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((We're gonna wait a day so everyone can put in their two cents, so no worries, just tack something on tomorrow. I'd prefer if we avoid other topics until then, so everything is in one place to read over.))
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((We're gonna wait a day so everyone can put in their two cents, so no worries, just tack something on tomorrow. I'd prefer if we avoid other topics until then, so everything is in one place to read over.))
((Goodnight everyone, and good luck Kraus! Keep on federating, even under an illegitimate junta!))
((If Kraus gets executed, I plan to play as his eldest son, Henrik))
Kraus stands and clears his throat.
Gentlemen, Councillors, Marshals and Members of the jury. I understand and accept all the charges laid against me. In my defence I have the following to say.
In the wake of Codrinaru’s confusing attempts to dissolve office and his subsequent suicide, as well as Janos Papp’s absence I saw myself as being the only member of the cabinet able to take control of the situation. I used my seniority in the cabinet, and my leadership of the majority party, the All-Danubian Conservative Party, as justification for my acquiring of the role of President. Seeing as many of my fellow ministers, including but not limited to those in the cabinet, had fled or actively supported the Coup, I decided I was the only man fit for holding any office. To that end, I took control of all the offices of the Federation and told all people of the Federation that I was the legitimate successor to Codrinaru. I then promptly declared all Councillors, Deputies and Military Leaders to be friends of the Generals’ and their coup. My next move was to declare that I was to receive all charges laid against all members of the cabinet that had served under Codrinaru, as I was now the holder of the offices.
My motives behind such moves were simple. I believed, and still do, that it was necessary for the Generals to have a man to blame the unrest on. A man that was the embodiment of previous government of the Federation. A man that could be sacrificed to ensure the stability of the Federation. To this end I seized control, and prevented any other Councillors or Deputies or Military Leaders, from receiving any charges from their time under Codrinaru’s presidency. Why did I do this you ask? The reason behind that is also simple. I wanted to protect my friends. If I could take all the blame, for all possible crimes, then they could not be persecuted.
I plead guilty to all charges laid against me, and place myself upon the mercy of the court.
May God bless the Federation.
Kraus sits back down.
((And I've gotta go out for an hour or two. I wonder what the response will be to Kraus's speech?))
Kraus stands and clears his throat.
Gentlemen, Councillors, Marshals and Members of the jury. I understand and accept all the charges laid against me. In my defence I have the following to say.
In the wake of Codrinaru’s confusing attempts to dissolve office and his subsequent suicide, as well as Janos Papp’s absence I saw myself as being the only member of the cabinet able to take control of the situation. I used my seniority in the cabinet, and my leadership of the majority party, the All-Danubian Conservative Party, as justification for my acquiring of the role of President. Seeing as many of my fellow ministers, including but not limited to those in the cabinet, had fled or actively supported the Coup, I decided I was the only man fit for holding any office. To that end, I took control of all the offices of the Federation and told all people of the Federation that I was the legitimate successor to Codrinaru. I then promptly declared all Councillors, Deputies and Military Leaders to be friends of the Generals’ and their coup. My next move was to declare that I was to receive all charges laid against all members of the cabinet that had served under Codrinaru, as I was now the holder of the offices.
My motives behind such moves were simple. I believed, and still do, that it was necessary for the Generals to have a man to blame the unrest on. A man that was the embodiment of previous government of the Federation. A man that could be sacrificed to ensure the stability of the Federation. To this end I seized control, and prevented any other Councillors or Deputies or Military Leaders, from receiving any charges from their time under Codrinaru’s presidency. Why did I do this you ask? The reason behind that is also simple. I wanted to protect my friends. If I could take all the blame, for all possible crimes, then they could not be persecuted.
I plead guilty to all charges laid against me, and place myself upon the mercy of the court.
May God bless the Federation.
Kraus sits back down.
((And I've gotta go out for an hour or two. I wonder what the response will be to Kraus's speech?))
((Thank you Tapscott. Anyone is free to give their input now, either for or against.))
Dont feel you need a scape goat, no government has ever gotten more legitimate by executing someone who did nothing wrong. Herr Kraus has his faults but, he like everyone needs a second chance, I assure you on my honor that Herr Kraus will do nothing against the current government to undermined it on his own inititive, in fact I swear on my life that he will not.
