Kalistan

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Socialist Party Launches Socialist Gun Clubs
"Come Get Them" Becomes new motto
Kaliburg, Ananto
April 12, 5399


With help from 4 of 5 District Governments, RSMoK reforms as Private Gun Clubs

As the fascist threat once again descends on the Republic, and the National Government dissolves the Militia, the Socialist Party has issued a call for all socialists who are currently serving in the military to deactivate rather than joining the newly ordered full time professional military. Shadow Defense minister, Socialist Major Tera Ulysses made the following statement: "Each member of the Kalistani Regular Force signed a contract when they enlisted for a specific term of service, under specific conditions. Those conditions do not include participating in a full time professional military force. Upon passage of the KCP's Military Reform Law which the Socialist Party was unable to oppose successfully, the terms of service will effectively change. This means all terms of enlistment currently in effect will be null and void."

The Major has noted that Socialist Officers have begun resigning enmasse ahead of the change, and the officer corps have been decimated. "We will not participate in the establishment of fascism in Kalistan," said Captain Janet Pak, spokesperson for the Kalistani Regular Officers' Union. "We will follow the lead of the Enlisted NCO's and non-NCO unions and demobilize formally on August 1, 5399." The Officers' Union estimates that more than 75% of all officers in the Regular Army, Navy and Airforce will demobilize, and 80% of all active duty Enlisted members have decided to not re-enlist under the new terms of service.

Militia elements have begun reorganizing as private gun clubs, such as the Socialist Rifle Association. They are being supported by District Governments of 4 of the 5 Districts in Kalistan, which remain under Socialist Party Goverorship. "No only did the Socialist Party receive a majority of all votes cast in the last election, but we retained control in 4 of 5 Districts. The Conservative Government is a truly minority Government, and the Militia has no interest in supporting any government that would like to call in the Military to support the police force."

"Kalistan is essentially a libertarian state when it comes to civil liberty," said Party Leader Eduard Albertson. "Why the Conservatives have had any electoral success without campaigning, without proposing an agenda that conforms to the desires of the population, without doing anything at all except proposing horrific and fascistic legislation, is beyond me. But the Socialist Party of Kalistan will do everything in its power to undermine the ability of the Conservatives to promote their hateful agenda in this nation. And District Governments in Ananto, Neveras, Odufaray and Suldanor have signaled that they are on our side."

The Private Gun Clubs such as the SRAhave begun drilling with elements of the RSMoK in training bases in Ananto and Nevaras already. "We are continuing our normal training regimen with newly arriving members of the militias" said Albertson. "We also expect to be assisting the Regular Navy in moving Regular Naval units from the 2nd and 3rd Fleets to Lourennais Ports ahead of the August 1st Demobilization. The Militia's marines and naval units associated with the Navy will then make their way back to Kalistan to begin training on Militia naval units to practice amphibious operations as part of the Gun Clubs."

The move from formal paramilitary attache to private gun clubs under fascist rule in Kalistan is not wholly unprecedented in Kalistan's history. "One of two things happens when the Militia is transformed into private gun clubs," said Tera Ulysses. "Either the fascists fade from power, or we head to civil war. But Socialist demobilization means that there is no way that the Kalistani Regular Force will be able to use the military for anything for at least a decade while all the military experience has departed and is serving in the gun clubs."

And if the Conservative Government in Kaliburg decides to strip Kalistanis of their guns, the SP has one message for them. "Come Get Them."

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Antonese Ocean in Crisis?
2nd and 3rd Regular Fleets decommission in Lourenne
Kaliburg, Ananto
August 1, 5399


3rd Regular Fleet's KRS 882 Frigate decommissions in Lourenne, 100% of ship compliment requests political asylum

Breaking:

As of 7am August 1, 5399, the Kalistani Regular Force has in essence been demobilized. Here's what The Republic knows so far.

