West Moravian General Election (June 2019)

2019 Constitutional Crisis (21 May - 4 June)

On 22 May, one day after her acquittal to the West Moravian National Gaol, the British Affairs Secretary, A Moodley, petitioned the Secretary-General to appeal her case. The following day, the then secretary for External Affairs, J Richardson, met with the Secretary-General to discuss the petition made by the British Affairs secretary. They agreed that since Moodley was not responsible for Internal Affairs, but British Affairs, and that she was a holder of a government office at the time she could not appeal towards her role. They also agreed, along with C Pichler-Roca, that Moodley should be released from her de facto sentence but not to continue to hold the office of British Affairs secretary. Instead, she would become the first secretary for Environmental Affairs & Resources. On 23 May, this came into force. The Secretary-General stepped down from his role as secretary for Internal Affairs and a new role, secretary for Administrative Affairs, was taken by Richardson. Furthermore, the posts of secretary for British Affairs and secretary for External Affairs were amalgamated into the position, 'Secretary for Defence, Foreign Affairs and Public Safety.' Pichler-Roca was appointed as the first holder of this post on 23 May 2019. On May 24, Moodley asked that she might be given responsibility for Equality in addition to her other post; this was duly granted on the same day by the Secretary-General.

The Election

On May 25, the Secretary-General called for a National Election to be held on June 4, saying, 'we need to find ways to fix this current crisis and in my opinion, the best way to do that would be to hold a National Election.' Two parties have fielded candidates - the National Christian Communist League, fielding the Secretary-General, B Braddock, the secretary for Administrative Affairs, Sir J Richardson, the secretary for Defence, Foreign Affairs and Public Safety, Sir C Pichler-Roca, the Presiding Officer of the UNPLS, E Rutherford, the Chairperson of the Collective Leadership and Ambassador-General, M Sharp, and C Bourne. The Green Party have fielded A Moodley, A Lindsay and S Crawford. The election will use a closed-list d'Hondt method to calculate the number of seats in the UNPLS allotted to each party. Election results were declared for the Gloucester Ward on May 26, and results for the other wards will be declared on 4 June due to the Half-Term Recess.

The Secretary-General either re-elected or newly elected to that post is then due to appoint positions to the UNPLS between the 4th and 7 June. The new parliament will then begin it's sitting on June 10.

During the Election Campaign, on June 2, the Secretary-General announced that he would appoint Sir J Richardson as Deputy Secretary-General and Presidential Aide-de-Campe if the National Christian Communist League won the election. He also announced that the NCCL, following the election, would be renamed as the 'Civic Democratic Party' (CDP).

Election Results

Gloucester Ward - National Christian Communist League; 3 votes (75.00%); Green Party; 1 votes (25.00%)

Dean Close Seven Ward - National Christian Communist League; 3 votes (75.00%); Green Party; 1 votes (25.00%)

Dean Close At-Large - National Christian Communist League; 2 votes (66.67%); Green Party; 1 votes (33.33%)

Dean Close Eight Ward - Green Party; 4 votes (66.67%) National Christian Communist League; 2 votes (33.33%)

Total Votes - 17

Turnout - 62.96%

Outcome - National Christian Communist League; 10 votes (58.82%); Green Party; 7 votes (42.18%)

Seats in UNPLS - National Christian Communist League; 4 seats; Green Party; 2 seats

Ensuing Government - Third Braddock Government

Ensuing Secretary-General - B Braddock

Following the election results, B Braddock, J Richardson, C Pichler-Roca, E Rutherford, A Moodley and A Lindsay were sworn into the UNPLS. Braddock and Pichler-Roca continued in their posts, J Richardson was appointed Deputy Secretary-General in addition to his role in Administrative Affairs. E Rutherford became Chairperson of the Collective Leadership and Ambassador-General. Moodley became Presiding Officer of the UNPLS and Matriarch of the Earth. Lindsay filled Moodley's position in the previous government. Fresh elections are due to be held on 17 October 2019.