SONDRAN- As the 2023 general election is rapidly approaching on January 2nd, the major parties are rushing to get their messages out to the public one last time. In his campaign tour, the new Conservative leader Stig Lokken has revealed many of his policy goals, such as the deregulation of businesses, tax cuts, and fighting "woke" culture in Valhapia. He also talked foreign policy quite a lot, including the recently concluded East Lankian-Rehaajlian War and potential relations with Najimam, Nisryn, and Esterazdravo. Most recently, at a campaign dinner in Tresko, the capital of Garberg Province, Lokken brought up the topic of Jeriga's ongoing crisis over their King. Lokken openly supported the King's actions, saying, "He is trying to save his country from the corrupt socialists. I mean, can you blame him? Look what those idiots did when they tried to open a power plant!"
Many Valhapians have condemned Lokken's rhetoric as "neo-monarchist," trying to paint him as sympathetic to Valhapia's own monarchy that was overthrown in 1855 during the Valhapian Revolution, resulting in the execution of Valhapia's final king as a result of his tyrannical actions. Lokken has denied these allegations, claiming that, "These Socialists want me to be seen like a dictator like Trasjar [Valhapia's final king]. I am not a dictator, and these socialist "democrats" are the ones who want a dictatorship of the proletariat, taking wealth away from those who have worked hard to get it!"
Lokken's fiery rhetoric has been appealing to many nationalist voters and has swayed many centrists who would otherwise vote for the Social Democrats or the Liberals. In the most recent polls, the Conservatives would be forecasted to win the election with about 26% of the vote compared to the Social Democrats' 20%. According to the same polling, a right-wing government has the possibility of being formed with a thin 2 seat margin in Parliament, with the Conservatives, Christian Democrats, National Patriots, and the Atamar Party being allied. The final two weeks of the campaign season will be critical, and could see a shift to any side.