Zapadnaya Respublika Elections (2)

[Imperator Azenquor]

[b][u]ZNCA News: Second elections since restoration of democracy begin[/b][/u]

 

[i]“For the second time since democracy was restored to Zapadnaya, the citizens of the country will go to the polls to elect the next government. Voters will be asked to elect the President of the Republic, the members of the National Assembly and the Senate. The Electoral Council has confirmed that early voting is now underway across the country and that the polls will open tomorrow morning at 0830 ZST.

 

President Elena Dobreva, of the European Future Party [EFP] is running for a second term as President of the Republic. She is expected to face a major challenge from the Justice & Development Party’s (JDP) Paskal Dragomirov and the Socialist Party’s (SP) Zlatko Dimitrov. In the National Assembly the outgoing coalition government consisting of the Justice & Development Party (JDP) and the European Future Party (EFP) rejected a proposal for both political parties to present a joint list of candidates and to attempt to form a second coalition government. Instead, both parties will stand independently. Outgoing Prime Minister Iskra Grigorova is confident that the JDP is on course for a parliamentary majority.

 

The situation in the Senate is less clear however, as most pollsters are predicting that the Socialist Party (SP) will likely retain control of the Senate albeit with a reduced majority.”[/i]

 

[Imperator Azenquor]

[b][u]ZCNA News: Polls open to lower than expected turnout[/b][/u]

 

[i]“Voting is now underway in the second elections since the restoration of democracy. While thousands of eligible citizens cast their ballots yesterday by taking advantage of early voting, the majority of voters waited until today to exercise their right to vote.

 

According to electoral officials, there was less turnout than initially expected in the first three hours of voting. While it remains a possibility that an upswing in voter turnout could still take place in the coming hours, initial reports appear to suggest that less voters have gone to the polls this time around. If this trend continues, it is unclear whether the lower turnout would favor any particular candidate or political party.”[/i]

 

[Imperator Azenquor]

[b][u]ZCNA: JDP emerges victorious as final results are tallied[/b][/u]

 

[i]“With every vote counted and verified, the Electoral Council has announced the final results of the elections. After a night of surprises, it has become clear that the Zapadnayan voters have completely redrawn the political map in the country. With approximately 10.6 million people eligible to vote, the Electoral Council has estimated nationwide turnout to be 82.80%. This is a significantly lower turnout than the 98% turnout of the last elections.

 

The Parliamentary elections have resulted in a clear mandate for the Justice & Development Party (JDP) and it’s leader Prime Minister Grigorova. The JDP managed to win 54.55% of the vote and a supermajority of 342 seats in the 500 seat National Assembly. The European Future Party (EFP), the senior party in the outgoing coalition government, only managed to win 27.27% of the vote and 146 seats. The Socialist Party (SP) saw a significant decline in support and managed to win only 18.18% of the vote. This decline sees the Socialists holding onto only 12 of the 144 seats they held in the previous National Assembly. [/i]

 

-Parliament Composition (SP-Red, RPP-Blue, EFP-Orange, JDP-Green)

 

[i]With such a clear majority, JDP Leader Iskra Grigorova will be able to form a government on her own and will not need the support of the European Future Party (EFP). As a result of this, the policies of the second Grigorova premiership are likely to be markedly different from those of her first premiership.

 

In the Senate, there was nothing short of a political earthquake. The Socialist Party (SP) which held control of the 1st Senate has been brushed aside by a strong showing by the JDP. With 798,993 votes, the SP only managed to hold onto 8 Senate seats. The Republican People’s Party (RPP) won 1,597,986 votes and 16 Senate seats, while the European Future Party (EFP) won 798,993 votes and 8 seats. The Justice & Development Party (JDP) won a record-breaking 5,593,829 votes and 58 of the 100 Senate seats.[/i]

 

-Senate Composition (SP-Red, RPP-Blue, EFP-Orange, JDP-Dark Green, Mil-Light Green)

 

[i]The results of the Presidential election are similarly surprising. After a hard fought campaign by President Elena Dobreva [EFP] for a second term, it appears that the voters have decided otherwise. President Dobreva [EFP] received 36.36% of the vote in the Central region and 21% in the West. Nationwide, she received 29% of the vote. Paskal Dragomirov [JDP] emerged victorious securing 45.46% of the vote in the Central region and 64% in the West for a total share of 55% of the vote. The other two candidates, Zlatko Dimitrov [SP] and Nadezhda Maksimova [RPP] won only 14% and 3% of the vote respectively.

 

This election marks the first time since the restoration of democracy that the same political party has managed to win the Presidency as well as control of both the National Assembly and the Senate.”[/i]