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The Açafat Interview
President of the Republic: Dieter N. Vercáriâ
28 April 2007
We are honoured today to commence our series with President Dieter N. Vercáriâ.
President Vercáriâ is well respected for his level-headed thinking and disdain for privilege and ceremony (although he is not above the occasional heated exchange with Deputy Miestrâ Schivâ during election season!). His political career did not begin in Talossa, however, and for purposes of background a few facts have to be provided in advance. Vercáriâ was a prominent citizen of the Free Commonwealth of Penguinea, a community that formed over a previous split in the Kingdom of Talossa in 1997, in what the Republican account of Talossan history refers to as the 'First Exodus.' He served in the Penguinean legislature (the Althing) and was a proud member of the Gothic Peculiarlist Party (It-Gothlic Wataxi Pleijid in Penguinean, or GWP). He is one of many current citizens of the Republic with Penguinean heritage, including Deputies Schivâ and Txec Danihel Del Mar, Minister of Culture Ián Txaglh, and myself.
Vitz Açafat
VA: I know you were in Penguinea, how did you end up becoming a citizen of Talossa?
DV: After the end of Penguinea I have been in a variety of internet groups and micronations, but none of them brought back the fun that Penguinea has been. So when I saw that there had been a revolution in Talossa that swept away monarchy, I joined the Republic of Talossa after a while.
VA: Was that before or after Miestâ Schivâ had joined, and how long ago did you actually become a citizen?
DV: Well, I kind of followed the footsteps of Miestrâ. When I saw that she was welcome in the new Republic, I followed suit, in October 2004.
VA: What was your political journey that led you to the Presidency?
DV: I got involved in politics almost immediately after my citizenship application sailed through, as a candidate in Dean elections. I participated because M-P Furxhéir wanted to check out the online voting system, and surprisingly ranked as #3 amongst 4 candidates. Next step was similarly random: Dean Gruber sought for a successor for his seat in the Provisional High Court, so I applied and was the only candidate and ended up a High Court Justice. Next steps to Presidency were three terms in the Chamber of Deputies, as Attorney-General, Foreign Minister and Opposition Leader.
VA: At what point was the MRP founded and what was the reason for founding it?
DV: I came up with the name when I was a candidate in the Dean election. By this time it was more or less a joke, but when I saw that there were some likeminded spirits in the Constitutional Convention I asked them if they'd like to found a party... the two co-founders were Bill Cooper and Andy Lowry.
VA: You say were like minded spirits. This gets to the core of things: what is it that you had in common that made you form a party together? In other words, what is peculiarism?
DV: Peculiarism was not the uniting force. We were the extreme liberal left of the Republic (in Talossan terms), arguing in favour of a very straightforward democracy with no privileges for Talossan veterans and such. “Peculiarism,” at this time, was just in the picture because of my Penguinean, GWP past. The next generation of MRP members began to fill up the Peculiarism thing.
VA: What do you mean by that? The new members embraced the 'peculiarist' part of the ideology?
DV: Yep, when Ugo and Eiric joined the MRP, we began to work on contemporary definitions of Peculiarism, which had been travelling in long way from the early 90s in the Regipäts through Penguinea and back to Talossa, the Republic, that is.
VA: I never understood the term in Penguinea, I realise, because I never knew it had a pedigree in Talossa. If you've worked on contemporary definitions, could you tell me the original definition and also the contemporary one?
DV: Either the original and the contemporary definition are pretty much the same. Talossa is not like any other nation in this world, Talossa is special and does not have to ape other nations to be real.
VA: So, can you give me an example of an MRP policy that reflects the peculiar nature of Talossa, so to speak?
DV: Maybe the virtual haxh that Seneschal Börnatfiglheu is trying to set on rails.
VA: And that is Peculiar? I suppose most macronations don't have the need for such a thing, but the ZRT support the idea.
DV: Macronations do have a very real territory with very real armed forces to protect their territory, and to enforce law on that territory. We do actually have a wink of an eye, and a history that began with a couple of friends who were children and young folk in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA.
VA: So, as peculiarists you are happy to openly acknowledge the fact that we don't actually control that section of Milwaukee? Or, more open about it that say the Defencists?
DV: In fact we speak out about the reality that surrounds us, and we say that we can be a real nation in spite of territorial issues in Milwaukee City. The Defencists recommend to close both eyes and to believe in something that they are not serious about. We of the MRP are more realistic.
