reprinted fromIZQUIERDA- The Voice of the Kalistani Left
Fredricka Carrangus-Howard
A Portrait of Kalistan's Institutionalist-in-ChiefSulari, Suldanor District
February 17, 4074SP Leader Fredricka Carrangus-Howard, Long serving head of the Socialist Party of KalistanThe 4074 election was one for the books: Both of the Governing Parties have openly expressed shock at the unexpected results. But at the ancient site of the SP's Headquarters, you wouldn't know it. Instead of a Party in disarray following a fairly stunning defeat on the national stage, the SP's offices remain calm, and as far as we can tell, the various (soon to be Shadow) Ministers remain at their desks in the National Assembly. No Party Leader has been ousted for the loss: the National Leadership remains in tact, and even the outgoing President of the Republic, the quiet, slow-spoken Forrest Simpson has merely moved down the street to Ananto District Offices as he resumes his job as Governor of the District. It is a remarkable transition- Remarkable even more so because it is doesn't appear to be a transition at all.
A lot of this has to do with the Party's Leader, Former Premier Fredricka Carrangus-Howard. Comrade Carrangus has controlled the Party for nearly two decades, and shows no sign of giving up. The Party's support for the Conservative President's Cabinet Proposal, even as the Labour leader, and even the Monarchist Party balked at the proposal, has earned her the title "Institutionalist-in-Chief" by those closest to her. But it is clear that this title should have been bestowed upon the Speaker years ago: The SP has adopted an extremely conservative stance toward institutional change following the end of one Party rule, while being open to other changes in society.
The Socialist Party adopting the role of Conservator of Kalistan's Institutions is certainly not new, but the Party under Carrangus has been particularly vociferous in their support for the Institutions of Kalistan, even to the point of alienating Parties who might otherwise be willing to support Socialist agendas. As a matter of fact, at least one Party specifically lists the SPoK as a threat to freedom, likely due to Carrangus' steadfast unwillingness to budge on things existential questions like ODEN, the National Industries, and the Presidential Prerogative. The only thing the SP has moved in the realm of institutional change is the end of the Empire, and this move was roundly supported by all Parties at the time.
Our reporter, Jessica Floris, caught up with Comrade Carrangus after her speech at Kalistan's Republican Club last week for a brief interview
I(zquierda reporter Floris): Speaker Carrangus, the SP-Labour Coalition endured the first electoral defeat last month in two decades. To what do you attribute this defeat?
C(arrangus-Howard): Drugs.
I: Excuse me, Comrade. You said drugs? Would you elaborate?
C: Yes, Drugs. Of course I am being facetious. Polling demonstrates a nearly universal support for the Drug policy of the Government, and the Conservatives harping on this issue certainly doesn't do them any favors. Drugs will always be legal in Kalistan: I don't think the people will tolerate any significant departure in that policy. But you see, the DFA going defunct right after the last election and the returning to pull just enough seats from the SP and the LP is what caused our defeat at the polls this time. Its how the system works. I would like to point out that while the Left Coalition lost the Presidency, we only barely lost it. We won on the first ballot but the Right picked up enough support from the MPoK on the second ballot that Labour lost by 3 points. Good news for the Conservatives, but not nearly good enough to claim a mandate, and their gains were not matched in the Assembly. That's how it goes.
I: You seem rather sanguine about being out of power for the first time in two centuries. What is the secret of your serenity?
C: Drugs...
I: Ahem...
C: In all honesty, I put my faith in Kalistan's institutions. The Conservatives now get to learn what it is like to rule. They are already off to a rocky start, having to form a coalition with enough Assembly members in it to form a legislative majority, and finding out that one Party that they need to join has voted against the President's proposal. I have no idea what they will do in this event, but as long as the Monarchists stay out, there will be no new government. When one is on the outside, it is easy to find fault with the Institutions. But when you find yourself in charge of the institutions, you have nobody to blame. The Conservatives will both learn how much of a balancing act is necessary to govern effectively, but this is also a trial by fire: they will either learn to rest on the Institutions of Kalistan or they will fail. I imagine that after governing for even one term, they will learn to appreciate the foundation that our Institutions provide to those who have to govern. And Kalistan will be stronger as a result.
I: So you do not intend to oppose the Conservative Coalition?
C: If we can find constructive things to work on together, why would I? But if they continue on their previous course and attempt to undermine ODEN or try to promote Ananto Independence again, or change Presidential Prerogative, or whatever wacky ideas they have tried to run up the flagpole in the past, the SP is in the opposition, and cannot be faulted for opposing them. The Conservatives came on board with the Modernization initiatives, all three of them. They voted for institutions, and their voice provided needed input into the system. Same with the DFA: They also supported the President's plan for divestment. Both Parties demonstrated that they can be responsible political actors. So if they propose reasonable legislation now that they are in power, there is no reason that the SP can't lend its votes to their policies. Given the apparent Monarchist "No" vote on their cabinet bill, it looks like they will need all the help they can get.
I: So no acrimony for the hell they gave the Left over the last 20 years?
C: You're stirring a pot, Comrade. No acrimony. But we are not going to help them destroy our National Industries, or ODEN, or the Constitutional Rights of the President. They are going to have to move those mountains themselves.
I: Shifting gears here, what is the SP's agenda in the Districts?
C: In the Districts where the SP is in control, nothing changes.
I: You are referring to Ananto, Odufaray and Suldanor. When you say nothing changes, what exactly do you mean?
C: I mean, nothing changes. Currently, District Assemblies are passing bills which will ensure that any institutions undermined at the National Level will be continued by District Governments. So if we lose ODEN at the national Level, Ananto ODEN, Odufaray ODEN and Suldanor ODEN continue to operate, and unless nationalized, the Regular Forces and the Militia in each of those Districts will execute the laws of the District Governments. These powers are powers of the District Government Act, which the Conservatives themselves supported.
I: And in the Districts that the SP does not control?
C: We'll cross that bridge when we get to it.
I: This will likely not sit well with the National Government, of course.
C: We'll cross that bridge when we get to it.
I: One final Question. Are there any plans to host a cultural festival exposition during the next three years?
C: I am not aware of any planning along those lines. Though, I think if something like that were to come up, the SP would certainly support it. The art expos of old have pretty much disappeared in Kalistan since the beginning of the Century. I don't think it would be too hard to bring it back and invite artists from other countries to show case their work. But when the Right takes over the Foreign Ministry, that will be their job to promote. The SP is not in power anymore, and we have an election to prepare for.
I: Thank you for your time, Comrade Speaker.
C: It has been a pleasure. Oh- And tell your readers that the SP is hosting this year's Gan-Jam in High Bong. Some kids from up there wrote in and offered us the opportunity to sponsor the Concert, and as it is the first time we were invited, of course I had to say "Yes". I will be hanging out at the ODEN tent, and the DJ Rah Sol, who you all may not know is a good SPer and a good Brethren up in Neveras, will MC. I think The Killer Crowes will be headlining: I've never heard their music, but I am told they are a quite popular with folks your age, so I look forward to checking them out too.
I: Will do, Comrade. Peace.
C: Peace.