Interview: Brandin, Deputy Leader of the Social Democratic Party

INTERVIEWER (Penstubal): Good evening, Mr. Brandin. How are you?

BRANDIN: Good evening Mr. Speaker, I’m well, thank you for asking.

INTERVIEWER: Alright, great. My first question to you is; as you might suspect, people don't know a lot about you. You were mostly in the "shadows" of Demarcian politics ever since you entered, and have mostly confined yourself to the Government Protection Service. Your influence is growing now, however.

So with that I would like to begin by asking, how exactly would you describe yourself and your political ideology?

BRANDIN: Well, Mr. Speaker if I had it my way, I’d stay behind the scenes, haha! But I think public service is all about serving where your called and for the past few weeks my names been called to the frontlines and as always, I’m happy to serve.

And as far as my ideologies go, I stand firm on my parties values. Independent, however; I encourage people to be free thinkers, if a party stands for what you stand for, by all means join it. But don’t fall victim to party lines and just agreeing for the sake of party unity.

INTERVIEWER: So, in terms of being aligned with your party's values, you would say you're an average social democrat and progressive, like the majority in your party? What does that mean to you personally? What attracted to you the party and its cause?

BRANDIN: I do. I think that the SDP serves well and it’s the first and only party I’ve joined. The biggest pull to the SDP was its character. A good rule of thumb when joining anything, whether it’s a gym or a school, is to judge based off of the following: you know, for example, you’re not going to send your child to a school that claims to be all about academic excellence, but attendance is at 60% daily and the kids look unmotivated, haha. So you really have to look beyond the words and the mantras and see the people encompassing it, or supposed to be anyway.

INTERVIEWER: I see, thank you. What are some areas that are top priorities to you? Areas as in - health care, or environment, or defence, and so on. And explain why so and what you see as issues that need to be addressed in that area.

BRANDIN: So first off, I think the President is doing a phenomenal job along with the Prime Minister in moving Demarcia forward. As you know I helped craft the President's message in response to the COVID outbreak in our country and I’m sure the effects will be in our favor with cases down, and a healthier environment. So healthcare I believe is my top priority, and one of the administration's top priorities.

I’m not very worried about defense, they stand on their own two feet.

The next most pressing issue in my opinion after healthcare would be patriotism. It’s not a very popular topic but it’s one that is near and dear to me and hopefully will be magnified in this administration. I think once you have love for your country, everything else falls into place. Cooperation with mask mandates, compassion for neighbors, respecting differing viewpoints, and so much more. Because at the root of it all, regardless of party, we share the same end goal, the betterment of our great country.

INTERVIEWER: I see. Do you think that recent political divisions that have erupted, primarily over the Novaland crisis that occurred last summer, as well as the Leader of the Opposition's sometimes inflammatory rhetoric, stand in the way of what you have mentioned - co-operation, respect of different viewpoints and patriotism? What are your thoughts on that?

BRANDIN: I knew we would get to this question, haha. But look we have systems and processes in place, investigations being conducted into these incidents. So I trust the process. In regards to Opposition Leader's comments, we do differ on viewpoints. I respect the Leader's service to Demarcia, but I think that’s where the Leader's service should stay, in the past.

INTERVIEWER: Alright, thank you. How would you describe your personality, your good sides and your bad sides as a politician?

BRANDIN: Haha! If you weren’t a journalist I’d tell you I’m the next best thing to the Pope! Haha! But no, seriously I think like anybody else we have good days and bad days. But I think that we’re all good people and the idea of bad comes in because we all just don’t see the same way on getting to our goal. As a politician however I’m open, fair, and transparent. That’s the only way we grow. Together and transparent.

INTERVIEWER: Alright, thank you for the response. And lastly, just one more question. This one is on everybody's minds lately, I bet you were expecting this one too actually!

You are most certainly a rising star within the Social Democratic Party. Some are touting you as the successor to President Jeskia... what do you make of these rumours? After all, every Deputy Leader in party history has always become their Leader's successor, interestingly.

BRANDIN: Oh, haha! Yes I had a hunch you would ask this. Look, we’re gonna take it day by day. In my role as Deputy Leader and Cabinet Minister we’re gonna continue doing the good work we’ve been doing and put a stop to COVID in our country and so much more. Personally, sir, I’ll be transparent with you. I won’t close the door a Presidential run. But as of right now, I want to focus on continuing the good work of this coalition.

INTERVIEWER: Alright, thank you very much sir! Thank you for agreeing to this interview.

BRANDIN: No problem, always a pleasure!