Impeachment of McBabwe

The Impeachment of McBabwe, sometimes known as the High Command Coup d'état, took place in Amarillo from the 9th to the 10th of April 2022. The event removed McBabwe from the presidency and led to the collapse of the Republic of Amarillo. McBabwe had acceded to the Presidency only 5 days prior upon winning the presidency against Soronaca in a modest landslide, having received 58.97% of the vote. It was the second impeachment in Amarillian history, being preceded by the impeachment of Salazar Van Den Green, founder of Amarillo, from the Chancellery.
The plebiscite to remove McBabwe from the presidency was launched by Jacob Creepus, McBabwe's own High Minister of Interior Affairs, immediately after High Command unanimously voted to suspend McBabwe's executive authority (Even though it lacked any authority to do so). The justifications for the impeachment were:
* McBabwe had attempted to compromise a territorial dispute between Amarillo and Gardenia by utilising a statelet he owned as a middleman between the two parties, which was interpreted by the rest of High Command as an attempt to exploit his office for personal gain.
* McBabwe had refused to sign an alliance with the Confederation of Garxijos, a decision the rest of High Command was in disagreement with.
The impeachment plebiscite was approved with 17 votes in favour and 15 votes against. However, the vote was heavily rigged as McBabwe's opposition to impeachment was heavily suppressed by High Command and Chancellor Juniper committed electoral fraud to achieve her desired outcome.
== Background ==
=== Oligarchy of High Command ===
High Command was the senior decision-making body of the Republic of Amarillo. It was chaired by the President and its members included the Chancellor, the Vice-President (During the periods in which the position existed) and the High Ministers. The latter two offices were appointed by the President.
High Command was established by The Constitution and State Law of the Republic of Amarillo, the fundamental law of the Republic in its latter stages. The constitution was written by Juniper Kyani, who included several clauses and loopholes designed specifically to serve her exploits. High Command formed a key part of the regime's system.
From the Presidency of Lhytt, High Command was consistently controlled by a series of key figures: Juniper, and a series of Presidents aligned with Juniper (Lhytt, Knarr and Spatheas Urubis) and Soronaca, especially after the removal of Green from the Chancellery. The governments of this period have sometimes been labeled as "Junirillan" or "Junista" in homage to the figure generally considered the ringmaster of the oligarchy; Juniper Kyani. However, tgis establishment wasn't cohesive, it consisted of two factions:
* Junicists: The Junicist Bloc was led by Juni Kyani, thus its name. It was the dominant faction. It controlled the presidency from the ratification of the constitution until the election of McBabwe, and the chancellery following Green's impeachment. It was the more despotic of two and was very dependent on foreign voters. However, Knarr received a larger share of the local vote in his second bid for the presidency.
* Virconians: The Virconic Bloc. Its name derives from the League of Vircon, in which many of the faction's members were important figures. Originally Green was the leading figure in this faction, but was superseded by Soronaca after his impeachment. It was generally conservative. Prior to the rise of the Reformist Bloc it commanded most of the local vote, but it did enjoy some foreign voters.
The establishment successfully upheld its supremacy for several months by utilising a series of strategies, those being;
* Smear campaigns:
** The January 2022 elections, in which Juniper, supporting Knarr, consistently attacked Soronaca by accusing him of supporting Direct Democracy, a key aspect of the Republic's senate, to a radical extent.
** The April 2022 elections, in which Juniper and Lhytt, supporting Soro, highlighted McBabwe's lack of experience in High Command and prior comedic exploits.
* Coercion: 
** In the February 2022 Chancellor elections, black horse candidate Kawaii dropped out of the race 14 hours into the election after Juniper Kyani threatened to exclude him from any future governments. 
* Foreign voters: Foreign voters, as they were commonly known, were individuals foreign to Amarillo with little-to-no interest in the nation who were granted citizenship on the basis that they were married to one of the nation's citizens. These citizens inflated the establishment's voter base by voting for their preferred candidates.
* Control of the Judiciary: After being elected, Chancellor Juniper Kyani established a 3-member Judiciary to broaden the voices involved in the Republic's judicial matter. However, she effectively controlled its members.
** In the March 2022 presidential elections, Spatheas Urubis and McBabwe tied, each receiving 21 votes. However, a third candidate of Gardenian origin, FatCat, had received three votes, and had decided to transfer them to Urubis upon the election's conclusion. Although this was blatantly undemocratic, no provision existed against it in the constitution, so the government decreed the Judiciary would determine whether this would be permitted. The Judiciary unanimously voted in favour of allowing the transfer of votes. McBabwe and his voters protested the decision, demanding a second round of voting, to no avail.
