Kalistani Major History

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Kalistan braces for Reactionary GovernmentPresident:  "No good can possibly come from Conservative Government"
Kaliburg, Ananto
October 17, 4449


President of the Republic Reina-Rodriguez addresses the rise of the Conservatives

In what is expected to be an electoral rout next year, President Reina addressed the return of the Conservatives.  "You see, this happens all the time.  Some Party that has been long dead and thought to be swept into the dustbin of history reforms, announces that it will serve as an alternative to socialism, usually declaring allegience to one and only one form of conservatism (see the standard conservative prescription of free markets, no role for the Government in society, treaty withdrawal and religious morality) and proceeds to mop up in elections, for some reason.  It happens all the time.  A successful Government always brings the malcontents out of the wall who are not satisfied to leave well enough alone.  We've weathered this storm before."

The President of the Republic expressed cautious optimism that the Socialist Party will hold onto the majority, but in preparation for a possible loss, the President called for the full restoration of democracy and the explicit abolition of the "Ephemeral Parties" period.  "Naturally, our opposition was to ephemeral Parties using democracy against the Government.  We are opposed to the abuse of the democratic process by Parties with no roots to acquire a temporary majority and use that to attempt to obliterate everything that is Kalistan.  We can't do much about the time warp aspect of Kalistani politics, where old Parties can come back out of nowhere and regain the place they surrendered 50 or 200 years ago as if no time had intervened.  But we can utilize the mechanisms of government to protect the institutions of the nation, and the essential character of the Kalistani Government.  And after a while, when the 'time warp' effect has worn off, we will return once more to the majority, and then set about restoring normalcy after a period of 'time traveler' dominance."

What concerns the President the most is that much of the gains that have been made under careful government tutelage following the Recession will be undone.  "Hopefully the Conservatives don't immediately privatize everything.  No good can possibly come from Conservative Government, but it doesn't have to be exclusively bad.  While we have seen stunning success in both the public and private sectors in the last 5 years, as well as heavy investment from Keymon, Telamon and Lourenne, a sudden whiplash to conservatism will certainly undermine this.  If I could advise the Conservatives on one thing, I would advise moderate reforms, not legislative revolution.  Such radicalism will both undermine the successes of a carefully planned economy, and will be completely undone sooner than later.  A moderate reform course, which also gives socialists a buy in, if far more likely to last, especially if its aim is to not undo socialism, but to improve Kalistan.  We hope the Conservatives heed this advice, for the benefit both of their political agenda, but also for the benefit of the Republic.  And if not, well, we are old pros at undoing damaging policy.'

The President of the Republic will be running for re-election, and said she expects the results to be close.