[Lauchenoiria]

Lauchenoirian Guardian

Polls open in Lauchenoiria for 2020 Presidential Elections
19th April 2020

Polls have opened in Lauchenoiria for the first round of the 2020 Presidential elections. There are x candidates running in this election, and the two candidates with the highest share of the vote will go through to the second round of voting, which will take place next week alongside the parliamentary elections. This is the second presidential election in twelve months, thanks to the passage of a new constitution, and the incumbent President Alex Marwick has chosen not to run for re-election.

Polls opened at 7am, and will remain open until 10pm this evening. Voters have a choice of candidates from the Liberal Party, Conservative Party, Communist Party, Green-Pacifist Alliance, Feminist Party and Lauchenoiria First. A number of parties have chosen not to field candidates in this election while still running in the parliamentary elections, including the Left Alliance – who have urged their supporters to vote for the Communist candidate, Nataniel Zavala. All Lauchenoirian citizens over the age of 18 may vote.

It is expected to be a three-horse race between the Liberal, Conservative and Communist candidates, though there is an outside chance that the Green-Pacifist candidate could manage to scrape enough votes to reach the next round. The Liberal candidate, Emilia Obando, served as Justice Minister in Laura Moore’s government, and was known to be good friends with Leanna Walker – something that will help her chances among supporters of the anti-Chaher faction in the civil war.

Conservative candidate Fabián Sandoval, from Summersea, is a newcomer on the scene of national politics, however has led the Conservative Party in Costeno Province for eight years, and is a popular figure in local politics, despite the previous unpopularity of the party in the province. It is thought that the party is aiming to gain votes in the province on the back of the influence of Shuellian aid workers, as right-wing politics become more popular in the province as a result.

As part of the alliance between the Green Party and the Pacifist Party, their presidential candidate is Pacifist Party leader Samantha Clavell, a lifelong peace activist, who had also been active in environmental movements. The parliamentary party will be led by Green leader Lucie Scott. Clavell is known for her opposition to war and serves in the current cabinet as Minister for Culture and the Arts. As someone who was neutral during the civil war, she aims to appeal to people across the divide.

Feminist leader Katherine Wright is their presidential candidate, though her poll numbers indicate that she has very little chance of making it through to the second round. Lauchenoiria First is putting forward Paul Doberman once again, who has spent the debates attempting to court controversy. With only six candidates, this election will have far less choice than in 2019, when 11 candidates battled it out. Of the 2019 candidates, Paul Doberman is the only one running in 2020.