Imperial Speaker: It is with a mixture of sadness and relief that I inform my Lords that the crisis over the Danish crusade has been contained due to the passing of the Pope. Cardinal Sigismund Uttenheim has been elected as his successor and has ended our excommunication. Our relations with the Papacy are once again very good. Duke Leopold will be able to join the crusade on Damascus. However, our relations with our Catholic allies have worsened considerably (before the debacle, they had risen to reasonable and amiable during Henry's term of office).

Now that Kaiser Henry's term of office has ended, it is time to open the Ninth full Diet session. There will be a three day period for the proposal of edicts and Charter Ammendments. Candidates for the post of Chancellor are asked to submit their manifestoes. On Wednesday, 10.45am (UK time) the deadline will expire.

As the Kaiser is still en route home from Edessa to participate in this Diet, and given the charges made against his normal deputy, the Prinz, he requests that King Otto would chair the Diet in his absence. He also gives notice that Duke Otto will be re-affirmed as King of Outremer, if the proposed constitution for Outremer passes. (The Kaiser hopes to formally propose that constitution in the next day or so.)

I yield the floor to King Otto.