Kalistan

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Socialist Riots rock capital
Partisans take to fighting in the Streets following Comments by Premier
Kaliburg, Ananto
March 7, 5411


Socialists burn road flares and clash as roadblocks go up in civil unrest

Kalistan's first major bout of civil unrest escalated from a low simmer to a full boil last night as Socialists took to the Streets to protest the controversial comments made by Premier Ingrid Howard. The polarizing head of Government who represents the Institutionalist Faction of the Party was frustrated this week at the rump Internationalist Faction's unwillingness to pass resolutions increasing the power of the Presidency. Charges of "fascism" and "creeping authoritarianism" were leveled at the Institutionalists before the Premier took to the Rostrum last evening to dress down her colleagues. "What we have is a Party more interested in trying to oust my Government and acting like crybabies than actually trying to legislate," she said to loud boos and hisses from the Internationalist Faction of the Socialist Party, who have recently begun calling themselves the Orthodox Faction. "It might be better if we just split off from these snot nosed brats and started our own Party. If the Socialists ever had to face a legitimate challenger, it can be assured that they would lose."

In response to these incendiary comments from the Head of Government, members of the Orthodox faction stormed out of the National Assembly. When they were next seen, they were on the steps of the National Assembly before news cameras, lambasting a lack of decorum by the Premier. "She screams and cries about her own legitimacy," said Nathan Ontiveros, speaker for the minority faction of the Orthodox Socialists. "... and yet she then goes out and calls us names. On the Floor of the National Assembly. We can no longer work with this splitter, who has no respect for any disagreement or difference of opinion." They then vowed to take to the streets to continue to protest the creeping imperialism from the Institutionalists.

The people, for their part took this public disagreement as an excuse to then organize protests and counter protests. Following the walk out, Socialist Partisans affiliated with the Orthodox Faction confronted a forming group of Institutionalists, who held signs supporting both the Premier and the President. Several were wounded in the scuffle before police broke up the mass altercation. But as the police were taking away fourteen individuals, several of whom assaulted the police, more public violence and unrest broke out in other areas near the National Assembly. The Police called in for back up in dealing with the mob, but soon the little pushing and shoving turned into a melee that soon engulfed the Mall. Specially trained police units with riot gear and gas masks arrived and attempted to break up the conflagration before the protestors turned onto the police, driving them back to a safety cordon that the police had set up. They then proceeded to continue fighting with one another. Three times the police were repelled before they finally departed the scene, with more than 25 cops injured in the brawl and 17 protestors arrested.

Soon the National Mall had become no man's land between two groups of partisans. Both sides began erecting road blocks to prevent back up for the other side from arriving. As night descended on the capital, riot police began launching anti-riot countermeasures like flash grenades, tear gas and sonic assault weapons in an attempt to try to clear out the partisans, but each time, the Partisans simply moved to a new part of the mall, and contained the riot police in small groups while the main groups of the Partisans shifted to a new location. The tactics of the Police proved to not help the situation in any way, and Kaliburg and Ananto District police were forced to accept a safety cordon that would aim at preventing the civil disorder from spreading.

Meanwhile, groups of Partisans launched raids on one another's position, burning tires and mattresses to create lighting in the Mall and erecting more barricades. The protests and fighting lasted late into the night before Police finally were able to divide the Partisans and begin working outward. Before sunrise, the police launched a final assault on remaining holdouts, arresting 70 on charges of civil disturbance, rioting and willful destruction of public property. All told, more than 250 Partisans were injured, 5 were dead, and 45 members of the Capital Police were in the hospital with wounds ranging from minor to serious.

There was no resolution to the conflict however, and when today's session of the National Assembly is gaveled in, it is expected that the Institutionalist Faction will ask for charges against Orthodox Faction Leadership to be made for instigating a riot. This action, which has been publicly warned against by both the Police and several analysts in the National News Media, was nonetheless front and center in the Premier's Morning briefing to reporters: "Surely you don't suggest we just let these miscreants, disturbers of public order and assaulters of the Police go?! I will do everything in my power to ensure those who are responsible for defacing our National Mall see justice!" Capital Police are already preparing for another night of political violence as the war of the factions seems to be intensifying, not dissipating.