=== Rise of the Reformist Bloc ===
Following the impeachment of Chancellor Green, much of the Amarillian population became growingly frustrated with the establishment and disillusioned with traditional politicians. As such, this segment of the population began desiring reforms, such as the reduction of power of the Chancellery and the termination of the citizenships of foreign voters, forming the bulwark of the Reformist Bloc. This led to new candidates detached from the establishment to gain popularity, such as Kawaii and McBabwe.
=== Rise of McBabwe ===
==== Beginnings ====
McBabwe was not native to Amarillo, but an immigrant from Rathnir. He initiated his political career in Amarillo as a satirical candidate with no serious political ambition, supporting the establishment of a Curdocracy (A government ruled by cheesemongerers) and draining the Drakaen Sea to expand Amarillo's territory. However, as he assimilated into Amarillian culture he became increasingly dedicated to the nation's politics. As such, he began running for President advocating for political reform.
His first two serious candidatures, in January and February 2022, weren't particularly successful, receiving 14.00% and 9.80% of the vote respectively. Yet, at time he hadn't become an adversary of the establishment yet, and was granted a position in Knarr's two presidencies; The Ministry of Service. This Ministry had no real responsibilities of its own, as President Knarr decreed it was meant to support other ministries when required, which it never was. In the meantime, McBabwe expanded his popularity by personally reaching out common citizens and developing extensive electoral propaganda campaigns.
==== March 2022 Presidential Elections ====
In the elections of March 2022 things changed. Both major candidates until then, Knarr and Soronaca, announced they would not be participating. As such, the Junicist candidature went to Knarr's Vice-President; Spatheas Urubis. Meanwhile, no Virconian candidate arose to replace Soronaca. The withdrawal of the popular Junicist candidate and the lack of a Virconian candidate caused many local voters to shift to the Reformist Bloc; supporting McBabwe's bid for the presidency. McBabwe received 21 votes, resulting in a tie between himself and Urubis. However, a third candidate of Gardenian origin with only three votes, FatCat, transferred his votes to Urubis upon the election's conclusion, breaking the tie. The Reformist Bloc protested, demanding a second round of voting, to no avail.
==== Urubis Presidency ====
Near the end of his term, Urubis disappeared. This led to a leadership crisis in the Republic as it became necessary for someone to take up Urubis' executive authority. Initially, Soronaca launched a plebiscite in the Senate to allow High Command to jointly assume the executive powers, which almost the entire Amarillian population supported. However, Chancellor Juniper stopped the vote and assumed her constitutional authority as Chancellor to assume the President's executive authority. Immediately upon assuming presidential powers, Chancellor Juniper signed an alliance. 
The failure of Soronaca's popular High Command plan, and the immediate signing of an alliance, was received poorly by the Amarillian population. Many developed a conspiracy theory based solely on presumptions that Chancellor Juniper was becoming a dictator. Although the basis for the outrage might've not been the most justified, it nonetheless led to further popular dissatisfaction against the establishment and an increase in McBabwe's popularity as an opposition reformer.
==== April 2022 Presidential Elections ====
With the disappearance of Urubis, the Junicists lacked any candidate to present to the presidential election. However, in what was a surprise to many, Soronaca announced his intention to run for the Presidency once again a few days before the election.
Many believed it would be a very tight election, as Soronaca was an established Amarillian figure and McBabwe had only become more popular since last election. As such, McBabwe relaunched his large propaganda campaign, and Soro launched one of his own.
Contrary to the expectation of many, the results of the election weren't close. McBabwe won in a modest landslide, having received 23 votes against Soronaca's 16.
== McBabwe's Brief Presidency ==
Although a Reformist, McBabwe chose to not immediately reshuffle Amarillo's government but retain some experienced High Ministers. This is because he believed that it'd be unwise to have a nation fully led by inexperienced leaders and because he naively believed members of the establishment would be capable of seeing eye to eye with him.