1. Both the Kalistani 2nd and 3rd Regular Fleets, conducting operations in the Lourenne Passage between Lourenne and Ananto, have sailed to Le Port D'Artaine, Valois, Lourenne and have decommissioned enmasse. Hundreds of commissioned officers, non-commissioned officers, and enlisted sailors, represented by the Naval Officers, Naval NCO and Naval Non-Rate Unions, have requested political asylum in Lourenne. While the de-enlisting and resigning of the enlisted and officers is not illegal, due to the change in terms of the contract by act of the National Assembly, the legality of the striking of the fleets' colors is unclear.

2. More than 200,000 enlisted and NCOs in all three branches of the Kalistani Regular Force due to the change in terms of the Contract by the National Assembly nullifying all service contracts. At press time, more than 87% of all members have opted to no re-enlist, while 10% have opted to re-enlist under new terms. 3% remain undecided about de-enlistment at this time.

3. More than 2000 regular commissioned officers have resigned their commission rather than serving under the Conservative Government. 300 officers, primarily with the 1st Fleet in Port Swedes Vrassa remain with the service.

4. Socialist Rifle Associations are forming across Ananto, Nevaras, Odufaray, and Suldanor. There is some talk in the Ananto District Government about the SRA units serving as a District auxiliary.

5. Six regular Bases have been shuttered. The primary bases which remain operational are radar stations and missile batteries in Vrassa and Ananto, which monitor the Anantonese Ocean.

Members of the Socialist Party of Kalistan are in communication with former counterparts in Lourenne as the crisis deepens in Kalistan.

More to follow as developments deepen.

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Kalsie drops dramatically as effects of financial changes take hold
Protests against Police Force and economy remain peaceful
Sulari, Suldanor
January 20, 5400


Protestors peacefully demanding reversal of Conservative Financial Policies are surveilled by Police

Thousands of Protestors took to the streets in Sulari this week in what promises to be the first of many protests in the weeks and months to come against policies of the Conservative Government. The protests come on the heels of a bloody week in the Kalsie, which saw National stocks and private securites drop more than 29 percent over the past month, and more than 13 percent last week alone. The reason is a falling confidence that the Republican Government will maintain the stability that Investors repeatedly state they want.

"Kalistan has been long viewed as a rock solid investment," said Dr. Nathan Atchinson, of Kaliburg Republican University. "It is a safe place where investors from around the world can park their investments which they are trying to shield from volitility. The Kalistani Ruble has floated between =/-.05% for the last two hundred years, maintaining value that both limits economic growth, but also protects the society from exogenous shocks like the ones we are seeing in the petroleum markets in Majatra right now. Our stock exchange, the Kalsie similarly hovers at right around 2% growth a year, and has been this way over its history. Its growth investors can count on, as long as economic liberals aren't monkeying around with the mechanism of the economy. But, Conservative Policies signal a desire to do just that, and it is giving investors palpitations."

The policy changes at the Central Bank, the imposition of the Sales Tax, which is highly regressive, and places a high burden only on the poor, and the undermining of union power in setting wages and salaries that was forced through by the barest majority in the National Assembly, has hinted that Kalistan's savings and economic future are no longer certain. This artificial and capricious introduction of uncertainty into the economic system has finally generated ripples in the economic institutions of the Republic and has been met by popular outcry. That outcry is now manifesting in protests, primarily in Suldanor. The protests are remaining peaceful at the moment.

"We are calling for the National Government to pull back its moves toward Liberalism," said Allison Hughes, Student and protest leader. "These moves put my future and the future of my generation in jeopardy and strengthen the hands of capitalist actors who seek to prey upon the people and the working class of this nation. We will keep the peace; Kalistanis are willing to work within the system as long as the system allows us to do so. But if things get worse and we start looking like a liberal dystopia, and if the Government forecloses more and more avenues to peaceful social and political change, the calls for change will certainly get more intense and our action will certainly become more direct."

