The Market is a nationally-published daily economic newspaper centred in Tian'an. While the paper remains generally non-partisan, critics have observed a tendency for the paper to publish articles which generally support classically liberal economic policies and the established economic order of Indrala.Gao Yifen wins Lotus Party leadership race in stunning victory1 October 4374TIAN'AN, Han Province: Gao Yifen has been elected leader of the Lotus Party of Indrala, in a stunning first-round victory that dwarfed the mandates of all the leaders before him, including the incredibly popular
Huang Zitao (51.4%) and
Kwan Zhiyong (61.8%).
Gao won with nearly 72.1% of first-preference votes, beating the incumbent Li Baihan, who trailed on 18.4%, and rivals Wang Gueying who received 7.7% and Yi Ming who won just 1.8%. Gao's election marks the fifth consecutive Lotus Party contest in which a run-off has not been necessary.
Minutes after his victory, Gao took to the stage to thank the membership for electing him, and vowed to take on “the politics of cynicism and hatred” occurring in Indrala.
“There are many cynical politicians these days, as you are all well aware, who would make you choose between one extreme or the other. They frame the question as one between compassion and prosperity," Gao said, "I say that being compassionate and prosperous are not mutually exclusive, and when we are compassionate and prosperous, our country remains the greatest nation in the world!"
The 50-year-old criminal prosecutor was predicted to win by most observers, as popular Indralan progressives, including the Lotus Party president Sung Hyo-rin rallied behind him, demonstrated through her extreme
'three-step, one bow' walk across Tian'an.'Kingmaker' Sung Hyo-rinMany in the media have hailed Sung Hyo-rin as a 'Kingmaker' after her support for Gao secured his victory. She is also credited with having
engineered the current governing coalition which put Social Democratic Leader Sunada Machiko in the Chief Counselor's Office.
Speaking to reporters, Sung said that she was "absolutely overjoyed" by the results, and vowed to "fight like a dog" for Gao in the next election.
Sung (centre) walking out of the convention hall with Lotus Party Assemblyman Dr. Li Huanyu (left of Sung in photo) and her husband, Professor Park Jae-min (right of Sung in photo)Who is Gao Yifen?Gao was born in rural Anle to a miner and a stay-at-home mother. The second-youngest of seven siblings, Gao grew up in extreme poverty. Gao did not perform well in school and dropped out at age 16 to begin work as an labourer. His long-time girlfriend became pregnant around the same time as Gao received his draft notice for his mandatory national service. The two married on his eighteenth birthday on the military base in Min Province in which he was stationed. His youngest daughter was born two months later.
During his free time in the military, Gao studied each night to take the
ISAT, dedicated to provide a better life for his young family. Gao took the test two weeks after his discharge, achieving very strong grades which granted him admission to
Tian'an National University, where he first studied economics.
After receiving his bachelor of economics, Gao attended
Indrala University, where he received his bachelor of law and was subsequently hired by the Supreme Prosecution Service. During his twenty years with the SPS, Gao focused extensively on sex trafficking and organized crime rings. Due to his aggressive courtroom tactics and incredibly high conviction rate, Gao was nicknamed the "Tiger of Tian'an" by local media.
Left: Gao at age 20; Right: Gao campaigning for the Lotus Party leadership in AugustLegal challenge from Li BaihanOut-going Lotus Party leader Li Baihan stormed out of the convention hall following the announcement of the results. Citing 'voting irregularities' and 'obvious cases of fraud' Li Baihan announced that she would be challenging the results in a courtroom.
"As I've said from the beginning, there have always been big money Tian'an elitists who want to take me down!" said Li, "the media doesn't want to talk about this, but shadowy elites are pulling the strings, and they just pulled a whole rug out from under the membership of this party who elected me six years ago!"
A Lotus Party spokesperson said that they had not received reports of voting irregularities, and had faith that the election had not been compromised. In a written statement, the party said that it has "every confidence that any legal challenge will be defeated."