Johnathan Bennett
Johnathan Bennett | |
|---|---|
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| Prime Minister of Valentir | |
| Assumed office 11 June 2016 | |
| President | Helene Pauline |
| Deputy | Tristan Teyssier |
| Preceded by | Angélique Guyon |
| Leader of the Progressive Republican Party | |
| Assumed office 11 June 2016 | |
| Deputy | Élisabeth Guérin Troy Hammond |
| Preceded by | Andrew Farman |
| Minister for Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 3 June 2009 – 11 June 2016 | |
| Leader | Peter Molyneux Angélique Guyon |
| Preceded by | TBD |
| Succeeded by | Candice Gardner |
| Member of the Valentiri Parliament for Blackburn Grove | |
| Assumed office 20 November 2002 | |
| Preceded by | TBD |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 19 June 1964 (age 54) Starkhaven, Tarrington, Valentir |
| Political party | Progressive Republican Party |
| Other political affiliations | Unity - Alliance for Liberty |
| Spouse(s) | Laura Winters (m. 1987; div. 1993) Mirabella Fletcher (m. 1993; separated 2017) |
| Children | 2 |
| Residence | Chateau Haine |
| Alma mater | Redeemer University College |
| Profession | Businessman Politician |
| Parents | Adam R. Bennett Sarah Peterson |
| Networth | £87 million (2019) |
| Relatives | Thomas Bennett (brother) Jessamine Bennett (sister) |
Johnathan Bennett (born 19 June 1964) is a Valentirian businessman and politician serving as the 31st and current Prime Minister of Valentir and leader of the Progressive Republican Party since 11 June 2016. He previously served as Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2009 to 2016 in the governments of Peter Molyneux and Angélique Guyon. He has been a Member of Parliament since 2002, representing the Division of Blackwood Grove in Tarrington.
Bennett was born in Starkhaven, Tarrington, and studied Political science and Economics at Redeemer University College. In 1993 he started working as a regional director for Harrison & Sons LLC – an industrial machinery manufacturer. In 1999 he left Harrison & Sons for the brokerage firm Eternity Investments. He retired from the private sector in 2002 in order to stand for election in Blackwood Grove as a member of the Progressive Republican Party. Personally identifying as a liberal conservative, Bennett joined the centrist Federalist Association parliamentary caucus in 2004. He largely adhered to the Progressive Republicans' party line but adopted a more socially liberal stance on issues like LGBT rights in parliamentary votes.
Following the Alliance Coalition's victory at the 2009 election, Bennett was appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs in the Molyneux Government. In that capacity he was responsible for overseeing the complex Valentirian relationships with Negara, Songguo, and Asteria. In August 2015, following the resignation of Peter Molyneux, Bennett became one of twelve candidates seeking leadership of the party. He made it to the seventh round with Home Minister Angélique Guyon before withdrawing from the contest, stating he that he did not have the support to win, and endorsed Guyon, who became party leader and Prime Minister.
In June 2016 Prime Minister Guyon resigned from office as a result the In and Out campaign finance scandal. Bennett was elected unopposed as Progressive Republican Leader in the following leadership contest. As Prime Minister, Bennett pushed for anti-corruption legislation in Parliament. In the aftermath of the Montsimmard Bombings, his government implemented new security protocols and cyberterrorism defense capabilities with the Safer Valentir Act. In January 2017 the Alliance member parties Rassemblement pour Ghislaine and L'avenir - Coalition de L'Anguille voted against the government's 2017-2018 budget. Forced to call a snap election set for March, Bennett and the Alliance won a slim majority of 6 seats, securing their government another term.