Elements of the Sulari Police Force, newly reorganizing under Conservative guidelines to appear more threatening and militaristic, were observed at the protest march, though they largely let the crowd pass unharassed. No elements of the much reduced Kalistani Regular Force were present, though members of the Socialist Rifle Association were clearly visible in the crowds, with banners calling for military reformation and re-establishment of the Militia. "We are here to ensure that our side remains orderly," said Frank Weiss, of the SRA, "and to ensure that cops do not practice their craft with impunity. They are out here watching us, but we want to let them know that we are watching them too, and as long as nobody starts nothing, there won't be nothing, you know what I'm saying?" There were no arrests made at the protest.

The future of Kalistan's economy is more uncertain now than at any point in the recent past, and people are genuinely worried. "We want to make sure there is still a future for Kalistani workers," said Hughes. "There are countless examples of capitalists being allowed to run roughshod all over workers in other countries, extracting every cent of wealth from workers whenever possible. Kalistani's are better than that: We have a better, more stable economic system than one that allows a segment of the population to thrive off the life blood of the rest of the society. The last thing we want, and I think the last thing we will allow in this Republic, is for our Government to drag us down that path." Hughes resolutely finished before marching on, "We will resist."

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Taiga and Jennifer Bostick win FOMAT
Duo drops new single in Kalistan
Kaliburg, Ananto
February 7, 5400


Hutorian singer Jennifer Bostick and Kalistani producer Taiga take top honors at FOMAT in Lourenne

The dynamic duo Jennifer Bostick and Taiga, from Hutori and Kalistan respectively have won the 23rd edition of FOMAT in Eroncourt Lourenne. The pair sang "What You Waitin For" which is a song co-wrote by both Bostick and Taiga, and produced by Taiga in Hutori for the show. By the rules, Kalistan and Hutori were the first nations to enter a joint entry, but Kalistan has already deferred to Hutori for hosting rights for FOMAT XXIV.

"We knew we had not only a song that could win FOMAT," said Taiga in August of last year, "but also one that could be a pop smash in both our Markets. And Jenni and I really like working together. She brings a lot of fun to the tracks, and just brings out my weirdo side. It was totally fun working with her over these years and I'm glad we got the international recognition we have been going for." Taiga also produced Bostick's previous FOMAT entry "Feel it" which scored number 2 at FOMAT XXII.

The pair received a major welcome in Kalistan upon returning to the Republic in early August, but those events were sadly overshadowed by the geopolitical events unfolding in the National Government. They played a concert in Sulari for fans, where they reprised their contest-winning track (already number 1 on the pop charts in the Republic.) They also previewed a new RF song with Lourenne-born, Dulnerstaad based pop singer Sasha, named "The Next Day".

"It's sort of a vampire or werewolf allegory, about the wildness of being in the Club all night, and then waking up wondering what the hell happened," said Taiga. "There's this you know kind of conflict in that moment. Do I want to stay? Who is this person in my bed? What did I get up to last night? You know, the normal stuff." The single was just released on KMI this week, officially by Taiga and and Jennifer Bostick featuring Sasha, and is likely to debut on the next pop poll at Number 1. Following the pair's recording of the track, Bostick returned home to Hutori, while Taiga remained in the Republic to take what he called "a well earned break."

"What's next?" asked Taiga rhetorically. "I'm going to keep looking for opportunities to work with Jenni, of course. We click. But there is also this bada-- MC in Addisjah who I have been really looking forward to recording with. You know, to kind of get back into Hip Hop. Her name is the Marvelous Melissa E. She released a couple of indie tracks already, and I think she's gonna be huge. We had to put a collaboration on hold while Jenni and I did FOMAT but its time to bring Missy into the studios and start work proper."

While Taiga takes a break, you can check out Taiga and Jennifer Bostick, featuring Sasha' "The Next Day" right here.

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El Detectivo to lead KME delegation to Lourenne
KME Ska bands to play Viña du Mer Festival
Dana Suldanor
April 7, 5401


KME Ska Band El Detectivo to be joined by other KME artists in Lourenne

The Dana based KME band El Detectivo will lead a KME delegation to Lourenne to play the Egelian cultural festival Viña du Mer, which is celebrating the Egelian cultural influences in both Lourenne and Kalistan. The band was invited to play the festival to represent Egelian language music in Kalistan.

