The 2459 Conclave

The 2459 Imperial Conclave was the second "election" for a new Emperor

Circumstances
Empress Regina announced that she would abdicate her office as Empress of the Terran Empire, citing her long service since she was in her early 30s. Indeed she was at that time the longest serving Rex in the short history of the Empire

The Lord-Governors were summoned back to the Palace at Dhaka and senior civil servants oversaw the conclave. Each Governor was not permitted to leave the Palace and they were only allowed one staff aide in the Council chambers

The slates to vote on were laser-cut by the civil service and their specific carbon signature made them impossible to counterfeit

Preferatti
Initially there was some confusion as to whom the Valane preferatti would be, with most expecting the oldest daughter, Princess Charlotte had been appointed a Minister of State to gain court recognition and experience in management. However, some sort of back-room deal had been made and instead House Valane announced that Princess Aurora, married to Colamere Tancredo, would be their preferatti

Noted moderate Lady Teagan Yardley, daughter of the former Chancellor Cort Yardley, also announced she would stand. She put forward a platform of reform including democratic reform and an investigation into the emergency powers of the CIS.

Platform Speeches
Lady Yardley laid out a modest platform based on political reform of the Empire, including but not limited to empowerment of the Imperial Parliament. She also called for a review of the emergency powers granted to the CIS. She named Lord Cabbot Brahms as her choice as her initial Chancellor

Princess Aurora laid out a somewhat ambitious plan with plans ranging from the completion of the Prospero uplift to a major overhaul of social-welfare and spending in the Empire. She also committed to a review of the democratic process within the Empire. She made the surprise announcement that noted liberal Lord Stafford Collingwood would be her choice as her initial Chancellor

Lord Kotek Grumman asked questions around the security of the borders of the Empire. Otherwise there was comparatively little debate around the conclave with many feeling that the support of the liberal bloc along with the implied support of the conservatives behind Princess Aurora had all but decided the contest

The First Ballot
The first ballot results were:

Princess Aurora Valane - 15 votes

Lady Teagan Yardley - 9 votes

No abstentions

The Results
Therefore Princess Aurora Valane was named as the new Empress of the Empire. She expressed that she intended to co-rule alongside her husband, Colamere Tancredo, who would be elevated to Emperor along-side her.

She also confirmed her intention to name Lord Stafford Collingwood as the inaugural chancellor of her new administration

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