Joseph Zhang
| Joseph Zhang | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 13th & 15th President Of Slokais | |
| In office January 4th, 2019 – January 4th, 2021 | |
| Vice President | Maria Santino |
| Preceded by | Joseph Chavez |
| Succeeded by | Joseph Chavez |
| In office January 4th, 2013 – January 4th, 2017 | |
| Vice President | Michelle Bow |
| Preceded by | George Oliver |
| Succeeded by | Joseph Chavez |
| 3rd Leader of the Centrist Party | |
| Assumed office December 19, 2006 | |
| Representative of the Slokaisian Legislature | |
| In office December 31st 1994 – December 19, 2012 | |
| Constituency | San Fernando 1st |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 19, 1952 San Fernando, San Fernando Province |
| Spouse(s) | Michelle Wei (1980-2003) |
| Domestic partner | Anna Williams (2005-2021), Ellie Hsu-Jia (2023- |
| Mother | Lai Zhang |
| Father | Paul Jou Zhang |
| Residence | 1900 North Shore Blvd |
| Alma mater | University of New Liverpool,Slokais Open University System |
Joseph Zhang is a politician and former President from Slokais Islands who served as President from 2011 to 2017 and from 2019 to 2021, both as a member of the Centrist Party. After a defeat in the 2022 Election, he was expelled from the party, eventually forming Centering Slokais in 2026, a Ren-focused political organization to draft their own party lists for the 2026 Election. Previously, Zhang had been the Mayor of San Fernando from 2006 to 2011 and an MP from 1994 to 2006.
Early Life
Joseph Wenyan-Jou Zhang was born on April 19th, 1954 at Admiralty Hospital in San Fernando to Lai Jou Zhang, a teacher from Colorado Province, and Paul Jou Zhang, a banker from San Fernando. Both of his parents were Ren, although Zhang's great-grandfather was a tribal member within the Kao-Di group. Joseph was the 3rd child of the Zhang household, with Gregory and Lei-Ma being born several years before. In 1956, Joseph moved to Colorado Province, fleeing political violence against Minjian within San Fernando. While in Colorado, Zhang lived at a Minjian convent and was able to be accepted into the Convent College of Colorado in 1972. However, due to the aftermath of the Great War, the college lacked sufficient funds and Joseph transferred to San Fernando University, where Joseph graduated in 1976 with a degree in international business. Joseph would then work at Harvest Technologies until 1990, where he quickly rose to become its COO. Harvest Technologies under Zhang's leadership would invest in building residential developments and then turn a profit from land sales. In 1990, Zhang left Harvest Bank to accept a role as a pundit for JBC Media, the largest Pindai-Mandarin language TV network.
Political Career
At JBC Media, Zhang became widely known for criticizing both Conservative politicians for ignoring Ren issues and the Left Party for cutting military spending. This would lead to Zhang being listed in a 1994 Center Party list, despite some objections from him. Despite this, Zhang's public presence led to a massive increase in the Center Party within San Fernando Province and his election to parliament. As an MSL, Zhang became a leading figure in the Center Party, positioning it as a third option. Zhang notably sponsored articles of removal for Conservative MSL's during the 1999 Judicial Appointment Crisis. In 2002, Zhang joined with the Green Party as well as the Left Party to form a mega-coalition government, with the Center Party being able to appoint several cabinet members.
2026 Election
Zhang had previously supported a political organization known as Centering Slokais since 2024 which funded Minjian candidates in local elections across the country. However, in April 2026, Centering Slokais was launched as a political party with a focus on broader economic issues and anti-corruption. Zhang, who had made a public personal commitment to the Minjian faith in 2024 denied the new party being focused on one ethnic group or religion. Although the leadership is primarily ethnically Ren with an combatting anti-Minjian sentiment being a key party tenet.
Policy
On Kaijan, Zhang has said, “It’s unwise for Kaijan to leave Slokais and for Slokais to leave Kaijan, the economic impacts for both regions should be considered before moving forward”. On the issues such as foreign affairs, he has taken a neo-liberal path “We need to step up in our fight against tyranny worldwide such as Xiomera and Huscar and many others, although peacekeeping is good it never has worked in actual change”. On social issues, he says “Its time to move forward, however, we must consider working with our past and respecting that”.
Personal Life
Zhang is a member of the Minjian Faith, becoming the first member of the faith elected President. Specifically Zhang is an adherent to the Colorado Convent school of thought which places emphasis on tolerance of other's and incorporates elements of repentance through prayer when an Edict of the Faith is violated. In a 2025 interview, Zhang proclaimed he violated several edicts in the past and was "in the process of addressing those violations with the divine couple". It its rumored he committed adultery against his first wife, Michelle Jia which lead to there divorce in 2003. Joseph Zhang has six children, 5 from his first marriage to Michelle Jia, a tech executive. And another child, Jenny from his long-time girlfriend and politician Anna Williams, who is an MSL for Pindai from the Centrist Party. In 2023 he became a vegetarian.