Bianjie

[journey]

Socialists elect Tan as the new leader, ousting the incumbent Dusan amidst the government coalition talks
25 May 5708



Following the victorious, however, disappointing and worrying results from the Socialist People's Party in the April election, the ruling political formation fell into a political crisis, as the many members of SPP expressed their discontent with the leadership of Niohon Dusan, who in the opinion of the "rebellious nine", who initiated the whole leadership contest process, "no longer represents the ideals of the party, further damaging it national reputation", as well as "enabling the sudden far-right political growth". Now, little more than a month after the parliamentary campaign, the internal opposition to premier Dusan suceeded, as both and Yuan caucus and provincial chapters of the SPP voted for the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Semken Tan, as the new leader of the socialists, with 77 votes for Tan against 65 votes for Dusan, respectively.

Despite not being a part of the "rebellious nine", and not taking an active participant in the rebellion against the Dusan leadership, newly-elected leader Tan has supported the movement with two weeks before the extraordinary congress, saying that "one cannot deny that party members want change in the direction our party is taking, and they want answers from those, who brought us up to this point". The statement prompted mixed reactions, with the prominent and vocal supporters of the premier accusing Tan of being complicit in the "undemocratic coup attempt", while rebel socialists praised Tan for taking a stand, and reaffirming their support behind her candidacy. As the time passed, and the extraordinary congress came closer, it became more evident and clear, that the Dusan might lose the election, and subsequently the position of the head of government of Bianjie, becoming the first premier in modern times to be forcefully ousted from the office by the internal struggle within the ruling party. And so it was, as the chairman of the accounting commmittee, Giocangga Baksang, read the results, the hall went quiet, before exploding in applause for their new leader, the popular minister, who was representing the rural north, something not seen in a very long time. Among those applauding Tan, was the former premier, the 96-year-old Ajigen Kode, who, some pundits and politicians theorise, might have been an important figure in the whole "coup" process.

The loser of the leadership election, outgoing leader and premier, Niohon Dusan, thanked the party and supporters for 11 years of continued support and work "towards the better future of the party and Bianjie". Notably, Dusan did not mention, support or endorse his opponent following the loss, ignoring any questions from the journalists about Tan, and swiftly leaving the party's headquarters in Guneilan Ward of Gemun. When reporters asked newly-elected leader about Dusan's unwillingness to even mention her, or congratulate on the victory, Tan replied: "My focus is uniting the party back, and leading them towards the new victories, not some petty behavior".

Now, as the 56-year-old Semken Tan is elected leader of the Socialist People's Party, she will lead the party into the government coalition formation talks, bringing a completely new vision of policy to the table of the current negotiations between the SPP, PCP, HOR and TPP. Following her victory, many journalists rushed to ask the new chief of socialists, whether she would decrease the pan-Dovanist tone of the SPP, to which she replied simply: "No", adding that while the party "needs to review its stance", she will not u-turn or set the party away from its traditional posiitons. The stance was praised by both wings of the party, as well as the PCP and HOR leadership. Despite the initial chaos, it is expected that both the communists and the centrists will support Tan in her race for the premiership. Surprisingly, even the members of the PCP orthodox wing have came out in support of Tan, calling her the "champion of working class in SPP", and expressing their enthusiasm in cooperation and future coalition



Gemun Post (ゲムンポスト) is a major (previously local) daily newspaper based in Gemun.
(@GemunPost)
#socialistpeoplesparty
#leadershipcontest
#semkentan