NationStates Jolt Archive

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BREAKING NEWS

We are taking you live to a briefing outside of Hampton Palace. Health and Domestic Security Minister Dr. Leonard Berkstein (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v114/hamptonshire/a162623f.jpg) will begin momentarily...


[*Switches to the Palace. The Minister is standing behind a podium placed in the shadow of Hampton Palace. No reporters are present.*]


Fellow citizens of Hamptonshire, I come to you now as a personal representative of His Royal Highness, the Grand Duke. This is a time of national concern, but not crisis. A time of anxiety, not fear.

We have faced down dangers that have been more threatening to our continuation as a sovereign and great nation but rarely have we faced a situation of this nature.

Earlier this morning, Grand Duke Reginald Leopold the First was taken into emergency surgery at an undisclosed military hospital. At that time, several malignant tumors were found. After careful deliberation, it was decided that immediate surgery was the only viable recourse.

The surgical team, after six hours in the operation room, determined that the Grand Duke's condition requires further and more intensive treatment. Accordingly, he was immediately transported to the Granheim Institute in Portshire. There Hamptonshire's leading medical specialists will begin the Grand Duke's immediate treatment schedule. While I caution you all against false hope, early indicators point at a fair chance of recovery.


[*At this point Dr. Berkstein picks up several pieces of paper from the podium and begins to read them.*]


The Grand Duke, with the advice and concent of the Privy Council, has named Lord Phillip Rosecrans Commander-General of the Royal Armed Forces. This measure is to assure the smooth operations of the RAF during this time of potential crisis. Lord Rosecrans is one of the Grand Duke's most advisors and friends. He has supreme confidence that Lord Rosecrans will defend the national security and integrity of Hamptonshire without involving the nation in unnecessary and unproductive military actions.

After consulations with doctors and advisors, the Grand Duke has decided that at this time the creation of a Regent and Regency Council is not necessary. However, in order to ensure the continued daily operations of the Government of the Grand Duchy, the Grand Duke, by Royal Order, has named Princess Patricia Anne Cessar Vicereine of the Grand Duchy of Hamptonshire. She shall, for the duration of the Grand Duke's illness, act for His Royal Highness in matters of Government. Royal Vetoes, Orders and Proclamations will require the signatures of both the Vicereine and President of the Privy Council.

The Senior Cabinet and Royal Congress have been notified of these Orders and have been instructed to cooperate with the new Commander-General and Vicereine.


[*He places the papers back down and looks directly into the camera*]


None of us knows what the future will bring. We can only hope and pray that by the Grace of God, Grand Duke Reginald Leopold I will be spared the agonzing pain of terminal cancer.

In the end all we can do is our best. Our doctors will work as they can and our Grand Duke will fight with all his strength. I ask you all now to please pray for the Grand Duke and for our fair nation.

Thank you and May God Bless the Grand Duchy of Hamptonshire.


[OOC: Next post will be a news program explaining the positions of Commander-General and Vicereine.
Side note- Vicereine= female form of Viceroy.]

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I'm Olivia Thompson and here are todays top news stories:

Governor Mentnor threatens to resign over the latest round of FMC nominations...
Senator Allenby calls for the creation of the Ministry of State...
Dock workers in Weslyn threaten another round of strikes...

Of course today's top story, without question, is the earlier announcement of the Grand Duke's cancer diagnosis.

[*cuts to several clips of the speech*]

Many of you are probably asking the same questions. "What is a Vicereine?", "What does a Commander-General do?" and "What does this all mean for us?"

To answer those questions CapitalBeat has brought in our resident political analyist, Doctor Evan Goldblat. It's nice to have you hear Doctor.

"It's nice to be here Olivia."

Please, give me and our viewers a brief overview of what happened this morning.

"It's fairly simple and straightforward. The Grand Duke has a life threatening disease. He and his advisors know that at this time he is not capable of fulfilling his royal duties, therefore he has designated surrogates. That's all the Vicereine and Commander-General are, Olivia. Surrogates."

It can't be that simple Evan. Come on.

"No, it is that simple. Each office is responsible for a different facet of the Grand Duke's authority, duty, and power. A Viceroy, or in this case a Vicereine, exercises the governmental authority of the Grand Duke..."

Isn't that what a Regent does?

"A Viceroy is, at best, an Acting Monarch. He, or in this case she, acts in the name of the Grand Duke. However, a Viceroy must act in coordination with the Privy Council. Unlike a Regent, who possesses virtually all the powers of the elected monarch, a Viceroy is subject to strenuous regulation and oversight. In addition, a Viceroy has no military command authority."

That's where the Commander-General comes in. Right?

"Right as always Olivia. The Commander-General becomes Acting Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Armed Forces. A Commander-General acts with the full power and authority of the Grand Duke in all military matters. When it comes down to it, what he says carries the exact same weight as if the Grand Duke himself ordered it.

It's actually pretty interesting Olivia. A Commander-General hasn't been named since the 'Northern Insurrection Crisis' of 1887."

That is interesting...but I must ask- Why did the Grand Duke appoint a Regent and a Regency Council?

"I'll give you the answer first in one word- POLITICS. Now I'll explain.

