Shadow of the Andes - An Interactive Chilean AAR

[Kaisersohaib]

Farias yes to employment and rebuilding act

[ThunderHawk3]

President:
Palomino ((MastahCheef117)): 6
Farìas ((viola)): 6

Employment and Rebuilding Act:
Yes: 5
No: 2
Abstain: 1

Also, I believe I have made it clear that this is the last Presidential election.

So, by my tally the Employment and Rebuilding Act has passed, but we are in a Golden Vote Scenario with respect to the Presidential election. I need a single tiebreaking vote to determine the outcome of this final election.

[Red Cesar]

Farias

[MastahCheef117]

"To Sr. Alejandro Farìas,

It is with great warmth and happiness that I congratulate you on your victory in the Presidential Election of 1931. These last years have been the most trying of my life: what with being one of the leaders of democracy in the Civil War to presiding over a broken country suffering from an economic depression the likes of which has never been seen before.

However, all is not lost. Though my policies may not have fit the best in this period, what with high unemployment, a capital devastated by warfare, and political boundaries larger and fiercer than the Socialist-Communist split in the latter half of the 19th century, I believe that there is no man better than you to lead our nation - our Chile - through the darkest recesses of despair and a grand economic downturn. Every liberty-loving Chilean marches with you; the hopes and prayers of these great people shall give you strength. Of this there is no doubt. The full weight of Chile's economic power and versatility shall bring her back into the fold as one of the greatest nations in the world - a nation of economic and personal prosperity, a nation of honor, of courage, of sacrifice, of equality, and of justice.

The shoes of the President are quite a large one to fill; even I find myself unable to grow into this enormous pair that has been worn by the Republicano de Santa Rosa in the wake of the Empire, the Socialist Gogołów following a great Civil War, and the Mediator de Conti who presided over a fractured Republic and kept her together in spirit. The eyes of the world are upon you. The Free People of Chile have placed their hopes with you. I do not believe you even have the capacity to fail at such a grandiose expedition.

I admit that my administration was not the best - if anything at all, it may even be considered one of the worst. This economic downturn - this Great Depression, as people are now calling it - has brought our economy into the depths of what can be called the "Abyss of Despair". My treasury department was filled with corruption the likes of which no former administration has seen, and the likes of which will most likely - and hopefully - shall never be surpassed. The buildup of our navy further divided the people and damaged our treasury to a new low. People outraged at my blunders, and I cannot blame them. In a sense, I believe, I have failed the people of Chile. It is only right for my presidency to be looked at in a lower light. But there is hope. Senor, you can reverse my mistakes, and bring Chile to a glory that I only dreamed - and failed - of acquiring.

And it is so that I bid you farewell, Senor Farìas. Under the likes of you, Chile shall undergo a new birth of Freedom - and I believe it safe to say that this government of the people, by the people, and for the people, shall not perish from this earth.

~President Daniel Palomino
1926-1931"

A letter written to President-Elect Farìas by then-President Daniel Palomino, 1931

[loki100]

Please note that, in the interest of clarity we have slightly revised the rules for interactive AARs. It is in your interests to read the revision here. In particular note that in future in addition to the usual forum penalties for breach of the rules we may consider banning individuals from a particular thread (this would most likely be instead of closing the thread)

[Maxwell500]

Ernesto F. Fuentes, knowing he no longer had a career left in Chile, has escaped house imprisonment and fled to the neighboring nation of Peru, where he caught a ship to Poland, from there he travelled to the small and independant Communist nation of Krakow where he began working for the Communist Party.

[Kaioo]

"It is a shame Senor Palomino has lost the election, though we did have some differing on opinions earlier on. I sincerely hope that Farias does well, the sake of our country is at stake here. I would like Farias to please elaborate on what he is going do with the military since he is a pacifist. I hope he does not wish to cut down the military even further."- Carlos Ramone de Guerro

[thekinguter]

I congratulate Farías in this election. I remind him that if he needs a Vice President or a minister I am completely willing to collaborate in his government.

-Antonia Zepeda, former FNT candidate

[yourworstnightm]

I congratulate the winner. I hope you won't go against free trade and enterprising. It's our free economy that hold Chile together.

[Ivir Baggins]

Sebastian Montenegro, his political career at an end, has left for his home of Tsernagora, where he has been offered a professorial posting at the University of Cetinje.

