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Members of Congreso,

In times of crisis, a man has little time for thought. He must react as events arise. A desperation permeates his very soul; he succumbs to hysteria, fearing that if he does not immediately act, all could be lost. In the battle of words and wits, speed is necessity and slovenliness a sin. You must act with haste or be destroyed. It is only when the initial shock has receded, and imminent disaster averted, that a man may now allocate time to think. Think about all that has occurred. Think about how he should have responded, and how he did. Think about where he went wrong.

I know now where I went wrong. The moment Senor Rios appeared in Congreso with a torrent of abuse on his lips, I should have stepped back and said nothing. I should have defended myself and left it at that. I should have waited for him to return to the table, as he eventually must, and resume negotiations. But I was so outraged by his assault on my person, so intrinsically betrayed by the fact that he had broken off negotiations without informing me, and so immediately concerned about his aspersions against my character and reputation that the logical option eluded me. I debased myself in debate, instead of remaining aloof.

It was in this spirit that I published my appointments list to Congreso. This was the gravest mistake of all, which has haunted me throughout this crisis. Contrary to the opinion of my opponents, I was not in fact trying to appoint generals without the consent of the Chief of Staff. I was merely asking for Congreso to voice its dissent or approval, in order to force a resolution to the impasse. I did not intend to order my army appointments to take effect; I merely requested opinions. But I see now why it was so easily misinterpreted. By way of my phrasing, I made it sound as if I was demanding these appointments take effect immediately. By ambiguous phrasing, I transformed a personal dispute into a constitutional crisis. Though this was not my intent, I can only apologise.

We all must apologise. We are the representatives of the people. We are the voice of their interests and desires, their needs and their concerns. But their voice has been drowned out in a cacophony of conflict. When we should have cooperated to produce consensus, we drew our daggers and plunged into the fray. For this, thousands of brave soldiers were butchered at the hands of the Argentinians. For this, the beginning of a glorious five-year term was transformed into a perpetual congressional bloodbath. The executive has been paralysed, the army thrown into disarray, and Congreso ground to a halt. All the apparatus of state has been drowned in discord. We cannot go on like this. We cannot have five years of cut-throat conflict and violent rhetoric.

I left the army and came to Congreso to restore unity to the Republic. I see now that I have failed. But I must make amends. I shall restore the Republic to its unified self. I call upon all members of Congreso, conservador or liberal, left or right, to come together to bring back peace to the Republic. Let us put this conflict aside, once and for all. Let us cease this endless name-calling and rabble-rousing, which has reduced the legislative branch to the discourse of a nursery.

You were right. This is not a solution; it is merely a single victorious battle in a long war of attrition, that threatens to erode our Republic into ruin. We cannot fight illegality with illegality. In order to achieve a permanent solution, we must have unity. We must end the enmity that has dominated our country since this crisis began. We must have peace in order to have prosperity. We must have consensus to avert further conflict.

I humbly request that General Rios return to the table, so that together, we may confirm the commanders and composition of the Chilean armed forces in the traditional manner. Face to face, as President and Chief of Staff. Let us put this debacle to bed and restore honour and integrity to our sacred offices. In the name of God and Chile, let us end this feud and do our duties by the Republic.

These are the appointments I wish to implement, incorporating all the amendments and suggestions made by General Rios in our original discussion:

Army of Arica ((18 brigades (10inf 6art 2cav))) - General de Porto ((Zagoroth))
Army of Patagonia ((18 brigades (10inf 6art 2cav))) – General Hidalgo ((MastahCheef))
Army of the Republic ((20 brigades (12inf 6art 2cav)) – General Ferrari ((King5000))
Metropolitan Army ((18 brigades (10inf 2art 2cav)) – General Gonzalez ((yourworstnightm))
Panama Canal Garrison ((8 brigades (5inf 3art)) - General Rivera ((AtomicSoda))
Navy and Marine Force ((6 brigades (5inf 1art)) - Admiral Alvarez ((Gloa))
Capital Guard ((12 brigades (9inf 3art))

