by Max Barry

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Region: Western Atlantic

The 2020 elections in the Confederation of Sovereign States was a watershed moment for a nation. Still sharply divided between former President Tom Caine’s radically secularist and libertarian Liberty Party and more traditionally conservative and progressive elements, the electorate delivered an equally divided Congress and no clear winner in the presidential election. Among the major candidates, incumbent President Sean Collins of the Democratic Labour Party fared the worst - a clear rejection of his administration during which the Grand Duchy of Saxmere had seceded from the Confederation. Among the other candidates, Rihards Krauklis of the Liberty Party, won the most votes, but lacked the required majority.

In accordance with the Confederation Constitution, the House of Representatives was called upon to elect the new president. However, the divided House could not come to an agreement. Heated debate turned into shouting and ended with punches being thrown and House staff having to restrain and remove multiple representatives from the floor. Congress adjourned without electing a president.

Amidst the chaos, the States of Southland and Deandra, both of which had given few votes to Krauklis - even fewer than Collins in the case of Deandra, began debating secession in their state legislatures. Finally, the governors of Southland, Deandra and New Virginia jointly called for an extraordinary Constitutional Convention to resolve the crisis.

Appearing before the Convention both outgoing President Collins, whose term was coming to an end within days with no successor, and his predecessor and ideological opposite Tom Caine appealed for cooperation and unity. Delegates to the Convention failed to head their call. Instead, the Convention voted to dissolve the Confederation as it had been. Southland and Deandra would secede - both would shortly open negotiations to unite with the Holy Empire of Excabia, and the remaining States would remain in the Confederation under a highly revised Constitution.

Changes to the Constitution included the dissolution of the House of States, making the Confederation Congress a unicameral legislature. The direct election of the president was adopted and rank-order voting was adopted to avoid hung elections in the future. A special provision was adopted to allow the Convention to elect an interim president until new elections could be held in 2022.

After ratification of the constitutional changes by the remaining states - New Virginia, Alud, Trondgard and Northlands - Janice Rudeles, Tom Caine’s former foreign minister, was sworn in as President.

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