Bianjie

[journey]

Gurun merges with the Conservative Party to forum National Conservative Union two months before the election 
Gurun party leader, Ajigen Ciao says conservatives "like no one else" understand and share values of Gurun, adding that under a new electoral system "aligned forced must unite"
7 February 5645 (backdated)



Two party leaders came out to the joint press conference to announce the deal the parties of both politicians have reached. Ciao, who was elected as Gurun's leader back in 5646, following the long-serving leader Babutai Dartao's resignation, has been continuing the ideas and policies of Dartao, moving the party further away from the left-leaning alignment and joining and siding more with the conservative rightist parties.

Joint electoral pact or a complete merger has been in talks throughout the whole Ciao's term and a couple of last months of the Dartao's leadership period. Gurun has long been seen a left-wing party purely economically, but socially, it has been to the right of many self-proclaimed right-wing parties, including Conservative Party itself. Gurun's total commitment to the "traditional values", both religious and social have often scared median voters, especially the youth, prompting the creation of Socialist People's Party in 5618, and New Dawn in 5637.

Now, Gurun has been cooperating with the Conservative Party for almost a decade, ever since the breakout with its youth wing. The cooperation has been mostly focused locally, in country and provinial council and mayoral elections. Conservatives have either joined the lists of Gurun, or defected from their party to join Gurun as a more electable party, or even merged local chapters together, long before the two national parties did it yesterday.

Now, as a part of the agreement, two parties will begin the procedure of a merger, that could legally last for months. So, until then, Conservative Party members are joining the list of Gurun, with the distribution of places agreed upon between the leaders and the party officials beforehand. The newly-created alliance and soon-party will be called National Conservative Union, with the national flower, orchid as its symbol, and burgundy, the combination of two merged parties' colours, as the NCU's official colour. According to the latest polls, NCU could receive up to 6%, translating in 13 seats in the April election this year.



The Daily Report (日報), also known as Nippō, is a major daily newspaper based in Namušun, Bianjie.
The paper is published in both official languages in the broadsheet format, and is also available online in other international languages.