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Institutionalists Lock out Orthodox Socialists
Party split seems inevitable
Kaliburg, Ananto
March 20th, 5411


Orthodox Partisans declare Republic Wide General Strike following Lockout

In a tense session, leaders of the Orthodox faction of the Socialist Party of Kalistan have had their credentials in the National Assembly revoked by the Institutionalist Majority. In a vote of 52-12, 15 Orthodox members not voting in protest, the Institutionalists have lifted the credentials of the Orthodox Assembly.

"These people are all under indictment," said Premier Ingrid Howard. "The members whose credentials have been suspended have all been indicted by a grand jury for their incitement of the March 7th events in the Capital." The Premier was referring to the political riots that occurred earlier this month on the Mall which led to the injuring of dozens of police officers and more than K2.3 million in damages.

Orthodox Deputies who were allowed to speak during the debate claimed Institutionalist hypocrisy. "There were Institutionalists in that forray too," said Orthodox Speaker and leader of the Minority Chris MacInnis. "And there were more than 45 Institutionalist Partisans also indicted for violence and rioting. And yet, our Premier takes it upon herself to try to expel only Orthodox Deputies. This is a bald faced double standard."

The session was extremely disruptive directly before the vote that led to the expulsion of the Orthodox Deputies. The Sergeant At Arms was twice called by the Speaker of the Assembly to restore order, and pushing and loud debate was observed on the floor. The vote was called by Marcus Sewell, of the Institutionalist faction, and as soon as it was passed, the Orthodox members were escorted from the Assembly Chamber.

All 27 members who lost their seats are awaiting trial and under strict orders by the Republican Judge, Honorable Margurite Hobson, to not compound their problems by inciting more political disturbance, but following the expulsion, MacInnis spoke out on the Steps of the Assembly, demanding justice, and calling on Orthodox Partisans to launch a general strike against the Kalistani Economy in protest.

Within three hours, workers in Sulari, Yoshimi, Kaliburg, Eshar, and Port Swedes were walking off the job at several public and private operations and taking to the streets. The largest demonstrations so far have been in Kaliburg and Sulari, where Socialist workers shut the main streets in their respective commercial districts down. Police were circumspect in their reaction, ensuring that the marches remained peaceful but otherwise not interfering.

Yesterday more than 100,000 workers took to the streets, leading KALNAPECO to close for the day. The Strike also affected MoCo, ODEN, and several of the major state agriculture operations in Odufaray. The strikes remained mostly peaceful, with some strikers clashing with counter protestors associated with the Institutional faction, but no injuries or property damage reported.

MacInnis is expected to speak on the subject next week in downtown Kaliburg, and potentially lay out the Orthodox Strategy, but first he noted he wanted to see if the Strikes had any effect on the economy. "We think we can bring the Institutionalists to the table to negotiate a settlement," said MacInnis. "But not if we are not negotiating from a position of power, and certainly not while political indictments are hanging over our heads. We'd like these charges dropped, and we'd like the Strike to spread before we take next steps."

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Chris MacInnis Assassinated
Capital and several major cities descend into chaos
Kaliburg, Ananto
January 18, 5412


Police attempt to retake control of the Streets as Factions clash

Kalistan has been in simmering turmoil for the last several years following the rise of the Institutionalist Faction and the Lockout of Orthodox Deputies. As the first of those Deputies, wanted for incitement of the 5411 riots was finally beginning their trials, the Capital was rocked by another vicious series of riots which left 42 people dead, and much of downtown Lolla and Sulari looking like a battle zone.

The riots stemmed from the assassination of Orthodox leader Chris MacInnis, who was recently convicted for his role in the 5411 riots and was released from custody while awaiting sentencing. As he left the courthouse in Kaliburg and was about to begin a press conference, a partisan of the Institutionalist Faction, Margaret Downs, approached him with a pistol, pointed it at his face and fired three shots point blank. The gunshots killed MacInnis instantly, while Downs was being wrestled to the ground and disarmed by members of the Kalistani Press. Downs later explained that her motivation was to bring an end to the political chaos in Kalistan, and she felt assassination was the answer. Instead Orthodox Partisans, already simmering after several defeats in Court, which they labeled "kangaroo Court" erupted.

The first target was the Lolla jail, where Downs was being held. Protestors set upon the building, demanding Downs be turned over to the mob. Police response was stringent, but they were eventually overwhelmed by protestors, who stormed the building. Downs had been escorted out the back and into an armored vehicle for relocation to another detention facility outside the city just minutes before the mob broke through police lines. Upon finding that the accused assassin was no longer in the building, the mob ransacked the station, and then set it ablaze. This kicked off a night of looking and arson in Downtown Lolla, which spread to the Mall once more.

