by Aureale » Mon Nov 13, 2023 5:58 pm
Solidarity Sweeps the Storting in Snap November Elections
Skalm, 5393 - In a surprise breakthrough, Solidarity comes out of the snap November election not only entering the Storting for the first time but carrying a majority 108 seats of the 180. The party won a majority in all Fylke except Agatha, wildly surpassing all expectations even among party activists. Addressing supports on election night, co-leaders Arnhild Dahler and Lars Tovik reiterated Solidarity’s core values of social justice, environmentalism and community activism while promising to a pragmatic approach to governance and stable, progressive change to Kazulia.
Dahler, who had been previously named the party’s candidate to Statsminister, was quick to form her ministry of the intergenerational expertise and idealism that characterizes Solidarity.
In her mandate letters to Asbjørn Evenstad, the new Finance Minister, and Kjellaug Morck, the new Minister of Trade and Industry, Dahler outlines Solidarity’s economic priorities in investing in the social economy and circular economy. Notably, Dahler mandates Evenstad to conduct an economic update to the nations budget and financial state within the mandate.
Focus on Green Mobility and Urbanism
However, it is the mandate letters to the new Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Ruth Thoresen, and the new Minister of Environment and Tourism, Sebastian Melberg, where Solidarity indicates its greatest ambition in this term. Dahler mandates the two to enact a comprehensive reform to the community planning system, touching land use, transportation and environmental planning. Further, Dahler indicates a key priority will be to expand public transit infrastructure and housing in Kazulia.
Review of nuclear energy projects, Studies to come
In the wake of the nearly-passed and controversial plans to create 3 new nuclear power plants, Dahler treads carefully in the mandate letters, asking for a review of past studies on the project. Solidarity further mandates the Minister of Science and Technology, Herman Birkeland to study the energy needs of Kazulia and possible solutions to achieve a low-carbon energy transition.
No Constitutional Reforms
The mandate letter to Lars Torvik who will be taking the position of Minister of Justice notably lacked any mandate to reform the nation’s institutions in terms of the monarchy or the Storting.
Reacting to reporters questioning this apparent absence, Minister Torvik stated, in reference to the upstart Republican Left Party which also entered the Storting following the November elections, “We were elected to deliver results to Kazulians on shared economic growth and the ecological transition. In this election we had an opportunity to exchange with everyday Kazulians on their concerns. Never during my door to door was the monarchy brought up. Kazulians are worried about the state of the environment and the economy. In this mandate, we are going to focus on issues that matter to Kazulians.”
Rounding out the Dahler Ministry includes Rakel Vennerod, former spokesperson of Kazulmarks Bondelag (Kazulia Union of Agricultural Producers), as Minister of Food and Agriculture.