CITY OF NEW PARAISO - KINGDOM OF SAHRANI Communist leader Alberto Guerrero is set to win Sahrani's general election, partial results suggest. The projected results showed Mr Guerrero's far left party ahead for the Royal Senate. The 46-year old told Sahranian TV difficult months lay ahead. His main rival, the centre-left leader Augusto Da Silva, has already conceded victory. The vote was 1 week ahead of schedule after the collapse of Arturo Da Silva centre-left coalition. Mr Guerrero said in a telephone call to public television: "We have difficult months ahead that will require great strength."
According to SNN news agency, before ringing off, he added: "An affectionate kiss to all Sahranians." With the economy a key election issue, both men had promised modest tax cuts and reductions in bureaucracy. A projection on Sahrani state TV showed Mr Guerrero ahead in the Royal Senate. The channel projected that he would win 89 seats in the Senate, compared to 45 for his rivals. Official results may not be issued until Friday. If victory is confirmed, billionaire Mr Guerrero will take up a third term in office, he will be the first "Western Sahranian" Prime Minister in the Kingdom of Sahrani.
Neither of the main contenders can hope for an overall majority without the help of their allies or other minor parties, says the SNN's Marcos Sanchez in New Paraiso. Tricky talks are expected in the coming days. The next government faces the task of reviving Sahrani's ailing economy, with zero growth forecast for the coming year.
Although Sahrani faces a massive public debt, both candidates promised tax cuts and handouts to voters. Sahrani's economy has been suffering from low productivity and the civil war, and analysts say young people, pensioners and low-income workers are feeling the pressure. Mr Da Silva narrowed Mr Guerrero's lead in polls but it was not enough Some parties contested the regional and national polls, including Mr Guerrero's Sahranian Communist Party (SCP) and Mr Da Silva's recently reformed Sahranian Democratic Party (SDP)
At the start of the campaign, opinion polls gave Mr Guerrero's bloc a commanding lead, but it had narrowed as the election drew near. Mr Guerrero has served two terms as prime minister in the former Democratic Republic of West Sahrani, last resigning in May 2008.
One of Sahranis's richest men, he is the head of a business empire that spans media, advertising, insurance, food and construction and includes a football club but Sahranians seem to not care about the conflict of interests that may occur, but analysts say Guerrero is a honest and responsible leaders. Mr Da Silva is a former communist who served for 1 year as mayor of New Paraiso (Once called "Paraiso") before taking over the leadership of the centre-left coalition his government collapsed in April.
The new government will be Sahrani's 2nd since the Declaration of Indipendence.

Alberto Guerrero (Right) during the press conference
This post has been edited by King Joseph III: 07 May 2008 - 03:15 PM

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