Yu Dynasty Yingdala (4338-4636)

[Wu Han]

Tian Elected Leader Of Reformed Nationalist Party
Chancellor announces she won't stand for re-election and backs down on the monarchy
17th November 4277


Nationalist Party leader Tian Zedong (left) meeting Minister for Finance Luo Bo (right)

Indralan Chancellor Feng Xinyue has announced that she would not seek another term in office, regardless of when the next election was held. Claiming that she was satisfied with her record, she told the nation in a live address this morning that it was time for a fresh face to lead the country. Feng's decision comes less than a week after the Nationalist Party elected her replacement as party leader, Tian Zedong. Earlier this year, the Chancellor stepped down as party leader "in order to focus on achieving the best outcomes for Indralan citizens" as criticism from within her party heated up.

Tian Zedong, who had previously been the party's leader in the National Conference, has wasted no time in making his agenda clear with early elections expected in the next six months. By affirming his support for the republican system, he has effectively killed the New Era bill which was the flagship legislation of his predecessor. Instead of reviving the Empire of Great Indrala, Tian has made a robust economy his priority and heaped praise on the reforms implemented by close ally and Minister for Finance Luo Bo. It is on this platform of economic liberalisation, tax reform and labour market deregulation which the Nationalist's will run in any upcoming elections.

A potentially unpredictable factor in the campaign could be the newly blossoming relationship between the Nationalists and the Republicans, who have converged on an agenda which promotes liberal economic policy and a compassionate approach to matters such as the environment and foreign aid. Chang Gang, Professor of Political Science at Tian'an National University, characterises this as the 'pincer approach'. "An alliance between the Republicans, who are popular with the young, farmers and students and embody Indralan society's idealism, and the Nationalist Party, a hardened and experienced political outfit, often favoured with businessmen and women, would create a pincer around the Lotus Party," says Chang "it would leave them grasping at their base".

---

Originally posted by jamescfm on 25 September 2017.