AGE Heads of State and Government Summit

[Skånskige Statsunionen]

Internationell Centrum för Fred (International Centre for Peace)
Nystrå, Nystrå Provins
Skånskige Statsunionen

Executive Chancellor Clark-Mallström was running purely on adrenline and caffeine at this point. She had just ended her work with the Nordic Council and the quick trip to Belmont. All just to come home to have to host the AGE Summit. This was definitely going to be an important summit. The changing landscape of the world made that it was time to kick the integration and cooperation process into high gear or lose influence to the upstarts in EDF. Clark-Mallström snorted, there was no way a bunch of useless German states would upstart the victors of the Great War in prestige and power.

She inspected the arrivals area and noticed that one of the flags looked a bit older and worn. She barked at the young soldier who was raising the flag to get a new one. Everything seemed to be in order.

She took her spot on the red carpet and looked at her watch. Only a few more minutes before Pers Andersson would arrive. He was the front-runner to date to be the new SecGen.

His car arrived and Clark-Mallström greeted her old boss. He was still looking great with his short cut blond hair and ocean blue eyes that matched perfectly his tie. He greeted her and walked inside the structure of crystal.

The International Centre for Peace was built as a monument to the lasting peace at the end of the Great War. The structure was made completely of glass and only as much steel as necessary to showcase the new 'world that is the glass house'.

Clark-Mallström thought it would be fitting to have the largest democratic alliance in the World meet in a structure dedicated to the pursuit of peace and cooperation amongst states and peoples.

Her watched beeped at her again, the helicopters bringing the HoSGs had entered the airspace of Nystrå.

 

[Frescania]

International Center for Peace
Nystrå, Skånskige Statsunionen

The noise made by the helicopters as they landed was not pleasant, but nevertheless hear it while his advisors summary the meeting's agenda. It was his first one as Head of Government, and he was unsure of how things were done. The president on the other hand, was looking forward for the meeting. Carlos sometimes wondered how Alejandro could be so calm, yet he realized that the president already had experience with this while he was chancellor.

The helicopters stopped and the delegation of twelve got out. Martinez gave his folder to his aide and fixed his tie. He was ready, or so he thought. He turned towards his aides, but instead saw President Gutierrez walked towards Chancellor Mallström with a smile and while firmly shaking her said with a calm and respectful voice:

“A pleasure to be here Madame Chancellor, thank you for holding this summit.”

 

[Vistrasia]

Four Levantine state limousines, who traditionally accompanied the higher leadership of the Levant in visits abroad, drove through the streets of Nystrå, going for the hotel where the Levantine delegation would be staying. Within the middle limousine were the President and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, both were sitting in silence as they were going through paperwork, the schedule for the conference, and a briefing by top-diplomats, going through what the Levant would try to get out of this.

Elias Abizaid, President of the Levant had a small earplug through which he heard a on-line stream of Antioch-1, the main political news radio and a stalwart ally of the Union of Levantine Freethinkers, Abizaid's party. Within Antioch protests were ongoing against the AGE, condemned as capitalist, pseudo-democratic montrosity. Throughout the city of Antioch there were a number of podiums, mostly windows of squats, where speeches were made declaring AGE and LFS to at heart be one fascist world union.

Abizaid looked out of the window, but the streets were calm. He guessed they were probably already within area around their hotel, and indeed within a minute the limousine came to a halt, the President and his staff, mostly his security detail and a number of top-diplomats rushed in, escaping the cold. In the beautiful hotel lobby, Joaquim Rafael and his top aides was already awaiting them, and the meeting between him and Bartomue Pijoan was grim. It was no secret that Pijoan and Dídac Verges (the Levantine representative to the Council of Nations) were close, the two looked each other in the eyes as they gave each other a hard hand shake.

Elias Abizaid wasn't that concerned in the personal rivalries of his diplomats and gave Joaquim Rafael a warm handshake, greeting him as an old friend. While Rafael wouldn't be part of the Levantine delegation, his relation to the Levant was clear, during his tenure he had mostly surrounded himself with Levantines and Frescanians, his stay in the Hotel next to that of the Levantine delegation was no coincidence. However as the delegation left for the Conference Room for a more expanded briefing, Rafael knew that it would be too blatant for him to join them and went to the hotel bar, where he ordered a whiskey. "I know it's 2 o'clock" he grunted at the bar lady, and he reflected upon the years to come, and how he would fill his days.

