Davostag

[Augustus]

 

Rikspresident Dahler falls ill, the Riksdag calls for the Senate to Convene

16 July 5634 | Kivonia, Davostag

 

Reinhardt Palace in Kivonia, the residence of the Rikspresident of the Davostag Republic.

 
Weeks of rumors about the health of the rikspresident, Gustav Dahler, have circulated everywhere in Davostag as no public appearance by him has been made in a month. The presidential office has remained suspiciously quiet as well. It was until yesterday, that the State Council announced that the rikspresident has been struck with a severe illness, not yet disclosed, and that immediate preparations need to be made with haste. It is then today that the Riksdag officially called upon the Davostag Senate to convene in order to begin the process of the election of Dahler's successor. In the usual cases, the rikspresident basically chooses his own heir with a ceremonial confirmation by the Senate, but from what we can deduce with the State Council's statement regarding Dahler's health, it would seem that his health has deteriorated to the point of being unable to select his successor. The Senatorial Committee, which manages all affairs regarding the Senate while it is not in session, confirmed an hour after the call by the Riksdag that they are in the process of preparing its convention. As custom dictates, the electoral process takes place between the 10th and 20th day of the election month; the first week is spent formalizing the process of the presidential candidates, with formal election taking place on the last day. The president-elect would then assume the office of rikspresident on the 1st day of the month after the election month, as written in the constitution.
 
The main question remains however on everyone's minds. Who will succeed Gustav Dahler and his 17-year reign? At the moment, it is complete radio silence from the government, specifically on this issue. They are probably hoping to avoid escalating and making a public mess out of the political intrigues and schemes that the state is probably embroiled in at the moment. But we have taken the liberty to look at some candidates that has the necessary package to become the next rikspresident of Davostag. For starters, one must almost always name this one every time a new rikspresident is to be elected: the Chief of the Military High Command, due to his seniority in the Armed Forces, and the current incumbent is General Ulf Bergenstolpe. The power and influence the military has in the country and in society as a whole should not be underestimated, thus to be chief of the High Command requires a great deal of political influence, military success and evidence of your worth. But, of all 17 rikspresidents, only three have been chiefs of the High Command, which is not always a guarantee for higher office. Though, if it is not General Bergenstolpe, then who ever might seek the presidency is gonna need his support for the 75 military-appointees of the 175 senators.
 
Another candidate could be Generalöverste Victoria Strandhem, current chief of the Military Police General Staff, which might be an odd candidate due to the recent events regarding the rebel protests and which could leave a bad taste in a lot of people's mouths, especially the opposition. But the reason we mention her is due to the fact that despite all the horrors, she has become quite an emerging figure for nationalist politics, with the powerful Viktoriana League having sponsored her in various forms as a good example of Kivonian and Davostager virtues. Strandhem would probably not have problem securing the 75 military-senators, but might face issues with the 45 Riksdag-senators and the 55 Corporative-senators, should some of them prefer another candidate, with the latter group having been most affected by the protests could cause real problems for her. But should Strandhem manage to win, she would become the first woman to hold the office of rikspresident since Julia Neusohn (5442–5446, 5448–5467)
 
The last candidate that might be an interesting choice, with a lot of support in the affiliated organizations of the National Electoral Union (NVU), especially the Great Davostag Youth Party, is none other than premier Karl Manner. A popular figure, who has been able to keep his hands pretty much clean during the entire ordeal of the protests. He has a very successful military background, proving to be the best among his peers from a very young age in the military-branch education system, having risen to the rank of colonel in the army. While there is technically no constitutional prohibition on the premier also becoming rikspresident, unwritten custom has encouraged that premier's not be elected directly out of office into the presidency.
 
Whoever the new rikspresident may be, it will certainly be a new era for Davostag. But let us hope that it will not come to that and instead pray for the health of rikspresident Dahler.
 
News report written by Peter Åkerman.