McBabwe's appointments to High Command were:
* Kawaii - Vice-President (Reformist)
* Soronaca - High Minister of the Armed Forces (Virconian - Establishment)
* Knarr - High Minister of External Affairs (Junicist - Establishment)
* Jacob Creepus - High Minister of Internal Affairs (Reformist - Virconian)
==== Planned Mutual Defence Pact with the Confederation of Garxijos ====
Early into McBabwe's Presidency, the prospect of a MDP with the CoG was considered. This offered the prospect of an ally with an ideology closely aligned with that of the Republic of Amarillo and it was initially theorized the CoG could've become an Amarillian vassal. However, the CoG was distant to Amarillo and risked plunging Amarillo into conflicts in which it might've not fared so well. McBabwe was reluctant to sign the MDP, and ultimately didn't address the matter further. 
Some members of High Command disagreed with McBabwe's decision, particularly Jacob Creepus, who had personal ties to the CoG and was interested in seeing the MDP signed. This strained relations between the President and his High Minister of Interior Affairs.
=== North Taernsbia Dispute Negotiations ===
A key issue during McBabwe's presidency was to sign a peace treaty with Gardenia, in which he aimed to have the Gardenians cede the northernmost part of Gardenian Taernsbia.
==== Background ====
===== Amarillian-Velentian ties =====
During Knarr's presidency, the Republic of Amarillo had allied the Mercantile Republic of Velenu, a neighbouring state. Amarillo then aided Velenu in suppressing an Aquatosi rebellion, in the process of which the armies of both states merged into the United Republican Army, which was commanded by Amarillo.
This relationship grew until Amarillo and Velenu ultimately signed the West Drakaen Papers, a treaty which decreed that the Mercantile Republic of Velenu would be fully integrated into the Republic of Amarillo as a province. However, Kash, the Doge of Velenu, requested the ratification of the treaty be delayed. 
===== Skjoldrbrodir war =====
During Knarr's second term as president, tensions between the Republic of Amarillo and the Jarldoms of Skjoldrbrodir quickly deteriorated as the two states, both of which were allied to Velenu, failed to collaborate or be civil to each other in their common fight against Aquatosi rebels. These tensions eventually exploded, initiating a war. The war was almost averted when Skjoldrbrodir agreed to cede the depopulated province of Taernsbia to Amarillo, but they then rescinded their offer.
Eventually, during Urubis' presidency, Amarillo and its allies triumphed after Skjoldrbrodir surrendered, not due to any defeats, but due to its unwillingness to continue fighting. Skjoldrbrodir's eastern territories were ceded to Mosir-Sumari and Vespera received reparations, and Amarillo expected to receive Taernsbia.
===== Formation of Gardenia =====
Amarillo's territorial ambitions over Velenu and Taernsbia failed to materialize as Velenu violated its arrangement with Amarillo and the northern jarldoms of Skjoldrbrodir -including Taernsbia- seceded, with the two parties merging to form Gardenia. Immediately afterward, Gardenia was vassalised by the VCC, Amarillo's primary rival.
This created a situation where Amarillo had been stripped of its legal rights and its war gains, and it could not afford to fight the VCC. As consequence, peace negotiations between Amarillo, Gardenia and the VCC were initiated to find a peaceful resolution.
The new state was led by Kash, the Doge of Velenu.
===== Urubia =====
Following the collapse of Libertas, an Amarillian vassal, Zogaris, an Amarillian mayor, and former president Knarr, seized control of the territory and formed the states of Nova Verdes and Urubia respectively, declaring absolute independence. The Republic of Amarillo, a suzerain of these territories, objected to these declarations. This led to the two new states being dissolved and the territory of the former Libertas being integrated into Amarillo as the Province of Urubia.
Upon acceding to the presidency, McBabwe was initially supportive of the idea of re-establishing a reduced Urubia as a vassal of Amarillo under Knarr's leadership. However, upon realising the Amarillian constitution forbid the abandonment of any territory, McBabwe withdrew his support for the idea. This was not received well by Knarr, who seeked to restore his Kingdom.
===== Rizzo =====
The Sovereign March of Rizzo was a state with an area of about 40 chunks in Central Eldham which was personally owned by McBabwe. Due to its small territory, it didn't sustain any permanent population.
==== The Negotiations Prior to McBabwe's Presidency ====
Amarillian representatives had offered Gardenia to abandon their claims on Velenu and most of Taernsbia, as well as paying Gardenia $150K in exchange of Gardenia ceding only the northernmost part of Taernbia, which was mostly desolate desert, to Amarillo.