[ThunderHawk3]

The 1931 Presidential Election: The End of an Era

The results of the 1931 Presidential Election shocked the country, as Daniel Palomino - who many thought would win re-election in an unopposed race, was narrowly defeated by Independent candidate Alejandro Farìas, the former FNT nominee who had been the first to discuss coalition with Palomino. The Palomino campaign started with a very strong lead over Farìas, but after a series of campaign coups by the opposition candidate, the tide began to turn. At the outset of his renewed Presidential campaign, Farìas gave his now legendary campaign speech, "The New Tyranny." In it he famously said, "I respect President Palomino as a man who saved this country from a very terrible evil, the evil of communist tyranny. But now, my friends, we face a new evil that Mr. Palomino is wholly unprepared to deal with: the tyranny of poverty. It is the tyranny that jobs from our sons and food from our mouths; it is a tyranny that cannot be shot or killed." Farìas famously promised that his administration would put an end to both war and unemployment.

In a whistlestop tour across the nation, Alejandro Farìas visited spiraling lines of the impoverished and unemployed at soup kitchens and welfare offices. In Rio Negro, Farìas shook hands with every man in the line, a photograph that would accompany a transcript of his speech on the front of every paper. Palomino was less successful in his populous efforts. In the urban city centers, Palomino had to answer awkward questions about corruption in the treasury and how his laissez-faire policies would lift Chile from the depths of the current recession; he quickly found that explanations of free market economics meant little to the starving. When he visited Rio Negro, labouring under 26% unemployment, a jobless man shouted at the President "Vote for Farìas and make it unanimous," to the laughter of onlookers.

Despite his poor performance in the industrial centers, Palomino's popularity was not to be underestimated. In point of fact, he was ahead in the rudimentary opinion polls of the time up until election day. As the hero of the civil war, Palomino remained overwhelming popular with veterans. The upper strata and the middle class tended to favor him as well, and his campaign received massive campaign donations from parties interested in keeping the socialists out of office. However, by the crucial date, Palomino had suffered a PR defeat that would never be forgotten. His name (often abbreviated to "Palo") had become synonymous with failure: the impoverished had started to call bindles Palo packs, newspaper blankets Palo blankets, and soup kitchens Palo factories.

The election night remained tense up until the very end. The Presidency hinged on unpledged electors (electors who had been elected to elect the President but hadn't stated who they would support), and the vote swung first one way, then the other, all evening. When they were finally counted, the final tally stood at Farìas 154, Palomino 151, a margin so narrow that the Congreso recounted the electoral ballot. But with the tally confirmed, it was clear that Palomino had lost and Alejandro Farìas had become the next President of the Republic.

-------------------------

Player Actions Needed:
I need civil and military appointments from viola, as well as what you intend to do with this thread's last Presidency, Mr. Farìas.

[thekinguter]

A tense election and an imptessive show of PR management. I congratule our new president elect and remind him that the FNT and the people has put their trust on him to get the job done. Our country will arise from the ashes like a phoenix and with strong state presence our private industries will recover. My own company had been in the brink of ruin and now we might be saved!

Antonia Zepeda, FNT member and factory owner

[zagoroth]

I had always thought interventionist economics was the way to go, but I was denied the chance to run on that bill. I would be honored to assist the President Elect.

[Kaisersohaib]

Señor Farías, i congratulate you for your current situation in the elections, i also think that i may be a good candidate for being a Minister of Foreign Affairs your good follower,
-Miguel del Alvarado

[Syriana]

My fellow Chileans,

It has been a long time since I graced the halls of Congreso, and I feel I offer an explanation.

From the day I ordered the evacuation of my government to Panama, it had been my intention to return one day and rescue Chile - first from communist tyranny, and then from fascist dictatorship. But I would never see the day. When the Americans seized Panama, despite the valiant defence offered by the late General Rivera, it seemed that God himself had conspired against the Republic. I left behind Chile, and never looked back. Even when the autocracy fell and the republic was restored, I was not tempted to return. Politics had purged me of all happiness; I had no stomach to suffer again. Like the great José de San Martín, I intended to separate myself from the internecine quarrels of my homeland and embrace peaceful retirement.

But, being now over one hundred years of age, I am fast approaching the end of my life. I have returned to spend my last days on my native soil. I must admit to having mixed feelings upon my arrival. When I heard of the Marxist revolution, it seemed my life had come full circle. The more years that pass in Chile, the more she stays the same. Yet unlike that infamous year of 1898, the forces of republicanism prevailed without recourse to autocracy. Perhaps there is hope for our great nation, as she advances into the latter half of a new century.