While protestors were looting shops and torching businesses in Lolla, Institutionalist Partisans, ignoring calls for calm from Institutionalist Faction leaders and Deputies in the National Assembly, flooded the streets and sought out Orthodox partisans. The protests then turned deadly as gunfire was heard around the city, and bystanders were encouraged to shelter in their homes. The Capital remained crippled the next day as police could not contain the melees, and began setting up perimeters well away from the violence. The Regular Army was called up from Dah to help the police secure much of the city, and Kaliburg took on the air of martial law.

The chaos was unfortunately not contained within the capital, as clashes between faction partisans were also reported in Sulari, Dana, Yoshimi, Springfield, Nevaras City, Vrassa City, Port Swedes and Addisjah. These battles were mostly without fatality, with Sulari being the exception, where more than 20 individuals were killed in hand to hand clashes between partisans.

The Premier of the Nation issued the following statement:

"The civil strife which has rocked this nation is evidence that members of the Orthodox Faction are as illiberal as they are irrelevant. I have asked the Standing Force to join with our police force to quell these rebellions and re-establish peace and order in this Republic. We will not meet with Orthodox Leaders until the violence subsides, and then we will only meet with those who have not taken part in this chaos, but instead wish to work with us to bring tranquility back to our Republic."

The Premier then proposed a bill which would allow the Police to work directly with the Military to end civil disturbance, but that didn't even get a majority of the support for her own faction, so Howard vowed to work with the law however possible. The civil unrest continues, though it seems to have abated now for a couple days. The funeral for the slain Faction leader is set for next Tuesday in Kaliburg, where a fresh round of factional conflict is expected.

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Premier of the Republic Dissolves Socialist Party
"Party Unity" declared a fraud, Institutionalists reform as Party
Kaliburg, Ananto
February 1, 5412


Premier of the Republic Ingrid Howard announcing New Elections in coming months

"The notion of Party Unity is a fraud," began Premier Ingrid Howard, as she introduced a bill to officially bar remnants of the Socialist Party from Office for a period of 25 years. "The so-called Orthodox faction has made government in Kalistan an impossibility. They have shown no interest in coming to a negotiated settlement of our intraparty disagreements, and as long as we hold the majority in the National Assembly, we are in no mood to offer an olive branch to that nest of criminality that the Orthodox Faction represents." Howard then declared the Socialist Party officially dissolved, and has agreed with remaining Institutionalist Leaders to reform as the Institutionalist Party of Kalistan, and then hold new elections to officially reseat the 27 seats which have sat vacant since Orthodox Deputies were locked out of the National Assembly.

"This whole mess started when certain Socialists were unhappy with measures the Institutionalists took to ensure political stability and regularity in Kalistan," said Howard. "The next four years, these malcontents and dead enders have made life miserable for the people of Kalistan, and have been responsible for more than their fair share of the political violence that has plagued this country. Today is the day we put a stop to it."

The new Orthodox Leader, Malcolm Reny, who rose to prominence after the death of former Faction leader Chris MacInnis last month, called the Premier's move a "powergrab" and said Howard was bent on ending political democracy in Kalistan. "What about the commitment to disagreement in Kalistan," said Reny. "We disagree with the moves her Faction has carried out since the collapse of the Conservative Party. And we said so. We tried to get them to move off the position of Lifetime Presidents. She would not budge. We tried to get her to meet with us after each provocation. She said she would see all our leaders in jail as rioteers. What is left for us? This is nothing short of an institutionalist coup!"

The move to disband the Party came after a recent poll which shows that more than 60% of the population is tired and afraid of the political conflicts that rage almost nightly in Kalistan's Cities. "The police are becomming harder to deal with," said one Kaliburg resident. "They are just as frazzled I would imagine as the rest of us are." A resident who lost his store in Sulari to a firebomb thrown by convicted Institutionalist Arsonist Mica Amos said "I just wish these people would pick just one gang of thugs to run the damn government. Business has been stalled for years and luckily my shop was insured, and I got out of business, because prices are beginning to drop through the floor as nobody can spend their money for fear of running into a riot."

Colonel Ryan Coswell of the Kalistani Regular Force delivered a statement on the conflict in Kalistan. "The civil disorder in Kalistan remains at low intensity, and is confined primarily to cities. The Regular Force remains on alert, but has been ordered to act only in instances of severe destruction or violence, and then only at the request of the District Governments and the local police force. Consequently, use of the military has only been authorized one time, last month, to calm the demonstrations in Kaliburg. The Military will otherwise remain outside of this struggle."

