Kalistani Major History

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Drama in Luxon! KDP Government Liquidates Itself
New Elections called for August as SPoK scrambles to form Interim Government
Kaliburg, Ananto
July 13, 4879


Socialist Party Leader Marguerite Beloit finds herself tasked with organizing Elections in Kalistan following the sudden collapse of LDP Administration

In January, we reported on the abandonment of the KDP by Kalistani Youth, which brooked well for Kalistani General Elections in four and half years from now. But since then, a dramatic shift in the balance of power has occurred which greatly compresses and accelerates that time schedule. Following a series of controversial bills which aim at moving Kalistan into a number of collective security agreements, as well as other inexplicable acts of legislation such as the moving of the Capital to Luxon and the abolition of the office of Prime Minister under a consolidated Head of State which has taken recently to referring to itself as "Shahanshah", other key groups which previously supported the KDP have begun defecting as well.

It started in April with the Government floating a bill establishing the "Royal Airlines". This apparently was a step too far for the business community who, represented by a group of 18 industrialists called the "National Group" began calling on the Government to resign. Spokeswoman Angela Talmadge, who represented AeroKal in the group issued a statement at the time: "These moves to consolidate power under a monarch-apparent directly threaten the interests of our businesses. A number of privately held sporting facilities closely associated with KDP financial interests are also troubling, as they spark of favoritism and create an uneven playing field between the Government's Favorite corporations and everyone else."

The Group approached the Socialist Party with their concerns, asking them to do something about the overreach of the KDP's single Party rule, and Party Speaker Marguerite Beloit, who listened to the industrialists' concerns calmly handed the representatives a copy of the Legislative Journal, showing the hours spent debating the KDP's unilateral actions. "I then calmly informed them that when the SP returns to power, we fully intend to restore the Dual Economy," said Beloit following the meeting. "We have the meeting recorded, and I will enter it into the public record once it has been transcribed by Assembly clerks."

At their June Meeting, the National Group weighed their options. "We could either begin conspiring with elements in the society that, for one reason or another, had an axe to grind, wait for the next election while withholding our support, or move to openly support the Socialist Party's efforts to building a new Opposition and take our chances with Nationalization," said Talmadge. "We chose the third option, given Kalistan's long success with the Dual Economy, and the general prosperity we have historically enjoyed under Socialist Governments." The Group was not unanimous in support for the Socialists: A quarter of those present wanted to follow the first option and build resistance to the Government rather than work with the Socialists. The Party was informed of the decision of the Business and Industry, as was the KDP in early June.

The next group to switch was the Military. "The KDP is moving us into this hostile posture toward the rest of the world," said normally taciturn General William Gordon, who is the appointed spokesman for the Kalistai Regular Force, "promising espionage against other countries and allowing the unfettered use of land mines. Additionally, they are involving us in collective security, which forces Kalistan to become in conflicts which are not of our making and which are not our business, or violate terms of the Treaty. The Socialist Party has consistently spoken up in favor of the Military since its re-inception, and though our Members are supposed to remain outside of Politics, we know, to the man, who has our best interests at heart." The Chiefs of the various services informed the KDP that their bellicose actions were no longer supported by the Military, and that if various laws were ever to be enacted and enforced, the Government would likely face a mutiny and a rebellion.

"Morale is pretty low, as is our troop strength" said Gordon, "and it is our hope that the SP can get the Regular Force back on the right track."

Combined with near complete support from Students and the Culture and Media establishments, and combined with deep support among the Brethren, who have passed several minutes over the last year and a half condemning the forays of the Government into Religious affairs, like encouraging foreign missionaries and criminalizing blasphemy, the last major group of Kalistan to switch support was Labor. Across Kalistan, the Socialists have done significant outreach to organized labor, concluding deals with independent growers unions, both of commodities and staples, as well as of cash crops.

