Edge of Europe - A Belgian Interactive AAR

[Otto of england]

You are quite right that he was at one point a liberal, but I fought against his armies in the streets of Brussels and heard him speak besides. He was not revolting for the people or their rights, but to remove their rights for personal power, and he turned his back on liberalism as soon as he made the choice. I can hardly think anyone would call the coup liberal, though I am aware that it wasn't truly supported by the conservative party, it had several members at its head. You are certainly right that people have different ideas on what they think will better society, and I am not denying that. I was simply responding to the Marquis's point about the freedom held by the people of Belgium being thanks to the conservatives as well, which simply isn't the case.

-Anthony M. Dewitt

I have no idea what the Generals were in for it but, I can tell you the van de Velde in his misguidedness thought he was doing good, and when he said 'failed liberation' he was honestly speaking. Its a shame he was in with folks such as van der Brucke I'm sure if it wasnt for guys like that van de Velde wouldnt have done anything.

- Klaas de Ridder

((Its technically true Viola was my first 100% supporter, lol))

 

[unmerged(779665)]

((its van de Velde, not van der Velde lol.))

I guess no one cares for fencing here.

Klaas precedes to sit down and starts wistling.

- Klaas de Ridder

Vermeulen stands, a sly smile on his face.

I will fence you De Ridder.

 

[Somberg]

I see that these few aristocrats within the CCP have taken to the teachings of the Baron van den Brucke, believing in his fabricated claims of electoral fraud and a liberal conspiracy to destroy the livelihood of the Flems. Constantly saying we are reigning terror over the people of Belgium. These claims are simply ridiculous, as are the comparisons to the Jacobins of Revolutionary France, who truly reigned terror upon their people. While I may disagree with these men, I do not go around slandering them and treating them with disrespect. I do hope that they never gain any position of power should the conservatives form a government for I fear for what they may do should they come into the possession of power. I can at least take comfort in the fact that this vocal minority does not represent the majority of the CCP, who I am certain are much more reasonable and respectful men.

~ Willem Loewen, Deputy for Antwerp

 

[Plutonium95]

Van de Velde, I know he claimed to be the coup's master mind, but I don't seem to remember him actually doing anything. It was my understanding that André Damseaux was the undisputed leader of the coup. (p))

-Anthony M. Dewitt

 

[Jako473]

Van de Velde, I know he claimed to be the coup's master mind, but I don't seem to remember him actually doing anything. It was my understanding that André Damseaux was the undisputed leader of the coup. (p))

-Anthony M. Dewitt

That he was. I am sure we can't blame anyone else, besides André Damseaux for the coup.

 

[Otto of england]

Vermeulen stands, a sly smile on his face.

I will fence you De Ridder.

Ha, great! May the best man win.

Van de Velde, I know he claimed to be the coup's master mind, but I don't seem to remember him actually doing anything. It was my understanding that André Damseaux was the undisputed leader of the coup. (p))

-Anthony M. Dewitt

Klaas shruggs

Damseaux couldnt have been the leader he screwed up majorly as he didnt secure any important cabinet members or even brussells! I personnally believe what van de Velde said but, I have known him since I was 14 so I was in a better position then most to understand him. If he was a leader or not I think it was a shame that he was untimely assassinated, he confided in me a week before his death that he was going to ask for forgiveness from the King so he could live with his family again. Alas some crazy walloon killed him, I honestly feel bad for his son though never having a father growing up is hard.

- Klaas de Ridder

 

[Jako473]

damseaux couldnt have been the leader he screwed up majorly as he didnt secure any important cabinet members or even brussells! I personnally believe what van de Velde said but, I have known him since I was 14 so I was in a better position then most to understand him. If he was a leader or not I think it was a shame that he was untimely assassinated, he confided in me a week before his death that he was going to ask for forgiveness from the King so he could live with his family again. Alas some crazy walloon killed him, I honestly feel bad for his son though never having a father growing up is hard.

- Klaas de Ridder

If you ever wish to know, there is a man alive who knows the entire tale... I believe we still hold the first man to declare support for Damseaux and was with him since the beginning.

 

[Otto of england]

If you ever wish to know, there is a man alive who knows the entire tale... I believe we still hold the first man to declare support for Damseaux and was with him since the beginning.

Well if we ask van der Brucke and van der Goltz we may get an idea whos idea it was.

