Kalistani Major History

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ReNew party has chosen its candidate for Chancellor
The vote reflects deep divisions within the party
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
January 6, 5520

Trevor Parkinson, Count Neveras was elected a parties' leader
The day after the Empress formally granted permission to form a government, the elected members of the ReNew Kalistan Party gathered in the Kaliburg for a closed-door meeting to set the agenda and choose a leader. There were no surprises as ReNew Kalistan Party founder Trevor Parkinson was chosen as the candidate for Chancellor in the new government, and therefore leader of the ruling party. In an anonymous vote, he received 37 out of 45 votes from elected members of the National Assembly, which gives him the right to choose candidates for ministerial posts. A source granted anonymity to freely discuss the intra-party vote told KReview that the most radical republican MPs disagreed with Parkinson's decision to work with the monarchist party, heatedly criticizing him for not including republican reforms in the party program. Political analysts have long spoken of deep divisions in the party, which united broad ideological groups and did not even have a clear manifesto before the election in October.
'We didn't expect this result, it feels like a miracle,' a strategist at the ReNew HQ told us as we waited for Parkinson to speak. 'Some people are concerned about, you know, the monarchy, but the fact that he received a blessing from the Empress is relieving. And by the way, we have never called for revolutionary changes.'
As Mr Parkinson took to the stage with a beaming smile, his supporters clapped and shouted their approval. 'Dear friends,' he began, looking for someone in the crowd, 'it is a great honour for me to be the leader of the majority party, a party that has received the support of the citizens of our country, I promise to work day and night as Chancellor for the good of our country and to make our country truly free and great. As you know, yesterday the Empress made us appoint a Cabinet of Ministers, and I will present the full list and our party manifesto the day after tomorrow at the first sitting of the National Assembly. I would like to thank all those who put their trust in me and elected me to lead our party for the next five years. Our main objective has been achieved - we have ensured a peaceful transition of power and reaffirmed our democratic institutions which, it must be acknowledged, have deteriorated considerably in recent years. We have a lot of work to do in the coming days, but I believe we have now laid the foundations for a new chapter in the history of our country. Thank you, people! Thank you, Kalistan!'

Despite the appearance of confidence among his supporters, Mr. Parkinson will have to navigate between the interests of his fellow party members, not all of whom are optimistic about the direction their leader has taken. A lawyer from Maridon, he has spent his life defending a variety of clients with different beliefs, following the long-standing rule of defense for the highest bidder. The lack of an ideological core infuriates those who joined the ReNew party just to get campaign funds and get rid of competitors in their districts. Nationalists are irritated by Parkinson's commitment to the free market and his unclear stance on foreign investment and private party militias. Socialists denounce him for the same things, but using different rhetoric. Liberals dream of sex-change operations and the full, total legalization of cannabis, while the rare religious leaders who have backed the party hope for permission of public missionary work and strengthening the role of the church. Torn by disagreement, the party never seems to have been able to agree on the specific points of a program it never had in the first place. This is indicated by Parkinson's speech, which is almost identical to the one he gave three months ago after winning the election, and the sullen faces of the deputies after the leadership vote. They all publicly supported Parkinson, but some of them still voted against his candidacy, which puts him under tons of pressure. One way or another, the deadline for speculations is at noon on the day after tomorrow, when the new Chancellor will present the cabinet and set the agenda for the next five years.