Kalistan

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Empress Addresses National Assembly
"State of the Empire" type of speech hints at new elections, changing of the guard
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
February 4, 5649


Her Imperial Majesty addresses the National Assembly and calls for "creativity"

Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Mary I Ananto addressed the National Assembly this week with a message of the need for renewal and innovation. She was welcomed by Chancellor of the Empire Sir Michael Koenig, who is eyeing retirement and has begun discussing who could potentially replace him with Party Leaders and closed door meetings with Her Imperial Majesty. During the speech, Her Imperial Majesty suggested that it was likely time for a shakeup in the Government as a whole, but said the nation is on stable footing. Below is the transcript of her brief remarks:

Ladies and Gentlemen, Deputies of the National Assembly, Assembled Peers, Citizens of our Empire.

We stand before you today on the cusp of a major milestone in our own life: Next year we will be turning 40 years old and very soon will have spent more than half of our life as your Empress. By the standard set by most of our predecessors, that milestone is about a decade into their reign. But for us, it will mark more than twice that amount of time.

Over this time, we have seen our Empire at war. We have restored independence to our neighbors in Andalay, and we have ensured that our nation is firmly committed to the principles of ecological conservation. We have resolved lingering difference with our neighbors, welcomed stable governments in Baltusia and Valruzia, and strengthened bonds in nations like Xsampa, Dolgava and Hutori. Our reign has been momentous, as our National culture remains as healthy and vibrant as it ever was, and we have set out to improve the quality of the lives of our people in many ways, including housing, health and education, infrastructure, and technology. When we were crowned, we were called inexperienced by some, and treated as pariahs by others. Yet the Empire of Ananto and Kalistan remains a monument to stability, tranquility and peace, where citizens may go about their lives free from many of the wants that plague so called "wealthy" and "liberal" societies.

Though we seek to encourage change and growth at a healthy and conservative pace, we also know that a nation that stagnates is a nation that dies. To this end, we have also promoted innovations in infrastructure, culture and administration, and have recently signed a proclamation endorsing the efforts of the Unified Clubs for Democracy to study how our cities may be made more responsive to the legitimate and reasonable requests of our cities that was started last year. We've overseen expansion of cultural exchange and travel with Egelion, and have encouraged the growth of cultural diffusion between Kalistan and several other states to encourage our citizens to learn more about other nations, and potentially bring other good ideas they may encounter abroad back home to contribute to our society.

Overall, our State and our Nation is healthy and on firm footing. We are proud to report this to you.

As the Institutionalist Party goes into discussions about who will be your next leader, and our next Chancellor of the Empire when Sir Michael Koenig finally does retire from his role in our service, we encourage the Party to consider a few criteria. Should you find a candidate that meets this criteria, we shall look forward to appointing them to form our next government. We would like a Chancellor who has a distinct vision for our Nation. We want a person who will not only carry out out will, as is expected of each Chancellor, but will also faithfully and honestly represent our people to Us.

The Chancellor is a two way conduit. We rely on the Chancellor to synthesize and condense the voice of the people into a message which we may act upon. A Chancellor must be willing to represent both sides of any argument, especially if they are competing, and must be prepared to fully, and if necessarily candidly represent the calls of our people before us, even if they are contrary to our own will. As we discuss matters we look for opportunities to change our mind, in the presence of new information. But at the end of that discussion, the Chancellor must have the spine to return to you and deliver, sometimes unpleasant news regarding our will. Sir Koenig was such a man. We hope his successor, whoever that should be, will have that sort of character and presence of mind as well.

We also look forward to a person who can form a functioning, skillful, and knowledgeable government who will be able to take our will and translate it into policy that exerts the spirit of our will, rather than merely conforming, however reluctantly, to the letter of our word. We have long considered our ministers to be our governing partners: There is of course a barrier, as our every utterance is law, and that is up to us alone to take care for. But we need the ministers who will strive to understand what we are asking them to accomplish, even if we are not able to fully articulate it perfectly, and then enthusiastically carry out our will as we have intended. Whoever you select as the next Leader of your Party will need to possess the skills necessary to discern a climber from a doer.

