Santheres
23-05-2009, 06:09
OOC: I'm changing my government around a bit. Most people may be unaware of my gov't, I'm sure, but I just want to write about it, anyway. This is open to national reactions. You may also ask and get a character involved. Nothing else, please.
Also, this forum is so much better for indentation.
De Rossi Manor
Rossi, Santheres
The parlor in the de Rossi ancestral home was a spartan affair, unlike much of the rest of the house. The furniture was expensive, yes, but it was simple, downplayed -- bare, oiled mahogany with satin upholstery. It was entirely unlike Marco’s usual lifestyle in the overdone baroque interior of the Byzantine Basilica. But it was home, and he was happy to be there. Well, he had been before the family convened for the meeting which was taking place in the large hall. Marco’s brothers and sisters, some remaining aunts and uncles, cousins, and even nieces and nephews of notability were all present, seated in the soft chairs, chaises and sofas lined across the walls. They were mostly silent, each one deciding at length the words they would say, or simply choosing to remain quiet for fear of reproach from their elders or peers.
Marco knelt to the side, poking at the fire in one of the hearths. To say he was nervous would be an understatement. After all, the way the de Rossi family dealt with removing House leaders was by assassination. They had no official way to do it and the only other option would be threats and pressure to retire. And he wasn’t going to step down.
“I want to assuage your fears that this is about your leadership of this family, Marco. Your service in this manner has been quite adequate.”
That was glowing praise from Aunt Adele.
For a few moments, that was the only thing said before she was the first to speak again. “What Santheres cannot, will not have is another king. Not now, not ever. I know you understand this. Your platform in your campaign pointed to this. But the way the government is structured now … it lends itself too heavily to such an eventually.”
“You’ve proved that,” Cousin Giovanni said. “I don’t know why you thought you could go down this road and get away with it.”
Marco stood and turned, walking to the middle of the room. “I did not think to get away with anything. I was doing what I thought was the best for this country. And you go ahead and tell me that Santheres isn’t better of for what I’ve done.”
“No one is contesting that, nephew. We are all very grateful for your work expanding the economy so many times over. I’m sure we’re happy with our position in ODECON, though the alliances prior to that were questionable at best.”
He conceded that point to her. “Any protection is good protection.”
“Likely not if they had made us obligated to mobilize against a foe we could not reasonably fight.”
“That wouldn’t have happened. The Administration would have rejected any requests and the Congress would have pressured for leaving the alliance.”
Adele looked around the room. At least forty members had come but thus far only she and Giovanni had said anything. She attempted to subtly prompt the others to get involved but many looked into their drinks or just so happened to call a servant over for refreshment. For several seconds, the only sound was the typist in the corner recording the event. And then even that stopped as he caught up, clicking the carriage return twice, quite forcefully.
“Perhaps, Marco, we should just get to the point.” Adele’s soft and reasonable tone was getting to him, but she was very skilled at keeping it going under all circumstances. Maybe that was why no one else was talking. She had a certain silent intimidation when she was at her most serious. “We are quite happy with your overall performance, both with the House and with the nation. You are not allowed, however, to become a king as you have so gradually been moving toward.”
He grinned and returned to the fire, placing a hand on the marble chimneypiece. “I had no intention of doing that. The thought is interesting, though.”
“And wrong,” Giovanni chimed in. This time, several others present also nodded or mumbled their agreement.
Crossing the room again, he sighed. “I would have made a good king, though.”
“Without a doubt, nephew, but that is meaningless. The empire had been made of good kings, emperors, whatever title … dictators. Benevolent dictators are still dictators and that is far too much power for a single person to have. Have you heard the grumbling in the streets? You are a walking controversy and we do our best, all of us, to limit the world’s view those commons and foreigners who are downright frightened at your growing power. You have no peer councilors, no advisors, you are a sole regnant and that looks far too kingly to us.”
“What happens, then?”
A hand in his periphery rose. He turned to face the person, his sister Gianna, who was already speaking. “You cannot be in your position any longer. The Congress has determined that the government will be rebuilt. The Ministry of Defense has already shifted its title so it does not appear subordinate. You know that. The Inquisition will soon be declaring their intention to step back from hegemony over all cases involving the government and plans to take a more … progressive role.”
“And the Regnancy?”
“Well, that’s the tricky thing, eh?” Giovanni shifted in his seat.
Adele nodded. “It’s being dissolved. The Consiglia de Dieci will replace it. Again.” She sighed for a moment. The problem with the old Council of Ten was the bureaucratic inefficiency it produced, which the Regnancy had not. “It will be taking some of the duties from the Congress, however. The Regnancy was installed to improve efficiency and it proved too much. You are the fourth and last Regnant. Your office itself will because the office of the State Affairs Councilor.”
