Edge of Europe - A Belgian Interactive AAR

[unmerged(718634)]

I thank our Prime Minister for placing his trust upon me as his Minister of Finance. There may be some concerns amongst some that my personal ideology could tarnish my position, but I assure I shall not. I shall follow Monsieur de Graaf's policies and work with him and Monsieur Poisson often in this term. It is an honor to bestowed with his trust and the duty to serve this nation.

I also with the best to Monsieur van der Wyngaert in his retirement. He has served this nation in the greatest manner during our great nation's history.

 

[theAhawk]

A Statement from the Ministry of War​

After consultation with the Treasury and the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of War finds that there is a strong financial argument preventing military expansion. We will of course be looking into ways of increasing our strength without impacting on spending and creating a strong system of defensive alliances to safeguard this nation in the event of attack, but the Ministry fully accepts that military expansion of any great size is not possible at this time and, with this in mind, we urge restraint and diplomacy, since it is clear that Belgian Military force cannot be projected throughout Europe until the fiscal situation improves.

Signed,
Captain Luc Poisson
Minister of War

 

[Ticket Cookie]

I want to congratulate again Mr. de Beauffort for his fine wedding, a brief haven from mainstream politics.
((It was nicely written, liked it!))

Another congratulation, of course, is for our newly elected majority at the Chamber, and our new Prime Minister. May he walk on the feet of his predessor and bring greatness to Belgium!
I also wish good luck to my successor, Mr. Peeters. The Ministry of Justice is a critical one for the citizens's freedom and rights, and I hope that the reform of the judiciary map I launched won't be reversed by pure ideology.

Howewer, I must say that I'm quite surprised to see a Minister without Portfolio in the new cabinet, while the liberals critized the size of the conservative last one.

- Théodore Van der Noot, Marquis d'Assche and Deputy CCP d'Haren.

 

[Gen. Marshall]

((Poisson is no longer a Captain if he is the Minister of War, per our Constitution.))

 

[NikoHoI3]

Howewer, I must say that I'm quite surprised to see a Minister without Portfolio in the new cabinet, while the liberals critized the size of the conservative last one.

- Théodore Van der Noot, Marquis d'Assche and Deputy CCP d'Haren.

The Conservative government had twelve ministers, this government only has eight. We increased the number of Ministries by one, while the Conservatives by five. This small compared to the previous Cabinet.

Thibault Potiquet, Minister of Interior, Deputy for Tournai

 

[G.K.]

Mr. van der Noot, I understand your concerns, and you are right, the Chamber deserves to know why do we have a ministry without portfolio. This ministry is responsible for colonial expansion, which I promised to pursue, and should be responsible for efforts related with colonial matters. This is why a prominent member of BEIC was chosen to lead it.

Otherwise, we did our best to keep the cabinet as small as possible.

 

[theAhawk]

((Poisson is no longer a Captain if he is the Minister of War, per our Constitution.))

((I know he's not, but he likes calling himself it regardless - anyway, aren't such titles retained after the end of the commission?))

 

[Marschalk]

The Conservative government had twelve ministers, this government only has eight. We increased the number of Ministries by one, while the Conservatives by five. This small compared to the previous Cabinet.

Thibault Potiquet, Minister of Interior, Deputy for Tournai

I want to thank everyone, who attended my wedding. I was really delighted to see all of you there, my friends - and hope, that you will visit me and Stephanie in the Beauffort Mansion. I also want to congratulate Mr. Martin de Graaf, our new Prime Minister, on his victory, and wish him luck.

Also, the last Conservative government consisted of eight ministers. Mr. de Graaf just replaced the office of the Secretary for State Security with a Ministry without Portfolio, and created an additional Deputy Prime Minister position.

- Jacques-Anne, Marquis de Beauffort

 

[NikoHoI3]

Also, the last Conservative government consisted of eight ministers. Mr. de Graaf just replaced the office of the Secretary for State Security with a Ministry without Portfolio, and created an additional Deputy Prime Minister position.

- Jacques-Anne, Marquis de Beauffort

We no longer have a Minister of Worship, and Minister of Public Works. We only kept the Minister without Portfolio from the previous Cabinet. I counted eleven ministries, compared to eight in the Liberal Cabinet.

Thibault Potiquet, Minister of Interior, Deputy for Tournai

 

[Marschalk]

We no longer have a Minister of Worship, and Minister of Public Works. We only kept the Minister without Portfolio from the previous Cabinet. I counted eleven ministries, compared to eight in the Liberal Cabinet.

Thibault Potiquet, Minister of Interior, Deputy for Tournai

Sir, there was no Minister or Worship or Minister of Public Works in my last cabinet. And I never had an active Minister without Portfolio.

- Jacques-Anne, Marquis de Beauffort

((Niko, my cabinet... And the Ministry of Worship disappeared even earlier... http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum...active-AAR&p=16037088&viewfull=1#post16037088))

 

[DensleyBlair]

With everyone caught up in election matters, Jean-François disappears quietly out of the parliament doors for one final time, largely unnoticed. Only a handful of people paid their respects to the supposed giant of Belgian politics.

