Luc Gwenadur
Luc Gwenadur | |
|---|---|
 Gwenadur in 2019 | |
| Prime Minister of Camria | |
| Assumed office 16 June 2017 | |
| Monarch | Anna III |
| Preceded by | Awstin Broch |
| President of Red and White | |
| Assumed office 3 May 2015 | |
| Deputy | Elen Mair Dere |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Member of Parliament for Ysl-di-Elysed at-large | |
| Assumed office 18 June 2009 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Migangel Luc Gwenadur November 23, 1975 Camelodd, Afalon |
| Political party | Red and White (2015–present) |
| Other political affiliations | Forward Afalon (1993–1996) Workers' Party (1996–2013) Independent (2013–2015) |
| Spouse | Gian Rhoch-Nîr (m. 2008) |
| Residence | Black Pillars |
| Alma mater | St Peter's College (BA in PPE) University of Elysed (MA in PP) |
Migangel Luc Gwenadur (born 23 Novemeber 1975) is a Camrian politician who has served as Prime Minister of Camria since June 2017, President of Red and White since May 2015 and Member of Parliament for Ysl-di-Elysed at-large since June 2009.
Gwenadur was born in Camelodd, the regional capital of Afalon to a working class family with separatist leanings. He studied at St Peter's College, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, Politics and Economics, going on to study public policy at the University of Elysed. Gwenadur joined Forward Afalon in 1990, aiming to lead the party. During his time at university, Gwenadur became increasingly wary of the separatist movement, and resgined from the party in 1996, going on to join the Workers' Party. In the 2009 general election, Gwenadur was elected one of the MPs for Ysl-di-Elysed at-large, in spite of the victory of the Alydian Democrats. Gwenadur would champion a number of popular bills, but would never be promoted to the frontbenches.
In the 2013 election, Gwenadur held his seat despite the overall losses for his party. He was floated as a candidate in the following leadership election, but was suspended from the party and accused of working to undermine it after he announced his candidacy. Gwenadur rescinded his party membership, and sat as an independent until 2015. He increasingly topped approval polls, in contrast to both major party leaders, and in 2015 formed Red and White alongside disaffected backbenchers of both parties. The subsequent 2017 general election saw Gwenadur's party gain an absolute majority, and Gwenadur was appointed as Prime Minister.
Gwenadur remains a popular leader according to polling, and has been credited with transforming the political landscape of Camria. Critics have accused Gwenadur of careerism, and of allowing wealth inequality in Camria to deepen.
Early life
Migangel Luc Gwenadur was born on 23 November 1975, at Saint Joseph's Hospital in Camelodd, Afalon, as the third child and only son of Andrew and Elen (née Broch) Gwenadur. Andrew was the son of a fishmonger, and inherited the family business sometime prior to Gwenadur's birth. Elen's mother was a waitress, and her father was a Rodavian soldier stationed in Afalon. Elen and Andrew were both separatist and Afalonian nationalist.
Gwenadur had two elder sisters, the lawyer Mari Elen and the party planner Greid Iogos. Gwenadur lived with his parents and two sisters at their family home in South Camelodd from birth. Though born as Migangel, Gwenadur used his middle name, Luc, from an early age.
Education
Gwenadur attended Braw Beacons Foundational School, before passing the entrance exam for the Grammar School at Camelodd. His time at the Grammar School was reportedly poorly-spent, and he transferred to South Camelodd High School prior to graduation. He achieved a passing grade in most subjects, though graduated with high grades in economics, philosophy and political studies. He left Afalon in 1993 to study Philosophy, Politics and Economics at the prestigious St Peter's College.
He had joined Forward Afalon in 1990 before leaving the island, but during his time at St Peter's his loyalty to the movement waned. He spent most of his time with the Workers' Party Club at the students' union, and left Forward Afalon in 1996 after reading Bread to the Victors. He joined the Workers' Party soon after, and became secretary of the club in his final year. Gwenadur graduated from St Peter's with a first class degree in 1996, going on to attend the University of Elysed in the same year in order to study a master's degree in public policy. He again graduated with a first class degree in 1997.
Political career
Workers' Party and election to Parliament
After his graduation, Gwenadur moved to Elysed permenantly, and found work with the local Workers' Party chapter. He served in a number of roles at the chapter, acting at various points as treasurer, secretary and president of the chapter. He was selected to stand for the Workers' Party in Afalon at-large in the 2005 general election, but was not elected. In 2009, Gwenadur was again selected as one of the Workers' Party candidates, this time for Ysl-di-Elysed at-large in preparation for the general election. Gwenadur was elected successfully, and was quickly recongised as a potential future leader, with commentators noting his charisma and wit.
