NationStates Jolt Archive

MUKASUS CITY, RELORIA (RPNN) – Today the newly-elected Matriarch, Zelella Rocca, announced that a press conference was to be held within the Grand Imperial Palace, the seat of the new Relorian government.

“Consider it a way to get to know everybody better,” Matriarch Zelella said during her address. “People are undoubtedly curious about this new administration, and I want to make sure everybody knows exactly what the government they elected is doing with their votes.”

Matriarch Zelella also added that journalists from any country would be allowed to attend and participate in the ‘Q&A session’, once more highlighting her interests in putting Reloria in a strong position on the international stage.

Critics immediately pounced on the news, suggesting that “it was too soon for a vulnerable, unsettled, inexperienced government to be fraternising with a brutal media circus”, though proponents have said that it is a “smart move that could put the new government in a positive light”.

The press conference will be held “for as long as people have questions”, according to Matriarch Zelella. Tune in to RPNN for live televised footage of the proceedings.

***

Minutes before the conference…

“Is this really necessary, mistress?” Jenn Picho asked. She walked alongside the long-haired Matriarch as she marched determinedly towards the main entrance hall of the palace. Her pace was brisk, presumably to keep her from changing her mind and succumbing to nerves before she got there. Her loose grey suit and baggy white blouse were surprisingly casual, though they were supremely fashionable and elegant. The woman had a very informal air about her; she appeared quite sincere and devoid of political ‘acting’.

“I promised a conference, and so a conference they shall have,” Zelella said, smiling weakly. “We can’t disappoint them now that they’re here, can we? Even if I might want to…”

“Very well mistress,” Jenn sighed, shrugging. “If you are certain. Most of the reporters are already in the main lobby, and there is a podium set up and ready for you. There are some members of the RDF discretely hidden in the side rooms for protection, and we shall keep the door at the top of the stairs unlocked if you decide to escape.”

“Was that a joke you just made there, Jenn?” Zelella asked as they stopped besides some large double doors at the end of the corridor.

“You know that I do not have a sense of humour, mistress,” Jenn said, rather coldly.

“Oh yes, I forgot…” Zelella grinned. She brushed her long hair over her shoulders out of the way, turned to face the doors and took a deep breath. “Here we go.”

She pushed open the doors and stepped through. The entrance lobby was huge, with a wide, curved flight of stairs being the centrepiece. The massive wall at the front of the lobby, which was also the front of the palace, was almost entirely made up of tall, frosted windows, which normally lent the room a very bright appearance. Rain lashed down against the windows though, and the light that came in was fairly minimal aside from the occasional flash of lightening. Some temporary seating had been set up to fill the ground floor in front of the staircase, and each row of which was full of fidgeting reporters who immediately began flashing their cameras as the Matriarch emerged above them.

At the top of the flight of stairs was a simple, mahogany podium. Microphones were placed on top, and the flag of Reloria was draped loosely over the front. Zelella closed the doors behind her and stepped behind the podium.

“Hello… is this on?” she said softly in to the microphones, startled a little as they amplified her voice. The Relorian accent was somewhat exotic, with a slight hint of slightly Spanish and French mixed in, though it had been distorted by the English accents of the empire that occupied the nation. She stood straight and confident, though a little voice started nagging her in the back of her head, compelling her to turn and run away. She stood her ground. Too late to back out now; nerves would have to wait. She held out her arms in a welcoming gesture and got right down to business.

“Ah, right. Well, hello to everyone, thank you for coming here. I hope your trips were uneventful and relaxing, even if they were a little wet. As you may recall in my first address I promised a press Q&A conference for national and international reporters, and… well, here we are. I am here to answer any questions you may have about this government, our policies, me or my staff, and our progress so far. Feel free to ask anything you wish to know and I shall try to answer to the best of my abilities. This may take a while, so we may take a short break some way through, so you can grab some refreshments from the next room. OK, seeing as there are a lot of you here, to start with I’ll go on a first-come first-serve basis and see how we get on from there. Go easy on me, I’m new here.” She winked at that, almost cheekily. “So… who wants to go first?”

An Amazonian reporter quickly spoke up following the introductions.

"Matriarch Zelella, how active is Reloria, as a new nation, going to get involved in the international community?"

An Amazonian reporter quickly spoke up following the introductions.

"Matriarch Zelella, how active is Reloria, as a new nation, going to get involved in the international community?"

"You are a reporter from... Amazonian Beasts, yes?" she asked, peering down at the reporter to see if she could spot any logos or other marks that may identify which media company she/he was from. She cleared her throat and spoke into the microphones. "Anyway, for the moment we are primarily spreading our wings, as it were -- establishing basic ties with other nations, swapping embassies and the like. Trade agreements will also be a major part of our plans for the foreseeable future. When we're a bit more organised we may begin to participate in international humanitarian operations, where possible, in the hopes of alleviating human suffering around the world. I am strongly anti-war, however, and I will not drag the peaceful people nation into any international wars unless our very survival is on the line. I believe that every dispute has a diplomatic solution. I hope that answers your question. Who's next?"

...and now, we head over to Mukasus City, Reloria for the first press conference held by the newly-elected Matriarch Zelella Rocca...

"...has a diplomatic solution. I hope that answers your question. Who's next?"

