Foley Sakzi

Foley Bartholomew Sakzi
14th President of Zamastan
Incumbent
Assumed office November 17th, 2019
Preceded by	Anya Bishop
82nd Speaker of the Chamber (Zamastan)
In office September 22nd, 2012 – November 17th, 2019
President	Cassious Castovia, Zacharias Castovia, Anya Bishop
Preceded by	Yerran Mann
Succeeded by	Larious Maxwell
Senator, Northern Isle District 20
In office September 22nd, 2008 – November 17th, 2019
Personal details
Born	August 26, 1976 (Age:44) Providence, Zamastan
Citizenship	Zamastanian
Nationality	Zamastanian
Political party	Blue Conservatives
Height	6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Spouse	Hannah Sakzi
Children	Karina Sakzi, Mylon Sakzi
Parent(s)	Joshua Sakzi, Megan Sakzi
Military service
Allegiance	Zamastan
Branch/service	Zamastanian Army
Years of service	1996-2003
Rank	Lieutenant Commander
Unit	87th Gold Battalion
Battles/wars	Battle of Amstelveen

Foley Bartholomew Sakzi is the 14th and current President of Zamastan, succeeding President Anya Bishop in a Special Election after her removal from the office following a vote of no-confidence. Sakzi shook the political landscape in June of 2019 when he announced his candidacy against President Bishop in the 2020 Election cycle. His candidacy, as well as his position in the Blue Conservative Party, caused a major division in the Conservative realm, as he began openly criticizing Bishop for her policies. Upon her condemnation and subsequent removal from office, he remained on the side lines to the best of his ability as the leading member of Congressional Hall, abstaining from the Congress Chamber's vote and speaking in terms of political unification after her removal in testimonial settings.

His provided domestic views are largely centered around middle and lower class economics, and he has stated that he hopes to provide systems of free enterprising that doesn't infringe on the rights of the everyday citizen, while also maintaining a faithful and open government system. He has advocated for a strong military, sanctions against Yuan and Malvare (though he strongly criticized President Bishop's handling of the July-August Trade War), and an increase in trade with nations who don't have strong current connections with Zamastan. He has advocated for gun reform and was one of the leading voices in the August legislation that banned semi-automatic rifles in Zamastan, though he has stated that he believes in the right for citizens to have conceal and carry permits for hand guns. His presidency so far has largely centered around military tensions in East Ausiana, the aftermath of the 1/2/20 Terror Attacks, its subsequent January-March 2020 Coalition operations in Vulkaria, and attacks on international shipping, oil rigs, and Navy vessels by Ossinia.

Before the Presidency, he served as the 82nd Speaker of the Chamber of Zamastan, serving since 2012. He is a prominent member of the Blue Conservative Party, but is known for his willingness to be non-partisan when public interest in a bill is high. He served this position under his elected role as the Senator of Northern Isle's 4th District. Before his tenure in politics, he was a corporal in the Zamastanian Armed Forces, seeing action during the Second War in Vulkaria. He was shot in the chest by enemy combatants during the Battle of Amstelveen and critically injured, but recovered and rewarded several medals honoring his bravery and sacrifice during the fighting.

Early Life

Born to parents in Providence, Northern Isle, on August 26, 1976, Sakzi grew up in Lower Tariel. His mother died of cancer when he was ten years old. While his father worked in the oil industry, Sakzi spent some time growing up in Cadair, gaining a proficiency in Cymraeg. Sakzi joined the reserve corps of the Zamastanian Armed Forces in 1996, but was able to pursue an education during his service and graduate from the University of Tofino with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in international relations in May 1998.

Military Service

While at the University of Tofino, Foley Sakzi joined the Army Reserve Officers Training Corps and was commissioned in the Zamastanian Army after his graduation. He served in the special forces for five years, including two tours of duty, reaching the rank of lieutenant commander. His first deployment was to Amden, Vulkaria in 1999 as Zamastan sent forces to fight in the Second War in Vulkaria.