During my time, I have been both witness and participant of the multitudinous contradictions that make up our society. I have been both champion of the people and pariah, universally popular and universally loathed. I have been conspirator and conspiracy victim. I have been honest and duplicitous, altruist and authoritarian, servant of the people and slave-driver. I have been by turns ruler and ruled, oppressor and oppressed. I have seen three sovereign states simultaneously lay claim to Chile. I have suffered by acts of betrayal, and been strengthened by acts of courage and decency. I have seen men lie to themselves and the people to further their own ambitions, and men remain true to their principles even in the face of death and disenfranchisement. But above all, I have seen why despite all these hardships and indignities - despite all the suffering rained upon Chile, the violence visited on her cities, the blood that has spilled through her streets - the Fatherland has survived and persevered. And that is because of its people. Chile shall never suffer subjugation, no matter how high the cost of resistance might prove. She fought for independence from Spain; she fought for democracy under Roseno; she fought for freedom under the Fascistas; and in each and every instance, she has been victorious.

So I offer my congratulations to President Farìas and wish him well. May his term be peaceful and prosperous, and so set a precedent for the future of our great society. Since the reign of Cesar Roseno, we have lived under the shadow of the Andes, imprisoned within our own homeland. Perhaps President Farìas shall finally lead our nation back into the light.

- Charles Maximilien de Conti, former President of the Third Republic

[ThunderHawk3]

I have received the following list of appointments and statement from the President.

Government
Vice President: Antonia Zepeda ((thekinguter))
Minister of the Interior: Jesus Villa ((LeeroyJenkins))
Minister of the Treasury: Jose Bevan ((WelshDude))
Minister of Foreign Affairs: Pedro de Cordova ((zagoroth))
Minister of Defense: Alejandro Ramirez ((atomicsoda))
Minister of the Navy: Daniel Palomino ((MastahCheef117))
Minister of the Recovery: Jose Bevan ((WelshDude))

Military
Army of Patagonia (max. ~14 brigades): Miguel del Alvarado ((Kaisersohaib))
Army of Argentina (max. ~16 brigades): Carlos Ramone de Guerro ((Kaioo))
Grand Army of the Republic (max. ~18 brigades): Alejandro Ramirez ((atomicsoda))
Army of Antofagasta (max. ~16 brigades): Alejandro Ramirez ((atomicsoda))
Army of the Pacific (max. ~16 brigades): Estevon Evarado ((cavebear3000))
Army of the Caribbean (max. ~10 brigades): Ernst Thaumen ((Seek75))
Army of the Canal Zone (max. ~10 brigades): Ernst Thaumen ((Seek75))
Chilean Navy: Daniel Palomino ((MastahCheef117))
Capital Guard


"[...]Chile faces one of its greatest challenges: the economy is stagnant, the unemployment rate is skyrocketing and more and more factories are closing, but now it's time to recover! With a strong combination of subsidies and public works we can rebuild our economy with the help of the workers and the trade unions; we can rebuild our economy to be socially sustainable! It's my intention to introduce a new industrial production system: the cooperative, a system where the workers can finally have a word in the factory management, with the mediation of the trade unions.[...]"

"[...]Even though I'm a pacifist, there will be no reduction of the military during this term: with the economic crisis disbanding the military will just create more unemployment, something we really don't need. Instead the military budget will be lowered, in order to increase subsidies for the factories and for the jobless.[...]"

"[...]It's time for our nation to stabilize our relations with the other great powers, as it is the only way to achieve peace, and to propose to the international community the idea of an international organization that will resolve diplomatically any dispute between nations.[...]"

"[...]Our nation is suffering one of the worst economic crisis in it's history, now every good Chilean must do is best for the good of our country. Those upper classes, land owners and capitalists, that have the most now will have to give the most: once elected I will introduce a form of progressive taxation that will protect the workers from even more unjust sacrifices.[...]"

- Extracts from Farìas speeches during the general election.

((Note: I edited the above quotes slightly to correct errors because viola is not a native speaker.))

EDIT: Update later today.

[Riccardo93]

Congratulations to Senor Farias; I hope his presidency is successful (and that the middle class will continue to benefit from a largely free market), and I wish the best to Senor de Conti, who I supported during the Fascist period.

[Kaioo]

"I thank Senor Farias on my appointment, and I am glad to see he has not cut the military numbers in this current climate. I shall do my utmost best as a General of our great nation. I am glad to see Farias has appointed a veteran of the Chilean army, who was previously displaced by the cuts, back into a military position. If he had not been reintegrated in such a grand position as a General, I would have reinstated him into a position under my command, welcome back to the military Senor Ramirez, I am sure you will do a good job with your military experience."- General of Argentina, Carlos Ramone de Guerro

[yourworstnightm]

If you think the end of my political office was the last of the Dickhard you all thought wrong. My ships goes to Asia and back full of cargo. My planes fly all over the Andes making it possible to deliver wares from one part of Chile to another in record time! And people still need guano for the agriculture. This Dick is Harder than ever!

Btw, party at my place tonight!

[atomicsoda]

I wish to thank El Presidente for my appointment. I have much confidence in our great nation to survive this crisis and prosper well into the future.

General Ramirez