As the reporters in attendance busily prepared notes and questions, the shuffling of papers is heard in the foreground. A reporter wearing a Monte Ozarka News ID tag stood up and began to ask the Matriarch a new question.

"Ms. Rocca, what is the first big reform that you plan to implement in Reloria?"

...and now, we head over to Mukasus City, Reloria for the first press conference held by the newly-elected Matriarch Zelella Rocca...

"...has a diplomatic solution. I hope that answers your question. Who's next?"

As the reporters in attendance busily prepared notes and questions, the shuffling of papers is heard in the foreground. A reporter wearing a Monte Ozarka News ID tag stood up and began to ask the Matriarch a new question.

"Ms. Rocca, what is the first big reform that you plan to implement in Reloria?"

"That is a good question," she said, smiling at the reporter. "First and foremost I am working on creating a strong, stable, efficient, and compassionate government, to replace the void that was left by our previous occupiers. Once this is accomplished, this government's first target for major reform will be the the criminal justice system. As you may have guessed, the legal processes and facilities laid down by our previous occupiers do not conform to our standards, and there are multiple areas which need to be developed or replaced. With a whole new set of laws now in place there are also a number of conviction cases which need to be reviewed over the next few months. A review of the ailing health-care system will also be a significant priority. I hope I've satisfied your curiosity for now -- who wants to go next?"

*~Bedtime Bump!~*

A small reporter stood and asked

" With growing concern in the world about Hostile Corporate movments, how are you going to cope with this issue. With Companies like Raven and Kraven Coporation. Many nations are either at war, or have simply have given in to them. do you have plan for this?"

After Zelella Rocca had addressed the question posed by the reporter from the Raven Corps, a woman in a stylish, grey skirted suit stood up, clearing her throat.

‘Matriarch Rocca?’ she began, attempting to gain the Chief of Government’s attention. ‘Elizabeth Amalia, Xirniumite Broadcasting Corporation. From what little we know of the Constitutional Matriarchy in Holy Xirnium, it appears that your governmental system subscribes to the Westminsterian doctrine of “Responsible Government” – that is, requiring the senior officers of the Executive (Cabinet and yourself) to be members of, and accountable to, the Legislature.

Assuming this is indeed the case, then it is a similarity that both our nations hold, and it would be interesting to know if there are other similarities between your government and the High Ecclesiarchy (the institution that is the supreme parliament of our nation).

Could you perhaps briefly outline the governmental structure of Reloria, specifically its legislative and executive branches?’

[OOC: Occasionally the apparently clerical titles given to various institutions and offices in Holy Xirnium confuse others into believing the nation to be a theocracy. That is not the case, modern Xirnium is an officially atheist, liberal democracy (with titles such as “Grand Cardinal” being curious relics from the past, but with no religious connotations). This information would likely be known to your nation.]

A small reporter stood and asked

" With growing concern in the world about Hostile Corporate movments, how are you going to cope with this issue. With Companies like Raven and Kraven Coporation. Many nations are either at war, or have simply have given in to them. do you have plan for this?"

"I'm not quite sure I understand the question entirely," Zelella said. "If you are asking if Reloria intends to go to war with 'companies', then no. As I mentioned before this government is strictly anti-war, not that I quite understand how or why one would wage 'war' with a business. Foreign companies can trade within Reloria provided they follow Relorian law. If they do not follow Relorian law they may face fines, increased tariffs or decreased quotas on their imports and exports, or legal action specifically against their local management, the same as any other company. Erm... ah, Xirnium reporter, go ahead."

‘Matriarch Rocca?’ she began, attempting to gain the Chief of Government’s attention. ‘Elizabeth Amalia, Xirniumite Broadcasting Corporation. From what little we know of the Constitutional Matriarchy in Holy Xirnium, it appears that your governmental system subscribes to the Westminsterian doctrine of “Responsible Government” – that is, requiring the senior officers of the Executive (Cabinet and yourself) to be members of, and accountable to, the Legislature.

Assuming this is indeed the case, then it is a similarity that both our nations hold, and it would be interesting to know if there are other similarities between your government and the High Ecclesiarchy (the institution that is the supreme parliament of our nation).

Could you perhaps briefly outline the governmental structure of Reloria, specifically its legislative and executive branches?’


"Haha, yes, brief," Zelella chuckled, looking down at her podium for a moment. "OK, here goes. I am, obviously, the Matriarch. As the Matriarch I am both head of state and government. Although I'm technically appointed by popular vote, the legislative branch must approve this first-hand. I am then responsible for appointing Ministeresses to the Council, which forms the executive branch of the government. All members of the Council must be drawn from the elected members of the legislative branch. The Common Assembly, the legislative branch, is a form of unicameral legislature and consists of six hundred and forty-three seats, which are filled by the elected representatives of each local constituency. The Matriarch must approve each bill passed by the Assembly, and I must usually do so based on the collective opinion of the majority of the Council, though there are several procedures in place for the Assembly to override my authority in emergencies. I won't go into any further detail for now, unless you wish for me to elaborate on something specific."

She stopped for a few moments to catch her breath, and then looked up again.

"I hope that answers your question Ms. Amalia," she smiled at the reporter, and then looked around the room. "Any other questions?"

'Thankyou, Matriarch Rocca, I've another question please,' announced the Xirniumite journalist, smiling towards the Relorian as she rose from her seat again.

