Kalistan

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As Egelion abandons Claims, Kalistan reasserts them
The only way this Nation will be whole is if our lands are restored, says Deputy Martin Ignacio del Caballo
Kalibrug, Grand Duchy of Ananto
October 13, 5686


A reminder that Kalistan's Crownlands are significant, and unincorporated

Conservative Deputy Martin Ignacio del Caballo sat down with The National this week to discuss his recent efforts to push the National Government toward a more forward leaning stance regarding Kalistan's Crownlands. Ignacio is a deputy from Conservative stronghold Vrassa Free City, and he says the National Government needs to focus on pushing our Empire's legitimate historical claims across the Anantonese Empire's region, and possibly looking beyond the basin as well.

(The National's) M(egan) P(arker): Greetings Deputy, and thank you for sitting down with me today.

(Vrassa City Deputy) M(artin) I(gnacio del Caballo): Thank you. It's a pleasure. Your newspaper is my go to source for news from the correct perspective and I genuinely appreciate it. You all do not pull punches or hide your viewpoints behind some nonsensical fairness doctrine.

MP: Well, there's no law that requires us to report the other side, for sure.

MI: Thank God!

MP: Now, Deputy. You've made some waves on the floor of the National Assembly by calling for things like: Immediate and full annexation of Athosia, pursuit of crownlands claims in Dolgava, Lourenne and Seko, and a formal invitation to Lodamun to rejoin the Empire. The Chancellor has said this is a non-starter, and is also, in her words, against the law. She has the support of the Regent on this question. What do you plan to do to address the reluctance of the National Government to pursue Kalistan's legitimate historical claims?

MI: I am glad you asked. As you know, unfortunately, we Deputies don't have a lot of independent power. The Institutional arrangement is set up, correctly in my estimation, by the way, so that the Empress, or in this case, her Regent, has fiat, and that's the law. The Chancellor's job then is to see that that fiat is transformed into law, and our job as legislators, is to ensure that our constituent's interests are represented in that law, so its not too onerous or unpopular in its execution, so that the stakeholders all have some buy in, and that it will generally be followed and enforceable. That said then, my job is to bring my constituent's demands to the Chancellor of the Empire, and make sure their voices are included in the law, however that eventually comes out. And so that's what I am doing. We know there is widespread support across all sectors in Kalistan for annexation of Athosia as soon as possible, and so our job is to bring that public sentiment to the Chancellor, and make sure that she knows it, and make sure, by the way that the Regent knows it too. She could take over Athosia today if she wanted to. We hope she will one day want to. But it is clear, the only way this nation will be whole, and I'll add, secure, is if our lands are restored to their rightful owner, and in this case, that is the Empress of Ananto and Kalistan.

MP: How do you square your, some would say irredentist position with the current law which says the Empress may not force those claims?

MI: Well, I advocate changing the Crownlands Law which limits the ability of our Empress to take what is hers. The Chancellor won't even schedule a discussion of that law for a debate, let alone a vote, so we can't do anything about it until she does.

MP: Do you have the ability to force a vote then?

MI: No, and this is one of the reasons I am kind of on a national crusade to get people to write in and ask her to discuss with the Regent about changing the law. We are in a moment now, an inflection point. The Regent can do this. We know she wants to, though she would never say it in public. All of Kalistan would support her if she did. She'd be so popular if she just did the right thing regarding Athosia and our other crownlands.

MP: What do you think of nations like Egelion, who recently obliquely called comments in this very magazine "hateful" and abandoning their own Crown claims permanently?

MI: I don't think much of those comments by the Councilor, to be completely honest. Like all Kalistanis, I read the international papers religiously, and he's entitled to his opinion. I think abandonment of Crownlands claims is bad policy, obviously. I am a conservative and an imperialist. I believe accession of other nations to the Anantonese Empire is a positive thing. Mondragon disagrees and calls The National hateful. What I was actually far more interested in was their article on the new artist Rosaura, who is bringing together a new and interesting music style, and I join the rest of my nation in saying I look forward to following this young woman's career. If she decides to tour Kalistan, I would like to attend one of her shows, and will certainly support her career if she does grace us with her presence. Their King could possibly follow suit, if he has some spare time.

MP: Speaking again of the Anantonese Empire, you have also said in the past that you think nations outside the Anantonese Basin should be eligible for membership as constituent nations in the Anantonese Empire. Do you still hold those beliefs, now that you are a Deputy?