It wouldn't be long till the opening session. "Let it be over with" Rafael thought, as he slowly drank his whiskey.

 

[Austurland]

The Austurlander caravan of limousines and security made its way through the city. Inside the cars were the Prime Minister, External Affairs Minister, and their various aids. Nikolay Raev was going over the agenda for the summit with his External Affairs Minister Judit Zachrisson.

Austurland had a small reputation of being very hands off with the AGE and had garnered the ire of some members. However, despite being the quiet member of the alliance the archduchy still held a role, with bases in former colony Shinryeo and helping keep the military strong. Of the main concerns for the summit was the Scanian proposals of creating more punishments over economic cooperation. As well was the election of a new Secretary-General between the Scanidian and the Hosagovinian. This surely was going to be an interesting summit the Prime Minister thought as the limousine pulled to a stop at the hotel, behind the Levantines.

 

[Austurland]

OOC: We need to move this along.

 

[Leidenburg]

OOC: I have been busy with school. If it helps, consider my delegates arrived. I hate arrival posts anyways. If this hasn't moved forward by tomorrow evening, I'll see if I can whip up an arrival post.

 

[Skånskige Statsunionen]

Internationell Centrum för Fred (International Centre for Peace)
Nystrå, Nystrå Provins
Skånskige Statsunionen

Having greeted all the Heads of State and Government of the Alliance, Executive Chancellor Clark-Mallström took her place amongst her peers for the opening photograph. They all smiled nicely beside the outgoing Secretary-General.

Scania had generally been displeased with the Levantine diplomat who had taken up the post. Unhappy with his inability to gain member-state agreement on issues of economic cooperation and integration, unhappy with his lacklustre relationship with the General Assembly and most unhappy with his near total lack of charisma. Scania had supported him the first time around because they feel that a consensus-finder from Levantine would give the Economic Community the weight it needed to implement the lofty goals set out by the Alliance. Now it was clear it was not.

With barely half of the Treaty being respected at any time, it was clear that something stronger was needed than just a powerful Sec-Gen. A true Court of Justice for the Economic Community was needed to push some of the more reluctant members to transpose the Treaty provisions. For this Scania, was willing to sacrifice their unwitting former Executive Chancellor.

Scania never truely believed they would get both their Court of Justice and the Secretary-General. The Court was more important than a single Sec-Gen.

The Executive Chancellor followed her colleagues into the great Plenary Hall of the Centre and took their seats by alphabetical order, and then the outgoing Sec-Gen took his position and the Chairman-in-office, and opened with a speech on the Alliance. The last he would give as Sec-Gen.

 

[Vistrasia]

OOC: I will move things forward a bit with a sort of farewell speech by Joaquim Rafael. I will assume that all delegates have arrived, should anyone still want to rp their arrival or pre-summit roleplay, I suggest to do it as a flashback sort of thing, and the rest'll be retconned.

IC:

Nystrå, Scanian States
Joaquim Rafael looked at the crowd before him, sitting at a large round table, at the head being a small platform for the leader of discussion. Joaquim Rafael knew the procedure well, until the voting started, which would be point no. 1 on the agenda, he would be leader of discussion. As he looked around the room, people had stopped talking and were looking at him. Rafael put on his glasses and for a quick moment looked down on his notes, then starting:

"Welcome to the 61th Annual Council of Heads of State and Government, I would like to thank our hosts of the Scanian States for being so willing to host this summit, and I would like to thank all those attending.

Hereby, effective as of this conference, I tender my resignation. It has been a honour and privilege to lead this alliance for 6 years, but I have decided that the best for our alliance is to be led by a fresh young person at the helm of the AGE. While I have served the AGE to the best of my capabilities, and while I think there has been overall improvement, I feel that the AGE has become stagnated in key area's.

At this moment we are being outmanoeuvred by the EDF, who are seemingly becoming more popular with the moderate non-aligned nations of Europe. I feel that as partially responsible for this stagnation, and having been unable to sufficiently advance the AGE in the past 6 years I can in no way be considered the appropriate person for this job. I call upon this conference to elect a strong new Secretary-General, willing to address these issues and revitalize our alliance.

