The Northern Inquirer
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Democrats take Social Democrat's Havic Central Constituency ; Social Democrats fear majority at stake
Anders Stoltensson, Democratic party leader, after hearing the news of yet another by-election victory
June 13th, 2019
By Clara ErnasdötterHavic, Vayinaod---- Arch-Konsul Alvar Johansson’s Storting majority was made even slimmer today after the growing populist party, the Democrats, made another by-election gain by taking Havic Central from the Social Democrats. The Arch-Konsul’s majority was already slim with two seats before the resignation of Marcus Svenson due to “personal reasons” following a highly publicized affair with a Rechroatian immigrant. Now with only 166 seats left in his coalition, the Arch-Konsul may look to secure a confidence and supply agreement with the Liberals to ensure the last portion of his agenda passes in time for the September election.
Havic Central was captured by the Democrats with 31% of First Preference votes, and a final tally of 56% in the second round after votes were distributed to the top two candidates. Founded last summer due to the Johansson Administration announced new limits on natural gas and oil exploration in the arctic sea, and an increase on income tax to account for the lost revenue ; the Democrats have seen multiple gains in by-elections or Storting Members (SMs) defect from the Moderates, Centre and even the Social Democrats themselves.
Political analysts have struggled to define the Democrats beyond simply its self-described populism. Due in part to its tax policies that mirror or sometimes go beyond even the Social Democrats, but social conservative stances that more mirror the Moderate party and the nation’s social conservative tendencies. The parties environmental policies being viewed as more moderate with the party accepting climate change but acknowledging that it should not totally limit economic interests. However, the parties call for new immigration limits has been seen as a cornerstone of its agenda and its most controversial among mainstream political parties. With each Democratic candidate being more and more varied among platforms, the only true connecting feature is its support for party leaders Anders Stoltensson.
While Social Democrats still lead 1st preferences with 35% according to the latest polls, current seat estimates place their coalition ten seats short of a majority in the September elections, and with the Konsul-Ship also up for election this year as well ,Arch-Konsul Johansson will find his third and final election to be his hardest yet. Current polling has him leading the first round, but only polling 53% in a hypothetical second round with “generic” moderate candidate, and only 51% against Anders Stoltensson, the two likely second round opponents.
Sources instead the administration have hinted that the Arch-Konsul will unveil a new immigration plan in the next few weeks in order to combat the Democratic attempts to make it their flagship issue. With campaigning beginning at the end of July, the parties will start to unveil the final manifestos by the end of this month. Most analysts predicting that the moderates will include a provision to deny any possibility of a coalition with the Social Democrats or the Democrats should a hung storting be returned. Making the Storting campaign even more important for the Arch-Konsul if he wishes to keep his agenda going.
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Social Democrats to nominate First Konsul Rakel Sorensdotter for the Konsulship; Arch-Konsul Johansson to drop out
First Konsul Rakel Sorensdotter could become the first female and youngest ever Arch-Konsul in Vayinaodic history
August 14th, 2019
By Lorens LandvikNyetthem, Vayinaod---- In what seems to be a bid to counteract the growing movement behind the moderates, Social Democrats have apparently opted to drop Arch-Konsul Johansson from the ticket. The Arch-Konsul was aiming to win his third term in office, however, it seems party leaders were keen for a different direction behind the scenes.
From my exclusive reports from within the Social Democrats, it seems Johansson while remaining a positive popularity rating does not have the electoral energy to hold off against the onslaught that the Moderates and the Democrats plan on bringing this fall. Hoping to give some excitement to the base, First Konsul Rakel Sorensdotter will be nominated for the top post instead of remaining as First Konsul as originally planned.
The Social Democrats seemingly were pushed in direction from the Progressives and Greens who have only been kept as coalition partners mainly through efforts of First Konsul Sorensdotter in the recent two years.
"Arch-Konsul Johansson made a large of amount of policy decisions in keeping with the coalition agreements that we had with the Progressives and Greens each, but if you look at recent history it has only been since the Sorensdotter was brought on as First Konsul in early 2018. The Progressives and Greens while amiable to Johansson will not fight a war to keep him. This is what is upcoming election is going to be relatively; a war."
With final nominations due September 1st in time for the October 26th election, we will be watching closely as to who the Moderates and Democrats nominate to compete with this last minute move by the Social Democrats. Current polling has Sorensdotter leading 1st Preference votes 38% to 30% and 22% against generic Democratic and Moderate candidates respectively.
The Northern Inquirer will release its consistent Candidate report once all parties announce their nominees and the election period begins September 2nd.
