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My dear M. de St Sebastien, you damn the government from your own mouth in failing to defend the Ministers whose deficits I have illuminated. This is a cabinet of the past made up of yesterday's men. The BSU represent the government of tomorrow carrying the flag of a brighter future.
 
My dear M. de St Sebastien, you damn the government from your own mouth in failing to defend the Ministers whose deficits I have illuminated. This is a cabinet of the past made up of yesterday's men. The BSU represent the government of tomorrow carrying the flag of a brighter future.

Despite not having changed leaders in decades, but still managing to be embroiled in internal machinations, you claim that your broken party is the way of the future? Have you no sense of history?
 
de Vos nods uneasily to the roaring benches upon the display of Deputy Dupointe

Glad to see we haven't lost our civility...

Now... although I wouldn't go so far as to join in the full critique that Mijnheer Burke has put upon the new Cabinet I must reflect that a good deal of unified Socialist concern lies in that certain members of the right almost instantaneously seemed to radicalize and show immense woe at the sight of a leftist government. I believe I can reflect the experience of many here that chills hit our necks when the words of renewed Beauffortism entered these chambers and you all very well understand why. It is certainly worrisome for us, and I would hope such would be understandable considering the Beauffortist... precedent. I am not marring the movement, but I do seek assurance of our safety.

Furthermore there are some... questionable appointments. Primarily I find that it is worrisome to appoint Mijnheer Klinkenberg in the Colonial Ministry in that he has profoundly stated his near violent opposition to the Colonial Natives, a belief that was challenged by some of our military's highest ranking officers, save a certain late Mijnheer Van Der Goltz. Now, under the consideration that the military has had some of the utmost experience with the natives, under circumstances of wartime comrade rather than... "employment," one would think that they present the most comprehensive and valuable opinion. That opinion seems to be one that Minister Klinkenberg rejects fully. This should be kept in mind considering the current circumstances. The people of the African Caliphates rise because service to the Caliph is all that they now, it is a fundamental of centuries of their existence, just as Russian serfs might serve for their Empire or men die fighting for the Coups of their Generals in Latin America. The leaders of the revolt, sly souls who understand the manipulation of men, should most certainly be brought to justice, but the damage to the common native should be made as minimal as possible. Set a precedent of violence and you prepare a future of violence.

I wish not to dictate matters from the pulpit of my parliamentary seat, but I do wish to express my concerns. After all as a Member of Parliament, my primary job is simply to sit here and blather on. de Vos smiles

And most certainly I do not wish to discredit the many a great men who also inhibit this Government. I have nothing, but the greatest respect for such men as Mijnheer's Lannoy, Harfleur, Wolff, Aerts, and Brabant who are as pristine examples of the good and great of the Belgian nation as any others.

de Vos rises to get up, shuffling numerous papers into his bag.
Bah, I believe I'm off for a meeting with my therapist now. It seems my career brings with it occupational hazards to my mental health. de Vos grins, expressing that his words are primarily meant lightheartedly.

As he walks up the aisle, he stops and spins around to look at Vanderhoof.


That was rather insulting what you said there Mijnheer... I had enjoyed working with you previously, yet time seems to tell the image my belief paints in others minds... Which only begs to remind me that nigh a few months ago you joined in that, "damnation."

~ de Vos
 
A young RU deputy stands up

Monsieur Klinkenberg is one of the most acclaimed experts on colonial affairs in political Belgium. One of the leading members of the International Africa Association, he has been among the pioneers who brought the light of civilization to Belgian Africa. While some of our politicians base their ideas regarding the colonies on some abstract schemes and party dogmas (as the latest colonial bill demonstrates), not stepping even once on African soil, he has been living and cooperating with the natives of Africa since 1877. His honesty and unhypocritic expression of the views that the local populace is still mostly very uncultured and ignorant (not to say - savage) and cannot share the same burden of rights and responsibilities of freedom as Belgian citizens can only be praised. Their gradual integration and education must be our aim, but we cannot forget that they cannot now considered be our equals in cultural and educational aspect. Their minds are very much in the tribal times, the popularity of ideas of slavery among certain segments of the populace prove it just well. Therefore they, for their own good, need just and firm governance, aimed at their development, not thrusting upon them the liberties of our country (that do not exist even in most of our European counterparts). In other case there would be be an anarchy in the colonies, they would become uncontrolable, we would lose them in no time - and the populace would return under the yoke of ruling chieftains. It is unwise to give matches to children, for godness sake - and the fact that Monsieur Klinkenberg had the bravery to say that only proves his worth as a politician and as a gentleman.

