[War] France: Another Turn of the Presidential Turnstyle

[Daniel Garcia]

"France:  Another Turn of the Presidential Turnstyle"
President Pierre Théophile Legrand, French Republic
April 14, 2014

(OOC:  So, I have finally returned to posting.  I survived,  
apparently, one of the most hard worked semesters of my life, and have  
a bit more time.  I don't know if that'll hold, but I'll try to keep  
posting semi-regularly.

I have also ditched my current character (President Zoé Ampère) for a  
reincarnation of a previous one who I think I like much better.  Note  
that the events depicted at the start of the post indeed happened  
previously, so I have retconned nothing.

Anyway, here's hoping!)


*** November 12, 2009 ***

The cacophony that erupted as Prime Minister Armand Clouet, a close  
friend and ally of President Robert Legrand, finished his remarks to  
the Senate defending the government's violent response to food riots  
by people of largely African and Muslim descent could have been heard  
in French Polynesia.  Early reports said dozens had been killed.  Some  
were saying that that number would pass one hundred.  The French  
Parliament had erupted into bitter debate.  The leadership of the UMP,  
urged on by the President, tried to move on to normal business.  But  
the Socialists scented blood, and were joined by many of the UMP  
members who were aghast at what had happened.  It was one thing to not  
like France's "foreign" citizens, but it was quite another to kill  
them by the dozen.

It hadn't helped matters that the previous evening, as the massacre  
became known, on French national television a pro-immigration activist  
by the name of Zoé Ampère had given a passionate and scathing  
indictment of the government's policies on immigration and  
discrimination.  French politics was in the midst of a near revolt,  
and as the Parliament ground onward in heaving debate, it became clear  
that it would soon be dissolved by the President.

President of the Senate Jules Donnadieu looked at a loss in trying to  
restore order to the room of shouting and arguing men.  The Senate  
chamber was a stormy sea of dissent, though as with many storms this  
one had an eye of calm.  It's name was Pierre Théophile Legrand.  Not  
related to the President, in general appearance they were roughly  
similar.  Both were tall and thin, with the President being a bit  
shorter and appearing stouter.  Both had a genteel appearance about  
them.  But in temperament, they were opposites.  Robert Legrand was a  
firebrand, a passionate, fierce politician.  Pierre Legrand was always  
calm, and few had ever seen him visibly angry.  People feared Robert  
Legrand, and respected Pierre Legrand.

Thus when Pierre finally stood, having sat looking quite peaceful and  
having been quite silent during the debate, people noticed.  And, as  
Moses had parted the Red Sea, Pierre calmed the Senate.  He stood, his  
hands held at chest level, which was quite high considering his great  
height.  When the Senate had quieted down enough, and Donnadieu nodded  
in assent, Pierre began to speak.

"My colleagues, I have been sitting here listening to the many angry  
words which have been traded today.  Yesterday's events were  
unaccountably tragic, and the moving words of Ms. Ampère on television  
last night have moved us all.  A single death is a tragedy, and many  
deaths exponentiates the tragedy.

"Some have defended the government on the basis that those who have  
died were violent law breakers, who were destroying property.  But  
these people who have suffered such indignities, unfairness in  
education, in housing, in employment, and yet stood in firm obedience  
to the laws of the Republic should not be castigated that their  
patience should be broken by difficulties in obtaining basic food and  
nutrition.  A man may survive unemployment.  A man can live with being  
looked down upon by others for many years at a time.  But take away  
his food, his means to keep himself and his family, his children,  
alive, and you have removed the last thing worth living for.

"A government, in its fundamental purpose, exists to ensure that all  
citizens, *all* citizens, might live their lives on a fair and  
equitable basis.  To allow fear, hopelessness, and death to haunt any  
portion of our citizenry, even should society view them as outsiders,  
is at it's heart a failure of government.  Yesterday the government of  
the French Republic failed.  No amount of rhetoric, no amount of anti- 
immigration policy can paper over the fact that those who died  
yesterday were French citizens.

"My friends, we have failed.  There is no Liberty.  There is no  
Equality.  And, today, there is certainly no Fraternity between the  
Citizens of France."

Had the words been spoken with passion, with fire, or even with  
determination, the chaos which Pierre Legrand had acted to abate would  
have returned multiplied a hundred-fold.  Yet the words were spoken  
with calmness, even with sadness.  When he had finished, the chamber  
was quiet, and only slowly, as Legrand sat back down, did the business  
of the body resume, much muted.


*** March 29, 2014 ***

Noele Legrand stopped in the entrance to the kitchen.  There, in front  
of the television which was tuned to the new channel, sat her husband,  
Pierre, reading a newspaper.  It couldn't have been much past eight in  
the morning, but he was immaculately and well dressed already.  Noele  
put her hands on her hips.

"Pierre, what in God's name are you doing here?!  Why aren't you in  
Paris," she asked exasperatedly.  Her husband, dedicated public  
servant he may be, also had a habit of sneaking away from time to  
time.  And though she was not nearly as attuned to the political scene  
as he was, she knew well enough that now was not the best time for the  
President of the Senate of France to be away from the center of power  
in Paris.

Pierre looked up, and smiled wanly as he moved up to her.  Noele was  
not a short woman, but still Pierre towered over her as he kissed her  
on her forehead.

"I am taking advantage of a last lull before the storm which must  
come," he said, seating her at the kitchen table while he prepared her  
a breakfast.  "Besides, I missed you, and you like hiding away down  
here."

