Oportian general election, 1726
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The Oportian General Election of 1726 was held in Oportia starting on 12.VII.1726 AN and ending in 14.VII.1726 AN. This election was pivotal as it was not only for the Federal Representative of Oportia, but also the first election for the newly formed bicameral Federal Congress, comprising the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. The election marked a significant step in Oportia's democratic evolution under its new constitutional framework established in 1722 AN.
The election was marked by an extremely high turnout. According to the State Electoral Commission of Oportia, out of 10,404,241 registered voters, 9,155,732 cast their ballots. The voter participation rate was 88%.
The election was a resounding victory for the Liberal Progressive Party of Oportia, resulting in the re-election of Céline Beaumont as Federal Representative for a five-year term ending in 1731 AN. The Liberal Progressive Party of Oportia won a plurality of seats in the Chamber of Deputies and a majority in the Senate.
Background
Following constitutional reforms in 1722, Oportia transitioned to a federal republic with a bicameral legislature. The general election of 1726 was the first under this new system, introducing the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate.
Leading up to the election, the Conservative Nationalist Party of Oportia rebranded into the Federal Conservative Union of Oportia, electing businessman Gaston Villaspar as its new leader and presidential candidate in late 1725 AN. Villaspar was elected after defeating Henri LaCarte for his re-election bid for leadership of the party. This led to a fragmentation of the conservative movement in Oportia, but was remedied with the creation of the Federal Conservative Union of Oportia.
The election also saw the rise of the Nationalist & Humanist Party of Oportia, a rising political force bringing humanist ideals into Oportian governance. The rise of this new party threatened to erode the base of support and votes for the traditionally conservative Federal Conservative Union of Oportia. The main split between the two is that the Nationalist & Humanist Party of Oportia is pro-Raspur Pact.
Electoral System
Federal Representative
Under the 1722 Constitution of Oportia, the Federal Representative of Oportia is elected to a five year term in a two-round election. If no candidate secures an absolute majority of votes in the first round, a second round if held two weeks later between the two candidates who received the most votes. To be listed on the first-round ballot, candidates needed to secure at least 500 signatures from national or local elected officials from different cities of Oportia, with no more than a tenth of these signatories from any single city or area.
Chamber of Deputies
The Chamber of Deputies of Oportia is composed of 263 Deputies elected directly by the voters from each of the city-states of Oportia. Deputies apportioned between the city-states of Oportia based on their population. The threshold for political parties or independent candidates to obtain a seat was set at 5%.
Senate of Oportia
The Senate of Oportia comprises of a two senators from each city-state of Oportia, elected by the popular vote of the same.
Campaign
The campaign period saw vigorous debates over economic policies, environmental issues, and the role of Oportia in regional and international affairs. The campaign also saw more vigorous criticism and attacks on the government of Céline Beaumont and the ruling Liberal Progressive Party of Oportia than ever before. The campaign of Gaston Villaspar, leading the newly created Federal Conservative Union of Oportia
Major Parties and Candidates
| Candidate | Party | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Céline Beaumont | Liberal Progressive Party of Oportia | Incumbent Federal Representative, known for her liberalism, pro-democracy stance, and pro-growth economic reforms. |
| Gaston Villaspar | Federal Conservative Union of Oportia | Promoting traditional values, fiscal conservatism, anti-Raspur Pact independent foreign policy, and a strong national defense agenda. |
| Fatima Al-Khamenei | Nationalist & Humanist Party of Oportia | |
| Léa Dubois | Green Party of Oportia | Focuses on environmental issues, sustainability, and renewable energy policies. |
| Jean Miterrand-Ghali | Independent | An independent candidate with a platform emphasizing social justice, economic equity, and the establishment of social democracy in Oportia. |
