Alconbrian peace process

Negotiations for the **Alconbrian peace process** began on 6 June, 2011 after President Augustin Voimer invited opposition leaders to the Aulo Esmiene for talks. Despite much fanfare around the talks, several politicians have claimed the talks as a farce as the Alconbria People's Party had no intention of giving up its power.

## Timeline

### Background

The Alconbria People's Party, led by Ernesto Titeriez swooped into power after winning the 2001 Alconbrian general election held after the death of the country's first President Paul del Santé. Despite public support, the APP engaged in election fraud, which helped them win in crucial districts. The APP received overwhelming public support due to their right-wing religious, nationalistic, economic and anti-terrorism policies, but public support began to wane following several accusations of corruption and attempts to subvert the country's democratic institutions.

Soon after swearing into office, President Titeriez launched the Second Alconbrian-Malpuro War, which led to the Alconbrian Armed Forces taking over the autonomous region of the Metsarbarros and bringing it under their control. A brutal military dictatorship was created in the Metsarbarros, which was independent of civilian oversight. War crimes committed by the military regime sparked the second stage of the Alconbrian Crisis. Left-wing militias, along with Malpuro nationalist paramilitaries began to intensify attacks against the Alconbrians. This led to state-funding of the APP's private militia, the People's Security Force to protect the citizens of the country.

After high profile corruption scandals against several high ranking politicals surfaced, public opinion of Titeriez and the APP began to reduce. Fearing a defeat in the upcoming elections, the APP intensified it's control over federal institutions and the police forces. Bureaucratic reforms such as the creation of the Federal Administrative Directorate allowed the party to put party members at top-level non-political and bureaucratic positions. This was followed by rapid politicization of the judiciary, courts, police forces, military and the education system.

Dissenting against the reduction of democracy, the populance voted overwhelmingly against the APP in the 2005 Alconbrian general election. However, the Federal Electoral Directorate moved the publication of results citing security concerns over the Second Alconbrian-Malpuro War. The decision sparked protests across the country. Newly appointed Chief Electoral Officer, and APP-sympathizer Ray Mentirrez later accused the Maldekstro Party and the Liberal Party of committing electoral fraud and supported the APP's case in the Supreme Court of Alconbria.

The Supreme Court began it's investigation, and concluded that electoral fraud had taken place in 24 constituencies, and passed a resolution banning lawmakers elected from the constituences from taking oath. All 24 constituences were won by the Progessive Union alliance, and the resolution would allow the APP to gain plurality in the Léialegis. On 14 September, the Progressive Union refused to honor the Supreme Court's resolution, initiating the 2005 Alconbrian constitutional crisis. The Progressive Union ignored the court resolution, and marched to the Léialegis to swear-in despite hinderances from the police and the ZIZ. After the swearing was done, the Supreme Court passed Resolution 33, which found the national parliament in contempt and passed another resolution which stripped the parliament of its legislative powers. The court took over legislative powers, and declared its support to President Ernesto Titeriez.

The court ordered the creation of the Constituent National Assembly of Alconbria, and allowed the CNA to draft a new constitution. The new assembly was filled with Forward Alliance winners of the 2005 elections, along with Supreme Court judges and 55 other members appointed by the Supreme Court. The CNA was granted legislative powers, and functioned as the country's official parliament, and it allowed Titeriez to continue as President. The CNA granted several powers to Titeriez which allowed him to rule as a dictator, and he quickly moved to squash the protests, and later began to purge dissidents from his own party. The military, which was allied to Titeriez, was allowed to take part in the government. Military members began occupying ranks in the cabinet and the bureaucracy, and are reported to have taken part in corrupt dealings in exchange for support for Titeriez.

The Léialegis refused to recognize the CNA, and held protests all over the country. After losing their legislative powers, the Leialegis lawmakers lost their police protection, and several were forced to flee the country after receiving threats from APP-allied paramilitaries.

In 2007, the Free Alconbria Group attempted a coup against the Alconbrian government. Fighting in the perimeter of the Aulo Esmiene led to the incapacitation of Titeriez. Under Titeriez' orders, the Party Supreme Committee named Prime Minister Augustin Voimer as his successor. The coup resulted in increased support for Voimer, who used the oppurtunity to initiate a nationwide purge of intellectuals, activists and political opponents. Additionally, he began to use the state apparatus to harass the opposition leader, forcing the Liberal Party to merge with the Maldekstro Party to create the United Party for Progression, and the dissolution of the leftist parties.

Financial, industrial and import-export policies dictated by the military eventually led to the 2009 Alconbrian humanitarian crisis. Costly wars and deteriorating relations with the neighors resulted in increased military spending and to a massive drop in food imports. Poor rainfall resulted in the lowest agricultural productivity since the start of the independence war. In addition, corrupt military and government officials began hoarding the local produce, resulting in rapid price increases. The high military spending resulted in increasing levels of inflation, and was around 15% from 2008 till 2009.

Voimer initiated a brutal crackdown on dissidents, and a frontal assault the media. He followed this with severe austerity measures and several job cuts. After documents were leaked which showed that two cabinet ministers were found to have hoarded emergency relief food to their political and military allies, protests began to intensify. Right before the 2009 election, UPP leader Daniel Rubens published photographs to prove his earlier claims that the APP leaders were hoarding food and hosting feasts while the country starved. He later released photos of APP politicians with imported food and beverages, which violated the import restrictions imposed by the government.

Despite this, APP comfortably won the elections, which are believed to have been rigged by the pro-APP FED. Large scale protests broke against the government, which were immediately crushed.

