Prime Minister Asta Dahn was attacked with paint by nationalist protesters today during a visit to Yesaic on Samsucha. Claiming the government had ‘backed down’ on its commitments to energy independence by agreeing to back President Tattar’s plans for a shared oil strategy for the Long Sea – in particular a new trade deal with Carentania on energy and oil – protesters took to the streets against Dahn’s visit and attacked her with green paint. Shouting that they believed the prime minister was a ‘traitor’, cameras filmed as Dahn faced the humiliating attack. Immediately denying the government had u-turned on the major decision, a spokesperson quickly hurried her away from the scene before releasing a statement which committed the government to its ‘long term aim’ of energy independence for Polasciana, but stated that the president’s agenda would secure “a better position on energy than we have today – particularly in the short term.” Saying that the prime minister wants to balance “achieving energy independence with caring for our country and environment” the Coalition leader is expected to ask deputies to back the president in the lower house – a contentious move that could add to frustrations with her leadership.
Accompanying the prime minister at the time, Energy Minister Ada Mantel is under pressure to get her party to side with the president, as conservative and nationalist outriders vow to oppose the government’s move. “This is a disaster for the government and it’s like history is repeating itself. We’ve been here before and the last time the government got it wrong on energy policy, it fell” – said one source, echoing others who have been reminded that in 2011, Koruin Gruaman’s government collapsed after losing a series of votes on its ‘Energy Futures Bill’. Trying to avoid a repeat of that affair, the prime minister is urging colleagues to support the government when the decision comes before the lower house later in the week, but others have suggested she faces an up hill battle to win. “I think this is likely the end of this iteration of government. The government is going to lose as people don’t want to be siding with the president – they want to challenge the nationalists, but we can’t do that if they are constantly empowered by us siding with unionists who want to do the things the nationalists accuse us of backing” said another government source.
Dahn now faces open mutiny in her executive team, following the departure of her Regional Government chief – former Finance Minister Benjamin Usan – and Transport Minister, Illya Ellanovic on Monday, who left after calls from colleagues to either ‘back the government, or quit’. Deciding to leave the government, their decision leaves the prime minister with the urgent task of reassembling her government, or facing a challenge to her authority as party leader. Some close to the party leadership suggest a contest is now ‘essential’ to moving forward – but with others feeling that the prime minister may be able to continue with the implicit backing of the majority of deputies. Should they vote against her later this week, that may be much harder for the party to stomach – particularly her former colleagues who now sit outside the government.
