1999 Shea Chamber of Deputies Election

312 seats - 157 for a majority

The 1999 Shean Chamber of Deputies Election took place on the 1st of October 1999 in Shea. The Election was the first legislative election in the Shean Republic and was a widely anticipated and competitive election. Luthando Kuran, President of Sheaman, described the election as an "immensely important day for all Sheans" and Lethabo Doema, Prime Minister of Sheaman, calling it a "final step towards unity and a prosperous democracy."

The election led to NWL winning 27 seats, ALT winning 88 seats, DL winning 38 seats, MOV winning 32 seats, UNITED winning 23 seats, COP winning 81 seats, and NAT winning 23 seats. NWL, ALT, and DL represented the left-wing parties, MOV represented the moderate party, and UNITED, COP, and NAT represented the right-wing parties. The left could not form an outright majority and the right couldn't either so eventually after many discussions and political fights for a coalition to be made it was formed on the 10th of November 1999. The coalition comprised of two left-wing parties and one moderate party; ALT, DL, and MOV giving the coalition 158 seats with ALT leader, Declan Louise, becoming First Minister and DL leader, Asa Delia, becoming Second Minister.

## Background

By 1995 all four countries of the Shea Island Chain had elected a Pro-Shea legislature and a Pro-Shea President. The countries held a summit and discussed the unification of the countries into one and in 1997 all the countries held referendums which all led unification as the most popular option. the Republic of Beatrice was the first country to elect a Pro-Shea government in 1984 and then the Republic of Shantahein a Pro-Shea government the year later in 1985. After those events the next ten years would lead to the remaining countries to elect Pro-Shea parties with Athudul electing a Pro-Shea party in 1991 and Theo & Barnova finally electing a Pro-Shea party in 1995.

After the nations agreed to form a country they couldn't decided on the date of the election with the President of Theo & Barnova even suggesting the country should lay off on an election until late 2000. Eventually, in Spring 1999, a date for an election was agreed upon; the 1st of October 1999 with election set to happen every three years.

## Campaigning

Campaigning for the election was very high and many politicians, businessman, and foreign figures spent a lot of money on the outcome of the election. Foreign influence was a major factor with Russian, Chinese, and Sheaman government officials influencing the election with some being proven and other speculated. NWL and ALT both campaigned for socialist-like policies including the nationalization of some industries, introduction of major welfare programs, and protections for workers with the parties differentiating on how far they went for the policies. DL went for a less socialistic campaign, instead promising welfare programs, introducing a national health service, setting up an anti-corruption law, and improving human rights. MOV wanted to improve humans rights and increase the welfare state which was somewhat similar to UNITED's campaign. COP wanted to toughen immigration, create a federation, ban abortions, decrease taxes, and remove unnecessary welfare programs. COP's campaign was somewhat similar to NAT's campaign which included outright banning immigration for the time being, decreasing taxes, removing a ton of welfare programs, create anti-corruption laws, and ban abortions.

## Aftermath

After the results were announced none of the parties received an outright majority which was expected due to the opinion polling for the election. NWL, ALT, and DL together did not form a majority and so a left-wing coalition was impossible and neither was a right-wing coalition but NAT, COP, UNITED, and MOV started to have coalition talks. The talks were becoming relatively successful, especially in late October but they soon broke down over immigration and human rights but by late October to early November talks between ALT, DL, and MOV began. These meetings led to some mutual agreement and eventually on the 7th of November the three parties agreed to form a coalition. Declan Louise was picked to become First Minister and Asa Delia was picked to become Second Minister. The coalition came into effect on the 10th of November 1999 with Louise and Delia becoming First and Second Minister respectively.