Yu Dynasty Yingdala (4338-4636)

[Wu Han]

Chancellor Wu Interviewed in Televised Town Hall
Chancellor Wu Hán Faced Some Tough Questions in Tian'an Last Night
TIAN'AN, HAN - 2 JUNE 4262


Chancellor Wu fields a question from Wang Xiu Ying during the town hall (Courtesy: Xi Pinying, The Times of Yingdala)

In May, Wang Xiu Ying, one of the nation's most popular journalists with the Tian'an News Network, asked Chancellor Wu if he would participate in a televised town hall. He accepted and last night the town hall was held, drawing in large numbers of viewers from across the country. A transcript of the interview and a few selected questions is available below:

[Int.]Good evening. We're live in Tian'an, Han, for a TBC town hall with the Right Honourable Chancellor, Wu Hán. I will ask a number of questions and then we will go to questions from around the country. Please join me now in welcoming the Right Honourable Chancellor.
*Applause; Wu Hán enters, waves to the crowd, bows to Wang Xiu Ying, bows to the crowd and takes his seat*
[Int.] So, we're going to get to a whole range of topics, but I'd like to begin with your recent trip to Hutori. How was it?
[Wu] Much colder than here...
*Chuckles from the audience*
[Wu] ... But on a serious note, I feel it went very well. I discussed a range of topics with the President of Hutori, Emily Hamilton, which I felt was very productive. We have a good friend in Hutori.
[Int.] You've been very engaged in working toward an international ban on landmines...
*Scattered cheers and applause from the crowd*
[Int.] ... Did you raise that issue [with the President of Hutori]?
[Wu] I did, yes.
[Int.] How did that go?
[Wu] Well, you have to understand that it's an issue that is very complex and we are-
[Int.] Looks like you didn't reach an agreement
[Wu] No, it's just-- the President expressed to me that the political situation in Hutori would make it tough-
[Int.] So the President refused to propose a landmine ban?
*Scattered chuckles from the audience, Wu Hán nervously chuckles*
[Wu] No, that's not quite it. It's just a very complex issue, and I assure you we will continue to fight for a world free from these disgusting devices. But I cannot, in my position as Chancellor of this country, lecture other leaders on how to legislate in their own countries.
*Applause*
[Int.] Let's continue on this topic for a moment. You are the Chair of the International Organization for the Prohibition of Landmines...
*Applause*
[Wu] Yes.
[Int.] The inevitable goal of this organization must be to reach an international agreement or treaty on the prohibition of these weapons, correct?
[Wu] That's correct, yes.
[Int.] How would such an agreement get ratified by the National Conference when you have both the Republic's Conservatives and the National Democrats who have consistently voted against such a ban domestically?
*Scattered cheers*
[Wu] Well, we did get a ban through last February...
*Applause*
[Wu]... and I believe this is an issue where views have evolved in the past and will continue to evolve. Indrala has the opportunity to be a beacon of peace and hope in the world through this initiative. Hopefully, we can appeal to the Jienist values of stewardship and nobility in all of us, and we can unite around this issue.
[Int.] Why should we expect that you'll be able to get support for this, when you couldn't accomplish constitutional reform?
*Cheers and scattered jeering*
[Wu] ... Look, we never said that constitutional reform was going to be easy. And you have to remember, we had support from every party in our first bill before the National Democrats decided to campaign against it. That is their decision, and I understand that they have to represent their voters. *inaudible* ... and luckily, we have been seeing an increase in cooperation as we have entered the final half of this legislative period. It looks like we will be able to achieve at least the most rudimentary constitutional reforms we sought to enact. So I wouldn't say we didn't accomplish anything on this file. Is it exactly how we wanted to see it? No. But it's a move in the right direction.
*Applause*
[Int.] So the election date will probably be a year earlier?
[Wu] It should be, yes.
[Int.] Will you be running for re-election? Do you expect to do well?
[Wu] I will, yes...
*Applause*
[Wu] As for how I will do, that is in the hands of the Indralan people. I feel that we have done a good job of advocating for a more compassionate and optimistic vision for this country and enacting legislation to this end. But like I said, we can only continue on this path if we have the support of the Indralan people, and so I will humbly await their judgement on election day.
*Light applause*

[Int.] Let's go to the audience. Chen Zhao is a student at Kaizhou University, your alma-mater, and she has a question regarding university funding. Ms. Chen.
[Chen] Mr. Chancellor, thank you for taking my question. You have put forward a number of reforms for post-secondary education that gained a lot of votes from young people, including myself, in the last election. There are rumours that this legislation will not be put to a vote in this legislative period. Is that true?
[Wu] Thank you Ms. Chen for your question, your support and for choosing the finest University in Indrala...
*Laughter and scattered cheers*
[Wu] We will be putting our Indralan Advanced Education Act to voting and will be caucusing parties across the aisle to try and gain their support for this very important legislation. I've fought for the success of students my entire life you will continue to have a fighter in me.
*Applause*

[Int.] This question comes from Guo Yang, a labour activist in Shu. He voted for you in the last election, but now says that he regrets it. Mr. Guo.
[Guo] Yes, I've been President of the Hazhou Automotive Workers Union Local 543 for 5 years. I was very pleased to see your extensive campaigning in Shu, and I was inspired by your advocacy for workers both on the picket-line and in the National Conference, and so I voted for you... but not many others in Shu did. We haven't seen anything close to the legislation for workers in Shu proposed while you're in government that you proposed in opposition, and you haven't even tried to work with the National Democrats who won here overwhelmingly. So I have two questions; first, why do you think you lost Shu when you spent the most time campaigning here? And secondly, why don't you care about Shu anymore?
*Scattered applause*
[Wu] Well thank you, Mr. Guo, for this question. I really do share your frustration. For a long time your region was ignored, and we saw plants shutting down and moving overseas--
[Guo] It still is--
[Wu] Sorry?
[Guo] it still is being ignored today by your government. What are you going to do? What-- *microphone disabled*
[Int.] Let's allow the Chancellor to respond.
[Wu] We have brought in many different reforms for the economy, and we're working to rebuild a more progressive economy from the bottom up. We have also enacted a number of the proposals we made during the crisis in 4255 now that we're in government, including the green-fuel subsidy, which will create jobs in the automotive sector in Shu. To answer your second question regarding our cooperation with the National Democrats, we have been trying. We will continue to be open to working with others. Mr. Yuán has been assured of this time and time again.

[six other questions were asked, after which Chancellor Wu gave closing remarks]

[Wu] ...Indrala is a nation built on the labour of our elders and the dreams of our young people. For this reason, I know we can be an even better country. We can work to build a society in harmony, where our elders are cared for and our young people are enabled to reach their fullest potential. It's tough work, but it must be done. And it will be done. Thank you.
[Int.] Thank you, Chancellor.
*Loud applause, Wu Hán shakes Wang Xiu Ying's hand, waves and bows to the crowd as the camera pans out, and eventually cuts to political pundits*

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Originally posted by Wu Han on 26 August 2017.