A Predictable Crisis
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The Governor General of the Federal Republic of Lusitania and Vettonia, Jose Miguel Orato Gonzo, summons all the nation's media to a press conference following today's extraordinary Council of Ministers. The press conference will be this afternoon
The content of the emergency meeting and the press conference is not known. Experts have been talking all morning about an imminent government crisis.
Vanega Palace (Emerita Augusta) seat of government of Lusitania and Vettonia -
Orato Gonzo arrives in a packed press room. All the reporters fall silent before him. He sits all alone at the centre of the table, solemnly. He adjusts the microphone and checks that everything is ready. He holds some papers in his hand and places them gently on the table. His hand trembles. With a theatrical gesture he looks at a camera in the background and begins to read.
"Citizens of Lusitania and Vettonia. For the past five years I have been leading the destinies of our Federation. Only history will be able to judge our work with true perspective. But I believe that my successive governments have done all they could and more to bring the nation to a successful conclusion. The economic growth statistics bear us out.
The Conservative Party suffered a setback in the Presidential Elections last June. The people withdrew their confidence in us for a second term as head of state. With the Liberal Party we have had a short-lived coalition government to run this country. This government, among other things, has succeeded in making substantial changes to the constitution which, although not to everyone's liking, represent a step forward for the future of our people.
But it has been precisely the liberals, imbued with an electioneering spirit, who have dedicated themselves to hindering the government. We have had no cooperation from the Head of State, and the party has dedicated itself to proposing laws that our principles prevent us from supporting. Not even in a motion of confidence against our government, your government, were they able to have any sense of statehood and support the common good.
It is for all these reasons that I have decided to end my mandate. And to communicate to Elisa Ubrique, as President of the Republic, my resignation and that of my entire government. The Council of Ministers has decided to put an end to its authority and to return power to the people in their highest representation, the General Diet.
It has been a long but fruitful five years, five years in which we have had many friends and enemies. But I hope that the nation will rise to the occasion. I wish my successor the best of luck, for all that it implies for us."
"Any questions?" Asks Orato after finishing. Many hands rise in the air.
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A journalist of TLV is the first asking the Governor General
J: Mr Orato. Are you saying Head of the State collaborated in the complot against government.
O: What I said is that we did not have the the desired collaboration. They were looking ahead to the elections.Another journalist ask him
J: Do you know who will be the next Governor General?
O: I have talked with Elisa Ubrique and she is going to dissolve the Diet. So no. I don't know who will be my successor
J: But... If she is going to dissolve the Diet... Who will refrend that Head of the Government?
O: That is not my problem. Conservative party won't accept the presidence of the government. We are preparing ourselves for elections. The next Governor General is a Presidential competence.A third journalist ask to Orato
J: That means Elisa Ubrique will not be able to nominate a new Governor General?
O: Maybe. That is something she will have to study.
J: Thats a very heavy political crisis
O: I know. But is what liberals have been looking for.A locutor of RLV asks him
J: Will you be the candidate of the Conservative party for a hypotetical elections
O: Probably, but the party has to decide many things. One thing is clear. We are not going to support any liberal government in the future if they win.
J: So, in that case liberals will have to pact with Social-Democratics and Federalists?
O: Surely. But first citizens have to talk in the urns. There will not be more questions. He says, surprising the whole room.
At the exit of the Palace, the television stations have already gathered. The media were in a state of bewilderment. They all expected the President of the Republic to make an early appearance to explain the situation in the future. The reality is that Lusitania and Vettonia now have no government, the feared political instability has arrived. No one knows how far it may escalate.
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The President of the Republic, Elisa Ubrique, arrives at the press room of the National Palace. She sits in her position and waits a few moments before making a live television address to the whole nation.
The National Palace
"I address the entire population of Lusitania and Vettonia at a time of political crisis such as has never before been seen in our recent history. I communicate my decision to accept the resignation of Jose Miguel Orato as Governor General of the Federal Republic of Lusitania and Vettonia.
Since the formation of a government with all the guarantees is very complex due to the volatility of the political situation, I have decided to issue a decree dissolving the General Diet and proclaiming the convocation of Federal Elections on Sunday 25th September. The new Diet is due to meet for the first time on Tuesday 27 September. The election campaign will officially begin on 20 August.
Also, my team has taken into account the different options for the good governance of the country until that election date. Yesterday we had a long meeting with the magistrates of the Court of Constitutional Guarantees because of the legal complexity of appointing a new government with a dissolved Diet. The final conclusion is the appointment of a Government of National Salvation with independent ministers. This government will be subject to the control of the Standing Committee of the General Diet, and will expire with the appointment of the new Governor General.
I have decided to entrust the formation of this government to the reputable lawyer Camilo Guterres Salgado. He is an independent figure who will undoubtedly be able to handle himself in this situation.
I am well aware that the decisions announced here are not to everyone's liking. I am aware that this may lead to protests and demonstrations. But I am confident that serenity will be achieved, and that everything will return to normal. Thank you very much."
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In many cities in Lusitania and Vettonia, protests are taking place, called by conservatives and members of the extreme right against what the far-right National Front has called a "constitutional coup d'état". A heated election campaign is expected.
According to the Vigiles, the protests are having a low turnout.
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Demonstrations called for today with 5 days to go until the election campaign
The demonstrations have been called by the "Territorial Guard", which is linked to the far-right "National Front". Police forces in the capital are on high alert in view of the latest statements by the National leader, Pedro Laís, in which he maintains his accusation that the head of state is a coup leader. He has also called on "the popular masses" to bring the situation back to constitutional order.
The Territorial Guard is a violent and radical right-wing extremist group, famous for its violent shows of force and demonstrations. They are known for the riots on 22 May 2010, against the government of Hugo Gomez on the eve of the federal elections in which he was to be re-elected. The elections almost failed to take place due to the group's attempts to collapse the system, and a series of clashes with the extreme left led to the intervention of the Vigiles. During the early hours of the morning, the streets were cleared of demonstrators and the elections could be held. 240 people were arrested (187 ultra-rightists and 53 communists). The next day the National Front lost 34 deputies, and the Communist Party, already in a minority, disappeared from the General Diet to this day.
Emérita Augusta holds its breath, fearing a similar episode.
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Large disturbances during the Territorial Guard protests
The worst fears of the authorities were confirmed and the ultra group called Territorial Guard caused chaos in the main streets of Emerita Augusta yesterday.
Militants of the criminal group arrived from all over the country, and the Vigiles were out late into the night trying to contain the protests. During the demonstrations there were assaults on bank branches and shops, barricades were erected and containers were set on fire.
The tensest moments came when the Vigiles had to fire into the air to prevent an attempted assault on the General Diet.
The entire political class condemned the incident. The Guterres government has announced that it will declare the Territorial Guard a terrorist group, due to the security threats posed by their protests. At this hour, the Vigils and other police forces have arrested 732 members of the group, accused of crimes of vandalism and attacks on the police.
Emerita Augusta wakes up from the nightmare.
