Kalistan

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Empress delivers farewell Address
Coronation of New Emperor will signify "Appropriate Change" across Empire, said Sovereign
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
May 31, 5672


Her Imperial Majesty delivers farewell Address to nation she has led for 40 years

Speaking slowly and in a measured tone Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Mary I Ananto delivered her farewell address in Kaliburg this week, as she prepares for her last couple weeks in office.  The Empress is set to abdicate her throne and Imperial titles in two weeks in Eveari, and took this opportunity to say a final few words before the National Assembly.  In attendance were both the Deputies, as well as the Peers, who packed the Assembly Chanber to hear the speech. 

Below is a transcript of the speech.

Deputies, Peers, Members of the press and People of our Nation, we thank you for this opportunity to come before you to say a final few words, before the end of our tenure.  We do not have the opportunity to speak publicly much any longer, and though this is more or less how we have long wanted it, now that it is upon us, it brings a melancholy to our heart.  We have carried this burden of state upon our back now twice as long as we had lived without it before, and it has gotten to the point where we have to be reminded, mercifully that very soon it will no longer be ours to bear.  After that point, the last remaining battle to fight will be the battle with our own irrelevance and extinction.

Not all is bleak, however.  Even the potential of irrelevance is not so bleak after all.  We have done enough.  We have shepparded our Nation through this period of time, where nothing looks any longer as it did when we took up this role of state.  The world has changed around us.  The dinosaurs of the past have gone dark before us.  And new species have replaced them.  We have helped Kalistan remain through the turbulence in the world, and for this alone, we shall be remembered.  It is a point of pride for us:  Kalistan has not forgotten who it is, nor have we forgotten our rightful place in this world.  That is far more than the governments of many liberal nations can say for themselves.

But now, there is change coming, even for Kalistan.  This change, in our estimation, is perhaps the only legitimate and appropriate form of political change that can occur in this world.  We will be passing off the responsibilities of government to our son, who is far more able to carry that burden forward than we are any longer.  This is the hallmark of the Anantonese Monarchy:  Few of our Emperors and Empresses wear the crown into death.  Centuries of traditional example have shown us that the monarchy should pass from us to the next generation as they are ready, as they are trained to take it up.  There is nothing more we can share with our son, and so it is now our turn to follow the traditions of our forebearers and peacefully transfer our authority, our privilege, and our responsibility to our successor.

We know our son's attitudes very well.  In many ways, they our very similar to our own.  The future Emperor shares our view about the proper order of this society, and like us, like all those of our family, he will continue to maintain the proper dignity, etiquette, and protocol around the monarchy.  We have no concern that his actions will bring anything other than credit and honor to his throne.  Our son is an Ananto after all:  He can be no other than our son, and it is has been our responsibility to impress upon him since the date of his birth what it means to be an Ananto in this Nation and in this world.  His wife, our future Empress, also understands her role, and matches him in terms of zealotry for the Monarchy.  He could want no better partner than the Lady Jennifer Ananto, and her service to the Nation will most certainly be a credit to the Nation.

But there are also several areas that we shall differ.  Perhaps not disagree so much, though we are sure that something will eventually come up as it always does.  In many cases, our successor will see through projects that we have set in motion, but were unable to accomplish.  He shall have our most ardent support in those endeavors.  But he is also a young man with his own mind on things, and in those instances, he will have the love and care of a mother and the support of a loyal subject, with a unique perspective, but with no more or less power to influence the decisions of the Emperor than is fit for a subject.  We shall remain his loyal subject until our last breath is drawn, and hope our actions in retirement model for all citizens the dignity and respect that we will have expected while we governed.

He seeks to reach further out to new partners.  He may seek to explore new administrative models.  He may seek to expand infrastructure, or privatize certain aspects of the economy.  If it is his estimation that this is the way forward for our nation, we shall support him in this, even if that support comes in the form of silence from us.  We will take up all projects he assigns to us, or be content to live in peace and retirement with our Companion, as our Sovereigns will it.  Because this is the correct relationship between the Sovereign and their Citizens.

We fully endorse our successors in their new role, and know the weight of carrying the entire nation, as our sovereign must, on their shoulders so to speak.  We ask you all to help them as they get situated.  Reach out, schedule meetings through the chancellor to get to know them, and work with them as they themselves work through this transition.  Kalistan is not only known for its steadfastness in regime, but also its unity of government.  We are successful to the degree that all the wheels in our system spin as they are directed.  We remain strong as a society this way.  We are able to ensure civil liberties and civil rights and a stable society and economy this way.  This requires all of our work to guarantee it.

We thank you for allowing us to serve you as your Sovereign, and next time you see us will be as private citizens once more, and then, god willing we will finally get the opportunity to speak to one another as equals again, which is something we very desperately want for ourselves.  From the bottom of our heart, thank you so much for your grace and patience over the years.  Goodbye for now."

The members of the Assembly rose as one as the Empress was helped off the rostrum by Lady Victoria Jensen, and walked out of the chamber.  Several commentators said she looked far older upon leaving than she did coming into the chamber, "... like her years caught up to her all at once," said one observer.  "She looks every bit of 62 years old," said another.  "I know that but it was striking that when she came in, I was remarking to my fellow how young she still looked."  As she left, the crowd bowed respectfully until she had departed the chamber, and then there was a loud ovation and applause from the assembled Deputies.

"I am sure she heard that," said the Deputy we spoke with.  "I hope she did."

@TheRepublic