MI: I absolutely do. As every good nationalist in Kalistan should. Its the only way we can face the world of uncertainty. I know our current FM is a centrist and is relatively agnostic on the question, but his cheery and friendly demeanor covers for the fundamental principle in Kalistani foreign policy that everyone is literally always trying to kill us at all times. It's the most basic fact in Kalistan's reckoning of the entire world. We talk about our wars, not our peaces. We talk about those who try to take advantage of us and get over on us all the time, and we are surprised if a country actually wants to talk to us about cooperation. The funniest thing about it is, Kalistan is and has always been a force for good and right in this world. Always. And those principles have gone into the formulations of our Empire. There is a reason we would give our last imperial ruble to Gaduridos: We hold our friends so tightly because we don't have many of them. The more people who join this club the better it is for Kalistan, and the better it is for Kalistan, the better it is for the world.

You know, Megan... People have criticized Kalistan for adopting an arrogant tone toward the rest of the world. They think that we believe that we are the center of the universe, that we are the best nation in Terra. Do you know why they think that?

MP: Why Deputy Ignacio, do they think that?

MI: Because its true, and we know its true. I don't have to be a booster for this nation: Its greatness speaks for itself. But I ask then, why wouldn't we welcome other nations, outside of our little region of the world which also contains the other major player in the East, to join our Imperial Configuration. We don't ask much of our constituent nations. We seek unity of foreign policy aimed at keeping the Northern Anantonese Ocean safe and secure. That's not much. That means both working together directly for security, but also not inviting nations from other major blocs into the area so they can take advantage of our peace. If they want this sort of peace, they should form an Anantonese Empire of their own. I like other nations, but why would I want them around here if they were not here to build this place, if they were only here for their own benefit? We are not some other nation's colony. I asked that question when Istalia was planting its flag all over this region--Don't get me wrong. I'll buy Istalian goods in the stores like the next Kalistani--but do they need to buy into our ports and our infrastructure? I even feel the same about Tel Bira in Amudim.

In this I don't necessarily agree with the policies of our Regent and Foreign Ministry. I don't necessarily think the Majatrans have any business in the Ananontese Ocean. I may be in the minority. The way to counter the influence of a foreign incursion into our Ocean, or an aggressively expanding kingdom that seeks to turn itself into an empire while maintaining a façade of care for humanitarianism and self determination of foreign people, or a gang of foreign communists who neither know much about Seleya, nor care is to aggrandize our own capabilities to the greatest degree possible. This might include letting other nations join us in defending our part of the world under the AE Flag.

MP: Do you have anyone in mind?

MI: Wouldn't it be something if... No... That's probably not going to happen... No, I better not try to answer that question: I could get myself into trouble by getting out ahead of my skis...

MP: haha very well, understood. One last question. What are you looking forward to in this next year from Her Imperial Majesty's Government.

MI: I think Her Highness the Princess Regent would benefit from coming to the National Assembly and speaking with us, to hear directly from us what we are hearing from our constituents. Their Imperial Majesties the Emperor and Empress used to hold regular audiences with groups of us, to kind of let us tell them what the people were saying they needed. I know the Chancellor has kept the Princess on Light Duty over this last year, and I pray every single night for her, but at some point, we need the opportunity to really talk with her, not simply see her in passing, or when she comes to the Assembly to preside over some pro forma thing in the Assembly. I think those audiences should begin again next year at the earliest. She may still be ill, but she needs to step up and start acting as the Acting Monarch, so when Her Imperial Majesty reaches her majority, she is not behind playing catch up.

MP: Have you had the opportunity to hold formal audience with Her Imperial Majesty, Empress in Waiting Carolina-Katherine Michelle Ananto-Connor?

MI: I did last month, with 14 other Deputies, yes.

MP: How did you find the Empress in Waiting?

MI: It was the highlight of my legislative career, to be honest. I got to meet the late Emperor and Empress many times during my 10 years at the National Assembly, but I will tell you, Her Imperial Majesty seems naturally intellectually curious, and asked us several questions about where we are from and what our constituents are like which I wouldn't have expected from such a young child. It was refreshing and I know, speaking for all of my colleagues, it was an experience that I can probably say was pretty awesome.

MP: The Empress in Waiting asked you questions? Is that unusual?

MI: Well, the Chancellor asked us the questions. The Empress in Waiting sat next to the Princess Regent and neither of them spoke at all during the audience except to the Chancellor. The Empress in Waiting was not allowed to speak, but I knew the questions came from her. I could just tell, you know.

MP: Of course. Well, thank you for your time, Deputy Ignacio.

MI: Oh of course, Ms. Parker. Anytime. I am always happy to talk to The National.

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