The Peculiar Debate

Political event

"How can we claim to be a modern nation, when we are the only nation on Kalin to permit the crime of slavery?" -Senator Burns

After the Lions of Tharrisia arrested a Senator accused of financial crimes, they also found a basement filled with nearly half a dozen mistreated slaves. To the horror of many, he was only given an additional charge of "misuse of property/slaves", a crime that carries a fine or 1 year prison sentence.   This started another public debate on the place of slavery within the Impero. While more of a cultural/wealth signifier in the modern age, with many slaves "treated well", the increasing modernization of the continent put the practice in a harsh focus.   The debate raged in newspapers, forums, letters, and eventually in many public demonstrations that led to the matter coming to both parts of the Senatus.   Friction grew when the Senatus Populi, the more "lower class" arm of the Senatus, passed a vote to ban the buying and trading of slaves in 5 years time, with provisions to phase out the practice entirely in 15. The Senatus Superiorum immediately passed a countermanding law the next day. The issue began to grow, as it grew into a class issue as well as an ethical debate.   The debate was only ended when the Imperatrice, who had been silent on the issue to that point, declared that she would form a legal taskforce to examine the issue and make a proposal for the ending or maintaining of the practice on economical, ethical, and religious grounds. The task force report was to be presented to the Imperatrice on the first day of 1015 3A.   While most debate died down following the announcement, the issue has become a "low boil" one across the entire Impero since, never fully leaving the public consciousness.