rapidly industrializing and desperate for energy to power the steelworks of Novi Otonik.
In 1985, Moretti and Sanjakorin met in Sinj to sign the Energy Accord.
- Gas for Grain: Kaskiv agreed to supply natural gas to Kresimirian state industries at below-market rates. In exchange, Kresimiria guaranteed annual shipments of wheat from the National Grain Trust to stabilize Kaskivian food prices.
- The Pipeline: The deal authorized the construction of the Trans-Republic Pipeline, linking the eastern wells directly to the National Energy grid.
“Wine Diplomacy”
Moretti was known for using Kaskiv’s energy leverage to extract trade concessions. He famously threatened to throttle gas supplies in 1988 unless Kresimiria lowered its tariffs on Kaskivian luxury goods. This brinkmanship forced the Council for Growth to reduce import duties on Kaskivian wine, a move that greatly enriched Moretti’s rural voter base.
Downfall and the “Tangentopoli”
By the early 1990s, the Kaskivian political system was rotting from within. The massive influx of gas revenue had created a culture of kickbacks and bribery involving state contracts.
- The Investigations: In 1992, judicial investigations known as “Tangentopoli” (Bribesville) revealed that senior LCP officials had accepted bribes to award pipeline maintenance contracts. While Moretti was not personally charged at the time, his cabinet was decimated by arrests.
- The 1992 Defeat: In the 1992 General Election, the LCP collapsed. Moretti did not seek re-election as party leader, stepping aside for reformer Donato Cereghino.
Legacy
Dario Moretti died in 2005. He is remembered as a transformative figure who secured Kaskiv’s economic independence through the exploitation of natural resources. However, critics argue that his “Gas for Grain” deal locked Kaskiv into a dependent relationship with Kresimiria, stalling the development of domestic agriculture and creating the “Gas Curse” that his successors, like Vera Donini, would later struggle to untangle.