Kalistani Major History

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Empress attends panel on democracy in Kaliburg
Discussion grew heated, but was mostly respectful and called for reform
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
November 19, 5556


Her Imperial Majesty joins audience at Kaliburg Democracy Forum to listen to proposals for reform

A long promised plebiscite on democracy occurred at Kaliburg Polytechnic this week, sort of. The event, called Kaliburg Democracy Forum, took on the form of a panel sponsored by the Political Science Department. The Chancellor of the Empire was invited to sit on the panel to speak for the Crown, but in the audience was Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Pavlina I Ananto, who permitted the Chancellor to receive questions, some of which she responded to. This is the closest thing Kalistan has had to direct communication between Kalistani Citizens and their Sovereigns in decades. Other panelists included noted liberal political scientist Dr. Brent Lynn from Vrassa City, scholar on media and democracy Dr. Jill Fisher from Kaliburg, Civil Society activist Natalie Swanson from Sulari, and Kenneth Bonsal from the Eshar Democracy Club, a non-partisan political discussion group focused on advancing the cause of increasing civic participation in the Government.

The panel began with 10-15 minute presentations from each of the panelists. The speeches were informative but mostly focused on the ongoing demands for liberalizing democratic reforms in the Government. Dr. Lynn discussed how important it was for the people to feel like they had a say in who their government is: "Whether they actually do or not, people tend to see elections as pressure valves, and participate in them rather than doing other, more destructive things like rioting," said Dr. Lynn. "When you close off all avenues of redress of grievance to them, with an oppressive tyrannical government that exists simply to justify its own existence and insinuate two non elected heads of state into everyone's life, people are going to turn to violence."

The media scholar discussed the importance of civil liberties in Kalistan. "Paramount of all freedoms is the free press," said Dr. Fisher. "The Press has a major role in informing the population, so they can make decisions about self-government. Yes, it is true that there are problems in the media. Yes it is true that editorial boards and commercial advertisers often dictate content. But let me ask, who would you rather trust? The largely benign and amoral capitalist who is just trying to inform consumers of the products they may already want, or a self-interested government that shoots protestors in the street for voicing legitimate concerns?"

Finally, Swanson said "I'm not extremely educated like these others here. All I know is that we the people has had enough. This country should be a republic again. I am not sure how things got this way, but I saw this clip on the internet that talked about a connection between the current Monarchy and Beiteynu: the clip talked about how Beiteynu is really behind the monarchy, and it made a lot of sense to me at the time. I also think Luthori has something to do with this: They are always talking about their empire and it would make sense that they would prefer a dictatorship here to a free and educated people, We the People, ready to defend Seleya from Artania."

Following the three pro-democracy speakers, the Chancellor delivered her speech, which served as largely an apology for the stability brought by the Institutional Party and the Monarchy. "I invite the audience here to consider that before the Empire, we had to put up with a bunch of fascist parties forming all the time, and government policies that were largely and directly detrimental to the freedom and liberty of the people," said Dame Ontiveros, referring to various ephemeral Parties that formed in opposition to Socialist Party Government. "Since the re-establishment of the monarchy, we have seen no hard right, hard left, or pro capitalist Parties that used to plague our nation. The Monarchy is an enduring institution that offers stability to the Empire, to allow the people to live a life free from the turbulence of internecine political struggle by a bunch of power hungry lunatics. We have solved the problem of political struggle, and it has been a net gain to the liberty of the people of Kalistan, who enjoy one of the highest standards of living, among the highest levels of civil liberties, and one of the most robust social security systems in all of Seleya, if not Terra. It is because the consensus has been codified into the Monarchy and is unassailable. Isn't not being bothered to learn about candidates and positions worth the good things provided for by the Empire?"

Following the presentations by the panelists, the audience members were invited to ask questions and make suggestions for improvement of the system. Most of the comments were directed to the Chancellor, but after about the sixth question, audience members started asking the Chancellor to ask for information from the Empress. "Please ask Her Imperial Majesty what her opinion of democracy is?" asked one audience member.

"As many may already be aware," said Empress Pavlina, "We grew up in Kundrati Union, which is liberal democracy such as most of our panelists are requesting. While two states may not be specifically comparable, due to different regime in Kundrati as opposed to Empire, and we do not wish to say negative words toward land of our Birth, we shall instead extol the benefits of Kalistani system. Democracy can be difficult to accomplish major things for the People in efficient manner. When action needs to be taken, often, there is no time for long debate or negotiation. It simply needs to be done. If for example, there is service needed by people, those people usually cannot wait for Government to hold hearing, ask experts, craft law, debate, negotiate, talk to stakeholder, maybe vote, maybe lose vote, and then people suffer. Democracy is good for corporate governance, but when people's lives are at stake, we feel democracy is unnecessarily and inexcusably slow and unpredictable, and as often produces horrible results as good."

Another audience member asked "What democratic reforms would Her Imperial Majesty, as Co-Sovereign of the Empire, be willing to consider so that the people have more control over the government and the Monarchy?"

The Empress gracefully but firmly answered, "We shall not entertain reforms to Monarchy. This suggestion that Monarchy be reformed, while not a violation of the Single Party Act, comes very near that boundary. As for democracy in the Government, it is our opinion that there is enough democracy at local level to allow people to have adequate say where matters are closest to them. We shall not promise reform to our Government, because it is not our desire that regime is democratic in form."

