Kalistan

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Empress Dissolves National Assembly
Protests are planned in Sulari, Yoshimi and Eshar
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
May 16, 5707


Her Imperial Majesty proclaims National Assembly nullified over refusal to vote for AE dissolution

Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Carolina II Ananto today dissolved the National Assembly over the body's refusal to support legislation around dissolution of the Anantonese Empire. The Chancellor of the Empire, Lord Reginald Hanson officially declared an impasse earlier this month as negotiations with hardlined Nationalists had broken down in an extremely acrimonious climate of name calling, accusations and counter accusations and walk outs. The Chancellor of Empire formally reported that the Legislature was derelict in its duties and recommended immediate dissolution and new elections, and the Empress has apparently agreed.

Below is the text of Her Imperial Majesty's speech, which was delivered across all news networks from Cliff House this afternoon

Today we take an unprecedented step in the history of our Nation. We declare the National Assembly to be dissolved, and we shall govern directly through our Government until such time as we are able to hold new elections to select a less rebellious legislative body. We do this upon our own authority as the fiat sovereign of the Empire of Ananto and Kalistan, and as such, our word is law and is unchallengeable. It was our will that our imperial relationship with Gaduridos be officially and completely severed. We expressed that will to our Chancellor who communicated it to our Legislature, who themselves felt that it was within their province to disregard our very simple instructions. As a result, we have sent them home to their constituencies and have order our Chancellor to hold new elections within a year.

And we will make it clear, once and for all time, should anyone be confused about the matter. Kalistan is not a democracy, nor are we a republic. We expect, and shall have a legislature who fulfills their single and solitary function, which is to develop policy in support of our fiat. Or we will have none at all. The expectation that legislators can and should be able to correct the will of the Sovereign has been tolerated entirely too long and we have had more than enough of it. The next National Assembly will comply with the instructions that are provided them by our Chancellor, or they too will be replaced.

The measures which have already passed, namely the disintegration with Gaduridos on economic grounds and the compromise over Bentasur will pass into law. The other measures which the mutinous Deputies successfully blocked with democratic procedure will be fiated into law and practice, as they cannot wait for democrats to debate endlessly, only to delay votes and disapprove of when a vote is finally called. These measures include a formal dissolution of the Imperial Bonds between Gaduridos and Kalistan, an abrogation and nullification of the Articles of Empire, the abolition of the office of Viceroy, the formal divestment of all Kalistani interests in Gaduridos, except at the Naval Base of Bentasur where the Third Fleet will continue to be stationed indefinitely, the end of defense and intelligence operations on Marlingantos, and the abolition of all direct and indirect aid or assistance to any Gaduri economic sectors, to the Government of Gaduridos, or to the people of Gaduridos. We have received no communications from the Government of Gaduridos concerning these measures, and our current representative there has noted that she has not been contacted either.

In parting, it will be important to separate the emotion and the heartache of the failed potential of Gaduridos from the fact that Kalistan must continue without it. The Empire of Ananto and Kalistan is a reality, the relationship between Kalistan and Gaduridos has been a fiction on all but name only for decades, and not for lack of trying, with no meaningful communication from them to our Nation the entire time. The failure of our imperial enterprise is no doubt a joy to some in Terra, but the longer we retain even nominal sovereignty over Gaduridos, the worse it is for Kalistan, and as the Empress of Ananto and Kalistan, we must put our own people first, regardless of what happens in and to Gaduridos. We have tried to keep it afloat for a very long time, but we have finally decided that we must cut our losses there before we are dragged down with it.

Let us say this: Gaduridos is a case of a truly missed opportunity. It is also an example of the corrosive nature of anarchy and democracy. The nation was always insistent on maintaining its democratic constitution and we permitted that in exchange for their coordination of their foreign policy with us. And now we see the Gaduris would rather not have a government at all than have prosperity and security under the Empire. So to give them what they apparently want, we are leaving them to their own devices. If someone ever gets organized there to provide them with sound government, they will have a massive mess to clean up from these decades of abject neglect that democracy has authored in that nation. Our own petulant deputies, and those who will be elected to replace them, will do well to learn this lesson, as will all the people of our nation. Democracy and self-government is the road to disaster--it is only a matter of time for those who hold the pretense of self-government before they are brought to ruin by those who claim to speak for them without any actually power to do so.

