Jedi Cabinet

The votes are in and the people have spoken. The Jedi will form the next Galactic Government as the ruling party of a minority parliament. During the past two weeks, many high profile Jedi have sat anxiously near their holoprojectors with the hope of a call from the Prime Minister designate.

Today marks the swearing in of Yoda as the first Prime Minister of the Galactic Government. Once Prime Minister, Yoda announced his Jedi Cabinet that will rule the Galaxy for the duration of this parliament.

Ministers in the Jedi Cabinet

Prime Minister – Right Honourable Yoda
A political master with hundreds of years of experience, Yoda has received a strong vote of confidence from his constituents with an 80% approval rating following exit polls. Although many outside the Party feel Yoda to be a natural choice for Prime Minister, a recent internal power struggle between Yoda and Mace Windu for Party leadership has left the party with fractured loyalty. As leader of the government and his party, Yoda will have to appease the unofficially named “Windu Wonks” through his policy actions.

Despite the right-of-centre alignment of the party, Yoda’s strengths rest in his ability to sense the public will and act on it. His consistently vague rhetoric allows him to be a flexible political leader.

Yoda has promised to quickly bring the issues of inter-species marriages and electoral boundaries in the outer rim planets to the Commons floor within his first month of office. It is expected that he will encourage his party to support the redrawing of electoral boundaries to favour the Jedi party in future elections, something that will cause significant discussion in parliament given the Sith opposition.

Foreign Affairs – Honourable Ki-Adi-Mundi
There is little surprise over the appointment of staunch Yoda supporter Ki-Adi-Mundi to the prestigious title of Foreign Affairs. A popular politician with academics, the well-spoken Jedi is expected the serve the Galaxy well in his role as the external voice for government. Ki-Adi-Mundi has travelled throughout the Galaxy and is comfortable in many languages. He campaigned on a promise to enter serious negotiations with separatist-controlled planets. Analysts believe that Obi-Wan Kenobi was passed over for this position precisely because his negotiations are considered too “aggressive” by many of his colleagues.

Justice – Honourable Obi-Wan Kenobi
Although Kenobi expected the position of Foreign Affairs, he will fit nicely with the Justice portfolio. Elected under the election motto “Strength and Patience,” Kenobi is expected to control his ministry with an iron fist. His first action in parliament will be to significantly increase the number of Jedi in cities throughout the Galaxy to enforce law and order. Rumors exist that suggest Kenobi was a high-ranking member of the Windu Wonks, which may create tension between him and other elected ministers in this government.

Citizenship and Immigration – Honourable Shaak Ti
One of only two woman to be appointed to cabinet, many hope Ti will influence her colleagues with her left-of-centre, inclusive policies and philosophies to government. She is a key architect on the Jedi policy of increased immigration between all planets within the Galaxy and a staunch opponent of citizenship quotas on Old Republic planets.

Health – Honourable Tyvokka
One of two Wookies on the Jedi cabinet, Tyvokka has little experience in the portfolio but receives high praise due to his close friendship with the new Prime Minister. His appointment is contentious, but his political experience should serve him well. Jedi policy on Health includes legislation for the right to die which will effectively ban Sith research into “unnatural” life-extending practices.

Public Safety – Honourable Mace Windu
In a written statement to the media, Windu expressed his “deepest pleasure at receiving such a valuable position within cabinet.” Party insiders suggest otherwise and the low-profile appointment demonstrates continued tension between Yoda and Windu. Despite the recent election win, there will continue to be jockeying for leadership within the party. Windu’s statement made no comment toward policy or actions from the ministry.

Heritage – Honourable Plo Koon
Koon has been a permanent member of the Jedi Library since his membership with the party and has a keen sense of the importance of fostering history and heritage. The Jedi planks regarding Heritage during the election placed a heavy emphasis on ensuring the symbols of the Galaxy are easily recalled by all citizens. Koon is expected to request a large budget to create billions of Galactic flags and buttons to be distributed on select planets where patriotism is considered low.

Fisheries – Honourable Kit Fisto
The appointment is a natural fit for the amphibian Jedi. While the Fisheries ministry is traditionally a low-profile position limited to water planets, Fisto is expected to be a key spokesperson for the Jedi government to leverage his popularity with the opposite sex of many species.

Defence – Honourable Chewbacca

A surprise star candidate during the election, Chewbacca is the second Wookie on cabinet prompting some critics to muse about the “walking-carpet parliament.” A close friend of Yoda, Chewbacca has extensive experience as a general in the Wookie army, yet has spent limited time in other planets. He is also hampered by his unilingualism and poor diplomacy. Despite his political flaws, many of his opponents have adopted a strategy to let the Wookie win.

Veterans Affairs – Honourable Qui-Gon Jinn
Political analysts feel this appointment is a small misstep for Yoda. Contrary to official Jedi policy, Jinn recently went on record as saying that he would rather see veterans of our great wars fade away.

International Trade - Honourable Mara Jade
Elected as a Sith representing the planet Aargau, Jade's appearance on the Jedi Cabinet is a source of significant controversy within both the Jedi and Sith parties. Analysts believe her defection was brokered by Jedi insider Luke Skywalker through the promise of greater political power.

In a statement made to the press o the day following her appointment, Jade said: "The opportunity is presented for me to carry on pursuing the very agenda I had been running to pursue under Palpatine."

The Sith Riding Association for Aargau is demanding that Jade repay the riding association for monies used by Jade during her election campaign.

"I don't understand why they would go to such bizarre lengths as to raise that kind of issue when in fact I had done so much and raised so much for the Sith Party," responded Jade.

She is expected to play a key role in the return of the Force Olympics to be held on Aargau in three years.

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Why? Because Jeff and I thought it would be funny in that geeky sort of way. Stay tuned for the Shadow Cabinet by Jeff Kubik.

In the meantime, I encourage everyone to take their own whack at putting together your own Jedi Cabinet in the comments. Below are some of the appointments that are left unfilled:

Public Works and Government Services
Labour and Housing
International Trade
National Revenue
Human Resources and Social Development
Indian Affairs
Intergalactic Co-operation
Treasury Board
Industry
House Leader
Finance
Transport, Infrastructure and Communities
Agriculture
Environment

For help with Jedi we have known check out Wikipedia.
For the real cabinet, check out the Globe and Mail.

At least all of Yoda’s ministers were elected!