Marco paused for a moment. Aunt Adele was the head of the Santherese Humanitarian Society, an ostensibly non-government organization. Why did she sound like she was the mastermind behind the entire upheaval of the system? “And the Diplomatic Corps?”
“Consolidated with the Office of State Affairs, otherwise will maintain the same mode of operation.”
“Can I ask why you’re the only one introducing me to this?”
Adele said frankly, without hesitation, “No.”
“That secret, yes? I’d hate to see SHS overstep its bounds.”
She smiled, “I am not SHS, I merely sit on the board of directors, dear nephew. Of course, if that was an attempt to subtly suggest you might have something on me, I would ask you to rethink that position because I have been at this work far longer than you.”
God, why was he even duca if Adele was clearly so much more capable? Of course, de Rossi tradition made it impossible for a woman to head the House -- a remnant of the patriarchy which no one in the family had bothered to abolish -- but someone as clearly in control as she could easily at least openly use him as a puppet.
“Out of curiosity,” he said, walking to a buffet table near the main entrance and picking up a random glass of Rossi wine, “what if I refuse to step down?” He handed the glass to the attendant, who took a sip in a show that the contents were not poisoned. No one in the room looked concerned, so he determined the flute to be safe. He took a drink from the same position on the glass as the attendant did.
It was, curiously for the moment, that time when two members of the State Defense Administration walked into the room from a side antechamber. One, Duca Nicolo Giarelli, stalked across the floor, tugging his gloves off and smiling. “Apologies for the dramatic timing, we just could not help ourselves or wait any longer.”
He offered his hand to Marco, who shook it firmly.
The other Minister, Duchessa Carducci stopped next to Adele. “The SDA will, unfortunately, be forced to depose you in some fashion. We’re not sure how, yet, but coups are not happy business, especially not when they turn bloody. Unfortunately, I think it might. You won’t have Rossi troops at your disposal, but the Paladino family will support you out of spite for my colleague here. House Leone may very well take your side, as could the Caccinis. My own family would be torn apart as my faction supporting Giarelli is not very popular. Civil war, Marco, is probably not the way you want to be remembered.”
Nicolo chuckled. “Won’t assume you’ll pick that option. Just resign and we’ll get elections going.”
“What’s to stop me from winning the next election?”
Several members of the family piped up, including those who hadn’t previously spoken. “You’re not running,” they said in unison.
“Who are we supporting?” he asked, knowing that would be the other option. Then it clicked in his head. The reason Bianca Venturini had gone to Kageb under official capacity, why she had chosen the Foreign Affairs Secretary for ODECON, why she was engaged to Giovanni despite… personal conflicts. “Our votes go to Venturini, don’t they?”
Adele clapped and smiled. “So smart, Marco! Yes, that’s what will happen.”
He continued, “And since this seems to be a large plot, I can only assume Giarelli and Carducci votes are going to them, as well. That’s four families. They’ll have a hard time losing.”
“Mhm,” Nicolo said around a bit of pastry he had taken from the table.
“You’re practically fixing the election.”
“It’s all perfectly legal.”
He shook his head. “That doesn’t make it right.” But he did have to admit, Bianca was probably the best person for the SAC position. “Right, well, what happens now? This went faster than expected.”
Duchessa Carducci pointed out the door, “Press conference in about two hours. You need to prepare for that. We’ll be helping you with the speech. That’s actually why we’re here. Obviously we didn’t need to come to tell you in person that we have the power to force hands militarily.”
SGG News
Rossi - The Regnant appeared at his family’s palace in Rossi this afternoon, declaring his intention to step down from the Regnancy. At the same time, he announced the government’s plan to overhaul the system, long determined to be out of line with Santherese ideals. Said de Rossi:
“I cannot under good conscience continue what has gradually become a nearly authoritarian reign over Santherese. I cannot, as an individual of Santherese values and of Santherese soul, become a dictator to bend this great Republic to my whims. As such, I will be stepping down from the Regnancy following the passage of a bill, under the combined authority of the Inquisition, State Defense Administration, Congress and Regnancy, to dissolve the office of the Regnant and to reinstitute the Council of Ten. We will not, we cannot, have a single executive. We are not built for this and I believe we can all agree that our future does not lie in presidents, kings, or emperors.”
De Rossi, the youngest executive leader in Santherese history, has been renowned for his leadership out of the economic crisis of the decades leading up to his election. He is also noted for his gaining Santheres admission into the Oceanic Defense Coalition.
A spokesman for de Rossi later said that preparations for elections would commence immediately.
Marchessa Adele de Rossi, director the Santherese Humanitarian Society, suggested that the current office of the Regnancy would have its “bloated powers” split amongst the Ten, and the diplomatic face of Santheres would be elected the same way as the Regnant. Elections are assumed to include all ten future councilors, but there is the most excitement regarding who would be the State Affairs Councilor, the new diplomatic office, and the person to deal with the international community on the most regular of bases.
