Robert Ujson
The Most Righteous Robert Ujson | |
|---|---|
| File:Robert Ujson.jpg | |
| President of Vyvland | |
| In office 7 June 2010 – 18 June 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Sofia Beket |
| Succeeded by | Pamela Oegelkeper |
| Justice Minister | |
| In office 3 November 2002 – 25 June 2005 | |
| Preceded by | Willem Frampelen |
| Succeeded by | Gusdaav Klerenbugt |
| Leader of the Opposition | |
| In office 1 July 2005 – 29 October 2009 | |
| Preceded by | Sofia Beket |
| Succeeded by | Kurt Blymont |
| Member of Parliament for Vlud | |
| In office 27 October 1993 – 7 June 2010 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 250px 2 October 1962 (age 50) Mruk, Bajre |
| Died | 250px |
| Resting place | 250px |
| Nationality | Vyvlander |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Spouse | Mari Ujson |
| Children | Lisbef Ujson Else Ujson |
| Parent |
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| Alma mater | Sarumian University |
| Occupation | Lawyer |
Robert Ujson (/'ɾoː.beɾt 'oiʝ.zən/) was the sixth President of Vyvland, having gained the position in the 2010 presidential election and left office after the following 2014 election. He is a member of the Liberal Party.
Ujson entered politics in 1989 after training as a lawyer, and held the position of Justice Minister before his election as President. During his time as President, he was generally supported from across the political spectrum; and his approval rating increased from 43% one month after his election to a high of 68% in March 2013, making him the second most popular President in unified Vyvland, behind the long-serving Enrig Dalder. This popularity stayed with Ujson until allegations of his use of a prostitute on a summit in Ainin were exposed the day before Ujson's election.
Early life
Robert Ujson was born to parents Enrika (née Dolmaan) and Markys Ujson in Mruk, the capital of Bajre province, where he lived for his entire childhood. He grew up in a middle-class family and was state-educated at Wesval Tyfsgol in the city, where he became head boy and gained top grades in all five Abejyrs taken. It was during this period that Ujson became interested in law, and applied for a university course in law upon leaving school. However, he reprtedly "flunked" all three university interviews - for Sarumian, Vreusdi and Lyksdal-Mejro - and was not offered a place. For two years, he travelled, both around Vyvland and Esquarium, spending ten months in early 1980s Namor, in an atmosphere which he decribes as an inspiration for his political beliefs. Upon returning to Vyvland, Ujson took part in the Liberal Revolution protests and marches, which eventually led to Vyvlander reunification.
At age 21, Ujson was finally admitted into the Sarumian University, Vyvland's largest, to study law. There, he became a senior member of the Sarumian Liberal Association and member of the then-newly-formed Liberal Party.
Career
Ujson trained as a lawyer, but spent only one year in formal practice before entering politics as a councillor on Vlud City Council in Aaterwand, the borough of Vlud in which he lived at the time. He was elected to Parliament at age 31 in the 1993 general election as a regional list member for Vlud province, and progressed through the Liberal Party, becoming Justice Minister in 2002 under the premiership of Rikard Fegaad. He lost the position upon the Conservative-Liberal election defeat in 2005.
Upon the beginning of Minke Selengborg's Socialist administration in 2005, Ujson was made Leader of the Opposition by the Liberals, who were the largest opposition party at the time and thus followed the custom of choosing the position. At the end of the Socialists' term, Ujson announced his intention to run for the Liberals' presidential nomination in the next presidential election, and was overwhelmingly successful. After winning the 2010 presidential election by narrowly defeating Kurt Blymont in the second round of voting, Ujson became President. Since then, Ujson has been approved of very much by the populace, despite a decline in support for the Liberal Party overall. He ran for president again in the 2014 election, despite his party's pact with the Socialist Party, which traditionally nominates alternating candidates from each party in each presidential election.
Ujson was the clear favourite to win the 2014 election, having won the first round with a large plurality of votes.
Political views
Ujson is a moderate liberal, having been variously described as centrist, centre-left and centre-right. He is seen to have liberal views on abortion and same-sex marriage, for which he was one of the strongest parliamentary advocates before its introduction in 2005. However, since becoming President he has made few political speeches, as the office is viewed as a ceremonial and somewhat apolitical one. However, during his time in office he has condemned some of the actions of the far-right Vyvlander Front, associating them with the Roi Vyvluder terrorist organisation in 2011 in a controversial incident. Ujson has also described himself as being Dalderist - following in the beliefs of Vyvland's first president.
Controversy
At the Esquarium Summit in 2013, Ujson made a slip of the tongue while meeting Crolacian Prime Minister Larisa Reutt for the first time. Instead of saying "nice to meet you too", Ujson replaced the word "too" with "tits", at which point Ujson walked backwards towards Geadish Prime Minister Efa Nordland, who had just entered the terminal building where the leaders were meeting. The incident was widely reported in newspapers such as Tiy Baners after being leaked supposedly by sources close to Swilatian President Alicja Wenejska, who was present at the time and had expressed her condemnation of the incident.
Personal life
Ujson is married to his wife Mari, and they have two daghters, Lisbef (16) and Else (12). They live in Hafli, just outside Vlud in addition to the President's official residence, Brynel Palace in Lorence.