Ár Ré leadership election, 4363

Ár Ré - Party of Kirlawa held a leadership election from July 4363 to December 4363 to replace Gordon McGuinness, who resigned as new cabinet talks were approaching to replace the incumbent government. Tanaka Tsukoda, the party's presidential candidate and Deputy Leader won the election against Ruth Williams, the Minister for Health and Social Services in McGuinness's government. A total of 94,443 votes were cast in this election.

Background
Píoráidí, the fourth largest party represented in the General Assembly after those elections, vacated their seats midway through the McGuinness ministry. A new cabinet was proposed in July 4363 to fill in the vacated seats. McGuinness used this to announce his resignation, triggering fresh leadership elections.

Procedure
Up to six candidates can participate in the leadership election. Candidates need not be holding public office, but have to be a member of Ár Ré for at least three years, and must receive at least one "endorsement". The nature of this endorsement was enlarged since the last election to include not only sitting Ár Ré members of the General Assembly, Regional Assemblies, the incumbent Leader and a former President of Kirlawa from Ár Ré, but also to former Cabinet members of Ár Ré. If more than six candidates apply, the six candidates with the most endorsements will be selected to participate in the election. If only one candidate is nominated, the election will be re-run.

The last constitutional review was held in 4350. However, no special changes have been made since then.

Timeline

 * Remainder of July: Candidates are able to submit their nomination papers.
 * July 1 - July 31: Campaigning.
 * August 1 - November 31: Postal ballots are sent to all eligible voters, and can be returned during that period.
 * December 1 - December 10: No further postal ballots are sent out, but ballots may continue to be submitted until December 10.
 * December 10 - December 22: Postal ballots are tabulated and the new leader of Ár Ré is announced on December 23.
 * December 23: Leader-elect formally sworn in at a special party conference.

Candidates
Two candidates were nominated for the party. McGuinness received overwhelming party support from all quarters - he was virtually assured to be the victor of the election. Skegness nominated himself and found two other endorsements, both from the party's caucus in the Nuchtmark regional legislature.

Aftermath
McGuinness won the election with a party turnout similar to that of the last election. McGuinness conducted a cabinet-wide reshuffle, the first time it has been done in many years, with Ruth Williams and Leanne O'Connor holding the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Science respectively.