Today's roleplay was brought to you in part by christos200.
HAN: "Good evening, and welcome to Counterpoint. I'm Chonglin Han. Tonight, I have the privilege of an exclusive interview with the enigmatic Emperor of China, Otto IV. Otto—can I call you Otto?—thank you for coming."
OTTO: "Of course. I thank you for your invitation."
HAN: "You have been Emperor now for how many years?"
OTTO: "I have been Emperor for almost 12 years."
HAN: "Recall for us how you gained the position. Originally the state was governed by a so-called National Council. What was their logic for calling you to the throne?"
OTTO: "As you know, I am a direct descendant of George I. The Xiang Dynasty had made China a huge Empire. Also, they were the ones who introduced Christianity in Beijing, and in China in general. The Church played an importand role in Demon Occupied Beijing, since the Church kept the Chinese National identity. And of course, George was the greatest Saint of the Church. So the common people though of him as a Saint, a great General who led them to glory. They viewed him the same way the Greeks view Alexander the Great or the Mongols view Genghis Khan. It was a time of a huge Chinese Empire. It remind them of their past glories.
"Also, the new State needed a symbol to unite. Wanted someone to unite all people of the new Empire. That symbol was the Xiang Dynasty. The Xiang Dynasty lived in Italy since the loss of the Kingdom of China. Otto Von Constantine was exiled in Italy, and there the Xiang Dynasty became a rich and strong family.
"And so i was called to unite the new Empire."
HAN: "So would it be correct to say the monarchy's resurrection was motivated by its symbolic application, rather than any immediate political necessity?"
OTTO: "Yes. The Emperor is a symbol of unity. The country is led by the elected Government."
HAN: "The Imperial constitution isn't well-understood by foreign observers, partly because yours is such a new state, and partly because there’s so little public information available. How exactly is the government structured? What's the delegation of power between the Crown and Parliament?"
OTTO: "Well, the powers of the Monarch is to declare war and Peace and can Veto a resolution passed by the Parliament. However, his Veto may be overturned if 2/3 of the Senate votes for the withdraw of the Veto.
"The Senate is elected every 4 years, unless in times of crisis where it can be extented. The Senate votes and passes laws of the Government. If a Government law is not passed by the Senate, then it cannot be implemented.
"The largest party in the Senate forms a Government. It can either be an one party Government or a Coalition. The leader of the leading Party is usually the Prime Minister, except in times of coalition. The Government has to have a vote of confidence in the Senate."
HAN: "In contrast to your predecessors, George and Otto I, you don't seem to play an active role in party politics. Is your role in government, if you'll pardon the term, superficial, or do you believe you have a duty to uphold state welfare, even if it means directly contradicting the will of the Senate?"
OTTO: "My duty is to unite the people of China. As a head of State, I cannot suuport a Party or an another. I also believe that the people should decide what they want to do. If, for example, Mr. Jing is elected Prime Minister and declares a blockade of the Union, I will not stop him since it is the will of the people.
"However, in extreme cases, I have the right to dismiss a Government and declare elections."
HAN: "Would you oppose a war if you believed it would endanger the state?"
OTTO: "Yes.
"By the way, as you can see from my previous answers, the Empire of China is not the 'Evil Empire' or 'Absolutist state that returns Asia to the Dark Ages' like most people in the Union and the rest of the Chinese States think, but a modern democratic state."
HAN: "Now, before you were appointed Emperor, what were you doing for a living?"
OTTO: "I was a rich businessman in Italy. As I told you, while Cosntantine lost his Empire, he created an economical Empire in Italy. While his father, GeorgeI, was a great Commander and Political Leader, Constantine was a great businessman."
HAN: *chuckles* "The history I was taught is considerably different, but, uh, I won't get into that here. Begging your pardon, 'Sin Chiang' strikes me as neither Italian nor Danish. Was it adopted when you became Emperor? Did it help you build a rapport with the Chinese?"
OTTO: "Well, you will also ask why I have more Chinese characteristics that European. It is because almost all members of the Xiang Dynasty after George I married Chinese Women. That's why I also have a Chinese name."
HAN: "There are lots of Chinese in Italy?"