Analysts are beginning to consider the source of the conflict, and trace its origins to the capturing of the Government by the Conservative Party of Kalistan, who aimed to militarize the police and suspend civil liberties. The reaction of the Socialist Party at that time also contributed to the current chaos, because many of the institutions the Party could have used to settle the political conflict down have been disbanded. 2 of Kalistan's fleets remain in Lourenne, while the Militia was never re-enstated, and the semi-standing Regular Force only renelisted a fraction of the soldiers, sailors and airmen whose contracts ended when the Conservatives changed the terms of service. Consequently, when Institutionalists proposed significant changes to the Constitution, and a group of Socialists protested, there was nothing to stop the situation from igniting the powder keg of factional struggle which had been bubbling just under the surface of the Socialist Party for about 60 years, through urban renewal and military modernization. "The Socialist Party has been an unstable coalition of Institutionalists, actual socialists and Left-liberals for generations," said Professor Dianne Candy of Kaliburg Republican Univesity in Kaliburg. "What's amazing is that it has lasted this long, and that more people aren't dead."

Following the dissolution of the Socialist Party, Kaliburg, Sulari, and Port Swedes suffered another night of burning and street fighting, with the over all death toll rising to 135 following additional clashes late last month.

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Institutionalists Begin moving toward a Monarchy
Long awaited reforms stirring the Nation back to Life
Kaliburg, Ananto
June 1, 5456


Nicolette Ananto, Current President of the Republic and Head of House Ananto, moves into position to become Empress

The Institutionalist Party of Kalistan, fresh off an early election victory, set in motion the gears of Restoration earlier today with a bill that re-establishes Nobility, and confers rights upon that Nobility. This bill is aimed specifically to give the National Assembly the authority to return the Monarchy, a long held goal of Institutionalists in Kalistan during the long dormant period of Institutionalist Government. The current speaker of the Institutionalist Party, and Premier of the Republic Michael Johnson, has declared this term to be the one where the Monarchy is re-established. "The primary task before this Government is to transition the regime to the Empire," said Johnson at a press conference following the bill's proposal. "Many decades have passed since the Institutionalists began working on this, and we have actually gone through several presidents who have themselves been reluctant to end the Republic, but with the accession of Nicolette Ananto to her Majority and election to the office of President, all parties have agreed that now is the best time we will see in a long time to put an Ananto back onto the throne as Hereditary Empress of Ananto and Kalistan."

Despite her age and limited public portfolio to date, Nicolette Ananto already has a reputation as a humanitarian, a conservationist, and an astute and curious executive. Scion of the name Ananto and only child, Ananto has inherited the legacy of the Imperial Line directly passed down to her from the last sitting Emperor and Empress William and Rivière Ananto nearly 200 years ago. As a teenager, Nicolette was responsible for organizing and conducting a wetlands restoration project in the Yoshimi Delta which aimed at rehabilitating a native fish species long thought to be extinct in the estuary.

During college, Ananto spent her free time working with at a small local charity that focuses on homelessness prevention, and then joined the NSP following college where she spent four years maintaining the National Maglev line in Odufaray. She obtained a Philosophy Doctorate from Kaliburg Republican University in Kaliburg in 5451, and has worked at a public policy institute for five years before being elected President in the recent elections. Ananto has personally donated more than 25 million rubles of the Ananto family fortune to various charities that focus on famine relief abroad, and also serves on the Board of Directors for Women Universal, a non profit organization that provides grants to capitalize female entrepreneurs who are looking to start socially conscience businesses in Kalistan, Northern Seleya, Dovani and Keris. She enjoys music, film, art, surfing, and travel, and is a very skilled bowler, placing 3rd overall in last year's national championship tournament.

Ananto, 25, is unmarried. When asked if she intends to get married, she said "I have been too busy to spend a lot of time or energy on romance. I do have friends and a social life, but to be honest, these days, things get complicated very quickly, and many of the people I have been interested in I find are only interested in me because of my name. I imagine that life will become even busier and complicated now that I have been elected President, so maybe someday." As she now prepares to become the first Empress in more than 160 years, the pressure will be on for her to find a partner and produce heirs, but Ananto remains circumspect about the potential. "It's really not that important for me. I know that heirs is something that is important for others, but we'll take things as they come."

