BREAKING: Sarnai elected president as PAP expands presence in Supreme Congress Baatrynsentiim, New Verham
29th February 5479
Chuluun Sarnai has been elected President following a unusual election that saw the PAP candidate be pitted against former PAP leader/member Jargal Altansarnai. Altansarnai announced his run as a independent candidate a month ago, just a month before the election, pitting the two against one another. The election saw the PAP expand its share of seats in the Supreme Congress as Altansarnai did not run under a party, with most of his voters inclined to support the PAP in the legislative race. This meant that the PAP expanded from 113 seats to 145, 40 seats short of an overall majority. Suprisingly, the PAP managed to win most seats from parties that this time failed to meet the electoral treshold, namely from the big-tent "Democratic Unity" party which only won 8.2% of the vote and thus failed to win any seats in congress. The poor performance by coalition partners such as the United Liberal Party and the New Verham Progressive Party also made sure that the PAP won 32 seats compared to last election. Meanwhile the power struggle for second place continued, with both the Socialist Party and Democratic Party making gains compared to before and the socialists overtaking the AN as the second party in the country. They won 69 seats, compared to the AN its 61 seats. The minority parties, the Ostlander National Bloc and Vanukean People's Party, also gained seats this election largely due to the demise of both the DU and AKHN. Despite not meeting the electoral treshold, these parties gained representation thanks to the country its minority representation laws, allowing them to gain seats due to large minority support in specific regions.
In the presidential race, Sarnai benefitted from endorsements by the Democratic Party and the United Liberal Party while president Altansarnai didnt gain any establishment support. The socialists ran their own candidate, Muge Oldaghar, who came in third in front of Sander Clous (VVP) and Waldemar Ekhart Buchner (ONB). Despite the support of other parties Sarnai only garnered 35.21% of the vote against Altansarnai his 32.99%. This still made it a close election but one where the PAP once again edged out a victory. Sarnai thanked his supporters, announcing a "new era" for New Verham and a "return to our founding principles", a likely reference to the expected return to Mönkhdevshilism under the new administration.
Despite the PAP its win it will need to forge a new coalition government. While traditionally under Straußist politicians the Democratic Party was the go to coalition partner, it is widely expected that Sarnai is to approach the socialist party to form a two party coalition, one that will push for left-leaning policies that could see a return to partial state capitalism as well as the reintroduction of social welfare programs that the Mönkhdevshilist era was known for. If this is the case, it will be the first time in decades that New Verham will see a left-leaning government take shape. It is unclear what former president Altansarnai will do now, with some Straußist members of the PAP hoping he might launch his own party as the PAP seems to be on course for Mönkhdevshilism in the coming years. He has yet to make any announcement pertaining his future.
The congressional elections, with the PAP coming out on topThe presidential election, with Sarnai being the first Mönkhdevshilist president to be elected in decadesMedeeutas (Newswire; stylized as
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