Kalistani Major History

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Socialist Party acknowledges charges of corruption
Agrees to Internal investigation
Kaliburg, Ananto
March 18, 5065


Party Speaker Diego Perry addresses the major Corruption Scandal before angry Socialist Deputies at SP HQ in downtown Kaliburg yesterday

Serious charges have been leveled at not only Socialist Ministers but also numerous Officers from the Socialist Regular Officers' Association, a little known informal organization of Socialist Officers in the Kalistani Regular Forces, as well as the Socialist Militia. These charges, leveled by the Defense Minister Burt Burret, imply that the bloated defense budget was somehow being misued or siphoned off by officers and elements within the military that were affiliated with the Socialist Party. These charges have not been substantiated with evidence, but the scandal has reached such a pitch in the countryside that the Leader of the Socialist Party, former Premier Diego Perry was called by Socialist Deputies to answer these charges, and conduct an investigation within the Party.

Perry made the following statement to a caucus room filled with angry Socialist Party deputies:

"We flatly deny that the Socialist Party had anything to do with siphoning off nearly a trillion Rubles a year for forty five years. The Government has offered us no evidence whatsoever that the Party nor the Militia received a cent of that money. In addition, my office has compiled records and receipts of all militia-related transactions, and have entered them into the public record. Careful scrutiny of these records will reveal that the militia has been operating on a budget comprised entirely of Party Donations, and has not received a cent of public money from anywhere in the National Budget. We hope that these records, which include all dates, times and amounts, as well as all banking information and expense Ledgers, will clear the Militia of any wrong doing. We have submitted these records to the Finance Minister for investigation, and believe firmly that the militia will be entirely exonerated following their audit of our records.

"As for the more troubling aspect of the Minister's charges, that Regular Officers, specifically those affiliated with the Socialist Party of Kalistan were somehow involved in Corruption, let me just say this: There have indeed been some irregularities within the budget which lead Party leadership to conclude that an internal investigation is at least warranted. Whether this demonstrates that nothing at all occurred on the side of malfeasance, up to and including corruption and straight out misappropriation and theft of public funds, we are prepared to accept the results of this investigation and act on them, in cooperation with the Justice Minister to the fullest extent of the law. Let me reiterate: Corruption within the ranks of the Socialist Party will not be tolerated, and if there is any indication that Socialists who have enjoyed the public's trust have been corrupt, may God have mercy on them, because this Party will not."

The Party Leader's speech was met with a raucous response and shouted questions from Socialist Deputies. The Premier took only a few questions, citing that he would like to let this internal investigation speak for itself. "But yes," Perry added, "it will include a full accounting of all Party affiliated members up to and including myself. We are an open book and I think these charges demand address and transparency. If there is corruption here it is a blight not only on this Nation but also this Party, who has long prided itself on providing honest, if not always even handed government to this Republic. And if there is corruption to be found, I am prepared to demand the resignation of the entire Shadow Government and my own as well, because in that case we will all bear responsibility."

The news of the investigation flashed across the Republic as the scandal became public. "We hope to have this investigation completed before the next election," said the former Premier. IZQUIERDA was unable to reach members of the Socialist Regular Officers' Association for comment, but it is assumed they will make a statement in the coming days on the scandal.