INTERVIEWER: What do you make of the Terran Olympic Committee's decision to end their investigation into alleged Valruzian misdoings at the 4380 Olympics?
F.M-B: This really comes as no surprise at all. To be fair to the TOC, they were brave trying to investigate Valruzia at all, given the power and influence Valruzia has within that organisation, and the dirty tricks they play - the cajolery, the pressure, the intimidation. You saw how they treated me for daring to speak out - they issued an international arrest warrant for me! The problem is, the people at the TOC are too scared to stand up to the Valruzians because they're frightened of what will happen if they do. It's a mafia state.
By the way, do you remember Lorraine Samson, our independent expert who looked into the corruption allegations? I'm 99% certain now that she backed down and claimed the allegations were false because the Valruzians had got to her. They had people threatening her and her family, y'know. She can't admit it, but that's what's happened.
INTERVIEWER: What do you think of Mordusia's decision to join the Commonwealth, under the Steuart-Carmichael dynasty?
F.M-B: With respect to Alexander Steuart-Carmichael, he's a f**king foreigner. He's not Mordusian. So far as I can tell he's some kind of mongrel - you just look at his family tree, with all those weird people in it, all that in-breeding, all those exotic foreigners...and tell me what he is...I don't know who he is or what he is. So far as I'm concerned, if you want to be the Mordusian Head of State, you've got to be one of us, and Alexander...well, he isn't. He doesn't even live in Mordusia and so far as I know, he rarely visits here.
INTERVIEWER: And what do you think of the Seleyan Union?
F.M-B: What you've got to know about the Seleyan Union is it's not trustworthy, it's controlled by foreigners, people who are out to get us. Valruzia especially. The whole thing is controlled by Valruzia. Y'know, some years back I used to think we should join the Seleyan Union, not because I agree with it, but just so that we could bugger the Valruzians by stopping them from doing anything. But what I've realised is, the whole organisation is so Valruzia-dominated, so anti-Mordusia, that you can't win. So far as I'm concerned, we've got to stay out of it. Otherwise they'll swallow up our national sovereignty, take control of our army, take control of our economy, take control of our identity and everything. Before you know it, all our supermarkets will be Valruzian supermarkets selling disgusting Valruzian food and all the television stations will be people talking Valruzian, and you won't know what country you're in. It'll be like you're in f**king Valruzia.
INTERVIEWER: Thank you for your time, Mr. Manningham-Buller.
F.M-B: Thank you, sir.
Ms President, currently there are several nations led by women in Majatra. Do you think this is a good sign for the condition of women in the continent? We know very well how this topic is a crucial one in Kalopia.
Sadly, Majatra has never been a continent known for its progressiveness. Sure, there have been some nations - like Selucia, or Istalia - that have been usually seen as true democratic beacons at an international level, but that has not been the case for most of Majatra. Our continent is usually known for fights, wars, conservativism and dictatorships. That is the sad history. But luckily, things seem to be changing, and I am proud to be able to contribute with my grain of sand. Now in schools, when some girls are asked what they want to be when they grow up, they answer "I want to be the President of Kalopia", or "I would like to be the head of my country" and I think that is a very important sign that we are doing the right thing, because we are making our girls dream big, as it should be.
However, we also have to know that we must never take the rights we have won for granted. In the same way that the successive Kalopian governments have decidedly committed to feminism and equality, at any moment things can go wrong and make the reactionaries decide that women have already had too much free rein. That is why we have to fight every day, so that no one can even think that, at some point, women are inferior to men. I also consider that in Kalopia it is a burning issue because not so long ago we lived in a dictatorship that we all suffered, but the ones that suffered the most, the usual groups: women, racialized people, lgbt people...
The recent political leadership of Kalopia not only committed itself to implement measures aimed to a true equality between the genders but also between minorities, in a country like Kalopia made of several ethnic groups.
The Kalopian government has always been a firm believer of true equality at all levels, not just by word. Parliament - which is the voice of the people - has always approved by overwhelming majorities the numerous measures carried out in terms of equality. It is true that, as in all nations, in Kalopia there are people who consider women as inferior beings, or who think that a woman cannot do things as well as a man. But they are few people. No matter how much noise they make, luckily in Kalopia they are the true minority. Meanwhile, in Kalopia there is a Ministry of Equality, all its Heads of State have been women... Likewise, I seem to remember that if not in all, in practically all the governments of Kalopia since the return of democracy there have been integrated members belonging to the different ethnic groups that make up our society, and I believe that this is a powerful gesture of integration. Kalopia is a nation that, in my point of view, takes these matters very seriously.
