Selucia declares diplomatic independenceNovember 5445Ever since Caius Clodius has become the Cōnsul he has been enacting many structural changes to Selucia, including a reform of political offices in which he specified the roles of each political officer and how they're appointed or elected. In a way, this supposes the strengthening of the republican system, which seems to be at odds with the popular rumour that the Factiō Aquilārum is anti-republican. Nonetheless, while the people have been overall happy with the latest policies of Clodius, they have lately been getting worried by some of the diplomatic decisions taken by him.
In 5441, Selucia and Narikaton and Darnussia signed a Treaty of Friendship, recognising each other's sovereignty, declaring a non-agression pact, and several trade agreements, including the lowering tariffs. This treaty is but a start of the new diplomatic model of Clodius: what looked as a seemingly typical treaty between like-minded nations, is also a plan alternative to what Clodius defined as "dependence of restrictive treaties that do not share our interests as a nation". This has been demonstrated in 5445 after the government of Selucia was asked to give their feedback in the Branovice Summit on a possible re-establishment of the Majatran Association. The blunt statement from the Cōnsul was, as he said, "clear as water":
Even though we appreciate the consideration, Selucia must officially reject any step at associating with Majatra or any other continent in any way that threatens our total political and economic independence in any way, even minimally. While the intention is good and we wish this possible Majatran Association good luck, we have fought a civil war recently over whether we should keep to our own or 'modernise' our nation to fit the interests of foreign powers, and the victor is clear as water. We are and have always been open to individual diplomatic agreements with other nations, but that should be the limit of it for Selucia. Best of luck.
This has served him well to start a "Diplomatic Independence" act, in which he has proposed the withdrawal from several treaties deemed "unnecessary, inactive, or directly incompatible with our interests". While this is nothing new, considering this has been the whole campaign of the Regressīvī, this declaration of diplomatic independence comes with an element that has worried many citizens, and that is what the Cōnsul said about the World Congress:
The Consulship of the Res Publica Seluciana of 5445 proposes a withdrawal of international treaties deemed no longer necessary, or restrictive of our interests. The only exception shall be the World Congress, which Selucia cannot deal with the possible consequences of leaving such. Instead, Selucia will keep as much neutrality and passivity towards the World Congress as possible, refusing to send representatives and voting for any candidate to the Security Council, to affirm as much independence as possible.
People, fearing a possible withdrawal from the World Congress, have started wondering what Clodius is actually hoping to achieve. It is not the possibility of leaving the World Congress by itself that worries the people, but what worries them is the reasons why the Cōnsul might be considering it. The rumours of Clodius being anti-republican have strengthened, with accusations of Clodius hoping to establish a permanent dictatorship and do away with every international restrictions towards his establishment of a dictatorship and policies that the international community would disapprove of. However, while all of this are just rumours, people are beginning to question whether they were actually prepared for the restoration of the Republic. In addition to this, the Cōnsul has reiterated his refusal to consider joining the MSCO, following the same logic he has applied to any other international organisation.