Premier Michael Johnson stated that it is his goal to crown the Empress within 6 years.

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ODEN-K to ramp up production
Focus on "Natural" substances to regain market Share
Dahreil, Ananto
January 18, 5457


George Gutierrez, local member of the Ananto Growers' Syndicate, measures quality of this season's crop

ODEN-K announced a major investment effort to jumpstart the nation's flagging drug production and manufacture chain. Currently ODEN only exists in Hutori, Dolgava, and Kalistan, but years of status quo orientation has left Kalistan's branch much reduced compared to its former glory days. New CEO and Director Yvette Marcus seeks to reverse this drift into oblivion by going after major investments, both in the Cartel and in the manufacturing facilities that process, package and distribute the drugs in Kalistani markets and make them available to world purchasers.

"Kalistan remains the leader over all, though of course, we don't compete with our partners where they have the competitive advantage," said Marcus in an interview for Grower, the trade periodical for the Kalistani Growers' Syndicate. "That said, this year we have a major capital generating campaign scheduled, where we look to raise ₭15 billion to build an endowment that will make funds available through grants and partnerships to local and District Growers Associations, as well as other ODEN countries. The strategic aim of these partnerships is to reconvert crop land to production of marijuana, opium, coca leaf, ergot, psilocybin and mescaline, increase production and improve distribution to lower costs to producers and consumers while improving quality. We also want to encourage farmers to use sustainable fertilizers, and reduce the use of pesticides and fungicides on their crops to ensure higher quality of product, even if it means lower yields. The goal is to acquire the best quality materials for our drug industries. That takes money, that takes imagination, and that takes diversification."

The Government of Kalistan no longer directly contributes to, or oversees any part of ODEN, but has granted the Cartel a virtual monopoly over production, distribution and sale of all recreational and therapeutic drugs within Kalistan. Institutionalist Minister of the Agriculture Holly Ulysses said "ODEN has a long track record of responsible corporate behavior, with or without oversight by the Kalistani Government, and while our Government doesn't explicitly encourage drug use among the citizens of Kalistan, the way the Socialist governments of the past seemed to, nonetheless, we also firmly believe in the principle of individual responsibility for individual choices, and seek to help Kalistani citizens remain safe when they are exercising those choices. ODEN has long been committed to quality and affordability, and their work has long stood as a pillar for the Kalistani Economy, and the Government of Kalistan tacitly endorses those fundamentals."

Marcus continued, "The capital campaign is expected to last through the rest of this year, and then we expect to be able to fund about ₭750 million a year in projects from the endowment. Our main funding priorities involve helping startups through the Growers' Syndicates, encouraging sustainable planting, fertilizing, harvesting and distribution systems, helping farmers acquire necessary farm and irrigation equiptment, and generally expanding both drug cultivation and distribution infrastructure. The funds from the endowment will be available to all ODEN countries, but priority will go to Kalistani projects and operations. We obviously also encourage other countries to join ODEN (treaty link http://classic.particracy.net/viewtreaty.php?treatyid=4152) and look forward to the opportunity to helping other nations get their own drug industries off the ground."

The capital campaign will kick off on January 31 of this year, and will involve major marketing to both large institutional investment groups as well as individual donors. Donation to the capital campaign is open to investors in all ODEN countries, as well as investors in all AESA Nations, of which only Kalistan is a member of ODEN.

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President Ananto makes pitch for Maglev in Ananto
Long stalled rail project on Island still remains uncertain
Kaliburg Ananto
January 26, 5457


President of the Republic Ananto calls lack of maglev infrastructure on Ananto a "travesty"

President of the Republic Nicolette Ananto emerged from high level meetings with Ananto's investment community with a proposal to complete the Ananto Branch of the national MagLev system completed on the mainland over 100 years ago. "For too long, Ananto citizens have been using old infrastructure," said President Ananto. "It's time this Nation invest in the people of this Island, It's time we build the Ananto Maglev line. Rge fact that there is no magnetic levitation high speed trains in Ananto should be seen by all of us for what it is: a complete travesty."

The President outlined the stumbling blocks for building an island wide system in Ananto. "The advantages that the Mainland had, we do not possess on Ananto," she said. "Nearly all the miles in Suldanor and Odufaray, for example, were built on flat stable land. Vrassa's line served as a bit of a challenge, but certainly not one that was fully insurmountable. And that railroad created a virtuous cycle of use which funded expansion to Vrassa City, into Neveras, and to all major cities and towns on the Mainland. Yet, here on Ananto, we face volcanic soil, extremely difficult terrain and geology, swamps, and vast expanses of areas which are only lightly populated, and therefore wouldn't be entirely cost effective."

