ᴍ:Maar Skalgar

John Maar Skalgar (né 3 March 2252 – TBD) was a Kusfeldic politician who served as President of Kusfeld from 2295 to 2302, and as President of the Hveden Federation from 2302 until at least 2307.

Personal life

Skalgar was born in Escat, Karnaya to Kusfeldic parents Xavier Skalgar and Mistel Simgot. He attended the University of Escat from 2270 to 2273 studying History and Politics.

Career

Skalgar joined the United Party of Kusfeld in 2276 as part of the party's youth programme. Skalgar was a strong believer in Hvedism and the unity of Kusfeld with other Hveden countries. He was elected to the House of Commons of Kusfeld in 2280 after he grew in popularity with many other young United members and gained the party management's attention. Skalgar was particularly good at oral speeches and delivered his famous 'Unity is Necessary' speech in 2281.

Presidency of Kusfeld

In the leadup to the 2295 presidential election, the 72 year old senior MP Dietgard Servaye believed Skalgar had the potential to be an excellent but young president to deliver the unity. The United Party, after three successive election defeats, wanted new youthful energy to inject the party. After several debates and primaries, Skalgar was selected as United Party's candidate.

Skalgar won 44.6% of the vote in the election, up 3.7pp from the United Party's previous candidate in 2291. The National Party's vote share only decreased by 0.2pp to 42.1%, but this was enough to elect Skalgar as the President of Kusfeld. This returned the United Party back to the presidency for the first time since 2283.

Skalgar's primary policy objective was to ensure the enshrinement of the Vaiyan Document and unite the Hveden states. He would begin negotiations immediately, inviting Servaye to be his Foreign Secretary. Karl Seiger, a close friend of Skalgar, would serve as the Ambassador to Matkalvina from 2295 to 2296, and would be incredibly important in shaping the Vaiyan Document later as Secretary for the Union from 2296 to 2302.

Skalgar is often known as the Architect of Hvede for his intense negotiations throughout the end of the 2200s. Nacrilia and Dazulia were almost pressured into joining and signed the agreement in early 2297. Seiger was incredibly important in getting Matkalvina's agreement in 2298. By the 2299 election, Ellya had also signed up.

The 2299 election was seen as one of the most one sided elections in early Kusfeldic history. Skalgar, who had only won 44.6% of the vote in the 2295 election, won 57.4% of the vote up 12.8pp any second place National party decreasing by 12.1pp to 30.0%. Skalgar secured a second term in which negotiations continued for the Vaiyan Document. Servaye would die in 2300. Karl Seiger succeeded him as Foreign Secretary.

Egovia and the CBA signed in 2301. The union would be created 1 July 2302.

Presidency of the Hveden Federation

Elections for the Hveden Federation took place on 1 April 2302. As the chief architect of the project and incumbent President of the largest state, Kusfeld, Skalgar was selected unopposed as the United Party's candidate in the 2302 presidential election. Skalgar won with 46.7% of the vote with a margin of 10.5pp over second. This was not as good as his landslide result in 2299 where he secured a margin of 27.4pp but was still a great result. Many criticised him on his laser focus on unification rather than tackling domestic policies. This particular hurt his appeal with the People's Party and the Progressive Party. Conservatives and nationalists in general also disliked the creation of the union but would otherwise of supported the party.

Skalgar's term would expire in 2307 and would begin with his appointments. Karl Seiger was reappointed Foreign Secretary. Having a minority in both the senate and house, they would coalition with the People's Party to receive a combined majority in both houses. Alone in the senate they had 31 senators and combined had 40 senators (above the 36 for a majority). Alone in the house they had 102 MPs and combined had 132 MPs (above the 126 for a majority). Because of the coalition, the Leader of the People's Party and fellow presidential nominee Inge Starlit was appointed Home Secretary to focus on domestic affairs. Alessand Braune of the People's Party was appointed Finance Secretary, with Klemens Freitag of the United Party serving as Chief Secretary to the Treasury, 3rd in command in the Treasury after the Finance Secretary and the President. Former general Fen Sven Garr was made Defence Secretary.

Skalgar and Seiger heavily worked on the Expansion Initiative together to bring in states from the South Vaiyan regions.