"Estamos muy contentos de tocar en el festival de Viña du Mer," said band leader Marcos Guttierez. "No es frecuente que podamos viajar a países extranjeros y tocar para audiencias fuera de Kalistán. La mayoría de la gente generalmente no escucha mucho ska; nuestros fans locales lo disfrutan, pero es una experiencia verdadera poder ir al extranjero y tocar en Lourenne."

Guttierez' band, El Detectivo was formed two years ago as part of a nacent ska revival en Egelian, promoted primarily on the KME label LTD. El Detectivo will be joined by Los MoCos Famosos from Sulari and Las Ochas Bailandidas from Yoshimi. The Suldanor Ska revival not only encompasses these KME artists but several who sing in Vrassan too. But it is the Egelian language and culture which is being featured in Lourenne in the Viña du Mer Festival.

"Existe una gran similitud entre la música egeliana y el ska," said Guttierez. "Muchos ritmos son iguales entre el ska y, por ejemplo, la cumbia. Es muy divertido bailar y jugar con ambos, y cambiamos entre ellos. También utilizamos muchos de los mismos instrumentos. Hay más influencia del punk rock en el ska, pero también hay mucha superposición entre los sonidos del ska y la música de lugares como Gaduridos."

The bands will be in Lourenne for the duration of the Festival Viña du Mer and then plan to play two additional shows in Eroncourt and Valois, while sightseeing. A film crew intends to travel with the LTD bands to cover the festival and produce a concert film about the Egelian music, arts and cultural scene in Lourenne to play in Kalistan.

Check out El Detectivo's video for "Cancion de Amor"

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Kalsie's wild ride ends with Net Loss
Conservative policies "bad for Kalistan" says Finance Minister
Kaliburg Ananto
January 7, 5405


Kalsie's International Cambio Market returns to life following disastrous conservative interlude

Kalistan has once more weathered the storm of a so-called "Conservative Party" who existed in this iteration only to marry liberal economic policies to extremely repressive curtailment of civil liberty and expansion of the Police State in the Republic. The Conservative Party has gone defunct and now a new governemnt, composed entirely of the Socialist Party has restored order and sanity to the Nation's economic and monetary systems. The effect has been calming to both the Kalsie and the Currency Exchange system known as the International Cambio.

"We saw wide fluctuations in the market," said market analyst Glen Baker, of Sulari Financial Ltd. "These fluctuations in the markets were associated with the more hands off approach of the liberal policy makers in the Conservative Party. Once changes were made that strengthened management's hand in labor relations, private capital flooded into the Kalistani market, as capitalists who have been invested in more volitile and lucrative markets in other nations rushed home to collect a windfall that they expected. But five short years is not nearly enough to shake Kalistan out of its habits, and most of that investment failed to pan out in the hyper inflated speculative bubbles that began forming in most private sector areas. Those bubbles burst leaving perhaps tens of thousands of capitalists holding the bag, and as a result, due to short selling and margin calls, they soon found themselves in trouble. The net result of ill advised deregulation in the Private Sector was negative for most institutional investors, and led to a reaction by the Kalistani Government, who swiftly moved to restore labor rights in the Private Sector."

Other fluctuations were felt in the Kalistani Ruble itself. "We saw a dramatic increase in the value of the Ruble," said Baker. "By dramatic, of course I mean outside of two standard deviations from its historic average. While it did not lead to widescale deflation, the demand for a more unregulated currency led the Kalistani Ruble to be revalued against the TMU in the Kalsie to about .788 KRB to one TMU. This revaluation has thrown the Ruble off the mark, making imports much more cheaper than before but local products a bit more expensive. And since most demand is supplied by Kalistani production, it is going to take a little time for prices to find a new equilibrium, and it will be a bit painful for both local consumers and foreign importers into the medium term."