While serving in the Amstelveen Province of Vulkaria in 2003, during his second deployment, he was injured by the detonation of an improvised explosive device, and was shot by enemy fighters who overwhelmed his team's position. He suffered severe gunshot injuries in his chest which required surgery. While he recovered from the surgery, one of the five bullets was not able to be removed from his body and remains lodged in his rib. Sakzi earned two Bronze Star Medals, the Wounded Heart, and the Officers Corps Commendation Medal with valor. He medically retired from military service in November of 2003 as a Lieutenant Commander.

Speaker of the Chamber

Election

Sakzi confirmed on September 22nd, 2012, that he would seek the speakership after receiving the endorsements of two factions of Conservatives, including the conservative Zian Caucus. Sakzi, upon confirming his bid for the speakership, stated, "I never thought I'd be speaker. But I pledged to you that if I could be a unifying figure, then I would serve -- I would go all in. After talking with so many of you, and hearing your words of encouragement, I believe we are ready to move forward as one, united team. And I am ready and eager to be our speaker."

On September 29, Sakzi was elected Speaker, replacing incumbant Speaker Yerran Mann. He won after receiving 301 votes, an absolute majority of the 500-member chamber. Liberal Cain Blackwater received 184 votes, with 15 more going to others. After the vote Sakzi delivered his first remarks as speaker-elect and was sworn in by Fawn Deindre, the dean of the Chamber, becoming, at age 36, the youngest person elected as speaker since Shauna Lultquist (23) in 1994.

Actions

As Speaker of the Chamber, Foley Sakzi was well known for his bipartisan standings, although his conservative roots would usually take initiative when it came to economic issues. He presided over several large tax cuts in the senior Castovia and junior Castovia presidencies. He also presided over several bills that expanded the rights of LGBT citizens.

Sakzi was one of the leading voices in the August 2019 legislation that banned semi-automatic rifles in Zamastan. This action was widely praised by politicians on each side, and nations across the IDU also supported the legislation.

Sakzi allowed for the Dual Condemnation of President Anya Bishop following protests in which she ordered the military to engage protesters. The resulting deaths of three activists and one officer paved the way for the condemnation and subsequent vote of no-confidence. Sakzi abstained from voting. After the senate voted for her exit, Sakzi announced his candidacy for President in the special election, and won with 62% of the vote.

President

2019

The stated aims of the foreign policy of the Sakzi administration include a focus on security, by fighting terrorists abroad and strengthening expansions of the Zamastanian military; an "Zamastan Comes First" approach to trade; diplomacy whereby "old enemies become friends, and modern enemies become scared"; and immigration policies that include heavy vetting.

November 2018

On November 18th, 2019, the day following Sakzi's inauguration, a naval standoff occurred between the Zamastanian and Xiomeran navies off the coast of Yuan's Manauia Island and Gangkou. For the following weeks, seven nations (Yuan, Beleroskov, Malvare, North Sotoa, Mingonia, the D.S.C., and Drambenburg) condemned Zamastan, and a race of military build-up, threats, and drills occurred. After a preemptively established conference where Malvare invited all the nations who had condemned Zamastan to "strategies for military protectorate purposes", Drambenburg reversed their condemnation, distanced themselves from the Yuanese and Beleroskovian moderators, and backed Zamastan. A mediation conference in Austrolis was planned to quell the crisis and resolved military travel in the southern Toyana Ocean.

December 2018

On December 26th, a bombing in Amstelveen, Vulkaria, killed 48 people. Two days later, V.N.A. affiliated fighters attacked a coalition convoy of Zamastanian and Vulkarian soldiers, killing 8 Zamastanians and 3 Vulkarian. In response, President Sakzi reinstated airstrikes against enemy fighters in Vulkaria, striking sites that were linked to the assailants.

