Tsubaki Shindo

Tsubaki Shindo (進藤椿, Shindō Tsubaki born 12 December 1975 in Stangeland) is a Solroslandic politician, the current Home Affairs Minister, and the heir-apparent to the position of Solrosland's Federal Chancellor when current Chancellor Elisabeth Hollande retires in 2007.

Background

Shindo was born in Wilmington, Stangeland in 1975 to first generation Japanese-Solroslanders. The daughter of a successful bookseller, she attended the Henk Van Stratten Academy, graduating at the age of 16. She recieved her degree in criminology from the University of Stangeland in 1994.

Shindo worked her way to the upper echelons of the Stangeland Metropolitan Police Department throughout the 1990s, and gained widespread recognition for helping to formulate the city's successful crime deterrance policies. As the leader of the team responsible for creating these policies, it was often her responsibility to explain these measures to the press.

Tenure As Home Minister

Immigration

As recognition for her work within the Metropolitan Police as well as her high profile as a spokeswoman for the Department, Shindo was appointed by Chancellor Hollande to the post of Home Affairs Minister in 2001.

Immediately after her appointment as Home Minister, Shindo seperated herself from her counterparts by spearheading dramatic changes to immigration policy, a move that made her a controversial figure within both the AFP (her political party) and within the country overall. These limitations included a more stringent list of criteria and background requirements for admission to Solrosland and a more comprehensive (and by most standards a more difficult) citizenship exam.

Identification Cards

Since her career with the Metropolitan Police, Shindo consistently supported introducing standardised national identification documents for all citizens, permament residents, and long-term visa holders that include a set of biometric elements. Following her appointment to the Home Ministry, Shindo formed a committee within the Ministry to explore the possibility of making this a reality.

Opposition from many factions of the AFP and opposition parties hindered these efforts, and the exploratory committee was dissolved (though it published many reports that Shindo verbally approved). It is widely expected that, if elected to the Chancellory, Shindo will revive national identification cards.

Criticism

Many privacy advocates and opposition politicians have occused Shindo of seeking to establish a surveillance society in Solrosland, and certain members of the press have pinned upon her the epithet "Big Sister." Her supporters have countered these claims by pointing to her repeated and outspoken opposition to data mining, unconstitutional wire tapping, and expansion of police powers.

Appointment to AFP Leadership and the Chancellory

Political Support

It is widely expected that Chancellor Hollande will appoint Shindo to replace her following her retirement in 2007. While it is widely acknowledged that Shindo's prospects are hindered by her lack of experience in politics, Hollande's enthusiastic endorsement and the respect directed toward Shindo as a leader and manager have greatly increased her chances of being elected by the party. Shindo's own political network within the AFP and Green Party are also listed amongst her assets as a political figure.

Public Image

Shindo enjoys widespread popularity amongst the Solroslandic population. Public opinion polls since 2001 have consistently shown her favourability rating as a cabinet minister to be above 65%, though her personal popularity has tended to suffer. The top six phrases used to describe Shindo in a May 2006 survey, "cold" and "emotionally distant" were ranked third and fourth respectively.

A PR campaign to increase Shindo's exposure and pubilc interaction was launched in July 2006 to remedy these negative perceptions. This included a five city speaking tour, the opening of a personal website and blog, and a marked increase in the number of appearances on television, speaking not only within a professional capacity but a personal capacity as well. It has also been noted that the number of appearances of Shindo alongside Hollande has increased over the course of the previous six months.

These efforts have helped to turn public opinion of Tsubaki Shindo as a person, with the negative phrases describing her dropping out of the top six (though not the top ten). The personal opinion rating of Shindo was at 71% as of November 2006, compared to opposition leader Roger Patten, whose opinion rating was last tracked at 65%.

Her popularity among Solroslandic teenagers and young adults is undeniable and especially high. This has created a significant amount of buzz over her ability to create and take advantage of a high turnout amongst 16-25 year old voters, a group with a historically low turnout of around 50% compared to the usual 70-80% for older age ranges. Her style, status as a member of Solrosland's "A" list, relatively young age, and revealed passion for the environment and youth issues have only added to her popularity. In some ways all of this has made Shindo Solrosland's first celebrity politician.

Personal Life

General

Shindo is single and lives alone in central Stangeland. She is a fan of the literature of Ernest Hemingway and Pablo Neruda, and an avid collector of Japanese woodblock prints as well as an appreciator of the postmodern art of Solroslandic painter and graphic designer Remi Legasse. She is a close friend of Legasse, as well as lead singer Riley Yamaguchi of the successful progressive rock band Revisionist History.

Sexual Orientation

Questions about Shindo's sexual orientation have circulated since she rose to national prominence in 2000, upon the revelation in May of that year that she had briefly engaged in a relationship with a female fellow swim team member at university. Shindo has publicly confirmed the existence of this relationship, and has stated that her relationships and her sexuality have no bearing on her performance as a civil servant. Shindo has never stated her sexual orientation outright, and the public does not view it as a major issue.

Religion

She is a lifelong Buddhist.

General

• Shindo speaks English, Solesi, Japanese, and French with native fluency, and claims a functional ability in Mandarin.
• In addition to being a friend of artists and a patron of the arts, she is a painter herself. Her works have been shown in a number of high profile galleries in the Victoria Wall section of the capital.