Pilin Qicoring

12 August 206 - present (17 years)

**Pilin Qicoring** (b. 13 September 150) is the current president of Hridnia since 12 August 206. He is the second-longest ruling president of Hridnia, with only Miqili Dip ruling for longer than him. Since 19 November 208, he has been the emergency president of Hridnia, meaning that his presidency is extended until the end of a current war that Hridnia is engaged in, that being the ongoing Hridnian Civil War.

Pilin was born in Dili, the capital of Hridnia, to parents Daci Qicoring the Younger and Miri Qicoring. His father, Daci, was an army general who worked on surveying the eastern mountains, as well as gathering information about the races, languages and religions practiced in the contentious region. Pilin lived around Hridnia for many years until he joined the Hridnian Armed Forces in 171 for his mandatory 2-year military service. Upon leaving the military, he moved briefly to Djurmohkuji, Cyorsia, and obtained a law and politics degree from the University of Djurmohkuji in 178. In 180, he joined the Strength in Unity Party and became a leading figure in the following years, even becoming the governor of Paodil Province from 190 - 194, and then the governor of Bincido Province from 198 - 202. He became the party secretary in 204, and ran for election in the 206 Hridnia Presidential election, which he won with 69.2% of the vote.

His two first years of presidency saw a slow and eventual crackdown on political opposition, removing many political opponents from powerful government posts. Most notably was the assassination of Diqin Palodil, which was kept secret by the SiU before being revealed. His hostile relation with the autonomous provinces Maslqi, Kibei, and Sabpevi, were one of the leading causes of the civil war. Dozens of demonstrations and protests against Pilin resulted in government suppresion. His removal from office was demanded by several parties, but the requests were squashed.

On 16 November 208, the town of Dacin (Dalṣi) was attacked by the Maslqi Liberation Army, beginning the Hridnian Civil War. Effective from the 19th of November, he became emergency president through the course of the war. The Hridnian Armed Forces were immediately sent to the site of battle, which Pilin handled mostly on his own, much to the discontent of generals, until they convinced him to let them handle most of the war. During the first period of the civil war, Pilin enacted various laws without needing to have it passed by the House of Governors. Many of these were undemocratic and authoritarian, such as cracking down on dissent and any bad news about the civil war, but also enacted an all-men-must-serve law, which helped the initial wave of terror. He would also establish several detention camps across Hridnia, with inhumane conditions, as described by journalists and former guards. With the combined wave of protests, terrorism, and international pressure, Pilin would have the country almost entirely closed to the outside world until 215, when the Peace of Dili was signed.

The inter-war period saw further crackdown on opposition. Almost the entire roster of the House of Governors was replaced by SiU party members, and even more governors were replaced by SiU members.