Getting the stock market and the Cambio back under control has been just one of the policies of the new Government. Another is standing the Militia back up and recovering whatever is left of the decommissioned naval equipment abandoned in Lourenne at the start of the recent crisis. "We are just in the earliest phases of discussing the matter with our Lourennais Counterparts," said Francesca Dias, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "Obviously we want the ships back, and obviously we will want to proceed in a way that will preserve and strengthen our relationship with Lourenne. Details will be forthcoming, but the Minister will be flying to Eroncourt this Spring to begin formal talks for the return of the decommissioned 2nd and 3rd Fleets."

As the Cambio goes back into swing in Kalistan, the Republican Government has expressed its interest in returning to the quest of making Kalistan's currency internationally convertible. "Our Currency rarely loses or gains in value," said Baker. "This often makes the Ruble very attractive for institutional investors who want to hold foreign currency as part of their portfolio. It is a safe place to park assets. The effective 0 percent growth policies of the Kalistani Government under Socialist control always mean that the economy targets growth to population increase. This means that there is a nice steady 2-3% growth rate over time for investors, with almost no threat of devaluation. And the strengthening of the currency against the TMU means that the Rubles held by individuals are now worth far more than the 2-3% per annum growth they usually experience. In the short 5 years of Conservative Rule, the TMU lost an additional 6-10% on the Ruble, in addition to the normal growth rate. The Ruble's primarily institutional investors in Lourenne, Lodamun, Hutori, and Dolgava gained a windfall from the deregulation, that effectively doubled the value of growth in their investment portfolio each year. While we expect the growth rate to return to ZPG levels, that was still a fantastic return on investment, and as a result we saw new large scale buys by sovereign wealth funds and institutional buyers in other friendly nations across Northern Seleya and Dovani."

Convertibility is sought out by the Kalistani Government primarily because it smooths the road for trade. A convertible currency means that Kalistani Rubles don't have to change into a third currency for Kalistan and another country to do business. "There are two necessary conditions for convertibility," said Baker. "One is that governments will accept our currency because they know it will be easy for them to convert the money into their own currency. We make that possible through rock solid valuation and up to the moment exchange rates, as well as no transaction fees for Governments to buy Rubles. The second is that large players also hold large amounts of our currency and they use that currency to make purchases. If our money spends like their money, they will not see any downside to acquiring our money, especially if our money regularly appreciates against their own currency, and a ruble today can buy as much as .98 Rubles can next year. A careful control over both the money supply in society and the valuation on the International Cambio can assure that second condition."

Baker expects the Ruble to experience slower than usual growth over the next 5 years to allow it to slowly settle back down at around 1.00 TMU, where ZPG principles will kick in once more.

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Socialists Embrace the Ananto Legacy
Michael Ananto-Thomas named President of the Republic
Eveari, Ananto
July 18, 5406


Philosopher and Academic Michael Ananto-Thomas, of the SP, elected President of the Republic

Michael Ananto-Thomas' election last month marks the first time in 120 years that someone with the name Ananto has had a role in the Government of Kalistan. Michael Ananto, who is the great great grandson of the last Emperor and Empress of Ananto and Kalistan, was an academic and a philosopher before taking up the role of Head of State. He also holds the informal title of Head of the House Ananto in Kalistan, and during the Empire might serve in the role of Sovereign. Though he is the President of the Republic, he nonetheless still commands the respect of many descendants of the old Institutionalist Party which governed Kalistan during the days of the Empire.

"I have been convinced by the good people of Eveari to move into the old Imperial Estate," said Ananto following his election. "I realize this will be the first time in over a century that the President has chosen to not live and work from Kaliburg, but the offer was made to me by the Curator of Estate here in Eveari, and the people have welcomed me to town, and so I think this environment will be somewhat more conducive to the performance of my official duties will also allowing me time to write and think."

While many have welcomed him to Eveari, some Socialist Partisans have not been entirely thrilled to have an Ananto placed as the Head of State. "Surely we can do better than another Ananto," said Jeffery MacMillan, Deputy from Gendaris. "The Empire has scarcely faded from memory and here we are bringing the Royals back. We are a Republic. Hasn't that family enjoyed a long enough public pension?"