Kalopia apart, what do you think it is the situation on these matters in the rest of the countinent? Cultural differences can often be sources of criticisms. Kalopia was recently involved in such a situation, right?
An issue that has always been funny to me is that nobody raises their voice or is surprised when in any government, there is an overwhelming majority of men and few or no women. Because it is what people have assumed as "logical" and "normal". However, as soon as the situation is reversed, some people raise their hands to their heads, shout to the sky and exclaim that this is "a true dictatorship." It's funny because when you put those people in front of the mirror and tell them why they don't say the same thing when there are more men than women, they usually say that it's because "it's only based on merit", but when that same argument is used to favor a government with a majority of women, they try to explain to you that this is impossible. I just think they portray themselves.
About the situation that recently involved Kalopia, I assume you are referring to the recent conflict with Kafuristan. From Kalopia we respect their government and their institutions, and we stay out of it, but what cannot be is that those same official authorities have the nerve to appear to say that they support a far-right movement that does not like women. And it's not just a cultural issue. In Kalopia, at present, there is a majority that practices the same religion as in Kafuristan: Ahmadism. And yet you see the obvious differences. I think the conclusions are drawn by themselves.
Ms Prime Minister, currently there are several nations led by women in Majatra. Do you think this is a good sign for the condition of women in the continent? What about your nation, Jakania?
Any change is a good sign. More women are getting interested/involved in politics, and that is a good sign indeed. Many women already ruled over different countries on Majatra, and some of them were great leaders, some of them were less so. About Jakania, we're clearly progressing on that matter. However, I think in some countries problem is not amount or conditions of women, but more of their views. Sure, we had few female PMs in our history, but many of them were conservative, authoritarian. Yet, I believe we're on the right track!
The recent electoral victory was a veritable turning point in the political landscape of Jakania, the greatest for decades. What are plans of your party for Jakania after more than 4 decades of center-right hegemonic rule? Especially in the field of genders and minorities equality
Decades of KHP are ending these days, and new change is coming. We have a long way of reforms, and we want to do the most we can in four years. Starting with simple changes in law, ending with, hopefully, chaging jakanian society
What do you think it is the situation on these matters of genders and minorities equality in the rest of the countinent? Cultural differences can often be sources of misuresdanding and criticisms, looking to or being looking by a different country with different culture and values
Well, some of countries are doing great on gender matter, much less on minority issue, even Jakania, but I hope this will change soon. People around Majatra should just accept this as a new norm. And, any culture is progressing, so I think cultural differences can go extinct soon. This is a matter of time.
Ms Prime Minister, currently there are several nations led by women in Majatra. Do you think this is a good sign for the condition of women in the continent? What about your nation, Istalia?
That's a great sign indeed! Especially because this can be of great inspiration for many girls and young girls. Here in Istalia our legislation has for a very long time applied equality of treatment between genders but also here in Istalia we have to deal with practices and traditions that we have yet to overcome. For example, statistically women with children or recently married are considered less attractive by employers, we know that women are asked about their intention to have children or not during interviews. Women with children are more likely to stay at home and sacrifice their working life. These are points that we must overcome.
After the recent HD electoral victory your party is once again at the government. What are plans of your party for Istalia in the field of genders and minorities equality. It is known that your party's approach to civil rights it's inspired by the doctrine of the APC. This could clash with some of the most common theme supported by civil rights activism, especially those for geneder equality. There will be changement in your country on these matters?
For Italian law, gender equality is a fundamental point and my government has no intention of intervening in this regard. Actually I'd shoot myself in the foot don't you think? [laughs]. But jokes aside, as far as the Aurorian church and its values are concerned, I believe that many often have a wrong perception. It would probably be better to ask the church authorities but I believe they will give a similar answer: men and women are children of God and as such there are no distinctions. However, my party believes that the two genders have their own position and specific roles and I believe this is a foundation of our culture but this doesn't mean, however, that it should be a subordinate relationship between them and doesn't justify difference of treatment.
What do you think it is the situation on these matters of genders and minorities equality in the rest of the countinent? Cultural differences can often be sources of misuresdanding and criticisms, looking to or being looking by a different country with different culture and values
I think that the incredible variety of cultures and ethnicities living in Mjatra requires an approach that keeps customs and traditions in mind. Gender equity and the protection of minorities must be a common goal of course but I believe that every country must find its own way and its own times and criticism from third parties who do not take into account customs and traditions I believe can only worsen the mutual relations.
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