Today the spot of attention is the turmoil developing on Quillan. Political strife on the planet is reaching a new level with political confrontations causing clashes for the first time. The primary reasons for growing tensions are growing instability, decreased demand for mining, and polarisation of political preferences of the population.
The lack of political experience of the Minarchy and resulting disorder and bureaucratic chaos prompt more and more inhabitants of Quillan to start missing the old days of the Monarchy that offered stability and confidence in tomorrow. Increasing demand for “strong hand and smart leader” to decide complex matters at behest of the people led to surging popularity of the Progress League of Quillan, a conservatist political force led by baron Fabian Montluc with the aim to reform Languedoc system into a separate Barony of Languedoc within the Confederation as a separate member thereof.
Being just a minor noble Baron Montluc managed to attract followers not by the title but by the deeds. His enterprise, Montluc Advanced Engineering, is nowadays the flourishing pride of Languedoc that is otherwise devoid of significant cross-system business operations. The company managed to attract capital and create jobs by establishing a high-tech ship construction industry, and now also developing auxiliary industries in the region such as processing of raw material with the leasing deal of Lodeve Space Port’s smelters with GMS effective. MAE has not only provided the local economy with prospects of robust development but also filled the hearts and minds of the local populace with pride for their home system despite the calamity of the interregnum.
The period of provisional government played a pivotal role in shaping the self-identity of Languedocans as opposed to the rest of Gallia. Left alone between the hammer of the republicans and the anvil of the royalists, the system had to fight for its survival as it could. The arrival of the Minarchy which is considered a bunch of criminals by a significant share of the population only contributed to viewing the rest of Gallia as “they” versus “us”. While certainly remaining proud Gauls at heart with the future of Gallia being as important to each citizen as ever, Languedoc and pride for “managing to survive being left all alone” still having distinguished in the local self-identity. Now it is reinforced by the prospects offered by the Progress League which with the successful example of MAE demonstrates to Languedocans that the hardships they have endured made them only stronger and are certainly no obstacle to sprawling wings.
Quillan has a small population and the ever-growing employee headcount of MAE is only contributing to rapid increase of popularity for MAE. Baron himself, however, is another attraction. Showing quite often in public with flamboyant look of a noble and organising various events for the people, from sky races to free theatre for kids under the open sky does remind the inhabitants of what enlightened monarchy is and what good progressive aristocracy can do for the population. Public speeches of Baron Montluc gather a lot of viewers both on the scene and online, as the media-presence of the Baron increases under the guidance of expertise of corporate spin-doctors.
The residence of Montluc family, the city of Uxeau-de-Quillan has also captivated the people of Languedoc and beyond. Built by the standards of Orleanais, the city is now booming with attractions exotic to the locals. Be those zoos with extravagant creatures, or singing fountains, the city has become the local tourist mecca. Uxeau offers recreation unseen before on the mining world of Quillan, and business opportunities, serving HQ for MAE and haven for its business partners. Most importantly, however, Uxeau is a safe harbour on Quillan with corporate security serving the role of the local police and armed forces that are lacked in others part of Quillan. Formed predominantly from the ex-members of the Royal Army, MAE security upholds the law and order professionally and would surely form a good backbone of Barony’s army should the League succeed with its goals.
Nevertheless, the Progress League is still far from realisation of its goals. It certainly managed to gain significant support, enjoying 29.1% support rate from the respondents. This is, however, still not an overwhelming majority needed to launch the changes. Polarisation of the society, possible interference of the Confederation, organised crime of the Minarchy are but a short list of what can go wrong. MAE is still expected to pump more money into its political project and is likely to gather more people under its banner, more especially from the new-coming migrants from the rest of Gallia, particularly from Orleanais where not everyone is happy with the republicans coming to replace the centuries-old aristocratic order.
Today we asked a few people from Quillan regarding their opinion on the Progress League and political future of the system.
Joseph Segal, 35. Miner from Quillan
I personally welcome the initiative of Baron Montluc. Before the war we were a small but steadily growing mining colony. New mines were opened annually, we had a lot of jobs, lots of machinery coming in. Then the war came and we doubled the production. Work was hard, many people complain about it nowadays. Well, they are right to a certain point. We worked long and hard during the war but the pay was good either, it is not like our extra work was not paid. Then the counsillards came and took over the planet. Bloodlessly, luckily. But then what? Isolated from their Champagne, Quillan was just left to be a token of republican victory. They gave us those elections and democratie, but for what? The mines stopped as nobody needed our production in that scope. Man could get elected but had no money to live for. One was lucky to preserve the job those days as only the local demands were met. Then the provisional time with even less control. At least MAE showed up and started using this ore and smelters. Many people finally got paid, we saw some future ahead of us. Now the Minarchy came, absolutely having no clue from their Provence to know how Quillan operates.
I’ve come to Uxeau two times and I was amazed at how Quillan can look. If that is what the Progress League wants for us - I am both hands up for it. Modern holo-schools, medical facilities, jobs. They are organising a University there, you know. I don’t care if we are governed by nobles or elected republicans. Before elections brought us no good while a visionary permanent ruler can save us from too much thinking and give us the order and stability we want and deserve.
Monique Dechamps, 29. Teacher from Quillan
The Progress League, you say? Baron Montluc needs to be reminded there is no longer titled aristocracy is the Minarchy. Only some orthodoxes in Burgundy and Enclave terrorists still carry on with those obsolete royalist titles. If you ask me, I welcomed the republicans in 815. They were liberators. Yes, many people lost their jobs - but that was the price to finally be free. A shame the local population decided to join the criminals from Minarchy, but at least we are not the part of the Grand Duchy, or worse - the Enclave. If Monsieur Montluc wants to restore monarchy - he’d better return home to Orlean and tell the locals his fairy tales about “the progress”. Besides, he is a businessman and under republican laws he would be banned from politics. I wonder why he is even allowed to do what he does. I am strongly against the Progress League.
Mathieu Faucheux, 45. Sergeant of Confederacy Defence Forces from Nimes Station
Monsieur Montluc is an honourable man. Like me he dedicated his best years to serving Gallia as a serviceman. He even became le Roi’s Chevalier which I respect greatly. Yes, he served the King. So did I, and I regret nothing. For seven hundred years Gallia has been a Kingdom, a proud Kingdom. We managed to build ourselves alone, better than Sirians, in shorter time and got better results. The royal dynasty and aristocracy have been unalienable part of this path to progress. Then the republicans decided to take this pride away, to take away everything that made us strong. And now we have to share table with them? I am a simple soldier and I follow orders. So now, being in the Confederacy I still follow orders even if they contradict my personal beliefs. I just hope to make it till my pension which is soon, and I do hope to be paid as the Minarchy is supposedly paying for us in this part of space. They are unreliable, you know. I heard Baron Montluc is gathering ex-royal marines under his banner as a paramilitary security branch of Montluc Advanced Engineering. The pay is good, and I think they do need sergeant-trainers like myself to teach those rookies. Most importantly, Baron is an honourable man with the sense of pride. What he says resonates with my convictions and I wholeheartedly support the institution of the Barony of Languedoc. It will not bring the pride of the Kingdom back, but it certainly would be a first step. Am I for the League? Damn right, I am.
Political division is expected only to increase on Quillan and in Languedoc. Nevertheless, we call upon you to think rationally and refrain from violence.
For further development of the political situation in Languedoc and in the rest of Gallia, please access our web-page. Do you have a story to tell? Do you want to discuss your political affiliation? Share it on this blog and best commentators will be invited to the studio. Stay tuned and follow us on social media! This was Francois Vermillion for UNN. Au revoir!