Gang of Five

Réne_Gramont

The Gang of Five was a group of five political leaders who led the Committee for Democracy and Progress during the Laeralian Civil War, and later the Social Democratic party (and by extension, all of Laeral) during the ensuing Republic of Laeral period. The Gang of Five consisted of Réne Gramont, Jean-Philippe Salaun, Élisabeth-Charlotte Cordé, Sun Jia-wei, and Zhou Wei-lin, although some consider André Yeoh and Julien Cheng to have also been members. The Gang of Five was largely successful at reshaping Laeralian national character and politics, although they have been criticized for actions some consider authoritarian.

Core Membership

Réne Gramont, an Army major and statesman, was often considered the leader of the Gang of Five. He was elected as the first President of the Republic of Laeral, being elected for two five-year terms. He later became the first Foreign Minister and second President of the subsequent Allied Provinces government.

Jean-Philippe Salaun, a former general in the Laeralian Army, later became the first Prime Minister of the Republic of Laeral and the second President of the Republic. He was killed during the Bloody Summer by forces of General Alain Mette.

Sun Jia-wei, a former soldier who had been educated abroad, became the Foreign Minister under President Gramont, and later served in various capacities throughout the Republic of Laeral's existence, including as Vice-President. Following the establishment of the Second Allied Provinces, Sun became Prime Minister.

Zhou Wei-lin, Gramont's former aide-de-camp, was the Chief of Staff for President Gramont, and later the third President of the Republic of Laeral. He split with the Social Democrats following the establishment of the Second Allied Provinces, founding the Progressive Party of Laeral. He was briefly Prime Minister of Laeral.

Élisabeth-Charlotte Cordé, a union leader, was a major figure in the development of the Republic of Laeral's ideology. She became the first woman to be elected to the Assembly of Commons under the Republic of Laeral, and later Labor Minister under President Réne Gramont. She became a leader of an influential trade union under the Second Allied Provinces.

Affiliated Members

André Yeoh, an academic, was the first Vice-President of the Republic of Laeral. He later broke with the group to co-found the Progressive party. In his late career, he was appointed as Director of the Academie Linguiste.

Julien Cheng, a trade union leader, was an Economy Minister under the Republic of Laeral, developing much of the Gang of Five's economic policy. He later served as Finance Minister for the Second Allied Provinces government.

Additionally, the wives of several members of the Gang have been considered by recent historians to have played significant roles in the group's ideology. These include Thérèse Gramont and Marianne Zhou.