I must also once again said that all comments from members of previous government regarding their "suspicions" in relation to some ministers seem hypocritical at best, after they havent said a word about police, intelligence and law enforcement structures were handed by Savarin to a man who openly expressed his hatred for whole classes of society, sees the crusade against the capitalists as his mission in the life and comes from a clan of supporters of criminal Red Legion. This is when conservatives had to be alarmed. However I must say that I as well respect a number gentlemen of the left, for example, Monsier de Vos, yet most strongly cannot agree with their views.

The deputy sits down. He is pleased - it was his maiden speech
 
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That was rather insulting what you said there Mijnheer... I had enjoyed working with you previously, yet time seems to tell the image my belief paints in others minds... Which only begs to remind me that nigh a few months ago you joined in that, "damnation."

~ de Vos

I am not the one being questioned. Rein in your inbred dog. I respect you and the NDP, but few within the socialist caucus are worth mention or notice. Powered by naive students drunk on Marx and apparently a blatant opium fiend, the BSU is simply not a party deserving of power.

Your personalities will shred the closely guarded Belgian unity, your policies will drive investment from our shores and our business' into the ground. A weak leader held captive by a radical firebrand will give in to far and remove our dear monarchy, issuing in a dictatorship of the proletariat within a decade.

Simply put, the socialists are a wasted influence upon Belgium that seeks only to destroy it and establish some bland "utopia" where everyone is equal and yet no one will ever be equal. Concerning working with your block, I had to in order to continue effective governence of Belgium, lest a hung parliament force drastic measure to occur. Besides, the NDP and the MLP were more then enough to outway your mislaid block.
 
Amedee swaggers back into the chamber after recovering in a surprisingly short time. He sits down in his appointed seat in the back.

"It's a good thing these sessions go on throughout the entire night," he whispers to the delegate next to him.

Both men chuckle.
 
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His Majesty the King of Belgium, Prosper-August I


(Excerpt from correspondence with the Prime Minister)

"Prime Minister Alexandre,

Considering the advice given to me by the Minister-President of the Congo, I will elect to deny your request to declare martial law in the colonies. While I agree completely that we must urgently prepare for war with these Arab slavers, none of the reports I have here indicate internal threat. Our concern is external attack by the supporters of Tippu Tip, including these mutinous Sokot sultans. I would fully support martial law in Sokoto, but I do not believe I am empowered to declare any such martial law, as I do not reign in the Caliphate.

Additionally, I wish to inform you that the Rt. Hon. Field Marshall Wilhelm Batavus van Stern (GCLS) tendered his resignation to me as Chief of the General Staff after twenty-five years of highly distinguished service as head of our military. I accept his suggestion regarding his successor and I choose to appoint Admiral Jean-Camille Van der Wyngaert as his replacement."


((EDIT: Just so you all know, possibly because I'm very bored, I'm considering updating the party seat-count every time-advancing update to account for random by-elections. There are 200 MPs in Belgium so I estimate on average 0-4 by-elections would be held per year in Belgium. I'll let changes in the IG UH [not the absolute representation in the UH, which is totally different from the in-thread lower house] determine who loses and gains the seats - or else I'll just roll them randomly. Then I'll post the new Parliament composition at every update. This means there will be 0-20 seat changes every five-year period with an average of 10 seat changes.

Alternatively, I might just not bother, or I might discover that there are no by-elections under the D'hondt method - but I do feel this approach might give some idea of what's going on in-game politically and make voting by party slightly more interesting.))
 
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O dear. Overreacting in trying to impose repressive measures on an innocent population and being put in your place by a King less than half your age. How embarrassing! One might even call it amateurish.
 
O dear. Overreacting in trying to impose repressive measures on an innocent population and being put in your place by a King less than half your age. How embarrassing! One might even call it amateurish.

((I did not know you were censoring my private correspondence, with the King, Davout :rofl:))
 
((I did not know you were censoring my private correspondence, with the King, Davout :rofl:))

((In fairness, it probably would have been published somewhere.))
 
