Deltaria

[Rogue]

Tsargrad - Prime Minister Lazarescu isnt just transforming the country through government policy, but is also focussed on his own political party. Last night the SRS was formally merged into the new SSD (Socijalistička Stranka Deltarije) after Lazarescu and his close confidants had worked several months to eliminate oppossition to the move. Lazarescu was the first SRS leader to win an election and did so by creating a unique coalition of workers and young people. He had, even during the campaign, criticized his own party for "standing on the sidelines" for a decade and for not being in touch with the people's issues. The SRS (Social Democratic Labour Party) consisted of a national committee dominated by what analysts sometimes called "the old men's club". Old left-wing populists and staunch socialists that had elected one of themselves to positions of leadership and seemed to care more about protesting then seeking a position in government. 

When Lazarescu came in as an outsider through fierce membership oppossition to the national committee he started the process of limiting the power of the committee and granting more power to party members. After his election win, he gained the political capital to make his move. In the last few months, all power within the national committee went to Lazarescu allies and those in the old guard oppossed to his more moderate, "ligh populist" tone were sidelined. Last week, a press release issued by the party confirmed what had been long in the making: the SRS would transform into the new Socialist Party of Deltaria, with a new party platform focussed primarily around social democracy and a Pro-SOMECO stance. 

Last night the change became reality, with the party holding its first congress and voting to dissolve the SRS. The new party is led by a Federal Committee, fully elected by the membership. Members also voted to keep Lazarescu as party leader of the new SSD, allowing him to stay on as Prime Minister. While this move finally grants Lazarescu and his allies a party more detached from old power structures within the left, it has also caused some tension within the parliamentary faction of the former SRS. While a vast majority of Deputies voted to join the new party (139 deputies), a small minority decided to move away from the party, resulting in the SSD losing 6 seats. This does not endanger their majority, with the Social Liberals still supplying 20 votes and thus securing a parliamentary majority. The 6, now independent, deputies have yet to reveal their plans but one of them, Zvonko Mauser, is known for being a far-left politician within the former SRS. If given the chance, it would not be unthinkable that Mauser and his fellow deputies would move to form their own party, feeling that the new SSD has moved to much to the center and does not represent the left-wing populist wing of the former SRS. 

Prime Minister Lazarescu celebrated the new party, calling it "a good foundation for our work to continue without potential ressistance from elements alergic to change."