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LABOUR AND JANSONE SOAR AS NF SHOWS DISMAL START
Jansone's stability, sternness and a much-needed public image refresh amid political chaos pushed her approval well into the 60's - just polling in the 40s weeks ago
Labour, who has received dismal support due to the infighting between Parkanová, Jansone and Vējonis camps, rocketed back to first place as it has emerged strengthened and unified throughout the political chaos that ensured following Parkánova founding her National Frontier. As Jansone, whose popular policies straddle the middle ground between Parkánova's centrist platform, and Labour Chair Vējonis' far-left democratic socialist policies, is a renowned peace maker and negotiator, she has been shown to work well with both camps, however the growing tension between Vējonis and Parkanová caused the party split. Post-split, Labour was expected to collapse and disintegrate, however instead, shockingly, became stronger as Jansone and Vējonis camps are prepared to strike a balance. Jansone has also not said a word about the split - she has not addressed what is going on in the political world at all. Instead,
Jansone has spending the last few weeks leading negotiations with teacher's unions with education reform, announced the construction of what will be the world's largest hospital in Balvie, and last but not least, announced the immensely popular Budget 2018 - which closed the surplus gap by investing billions into healthcare, education and social welfare, as well as putting billions aside for infrastructure projects. Jansone is now no longer seen in the public eye as a sour, unelected President, but now a optimistic, albeit tired and broken, and powerful President. Jansone has been catapulted into a very comfortable position - and if she wants re-election in 2020, she must remain in this position.
National Frontier had a dismal début, polling at 30%. It enjoys large support in the south-western states like Riga and Liberec, but fails to gain ground on Labour in key states like Valka, Ostrava, Jurmala or Ventspils. In Valka it lags behind Conservative Union as the most popular federal party, although the NF's state member, VPP, remains the most popular party on the state-level. A large majority of the federal electorate - bar voters in Riga and Liberec - are unhappy with NF's founding, with many saying it has 'destabilised an extremely fragile political environment,'. In Ostrava, Ostravan Frontier, the NF state chapter, has made little impact - Only a single Assemblyman from the Ostrava Assembly defected to the NF, from Labour. A majority of voters polled respected Parkanová's decision to launch a new federal party, but criticise her aggression. Kalnina has been ranked as the most popular NF politician both in her state and federally - and is tipped to be a candidate for President in 2020, after she nearly won the CU nomination in 2010 but lost by a handful of votes to Zeman.
Conservative Union's support has tanked and it's support has collapsed dramatically, but it isn't the end for the Conservative Union. Shockwaves rocked the party as it had not expected entire state members to split and join the National Frontier, and even the amount of Con. Union politicians who defected quaked the party. Leadership became panicked and the party's leadership almost collapsed on the night of National Frontier's foundation, when it received hundreds upon hundreds of notices from elected officials across the country declaring their resignation from the party. However, analysts expect the party to easily make a comeback. Straujama has been applauded for her efforts to keep control of the party, protecting the party's congressional caucus from defections and negotiating a deal with several state parties to ensure the party did not break up. Straujama said she has no intention to resign and will prioritise rebuilding the party after this political earthquake.
In the end, National Frontier has failed to make the impact it wanted. It wanted to shatter Labour and become the main opposition to the Conservative Union, however instead it has shattered the Conservative Union and helped make Labour stronger. However there may be some hope on the horizon - the poll noted a rise in anti-Ostrava sentiment, where voters in states outside the capital are feeling left behind and the government is focusing it's resources and attention on the capital. As National Frontier's largest support lies in states that are victims to jobs and employment being lost to the capital - Riga,
Liberec, Valmiera, Valka and other central and southern states, it could build up it's platform around an anti-Northern and anti-Ostravan message, which could boast it big time.