A Return to the Old Days? Imperial Troops on Patrol in the Geneva Suburbs

The Imperial Government has  once again plunged into serious crisis by a sharp rise in absenteeism.

Declaring an absence earlier this week, the Speaker of the Imperial Parliament, Mssr. Guy Ziegler, asked for a temporary speaker to take over his duties but no Parliamentarian declared themselves able to do so.

It then appears that nobody informed the Emperor of this absence on his own summer holidays, hiking in New Alexandria’s hills with the Imperial Family. The Imperial Cabinet soon issued an Order-in-Council temporarily investing Regency powers in HIH Prince Augusto as well as tweaking certain ministerial rules. Almost immediately, the Emperor returned, declaring the order null and void and putting the Imperial Armed Forces on alert.

The mixed responses from across the Imperial Government has created a profound sense of uncertaintly across the Empire. Jean Carmichael, former First Consul and Minister of State and War, was forced to rush back to Geneva to assume Cabinet leadership as senior Minister despite his retirement. In a statement to the Genevan Arrow, Mssr Carmichael said:

The notion that there is a bitter argument occuring in Cabinet, or even that there is a power grab going on, is ludicrous. I can assure the public that Cabinet has met with the Emperor now and all issues are resolved. Alejandro [Castillo] is now the First Consul, Eva Fernandes is now Speaker and I am soon to be retiring again. Wesloderia Palace is preparing a speech for the Emperor to be delivered this evening.

Yet the sight of Imperial Troops on the streets of the capital have not assured many who still remember the crisis that struck the Empire thanks to the FLI. Sources within the Ministry of War have downplayed talk of a new terrorist attack, but many Imperial Citizens are reported to be stocking up on tinned goods. Whether the Emperor’s speech calms the nerves remains to be seen.