### First talks (2010−2011)

The first high profile talks between the government and the Alconbrian opposition since the 2005 takeover of power took place on January 3, 2010. Prime Minister Nino Heurta de Soto and First Lady Zervana Voimer met with UPP parliamentary leader Angela Felraz and UPP Deputy Leader Mevnoz Borls. Addressing the media after the three day long talks, Borls and de Soto said that the agreed on a roadmap for resolving the humanitarian crisis. The talks led to the released of 99 imprisoned UPP members, including their leader Daniel Rubens. As part of the talks, the UPP ended their alliance with the Socialist Party of Alconbria and promised to support the fight against the Socialist Guard.

On 8 January, President Voimer met with Felraz and Stanley Ilk Pasarias and discussed the Vyrovizamino reforms. While both Felraz and Pasarias expressed their support to the reforms, there was dissent from their respective parties. A further round of talks were supposed to take place in March, but were postponed due to de Soto's death.

The third round of talks took place on 20 May, 2010. 13 representatives from each side met at the Lambardo Hall at the National Building. The opposition delegation was led by Daniel Rubens, while President Voimer led the government delegation. The meeting lasted for five hours. Despite not reaching a conclusion, both sides agreed to another meeting. A Native Party faction opposed to the conference split from the party and joined the Mayan Liberation Front.

The fourth meeting, scheduled between Rubens and Prime Minister John Roberts on 6 June was cancelled after a MLF-GC suicide attack took place outside the meeting spot, killing 2 civilians. From July till November 2010, government officials refused to meet with opposition representatives due to the humanitarian crisis.

On 25 December 2010, 300 opposition political prisoners were freed as a goodwill gesture by Voimer. Rubens refused to thank the President, and called it as an attempt to whitewash his oppressive rule. The next meeting took place on January 3, 2011; exactly a year of the initial meeting. Tensions were high, as the opposition accused the government of not living up to their end of deal, while the government accused the opposition of conspiring with terrorists. The scheduled four hour was cut short, and Rubens announced that he would not negotiate with the government again; ending the peace process.

### Second talks (2015)

On 14 May, 2015; President Voimer appointed his wife Zervana as the Vice President of Alconbria. While the move had the support from the parliament and the people, the opposition found it unconstitutional and called it an act of nepotism. Public opinion of Voimer increased greatly after the Vyrovizamino reforms and for winning two wars. Fearing that the opposition would lose public support, the UPP began requesting for the resumption of talks; however the government refused.

FED Director Elha Sivoro announced in a press release that the UPP's recognition was revoked for allegedly receiving funds from Altivebrio. The UPP denied these allegations, and said that the derecognition was a tactic to force the UPP to recognize Zervana Voimer as the Vice President. On 30 May, Aaron Halvorsen of the UPP informed that the opposition would recognize Zervana's appointment as Vice President, and would hold meetings with her to continue the peace process. This drew mixed response from the party's supporters, as they felt that they lost all leverage they had by legitimizing Voimer's consolidation of power. Later, Sivoro reversed her decision to revoke the FED recognition for the UPP.

After the UPP was re-recognized by the FED, Rubens announced that talks would resume with Halvorsen leading the opposition delegation. Halvorsen met thrice with the government delegation led by Zervana Voimer, and the talks concluded with the release of 20 political prisoners by the government. Despite both sides agreeing the talks were fruitful, Halvorsen announced on 6 November 2015 that the talks were over.

Beth Flores, a member of the UPP negotiation team said the APP government were adamant against imprisoning high ranking government officials who were found guilty of corruption, as well as de-politicizing the police and the armed forces, shutting down the Opker-SPT and reforming the Supreme Court. Flores was arrested months later for the illegal position of a weapon, a charge which the UPP deemed as fabricated.

### Third talks (2018)

The UPP agreed to take part in the 2018 Alconbrian general election, despite questioning the neutrality of the FED. The election led to a UPP defeat, and Rubens announced his resignation. After Rubens stepped down as the leader of the UPP, Halvorsen was elected as his successor. Halvorsen campaigned for dialogue with the government, and after his election expressed his interest to meet with Voimer. Voimer welcomed the UPP's new stance, and ordered the release of 15 female political prisoners including Flores and 5 imprisoned police officers.

Halvorsen and Felraz met with now-APP Chairman Ernesto Titeriez and Justice Minister Sandra Ramirez in the Lionsgate Hotel in New Alcacer. After a five hour meet, Minister Ramirez announced the Social Responsibility Law would be reformed, and the state would guarantee religious freedom for the Malpuro people. Speaking alongside Ramirez, Felraz announced that the UPP would work towards suspending co-operating with Irwing Diaz Bently's Alconbrian Anti-Crisis Committee (AACC).

However, writing in the La Nacia Ĵurnalo, Titeriez specified that talks would not continue unless the UPP recognize the legitimacy of the Supreme Court of Alconbria. The following week, Halvorsen met Supreme Court Justices Reino Colby-Llerandez and Pamela Germain. Halvorsen reportedly wanted the judges who were illegally exiled from the country in 2015 to join an enlarged Supreme Court in exchange for the opposition recognising the legality of the Supreme Court. Coly-Llerandez and Germain refused, and talks were brought to a standstill.

A year later, Voimer addressed the Supreme Court during the tenth anniversary of the new Constitution on 8 June, 2019. During his speech, he said that judges accused of treason in 2005 will never be permitted to step into the Court premises again and re-affirmed the legality of the current Supreme Court.

After the statement, Halvorsen flew to Nuevo Seville and met with representatives of the AACC and with some of the Alconbrian Supreme Court judges in exile. After his return, he and his delegation were arrested by the VG, triggering a wave of protests. Addressing a party open session, Vice President Zervana Voimer said peace talks would be suspended indefinitely.