'Could you briefly outline the economic policies which you and your party shall seek to implement now that you are in power? As you are a Social Democrat one would think an extensive welfare program will be on the agenda, but I was also interested in your opinions regarding market regulations, nationalised industries, government subsidised programs, international trade and the like.'

'Thankyou, Matriarch Rocca, I've another question please,' announced the Xirniumite journalist, smiling towards the Relorian as she rose from her seat again.

'Could you briefly outline the economic policies which you and your party shall seek to implement now that you are in power? As you are a Social Democrat one would think an extensive welfare program will be on the agenda, but I was also interested in your opinions regarding market regulations, nationalised industries, government subsidised programs, international trade and the like.'

"That is correct, welfare is going to be a major focus over the coming years," Zelella nodded. "Unemployment benefits will be increased by almost J-2.50 per week, allowing for a much healthier standard of living than the poor conditions it currently affords, and we shall be enacting 'back to work' schemes to encourage welfare claimers to seek out employment. As I mentioned, the health-care system is in dire need of more competent management and extra funding, with the ultimate aim of making it freely available to all who need it. At present, it is in such a bad way that more expensive operations require money from your own pocket, which simply isn't an option for the less fortunate citizens of our country. The standards of the education system are already quite high and we will not be doing a great lot to change it to start with, though some discrete changes to the curriculum are already underway -- most notably, removing the 'praise to the emperor' aspect. Free access to universities on a means testing basis is something we intend to look at fairly soon."

She paused and took a sip from a glass of water which sat hidden on the podium, and then continued.

"Now regarding market regulations, we prefer a healthy balance between socialism and capitalism," she continued. "We have already established some basic labour protection regulations, including a minimum wage of 'about' J-9.45, mandatory holidays, laws protecting against unfair dismissal, laws protecting against child labour, working hours restrictions with compulsory overtime schemes, sick pay and the like. We also have a focus group working on possible schemes granting equal opportunities for men in the work place to accompany new laws regarding compulsory paternity leave. The environment is also a very important issue for us, and strict laws have been placed on various types of industry, which is operating in conjunction with our investments into alternative fuel sources. However, we are currently attempting to give our economy a long-overdue boost, by encouraging competition and greater market freedom, offering tax incentives to certain ailing industries such as the manufacturing sector, and fluctuating our interest rates to encourage consumer spending.
"On the subject of nationalised industries; at present, the health-care system, the education system and a few community projects such as subsidised childcare are only nationalised industries we have. There is debate as to whether we should nationalise the national electricity grid, which was originally a nationalised industry when it was implemented, as it would give us greater control over our environmental protection schemes. There are no other plans for nationalisation for the time being, however.
"And finally, we believe in free trade between nations, and will work to further this ideal.

"Well, that wasn't quite as brief as I had intended, but I hope it sufficed," she said, shrugging. "OK, next question?"

*~Bump~*

OOC:
I believe that this thread falls illegal under the "Ask About A Nation thread" section of the International Incidents Seperate Rulings Thread (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=9752083&postcount=2).

OOC: I, personally, think that this should be fine. My reasoning is that this isn't about the nation of Reloria as much as the political leanings, policies, and future plans of a particular RP individual. These are questions that would typically be asked of a newly-elected politician in such a press conference. However, I do agree that such questions as "Are you a communist country?" should be reserved for a factbook.

...but then,
<--- *not a mod*

OOC: Well this is less of a "state facts about your nation" and more of a " *Blank* nation looks to the future and encourages your ideas".

OOC:
I believe that this thread falls illegal under the "Ask About A Nation thread" section of the International Incidents Seperate Rulings Thread (http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=9752083&postcount=2).
OOC: This thread has in-character roleplay in it, and for that reason alone it is not illegal.

‘Matriarch Zelella? Micheal Stigmeg of XBC News,’ began a man who had been seated beside the Xirniumite reporter, briefly glancing at some notes in his hand.

‘Perhaps you could give us your opinion on what key differences in policy between your own party and the Conservative Traditionalists accounted for such a remarkable election landslide victory?’

OOC: Yes, thank you folks. I do not believe this is against the rules -- it is a press conference held by a newly-elected government, which is a frequent occasion in reality. I had no intentions of starting an OOC 'ask about Reloria' thread, but an RP to lend a more credible air to all the events thus far and to introduce the national leader a little more. If the moderators wish to close it, that is their prerogative of course and I will accept that.

IC:

Zelella chuckled and pushed several stray strands of hair from her face. "Well, as much as I might like to believe that the electorate simply liked me better than Ms. Julini, I think it has more to do with our distinctly different ideals. The RSDP believes in liberty, welfare, protecting the less fortunate and protecting the environment. The CT believes in enforcing their traditional beliefs, restricting welfare, letting corporations do pretty much whatever they want, and not to mention boosting military spending. Under the CTs, unemployment benefits would have been cut by almost a quarter, military spending was scheduled to be increased by an enormous ten percent over the next five years, the public health-care system was set to be abandoned completely, several key corporate emissions laws were to be scrapped along with several important pieces of legislation securing male rights, and worst of all, income tax was to become a flat rate system. The RSDP proposed an alternative direction, and it seems that most people decided that it was a better direction. And I thank them very much for giving us the chance to prove it. OK, who's next?"

‘Matriarch Zelalla, I’ve a follow-up question for you regarding your earlier response to the Monte Ozarkan reporter,’ continued the first Xirniumite reporter, noting that few others were currently offering any questions. The journalist briefly collected her thoughts before continuing.

