The Women’s Party of Kerlile has come out on top in the first multi-party elections within the Matriarchy of Kerlile since the country’s foundation. Prior to the legalisation of six other parties, the Women’s Party was the sole legal political party in Kerlile – though independent candidates have previously been allowed. Polling suggested the Women’s Party would have a landslide victory; however the margin of victory was much narrower, with the Women’s Party gaining 52 of 96 seats, approximately 54%.
Five of the seven legal parties have gained representation, alongside two independent candidates. Results are shown in the table below:
The two economy-focussed parties failed to gain any representation, while the Gynarcha-Socialist Party only retained their single representative, an incumbent member of parliament who had defected to the party at the beginning of 2024. The Environment and Conservation Party, which focuses on green issues, was not predicted to win seats, yet managed to gain 4; while the religious Secadualist Union also exceeded expectations to win 8 seats. The Reform Party did about as well as predicted, ending in second place.
Of the fourteen independent candidates, two were successful – Amanda Terry and Olivette Starrett. Terry is an incumbent MP who has traditionally campaigned solely on local issues including roads and infrastructure development; while Starrett was the lead applicant behind a failed party creation bid to create the Anti-Patriarchy League, which was turned down by the Council of Kerlile. Starrett’s position includes “economic self-sufficiency, closed borders, no alliances with non-gynarchies and the removal of all Xiomeran military bases”. Starrett’s victory may well raise eyebrows in Xiomera.
Failed independent candidates included Kate Stern, who wished to restore the pre-Kerlian Fleuran monarchy (despite this position being disavowed by the individual Stern would crown Queen); alongside candidates viewed as “more radical than the Reform Party” by Kerlian traditionalists, conspiracy theorists and one candidate running on a platform to “immediately invade Lauchenoiria”. One further independent garnered local media attention by dressing as a dog to the count and making barking noises throughout. The candidate was eventually ejected from the hall.
Seventeen women were arrested on polling day for being ineligible to vote due to past criminal offences, though all arrestees were released following the announcement of results. Additionally, at least twenty-nine men have been arrested for attempting to vote. These men remain in custody. Eight non-citizens and four minors were also turned away from polling stations, though they were not arrested.
The Parliament of Kerlile will now act as a second chamber alongside the Council of Kerlile, but will not replace the Council. The Council still retains the power to veto legislation coming out of the Parliament, but can no longer dictate the Parliament’s agenda. The Council is also no longer allowed to recall MPs at will; though an MP who is convicted of certain crimes will still be immediately removed from her post.