VA: So, Peculiarists are more interested in Talossa as what it is in fact, and the Defencists are more interested in what they pretend Talossa to be?
DV: This would be the very dividing line, yes.
VA: Now, just what the MRP believes and stands for was one of the major issues of the recent campaign, but those discussions centred mostly on the 'style' of government the MRP would have, and the structure of governance within the party. I know you've discussed it before in the Wittenberg forum, but could you give me a short description on this?
DV: In fact there has been a distinctive Peculiarist style of opposition, which we called constructive opposition, and we'll try to keep that up in government... Talossa is too small for feeding any kind of fundamental political divisions. Different thinking and different beliefs must not exclude a constructive style of discussion.
VA: Do you think the ZRT are pursuing a similar policy, or do you think they have a different approach?
DV: They were pursuing a similar policy when they were the government. As opposition, I'd humbly say, they still have to find their form. It is something that has to be learned, like the MRP is, hopefully quickly, learning to be the party in the driver's seat.
VA: Before when I was asking about style, though, I was really asking about the 'movement' part of the organisation. Can you comment on this?
DV: We're trying to express that we're not too much of a party. In the so called real life it is often so that as a party member you sign up for being a parrot that is refusing to express its own opinion in politics. MRP members can feel free to have a head of their own, and to speak for themselves.
VA: What do you think about the performance of the MRP so far?
DV: Well, we grew to become some sort of a popular movement in Talossa, and I hope we won't gamble this away.
VA: Are you worried that there has been so little activity on the Wittenberg forum in the last month?
DV: Yes, I am worried to see that between elections often not much is happening in Talossa. I hope that some cultural features like e-zines will never drop dead, since it are these things that keep Talossa a vibrant experience. I'm planning to switch back to more cultural activities once I'm out of the office at the helm of the nationette.
VA: And, when will that be?..........
DV: We'll see.
VA: Are you not talking about that issue yet?
DV: legally, past may 31, 2008 comes the very end. ;-)
VA: So, are you keen to keep the option open, officially, to run again?
DV: At least in the name of some suspense the option of a second term exists.
VA: Do you think anyone else from the MRP will run if you do not?
DV: As far as I know, presently none fulfils the requirements that are mentioned in the Constitution, except Andy who is not wanting to take on this challenge.
VA: So, if you don't run, would you expect Ián Anglatzarâ to have an open run?
DV: That's the problem. Uncontested elections are a very lame exercise that must not happen in staunch democracies like ours. I think that Ián Anglatzarâ would be an excellent president, though.
VA: Would you run then, just to have a contested election?
DV: If I'd run, I will not run to be kicked out of the office. I'm not a political masochist.
VA: If you are to take up cultural development out of office, do you think you might be more valuable to the Republic out of office rather than in?
DV: Honestly, yes. I tried to be a civil guy in the highest office that the Republic has to offer, and loosing my grip on the office after one term would be part of an agenda that was mean to stress the word Citaxhien in Prüm Citaxhien [First Citizen, or President].
VA: Ok, as you near the end of your (first) term as president, can you point to any achievements or moments you are particularly proud of?
DV: It has been my intention to be a civil President who will not go on a power rush, who will be an constitutional organ rather than a glamorous head of the state, and I think I did a good job at least during the first months of my term.
VA: what happened after the first few months?
DV: Of course I hope that I've been a good president after the first few months, too, but I began to check out the political leadership options then, above the moral leadership option.
VA: are you referring to your more prominent political profile during the recent election?
DV: No. I'm referring to the moment in time and space when Seneschal Schivâ asked for an early dissolution of the Chamber of Deputies. She suggested that a hungry opposition might be eager to take on the challenge of an early election, but I thought that the constitutional prescription of fixed terms of the chambers of parliament would be a higher value than that. It was possibly one of the most difficult decisions, and it was some sort of a turning point, given that my successful candidacy had been endorsed by the MRP and the ZRT ensemble. I think from that moment on I wasn't the preferred president of the ZRT any more.
VA: And do you regret that?
DV: From the constitutional perspective, not at all. I didn't trade my political virginity for comfort, so to speak.
VA: Ok, any other high or low points so far?
DV: To be elected into the highest office that the Republic has to offer is an amount of grace that can't be reduced by momentary crises. But I think I should consider to get out of the office before my initial agenda, being a civil President who likes to stress that he's a citizen rather than a first citizen is beginning to derail because I'd love to be a winner in rough contested election. In the history of there has been the founder who couldn't give away his power, and the final curtain of my term would be to give away the highest power that the Republic has to offer deliberately.
