Edge of Europe - A Belgian Interactive AAR

[Somberg]

Unity Government - Formed by the BSU, NDP, and LDP

Prime Minister: Maarten Loewen (BSU)
Deputy Prime Minister: Samuel Vanderhoof (NDP)
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs: Maximilian Aerts (LDP)
Secretary of State for Defense: Jean di Picardie (BSU)
Secretary of State for Finance: Tristan van Halle (NDP)
Secretary of State for the Interior: Mjhr. Niemand (NDP)
Secretary of State for the Colonies: John Dieric (LDP)
Secretary of State for Justice: Johann Wolff (LDP)
Secretary of State for Commerce: Nicolas Maes (NDP)
Secretary of State for Education: Felix Fontaine (LDP)
Secretary of State for Labor and Welfare: Valerie van der Wyngaert (BSU)
​

 

[sealy300]

I, Jean di PIcardie, accept my new role as minister of defence with the highest fibre of my being, as I fear that this will be my last role in any government.

~Jean di Picardie.

 

[Gen. Marshall]

I am honoured to serve in this government, especially in the Labour and Welfare post which is so important to our party. I am also glad to see cooperation between the Liberal and Socialist blocs once again - however, I am not fully aware of Minister Van Halle's agenda. As Minister for Labour, I must urge him to deviate from the traditional NDP policy to cut spending, and instead invest in the factories which are the bread and butter of worker and businessman alike.

- Valérie van der Wyngaert, Secretary of State for Labour and Welfare

 

[Dyranum]

You see this? This is the first crime inflicted upon our dear Belgium by the Republican filth! A big bad wolf in charge of justice? Pfft, he'll destroy our Belgian Rights! A news-paper editor to educate our next generation—to indoctrinate them with Republicanism? A Vanderhoof as Deputy PM? A Socialist in charge of Defence? It won't be soon until they let the French and Germans partition our fair nation! And worst of all; a Loewen as PM! This is an ugly despicable cabinet of incompetence and Republicanism! Bad show! It ain't cricket!

*mutters to an "assistant"* You know, I need to get better at these impromptu speeches. What do you think is lacking? Oh, more condemnation? Why, I think I agree, ol' chap.

—Deputy Lanterfanter den Tweede Slak

 

[oxfordroyale]

I am honoured to be soldiered for a role in this new government, and humbly accept the position of Minister of Finance ... despite my lack of experience with it. I will, however, attempt to factor the true essentials of the Belgian state into my proposed budget.

- Tristan van Halle, panicking internally

 

[Dyranum]

I am honoured to selected as Minister of Finance for this new government ... despite my lack of experience with it. I will, however, attempt to factor the truly essential needs of the Belgian nation into my budget.

- Tristan van Halle, panicking internally

You! Yes, you! You know what you are! You are a Republican! You should be ashamed of yourself.
...don't just stand there in the Halle, with Isolde, or whoever that is. Resign! In fact, your whole Government should resign. It is signed up for failure.

—Deputy Lanterfanter den Tweede Slak

 

[Ab Ovo]

I henceforth retire from politics.

-Guy Oultremont

 

[LatinKaiser]

((I hope that the French invade. That would be funny. ))

 

[oxfordroyale]

After further thought, I decline the position of Minister of Finance. I have absolutely no experience with finances (as a child, I was always bad with sums), and for a nation just elevated from economic decline by Pierre Savarin's exceptional measures, I do not trust myself to do the job justice- in fact, I may be actively unsuited for the appointment. It is for the good of Belgium that I do this.

- Tristan van Halle, running to the bathroom to throw up

 

[Somberg]

In Mjnhr. van Halle's absence, Samuel Vanderhoof shall now take over the duties of Secretary of State for Finance. I wish him luck in his new position.

~ Maarten Loewen, Prime Minister of Belgium

 

[Dyranum]

See, what did I say? These are the people that the Louven nominates! As spineless as himself; I don't understand how they can even walk, let alone walk upright.

—Deputy Lanterfanter den Tweede Slak

 

[viola]

((This is going to be ugly))

((I disagree.

))

---

This is truly a momentous moment for Belgium.

Never I expected that the Belgian people would have been ready so soon to accept Nicephore Maga as President of our republic. Today all Belgian men and women can be proud, as our nation stands as a beacon of social progress and equality for all of Mankind.

