Kalistani Major History

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Socialist Deputies weigh options
Lourenne's recent statements "trouble" minority
Kaliburg, Ananto
March 12, 4758


Kalistan's Provisional National Assembly meets to discuss news from Lourenne

"This is not the way we imagined it," said newly elected Socialist Deputy from Sulari Franco Edwards.  "We have barely formed a government, and at the Plenary meeting of the National Assembly, the first such meeting in Kaliburg in a decade, we find this out."

The news Deputy Edwards refers to comes from the United Kingdom of Lourenne, Kalistan's old rival.  In a recent news report from the Canrilaise journal Defense Nationale, the Government of Lourenne appears to be preparing for armed intervention in what is admittedly an unstable environment which is now known as Enskal Estaura.  The warning serves as a threat for some Socialist Deputies, who identify themselves as "Old Line Nationalists." 

One, a Deputy from Port Eshar in Vrassa name James Douglass Paige stated, "Well, under no circumstances would Kalistan of our grandfathers have ever tolerated this type of provocation from the Lourennaise!"  Speaking from the floor, Paige attempted to rally the endorsement of his fellow deputies for an emergency activation of the militias in preparation for any Lourenaise action.  He gained the vocal support from about 45 of his fellow deputies.

But the new Defense Minister, Honorario Sanchez, rose to speak on behalf of the Government.  "Comrades, and Adiskideak, You propose we fight them.  You propose we activate the militia to defend Kalistan.  I ask:  With what?  Kalistan's military was unceremoniously mothballed more than 8 years ago, and the militia has not been activated for generations.  Even if we had weapons, we don't have anyone trained.  It will take us months to stand anyone in the militia up, and then they would be no match for Lourennaise regulars."  At the end of the day, the Old Line Nationalists got Sanchez to agree to work on plans to at least mount a defense of Ananto and the Ananto Straits, as soon as it is practical.  Sanchez also agreed to begin evaluation of the state of the Eskalan navy, to begin patrols in the Ananto Strait as soon as possible.

"Its a small win," said Paige, who vowed to force through legislation before the end of summer which would renew Kalistan's traditional stance in the region.  "We don't have the numbers today, but I was not elected to office to sit on my hands and allow our great Republic be pushed around by Lourenne."  It is not clear how much support there is for Paige's hardlined stance, but what is clear is that the Brethrenist faction, who generally oppose war and conflict, currently hold the dominant position within the Party, which conforms to fact that Brethrenist meetings served as a primary source for new recruits for Party offices.  If Tuesday's votes were any indication, the Nationalist position represents slightly less than 9 percent of the current Assembly.

As IZQUIERDA is currently the only operating newspaper in the Republic, and we are currently serving as the primary mouthpiece for the Luthori and Egelian speakers in Eskalan/Kalistan, the editors have not taken a position between the nationalists and the pacifists.  We should note however that in the past, threats to Kalistani national integrity have almost always produced rapid and dramatic mobilization of Kalistani military assets.  It is certain that if the provocations from Lourenne continue unanswered over time, the nationalist position in the Assembly will grow stronger.  For his Part, Paige is already beginning to campaign for the elections in 3 years on a strongly nationalist message and he and several close associates have already identified several potential candidates who may offer an electoral challenge to Brethrenist opponents. 

"We think we can identify about 200 strong nationalists across the Republic who will absolutely challenge any Socialist deputies who do not mount an adequate challenge to Lourennaise provocation," said Paige.  "Perhaps putting the threat of a primary will spur them to action, if the threat of a Lourennaise missile sub in Port Davon does not."

We shall see.