VA: So, you see the peaceful transfer of power as an important part of your legacy?
DV: Absolutely. Presently, the MRP is in a kind of miserable shape and form, because of a lot of individual bad luck on the side of those who have been elected into the Chamber of Deputies. So if we'll have to switch back to the role of the opposition after only one term, I hope we'll do it in style. One major thing in democracies is the capability of giving away power without pouting, when the time has come.
VA: So, you are already conceding the next election to the ZRT?
DV: Of course not. Talossa isn't a full-time-job. With a little bit of fortune (I'm talking about the French word fortune), things may change within a few weeks, so a now sleepy government might become the most inspired government in history within a few weeks. Anyway I like to point out that I as President have been around and doing my job kind of 24/7 which is yet another reason to consider a break after one year at the helm of the nationette.
VA: You put down the lack of activity in government to outside events preventing individuals from participating as much as they like?
DV: Yes, as for the lack of activity of the Govt I know that some of the peeps in office have become fate-stricken outside of Talossa. It's really a truckload of bad luck (tm) going on behind the curtains.
VA: When you look into the future, as a future ex-statesman, what do you hope will happen between the two Talossas?
DV: I hope they will never again engage in a war against each other. I for instance don't like the idea of a monarchy, but I know that monarchy has not been imposed on our cousins in North Talossa by villains. So I hope that all Talossans will find ways to coexist without picking at each other's different way of life. And I think we're on the way to this.
VA: Do you think reunification will happen?
DV: not within the next fourteen days. Maybe not within the next fourteen years as well. But as long as the Talossas are staying in contact, the option isn't completely ruled out.
VA: Do you think that in some way Talossan life would be less interesting if we became just one state?
DV: I don't know. To some extent it seems to me that the Republic of Talossa is more international than the Kingdom. I think it would be a loss if Talossa became too "American" again. I'm not Anti-American, I just wouldn't like to be a foreigner in a quasi-American culture. The good thing about the Rep Talossa is that like in Penguinea we're worldwide, having Czechs and Swedes and New Zealanders and others aboard.
28 April 2007
We are honoured today to commence our series with President Dieter N. Vercáriâ.
President Vercáriâ is well respected for his level-headed thinking and disdain for privilege and ceremony (although he is not above the occasional heated exchange with Deputy Miestrâ Schivâ during election season!). His political career did not begin in Talossa, however, and for purposes of background a few facts have to be provided in advance. Vercáriâ was a prominent citizen of the Free Commonwealth of Penguinea, a community that formed over a previous split in the Kingdom of Talossa in 1997, in what the Republican account of Talossan history refers to as the 'First Exodus.' He served in the Penguinean legislature (the Althing) and was a proud member of the Gothic Peculiarlist Party (It-Gothlic Wataxi Pleijid in Penguinean, or GWP). He is one of many current citizens of the Republic with Penguinean heritage, including Deputies Schivâ and Txec Danihel Del Mar, Minister of Culture Ián Txaglh, and myself.
Vitz Açafat
VA: I know you were in Penguinea, how did you end up becoming a citizen of Talossa?
DV: After the end of Penguinea I have been in a variety of internet groups and micronations, but none of them brought back the fun that Penguinea has been. So when I saw that there had been a revolution in Talossa that swept away monarchy, I joined the Republic of Talossa after a while.
VA: Was that before or after Miestâ Schivâ had joined, and how long ago did you actually become a citizen?
DV: Well, I kind of followed the footsteps of Miestrâ. When I saw that she was welcome in the new Republic, I followed suit, in October 2004.
VA: What was your political journey that led you to the Presidency?
DV: I got involved in politics almost immediately after my citizenship application sailed through, as a candidate in Dean elections. I participated because M-P Furxhéir wanted to check out the online voting system, and surprisingly ranked as #3 amongst 4 candidates. Next step was similarly random: Dean Gruber sought for a successor for his seat in the Provisional High Court, so I applied and was the only candidate and ended up a High Court Justice. Next steps to Presidency were three terms in the Chamber of Deputies, as Attorney-General, Foreign Minister and Opposition Leader.
VA: At what point was the MRP founded and what was the reason for founding it?