And yet not all is right. Africa still suffer under the rule of men who are still Fascist in all but name, Reactionaries and Fascists are once again on the rise in the mainland as many disgruntled Conservatives have failed to keep up with progress and have indulged into poisonous radicalism, the legitimacy of the government has been questioned even before being formed by men who simply can't stand the idea that the people have chosen the Left to once again lead the nation after the Javan disaster.

The next government will have to deal with all these problems. The remnants of African Fascism must be destroyed once and for all and freedom granted to the African people, the African Property Act must be enforced and we must stand against this new Reactionary wave to reaffirm the Belgian values of Equality and Democracy.

The people of Belgium have made a Revolutionary choice today and we will not waste this opportunity to remove the last obstacles that separate us from a truly free and Democratic society!

- David Osoba,
Socialist Deputy

 

[oxfordroyale]

See, what did I say? These are the people that the Louven nominates! As spineless as himself; I don't understand how they can even walk, let alone walk upright.

—Deputy Lanterfanter den Tweede Slak

Admitting that you are unsuited to a position, and then declining on the basis that you would be doing more harm than good in it, is spineless? I'd say it's being responsible, and recognizing one's faults.

- Tristan van Halle, now fully recovered

 

[Nax24]

I accept my position as Secretary of Education.

-Felix Fontaine

 

[Harpsichord]

I trust that the military retains the trust of the civilian government; our army must be rebuilt and our strength returned to us.

~ Amadeus Tillens, Chief of the General Staff.

 

[Somberg]

Belgium is facing one of the most difficult periods of its history as we are wracked by internal instability and economic troubles. The CCU, the party which resulted in the humiliating defeat of our military and its large scale destruction, is protesting against the government out of bitterness and spite and has refused to take its seats in Parliament. This is unbecoming behavior for a political party whose candidate for president was defeated in a democratically held election and who has found itself in the opposition. In a democracy there will always be winners and losers in elections, but the losers are not expected to throw a tantrum the moment they lose and whine about how they are not in government. At time same time we have lawlessness and anarchy within Africa, caused by its neglect during the last government and the decimation of most of our military in Java. On the other hand, Belgium's economic recovery has reversed itself as the global economy is now entering the greatest economic depression the world has ever seen. It is only a matter of time before we see unemployment go up and many Belgians become left without means to sustain themselves. These are the challenges that we now face and must overcome.

The first and most important priority for our nation is to rebuild our military. With brewing dissatisfaction at home caused by the bitter CCU, rebellion in Africa, and a France which is now under fascist control and is seeking to reclaim its former lands, we must have a strong army to maintain order and to defend us from any who wish to invade us. Secondly we must seek to minimize the global economic depression's impact on our economy and ensure assistance to those it will affect. It is vital that we pass further social legislation as needed in order to achieve this, as well as having a more interventionist role in the economy. Thirdly, we must regain control over the African states, seek reform and economic expansion within them, and continue to uphold the rights of Africans. Belgium is in a difficult position, but there is hope for the future. I am confident that this government can tackle these problems that we currently face and bring us through this difficult and uncertain time.

~ Maarten Loewen, Prime Minister of Belgium

 

[Ab Ovo]

Matthewis Philippus Jordaan
His Excellency, the Governor-General of the Free State of the Belgian Possessions in the Regions of the Niger and the Congo Deltas and around the Equator
First Councillor of Équateur​

Born: October 3rd, 1874
Occupation: Governor-General and local African potentate
Party: Belgian National Front

Biography: A wealthy immigrant from the Netherlands, M. Jordaan invested in Africa early before the civil war; plunging his substantial inheritance from the long-ago death of his father into agriculture and plantation life. A loyal stalwart of the BNF before, during, and after their tenure in Africa; Jordaan and his wealth quickly became a leading figure in the white, fascist community in Africa. Adapting with the times he and his fellow plantation owners quickly threw together a semblance of a government in accordance with the Reorganisation of Africa Act once the BNF proper was driven from the dark jungle shores; and he used his wealth and influence to be appointed Governor-General by the all-white Council of Governors. Of course, neither the Governor-General, or the Council of Governors, nor the regional councils and governors, ever bothered to attain the required permission from the Colonial Office; but they ruled anyhow. To 'celebrate' the election of Maga, Jordaan managed to get himself appointed the First Councillor/boss of Équateur, a majority-white province in the Congo, to shore up his powerbase. But as of right now, he is the ruler and face of Belgian Africa: rich, white, fascist, and not giving a damn for what Brussels has to say.

