From the Head of State
On the National Assembly
Contrary to the public opinion, I am in support of the events which have transpired. Under the present government, due to the poor condition of the state apparatus as a direct result of the occupation, there exists little method of redress, nor any real form of accountability. The actions of the workers' associations, as such, while in theory illegal, were effectively the only way to genuinely address the concerns of the citizens and rectify, rapidly, the numerous mistakes my government and I have committed.
This action, if anything, has given me greater confidence in the ability of the Istkaleners to govern themselves, to make rational decisions and to execute them peacefully. No one turned to violence here; this was perhaps the first peaceful change in government since the transition in 2002 - between Kerel to Ikomar several death threats had to be made to coerce Kerel into stepping down; a bloody uprising of ultranationalists caused the transfer of power from Ikomar to me. All the previous decisions I have made were primarily based on the experience with the Imperial Realm and the Northern Radio - that the Istkaleners were not yet ready for democracy due to the instability that had plagued our country; with the recent action, however, my fears are assuaged. The people of Istkalen are clearly a stable one, determined but, as I stated, rational.
In order to give legality to the recent events, as well as to ensure the international community that this was not a coup, nor anything approaching a coup, I have passed a number of decrees approving the actions of the workers' associations, empowering their National Assembly - effectively putting into place the new system they have created. I also officially dismiss the present cabinet and appoint, in their place, the new one, including the new Prime Minister Kaisa Malk, who is to be recognized as the sole and official head of government, as desired by the National Assembly.
I am, however, not as willing to fully recind the recent state of emergency declared. The ability of the Social Democrats to amass so many so quickly is worrying, and definitive evidence that they continue to have a foothold in our country; while I am sure that the population is able to deal with them, it is necessary that institutions such as the Administration of State, Public, and Internal Security remain, as to monitor and control the threat; this will, however, be left to the incoming government and the new Interim National Assembly to decide.
Vistek Rikkalek
Head of State of the Republic of Istkalen