While Hamptonshire is an elective monarchy, the position of Crown Prince (Princess) serves several important functions: almost always the Crown Prince will ascend to the throne, the Prince is also a Supreme Commander of the RAF, and there are other various functions that a Crown Prince can serve.

The single most important duty of a Crown Prince is the possibility of becoming a Regent. When a Grand Duke dies the nation enters into a year long interregnum period. The Crown Prince during that time serves as Regent. Additionally, whenever the reigning monarch is unable to fullfill his or her duties the Crown Princes temporarily becomes Regent.

As we all know, Crown Prince Louis Cessar was murdered five years ago. Due to several mitagating factors, which I will not go into now, the Grand Duke has not been able to name a new Crown Prince or Princess. Therefore, if a situation arose where a Regent was needed, the Royal Senate and Privy Council would get to choose the person. I don't need to tell you that the Royal Senate isn't controlled by those with the best relationship to the monarchy.

In the political climate that we are in right now, if the Grand Duke was to call for a Regency Senator Allenby and the rest of NURP would almost certainly name one of their supporters to the top post. It doesn't matter that Princess Anne is the last surviving member of the House of Pyotr-Hampton. Allenby fiercely opposes her. The only way she could come to power and continue the political mission of her uncle is through something like what happened this morning."

Well, we have to go to a commercial break. We will be back with Doctor Goldblat at the end of the program.

Thank you Doctor.

"Thank you Olivia."

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Official Pacitalian Government Statement

To the proud, strong nation of Hamptonshire -

From the time Pacitalia and Hamptonshire began their course together as strong allies, life has never been better for us here in Pacitalia. Hopefully, the same is felt in Hamptonshire. Together, our two nations have seen the good and bad of international affairs and reacted accordingly, maturely and strongly with powerful convictions of stability, peace and moderation.

I am blessed to have known the Grand Duke personally and it is a true shock to learn of this terminal illness that is slowly taking away the breath of a man who has led Hamptonshire with valour, pride and determination for these 54 years of positive growth in the Grand Duchy. The Pacitalian opinion was such that we felt he always knew what was best for his people and acted with his citizens' best interests in the front of his mind, regardless of the issue or timeframe in which the issues took place.

The world will truly not be the same without the kind, mature, wise leadership of a man such as Reginald Leopold I. The world will mourn, but realise that time passes and we must move on. I have strong beliefs that the next Duke of Hamptonshire will be just as wise, truthful and caring.

Pacitalians alike, from all parts of the nation, stand by our friends in Hamptonshire as they await this tragedy to slowly unfold and sadly conclude. May peace be with you all, and may no pain come to the Grand Duke as he ends his wonderful, accomplished journey through life.

If anything can be offered by Pacitalia besides our support and love, we hope there will be no hesitation on the part of the Grand Duchy. Anything needed will be given, sincerely and gladly.

May the people of Hamptonshire take care and continue to grow and again, on behalf of my people I wish the royal family well in this terrible struggle.

Respectfully yours,
Nikos M. Karagounis
Prime Minister of Pacitalia

[OOC: The following letter is handwritten, hand delivered by the Hamptonian Ambassador to Pacitalia]



To the Right Honorable Prime Minister Karagounis,


The relationships forged between our two great peoples have been a blessing for the Grand Duchy. It was, and is, the personal hope of His Royal Highness that Pacitalia and Hamptonshire grow together in peace and prosperity.

The Grand Duke has lived a long and eventful life; he has seen Hamptonshire rise from a backwater to among the highest ranks of nations. He has seen, and been responsible for, great episodes of peace. He has presided over unmatched economic and cultural growth. His Royal Highness, however, has also seen death time and again. He has personally tasted the bitter draft of defeat and hardship. For every positive, for every step forward during his 54 years on the throne he knows the pain of defeat.

We know that the Grand Duke's time in this life is coming to a close but he is by no means powerless, nor is he quietly slipping away into the darkness. My uncle is fighting for his life. He says there is much more that he needs to do for Hamptonshire, he will not give up until God himself calls him into the next life. If there is one thing I have observed about him is that when it comes to the welfare of that nation, he doesn't know how to quit.

Ultimately, there is nothing that any of us can do. Reginald Leopold I has entered into the last stages of life. Beyond prayer and what relatively limited medical treatment can be given to him, it is only a matter of time before he must leave us. Our thoughts and prayers will, when it comes down to it, be the only things that matter in the end. I personally, and for all of Hamptonshire, extend to your deepest thanks and best wishes.


Sincerely,
Princess Anne
Vicereine of the Grand Duchy of Hamptonshire



[Included in the envelope was a small piece of yellow Post-It paper folded four times. The ink used to write the handwritten message slightly ran through the back. The note (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v114/hamptonshire/d89ccc12.gif).

To the honorable people of Hamptonshire

I am sorry to hear that Grand Duke Reginald Leopold I is going die soon. We wish your nation luck, and hope the next leader of your fair and honorable nation be a wise leader and may the relations between our nation continue to be peaceful and fruitful.

Sign
Yours truly,
Sultan Suleiman Al Bashir II (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/Ottoman01/el_fadil.gif)