Wysterian Assembly: Election Day 5
Presentation Of Candidates' Manifestos
Kan Abernathy - Minister For Imperial Diplomacy, Assembly Member For Gallen (Ambassadorial Row)
Kan Abernathy is an old hand in the Wysterian Assembly. Minister for Imperial Diplomacy for the past 14 years in the Labourer's Council of the late Duke Nicholas II, he has great experience both in the workings of the Assembly and the nature of Wysteria's myriad relationships - political, military, economic, etc - with realms across the Empire and has negotiated more than a few of them; having served as a Member for his Gallen constituency for 6 terms, he is also one of the longest-serving Members of the Assembly. Abernathy worked closely with the late Duke in matters of foreign affairs, and is well known as supporting Nicholas's ideals of peaceful political cooperation and diplomacy through expansive trade; Abernathy was part of the initial delegation sent to open the Merchant's Guild Post in Acholm, and was a key proponent of the scheme to increase production of the Clipper-Class trading vessel. In contrast, less is known about Abernathy's domestic priorities; he is known to support the positive effects international trade has had on Gallen's economy, but has also received some criticism in the past for not placing as much emphasis on the needs of Wysteria's outlying, prominently agrarian counties. As a veteran of the Assembly, Abernathy is estimated to draw relatively high support.
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Members of the Assembly, Chief Purveyor, Spectators; it is with great appreciation and humble honor that I stand before you today to announce my candidacy for the Ministership of the Wysterian Assembly.
We stand on the cusp of greatness, friends. In the centuries since the first bricks were laid in the foundations of the hallowed chamber in which we stand today, our world has experienced incredible growth. Where Ender soil lay barren and forsaken, a great manufactory today represents the culmination of years of international cooperation in which Wysteria played a starring role. Where even the Empire’s most complete legal records were in disarray after the tremors of the Dark Age, the Imperial Libraries today hold fully modernized Acts that shall be used to guide the legal processes of our world for generations to come – all penned by the Wysterian legal scholars that have cemented our reputation as second to none in the field. Where still waterways and small barges once provided our only contact with the outside world, proud and powerful vessels fly flags from dozens of realms as they connect our capital to a rich and prosperous network of maritime commerce. Wysteria, from Gallen to Graycott, Vryth to Maes, has become a gleaming beacon of the East – a promise of the potential, the possibility, the productivity that occurs when a people are determined to forge a destiny that shall light the way for those to come.
There can, of course, be no better testament to this than our ascension to the status of Kingdom of the Empire. This, my friends, is the goal that the late Duke strived for - he dedicated every fibre of his being to seeing the realm he had cultivated for so long succeed in this final trial, and though he cannot be here to see it we know in our hearts that he would wish for nothing else than to see his dream made reality. This same goal has also been my work; for over a decade in my capacity as Minister for Imperial Diplomacy, I have pushed tirelessly in forging the valuable international connections that have allowed us to gain the confidence of the international community. As we have reached out to the international community and broadened our horizons through economic, political, social, and cultural outreach, we have seen our fortunes and our standing in the Empire grow greatly. We have established Merchant’s Posts from Concordia in the West to Acholm in the East, and found new destinations for exports as we established a presence in new ports. We have emerged as a mighty defender, a valiant symbol of peace, order, and cooperation in these increasingly turbulent geopolitical times, as our peacekeepers and international observers proved an example to the Empire in the midst of the Minervan-Khabranthian conflict and our skilled diplomats worked tirelessly to diffuse conflict lest we stray from the peaceful path that has guided Wysteria to prosperity for generations. We have expanded our understanding of and our diplomatic contacts with realms and peoples across Hermertia, assisted in the establishment of independent settlements, and welcomed newcomers to our own realm – all work I am proud to say follows the founding principles of Wysteria, the sacred trust that each Minister must uphold: to broaden our knowledge through perspective.
And so we are indeed on the cusp of greatness, friends! We have come so far, achieved so much, and yet it is now that we stand at perhaps our greatest test yet: the selection of a Minister who will pledge themselves to uphold these great principles and to stand by them as they take on this sacred trust to lead our realm into a new day.
And so, I ask humbly for your vote in electing myself to this great responsibility. I ask that you allow me to continue on the work that has brought Wysteria to its greatest heights. I ask that, together, we see our grand and brave realm continue on its prosperous course, and continue to be spoken of with admiration throughout the Empire.
Thank you.
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Enthusiastic applause.
_________________ Wysterian Labourer's Council Currently Holding Stewardship of Wysteria Minister for Applications and Settlement Forums Administrator
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