"loyal challenge"
The "Loyal Challenge" in Coocoostan politics refers to a political crisis that resulted in the downfall of the New Era Coalition and President Tammy Hagans in January and February of 2007. The situation in the Parliamentary Congress involved a governing coalition of the Green, Labour and National Parties. Green Party leader Craig Blain controlled one of eight cabinet posts as Secretary of Transportation, which he had used to further a greener agenda than before. However, the Greens were upset with their influence in cabinet and Blain went on television to issue and ultimatum.
 Green Party Leader Craig Blain appears on CTN Television, to issue his threat of a no-confidence vote. |
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The "Loyal Challenge"
Blain appeared on BSC NewsChannel on the evening of January 24th, where he demanded that Hagans reduce the military to 825,000 total and give the Greens another seat in cabinet. The sudden demand on the military was more budgetary than anything else: Blain had run out of money for his green initiatives and sought to divert funding from the military, with Defence the portfolio of National party leader Phillip Arnold. Hagans reacted swiftly, agreeing to reduce the military manpower, but refusing the demand for a cabinet shuffle. Hagans was in a tight spot, as 5 of the eight ministers were from the old elected cabinet from her first government, with the current cabinet appointed. The price of the Nationals joining the NEC for a second term was job security for all five National cabinet ministers. This left Hagans with no alternative than firing one of her own Labour Party's ministers, which she refused to do, not wanting a public image of the other parties in her coalition being able to bully her. The Greens chose to wait and see what would happen, whether Hagans would be weakened or not. They could not have anticipated the events of the next few days.
The Kapitan Ganev and CLF Uprising
In the early morning hours of the 25th, the Oil tanker Kapitan Ganev exploded in the approaches to Aubrey harbour. The tanker was fully-loaded with Crude Oil, which washed ashore in both the Aubrey area, as well as the Kelssekian province of Beaulac. Besides raising gasoline prices, the blast made Hagans look soft to the right-wing opposition parties, as terrorism was speculated as a possible cause. Criticism also mounted of the quick investigation conducted by the Coocoostan National Police, which said negligence by the Master and Chief Engineer were to blame.
The situation deteriorated further on January 30th, when fighters of the Coocoo Liberation Front moved into three villages in the Coocoo Autonomous Oblast. As well, the CLF claimed responsibility for the bombing, in an effort to affect political events. The fact that the Hagans government had closed military bases in the area, including one two kilometres from one of the villages, played poorly with the public, as well as the opposition. Blain now had the leverage he needed.
Ultimatum
Blain now went back on television on the evening of January 30th, this time on the more right-wing CTN Television. He threatened to table a motion of no-confidence, if Hagans did not meet his demands from the 24th. Hagans, appearing tired, spoke to the media in a scrum outside #1 Avenue of Heroes shortly before midnight, cautioning Blain by saying that the people of the nation did not want another election, as the last one had occurred only three months prior. Nevertheless, Blain tabled his motion, which passed comfortably, bringing the Hagan's government to an end.
Aftermath
Ultimately, the second election campaign in three months was too much for many voters, as a violent campaign, with many near-riots took place. The voting saw 68% turnout, with the Greens being wiped out, taking 4% in the Parliamentary Congress, down from the mid-40s and Blain himself recording just one percent. Hagans took 3% and 4% for her party, while the Nationals took 4.5% and Phillip Arnold received 6% of votes for president. Still, all three NEC parties were punished mercilessly for their role in the second election in three months and Andrei Pakhomov became president. Of the three parties, the Greens were affected the most, with Blain being forced out during a leadership review and the public still widely blaming him for both the elections, as well as wasteful spending on green initiatives.
