Former President and CEO of ZSuites Incorporated Zacharias Castovia on Friday officially joined the growing field of 2020 candidates for the President of Zamastan, announcing his candidacy in front of supporters in Gaviria Park in Tofino.
Castovia served as President from Jan. 1st, 2016, until Jan. 23rd, 2019, when he resigned following a scandal. Though he was found not guilty in all charges levied against him for bribery, the political fallout led to him and many members of his administration leaving office. Current President Anya Bishop won the emergency election in the wake of his resignation, and is a topic of controversy given the shortness in the length of time between the resignation and election (13 hours).
Castovia is the first person to have held the office of President to leave and return to run again. If he wins, he would be the first President to hold non-consecutive terms in office.
Castovia is the son of former President Cassious Castovia, a championed member of the BCP and widely regarded as a famed leader of the IDU during the 1980s and 90s. The elder Castovia largely exited global politics in the early 2000's.
Zacharias Castovia's administration saw reform in the energy sector and jobs sector, and marked a period of unprecedented economic growth. He also brought Zamastan into the IDU following the actions of his father who briefly exited the conglomeration of nations. Castovia was seen as a dynamic and charismatic leader, but many in Zamastan and the IDU saw and still perceive him to be inexperienced due to his young age.
He is expected to run as an independent.
Here is a transcript of his remarks.
CASTOVIA: "Thank you. That is a lot of cellphones. Thank you.
(LAUGHTER)
Thank you, thank you for being here.
After months of deliberation and prayer about the future of our country, I have come here tonight to make an announcement on how I can best serve her.
I chose to make this announcement in Gaviria Park because it is truly a symbol of our nations identity as a land of opportunity, sacrifice, and memory, and I am more competent than ever that despite our troubles we have it within our power to make our time another Zamastanian Century.
The story of the Zamastanian citizen is part of the larger story of the Zamastanian miracle. How, united by a common faith and their God-given right to go as far as their talent and work would take them. A collection of immigrants and exiles, of former slaves and refugees together built one of the freest and most prosperous nation ever seen in the International Democratic Union.
You see for almost all of human history power and wealth belonged only to a select few. Most people who have ever lived were trapped by the circumstances of their birth. Destined to live the life their parents had.
But Zamastan is different because here we are the children and grand children of people who refused to accept this.
(APPLAUSE)
Both of my parents were born to unique families in Zamastan. After her mother died, my mother was one of seven girls raised by a disabled father who struggled to provide for his family. My father was raised in a life of political intrigue.
When they were young my parents had big dreams for themselves, but because they were born into different circumstances, their future was destined to be defined by their past. And so when they met and married in the one place on earth where the aspirations of people like them could be more than just dreams, my father became President. Cassious Castovia served his nation until the day he died, and Mara Castovia served alongside him as a caring mother and mentor to me. When my father passed, I took his place, and served for the interests of the people.
(APPLAUSE)
I regret leaving - I regret leaving office because looking back, I know I didn't have too. It was my intention to continue to create a better place for Zamastan and through my leaving, I thought I could help let the politics return to the stance of diplomacies. I was clearly wrong.
(APPLAUSE)
Anya Bishop and the conservative party have twisted a perception of Zamastan. Though my father was conservative, my mother is conservative, many of my friends are conservative, and even I would see myself as conservative at times, I realize the conservative party has failed in the past year to get the work done that Zamastanians need. Tax breaks, lowered gas prices -
(APPLAUSE)
-peace and stability, a better standing with our allies, and an end to improper wage differences among race, gender, and sexual orientations.
(APPLAUSE)
If we reform our tax code and reduce regulations and control spending and revitalize our immigration laws and revitalize and replace our health care. If we do these things...
(APPLAUSE)
If we do these things, if we do these things the Zamastanian people will create millions of better-paying modern jobs. If we create a 21st century of higher education that provides working Zamastanians the chance to require the skills they need, that no longer graduates students with mountains of debt and degrees that do not lead to jobs...
(APPLAUSE)
And that graduates more students from high school ready to work, then our people will be prepared to seize their opportunities in this new economy.
(APPLAUSE)
If we remember -- if we remember that the family, not the government, is the most important institution in our society...
(APPLAUSE)
...If we remember that all human life deserves protection of our laws.
(APPLAUSE)
And if we remember that all parents deserve to choose the education that's right for their children, then we will have a strong people, and strong nation.
(APPLAUSE)
And if Zamastan once again accepts a cosigning mantle of global leadership in partnership with our allies...
(APPLAUSE)
...by abandoning this administrations dangerous concessions to Xiomera and Kerlile through dangerous trade practices...
(APPLAUSE)
By reversing the hallowing out of our military, by giving our men and women in uniform the resources, the care and the gratitude that they deserve.
(APPLAUSE)
By no long being completely passive in the face of foreign aggression, and by ending the near total disregard for the erosion of democracy and human rights around the world, especially Xiomera and Kerlile.
(APPLAUSE)
Then, if we did these thing, then our nation would be safer, our world more stable, and our people more prosperous.
This -- these are the things that we must do. But this election is not just about what laws we're going to pass. This election is a generational choice about what kind of country we will be.
Now, just yesterday, a leader from yesterday began a campaign for president by promising to take us back to yesterday. Yesterday is over.
(APPLAUSE)
And we're never going back. You see, we Zamastanians are proud of our history, but our country has always been about the future, and before us now is the opportunity to author the greatest chapter yet in the amazing story of Zamastan, but we can't do that by going back to the leaders and ideas of the past.
We must change the decisions we are making by changing the people who are making them.
(APPLAUSE)
And so, that is why tonight, grounded by the lessons of our history, but inspired by the promise of our future, I announce my candidacy for reelection for President of Zamastan.
(APPLAUSE)
I will return to the Zian Presidential Residence with your help! I will restore the greatness of Zamastan that we remember! I will stop the dangerous actions of the bickering of conservatives and liberals and restore the bipartisanship our country needs!
(APPLAUSE)
And through our effort, we will make Zamastan greater than it has ever been before.
(APPLAUSE)