The Election Season of 107-111 VE

In a continued showing of the success of Zilatran democracy on Stoneworks: the election season of 107 VE to 111 VE, launching off the politics of 2nd Century Zilatra, has concluded. Within it, we saw elections for: the General & Deputy Secretaries (Executive), the 12th Kelitá and its Premier (Legislative), and for both the Partisan Chair & Youth Representative of the Young Xeroist League.

For those who'd rather not read the entire article: Wanja Ivanovic & Zaaki Iletriosa became the 6th General Secretary and 6th Deputy Secretary respectively, the 12th Kelitá became one of the few to be made up entirely of XUP members with former Deputy Secretary Note Kiriznia becoming the 10th Premier, Partisan Chair Alisa Nikitina was re-elected to her third and final (term-limited) term, and Saranov Drazhan succeeded Sneky Maritas to become the 2nd Youth Representative of the YXL.

Now, to those who have the time to read:

THE 8TH EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ELECTION

The moment the Partisan Chair announced the opening of applications ahead of the Executive election - former Partisan Chair Wanja Ivanovic formally announced their candidacy for General Secretary with former ZSD Director Zaaki Iletriosa as their running mate. In their election application the two promised to continue building up the armed forces, work with mayors to build up claim values, invest in underdeveloped towns, give inactive towns aid to boost activity, finish the construction of road & subway infrastructure, to "end (Zilatra's) diplomatic isolation", to revive the Information and Culture Commissariats, and to use the opportunity of the incoming summer vacation to put national activity back on track.

Only one ticket attempted to challenge Ivanovic & Iletriosa; Veritga Kiriznia and Zilatran pop-icon Makka Pakka. The Kiriznia-Pakka ticket's platform promised (mostly) the same things as Ivanovic with only two real differences: Kiriznia more actively supported strengthening the Abexilas Socialist International and floated the idea of opening a Construction Commissariat "to accept international projects" and "bring money into the nation."

While Veritga Kiriznia and Makka Pakka have long been popular figures, none expected their victory to be possible; they faced the two possibly greatest political juggernauts of Zilatra, matched only by Abusaja si Baqiya, Ahudenya si Dal, and Yadal Krakhovich. From the get-go the Ivanovic-Iletriosa ticket won several endorsements, including from: former General Secretary Lenja Iuminov, ex-Information Commissar Ezic Prym, Major General of the ZSD Juri, former Latrian General Secretary Laina Rose Iletriosa, and - most significantly - Partisan Chair Alisa Nikitina

The Ivanovic-Iletriosa ticket was further boosted once it released its expanded official platform. With this, and the backing of not only the Zilatran political establishment but also many known reformers (such as members of the Ronango'O Family), victory was inevitable.

In a historic landslide victory: Wanja Ivanovic & Zaaki Iletriosa won with 78.2% of the popular vote, beating Veritga Kiriznia & Makka Pakka (who won only 21.8% of the vote) in the first round - this is the single largest victory by margin and popular vote in the history of Zilatran executive elections; setting up the new administration for greatness.

The First Ivanovic Cabinet:

General Secretary: Wanja Ivanovič
Deputy Secretary: Zaaki Iletriosa

Commissar of Industry: Sphinx Sphonx (confirmed with 80% approval)
Commissar of Construction: Flamey (confirmed with 88.9% approval)
Commissar of Information: Xemon Ronango'O (confirmed with 91.1% approval)
Commissar of Culture: Assia Dražan (confirmed with 93.6% approval)
Commissar of Interior: Ivan Iuminov (confirmed with 91.% approval)
Commissar of Foreign Affairs: Kabatri si Palmeliya (confirmed with 95.8% approval)
Commissar of Military: Joku Iletriosa (confirmed with 88.7% approval)

ELECTIONS FOR THE 12TH KELITÁ

After a relatively inactive few terms, the elections for the 12th Kelitá were not necessarily competitive. With 11 seats open for grabs appeared 12 candidates, with only one (relatively unknown) independent (Tuqa si Kabli) for this cycle.

This Kelitá election was marked for including mostly "old guard" candidates, a bad sign for the legislature, which included: 10th & 11th Kelitá Vice Premier Faelyn Lancaster, 11th Kelitá Premier Arya Zopasku, former Premier Art Inkman, former Deputy Secretary Note Kiriznia, and former General Secretary Lenja Iuminov. However, each candidate appeared to show vigor as they prepared to enter the legislature.

