The Fiduciary Sessions

"The Fiduciary Sessions" refers to a series of votes and debates held by the Xarslasja Legislature in deciding whether to join the South Thasusan Common Market Agreement, the Transpunese Economic Union, or neither, and whether to establish their respective currencies as official in Xarslasja or to remain banking exclusively in the Petrified Oak Slab. Debate ran through the Counties of Xarslasja in mid-September 2024 when offers to join both economic unions were presented to the Bezuv. As this was not a matter of terraforming or directly tied to the industry of resource production, the Bezuv handed the issue to the Xarslasja Legislative Authority and its Legislature.The first three sessions were held on September 17th, 2024, and the latter three on the 18th.

First Vote; On the Issue of Entering an International Economic Union

The first session was a series of debates as to whether Xarslasja should pin itself down to one particular economic union, or whether to remain exclusive to the international arbiter of value, the Petrified Oak Slab.

In a 9-7 vote, the Legislature voted to allow Xarslasja to join *an* economic union, without deciding which one. Green = Yes, Red = No, Yellow = Split County

Most of the representatives from Core Xarslasja were against the idea of joining a wider economic union. It was mostly the more recently-annexed counties that showed the widest favor for introducing an economic union, as they saw it as an opportunity to improve the economy for the whole country and not just the Core. The representatives from Santa Cruz County got into a heated debate on this issue, with the No-voter arguing that joining one of the two suggested economic unions would necessarily decrease trade to Nogales specifically by up to half. Ultimately, the county's two seats voted opposite to one another.

Second Vote; On the Issue of Joining an Existing Economic Union

The second session involved the debate as to whether Xarslasja should join an existing economic union (ie. the South Thasusan Common Market Agreement or the Transpunese Economic Union), or create its own local currency. This matter, while specific, was broached as a way of avoiding a direct conversation about Xarslasja's official neutrality towards the "Pua Problem." Xarslasja has tried to have a healthy relationship with both East and West Pua without taking a stance on either's claim to full sovereignty over the other. For example, West Pua has an unofficial embassy in Tempe, but Xarslasja also voted in favor of East Pua's joining the United Ngations.

In an 11-5 vote, the Legislature voted to join an existing economic union rather than creating its own local currency. Green = Join Existing Union, Red = Create a New Currency, Yellow = Split County.

This vote gained the support of the remaining Santa Cruz County representative and one more Yuma representative, making Yuma a Split County. The motion passed, though the opposition of the minority was quite heated.

Third Vote; On the Issue of Which Economic Union Would Be Preferable

The third session had a quite convoluted conceit. This would not be the final vote to join one of these economic unions, but rather a count as to which economic partnership each representative would prefer for their county's benefit.

In an 8-8 tie, the third vote failed to make a decision. Green = TEU, Red = STCMA, Yellow = Split County.

This vote was particularly challenging, and was split roughly on sectional lines. The eastern counties of Xarslasja wished to join the STCMA due to their strong cultural and geographic ties with lands claimed by East Pua. The western and more oceanic parts of Xarslasja had more naval and diplomatic ties to West Pua, and thus they voted in favor of the TEU. The end result was a split Yuma and Santa Cruz County vote that left matters in a dead heat. Frustrated, the Legislature adjourned for the day and vowed to return to sessions within the next two days.

Fourth Vote; On the Same Issue

The Legislature reconvened on September 18th to open discussions again. The session immediately began with a vote, which yielded the same exact result as the third. In a standstill, several breakaway negotiations began.

Fifth Vote; On the Same Issue

Tensions were high in the Legislative Authority Building after negotiations finished. When the votes were counted, a single tilt vote changed everything. One of the two representatives from the previously split county of Santa Cruz switched very hesitantly their vote to prefer the East Puan system. In a 9-7 vote, the STCMA was the preferred system, over largely sectional west-east lines.

In a surprising 9-7 vote, The South Thasusan Common Market Agreement became the preferred monetary system for Xarslasja. Green = TEU, Red = STCMA, Yellow = Split County.

Sixth Vote; On the Issue of Joining the South Thasusan Common Market Agreement

With the preference vote out of the way, all that remained was the vote on whether to actually join the STCMA. This issue remained heated among opponents to the STCMA, but one more representative from Yuma County threw their favor behind the act, along with the representative from Yavapai County. Strangely, Gila County preferred the STCMA but voted against actually joining it, leaving the final vote in favor of joining with a 9-7 vote.

In a 9-7 vote, the Legislature chose to join the STCMA. Green = Yes, Red = No.

Aftermath

It was made the official initiative of the Xarslasja Legislative Authority to facilitate Xarslasja's admission into the STCMA. These were the first major sessions of the Legislature after its official founding, and immediately the country was left in a bit of a sectional crisis in regards to economic relations with West or East Pua. In particular, Gu Sabah, son of the Bezuv Agma Schwa, Dmacuv of the Xarslasja Port Authority, representative AND ruler of La Paz County, felt particularly betrayed by the nation as a whole going against his will. He immediately began a crackdown on the small population of Gila County, where the XPA heaquarters of Shea Island is located.