THE KAZMURBIRHAZ WARDEN
Is Ruthund ready for a Catholic Steward?
alt text
Presumptive Stewardess Brenelduz speaking at the dabate
14 December, 2021
At the time of writing this article, Brenelduz Libonutukur’s Social Progressive Party is currently leading the national polling and her party is expected to form government as voting continues to be counted, thereby making her the next presumptive Stewardess. She would not only be the first female nominal Head of State since 1739, the last year of Queen Thazdaluz’s reign, but she also would be the first Stewardess of Ruthund ever. The title of Steward has never been bestowed on a woman ever since the foundation of the office under King Hazdulaz in 987 CE, making this an unprecedented moment in the history of Ruthund.
However the discourse surrounding Brenelduz isn't really concerning her gender in this election cycle-- but her Catholic background.
Brenelduz was born in Francoist Spain in 1960. She was the daughter of a Spanish Bleithonuz mother, or Ruthenish Christian exiles that resided in Europe but chose to keep their cultural identity and spanish diplomat. Spain has been one of the major centers of the Bleithoniz community since the 17th century and found relative safety in Spain for most of its history. However under Francoist Spain, Brenelduz and the rest of the Bleithon community was expected to conform to Castilian customs and abandon her Bleithoniz identity in accordance with the cultural assimilation policies of Franco. Albeit, her mother secretly taught her Ruthenish and Brenelduz became an active member of the Bleithon community, which was underground at that time.
However during her young adulthood, Spain began to transition to a democracy and relaxed its laws on cultural assimilation that forced the Bleithoniz community underground. At University, she studied Law while continuing her studies in theology and Classical Ruthenish amongst the Blethoniz Community in Spain. During this time Brenelduz joined the Oimlond (Homeland) Society, a group of Ruthenish Catholics that sought to campaign to return to Ruthund and revive the Christian community within Ruthund. However during this time, Christianity was still banned in Ruthund with the Old Regime still in power. An opportunity presented itself after 1994, when Ruthund had its first free elections with the Republican faction leading a coalition government. They pledged to liberalize Ruthund and to ensure basic civil liberties, including the right to freedom of religion, was ensured.
In 2003, Brenelduz arrived in Ruthund. Under the Bleithon Return Act of 2001, Brenelduz and other Ruthenish Christians were granted a path towards citizenship-- at the time, the only ones that could be granted citizenship through a normal process. However, Brenelduz still faced issues being seen as a foreigner, an issue that has never really gone away. Brenelduz, still known for her Spanish accent, still has her loyalties questioned by her opposition parties such as the right-wing Njothlenaz.
Brenelduz still is a Catholic, a faith that was until only 25 years ago, banned in Ruthund. And this has caused, even among her political allies, concern that the bestowal of the Stewardship would cause problems with the office. One of the important duties of the Steward is to accompany the King on several important religious rituals, including the lighting of the First Flame on Ruthenish New Years. Brenelduz has historically refused to take part in Zdardrin festivals for religious reasons, preferring to celebrate Catholic holidays privately. Though this to some may seem like a superficial issue, which may well be, this could have big spiritual ramifications for the State.
Indeed some conservative religious scholars argue that only a Zdardrin can ever become Steward when caretaking the throne, since the legitimacy of the State comes from the spiritual authority of Ruthak and his successors. Though the debate is not a hot button issue in mainstream Ruthenish society, there is some doubt whether the clergy will recognize the new found authority of the Stewardess, which could open up discourse once more for a restoration of the Monarchy, which could plunge Ruthund into a constitutional crisis.
However most political commentators are not worried about this prospect, as the new Thuidwethon is expected to be the most secular and left-wing session since its inception and any constitutional crisis can be mitigated by amending the Basic Law-- which seems to be on the WJF’s agenda either way.
In her closing statements in the debate last week, Brenelduz concluded by saying, “As Stewardess, it is my belief that God wants me to serve the Ruthenish people as a leader of a nation, and not as just Brenelduz. And because of that, I say to all of you and my opponents up here-- my faith or my past shall be divorced from what I do as Stewardess of Ruthund. I will only do as to serve our people, our nation, and to fulfill the agenda I laid out tonight.”