Attempt to Revival (California - Elthize Summit)
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A summit will take place on April 17, 2025 between the Commonwealth of California and Elthize, in the capital city of Sacramento.
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"No, the capital of California is Sacramento."
"Sacramento? What the hell is Sacramento? Why didn't they put the capital in Los Angeles?"
"Is our capital city St. Lucas, bud?"
"Yeah?"
The conversation between two random young men President Melissa Chai overheard before her flight to Sacramento kept repeating in her head, a perfect example of what education has become in Elthize. Budget increases, a revision of the content, all of them were long overdue. She was not satisfied with the work of Victor Delaney, her cabinet's education minister, but to dismiss him, a CSD member, could strain the coalition even more than it already has. She could call for a snap election, but would that help? Would she be re-elected as president? She did not know. The best she could do is her job.
After she left the airport, she met with Joanne Bird, Minister of Foreign Affairs, both had landed in separate planes. The special vehicle, belonging to the Elthic embassy in Sacramento, was waiting for them, as they made their way to the Capitol Building.
"Looks a lot more impressive than what we have," Bird declared, after coming face to face with the front of the building.
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Kamala was glad to have won a second term in the April election. The Parliament enjoyed an Easter recess, encompassing the second half of April. So that meant, the political ministry was not present in Sacramento. It was just her and Doug in the capitol, working in The Lodge.
"Doug, sweetie, isn't it nice to be in one place and be there for consecutive days?" she cokmented.
"Yes it is; I actually enjoyed campaigning across California," responded Doug. Kamala had a dumbfounded expression.
"...Honey, you just spoke...I had to do the politics."
"That's very true." As they maintained a casual conversation, a staffer interrupted.
"Madam Prime Minister, the Elthic plane is approaching the airport."
"That's my cue to leave."
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It had been three long years since Elthize and California had held a summit. Before Chai took the presidency, before her country shook off what she perceived as "the liberal leeches", before Elthize could finally be a proper country with equal opportunities for all. California, despite being too capitalist for her taste, could be an example of how the winds of change could begin in Elthize, albeit very slowly. She was very aware of the reactionaries and their dominance the moment you stepped foot out of the city of St. Lucas, with the memory of her having tomatoes thrown at her in the city of Lucatian Gardens by about a dozen bastards still fresh in the brain.
But in the moment, none of it mattered. What mattered was this meeting with California's prime minister, Kamala Harris. The photoshoot commenced, flashes blinding what some people saw as a "historic moment": Two women, both heads of state, together, in a summit. Melissa Chai was far from the first female president of Elthize, three women had held the chair before her.
But she could be the most influential one.
"Mrs. Harris, it's great to see you."
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Kamala loved meeting female heads of government; it was becoming more common. Icholasen, Inquista, Red Croatia and Mountenbourg started the recent trend of female leaders. She understood Elthize, for as much as they don't care for it, was only semi-illiberal. She smiled knowing that.
"We pretty recently had an election which my Labor Party won. I hope all is well in St. Lucas." She began to lead them to the twenty minute journey minutejourney motorcade, which would take them
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"Oh goodness, I have not been in St. Lucas for months now," Chai replied. The motorcade was too much for Chai, though she endured. She could not wait for the summit and the negotiations to commence.
