Federationists Victorious, but Humbled by Plurality WinFalling just short of an outright majority, once-dominant political party will have to form coalition and compromise, say analystsAQQAK --
Ity ꜣḥwt xꜣdt, the storied political party which once stood astride Hawu politics and boasted defining historical achievements, has fallen short of majority support in a contested vote for the first time in more than two hundred years following yesterday's legislative elections.
Leaders of Ity ꜣḥwt xꜣdt (also called the Federationist Party, or IAX) awoke to an unfamiliar sensation this morning as ballot returns placed their party just six points ahead of opposition party Esinsundu Anoox Remetch Smate (the Esinsundu National Union, or ENU). Once a minor third party, the ENU dominated the vote in Saisyut and Saqqad sepatru, socially conservative regions likely swayed to the party's banner by its militarist platform and anti-abortion advocacy along with fond memories of the ENU's late 42nd century time in power, when it restored traditional values and government after a Metzist incursion.
The margin between the two legacy parties stood a mere 6.89% apart at the final count, the Federal Elections Agency certifying Ity ꜣḥwt xꜣdt the winner by plurality with 48.9% of the popular vote with the ENU placing a close second at 37.89% of the popular vote.
In a distant third place was the Hyperion Corporate Authority (HCA), the local organization setup by the Hyperion Corp multinational arms manufacturing company in an attempt to incorporate Hawu territory as a subsidiary of Hyperion, which is headquartered in Malivia. The HCA garnered just 15.21% of the vote, shattering its six-year one-party rule.
Questions remained as to whether HCA legislators would be permitted to take their seats during the new legislative session however. The dominant Federationists have made no secret of their intention to pursue treason charges against Hyperion Corp and its owner Psy Scott. With Federationist influence in federal government growing, a criminal suit may have fair chances of success say legal analysts. A successful prosecution could see Hyperion's local offices shut down by court order and the HCA's role in government jeopardized. 'We may end up with a situation where all 69 HCA legislators are either directly implicated in the treason charges or where their party is forcibly shut down by court order, meaning they wouldn't be allowed to sit and vote in the chamber, at least under the HCA banner,' says Andreaka Perkins Hbouimesses, Professor of Constitutional Law at the University of Soleb. CEO Psy Scott, who lives in Malivia, would likely be forced from office as part of his sentence in such a scenario. Under those circumstances, the Justice Ministry would seek to work with the Malivian government to have Scott extradited to Hawu Mumenhes to serve his sentence in a Hawu federal prison. Government lawyers close to the matter say the Ministry of Justice doesn't foresee difficulties executing a court order for extradition.
The Federationists' road ahead will remain bumpy no matter the outcome of any Hyperion criminal case, however. 'First they have to get him charged, and that's not guaranteed because, as of now, the HCA has enough votes in the legislature to influence the Justice Ministry or even get a HCA member installed as Minister if the ENU vote with them,' says Professor Hbouimesses. Due to the election's plurality result, any two parties can form a legislative majority or governing coalition. The Federationist leadership is said to be leaning on centuries-old cooperation with the ENU to cobble together a majority. The IAX and ENU served together in a three-party Federationist-led coalition government at the country's founding.
But even if they gain a majority, 'they've got their work cut out for them,' says Chidiebere Shebitku, a Fellow in Political Practice at the Jackson Iny Hawu Institute and a noted political consultant. 'Federationist bigwigs want Scott out as head of state and they want him replaced with the democratic monarchy and they want the 4045 Constitution reinstated. The big idea is to shift power back to the head of government's office and revive the old empire so Hawu can return to Great Power status again.' Federationst donors and allies in the corporate sector are said to favor the plan due to high earnings for Hawu corporations during the last imperial era.
Constitutional reform, though, may ultimately prove the party's undoing, says Shebitku. 'Hawu voters have shown a strong reluctance to return parties to power after pushing through constitutional amendments. So if they manage to get all this done, the price is that they lose their already-slim lead in the polls.'
And there are said to be doubts within the party regarding how long the slim plurality can last. On a post-mortem conference call held this morning for Federationist leadership and open to reporters, party operatives discussed exit polling data which reveal worrying signs of electoral strength for the HCA despite its poor showing at the polls. Obasi Kemal Sanošep, who managed the Federationists election campaign, opened the call by describing the party's fragile situation succinctly. 'Right now, the Federationist Party and the ENU are competing for many of the same voters. So during the coming legislative session, we have the double duty of partnering with the ENU on constitutional reform, foreign policy, and good governance, while seeking to differentiate ourselves from the ENU ideologically and out-flanking them with the electorate in order to defeat them outright at the next election.'
-Boipelo Zola Akhenhboui, November 4256
Editor-at-Large, The Daily Scribe