/

Breaking: Ringrose to Resign; New Chancellor Elected on Monday

Sanctus – Chancellor Ethan Ringrose tonight announced that he would be tendering his resignation as Chancellor of the Divine Federation, as well as Leader of the Democratic Left Party on Monday. The decision comes after the Green Party today dramatically announced they would be pulling out of government if Ringrose continued in place, following the Sanctarian Federal Police’s referral yesterday of the Chancellor to the Public Prosecutions Service for criminal charges.

Stating that “to remain in office while facing criminal charges would cast a shadow over Sanctarian politics no democrat can stand over”, Ringrose did stress he would “prove to be free of the unfounded charges” against him. The charges relate to campaign finance law and, though they do not carry a custodial sentence if he is convicted, politicians across the spectrum have said it would be “unconscionable” for Ringrose to remain in-situ throughout the continued investigation and trial.

The Green Party decision today came after weeks of special conferences with delegates and negotiations behind the scenes with their DLP colleagues, as well as with those in the Sanctarian Conservative Party too. Though Ringrose managed to stay in power throughout the initial stages of the investigation by the SFP, that they would be referring the matter to the PPS suggests an arrest is imminent – “staying in a government where the Head of Government has been arrested is not in alignment with Green Party values”, one senior figure said this evening.

Ringrose has said he will not resign as an MP, but thoughts do now turn to who will replace the embattled politician as leader of the DLP, and as Chancellor. Rumours in Parliament House tonight suggest that Deputy Leader, and Secretary for Homeland Security, Nicola Allman will replace Ringrose in the interim as party leader, but that the Greens are refusing to back her as Chancellor. This will mark the first time in Sanctarian politics that a Chancellor has changed mid-parliamentary term, without an election, and potentially the first time that the Chancellor has not concurrently been the leader of the largest party in government. Green Party ministers tonight denied they would try and force their own leader, and Vice Chancellor, Josephine Chari-Jones in as temporary Chancellor, but one at least was categorical that they “wouldn’t serve under Allman”.

As predicted, the SCP tonight have called for a general election to “clear the muddiness from Sanctarian politics and restore trust in this House”, but with their own former leader and deputy leader also arrested and charged for the same crime, there is little willingness to push for a full election for fear of support being lost to the Greens or to the New Sanctaria Party; they will accept a “non-elected” Chancellor when push comes to shove.

JOEY SESSIONS, Political Editor

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.