Phodric Dormond

Dr. Phodric Dormond
1st Premier of the Caropsyne Pontanore
In office 5 April 1993 – 14 May 1996
Preceded by	Fostana Rule
Succeeded by	Haldric Maldian `
Member of the Pontiana
In office 5 April 1993 – 14 May 1996
Constituency	Pirus
Personal details
Born	(1948-05-19) May 19, 1948 Fornænda
Nationality	Caropsyne
Political party	Moderate
Spouse	Jena
Children	1 daughter (Alsarta) and 1 son
Residence(s)	Fornænda (Pirus), Carops
Education	PhD Biochemistry
Alma mater	Imperial University Fornænda
Profession	Politician, Chemist

Phodric Valanas Dormond (born: 19 May 1948) was the 1st Premier (Pontissiano) of the Caropsyne Pontanore following the end of sixty years of Fostana rule. The political ideology he governed by while in office has defined the division of Pontanore politics to this day.

Early Years and Personal Life

Phodric Dormond was born on 19 May 1948 in the Pirus District of Fornænda while the Fostana maintained complete control over the country. His father worked at a chemist shop which was affilated with the National Health Service while his mother was a civil servant at the Education Ministry. Pirus during his childhood was one of the middle-income districts both because of its proximity to well-paid working class jobs and its easy access to the center of Fornænda. His father's work in the chemist shop encouraged him to learn more about the sciences. This was made obvious when he received a first honors from his local secondary educational institution who noted his excellent skill in chemistry. Throughout his teenage years, his mother taught him to be a pianist, a talent he would retain for the rest of his life.

Dormond would meet Jena, his future wife, when he was taking a break from his lab experiments one night while getting his doctorate at the Imperial University Fornænda's Pologi College in 1970. Phodric would propose to her using his piano skills and playing an original composition. They would marry three years later, and over the next five years have two children, a daughter, Alsarta, and a son. When he received his degree, one of the largest Caropsyne pharmaceutical companies hired him to take on a senior management role. The position would make him very well-off and would quickly become known as a committed charity figure throughout the country from chemistry scholarships at the Imperial University to performing arts organizations and local neighborhood groups whose mission it was to make life better for the people of Pirus. In the early 1980's, he would meet Haldric Maldian. In short order, both men became close colleagues who shared similar viewpoints on the world based on their upbrings under Fostana rule. Their political paths would inevitably converge at the same time.

Political Career

Rise to Power

The Fostana had been in control of Carops and her territories since 1933 after they had removed the last Premier and declared a national emergency. Their power had begun to collapse in 1990 as the council experienced a number of controversies involving improper member conduct and damaging social policies placed upon the country due to their long-known reactionary politics. Dormond could see the nation was starting to unravel. Their heavy-handed supression of Hermalas Socialist Uprising in 1991 and their failed attempt at using military force to disperse the Ariatra Protests that broke out the following year showed him that he needed to do something - and it wouldn't take long for an opportunity to present itself.

In the wake of the protests, Chair Rolmand Roth decreed that the Pontiana would reopened and democracy would be restored. Elections were called for 3 April 1993. Dormond decided that the best way he could help rebuild his beloved country was to run for the Premiership. Using his extensive business network and connections he had through government, Dormond would establish and become the leader of the Moderate Party. He recurited Maldian and the two of them crafted a manifesto that made it appear like they were the true 'centrist' party when in fact they were actually conveying general center-right policies, state intervenion in the economy, and strong civic nationalism coupled with an expansive military and police force. Maldian would be tasked with delivering Ariatra for the party.

The first election since 1931 was carried out on 3 April 1993. The Moderates won the highest number of seats in the reopened Pontiana which would make him Premier by law but he did not have an outright majority to govern alone. He would converse with the leaders of the Social Democratic and Liberty parties well into the night and by the time the sun rose he was able to secure an coalition agreement amongst their three parties. He officially took office the following day.

