Kalistan

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Kalistani endorsement of AYIC position draws more questions than answers
"There is no impropriety," says Chancellor, before major gaffe
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
October 2, 5678


Chancellor insults Valruzia and Communism during tense impromptu question session earlier this week

"There is no impropriety," said Chancellor of the Empire, Lady Ericka Donahue at an unscheduled press gathering as she left her offices at the Capitol. The Chancellor encountered more than a dozen reporters waiting for her and was made to answer questions on the Government's position on Valruzia, some of which visibly agitated the Chancellor. The line of questioning even forced a gaffe that the Chancellor later had to walk back.

The issue began as the Chancellor spoke from the Floor of the National Assembly on Tuesday. The words she chose suggested that Their Imperial Majesties' Government had been unduly influenced by the Anantonese Yeudi Interest Committee. The Chancellor said, "We welcome the statement from Valruzia guaranteeing the safety of its Yeudi Citizens, and have been taking in the opinions of our partners, including Mr. Romero, to ensure that Kalistan's support for the Yeudi People across Seleya and the Anantonese Region is unwavering, and all Seleyan Yeudis remain safe." The statement suggested that there was coordination between the Government and the non-governmental entity known as AYIC over Kalistani Foreign Policy. The comment drew a firestorm of questions from the floor, where the Chancellor stressed that there was no direct coordination between the Foreign Ministry and Mr. Romero's group.

"That would suggest that the Government of this Nation was doing the business of a private citizen," said the Chancellor as she denied any involvement. "Has the Institutionalist Party spoken with Mr. Romero as a constituent? I can't say one way or another. Was he sitting in the room when this Government concluded its policy? That would be patently illegal, and if any evidence exists that such meetings took place, it would be very damning indeed."

As if on cue, Deputy Daniel Calabasas of Dana produced visitor records that show that Mr. Romero and his deputy Mr. Maxwell had indeed visited the Capitol more than 15 times in the month of August. The Chancellor insisted that she took no meetings with Mr. Romero. "What can I say? He's very well known around here and is very good at what he does, which is to provide information that presents his group's point of view, to help legislators make decisions. There is nothing improper about any of that. Nor is there any evidence that I or any of my government took any appointments with him." She also reminded the Deputies that public records show that House Ananto itself has donated more than 16 million imperial Rubles to AYIC.

Her responses did not calm the Assembly down at all, and instead of answering questions which were, admittedly borderline badgering in nature, she asked the Speaker of the Assembly to gavel the Assembly out of session until early next week. Meanwhile, word of the controversy leaked to the press, who gathered at the Chancellor's stately office in the Capitol the next day. As she was on her way to a meeting, she was stopped by more than a dozen reporters who asked her questions about the connection between AYIC and Their Imperial Majesties' Government.

"I said this before, and I will say it again: There was no impropriety. You people are looking for a story where there is none," she insisted. Though she began the interrogation on a calm note, tensions got heated after Jenny Bratton, of the Sulari Sun asked her if she personally received any money from Mr. Romero. "This is outrageous!" she responded. "You must think I'm some sort of liberal politician. The fact that you would even entertain the notion that I could be bought is just so beyond the realm of credulity that I am left speechless."

The exchange between the Chancellor and reporters grew tenser as she attempted to leave the place where she was ambushed by the free press. As the reporters prevented her from moving toward the door, she signaled to building security, who were slow in responding. This delay gave a frustrated Chancellor the opportunity to level an invective at reporters who switched to asking the Chancellor about the statements of the Valruzian government: "You people are all dupes! They talk about due process and checking to see if hatred of Yeudis is against their law. But you idiots forget, those people are all communists, and I don't give two goddamns what some communist claims--I don't care where they live. As far as I am concerned, communism is a plague and those communists in Valruzia are coddling anti-Yeudi politicians. If they're unsure whether threats from the floor of their legislature by a sitting democrat are illegal, they can all go to hell. Please! Get real!" As she finished her rather candid comments, security appeared to clear a cordon for the Chancellor to escape.

