[h2][center][b]High Kingdom of Itherae[/b][/center][/h2]

[i]”No more tax!”[/i]

These words were echoed all around the streets of Thermydon after the introduction of the highly controversial [b]Cereal and Grains Tax[/b] on July 4th, two weeks passed while the Head of Government, Prime Minister Gregorio Netxais, sat and did nothing on the situation. He was one who supported the tax increase, believing the people would either not notice the increase or they would just accept it like they were expected to. However the ‘Megáli Agrotikí Apergía’(translated to Great Farmers Strike) of July had arisen in protest over the tax increase, not leaving Queen Athena surprised nor most of the politicians within Supra Dobranie.

[center][img]https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/18/WinnipegGeneralStrike.jpg/300px-WinnipegGeneralStrike.jpg[/img]
[sup][i]The Great Farmers Strike of 1905[/i][/sup][/center]

Yet, the Prime Minister sat and did nothing, not wanting to give into the people’s demands, until the Queen had to personally threatened him to call for a vote on the fate of the tax. That was when Gregorio had caved and in July 29th, called for a vote on the repeal of the tax, which passed on an astounding 167-15 after a mere two hours of voting, returning the tax to its original total of 19.5%. While Gregorio would attempt to take credit for repealing the tax, Queen Athena would not sit idle and would instead release a statement regarding the situation.

[i]”...Gregorio Netaxis may claim that the repeal of the dreaded Grains and Cereal Tax was his doing, it was most certainly lies that he had spoke to the people of Itherae. The truth of the matter is that I, your most beloved Queen, had to personally visit the Prime Minister and force him to call upon a new vote so that our farmers might enjoy their most important job of providing our people with the staple of our economy. If he wishes to lie to the people, how can we trust him or his cabinet? With this breach of trust, I am announcing that my name shall be put into the ballot as an official candidate for Prime Minister. No more will I tolerate lies and corruption from politicians, it is time for the Itheraen people to prosper!”
[right]-Queen Athena’s ‘Speech of July’[/right][/i]

It was a shock to see that Queen Athena would be running for office of Prime Minister, it was so much of a shock that news had began to cover the situation, calling her the ‘Queen-Minister’. While many statesmen objected to the claim of being governed by a woman, Athena would respond to these claims with [i]If you didn’t want a woman to be put on the ballot then perhaps you should have a head of state that isn’t a woman.”[/i] The reply silenced, mainly due to shock, any further complaints in the status of her right to the ballot, ushering forth an internal Suffrage Movement in the process.

Queen Athena would launch a merciless campaign for the September vote, attracting people to be a part of her Cabinet and giving many rousing nationalist speeches on how the future ‘belonged to the Itheraen people’. While women were not legally allowed to vote or be elected, there was little the Supra Dobranie could do to stop the Queen as doing so would be persecuting their symbol of unity. It did not help that the leading party of the Dobranie was staunchly conservative and monarchist, leaving them utterly shocked at what to actually do in the situation.

(+1 to all orders)