The Luthori PostNovember 14, 4978From Mr. Opposition to Mr. Prime Minister? We talk to Head of Solidarity.lu, John ConnorsI: Thank you so much for sitting down with us.
JC: Thank you for having me.
I: I take it you must be very happy with the election results. Your party went from the third-largest party to the second-largest party.
JC: I am. Many people said that a movement like ours couldn't survive in Luthori politics. I was happy to prove them wrong. We stayed consistent with our values and we were able to achieve the faith of close to a quarter of the people.
I: Politicos have been discussing your party unseating the Alliance, MTP, National Movement coalition. Are you pursuing engagement with the other opposition parties to form a government?
JC: Yes, I think that members of the opposition are still motivated to change the government, as we were after the last election. Now that we have the means we can do it. The Alliance-MPT-NM collation has made Luthori an international shame and the subject of international condemnation.
I: What are your goals for your party this term? How will you accomplish them?
JC: Increased rights for religious and racial minorities. The way we will accomplish these goals is through local government. We can work with other coalition members to build majorities in Duchal diets and increase rights on the local level as well.
I: Speaking of which, we also saw Solidarity win its first Duchy, Middenriding. Your candidate for governor, Tariro Rutendo Olayinka, is the first Ibutho candidate to win a Duchy. Do you feel she will be allowed to take her seat and effectively rule in a nation with legal discrimination against minorities?
JC: My party has faith in Tariro Olayinka and her legal right to the governor's office. The people overwhelmingly supported her candidacy, giving her government a strong majority in the legislature. Her election is a message to the world that not all of Luthori is backward. Some of us pursue a better future for all. Olayinka will make Middenriding an example for the rest of Luthori. A progressive one.
Tariro Rutendo Olayinka, Governor-elect of Middenriding
I: Last question. Your party has been very openly anti-monarchy. However, it is expected that you will have to swear an oath to serve HRH Empress Elswith in addition to the nation. It has been said that many Solidarity members mumble during that party of the oath in the Diet, only swearing to serve the nation but not the monarch. Will you be swearing allegiance to the crown if you become Prime Minister? Will it be in good faith?
JC: I will swear allegiance to the Empress. As long as our nation sees the Empress as the embodiment of the nation, put on the throne by Eliahyu, my oath to serve Luthori means I have to serve the Empress as well.
I: Will you force members of your party to swear off Anti-Monarchism?
JC: No, that is a question of conscience that I will not force party members to make. However, candidates for government ministries will have to do the oath.