He glanced out of one of the specious room’s large windows. Before him the Avenida Luca Sargo de Santa stretched off into the distance. Cars could be seen pulling into or away from the various government buildings and embassies on either side of the wide boulevard. The fountains in the centre fired water up into a Soluca morning, which was feeling unusually crisp for that time of year. In the Presidential Palace’s courtyard soldiers in ceremonial uniform marched their patrol routes, distinctly unceremonious weapons on their shoulders. Outside the fence passers-by evaded the small number of tourists that had gathered. It was a normal scene. He wondered how events transpiring in the conference room would affect ‘normal’ in the future.
‘So let me get this right in my mind.’ President Gregorio Emparán turned back to his ministers. ‘Any Congressman, excuse me, Congressperson can introduce a bill?’
‘Yes.’ Alana Velázquez, Executive Assistant to the President, continued with her briefing. ‘Although that bill will then be passed through to the committee stage for study and debate. It would then have to win a two thirds vote in that committee to advance to the floor stage for analysis and debate by the full congress.’
‘And then another vote?’
‘After much anticipated wrangling, amending and discussion, yes. And with a three quarters majority that bill be ready to become law. Pending the seal of approval from the Office of the President, of course.’
‘Let’s not lose sight of that small detail. And the Grand Congress will only have jurisdiction over issues of domestic policy. Foreign policy is also the sole purview of the Office of the President. As is the right of the veto. Which reminds me, I need to get some stamps made. Committees, sub-committees, debates, jockeying for influence. Nothing is ever going to get achieved. Sounds like democracy in action to me. Well done Alana.’
‘Thank you, sir.’
‘But it’s still, at heart, a numbers game. How are the projections looking?’
‘They’re looking very healthy.’ Alana touched a button and charts and numbers filled the screen that dominated one wall. ‘United Sargossa are currently predicted to potentially take as many as 650 of the available seats. Surpassing even our own expectations. The Social Democrats are expected to comfortably form the next largest bloc. After that it becomes something of a mess.’
‘Verde, they’re the environmentalists, right? I thought my environmental credentials were pretty good actually.’
‘They don’t think you go far enough.’
‘Charming. What’s Reconquista?’
‘Ultra-nationalists. They’re vehemently opposed to the “liberalisation” seen across the nation in the last two decades. They think you’ve gone too far.’
‘Too much liberty. This job is quite the wild ride. What would they prefer, perpetual martial law?’
‘Actually, I think they might.’
‘The day’s still young. Who are our other runners and riders?’
‘The Movement For Change are largely aligned with the Social Democrats in their vision but don’t think Trucco is the man to deliver. They think he’s too tainted by his proximity to the regime. Libertad don’t think either group goes far enough. Sargossan Dawn would very much like you to deport anyone who isn’t a native. Although their definition of “native” doesn’t include those of aboriginal native descent. First Peoples seek to defend the rights of those of aboriginal native descent for that very reason. The separatist movements in Goza and Santazuela do what they say on the tin. As does the Pan-Rushmori Party. The Agricultural Workers Alliance has found momentum in, you guessed it, agricultural areas. And the Communist Party of Sargossa is presumably a statistical anomaly.
‘What a time to be alive. But with sixty something percent of the Congress made up of our people it sounds like we’re on for business as usual. And I’m sure we can win around enough tree huggers, farmers and fascists to keep the status quo going for some time to come. Thank you Alana, that’ll do for now.’
(53’ Adriana 
); Cristo Díaz 
(84’)), Coco; Aramis, Primitivo 
(68’) 