DV: I came up with the name when I was a candidate in the Dean election. By this time it was more or less a joke, but when I saw that there were some likeminded spirits in the Constitutional Convention I asked them if they'd like to found a party... the two co-founders were Bill Cooper and Andy Lowry.
VA: You say were like minded spirits. This gets to the core of things: what is it that you had in common that made you form a party together? In other words, what is peculiarism?
DV: Peculiarism was not the uniting force. We were the extreme liberal left of the Republic (in Talossan terms), arguing in favour of a very straightforward democracy with no privileges for Talossan veterans and such. “Peculiarism,” at this time, was just in the picture because of my Penguinean, GWP past. The next generation of MRP members began to fill up the Peculiarism thing.
VA: What do you mean by that? The new members embraced the 'peculiarist' part of the ideology?
DV: Yep, when Ugo and Eiric joined the MRP, we began to work on contemporary definitions of Peculiarism, which had been travelling in long way from the early 90s in the Regipäts through Penguinea and back to Talossa, the Republic, that is.
VA: I never understood the term in Penguinea, I realise, because I never knew it had a pedigree in Talossa. If you've worked on contemporary definitions, could you tell me the original definition and also the contemporary one?
DV: Either the original and the contemporary definition are pretty much the same. Talossa is not like any other nation in this world, Talossa is special and does not have to ape other nations to be real.
VA: So, can you give me an example of an MRP policy that reflects the peculiar nature of Talossa, so to speak?
DV: Maybe the virtual haxh that Seneschal Börnatfiglheu is trying to set on rails.
VA: And that is Peculiar? I suppose most macronations don't have the need for such a thing, but the ZRT support the idea.
DV: Macronations do have a very real territory with very real armed forces to protect their territory, and to enforce law on that territory. We do actually have a wink of an eye, and a history that began with a couple of friends who were children and young folk in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA.
VA: So, as peculiarists you are happy to openly acknowledge the fact that we don't actually control that section of Milwaukee? Or, more open about it that say the Defencists?
DV: In fact we speak out about the reality that surrounds us, and we say that we can be a real nation in spite of territorial issues in Milwaukee City. The Defencists recommend to close both eyes and to believe in something that they are not serious about. We of the MRP are more realistic.
VA: So, Peculiarists are more interested in Talossa as what it is in fact, and the Defencists are more interested in what they pretend Talossa to be?
DV: This would be the very dividing line, yes.
VA: Now, just what the MRP believes and stands for was one of the major issues of the recent campaign, but those discussions centred mostly on the 'style' of government the MRP would have, and the structure of governance within the party. I know you've discussed it before in the Wittenberg forum, but could you give me a short description on this?
DV: In fact there has been a distinctive Peculiarist style of opposition, which we called constructive opposition, and we'll try to keep that up in government... Talossa is too small for feeding any kind of fundamental political divisions. Different thinking and different beliefs must not exclude a constructive style of discussion.
VA: Do you think the ZRT are pursuing a similar policy, or do you think they have a different approach?
DV: They were pursuing a similar policy when they were the government. As opposition, I'd humbly say, they still have to find their form. It is something that has to be learned, like the MRP is, hopefully quickly, learning to be the party in the driver's seat.
VA: Before when I was asking about style, though, I was really asking about the 'movement' part of the organisation. Can you comment on this?
DV: We're trying to express that we're not too much of a party. In the so called real life it is often so that as a party member you sign up for being a parrot that is refusing to express its own opinion in politics. MRP members can feel free to have a head of their own, and to speak for themselves.
VA: What do you think about the performance of the MRP so far?
DV: Well, we grew to become some sort of a popular movement in Talossa, and I hope we won't gamble this away.
VA: Are you worried that there has been so little activity on the Wittenberg forum in the last month?
DV: Yes, I am worried to see that between elections often not much is happening in Talossa. I hope that some cultural features like e-zines will never drop dead, since it are these things that keep Talossa a vibrant experience. I'm planning to switch back to more cultural activities once I'm out of the office at the helm of the nationette.
VA: And, when will that be?..........
DV: We'll see.
VA: Are you not talking about that issue yet?
DV: legally, past may 31, 2008 comes the very end. ;-)
VA: So, are you keen to keep the option open, officially, to run again?
DV: At least in the name of some suspense the option of a second term exists.
VA: Do you think anyone else from the MRP will run if you do not?
DV: As far as I know, presently none fulfils the requirements that are mentioned in the Constitution, except Andy who is not wanting to take on this challenge.
