Kalistan

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Chancellor Alvarez-Miller meets her first roadblock
Novice Lawmaker's Budget Proposal meets Nationalist Opposition
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
March 3, 5650


Lady Jennifer Alvarez-Miller, Chancellor of the Empire, engages in spirited verbal sparring in National Assembly

The first major test for the leadership of the new Chancellor of the Empire, Lady Jennifer Alvarez-Miller has resulted in a predictable defeat for the Chancellor as she is faced with a singular fact of Kalistani Politics: the only person who may rule by fiat in Kalistan is Her Imperial Majesty, and everyone else requires a majority. The Chancellor's draft budget proposal today was scuttled wholesale, and without the Empress' backing, it was going nowhere in the National Assembly.

Alvarez, who was a freshman legislator before she was selected as a compromise candidate for the Premiership, has voted on one National budget before being asked to make one herself. But her budget, which called for significant cuts to the Kalistani Military budget, as well as a decrease in funds for the Foreign Ministry and the Head of State, was announced to be dead on arrival, and when the Chancellor forced consideration despite widespread opposition in the Assembly, a motion to table the bill was ruled in order, and was supported by 60 of 79 of the deputies, nearly all consisting of members of the Orthodox caucus, which still has a majority in the National Assembly.

"The Chancellor theoretically ran these numbers by Her Imperial Majesty, the Empress before bringing them to the National Assembly," said Capitol reporter Brian Greene. "If Lady Alvarez thought she would have enough support in the National Assembly to even adequately discuss the budget, she learned quite quickly that she was mistaken. Clearly, the Empress did not support this proposal, and certainly did not back her new Chancellor up in this fight." Ultimately, it is believed that there was such low support for this proposal that its easy defeat will not mar the prospects for a successful government under the New Chancellor. "It's not even a speed bump for this Chancellor," said Greene. "How can it be? It was dismissed as if it didn't actually exist."

Some believe that the Chancellor advanced the budget package to satisfy her constituency. "But I don't think this is the case," said Greene. "The Chancellor herself is a hardened pacifist, and she might have seen this as an opportunity to begin a discussion about military spending. She may not have expected to pass this bill, but it is likely that the question about military spending will now move up the list of priorities for this Government. This should be instead seen then as the Chancellor's opening offer, rather than her final one."

As the vote to table the bill was passed, the Chancellor herself engaged in a spirited discussion with Orthodox Institutionalists, where she said that military spending was not supportable given the peaceful climate in Terra right now, and most specifically, Northern Seleya. "Kalistan is, today more integrated in different aspects of Northern Seleyan affairs than we have been my entire life. We are at peace with literally every nation that matters in this world. Maintaining war footing is not only unconscionable, but it also takes away from other priorities that this Assembly should be focusing on." Some unnamed Orthodoxo, believed to be George Thomas from Vrassa City yelled what sounded like "Like what?" The Chancellor responded "Respectfully Sir, like schools, like medicine, like innovation. Like democracy." This last noun drew some derisive laughter from various parts of the gallery. At this point the Orthodox Speaker Dennis Smith, from Luxon was recognized.

"While we respect that the Chancellor is a passionate young public servant," said Smith, "I would remind her that discussion of things like democracy is best left for outside this chamber. I apologize if that sounds patronizing or condescending. Such is not my intention. Instead, may I, respectfully, ask the Lady Chancellor to move on to the next item and refrain from dilatory harassment of the majority on a matter which has been tabled? It is our intention to support the Chancellor, but somethings will require some compromise and further discussion on both sides, especially when this current budget proposal reflects the ideological priorities of the Chancellor's caucus rather than something that the entire body can agree to support or at least not stand in the way of."

The Chancellor rose to her feet, took a deep breath before speaking, and said "Very well, I thank the Deputy for his friendly remarks. Clerk, please call the next agenda item and we will return to this issue at another time."

The Clerk said that the next agenda item was final confirmation of Chancellor Alvarez' picks for Her Imperial Majesty's Government. "I would like say that these picks have, like my budget, gone before Her Imperial Majesty, who was herself far more enthusiastic about these than the numbers I presented her."

Lady Alvarez listed the following people as nominees for their respective ministerial positions

Foreign Affairs   Mr. Jeffrey Hewlett
Internal Affairs   Katherine Sorenson
Finance   Dr Michael King
Defense   Ensign George Martinez, KRN
Justice   Hon. Gale Wilson
Infrastructure and Transport   Bradley Newburg
Health and Social Services   Nicole Reynolds
Education and Culture   Janet Simmons (retained)
Science and Technology   Dr. Norris Frist
Food and Agriculture   Belle Goldman
Environment and Tourism   Jack Robertson
Trade and Industry   Melanie Boone (KGS)

Deputy Smith rose to ask each candidate rise to speak to their nomination, and then the debate itself was cut off by legislators who stated they intended to support the Government Appointments en bank. Chancellor of the Empire Lady Alvarez asked for a consent voice vote, and the Chamber voted by loud acclamation for the slate.

Moving on, several other small items, including the naming of a park in Sulari, the selection of March 20 as National Pancake day in honor of the significant charitable donations made by the charitable social organization Common Order of the Plume following their 50th annual National Pancake Breakfast, and several administrative matters, before the session was gaveled out for the day. Following the contentious session, the Chancellor and Deputy Smith could be seen speaking animatedly as they left the Chamber together into the Deputies' Lobby.

Her first major defeat in the books, Chancellor of the Empire, Lady Alvarez is getting her trial by fire by this fairly evenly split Assembly. This defeat doesn't necessarily signal the death of reform. But the Chancellor now has a better idea of what her agenda faces as she attempts to carry it out. Especially if she hasn't secured the Empress' support for her plans. This will, however dim prospects for liberalization of the process, if the Chancellor of the Empire takes this as a lesson about brick walls toward any effort coming from inside the National Assembly.

@TheRepublic