Potatogate (Olmeria)

Potatogate, also known as the The Canespa Affair, and The Olmeria-Canespa Collusion Scandal, was a diplomatic and political scandal regarding the continuation Olmeria's economic and diplomatic relations with Canespa by then president Kiel Frieden, despite international condemnation of Canespan actions. It was further developed by public threats of Canespan interference in Olmerian elections in favour of the then pro-Canespa Unity Coalition. The scandal was the leading cause of the 2034 Olmerian Political Crisis, which saw the biggest political upheaval in Olmeria since the start of the 21st century.

Names and Origin

The scandal was widely dubbed Potatogate by Olmerian journalists, in reference to the main industry of Canespa. Additionally, a large part of the scandal related to the signing of a economic trade agreement by which Olmerian companies would be severely disadvantaged if they didn't buy potatoes, along with other related goods, from Canespa rather than the closer Levantine Union.

The origin of the term has been traced back to tabloid newspaper Aurora, in an article on the July 9th 2034 about the developing scandal. By the 12th, most major newspapers were using the term, although notably broadsheet paper the Olmerian Standard refused to adopt it, with the editor claiming it was "unprofessional, sensational, and a disgrace to proper journalism."

The scandal was described more formally by the Standard, and many official bodies, as The Canespa Affair, and later as The Olmeria-Canespa Collusion Scandal, in reference to President Frieden's underhand dealings with regards to Unity Coalition funding.

The Potatogate scandal is often described synonymously with the 2034 Olmerian Political Crisis, with the lines between the two events being somewhat blurred by the overwhelming impact of the Potatogate scandal in causing the crisis.

Background

History of Relations

Prior to 2034, Olmeria had long maintained a largely neutral stance in regards to it's relation with Canespa. The two states, separated by thousands of kilometres, had little reason to have any close interaction, and as such very little notable history exists between them.

TEEP Bill

This changed only in mid 2034, when the government of Olmeria, with a new focus on improving Olmerian influence in the League of Nations, drafted and then submitted the Transnational Environmental Externalities Protocol Billt (TEEP Bill). The Bill, while not mentioning Canespa by name, was widely publicised as a reaction to the Hamuq City Reservoir Crisis, and was vocally condemned by Canespa, who claimed it would restrict their ability to carry out ecological developments. Why Olmeria chose to undertake the responsibility of legislating in response to the crisis, when they themselves were minimally effected by it, was questioned by many at the time. Olmerian diplomats claimed the bill would prevent future conflicts, and therefore was in the interests of any nation trading in the region, but the reasoning seemed to lack any depth as to why the country would go to such lengths to be the one that proposed the legislation. It's suggested that heavy influence from coalition partner the Justice Party, who envision Olmeria as a neutral worldwide arbitrator of peace, led to the move in an attempt to build towards this vision.

Trade Deals

Despite slight diplomatic tensions over the TEEP Bill, Canespa reached out to Olmeria in late April, proposing a new trade deal between the nations. As part of a wide reaching upscale of the Canasta Company's operations, Canespa proposed tariff changes on specified products that would effectively force Olmerian companies to deal with only Canespan companies. The deal was accepted for imports of wheat/barley, potatoes, beans, tobacco, and syrup, on the agreement that all of these products would be sold for 7.5% cheaper than on the general market. Despite being signed on the 4th June, the deal was not due to come into force untill the 1st September.

Timeline of Events

• 4th June 2034 - Olmeria signs a trade deal with Canespa enforcing high tariffs on non-Canespan imports of wheat/barley, potatoes, beans, tobacco, and syrup. To be implemented in September.
• June 2034 - The PGRC are formed.
• July 4th - July 6th 2024 - Widescale international recognition of the PGRC and condemnation of corporate Canespan Government.

• July 6th 2034 - Spokesperson for the Olmerian Foreign Relations Office says Olmeria will not recognise the PGRC, cancel the new trade deal or cut ties with Canespa.
• July 6th 2034 - Canespa declares it will fund and support the Unity Coalition at the next Olmerian elections.
• July 6th 2034 - Opposition to Canespan ties begins from political parties and demonstrators.

• July 6th 2034 - Urcea introduces a League of Nations privileged bill mandating that a PGRC diplomat represent Canespa for league business.
• July 7th 2034 - Council of Chiefs emergency meeting over the future of Olmeria-Canespa relations begins.
• July 8th 2034 - President Kiel Frieden makes an announcement confirming that Olmeria will not cut economic ties with Canespa, describing international action against them as a "witch-hunt".
• July 8th 2034 - Herse Lotvall resigns as Chief of Foreign Relations citing disagreement with the President's decision.
• July 9th 2034 - Hundreds of thousands of protestors gather outside Senate protesting government corruption over continued Canespa relations.