Kalistan

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Empress Appears to move to the Left
"Some of her Policies could be seen as socialistic," claims one scholar
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
March 8, 5705


Her Imperial Majesty meets with Infrastructure Minister at February Government Retreat in Playa de Paz, Athosia

Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Carolina II Ananto has endorsed more socialist policies than any monarch prior to her, claimed one report published in the Anantonese Journal of Political Ideology last month. This conclusion was arrived at by more than 150 scholars across the Empire when looking at a longitudinal study of the Empress' policies since before she took the throne nearly 10 years ago. "Some of her policies could be seen as socialistic--From her endorsement of allowing socialists to caucus within the Institutional Party and the naming of left of (Kalistani) Center, Michael Johnson to an important cabinet post," said the study's first author, Dr. Shelly Edwards of University of Suldanor, "Her Imperial Majesty has conscientiously and quietly embraced the cause of reform in Kalistan. While reform tends to be anathema to the notoriously reactionary Anantos, it is not only supported by this monarch, but behind the scenes has been ardently encouraged."

Most recently, Her Imperial Majesty announced a major crackdown on private sector medical personnel. While in public, she announced a number of motivations, such as the General Welfare which is served by the single payer medical system, what was more important was her argument against profit taking by private actors in the medical industry. "These are the kinds of things you would hear socialists talk about in liberal nations, but Kalistan is so far to the right that hearing the monarch use language like this in a televised speech in front of the National Assembly is practically subversive." Other clues has been her supposed praise for socialism as an idea, with regard to expanding the role of government services and not trusting the private sector, and her willingness to even consider Kalistan's institutions in terms of "social institutions" rather than personalist institutions.

Most astounding is her often surprising expressed views on socialism. Her Imperial Majesty, while not endorsing the socialists in the 5707 elections in a couple years said she would not be too upset if the socialists picked up more seats. "In our view," she said to La Moda magazine in a candid and wide ranging interview, "more intellectuals in our nation tend to adopt socialism because they spend their time considering the effects of government policy on the lives of the people, both collectively and individually. In this, we have something in common." Considering that the Empress is a devout Brethrenist and considers herself an intellectual, this sort of comment which is becoming more and more common in her utterances to the press, seems to be tipping her hand. Coupled with her policy embrace of important parts of the Socialist Caucus' program, and one could easily draw lines which seem to make sense.

Make no mistake: Her Imperial Majesty is no Metzist, and no socialist would ever claim her. "She is far too anti-democratic," said Edwards. "And most socialists would honestly like to limit her power if they are unable to abolish her office, so there is a lot of daylight between the Empress and the Socialists. But most of the folks our study asked to weigh in on the question believe that policy wise, if she's not already a socialist, she is damn close to being one, and it would sure look like she had made the switch to outsiders who didn't know any better. Even those same socialists who want to limit her power will limit their criticism because she is doing more to move their agenda than they have been able to accomplish in a century of pressure outside the National Assembly."

Some speculate that the Empress learned about socialism during her time in Valruzia. "That nation is well known for its acceptance of communism in its government, and there can be no doubt that as Her Imperial Majesty was studying language there, she was also being exposed to all parts of Valruzian Culture, including its pluralistic political culture." She also tends to cooperate with communists in Xsampa and if nothing else could be said, it can be argued that she is more tolerant of communist foreigners and local socialists than any other previous Ananto has been. Others attribute it to the influence of her aunt, who as Regent never wanted to govern directly, nor actually ever attempted to do so very often. "Her Highness, the Princess of the Empire was more of a free spirit and an openminded free thinker than her brother, the Empress' father, was," said Edwards. "She may not have said much about it, but there can be no doubt that as The Empress was being trained, she was exposed to a lot of different viewpoints under the Regent's care which she might not have been introduced to had Emperor Fredrick IV Ananto lived to conduct her training. Then again, Her Imperial Majesty would not be Empress then either."

"And they of her," said Edwards. "It is well known that Her Imperial Majesty and her Infrastructure Minister, Sir Michael Johnson tend to work together along with the Moderates in Government, while she is more or less cordial and cool with Nationalists. She values the input of those moderates who advise her to approach the rest of the world with a more graceful and cooperative approach." This sharply contrasts with the Nationalist and more conservative point of view which requires her to consider only the interests of the Empire, and which has led to more alienation of Kalistan over the decades. "Her Imperial Majesty definitely sees the world as something she wants Kalistanis to be welcomed in, instead of the rest of the world treating our nation like pariahs," said Edwards, "and so in all of her foreign policy, Kalistan's actions have been measured and aimed at cooperation where possible. It is yielding some benefits regionally, allowing Kalistan to fit its interests into a regional framework rather than demanding that Kalistan's interests be placed in front of everyone else's, but global affects remain to be seen."

It would seem that Her Imperial Majesty has been able to thread a needle which has so confounded other monarchs of her Dynasty. "Her Imperial Majesty remains dynamic and willing to consider new points of view," said Edwards. "She is also not automatically opposed to working with people who have long been on the outside of the Kalistani political system, including Kalistan's socialists. Her policies suggest that she is a pragmatist who wants to get things done and believes that something should be tried until it fails, but then if it does fail, it should be discarded without sentiment and something else should be tried. This includes sidelining the Nationalists for cooperation with, and some may even say, adoption of the policy aspects of the Socialist programme."

Edwards suggests that this may be buying off the opposition who, if so emboldened, could launch a real push to limit the power of the Empress, but if she is trying to buy them off, it appears to be working. "Those we asked the main question of the study were also almost unanimous in noting that socialist voters in Kalistan tend to view the Empress and the monarchy far more favorably in the most recent 5 years than they did in her first 5 years. The Empress also has strong support among the Moderates, where she is believed to align if one were to get her to take a position. And Nationalists themselves tend to have a mixed opinion on the Empress, but this has remained the case since before she ascended to the throne, and the 54% approval has remained static for the entire reign."

If the Empress is moving to the socialist camp, we should be able to see for sure as we move toward the next election. "An increased socialist activity in the coming election might be visible, because the Socialists may believe that the Empress sides with them and they may become empowered. Ultimate the composition of the National Assembly tends to not have much effect on whether something gets passed: If Her Imperial Majesty wants it, regardless of what it is, she gets it. But the National Assembly gets to ensure what condition it arrives to her in. They also condition the advice she receives on the body's policy preferences. You could certainly see a move to the left if the Empress were to ever openly state a preference for socialism."

But alas for socialists, she has already signaled that she has no interest of relinquishing a jot or a tittle of her imperial authority. "She calls her right to unimpeachable, unchallengeable rule to be absolute and her birthright," said Edwards. "It can be assumed that she will protect those prerogatives, viciously if need be. Socialists will just have to forget that part of their program, because while the enabling acts are acts of the National Assembly, Her Imperial Majesty now has the power to fiat veto any action of the Assembly even retroactively, to dissolve the Assembly, and to place people in those seats if she likes. It is actually illegal to move for the end of the Monarchy or the limitation of Imperial Fiat. Wise politicians, even the intellectuals in the Socialist Caucus, will not waste their political capital like that, when they have a rural medical corps to stand up."

@TheRepublic