PT Couldn't Palpatine have waited a few months for Valorum's term to end?

In TPM, as we all know, Palpatine arranges a blockade around his home planet of Naboo, in order to secure himself into the position of Chancellor. What is the point in doing so, considering Valorum's second and final term in office was mere months away from ending.

By having this blockage set up, the Jedi were made aware of the Sith's continuing existence. On top of which, they discovered the Chosen One, who would eventually lead to the downfall of the Sith.

As Valorum's term was coming to an end, why bother going through with such an elaborate scheme that leaves the Jedi aware of their enemy's existance. The Sith had relied on the Jedi's ignorance of their survival for centuries. Why bother exposing yourself?

Being the political and manipulative mastermind that he is, could Palpatine have not simply found his way into the Chancellorship through normal means? Obviously he would have taken a different approach in his schemes prior, but wouldn't that make sense? He would be Chancellor and the Jedi would remain in the dark about the Sith, and would continue to be until Order 66.

 

He could, but the blockade gave him sympathy, something he was counting on during his Election. Who knows, another opponent for the Chancellorship may have stepped into the spotlight or Valorum may have still been ousted without Palpatine maneuvering things.

 

Yes, but as a manipulative mastermind, I'm sure Palpatine could have manipulated himself into the Chancellorship either way.

 

it looks better for palps. makes him look like a savior.

 

But it also exposes the Sith, and he could've blended in more.

 

Being elected after a vote of no confidence sets the tone for his chancellorship to be about strengthening the office of chancellor. Making his consolidation of power appear reasonable and born of fighting corruption rather then being corruption itself. Victimization is extremely valuable in politics.

As for revealing the existence of the Sith, I have a few thoughts. If Maul had been successful in capturing the queen it would have added more strength to Palpatine's position as chancellor. Leading to more destabilization in the republic that the Jedi could not fix requiring more power to be given to the Chancellor. His failure removed Maul as an apprentice which is something that helped Palpatine. Darth Maul was just a warrior and not a leader and schemer like Palpatine needed to continue his plans. Either way was a win. Palpatine's constant need for a better apprentice is a theme through the entire Saga. He even tries to remove Vader constantly to get a better apprentice. It's the constant test of a Sith apprentice succeed and benefit me or die. The only way to break the cycle is to kill and supplement your master.

I think the timing of revealing the Sith was correct. However the battle of Naboo was lost and set back his plans to further disrupt the republic and overtly build his power base.

 

How do we know that Palpatine didn't want the Sith to be exposed? How do we know that Palpatine didn't want the chosen one to be found? The Jedi's response to finding out about the Sith ultimately gave Palpatine a pretext for wiping out the Jedi and establishing the Empire. The discovery of the chosen one ultimately provided Palpatine with the apprentice he wanted.

 

They wanted to expose themselves:

"At last we shall reveal ourselves to the Jedi. At last we will have our revenge."

 

Valorum could have won re-election, and probably would have if he had retained the support of the bureaucrats.

 

Maybe I am missing something.... But was it ever disclosed in a canon source, which would be TCW or the movies (or new canon material) that Valorum was near the end of his term?

I honestly don't remember it coming up. That doesn't mean it didn't, thus why I am asking...

 

There's all the other reasons people have stated, and also the fact that it might have looked a bit too convenient if he'd timed it that way.

The revelation of the Sith's existence is a non-factor in the discussion because Sidious actually wanted that to happen. There's no point in getting revenge if no one knows you're the one doing it.

 

Even if Palpatine waited, there was no guarantee that he'd be elected Chancellor. The Naboo Crisis gave Palpatine that added boost for the sympathy vote that got him elected in a landslide. Plus, the earlier he could get in, the quicker he could his plans into effect. Valorum already had wavering support in the Senate, and coupled with the orchestration of the Naboo Crisis, Palpatine's election was guaranteed.

 

The point in the blockade and invasion was to highlight how weak willed Valorum had become, so that he could be kicked out of office and someone else could take over.

PALPATINE: "You see, Your Majaesty, the tide is with us...Valorum will be voted out, I assure you, and they will elect in a new Chancellor, a strong Chancellor, one who will not let our tragedy continue..."

This then sets the stage for the Separatist Crisis and the Clone Wars, where he is able to stay in office longer than his term allows for. And it in turn leads to his gaining enough popular support to become Emperor.

 

That is the crux point though isn't it?

By normal means and being a normal chancellor he would be out after 2 four year terms at most.

Not enough time.

Even by the time of AOTC he was past his terms by ROTS he was 13 years in!

He couldn't be seen as just another normal guy who is easily disposed of but a guy who can get things done and is someone who the Senate wants to keep around.

 

That's what the blockade of Naboo was about . . . to manipulate himself into the Chancellorship.

 

People will appreciate a political leader more if they're someone who came in during a period of hardship and managed to navigate some rough waters, than someone who came in during a period of relative calm. Case in point, Franklin Roosevelt came in during the Depression and wound up staying through almost all of World War II. He was noted in the annals of 20th century history for how he handled both crises while in office. He was also the first President to have four consecutive terms as President and the last one to have more than two terms. A President who has nothing of significance can be easily lost in the shuffle. In the case of the Republic, Valorum and his predecessors had nothing of significance happen during their time. That's why Palpatine needed to create a climate of fear in order to kick his political career into high gear. As Padme points out to Anakin, she herself was remembered for her handling of the Naboo crisis and this is what lead to a petition to change the constitution so that she could be elected to a third term, but she refused on the grounds of popular vote does not give the people want they need over what they want.

 

It'd take too long if he waited, imo.

 

Yes. Very true. I see your point. However, on the flip side, the blockade was a reaction to policies that he himself pushed through. So, in essence, electing a politician to high office that pisses people off to the point of extreme violence could be seen as a risky move, no?

Also, the blockade only impacted Naboo, and not the Republic as a whole. He could have just as easily manufactured a galactic economic crisis, and then solved it. Therefore showing him as a wise leader who the Republic would benefit from. No violence needed. No need to reveal the Sith. No need to risk fingers being pointed your way.

 

Ah but no one knew that he did it!

 

Nah man, get that dude outta there.

 

As much as Palpatine likes to claim he can see the future, he's just as imperfect as the Jedi. Neither he nor the Jedi saw Anakin coming in the PT, he didn't see the Jedi coming in TPM, and he didn't originally see Luke coming in ROTJ. He manipulates the truth just as well as he manipulates the Force. He talks a good game, but you can't take what he says for granted.

 

Maybe the original plan was to have the embargo in place for the months leading up to Valorum's end of term. As his people continued to starve once they ran out of supplies, he would play on the sympathy vote in time for the next election.

When the Jedi showed up and forced his hand, he proved to be flexible, especially when Padme escaped and he could parade her in front of the Senate and manipulate her into getting Valorum removed.