Kalistan

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Empress Formally Calls for Institution of Imperial Assembly
Aims for "more Autonomy within Empire Framework"
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
May 12, 5597


Her Imperial Majesty calls administrative reform "Long Overdue"

Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Carolina I Ananto was before the National Assembly to describe a new system for imperial governance which she said would "provide more autonomy for Constituent Nations within the Empire's framework."  Described as the Imperial Assembly, this thirty-member body aims to insulate the Empire as a whole from the actions of any one of the Constituent Nations, and provide each Constituent Nation with a mechanism to build imperial action.

"The Articles of Empire have a clause in it which requires an Imperial Assembly to be formed," said Her Imperial Majesty, on the floor of the National Assembly.  "This clause was added with Gaduri autonomy in mind, but it is also applicable in the case of Lodamun, who seeks a larger role for itself globally, but whose actions may otherwise drag the entire Empire into a situation that only Lodamun should be in.  We want to support Lodamun's in their developing global role, of course, but we don't think that concern for how the Empire will react should govern Lodamun's decisions, nor do we want to put Kalistan or Gaduridos at risk if Lodamun creates an enemy, beyond terms that we are bound to in other treaties."

Her Imperial Majesty described the Imperial Assembly as a method to build Imperial Consensus for actions of Constituent Nations.  "As we envision it, Lodamun, Kalistan and Gaduridos respectively will want to keep certain friends, while each will also have a different set of concerns that we are dealing with.  But Lodamun's foreign policy doesn't necessarily have to be Kalistan's foreign policy.  We have already seen this cause some friction at the beginning of Lodamun's time with us.  Nor should Lodamun need to always clear everything with us.  But if they wish for Imperial support, they would simply bring the matter to the Imperial Assembly, our Delegations would each have a vote, and if it passes, it becomes a policy we shall endorse."

A lot of this has to do with the fact that there are variations of governance across the Empire which are incompatible with one another.  "The methods we use at home to exercise power are not acceptable in Gaduridos and Lodamun:  And similarly, the notion of elections that allow the people to exert any sort of control over our government is a fiction we have long since dispensed with here, but they are essential in the other Constituent Nations.  It was never our Mother's intention, nor our's to institute the Kalistani system of Government on a macro level over the entire Empire.  The Constituent Nations SHOULD have more of a voice in Imperial Policy, and each of the Constituent Nations should also be able to expect some insulation from the decisions made by one part of the Empire without agreement from the others, or even needing to seek the agreement of the others."

At the end of the day, Her Imperial Majesty enunciated an idea of Empire that few had dared speak in public.  "Our Empire is meant to provide reliable security for its constituent nations," said Her Imperial Majesty.  "It is a family who watches each other's back more than a patriarchal, top down structure.  Kalistan seeks to provide Lodamun the security that it will not have to ever fight a two front war that it does not choose to fight, and Kalistan seeks to provide Gaduridos the security that it can develop its culture and economy in peace, as it wants to without needing to focus too heavily or put too many of its resources into National Security.  

"And in exchange," continued Her Imperial Majesty, "Lodamun and Gaduridos make it possible for us to move out of the Strait and guard our gates properly.  We all gain the benefit of reliable and regular trade and security in our region, and can focus on our priorities rather than having to worry about whether our next door neighbor is going to have an election that for some reason switches their government from pro-us to anti-us.  The idea of putting the ancient Empire back together was the motive narrative, but underneath that, the idea has always been security for Northern Seleya and prestige."

That said, the reform of an Imperial Assembly is "long overdue," according to The Empress.  "We have our representatives to both Gaduridos and Lodamun.  Those viceroys have been provided to ensure a regular conduit of information and cooperation.  Information typically flows through the Viceroy upward, not the other way.  The Empire does do pro forma things, like invite the elected representative to form the government they were going to form anyway as a result of an election, rather than anything we have to say on the matter, but this has never been any other way within the Empire.  As we have said:  the way things work within Kalistan are not the way things work in the Constituent Nations.  So allowing those Constituent Nations to participate in a meaningful way in the government of their Empire--and we should be clear that we see the Anantonese Empire as an empire of three co-equal constituent nations--is a very necessary reform as we prepare to bring the Empire into the next generation."

Her Imperial Majesty reiterated her interest in centering the Imperial Assembly in Gaduridos.  "The reason is two fold.  First, We hope that it provides Gaduridos the prestige of hosting the Assembly, in honor of their status as first adopters of the Articles of Empire, and second, to physically separate the Assembly from us here in Kalistan and send a signal to Terra that the Empire is indeed three constituent nations, with three separate policy apparatuses, each of which make their own decisions about things, and each of which can be approached and dealt with as individuals.  In such a body, Kalistan would have as many votes as Gaduridos, who would have as many votes as Lodamun.  So Imperial action will always require a majority of the delegation, which means buy in from at least two of the three Constituent nations before any policy is promulgated as an Imperial Policy, rather than a policy of one or more of the individual Constituent Nations.  This will preserve Lodamun's, Kalistan's and Gaduridos' unique individual roles, while giving each nation the ability to pitch any idea of theirs to the Empire as a whole.  Kalistani Policy won't automatically be Imperial Policy, nor should it be.  This is how we can respect the autonomy of each of our Constituent Nations while also providing a vehicle for collective action."

Her Imperial Majesty described her role as "... largely the Executive Officer. As we see ourselves in this body, we will certainly retain the power of breaking all ties, in the interest of the Empire as a whole, and we will hold for ourselves the right to veto policy adopted, but will grant the body the ability to overturn the veto, as they do in republican countries  We would likely set the threshold at 2/3rds plus 1.  But if we opt not to veto a policy adopted by the Assembly, it should be our job therefore to enforce that policy as enthusiastically and strenuously as if it were our own."  Otherwise, the Empress stated she would serve as Convenor of the Assembly, but that they should elect their own officers, speakers and etc from among themselves, and let the Empress reign in Kalistan, as is correct, while the Imperial Assembly conducts its business in Ciudad Gaduri.  "Or Ciudad del Oriente, to ensure that those taking the Trans Seleyan Railway can make it to the meeting without needing to fly."

If the Constituent Nations agree to these terms, a suitable temporary building will be selected in Gaduridos while a new Assembly building is being constructed.