4 February 2023
Today, Minister Cooper Norfolk announced that he would be stepping down as the co-chairman of the Ugandan-Ngombe QAnon Social Workers Coalition in order to start a new political party. Along with support from multiple National Assembly members, he founded the Phillip National Front, abbreviated as "PNF". Minister Norfolk said that the party was created to combat VP Luke Fitzgibbins' attempt to restrict the right to vote for citizens above the age of twenty. He also claims to support "Phillip Nationalism" and restrictions on the government's involvement in the economy. The PNF seems to have kept relatively the same ideologies as the UNQSWC but with more emphasis on protecting the freedoms and rights of Phillip's citizens.
After the party was officially created, National Assembly Rep. Iyan Seeker switched his political affiliation to the Phillip National Front. This is a huge deal as along with Assembly Speaker Madison Marcos and Minister Norfolk's seats, the party now has a five out of seven majority in the Assembly. Rep. Seeker has proven once again to be one of the most powerful people in Phillip as his decisions can change the entire political climate of the country. In conjunction with the establishment of the PNF, Minister Norfolk and the PNF Assembly representatives have agreed to follow party lines when voting on bills. This move also increases Minister Norfolk's political power significantly, as he practically has control over five of seven seats in the Assembly. This change also means that the Butter Butta Bentley Party led by President Jaxson Renny no longer has as much power in the legislative process of Phillip, as they have gone down from a four seat majority to now holding a single seat.
Responses from citizens have been mostly negative as the public does not fully align with the center-right ideologies of the Phillip National Front. VP Fitzgibbins has openly denounced the PNF, claiming that the younger citizens of Phillip have unfair amount of representation in the government. He is reportedly considering creating a new party to combat the PNF and support his voting restrictions.
The true power of the new party will most likely be shown during today's National Assembly session. Along with a bill introduced by Minister Norfolk related to the registration of business in Phillip, representatives will be re-voting on VP Fitzgibbins' voting bill. In an attempt to please members that previously vetoed the bill, he has put in an exception that the members of Rep. Seeker and President Renny's family would be allowed to vote, but not hold office.
Minister Norfolk says he is optimistic about the new party and hopes that the changes he is bringing to the table will benefit Phillip as a whole.