Adnan Anadinivich, the former leader of the Union Party who faced Asta Dahn at the ballot box in 2018, has said he believes a ‘fresh face’ can help the Unionists win their first legislative elections and form only their second government in history in 2023. Targeting an all-out presidential and legislative poll on the 20th anniversary of the country’s first democratic elections as a unified state in three years time, the Unionists are now seeking to elect a new leader having failed to crown a new chief last year when deciding its presidential candidate. Interim leader Dmitry Kreshnenvo stayed on after the party’s selection process ended in turmoil, with former Federal Council Leader Ivan Tattar being selected by acclimation for the presidential race but the party’s leadership ballot being suspended after no candidates officially came forward. At the time Kamchetkan senior Councilman Leo Serrantes, who eventually came second to President Tattar in the party’s presidential race, Amarian deputy Vlad Marat and Chudniv representative Radek Allenbach were all mentioned as possible candidates.
At the beginning of last year the party was preparing to lose the presidency in November, fearing a competitive challenge from Governor Fischer of Asta Dahn’s governing Coalition. Seeking to bring stability to the party in that scenario, Kreshnenvo as interim leader launched a dual all-member leadership ballot to decide both the next Unionist leader and presidential candidate respectively. However the process was thrown into chaos when Taras Illyushin, then serving as Mayor of Arvi, declined to stand for the party’s presidential nomination as expected. His departure from the race created a void, in which President Tattar, then the leading candidate, was unwilling to fill for fear of being damaged by being the ‘default’ choice. In closed door talks, it was Mr Serrantes who stepped forward to challenge Mr Tattar – on the basis that the decision would be made by the party’s Executive Committee and not its members. Councilman Serrantes spent thousands of privately raised money to commission polling from neighbouring Eiffelland to support his case. In the end the committee backed Tattar, fearing nominating Serrantes due to his mixed background and the increasingly ethnically polarised race. It was at this point Mr Serrantes refused to stand for the party’s leadership, concerned he would be dismissed again.
Taking part in a television interview last night, Mr Anadinivich said that the party should “look beyond its known figures” saying that it had three years to introduce a ‘fresh face’ to the country. Asked whether he viewed Mr Serrantes, still relatively unknown outside of the party, as being ‘new enough’ Anadinivich was coy, instead preferring to deflect the question and list a range of figures in the party who he considered potential candidates. Refusing to endorse any potential runner at this stage, Mr Anadinivich said he ‘looked forward to the contest’ and that the party needed to “pick a winner” who “can kick-back the Nationalist threat, defeat the Coalition and form the first elected Unionist government in history”. He said it would be a “tall order” to find the right candidate but that he had faith in the talent of the party to do so over the next few months. This interview came off the back of Mr Marat and Mr Allenbach increasing their media exposure – both now considered the main candidates when the race gets underway in the coming weeks.
