Haalsian Enquirer: SDUP Merger and More

SDUP Agrees to PRM MergerGurbanguly Berdimuhamedow of the Social Democratic Unity Party has just announced the completion of a merger that brings his party into the fold of the largest federal political party, the Popular Republican Movement. PRM bills itself as a radical-centrist political party, though it has tended to lean left, at least under the leadership of Imperial Chancellor Sheldon Whitehouse, making it quite compatible with Burdimuhamedow's own centre-left stances. A spokesperson for the Haalsian PRM said the party is honored to have Berdimuhamedow on-board and it hopes to do the SDUP voters proud in the state.
Saddam Hussein to lead DUP in HaalsThe Democratic Unionist Party has likewise announced that it has received ballot access in Haals and has high hopes for their future prospects in the state. Saddam Hussein, a former National Security Advisor in the Brandt government, has decided to enter local politics to make a difference for the state. Hussein himself has been described as a Social Democrat and will likely be competing for a similar vote as Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow. How the two draw contrasts during future campaigns will certainly be interesting.
Ömürbek Babanov to lead battered ModeratesThe Moderates, a party which once stood as the largest in the Haalsian Assembly now relegated to a mid-tier contender at best, has elected Ömürbek Babanov to lead them in the next election. Babanov's challenge is to keep his party relevant after it was supplanted by its coalition partners, The Socialist Front, last year. With PRM and DUP slated to cover the centre to centre-left and the Socialist Front dominating the left wing, Babanov is may try to peel PRM and DUP away from the SF to form a more moderate government, but if he cannot do so, he is thought to be more than willing to support the centre-right instead.
Syzdykov Announces Nuclear Power InitiativeWith the federal budget seemingly ready to be enacted, thus finally allotting Haals the 5 billion fall budget extension it has been requestion for years, State Chancellor Turgun Syzdykov vowed to spend the money on a public works project to construct two dual-reactor nuclear power facilities that will be state-owned, and could therefore provide power at the cost of production, drawing a sharp contrast with other states that have pursued a "profit-driven privately-owned nuclear power monopoly". The idea passed on a vote of 49 to 36, with no abstentions. The Haalsian Opposition has blasted the State Chancellor and those who supported his bill for their "utter contempt for the tried and true free-market capitalism that brings prosperity to all". Construction will begin soon, bringing union-backed jobs to the population.
Category:The Imperial Constitution