VA: So, if you don't run, would you expect Ián Anglatzarâ to have an open run?
DV: That's the problem. Uncontested elections are a very lame exercise that must not happen in staunch democracies like ours. I think that Ián Anglatzarâ would be an excellent president, though.
VA: Would you run then, just to have a contested election?
DV: If I'd run, I will not run to be kicked out of the office. I'm not a political masochist.
VA: If you are to take up cultural development out of office, do you think you might be more valuable to the Republic out of office rather than in?
DV: Honestly, yes. I tried to be a civil guy in the highest office that the Republic has to offer, and loosing my grip on the office after one term would be part of an agenda that was mean to stress the word Citaxhien in Prüm Citaxhien [First Citizen, or President].
VA: Ok, as you near the end of your (first) term as president, can you point to any achievements or moments you are particularly proud of?
DV: It has been my intention to be a civil President who will not go on a power rush, who will be an constitutional organ rather than a glamorous head of the state, and I think I did a good job at least during the first months of my term.
VA: what happened after the first few months?
DV: Of course I hope that I've been a good president after the first few months, too, but I began to check out the political leadership options then, above the moral leadership option.
VA: are you referring to your more prominent political profile during the recent election?
DV: No. I'm referring to the moment in time and space when Seneschal Schivâ asked for an early dissolution of the Chamber of Deputies. She suggested that a hungry opposition might be eager to take on the challenge of an early election, but I thought that the constitutional prescription of fixed terms of the chambers of parliament would be a higher value than that. It was possibly one of the most difficult decisions, and it was some sort of a turning point, given that my successful candidacy had been endorsed by the MRP and the ZRT ensemble. I think from that moment on I wasn't the preferred president of the ZRT any more.
VA: And do you regret that?
DV: From the constitutional perspective, not at all. I didn't trade my political virginity for comfort, so to speak.
VA: Ok, any other high or low points so far?
DV: To be elected into the highest office that the Republic has to offer is an amount of grace that can't be reduced by momentary crises. But I think I should consider to get out of the office before my initial agenda, being a civil President who likes to stress that he's a citizen rather than a first citizen is beginning to derail because I'd love to be a winner in rough contested election. In the history of there has been the founder who couldn't give away his power, and the final curtain of my term would be to give away the highest power that the Republic has to offer deliberately.
VA: So, you see the peaceful transfer of power as an important part of your legacy?
DV: Absolutely. Presently, the MRP is in a kind of miserable shape and form, because of a lot of individual bad luck on the side of those who have been elected into the Chamber of Deputies. So if we'll have to switch back to the role of the opposition after only one term, I hope we'll do it in style. One major thing in democracies is the capability of giving away power without pouting, when the time has come.
VA: So, you are already conceding the next election to the ZRT?
DV: Of course not. Talossa isn't a full-time-job. With a little bit of fortune (I'm talking about the French word fortune), things may change within a few weeks, so a now sleepy government might become the most inspired government in history within a few weeks. Anyway I like to point out that I as President have been around and doing my job kind of 24/7 which is yet another reason to consider a break after one year at the helm of the nationette.
VA: You put down the lack of activity in government to outside events preventing individuals from participating as much as they like?
DV: Yes, as for the lack of activity of the Govt I know that some of the peeps in office have become fate-stricken outside of Talossa. It's really a truckload of bad luck (tm) going on behind the curtains.
VA: When you look into the future, as a future ex-statesman, what do you hope will happen between the two Talossas?
DV: I hope they will never again engage in a war against each other. I for instance don't like the idea of a monarchy, but I know that monarchy has not been imposed on our cousins in North Talossa by villains. So I hope that all Talossans will find ways to coexist without picking at each other's different way of life. And I think we're on the way to this.
VA: Do you think reunification will happen?
DV: not within the next fourteen days. Maybe not within the next fourteen years as well. But as long as the Talossas are staying in contact, the option isn't completely ruled out.
VA: Do you think that in some way Talossan life would be less interesting if we became just one state?
DV: I don't know. To some extent it seems to me that the Republic of Talossa is more international than the Kingdom. I think it would be a loss if Talossa became too "American" again. I'm not Anti-American, I just wouldn't like to be a foreigner in a quasi-American culture. The good thing about the Rep Talossa is that like in Penguinea we're worldwide, having Czechs and Swedes and New Zealanders and others aboard.
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, Apr 28 2007, 8:06 PM EDT
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