I shall now seek the approval of the Chief of Staff for their implementation. Until then, the original appointments will stand and be implemented by the Initiative:

Army of Arica ((18 brigades (10inf 6art 2cav))) - General Ferrari ((King5000))
Army of Patagonia ((18 brigades (10inf 6art 2cav))) – General Hidalgo ((MastahCheef))
Army of the Republic ((20 brigades (12inf 6art 2cav)) – Colonel de Porto ((Zagoroth))
Metropolitan Army ((18 brigades (10inf 2art 2cav)) – Colonel Rivera ((AtomicSoda))
Panama Canal Garrison ((8 brigades (5inf 3art)) - General Navia ((Lyonessian))
Navy and Marine Force ((6 brigades (5inf 1art)) - Admiral Alvarez ((Gloa))
Capital Guard ((12 brigades (9inf 3art))

- President Charles Maximilien de Conti
 
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This is a disappointing development, to be sure. President de Conti, you alienate your spiteful enemies as you rightfully should. But then, in a spineless "compromise" that panders to the leftists who lost so completely in the elections, you veto the only saving grace for our armies! This is completely abhorrent and utterly unacceptable. I ask you this; why do you forsake your only loyal compatriots, the Patriotas and to a lesser extent the Republicanos? Why do you bend to the aggressive yet futilely weak FNT, and the practically non-existent Socialists?

You have entirely crippled your own administration, and were it not for the introduction of actual bills by myself and other members of the Patriotas party, who have thus far been the only ones to introduce fiscal bills as opposed to agitation, you would be declared the most incompetent President to date. The Emergency Resolution Initiative was going to pass for a reason; more people supported it than not, that being an aspect of the majoritarian Democracy that we employ in this country.

However, you stopped it from being enacted. You have subverted democracy by prohibiting a supported bill, and in doing so transgressing your own platform of moderate conservative politics, upon which you were elected. You speak of illegalities, and this is the gravest one of all! You toss around words like unity as if they meant nothing; I will impress upon you the unity that you seem to forget. The unity that backed you as a Republicano candidate, on a Republicano platform and presumably with a Republicano cabinet. If you chose to run as a non-partisan, then you should have run as an indpendent insted of destroying a primary.

General Rios is a declared leftist, and he appoints only socialists who are wholly unqualified to posts that they ill deserve. There was no long war of attrition; jailed Socialists and weak FNT members made themselves loud, whilst the silent majority of conservadores did as you claim that you should have done. We sat back and watched, confident that the President that we had elected would do his job and halt the leftist liar Rios.

No more will I sit back and watch. You have failed to stand up for your platform and your constituents, and now I am calling you for it. You bend to a weak-willed and unprincipled Chief of Staff whose only accomplishment is having been wholly crushed by a rebel army under a senile General seeking unrealistic reform through force of arms. He lied to get elected, and now you lie to appease the leftists that you so fear.

I do not fear the left, de Conti. Rather, I despise them. They have pressured you into abandoning your values, and it seems that not much pressure was needed. Now, I hope that the actual Conservadores will recognize this fact and flock to the banner that I am erecting today. I am man enough to tell you that there will be no coup, as I respect the Chilean soldiers and people far too much to endanger them. But I swear, you shall not serve a second term unless you grow to understand that your constituents are your employers; you were hired by us, and now you forsake us. This does not bode well for a career review.

Senator Alejandro Ruiz de Escovedo
 
I have been disappointed by my president, whom I've always supported wholeheartedly. Victory was at hand..

The bill is going to pass, it's still early for you to withdraw your veto.
 
And so the cycle begins again. This administration will be paralyzed because our president and COS will never agree. At this point it would be wiser to give the president the tools he needs to deal with the germanistas at the cost of our balanced government than continue this endless debate.
 
There are more pressing matters at hand than you career ambitions, Senor de Escovedo.

I did not set out to be a President of the Republicanos or a President of the Patriotas. I set out to be the President of Chile. While my political beliefs lie with those two parties, nationalism must by necessity encompass the nation. It is the people of Chile who propelled our National Alliance into power. It is those people who I am responsible to. And it would be grossly irresponsible of me to perpetuate a feud that has undermine the national interest and sent thousands of those people to their deaths.