But, the President says, the cost shouldn't be the primary driving factor. "I want to make clear that this is not about cost," said Ananto. "Cost is what has prevented us from moving forward. But from now on, we need to look at the benefit side of the equation. The standard of living of the people of Ananto could be dramatically improved with the availability of access to high speed transportation. It would cut travel time from Eveari down a full two hours, from Dulnerstaad down by an hour and three quarters, from Bozo down 6 hours, and from Luxon, down by seven hours. This would allow people to commute for work into Kaliburg from further out, and would spur local economies through tourism and direct, clean and efficient links to major transportation hubs in The City."

The Investment community, for their part, reported that they were cautiously optimistic that the Ananto MagLev project could theoretically get off the ground in the coming years. "With the support of the President, we believe we could improve the capital forecast for the MagLev rather quickly, " said Marian Smythe, speaker for a local capital group called AnantoTech. "It would obviously take several rounds of investing to raise enough capital to commit to a project like this. The Republican National bank may also see it within their purview to lend us money for start up capital as well. But The President is correct: We do face a number of challenges, which will make this one of the more expensive public works projects this country has ever undertook and benefits aside, it is those costs which have so far prevented this project from even getting off the ground." While Odfaray's rail line alone cost the company building it most than 160 Billion in initial outlays, it is expected that Ananto's project will surpass the 250 billion mark, just to get started, and without significant investment, this project is not possible.

The President called for an increased public push for the MagLev in Ananto. "Budgetting is about priorities. We show our priorities by what we fund. Let's make the MagLev in Ananto a priority. I know that the Districts like to cut taxes, but even a contribution of 300 Rubles from each man, woman and child, might be enough to get this project started. And we will do all we can to help move this project forward."

Whether the President's efforts are successful remains to be seen.

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Institutionalists Move Imperial Establishment Bills
Pair of bills aim to re-establish Empire, name N. Ananto Empress
Kaliburg Ananto,
March 25, 5457


Nicolette Ananto, set to be crowned Empress of (re-established) Ananto and Kalistan

The head of House Ananto and current President of Republic Nicolette Ananto is set to oversee the end of the Fifth Kalistani Republic and the re-establishment of the Empire. Institutionalist Party Leadership has launched the enabling act to formally end the Republican Constitution and re-establish the Empire of Ananto and Kalistan, which went out of effect more than 160 years ago. The Republican inter-regnum has been fairly eventless, and though the Socialist Party dominated much of the period, the Institutionalists returned to power following widescale protests against the Socialist Party's inability to resolve the urban renewal crisis in Kalistan. Since being in power, the Institutionalists have sought a decent candidate to restore the Empire and they have found this in the person of Nicolette Ananto, 34, of Eveari.

Institutionalist Speaker Michael Johnson, who is shepherding the Regime transition through the National Assembly is widely expected to become Chancellor of the restored Empire. While the Empress will be nominally the head of Government, political authority will lie with Johnson and the cabinet, with the Empress retaining final veto power over acts of the National Assembly, and Johnson governing in the Empress' name. Officially, this arrangement is identical to the previous Empire, and makes Kalistan a constitutional monarchy.

"It is important that the relationship between National Assembly and the Crown retain the character of democratic support," said Johnson. "We have kept the previous arrangement that brought Kalistan a lot of stability in the past through four generations of Anantos. In this arrangement, the Empire and the office of Head of State, while residing with Ananto and the heirs of the sitting Empress and Emperor, is ratified by the National Assembly. The Assembly also retains the ability to vacate the Title of Empress or Emperor. These powers are merely nominal of course: the Sovereign of the Empire is the Empress, and we govern in her name and under her direction, and though there may be political competition in the National Assembly, it should never touch the person or the office of the Empress."

Along with the changes in the character of the National Government, the Assembly is also approving changes to District Governments, as they are once more becoming non-hereditary Duchies, to be governed by viceroys named Dukes and Duchesses. Each Duchy is further divided into Counties, to be governed by Counts and Countesses, and several cities will revert to Free City Status, including Kaliburg-Port Davon, Sulari, and Gendaris, to be governed by Mayors who fall directly under the direct administration of the Empress. Furthermore, Kalistan is to receive a Grand Duke, who oversees the four mainland duchies in Kalistan, while the Empress is to receive the title Grand Duchess of Ananto. All offices are appointed by the Empress, and answer to the Government above them.

