I: Good afternoon, Mr. Laskaris.
J: Good afternoon, it's a pleasure to be here.
I: In Marea-Civis Sinistram came from a social breakdown and now it has been the most voted party twice in a row, and has been able to form a Government coalition both times. How does it feel?
J: I won't lie, I feel great. After the horrible terrorist attacks in our nation, where Mrs. Ivmarus died, the party fell into a social crisis. The Government at that time, leaded by Factio Fortuna but supported by Legionem Nationis, didn't know or didn't want to give an answer about how was possible for the terrorist to commit such atrocious action. And now, we have gained again the confidence of our citizens. We said we were coming stronger than ever, and citizens have appreciated our proposals to change Selucia and have seen our will to improve the lifes of all of them, not just of certain groups. They have seen that we would be working as a Government for all, not for the upper class.
I: Some factions say that the attacks were due to the lack of effective immigrant policy, and that Selucia should increase its restrictions. What do you think about that?
J: I will speak clear in this matter: no single Terran will be banned from entering Selucia just because of their skin colour, sexual orientation, sex, belief or nation of origin. Not under my Government. We already have too restrictive immigrant policies, that can't be changed at the moment due to the opposition of the other parties in the Senate [In Marea-Civis Sinistram was the most voted party in the last election, but fell short for the majority, with 220 seats out of 500], so until we can get rid of those nonsensical laws, Selucia is still a far more open nation than others. That doesn't mean Selucia is an easy objective for terrorism: We have a high spend in military and Defence purposes, our National Security Body has the most advanced technology and we work hard to assure our citizens their lives are not at risk.
I: Still, there was a terrorist attack.
J: I was not in Government at that time, my party already claimed and is still claiming for explanations that never come, I have nothing else to say.
I: Thanks for your sincere answer. Moving on, In Marea has been claiming for the restoration of republicanism in Selucia since Imperator Lucius Clodian was appointed,
thanks to the legislation change approved by Factio Fortuna, Partis Imperialis and Legionem Nationis. How much has this advanced now that your party is in Government?
J: Our party has discussed that matter since Legionem Nationis decided to think that the people was not logical and intelligent enough to be capable of electing their own Head of State and decided to appoint its own leader, the citizen Lucius Clodian...
I: Lucius Augustus Clodian or Clodian I
J: ... Lucius Clodian, we refuse to call him by an imperial name of the middle ages, as Head of State of Selucia. We have decided that Mrs. Clodian can keep his position,
that was the only thing he was looking for his entire life, but In Marea will not let another Imperator to be chosen. People has the right to elect and remove their leaders periodically depending on if they have enough support or not.
I: Still, the current Government is supported by a center-right party that voted to restore the Imperator.
J: We were the winning party and we had to choices after the 4265 elections: to form a new Government and try to go as far as we could with our politics, or to allow a Partis Imperialis-Factio Fortuna government, that would have been a conservative one. And we decided to act quick. Luckily, Selucian politicians are serious and think about the nation before themselves. Factio Fortuna was easy to approach. Both parts have to allow some things, but we finally made an agreement and changed the Government. It was the first progressive leaning Government in Selucia in more than 30 years, so it was a challenge. In four years, we had to reverse all the restrictive politics, in matters of economic, civic and international matters, that Legionem Nationis had applied and consecutive Governments kept. And finally it all paid off as citizens have shown during the last elections that this Government its a winning choice for all.
I: Selucia has a social democratic Government, but in a bunch of Terran nations, socialism is widely condemned, prosecuted or similar.
J: The left is demonized in some nations, and I definitely don't know why. I would want someone to explain it to me. Honestly, I'm quite proud about what the left has done in Selucia, and modestly, I think that the progressist Caesares and Consuls Selucia has had have done a great job, and respected everyone no matter what do they thought. Aelius Celer, Artemisia Ventor, Arria Ivmarus, Xena Sicula, Ethan Megalos, Cyro Aquila... They have shown respect for everyone, not just for those who thought like them. I think that is why in Selucia people don't see the left as a threat like other nations do.
I: Recently, Selucia released a statement condemning the actions of some Governments, without specifying, for "a threat to civil liberties".
J: Of course. I always encourage dialogue between nations, but the rights of individuals to live and think cannot be broken. For no reason someone should be prosecuted because of their religious beliefs, sexual orientation, gender, political views... And I don't stop hearing news about more and more nations attacking their own citizens because of that! Were is this world going? I don't want to intrude in matters of national politics of other nations, but I would like to meet some of these leaders and have a pacific talk with them. I would like to hear why they act like they do, and I would like them to hear what I have to hear, and hopefully show them the importance of respecting everyone as a person.
I: However, some years ago you called religion "the oppium of the people".
J: And I still do. And that doesn't mean my Government will start inmediate actions against everyone who believes in a higher force. That was, and still is, my opinion.
For me, religion is a way to distract us from the issues that our current world is facing, hoping than a higher power will save us or, at least, we will be recompensate in the future after our death. That's my personal view. I'm not attacking anyone who believes in it. You want to believe in it? Go ahead! I will certainly not tell you not to do it, because as I have the right to deny religion, you have the right to embrace it. That's the basic point of convivence. Respect. A word that the current world is losing.
I: Last year, your Education and Culture Minister won the Razamid Peace Prize , how do you feel about it?
J: Finally a question that allows me to breath a bit [tense laughs] I feel really proud of Mrs. Aquilius. She is an excellent Minister, full of energy and new ideas and with the aim to change the world. When she proposed me to create the Majatran Championship Cup, I didn't have any doubt. Tensions in Majatra should be forgotten through a democratic and enjoyable action, and that was the perfect opportunity.
I: Your Government talks about global peace and respect between nations. Still, Selucia is a close ally of Istalia, known for having been condemned multiple times by some nations for trying to interfere in national affairs and to expand its global influence.
J: Selucia is a close ally of all the nations that respect Civil Rights. You can call it Istalia, you can call it Valruzia, each and every nation that, through their legislation,
respect the lives of their citizens have the Selucian support. We are known worldwide for speaking loud and clear when human rights violations are made. We have taken part in multiple international coversations seeking peace in nations in war, our diplomats are the first to offer help and refuge when a catastrophe happens anywhere in the world, and we don't care about saying things clear. When it has been needed, we have advised Istalia. When it has been needed, we have advised other nations. That's the only truth.
I: Thank you so much for this interview Mr. Caesar.
J: Thank you too, it has been hard to say alive [laughs]
