The Statesman - Vol. I.

[Draeris 3124]

THE STATESMAN

TRUTH FADES IN DARKNESS

 

The truth is our most prized possession, as we bring you the finest talk of the town about the latest affairs of state and society.  From quotes directly from the source, to the faintest voices through the grapevine: The Statesman brings light, where darkness exists. 

 

THE ELECTION RESULTS

Josephites bring house back to normal

 

The results are in from Helena, and the candidates that are in are: 

 

STAHL-ELENDIL, Jonah. - 78

KELMENOUR, Annabelle. - 62 

WINTER, Edwin. - 62

CARRION, Ostromir. - 58

GALBRAITH, George. - 57

O’ROURKE, Padraig. - 57

KOVACHEV, George. - 53

RAKOCZY, Lukas. - 51

KORTREVICH, Marya A. - 50

KORTREVICH, Juliyus. - 50

 RUTHERN, Boris. - 49

AMADOR, Edvard. - 47

 

THE GOLDEN CROW CHIRPS,

But is it telling the truth? 

 

In today’s Golden Crow Chronicle, citizens of Haense and Helena had to read a troubling report. Allegedly, His Imperial Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant in New Reza, Osvald Barclay, was removed from office by the Archchancellor himself. 

 

While the firing may have been sudden, what followed was a rather improper display of journalism: entire paragraphs dedicated to insinuating the intent of hundreds of Orenian officials. The firing, the Golden Crow implies, had nothing to do with the competency or reliability of the Lord Lieutenant: rather, it had to do with an elaborate taxation scheme that was opposed by their Royal Duma.

 

So what is the truth? 

 

After trying, and failing to get a comment from the Archchancellor as to the reason Barclay was sacked, the Statesman received the following comment from an anonymous source with close ties to a Cabinet member: “It is without a doubt that the Lord Lieutenant abused his access to discussions regarding matters of state, leaking correspondence to royal government officials as part of a deliberate ruse. While the discussions between the Lord Lieutenants and Cabinet members are far from controversial or sensitive, formal confidentiality, or cabinet solidarity, must be enforced for anything to run properly. Seeing the slanderous article in the Golden Crow merely adds onto the existing proof that his participation and access to government correspondence was used entirely in bad faith.”

 

The Archchancellor has yet to comment on this narrative. Instead of commenting on the affair, he refers to the letter he had send to the Lord Lieutenant personally: 

 

"To Sir Osvald Barclay, 

 

The Stahl-Elendil applauds you for your service as Lord Lieutenant to New Reza and the Kingdom of Hanseti-Ruska. Acknowledging this, it has been decided that the position of Lord Lieutenant shall be made vacant. Your country thanks you for your service. God save the Empress, and God bless her Empire. 

 

His Imperial Excellency, 

Jonah Stahl-Elendil."

 

Whether the rumours of subterfuge are true or not, the Archchancellor did however speak on the accusations in the Golden Crow Chronicle: 

 

“The proposal for a country-wide peerage tax has yet to even be discussed publicly, and if it were legislated on, it would certainly require passage through the lower house of the Imperial Diet, the House of Commons,” he continued “The House of Commons - to which the populace of Haense directly vote representatives - includes a large portion of the Haeseni population as well, giving more than enough room to debate or to defeat any bill. Indeed, the passage of any such tax seems completely impossible, given the House is currently in deadlock. And yet the Chronicle complains of a lack of a Haeseni platform?”

 

When asked regarding the outcry following the publication, Stahl Elendil followed up with: 

 

“The resentment that is caused by pretending that Imperial taxation is imminent and forced is absurd.” Stahl-Elendil continued “it seems that some folks wish to enrage the Haeseni population against a fictitious bogey-man, influencing them to go to the polls as anti-Orenian voters instead of focusing on the true issues, like running the government. Are we done? I have to get back to work.” 

 

THE NEW LOCAL

Redefining the capital city’s leadership

 

With both relief and anger, Helena received word that the Livery Council would be abolished. A controversial organ that on one hand harmonized the interests of many industries, while not being shy to be involved in corruption scandals or accusations of incompetence on the other. Whether the project was a success or not, depends on who you ask. But the new Mayor of Helena will have to deal with this decision before the start of his new term.

 

Instead, the Helena City Council is established. A new organ where five Aldermen will be elected, with tasks varying from legislation local laws to representing the citizens of Helena. Although more understandable than its predecessor, responses to the reform are mixed.

