Chelch Dravvad Elected Senator of Corellia
Coronet, Corellia — Months of electoral turmoil on Corellia have come to a seeming end as the Corellian Progressive Party (or CPP) and its candidate for Senator, Chelch Dravvad, have won a resounding victory over the Old Corellian Party's unpopular governing coalition in this week's election on the planet. Endorsed by the Corellian hero, former Senator, and New Republic General Garm Bel Iblis, Mr. Dravvad, a former Senator himself, will assume the seat left vacant by the Old Corellian Party (or OCP), while the CPP will now occupy most planetary and local offices. The result of the election is seen as a repudiation of the OCP's governing coalition, which the public, in a recent opinion poll, regarded as "too far to the right of Corellian values." The coalition included the controversial and self identified "fascist" Corellian National Party, and disputes within the coalition itself and with other parties over immigration, education, foreign policy, and the appointment of ministers and secretaries brought the Corellian government to a stand still for several months. The OCP had been viewed unfavorably for some time, and its coalition had never enjoyed majority support.
The Corellian Progressive Party campaigned heavily against the OCP, its coalition, and its unpopular leaders such as Orion Karath, August Halcyon, and others, and promised to "put government back to work," and "keep fascists out of government." The CPP achieved a large majority in this week's election and what is widely regarded as a mandate for reform. It enjoyed 78 percent of the vote, followed by the "Corellia for Corellians" Party with 7 percent. The Corellian National Party—the OCP's partner in the coalition—won 3 percent, while the OCP tied with the Socialist-Communist Alliance with 1 percent each.
The New Republic this evening welcomed the victory of the CPP, since Corellia had not been represented in the New Republic Senate while the OCP was in power. Indeed, the Republic granted leaves of absense to New Republic officers and respected Corellian heroes such as Garm Bel Iblis, Wedge Antilles, and others to campaign for the CPP with Mr. Dravvad. With the election over, they are expected to return to active service, while Dravvad is expected to be sworn in as Senator later this week. Dravvad, a widely respected former Senator and a firm supporter of Chief of State Ponc Gavrisom, is already a rumored contender for a seat on the Republic's Advisory Council.
