Edge of Europe - A Belgian Interactive AAR

[Plutonium95]

The idea, Monsieur, would be to ensure that both languages are known anyway. That way we can just focus on securing the best man for the job. Though – and please correct me if I am wrong – it would stand to reason that the best administrators would be those in national, rather than provincial, positions, and would therefore need to have knowledge of both tongues.

Perhaps if I amended the bill to discount provincial employees?

~Jean-François, Vicomte du Sint-Niklaas, MWO

((Considering it's been two years, I wouldn't have thought so. I'm not really sure what we are.))

Yes, ideally both languages would be known, but sometimes that will not be the case. I simply don't feel that requiring both languages is necessary when we have many people who do know both and could serve as competent translators when needed. And yes, we would try to get the best administrators in the national government, but some may prefer serving at a provincial level. I agree that both languages should ideally be known, but I feel it should not be a requirement for the job, especially when translators are available. Perhaps someone could be elected without knowledge of both languages, but a translator would be provided when necessary, and they could be required to take lessons in the language they do not know. This would ensure that the best choice is picked for the job, not the best choice who can speak both languages.

Michel Daret

 

[ThunderHawk3]

((are we still delegates?))

((Deputies, I guess - (though elections haven't really be held yet, so maybe interim deputies, or people of prominence with the power to influence the legislature.)))

 

[Gen. Marshall]

Obviously, I shall be running for the leadership of the Moderate Liberal Party. As founder of the party (and its current leader, interim or not), under my leadership this party will continue on the course that has been outlined in the Party Manifest. There is one change to said Manifest I wish to introduce, though, as inspired and requested by my Protestant fellow party members and the outcome of voting on the religious Acts proposed in the Constitution.

Religion
Catholic Culture
The GLP is a party founded on a Catholic Christian culture. We do not, however, seek to discriminate against any religion, so Protestant and Orthodox Christians alike may feel free to join the party. Common values of the Catholic faith will be maintained, but we seek to limit the influence of the Church on state matters. With this in mind, an advisory role for the Catholic Bishops would be most suitable.​

Mr. Loewen has expressed his interest in running for party leadership as well, and I wish him luck. I do ask him, though: What made you run for party leadership, while you hesitated so long to join the party? I believe Mr. Daret and Mr. De España, who have been a great help to me from the very beginning, who are both Party Secretaries, would be more representative of the left wing of this party. Please, make your mark on the party first, Mr. Loewen. When you have done so, then I'd gladly support you.

- Maximiliaan van Brabant, GLP Party Leader


((As far as inter-party voting goes, I think we should have two votes. One official vote between the candidates (Somberg and me ATM), and one "preference vote", where you can vote for any party member, which will allow the leader of the GLP to see which of the party members are popular and perhaps deserve a cabinet position.))

 

[Jako473]

My lords, Sein Aaron Van Der Goltz has decided to join the Belgium Consitutional Union. Herr Aaron has also filed his name to the Government as an officer in the Armed Forced of Belgium, as it please you.

-German Courier, household translator in Belgium.

 

[Plutonium95]

Monsieur van Brabant, you say that you wish to limit the role of the church in the affairs of the state, but then you go on to propose a an advisory role for Catholic Bishops. I am somewhat confused by what such a role would entail, do you intend to give Catholic Bishops a spot on your council if elected as PM. I would prefer to see religious figures kept form having guaranteed positions unless that is the party's wish. We already have several bishops who will be in the legislature and they have the opportunity to express their views from there. All that said, as of right now you have my support due to your forming the party and being a moderate force who can promote compromise.

As far as running for Prime Minister myself, I plan to wait until I have more experience in government, if ever. For now, hopefully I will end up as Minister of Economics and that suits me just fine.

-Michel Daret

 

[DensleyBlair]

Yes, ideally both languages would be known, but sometimes that will not be the case. I simply don't feel that requiring both languages is necessary when we have many people who do know both and could serve as competent translators when needed. And yes, we would try to get the best administrators in the national government, but some may prefer serving at a provincial level. I agree that both languages should ideally be known, but I feel it should not be a requirement for the job, especially when translators are available. Perhaps someone could be elected without knowledge of both languages, but a translator would be provided when necessary, and they could be required to take lessons in the language they do not know. This would ensure that the best choice is picked for the job, not the best choice who can speak both languages.

Michel Daret

That sounds like a fine compromise, Monsieur. Perhaps the following would be more suitable for you?

The Bilingualism Act​

1. All government officials (defined as those employed by the executive or legislative branch) shall be required to have means of operating in both French and Flemish Dutch.
2. All members of the judiciary shall also be required have means of operating in both languages.
   
   • Should a governmental or judiciary official not be able to understand both languages, a translator must be supplied.
3. All members of the Officer Corps in the military shall be required to speak both languages.
   
   • All non-officer members of the military shall be given language lessons during training should it be required.
4. All public signage (defined as that installed or paid for by the government, or on governmental buildings) shall be bilingual.
5. All schools in Belgium are to teach children both official languages.

You will notice that I have discounted the officer corps from the amendment. I feel that translators would not be best suited to the heat of battle, but feel free to offer an argument to suggest they could be.

~Jean-François, Vicomte du Sint-Niklaas, MWO

 

[Gen. Marshall]

Monsieur van Brabant, you say that you wish to limit the role of the church in the affairs of the state, but then you go on to propose a an advisory role for Catholic Bishops. I am somewhat confused by what such a role would entail, do you intend to give Catholic Bishops a spot on your council if elected as PM. I would prefer to see religious figures kept form having guaranteed positions unless that is the party's wish. We already have several bishops who will be in the legislature and they have the opportunity to express their views from there. All that said, as of right now you have my support due to your forming the party and being a moderate force who can promote compromise.

