Joseph Zhang who had been the leader of the Center Party (It was called the Center Party until 2018) was removed by a vote of no-confidence by the 72 Centrist Party MPs. The result was 49-20-3, with Minjian-aligned MPs voting against the motion. Zhang had been unpopular ever since the disastrous 2022 Election when the party lost over 50 seats mainly to the Conservative Party. He also lost support after calling the leadership of the Catholic Church of Slokais, a “backward-minded, close-minded group” during an interview. Zhang has also challenged the establishment of his own religion mainly the more conservative, Blessed One’s Movement.
Born April 19th, 1959 in San Fernando to a family of academics. Zhang grew up during the Great War as his family fled into the countryside to live with his family who were in charge of a Minjian Temple. At 14 he returned to the city with his family and began to move towards a career in business. In 1981 he graduated from New Liverpool Open University with a major in business studies and a minor in political theory. He then started working at a company selling high-end apartments, he was a landlord until 1994, when he ran in a special election and won. He joined what was then the Center Party and began a rise to power. He ran for President in 2008, 2012, 2018, 2020, and 2022, winning in 2012 and 2018. He also developed a well-known rivalry with Joseph Chavez, who won the nomination in 2016 over Zhang.
In other political news, a by-election has been scheduled for June 1st in the San Fernando after Margret Zhao of the Conservatives resigned to become the CEO of Lilang Motors.