However, Gardenia demanded a white peace because it didn't consider itself a successor to Skjoldrbrodir, believed the region would be better with Gardenia as they claimed they were more invested in developing it than Amarillo, and because it deemed Amarillo was unworthy of the territory as it didn't win any real battles in their war against Skjoldrbrodir.
==== McBabwe's Negotiatons ====
Initially McBabwe tried to compel Gardenia and the VCC to accept Amarillo's terms, arguing that it was only reasonable that Amarillo be compensated not only for the war dodging of Skjoldrbrodir's northern jarldoms, but for the betrayal of the Velentians. However, this was clearly ineffective, and negotiations to stagnated.
===== Urubia Plan =====
Kash and Knarr shared close personal ties. As such, in order to break the deadlock, they formulated a joint peace deal to resolve the dispute. The treaty, called the "North Taernsbia Agreement" included terms akin to the following:
* Amarillo would've released the former territories of Libertas as the Kingdom of Urubia.
* Knarr would've been King of Urubia.
* Urubia would've been a vassal of Amarillo, but would have had the right to secede at will without the necesity of compensating Amarillo in any way.
* Gardenia would cede North Taernsbia to Urubia
McBabwe immediately rejected this plan, rejecting the loss of Amarillian territory, Knarr's opportunitism at the detriment of the nation, and the terms of vassalage.
This further strained relations between President McBabwe and High Minister Knarr.
===== Rizzo Plan =====
Having rejected the North Taernsbia Agreement, President McBabwe seeked alternative resolutions. As the Gardenian delegation had placed emphasis on Amarillo being undeserving of the territory of North Taernsbia, McBabwe was left under the impression the stagnation in negotiations was a matter of pride. As such, he offered Kash that Rizzo should purchase North Taernsbia for $150K. President McBabwe's plan was to purchase the territory with the Amarillian funds allocated to the negotiation, and then, as Marquess and Autocrat of Rizzo, cede the territory to Amarillo. As such, Gardenia would have saved itself the humiliation of ceding territory to Amarillo and Amarillo would've gain North Taernsbia without making any major concessions.
==== Rizzogate Scandal ====
Upon receiving President McBabwe's proposal to purchase North Taernsbia on behalf of Rizzo, Kash immediately relayed the message to Knarr, who in turn relayed it to the entirety of High Command. The members of the High Command, most already critical of McBabwe, immediately interpreted the message as an attempt at personal gain. High Minister Jacob Creepus then leaked the communications to the public.
== Suspension of McBabwe's Executive Authority ==
Quickly seeing the extract of communications between Kash and McBabwe provided by Knarr, High Command was outraged. Although Vice-President Kawaii initially expressed a desire to give McBabwe an opportunity to explain himself, he was quickly to change his mind as High Command proceeded to vote to suspend McBabwe's executive authority as President.
=== Illegality ===
No legal basis existed to to suspend the President's authority. As such, the suspension of McBabwe's authority by High Command was in violation of Amarillian law. However, as the Junicists controlled all other government institutions, this was ignored and the suspension of executive power proceeded.
== Conspiracy to Overthrow the Republic ==
As they initiated the removal of President McBabwe, the rest of High Command organised a secret conference in which they plotted the future Amarillian Civil War and the reorganisation of Amarillo into a Kingdom. In the conference, the possibility of the future Amarillian Kingdom expanding, elevating itself to a High Kingdom (akin to the neighbouring Valreach and Katania) and acceding to the Drakaen Commonwealth, was also suggested. 
== Impeachment Plebiscite ==
=== Beginning ===
At 11:35 CET, on the 9th of April 2022, High Minister Jacob Creepus launched an impeachment plebiscite against McBabwe. He charged him with ineptitude, as he deemed declining the alliance with the CoG unjustifiable, and with treason, as he deemed he was abusing his own position as President to gain land for his own person. As evidence, he provided the extract of communications between Kash and McBabwe.
McBabwe awoke from his slumber 20 minutes afterward, being met with the entire population in a frenzy and High Command taking out their grievances on him. Among countless insults, McBabwe was called "a lying bastard" by High Minister Knarr and "a political opportunist and a populist" by Chancellor Juniper.
=== Suppression of McBabwe's Rights ===
Throughout the duration of the impeachment plebiscite, several of McBabwe's political and legal rights as a citizen of the Republic of Amarillo were suppressed at the discretion of High Command, with no legal basis whatsoever, hindering any effort he could muster to respond to the impeachment. 
