14-03-2025, 08:00 PM
Volkspartei Leadership Campaign Heats Up - Exclusive Look at the Candidates
When Chancellor Renault announced his intention to step aside to allow somebody else to fight the next election, it was expected Mikhael Petrov, current Finance Minister and Deputy Leader, would come out in front. However, Defence Minister Freida Kalb has had a much greater impact on the campaign than originally expected. During an emergency party conference in Birdon, Kardusia last night, candidates with enough nominations from fellow party members were all invited to launch their campaigns with a speech. In order of appearance, these are the candidates;
Freida Kalb - Defence Minister
Image
Ms Kalb has always been viewed as the iron lady of the Volkspartei, quick witted, straight to the point and able to defeat anybody in a political debate. Already some polling among VP members shows her ahead of Mr Petrov, something that should certainly worry him as she has nowhere to go but up.
Gerhald Renault has led our party well to two victories already, however it is time not to relax on this accomplishment, but to prepare to better it. We need strong leadership, strong morals and strong beliefs. We need a leader who can lead us to three victories, four victories, without tiring, without losing momentum. I am that candidate, I am ready for that responsibility. I am ready to be this party's next Chancellor.
Mikhael Petrov - Finance Minister/ Deputy Leader
Image
Finance Minister Petrov was elected Deputy Leader at the exact same time as Renault was elected Leader. It was always accepted from that moment forward that when Renault eventually stepped down, Petrov would be his successor. However, now apparently trailing behind Freida Kalb, Petrov will have to work incredibly hard now to take back the lead and secure the Leadership he has sought for so long.
I have the experience that other candidates standing in this race can only dream of. We need a leader who has experience in economics, in the running of our economy, especially as we seek to continue with our program of deregulation and greater free enterprise. I am the only candidate here today who can provide that. With the greatest respect to my fellow candidates, they are experienced and capable in their own departments, however I do not believe they are ready to be Leader or, indeed, Chancellor
Tielo Lang - Health and Social Services Minister
Image
By far the youngest candidate in this race, at only 37 years old, Lang hopes that his youth will not count against him. Supported by many younger MPs and particularly by the Youth Wing of the party, he hopes he can gather enough support from among the party faithful to seize the reins of power and take the party off in a new, fresh direction.
I have often been asked; "Tielo, surely now isn't the time to stand for Leader? Surely you should wait a few years?" I am astounded by this belief! I stand because I believe that the ideas that I have are needed in our party now. Chancellor Renault has done a wonderful job, but I must agree with his decision to stand down. He could only take us so far, and so can the other members standing in this campaign who share his view of Dorvik. We need a new, fresh approach for the new Dorvik. I can bring that approach. I can be the leader this party needs to keep the support of all Dorvish people.
Markus Funda - Back Bencher
Image
Markus Funda is something of a wild card in this campaign. He is not currently a minister, and neither has he ever been. However, he has, for a long time, been the leader of the Volkspartei's left. He believes that as new right wing parties have appeared, it is time for the VP to move truly from the centre to the centre-left, to be the moderate left wing alternative that Dorvik just doesn't have.
For a long time I have said that the centre is nothing but a place for those scared to take a chance sit. The Volkspartei has sat here for years, and due to this we can only do so much. We need a new approach, we need a new direction. We need to move this party left, we need to take the ground that is currently unfilled - a moderate left wing party for the moderate left wing voter. This is the position I believe we must fill. Not Social-Liberalism but Social-Democracy. That is the direction I will take us if you grant me the privilege of leading our great party
After all the speeches were done, the campaign officially began, and already a poll has been conducted of many Volkspartei members. It gave the following result;
Freida Kalb - 37%
Mikhael Petrov - 33%
Tielo lang - 20%
Markus Funda - 6%
Undecided - 4%
Clearly Freida Kalb has gotten off to a flying start, but with the Leadership vote still months away, all this could change radically by the time the result is announced here in Birdon.
When Chancellor Renault announced his intention to step aside to allow somebody else to fight the next election, it was expected Mikhael Petrov, current Finance Minister and Deputy Leader, would come out in front. However, Defence Minister Freida Kalb has had a much greater impact on the campaign than originally expected. During an emergency party conference in Birdon, Kardusia last night, candidates with enough nominations from fellow party members were all invited to launch their campaigns with a speech. In order of appearance, these are the candidates;
Freida Kalb - Defence Minister
Image
Ms Kalb has always been viewed as the iron lady of the Volkspartei, quick witted, straight to the point and able to defeat anybody in a political debate. Already some polling among VP members shows her ahead of Mr Petrov, something that should certainly worry him as she has nowhere to go but up.
Gerhald Renault has led our party well to two victories already, however it is time not to relax on this accomplishment, but to prepare to better it. We need strong leadership, strong morals and strong beliefs. We need a leader who can lead us to three victories, four victories, without tiring, without losing momentum. I am that candidate, I am ready for that responsibility. I am ready to be this party's next Chancellor.
Mikhael Petrov - Finance Minister/ Deputy Leader
Image
Finance Minister Petrov was elected Deputy Leader at the exact same time as Renault was elected Leader. It was always accepted from that moment forward that when Renault eventually stepped down, Petrov would be his successor. However, now apparently trailing behind Freida Kalb, Petrov will have to work incredibly hard now to take back the lead and secure the Leadership he has sought for so long.
I have the experience that other candidates standing in this race can only dream of. We need a leader who has experience in economics, in the running of our economy, especially as we seek to continue with our program of deregulation and greater free enterprise. I am the only candidate here today who can provide that. With the greatest respect to my fellow candidates, they are experienced and capable in their own departments, however I do not believe they are ready to be Leader or, indeed, Chancellor
Tielo Lang - Health and Social Services Minister
Image
By far the youngest candidate in this race, at only 37 years old, Lang hopes that his youth will not count against him. Supported by many younger MPs and particularly by the Youth Wing of the party, he hopes he can gather enough support from among the party faithful to seize the reins of power and take the party off in a new, fresh direction.
I have often been asked; "Tielo, surely now isn't the time to stand for Leader? Surely you should wait a few years?" I am astounded by this belief! I stand because I believe that the ideas that I have are needed in our party now. Chancellor Renault has done a wonderful job, but I must agree with his decision to stand down. He could only take us so far, and so can the other members standing in this campaign who share his view of Dorvik. We need a new, fresh approach for the new Dorvik. I can bring that approach. I can be the leader this party needs to keep the support of all Dorvish people.
Markus Funda - Back Bencher
Image
Markus Funda is something of a wild card in this campaign. He is not currently a minister, and neither has he ever been. However, he has, for a long time, been the leader of the Volkspartei's left. He believes that as new right wing parties have appeared, it is time for the VP to move truly from the centre to the centre-left, to be the moderate left wing alternative that Dorvik just doesn't have.
For a long time I have said that the centre is nothing but a place for those scared to take a chance sit. The Volkspartei has sat here for years, and due to this we can only do so much. We need a new approach, we need a new direction. We need to move this party left, we need to take the ground that is currently unfilled - a moderate left wing party for the moderate left wing voter. This is the position I believe we must fill. Not Social-Liberalism but Social-Democracy. That is the direction I will take us if you grant me the privilege of leading our great party
After all the speeches were done, the campaign officially began, and already a poll has been conducted of many Volkspartei members. It gave the following result;
Freida Kalb - 37%
Mikhael Petrov - 33%
Tielo lang - 20%
Markus Funda - 6%
Undecided - 4%
Clearly Freida Kalb has gotten off to a flying start, but with the Leadership vote still months away, all this could change radically by the time the result is announced here in Birdon.