Kalistan

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Elections bring in Orthodox Majority
Dame Bolton to retire from office
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
March 17, 5614


Presumed Chancellor of the Empire Daniel Levine led a Orthodox Revolt in the National Assembly

In a shocking outcome that was expected by nobody, the Orthodox faction of the Institutionalist Party has won a resounding victory in last week's elections across the Empire.  Internationalist Deputies took and average 58% of the votes in every Duchy in Kalistan and 54% in Ananto to produce an Assembly where 49 of 79 Seats are now controlled by Orthodox Institutionalists.

The leader of the Faction, and presumed next Chancellor of the Empire is the firebrand from Sulari named Daniel Levine.  Levine, who served as a Gunner's Mate in the Regular Navy and is a veteran of the Artanian Sea Campaign, has become a staunch anti-war activist and was elected for the first time to represent the constituency in Sulari Free City in 5613.  Since then he has been active with veterans groups and Brethrenist Meetings across the Empire, bridging the gap between the two groups and building up a strong Orthodox constituency.  In this, the first election since the end of the Conflict, Levine ran on the platform of reaching out to the world and taking Kalistan's rightful place among the community of nations.

"When our government under the hard Nationalists led by Dame Bolton began involving Kalistan in Artanian Affairs, this is when we opened ourselves up to a war which saw more than 65,000 Kalistanis killed over three bloody years." said Levine while campaigning in Eshar last February.  "Because we insisted on Kalistani Interests being at the forefront of the World Affairs, we made enemies of people who were otherwise friends.  We have no problem with rearmament:  A strong navy keeps Kalistan strong.  But we want those ships, and more importantly the men and women who operate them, to be used to guard our home, not to start wars with foreign powers that no longer pose a serious threat, and certainly not to promote gunboat diplomacy abroad."  Levine went on to reiterate the words of the Emperor, who is on record as saying that No More Kalistanis will die in vain.

"It is our intention, should we win this election, to seek peace with the nations of the world," said Levine.  "One of the Testimonies of the Brethrenist Faith is the Peace Testimony, and another is the Equality Testimony.  We want to get our nation back to that position, so that Kalistan can be at peace with not only our neighbors, but also with potential adversaries who would otherwise do us harm.  Kalistan should be focused on working with our neighbors, both the Constituent Nations of the Anantonese Empire, as well as other Anantonese Nations like Dalibor, Varona, Egelion and Dolgava, and yes, maybe even Likatonia and other Seleyan neighbors, because good relations start much closer to home.  Not as those who wish to control the conversation, but those who want to be just a part of a larger discussion about how we all can live in this world together."

As Chancellor of the Empire, Levine will be asked to form a cabinet and get Assembly approval.  But with 62% of the seats in the National Assembly, the Cabinet that is proposed will likely be made up of Orthodoxos, and will be approved.  It is unclear how the incoming Chancellor and His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Fredrick III Ananto will get along, given the differences of sentiment between both men.  But the new Chancellor is astute enough to know who he now works for.  "My job, as Chancellor of the Empire, will be to advise His Imperial Majesty on what I think the correct course of action is in every instance.  But this is the strength of our system:  Ultimately the choice is his, and not mine, and so whatever he selects as a course, it then becomes my job to ensure his Will is carried out in fact.  And as long as I remain Chancellor, that will be my sole obligation."

Levine is the most popular incoming Chancellor in a long time.  In previous picks, there has been strong continuity between the policies of the outgoing and incoming Chancellors.  In this case, the shift in both foreign and domestic policies will be noticeable--Dame Bolton, who began her career as Chancellor in 5583 as a Nationalist herself, has governed with a strong Nationalist majority for decades.  The victory for Levine also represents one of the most democratic elections in decades in Kalistan, as Levine was the outside choice even among Institutionalist insiders, who almost to a person anticipated another term for Dame Diane Bolton.  News of the Orthodox Faction's sweeping election victory was followed very closely by a concession speech by Dame Bolton which indicated her desire to retire from office, ending her 31 year long administration and immediately sparking a special election in her constituency in Addisjah, Vrassa.

Deputy Levine, who's grandparents immigrated to Kalistan from Beiteynu during the reign of Pavlina I Ananto, is the first ethnic Yeudi to become Chancellor of the Empire, though he is a practicing Brethrenist.  He will meet with His Imperial Majesty later this week, who is expected to entitle Levine, and will ask him to form a Government and the proceed to carry out the Imperial Will in the National Assembly.

@TheRepublic