‘You mentioned your party's goal of reforming the criminal justice system. Could you please perhaps briefly elaborate on what your government is considering doing, particularly as regards judicial procedures but also as regards sentencing, changes to criminal law statutes and the like? Do you think your changes are likely to reduce recidivism and lower the crime rate in Reloria, and if so how?

Has your government considered implementing any of the processes to be found in the growing area of alternative dispute resolution (such as mediation or conciliation) - which have been trialled for civil matters in the Eternal Republic with mixed results?’

~~~

"The primary focus in the immediate future will be on the prisons themselves," Zelella told the reporter. "The previous administration was a believer in retribution rather than rehabilitation, and so the conditions found within prisons are well below our acceptable standards, a fact that I can personally attest to. Living conditions are going to be dramatically improved, comprehensive and compulsory education facilities are going to be implemented, and once the facilities are available psychological support staff will be on-site. Combined with our social policies elsewhere, we believe this will help reduce recidivism and the overall crime rate. This is all going to be an expensive undertaking, though, and will need to be spread out over a fairly lengthy period of time, which means that the benefits may not be immediately apparent.

"Judicial procedures already in place from the occupation are severely corrupt, unfair and, once again, based on a system of retribution and intimidation rather than justice and redemption. It is our intention to implement a grand jury system similar to those used by other countries, to allow for fair and unbiased prosecutions where the accused has a fair opportunity to defend herself or himself. Sentencing laws are already being adjusted to correspond with new Relorian laws and to reflect our new attitude towards dealing with crime. And as I briefly mentioned, a great many questionable cases which passed the old system are going to be reviewed. There are many people presently unfairly incarcerated under laws which no longer exist or apply to them (if they ever did), which will certainly need to be remedied. And of course, the death penalty will no longer be an acceptable sentence for any crime. All of these changes are going to be a great strain on both the government and the Supreme Court over the next few years, but I believe they are worth every effort.

"As for ADR, it has been strongly considered and is under debate, along with the possibility of using technological supplements," Zelella nodded. "With the strain we expect to be on our legal system over the next few years it may well become necessary to promote the use of ADR for civil disputes."

She paused to take a breather and have another sip of water, and then looked up again.

"I might faint if I do that again," she smiled. "Any other questions?"

The Xirniumite reporter looked a little bit uncomfortable at asking so many consecutive questions, but with even her own colleague remaining silent for the moment she decided that she may as well continue. ‘Matriarch Zelella, in response to one of my earlier questions regarding the economy,' the journalist began, checking her notes, 'you briefly touched on the environment as a critical concern for your government. Often this is a neglected area in politics.

Could you please outline in greater detail the economic policies of you and your party? What steps, if any, will your Government take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, industrial effluent and the reliance of industry on fossil fuels? How will you seek out cleaner fuel sources and reduce the detrimental environmental effects of waste, both of consumers and industry? How will your Government internalise the economic externality of pollution - if the answer involves government regulation of industry then can you describe any specific changes to existing laws that you will be implementing?'

"Well, you're certainly trying to earn your pay packet this month aren't you?" Zelella said jokingly. "Well, our plans for the environment include looking into alternative sources of power. Reloria, being an island, has extensive opportunities to develop wind and wave power, with offshore wind farms being one of several plans. At present, 79% of Relorian electricity is derived from fossil fuels, and this simply won't do. I should point out right now that nuclear power is not going to be an acceptable alternative for this government.

"We will also be investing in new mass transit systems at some point in the future, and giving grants to research into cleaner methods of powering automobiles. On a civil level, we will be increasing taxation on fossil fuels such as petrol, and increasing taxation on environmentally unfriendly vehicles, whilst decreasing road tax on small cars and hybrids. I should point out that this will not start happening until we have put into place a viable alternative, so, tax hikes on cars will gradually come into effect as the mass transit systems are developed. We are also going to begin encouraging construction companies to build housing with solar panels built into them to reduce the overall burden on the national grid.

"Legislation is being brought into force against companies that will include dynamic hazardous waste, effluent waste, gaseous emissions, and of course waste handling and responsibility. There will also be additional legislation regarding pesticides and suchlike used by the agricultural sector. The limits are not clearly defined just yet nor will they be static or universal, but they will be 'limits' in the strictest sense of the word, with legal ramifications ranging from fines to imprisonment of senior management, depending on the severity of the breach. Certain chemicals and materials will be banned entirely from use, of course. Mandatory recycling programs on both a civil and commercial level are being discussed at the moment, but there is nothing decided just yet.

"In conjunction with strict legislation we will begin offering tax incentives to companies which perform particularly well on the environmental front. Companies which clearly reduce their water and electricity wastage, for instance, will be given tax breaks whilst companies which fail to do so, or even get worse, may get tax hikes. It is hoped that we can encourage businesses to invest in newer, cleaner technologies and waste management schemes of their own accord whilst helping them offset some of the costs in the process, simply by making it more expensive to be unnecessarily wasteful, however this will be reviewed at a later date to see just how effective it is."

She paused once again, finishing off her glass of water.

