Exclusive: Aurorian People's Party Leader Speaks Out
July 4242
Jessica d'Orléans-Vasser, the youthful leader of the Aurorian People's Party (APP) since its creation, has granted an exclusive interview to La Croix's lead political correspondent Stanislas Kubríck in which she denounces the treatment of her party by the political and media establishment. Since it was founded, the APP has been crowded out in political life by extremists of both the left and right. In her interview with Kubrík, Jessica reiterates once again her desire for a more moderated and pragmatic political discourse in Rildanor and speaks out on rumours about her party's connection with Istalia.
Stanislas Kubríck: Good evening Ms. d'Orléans-Vasser, it is an honour and privilege to be given this exclusive interview. Thank you for choosing our publication to speak with and I trust you've been treated well.
Jessica d'Orléans-Vasser: Honestly, Kubríck it wasn't a difficult choice. There are few news sources in Seleya, let alone Rildanor, regarded as highly as your newspaper so it was the natural decision to make. Besides, most of Rildanor's publications are so disgustingly partisan that they wouldn't even let me on their premises, never mind interview me!
SK: Sadly, I can believe that! Regardless, allow me to begin my questions: what is your response to these allegations from the President that you have 'kept information to yourself' regarding conversations between your party and the Istalian government?
JOV: My response is one of complete disappointment. Primarily, I am disappointed with a close friend and ally in President Forestier who has elected to take a story to the national press rather than raise it with me personally. Ironically, she accuses my party of doing exactly that in her interview but that's not the point. Given that the matter is now firmly in the public arena, I suppose I should clear a few matters up. Firstly, the conversations between myself and the President of Istalia should have been totally private, what the Canrillaise Liberal Party by intercepting them is wrong and unfair. It could even be illegal. In addition, this notion that there is something scandalous about these discussions is nonsense. I spoke to the Istalian President about his country's link with Baltusia and how it damages Southern Seleya, he was very helpful and suggested he would try to direct more attention to our concerns on the Security Council.
SK: Do you believe these actions from the CLP were malicious at all or motivated by a genuine hatred of Istalia?
JOV: Honestly, I'm not entirely certain. I have worked with the CLP extensively and I've never found them to be motivated by petty politics in the way that other party's can be. However, I'll be frank in saying that the current leadership has grown somewhat too close to the toxic New Canrillaise Front. I can't provide any evidence for my suggestion but I do believe that it's possible that the President was pushed by the NCP to reveal the details of these communications. It was this sort of behaviour that convinced me that they needed to be removed from government. Regarding Istalia, it does seem that there is a conspiracy within the media and political elite of this country to demonise the nation but then that's something my party has experienced extensively anyway.
SK: Do you feel you have been the victim of prejudice in the past then and how would you like to see things change going forward?
JOV: As it happens, I do. For some reason, the media in Rildanor has fetishised the extreme and the bizarre. Whether its 'imperial socialism' or mentally unstable former Presidents, it seems that some sections of society just cannot get enough of these absurd issues. In future, I would prefer a politics which is underpinned by the values of compromise, pragmatism and moderation. Instead of competing to see who can produce the craziest headlines or provide the most material for satirists, we should be cooperating on areas of agreement for the betterment of our country.
SK: You say you are opposed to extremism yet you've entered government with Arise Rildanor, who many refer to as extremists or fascists, how do you reconcile these two facts?
JOV: Having worked with the party for some period of time now, I have to admit that I don't understand the great hysteria surrounding Arise Rildanor. In comparison to some of Rildanor's other political parties, they are surprising pleasant to cooperate with. There will always be those who oppose a coalition decision but I have no intention of abandoning my cousin and his party, they're doing a fine job at the moment.
SK: Thanks once again for your time, Ms. d'Orléans-Vasser.
JOV: It's been my pleasure, Kubríck.