Firoux's Open Letter to Tilkanas
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I hope this letter finds you well, Speaker Tilkanas, amidst all the turmoil in your own country and your hectic schedule in Europolis.
While I am addressing this letter to you personally, I feel it is a letter that is also best shared to the European people. I share it not only because it's a message that the European people need to see, but it's also one that I know a lot of European people want to see and would readily affirm in a heartbeat.
I want to begin by thanking you for your tireless work and service within the European Council. Being Speaker is the most difficult and demanding job in Europolis, and the work that you have put into your position over the last year should be commended. Speakership comes with an exhaustive list of duties and responsibilities, and ensuring that the European Council is running smoothly and proceeding accordingly despite a whole barrage of political and legislative nonsense, and a whole lot of mean-spirited fighting and clashing, is no easy feat. It's a tough job that comes with absolutely no glory and is thanklessly rewarded. Doing your job effectively will more often than not result in some degree of anger and accusations of partisanship or bias.
I am disheartened that you appear to be stepping down as the European Councillor for Istkalen, and I am equally disheartened by your decision to rule out continuing on as Council Speaker.
You have been a monumental voice for the people of Istkalen during your tenure as their councillor, and you have shown great bravery and strength in representing the interest of your people during some of your country's toughest times, most notably during the occupation. Throughout your tenure, you have proven to be one of the most consistently sensible, practical, and best-intentioned councillors, and you have done so while maintaining a very high degree of grace and decorum.
It is not for me to say who should be the Councillor of Istkalen, but it is impossible for me to imagine someone else proving themselves to be more capable or stronger in character than yourself. Istkalen and the whole European Union will be worse off without you at the table.
Similarly, it is hard to imagine someone more competent and worthy of being Speaker of the European Council when looking at the current roster of European Councillors. Recent reports on your Speakership have been unnecessarily harsh, unfair, and are flawed evaluations. The job of being Speaker is monumentous, and it is a burden that has crushed many speakers in the past, including the one between our own tenures. It is a job that requires a lot of learning, and that learning is very steep. Please show yourself some grace and understanding. You have grown and matured into your position, and you know better than anybody what requires improvement. This knowledge should motivate you to continue, not to step down.
While I'm sure that you have your own misgivings of your term, I want you to know that you almost always have the right instincts. You have by far the clearest read on the European Council, which you also recognise requires some degree of reform. While we don't necessarily see eye-to-eye on all the issues, I trust your overall vision, and I also trust you to guide the European Council towards that vision, as so do many others. You know there is a lot of work to be done, which is why it's not time to step down now.
I realise you may wish to step down for other reasons, such as burnout and overall demoralization. I've certainly been there. As I've explained at length, Speakership is no easy job and it comes with no reward. In the most challenging times I could always count on my confidants - Councillors Poppy Carlton-Romanov, Donald Tusk, Emma Granger and my lovely wife, just to name a few - who kept me going and feeling seen, even when I became a Council lightning rod or punching bag. I want to extend my hand to you, and let you know that I will always be willing to meet with you at a café in Europolis, or at one of our homes, simply to talk or listen. Very few people have been in our position, and so not a lot of people understand where we come from.
I really hope that this letter doesn't find you too late, and I hope that any decision you've made is not final. A lot of people are hoping the same.
Be well and stay safe.
Sincerely,
Edward Firoux
