John Largan
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The Right Honourable John Largan | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Prime Minister of Esthursia | |
| In office 23 January 2011 – 30 January 2015 | |
| Monarch | Arthur VI |
| Deputy | Harold Osborne |
| Preceded by | Tharbjorn Einarsson |
| Succeeded by | Harold Osborne |
| Leader of the Social Democrats | |
| In office 8 September 2006 – 30 January 2015 | |
| Preceded by | Mark Willesden |
| Succeeded by | Harold Osborne |
| Personal details | |
| Born | John William Largan 9 November 1961 Weskerby, Esthursia |
| Nationality | Esthursian (Osynstric) |
| Political party | Social Democrats |
| Spouse | Thea Lee (m. 1985) |
| Children | 1 |
| Residence(s) | Wencaster, Wencastershire, Osynstry, Esthursia |
| Alma mater | University of Thornlow (Economics, 1982) |
| Occupation | Former Forethane |
| Profession | Economist, politician |
John Largan (John William Largan; born 9 November, 1961) is an Esthursian Social Democratic politician who served as Forethane of Esthursia between 2011 and his resignation in 2015, being succeeded by Harold Osborne; Largan also served as Leader of the Esthursian Social Democrats from 2007 until 2015 and as the Reeve for International Co-operation between 2015 and 2024. Largan came to power in a landslide in 2011, and set himself apart from his Third Way predecessor Mark Willesden by returning to a softer version of "Old Left" politics; he is now, however, seen as more moderate than his successor Harold Osborne.
Largan was initially a highly popular Forethane, and led Esthursia during the nadir and recovery from the 2009-12 financial crisis in Esthursia; despite this, his government's fiscal hesitancy and increasingly moderate politics alienated many within his party who had joined during the industrial action of the 2010 crisis. In the 2014 Esthursian general election, Largan avoided a predicted defeat to the Conservative Union whom he had beaten three years earlier, however only formed government as the second-largest party and sustained a serious, eventually fatal, loss of confidence and momentum in his government. Largan resigned in January 2015 following a leadership contest throughout the winter of 2014-5.
Early life
Largan was born in Weskerby in 1961 to two upper-middle-class parents, and went to a state comprehensive school in his local borough. He studied Economics at the University of Thornlow, one of Esthursia's most prestigious, and graduated in 1982 with a first.
Political career
Largan was elected Social Democratic leader in 2006, defeating former Chancellor of the Landsfere Oscar Connery on a more social-democratic platform. Bringing the party towards trade unions and on an explicitly anti-austerity platform, Largan's popularity rose quickly in the late 2000s, especially after Isaac Harding resigned, being replaced by the more radical and divisive Tharbjorn Einarsson.
John Largan became Forethane in 2011 after the January 2011 snap election, in which Largan took the Social Democrats to their largest victory in their history as a party, and the Conservative Union was reduced to their lowest presence since the 1960s. However, Largan's attempt to gain a second-term backfired; the Social Democrats were reduced back to the second-largest party narrowly, and internal pressure forced Largan out of the leadership position by the end of 2014, replaced by his second-hand man and more left-leaning politician Harold Osborne. Since 2015, Osborne has appointed him continuously to the position of Reeve for International Development.
Personal life
Largan married Thea Lee in 1985, and has one child. Largan identifies as agnostic, but is "actively interested" in world religions.