[SPOILERS] Stormblood Ending

[Theodric]

Again - Dalamud was not a project that received heavy support within Garlemald itself. Nael van Darnus was very much acting against Garlemald's interests. So, too, was Zenos - who admitted to never really caring for his father's cause and simply wanted a good fight. Nothing else mattered to him.

It's no different to the real world. A war may be started by politicians and military leaders that causes strife elsewhere but the people living within the country responsible are largely without blame. Many people - with various degrees of influence - speak out against them though find their hands tied. Then there's the issue of misunderstandings and rogue elements coming into play...but I digress.

As for stifling festivals? It's mostly a precaution - and it's no different to how Ishgard chose to operate when it came to anything even suspected of being associated with Nidhogg's brood. Some may very well be harmless yet other practices may not be.

In short, Garlemald is fairly divided in terms of its approach to many of the more controversial decisions and projects.

[Cilia]

Again - Dalamud was not a project that received heavy support within Garlemald itself. Nael van Darnus was very much acting against Garlemald's interests.

... oh?

... I do not discriminate where wealth is concerned. I have dealings even with merchants of the Empire. Through them my influence reaches the Garlean elite, with whom I thought it possible to negotiate a peace.

Alas, their leaders are set upon the complete annihilation of Eorzea. A point upon which there is scarce room for compromise.

Once the truth of this became apparent, we Monetarists granted our support to Raubahn and his Immortal Flames...

Source.

Garlemald - or at least its upper crust - was very much in agreement with Project Meteor. They had no problem turning Eorzea into a smoking crater, killing every man, woman, and child living there, and consigning its culture to memory if it meant being rid of the eikons summoned by the native beast tribes. Nael van Darnus was very much acting within Garlemald's interests and with its support (even if she went batshit insane in so doing) - it was actually Gaius van Baelsar who went against Garlemald's interests in that instance, discreetly aiding the Warrior of Light to put an end to van Darnus' mad scheme. (Again, because ruling over a smoking crater full of corpses wouldn't be fun.)

Believe what you will, but know the truth.