The reception of Mr Ananto to the office of the Presidency has met with general approval by the people of Kalistan. "We do not have a problem with political dynasties in this nation," said Corine Benet, political Scientist at Suldanor District University. "There have been the Bennots' family, whose involvement at all levels of our Government goes back to the very beginning of Kalistani Socialism. We've have had how many people named Carrangus as both President and Premier. There have been Bjorksdattirs, Diaz was the President for 43 years just last century! Surely we can spare some charity for a philosopher and a man of integrity."

For Ananto's part, he has sidestepped the question of his royal blood. "My Great Great Grandfather and Grandmother were Emperors. I was not born as one. I believe that our Government should operate on ethical grounds, and I would like to restore that focus to the Socialist Party, who was founded as an ethical socialist Party dedicated to clean government. I shall do my best to continue to seek peace and tranquility with our neighbors."

To this end, Michael Ananto says he will begin exploring the possibility of a state visit to the United Kingdom of Lourenne, with the aim of returning the Kalistani 2nd and 3rd Fleets. "Of course we will bring a small token of our long standing affection and friendship with my Cousin, the Queen Aurore: After all, all these years later, we are distantly related, and I am hoping these ties will make our meeting cordial and productive." The President noted that he intends to bring a reasonable supply of Kalistani Wine to the State visit, to offer to Lourenne as both a token of appreciation for keeping Kalistani ships in good order, as well as to offer the People of Lourenne. "I think that ODEN wine will be acceptable to the refined Lourennais Palate," said Ananto, in a display of wry humor. "We have similar climates, similar soil compositons, and similar growing practices. I think however that our brothers and sisters in Lourenne will find it more to their taste than the local fare, precisely because there is a limited quantity of it. I intend to seek partners to begin marketting it, as a compliment to the Lourennais Viniculture Industry."

The visit will happen as soon as the details can be worked out with the Government of Lourenne. In the meanwhile, Michael Ananto has already moved into a wing of the National Imperial Museum, and has opened his office there on the grounds. The National Rail Service believes that having a President in Eveari may spur the long delayed construction of mag lev rail lines in Ananto District, and the value of the privately held stock in the National Rail Lines (NRL) shot up almost 200% briefly following the news that the President would live and work in Eveari, before settling back down to a still impressive 22% increase on the week.

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Socialists Take to the Streets to protest President
"Ananto acting like a King" says most demonstrators
Kaliburg, Ananto
January 7, 5408


Anti-Empire Socialists protest proposed Institutionalist Reforms that would strengthen Office of President of Republic

Anti-Monarchy socialists took to the street to protest the proposed reforms of the Institutionalist Faction of the SPoK aimed at strengthening the office of the President of the Republic. The Institutionalists, a caucus within the Socialist Party were responsible a year and a half ago for calling the snap elections that saw Micahel Ananto elected President of the Republic. In that election, socialists who are aligned with the Institutionalist Wing also took the majority of the National Assembly, electing 46 of 56 deputies in the election, and have ousted enough Internationalist members of the Party Central Committee to convene a national congress to begin drawing up a new platform.

The ousted Internationalist wing of the Party, one which has held sway for decades in the Party and favors an open trade and investment posture, but is also closely identified with the Republic, has since formed a rump congress, as Party activists have taken to the streets to begin protests in Kaliburg, Sulari, and Nevaras City to protest the ouster of the Internationalist Members from the Party Central Committee, and to call for President Michael Ananto to step down.

As some Institutionalist Deputies took to the air to call for peace and reconciliation, others doubled their efforts to promote the division. Marian Jones, from Yoshimi, who is affiliated with the Institutionalist Wing stated, "These people are upset that they have lost a fair election. Ananto was the clear favorite of not only all of Kalistan's voters, but also the majority of the Socialist Party, and just because his last name is Ananto, they want to argue that he doesn't belong in the office." The President of the Republic, for his part did little to supress the controversy. Instead, he took meetings throughout the days following the takeover of the congress meeting with institutionalist leaders.

"But when it came time to meet with our side," said Kelsey Mitchel, who identifies with the Internationalist caucus in the Party, "He would say he had this or that meeting and couldn't find the time right away. Two weeks have gone by, but nothing. This is intolerable. Michael Ananto is not acting like a President. He is acting like a king!"