((In fairness, it probably would have been published somewhere.))
((I guess there would have been information that ML is not declared, but not the letter itself))
 
((I did not know you were censoring my private correspondence, with the King, Davout :rofl:))

((The call for martial law was made publicly. The refusal would therefore be reported on by the newspapers. Besides, the BSU has friends in high places. :) ))
 
((The call for martial law was made publicly. The refusal would therefore be reported on by the newspapers. Besides, the BSU has friends in high places. :) ))
((The socialists are reading our mail? Fantastic...))
 
((The socialists are reading our mail? Fantastic...))
((I am not sure that King, for all his socialist views, would have let Frederic Burke proofread his secret correspondence with governmental ministers. He could know that it was finally decided not to declare Martial Law, but not the precise details, i think. But whatever))
 
((I am not sure that King, for all his socialist views, would have let Frederic Burke proofread his secret correspondence with governmental ministers))

((The postmen are socialists! Run for your lives!))
 
((Huzzah indeed! But let's get back On topic ;)))

The BSU is not a 'broken party'! It is as strong as it has ever been! We can only grow stronger from here. Since when, may i ask, has trying to help the common people and do actual good for the world been bad?
Deputy de Coock
 
226px-Coat_of_arms_of_Anthony_Olubunmi_Okogie.svg.png

Firstly, I accept the Prime Minister's appointment of myself as Minister of Labour. Hopefully through faith and hard work we can solve the bitter disputes that divide the workers and their employers.

Secondly, Monsieur Burke, I am assuming you are not a Christian, correct? Because, I know for a fact, a man of God and of the Church, that no good and honest Christian would slander so many people that he has never met. Further, you accuse me of being a priest who has never worked a day in his life? Felt privilege and lived off the donations of others? Never experienced the hardship of the common man? Well my dear sir, I do not believe you know an ounce about my life. But, I will be so humble as to share it with you. My life started when I was born to peasant farmers in the town of Uccle. My father died when I six years old and I was raised by my mother in a small farm working everyday until the age of ten, when I moved to Brussels to live with my uncle. My uncle, who was childless, was so kind as to provide me with an education at a church school until I was seventeen. The following year, through hard work, I managed to gain entry into a seminary. For the next two decades I preached the word of God and I helped the poor wherever I could. I was then made a Bishop, continuing my work for the poor and the 'common' man, as you put it, throughout Namur. Finally, I was named the Archbishop, a Cardinal and the Primate of Belgium. To get to that, I worked hard, I gave myself to God, to the Church and to the good Christians of this country. Lastly, you say I have lived off donations? I am afraid I have to disappoint you in saying that I do not. I used the money my uncle left me when he died and I invested it in different economic opportunities. Needless to say the ventures went well and in fact I have been so graced with the success of money that I happily donated more than three quarters of it to be used to feed and build housing for the poor. So Monsieur Burke, that is who I am, now you may judge me, even though the Bible decrees that thou shalt not. I only pray that God may find you in your dark hours and bring you comfort with whatever troubles you.

On a last note, I welcome this new government and thank God for granting us such grace in allowing it to happen.

His Eminence,
Cardinal Jean-Luc Deschamps
Archbishop of Mechlin
Primate of Belgium
 
((Huzzah indeed! But let's get back On topic ;)))

The BSU is not a 'broken party'! It is as strong as it has ever been! We can only grow stronger from here. Since when, may i ask, has trying to help the common people and do actual good for the world been bad?
Deputy de Coock

Alright, alright! What's all this then? The BSU, a party? Pfah, I say! The BSU is a legion of unholy darkness, the minions of de Loeven, the anti-Belgian! You are just as bad as the evil baron d'Harfleur. And to think that you try to lie to the people like that, you hypocrite! I will cleanse the world of unholiness such as you, even if I must use a herring to cut you down. Belgium needs to be scrubbed clean of scum, and I have just the soap for that, it's called "God and Sanity"! Also, the Netherlands must be destroyed.

- The Righteous, Humble, and Honourable Deputy Lambin l'Escargot, Prime Minister of Belgium, Vanquisher of the Dutch, and Right Hand Man of God On Earth