The fallout across Kaliburg was instantaneous. Within a half hour, the Foreign Minister was speaking to reporters declaring that Their Imperial Majesties officially and formally apologized to the Government of Valruzia for any offense the Chancellor's comments may have given, and that FM Henry Greene will be dispatched within 24 Hours to Nowogard to meet with Valruzian counterparts to smooth things over and reassure Valruzian partners of Kalistan's continued friendship. Within two hours, the Chancellor herself appeared at another impromptu news conference, this time in the Press Room of the Capitol, where she issued a personal apology.

"I apologize for my comments concerning the government of Valruzia," she said. "As a word of explanation but not justification, I was frustrated, having been ambushed by the Press as I was trying to make it to an important meeting concerning Kalistan's annual budget, and they persisted in asking questions which I had already answered several times. I got frustrated, I acted unprofessionally, and I apologize for all offense I gave to the people of Valruzia. The Government of Kalistan stands ready to make amends in any way appropriate." When she finished her statement, she took several questions.

Asked if she had met with Mr. Romero in August, she said "No. I was on vacation in August, and did not have any meetings scheduled during the last half of that month. I have made a copy of my full schedule available on the Chancellor's website."

Asked if she had taken any money from AYIC either recently or over the years, the Chancellor said "I personally have not taken any money or favors from Mr. Romero, or from AYIC. My position is appointed by Their Imperial Majesties, and I do not run re-election campaigns. I am adequately compensated, far more than Mr. Romero could ever put together for any kind of improper payment of any kind, as are all members of this Government. Even if he had offered money, there would not be anything we could do about that, as policy is dictated from His and Her Imperial Majesty, and we just enact it."

Asked her position on Communism in Valruzia, the Chancellor took a moment, and said, "I better not answer that one. My mouth has gotten me into trouble recently, and its better if I just leave political philosophy for the Professors. I am in this job to carry out the Imperial Fiat. My opinions on any political ideology notwithstanding."

Asked if her administration retains confidence of the Institutional Party and Their Imperial Majesties, she answered "To the best of my knowledge, I am here until Their Imperial Majesties decide otherwise. I will be meeting with Party leadership later today to find out what they think on the matter, but I have faith that my apology will be acceptable to them and we will be able to move on from this."

Asked what she thinks this gaffe will do for Kalistan-Valruzia relations she answered, "Kalistan remains committed to its friendship with Valruzia, both in bilateral terms and as regional partners. I trust Nowogard will see my comments for what they were: spoken out of frustration. And I am confident that they will be mature enough to accept my sincere and personal apology."

Asked if she would do anything differently in addressing the situation, she said "Well, when I am not being harassed by the Press, who think that this is a liberal nation for some reason, I am actually a pretty affable and genteel Lady. I did lose my cool when dealing with a bunch of reporters who thought that they were entitled to my time. I admit that. I wouldn't respond like that again, for certain. But I would also remind those same reporters who provoked that response that I am the Chancellor of this Empire, I am a Life Peer of Their Imperial Majesties, I am a Lady Companion of Their Imperial Majesties, and I am a Citizen of this Nation. As such I am entitled to a modicum of respect and dignity, and do not deserve to be ambushed by a bunch of journalists as I am on my way to carry out the business of this Empire. It's a two way street. And whatever my feelings are toward foreigners, I will demand my Privileges here in this Empire which are guaranteed by my entitlements and station in this Nation, especially from commoners who for some reason mistake me for their equal. So I would definitely do that differently."

Finally asked if she will resign over the matter, she looked squarely at the reporter, with a look on her face like she could not believe she was asked this questions, and simply said, "No." Lady Donahue then deftly turned off the podium mic and walked off the stage as reporters shouted additional questions toward her. She may have delivered her own mea culpa to Valruzia, likely ordered to do so by Their Imperial Majesties, but she certainly did not do anything to endear herself to the Press Corps in the Empire of Ananto and Kalistan.

@TheRepublic