"Well, I hope this answers your question. Any other questions?"

Niadras Thium Evoleerf Information Services Foreign affairs Department.

What are your plans with regards to trade links and defensive alliances?

OOC: sorry my country they have a predeliction for long titles (for example the short form title of my head of state is "Lord High Protector of Evoleerf Xab Erretnorb" the long form runs to over 100 words)

The Xirniumite patiently waited for Ms Rocca to finish addressing the Evoleef reporter's question. As the Matriarch spoke she carefully took notes, identifying possible points for follow-up questions.

‘Matriarch Zelella, I’ve another question – hopefully a shorter one this time,’ began the inquisitive journalist after the Relorian Head of Government had stopped speaking.

‘You spoke tangentially earlier on about the creation of schemes in order to “[grant] equal opportunities for men in the work place”. What difficulties does a male face in attempting to gain equal pay in Reloria, and how do you plan on overcoming these problems (assuming, of course, that your Government wishes to do so)? Have any positive discrimination programs been considered by you or your party regarding this area?

Finally, and most importantly, what are the expected long-term ramifications, if any, of such policies likely to be on Relorian society, and are you aware of the existence of any significant mainstream opposition to your egalitarian initiatives?’

OOC: It seems that most of the important questions have already been asked. Time for the YPP (Yurkan Paranormal Press) to come in to the scene. I'll probably send a real reporter once I have an actual question that I can think of.

IC:

Suddenly a member of the YPP fought his way to the front with a microphone and felt hat, waving it forward as his cameraman followed clumsily behind him. He then brushed his long black hair back, made a cheesy smile, and stared up at the Matriarch before beginning to speak.

"Jack Sombra of the acclaimed YPP here! Matriarch Zelella, isn't it true that your government is secretly breeding super soldiers under the Imperial Palace? Oh and might I add you look exquisite today, especially for someone who my sources indicate is over six hundred years old!"

Niadras Thium Evoleerf Information Services Foreign affairs Department.

What are your plans with regards to trade links and defensive alliances?

"Trade is an important aspect of our future plans," Zelella nodded. "As I believe I mentioned before, Reloria believes in free international trade, within reason, and we will always consider joining any trade agreements which conform to this ideal. As for defensive alliances, Reloria intends to remain firmly neutral in international affairs, and we shall most likely remain absent from military alliances for the time being."

She nodded to the Evoleerf representative, and then looked around the room again.

The Xirniumite patiently waited for Ms Rocca to finish addressing the Evoleef reporter's question. As the Matriarch spoke she carefully took notes, identifying possible points for follow-up questions.

‘Matriarch Zelella, I’ve another question – hopefully a shorter one this time,’ began the inquisitive journalist after the Relorian Head of Government had stopped speaking.

‘You spoke tangentially earlier on about the creation of schemes in order to “[grant] equal opportunities for men in the work place”. What difficulties does a male face in attempting to gain equal pay in Reloria, and how do you plan on overcoming these problems (assuming, of course, that your Government wishes to do so)? Have any positive discrimination programs been considered by you or your party regarding this area?

Finally, and most importantly, what are the expected long-term ramifications, if any, of such policies likely to be on Relorian society, and are you aware of the existence of any significant mainstream opposition to your egalitarian initiatives?’

"Well this is a tricky one," she said, less energetic than before. "Men in the workplace are normally restricted to manual labour, a tradition which dates back... well, forever, really. It is quite hard for them to get employment in other areas, whether it's a job in an office or a shop, a position in the armed forces or the civil security forces, or even a position in politics. In some cases this is due to legal restrictions, in particular the armed forces and the civil security forces. In others, it is simply the attitude of people in general -- politics especially.

"Now, positive discrimination is still discrimination as far as I am concerned. Even if this government was prepared to do that, it would meet rather harsh resistance from puritans and strict traditionalists. What we can do is start to remove legal barriers and start to forcibly equalise pay schemes. Mr. Jerold Halusina, the only male on the Council and our representative for Culture, Media and Sport, wishes to trial a series of persuasive advertising campaigns in the hopes of changing the general opinion regarding men in the workplace, and I support his endeavour.

"Oh, and as for opposition, as I mentioned there are significant opposition groups, led mostly by religious puritans and traditionalists, which have sprung up quite quickly during the transition of power, and they do command popular support. Interestingly enough there are quite a few male members of these groups, especially those founded on religious principles. We will of course support their right to protest, listen to what they have to say, and of course we will not do anything that goes against the consensus of the majority. This is a complex, sensitive issue that can't be dealt with quickly; it will require many, many years to work through. But I am certain that we will get there in the end. Any further questions?"

OOC: It seems that most of the important questions have already been asked. Time for the YPP (Yurkan Paranormal Press) to come in to the scene. I'll probably send a real reporter once I have an actual question that I can think of.

IC:

Suddenly a member of the YPP fought his way to the front with a microphone and felt hat, waving it forward as his cameraman followed clumsily behind him. He then brushed his long black hair back, made a cheesy smile, and stared up at the Matriarch before beginning to speak.

"Jack Sombra of the acclaimed YPP here! Matriarch Zelella, isn't it true that your government is secretly breeding super soldiers under the Imperial Palace? Oh and might I add you look exquisite today, especially for someone who my sources indicate is over six hundred years old!"

Zelella frowned at this 'Jack Sombra' character, as several native reporters groaned and put their heads in their hands, several of them uttering things like 'uh oh', and 'now he's done it'. Civil security officers waiting in the wings suddenly looked around, mouths open. Nevertheless the Matriarch shrugged it off and retained her composure.

