Gaia Grìbhinneach

Elder Geuje 'Gaia' Grìbhinneach is an American-born Easwegian politician serving as the second Alderman of Bear Island since 17th January 2022 and chief advisor to the Grand Office for democratic activities since the 18th March 2022. Previously, they stood as the fourth Director of Agriculture & Environment on Bear Island; first standing from 18th July 2021 to 6th of August 2021, standing as the leader of the Solidarity party, before a small hiatus, and then from 3rd September 2021 to 17th January 2022. They are the leader of Solidarity.
==== Early Political History ====
Grìbhinneach created the Solidarity party on 10th July 2021, a libertarian socialist party with the goal of bringing real policies to Easway, with a heavy focus on workers rights and social justice, dedicated to reforming Easway away from its head of state reliance and monarchistic-like titles, towards anarchist ideas, inspired from Peter Kropotkin and Emiliano Zapata.
Grìbhinneach stood in attempt to become the Director for Housing & Community on Bear Island in the July 2021 Director for Housing & Community on Bear Island By-Election on 13th July 2021, coming second with 4 votes to Swapardeshi.
Undeterred, another by-election was called in the July 2021 Director for Agriculture & Environment By-Election on 18th July, which they won during a run-off vote against Homofascist candidate Archiennè with 7 votes to 5.
Grìbhinneach originally ran as the leader of the party Solidarity when becoming the Director of Agriculture & Environment for Bear Island. The former holder of the seat, Etchasketch had endorsed them and their party to bring a counterbalance with more egalitarian left wing values to what was seen as an increasingly authoritarian and right wing political environment. Indeed Grìbhinneach throughout their tenure saw the shift of Easway towards the left, including when Etchasketch took hold of the Mutualist Ouroboros Party (defecting back from Solidarity) to oppose the then Homofascist Party of Easway and the National Republican Party of Easway, which were for a brief period in coalition with each other. Grìbhinneach's views, especially around their anti-monarchist stances and desire to create an anarchist society; arguing that polities such as in the Chiapas of Mexico are a model for an anarchist government, was opposed by many, and clashes, reportedly with even the Emperor led to Grìbhinneach briefly resigning their position on the 6th of August 2021 to the 3rd of September 2021. Coming back as Director, it was noted that both Grìbhinneach and the rest of the political scene softened from this period onwards and from a historical perspective this is largely classified as when Easway slowly became more left wing.
=== Personal & Political Life ===
Grìbhinneach identifies as non-binary. Their pronouns are they/them. They are a member of the Easwegian Confederation of Workers.
Gaia was awarded the Baron's medal by the Emizerri on 13th September 2021 with the Chief Councillor's appraisal for their help on making an offshoot page for Easway on a microwiki website.