Kissing Hands: Howe Affirmed as Premier at Helm of Fed-Union Coalition
Hudson After weeks of intense speculation following the Embrean elections, it's now official: Jordan Howe, leader of the Federal Party in the Imperial Diet, will become that body's next Premier when the Diet sits for its 2015 legislative session.
Howe, whose party routed the incumbent Labour Party during the latest elections, appeared this afternoon with the Emperor and Union Party leader Sir Arthur Cavington, who is expected to be named Deputy Premier as part of the coalition agreement. Standing outside the Palace of the Diet, Howe gave a brief press conference outlining key points of his government's platform ahead of the January 1st opening.
"Today I am pleased to announce that His Imperial and Apostolic Majesty has directed that I form a Government in accordance with the will of the Prestonian people, and that I have done so," Howe began, using the formulaic announcement of a new government. "My government will be principally composed of members of my own party as well as the Union Party, and after weeks of discussion we have agreed upon a platform which fits not only our collective political ideals but the greatest benefits to the nation as a whole. My government has many tasks ahead of it as challenges both old and new, foreign and domestic rise to our attention, but with the faith of my honourable friends and the help of God, it is my hope that we may rise to meet them."
Among the most pressing matters ahead of the new government is the ongoing crisis in Kigeme, where labour and ethnic unrest has stoked fears of civil war and prompted the Defence Ministry to consider an increase in the Empire's standing force there. Addressing the situation today, Howe vowed that "no time will be wasted" in ensuring a return to normality, while calling upon Kigeme President Johnson Kutomi to "engage proactively" with opposition leaders.
"The crisis in Kigeme is unacceptable and a dangerous precedent to set in an unstable region, and as Premier I will see to it that my government does all it can to diffuse the situation peaceably, amicably and swiftly," Howe told assembled media. "To that end, we will be pursuing a direct contact with Mr Kutomi via phone or in person in the coming days, during which I will make clear, as I have already done, that our support of his administration is conditional upon his acceptance of basic human rights for all his citizens."
Howe also addressed economic matters, unveiling the first glimpses of a program designed to lure foreign investment and increase private sector GDP over the coming year. While many specifics of the plan remained unclear pending its full announcement ahead of the Opening of the Diet on New Year's Day, Howe's prior support for a ten-year tax holiday on new foreign investment has been pegged as a likely cornerstone. Other likely measures are believed to involve some measures of privatisation of state corporations, namely the National Rail Corporation and Royal Crown Petroleum; while the government holds only a 51% stake in the former, the latter is still fully government-owned, the last remaining state enterprise of the Labour-created Royal Crown Energy cartel. While a vocal supporter of privatization measures as an MD, Howe has made no pronouncements on the matter since becoming leader of the Federal Party; with strong support for state ownership of these entities, any privatization measure is likely to encounter significant pushback.
While affirmed as Premier, Howe's term does not officially begin until the Opening of the Diet on New Year's Day, during which all members of the frontbench will be officially named and seated. While these names are typically known to the public ahead of the state function, no firm list of frontbenchers was available at press time, and Howe told PBC late this evening that a few seats still had yet to be filled.