Faced with numerous scandals and tanking approval ratings, Primer Ministro María Ramos has announced that she will step down as party leader and, in so doing, as Prime Minister of Lyseria. Primer Ministro María Ramos will stay on as Prime Minister until a new party leader is chosen. The new party leader will then take up the position as Prime Minister, provided he or she can maintain the current ruling coalition.
As no candidate won over 50% of the vote in the first round the top two candidates will face off against one another in a runoff vote on Wednesday the 25th of January (OOC: I will determine the results, but the number of votes from players may influence my decison). Should it come to this a debate between the two remaining candidates will be held the night before the vote on Tuesday the 24th.
The candidates are (with % won in first round):
Disciplina de la mayoría en la Cámara de Representantes Martín Granjero (41%)
Ministro de Relaciones Exteriores Eduardo Trompeta (32%)
Candidates who failed to make it into the second round (with % won in first round):
Ministro de Finanzas Pedro López (21%) (endorsed Trompeta)
Ministro de Transporte Pablo Morales (6%) (endorsed Trompeta)
Three high ranking cabinet members considered running but have subsequently declined, all of them have now endorsed Granjero:
Ministro de Religión Sebastián Soldoro (withdrew after a scandal erupted when it was exposed that he violently beat his son when he recently came out to him as gay, only publicly now)
Ministro del Justicia Emiliano Fonseca (decided against running)
Ministro del Salud Techa Artesano (decided against running)
A brief bio on the candidates:
Disciplina de la mayoría en la Cámara de Representantes: Martín Granjero
Strengths:
1) Very popular amongst poorer urban conservatives or the PNL (minority partner in ruling coalition)
2) Has been able to secure endorsements from moderates, ultra-conservatives and populists alike
3) A charismatic outsider candidate from a poorer urban background, decorated former police officer
Weaknesses:
1) Hated by the establishment, many businessmen and nobles
2) Has far less high ranking cabinet experience than the other candidates
3) Associated with Police brutality against student protestors in 2015 protests (as was then Minister of Police)
Ministro de Relaciones Exteriores: Eduardo Trompeta
Strengths:
1) Seen as a sensible, safe, respectable candidate
2) Powerful connections amongst the business community and nobility (is a noble himself)
3) An experienced politician, particularly with foreign relations
Weaknesses:
1) Viewed by many as an uninspiring establishment pick
2) Not very popular amongst poorer urban conservatives or the PNL (minority partner in ruling coalition)
3) Image tarnished by involvement in steadily more unpopular military support role in Civil War in Nchiyamengi