We would say we will wish Gaduridos luck, but in fact, it will be far better for Kalistan if we just wish that nation farewell. We expect the Anantonese Empire to pass into history on July 1st of this year, and complete delinking of our two governments to be completed within the month.

The Empress' words were stern, they were cold, and they were autocratic. In delivering this speech, rehearsed and directly into the camera, she left no ambiguity about where she stood on a number of topic, most especially among those who may have imagined that there is any independent legitimacy outside of the the person of Her Imperial Majesty. Many observers also noted something else however: Her stern tone betrayed a very deep sadness and bitterness at the loss of Gaduridos.

"The way she spoke about Gaduridos was a cover for the deep grief she, and much of this nation feels about the loss of Gaduridos," said Political commentator Seth Martinez. "Her words suggested that she is not letting Gaduridos go. instead, Gaduridos had been taken away from her by a force she is incapable of influencing in any way, and she is utterly powerless to stop it. There is a measure of resentment in her speech, like she feels cheated and wronged. She spoke of Gaduridos almost like one would speak of a fiancé who jilted her at the alter. We noticed how, in her delivery of what we have called 'Gaduridos' death sentence' she was fighting back tears, but wanted to present determination and finality to the split. People close to the Empress have said publicly that her grief over the loss of that nation was very deep, and it is made even worse knowing that it was a choice that was almost entirely out of her control, but was made out of necessity of protecting Kalistan. Her emotions around the matter seem genuine and are probably compounded by the fact that she is expecting her third child in early September. That mix of loss and more than a bit of resentment must be very powerful indeed to produce a reaction like this."

Nationalists in Suldanor and Odufaray are not so sympathetic. "In dissolving the National Assembly, The Empress has negated the voice of the people of this Empire," said Jean Ronson of Sulari. "I voted the way I wanted to vote. I voted for the person who I thought would represent me to the National Assembly. And Her Imperial Majesty decided that because she didn't like how my representative cast his votes, than I don't get a voice. This is a widescale disenfranchisement of the population and we the people feel powerless to do anything about it." Others expressed concern for their relatives in Gaduridos. "What is going to happen to those poor people in Gaduridos?" asked Hugo Delgado, of Yoshimi. "My tio, a campesino still lives there. He grew coffee his entire life. What is he and his family supposed to do now? This country benefitted for decades from that country, and now we're just going to abandon it and let it collapse? Just so Kalistanis can get out before they lose everything? That doesn't seem fair at all."

The ongoing controversy around the end of the Anantonese Empire has already caused a number of peaceful protests and counter protests in Sulari and in Kaliburg. Support for keeping the Empire in tact remains high in all quarters of the nation, and was demonstrated by a 26,000 person march to the National Assembly and assembly held on the National Mall to call on the Empress to reconsider cutting Gaduridos off. "We, Subjects of Her Imperial Majesty Our Empress, beg her to keep what rightfully belongs to her, to protect ALL of her subjects as she promised she would, and to not let Gaduridos go under any circumstances." The Empress answered the petition the next day by dissolving the National Assembly, much to the shock of many of the protestors. Counter protestors however called Her Imperial Majesty's separation from Gaduridos "legitimate, given Gaduridos' unwillingness to be interacted with on any level," while others had signs asking "Who needs Gaduridos?" and "Free Gaduridos." Interviews of protestors on various sides demonstrates that the issue cuts across ideological lines, with the most isolationist Nationalists finding themselves at odds with Nationalists who absolutely wish for the Anantonese Empire to continue, while Socialists are more generally supportive of the spilt and Moderates are ambivalent.

Major Protests are scheduled in Sulari, Yoshimi and Eshar for the rest of the month, to let the Empress know that the loudest people, at least, do not support the national divorce from Gaduridos. Kaliburg and Port Swedes are expected to join the protest movement, though likely in smaller contingents in June. Many voting advocates will also join the protests to demand a more robust Legislature for Kalistan. "One which cannot, for example be dissolved by the breath of an Empress," said one activist in Sulari.

@TheRepublic