Brandin Resigns as Leader of the Social Democratic Party

Brandin has resigned as Leader of the Social Democratic Party and endorsed Jeskia as his successor.

In his farewell address, Brandin thanked the leadership and rank-and-file of the Social Democratic Party. He touted the party's electoral achievements, focusing above all on the local level. "So, I want to make it clear - while we didn't win the presidency, we still showed up, and we STILL showed out!" he said to loud cheers from the party's secretary.

"In the coming days, we will be hosting a leadership election in which I will not be a candidate. It's been a long thought-out decision, and one we ALL took time to process. And we've come to the conclusion that the party is bigger than one person; it's made up of people all over our great country. Men and women, young and old. One man is not the SDP, and one man is not Demarcia."

He then went on to endorse Jeskia as his successor, touting her achievements as Deputy Leader, as a cabinet minister in governments involving him, and as a President.

Brandin also recalled his decision to leave national politics and focus on local issues at hand. "And uhhh, long and behold, after people got wind of my plans, we get good ole MikeBodwin out announcing he's stepping aside from national politics. Listen, I'm not calling him a follower. But, SDP, we've got some influence, am I right?" he said in a joke met with laughter from Conference Hall.

He also announced that he would be leading the Dodoville chapter of the party and becoming Chairman of the party, with both roles set to be established in the coming days at an extraordinary party conference, where a voting system reform will be deliberated as well.

"It's been a hell of a ride. And I am so thankful, that I got to serve the best party, with the best people, in the best country. God bless Demarcia!" He finished his speech to a standing ovation from the two-member audience.

After Brandin's address to the party, party secretary Penstubal addressed the events earlier in the day surrounding the leak of a private conversation between Jeskia and himself.

"There is nothing controversial about my conversation with Jeskia. Yes, I offered her the possibility of being elected Leader, and I did personally want her to become Leader of the party. There is nothing wrong with that, and as party secretary, I already endorsed different candidates before" he said in a seemingly furious tone. "I've nothing to be ashamed of frankly, and the only scandal here is that the public found out a bit earlier than I would have wanted that I support Jeskia to become leader of the party."

He then lambasted MikeBodwin, calling his "stunt" a "pathetic new low, especially from a seasoned politician like him". He further said that the Civic Unity Party has an "insurmountable envy of the SDP, which has a record to boast of, unlike the party whose entire record, really, is from years ago - since they were so incompetent they couldn't gain the trust of almost any voter for about 10 elections in a row."

"May God help us if this lot get in power again", he solemnly wrapped up his tirade, one that is not expected to be received well by MikeBodwin, whom it was directed at.

Brandin's speech has been characterised as the "most brilliant" speech of his career by pundits, with a particularly decisive ending. The following days and weeks will surely see a lot of discussion about Brandin's legacy as party leader - the third longest serving leader of the party, in a few days set to surpass Vincent_Wolff and become second longest (he is currently at 286 days, while Vincent_Wolff served for 293 days).

Laura Cooper,

Demarcian Inquirer.