Yu Dynasty Yingdala (4338-4636)

[Wu Han]

The Taixi Times is a daily print and web publication from Taixi, Anle, offering breaking news and analysis on politics, business, world national news, and entertainment.

Li Baihan narrowly defeats incumbent Sung Hyo-rin for Lotus Party leadership
In a narrow race, Li was able to usurp incumbent Sung by 2.5% of the vote
15 May 4358

Li strides to the stage

HAIWAN, Anle: Last night a tense race between the interim leader of the Lotus Party Sung Hyo-rin and former Haiwan Mayor and GLF President Li Baihan was concluded. Fielding one of the shortest rosters of candidates in the party's history, most polls had Li and Sung virtually tied. By last night, many analysts had called the election for Sung. Despite this, Li ended up as the victor of the night, winning 50.2% of the vote on the first ballot.

Taking the stage at 10:30pm, Li thanking her supporters, friends and family as well as Sung for her service as Interim Leader. She also did not shy from noting the precarious situation the Lotus Party is in at present. In her acceptance speech, Li said:

Next month will mark the centennial anniversary of when our party was thrust to power for the first time. One hundred years have past since Wu Hán courageously challenged the authoritarian actors in Tian'an and subsequently dismantled Tony Pua's dictatorship. I cannot help but think of the good that the democratic-left has brought to Indrala over the past one hundred years. Universal healthcare, public education, strengthening the welfare state, rebuilding our economy from the bottom up. It is then so disappointing to see our party has lost the broad support of the electorate. That is why I promise you today that I will dedicate my body and mind to regaining the trust of the Indralan people. We must win elections so that we can win battles for the working and middle class in Tian'an!

Indeed, the Lotus Party, once viewed as Indrala's natural governing party, has faced a number of issues in the last few elections, losing ground to the Conservative Coalition with economic-focused voters as well as vote splitting with the Social Democratic Party. Li Baihan will have to work to rebuild the coalition of voters which kept the Lotus Party in power for nearly 75 years, in one form or another.

Sung Hyo-rin congratulated her successor after the convention, and announced that she had accepted the position of Defence Critic within Li's shadow cabinet. During the convention, the party members also elected the Pro-Li candidate Wang Zheng to replace Jin Huanyu as Party President.

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Originally posted by Wu Han on 7 March 2018.