Michael: "Nationalists shouldn't expect a sweetheart deal."

POLITICO | At a press conference in Brussels, Prime Minister of Darpartryo Alun Michael spoke on a televised broadcast on the issue of possible post-separation relations between the Empire and either Veldunium or Hastiga.
"As Prime Minister, but primarily as a Falleen citizen and patriot, I have been appaled by statements made by pro-Independence groups in recent months. One thing is to wish to pursue self-determination, a cornerstone of our democratic values. The other one is employing deceitful populist rants to hold the wool over the eyes of millions of people. Veld and Hastigan officials proclaim they will "take back control" of powers from Corrintrin and still continue to maintain membership of the Empire and the Nilira Alliance. That the remaining states simply have to bite through the bullet and give the nationalists whatever deal they want. Well, as Prime Minister of our Capital State and proud Falleen, I can declare that the Nationalists will have a big surprise come the 19th of December and Hastigans or Velds voted to leave. If either nationalist administrations of these states think we will simply shrug at the Nonambar Agreement and Poliquen Settlement, creating yet another disastrous scenario such as the one created through violence and death with the Straits, then I've got bad news for them. This is not a referendum for a Straits-style Dominion status, Darpartryo and the remaining states shall fervently oppose any deal that allows for manipulative politicians to cherry-pick our collective institutions. For centuries we have worked together to build this great country, we shall not allow for it to be torn apart by those who wish to keep one foot on both sides of the door to maintain it's benefits. The nationalists say they wish to keep the Crown, as if that somehow should compensate for their privileges in comparison to other states in terms of defence, taxation, welfare and foreign policy. The people of Hastiga and Veldunium deserve to know that this won't be "The Straits Pt. 2", these will be tough negotiations between the 200+ million citizens and their representatives who will only seek to further their interests, as any nation should do, and the separatist state administratons. This will mean compliance on trade if they wish to maintain access to Falleen and Nilira markets, compliance on monetary policy if they wish to maintain the Fall, this will mean compliance on defence if they wish to maintain membership of the Nilira Alliance, and so much more. This will be a referendum on whether Hastiga remains strong in the Empire, or faces uncertainty about its future outside of it as a fully independent nation, and the people deserve to know this. Nationalists shouldn't expect a sweetheart deal, this Empire won't allow other nations to be better off than it's members."
Category:The Imperial Constitution