His career in Parliament was tumultuous, and the party leadership reportedly viewed him with suspicion. Despite this, he championed a number of popular private member bills, and was lauded for his ability to sway backbenchers from other parties. One of the successful bills was the Dignity in Disability Act, which was seen to expand disability rights in Camria, encouraging equal opportunity and reforming the disability welfare system. Gwenadur also engaged in international politics on behalf of the Workers' Party, attending the general forum of the Workers' International in 2011 on behalf of the Camrian Workers' Party.
Gwenadur retained his seat in the 2013 general election, which saw many of his colleagues lose their seats to the new Camria First party. Gwenadur was widely touted as a successor to Dewidd Dewey in the ensuing leadership election. Gwenadur announced his candidacy in August 2013, but was suspended from the party soon after. It was claimed that Gwenadur had undermined the party from within during the election, evidencing a number of emails he had exchanged with other Workers' MPs expressing their scepticism at the campaign strategy. Gwenadur contested the allegations, but believed that the internal investigation was being stalled. He and his supporters subsequently cancelled their membership, and Gwenadur sat in Parliament as an independent.
Independent politics
The suspension of Gwenadur was a major political affair, and a number of Workers' MPs decried the move without rescinding their membership, claiming that it had been done in favour of factional interests. Maryared Traffer, Dewey's favoured candidate, was elected as Workers' Party Leader in the leadership election. She did not reinvite Gwenadur to the party.
Gwenadur himself largely focused on representing his constituents, but continued to criticise the leadership of all major parties - the governing Alydian Democrats and the opposition Workers' Party and Camria First - for creating a hostile political environment, for mismanaging the economy when in office, and for engaging in cronyism. He labelled them as out of touch, and Gwenadur was seen to be echoing the mood of prominent backbenchers and the general public.
Gwenadur became far more open in his political campaigning against the largest parties, as per the advice of his spin doctor, and by late 2014, polling companies reported that Gwenadur beat both incumbent Prime Minister Awstin Broch and Leader of the Opposition Maryared Traffer in terms of approval ratings, with support for Gwenadur bridging traditional political divides.
Formation of Red and White
In 2015, Gwenadur met with a number of backbenchers, party organisers and supporters at Camelodd House. The meeting led to the foundation of Red and White, officially launched later in the year, which brought together social democrats and soft conservatives both dissatisfied with their party's direction under the current leadership. The party described itself as progressive, with a compassionate but pragmatic outlook, and emphased civic nationalism and Pro-Asuranism.
Gwenadur was elected as President of Red and White unopposed, and opinion polls noted that at this early stage the party tied with the Workers' Party on voting intention, and was only slightly behind the Alydian Democrats. The opinion polls would continue to narrow. Gwenadur focused on promoting his own credentials, and allowed the other parties to attack each other. He positioned himself as a competent leader, above the squabbling and personal attacks of the rest of the political field.
In the lead up to the 2017 general election, Red and White was predicted to gain a plurality in Parliament, but not a majority. Gwenadur reached out to the Workers' Party and the Union of the Centre to enter into an electoral alliance, but both refused. Red and White would go on to win the largest parliamentary majority since the Great War.
Prime Minister
Internal policy
Economic policy
Labour policy
Civil rights
Education
Environment
Foreign policy
"Cool Camria"
Asuran Community
Political positions
Gwenadur describes himself as a progressive, and his Red and White party describes itself as civic nationalist and Pro-Asuran, positions which Gwenadur has also taken. Commentators have noted that Gwenadur's politics resemble radical centrism, combining populist rhetoric with a pluralist and decidedly liberal ethos. Gwenadur has advocated for socially liberal policies in regards to civil rights, having argued in favour of same-sex marriage, a gender neutral option on passports, and further action to tackle racism in Camrian society. His economic position has been heavily debated, with many commentators agreeing that his position is best described as centrist social democracy.
Personal life
Gwenadur married long-term partner Gian Rhoch-Nîr, a Purtian Alydian librarian, in 2008. The couple first met in 1998, at a bar in South Parc. Gian and Gwenadur currently have no children. Gwenadur has repeatedly reported that he identifies as an Alydian, though has refused to align himself to any creed. He told reporters in 2012 that he was raised by Orthodox parents, but has been exposed to Puritanism through his wife, and sees both creeds as important to him personally.