The election marked the political debut of Valerie Aurelia Venkesel-Ronango'O (known otherwise as VAVR or simply 'Valerie Ronango'O'); a member of the well-established Ronango'O family, the adopted daughter of Assistant Information Commissar David Venkesel-Ronango'O, and the descendant of former Premiers Diogo & Toku'aui Ronango'O - Valerie presented herself as a reform-oriented and highly anti-establishment candidate as her campaign centered around calls for judicial reform, expand the political opportunities offered to newer politicians in Zilatra, abolishing or reforming the Culture Commissariat, and holding the government accountable.

Another newcomer was Ranko Dražan. A former post officer disgruntled with the lack of pay in the job - Dražan campaigned on improving the working conditions of Zilatra's post officers by promising to establish "at least a very minor" wage for post officers per delivery. Additionally, he pledged to be an active member of the Kelitá who'd keep it down-to-earth by "operating in favor of the people."

Meanwhile, candidates Khorvic Drazhan, Note Kiriznia, Lenja Iuminov, and Szya Iletriosa seemingly established their own electoral pact ahead of the election; while all 4 campaigned on the usual promises for activity, their joint campaigns mainly centered around their calls for the implementation of their envisioned "Two Big Beautiful Bills" that would seek to "patch" and remove any loopholes in the Zilatran criminal code, statutory code, and constitution.

When the election concluded: all XUP candidates won, with the sole defeat being that of the independent candidate.

Once the new Kelitá was announced: Valerie Ronango'O, Note Kiriznia, and incumbent Premier Arya Zopasku announced their candidacies for the premiership. However, this election was delayed by the resignation of Art Inkman who chose to run in the election for the Partisan Chairmanship. In their stead, Roblinka Iletriosa was elected to become Seat VI of the 12th Kelitá in a landslide win against their opponent Krakhov Serebra.

It rapidly became clear who would win the election: thanks to his electoral pact with other candidates and much greater name recognition than his rivals, Note Kiriznia immediately had an edge in the premier vote. Even as Valerie Ronango'O decided to back Arya Zopasku over him, Kiriznia was able to win the election with the support of 7 representatives (63.6% of the Kelitá). Thus, Arya Zopasku was defeated in her attempt to be re-elected and Note Kiriznia became the 10th Premier of the Kelitá.

Note Kiriznia then appointed Khorvic Drazhan to be their Vice Premier, the 8th overall of the Kelitá.

The 12th Kelitá:

Premier: Note Kiriznia (Seat II)
Vice Premier: Khorvic Drazhan (Seat III)

Seat I - Faelyn Lancaster / Flycaster123
Seat II - Note Kiriznian / The_Noteworthy
Seat III - Khorvic Drazhan / Imperator476
Seat IV - Szya Bahri / Sammydavidn17
Seat V - Lenja Iuminov / Phantom6801
Seat VI - Art Inkman / inkmne
Seat VII - Valerie Aurelia Venkesel-Ronango'O / VizoMinecraft
Seat VIII - Makka Pakka / _2S7_Pion
Seat IX - Arya Zopasku / Nektarios18
Seat X - Sneky Maritas / Sneky_Snake
Seat XI - Ranko Dražan / PsychFreshie

THE 8th PARTISAN CHAIR ELECTION

The Partisan Chair election this time around was considered very un-notable as incumbent Alisa Nikitina had long been expected to win re-election thanks to her considerable popularity and praise for her work in the position. Her platform this time around centered around holding the government accountable, working with the Commissariat of Foreign Affairs to allow the XUP to establish its own independent foreign policy to manage relations with other Xeroist parties in Abexilas, to form what would possibly be a political (rather than national) successor to the Abexilas Socialist International, reform the party rules, work closely with the YXL to promote activity, hold nation-wide socialist competition events, to create party-specific medals, and work with the Commissariat of Culture to engage the party more actively in culture.

Nikitina was challenged by Art Inkman, who had never previously sought party office; he pledged to restructure the party (incl. making the Partisan Chair "a first among equals"), revive the Revolutionary Readers' Club in a way that it becomes less dependent on the Partisan Chair, to create a working group to help with the maintenance of party-related wiki pages, and to make a stipend for those writing theory.

While Inkman had previously been considered a powerful political foe, his relative inactivity in politics (relating to him not holding any political office for several years) and Nikitina's sheer popularity could not be matched. Moreover, the "Anti-Nikitina" camp was split as Makka Pakka also declared their candidacy for the Partisan Chairmanship.

And thus Nikitina won by a massive landslide with 56.3% of the vote while her opponents both tied at 21.9% - making history as she (Nikitina) becomes the first Partisan Chair to have won a third term.