03-01-2013, 08:57 PM
[/hr]POLITICS | OPINIONS | SPORT | NATIONAL | LIFESTYLE | BUSINESS | INTERNATIONAL
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FRIDAY, MARCH 01, 2013
[/hr]VOL. XCV .. Num. 34,406 | In the News: New Government -- Weekend Sport -- Economy
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by JOEY SESSIONS, Political Correspondent
Sanctus - Newly elected Prime Minister, Mark Kindle, today officially took office at 12 noon, along with the eleven other Deputies who were confirmed by the Senate to form his Cabinet. This is the third time in a row that the Sanctarian Conservative Party have been elected to govern the nation, and following recent constitutional changes, this will be the first time that the term is capped to five years.
Following their confirmation in the Senate, the following is the composition of the cabinet:
- Deputy Prime Minister/Secretary for Finance: As the Deputy Leader of the SCP, Deputy Jason Reid has been given the mainly ceremonial title of Deputy Prime Minister. His prime function will be to represent Prime Minister Kindle on occasions where he is unable to attend, such as PMQs or Leader's Questions. He has also been given the, symbolically, senior cabinet post of Finance, where he'll be responsible for the nation's budgetary and monetary decisions.
- Secretary for Agriculture: Julie Chrisintim, previously Minister for Diplomatic Affairs, has been promoted from a Junior Minister to a full Cabinet Secretary, publicly because she's a noted hard worker and grasps difficult areas quickly, but more likely it's because Kindle needs a good number of women in his Cabinet, and many of the hard hitting women in the previous cabinet retired or lost their seats at the last election. Chrisintim comes from a rural constituency and was popular as Junior Minister, so this appointment is likely to be a big hit.
- Secretary for Communications & Infrastructure: Former Junior Minister for Economic Planning, Dorian Gallows, is Kindle's new Secretary for Communications, a direct promotion from an economic junior ministry, to one of the more important economic portfolios. Gallows was a hard working junior minister, but kept his profile low and almost lost his seat in the election. It's likely this appointment is both a reward, and an attempt at boosting his profile.
- Secretary for Culture, the Arts & Tourism: Kindle has promoted Minister for Children, Oscar Grayson, to this cabinet role, often dubbed as the Department of Fun. Grayson is a close ally of Kindle and is generally considered one of those who helped whip some votes for Kindle in the leadership election. Though generally considered a low-key and low-work post, Grayson is known for enjoying a large workload. It's expected he's going to revitalise the cabinet job.
- Secretary for Defence: In what is seen as a major demotion from his cabinet post in the previous government, Deputy David Juyno has been appointed Secretary for Defence. Formerly Secretary for Communications & Infrastructure, and known for his desire for economic portfolios, this appointment is a clear sign to Juyno from Kindle that he expects him to quieten down in this term; Juyno is known to speak his mind and frequently causes uproar and controversy. Juyno didn't support Kindle in the leadership election, and barely clung on to his seat, but the backbenchers are fond of him, so Kindle needs him for now anyway. This job is somewhere where Juyno can't do damage.
- Secretary for Education & Science: Continuing her rapid rise in the SCP ranks, Deputy Noreen Islington has been promoted from her previous government position of Culture, to the important and wide-ranging portfolio of Education & Science. Popular on both sides of the House, as well as in the country at large, Islington is also another needed woman that Kindle had to have in his cabinet. It's believed she was also on his shortlist for running mate in the leadership election before he settled on Reid.
- Secretary for Enterprise & Commerce: Prime Minister Kindle's old job has gone to longtime Junior Minister, Mark Parson. Parson, who was Minister for Prisons and Police for over five years, joins the cabinet as one of the SCP's most outspoken conservative members. Kindle, who is known to be on the more liberal wing of the party, could have done this in an attempt to quieten him, but it's just as likely it was done because Parson is known to not mess with the status quo; with the economy the healthiest it has been in years, Kindle is likely to want someone who won't mess, but continue with successful policies. Parson is perfect for this.
- Secretary for Foreign Affairs: In what was a widely expected move, Kindle's appointment of Yasminé Pontif as Secretary for Foreign Affairs has been widely welcomed by everyone in the political spectrum. Pontif, who was Secretary for Social Welfare in the last government, has previously served as Minister for the United Nations (now World Assembly), and was a diplomat by profession before entering politics. Pontif is known to be a tough negotiator and a very hard worker and is expected to be a great asset to Sanctarian influence internationally.
- Secretary for Health: Medical doctor Deputy George Merlinson is Kindle's appointment to the Health Department. Formerly Secretary for Home Affairs, Merlinson had let it be known in recent months that he'd like retire from politics and re-enter the health service; as a massive vote-winner, this was likely a job promised by Kindle if he stayed in politics. The DLP has been very critical of the way the SCP runs the health service, but DLP Senators in the Health Committee expressed their support for Merlinson in their interviews with him as part of the nomination process yesterday.
- Secretary for Home Affairs, Justice & Equality: Former Deputy Prime Minister, and loser to Kindle in the leadership election, Deputy Andrew Silk has been appointed to this Department. Silk's tenure in the Foreign Affairs department is not perceived as being very successful although he did succeed in creating a new regional council. Known to be fairly frosty with the Prime Minister, Silk is a hard hitter in the party, so appointment to the cabinet was likely. Known for being tough in the Social Welfare Department, where he also previously served, Silk is likely to go down in history as one of the more tough Secretaries for Home Affairs Sanctaria has seen.
- Secretary for Social Welfare & Family Affairs: In what is a direct promotion, former Minister for Employment and Labour Kate Cruz has been appointed to lead this Department. After five years in a junior ministry directly associated with this portfolio, Cruz brings a wealth of experience, in addition to her gender, to the cabinet table. Cruz has kept a relatively low profile in what is seen as a tough job, a fact that stands to her ability to be successful in whatever she puts her hand to, and Kindle has likely noticed this.