大理坡觀察者 | The Dalibor ObserverThe Dalibor Observer is an independent, investigative broadsheet print and digital news organization based out of the nation's largest city, Yingu.
The organization reports mainly on national political and general news.________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________6th August 4875Democratic Progressive League secures win in elections, gains legislative majorityThe relatively new political party, formed four years ago during general elections but failed to gain many seats, has finally secured a working majority. Embarking on an ambitious platform via its Chief Secretary and now Chairman-elect of Dalibor, Cheng Fu, the party has already drawn both it's supporters and critics.________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________by:Xun Lei
Senior Political Analyst and CommentatorYINGU - For years, Dalibor's history has been roughly segmented (and arguably dictated) by three aspects of the nation - The triad syndicates operating in the larger cities, nigh-monolithic corporations, both foreign and national, and a slew of corrupt politicians from all rungs of the ladder. There have been flashes of promise over the past two centuries, but the former issues have largely shrunk them back down to size. For what seems like eternity, a genuine call for reform and change was won by the nation's voters.
The Democratic Progressive League, formed a mere four years ago has had a muted rise to success. Created during the general elections those four years prior by Cheng Fu, formerly a member of the National Solidarity Party's more liberal wing and Assemblyman from Yingu, the party failed to attract a majority of votes, garnering some success among rural municipalities but failing to attract urban voters, who've largely stuck to the two major power blocs of the Workers' Party and the Conservatives. Fate seemed to shift within the recent general elections however - spurned by a resignation of the previous Chairman Fan Mei and her bipartisan cabinet over insider trading allegations, the aggressive lobbying efforts by local corporations to curry their interests and throw cash to their preferred candidates seemingly caused a break in tradition from the voting public, resulting in the League gaining both the Chairmanship and 177 seats in the Assembly, a comfortable two-thirds majority.
Establishing it's core ideology on that of populism, anti-corruption, economic reform and general "renewal" of the country, both industrially and diplomatically, the party attracted a relative coat of many colors - bringing conservatives, libertarians, progressives of all rank, and technocrats under it's wing, cementing it's status as a big tent organization. Cheng Fu was initially doubtful of the election results, owing to the fact that the candidates from the Conservatives and the Workers' Party had not yet issued concession speeches. After some time however, both had issued their withdrawals from the race on social media, granting Cheng and his party a victory.
Owing it as a hard fought endeavor, Cheng spoke to a throng of supporters in his home constituency of Yingu and proclaimed a "new future" was destined for the nation. I was present for Mr. Cheng's remarks, and was able to record a selected transcript of the Chairman-elect's closing remarks, where he vowed to right the wrongs the country had so harshly faced for centuries, and to work towards establishing brighter opportunities for the common Daliborian, alongside reiterating the election policies the League ran on.
Chairman-elect Cheng Fu wrote:...We enter a new future - not one that is wrought with anguish and poverty. Not one where life is dictated by either criminals ran rampant or corporations allowed near-total freedom. Dalibor enters one that is dictated for it's people, their best interests truly at heart. I want each and every one of you to look at the problems you face today - food scarcity, low job security, absurd taxes on common necessities, low wages - your children coming to you to ask whether or not their next meal will be now, or one they'll have to wait a few days for, because those problems will no longer persist for our country in the coming years. They cannot be allowed to do so. For our prosperity - anything shall be done, and can be done.
To a new era! To a new Dalibor!
Despite the broad support for Mr. Cheng and his League, the Chairman-elect has already earned his fair share of steep opponents - mainly the usual suspects of organized crime, corporate entities, and the aforementioned corrupt political upper crust, but also from within the Assembly's other parties - namely the Workers' Party and the Conservatives, and even a scattered few of Mr. Cheng's former National Solidarity Party. Criticizing the lengths Cheng would go to achieve national progress as "nigh-dictatorial", alleging that the Democratic Progressive League had tinges of illiberal and authoritarian democratic hues to it's rhetoric, alongside opposition to the utilization of foreign security and defense contractors to modernize the police and military forces. With the national response following the party's victory however, such concerns are seemingly a drop in the bucket.
Chairman-elect Cheng, flanked by members of the capitol's police force, speaks from the Assembly of the Union's press room.
The Chairman-elect, despite his age at 71 years old, ran on "youthful enthusiasm" and encouraged the nation's youth to exercise their right to vote - for the great improvement of Dalibor.The Democratic Progressive League's logo, recently revised in lieu of the recent general elections.