Edward Tarriff
Edward Tarriff (pronounced TAHR-riff), a member of the Free Trade Party, was the longest sitting Prime Minister in the history of the Combined Parliament. As the leader of the Centrist Coalition (Free Trade, Commonwealth, and several minor parties) he sat twelve years, from early 1930 until just before the German-Chiangese War started in late 1942. After the 1942-3 general elections, Commonwealth assumed control of the Coalition from the lagging Free Trade party and put Hiresh Dhawan, the first and only Gallagan Prime Minister, into power.
Tarriff was irked at the usurpation of power, though he waited several years before displaying his anger. In 1944, another general election swept Dhawan and the Centrists from power when Tarriff pulled Free Trade's support from the Coalition. They were replaced by Antonio de Carlonia and the Liberal Coalition, centered around the Tharian Secessionist Party.
Hardly a year later, the war reached a low point when Chiangese forces entered the city of Nusheld in Gallaga. Tarriff joined Free Trade to the Conservative Coalition. A quick, successful vote of no confidence in de Carlonia saw the Conservatives, with Tarriff as the triumphant leader, come to power in early 1945. The efficient work of the Earl of Dirwisham as Coalition whip made sure that the Conservatives stayed united during the crucial early months. Later, his efficient work as Chancellor of the Exchequer ensured that the war turned around. The Conservatives remained in power until the Corporate Yoke, and nominally in power until the Gull Flag Revolution. In all, Tarriff served nineteen years as Prime Minister.
Tarriff was born outside of Lakeriverwood, Gadsan and spent his early years in local politics. He soon won a seat on the Combined Parliament and proved himself one of the most dynamic politicians in the Commonwealth, if not one of the most intelligent. He was forty-one when he took control of the Centrist Coalition in 1930. The great bushy mustache he grew that year became his signature trait, and often he could avert entire debates simply by puffing it out.
Tarriff was not a great leader for all his longevity. In the telling words of Lord Dirwisham, from before Free Trade and the Conservatives had their melding of minds, “Mr Tarriff is a master of getting into power. However, he’s never too sure about what to do with that power once he has it.”
Edward Tarriff died at the age of sixty-four after the Corporatists attempted to move him out of Ianapalis during the Revolution. His body was discovered in the ruins at Jameston Place.
