|
| name = Austin Merrill
| image = Cropped-The-Undertaker-2-640x853.jpg
| office1 = 26th [[President of Cappedore]]Wealden
| termstart1 = 173 DecemberJuly 20142007
| predecessor1 = [[StuartMichael ClarkeRamsay]]
| vicepresident1 = [[Cleveland Durand]]
| chancellor1 = {{plainlist|[[Maya Murray]] (after 2018)
* [[Ken Yates]]
* [[Maya Murray]]
* [[Cathryn Gargano]]
}}
| office2 = [[First Deputy Chancellor of Cappedore|First Deputy Chancellor]]
| termstart2 = 15 April 2009
| termend2 = 10 May 2010
| chancellor2 = [[Keir Crosland]]
| predecessor2 = [[Cleveland Durand]]
| successor2 = [[Vikki Slade]]
| office3 = Secretary of State for National Justice
| termstart3 = 18 December 2002
| office4 = [[Gemotern of Cappedore|Member of the Gemotern]] for Cumberland Forest West
| termstart4 = 5 June 1997
| termend4 = 113 July 20102007
| predecessor4 = [[Jo Spear]]
| successor4 = Herman Eldridge
| caption = Merrill in 2022
| honorific_prefix = [[His Esteemed Excellency]]
| birth_date = 14 October 1963 (age {{age|1963|10|14}})
| birth_place = [[Matthewsburg]], [[Catonia]]
| party = [[CappedoreWealdenite Social DemocraticPeople's Party|Social Democratic]]
| spouse = Matilda Mead (m. 1989)
| children = 4
| alma_mater = [[Moyen-Orient University]]
| width = 200
▲| status1 termend1 = Incumbent15 May 2023
| successor1 = ''Position abolished''
}}
'''Austin Thomas Peter Merrill''' (born October 14th, 1963), otherwise known as '''Austin Merrill''', is a CappedoriteWealdenite politician, statesman, dictator, and lawyer who hasserved beenas [[President of Cappedore|President]] ofthe [[Cappedore]]People's sinceRepublic [[2014of CappedoreWealden]] presidentialfrom election|December2007 2014]]to 2023. As a member of the [[CappedoreWealdenite Social DemocraticPeople's Party|Social Democratic Party]], he has formerly served as First Deputy Chancellor from 2004 to 2009 and was the Member of the Gemotern for West Forest (in [[Cumberland Forest]], [[New Cumberland]]) from 1997 to 20102007. He is best known for his involvement in the [[2007 communist takeover of Wealden]].
Merrill was removed from power in the [[2023 Wealden coup d'état]]. He is currently under the custody of the government of Wealden.
Merrill was nominated as the CSDP's presidential candidate in 2013. His campaign, supported by [[Chancellor of Cappedore|Chancellor]] [[Cleveland Durand]] (who soon resigned in May 2014 in order to stand as Merrill's running mate) consisted of multiple reforms, including working with the Gemotern to work on term limits on the Cappedorite Chancellor and legislature. He was able to work in these reforms in the [[2015 Second Great Reform Act]] alongside chancellor Ken Yates and later with Maya Murray.
Merrill attended the independent school Rothswell Community College, and studied law at Moyen-Orient University, in [[Vernalis]], where he became a barrister in 1984. He became involved in CSDP politics and was elected to the Gemotern in 1997 for the West Forest constituency in the state of New Cumberland. As a backbencher, Merrill supported moving the party to the political left of Cappedorite politics. He was appointed to [[Peter Chayka]]'s shadow cabinet in 2002 and was appointed first deputy chancellor by [[Keir Crosland]] in 2009. Following the formation of the [[Welfare Coalition (Cappedore)|coalition government]] in 2010, Merrill was removed from his post in order to allow [[Vikki Slade]] to become first deputy chancellor. His tenure as president began with a historic rebranding of the party, inspired by the likes of the late [[Michael Ramsay]], who began to use the campaign label New Cappedore. The name dates from a conference slogan first used by the party in 1996, later seen in a draft manifesto which was published in 1999 and titled ''New Cappedore, New Opportunities,'' and was presented as the brand of a newly reformed party.
Merrill has been facing increasing, heated calls to resign during the Homradska or to repeal the concordat of Cappedore immediately.
== Early life ==
Merrill was born in [[Matthewsburg]], in [[Catonia]]. His father, Simon Merrill, was a local banker who had served as Mayor of the town from 1967 to 1975, and was also a member of the CSDP. After attending the grammar school Robertson College, Merrill would go on to study Politics and International Relations, and further Law and Justice at Moyen-Orient University, and after graduating, would pursue a life of law in Vernalis, before moving back to Matthewsburg and working for a local law firm.
== Political career ==
=== First Deputy Chancellor (2009 - 2010) ===
=== President (20142007 - present2023) ===
==== Ken2023 Yates drug trafficking scandalcoup ====
Main article: [[2023 Wealdenite coup d'état]]
==== Work with Cleveland Durand and Maya Murray ====
== Policies ==
== Political views ==
Merrill is known in CappedoriteWealdenite politics for his powerful speeches and energetic rallies against conservative ideals. He is a well-known supporter of the late president Quintin Howlett and, during his time as President, has been instrumental in replicating Howlett's policies on modern CappedoreWealden. He also opposed the 'New CappedoreWealden' movement in 1997 by Michael Ramsay. Politically, Austin Merrill identifies as left-wing, but many have stated that Merrill is "dangerously extremist" and has been a "traitor to the Wealdenite state at large for over 14 years".
Merrill is often criticised for his left-wing ideals, with many stating that he would be better off in the Momentum Party, a much more far-left party in Cappedore, and many members of the CSDP have criticised Merrill for his opposition of centrist ideals and his pro-nationalisation endeavours.
== Personal life ==
In 20072001, Merrill publicly stated that he is bisexual.
[[Category:Presidents of CappedoreWealden]]
[[Category:CappedoreWealden]]
[[Category:Characters]]
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