Oraizan for President

Day 807, 17:01 • Published in Austria Austria • by Rangeley


On one particular November day, I checked in on the site - and to my surprise, I saw that Hungary had launched an invasion into Burgenland. Naturally, I knew this possibility existed, since the state of war was still open, but I still didn't really expect it to happen so abruptly. In his campaign article, Stancel notes that I handled the defense of Austria during the invasion of Burgenland - but from my first hand perspective, it's not quite so romantic. I didn't really know where to begin - who would I contact first? What should I say or do?

The first person I talked to was Oraizan. She immediately began working on her contacts with both PEACE and EDEN, while I focused on talking to France and other nations we have a close relationship to. We worked closely together, using an IRC room previously used for trivia, but now renamed to the "War and Trivia Room," meeting with foreign officials from the aforementioned nations and countries. Even in a crisis, she kept a cool head throughout it all - and without this, and her quick thinking use of contacts she established in her time in the game, I suspect the outcome of that day would have been different.

Her experience in foreign affairs certainly did not begin there - in Japan she served as President, Minister of Foreign Affairs for three consecutive months, and ambassadorship roles on numerous other occasions. One instance in particular saw her work on behalf of PEACE GC, mediating - successfully - a reconciliation between France and the United States at the close of WWIII. While these countries have yet again turned against each other, this simply re-enforces the importance of having people who are able to negotiate, communicate, and cooperate in places where they can do just this.

Beyond helping me in Burgenland, her input and advice was key to many other decisions of my presidency - the liberation of Bratislava, the defense of Kyushu, the creation of the mentor program, the focus on a bilingual Austria. Her friendship, and willingness to lend an ear when I had questions or concerns helped me even before the presidency, both in politics - with the fledgling ÖIP - and out of it, simply in being there.

I believe that Austria has a special opportunity in this election - an opportunity to elect a genuinely good and deserving person who has shown time and again that she approaches this game with the right blend of positive enthusiasm, and concern for doing what is right. She excels in exactly the areas we need to move Austria forward, in her ability to cooperate, and bring people together.

Tomorrow, I will proudly cast my vote for Oraizan - and I strongly urge others to do the same. This is a unique opportunity; we shouldn't let it pass us by.