[Academy RP] The eve of conceit

[Welkija]

• Location: Capital City Of Welkija- "Nowa Huta" picked out as the new capital after the revolution as the center of the nations largest steelworks, Headquarters of the United Workers Party.
• Cast:
  • Mieczysław Mijal: Chairman of the Peoples Assembly
  • Wladyslaw Gierek: Minister of the economy
  • Lew Rzewski: Minister of defence (Mentioned)
• Date: 3 Years prior.

The door to Chairman Mijal's private office creaked open, a rush of tobacco smoke spilling out into the hallway.

Mijal remained seated, facing away from the door. His arm was outstretched, holding a cigarette, which he ashed onto the floor, the gray embers glowing faintly in the dim room.

"M-Mr Chairman?" Giereks voice faltered slightly "The opposition has arranged another strike...within the capital, the st-"

Mijal interrupted sharply "The Steelworks? On strike?"

Gierek hesitated before nodding, despite standing behind Mijal, he kept his eyes fixed on the chair "Yes."

A loud sigh can be heard before Mijals hand withdrew and he let out another stream of smoke. "That will send our nation into a complete standstill, our economy was already suffering with steel shortages but this? This will send us over the edge."

"Maybe its time to open talks with the opposition?" Gierek chimed in

"Rzewski has been calling for me to declare martial law for the past week now, do you really expect to not see him lead a Putsch against me if I were to just conceit to them?" Mijal said bitterly, his words covered in disdain for the man, "The mans ambitions are obvious, and you think the opposition will have 'Talks?' there stance is clear, they made there demands known, do you not negotiate with men like them, they will take everything from you ."

"What do you suggest we do then Chairman?" Gierek Muttered

Mijals eyes wandered towards the window as if he was trying to find his answers outside "There's something which neither of them expect you know?" Asked Mijal.

"Huh?" Gierek seemed confused.

"I'm going to give them what they are asking for Gierek....we will hold free elections. The words hung in the air, as heavy as the smoke swirling them. 

"Mr Chairman, you cant be serious? After all we accomplished already?" Gierek bargained

Mjal responded calmy "You don't see it yet, the opposition isn't expecting us to actually give into them so easily, they wont have a electoral plan in place and will fight itself out of power, while Rzewski wont get to carry out his coup as if he did the populace would not have it, they'd see it as a betrayal of everything we have fought for, you cannot grant a dog a bone just to snatch it away right after, also, he'd know better than attempting to replace leadership in the midst of a active election, it buys us time."

Mijal stood abruptly, the chair scraping against the floor. The motion was abrupt, as something inside him has shifted as well, his reflection but a faint blur in the window as he looked upon Nowa Huta and the constant streams of smoke comming out of the grand steelworks before they suddenly came to a halt.

"I will prepare the announcement, Gierek, go find someone to sit down with the Strikers for a chat, have them draw it out for a while before agreeing to elections, make it seem as if it wasn't a pre-planned." Mijal Ordered, stubbing out his cigarette on the window sill. 

Gierek stood bewildered "Y-yes? Yes Comrade, b-but are you sure about this? 

"The only way to outmaneuver them is to leave it in the hands of the people, they are the ones who have to prove themself as capable and when they fail they will lose any credibility they had. As long as the party remains united, and they fight each other for who gets to be the 'face' of the opposition, then we will come out on top." Said Mijal, his voice steady but betraying a sense of unease and agitation. "They wont have time to organize before the ballots are cast, the opposition within the party will know better than to intervene...I'll have someone make sure of that, yes...I believe everything is in order."

 With the announcement of Snap elections the opposition struggled to form a 'united front' earning some success in there endeavor however largely being unable to hog tie every single faction amongst them into one group leading to lackluster results, however, in spite of the efforts of the party, enough independent and minor political parties which formed as a result of allowing for free elections led to a hung parliament, with the United Workers Party having a soft majority, meaning they have to rely on support from the opposition parties and indipendents in order to pass any legislature through the assembly. The gamble of granting free elections partially played of, with the opposition failing at consolidating while the party rallied around him for the sake of stability, yet his seat was not a secure one, with the elections having passed, more radical elements within the party seek to replace him and undo the reforms which he pushed through, while the opposition is working hurriedly to attempt to find some common ground in order to force 'the communists' out of government once and for all. The Smoke rising from Nowa Huta began to rise once more. 

Edited December 6, 2024 by Wielkopolsa (see edit history)