OOC Source: Brabants DagbladCachtice: In what many are already describing the most consequential election in recent Deltarian history the UPD, for the first time in 25 years, has found itself in the oppossition, losing both the presidency and Assembly control in one of the most competitive and close elections in recent memory. The election has seen a sweep in the country. Not necessarily on the electoral front but primarily the impact of the election as a whole on society. It is not only the first time in decades that the UPD finds itself out of power but its also the first time since the last century that a openly socialist/left wing party has been elected into office. This election also marks a changing point for minorities in Deltaria. As a ethnically diverse nation the Federation has always struggled with its majority/minority balance but now, for arguably the first time in over 300 years, a minority candidate has been elected to the highest office in the land, the Federal Presidency of the Federation.
Shani el-Salam, mostly known as a activist before this election, is of Majatran descend. A relatively small minority in Deltaria. But despite this she became the symbol of Solidarity after her suprising primary win in the party, rising to become its presidential nominee. She had become the symbol of the entire left throughout the campaign, making good use a large internet apparatus to push through her message and that of the party. She had gained endorsements from the largest labour unions in the country as well as several progressive causes and local politicians. Her campaign of pacifism, a socialized economy and reimagining of the country itself traditional conservative roots appealed to many young, working and middle class voters this time around who saw the Bureš government as to focussed on foreign affairs and having not enough focus on ordinary Deltarians. Furthermore the still struggling economy as well as a general need to take a new direction from the establishment created the conditions for el-Salam to be elected, becoming the first minority president/leader of Deltaria in hundreds of years and giving hope to the many ethnic minorities within the country.
The election was not a landslide however and observers were suprised at the extremely close margins, with Solidarity winning the Assembly majority by just 2 seats. This means that while Solidarity has gained a mandate it will need to work hard and, possible, despite their majority, compromise in order not to alienate the moderate voters that took from the UPD this time around. What is for sure is that despite the first electoral win in Solidarity history the party will have a hard job ahead.
The UPD meanwhile is left in utter chaos. The party has suffered its first election loss since 25 years and its leadership and weak last term under Bureš have been blamed for it. Immediately upon the verification of the official result the until then Assembly Majority Leader Emil Mišalko not only resigned his position as UPD parliamentary leader but also his seat, leaving it to hold a special election which, luckily for the UPD, saw the UPD candidate win in a close race just 2 days after Mišalko his resignation. Shortly after Bureš, now demissionary president, announced that he would be stepping down as party leader, being the first UPD leader and president to not win any reelection bid despite high hopes for his leadership. And, to make the chaos within the party complete, party chairman Rudolf Moravec announced two days later that he would step down as well. The UPD, once the bastion of the Deltarian political scene, now thus struggles to deal with this earthquacke results. It is not meant as a joke when reporters say the UPD is without a leader. Party leadership has stepped down, the Assembly leader has stepped down and the party now stands at a pivotal moment in its history. What direction will it go in to turn the tide?
The first task of the party will be to recover from the initial chaos and pick a new Chairman, which will be done in a online election within the next few months according to the party bureau. Then it is up to the chairman and his leadership to pick a method and date for a party leadership election. The UPD Assembly faction will also have to pick a new minority leader amongst itself with currently Ushalande Representative Ladislav Rýpal (72), Alazinder Representative Linda Janoušková (51) and Darali Representative Mikuláš Štěpán (56) on the most likely path to fill this position. When it comes to Chairman there are only two candidates who have come forward. Cachtice Mayor Leopold Zapletal (61) and former Alazinder Governor Kazimír Kríž (43). It is clear that the UPD will have to make many choices as the coming 5 years will see it in oppossition on the federal level for the first time in decades, marking a new era in Deltarian politics and for the UPD party itself.
The electoral map following the 4860 election