Republic Now! has agreed a preliminary coalition deal with both Green Ecology and the Tomorrow Party, assuming the trio of parties can attract enough additional partners to form a government. The three-party agreement still leaves the group 95 seats short of a majority. The trio of parties are in continuing talks with three other parties including the Communist Party, Women Rising and the Centre Liberals. Social Labour are also in joint talks with Economic Focus about forming a coalition to oust Republic Now! from the top spot.
A Republic/Green/Tomorrow coalition would need either the Communists and Women Rising, or Communists and Centre Liberals, to gain a majority. The latter of these options is unlikely to happen as the Communists and Centre Liberals have previously ruled out working together under any circumstances. Without the Communists, the group would need a sixth party alongside Women Rising and the Centre Liberals to form a majority, which no party likely to work with the group able to provide sufficient seats.
The preliminary deal includes commitments to several policies, including holding a referendum on abolition of the monarchy, stricter climate targets, and the introduction of fully-funded post-secondary education, as well as additional funding to the sciences, with a particular focus on climate science. The three parties already had similar policies in a number of areas, which are also in the agreement such as abolition of the House of Priests and a reduction in state funding for religion. However, with the need to add additional partners, much of the agreement is still liable to change.
The Communists have publicly stated that they will demand the nationalisation of all utilities and “necessary industries”, including computer manufacturing, construction and printing. It is unknown how willing they will be to compromise on this position. Women Rising have stated that they want stricter sentences for gendered violence, including domestic abuse and sexual assault; as well as closer ties to Kerlile, and for the House of Priests to be replaced with an all-female chamber. The Centre Liberals have not stated public demands, but it is likely that they will seek to moderate the influence of other partners if they are involved in a coalition.
With the necessity, however, of attracting more coalition partners to avoid a third election; those not yet in the deal have the upper hand in negotiations. There is every possibility that the Communists and Women Rising will not temper their demands, but indeed may well increase them. This may cause conflict with the existing trio; with Republic Now! opposed to the full nationalisation of non-utility industries, and the Tomorrow Party opposed to any second chamber at all.
Economic Focus and Social Labour’s attempt to counter the “upstart” parties has not gained much attention, with most Zongongians believing that the establishment parties – including the Centre Liberals – are finished after a disastrous year of Grand Coalition. Over the past year, the government has done little except respond to rioting and accusations of espionage from abroad. Very few policies changed over the year, and the annual budget was called a “carbon copy of the previous year” by several members of government on several occasions.
Talks are ongoing.
