Juglander Review
Green Party obtains seat in the National Assembly
The number of political parties in the National Assembly will increase to 12, after Emmeline Kolseth, the candidate of the Green Party, won the by-election in the Albrektberg district that had previously belonged to Eadwald Engelsaas, former President of the Provisional Government.
Kolseth was a previously a member of the Federal Democratic Party, serving in their federal leadership until last April. However, she resigned as she disagreed with some of the policies adopted by the current ruling coalition, which was joined by the Federal Democratic Party, particularly in the areas of energy and environmental policy.
In the last state election, Kolseth was elected to the state assembly of Midstemdal, running as a candidate of the Green Party, which was founded only in late April. Two weeks ago, Kolseth was elected as General Secretary of the Green Party and, following internal consultation, decided to run in today election. She has declared that she is sad of not being able to finish her tenure in the state assembly, although she promised that she will be the spokesperson in the National Assembly for those who want "a more plural and clean voice in the federal parliament". Militants and sympathizers of the Green Party have been particularly active protesting in the last weeks against recent environmental and water shortage in the state of Austland.
Meanwhile, in the state of Vestmark, Asbjorn Soyland, former MP from the conservative Social Initiative, was elected in the second of the four by-elections held today. Soyland run as an independent candidate, in one seat replacing a Freedom Party candidate who resigned for disagreements with the new leadership of the party. Soyland himself also resigned two months ago, as he disagreed with the leadership of the conservative coalition, which he deemed "too uncertain and moderate" on certain issues. Soyland, although running as an independent, was endorsed by the Freedom Party, as their candidate withdrew from the race ten days ago, considering that their candidate had not real option to keep the seat, as he was fourth in most polls, considerably behind Hraban Tolsend, candidate of the Federal Democratic Party, and Soyland, in order to avoid that the seat ended going to the ruling coalition government.
Soyland did not mention directly the Freedom Party in his victory speech, although he declared that he will willing to work with all political forces that are willing to offer a true alternative to the current federal government. It has been speculated that Soyland may join the Freedom Party parliamentary group, even if keeping his label as independent, mostly to assure for himself more participation and visibility in the National Assembly sessions.
The other two districts that held a by-election today, which were held in the states of Nordansk -to replace another Social Initiative who resigned- and Austland -to replace a deceased independent MP-, will require a second round, as federal electoral law requires that if the leading candidate fails to win at least a 40% of the vote on an individual constituency, a second round between the two most voted candidates will be required. The second round of both districts will be held in ten days. In both by-elections, the leading candidates were from the Federal Democratic Party, who will face a candidate from Social Initiative and National Democratic Party, respectively. In case of winning both seats, the number of MPs for the FDP could increase to 103, only four behind the largest political party in the National Assembly, the National Democratic Party.
However, neither of the by-election result will have a likely result on legislation passed in the National Assembly, as the current ruling coalition in the National Council has a more than comfortable majority in the National Assembly.