You are forever questioning my conservatism, Senor de Escovedo. Have I not proved beyond doubt my loyalty to the conservador cause and to my partners in governance, the Partido Patriota? Have I not appointed Senores Crazzio, Fernandez, Saez and Fuentes - all Patriotas - to positions in my cabinet? Have I not pushed forth with my appointments for esteemed generals with assured loyalty to the traditional constitutional order? There are more Patriotas occupying ministerial posts than there are Republicanos. Yet the way you talk, you would think I had surrendered the government to the Marxistas. Senor Rios accuses me of being a reactionary; you accuse me of being a leftist turncoat. Both of you have only your personal ambitions in mind.

But it is true that this initiative was passed with a majority of Congreso, and as such it would be undemocratic to dissolve it. Therefore, I will withdraw my veto. But I will not withdraw my offer of reconciliation. I still hope to come to terms with Senor Rios and end this feud. I seek the ratification of my army appointments in the legal, traditional manner. For that is the essence of conservatism: respect for the traditions and foundations of the Republic.

- President Charles Maximilien de Conti
 
That is the only issue, then. President de Conti, I expressed my displeasure with your veto, and truly this was the only motivator behind my rhetoric. You must admit that the issue has defined your presidency, and for the only defining moment of the term to be a victory for the liberales... well, I could not stomach it. I see that you have re-affirmed your commitment to democracy, however. Therefore I, too, withdraw my complaint.

The ministry positions are well and good, but again, military matters have defined your Presidency. It is necessary, given the crushing majority with which we emerged during elections, that every aspect of your Government be conservative.

Senator Alejandro Ruiz de Escovedo
 
Democracy has served. Let us see the results of the voting.
 
Senor Presidente, your veto would have been a most unwise action, and I am glad you changed your mind. We can get back to politics as usual next election, but right now it is necessary to keep the army undivided. I have respect for Andonie despite the last few days of events, but the longer a delay between negotiations the more time certain generals who have everything to lose by setting the army straight have to attempt to assert influence.

By all means though, attempt to negotiate, but we must keep the time table of this bill as the end of the time negotiations can be used instead of Rule of Law.

Also, the debate about immigration. Chile is a nation of all immigrants. I am for Chileans, every single Chilean, and the truth is that the second you step on our beauteous shores, you become Chilean. A whole nation, united by a common national identity over all other identities. Truly this is the dream of any government? To have the mandate of its citizens by the collective identity afforded to the nation, over influence exerted through more baser means of ethnicity, religion, and class?

-General de Porto
 
I think we can all agree that immigration has been a great service to the growth of this Republic.

Workers are the engines of industry. Without an ample supply of labour, we cannot hope to maintain our present prosperity. Immigration augments the labour force and enables the continued industrialisation of our nation. It is because of immigration that Chile has been transformed from a far-flung backwater of the former Spanish Crown into the most thriving economy in South America. My administration has done all it can to ensure that immigrants become productive components of Chilean society, and not drains on the affluence of the nation.

- President Charles Maximilien de Conti
 
I awoke today to the news that the Presidente had extended a generous hand of friendship and reconciliation towards me with his announcement that he was to veto the Emergency Resolution bill or as it is better known as the Subjucate the will of the people bill. I will admit that this took me by surprise and my heart warmed at this gregarious gesture by our Presidente. I thought then that this was a man I could talk to, that this was a problem that could be resolved.

Sadly it is now apparent that our President is not the real ruler of this country, let alone the ruler of this coalition. He is clearly, simply a puppet being manipulated by the far right to do what they want. The Presidente broke away briefly, cut the string of his puppeters and the real man shone through briefy with his offer but now it appears the puppeters once again have their hand up his rear and are controlling him again.