"Kalistan is used to this system," said Johnson. "It was in place for about a hundred and fifty years. But beyond that, it is merely an imperial administrative system of subnational units grafted on top of the current republican structure which has existed in Kalistan for thousands of years. The only additional offices are the Grand Dukes, the Counties and the Free Cities. We don't expect much discord around this regime change, given that all school children themselves are very familiar with the Imperial Structure as it is part of basic civics class."

The Imperial Enabling Acts are expected to pass easily through the Assembly and the Empire is to be officially re-established on December 1, 5457.

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Preparing for a Change
First Official Photos of Future Empress Released
Kaliburg, Ananto
September 5457






Nicolette Ananto, future Empress of Ananto and Kalistan from first official Photo Shoot

As the Sun slowly sets on the Empire, fashion photographer Michele de la Guerre paid a visit to the President of the Republic's home in Eveari to take the first official portraits of the soon to be Empress of Ananto and Kalistan, Nicolette Ananto for Fashion magazine La Moda. The results were a stunning set of portraits that captures the scion of the ancient House at her pinnacle of youth and beauty. The 34 year old President and soon to be monarch sat for two sessions with the famed photographer and was welcomed to utilize the crown jewelry that was currently held in the Vault below the family's property.

"We made sure we had plenty of wonderful diffused light," said de la Guerre. "Nicolette, she has this natural glow to her; it complements her obvious natural beauty. She was such an easy subject to shoot, and took direction very well. She will make a wonderful Empress, and will most certainly be sought after wherever she goes."

President Ananto said, "I can honestly say that dressing up that formally is completely ridiculous. I normally wear clothes that are simpler. But Michele said, in his Canrille way, 'Madame, this is an opportunity to capture an image for Posterity.' I will have all kinds of time to take photos in jeans. But my time as a civilian is almost over. So I went along with it. It's fun to play dress up I suppose."

As the Kalistani Republic ends and the Empire of Ananto and Kalistan is re-established, Ananto's life is expected to change dramatically. She is enjoying her last few months without the ceremony that attends an Imperial Majesty. "I kind of wanted to travel," Ananto says with some regret. "I will have to hold off on that I suppose, at least until after they crown me. And then, of course, I likely won't travel anywhere without all the fuss. But it was, you might say, the role I was born to play. So I embrace my fate."

Ananto says she does plan to make an unofficial stop in Lourenne before the coronation for a short holiday. "I'm taking a week off in October," said Ananto. "I'm going incognito. Even though we've done these portraits, I don't look a lot like that without makeup and hair, so, I'm hoping I'm still not recognizable yet, enough to kind of blend in in Eroncourt." Ananto plans to do some shopping before returning to Kalistan to prepare for her coronation in late December.

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Empress Nicolette I Ananto Crowned Empress of Ananto and Kalistan
Coronation is greeted with celebrations in Ananto, Sulari and Vrassa City
Kaliburg, Ananto
February 1, 5458


Empress Nicolette I Ananto, Empress of Ananto and Kalistan, Grand Duchess of Ananto, Countess of Davon and Eveari, Sovereign of the Empire

Empress Nicolette I Ananto was crowned today in a public coronation ceremony by the Head of Government, the newly named Chancellor of the Empire Michael Johnson. Empress Nicolette's coronation caps a decades long initiative on the part of the Institutional Party to restore the Empire and place the Anantos back onto the Throne of Ananto and Kalistan. "We are quite pleased with the choice of the People of Kalistan in our sovereign," said Chancellor Johnson. "Her Imperial Majesty, the Empress will serve as the face and voice of this Empire overseas as Kalistan rebuilds its widely respected reputation among other countries. The people are ready for the Empire, and in Her Imperial Majesty, we have an Empress we are very proud of."

Her Imperial Majesty, the Empress has spent the last several years formally training in Public Policy and Public Administration to prepare for her role as Final Arbiter of the Law in Kalistan. "We fully expect that the Empress will want to take an active role in the formulation of our National and International Policies, and I look forward to working very closely with her on all matters of National importance," said Johnson. Asked if he is to become a noble because of his role, he noted, "My office is a political office. I serve in an advisory role to the Empress, and must stand for election each term, so nobility is not in the cards for me. At the end of the day, all decisions emanate from the person of Her Imperial Majesty, and it falls on me to carry out her will as faithfully to my understanding of her desires as possible."

