ANTOINE THOMAS WINS DRP PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION
Grassroots members decide centre-left Thomas is best fit for a PLP partnership
Antoine Thomas in his acceptance speech for the DRP nomination for President.
The leader of the Social Libertarian Group, Antoine Thomas, has won his party's nomination for candidacy of the President of Mordusia. Helped undeniably by the fury of the DRP over the Conservative's actions within Parliament, he was selected without the need of a second ballot as he saw of competition from three other strong competitors.
His election has come following Chester Fayette's remark that he would rather support a left wing PLP government than a Conservative one, due to the Conservative's introduction of an almost identical bill which has been dubbed as "political scheming" by the DRP. Followed up by a PLP statement suggesting some mutual support for the idea of a PLP-DRP coalition, it is apparent that there is strong political consensus to push the Conservatives out of power.
Thomas, who is one of the most left leaning members of the Democratic Reform Party, will be the best placed candidate to unite the two parties, with the candidate supporting extensive subsidisation programmes and subcontraction in order to provide free and quality services to citizens. This differs significantly from some of the most extreme right wing members, who disagree with any governmental oversight at all.
Following his victory, in which he received 52.6% of the vote, Thomas reminded those on the right of the party that he still believed in the "overthrowing of the socially conservative establishment," and that he wanted the same thing as they did for Mordusia:
To begin with, can I thank my opponents, Jaxon Riley, Finley Davis, and Chloe Jackson for making this a clean, open, and competitive race. Some people say that to be coronated and unchallenged in a party primary leaves you in the best position to push on into the presidential election. However, this party is made of individuals with unique opinions, and it is natural that even we won't agree on everything. These primaries help us to challenge our own beliefs, and prepare ourselves for the real race for the Presidency.
I understand that there are many people here who didn't vote for me. But I am not here to be the Candidate for a small portion of the party. I am here to be the candidate of the party as a whole, and I promise that I shall do all in my power to achieve that. We must now take the next step together in order to create the future that we want for our children, and rid ourselves of the tyrants leading our government.
And for those worried about my policies, I can assure you now, that I have the same aims as you. I want the fall of the socially conservative establishment, and a strong liberal society where businesses, workers, and consumers all have freedom from regulation. However, this is not what the current government wants. The current government resorts to political scheming, and archaic policies that infringe upon the rights of individuals. This is not acceptable, and will not be tolerated under any country I were to lead.
There is a large political consensus in this country. That consensus says that people are sick and tired of the unprincipled, and power-hungry Conservatives leading our country. I am honoured that you have chosen me to help lead that fight and try and claim back Mordusia for all of our sakes. Change is ours for the taking. We must clasp it now whilst we can. Thank you very much!
Members on the right of the party are split over how to take Thomas' nomination. Most seem prepared to support him, and unite under a redefined party position in order to get the Conservatives out of power. However, some extreme libertarians and members of the Patriotic Alliance have warned that Thomas signifies a step too far to the left, and that he doesn't represent the core beliefs of the party.