Saviso – The Vodean parliament confirmed Sam Baker’s appointment as the new Prime Minister in a special parliamentary session yesterday evening, following a Federal Party caucus electing Baker as their new leader.
Sworn in with thunderous applause, the 34th prime minister promised to uphold Stobie’s policies while stating his priorities to achieve fairer wealth distribution, ensuring economic security against strategic risks like supply chains, promoting digitisation, and stemming the fertility crisis. He said that certain policies might need “a few necessary tweaks” to overcome certain flaws in the system that disadvantaged certain segments of the Vodean community, particularly the middle-income families.
Sam Baker is expected to unveil his new cabinet following his appointment as the country’s new Prime Minister. Earlier before his appointment, he stated that there needs to be a “few new faces” to lead the country and decide on the country’s future. During the Party’s caucus earlier this week, he also promised efforts to cement the public’s support for the Federal Party in the lead up to next year’s national elections.
Political analysts suggested that Baker was elected to try and shore up the conservative vote to “avoid” a potential defeat in next year’s election. Since Stobie’s resignation, support for the party has slipped considerably.
Leaders around the world offered their congratulations to Baker’s new appointment. Barzona’s President Lisette Masis said she hoped to strengthen relations with “an old friend”. Masis and Baker have met a few times in their capacities as deputy prime minister and vice-president respectively. In her official statement, Masis also stated that Carante hopes the two neighbours could “set an example for cooperation”.
Freedemian President Angela Rosenthal has also expressed wishes for closer ties “conducive for peace, stability and prosperity in Tarephia”. The two nations are close allies in the Lycene Region, with a free trade agreement between the two nations recently signed and ratified. However, Baker, being from the conservative faction of the Federal Party, has earlier stated he would review the free trade agreements, saying that “exploitation” by foreign businesses through these agreements has disadvantaged local businesses.
The President of the Federal States hoped that the two nations would continue to build stronger ties. Other leaders, such as the Gobrassian President, the Ingerish Prime Minister and the Mecynan President, have offered congratulatory messages and hoped to strengthen their relationships.