 

[Noco19]

First Councillor Ludolf van Buskirk​

Born: September 5th, 1902

Background:

Grandson of the dearly departed Lucien van Buskirk, Fascist hero and determined nationalist, Ludolf van Buskirk grew up in admiration of the struggles of his lineage. From the foul murder of his ancestor, Bishop Frans van Buskirk, to the action taken by his grandfather during the civil war against the cabalist forces. Spending his formative years under the tutelage of his father, who dutifully followed the elder Lucien to Africa, Ludolf was taught in the capital of the Fascist state within Belgian, taking up an interest in the social sciences of history and philosophy, mainly that which the Party taught. This, coupled with his connection to Commissar Lucien, allowed Ludolf to become an influential member of the BNF in the lower levels of leadership, his prime being the command of the office of Ideological Purity within the Commissariat of National Security.

By the fall of the Fascist regime in Africa, Ludolf had established himself as one of the remaining white Belgians within Africa, himself being among the ranks of the large landowners who had secured their position with the aid of the Fascists. His lands, like the others, were essentially an independent fief, the mainland having no real power in Africa since the defeat of the BNF. Using his influence between his fellow white landowners, Ludolf declared himself occupying the position of First Councillor of Bas-Congo. Emboldened by the murder of his grandfather, Ludolf has become a more outspoken voice within the insanity of Belgian Africa.

 

[Otto of england]

Belgium is facing one of the most difficult periods of its history as we are wracked by internal instability and economic troubles. The CCU, the party which resulted in the humiliating defeat of our military and its large scale destruction, is protesting against the government out of bitterness and spite and has refused to take its seats in Parliament. This is unbecoming behavior for a political party whose candidate for president was defeated in a democratically held election and who has found itself in the opposition. In a democracy there will always be winners and losers in elections, but the losers are not expected to throw a tantrum the moment they lose and whine about how they are not in government. At time same time we have lawlessness and anarchy within Africa, caused by its neglect during the last government and the decimation of most of our military in Java. On the other hand, Belgium's economic recovery has reversed itself as the global economy is now entering the greatest economic depression the world has ever seen. It is only a matter of time before we see unemployment go up and many Belgians become left without means to sustain themselves. These are the challenges that we now face and must overcome.

The first and most important priority for our nation is to rebuild our military. With brewing dissatisfaction at home caused by the bitter CCU, rebellion in Africa, and a France which is now under fascist control and is seeking to reclaim its former lands, we must have a strong army to maintain order and to defend us from any who wish to invade us. Secondly we must seek to minimize the global economic depression's impact on our economy and ensure assistance to those it will affect. It is vital that we pass further social legislation as needed in order to achieve this, as well as having a more interventionist role in the economy. Thirdly, we must regain control over the African states, seek reform and economic expansion within them, and continue to uphold the rights of Africans. Belgium is in a difficult position, but there is hope for the future. I am confident that this government can tackle these problems that we currently face and bring us through this difficult and uncertain time.

~ Maarten Loewen, Prime Minister of Belgium

Some of your statements in this are an out right lie. For the CCU did not initiate the war against Java, it was the coalition of CCU-NDP-LDP and the nearly full support of parliament that initiated the war. So to say the whole war is the CCU's fault is complete and utter historical revisionism and whats more to say the loss is the CCU's fault is a complete misnomer. For while the last Prime Minister did urge the military to do something to end the war, he did in no way shape or form force the general to start a futile frontal assault and continue it until the entire army was destroyed. The destruction of Belgium's armed forces is entirely the General staffs fault anf the war is no individual political parties fault as it was endorsed by everyone. So stop lying Loewen, its unbefitting for the Prime Minister and a disgrace to whats left of Belgium.

- Random Deputy whos friends with van Hecke

 

[ThunderHawk3]

Matthewis Philippus Jordaan
His Excellency, the Governor-General of the Free State of the Belgian Possessions in the Regions of the Niger and the Congo Deltas and around the Equator
First Councillor of Équateur​

Born: October 3rd, 1874
Occupation: Governor-General and local African potentate
Party: Belgian National Front

(...)
But as of right now, he is the ruler and face of Belgian Africa: rich, white, fascist, and not giving a damn for what Brussels has to say.

((Yeah - no. Neither you or anyone else can have Africa as a personal fiefdom.

Additionally, as I've already pointed out, Governor-General is a national office that requires appointment by the Minister of the Colonies, not just the council of governors... which would require you to have been appointed by Nicephore Maga or one of his predecessors, most likely Gerrard Van Prinsterer.))