"I have no comment on Operation: Ultimate Soldier at this time," she said jokingly. "Next question?"

‘Matriarch Zelella?’ began Michael Stirmeg of the Xirniumite Broadcasting Corporation, evidently deciding that he may as well do his part for the XBC. ‘Which nations do you, as the newly elected Head of State of the Constitutional Matriarchy, (or, alternatively, the Cabinet members of your Government) first plan to visit?’

Elizabeth Amalia merely stared at her colleague in incredulity. That's it? How very in-depth... she scoffed silently.

‘What? It’s a legitimate question,’ he whispered, though Ms Amalia merely shook her head and turned back to the front.

As Jack Sombra began to leave, not detecting the obvious sarcasm or snickers from everyone present, another reporter from Yurka rose from her seat with a question soon after the man from Xirnium received his response. Looking around for a second, she quickly pulled out a small handheld computer and began to speak.

"Matriarch Zelella?" The young woman said quietly for a moment before clearing her throat, "Going back to your anti-war stance mentioned earlier, do you feel that your nation has a suitable defensive force to deter any possible aggressive nations in the future? You mentioned before how the CT were going to increase military spending considerably, under you will you instead decrease current spending?"

‘Matriarch Zelella?’ began Michael Stirmeg of the Xirniumite Broadcasting Corporation, evidently deciding that he may as well do his part for the XBC. ‘Which nations do you, as the newly elected Head of State of the Constitutional Matriarchy, (or, alternatively, the Cabinet members of your Government) first plan to visit?’

Elizabeth Amalia merely stared at her colleague in incredulity. That's it? How very in-depth... she scoffed silently.

‘What? It’s a legitimate question,’ he whispered, though Ms Amalia merely shook her head and turned back to the front.

"I haven't given it much thought just yet," Zelella said, shaking her head, forcing herself to push hair off her face again as a result. "Things are far too hectic around here for me or the Council ministeresses to leave the country just yet. When I do, it will probably be to nations with whom we have already established relations through our embassy exchange program. We could always have national leaders come to us for the first time, I suppose, but we aren't really prepared for that yet either. I suppose my official answer is simply -- we'll see."

She looked around and nodded at the second Yurka reporter. "Yes?"

As Jack Sombra began to leave, not detecting the obvious sarcasm or snickers from everyone present, another reporter from Yurka rose from her seat with a question soon after the man from Xirnium received his response. Looking around for a second, she quickly pulled out a small handheld computer and began to speak.

"Matriarch Zelella?" The young woman said quietly for a moment before clearing her throat, "Going back to your anti-war stance mentioned earlier, do you feel that your nation has a suitable defensive force to deter any possible aggressive nations in the future? You mentioned before how the CT were going to increase military spending considerably, under you will you instead decrease current spending?"

"At the moment our military is quite large and heavily funded," Zelella said. "It currently receives over 13% of the government budgetary pie, which is too much in our opinion. It is this large because the Empire always kept a trained and equipped force of 'natives' in their territories to augment their own forces in major wars that never came, funding them with the local economy. So at present it is a fairly capable offensive and defensive force.

"We intend to transform the armed forces into primarily a defensive force. The cuts we shall make mean that we do not have to make large tax hikes to fund the other projects we have planned. Though some redundancies will be inevitable due to this process, we will be offering those unfortunates first refusal of some of the new vacancies we will be creating elsewhere, and retraining will be available for those who desire it.

"The CT party, on the other hand, intended to massively increase military funding to accommodate their rather aggressive foreign policies, an increase which I believe would have severely damaged the economy and taken our peaceful people in wholly the wrong direction. I am glad that they voted against this direction."

‘Matriarch Zelella, I hope you will forgive me if I ask a personal question,’ began Ms Amalia, still shaking her head somewhat at her collegue.

‘During the Relorian election campaign you left the issue of your own spiritual beliefs fairly ambiguous – or at least it was a matter unclear to foreign observers. May I ask, if it is not overly presumptuous of me, if you yourself are a religious person, and whether you hold a personal belief in a Goddess or Goddesses? If so, what does your belief entail, and is it one generally shared by other Relorians?

On a less personal, but arguably more important note, what is the opinion of you and your Government towards the relationship between Church and State, and of the concept of secular government institutions?’

‘Matriarch Zelella, I hope you will forgive me if I ask a personal question,’ began Ms Amalia, still shaking her head somewhat at her collegue.

‘During the Relorian election campaign you left the issue of your own spiritual beliefs fairly ambiguous – or at least it was a matter unclear to foreign observers. May I ask, if it is not overly presumptuous of me, if you yourself are a religious person, and whether you hold a personal belief in a Goddess or Goddesses? If so, what does your belief entail, and is it one generally shared by other Relorians?

On a less personal, but arguably more important note, what is the opinion of you and your Government towards the relationship between Church and State, and of the concept of secular government institutions?’

"A fair question, one I don't mind answering," she smiled. "I am a follower of the Nalass faith, one which may or may not have spread outside of Reloria, I don't know. I am a spiritual person, to a point -- I believe quite strongly in the Goddess, and I try to follow Her teachings, I pray to Her sometimes. I'm not a particularly strict follower though, so I don't spend five hours a week in a shrine of the Goddess or anything like that, but I am a follower nevertheless. Nalism is the predominant faith in Reloria; I believe the last census under the occupation came up with a figure of 85% or something along those lines, with the rest being either agnostic or atheist.