The Empress' frank rejection of the suggestion of democratic reform raised some eyebrows and provoked murmuring among the crowd.

The Chancellor added "To be clear, we have as much democracy in Kalistan as most liberal democracies have. I would argue we have more, in fact. People vote in elections which returns the Institutional Party each time to office. And local elections are considered non-partisan where anyone can run and serve. But in fact, we have never been a direct democracy in Kalistan, even when the Socialists governed. I would say in all indirect democracies, the people have as much direct control over the actions of their government as they do in Kalistan, where the people elect members of the legislature to make laws in the name of the people. And I will also remind you that the the first words in the official title of Her Imperial Majesty is 'By the Consent of the People...'" The Chancellor's suggestion that the monarchy was somehow an institution that derived its legitimacy from the will of the people provoked laughter from the audience, a low laughter that the Empress herself indulged in.

"Will Her Imperial Majesty permit protests on the Mainland to be held now that she is Duchess of Odufaray?" was one question.

The Empress nodded. "We have always been in favor of the people voicing their opinion in public, even in large groups, so long as activity is peaceful and orderly. We have never ordered police actions toward orderly protestors, or protestors who are marching or demonstrating peacefully. And in fact, our Courts have routinely sided with protestors who have disturbed the peace, or protestors who insulted and violated our own person. The Protestors have friend in Kalsitani courts, even if they are convinced that we are somehow a monster or a foreign spy of some sort. And we ourselves welcome our people to be able to demonstrate for things they care about. We merely insist that public order is not violated."

In one of the more tense exchanges of the evening, Natalie Swanson, the civil society activist from Eshar, directly challenged the Empress. "But how does Her Imperial Majesty suggest we force change if we do not create disorder, if we are not unruly, if we do not break the peace? How can we get our Emperors to listen to us unless we force them to pay attention to what we want and do it?" asked Natalie Swanson. "You are suggesting that we act all peaceful, when we know that you can easily ignore us that way, and we don't want you to ignore us."

"Ms. Swanson," said Dame Ontiveros, "please address your comments directly to me, rather than Her Imperial Majesty. Protocol dictates that..."

"Oh f--k protocol," exclaimed Swanson. "I want her to answer my question."

"Ms. Swanson! Please watch your language," answered Dame Ontiveros. "It is illegal to address the Empress directly, may I remind you."

"Madame, we are not forced by anyone, over anything. Force is beneath us. So, what will you have us do instead?" asked the Empress.

Swanson, who took a moment to collect herself, answered, "Please, Madame Ontiveros, I would have Her Imperial Majesty give us what we are demanding. Then we wouldn't have to be violent or disruptive. I want the Empress to listen to us, to pay attention to us to let we the people run our own lives."

"Madame Swanson, violence is not necessary," responded the Empress. "We are here now. Do we not listen to you here today? You have had your opportunity to speak your mind at your liberty, and few protocol rules aside, nobody has prevented you from speaking. And we have heard you, you did not need to compel us to do so, nor use force in any way. We came of our own will. But we shall also not negotiate anything with terrorist or groups who hold our cities hostage to their demands, especially when their viewpoints are tiny minority of society's viewpoints. Calls for democracy are particularly loud from tiny population. Data shows that majority of population seeks to live in peace and go about day. Not join protest, not shut down major cities, not shoot Duchess."

Swanson attempted to interject: "Your Highness we had nothing to do..."

"We are not finished," answered the Empress. "We have excellent intelligence from sources with IBSI to suggest that perhaps not grassroots, but leadership is being manipulated by revolutionaries who want nothing to do with your cause for democracy. They use your very serious and deeply felt beliefs for democracy for their own aims. This is well known fact among those who have better information than you. Liberty Brigade was just sloppiest among them because of their love of crystal methamphetamine, but we know of at least three other conspiratorial organizations, two of whom are of fascist right wing, all of whom are far more professional, who will actually be tyrant if they win, who are funding and manipulating pro-democratic groups in Kalistan. But we cannot arrest them, because they remain underground and free association is not illegal. Your resort to violence and disorder does not serve your cause, but their cause. Chancellor can confirm this. And violence only serves to alienate people from Empress and Emperor. Which is not what we would prefer. Force invalidates legitimacy of your demand for democracy. But if you claim to support democracy, you have failed to convince even a slim majority. So why should we do as you order?"

As the Empress spoke, Swanson was clearly agitated, and was waiting for the Empress to finish speaking, but just before she responded the Chancellor gave the signal to the Forum's stunned silent moderator, who announced that time was up for this round, but a new panel would be planned for the near future, and the invitation to the Empress to come back would be made via the Chancellor. The panel being over, the Moderator held the crowd while the Empress and her security left without a word. The Chancellor stayed behind to talk further with the panelists and the Moderator. Several members of the audience also came up to the Chancellor, but none of the exchanges appeared to be elevated. Swanson, for her part adopted a very apologetic tone when talking with the Chancellor after the event, who promised to pass Swanson's apologies onto Her Imperial Majesty.

The panel concluded on a tense note, it was more surprising that it was not more heated, but most of the people in attendance were from Ananto, given its location at Kaliburg Polytechnic, and therefore, the audience was likely far friendlier than it would have been had the panel been held in Vrassa or Odufaray. Immediately following the panel, analysts said that given the Empress' responses to the questions, meaningful democratic reform is less likely now than even directly before the panel began.