1691 Elluenuueq princely elections

The 1685 Elwynnese princely elections are planned to be held on I.VIII.1691 AN (first round) and I.X.1691 (second round). The term of incumbent princess, Kamilla Winther, expires on 24.XI.1691.

Candidates

• Kamilla Winther, Nationalist & Humanist Party (+ Behsaz-Eluin & Einhornselskapet). Platform based upon advancing Elw nationalism, Elwynnese hegemony in Eastern Benacia, the embedding of the principles of the Coordinated State into the autonomous republics, the creation of an Elwynnese superpower in the northern hemisphere, and continuing strong support for allies in the Raspur Pact. Campaign celebrates the pacification of Normark, the intervention in Chryse, and the Tripartite Treaty with Batavia and Shireroth, as being proofs of the latent strength of the Greater Elwynnese State as a force for good in the world.
• Pedyr Mekaarveq, Elwynnese Workers' Party. Conducator of Upper Elwynn. Runs on a platform to bring about a nationally elected legislature, dismantle the autonomous republics and replace them with a central state with counties as regional governments of limited power, end to cronyism and feudal relics.

Results

With only two candidates being confirmed to run in the election, no second round was necessary. Kamilla Winther secured 49.3% of the votes against 49.2% for Peder Mekaarveq (and the rest being spoilt or blank votes). Kamilla Winther was duly re-elected Princess of the Greater Elwynnese State for a second term.

Aftermath

The narrowness of the result caused a tremendous and general sense of dissatisfaction over the outcome. An underwhelming campaign, which highlighted Kamilla's failure to resonate with the Babkhi core vote, had served to strengthen the hand of the Osmanid faction within the N&H Party and in the Alalehzamini Autonomous Republic. By contrast Peder Mekaarveq, having been greatly assisted by the other opposition parties stepping aside to allow him a clear run, found his own reputation and standing in the Elwynnese Workers Party now to be thoroughly enhanced as a consequence of running the incumbent to a razor-thin margin.

The autocratic and socially conservative style of government favoured by Kamilla had led many in Upper Elwynn and across the Greater Elwynnese State, particularly in non-Babkhi metropolitan areas, to place great hopes in the impending defeat of the Humanist regime. To have failed in this regard, by such a narrow margin as noted, was a cause of intense frustration and public anger in certain quarters. The Elwynnese nodes of the Benacian Data Network were temporarily disabled on the night of the results as the Panopticon was unable to keep pace with the almost viral spread of unsubstantiated reports and rumours of ballot rigging by national authorities. In spite of these precautions, disorders were reported in Eliria, as well as Elesmari, Fieldburg, Frieden, Glenfiddich, La Terre, Port Illumination, Pozdam, Tel-Amok, Wolfraven, and Vijayanagara. In spite of the deployment of the cudgellers at the first signs of trouble, protests and riots would continue for another six weeks, with disorders in Eliria finally being quelled by the busing in of Babkhi volunteers from Alalehzamin to suppress a student uprising which had taken hold in the People's Academy of Elwynn.