As we are preparing for the round of nominations and voting, I invite all those attending to review the agenda* and add any agenda points they feel missing and submit these to me. One point on the agenda this conference is the selection of the candidacies for the Council of Nations. Now, we will move on to the Nominations procedure. All delegates are invited to step forward and announce their nominations for the position of Secretary-General, the respective nominations will give a short speech upon which there will be a recess lasting 2 hours. After this recess, voting will start.*

Hereby, I open the round of nominations."

* - In the AGE forum
* - I have taken some liberties in thinking up this procedure, if it blatantly violates the charter, then I'll edit it.

 

[Skånskige Statsunionen]

Internationell Centrum för Fred (International Centre for Peace)
Nystrå, Nystrå Provins
Skånskige Statsunionen

Executive Chancellor Clark-Mallström clapped politely to the speech by the outgoing Secretary-General. In her heart of hearts, she was happy to see him go and hoped that she could secure the support necessary for her proposal for a binding Court of Justice to be accepted.

She stood up and made a formal submission to the Chair,

''On behalf of the Skånskige Statsunionen, I would personally like to nominate our formal Executive Chancellor, Pers Andersson to the position of Secretary-General. Under the Government of Pers Andersson, Scania escaped near bankruptcy and was able to make remarkable economic and social advances during his ten year Executive Chancellory. I believe that the energy and vitality within Pers Andersson and his good relationship with the heads of all the member-states would give the Alliance the force majeur necessary to regain our position and bring us closer together.''

 

[Leidenburg]

International Centre for Peace
Nystrå, Nystrå Provins
Skånskige Statsunionen

This summit was newly inaugurated prime minister Walter Ebert's first true test in office. He was only elected prime minister by the National Assembly a handful of days ago, and he was already thrust onto the world stage as Hosagovinia's representative at this very important conference. He hoped, maybe a bit too ambitiously, that he could use this summit to assert Hosagovinia's role within the alliance and establish himself in the European power structure. He also wanted his predecessor to gain the post of Secretary-General, for two reasons: one, it would help increase Hosagovinia's stature and power within the alliance; and two, he knew his friend and predecessor was a cunning political mind who could not be allowed to waste into retirement.

As for the outgoing Secretary-General, he had no true opinion. He had only met him a couple of times and had no true opinion of the man. Besides, he wasn't focussed on the past - only the future.

After politely clapping for Joaquim Rafael's farewell speech and the nominate made by Scanian Union, he rose from his chair and flicked on his mike:

"Mr. Secretary-General, on behalf of the Federal Republic of Hosagovinia, I would like to formally nominate former prime minister Hans Donitz to the position of Secretary-General of the Alliance for a Greater Europe."

He paused for a moment to turn a smile at Hans, who was sitting in the row behind him.

"As prime minister of Hosagovinia, Hans Donitz was noted for his diplomatic leadership, as well as an Alliance-orientated foreign policy. At any instance he could, he sought to improve relations between members of this Alliance, as well as between the Alliance and the rest of Europe. He has the leadership capable to regain our position in Europe, as the outgoing Secretary-General rightfully pointed out that we are losing in relation to the EDF. From day one in office, Hans will make sure that this slide no longer continues, and we regain the position of leader of free Europe. I can think of no better candidate than Hans Donitz to lead our alliance as Secretary-General. Thank you."

What would happen next is anybody's guess. The prime minister had expected that Scania would put forward Pers Andersson for secretary-general. That rumor had been going around for a while. But the prime minister didn't know of any other candidates that might be put forth. Would another nation put forward a candidate for the office that hadn't piped up yet? Who knew...

there was also another interesting rumor that Walter Ebert had caught wind. Shortly before the summit began, his senior foreign policy advisers had informed them that they heard Scania was willing to withdraw their candidate for secretary-general if the member-states agreed to creating a "court of justice" to oversee implementation of the economic pillar. This good be an excellent way to propel Hans into the position of Secretary-General. It'd be interesting to see how it played out.

 

[Frescania]

Nystrå, Scanian States

The Chancellor looked at the president as the Hosagovinian Prime Minister sat down. Talks had been held the last 48 hours before the trip on the subject of AGE's Secretary-General. Martinez had instructed the AGE representative to state Fortaleza Real would not summit a candidate, but Gutierrez had other plans which he had not told Martinez until they arrive.

Standing up, President Gutierrez turn to the delegations and started with a friendly smile.

