Groland

Groland (full name: Presipality of Groland, F.: Présipauté de Groland) is a fictional country featured in various humorous programs on French television channel Canal Plus. It is a vague parody of France and of European microstates.

The landlocked nation is described as a ‘presipality’ (a pun on "principality" and "president"), and its main regions are: Upper Groland (le Groland-du-Haut), Side Groland (le Groland-de-Côté), Lower Groland (le Groland-du-bas), and Other Side Groland (Groland-de-l'Autre-Côté). The capital is Groville, the main river is the Gro, and the main prefectures are Grugny, Mufflins, Maroufle and Vichumes.

The motto of the country is Joie, hospitalité, lâcheté ("Joy, hospitality, poltroonery"). The country remained neutral during World War I, it was neutral and was famous for being a haven for soldiers on leave, with its cheap alcohol and prostitutes. During World War II, the country's leadership collaborated with the Nazi occupier; the government engaged in policies of persecution and deportation of Jews and homosexuals. After American troops liberated the country, a sudden change of mood happened, and alleged former collaborators were murdered.

The most recent elections, the presipential, took place in 2001. There was one candidate, President Christophe Salengro; and one elector, again the president. The president was elected with 100% of the votes. President Salengro is the heir of a dynasty of feudal lords.

Groland has a continuous news television channel, CANAL International, a clear parody of CNN.

Notable Groland citizens: President Salengro; news anchor Jules-Édouard Moustic; journalist Francis Kuntz; former investigative journalist Michael Kael; disk jockey DJ Michel.

Notable honorary Groland citizens: José Bové; Valérie Lemercier; Aki Kaurismäki; Noël Godin; the puppet of Jacques Chirac from the Canal+ show Les Guignols de l'Info; Yannick Jolin; and Michael Moore.

External links

• Groland on Canal Plus
• Wanagro, the Groland Internet service provider (parody of Wanadoo)