- Otto von Tirpitz, acting Councillor for Schlesien
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((Strike that last part.))
Tiepolo stands
The only thing I wish to say is that Councillor Kraus did not, as some were to maliciously later claim, attempt to seize power for his own selfish ends. He made it clear from the moment he assumed office that he was merely trying to stave off what we had thought would be a brutal retribution laid upon those who remained loyal to the legitimate government by the rebelling Generals. Codrinaru himself legitimised and supported Kraus as his successor, and I daresay some will see Councillor as legitimate President of this Federation for quite some time.
Regardless, the man was clearly trying to do what he saw best in an attempt to preserve such worthies as Codrinaru and Mocenigo; and keep this Congress from becoming victim to persecution and execution as we all thought we would.
Tiepolo sits back down.
((NOW, I'm going to bed!))
Tiepolo stands
The only thing I wish to say is that Councillor Kraus did not, as some were to maliciously later claim, attempt to seize power for his own selfish ends. He made it clear from the moment he assumed office that he was merely trying to stave off what we had thought would be a brutal retribution laid upon those who remained loyal to the legitimate government by the rebelling Generals. Codrinaru himself legitimised and supported Kraus as his successor, and I daresay some will see Councillor as legitimate President of this Federation for quite some time.
Regardless, the man was clearly trying to do what he saw best in an attempt to preserve such worthies as Codrinaru and Mocenigo; and keep this Congress from becoming victim to persecution and execution as we all thought we would.
Tiepolo sits back down.
((NOW, I'm going to bed!))
I see no reason to execute the man, a regime bathed in the blood of opponents is no regime I wish to be a part of. I find no palpable reason for him to die, other then perhaps to sate some others thirst for blood. He is a respectable man, and he has shown he is willing to put his life at risk for his ideals and what he sees as best for the people of this Federation. I'd move to not only pardon Herr Kraus, but to strike all records of this terrible incident and place him into the now vacant seat of Minister of Finance. To do any less would simply prove to the cynics that we are what they think they are.
I fully support a pardon for Herr Kraus.
I fully support a pardon for Herr Kraus.
I think that you, being a Croat from Croatia, are being quite hypocritical and you should give it a rest, Papp.
As for the trial of Victor Kraus, I have disagreed with the man many times during my tenure here. However, I do not believe he should die for his crimes, and he should be pardoned. He took power, again, by his own admission, not to seize it, but to protect his friends and allies. Whether you agreed with the coup or not, these are admirable motives, especially knowing the risk he took. Kraus made himself a martyr. Kraus gave himself up to save those important to him. I do not believe in executing people for many crimes, and he has not committed any. I believe it would be a horrible violation of justice to execute this man, and I will personally defend him to his or my last breath! I may have previously wished he would disappear sometimes, and I disagree with him on almost every issue, but as a fellow Councillor and citizen of the Federation, and as a human being, I will not allow him to be executed for a crime he did not commit!
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We cannot build our future on the bloody bones of our past. Victor Kraus, by accepting all responsibility shows a noble person, earning respect despite my support of the coup. His selflessness for our Federation is enough for me to suggest a pardon, setting him free to continue and aid us, possibly as Minister of Finance.
- Officer Jovan Lilic
- Officer Jovan Lilic
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))
I too see no reason to execute this man, he did what he thought was right under these extraordinary circumstances as did the rest of the Codrinaru government. They performed the duties of their office to the best of their abilities, nothing more and nothing less. The mere fact that as mentioned prior this man was willing to shoulder the burden and responsibility of all that has passed onto himself without regard for his life but with regard to both the citizens of this Federation and his colleagues is a testament to his character.
I fully support a pardon for this man as well.
-Deputy Gabriel Soukup-Valenta of Bohemia
I fully support a pardon for this man as well.
-Deputy Gabriel Soukup-Valenta of Bohemia
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((I am going to bed. Thank you to those who shared their input, and to those who have not yet, I encourage you to at least make a short statement.I appreciate everyone staying on task as if the trial is going on, and would further appreciate if we could continue this until the trial concludes. Chin up, Tapscott, your friends in the stands aren't the only ones who would like to pardon you. At any rate, I will be on tomorrow to continue moderating the trial. Thank you gents, g'night.))
