Kalistan

[Doc]

Bjorksdattir Sacked
Foreign Minister takes the fall for decline in Kalistani Image
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
December 19, 5594


Former Foreign Minister Sir Christopher Bjorksdattir has reportedly "resigned"

The now-former Foreign Minister of the Anantonese Empire, Sir Christopher Bjorksdattir has been sacked and will now enter life as a private citizen.  The 46 year old Sulari Native was one of Her Imperial Majesty's closest advisors until the Chancellor accepted Bjorksdattir's resignation this afternoon. His departure from Her Imperial Majesty's Government was announced yesterday afternoon. 
 
"In losing Sir Bjorksdattir from the office of Foreign Minister," said Chancellor of the Empire Dame Diane Bolton, "We lose nearly 2 decades of experience and expertise and the trusted advice of a long time colleague."  The Chancellor reported that Sir Bjorksdattir said in his resignation that "Kalistan is entering a turbulent time and the Empire needs a foreign minister with a stomach for the fight.  I am not that man."  He cited a litany of foreign policy failures of the Anantonese Empire, as well as his own inability to get foreign leaders to sit down and speak with the Kalistani Government about outstanding issues.

But sources close to the Chancellor's office said that Her Imperial Majesty demanded Bjorksdattir's resignation, and Bjorksdattir merely complied.  "She was looking for someone to take the fall for the disastrous foreign relations situation that Kalistan finds itself in," said one source who wishes to remain anonymous.  "Most of Kalistan's problems are not Bjorksdattir's responsibility:  He didn't make Kundrati go fascist.  He didn't make Beiteynu abrogate several treaties.  He is not the reason that most of Kalistan's friends have long since turned their back on the Empire.  He just happened to be the one who was supposed to resolve the problems and deal with nations who no longer wished to have anything to do with our nation."

Bjorksdattir did have a few successes.  Under his tenure, Lodamun joined the Empire, and Kalistan has taken the first few halting steps in repairing relations with Luthori.  "But we have not made enough new friends to make up for the old ones who have either drifted away or have run at full speed away," said the inside source.  "Her Imperial Majesty is probably most angry about the absolute shambles of the relationship between Kalistan and Likatonia, but the final straw for Sir Bjorksdattir was Beiteynu, whose Government cancelled all the formal friendship agreements with Kalistan five years ago, without Bjorksdattir apparently noticing, and whose Yeudish Bureau of Investigation has publicly discredited Kalistani claims concerning human rights abuses in Kundrati in order to pave the way for restored economic and security relations with Kundrati. Bjorksdattir may have tried, but this time, trying is not enough."

Sir Bjorksdattir was unavailable for comment following the announcement of his resignation. It is unclear who Bjorksdattir's replacement will be, but they will likely remain in the Nationalist Faction in the National Assembly, as that faction retains the majority, and Her Imperial Majesty is herself a Nationalist. It is however, expected that Sir Christopher Bjorksdattir will retain his spot in the list of Knights Companion, as there appears to be no personal enmity between he and Her Imperial Majesty.

@TheRepublic