Francisco Gabaza
| Francisco Gabaza | |
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| Full Name | Francisco Fernando Montoya Gabaza |
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| Birth Date | 21.IV.1696 AN |
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| Residence | Puerto Carrillo, Santander |
Francisco Fernando Montoya Gabaza, also known as F.F.M. Gabaza, is a New Alexandrian politician who has led the Federal Consensus Party (FCP) since 1751 AN and serves as a Member of the Federal Assembly. He was previously the Mayor of Puerto Carrillo, the state capital of the State of Cherusken, a constituent state of the Santander Region. He identifies himself as a moderate progressive, with a strong focus on housing and the local economy.
Early Life
Francisco was born from a family of middle class people in Puerto Carrillo. His father was a chemistry professor at the Cherusken Allied University, while his mother was an accountant. Francisco was interested in politics from a young age, enrolling in the Political Sciences program of the University of Cárdenas at age 19. He eventually reached the specialization of National and International Politics.
Political Career
Francisco became a member of the Federal Consensus Party in 1722 AN. During the Presidency of Marissa Santini, he was involved as a senior policy advisor in the Department of Education, Sports, and Culture. He was closely involved behind the scenes in crafting the New National Curriculum in 1738 AN. He was also a personal witness to the horrors of the Spring Crisis of 1739, an event that shaped his future in politics and made him a staunch supporter of democracy, civil rights, and national unity. After the defeat of Marissa Santini, he decided to return to local politics, campaigning for major of his hometown in 1740 AN.
Mayoralty of Puerto Carrillo
As the first FCP for Puerto Carrillo, Francisco attempted to implement a progressive agenda with investment in affordable housing, green energy, and public transport. With the success of the AV Costa a Costa reaching Puerto Carrillo, his city was within reasonable reach of major cities in Boriquén and Santander. Under Francisco, more than 86,000 housing units were added to the city, alleviating the growing housing shortage and creating new neighborhoods. Through an ambitious economic program, Francisco added two new business parks to the city, attracting major investment from multinationals, including Kerularios & Company.
Francisco also reinvigorated the collaboration under the Lake Cherusken Alliance, negotiating with the majors of Hato Rey and Loiza to spearhead economic growth in the aftermath of the Recession of 1737.
Despite being eligible for re-election, Gabaza was requested by Morissa Baumann, then leader of the FCP, to run for the Cortes Federales instead. He was elected as deputy in 1744 AN.
Deputy for the FCP
Under Morissa Baumann, Gabaza rose to become the Deputy Shadow Secretary of Housing, contributing to her new platform of the National Consensus. After her tragic accidental death in 1746 AN, he supported Diane Lockhart as the new leader of the FCP. He quickly disavowed her when the Lockhart scandal came to light, removing himself from the Shadow Council of State and maintaining a low profile. He did not show support for any candidate during Quispe's subsequent election. He was also not involved in the Pact of Shadows scandal, and was one of the few who denounced Elena Svensson for her decision to leave the party and form the Civic Governance Alliance. He supported the interim leadership of Claude Beaumont, and has been an active advocate for reform of the party leadership and a reinvention of the party.
Leadership of the FCP
Gabaza was elected leader of the Federal Consensus Party in the 1751 leadership election on 14.IX.1751 AN, following Beaumont's resignation as interim leader. He defeated Eduardo Vasquez-Mendoza on the first ballot, 58.3% to 41.7%, and was installed on 15.IX.1751 AN. In his "Call for Renewal" speech at the Legislative Palace, he addressed both the Lockhart scandal and the Pact of Shadows scandal directly and set out the case for reform.
As leader, Gabaza created a party Integrity Commission that vetted current and former members from national Deputies to municipal councilors, and rewrote the party's Code of Conduct, a process that led to several expulsions, including that of former culture and sports secretary Adriano Ferreyra. He relaunched Morissa Baumann's National Consensus platform in 1754 AN as "A Responsible Center" ahead of the 1754 general election, in which the FCP held its position with a net gain of one seat. At the 1759 general election the FCP fell to 93 seats, down 26, but held its stronghold of Islas de la Libertad, the one Region it carried.[1]
See also
- Federal Consensus Party of Nouvelle Alexandrie
- FCP leadership election, 1751
- Federal Consensus Party 1759 general election campaign
References
- ^ "The Humanists finish first but fall 108 short as the Federation returns a hung 14th Cortes", NBC Newsfeed, 19.IX.1759 AN.
