Prime Minister Maria Ostroukhova, who assumed office on May 7, unexpectedly resigned on May 14, citing personal reasons. President Yaroslav Mar called a snap election to take place in June and appointed former PM Denys Tezdzhanenko the head of the caretaker government serving till the inauguration of a new Prime Minister.
The resignation of Maria Ostroukhova, who was elected in a runoff in April 2022 after beating her opponent Ambassador Kit Siapno, took effect in the late evening of May 14, thus making her office the shortest in Lostisland’s history with a duration of just 8 days. PM Ostroukhova did not issue any executive orders during her term nor nominate any government members (save for informally designating Ambassador Siapno her Deputy), thus prompting speculations about whether or not she actually assumed office. However, the judicial opinion issued by Praesus of the Supreme Court, Justice George Oprea confirmed that she was indeed the legitimate Prime Minister from May 7 to 14, which means that her resignation entails a snap election similar to the one celebrated in 2018 following the resignation of Denys Tezdzhanenko.
On May 17, President Yaroslav Mar issued a Decree triggering Article XLVI of the Constitution for the second time in less than a year and formally announcing the election. The registration of candidates will remain open from May 20 to 31, while the vote will take place from June 7 to 14. Should a runoff become necessary if no candidate secures more than 50% of the vote, it is scheduled for June 21-28. The inauguration of the Prime Minister Elect will take place on July 2 — the 14th anniversary of Lostisland’s foundation as a community and the nation’s major holiday known as Lostisland Day. Until the new Prime Minister assumes office, Lostisland will have a caretaker government consisting of Acting Prime Minister Denys Tezdzhanenko — who thus returns to the office once more — and Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Ilian Kostov: the veteran Lostislandic diplomat who has been at the helm of the foreign ministry since 2013 in every subsequent government.
Although Lostisland did have a snap election before, the resignation of a Prime Minister after 8 days in office and the second election in less than three months represent an unprecedented situation in Lostisland’s history. So far no Lostislandic citizens publicly stated they intend to run for PM, though it can be expected that at least some of the candidates who stood in the last election will be up for a rematch. By May 20, a new sub-website for the snap election will be built similar to Decision 2022, with a registration form for becoming a candidate and all the information regarding the upcoming vote.