As Pierre continued her breakfast preparations, Noele turned up the  
volume on the television.

"...when President Ampère was contradicted by the Minister of Defense  
on the issue."  The anchor continued, "This marks the third  
embarrassment for the President in the past two weeks.  Members of the  
Socialist opposition, and even of her own party, have attacked the  
President's government as uncoordinated and out of the President's  
control.  The Élysée Palace denied these allegations, stating that  
these attacks were politically motivated and not a reflection on the  
reality of the government's operations."

Noele's brow furrowed.  "Things do not seem to be going well for  
President Ampère," she remarked.

"No, they do not," Pierre said, putting down Noele's breakfast in  
front of her, before picking up his newspaper.  "In fact they are  
going quite badly.  She isn't really able to control much of the  
government.  She has some good ideas, and is a nice person.  But  
government isn't filled with nice people, and her speeches can only  
get her so far."

"That's too bad," Noele remarked.  She had met Zoé Ampère on a few  
occasions, and had liked her.  Pierre nodded.

"Though I have avoided the discussions, I hear that she is considering  
resigning.  She knows that she's not doing too well and is dedicated  
enough to do something about it," he said.  Noele nodded, and then  
paused.

"If President Ampère resigns, doesn't that make you acting President,"  
Noele asked in sudden realization.  Pierre nodded.

"Yes.  That's why I've avoided the discussions on the matter, and why  
I drove down here early this morning.  I might as well rest while I  
have the opportunity," Pierre said, flipping over a page in the  
paper.  Noele frowned with a knowing look.

"Pierre Legrand, did you get up early to drive here before breakfast  
again?  You're not a young man anymore," Noele exclaimed.  Pierre  
looked up, smiled, and shrugged in the manner that the French people  
had perfected over the years.

"I'm much more spry than I ever was as a young man.  My physical  
condition is much better than it was when I was young," Pierre said.   
Noele nodded tiredly at the old defense which Pierre had used hundreds  
of times.  Of course, he was partially right, but old is old.


*** April 10, 2014 ***

Pierre walked slowly into the office of the President of the French  
Republic, slowly and with good bearing.  Behind the President's desk  
sat an obviously tired Zoé Ampère.  As he approached, he bowed  
slightly and offered his hand, which the younger woman took.

"Senator Legrand, please take a seat.  I understand that you are aware  
of the recent discussions," she said, looking directly at him.  Pierre  
nodded sagely.

"Yes, Madam President," he said simply.

"Then you know that in two hours time I will announce my resignation,  
effective immediately and that you will be sworn in as acting  
President at that time," she continued.  Pierre again nodded.

"Yes.  And may I say that I am sorry that your Presidency is to end  
this way.  You have had and continue to have my respect," he said.

"But not your support," she said pointedly.  Pierre leaned backwards  
slightly and smiled gently.

"I am afraid not.  We both know that our country needs good  
government.  You know that you have not been able to provide this,  
despite your best efforts.  And to your credit, you realize this and  
have accepted it.  There are some who have held this office who have  
been substantially less wise," Pierre pointed out.  Zoé here smiled.

"Including my predecessor, who was also named Legrand," she said with  
a smile.  There was, after all, a small measure of ill feelings.   
Pierre shrugged.

"I can only hope that my tenure turns out much better than his,"  
Pierre admitted.  Zoé nodded seriously.

"I am to understand that you will be appointing a new, caretaker  
government," Zoé only partially asked.  She had been informed.

"Yes, Madam President," he said.  Zoé continued.

"I have already accepted the resignation of the government earlier  
this morning.  The current ministers will continue in office until the  
new caretaker government is confirmed," she said, seemingly with  
pleasure.  If she bore some ill feelings to the man who would be  
replacing her, she must not care much for those who had put her in the  
position of needing to be replaced.

"Thank you, Madam President.  If I might enquire, what are your  
plans," Pierre asked benevolently.  Zoé sat back, relaxing at the  
thought of the end of her Presidential responsibilities.

"I think I will go back to campaigning for minority rights.  Perhaps  
do some writing," she said, looking into the distance.

"That sounds nice," Pierre noted.  There was a moment of silence  
before Pierre stood.  "Then, with your leave Madam President, I have a  
few last items which I need to address."

"Of course," Zoé said, standing.  Then awkwardly, "I would like to  
wish you well, or at least better than I had."


*** April 14, 2014 ***

<Statement by acting President Pierre Legrand.>

"My fellow citizens,

"The recent weeks, and indeed recent years, have been a difficult time  
for our French Republic.  Confidence in the government is low, and  
many despair of hope for good government.  I do not know that I can  
reverse these trends, but I am determined to try.

"The caretaker government is now in place, and has begun its work.  An  
election has, as per my remarks last Thursday, been called for May  
10th, as per the constitution.  I would like to announce that I will  
stand as the Union for a Popular Movement's candidate for the  
Presidency.

"If I may be brief, our country has suffered much pain of late, and I  
expect that there is still some pain in store.  But if France has lost  
her way, we have the ability, if we so choose, to right ourselves.   
There will be hard choices, and some of the choices made may seem  
difficult, too difficult to try.  But nothing worth doing is easy.

"There will, over the next weeks and years, be time to discuss the  
specific points of importance.  But for now have faith that France is  
returning to its rightful course."


ACTIONS:

1)  Introduce acting President Pierre Legrand, and the exit of  
President Zoé Ampère.

2)  Announce that Legrand will be running for a full term as President.