Valruzia

[Aethan]

"Send them [Yeudis] home!" Chancellor–President's old video resurfaces amid discriminatory remarks

Klemens Grech's participation in an "anti-yeudi seminar" has sparked controversy

June 5735

A fragment of the video where a young Klemens Grech made such remarks

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Not a year in his new role has passed and Chancellor–President Klemens Grech is already facing a scandal: an old video of him taking part – and speaking – in what many consider to be an "anti-yeudi seminar", organized by the far-right group "Odrodzenie" ("Rebirth").

In the video, dated 5725 (ten years ago), the current Chancellor-President is seen taking the podium to deliver a speech against uncontrolled immigration “that will ruin Valruzia” and blaming the government—which at that time was already headed by Sovereign Valruzia’s Aleksandra Kos—for “wanting to destroy ‘Valruzian identity’ by importing ‘poverty and crime’”. Although the Chancellor–President himself, 24 years old at the time, makes no direct references to any specific nationality or culture, chants of "Odeślijcie ich do domu!" (Send them home!) or “Yeudi, you b*stard, Valruzia isn’t your country!”, in what the Association of Valruzian Yeudi for Coexistence has described as openly “anti-Yeudi” attacks, and has called for unanimous condemnation by all politicians, as well as demanding the immediate resignation of the Chancellor-President, whom they consider “permanently disqualified” from holding any public office following the release of these images.

"Once again, the Yeudi people of this country—who are JUST AS VALRUZIAN AS ANYONE ELSE—are being subjected to attacks and discrimination simply because we practice a religion. We demand the immediate resignation of the Chancellor-President, that he apologize, and that he sincerely repent for having taken part in such a shameful act".

Sovereign Valruzia has not held back in its attacks on the Chancellor-President, who has not yet managed to form a new government following the latest elections.

"This isn't the first time a conservative head of state has been involved in a scandal related to the Yeudis, since. Everyone still remembers the shameful attempt of President Szymona Razem. If it weren't for the acts of Chancellor Szymon Nowik, she would have moved ahead with her plan to deport Valruzian Yeudis. There’s a worrying trend on the right. It’s no coincidence that every time one of their figures is elected, a similar scandal erupts" says Aleksandra Kos.

In recent years, the number of anti-Yeudi incidents has been on the rise, according to SHCWal, coinciding with the rise of the right.

"The right in Valruzia has a hard time accepting that the Yeudi population of Valruzia are ALSO Valruzian citizens, perhaps because the vast majority of them defy the stereotype of the religious citizen and are openly progressive—and the right cannot tolerate that." says Kaja Orlikowska, leader of the KPW, who has also asked for the Chancellor–President's "immediate resignation".

Klemens Grech’s team, while not denying his participation in the event, states that it took place “a long time ago” and that the Chancellor-President has had many years to reflect and change his view of Valruzia and the world in general; they assure that he will issue a formal apology shortly, but do not believe he should resign over it.

"The President regrets his participation in that event. He was young and still developing his political views. Furthermore, although he was among the attendees, Mr. Grech did not give a speech related to the controversy, and he left when the chants began. Sovereign Valruzia, the KPW, and other political organizations that are using these past events to attack him are taking what happened out of context to exploit the situation, because they cannot bear to have lost power to a figure like him."

The truth is that this incident adds further difficulty to the already complicated negotiations to form a government, with the possibility of early elections—for the third time in Valruzia’s history—becoming increasingly clear.