Also, this forum is so much better for indentation.
De Rossi Manor
Rossi, Santheres
The parlor in the de Rossi ancestral home was a spartan affair, unlike much of the rest of the house. The furniture was expensive, yes, but it was simple, downplayed -- bare, oiled mahogany with satin upholstery. It was entirely unlike Marco’s usual lifestyle in the overdone baroque interior of the Byzantine Basilica. But it was home, and he was happy to be there. Well, he had been before the family convened for the meeting which was taking place in the large hall. Marco’s brothers and sisters, some remaining aunts and uncles, cousins, and even nieces and nephews of notability were all present, seated in the soft chairs, chaises and sofas lined across the walls. They were mostly silent, each one deciding at length the words they would say, or simply choosing to remain quiet for fear of reproach from their elders or peers.
Marco knelt to the side, poking at the fire in one of the hearths. To say he was nervous would be an understatement. After all, the way the de Rossi family dealt with removing House leaders was by assassination. They had no official way to do it and the only other option would be threats and pressure to retire. And he wasn’t going to step down.
“I want to assuage your fears that this is about your leadership of this family, Marco. Your service in this manner has been quite adequate.”
That was glowing praise from Aunt Adele.
For a few moments, that was the only thing said before she was the first to speak again. “What Santheres cannot, will not have is another king. Not now, not ever. I know you understand this. Your platform in your campaign pointed to this. But the way the government is structured now … it lends itself too heavily to such an eventually.”
“You’ve proved that,” Cousin Giovanni said. “I don’t know why you thought you could go down this road and get away with it.”
Marco stood and turned, walking to the middle of the room. “I did not think to get away with anything. I was doing what I thought was the best for this country. And you go ahead and tell me that Santheres isn’t better of for what I’ve done.”
“No one is contesting that, nephew. We are all very grateful for your work expanding the economy so many times over. I’m sure we’re happy with our position in ODECON, though the alliances prior to that were questionable at best.”
He conceded that point to her. “Any protection is good protection.”
“Likely not if they had made us obligated to mobilize against a foe we could not reasonably fight.”
“That wouldn’t have happened. The Administration would have rejected any requests and the Congress would have pressured for leaving the alliance.”
Adele looked around the room. At least forty members had come but thus far only she and Giovanni had said anything. She attempted to subtly prompt the others to get involved but many looked into their drinks or just so happened to call a servant over for refreshment. For several seconds, the only sound was the typist in the corner recording the event. And then even that stopped as he caught up, clicking the carriage return twice, quite forcefully.
“Perhaps, Marco, we should just get to the point.” Adele’s soft and reasonable tone was getting to him, but she was very skilled at keeping it going under all circumstances. Maybe that was why no one else was talking. She had a certain silent intimidation when she was at her most serious. “We are quite happy with your overall performance, both with the House and with the nation. You are not allowed, however, to become a king as you have so gradually been moving toward.”
He grinned and returned to the fire, placing a hand on the marble chimneypiece. “I had no intention of doing that. The thought is interesting, though.”
“And wrong,” Giovanni chimed in. This time, several others present also nodded or mumbled their agreement.
Crossing the room again, he sighed. “I would have made a good king, though.”
“Without a doubt, nephew, but that is meaningless. The empire had been made of good kings, emperors, whatever title … dictators. Benevolent dictators are still dictators and that is far too much power for a single person to have. Have you heard the grumbling in the streets? You are a walking controversy and we do our best, all of us, to limit the world’s view those commons and foreigners who are downright frightened at your growing power. You have no peer councilors, no advisors, you are a sole regnant and that looks far too kingly to us.”
“What happens, then?”
A hand in his periphery rose. He turned to face the person, his sister Gianna, who was already speaking. “You cannot be in your position any longer. The Congress has determined that the government will be rebuilt. The Ministry of Defense has already shifted its title so it does not appear subordinate. You know that. The Inquisition will soon be declaring their intention to step back from hegemony over all cases involving the government and plans to take a more … progressive role.”
“And the Regnancy?”
“Well, that’s the tricky thing, eh?” Giovanni shifted in his seat.
Adele nodded. “It’s being dissolved. The Consiglia de Dieci will replace it. Again.” She sighed for a moment. The problem with the old Council of Ten was the bureaucratic inefficiency it produced, which the Regnancy had not. “It will be taking some of the duties from the Congress, however. The Regnancy was installed to improve efficiency and it proved too much. You are the fourth and last Regnant. Your office itself will because the office of the State Affairs Councilor.”
Marco paused for a moment. Aunt Adele was the head of the Santherese Humanitarian Society, an ostensibly non-government organization. Why did she sound like she was the mastermind behind the entire upheaval of the system? “And the Diplomatic Corps?”
