Aftonbladet Front Page January 7th 1743
The Builder of Success – an interview with President Carl Gustaf Nordin
By Lars Vallquist
Many of you have heard his speeches and of course all of you have been affected by his polices, but what sort of man is President Nordin really? Its apparent he has the approval of the people, being voted in a landslide victory of nearly 83% two years ago, and opinion polls indicate that this support has not wavered as we look at a our strong and stabile republic. However there is much more to the world than Sweden and great forces are at work in the wider realms; how Sweden responds to these events could effect us all, and thus our famous investigative reporter Lars Vallquist was sent to meet with the leader of our nation in the relaxed environment of the prestigious Stockholm restaurant Bon Lloc for a few questions on the presidents views on the changing world.
LV: Thank you for agree to this interview Mr. President, myself and Aftonbladet are most grateful. And I must say its very pleasant and surprising to get a private room at this restaurant, it must be more than a months wages for me!
CGN: Well the job has some perks, and they know me well here – it was on this very table that old [then MP] Magnus Sprengtporten convinced me to run for Office in fact.
LV: A place of historical note then! Well, lets get this started; your term has been marked principally by quiet and peaceful growth, although some of your detractors in the senate have bandied about the term ‘stagnation’. Before we proceed to the issues of today, perhaps you’d like to tell us your opinion on the last few years.
CGN: Primarily, I believe the smaller states have undergone certain fundamental changes; mostly at the head of the various governments, and with their policies. However this I believe is rather negligible, what with the Economic and cultural Dominance of the Great powers, who seem to have continued there policies more or less unchanged.
LV: any comments on the domestic situation?
CGN: Domestically, I would like to soften anti-Swedish feelings from Denmark, and bring Sweden into a more cohesive, whole and stable nation. This I must say has not been echoed outside of the country, as the recent, events, in the Ottoman Empire show.
LV: Well you certainly have not let our defensive situation flounder that’s for sure, as our army could probably go toe-to-toe with any of the northern Europeans! The ‘Big Stick’ has been a view you espoused throughout your political career – what formative experiences lead to you this idea?
CGN: (The President let out a loud snort at this and muttered darkly before continuing) being attacked by Danish citizens. That and the successful use of such policies by our neighbours.
LV: Danish Citizens Mr. President? To what incident are you referring?
CGN: *ahem* it was a long time ago, I would rather not go into it; it could destabilize relations if I tried to push a point.
LV: Most diplomatic of you sir. But on that note of tensions, recent rumours coming from the War Office aside, what do you have to say about the recent training exercise that had the Swedish Navy veering into Dutch-Norwegian waters? Is this new army of the republic only to be used to defend the homeland?
CGN: As you suggest, its use lies where our interests lie. Keeping the Danes out, and if possible minimizing their power has always been in our interests, however in recent diplomatic agreements have hindered have halted such ambitions
LV: Ambitions you say…as we cast our eyes beyond the borders, what are your opinions on the various shifts in alliances and the fortunes of Europe? Shall we begin with say – the Brunswick-French defensive agreement that has Sweden scratching its collective heads in confusion?
CGN: My thoughts are that it is simply to stop the Union of Krakow from gaining it, or possibly the Augsburg League, a clever move diplomatically, and certainly in our interests, the Union is already a powerful nation too close to comfort.
LV: Moving on what about the expanding alliance system as a whole – before the east and west of Europe have clashed indeed, but now a web of treaties stretches across the continent. Do you think this is a good or bad thing, especially the projection of Spanish and French power into the eastern states of Europe?
CGN: There are two great regional powers here: The Union of Krakow and Russia, it only seems natural that their interests would develop here, seeking to gain an advantage over the other. Well let’s say with the alliances a power vacuum would be very violent. If the alliance systems are good or not; I cannot help but feel that they only contain problems rather than solve them, and yes, this will lead to war.
LV: Speaking of the two powers picked for alliance by the west, what is the presidential position on them; first Krakow, and their ambitious new Grand Chancellor; many say he’s Wittlin come again! Do you feel that Pommerania is secure?
CGN: No, Pommerania always concerned me, being separated by mainland Sweden as it is, and thus is always unsafe. However I remain confident that any attempts by Krakow to gain these territories, would be politically unviable, as it simply forces us to seek alliance with France and Russia, effectively surrounding it in Unfriendly nations.
LV: That is reassuring. But now on to that Great Bear: with Europe in its jaws if you excuse the metaphor – the recent, well I suppose ‘flooding’ is the best term for it, of the Balkans was something quite remarkable. What will Sweden do if the expansion east continues; if Russia meets with such success in the south, might it try in other directions as well?
CGN: Again, Russia would then face a united Krakow and Sweden, as naturally any such expansion would greatly concern us and the fragile balance of power. Finally however I do not envy the territories in the Balkans that they have taken. I do not think of them as politically stable, especially in Russian hands.
LV: it is indeed a stormy sea outside of the safe harbour of the Baltic, but some fringe elements; the so-called ‘Gustavists’ urge us to return to empire…is this wise?
CGN: Strange I have reports that indicate that the Protestant Empire of King Gustav is not wanted back, they must be a lunatic fringe indeed. Of course necessity might arise once again, but for the moment, we need only concern ourselves with convincing France and Russia that we should be able to invade Denmark (The president gave a hearty laugh at this idea).
LV: And now on to lighter matters – the markets are up and industry is on the rise, are there any more plans for economic growth in the halls of government?
CGN: Great plans are afoot, I would like to fully industrialize Sweden, It has great advantages in this, and the natural resources are abundant. Such Exploitation however needs to be mirrored with better technologies, which again we are also working towards.
LV: I shall inform my broker post haste! Now in closing, with 4 years left in your term: what do you hope to achieve in your remaining time as president?
CGN: Keep Sweden intact, and be remembered as a builder, somebody who made Sweden strong.
. Either a) wait till one of them (or perferably both) of them are at war) and try again, b) Move to another nation or c) set up a Basque colony (with one power or anothers patronage) in Patagonia or New Zealand or something and be content with that.
And is this a total war, or a colonial war?
And I did always have the fear of storks... 
