2002 Shea Chamber of Deputies Election

312 seats - 157 for a majority

The 2002 Shea Chamber of Deputies Election took place on the 1st of October 2002 in Shea. The election was the second election the country had ever had and was widely expected to be won by the left/broad-left. Declan Louise had been involved with a scandal earlier in September which led to a drop for the left in the polls but it ended up not being a problem when the election came around. NWL won 32 seats, ALT won 103 seats, DL won 44 seats, MOV won 31 seats, UNITED won 38 seats, COP won 51 seats, and NAT won 13 seats. The results led to a left victory but after coalition discussions Democratic Labour refused to form a government whilst Declan Louise was First Minister so Patrick Conrad became First Minister and a coalition was concluded and the government was formed on the 26th of October 2002.

## Background

During the 1st ALT - DL - MOV Government popularity grew for the left-wing parties due to the popularity of the policies being implemented such as: the Maternity Leave Act, Homosexuality Act, Divorce & Marriage Act, State Housing Act, Shean Postal Service Act, and Currency Act. NWL saw a rise in the polls and after the scandal about Declan Louise, the party rose dramatically in the polls but subsequently dropped down again because of the Alternative campaign. Declan Louise refused to resign after the scandal believing that it would "hinder" the election and force a "worse" result and so Louise remained First Minister during the election campaign.

## Campaign

### Left Campaign

Alternative campaigned on the promise that they would continue their efforts and introduce new welfare benefits for families and children, nationalize certain companies/industries, and guarantee the right to protest in Shea. New Left pushed for a major new nationalization project that would include fully nationalizing the health, education, utilities, natural resources, construction, agriculture, and real estate industries to ensure "socialism would help the mass" and "route out capitalism." Democratic Labour centered the socialist threat that New Left had planned by campaigning against nationalizing any more industries and companies as well as ensuring that welfare and progress is put above economics.

### Moderate Campaign

Movement relaxed their progressive policies instead focusing on increasing immigration for high-skilled workers, students, and refugees as well as increasing taxes and relaxing gun laws for handguns.

### Right Campaign

United Liberal had a similar campaign with the exception of reducing immigration, and restricting drug use which was popular among parents and older people which increased the party's reach. Conservative Populist campaigned for decreasing immigration, making it harder to immigrate to Sheaman, increasing border/airport security, recriminalizing homosexuality, cracking down on drugs, and denationalizing certain industries. National pushed for a new major agenda that included removing Sheaman people from the country, stopping immigration for the foreseeable future, tightening border security, introducing anti-terrorism legislation, banning most drugs, recriminalizing homosexuality with life imprisonment or the death penalty, and introducing an elected President.

## Aftermath

After the results were announced it was expected that New Left, Alternative, and Democratic Labour would all form a coalition as together the parties would have a government of 179 seats which was well above a majority. This coalition, however, would not work as Democratic Labour refused to be in a coalition with Declan Louise as First Minister so Alternative discuss this issue and agreed to vote Louise out from his position. However, before they go the change, Louise agreed to resign over being voted out and the party held a quick election on the 24th of October that elected Patrick Conrad as First Minister. The coalition went through and the government was formed on the 28th of October 2002 with Conrad becoming First Minister the same day.