| Coruscant_Journal | Date: Monday, 04 Jul 2011, 11:23 PM | Message # 1 |
 Major
Group: Administrators
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Mercutio Elected New Governor of Naboo
Theed, Naboo — The planet Naboo has elected a new Governor following the passing, last month, of Governor Sio Bibble. Mercutio, the Duke of Ferentina and a well known figure in Naboo's political and social scenes, was mostly unopposed and enjoyed the endorsement of the planet's popular Queen Kylantha. He was elected with 71% of the vote and sworn in as Governor today in a ceremony in Naboo's capital, Theed.
Mercutio campaigned on a promise to guarantee a living wage for all of the Queen's subjects, including Gungan laborers in Theed and Naboo's other (predominantly Human) principalities. He also promised to establish a "Bureau of Droid Interests" and increase funding for Naboo's ministries of art and science, as well as Naboo's renowned Corps of Engineers, without raising taxes. The last of these was seen as a concession to spice miners on Rori, a moon of Naboo, who resent paying taxes to Theed and object to the Queen's generous immigration policy—a policy that Mercutio has promised to continue.
Scarcely mentioned in the campaign, however, was the Empire. Mercutio inherits a planetary government under increasing pressure to financially support the operations of Imperial troops on the planet, who have been engaged in a bloody campaign against Gungan insurgents in Naboo's swamps. General Relius, the Imperial commander, has demanded conscription of the young men of Naboo into his 159th Division—a demand that Governor Bibble was able to refuse and Governor Mercutio has promised to refuse also.
Though he is known for having made statements critical of the Empire in the past, Mercutio shied away from criticizing the Imperial occupation directly, either in his campaign or in his speech today at the swearing-in ceremony. In the speech, he appealed to "both sides" for peace; this has been perceived as a reference to the increasingly militant tactics of Gungan insurgents and supremacist groups—acts of sabotage, for instance—and the Empire's policy of escalation in response.
Mercutio told an assembled crowd in the Palace Courtyard that the planet's Royal Security Forces (RSF) would be "a partner to Imperial forces on Naboo," but that "the Naboo are not at war with the Gungans, and will not take part in any such war."
The Empire is not popular on Naboo. It is commonly believed that Imperial forces played a role in the assassination of Naboo's former Queen Apailana, though the Empire denies this. Sensitive to the accusation, and perhaps eager to avoid controversy on the homeworld of Emperor Palpatine, the Empire appears to be more tolerant of Apailana's successor, the popular Queen Kylantha (and her government).
Mercutio replaces the long-serving Sio Bibble, who presided as Governor of Naboo and head of the planet's Royal Advisory Council during the Trade Federation's invasion of the planet and, later, the Clone Wars. Bibble was a respected elder statesman, and was considered a tireless advocate for the people of Naboo. He died last month of natural causes. Artemis Vanden, the Senator of Naboo, issued a statement today congratulating Mercutio and "[wishing] him the best of luck in filling the shoes of Sio Bibble, a towering figure in Naboo politics, a poet, a philosopher, and a personal friend."
The Coruscant Journal will continue to follow the new Governor's relationship with Imperial forces, Gungan militants, and spice miners on Rori as these develop.
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