Stephen Chawan

Stephen (Kanso) Chawan is an Okataian politician and President of Oka. He was formally the Chief Executive of the Koun Province, and the Chairman of the Antei political Party. Previous roles include Mayor of Renagawa. Chawan first won the presidency by 58.45% of the popular vote in the presidential election of 2012, and was re-elected in 2016 with 51.6% of the vote.

Chawan's term as president of Oka is marked by a general liberalization of the Okataian, opening most government owned companies to competition. One of his headline reforms often referred to as the Law is highly contested however.

Chawan's rise in politics
Chawan is the son of Former Okataian President Junpo Chawan. Chawan started working for President Tanhi as Deputy Director of the First Bureau of the Presidential Office and the President's English interpreter. Shortly afterward he was commissioned as Minister for Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism

1996-2004 Mayor of Renagawa
In 1996, the Antei fielded Chawan to challenge the then-incumbent Renagawa mayor Matsu Choba of the opposition Shinkoo, who was seeking re-election. Despite Choba's public approval rating of around 60%, he was defeated. As mayor of Renagawa he updated the Public Estate Laws and construction regulations in Renagawa. Later on in 2002 he endorsed the Oka Cultural Mouvement, a mouvement seeking the recognition of Okataian culture at an international level through popular culture.

2004-2012 Chief Executive of Koun
Following the success of his two terms as Renagawa Mayor, Chawan won the Koun Province Elections, during his two terms he reformed the provincial health system and focused on renewing infrastructure systems like opening the new Koun High Speed Rail Line. During his term Koun consolidated it's position as Oka most exporting province. Special laws allowed for newer forms of work such as startup's or flexible contracts to emerge.

2008 Formation of the new Antei
A scandal within the Antei led one of it's most prominent member Miho (Eliza) Ku to leave the party along with a few of it's members to form the opposition party Jiei that promulgates more liberal value

2012-2016 36th President of Oka
On the same day he resigned as chairman of the Antei, Chawan also announced his intention to run in the 2012 presidential election. He was the official nominee of Antei for the presidential election

Chawan officially won on 22 March 2012 with 58% of the vote, ending eight years of Shinkoo rule and becoming officially recognized as the thirty sixth president of the Okataian Federation. Chawan's overwhelming victory in the presidential election gave him political mandate to make changes in Oka.

The Law
Often referred to as the Law, the nationwide work reforms allowed Chawan to modify the Okataian work code and have it approved at a federal level through and Order. The move was seen as undemocratic and many have criticized Chawan Over it. Most notably a satire magazine spreading the rumor that soon Chawan will make a law obliging women wear sexy skirts.

2016- 37th President of Oka
Although there have been many controversies Chawan still won a second term with 44% of the vote. His campaign for 2016 was focused on competition at an international level, and closer relations with other AIN members, he co-founded the TON.