2016 Marianan general election

The 2016 Marianan general election was an election held on 29 August 2016 to determine the government of Mariana. Several factors led to such an early election, which resulted in no significant plurality for any of the parties and has produced no prime minister.

Background
The strong government coalition of the Greens, Social Democrats and Better Mariana began to show weaknesses within the ranks of the SDP. A leadership election saw the party choose Pieter Van Buskirk as leader, but not after a divisive campaign in which Palma's mayor Karen House, the anti-establishment outsider, closely finished in second and began to represent a more grassroots leftist wing of the party.

Likewise several defections from the SDP and SLP led to the creation of Yes to the Future, a party formed from the anti-austerity and alternative Esquedra Republicana na Mariana and Avanze parties.

On 25 July, the government presented a bill raising the IVA (VAT tax) from 17% to 21%, due to economic uncertainty and the likely need for funds. The proposal was criticized by left and right and saw heated debate in the congress. THe vote on 29 July resulted in:


 * In favour: GP (27), SDP (19), BM (2) - 48 votes
 * Against: SLP (14), CDU (14), FLP (8), YES (5), P70 (3), SAP (1), MPP (1), CCP (1), SDP (5) - 52 votes

5 members of the pro-House faction voted against the bill and defeated it, sending the country to elections.

Result
The Greens finished in first place, as they did in 2013. The CDU was able to garner enough votes to finish in second, improving over three years ago. The real surprise was Yes, finishing in third at the expend of the SDP and SLP. Nonetheless no one party managed to receive a plurality of votes, much less a majority.

Aftermath
After the election there was the need to try and form a government through a coalition. The likely options, continuation of the GP/SDP/BM coalition (40 seats), CDU/FLP/BM coalition (33 seats) and Yes and SLP (28 seats) all fell short of a minimum 50%. The Greens, SDP and Better Mariana proposed incumbent Prime Minister Wostor as candidate; they were hoping to get support from the SLP to be able to pass the vote but SLP was adamant they would not work with BM in a government.