- Klaas de Ridder

 

[Plutonium95]

It is hardly worth digging up a traitor to be interrogated over useless matters that were put to bed nearly a decade ago. Both Damseaux and Van de Velde are dead. I can't find it in myself to feel bad for the man. He instigated others to take up arms against men who thought to see Belgium achieve greatness, all because they wanted to ensure the freedoms of the people. He did not deserve forgiveness from the king, and I doubt he would have been given it, I suppose at least he passed never knowing that he would never stand in Belgium again if that is any consultation. It was men like him who brought the death of my father-in-law, a man who always fought for Belgium and brought it greatness. While I feel for his son, I am only sad that Velde himself could not be brought to justice for his crimes.

-Anthony M. Dewitt

 

[Otto of england]

It is hardly worth digging up a traitor to be interrogated over useless matters that were put to bed nearly a decade ago. Both Damseaux and Van de Velde are dead. I can't find it in myself to feel bad for the man. He instigated others to take up arms against men who thought to see Belgium achieve greatness, all because they wanted to ensure the freedoms of the people. He did not deserve forgiveness from the king, and I doubt he would have been given it, I suppose at least he passed never knowing that he would never stand in Belgium again if that is any consultation. It was men like him who brought the death of my father-in-law, a man who always fought for Belgium and brought it greatness. While I feel for his son, I am only sad that Velde himself could not be brought to justice for his crimes.

-Anthony M. Dewitt

I feel really stupid for saying this but, what crimes did van de Velde do? 3 years ago I drank nearly every hour so I dont remeber anything well.

- Klaas de Ridder

 

[Plutonium95]

I am not a lawyer and I cannot say exactly which laws were broken other than the broadly defined treason, but it is clear that van de Velde was involved in the coup, a criminal act. I have asked for the records of the day he returned and he clearly admits to taking part willingly and knowingly. That is enough for me.

This whole mess is my fault really I shouldnt have left when I did and I definatly shouldnt have trusted Demseaux he clearly went drunk on power and cracked causing needless suffering.

- Fabian van de Velde, Count of Ypres

That and fleeing to Portugal and collaborating with Van Den Brucke to to gather support against our government.

-Anthony M. Dewitt

 

[ThunderHawk3]

((There are no weapons statutes, so technically you can all bring anything you like into the chamber... but let us assume that their use in the Parliament would be considered inappropriate behavior.

Final tally.))

Catholic Crown Party:
Sébastien Delcroix ((Tapscott)): 5 ((Withdrawn))
Charles de Mons ((Imperator1993)): 0 ((Withdrawn))
Jacques-Anne de Beaufort ((Marschalk)): 11

Amended Willems-Hopegood CCP Primary Voting Reform: 2/8/6
Amended Willems-Hopegood CCP Internal Franchise Reform: 1/10/5
Poisson Amended CCP Primary Voting System Reform: 9/2/5
Poisson CCP Primary Voting Franchise Reform: 11/0/5

Total: 16

Moderate Liberal Party:
Aimus Aerts ((jeeshadow)): 0 (withdrawn)
Willem Loewen ((Somberg)): 1
Maximiliaan van Brabant ((Gen. Marshall)): 10
Abstain: 1

Willem Loewen ((Somberg)): 3
Pierre-Claude de España ((czechmasaryk)): 2
Anthony M. Dewitt ((Plutonium95)): 1
Jean-François du Sint-Niklaas ((DensleyBlair)): 2
Abstain: 4

Total: 12
((Instant runoff choices will be counted only if necessary))

Legislation:
Victims of Terrorism Act: 5/19/6
De Graaf’s Rijkswacht/Gendarmerie Act: 11/16/3
De Graaf’s Internal Security Directorate Act: 6/19/4
De Graaf’s Prison System Act: 20/7/3
De Graaf’s Capital Punishment Act: 16/9/5
The Emergency Martial Law: 24/5/2

 

[99KingHigh]

You mean the same people who have turned my last name into a surrogate for failure, who would seek the disenfranchisement of the economically dominant class? These people may not be malevolent, but they would laugh at the forcible removal of those spousing liberal thoughts. The same people who are now allied with terrorist front which has kill the prime minister and has sought to kill me?

Monsieur, I am not a simpleton. I am man who is willing to discuss aim able terms for the governance of our fair nation.

However your faction is malevelont. They seek, between the spew of rhetoric, to remove the boundaries between businessman and state, clergy and state, soldier and state. You seek to alter the constitution emplaned but a short few years ago. You seek to permenantly instill a regime that would result in the economic collapse of this nation, destruction our liberties and enslavement to our freedoms, shackled to your rotten hulk of government in search for God and Glory.

Lord have Mercy, prove me wrong with more then fanciful promises and sickly sweet siren songs of Tradition, Nobility, and the Mighty Godgiven favour of Belgium and this Kingdom!

Vanderhoof, shaking with emotion, regains his seat.