2020

Terrorism

On January 2nd, terrorists attacked sites all across the Coalition of Crown Albatross, including in Zamastan, killing a total of 1,496 people. President Sakzi and his administration, with Congressional approval, declared war on the Malvarian Liberation Front and the intention to seize all M.L.F.-controlled territory, kill or capture Van'a Kamoni and other leaders of the terrorist organizations, and establish order for Vulkarian government forces. The ensuing Zamastanian-led coalition operations in Vulkaria became the focus of Sakzi's foreign policy. Public opinion of the war began high, with more than 90% of people supporting the operations. However, following the Battle of Amden, which lasted from January 16-24th and resulted in 21 Zamastanian deaths, the support for the war began to decline. Public opinion jumped following the March 1st raid that resulted in the killing of Kamoni, and only a week after, northwest Vulkaria was firmly under coalition control and the rate of insurgent attacks severely dropped. When Zamastanian troops pulled out, 102 of them had been killed.

On April 19th, a suicide attacker set off a bomb in the entrance hall of Tregueux's primary train station on Sunday, investigators said, killing 32 people and injuring dozens more. Responsibility for the attack was claimed by the terror group Al-Fijar, a Jaginistan-based insurgent group with long simmering tensions with the Zamastanian-backed Jaginistan governemnt. A

Drambenburg Bovine Outbreak

An outbreak of the BRD-20 flu strain emerged from Drambenburg on January 21st, and while the Drambenburg government attempted to cover the severity of the epidemic, it quickly became a deadlier disease than originally thought. Sixteen Zamastanians who had been in Drambenburg for a sporting tournament contracted the disease and brought it back with them to Zamastan, where the disease was contracted across 402 people and killed 41 by March 13th. President Sakzi declared a national health emergency on the 12th of March, issued travel warnings, and also declared that precautionary measures after the earliest contractions had led to a full quarantine and that no further cases had been detected since the beginning of March. By the 14th, Sakzi declared that no additional people in Zamastan had contracted the virus, and while health precautions were still in effect, the virus was fully contained.

Mayotte-Aunistria Autonomy referendum

May 9th, 2020, the provinces of Mayotte and Aunistria passed a autonomy-grant referendum that gave the two provinces substantial autonomy from the federal government. The decision, which came within 84,000 votes, was extremely controversial as there were suspicions of vote tampering, and as many nationalist members of both provincial legislatures tried to pass drafts that would have declared independence. President Sakzi was cautious to side with either view of the vote, as the referendum ultimately would not result in independence if it passed. However, Sakzi made it clear following the referendum that he would executively block any decrees for independence passed by either provincial legislature.

Trans-Olympic Partnership

On April 18th, 2020, Sakzi proposed a trade agreement between Zamastan, Rio Palito, Quetana, Gladysynthia, Baytonia, Raviannas, and Greland, which contained measures to lower both non-tariff and tariff barriers to trade, and establish an investor-state dispute settlement mechanism. Many observers have argued the trade deal would have served a geopolitical purpose, namely to reduce the signatories' dependence on Yuaneze trade and bring the signatories closer to Zamastan.

Ossinia Tensions

The spring-summer of 2020 saw extreme escalations in incidents and tensions with the island nation of Ossinia. On April 18th, 2020, an Avergnon vessel was hijacked by state-sponsored pirates. The ship was sailed to Ossinia and the hostage sailors were exchanged for Z$60 million. On May 8th, 2020, an Ossinian missile struck a Janapan oil rig, killing 5 workers. Two days later, an Austrolisian shipping vessel was boarded and detained by Ossinian naval vessels, resulting in the death of a sailor. On May 15th, only five days later, dozens of ORNF speed boats harrased the ZMS Maple Wind in Zamastanian territorial waters in a move called "dangerous and provocative" and "increased the risk of miscalculation and collision" by the Zamastanian Naval Forces. A missile attack occured the next day on the ZMS August Vendetta, killing seven sailors and increasing hostilities even further. A Zamastanian container ship, the MV Galen Schulz, was struck by a missile the day following, suffering fatal breaches in the ship's hull that caused it to eventually sink. A Ruskaynian ship, the MV Skipjack, was also detained.

President Sakzi called Congressional Hall to an emergency session to convene on how to respond to Ossinia's attacks on May 16th.