[Lauchenoiria]

Lauchenoirian Guardian

Social Democrats plummet in opinion polls after leader makes pro-Kerlile comments
8th June 2019

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) have plummeted in the polls after their leader, Cassidy Laurens, was caught on camera on Thursday saying that matriarchal dictatorship Kerlile had the ‘right idea’ when it comes to women’s rights.

Laurens made the comment following a speech to supporters in a café in Summersea, not realising her microphone was still turned on. She was visiting the city, which was partially destroyed during last year’s civil war, to visit groups of Lauchenoirians made homeless by the war and living in temporary accommodation.

Her speech was centred on the need for the government to focus on helping those who had lost family, their homes or their livelihoods during the war. It also mentioned the presence of Shuellian aid workers in the city, where she thanked Shuell for their assistance – but also expressed concerns about, and disapproval of, the authoritarian nature of their government.

Local tabloid newspaper, Summersea Today, picked up the recording in which Laurens is heard saying “say what you like about Kerlile, they’ve got the right idea about women’s rights”, going on to refer to a comment made by a male journalist about her appearance after her speech.

SDP presidential candidate Daniela Penn distanced herself from the comments, saying that she and the SDP “do not and never will support a regime as cruel as that in Kerlile”. An opinion poll conducted in the last two days shows the SDP on track to lose all their seats in the election.

Also today, incumbent President Rogelio Paloma announced that if re-elected, he would seek to strengthen relations with countries Lauchenoiria has traditionally not had very strong relationships with through seeking trade deals. It is thought that these nations would include Zamastan and Shuell. Paloma has ruled out any trade deal with Kerlile.

Parliamentary voting intention, 08/06/19 (change from previous poll on 05/06/19 shown)
Liberal Party: 23.8% (+0.7)
Communist Party: 16.3% (+0.2)
Green Party: 14.6% (+0.1)
Conservative Party: 13.9% (-)
Left Alliance: 8.1% (+0.1)
Lauchenoiria First: 7.6% (+0.2)
Lauchenoirian Democratic Alliance: 6.4% (-0.1)
Pacifist Party: 3.8% (+0.2)
Feminist Party: 2.8% (-0.1)
Social Democratic Party: 1.1% (-1.5)
Anarchist Party of Yervia: 1.0% (+0.1)
Aelurian Independence Party (AIP): 0.1% (-)