Kraus wipes a tear from his eye.
((Wow I never thought people would be so supportive of Kraus! In any case, make you voices heard during the trial! Now I will let it continue without interrupting the court anymore))
((Wow I never thought people would be so supportive of Kraus! In any case, make you voices heard during the trial! Now I will let it continue without interrupting the court anymore))
Regardless of his motivations, Mr. Kraus did seize power, and this court should acknowledge that. However, he does not deserve to die. If his actions were severe enough to warrant execution, then he would have refused to give up power or else tried to take others down with him. Furthermore, political killings would only serve to taint the legitimacy of this regime. As such, I believe that an adequate sentence might be for him to be banned from holding a seat in Congress or something along those lines. Execution would be ill-advised and unacceptable and I would not support it.
Now, gentlemen, I will be off to Bratislava to sign the State Charter. It is nearby, so I believe that I will stay informed of whatever happens here.
Now, gentlemen, I will be off to Bratislava to sign the State Charter. It is nearby, so I believe that I will stay informed of whatever happens here.
I concur with Councilor Sykora. Mr. Kraus should be found guilty of unlawfully seizing power but should not be executed. A ban from political office would be a sufficient penalty.
((So in other words his character would still be dead IG terms, but his son wouldn't hate us as much))
Kraus stands up once again.
Gentlemen, while you are free to pass any judgement you feel is just against me, I would ask one thing. Do not stop me from aiding the Federation. It would be a hell to have given my all to the Federation, only to then denied from aiding her anymore. If you wish to punish me, take my life. Do not take away my Federation from me.
Kraus sits down, struggling to keep his eyes free from tears.
Gentlemen, while you are free to pass any judgement you feel is just against me, I would ask one thing. Do not stop me from aiding the Federation. It would be a hell to have given my all to the Federation, only to then denied from aiding her anymore. If you wish to punish me, take my life. Do not take away my Federation from me.
Kraus sits down, struggling to keep his eyes free from tears.
((My answer is still this.))
((My painful attempt at justifying IC what happens when an Canadian President appoints a Frenchman as his Minister of Security and an Australian as his Minister of Foreign Affairs will be coming in a moment.))
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As Minister of Security under the Codrinaru administration, I believe it is my duty to shed some light on the madness that transpired in these chambers recently. Indeed, I was the one to originally deal with the crisis in Hungary that started all of this. I was the one who was called to be Vice President, then Minister of War, as my comrades fell one after another to sheer terror. I should be the one behind that desk, facing the charges levied against Victor Kraus. Yet I was not up to the task.
For a moment, it looked like the situation in Hungary was resolved. That there would be peace in our time. I wasn't ready for what was next : A coup launched by our generals, followed by the secession of the already-tense Hungary. I too, was claimed by despair. I saw us dying, all of us executed as traitors to the Federation we swore to protect. It is in this moment that Victor Kraus saved us. Courageously, he did what no one else could, and took command of the government to ensure that we would be spared, and that no more blood be spilled than what was necessary. In light of these acts of bravery, I call for him to be pardoned. In fact, I call for him to receive the distinctions a man of his mettle deserves, and that his actions be codified into law, as our Federation may not always be lucky enough to have men like him.
~ Janos Papp, Deputy for Croatia
((That's it for the flashback folks! Check Gloa's excellent summary for more info!))
For a moment, it looked like the situation in Hungary was resolved. That there would be peace in our time. I wasn't ready for what was next : A coup launched by our generals, followed by the secession of the already-tense Hungary. I too, was claimed by despair. I saw us dying, all of us executed as traitors to the Federation we swore to protect. It is in this moment that Victor Kraus saved us. Courageously, he did what no one else could, and took command of the government to ensure that we would be spared, and that no more blood be spilled than what was necessary. In light of these acts of bravery, I call for him to be pardoned. In fact, I call for him to receive the distinctions a man of his mettle deserves, and that his actions be codified into law, as our Federation may not always be lucky enough to have men like him.
~ Janos Papp, Deputy for Croatia
((That's it for the flashback folks! Check Gloa's excellent summary for more info!))
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