* Ban from voting: McBabwe was barred from voting in the plebiscite, as was his right as a citizen of the Republic of Amarillo. When he did attempt to vote, members of High Command removed his vote from the ballot. High Command justified this measure by calling it a non-codified legal convention established by precedent when Chancellor Green did not vote in his own impeachment plebiscite. However, this was nonsense; Green did not vote as the Chancellor was banned from doing so by the constitution, and said ban did not apply to the President.
* Suppression of McBabwe's defence: In response to the impeachment allegations, McBabwe set out to release a defence to appeal to the citizens of Amarillo to vote against the impeachment. Initially, he published it alongside the impeachment so voters could view it alongside the impeachment charges and compare the two perspectives fairly. However, High Command was swift to remove McBabwe's defence, claiming the reply didn't belong in the voting channel. In response, McBabwe requested to publish his defence in an announcements channel and the ability to ping the citizenry, so Amarillians there'd be an equal chance of Amarillians seeing the impeachment charges and the defence. However, High Command rejected this request, instead suggesting he post it in the senate channel. The senate channel was overflowing with people discussing the impeachment, and McBabwe deemed it unfair as his defence would be lost to people's messages, so he requested the ability to at least ping the citizenry. Chancellor Juniper declined this request, instead offering to pin the defence. McBabwe had no option but to concede.
=== McBabwe's Response ===
McBabwe finally managed to publish a defence two hours after the impeachment plebiscite had begun. He posted it in the senate channel, and was capable of posting a link to it below the impeachment charges. However, the Chancellor never pinned his defence. 
In his defence, explained his plan in full, explained he did not mention it to High Command as he desired to avoid what he expected to be an extremely negative response from High Minister Knarr and stated he actually intended to sell Rizzo, so it was impossible he was planning to seize North Taernsbia. As evidence, he attached the North Taernsbia Agreement and a screenshot of him negotiating the sale of Rizzo 6 days prior.
=== Result ===
In the end, the impeachment was approved with 17 votes in favour and 15 against. As such. McBabwe was removed from the office of the President of Amarillo. Chancellor Juniper briefly assumed executive authority until she relinquished it when Vice-President Kawaii assumed the presidency.
== Electoral Fraud ==
Although unknown at the time, Juniper Kyani would admit years latter to having rigged the vote by having removed two or three votes against impeachment. As such, had fraud not taken place, McBabwe's impeachment would have failed. 
== Aftermath ==
=== Overthrow and Collapse of the Republic of Amarillo ===
Shortly after Kawaii assumed the presidency, he went on to tear up the constitution, effectively abolishing the Republic and establishing the Junta. Soronaca launched a rebellion which allegedly fought in defence of the Republic. Kawaii then proclaimed himself Sun King of Amarillo. Soronaca would ultimately win a decisive victory in the war, but would compromise and permit Kawaii, the man who plunged the always-republican nation of Amarillo to civil strife, to remain King. This marked the beginning of the Amarillian monarchy.
=== Independence of Urubia ===
After assuming executive authority, Chancellor Juniper argued that the constitution stating a province had no right to secede didn't mean it couldn't. As such, the Chancellor signed the Urubia Release Accords, in which she ceded the territories of the former Libertas (Except the city of Mikanie) and the Amarillian province of Takavia Rubia (Which had no links to Urubia or Libertas) to Knarr, recognising him as the sovereign King of Urubia.
=== Dissolution of Rizzo ===
McBabwe's proclaimed intentions to sell Rizzo caught the attention of the leader of Mosir-Sumari, who proceeded to purchase the territory from him.
== Coup d'état Argument ==
A coup d'état is typically defined as an illegal and overt attempt by a military organization or other government elites to unseat an incumbent leadership.
Many argue that McBabwe's Impeachment meets these requisites:
* Illegal: In the process of the impeachment, the law was violated repeatedly by suspending McBabwe's executive authority, suppressing his political rights and committing electoral fraud.
* By government elites: The entirety of the leadership of the Republic of Amarillo's leadership, barring McBabwe himself, was invovled in the planning of McBabwe's impeachment and the subsequent overthrowing of the Republic.
* Unseat an incumbent leadership: McBabwe, the democratically-elected President of Amarillo was removed from office, and was replaced by the appointed Vice-President, Kawaii.
In such a case, McBabwe's removal mustn't be considered an impeachment, but a coup d'état.
Category:Amarillo
Category:Traveler's Era
Category:History
Category:Drakaes