A Battle Unseen

[Elena1012]

Forming the Clique.
Alkenne, Rildanor
September 12th, 5668
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Lucas Lajoie sat at his desk, reading the economic report. It wasn't good. The help from foreign powers was stabilizing the corporatist economy, but if this continued on, the economy faced a high risk of stagnation by the mid 70s. All it would take is a strong effort at sanctions to make that stagnation turn into a lost decade. Lucas thought for a moment. This wasn't an ideal situation. The Movement for National Reconcilation Party Congress was in two years. Lefrançois would likely be replaced as President. If a Vasseurite was elected, then stagnation was almost inevitable. Or even a recession. But if a reformist won? There could be a chance to save Rildanor. But Lucas couldn't win on his own. He was just a member of the ministry of economics. Not a politician. But he knew some people. Other reformists. 

The Movement for National Reconcilation officially had no wings or factions, it was fully united. That was the image presented to the public. But internally? It was divided. Vasseurites who wanted to maintain the status quo. Reformists who ranged from liberals who wanted pragmatic reforms to conservative reformists who wanted the bare minimum, to those who wanted to invade Meriath. Lucas was a reformist. Too reformist for some, but loyal to the Party. He opened his phone, and scrolled through the contacts. 4 names popped up. Fabrice Pascal, David Astier, Néo Auch and Clovis Solé. All members of the reformist wing, reformers in their own way. Pascal was particularly interested in repairing the image of Rildanor which has undergone damage this decade, Astier wanted to reform civil service, Auch had similar goals to Lucas in reforming the economy away from corporatism. And Solé? Solé wanted the bare minimum of reforms. But, he had clout. Enough to get the reformist wing to prevail and get a reformist in the Presidency. It wouldn't be easy to get the reformists to prevail, but if done, it could save Rildanor. Sure, everyone in this clique strayed from the National Revolution. Capitalism, secularism, separation of powers. But it's clear that the Vasseurites would doom Rildanor. Lucas put his phone away. He would talk to all of them in person. Convince Pascal, Astier, and Auch to support this endeavor. He would need them to help convince Solé to make a bid for the Presidency. Even if Solé wouldn't see eye to eye with them on all reforms, it would be necessary. A reformist would be better. Plus, maybe Lucas would get to learn the true extent of how far they all wanted reforms.

They all were extreme (minus Solé) in reforms, even the pragmatic liberals in the reformist wing didn't want full capitalism, just state capitalism. But extreme problems require extreme solutions. The first step would be the Party Congress. Then we can worry about the economy and reform. One step at a time. Lucas got up, turned the light off, locked the door to his office and set out to arrange several meetings.