Dominion Headline News

[Aerandariel]

DOMINION HEADLINE NEWS
The Top Source for News and Opinion in the Angirisian Dominion
5 Tolven, 1597

Emperor Albrecht addresses the Dominion


THE IMPERIAL TOWER, Cathedrium - After laying his brother Tyrael to rest only a few days ago in the midst of hundreds of thousands of mourners from around the world, newly-installed Emperor Albrecht made his first public address in Green Emperor Way in Cathedrium. Flanked by members of the Administration, the Senate and the Supreme Court, Albrecht addressed the media with at least several thousand around the Imperial Tower watching. Though Albrecht had no public coronation, he was confirmed as Emperor by the Senate three days after Tyrael's death and he accepted moments later.

Though not one gifted in oratory, Albrecht's speech was regarded as positive and uplifting. "Our nation has undergone many changes. Our nation has suffered many losses. But after every change, after every loss, the Angirisian people always stronger and better than they were before. Our civilization has not endured for centuries simply because we were gifted anything. It has endured because we have fought, scratched and clawed our way to safety, security and prosperity," he said.

The Emperor said that for the sake of the continuity of government he would retain all of Tyrael's ministers and senior staff, and asked them all personally to remain in service, "I cannot possibly do this without you. I need your help. The nation needs your help. With you, we can make a difference. And that is why we are here. To try to do what we can to make a difference in the lives of the millions of the citizens it is our duty to serve."

Albrecht reassured allies and enemies alike that while Angiris's heart was hurting, its remained as strong as ever. "We are mourning. We are saddened. But I assure the world that this Dominion's resolve has never been stronger." He reaffirmed the Dominion's continued partnerships with longtime allies like Mestra and expressed interest in improving dialogue with other nations, and seemed to indicate his willingness to work the Near East Treaty Organization (NETO). "We cannot sit over here and pretend that they do not exist. They do, and they have done a fine job in ensuring the safety and security of the Near East. We only hope to aid them in this quest, and the Dominion shall do what it can to do so."

Albrecht inherits an economically prosperous, yet somewhat globally isolated Dominion. Though the national debt began to accrue in the latter years of Tyrael's reign due to the financial strains of the Galasian War, the government budget had begun to right itself in the last two years. Albrecht no doubt will seek to continue that trend. Taxes have remained at a steady level for ten years, but there is beginning to be growing pressure to lower tax rates to provide relief to middle and lower income families. However, the Treasury has been having to combat the increase in richer families and individuals taking advantage of loopholes to avoid paying taxes. Tyrael had begun in earnest to crackdown on such practices, but was not able to really get much going on that front; that task will now be left up to Albrecht.

Albrecht himself is noted as being a libertarian on social policies, liberal on economics, and centrist on foreign policy. Far from authoritarian, he is believed to be more of a libertarian democrat, a position that will likely earn him allies from both conservative and liberal camps but will probably alienate those more on the fringe, such as ultra-conservatives and authoritarians on the right and federalists and communists on the left.