OOC Source: PinterestWiel: King Mrukai has, after a political crisis lasting over 4 months, disbanded parliament "on his own accord" and triggered a early election to replace all 225 members. The crisis, which has become known as the "Sumrak Crisis", started as the Vanukean economy showed signs of crisis and recession after years of relative growth and prosperity. The government, led by Prefect Sumrak, announced several measures with taxation and regulatory laws, aimed at stimulating the economy and turning the tide. But domino's fell, and the economy continued its decline. The growthrate went into the deep red, standing at -2.5% last year, unemployment skyrockketed as bussinesses closed and the private sector employed most before, standing at 17% now. Furthermore the lack of social services, cut down by the conservative Sumrak government during better years to fund military projects, now caused economic hardships to hit harder. Millions either lost a majority of their income and fell below the poverty line or became homeless. It is one of the worst economic crisis in Vanukean history, but something that could have been prevented according to many analysts. The Sumrak government became the target of anger as reports came out that Sumrak himself, together with other top ranking government officials, had funneled money to overseas accounts as the stock market plummeted and the economy faltered. Failed attempts at resurecting the economy last year also caused a partial debt crisis, with the debt to GDP ratio now standing at around 126%. It is clear that the economy and country is in dire shape.
With the crisis and scandals the King was pressured from many sides to intervene. He personally envied Sumrak and it is known that he and the Prefect go back decades, being close friends and both devoutly religious. But, with his own position being threatened and the country moving into immense crisis within just 2 years, the King used his executive powers and announced the dissolution of the Grand Council. This automatically triggers new elections, to be held in a month. Sumrak stays on as Prefect for now, but in several interviews the king has expressed his desire "for new leadership", making many in the country happy but prompting a major divide in the ruling Velvet Movement. With elections incoming, its likely the movement will win most if not all seats again, but factions have started forming in the movement and with a FPTP system in place, its unclear which faction within the movement will come on top. The reactonaries, formerly led by Sumrak but now led by Hjelmar Trej, are expected to lose big, with some of their better known candidates struggling in the polls against other Velvet candidates. The Social Liberal faction is a new faction in the party, led by health minister Heijkai Sagzi. The Social Liberals are advocating for policies of social liberalism, internationalism and a strong committment to a "semi-welfare state". The Social liberals want to keep the core principles of the free market, but limit its power through regulations and "smart taxation", they also want to renew efforts to reform the MEA and strengthen internationalism, something the Sumrak government stopped during its rule. The Social Liberals now seem ahead in polls, with many of their candidates seeming to outperform their reactionary and conservative rivals. That sends us to the last faction, the conservatives, less radical then their reactionary counterparts but still conservative in nature. It is the "old ruling class" of the movement, which has long stayed on the sidelines. They are performing moderately in early polls, making many believe that we might see Sagzi as Prefect, having to make a compromise with conservatives to get in power.
While the Velvet Movement is thus poised to win the election easily, the different ideologies in the party are being tested and many look forward to a change of course and a return of stability for a economically and socially broken nation.