“Consolidated with the Office of State Affairs, otherwise will maintain the same mode of operation.”
“Can I ask why you’re the only one introducing me to this?”
Adele said frankly, without hesitation, “No.”
“That secret, yes? I’d hate to see SHS overstep its bounds.”
She smiled, “I am not SHS, I merely sit on the board of directors, dear nephew. Of course, if that was an attempt to subtly suggest you might have something on me, I would ask you to rethink that position because I have been at this work far longer than you.”
God, why was he even duca if Adele was clearly so much more capable? Of course, de Rossi tradition made it impossible for a woman to head the House -- a remnant of the patriarchy which no one in the family had bothered to abolish -- but someone as clearly in control as she could easily at least openly use him as a puppet.
“Out of curiosity,” he said, walking to a buffet table near the main entrance and picking up a random glass of Rossi wine, “what if I refuse to step down?” He handed the glass to the attendant, who took a sip in a show that the contents were not poisoned. No one in the room looked concerned, so he determined the flute to be safe. He took a drink from the same position on the glass as the attendant did.
It was, curiously for the moment, that time when two members of the State Defense Administration walked into the room from a side antechamber. One, Duca Nicolo Giarelli, stalked across the floor, tugging his gloves off and smiling. “Apologies for the dramatic timing, we just could not help ourselves or wait any longer.”
He offered his hand to Marco, who shook it firmly.
The other Minister, Duchessa Carducci stopped next to Adele. “The SDA will, unfortunately, be forced to depose you in some fashion. We’re not sure how, yet, but coups are not happy business, especially not when they turn bloody. Unfortunately, I think it might. You won’t have Rossi troops at your disposal, but the Paladino family will support you out of spite for my colleague here. House Leone may very well take your side, as could the Caccinis. My own family would be torn apart as my faction supporting Giarelli is not very popular. Civil war, Marco, is probably not the way you want to be remembered.”
Nicolo chuckled. “Won’t assume you’ll pick that option. Just resign and we’ll get elections going.”
“What’s to stop me from winning the next election?”
Several members of the family piped up, including those who hadn’t previously spoken. “You’re not running,” they said in unison.
“Who are we supporting?” he asked, knowing that would be the other option. Then it clicked in his head. The reason Bianca Venturini had gone to Kageb under official capacity, why she had chosen the Foreign Affairs Secretary for ODECON, why she was engaged to Giovanni despite… personal conflicts. “Our votes go to Venturini, don’t they?”
Adele clapped and smiled. “So smart, Marco! Yes, that’s what will happen.”
He continued, “And since this seems to be a large plot, I can only assume Giarelli and Carducci votes are going to them, as well. That’s four families. They’ll have a hard time losing.”
“Mhm,” Nicolo said around a bit of pastry he had taken from the table.
“You’re practically fixing the election.”
“It’s all perfectly legal.”
He shook his head. “That doesn’t make it right.” But he did have to admit, Bianca was probably the best person for the SAC position. “Right, well, what happens now? This went faster than expected.”
Duchessa Carducci pointed out the door, “Press conference in about two hours. You need to prepare for that. We’ll be helping you with the speech. That’s actually why we’re here. Obviously we didn’t need to come to tell you in person that we have the power to force hands militarily.”
SGG News
Rossi - The Regnant appeared at his family’s palace in Rossi this afternoon, declaring his intention to step down from the Regnancy. At the same time, he announced the government’s plan to overhaul the system, long determined to be out of line with Santherese ideals. Said de Rossi:
“I cannot under good conscience continue what has gradually become a nearly authoritarian reign over Santherese. I cannot, as an individual of Santherese values and of Santherese soul, become a dictator to bend this great Republic to my whims. As such, I will be stepping down from the Regnancy following the passage of a bill, under the combined authority of the Inquisition, State Defense Administration, Congress and Regnancy, to dissolve the office of the Regnant and to reinstitute the Council of Ten. We will not, we cannot, have a single executive. We are not built for this and I believe we can all agree that our future does not lie in presidents, kings, or emperors.”
De Rossi, the youngest executive leader in Santherese history, has been renowned for his leadership out of the economic crisis of the decades leading up to his election. He is also noted for his gaining Santheres admission into the Oceanic Defense Coalition.
A spokesman for de Rossi later said that preparations for elections would commence immediately.
Marchessa Adele de Rossi, director the Santherese Humanitarian Society, suggested that the current office of the Regnancy would have its “bloated powers” split amongst the Ten, and the diplomatic face of Santheres would be elected the same way as the Regnant. Elections are assumed to include all ten future councilors, but there is the most excitement regarding who would be the State Affairs Councilor, the new diplomatic office, and the person to deal with the international community on the most regular of bases.