Now listen here Monsieur Vanderhoof, I have always been a man to respect the opinions of others, and not lash out, but let me be very clear with you as you blatantly assault my fellow politicians. Such attacks greatly anger me, so I'd remind you before you decide to declare us the cause for economic collapse, that the man, who for some very humeorus reason, is the very cause of the economic collapse, the very cause of this nationalism, the reason why such hostility emerged, is none other then he that accuses us. You, sir.

Most liberal men are respectable, and honorable to their actions, despite what some members of these chambers believe. Nonetheless, I implore you, to grab you wits, and for once in my life I shall say this sternly:

Stop Vanderhoofing.

The Baron retreats to his chair, fuming.

 

[Otto of england]

I am not a lawyer and I cannot say exactly which laws were broken other than the broadly defined treason, but it is clear that van de Velde was involved in the coup, a criminal act. I have asked for the records of the day he returned and he clearly admits to taking part willingly and knowingly. That is enough for me.



That and fleeing to Portugal and collaborating with Van Den Brucke to to gather support against our government.

-Anthony M. Dewitt

He did offer himself up to the authorities though and no one prosecuted him.

Klaas Shruggs

- Klaas de Ridder

 

[Plutonium95]

Now listen here Monsieur Vanderhoof, I have always been a man to respect the opinions of others, and not lash out, but let me be very clear with you as you blatantly assault my fellow politicians. Such attacks greatly anger me, so I'd remind you before you decide to declare us the cause for economic collapse, that the man, who for some very humeorus reason, is the very cause of the economic collapse, the very cause of this nationalism, the reason why such hostility emerged, is none other then he that accuses us. You, sir.

Most liberal men are respectable, and honorable to their actions, despite what some members of these chambers believe. Nonetheless, I implore you, to grab you wits, and for once in my life I shall say this sternly:

Stop Vanderhoofing.

The Baron retreats to his chair, fuming.[/FONT]

Dewitt stands up from his seat.

Huh, I wasn't aware that the economy was failing, I was under the impression that virtually zero unemployment and new stable industries meant success, someone should have said something. Jokes aside members of your party have been harassing Mr. Vanderhoof for at least the past three years, despite the fact that the economy in Belgium is better than it has ever been.

You accuse Mr. Vanderhoof of assaulting fellow politicians as he defends himself and his honor from their constant quips and comments. As far as your other comments, I have never seen the conservatives blamed for economic collapse, it is very clear that the factories were just unable to complete. What I have seen are arguments against your ideology and the fact that you would only have prolonged the death of the Flemish industry while sapping the treasury even more, an argument I happen to agree with. Mr. Vanderhoof is not some great proponent of nationalism, he is a Fleming himself, and yet you have a nationalist party that refuses to truly condemn the terrorists in coalition with the CCP. Hostilities emerged due to the heavy handed and radical nature of the reactionaries in your party, Mr. Vanderhoof was merely defending liberal ideals.
I would ask that you to end this harassment, but I doubt it would do any good, despite your claims of respect you had to deliver one last insult by using his name in a derogatory manner. Frankly I am ashamed by the way this group conducts itself.

Dewitt unbuttons his jacket and sits down, leans back in his seat, and puts his feet up.

 

[ThunderHawk3]

The 1846 Conventions​

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As it happened, the death of Michel Daret left the Moderate Liberal Party diminished, but not without direction. Former Prime Minister and sitting Minister of Justice Maximiliaan van Brabant stepped into the void and rapidly reassumed leadership of the party, decisively beating both Aimus Aerts and Willem Loewen at the convention. Aerts withdrew early on, endorsing Brabant, but Loewen insisted on putting the matter to the vote. Van Brabant, who had returned to laissez-faire economic policies, won over 90% of the vote and would lead the GLP into the 1846 General Election. The NDP quietly re-elected Georges Savarin as their party leader and all assumed that the the old liberal coalition, originally forged between Brabant and Savarin, would stay easily intact.

Certainly, there was every chance that the MLP would need their alliance. Unprecedented turnout at the opposition conventions suggested swelling conservative ranks. While Baron van Cock retained the Vlaamse Beweging leadership without issue, early estimates guessed that the Flemish Movement had almost doubled in strength since the last election. Estimates of the KKP's growth were harder to come by, particularly as the focus was - temporarily - on the Catholic Crown Party's leader and not its size. Originally four candidates had vied for the right to run against Brabant and try to become the first conservative Prime Minister of Belgium; that number narrowed to two after the first ballot.

