Tattar expected to resign on Friday to force presidential election
According to sources close to the Niveri Palace, President Tattar will resign on Friday in a bid to bring forward October’s presidential election to coincide with legislative elections due next month. The historic decision has been called a ‘constitutional bonfire’ by the government, but allies of the president say he is “entirely and rightfully able” to undertake such a move. The president’s decision to resign will trigger constitutional responsibilities for both Houses of the Federal Executive to agree to a process for appointing a ‘replacement’ into the role – something that will not be possible given the Centrist Party’s majority in the lower house, and Unionist control of the Federal Council. As a result, if no agreement is constitutionally agreed within 15 days of the resignation, on Friday 19th May, then a national election for the post will be held 15 days later. Legislative elections are already scheduled for Friday 2nd June – and as such, the two elections will coincide. Lawyers and commentators have said that President Tattar is ‘perfectly entitled’ to stand in the subsequent election. The Union Party believes that holding both elections on the same day is the best opportunity they have at capturing control of government for the first time since 2007 – drawing on strength of support for the president, which it hopes will buoy the chances of its prime ministerial nominee, Preaisk state representative Janoslav Csoňka.
Centrist Party eyes Yakushkin candidacy
Prime Minister Krill Serbin is expected to ask the Centrist Progressive Coalition caucus to support former Foreign Minister Dimochka Yakushkin as the party’s presidential candidate. The 67 year old represented Gorodok in Amar for many years and has long been considered a potential presidential candidate. Yakushkin is thought to resemble Serbin’s ‘ideal’ nominee, acting as an elder statesman and a largely ceremonial president – something the party is keen to make a virtue of at the election. Insiders have suggested that the Prime Minister is keen to limit the powers of the president – in an attempt to end the political stalemate created by having the government and upper house formed by different parties. A similar approach was taken in the late 2000s by Koruin Gruaman when he served as Prime Minister under President Lukyanov. Yakushkin most recently deputised for former Prime Minister Asta Dahn as Chair of the Foreign Executive whilst she gave birth to her second child, and ran an extraordinary campaign to almost become Governor of Amar at the last elections in 2019. He is an ally of Serbin, as well as Lena Zilberman – who is seen as the other viable candidate for the post. The party is expected to issue a statement over its selection process next week – following any statement from the Niveri Palace about the timing of the election.
Csoňka to step up campaigning on housing pledge
The Unionist nominee for Prime Minister, Preaisk state representative Janoslav Csoňka, will double-down on attempts to create a wedge between himself and the Prime Minister – focusing on the issue that brought him to national attention. Csoňka will use a speech on Wednesday to argue that “time is up” for the government to fix the “appalling” state of housing across many major cities and towns in the country – including in many coastal villages. “We’ve had almost a decade now of the Eastern Bridge being battered by storms. Every year the government tells us it’s going to make things better – but people are let down time and time again. My government will do things differently. Together with President Tattar we will pass not only new laws to actually build decent houses, but we will make it happen – creating the very first publicly owned housing development agency. We will give real cash to the states and cities to make this happen. It’s going to be a revolution in housing and nothing less.” The stark words are expected to contrast those of the Prime Minister who has yet to lay out a clear hook for his first election campaign – with the Progressive Centrist Coalition still trying to piece together a clear policy platform. “For someone who wanted to be prime minister for so long, Serbin really needs to get his party’s act together and come up with a decent pitch to the country – people are waiting”, said one long-time party insider.
