The South Pacific's Fall 2017 term elections concluded yesterday night. Candidates campaigned over a week and engaged in town hall discussions and debates where TSPers asked questions about their platforms and visions for the region. 

Election results show that the region has overwhelmingly validated the platforms and goals that the winning candidates have envisioned for the region. Indeed, analysis of the platforms and implementations that each elected representative have been part of for the past year speak to the region embracing the trajectory TSP has been over the past year. 

Prime Minister Roavin has been re-elected as Prime Minister of the region with 87% of the votes in his favor.  In the past term, Roavin has defined the role of the Prime Minister, a position that has no clearly outlined portfolio, as a leadership role that guides and mentors cabinet members, and is active and engaged with the people on the forums, gameside, and via Discord.  He has promised to continue that vision into the following term.

Tim, a new addition to the cabinet, received 93.3% of the vote and is the new Minister of Foreign Affairs. Tim is  an individual with a wealth of experience in regions such as Osiris and Spiritus and has served as the deputy Foreign Affairs minister in the previous term. He was elected on a campaign in which he highlighted continuing the FA trajectory undertaken by the region in which the focus was on strengthening current alliances and building new alliances based on cultural connections and mutual respect. In an election surprise, the most popular and beloved member of the South Pacific, Tsunamy, ran for Foreign Affairs before dropping out, stating his confidence in Tim’s vision and that that his real goals were to highlight a needed change in election procedures and a desire to see Foreign Affairs engage with RMBers on the gameside and through embassy posting. 

Seraph re-enters the cabinet as Minister of Regional affairs, with 96.7% of the vote. Seraph had previously been Minister of Regional Affairs twice and each term innovated in the position - in particular bringing a greater emphasis to writing creative projects, and RMB-side involvement in the region.  This term, Seraph ran on a platform in which he emphasized integration of new players on the gameside and forums, continuing to build on the cohesion between the Regional Affairs and Foreign Affairs ministries, and focusing on improving the journalism in the region.  Seraph is also head of the Souther Progress Platform - a party that is best encapsulated in this quote by Seraph, “I have a great deal of faith in the potential this region has to be so much more awesome than it already is and I really want to see that awesomeness reaching out to the maximum number of players, so everyone has a chance to get involved, share a talent, make an impact or just have a really good time.”

Escade transitions from Foreign Affairs to Minister of Military Affairs, with 89% of the vote. Escade has previously been Minister of Foreign Affairs for two terms and campaigned on developing a strong culture for the SPSF and building stronger cohesion between Military Affairs, Foreign Affairs, and Regional Affairs. She brings with her a great understanding of the military, having honorably served the South Pacific Special Forces in the past year, as well as her unique cultural leadership style, refined during her two terms in Foreign Affairs. 

The South Pacific is a region that defies the odds and the naysayers by keeping true to the values that make us what we are. Congratulations to all who campaigned, all who partook in the electoral process and here’s to another awesome term in the South Pacific