Kalistani Major History

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Premier Bennots vows to attend Funeral for Queen of Lourenne
Nationalists raise a ruckus over "kowtowing" to foreign monarchs
Kaliburg, Ananto
November 15, 4767


Premier attempts to justify attendance at Queen's funeral

The Premier of the Republic, Joaquin Bennots-Hernandez acknowledged the passing of Lourenne's Queen and Kalistan's titular head of State, Queen Isabella III, as well as Crown Prince Phillip in a brief statement before an assembled press.

"We read today of the tragic passing of the Queen and Prince Phillip in a car accident as they were on their way to visit Keymon. The entire nation of Kalistan and I would express our condolences for the loss of this Great Lady, who has served Kalistan as Head of State for going on nine years now. It is with deep sorrow in my heart that I... I accepted an invitation from the Governor General to the funeral. I will travel to Eroncourt and then attend the funeral with Foreign Minister Uxue Etxeberri and several other members of my government. We will have other announcements in the near future, but for right now, it is a time for our two nations to mourn the loss of the Queen, under whose benevolent rule, Kalistan has achieved a degree of stability and progress we could only have dreamed of 10 years ago. I will not be taking questions just now, but I wished to mark the occasion."

As the Premier began to leave the press room, a small group of journalists associated with the nominally leftist-nationalist journal "Forward" shouted questions at the Premier. One journalist was heard to say "Why are you kowtowing to a foreign power like this?" This question caught the Premier, who returned to the mic and forcefully engaged the journalist. "That question is just ridiculous," the Premier answered. "The Queen was a very kind woman, and the notion that Kalistan is traveling to Lourenne to somehow prostrate ourselves before the new monarch is so ridiculous as to not merit more of an answer than this." He then left the podium for good.


A Demonstrator tells everyone what she thinks of the Premier

Following the end of the press conference, reporters went outside to find a small group, not exceeding more than 50 people protesting the announcement, which had been carried live on KRTVN 1. Some carried signs that said "Freedom for Kalistan" and "Kalistan Accepts no Foreign rule" but others held posters depicting the Premier with the words "Fat Slob" written under it and another called him a "crypto-Bootlicker." The protest lasted for about 20 minutes, and the crowd was orderly, but left of their own accord. Only a few protestors were seen talking to reporters, and they identified themselves as Nationalists who were for the most part, ready to move on from Lourenne's governance.