S O L E N T I A N . T I M E S | T H E . D A I L Y . E D I T I O N
NATIONAL: POLITICS ~ Coalition begins fight for Supreme Presidency
March 3083
Casper Ash is determined to present the Coalition as a force for Governance.
ALYA – The Coalition today launched their campaign for the Supreme Presidency. Giving themselves a headstart on the other parties, the Coalition Conference in Alya, Nukeya was themed "Trust and Experience". Coalition President, Casper Ash began the rally last week by dissolving his own CUP and putting his Paty firmly behind the Coalition ticket. Two days later, the CMP and Green Solentia followed suit. The Byrne Foundation at today's conference announced it's intention to dissolve in the next few weeks, though insisted that only the political branch of their organisation would absorb into the Coalition, leaving the Corporation and Charity bearing the same name, free.
Mr. Ash's Supreme Presidential campaign is based on experience. Despite Mr. Ash only having served as Finance Secretary for a brief period, he is determined to place emphasis on the shared collective memory of all four constituent parts of the Coalition. The most frequently cited part of this experience drive is the CUP's record on budgeting. Mr. Ash proclaimed himself "deeply proud" of the tradition in Unionist budgets to lower overall spending to make way for tax decreases for the poorest, taking bottom %s out of the system, whilst simultaneously increasing spending on Health provision and Educational services.
Also mentioned was the CMP record on faith and morality and their long-term preservation of family values. Mr. Ash said that his Coalition would continue to support Solentian families with targetted legislation such as the broadening of the marriage laws to allow same-sex couples to obtain marriage contracts that would serve as "a fine example to Solentian youth of what it truely means to be a family." He also stood firm on the parties decision to push for same-sex adoption. He said this provided a "tolerant but family-oriented societal drive".
Mr. Ash, a homosexual himself, has been challenged on gay rights from pro-family groups who said that gay couples should not be permitted to adopt. Mr. Ash has rejected this firmly and has thus far been solidly backed by his colleagues in the more rightist CMP. An Ash Supreme Presidency, a party official told us, would include family values and principles but would not abandon same-sex families who should be rewarded and thanked for taking care of their children and promoting trust and faith.