The controversial nomination and election of the Heir to the House of Ananto, who was elected in a special election in 5406, has shattered what was once seen as the Party of eternal internal peace. Since the refounding of the Republic, the Institutionalist faction has been a part of the Socialist Party, but the Internationalists have always held sway, relegating the Nationalists to the back bench, and drawing leadership from their own ranks. The collapse of the Conservative Party and the short lived Arsonist Apotheosis Party which held the majority in the National Assembly for all of 5 days before dissolving, created considerable interest in the sort of political stability that the Empire once offered. "We support the Nation," said Jones, "and we support Ananto. We aren't saying make him the Emperor, but sometimes regularity and predictability are what are necessary to chill the churn in the Kalistani Polity."

The issue came to a head late last week, when a draft document of the Institutionalists' manifesto was released. It included automatic re-election of the President of the Republic, pending a vote of no confidence, re-recognition and institutionalization of the House of Ananto, the moving of the capital to Eveari, and a curb in what has been seen as "socialist excesses" under the Internationalist wing of the Party. What those excesses are can only be guessed at, but many members of the Institutionalist wing have long expressed a continued anger at the urban renewal programs of the last century which led to the displacement of millions of Kalistanis on the Mainland as whole sectors of Kalistan's towns and cities were demolished and never rebuilt. "Kalistan did not deserve that treatment," said Jones in a 5406 speech. "Under our leadershi, we will ensure that the Socialist Party can never undertake a program like that again."

Institutionalists also blame the current Government for failure to retrieve the 2nd and 3rd Fleets from Lourenne. "A state visit was planned, but these Ministers are sitting on their hands," said Jones. "Its beginning to look like negligence. Why is our navy STILL in Lourenne, and not in Kalistan, on the Southern Limit, where it belongs?"

There is no telling what direction this inter Party strife will take, but for now, Socialists involved with the Internationalist wing have taken to the streets and have vowed to shut Kalistan's major cities down, if they have to. "We will not be pushed around by these monarchists," said Brian Harris of Kaliburg at a Protest. "No kings, No Cops, no Capitalists is our motto. And we will not stop until that Pretender is removed from power." The International Socialists said they are planning major actions around the Republic in the coming weeks, and some might even involve direct civil disobedience. "Any means necessary," said Harris.

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President Ananto returns from Lourenne Empty Handed
Foreign Minister and Defense Minister reportedly on the Chopping Block
Kaliburg, Ananto
February 15, 5408


President Michael Ananto-Thomas debriefs back in Capital

The recent State Visit to Lourenne, which concluded this week, was hailed as "generally a success" by Government watchers both in Kalistan and Lourenne. The purpose of the meeting was ostensibly to visit Lourenne to renew ties of friendship and cooperation between the Republic and the United Kingdom, and to begin discussions on returning the 2nd and 3rd Fleets to Kalistan. But a bit of a diplomatic faux pas may have derailed the efforts for the time being, and might spell doom for the two Ministers who accompanied the President.

Foreign Minister Marcus Mann and Defense Minister Tera Ulysses appear to have deliberately snubbed the Queen of Lourenne, Aurore II during the otherwise friendly state visit in an apparent act of protest against the President. Instead of joining the President at Lac des Lumineres near Eroncourt, the two Internationalist-Affiliated Ministers departed early for the capital, and then took a separate flight home, while the President and his immediate staff remained in Lourenne for a longer period of time. The early departure was chalked up by the Premier of the Republic as a "scheduling error" but it is no secret that the two ministers have not been working well with the President the entire trip. The Queen sought to discuss recent economic turmoil in the Kalsie and to get to know the new President, who is related to her by blood through his great great grandmother, the last Empress of Ananto and Kalistan, Lourenne Born- Empress Riveire. But the Ministers insisted on discussion of the outstanding issues involving continued drilling in the Strait and the return of the Fleets. Ultimately, the Ministers' impatience with both the President and the head of the Lourennais state led to their departure from the meetings and return to the Republic.

