Constructed Worlds Wiki
Register
Advertisement
2013 Mariana 2020
2016 general election
29 August 2016
[[File:File:Ines Michels 2016.png
Ines Michels|{{{size1}}}|link=]]
[[File:File:Henley.jpg
Gerald Henley|{{{size2}}}|link=]]
[[File:File:K. House cropped.png
Karen House|{{{size4}}}|link=]]
[[File:Pieter Van Buskirk
Pieter Van Buskirk|{{{size5}}}|link=]]

The 2016 Marianan general election was an election held on 29 August 2016 to determine the government of Mariana. Several factors led to such an early election, which resulted in no significant plurality for any of the parties and produced no prime minister, leading to a second election.

Background[]

CDU poster 2016

CDU election poster

The strong government coalition of the Greens, Social Democrats and Better Mariana began to show weaknesses within the ranks of the SDP. A leadership election saw the party choose Pieter Van Buskirk as leader, but not after a divisive campaign in which Palma's mayor Karen House, the anti-establishment outsider, closely finished in second and began to represent a more grassroots leftist wing of the party.

Likewise several defections from the SDP and SLP led to the creation of Yes to the Future, a party formed from the anti-austerity and alternative Esquedra Republicana na Mariana and Avanze parties.

On 25 July, the government presented a bill raising the IVA (VAT tax) from 17% to 21%, due to economic uncertainty and the likely need for funds. The proposal was criticized by left and right and saw heated debate in the congress. THe vote on 29 July resulted in:

  • In favour: GP (27), SDP (19), BM (2) - 48 votes
  • Against: SLP (14), CDU (14), FLP (8), YES (5), P70 (3), SAP (1), MPP (1), CCP (1), SDP (5) - 52 votes

5 members of the pro-House faction voted against the bill and defeated it, sending the country to elections.

Result[]

Vote Share
Green Party
  
21.3%
CDU
  
17.8%
Yes to the Future
  
17.2%
Social Democrats
  
16.5%
Free Liberal Party
  
11.6%
Socialist Left Party
  
10.9%
Better Mariana
  
2.7%
Others
  
2.0%

The Greens finished in first place, as they did in 2013. The CDU was able to garner enough votes to finish in second, improving over three years ago. The real surprise was Yes, finishing in third at the expend of the SDP and SLP. Nonetheless no one party managed to receive a plurality of votes, much less a majority.

Aftermath[]

Marianan congress composition

  SAP: 1 seat
  SLP: 11 seats
  YES: 17 seats
  SDP: 16 seats
  GP: 21 seats
  BM: 3 seats
  CDU: 18 seats
  FLP: 12 seats
  MPP: 1 seat

After the election there was the need to try and form a government through a coalition. The likely options, continuation of the GP/SDP/BM coalition (40 seats), CDU/FLP/BM coalition (33 seats) and Yes and SLP (28 seats) all fell short of a minimum 50%. The Greens, SDP and Better Mariana proposed incumbent Prime Minister Wostor as candidate; they were hoping to get support from the SLP to be able to pass the vote but SLP was adamant they would not work with BM in a government.

The government coalition proposed Wostor for Prime Minister on 5 September. All the SDP, GP and BM congresspersons voted for Wostor, but fell short of a majority by 11 votes. The Marianan People's Party's leader, Sofia Andersen, stated her party would oppose any government proposal by leftist parties.


First round: 5 September 2016
Absolute majority (51/100) required
Candidate: Peter Wostor
Choice Vote
Parties Votes
Yes GP, SDP, BM
40 / 100
No CDU, YES, SLP, FLP
60 / 100
Abstentions
0 / 350
Source: Congress of Deputies

Collapse of the Greens[]

Following the vote there was talk some SDP could support a YES candidate, and the SLP announced on 4 September they could potentially back a coalition with GP and SDP, but nothing came to light.

In May 2017 a scandal came to light whereby Peter Wostor had illegally used government money to fund the campaigns of family members and close associates who were running for positions in municipal government. Immediately afterward, the Social Democrats announced they would no longer back the Greens, and GP deputy leader Warren Sheraldin broke off from the party to form a new one, ECO17. Wostor resigned as Prime Minister and party leader, and new elections were called for 30 June.

Advertisement