Kalistan

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Chancellor moves Kiezenian Treaty past a reluctant National Assembly
Nationalists call treaty a "sell out" of Kizenia; Treaty is narrowly ratified
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
February 15, 5686


Chancellor of the Empire tackles first major legislative hurdle in Regency period

The Chancellor of the Empire has successfully obtained the ratification of the Kizenian Peace Accord, over the staunch opposition of some nationalist Deputies in this first test of her grip on the Legislature following the death of the Emperor and Empress and the establishment of the Regency. The Bill passed 53-25, with one abstention after an all night, marathon arm twisting session that saw the entire Institutional leadership brought in, and included at least two phone calls from Her Highness, the Princess Regent herself.

"I don't particularly care for the heavy handedness coming from the Government on this question," said one nationalist holdout, Deputy Nathan Rodriguez, of Eshar. "You negotiated this, Madame Chancellor? This is all pro-Egelion, all what Egelion wants. All what Egelion gets. Any concessions to Kizenia or Kalistan appear to be afterthoughts. This is what we put so much money behind? Building a Kerisian Empire out of whatever is left of that Continent that Egelion doesn't already manipulate into its service? And now you insist that we pass this garbage? Seriously?" Deputy Rodriguez went on to vociferously oppose the passage of the Treaty and was a solid no vote in the final tally.

Other Deputies spoke in favor of the Treaty. "Our goals were clearly stated:" said Deputy Ingrid Southern of Dahriel. "We were there to remove the illegitimate Government of Kizenia, restore a legitimate government there, and protect Kalistani citizens and property which make a significant portion of the residents of the cities of Luncasi and Deltabor. That is what we did, and now its time to bring our troops home. Its what the Emperor and the Empress sought, and what the Chancellor obtained. Its a complete win for Kalistan."

The Chancellor herself appeared to try to balance the two sides during the debate, acknowledging the anger of the ultra nationalist factions, while still pushing for ratification. "Look: If you had been in those meetings, it was literally Egelion saying, 'No, this is what is going to happen, and you need to sign here because you are derailing the peace process,' Trigunia, for obvious reasons standing behind them saying 'Yeah, what they said. We agree 100% Egelion, Kalistan is bring a brat,' and the Kizenian revolutionaries saying they had no opinion and were cool with whatever Egelion put forth. I got the very distinct opinion that Kalistan was never wanted there to begin with, and so we got the tiniest possible concession for our side, the promise of a base lease at some point in the indeterminate future, as well as explicit language ensuring an independent Kizenia, and this was our opportunity to at least not lose on every point we were raising and then get out of Keris and leave them to their fate."

The statement was not well received by those who opposed the treaty who called the Chancellor a "Sellout" and stated that the promises of the Egelians weren't worth the paper that the Treaty was printed on. "You saw in their paper about how they compared you to a child, who they are bribing with candy so you'll stop throwing a tantrum, Madame Chancellor," said Deputy Martin Zimmerman of Sulari. "Just the height of condescension from the Egelian Crown, and it drew no response whatsoever from you, or from the Late Emperor or Empress. And in that very same article, while they bragged about bribing you, they were also saying they 'might' have to already modify the terms of the treaty. Who knows what THAT means, but it clearly shows that they don't take you, Kalistan or that Treaty seriously, and mark my words, Madame Chancellor, this Empire is going to pay dearly for that sellout when Egelion is too powerful to stop and too full of their own disdain for this Empire to wring any additional concessions from."

The Chancellor listened to this sandblasting calmly. It was clear that her mind was elsewhere. "Deputies," she said as she rose to speak. "It's time to bring the troops home. That's what... That's... That's what our Emperor and Empress told me to do, and this Treaty does it. Whatever else you all want to add to it or take away from it, we have accomplished our mission. Even if we have to take fifty such humiliations from an aggressively expansionistic Egelion, our Emperor and Empress ordered it, and it is my job to turn their word into our law. And now our New Empress' Regent has ordered me to... obtain ratification of this treaty, and that is what is going to happen here, that is our business. Believe me, nobody is more furious than me that Egelion treated us this way. But the Egelian councilor did have a point in their statement: It was never about Kalistani interests. Egelion made it repeatedly clear that they do not consider Kalistani interests further than they can throw them. It wasn't really about Kizenian independence either, because if it was, that concession wouldn't have been so incredibly difficult to get out of them. But the treaty is about peace in Kizenia, whether it be through a free and independent Kizenian government as we fought for, or one that will very soon find itself as the junior member of an Altean controlled Empire. I know all this far better than anyone sitting in this room. I don't care. Ratify the god damned treaty."

When the vote was finally taken after an exhausting 15 hour debate that stretched from the Assembly Chamber to the offices of many deputies, to countless side rooms and coat closets, ultimately the argument that won out was "Ratify because the Regent required it of you, in Her Imperial Majesty, Empress In Waiting Carolina's name."

"We live to fight another day," said one Deputy after the vote. "Now it is our job to ensure that under no circumstances will Kalistan let Egelion out of the terms of the Treaty, and our job now becomes checking Egelion rising power in the region." The Deputy spoke on condition of anonymity, saying that she was one of those who held her nose and voted to ratify the treaty. "Egelion lost an ally over this debacle, I fear. But its clear that this is not at all important to them. We have bigger fishes to fry than worrying about the contents of an ultimately meaningless peace treaty that was forced down our throats." The Deputy hinted at discussions already percolating about expansion of the 1st Regular Fleet in the Northern Anantonese, and the fact that the word "missile defense" was current among some Deputies.

@TheRepublic