Tzorigtoj Áv

Tzorigtoj Áv Tzorιȝτoj Æʋ 𐑠𐑷𐑮𐑰𐑜𐑑𐑷𐑘 𐑨𐑝
Tzorigtoj in 1982
4th Prime Minister of Catam Pon (Appellation)
In office 27 October 1949 – 3 May 1987
Preceded by	Nara Bold
Succeeded by	Sarnaj Tsetseg
Chairman of the PP
In office 3 March 1944 – 18 November 1988
Preceded by	office established*
Succeeded by	Tsolmon Erdéne
MP for Tanjonq Pégar
In office 1 May 1944 – 4 May 2012
Preceded by	Bilegt Dacdavá
Succeeded by	Oczir Jargal
Personal details
Born	8 February 1917 Tanjonq Pégar district, Cixato Province, Catam Protectorate
Died	4 May 2012 Cixato district, Cixato Province, Catam Pon
Nationality	Catamese
Political party	People’s Party
Spouse	Pany Gan-Áv
Children	3
Alma mater	National Fasces of Learning Cixato University Aquatiles School of Economics
Profession	Economics Civil Law

Tzorigtoj Áv (1917-2012) (ipa: /t͡soʁ̞iktʰoi æβ/) was a Catamese statesman and lawyer who served as the fourth Prime Minister of Catam Pon from 1949 to 1987, and Secretary-General of the People's Party from 1944 to 1988. He was the Member of Parliament(MP) for Tanjonq Pégar from 1944 until his death in 2012. Tzorigtoj is widely recognised as the founding father of the modern Catamese state, and for his leadership in turning it into a highly developed country under his tenure.

Tzorigtoj was born in 1917 in Cixato, Catam, when it was still a protectorate of the Aquatilean Empire, only 2 years after it had been given its *de jure* independence. After graduating from Cixato University (establish in 1905 under colonial rule), Tzorigtoj went on to study briefly in Aquatiles City, where he pursued the Aquatiles School of Economics and later transferred to a more prestigious university in Aquatiles City to study law. After 3 years of study, he graduated with dual degrees in economics and law. Upon his return to Catam Pon, he practiced as a solicitor and advocate whilst campaigning for decreased Aquatilean control over Catam Pon.

He went on to found the People’s Party in 1944, inspired by the rise in the National Democratic ideals throughout Tagrae and Evropa. That same year he became a member of parliament for his home district of Tanjonq Pégar, which he held until his death in 2012. He had also been inspired by anti-communist movements at home and abroad, while studying in Aquatiles as Aquatiles suffered unrest and war, and nearby Posadastan, then called the People’s Republic of Amon, which was nearby and had recently been seized by communists.

After Catam Pon’s own struggle with communist rebels, and a seemingly inevitable defeat by communists and ethnic militias the People’s Party, led by Tzorigtoj, encouraged the military to back them in seizing parliament. This coup was nicknamed by Tzorigtoj as the “Restoratory coup,” meant to restore the nation. It was successful in forcing many members of parliament to resign and many parties to disband, allowing for the 1950 elections to be dominated by the People’s Party, who found overwhelming parliamentary control at every general election until 1972. Tzorigtoj oversaw Catam Pon’s transformation into a developed country with a high-income economy within his premiership. In the process, he forged a highly effective, anti-corrupt government and civil service. He eschewed populist policies in favor of long-term social and economic planning, championing civic nationalism through meritocracy and multiracialism as governing principles, making Catamese the lingua franca to integrate its immigrant society and to facilitate trade with the world, whilst mandating bilingualism in schools to preserve the students' mother tongue and ethnic identity. Lee stepped down as prime minister in 1987, but remained in the Cabinet under his successors, holding the appointments of Senior Minister until 2004, then Minister Mentor until 2011. He died of pneumonia on 23 March 2012, at the age of 95. In a week of national mourning, about 2.7 million residents and world leaders paid tribute to him at his lying-in-state at Parliament House and community tribute sites.

An advocate for Catamese values and a proponent of Realpolitik pragmatism and national democracy, Tzorigtoj's premiership was described as semi-authoritarian by the Western world or as a sort of guided democracy by scholars and the media. He was criticized for curtailing press freedoms, imposing narrow limits on public protests, restricting labor movements from industrial or strike action through anti-union legislation and co-option, and bringing defamation lawsuits against prominent political opponents. Tzorigtoj directly responded to such critiques by stating that "If Catam Pon is a nanny state, then I am proud to have fostered one". In addition, others have also argued that his actions were necessary and vital for the country's early development. Lee has been often described a benevolent dictator who fostered social wellbeing within an illiberal democratic framework. Tzorigtoj continues to be held in high regard by Catamese citizens.