Yu Dynasty Yingdala (4338-4636)

[Wu Han]

Dr. Yi Junkai Elected Lotus Party Leader-in-Waiting
14 January, 4330

Leadership Election Overview

With eleven candidates, the Lotus Party's 4330 Leadership Convention fielded the most candidates of any leadership competition in the Party's history! Because of this, the Lotus Party Executive Council, headed by outgoing Party President Yan Zhelan added a rule to the contest, stipulating that any candidate who did not achieve at least 10% of the vote on the first ballot would be eliminated. This led to Dr. Yi Junkai achieving a victory with 51.3% on the second ballot, ahead of the Honourable Dr. Zi Wulan (former education and culture minister) and Ren Yating (former Mayor of Xujin, Shu). Dr. Yi will be sworn-in as leader of the Party after the National Conference dissolves ahead of the 4330 General Election.

The three finalists were viewed as the star candidates of the race from its beginning. Dr. Yi ran on continuing Grand Chancellor Kwan's legacy as well as expanding the government's role in the economy and bringing down costs for students. Dr. Zi ran a campaign which focused on rebuilding the Indralan Armed Forces as well as limiting the number of immigrants and refugees claimants welcomed into the country. Mr. Ren, for his part, campaigned from a pro-republican position.

Official leadership election results on the second ballot, from left to right: Dr. Yi Junkai; Dr. Zi Wulan; Ren Yating

Introducing Dr. Yi Junkai, Leader-in-Waiting of the Lotus Party of Indrala!

On 18 September 4279 in a village near Xiangao, Shu, Dr. Yi Junkai was born to impoverished fishers. He was so weak and sickly that his parents weren't sure he would survive; they waited several months before registering his birth at a local temple. Both his mother and father were lost at sea during Typhoon Yutu (4289) when Yi was 10 years old. With few family members alive, and none able to take care of him, Dr. Yi grew up in an orphanage in Longmen, Han. Yi worked as a labourer part-time to save money while attending high-school. After repeatedly finishing at the top of his class, and following his two years of mandatory military service, he studied medicine at Enshi University on a scholarship.

During his college years, he was vice captain of the rugby team and became involved with the Students' Federation. He met and married fellow student Qiao Nuan at the age of 24, describing her as "his first and last love." Dr. Yi graduated in 4307 and finished his residency in 4314. Yi and Qiao had their first and only daughter, Yi Xiulan in 4308, however Qiao Nuan died during childbirth as a result of eclampsia, leaving Yi alone to raise their child while he was still a resident at Enshi University Children's Hospital. His daughter, Yi Xiulan is a city councillor in Mudanwan; the capital city of Min. At 22 years old, she is the youngest councillor in the city's history.

Following the completion of his residency, the Yi family moved to Mudanwan, where Dr. Yi would work for 11 years as a pediatric oncologist. During his time in the medical field, Dr. Yi became prominent and respected throughout the province. He resigned from the hospital in 4225 to run as a Lotus Party Provincial Conference candidate. He was elected that year and will serve until he is sworn in as leader of the national Lotus Party.

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Originally posted by Wu Han on 8 January 2018.