Kalistani Major History

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Kalistan Moves toward Single Party GovernmentControversial Act by the Premier has even some Socialists, Opposition Angry
Kaliburg, Ananto
November 12, 4436


Kalistani Premier Maria Reina-Rodriguez acts to block so-called "Ephemeral Parties" from destabilizing the Government

In the late night hours of June 6, with the Socialist Party safely ensconced in the Presidential House and in firm control of the Government and the National Assembly, the Socialist Party launched a legislative coup that, when passed, will topple nearly 400 years of Republican History.  Premier Maria Reina-Rodriguez, remembering the hated "Clerical Election of 4433" where she was unceremoniously removed from office from two Parties which no longer even exist a mere three years later, and joined by 536 of Kalistan's 750 Deputies, moved a Bill to a vote which virtually ensures that no new Parties will gain any sort of legislative Advantage.  The "Anti-Ephemeral Parties Act", as this bill is known, limits the number of Proposals which may be offered by any Party in any year to 3, and the total number of proposals that a Party may hold to 5.  All Socialist Deputies supported the Act, following the Premier's Lead.

Stated the Premier: 

"We have been cursed, for some ridiculous reason, with Parties who pop up out of nowhere, drop massive omnibus bills on the Assembly which we are forced to vote on, and which will lead to destabilization of our Political positions, and then vaporize.  This has happened several times in the past few years, and add to that Parties inexplicably appearing out of nowhere, taking over the Government, and then doing nothing with it for a term before they vaporize into thin air, never to be seen or heard from again.  It is happening far too often for us to think it is a random event-  Two dots make a line and three dots make a plane.    We now have a very clear picture of what is happening in Kalistan:  I believe that it is the efforts of foreign Agents who are invading our country, whipping up a small segment of the population, and aiming to completely destabilize the country in favor of a Rightist Agenda which is antithetical to what Kalistan stands for.  We don't have to put up with that, so we aren't going to."

The Practical effects of this act are obvious. First and foremost, new Parties will have a much more difficult time gaining any traction in Kalistan.  Without the ability to propose radical alterations to the legislative fabric of Kalistan, Parties will have to do the painstaking work of actually building a base of support over a long period of time, or they will remain obscure.  Seats in the Assembly will become valuable then, and people will struggle for them.

In addition, the Two Party Structure will essentially be enshrined in Kalistan.  Given that positions will be frozen in place, and will changed at a geological pace now, the SP expects to retain control for a long time to come.  The Radical Liberty Union will also retain seats and shall be consigned, for the most Part to the Minority.  This will create a virtual Dictatorship in Kalistan, led by the Socialist Party.

"Of course, we will return to a fully functioning democratic state when this problem of foreign destabilization has passed," the Premier said of the accusations of the creation of a Dictatorship.  "But the Good of Kalistan comes first, and until these tiny Rightist factions realize that Kalistan is hostile to that sort of behavior, things will unfortunately remain as they soon will be.  One-Plus Party rule in Kalistan is a necessity right now.  It won't always be, but as the only Institutionalist Party in Kalistan which is swarming with know-nothings and market fetishists, we have to look to the Good, rather than to the popular.  If that makes me a dictator, then that makes me a dictator."

Not all Socialists were thrilled with the Premier's Actions.  The President of the Republic registered his support, but vocal segments of the SP joined the Opposition in denouncing the Premier's Actions.  Notably, the Brethrenist Caucus was uncharacteristically outspoken.  Sister Joanne Smith, of Vrassa City said, "What about Liberty?  The Socialist Party of Kalistan has always stood for individual liberty.  What if our conscience leads us to want to support the opposition?  This act means that those who oppose will never get a fair shake in Kalistan.  They will never see their goals realized in Government.  This is wrong.  The Premier ought to know that."  Another Brother, Franklin DelGado declared, "I just feel that this is wrong.  Its wrong because it does not allow for debate.  What's the point of debating anything when you know that the outcome of the debate is going to be the same whether you debate it or not?"

The Premier batted down these critiques. 

"First of all, there is a general Will that Rightism is bad for the country.  We earned nearly 75% of all seats in the Assembly in the last election and the President earned nearly 80% of the votes of all people in Kalistan.  We ran on an open and forthcoming Leftist Agenda.  And just because we will not soon be voted out of office, this does not mean that we will not be accountable to the people.  The Socialist Party is accountable on many levels.  As for liberal democracy:  it seems to regularly produce terrible outcomes, like the fluke 'Clerical Election of 4433' far more often than good ones.  Demagogues take advantage of people using Democracy.  Its time that Kalistan focused on Good Government, rather than just popular government."

The Socialist Party will take up the reigns of the new Constitutional Arrangement by the end of the Year.