These efforts have been extended in the last half a year to the Mainland as Farmers and Labor unions across Suldanor, Neveras and parts of Odufaray have openly joined the Socialist Party. Hector Gomez, of the Suldanor Rice Association said "We were actually visited by young socialists who met with us one day and asked us two questions: "What do the Rice Growers need from Government, and What can the Socialist Party do for you?' Those are two questions that the Government of Kalistan has never, at least in my lifetime, asked me. They also said that a number of young socialists were planning on going into rice cultivation, and asked if they could apprentice with us for a season so they could understand the things we have to deal with. How is that for you?! These young political kids getting to know us and find out what our lives are about rather than just assuming that since they have some degree they automatically know what I need and want! I've never seen anything like it!"

Similar stories were reported from Miners' locals in Neveras. Jill Calaveras, Shop Steward for Hard Rock Miners Local 87 in High Bong said "We had socialists come out here and volunteer to observe and do labor with us for three months. For no pay! At first we thought they were nuts, but we agreed to host them in our home, and they worked their asses off in the mines. They were fearless, and at the end, they asked us how we think that the life of the miner can be improved by the Socialist Party, if they were ever to get seats in Government. We told them that when they get elected, they should come back and talk to us and let us have a role in decision making too. Three months is a long time to work for nothing, but I think they were sent out here to learn about life outside of the University. Unlike anything the KDP ever did."

Labor joined the other sectors earlier this month, and apparently, this final defection was the last straw for the KDP. The Party resigned enmasse after adjourning indefinitely and have not been seen publicly for several weeks now. Reports that the now-resigned President has returned to his home, and the 750 members of the Legislature have returned to their districts have been supported by anecdotal evidence, but so far, no news paper has gotten any comments on the record regarding the dissolution of the Party.

The sudden Government crisis now looms for Kalistan. With no Government, the Socialist Party's slates have been called to Kaliburg to convene an emergency special session needed to simply hold elections. The Speaker of the Party was hastily named Speaker of the Assembly, though not Prime Minister. The Office of Speaker will serve as Head of Government until such time as a fully compliment of Deputies can be duly elected by the People of Kalistan in August 1 National Elections. The dissolution of the KDP also means that ballots will only be printed with SPoK and the Saira Party's candidates on it, though only the SP will be fielding a national Slate.

Beloit has not issued public comment on the situation she suddenly finds herself in. Nearly 22, Beloit is one of the youngest Politicians to become head of Government in Kalistan, and the task of reforming the Government as a result of such anarchy is difficult for even seasoned veterans. The only public statement that Beloit has made since news of the liquidation of the KDP is to call for Calm across the Republic and ensure the people that elections would be held on August 1st the sat a new Government. Repeated attempts to obtain an interview have been thwarted by the young Speaker's staff who have promised journalists a press conference after the elections. For the moment, the SP enjoys massive goodwill across the society, and reports of violence and disorder have been extremely rare.

The one notable exception was the burning of an effigy of now resigned President Richard Lewis, with a placard that read "Sic Semper Tyrannis" hung around the mannequin's neck. Police cooperated with the demonstration's spokespeople, and the effigy burning was permitted to continue until the leaders of the Demonstration extinguished the remnants of the fire. No arrests were made, and most demonstrations carried on the Party Party vibe which has intensified throughout the Spring.

If this is a revolution, it is the most gentle revolution ever. But Socialist Party Leaders are careful to not refer to it as a revolution. "I think it is more of a plebiscite," said Veronica Alverez of Eshar, who has spent the better part of the last year and a half building her Party's local organization and will likely represent Eshar following the August General Elections. "We have so much support from across the Republic and where are the people we are supposed to be against? They are nowhere to be seen!"

The Interim has issued a general amnesty for all convicts in Kalistan to begin after the new Assembly has been seated and ratifies the move, and along the same lines, KDP has been officially "welcomed back" to Government, provided they should ever reform. But they will be meeting in Kaliburg, and not Luxon, if and when they return.