We especially need someone who will be able to negotiate the shoals of foreign policy as capably as our Foreign Minister, Lady Anya Waltrip, who has informed us just this morning that she will also be leaving service along with Sir Koenig. She served our Father credibly, and has done all we have asked of her during our own reign, including some things she would rather not have done, and we will gratefully honor her request to retire from our service. Lady Waltrip oversaw the conclusion of the Artanian affair, and has decided to retire soon after reading that the nations who are supposed to be minding Kundrati are instead letting them rearm themselves and mine and enrich uranium, as if nothing negative could ever come of that, instead of collaring, leashing, and muzzling that mad dog of a nation. We will need someone who can help Kalistan thread the needle to keep ourselves entirely out of the affairs of that continent, even as it sets itself back onto the path of bellicosity and woe.

We also need a Minister who will help us with affairs at home. Athosia remains a going concern for our Empire, and while Baltusia proper gets its feet under it with the aim of development and benefit for all citizens that live there, Kalistan has to balance the desire to help our co-nationals in Athosia, while not creating a rival for our Nation on our doorstep. We have no power, let alone inclination, to resolve the Athoisan issue through force of arms, but Baltusia itself has also not been full throated in accepting any of our overtures toward assistance as of yet, and seem more interested in continuing their course of independence from Kalistan. While the status quo is fine, there are still a number of things we can do together that do not involve annexing the Duchy outright, but can serve to help the Government of sovereign Baltusia to improve the lives of Athosians and Baltusians alike. We would hope that whoever our Foreign Minister ends up being, they possess the skills necessary to tread that fine line between assistance and intervention.

Other developments will be coming up which we do not have the power to prognosticate at this moment, despite our externally and cynically reputed excellence at things like predicting the future. Some nations will stand up and represent examples for us to take regarding how to resolve problems in new and beneficial ways, while others will continue to drag their own flags through the mud, because they seek power and influence abroad, and resort to nefarious means to acquire that. Kalistan will remain as we always have been. We will restore our commitment to the Non Aligned Movement. We will enthusiastically participate in Seleyan specific formations to help us deepen our sense of continental identity. And we will continue to reach out to our neighbors and accept and create opportunities for cooperation. We have made missteps in the past, we have had to back track, an we have lost the trust of many of our partners along the way, and we have also spent years diligently restoring that faith that others have placed in us.

Our Empire looks different than it did when we were first crowned, and while it is disappointing that some bonds have dissolved rather than calcifying, we still carry on, and I think we are healthier for it. Andalay may never return. Karzon may never return. Athosia may never return. We are grateful to continue our association with and development of Vintalli and Gaduridos. But our Crown Lands remain our concern whether they are a part of independent nations or not. And we will work to tie them, however we may, closer to us, to bring them closer to our heart.

As for other states, we remain open to treating with them as equals. For the mutual benefit of our people. Ananto quite literally sits at the heart of so many crossroads: we must and will remain open to all those who seek to treat us with the honor, dignity and courtesy we, of rights, command. And for those who choose to spit as they say the word "Kalistan," or seek to bring dishonor and disgrace upon our name and the name of our nation, we shall promise that they will find in us an implacable and tireless foe, one who will offer no quarter in battle, and no courtesy in peace. As we transition to our new government, we seek to recommit to the positions which have made our Empire one of the greatest nations in Terra: Stability, Tranquility and Order are the characteristics of our society, but so are innovativeness, efficiency, and creativity. We can have both: we have amply demonstrated that simple fact over the millennia.

We wish you peace and clarity in your lives, and commend the Party to diligently engage with our Chancellor to get to the business of this term, which is to provide us with a new Government. It is our will that you do so, and as such, is spoken law.

Following the speech, the Empress left the rostrum and departed from the Chamber through the Empress' Exit. All heads were bowed in silent reverence until the door closed behind her, and then Deputies began as one to attempt to gain the floor and the recognition of the Speaker of the Chamber. Meanwhile the Peers existed their gallery and returned to their own Chamber. The first Deputy to be recognized by the Speaker asked the Chancellor to adjourn for the day so members could caucus. The Chancellor instructed the Speaker to call for adjournment and closing of the Assembly for the remainder of the day. A final role call was called, and conducted and then the Deputies departed the chamber.

@TheRepublic