Foreign Minister Mann gave extensive comment upon his arrival in Kaliburg. "We went over to Eroncourt to get our ships back. Meanwhile the President of the Republic had a different agenda, and of course, we either follow the Institutionalist agenda for the meeting or we are invited to get out of the way." Defense Minister Ulysses echoed the words of the foreign minister. "It seems our President is very keen on learning the trappings of the Monarchy. But I was there to do the work of the Kalistani People. And from what I saw, there wasn't much of that being done."

Though the Premier of the Republic, Eduard Albertson has got along cordially with the new President, he may have no choice but to discipline his Party. "I'm not entirely sure what the Press is going on about," said Albertson. "Scheduling conflicts aside, I have a meeting with the President next week. Hopefully I can explain the position of the Government with regard to these issues [such as return of the ships, keeping trade open, and ensuring democracy] to the President and we can go from there. I am not as optimistic for the Ministers, but of course, I am sure that with time, the President's faction and our own can see eye to eye on things, and we can reunite the Party and move forward as a Nation."

The issue of the fleets remain unresolved as the President returns to Kalistan. He did report that the bond between Kalistan and Lourenne is strong, and hoped that the slight was not personal on the part of the two Ministers. "Their concern is with me," said Ananto. "not the Queen. I believe she understands this, but of course that did not make the fact that they were not with me on my first state visit any more excusable. I was able to smooth things over, but if I can't trust my own ministers to have my back, some changes may need to be made at the top levels."

Mann reportedly said he would explore other options to get the fleets returned short of a full state visit. "We can get this done. Democratically," said Mann. "No need to bow or genuflect."

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Institutionalist Majority moves to sack Government
Ingrid Howard to become next Premier
Kaliburg, Ananto
August 4, 5408


Ingrid Howard, Speaker of the Institutionalist Faction of the SP, float Government Bill to replace 70 % of ministers

The leader of the Institutionalist Faction within the Socialist Party followed up on her word to sack the Foreign Minister Marcus Mann and the Defense Minister Major Tera Ulysses this week, following the Lourenne Controversy earlier this year. Also on the blocks are the Premier, vocal Internationalist Eduard Albertson, who is seen as a placeholder head of Government and several other lower ranked Internationalist Ministers. Those who remain from the old Government have declared support for the Institutionalist Faction and have been spared the axe.

The sack comes on the heels of the proposal, and certain passage of the Resolution to make the Presidency a Lifetime appointment, which was laid on the floor earlier this summer. The cries of tyranny from Internationalist Deputies were ignored as Howard read the Resolution aloud, and then followed it with brief comments. "We urge this Assembly to pass this resolution with will make the the Presidency a Lifetime appointment for the prevention of the deleterious effects of Parties who neither know, nor care about our Nation's Institutions," proclaimed Howard. "These Parties are a plague on the good order and consistency of Government in this Republic. If other nations have mechanisms to ensure that they do not go through policy oscillation, so too should we. With a lifetime appointment as President, we can assure the people of Kalistan, as well as our business community, investors, workers, and suppliers, that the policy of the state will not radically shift off of what works in Kalistan."

Internationalist Deputies have announced a boycott of both the Presidential Resolution and the Government bill, and there is some evidence of a growing unrest among both Internationalist politicians and citizens. "We are seeing a higher level of activity at the gun clubs," said Donna Markenson, of the Kaliburg East Rifle Range. "We are also seeing a lot more like overtly partisan clothes and hats and stuff in the range. Way more than we saw even under the Conservative Party." Greg Olverson of Vrassa City said "Well, even though I don't vote for the Socialists, I think its still pretty important to get trained. So I and my boys will be taking a gun safety and maintenance class down here at Brett's (another local gun range), in case some sh-- goes down."

The Kalsie is down 12% over the last year, due to the brewing political turmoil, and it will likely fall further before this situation is resolved. But for now, with the Government reshuffled, and what looks like a lifetime tenure for Michael Ananto, the Institutionalistthrust seems here for a while.