Wednesday, 1 Messidor 185 12:09 LMT
New Commonwealth President Takes Office
by Richard Hawley
CH’TAALA, L’NHRAEI (LNN) – "I, John Macpherson, do solemnly swear to faithfully execute the office of President of the L’nhraei Commonwealth of Planets, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the L’nhraei Commonwealth of Planets."
With those words, John Macpherson became the 29th president of the Commonwealth, in a ceremony attended by hundreds of thousands and watched by billions. Shortly before he was sworn in, his vice-president, Aidoann t'Khaalis took a similar oath.
Macpherson and t’Khaalis received 77% of the vote in last year’s election, followed by K’Tal tr’Mira and Michael Stevens with 22%. Various other candidates received 4% and 1% of voters decided on None of the Above.
There are approximately 21.172 billion registered voters in the Commonwealth, and 84% of them voted in the last election.
In his inaugural address, President Macpherson said, "L’nhraei was founded on principles of freedom for the individual, a policy at the heart of what the Commonwealth stands for. I intend to carry out those functions granted to me under our Constitution, realising and respecting that we do not force others to agree with us, or compel them to subsidise the choices of others."
Outgoing president Valeria Ward, who served as president since 177, was unable to run again due to a constitutional provision that limits presidents to two four-year terms. President Ward wished "the best to the incoming administration, and I know they will serve the people of the Commonwealth well, and uphold its laws and the most fundamental right we have, the right to be left alone."
She plans on retiring from politics, returning to her medical practice on Tiw.
President Macpherson was a member of the Assembly representing c (Chi) Cancri V from 177-181. He was then appointed to the Senate by the same world. Prior to serving in the Assembly, he was a vice-president at Defensive Technologies, a company making shielding and similar products for military and commercial ships, as well as other security applications such as in prisons and banks.
Vice-President t’Khaalis is from Selene, L’nhraei’s moon, and served with President Macpherson in the Senate. She has a law practice on Selene, and like vice-presidents before her, will continue practising law when Parliament is not in session and her other official duties allow.
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