Kalistani Major History

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IZQUIERDA- The Voice of the Kalistani LeftKPR calls changes in Labour Party an "Democratic coup"
Al-Khali insists that relationship is still strong
Sulari, Suldanor
August 27, 4098

Speaker of the Kalistani Party of the Right, Omar Al-Khali was asked by IZQUIERDA's Diane Thompson about the developments within his Party and the rebranding of the Socialist Party of Kalistan into the Kalistani Party of the Right.  Below is the transcript of the exclusive interview:

(Izquierda Reporter) D(iane) T(hompson):  Speaker Al-Khali, many in Kalistan are confused about the snap rebranding of the Socialist Party as the Kalistani Party of the Right.  Would you care to shed some light on the matter for our readers?

O(mar) A(l-Khali):  Sure.  It has to do with this fiction that the Conservatives keep trying to run to suggest that the people of Kalistan are supporters of conservatism.  They argue that they are being rewarded for their conservatism by the people in Kalistan.  Our counter argument was that, no, they are being rewarded because the voters can't tell them apart from the socialists.  We know that the bills they put up are so offensive that they could never get passed, and yet, when it comes to elections, they have defended the status quo so often that there is no daylight between the Parties on the Left and the so-called "Conservatives".  So we are debunking this myth that Parties who CALL themselves conservative, or in our case, rightist, are rewarded for their name.  In fact, it is the long standing support for socialism which is what we, and the CIP are being rewarded for.  You can't claim some constituency just because you call yourself conservative.  So we'll see.  If we call ourselves conservative, but continue to vote the way we always have, we should, by their thesis be able to dramatically take power.  And if we do not change in seatcount overall, their thesis is not supported.

DT:  That seems like a fairly radical thing to do just to prove a point.

OA:  Well, we have been enduring the distortions by the Conservative Party for decades.  And it is time that they just cut it out...  Kalistan is a socialist country.  The laws of the nation are in fact slightly MORE socialist now than when the Conservative Party began their quest to trick everyone into thinking that they are a genuine alternative to decent politics, and despite their holding various percentages of the Assembly on their back bench, nobody is rewarded for taking a conservative stance in Kalistan.  So we'll see.

DT: Moving on.  It would appear that the Labour Party has adopted a new Constitution which some are saying could potentially do damage to the relationship between the Socialist Party and the Labour Party.

OA:  I had read that, but that might be the take of the newspaper more than anything that actually happened.  It appears that there was a democratic coup within the leadership of the Labour Party.  Their regime has been altered pretty significantly.  I don't see it as a real problem:  Our leadership has always been selected by a convention, rather than asking the members their opinion.  Our shadow officers have always been selected by the central committee of the Party.  As speaker, I need to know that at need, the Minister of Agriculture, or whatever will support me.  Why would I leave that open to a vote?  I don't see the Labour Party's move as troubling.

DT:  And what do you make of Labour's comments that it is time Kalistan move beyond outdated institutions?  We presume the spokesperson means dogmatic support for the National industries and the Prerogative.

OA:  I hadn't read that.

DT:  It was in last week's edition of the People's Press.

OA:  Look-  I know the Party Presses like to gin up conflict.  Everyone knows Izquierda likes to run yellow every once in a while too.  If I took my cues from the Party Presses, we'd be at each other's throats.  Look.  I'll say this.  Our relationship is strong.  We are working together on the Terrorism bill the Premier has put forward.  We may disagree on the Prerogative, but we still get along fine.  I just had the old Speaker at my house the other week for dinner.  I can't imagine something that would cause tension between our Parties.  I do wish, sometimes that Labour would work just a little harder to turn out voters for the SP's candidates.  This last election, Jonesy lost by less than a point and a half:  the difference could have been made up by Labour voters who stayed home in Ananto.  But that's neither here nor there, I suppose.  We still have plenty of ground to cooperate on.  And I think we'll still work together in the near future, though if they go full on against the National Institutions and against the Prerogative, we could revisit this...

DT:  Thank you, Comrade Speaker, for your time.

OA:  My pleasure.