Premiership

On the first day of Dormond's Government, the Premier made a speech before the Pontiana and proclaimed the establishment of the Second Pontanore. His Premiership is recognized for having been responsible for the reconstruction of numerous Caropsyne institutions left behind during Fostana rule including the National Health Service and the educational system. His Government would invest three times the funds spent during the Fostana period into the military and the police forces. They claimed such a build-up was essential to the defense of the Pontanore and to properly project the nation's true strength. Unbeknownst to anyone except Dormond and Maldian, the Damosca would receive a considerable amount of the credits being invested. The build up was led by Maldian. Within six months, the Liberty Party left the coalition, but he still have enough votes to get his policies enacted.

Dormond was popular for much of his term at home as he peeled back many of the reactionary social policies enacted by the Fostana and helped to reduce unemployment which some had cited was a factor that contributed the 1992 Protest in Ariatra. Dormond received credit for getting the Pontiana to pass legislation to recognize the Pelsai community on Casona as the indigenous population and had its language and cultures protected by the Pontiana in 1995. His Government would also enact important environmental protections.

Abroad, however, things were not all calm. Dormond and his political ally Haldric Maldian (who had become both Defense and Interior Minister) began to implement aggressive foreign policies that were antgonistic against countries whose foreign policy disagreed with that of the Pontanore's. This included the Republic of Curiastan whom they believed to be a threat to long-term influence in developing countries. Respective countries would blame Dormond or the nation's intelligence service, the Damosca, for committing the attacks but this was always denied. Phodric had two big successes on the international stage. First was the signing of the Treaty of Taerisz with the Republic of Ardalia in 1994 which finally normalized relations between the two countries. Second, he met with the various heads of state of the numerous Thearean nations and amongst them they agreed on the basic framework that would eventually lead to the creation of the Thearean Community in 1997.

Early on in his tenure, Dormond purchased and spent lavishly on restoring the former Royal Family's Penicé Complex on the island of Casona. It was a 200 hectare property located on a scenic ridge over the Bay of Gomosc, consisting of a three-hundred year old main house constructed from fine Caropsyne sandstone and extensively decorated with Ariatra Marble. It had over 35 rooms. Penicé had extensive gardens that were filled with carefully-selected tropical and temperate species indigenous to the Pontanore and featured a selection of sculptures by leading national artists. He would enjoy the complex during the summer vacation of the Pontiana each year. Dormond would donate the complex to the Government upon his resignation for use by subsequent Premiers.

Downfall

Phodric Dormond fell from grace during the events of the Great Oil Crisis of 1996 where he was perceived as inept and slow to react to problems facing the Pontanore. Members of his own party including backbencher Alza Permentanna demanded his resignation. Foreign Minister Miria Seranoda fled to Ardalia where she gave a fiercely critical address on State Television on Dormond's involvement in the oil crisis, accused the Premier of being ruled by the Damosca who coaxed him into pursuing a violent and bloody foreign policy. Afterwards, she presented a dossier to the Pontiana's Executive Committee listing notable terrorist acts for which she claimed Dormond was responsible for orchestrating.

Seeing that he had lost the confidence of the Caropsyne people in response to the events that had unfolded and had word from his allies that a motion was being drafted to remove him from the Premiership, Dormond formally announced his resignation. Dormond was succeeded by Haldric Maldian after a snap election. Although the poll results presented a similar outcome to the election of 1993, Maldian was able to reestablish the original governing coalition by offering top ministries to his partners including the Liberty Party who had walked out six months into the Government.

Post-Political Life

The once-popular Premier saw his credibility and influence evaporate. The Moderates, the political party he had established, would in due time be tied to the policies and ideology he had pursued while in office - giving rise to Dormondism. According to Eda Pontanoresca, the former Premier was given a desk job at the Damosca. The story given also stated that he would seek treatment for depression at a secure hospital for some time.