"But as far as I am concerned, belief in the Goddess is an intimate and personal part of life, one which should not become involved in politics or enforced on others. Although Nalism is considered by many to be the de facto official religion of Reloria simply by virtue of being the only religion we really have here, the constitution clearly states that religion and the government are entirely separate things. I'm not going to argue with that sentiment, and neither are any of the Council ministeresses. Besides which, doing so would be going against the principles of Nalism, as according to the priests and the scriptures the Goddess isn't too 'big' on evangelism. Anyway, I hope that answers your question."

[OOC: The poor Matriarch... she's been grilled mercilessly on almost every topic the reporter can think of.]

‘Yes, perfectly in fact, Matriarch Zelella,’ answered the Xirniumite journalist. Noticing that no one else was currently trying to gain the Relorian Head of Government's attention, Elizabeth Amalia tried her luck on another query that she had jotted down. ‘My next question is in a similar vein to the previous, though somewhat harder to define so I will attempt to keep it vague.

Though your party is a progressive one (certainly when compared with the Conservative Traditionalists) I’m curious as to exactly how libertarian you and your Government are regarding laws the govern the accepted norms of behaviour in society. To what extent do you believe Government should legislate morality? What is the stance of you and your party on the traditional litmus-test issues in this areas such as gay rights, abortion, censorship and pornography, recreational drug use, gambling, prostitution, and others?’

[OOC: Poor Matriarch... she's been grilled mercilessly on almost every topic the reporter can think of.]

‘Yes, perfectly in fact, Matriarch Zelella,’ answered Xirniumite journalist, deciding to try her luck on another query that she had jotted down. ‘My next question is in a similar vein to the other, though somewhat harder to define so I will attempt to keep it vague.

Though your party is a progressive one (certainly when compared with the Conservative Traditionalists) I’m curious as to exactly how libertarian you and your Government are regarding laws the govern the accepted norms of behaviour in society. To what extent do you believe Government should legislate morality? What is the stance of you and your party on the traditional litmus-test issues of gay rights, abortion, censorship and pornography, recreational drug use, gambling, prostitution, and others?’

"Well to start with, under Relorian law there is no distinction between homosexuality and heterosexuality," Zelella told the reporter. "And to my knowledge, there never has been. There is very little I can really think of that would actually require the government to acknowledge sexuality anyway.

"Abortion is a trickier one; at present, it is only decriminalised. Religious groups oppose both making it legal and making it illegal, and both groups have roughly equal support, which means it is very hard for us to make a decision which will not cause outrage to somebody. Whereas the CT called for a total ban, we have always said that it should be left to a vote, and that is what we intend to do at some point in the near future. Most women in the country have a strong view that leans either one way or the other as far as I know, so it should be interesting to see the results of that vote.

"Censorship will be used in moderation, certainly compared to the previous administrators of the country. It will only really apply to literature or movies which break existing laws -- for instance, a book which promoted murder would fall under the 'incitement to commit murder' law and the author would be arrested under that charge. Any other form of censorship is detrimental to democracy, and we shall not pursue it for that reason. Our people have lived under censorship for too long to be constrained by it once again.

"Gambling has never been a particularly popular occupation within Reloria for a variety of reasons. The few gambling institutions which do crop up typically perform quite poorly and remain small-scale operations. Local governments will have the power to shut down gambling institutions if they are proved to be causing or indirectly contributing to the local crime rate, but they are not going to be banned out-right.

"Prostitution and pornography, again, are not really considered 'hot issues' here, due to their rarity, which I personally would partly attribute to the social status of men in Reloria. Prostitution is neither illegal or, technically legal, and we see no reason to change this at present. What little pornography there is in this country would be treated in the same way as censorship -- provided nothing illegal is going on, the government isn't going to stop it from being produced.

"I hope I am being clear on these issues," she said finally. "Issues of morality are always murky. I personally do not believe the government has the right to legislate morality one way or the other, so like abortion, we will put such issues to the vote when they become big enough, and let the people legislate for themselves."

Zelella glanced around the room full of reporters. The sound of the rain against the windows had diminished somewhat as the rain began to calm, though it still beat down fairly hard. The Relorian reporters were apparently inexperienced at this sort of thing, and had allowed foreign reporters to ask all their questions before they had a chance to do so. Understandably so, considering newspapers used to have the news written for them by propaganda experts before. It seemed as though there were no questions left that could be asked by any, though, and Zelella for one was slightly relieved.

"Are there any other questions before I wrap this thing up?" she asked them.

‘Just one final question from the Xirniumite Broadcasting Corporation, if that is okay Matriarch Zelella,’ began Mr Stirmeg. ‘In one of your previous responses you made mention of the commitment of your Government to neutrality and the desire for an aloofness towards the various conflicts of the world. Could you also briefly clarify the stance of you and your party regarding the delivery of humanitarian aid to foreign nations?'

The reporter took a deep breath and turned the page on his notepad. 'Which brings me to my main question, only vaguely related,' the journalist from Xirnium continued. 'Could you please outline the immigration policies that your Government will be implementing, including your stance towards asylum seekers? Are you aware of any alternative views in Relorian politics? How does your Government view the issue of tourism in the Constitutional Matriarchy?’

