Alex Hurabho
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The Right Honourable Alex Hurabho | |
|---|---|
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| Prime Minister of Scalizagasti | |
| In office 8 March 1942 – 15 November 1954 | |
| Preceded by | Julian Gisore |
| Succeeded by | Harvey Andrews |
| In office 9 June 1935 – 26 January 1939 | |
| Preceded by | Maxwell Hauke |
| Succeeded by | Julian Gisore |
| In office 16 January 1926 – 13 October 1933 | |
| Preceded by | Hugo Duponte |
| Succeeded by | Maxwell Hauke |
| Member of Parliament | |
| In office 21 October 1920 – 15 November 1954 | |
| Constituency | Dunedin |
| Leader of the Revolutionary Republican Party | |
| In office 16 January 1926 – 15 November 1954 | |
| Preceded by | Paul Donaldson (interim) |
| Succeeded by | Harvey Andrews |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 17 July 1879 Greenhill, Lamanges, Scalizagasti |
| Died | September 28, 1963 (aged 84) Chicoutimi, Lamanges, Scalizagasti |
| Political party | RRP |
| Alma mater | McSeross University Bewundal University |
George Alexander Hurabho (17 July 1879 – 28 September 1963) was a Scalizagastian lawyer, politician, and statesman who served as the Prime Minister of Scalizagasti for three non-consecutive periods from 1926–1933, 1935–1939, and 1942–1954. In total, he served for 23 years, the longest in Scalizagastian history. He became Prime Minister in 1926 when he was elected leader of the Revolutionary Republican Party following the resignation of Hugo Duponte. He was a major political figure in the country from the 1920s to the 1950s, still retaining great political influence after retiring from politics in 1954. Hurabho is best known for leading Scalizagasti during the Second Scalizi-Haprian War from 1944–1949 and implementing many new welfare programs such as universal healthcare and a national pension program.
Born in 1879 in the city of Greenhill, Lamanges, Hurabho graduated from McSeross University in Alesting and Bewundal University in Bewundal. He practiced law for most of his early professional career, before switching to politics in the 1920s. He was recruited by Republican leader Hugo Duponte to run for the RRP, winning a seat in the constituency of Dunedin in 1920. He would go on to win re-election in Dunedin eight more times until his early resignation in 1954.
Hurabho is one of the most influential leaders in Scalizagastian history as a result of his decades in office and expansive economic and political reform. A poll of political historians in 2011 named him the greatest Prime Minister, and public opinion polls consistenty rank him as one of the top three leaders of the country (and more often than not, in first place). His supporters point to the expansion of the welfare state and promotion of Scalizagastian unity during the Second Scalizi-Haprian War, alongside his personal charisma and political acumen, as evidence of his signficant legacy. Critics of Hurabho accused him of authoritarian tendencies during both his premiership and party leadership, especially during the war. Many polticians and members of the modern RRP claim to be Hurabhists, an ideology based on the "liberal nationalism" of Hurabho's premiership. After his death, many streets, buildings, and monuments were dedicated to the late leader, such as Hurabho International Airport in Bewundal.
Early life, family, and education
Hurabho was born in 1879 to Scalizagastian parents Dmitri and Helene Hurabho (née Schreyer). He had an older sister Margaret (b. 1876) and two younger brothers Joseph (b. 1882) and Sacha (b. 1883). He was raised in Greenhill, a small city in southeast Lamanges. In his memoirs, Hurabho described his upbringing as "a simple [one], perhaps not befitting or expected of a future Prime Minister." Both his parents were Reform Auldenists, so Hurabho grew up in a religious household and often went to church with his family.
He attended the Greenhill Collegiate Academy (now Alex Hurabho Public School) and West Greenhill High School. As a child he took interest in writing and politics, which would guide his future education and career choices. He went to McSeross University in the provincial capital Alesting and graduated with a B.A. in sociology in 1901 and an M.A. in political economy in 1902. During his time at McSeross, he would join the National Debating Society, where he met his future wife Renata. Wishing to become a lawyer, Hurabho then went to Bewundal University, graduating in 1904 with his LL.B.
Hurabho would work as a lawyer in Alesting for the next 16 years before entering politics. He would also continue to practice Reform Auldenism as his religious beliefs, the tenets of which would later influence some of his political beliefs.
Entrance into politics
One of his friends from Alesting University, Michael Kingston-Smith, was an influential member of the Revolutionary Republican Party in the early 20th century. Knowing that Hurabho was strong-willed and an excellent speaker, he, alongside party leader Hugo Duponte, lobbied Hurabho to run under the Republicans for the 1920 election. Upset at some of the Social Democratic government's policies, Hurabho agreed, and contested the election in his home district of Dunedin. Hurabho secured his seat and the RRP managed to dethrone the ruling SDP, making Duponte Prime Minister.