“Secretary-General, Heads of State, Heads of Government and other representatives;

I would start by thanking the Scanian States for hosting this conference, we are liking it so far! Mr. Rafael, I thank you as head of state of Frescania for the marvelous job you have done these past 6 years. The alliance has been fortunate to have been lead by you.

Delegates! I am happy that Frescania is a member of the alliance and I hope, no, I know that relations between the member states will expand and improve. But now is not the time to speak of relations. I, president of Frescania, will like to put forward our former secretary of Foreign Affairs, Octavio Santander as a candidate for the position of Secretary-General.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expanded and improved relations with more than sixty countries while under the wing's of Mr. Santander. A former ambassador to Franken, he understands the reasons behind the EDF's success and I am certain he will work to improve and expand the alliance's influence. Thank you all.”

He turn off the microphone and sat down. He turned to Chancellor Martinez who was not amused. Gutierrez smiled at him and face the audience once again.

 

[Vistrasia]

During a short pause in discussions, throughout the conference hall the different delegations clumped together, discussing the two nominations of Hans Donitz and Octavio Santander. Elias Abizaid, Joaquim Rafael and Bartomue Pijoan were standing in a circle talking to each other in rapid Levantine. "I'm rather impressed with the Hosagovinian speech" Elias Abizaid opened, upon which Pijoan started shaking his head, "we must stand by Frescania, I have some experience with Octavio, he's a good man we can work with properly."

President Abizaid took a sip from his coffee, in his other hand he was holding the speech by Walter Ebert in his hands, the paper still warm from the printer. His eyes were going over the speech, meanwhile recalling his experiences with Donitz in past conferences. He had met him a number of times, and he had struck him as an intelligent and calm individual. Minutes later as the delegations were seated again, Elias raised his hand and made a short announcement:

"The Levantine States hereby seconds the Hosagovinian nomination of Hans Donitz."

It was a hint to the delegation from Hosagovinia, but it would not mean that the Levant was sure to vote for Donitz, which would depend on the lobbying of the different candidates.

 

[Skånskige Statsunionen]

Stadslott
Nystrå, Nystrå Provins
Skånskige Statsunionen

It was a brisk cold day in Nystrå, the cold winds off the Nystråsjö brought the tempartures in the city to just below freezing. It was the favourite time of the year for the aging King. With his strong Scanian sense of time, the clock chimed 10:00, just an hour before the vote on the Secretary-General of the Alliance would be elected, the King put on his winter morning coat and made his way for the palace gardens. He was sure to enjoy a brisk walk with the Queen before attending the vestature ceremony for the new Secretary-General. At the door to the gardens, he glanced over and saw that his beautiful Aren wife was already ready in her deep Scanian red felt overcoat with rabbit fur trimmings. He smiled at her, she was as beautiful as she was the day he married her and his love for her was still as strong.

They walked arm in arm into the winter wonderland of the palace garden. It had snowed the night before and the trees of the garden glistened in the snow. In comparison to the glass monstrosity of the palace, it was a calm return to enchanted days of old.

Both the King and the Queen enjoyed these walks, as it was the only time they ever got to be alone together. They enjoyed just being next to each other.

As the King walked, he noticed he was getting short of breath and said that he wanted to sit down. Immediately, the Queen obliged and they sat together on one of the many benches available in the garden.

As he sat, with his eyes closed, the King felt a deep warm sensation in his breast, his chest tightening, the sense of tiredness getting worse, he tried to squeeze the Queens hand one last time as the visions of his childhood raced by his eyes. In a final act, he put his head on her shoulder and slumped over.

The Queen started to scream for help and the guards of the Palace immediately rushed to their position. They put the King on the ground and began to apply CPR until the Palace Doctor rushed out 3 minutes later with the defibrulator. The King still had a pulse but it was very faint.

The call went out immediately to the Executive Chancellor that the King had a life-threatening heart attack.

Internationell Centrum för Fred (International Centre for Peace)
Nystrå, Nystrå Provins
Skånskige Statsunionen

Secretary and Personal Aide to the Executive Chancellor Björn Tobiasson was enjoying a quite couple minute fika with a colleague from Hosagovina when the call came in from the Palace. He dropped his cup as he listened to the Palace doctor tell him that the King had a very serious heart attack and would likely die that evening. He apologised immediately to the colleague from Hosagovina he dropped the coffee on and ruined her cream pant suit and rushed towards the hall where the HoSG were meeting, knocking over an intern who had been hired for the Summit and spilling his papers everywhere. He apologised slightly and then snuck into the hall.

