Oslanburg Udsende Tjeneste

[Blacaria]

Overgaard wins leadership race, to become new Prime Minister

Edition: 36
03 Marth 1587
Written by Dimitra Krum


Nis Overgaard (41), was elected as the new leader of the ODP.

Herlev, Oslanburg | At the conclusion of Oslanburg Democratic Party conference, Defence Minister and foreign policy hawk Nis Overgaard was elected by party members to replace retiring Damara Larsen as party leader and Prime Minister.

Overgaard was one of five candidates to be on the ballot at the leadership convention, which was primarily held as an internet vote open to all party members, along with Minister of Finance Elmer Thuesen, Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries Nicolai Thorsen, Minister of Social Transformation Lisbeth Gregersen and backbencher Erland Daugaard.

Over 450,000 voters cast ballots, straining the internet-based voting system. Despite Thorsen taking an earlier lead over a party split between Overgaard and Thuesen, he struggled to break fifty percent and when it came down to a head to head vote, Overgaard emerged victorious, although by a much narrower than expected margin of just over one thousand votes.

Overgaard's advocacy for stronger defence measures and perceived hawkish tone towards nations such as Belayazemlya, Akitsu and others on the far right have made him a polarizing figure, even within his own party; during the leadership campaign, both Gregersen and Thorsen criticized Overgaard's foreign policy positions as "provocative", while criticism from the opposition has been especially sharp, with United Labour Party leader Henriette Kristensen  describing his rhetoric on armed forces policy as "dangerous".


ODP Leadership Election Results

• Round 1: Nicolai Thorsen 36.48%, Nis Overgaard 26.98%, Elmer Thuesen 23.97% - Gregersen eliminated, Daugaard withdrew
  
• Round 2: Nicolai Thorsen 38.38%, Nis Overgaard 33.88%, Elmer Thuesen 27.74% - Thuesen eliminated
  
• Round 3: Nis Overgaard 51.43%, Nicolai Thorsen 48.57% - Overgaard Wins