Inaugural Cheese
The Inaugural Cheese is a custom in Nouvelle Alexandrie in which a newly elected Premier purchases a large block of cheese for their campaign staff following a general election victory. The tradition dates to 1693 AN, when Augustus Strong of the Federal Humanist Party won the 1693 general election and ordered a 4,000-pound block of cheese for his staff at Government House. What began as a spontaneous gesture became an expected practice for subsequent Premiers, with the event growing in size and significance over the following decades. Each Premier has added their own elements to the celebration, and the Inaugural Cheese has become a regular feature of the schedule of inaugural events following general elections.
A defining feature of the tradition is its charitable component. Leftover cheese was originally distributed to the homeless population of the capital city of Cárdenas, a practice that began with Julio Delgado in 1703 AN. In the early decades, Premiers arranged meals at Government House for homeless residents, delivered cheese to shelters and soup kitchens across the city, and organized public charity festivals that raised tens of millions of écu for homelessness relief. As the homeless population in Cárdenas has dwindled over the years, the charitable aspect of the event has evolved into more general giving, with food and supplies distributed to low-income families, community organizations, and social service programs throughout the capital.
History
The tradition began with Augustus Strong's election as President of the Government in the 1693 general election, when he ordered a 4,000-pound block of cheese for his staff at Government House. This spontaneous gesture became an expected part of inaugural celebrations. Over the years, the event grew in size and significance, with each successive Premier adding their own elements to the tradition.
By 1726 AN, the Inaugural Cheese had evolved beyond a private staff gathering into an event attracting media attention and public interest. The cheese, wine, and crackers traditionally provided by the government came to be accompanied by a variety of local delicacies, showcasing the culinary diversity of Nouvelle Alexandrie's regions. The event became part of the broader calendar of inaugural festivities following each general election.
List of Inaugural Cheeses
| Year | Premier | Party |
|---|---|---|
| 1693 AN | Augustus Strong | FHP |
| 1698 AN | Gerhardt Eugen Seydlitz | FHP |
| 1703 AN | Julio Delgado | SDLA |
| 1708 AN | Felipe de Almagro | FHP |
| 1713 AN | Felipe de Almagro | FHP |
| 1718 AN | Paolo Antonio Aguilar | FHP |
| 1723 AN | Paolo Antonio Aguilar | FHP |
| 1729 AN | Marissa Santini | FCP |
| 1734 AN | Marissa Santini | FCP |
| 1739 AN | Juan Pablo Jimenez | FHP |
| 1744 AN | Juan Pablo Jimenez | FHP |
| 1749 AN | José Manuel Montero | FHP |
Notable Inaugural Cheeses
*"Augustus Strong, a man who left as his main legacy... a bloody awful lot of cheese."*—Unknown source
*"Well, I may be lactose intolerant, but you can bet I'll still be the first in line for a slice of that Inaugural Cheese."*
1703: Julio Delgado
In 1703 AN, Julio Delgado became the first Social Democrat elected Premier. Delgado, known for his progressive policies and commitment to helping the less fortunate, transformed the Inaugural Cheese into an explicitly charitable event. He made a point of personally handing out cheese to homeless residents of Cárdenas and invited them to a feast at Government House. He also arranged for the government to provide additional assistance to those in attendance, including warm clothing, food, supplies, and blankets. This established the precedent of using the Inaugural Cheese as an occasion for direct charitable giving.
1708: Felipe de Almagro
Felipe de Almagro's Inaugural Cheese in 1708 AN marked the Federal Humanist Party's return to power. De Almagro sought to exceed his predecessor's efforts, commissioning a larger 4,500-pound block of cheese and personally delivering portions to various shelters and soup kitchens across the city to ensure that no one in need would be left out. He arranged for a grand feast at Government House to which all homeless residents of Cárdenas were invited, providing transportation to the event and arranging for live music and entertainment for the guests.
1723: Paolo Antonio Aguilar
Paolo Antonio Aguilar's second Inaugural Cheese in 1723 AN expanded the event into a public charity festival in Cárdenas, where thousands of citizens could participate in the festivities. The festival raised tens of millions of écu for homelessness relief and other local needs. Aguilar also introduced a policy of using the Inaugural Cheese festivities to hear petitions and complaints from members of the public who would not ordinarily be granted an audience with senior government officials. This practice of providing government and staff time to listen to petitioners became a recurring feature of subsequent Inaugural Cheeses.
1729: Marissa Santini
In 1729 AN, Marissa Santini became the first Federal Consensus Party Premier to host the Inaugural Cheese, ending 36 years of Federal Humanist Party control of the tradition. The event continued without interruption despite the change in governing party, demonstrating that the custom had become institutionalized beyond partisan affiliation.
1749: José Manuel Montero
José Manuel Montero held the Inaugural Cheese in 1749 AN following his election victory amid the fallout from the Pact of Shadows scandal. The event took on particular significance as a symbol of governmental stability following months of political uncertainty during government formation negotiations. Montero's Inaugural Cheese marked a return to normalcy after the scandal had implicated opposition leaders and delayed the formation of his government.
Sponsorship
All governments of Nouvelle Alexandrie have rejected sponsorship offers from private companies for supplies and food for the Inaugural Cheese. The official position is that the tradition represents the government's commitment to serve the public and should therefore be financed by the state rather than private interests.