He spoted the Executive Chancellor and came up behind her and told her the news about the King. She waved off the young secretary and immediately stood up cutting off the speech from the Hosagovina candidate.

"My friends, as Chair, I am calling for an immediate recess of one hour. I have to urgently leave this chamber. I apologise for the lack of information. I will have more soon."

With that, she stormed out of the room.

OOC: Trying to make a story for the prolonged nature of the Summit.

 

[Skånskige Statsunionen]

Akutsjukvård
Sjöar kretssjukhus
Nystrå, Nystrå Provins
Skånskige Statsunionen

The King was wheeled into the special VIP entrance to the Hospital. The cardiac specialists had already assembled at the door. In the ambulance, the paramedics could barely get the King to breathe more than a few short breaths. The cardiac care team, noticed immediately that the King was quite blue in the face. The pull him immediately onto an ER table that was near the entrance to the hospital and stripped off his winter morning coat. The head doctor told the Queen quite rudely that she would have to go into the waiting room like everyone else and to leave the ER immediately. The grieving Queen nodded in somber acknowledgement and headed for the ER room.

It was just down the hallway and into the common area of the hospital. It was odd for a woman of such standing to be sitting on the cold plastic armchairs of the hospital and strangely comforting. Watching mothers and fathers, wives and husbands, children and grandchildren pace nervously back and forth as those who they love and care about have an uncertain future, the divide between life and death, it was humanising. Within a few minutes, a young child who seemed to be alone had cradled her head on the Queen's lap and cried for her mommy. Dorothea tried her best to console the child, she told her that she would ask one of the nurses where her mommy was. The child, a young girl of nearly 6 said her mommy's name was "Katarina Sigursdottir". The Queen went to the desk of the nurse, who immediately recognised who she was. The nurse tried to offer a salute before the Queen gestured that she didn't want to be known and the nurse stood down. She asked the nurse where the mother of the little girl was. The nurse said that the patient by that name was already 7 hours in intensive surgery for gun wounds inflicted during a shoot-out in Northern Scanian. Near the Batavian border.

The Queen nodded in thank you and went back and told the child that her mommy was in the hospital and the doctors were putting her back together. The child smiled and the warmth in her eyes gave the Queen strength as the grim faced doctors entered the waiting room.

Already the Executive Chancellor had been informed that at 10:21am that day, the King of Scania had passed on.

 

[Skånskige Statsunionen]

Internationell Centrum för Fred (International Centre for Peace)
Nystrå, Nystrå Provins
Skånskige Statsunionen

The personal mobile of the Executive Chancellor began to ring. Clark-Mallström looked down and saw it was the number from the House Secretary of the Palace. It was the dreaded phone call, the House Secretary only called the Executive Chancellor when the King had died and the process of select a new one had started. She answered the phone.

"I am sorry to disturb you at such a time, but I am informing you that the King has passed on just a few minutes ago. There was little the doctors could do, so much damage done to his heart. I will escort the Queen now to the Dowager's wing of the Palace and inform the children of the King that they are released and begin the preparations to call the Assembly of the States Union." said the House Secretary.

"Yes, this is terrible news. You have my full support. Now I must go inform my honourable colleagues of this tragic news. I will have my letters of resignation prepared within the hour." said Clark-Mallström.

"Very well. I will arrange to have the letters of Provisional Government prepared to appoint you Chairwoman of the Assembly of the States Union." replied the House Secretary.

"I will send Björn to pick up the letters. I will not be leaving the Summit until I need to exercise my formal duties. Will an election be necessary?" inquired Clark-Mallström.

"I am unsure, I do not believe so. I will ask the Constitutional Law team at the University of Målmöholm." replied the House Secretary.

"Keep me informed." said Clark-Mallström and she hung up the mobile.

She fought to hold back the tears and entered the Grand Hall. The other HoSG looked extremely confused and the sudden departure of the Executive Chancellor. She made her way to the podium and announced the death of King Carl-Erik II of the Skånskige Statsunionen and a recess of one week to deal with the formal transfer of power from one king to another.