'Don't be so foolish, Jean; you know how things move on.' He mused to himself. 'Besides, it'll be good to get a rest.'

He turned and gave in last goodbye to the imposing stone government building, before disappearing into a waiting phaeton, never to set foot in government again.

---

The following week, the below advertisement appeared in a national newspaper:

A notice from the Vicomte du Sint-Niklaas, former soldier, politician and diplomat of high esteem.

The Foreign Correspondents' Dinner and Gentlemen's club is to be opened next week in Brussels. The Club aims to dine at least once a month, and shall seek to host social occasions at least bi-monthly. Prospective members should send letters stating their intent to join to Jean-François, Vicomte du Sint-Niklaas at the below address.​

 

[DensleyBlair]

Name: Hércule-Xavier van der Wyngaert
Born: 6th September 1825
Died: 9th November 1866
Place of Birth: Sint-Niklaas, Flanders
Positions: Deputy for Kruibeke 1851-1855; Ambassador for Belgium to the United Kingdom 1856-1861; Secretary of State of Commerce 1861-1863; Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs 1863-1866
Biography: Born in 1825, Hércule-Xavier van der Wyngaert is the second son of Jean-François van der Wyngaert, the prominent statesman who served as Foreign Minister of Belgium from 1836-1850.

In 1842, Hércule-Xavier was admitted to the University of Liège, where he studied law. A precocious student, he was admitted to the Bar in 1846, serving as the youngest member of the Bar association in Antwerp. The young man, however, found more pleasure in politics and began to pursue the subject with a zeal that far outstripped his passion for law.

Seizing the opportunity, Hércule-Xavier ran in the 1846 general election as a moderate independent. Losing his contested seat of Kruibeke by a slim margin (his opponent, a Catholic Conservative, receiving 43% of the vote to his 38%) he returned to law, working as a barrister in Antwerp for the next four years.

Hércule-Xavier stood once again in the 1850 elections – this time, though, as a member of the rapidly-growing Conservative and Unionist Party. Running again in Kruibeke, he defeated his main opponent (the same gentleman who won the seat in 1846) by 52% to 39%.

Now in parliament, Hércule-Xavier hopes to live up to his family name and help continue the line of notable van der Wyngaert politicians.

---

Previous Character: Jean-François Achille van der Wyngaert; father of the above

Next Character: Jean-Camille van der Wyngaert; older brother of the above​

 

[Noco19]

Colonial expansion? An interesting duty, and one I shall take great intrigue in observing it's results. Perhaps we, as a proper Christian Kingdom, would do well to uplift and prosper from such ventures, as it has proven a viable path for other peaceful nations before us.

- Bishop van Buskirk

 

[Dadarian]

Vanderhoof rises upon the entrance of the young van der Wyngaert

"It is good to see the scion of such an important house in Belgium arrive to the Chambers. If you are half the man your father was, you'll be twice the man of many here. Welcome"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A small, bronze plaque is anonymously affixed to the wall of the Chambers during the night. It simply states.

"The best politicians do not leave to congratulations and fanfare. The best and brightest simply fade away"

Inscribed are the names and titles of former Prime Minister van Brabant, Prime Minister Daret and Foreign Minister van der Wyngaert

 

[NikoHoI3]

Sir, there was no Minister or Worship or Minister of Public Works in my last cabinet. And I never had an active Minister without Portfolio.

- Jacques-Anne, Marquis de Beauffort

((Niko, my cabinet... And the Ministry of Worship disappeared even earlier... http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum...active-AAR&p=16037088&viewfull=1#post16037088))

(( Well, I completely missed that. ))

It seems I have been mistaken. Thank you, Mr. de Beauffort. Our Cabinets do have many similarities.

Furthermore, I welcome the younger Mr. van der Wyngaert to politics. I am sure he will do great for this country, just as his father had.

Thibault Potiquet, Minister of Interior, Deputy for Tournai

 

[jeeshadow]

Welcome, Mr. van der Wyngaert, your father was great man, I feel I will never be able to fill his shoes. He will likely be remembered as the greatest diplomat this nation has ever seen.
-Aimeus Aerts, Minister of Foreign Affairs

 

[Otto of england]

Heer van der Wyngaert, welcome to politics.

- Olivier van Dyke, Minister of Education

 

[Marschalk]

Mr. van der Wyangert, welcome. You father is a great man. A talented statesman, diplomat and politician, that served the nation for many years. I always enjoyed cooperating with him - and hope, that his son will achieve much.

- Jacques-Anne, Marquis de Beauffort

 

[unmerged(718634)]

I offer the greatest welcome to you Monsieur van der Wyngaert. I worked with your father on a proposed legislative system back in the days of the convention when I was roughly your age and although we conversed little after that he remains, to me, one of the most admirable and talented men in our nation's history.

Minister of Finance

 

[Somberg]

I must also welcome the younger Mijnheer van der Wyngaert to these chambers. Your father was truly one of the greatest men this country has seen so far, despite the differences we may have had. You will certainly do as much for Belgium as he has.

~ Willem Loewen, Deputy for Antwerp