Tropican Daily DispatchThe Tropican Daily Dispatch is a daily, independent newspaper, operating both online and on mobile versions of its content.________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________13 April 4629After 81 years, the long-ruling Tropican National Party suddenly dissolvesAfter the death of the National Assembly's Speaker, Maipi Pekana due to a stroke, alongside being effectively leaderless after the death of Hangakore Watere for some years, the Tropican National Party dissolved itself. Immediately afterward, a transitional parliament was sworn in by the leader of the opposition, Labour Party MP Joel McLean.________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________For over 81 years, Tropica has been what was described by one journalist at the World Congress's press branch as an "authoritarian democracy", meaning that the democratic process still occurred, but parliamentary politics were often controlled by the ruling party, remaining in a grand coalition, often under a incredibly strong executive branch. Since the moment Hangakore Watere took office, Tropica was ruled under what half of the nation would call a shrewd, ruthless dictator—And what another half called a benevolent leader, improving the lives of his people without the need for legislative bureaucracy. When Prime Minister Watere died at the ripe age of 107 over a decade ago, over two months of mourning were enacted by the ruling TNP. Citizens wept in the streets, mothers cried hysterically, and his memorial was showered with gifts, flowers, and many other things for days to come.
Soon after, the instability came—And it refused to wash itself from the many administrations that came after Hangakore Watere, self-described as the "Crusader of Communists", "Destroyer of Satanailists", and "Grand Protector of Stability". Yes, it seemed as though former PM Watere was the glue that kept the Tropican National Party together. As one leader flopped after the other, the opposition, now rallying behind the Labour Party's Chairman, Joel McLean, bolstered it's position—Waiting for the right moment to peacefully usher in true freedom to Tropica for the first time in what seems like millennia.
Eventually, McLean found it, in the form of the death of Speaker of the National Assembly, Maipi Pekana from a stroke in his own home. With no Speaker, and a Deputy with no real power, the TNP was effectively powerless to utilize it's strings to pull Parliament into submission. In the upper echelons of the government, after the sudden retirement of Prime Minister William McGrath, the third successor of Watere, and the only Tropican National Party MP of Luthorian descent to support their administration, the offices of Head of Government and Head of State were merged into a collective body, which would preside over all matters of state. Named the Council of State of the Republic of Tropica, it was determined to enshrine stability, alongside furthering the cohesion the Tropican National Party had brought to national politics under Watere.
Only they didn't. In fact, the Council of State had the exact opposite effect—It only served to further the demands of the opposition for truly free and fair elections, and after having contributed no significant pieces of policy or legislation in that span of a decade, the governmental body was dissolved yesterday, and along with it, the Tropican National Party. Upon the news, the opposition was reportedly overjoyed, and immediately nominated Joel McLean as Acting Speaker of the National Assembly. From then on, he swore in a new Parliament, and appointed an Acting Deputy of the National Assembly. Despite this, Tropica is still without a Head of Government, as well as a Head of State, but Speaker McLean assured the public of their concerns: "Make no mistake—National snap elections for both chambers of Parliament, as well as the offices of Prime Minister and Deputy PM shall take place as soon as possible. Tropica is now in the process of making very big changes, ones that will likely be complex and difficult to work with—But upon the completion of these challenges facing us, I believe our great nation will emerge freer than it has ever been before."
With some parties adopting new colors to suit the reforms that lay ahead of the legislature, Parliamentary elections were held amongst deputies, a controversial move which some of the public decried as partially undemocratic, but a necessary one, in the eyes of Speaker McLean—The results of which were acquired by the Tropican Daily Dispatch, and are as follows:
Labour Party: 54 seats
United Democracy Party: 23 seats
People's Coalition: 6 seats
Tropican Green Party: 15 seats
Freedom Party of Tropica: 2 seats
National Assembly:Labour Party: 135 seats
United Democracy Party: 123 seats
People's Coalition: 38 seats
Tropican Green Party: 96 seats
Freedom Party of Tropica: 58 seats
The National Assembly convenes a new session, the first after the sudden departure of the Tropican National Party from politics.