Dan Pierce has been elected Prime Minister of Curnon, becoming the first person elected to lead the nation’s government since the end of 156 days of martial law.

Pierce won 65% of the final run-off vote against Myrian Avarðá, following an election which initially saw eight candidates compete for the position. Turnout reached 87% of Curnon’s population, which the Government says is the highest participation in an election in the nation’s history.

A return to government

The first round saw Viduna Galewelage take the lead with seven votes, while Pierce and Avarðá followed with six each. With Galewelage still below the 50% needed to win and Pierce and Avarðá tied, the election went to run-offs between the three candidates. Galewelage was eliminated in the first run-off, before Pierce defeated Avarðá by 13 votes to seven.

Pierce previously served as Curnon’s Prime Minister and was involved in writing the new Constitution which brought martial law to an end on September 29. Speaking when the Constitution came into force, he described it as a “fresh start” and said Curnon had an opportunity to “rebuild better than we ever have before”.

During the election, Pierce campaigned on his previous record in government and experience in Curnish politics, telling voters that he had “proven” he could lead. He also pledged to continue opposing transphobia and hate, referring to his involvement in the political crisis earlier this year.

What happens now?

Pierce is set to take office on October 14, with Max Long Flahersko planned to serve as his Deputy Prime Minister. His election comes just over a week after Curnon adopted its new Constitution and began rebuilding its democratic institutions following more than five months of martial law.

Curnon’s return to elected government is not yet complete, with Parliamentary elections set to begin on October 9. Those elections will determine the first Parliament under the new Constitution before the new government is sworn into office.