Following the Coronation, the newly crowned monarch was offered the opportunity to speak to the assembled crowd of government officials, public persons, and Kalistani Citizens who were gathered at the Kaliburg National Assembly for the event. "Kalistanis, all. We thank you for this opportunity to represent your hopes and dreams, and to serve you as your face and voice. Though we may no longer walk among you, our thoughts shall always dwell on the General Will and the Common Good for the People of this Empire. We shall strive to always elevate you to those of other nations, to always represent you in the best possible light, and to never tire of fighting for your interests. We share this mutual ambition: We seek to see our Nation and its people prosper, in tranquility and dignity, and we will not shirk our responsibility to you, our People. Kalistan will once more take our place at the front of the movements for peace, ecological sustainability, financial responsibility, cultural and social progression, human rights, and fair trade. We ask for your faith in us and in our Government, and we promise to you that we will never knowingly do anything to break that faith that you have bestowed in us. We wish you peace and good fortune in this coming year, and look forward to the next opportunity we shall have to speak with you."

The assembled crowd broken into polite but reserved applause for the Empress' speech. Following the ceremony, as the Empress posed for photos on the throne, she began conducting business with the Chancellor and the Royal Council of Ministers. Her first official act was to name personal secretary and close advisor Donna Green as Grand Duchess of Kalistan, marking the position going forward as a kind of viceroyalty. Duchess Green is expected to nominate candidates, likely Institutionalist Party Loyalists, to the post of Duke for the four Kalistani Duchies, while the Empress will retain the title of Grand Duchess of Ananto. The Dukes will then be charged to name Counts to the various counties on the Mainland, while Counties in Ananto will go to the Empress' direct nominations. Additionally, the Mayors of the various free Cities on both the Mainland and Ananto are expected to remain in place over the transition, and report directly to the Empress.

Celebrations following the Coronation spread throughout various cities in both Ananto and on the Mainland. The largest celebrations were held in areas where the Empress enjoys strongest personal support- Kaliburg, Eveari and Luxon all had the biggest celebrations of the affair. Sulari, Vrassa City, and Eshar also hosted large Parties to welcome the Empress and to officially kick off the Imperial Period, all of which featured music, food, alcohol and lots of dancing. The festive atmosphere spread to other towns in Kalistan, though formal festivities were not arranged. Bars across the Mainland offered drink specials, and many gave free toasts to the health of the Empress. Very few pockets of anti-monarchy sentiment remain in Kalistan's cities, and most people involved certainly appreciated the free drinks and food, even if their toasts to the Empress were less than full-throated.

Most of those interviewed said that they were proud to have such a beautiful and intelligent level headed monarch as Empress. "She's a role model," said Jennifer Bennante, of Vrassa City. "I mean, I've watched her for years, and as she kind of came up through the Party, I would always think, you know, 'will she be the one? Will she do it?' and here she is. I mean those kinds of heights are not really something we can achieve, because I wasn't born in that family, but of all the geezers they have had while they were looking for the right candidate, I'm really glad they picked a smart one, and she's pretty too." Another partygoer and well wisher, Tommy Abernathy, said "Yeah, I wish her well. She's the Empress right? The one who is gonna be? I mean, just became, right? Anyway, if she's like the symbol of this country, I don't think we could ever ask for a better on. Go on Your Highness. You will make us proud!"

Chancellor Johnson stated that the Empress would like the opportunity to travel now that the coronation is over, and meet various other heads of State. "She looks forward and visiting the land of her ancestors in Lourenne as a sitting Anantonese Empress. She would also like to visit Lodamun and Dolgava, and see Hutori. She also made a special point of noting that she wants to visit Indrala in her first year. There has long been talk of a new Friendship Treaty between Kalistan and Indrala, and she has said that it is her intention to make this happen. Her list of places to visit is quite long."

We here at The Republic wish Her Imperial Majesty well as she begins a new phase of her life and career.

Editor's Note: As with the last Imperial Period, The Republic will likely not change its name. Our Paper Predates the Anantos in Kalistan, and we have long built this brand as an independent source of reliable and factual news in Kalistan. We serve as the Canon of History. We will continue that tradition during which ever constitutional Arrangement Kalistan happens to find itself in, and will keep our Brand in tact. --FGG, Editor in Chief of The Kalistani Republic