Bianjie

[journey]

Premier Tan resigns following the Umputun train crash investigation found major corruption within government
20 June 5722



Pressure has been mounting on the Bianjie's chief of government for months after a train driving to Dooran has crashed into a truck in Umputun, killing three people, and injuring tens other passangers. For Tan, it could've yet been another bad event that the socialists' leader could've easily dismissed, if not for two investigation perpetuated by the indepedent commissions on request of both the nation's rail operator, the Bianjie National Railways (BNR) and the Tan-controlled Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport (MIT), led, however, by a non-partisan minister, simply nominated by the SPP.

Both investigations have found that the natonal railway system, as well as its operator have long been used for major corruption schemes in the interest of government and ruling party officials, both locally and nationally. According to the investigation, Tan personally was not a part of the corruption, however, she had enough knowledge about the money laundering by her party colleagues, and yet did not prevent it from happening, simply closing eyes on this, even when brought up by the fellow party members. "The government of Bianjie have been a major reason of the railway system failing in quality, growing negligence, and as a result, incidents like this", concluded the investigation report of the MIT led by journalist Yelu Muca.

Following the release of the report, premier has dismissed the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Dorgon Dalok, the Secretary-General of the State Council, Jiahao Kang, as well as dismissing party officials, like the SPP deputy leader Tabai Sordo, and other provincial socialists, who have been a part of the schemes, according to the investigations. And yet, the pressure grew, as the opposition became more aggressive and active, pushing for the biggest resignation of them all, the resignation of premier herself. And if that was not enough for Tan to resign, her own allies became turning away, as both junior coalition partners, the Progressive Communist Party (PCP) and the True Path Party (TPP), have announced that they would leave the governing coalition if Tan will not resign, which would make Tan lose her majority in the Yuan. Moreover, even within the ruling party, a growing revolt, led by former closest ally, and former chief of staff of the Premier's Office, Meiyun Lin. Frustrated by the dismissal of Lin, and now the train crash, as well as the major corruption within the party, has pushed the group of eleven MPs to push for Tan's resignation from within, mounting even more pressure on the seventy-year-old premier's shoulders.

And so, on the morning of 19 June, the unexpected announcement has arrived, as the government chief convened a press conference, where she would announce her immediate resignation, earlier delivered to the Khan Nilhuma. "Responsibility is required, and I will take it personally, to not drag the hard-working civil servants, as well as my own party, into a horrible and disrespectful position", Tan said. "My mission as premier throughout those fourteen years has been making the government functioning, responsive to the people's needs, and most importantly, honest. And today, I am being honest, when I say that we have sadly failed. We failed to prevent our people from an incident like this, we failed to prevent corruption, we failed to prevent negligence. And the biggest responsibility lies in my hands, and I understand it, which is exactly why I am tendering my resignation today, and hope the people of this country will forgive this government for its failures and mistakes it made throughout my time in charge". Premier Tan has said that she will also be resigning from politics altogether, in hope that the people will not look back at her when it comes time for the new government, and assume its actions as a blank sheet, with the same concerning the party she led for the same fourteen years now.

With less than a year left to the new general election, ruling SPP party is expected to elect a new leader in the upcoming days who will serve as the party chief coming into the highly complicated election cycle for the socialists, as frustration is growing, with the new Green Alliance for Bianjie (GAB) rising to prominence on a wave of anti-socialist and anti-corruption sentiment across the country, and youth especially. Sources within the party indicate that the current finance minister Tabai Manišay will be unanimously elected as the leader, replacing Tan as premier, leading the SPP into the election. And despite the initial request of Tan resignation from the government, the junior coalition partner, the Progressive Communist Party (PCP) has announced it will not be a part of the new State Council, however, it will support the new premier; at the same time, Shindoto (TPP) will remain in the coalition.



べふ電信会社 (Bianjie Telegraph Agency, or Befu Denshin Kaisha; BTA or BDK) is the national press agency, headquartered in Gemun, created in 5374.