OTTO: "No. But there are Chinese in other States. Also, some of the Chinese women that married members of the Xiang Dynasty came from the Union."
HAN: "Another side effect of globalism, I guess." *cheeky smile* "Were you fully conscious of your family tree, or did it only come to light as part of your call to the throne?"
OTTO: "Yes, I was conscious of my family tree and I am very proud of King George I."
HAN: "Really?"
OTTO: "Yes. 820 years may be long, but it is the tradition of our Dynasty that the Father tells the Son the history of the family."
HAN: "You've said you're the biological descendent of George, and quite enthusiastically identify with him; do you... think you're obliged to carry on his legacy?"
OTTO: "Yes. But his legacy as Emperor and supporter of Catholicism. Not as Conqueror."
HAN: "As you're no doubt aware, the unilateral promotion of Catholicism both by George and the republican government immediately preceding him is alleged to have been part of cultural revisionism that was genocidal in intent, and after Otto's overthrow, the number of citizens identifying themselves as Catholic declined sharpy. Yet in spite of this... values dissonance, the religion has been part and parcel of the Empire's self image. Why Catholicism?"
OTTO: "Because in Beijing, that was under Demon occupation, Catholicism stayed alive. The Catholic Church kept the Chinese National Indentity alive in Beijing and was responsible for the education of many Chinese. George I viewed himself as the ''Constantine the Great of China''. He replaced the old religion with Catholicism, mainly by missionary works of Chinese and European Christian Monks. So, in Beijing a Christian Chinese Culture was developed."
HAN: "But China was, and remains, host to many other religions, some of which had greater following than Christianity even during the height of George's reign. Again, why Catholicism?"
OTTO: "Because in Beijing, the heartland of the new Empire, Chinese Catholicism was the largest religion. As I have already told, the majority of people in Beijing were converted during the Demon Occupation. Also, Biejing was one of the first states to become part of the CRF's secret Empire and after the Union replaced the Kingdom, Beijing remained under Demon occupation. While members of the other religions were not doing anything against the occupation or even liked it, the Chinese Catholic Church was against the occupation and educated the Chinese children to have Chinese National Identity. There are many Catholic Martys who were killed by the Demons for this."
HAN: "On that subject, there are widespread accusations that the Church's antagonism of the Demon state precipitated the pogroms during the Schism. It's an issue that's weighed on me personally; I lost a number of family members to those riots. Official Imperial policy does not discriminate against the Demons, but are you concerned at all that the lingering animosity hasn't been reconciled, and that persecution still persists in private channels?"
OTTO: "Well, after so many years of occupation and oppression, it is true that many people do not like very much the Demons. I am sorry for your losses. The Imperial Policy is to stop the racism against the Demons. That's why an Autonomus Demon Republic was created in the Northen Chinese Mnachuria. Right now, this policy has led to a decrease of racism against the Demons."
HAN: "Coming full circle, I want to look at the recent elections. The Democrats are still in power, but they're on very shaky footing. If the Republicans win the next election, there is widespread speculation they will resurrect the imperialist policy of the last millennium. Now, you've already said you're obligated to remain neutral in regard to party particulars, but is the... virtually blind militarism Jing advocates a danger to state cohesion? Is it something the Crown should deny out of principle?"
OTTO: "I cannot deny the will of the people. If the people support Jing, than I will let him blockade China. But I do not think that a War will be accepted."
HAN: "A blockade is a stone's throw from outright war, and analysts believe Jing is hell-bent on provoking conflict. You're willing to let it slide?"
OTTO: "If the people want war, I can do nothing to prevent it. I can only dismiss the Government and declare elections."
HAN: "Looking forward, where do you hope China will see itself in the coming years?"
OTTO: "I hope to see it as a strong, developed country with a strong economy and peaceful relations with the other Chinese States."
HAN: "Otto, thank you again for agreeing to this interview."
OTTO: "I thank you."
HAN: "Otto IV, Emperor of China. Next week on Counterpoint, Victor Karađorđević returns to the programme to weigh in on the Partitionanian War and discuss his latest book, The New Tribalism. I'm Chonglin Han; to all, a good night."