Jydsken-Østveg
Established Nation
“...but don’t you think you risk the long term health of this political alliance if you make any demands of us?”
Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Lotta Folkesson looked him straight in the eyes blankly. “No.” The room remained silent, as if in shock not only because of her demand, but also because she was then confronted and pushed back with an iron resolve. Lotta herself realized this silence was perhaps a bit too much to bear and decided to at least explain herself, “No. Instead there will be no political alliance if this demand cannot be met. This is a very simple calculation. You need me to maintain government. Otherwise the Conservatives have power again, and I was given this position as Foreign Minister. Birger is dead. That is not my fault, but I will not let you make the process of selecting a successor a difficulty for my job. I need a Statsminister which I can get along with, and will see eye to eye with me on issues that we confront together. If I cannot trust them, I see no reason to continue our alliance. Therefore I will exercise my right to the veto of any selection the Socialist Party makes to replace Birger. I knew Birger. I do not necessarily know the rest of you.”
The room still remained a bit silent. An elderly gentleman chimed in from the back, “But Lotta, it should be Peter Ablidstrøm who takes Birger’s place. He is one of the more senior and qualified. Many of us in the Socialist Party have spoken to each other in the hours since, and it should be Peter.” All the more awkward of course was that Peter was in the room. Peter of course understood this awkwardness and had to be humble to a degree, “Thank you, Per. I do not wish to presume my leadership, or await a coronation of sorts. Birger has only just died. Yet, I do expect the Prime Minister position.”
Lotta had heard enough. She began to collect her things and stood up. “Thank you gentlemen, but I believe my point has been made. There is not a thing left to discuss with you. You understand my conditions. I’ll be meeting with the Conservatives and Liberals to bring down the government should I discover Peter is to be your choice for Socialist Party Leader and thus Prime Minister in the future. You know what I want, and you have full control of the process. I simply wish to approve of your selection. Good day.” Lotta walked out of the room in silence. She was not sure if she had stunned it into silence, or if she had upset the room so much they would not say a word until she left. A fellow member of her party, Nils stood outside the door. “How did they take it?” he asked.
“Not well. Can I ask you a favor?”
—“Certainly.”
She began to walk with him to her office in Rigsborg Palace. “I need you to find a young promising woman in the Socialist Party. If they won’t play fair, I’ll make a demand tomorrow. Otherwise I will collapse this government.” Nils was a bit puzzled, “what do you need a young woman for? Not to make it sound weird or anything...” She chuckled slightly, “nothing like your dirty mind had envisioned. I believe that if they want to appoint yet another old man to give me orders and go back on the promises that Birger had given me, then I’ll just see if I can’t promote a woman in their party straight to the top. If she’s a bit inexperienced, maybe I can push her around a little. Anyway, find this girl, and vet her. If she’s good for the party, let her know that we’re pushing for her to be PM because of some reason you find you like about her. Certainly not because she’s pretty!” Nils laughed and nodded, “Understood!” They parted ways as Lotta went into her office and Nils continued to walk further down the hallway to his own.
Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Lotta Folkesson looked him straight in the eyes blankly. “No.” The room remained silent, as if in shock not only because of her demand, but also because she was then confronted and pushed back with an iron resolve. Lotta herself realized this silence was perhaps a bit too much to bear and decided to at least explain herself, “No. Instead there will be no political alliance if this demand cannot be met. This is a very simple calculation. You need me to maintain government. Otherwise the Conservatives have power again, and I was given this position as Foreign Minister. Birger is dead. That is not my fault, but I will not let you make the process of selecting a successor a difficulty for my job. I need a Statsminister which I can get along with, and will see eye to eye with me on issues that we confront together. If I cannot trust them, I see no reason to continue our alliance. Therefore I will exercise my right to the veto of any selection the Socialist Party makes to replace Birger. I knew Birger. I do not necessarily know the rest of you.”
The room still remained a bit silent. An elderly gentleman chimed in from the back, “But Lotta, it should be Peter Ablidstrøm who takes Birger’s place. He is one of the more senior and qualified. Many of us in the Socialist Party have spoken to each other in the hours since, and it should be Peter.” All the more awkward of course was that Peter was in the room. Peter of course understood this awkwardness and had to be humble to a degree, “Thank you, Per. I do not wish to presume my leadership, or await a coronation of sorts. Birger has only just died. Yet, I do expect the Prime Minister position.”
Lotta had heard enough. She began to collect her things and stood up. “Thank you gentlemen, but I believe my point has been made. There is not a thing left to discuss with you. You understand my conditions. I’ll be meeting with the Conservatives and Liberals to bring down the government should I discover Peter is to be your choice for Socialist Party Leader and thus Prime Minister in the future. You know what I want, and you have full control of the process. I simply wish to approve of your selection. Good day.” Lotta walked out of the room in silence. She was not sure if she had stunned it into silence, or if she had upset the room so much they would not say a word until she left. A fellow member of her party, Nils stood outside the door. “How did they take it?” he asked.
“Not well. Can I ask you a favor?”
—“Certainly.”
She began to walk with him to her office in Rigsborg Palace. “I need you to find a young promising woman in the Socialist Party. If they won’t play fair, I’ll make a demand tomorrow. Otherwise I will collapse this government.” Nils was a bit puzzled, “what do you need a young woman for? Not to make it sound weird or anything...” She chuckled slightly, “nothing like your dirty mind had envisioned. I believe that if they want to appoint yet another old man to give me orders and go back on the promises that Birger had given me, then I’ll just see if I can’t promote a woman in their party straight to the top. If she’s a bit inexperienced, maybe I can push her around a little. Anyway, find this girl, and vet her. If she’s good for the party, let her know that we’re pushing for her to be PM because of some reason you find you like about her. Certainly not because she’s pretty!” Nils laughed and nodded, “Understood!” They parted ways as Lotta went into her office and Nils continued to walk further down the hallway to his own.