 

The primary concern is what would happen with the livery infrastructure, where once large portions of Helena’s labour were organized. Furthermore, the role of former Livery masters remains unclear. Whether they re-appear as Aldermen or disappear into obscurity will entirely depend on the voters: who in essence will hold a referendum on the success of livery, with former masters now competing against new citizen aspirants. 

 

Though supporters claim that this is a step into the right direction: referring to the former issue of apathy and a lack of knowledge by citizens in regards to the livery system. Citizens would not always know who the livery masters were and what they did, or why they were there in the first place. The obscurity of the procedures and rules allowed families such as the Carringtons to press their influences through coordinated lobbying strategies, excluding most non-Carrington commercial organizations in the process. 

 

While both the Carringtons and the Livery drama have faded from public consciousnesses, the weaknesses and absence of the livery system has not. As Helena reluctantly welcomes a new attempt for city democracy, its new Mayor and Aldermen candidates must win hearts and minds to make it last longer than a single term.

 

MINISTRY OF JUSTICE vol. II.

Will the new Solicitor-General make the difference? 

 

The Statesman received reports from the capital that tomorrow, a new Solicitor-General will ascend. Bringing heavyweights such as Henrik Larson and Alexander Joseph, Solicitor-General Baelius implies that his new ministry will have sharper teeth. 

 

The Ministry of Justice had in the past endured a lot of red tape and overlapping jurisdictions with the Imperial State Army. Matters of arresting suspects, policing the Commonwealth of Kaedrin and gathering intelligence parallel to the Secretary of Intelligence had caused public displays of frustration and rivalry among the departments.

 

While the heated sentiments have long cooled, the new Solicitor-General stands before a window of time with plenty of opportunity. Being released from its responsibility to police Kaedrin and the rapid expansion of the judicial bureaucracy will allow for a more intensive focus on Helena and its courts: with hopes varying between shorter waiting times for trials and more attorneys to represent the people.

 

Under the previous administration projects such as The Imperial Bar Association were shelved due to more pressing matters, such as the ongoing war or the legal court drama surrounding Friar Boniface and Bishop Károly. The newfound era of stability and the larger focus on judicial affairs under the Stahl-Elendil administration might prove crucial for the new Solicitor-General to cement his legacy: not just as a reformer, but as the start of a new golden age.

 

Though before any praise is given, the Solicitor-General will have to work through a pile of shelved proposals and an increasingly burdened judicial system. And while peace may reign between the government departments, one may wonder if everyone would appreciate a more assertive judicial wing of the Imperial bureaucracy. 

 

THE NEW GOVERNOR-GENERAL

Kaedrin braces for a push forward 

 

The appointment of Richard Victor Helvets, Count of Rochefort, to be the new Governor-General of Kaedrin had not surprised many, as he long was the shadow calling the shots as Lieutenant Governor. The sudden resignation of Henry Frederick Helvets however came at a peculiar time - amidst great constitutional reform and the dissolution of the civil government beneath him. 

 

Rochefort ascends to Kaedreni leadership as a painter staring at a blank canvas: a new constitution is to be written, and a new government to be appointed. Sources within Rochefort’s entourage imply the continuation of the old guard: with Rhoswenii houses poised to be bestowed with appointments in government once more. Though the status quo of past decades seems far away. The new Rochefort administration cryptically refuses to comment on any further resignations or reshuffles, stating that “the proper procedures still need to be finalized before we can officially comment on any appointments.”

 

So what will remain, and what will change, under the continuation of Helvets supremacy in Kaedrin? If Rochefort’s previous involvement in both Everardine and Josephite politics is of any indication: a push towards devolved governance and civil participation in decision making should be on the shortlist of new priorities. Rochefort had previously experimented with a Rhoswenii Assembly in Owynsburg, who despite its short lived tenure, had proven the strong appetite for democracy within an otherwise oligarchic society. Especially now that the monarchy is abolished in favour of direct reign by Empress Anne, the moment for Josephite liberties to seep its way into statecraft has never been more favourable than now. 

 

THIS EDITION’S CARTOON:

The Lord Lieutenant locked outside of the Cabinet room, 1786.

[argonian 14254]

A source familiar with those familiar to House Barclay relays their challenge of a duel to the source familiar with a Cabinet member. 

[CaptainHaense 1154]

Spoiler

Josef laughs at the authors incompetency.

[GhostSHTR 1205]

Stefan Otto Ludovar would receive the chronicle reading it from Joesfburg” I KNEW IT!!!! NEIT ONE BELIEVE ME ABOUT HOW THE BARCLAYS ARE JUST AS CORRUPTED AS THE BARUCHS!!!!”

 

Sergei Othaman would sigh reading the Chronicle by the fire