As far as running for Prime Minister myself, I plan to wait until I have more experience in government, if ever. For now, hopefully I will end up as Minister of Economics and that suits me just fine.

-Michel Daret

Mr. Daret, an "advisory position" would entail just that - I would highly value the opinion of the Catholic Church, perhaps even it would be voiced through a special council, but never would such an advice be binding, and never would I grant an official acting government position to anyone for the sole reason that he is a Catholic Bishop. Of course, the precise legislative interpretation of this point of view is subject to the opinion of you, the party, and the rest of the legislature.

Also, I thank you for your support. It would be a pleasure to work with you, as Minister of Economics.

- Maximiliaan van Brabant, GLP Party Leader

 

[DensleyBlair]

I too wish to voice my support for Mijnheer van Brabant. I have full confidence in the man, and am of the opinion that it would be an honour to serve as Minister of Foreign Affairs in a potential van Brabant administration.

~Jean-François, Vicomte du Sint-Niklaas, MWO

 

[Plutonium95]

Such a proposal seems fine to me monsieur, the final part of the act seems most important. With all students learning both languages we will phase this out as an issue in a generation.

Monsieur van Brabant, I would be fine with such an advisory position in that case. I wouldn't dream of trying to restrict where our Prime Minister can seek advice.

-Michel Daret

 

[DensleyBlair]

Such a proposal seems fine to me monsieur, the final part of the act seems most important. With all students learning both languages we will phase this out as an issue in a generation.

-Michel Daret

Très bien. I am glad that we have been able to reach a compromise.

~Jean-François, Vicomte du Sint-Niklaas, MWO

 

[Scrapknight]

Firstly, congratulations to King Prosper-Louis. May his reign be one of forward progress and enlightenment for us all.

Secondly, considering the current political climate, I hereby announce that the National Democratic Party will not contest this election and its operations are temporarily suspended. Furthermore, I announce my intention to join the Moderate Liberal Party. As I am considering my options at this time, I cannot endorse a particular candidate at this time but I confide that Monseiur Loewen's proposals seem like a fine direction forward for Belgium.

Thirdly, with regards to the current linguistic debate, I must say that the prejudice of certain delegates in the room towards Walloons is crass at best. I am a Walloon who has lived for most of his life in Flanders. I speak both Dutch and French fluently. The notion that we all despise Dutch as a language of "peasants and weavers" is absurd. The Constitution already provides guarantees of the preservation of both Flemish and French as administrative languages, and the bills on the table shall make such services easy to provide for all. The concerns aired about the attempted subjugation of the Flemish language are, frankly, unfounded.

 

[Harpsichord]

As a staunch secularist, I am unable to support van Brabant in his bid for leadership. As such, my support currently lies with Loewen.

 

[jeeshadow]

I announce my intention to run for leadership of the moderate liberal party.
((sorry thunder, my phone doesn't let be bold stuff...))

 

[Plutonium95]

I announce my intention to run for leadership of the moderate liberal party.
((sorry thunder, my phone doesn't let be bold stuff...))

Do you have a platform that you will be running on?

 

[jeeshadow]

Do you have a platform that you will be running on?

I run on the all ready stated party platform, but with a more tolerant religious than the original one ((pretty much the same Marshall is using.))
The reason I am running is because I feel I am a better candidate than the ones all ready running. The are either to liberal, or to moderate.

 

[Harpsichord]

I run on the all ready stated party platform, but with a more tolerant religious than the original one ((pretty much the same Marshall is using.))
The reason I am running is because I feel I am a better candidate than the ones all ready running. The are either to liberal, or to moderate.

May I ask, what do you believe a candidate for the Moderate Liberal Party should be?

 

[Gen. Marshall]

I run on the all ready stated party platform, but with a more tolerant religious than the original one ((pretty much the same Marshall is using.))
The reason I am running is because I feel I am a better candidate than the ones all ready running. The are either to liberal, or to moderate.

Mr. Aerts, allow me to clarify that; you are running for leadership on a platform similar to mine, because you feel my platform is too moderate. While, of course, competency would be a valid reason to contest leadership, surely you don't mean to imply the founder of your party is incompetent?

- Maximiliaan van Brabant, GLP Party Leader

 

[DensleyBlair]

The reason I am running is because I feel I am a better candidate than the ones all ready running. The are either to liberal, or to moderate.

May I ask, what do you believe a candidate for the Moderate Liberal Party should be?

I would echo this sentiment. Monsieur, I believe you have joined the wrong party if you are bemoaning its moderate liberality.

Also, surely it you are running on the same manifesto, this is no more than a popularity contest?

~Jean-François, Vicomte du Sint-Niklaas, MWO

 

[jeeshadow]

May I ask, what do you believe a candidate for the Moderate Liberal Party should be?

I believe that a candidate should push a liberal agenda, but must also realize that we can't do anything without some conservative votes, and as such be willing to compromise. I feel the two leading candidates so far will either push to hard against the conservatives, and not be willing to compromise ((somberg)). The other candidate may not have the backing of more liberal factions of the party ((Marshall)). I feel as I have been with the liberals for a long time I may be supported by them. I also compromised with the conservatives in the convention.

 

[Plutonium95]

I should point out that we also need a man who has experience governing. Monsieur van Brabant was on the council of the city of Antwerp, but he also played a role in the national level as a representative of Southern Netherlands. As much as I have enjoyed working with them at the consitutional convention, I feel that Monsieurs Loewen and Aerts do not have the necessary experience. Monsieur Loewen was only a mayor, and Aerts' diplomatic experience is limited to dealing with his own family. We need an experienced leader during these rough starting years as a new nation.

-Michel Daret