The incumbent leader, Archbishop Sébastien Delcroix, squared off against Jacques-Anne, Marquis de Beaufort, for the second ballot. Though Delcroix had tremendous support from the party faithful, De Beaufort found equal support from the KKP's militaristic hard right, who were willing to forgive his advocacy of Free Trade and endorse his jingoistic support for war with the Dutch. The second ballot did not resolve the dispute between the two, nor did the third, but on the second day of the convention, Delcroix failed to appear in person. A breathless envoy informed the assembled convention that Delcroix had contracted pneumonia and would cease his bid for party leader and the stalemate broke. Jacques-Anne would lead the PCC.

Following the death of Daret, the Parliament met in emergency session to vote on a raft of reforms proposed by De Graaf, the Minister of the Interior. They rejected half in the end - refusing to create a secret police force or a Gendarmerie, but approving a three-tiered jail system and capital punishment - with the guillotine the only acceptable method of delivery. The Emergency Martial Law declared by the King was held legitimate by the Parliament just days before the General Election.

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

Player Actions Needed:
As always, I need platforms. Marschalk, Marshall...

I can use your older ones if you like. As soon as I get your platforms, we can start voting in the General Election.

 

[Terraferma]

Name: Jacques Dieric
Culture: Flemish
Date of Birth: April 16, 1811
Place of Birth: Antwerp, Belgium
Position: Military

Bio: Born into an upstart aristocratic family with a rich military history, Jacques Dieric wasn't always interested in the military career that his father and grand father followed. Indeed, up until he was twenty-two he would instead choose to work in the family owned businesses in textiles and banking, as part of a deal with his father he would go a university in London in exchange for joining the military shortly thereafter for no less than two years. He has been in the military ever since.

(Hey! Finally I got around to joining up.)

 

[99KingHigh]

Dewitt stands up from his seat.

Huh, I wasn't aware that the economy was failing, I was under the impression that virtually zero unemployment and new stable industries meant success, someone should have said something. Jokes aside members of your party have been harassing Mr. Vanderhoof for at least the past three years, despite the fact that the economy in Belgium is better than it has ever been.

You accuse Mr. Vanderhoof of assaulting fellow politicians as he defends himself and his honor from their constant quips and comments. As far as your other comments, I have never seen the conservatives blamed for economic collapse, it is very clear that the factories were just unable to complete. What I have seen are arguments against your ideology and the fact that you would only have prolonged the death of the Flemish industry while sapping the treasury even more, an argument I happen to agree with. Mr. Vanderhoof is not some great proponent of nationalism, he is a Fleming himself, and yet you have a nationalist party that refuses to truly condemn the terrorists in coalition with the CCP. Hostilities emerged due to the heavy handed and radical nature of the reactionaries in your party, Mr. Vanderhoof was merely defending liberal ideals.
I would ask that you to end this harassment, but I doubt it would do any good, despite your claims of respect you had to deliver one last insult by using his name in a derogatory manner. Frankly I am ashamed by the way this group conducts itself.

Dewitt unbuttons his jacket and sits down, leans back in his seat, and puts his feet up.

Because I have no intrest in divulging into a deep-ending philsophical debate, I shall be brief. The economic collapse refers to the one that lasted a decade, as I am well aware that the policies attempted by Monsieur Vanderhoof have been successfully reversed. Second of all, there is no doubt upon my mind, Flemish or not, that such policies did greatly inflame the delicate situation. It is indeed amusing that I am accused of harassment while providing statistical truths, no matter how harsh. But no, gentlemen in this assembly prefer lines such as "Lord have Mercy, prove me wrong with more then fanciful promises and sickly sweet siren songs of Tradition, Nobility, and the Mighty Godgiven favour of Belgium and this Kingdom!" then more direct information.

Now I am done, Monsieur. Now I am done.

 

[unmerged(779665)]

After hearing the latest tally, Vermeulen rises from his seat, his face dark with rage. He makes his way towards the parliament doors, his heels clicking angrily on the tiles as he goes.

 

[Plutonium95]

Of course, by all means, take a parting jab and refrain from entering into real debate.

that the man, who for some very humeorus reason, is the very cause of the economic collapse, the very cause of this nationalism, the reason why such hostility emerged, is none other then he that accuses us. You, sir.

Excellent statistical truths by the way, surely no one could form a different opinion based on these "facts". Almost as scientifically relevant and rigorously proven as the use of the phrase "Vanderhoofing".

It is certainly good to know that 2% unemployment and the death of noncompetitive industries, which were quickly replaced by more successful ones, is known as economic collapse though. Propping them up through subsidies that bleed the treasury dry and prevent stable industries from taking their place would likely be your model of success then correct? And now the actions of others are Mr. Vanderhoof's responsibility, you definitely have an interesting philosophy Baron.

But fair enough, I am sure we will have more words for each other later.

-Anthony M. Dewitt