Emerging for the first time as Unionist leader since winning a poll of his party’s Federal Executive caucus on Monday, Kresnovic Deputy Bartek Bagdat this lunchtime told the waiting press and public he was ‘resolute’ about taking the party back to power. Launching what he described as a ‘2023 agenda’ for the party, Bagdat, 50, said his leadership would be centered around being a “trusted partner to President Tattar” and “not just responding to the government, but working to replace it.” Mr Bagdat, who represents the coastal region of Serebrianyi in the country’s most southern provincial state now faces the historic task of becoming the first democratically elected Unionist Prime Minster – a feat he said was his “main priority and mission”.
Originally an underdog in the party’s leadership election, Mr Bagdat consolidated support from the communitarian left of the caucus following former Amar governor Fyodor Schavelev’s departure from the race last week. Pitted against fellow deputy Vlad Marat, Bagdat spoke of his ability to ‘reach out’ and make the Union Party “more relevant, attractive and electable”, saying his rival “lacked the gravitas of a real leader”. His decision to directly pitch himself against Marat in the closing stages of the race was a risky move, but one that paid off as the experienced legislator became the Union Party’s first permanent leader in over two years. Formally taking the role earlier today, he said his first priority would be “taking the fight” to Prime Minister Serbin.
“The prime minister tells you that he’s just one of you, that he’s normal and that he knows what it’s like to work hard. The truth is, this prime minister has never done a hard days work in his life. He cannot hide from this, he cannot deny he’s never been on the front line. Yet when you’re working hard, where is this prime minister? Is he on your side? Is he fighting for your voice and your rights? Is he making it safer to go to work? Is he making the money in your wage bill go further? No, he’s cutting support for working families, he’s slashing the budgets for our military, and he’s making people pay for the mistakes of his political party. This prime minister is not a man you can trust, this is not a party you can take at its word. It’s time for change – it’s time to make work pay, to make our country fairer and a better place to live. This is my 2023 agenda – a country where hard work pays off!” said Mr Bagdat as part of his first speech following his election.
Throughout the race the Kresnovic deputy was praised by commentators for his pitch as an ‘ordinary’ Polascianan, but many expected him to fail to clinch the leadership. His unexpected victory now makes him the most powerful voice of opposition to the country’s government – but given his party has failed to move forward in legislative elections in 2008, 2013 and 2018, Mr Bagdat faces a tall task to make the Unionists electable again. His decision to try and imitate President Tattar’s winning electorate coalition may well bear fruit in the years to follow, but with three years until Election Day, the new Unionist leader faces an uphill challenge to introduce himself properly to the country and to take his party into government for the first time since 2007.
