An Unholy Union?
Decades of single party rule comes to end as new cabinet proposal approved
Kaliburg, Ananto District
August 1, 4056
Today it was confirmed that President Victor Bennots' cabinet proposal had passed through the National Assembly, bringing an end to the strange limbo that has consumed Kalistani politics over the past seven months. Several unsuccessful attempts to form a government had been tabled by the President with each reaching different sticking points, but it was the U-turn of the Kalistani Free People's Movement on sitting in a coalition which ultimately served as the catalyst to get a deal done. Less than two months ago, James Harrison (the leader of the KFPM) gave an interview to the party's newspaper, the Kalistani Free People's Press, in which he appeared to rubbish any chance of the party working with the Socialist Party of Kalistan because of their ideological differences.
The sudden change of heart is rumoured to be a result of extensive talks between key figures in both the Socialist Party and the KFPM, in which they agreed to form a two-party cabinet together in order to stabilise the Kalistani economy and allow the National Assembly to focus on law-making. It saw the KFPM given several influential ministries within the government, the most significant of which was the Premiership. This office will be filled by the party's new Deputy Leader Luca Curti, sparking heavy debate in and of itself. Curti is a divisive figure in the KFPM and was a surprising appointment by James Harrison, however he might have been crucial in getting the KFPM into government: Curti was a member of the SPoK for several years before switching allegiances just weeks before the January elections. Although he never rose the ranks to become a minister during his time with the Socialists, he was an outspoken supporter of many of their policies and it may have been his prominence as part of the negotiating team which allowed the two parties to reach an agreement. The other ministries which the KFPM captured were Trade and Industry, Science and Technology as well as Infrastructure and Transport. The rest of the cabinet was filled by the SP, although it was a new generation of Socialists. Neither party, perhaps understandably, could provide us with a comment before this issue went to press.
History makers: the first four members of the KFPM to enter government, Luca Curti,
Raomoaldo De Vincenzi, Ella Ferrero and Manuele Provenza (clockwise from top left)
The new cabinet also condemned the Kalistan Libertarian Party and the AKIP to an immediate future in opposition despite coming second and third respectively in the popular vote. Although with suggestions of an early election refusing to die down from across the various parties, this might not necessarily be for a full term. The immediate role of the opposition will presumably be to scrutinise the ongoing negotiations within the government over the Organisation of Drug Exporting Nations. Whilst there has been significant progress on the matter, it remains the issue which could yet threaten the cabinet's unity and the opposition will likely be keen to play on this.
Overall there is an air of quiet confidence around Kalistani politics that the country might finally be able to operate as a multi-party democracy to provide real choice for the Kalistani people. This feeling has existed many times before, the question now is how long it will last...