Niklas Brule
The Honourable Niklas Brule | |
|---|---|
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| Leader of the Opposition of Vyvland | |
| Assumed office 22 November 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Kurt Blymont |
| Leader of the Socialist Party | |
| Assumed office 2 March 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Jes Delmeer |
| Welfare Minister | |
| In office 3 November 2009 – 22 November 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Alvonse Blym |
| Succeeded by | Gyneld Welelmsen |
| Member of Parliament for Lyksdal-16 | |
| Assumed office 26 October 1999 | |
| Preceded by | Kristina Apelpruk |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 250px 16 September 1964 (age 49) Rasmyssdad, Welland, South Vyvland |
| Died | 250px |
| Resting place | 250px |
| Nationality | Vyvlander |
| Political party | Socialist Party |
| Domestic partner | Luke Dipdal |
| Parent |
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Niklas Brule (pronounced /nikləz bɾuːlə/) is the Leader of the Opposition of Vyvland and the Leader of the Socialist Party, Vyvland's largest opposition party and third-largest party overall. Brule has held the party leadership since March 2013, when he took over from outgoing Jes Delmeer following poor poll ratings. He presided over the Socialists during their campaign for the 2013 general election, in which the party failed to gain seats despite previous predictions.
Brule was born in 1959 in Rasmyssdad, then in South Vyvland, the son of a brick factory worker in a nearby brickworks at Bengsdok. Before entering Parliament, Brule had been an election strategist for the Socialist Party, having started his work following the party's heavy 1998 defeat. After six years of service to the party, Brule was selected as the candidate for the Socialist safe seat of Lyksdal-16, replacing outgoing wetaan Kristina Apelpruk. He won favour with the party's moderate wing, then led by Sofia Beket, although thereby distanced himself from radicals including Minke Selengborg, then Prime Minister. Brule received a ministerial position in 2009, as Welfare Minister, thereby placing Brule in charge of the largest budget of any government department. Brule made some effort to simplify the state pensions system, and introduced new benefits and tax breaks for students. The widespread approval of his changes let him rise relatively high in his party, and become a de facto leader of the party's moderate faction.
Brule's March 2013 election as party leader was seen as a conscious decision by party members to move towards a more moderate Socialist Party with a wider appeal, which Brule helped to pitch through his liberal stances and rural background; the Socialists were keen to take ground off the Liberals, who had been growing as a political force prior to Brule's leadership, mostly at the expense of Socialist support. However, at the 2013 general election, despite large Liberal losses, the Socialists lost two seats. This was due to the movement of many conservative Socialist supporters moving to the National Party, which counteracted a movement from the Liberals to the Socialists. After losing the election, Brule, as the leader of the largest non-government party, was elected Leader of the Opposition by all the parties not comprising the government.