I would like to return to the table with the Presidente and negotiate but one cannot negotiate with a gun pointed at his head. One cannot negotiate when the other party says negotiate but at the same time says if you dont agree with me you are removed. That is not negotiations. Instead we continue to have this travesty where the Presidente is controlled by evil and shadowy figures that lurk menacingly in the background. Since his rise to power despite weak denials we are already seeing a move towards a less open society, a society where people not of a certain faith or colour are persecuted. I am only a military man but I will not and cannot let this happen. So, I urge you Senor Presidente, prove that you are a man and not a puppet.

General Rios
Chief of Staff
 
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I awoke today to the news that the Presidente had extended a generous hand of friendship and reconciliation towards me with his announcement that he was to veto the Emergency Resolution bill or as it is better known as the Subjucate the will of the people bill. I will admit that this took me by surprise and my heart warmed at this gregarious gesture by our Presidente. I thought then that this was a man I could talk to, that this was a problem that could be resolved.

Sadly it is now apparent that our Preidenmt is not the real riuler of this country, let alone the ruler of this coalition. He is clearly, simply a puppet being manipulated by the far right to do what they wanty. The Presidente broke away briefly, cut the string of his puppeters and the real man shone rhrough briefy with his offer but now it appears the puppeters once again have their hand up his rear and are controlling him again.

I would like to return to the table with the Presidente and negotiate but one cannot negotiate with a gun pointed at his head. One cannot negotiate when the other party says negotiate but at the same time says if you dont agree with me you are removed. That is not negotiations. Instead we continue to have this travesty where the Presidente is controlled by evil and shadowy figures that lurk menacingly in the background. Since his rise to power despite weak denials we are already seeing a move towards a less open society, a society where people not of a certain faith or colour are persecuted. I am only a military man but I will not and cannot let this happen. So, I urge you Senor Presidente, prove that you are a man and not a puppet.

General Rios
Chief of Staff

Call me a "shadowy figure" or a "puppeteer" but I won't sit here and let you manipulate our president. The bill is about to pass, you have lost. Not only you have lost your political allies and friends in the right, but you have alienated yourself from a large part of the electorate and you will likely lose the next CoS election.
 
Call me a "shadowy figure" or a "puppeteer" but I won't sit here and let you manipulate our president. The bill is about to pass, you have lost. Not only you have lost your political allies and friends in the right, but you have alienated yourself from a large part of the electorate and you will likely lose the next CoS election.

Which will of course allow you to place your puppet in the CoS position, something which you so dearly seem to want.

- General Remedio Hakkihäälenin
 
I have offered you every concession you originally requested, General Rios. Every criticism has been addressed and rectified. If you will still not accept my proposal to return to negotiations, then so be it. I shall have to be satisfied with the status quo. Like any man of tradition, I would have preferred to see this crisis resolved by the consensus of the President and the Chief of Staff. But it is impossible to waltz if your partner is unwilling to step up to the floor.

- President Charles Maximilien de Conti
 
I have offered you every concession you originally requested, General Rios. Every criticism has been addressed and rectified. If you will still not accept my proposal to return to negotiations, then so be it. I shall have to be satisfied with the status quo. Like any man of tradition, I would have preferred to see this crisis resolved by the consensus of the President and the Chief of Staff. But it is impossible to waltz if your partner is unwilling to step up to the floor.

- President Charles Maximilien de Conti

But Presidente, I have expressed how I was willing to talk to you again but not with the loaded gun of this ridiculous bill pointed at my head.

General Rios
Chief of Staff
 
I beg the Chief of Staff to at least negotitate, and get this crisis over with.
 
I stand to gain nothing from negotiation, Senor Rios. My army appointments are to be imminently implemented by legislative mandate. But nonetheless, I desire the resumption of talks because I seek a permanent truce, not a temporary ceasefire. Only through negotiation can we despatch this debate once and for all. Only via the traditional partnership of the Chief of Staff and the President can we end the factionalism that has fractured our armed forces. It is you who stands to benefit most from resuming negotiations, Senor Rios. So why not return to the table?

- President Charles Maximilien de Conti
 
I never thought I'd say this, but I agree with de Conti.
 
Senor Presidente. I am going to make an announcement that I believe you may find satisfactory to you. I will come back to you shortly with these details.

General Rios