Saridan

[Rogue]

Koeistad - After a exciting electoral campaign it has become clear that the ruling Saridanese Nationalist Party will retain its position as the country its largest party, but will lose its absolute majority. The party primarily ran against a joint list of the Progressives and Social Democrats under the leadership of firebrand progressive candidate Bettie van den Berg. While the SNP also lost seats due to previous electoral reforms, which abolished the 5% electoral treshold, the party has also suffered from competition from the far-right Reform Party and a liberal Federal Party that has retained most of its seats. 
In the end, the SNP captured 52 seats in the Volksraad, followed by the P-SD combination with 43 seats (a increase of 12 seats when combining the two parties their seats from last election.) In the far distance the liberal Federal Party has captured 19 seats, a loss of just one compared to last election, followed by the far-right Reform Party with 16 seats, the new Centre with 12 seats and the new Green Democratic Alliance at 8 seats. 

The new "Centre" seems to hold a interesting position following this election. Jumping into the gap between the SNP and Federals this new party has created its own following of social liberal voters, dissapointed by the SNP its rightist course but also seeing the Federals as to weak on social issues. Centre seeks to position itself as a liberal party, but in favor of a pro-active and social government. With 12 seats in its first election, the party has captured a strong position in Saridani politics. The new Green Democratic Alliance has meanwhile "eaten" away some left-wing support from the P-SD. Disgruntled left-wing voters seem to have chosen for the new GDA thanks in large part due to the P-SD moderating its platform in order to gain wider appeal. The GDA ran on a firm left-wing program, also being the only party that advocates for climate justice and reparations for the Ikpi people which the party sees as "disadvantaged natives that have suffered under industrial rule." With 8 seats, the party also has a clear following. 

Interesting will be the days ahead. State President Smit has once again appointed Andries Pienaar, current State Secretary, to once again fullfill the position of head of government. It will be his task to bring the SNP closer to other parties in an effort to form a government. The most likely outcome seems to be a center-right cabinet of SNP-FP and Sentrum, which would force the SNP to moderate on some key nationalist issues. The position of the State President is also likely to be discussed, as both Sentrum and the Federale Party both introduced a "parliamentary system" in their programs, advocating for a weaker state president and bigger role for the Volksraad in governance. Whether these points will gain the neccessary 2/3rd vote to make it is to be seen. For now, government formations are on the table and the country awakes from its election slumber.