‘Just one final question from the Xirniumite Broadcasting Corporation, if that is okay Matriarch Zelella,’ began Mr Stirmeg. ‘In one of your previous responses you made mention of the commitment of your Government to neutrality and the desire for an aloofness towards the various conflicts of the world. Could you also briefly clarify the stance of you and your party regarding the delivery of humanitarian aid to foreign nations?'

The reporter took a deep breath and turned the page on his notepad. 'Which brings me to my main question, only vaguely related,' the journalist from Xirnium continued. 'Could you please outline the immigration policies that your Government will be implementing, including your stance towards asylum seekers? Are you aware of any alternative views in Relorian politics? How does your Government view the issue of tourism in the Constitutional Matriarchy?’

"You are putting our reporters to shame you know, Mr. Sirmeg," Zelella smiled. "Humanitarian aid will, for the the near future at least, be fairly limited due to the amount of strain all of our public services will be under during the implementation of the various changes I've described. I am sure we will be able to provide food and medicine to the most desperate peoples, but unfortunately we will have to prioritise. As things start to settle down, we will look at expanding our humanitarian efforts, possibly to include direct intervention such as setting up medical camps in disaster areas and suchlike. There will, of course, be no distinction made based on nationality, race, or even gender, though of course we will have to obtain permission of the government in charge before we send our own women into their territory.

"Again, asylum seekers and immigrants are going to be subject to some fairly strict regulation until the country has been stabilised and everything is working 'properly'. If it can be proved that their lives are genuinely at risk in their home countries, we will be inclined to accept them, or at the very least find them an alternative destination of equal safety that would be willing to accept them. Once our various public services are in a healthier state we will be much more welcoming to the less fortunate, but at the moment we barely have the facilities to accommodate Relorians. There is also a worry that flooding a country hat has been largely isolated for six centuries with foreign residents all of a sudden may cause some problems, though I believe that the majority of our people are tolerant people. Still, a gradual integration would seem to be more sensible than a sudden influx just in case.

"On both of these issues the CT party was in disagreement. Obviously their more aggressive foreign policy would not have complimented a policy of neutral humanitarian aid -- I believe they would have used aid to garner political support from potential allies, rather than for any moral reasons. And immigration was a subject they were particularly tough on. I do not believe, however, that there is any wide-spread public objection to either of these issues.

"Tourism on the other hand is going to be promoted in the near future, as we feel that the tourist industry could become quite a major one. The CT were in agreement with us on this issue. The south coast is a particularly beautiful piece of nature which we hope will bring a lot of interest, though we are going to have to be careful to ensure that the environment isn't jeopardised. The north and the west feature some areas of historical interest, which we hope will attract even more attention. And when the government is a little more stable, we are considering opening parts of the Grand Imperial Palace up for tourists as well. We will be working closely with the private sector to develop the tourism industry over the next few years."

'Matriarch Zelella', called out a young woman near the back of the room, 'Will your government establish political and financial links with nations that are dictatorships, or is your policy to only support nations that share the same beliefs as Reloria, such as peace and democracy?'

'Matriarch Zelella', called out a young woman near the back of the room, 'Will your government establish political and financial links with nations that are dictatorships, or is your policy to only support nations that share the same beliefs as Reloria, such as peace and democracy?'

"Well, severing trade with dictatorships inevitably only hurts the innocents of that country," Zelella said. "And severing diplomatic relations with a dictatorship only means that we have no way of communicating with said dictatorship. Both of these are bad courses of action in our opinion. We will not 'support' dictatorial regimes unless they are clearly working to effect change in their nation, but we will certainly not severe relations with them either. Perhaps some Relorian values may even rub off on them over time simply by association, though that is optimistic thinking..."

"Alright, if there are no further questions let's call it a day," Zelella said after a long pause. She seemed to have let her discomfort catch up with her. "I'm afraid I am needed elsewhere now. It has been a pleasure having you all here, thank you all for coming, and good evening to you all. Oh, I briefly touched upon the possibility of inviting national leaders to an event here in Reloria at some point in the near future. I shall release a statement with more information in a day or two when we have made definite arrangements. Anyway, good evening to you."

She straightened her patterned grey jacket and brushed her hair over her shoulders as she turned around and left the lobby through the large wooden doors behind her. The press secretary stepped in behind the podium and raised her hands, gesturing for the journalists to remain still for a moment.

"Please remain seated for a few moments," the press secretary told them. "Those of you with long journeys ahead of you may like to partake in some refreshments or use the washroom before you leave. Otherwise, the main entrance doors behind you will be opened in a few minutes. Please have a pleasant day, and do not be afraid to ask myself or the staff for directions if you are unsure..."



"How'd I do?" Zelella asked Jenn once she shut the doors behind her.

"I have a full list of criticisms if you wish to see them mistress," Jenn told her bluntly as they began to walk briskly down the corridor once more.

"Erm... that's alright thanks," Zelella said, frowning.

"Very well mistress," Jenn nodded, sighing. "I would suggest that next time you tie your hair back, though, and..."

She stopped as she noticed a glare from her Matriarch.

"Well, it was not bad for your first time, mistress," Jenn retracted, shrugging.

"Come on, we have work to be getting on with," Zelella said. They continued walking in silence, down the long, elegant corridor. Sometimes Zelella thought that this building was too big...